Eight Visions of Power: Understanding Zechariah

Chapter 8: Vision 7 - The Woman in an Ephah (Zechariah 5:5-11)

In Zechariah 5:5-11, we encounter a powerful and fascinating seventh vision that conveys important messages for Israel coming out of captivity and hints at future events in the end times. These verses help us understand the spiritual struggles that the Israelites faced and how God plans to address the sins that have plagued His people.

The passage begins in verse 5: "Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth." In this moment, Zechariah is being encouraged to look closely at what the angel is about to reveal. This is a key part of prophetic visions—having sharp insight into spiritual truths that can be applied both immediately and in the future.

The mention of the ephah in Zechariah 5:6 becomes even more significant when we consider its connection to commerce, particularly in the context of Babylon, as depicted in the book of Revelation. This symbolism points to an economically driven society where commerce intermingles with moral decay and sin—an important theme as we explore the end times.

In Revelation, Babylon represents a powerful and corrupt entity, often interpreted as a symbol of worldly systems opposing God. Revelation 18:2 refers to Babylon as "that great city," indicating its prominence and influence. The verses following reveal Babylon's pervasive commercial practices, illustrating how trade and economic activities can be intertwined with spiritual corruption. Revelation 18:11-13 states, "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble." This passage highlights the wealth of Babylon and the types of goods traded—a mixture of luxury items reflecting both prosperity and moral decay.

The ephah in Zechariah signifies a measure of commerce, indicating that the weight of sin mirrored in Babylon has infiltrated trade and daily life. In the end times, as described in Revelation, Babylon's commerce operates on greed, exploitation, and a departure from divine principles. The practices occurring within Babylon exemplify how economic pursuits can lead to spiritual blindness and societal deterioration.

Revelation 18:23 further emphasizes this point: "And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived." This verse highlights how the merchants in Babylon wield considerable influence and power. Their business dealings are described as entangled with "sorceries," suggesting that their practices lead to deception, drawing nations away from the Lord, the LIttle Flock of Israel and the Lord's prophetic doctrine and into sin. The connection of commerce to spiritual corruption is significant—just as the ephah represents the burdens of sin, the economy of Babylon signifies how commerce can entrap people in a cycle of moral and ethical failure.

Moreover, in Revelation 17:4-5, we see Babylon described as "that great whore," symbolizing its unfaithfulness to God and the corruption surrounding its existence. This imagery is essential in understanding that the allure of wealth and commerce in the Ages to Come (not today) will lead people away from divine principles, reflecting the nature of sin as a heavy burden.  

In verse 7, we read: "And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah." The "talent of lead" symbolizes a heavy weight being placed over this woman, who personifies wickedness. Her presence in the ephah illustrates that sin is not merely an act but a personified force influencing the entire nation. This notion parallels Revelation 17:1-5, where we encounter the enigmatic "great whore" who sits upon many waters, representing the spiritual and moral corruption associated with Babylon. Like the woman in Zechariah, this figure embodies wickedness and the pervasiveness of sin in a society that has turned away from God. The Israelites, upon their return from captivity, understand that while Babylon did take them away and was used by God in their past, Babylon will return with a vengeance in the Ages to Come.

 "and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth. (Revelation 17:3-5)

In verse 8, it states, "And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof." This act of casting wickedness into the ephah signifies God's judgment on sin, emphasizing that the Israelites could not afford to ignore the iniquity that had led to their downfall. The lead covering serves as a stark reminder that moral corruption must be acknowledged and dealt with decisively. Similarly, in Revelation 17:4-5, the great whore is described as being adorned in luxurious garments and holding a golden cup filled with abominations, showcasing the deceitful allure of wickedness that entraps nations and leads them astray. This connection underscores that just as God intended to contain and ultimately remove the weight of sin from Israel, there is a prophetic warning in Revelation about the eventual judgment awaiting Babylon for its unrepentant sinfulness. 

In verse 9, the vision continues: "Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven." The two women with stork-like wings represent Baal worship. Not what an angel is supposed to look like in the Bible. They carry away Babylon and it's wickedness "to safety" in Zerubabbel's day, where it can once again flourish at a later date, the end times.

Finally, verse 10-11 states, "Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? And he said unto me, To build it a house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base." Here, the ephah is taken to the land of Shinar, which is associated with Babylon, a symbol of sin and oppression. This part of the vision suggests that wickedness is indeed carried away, placed in Shinar, and "stored" for a later date.

In summary, Zechariah 5:5-11 contains a vivid and potent message about confronting sin and the hope of restoration. For the Israelites coming out of captivity, it illustrates that while they have faced significant trials, God is actively working to renew and restore them.