The thief and the false prophet were banished.
“I looked again, and there before me was a flying scroll. And he said to me, ‘This is the curse that is going out over the whole land; for according to what it says on one side, every thief will be banished, and according to what it says on the other, everyone who swears falsely will be banished.’” (Zechariah 5:1, 3). Ezekiel 2:9 describes the flying scroll as written on both sides. The angel, who earlier spoke to Zechariah, explained the writings on the scroll. Zechariah 4:1. Who is the thief? “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.” (John 10:1). Jesus referred to Lucifer as a thief who improperly became the prince of the Earth. Therefore, the open scroll signifies that the ownership of this planet stayed temporarily undetermined. At the right time, the Messiah, the world’s Savior, will resolve it appropriately. The Messiah would restore that which he did not steal. Psalm 69:4.
“The Lord Almighty declares, I will send it out, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. It will remain in his house and destroy it, both its timber and its stones.” (Zechariah 5:4). The curse written on both sides of the scroll represents the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who entered the house of the thief—Earth—defeated him, and restored the property to its rightful owner, God. “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:31, 32). We are assured that Jesus defeated the thief and redeemed the property because the book of Revelation tells us that the scroll, the deed to the property—the Earth—is rolled up and sealed with seven seals. (Revelation 5).
No one in heaven was worthy enough to take the scroll and break the seals. John was distressed. “I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll and look inside.” (Revelation 5:4). One of the twenty-four elders then drew John’s attention to the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who had triumphed and was able to open the scroll. (Revelation 5:5–14). Now, Jesus Christ, the only one worthy, is the King of this world and its people. Moreover, at the right time, He will destroy the former prince of this world forever. He will also obliterate those who falsely swear by the Lord’s name—the false prophet—forever. The prophets spoke to the people on behalf of God, revealing His plan for them. All who misrepresent God to others are false prophets and will perish with the thief, Satan, forever. “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown….” (Revelation 20:10). They will never rise again.
Jesus was sold for the price of a slave. Read the next blog.