Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic View book of Zechariah

From the earliest days of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, Gnostics have been fascinated by the book of Zechariah. The title page of the book and the opening chapter identify Zechariah as “the son of Berechiah.” In chapter 1, verse 7, the prophet states that an angel of the Lord was sent to him with a message. This is the first of many angelic visits recorded in the book. However, according to the Gnostic interpretation, when Zechariah saw the angel, he experienced something much more profound than a mere messenger from God. The angel was in fact Divine Wisdom, sent to inform Zechariah of the coming of the Pentecostal endowment of spiritual truth and power.

The Pentecostal experience of the early Church was a manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit. While some may interpret the promised “coming of the Holy Spirit” as a reference to a single event that happened to the Apostles on a particular day, Gnostics believe the promised “pouring out of God’s Spirit” is a permanent, continuous outpouring of the spiritual energy and presence of God. The book of Zechariah speaks of God’s Spirit as a well of water, a living stream of living waters, and a source of spiritual nourishment. In chapter 4 of the book, God’s Spirit is symbolized by a seven-branched lampstand and a stone with seven eyes, a representation of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The book of Zechariah is a book of the Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh, traditionally attributed to the prophet and priest Zechariah, son of Berechiah. It is a prophecy concerning the future destiny of the Jewish people and God's covenant, which dates from the Exile in Babylon. Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic, sometimes referred to as apocalyptic mysticism, is the most ancient, non-Hebraic form of Gnosticism. This movement believes that God's mystical inner knowledge can be accessed through the revelation of a great spiritual truth. As such, many followers of this movement view the book of Zechariah as a source of guidance and revelation.

Primitive Pentecostal Gnostics look to the visions described in the book of Zechariah as a source of comfort and insight. These visions include messages of Divine judgment, mercy, and the power of the Holy Spirit. According to them, it is the Holy Spirit that will bring renewal and restoration to the nations, and they see the visions of Zechariah as imparting a special spiritual significance to their lives.

The most significant of the visions concerns the rebirth of the Jewish nation. The vision of a new nation begins with a description of God’s covenant with his people. It is a covenant of hope and peace, and it is through this covenant that the Jews will be restored. Primitive Pentecostal Gnostics look to this vision for inspiration, believing it represents God’s willingness to forgive and cleanse the nation of their sins. The vision of a new temple is also a source of comfort for them, as it symbolizes their future prosperity and success.

The Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic interpretation of the book of Zechariah also includes an emphasis on the importance of prophecy. Prophecy is viewed as a special gift of God, one which is meant to provide insight and guidance. The prophecies in the book of Zechariah focus not on destruction, but on hope and healing. Zechariah’s visions focus on the need to listen to the Lord, as well as the need to keep his commandments in order to live in righteousness.

In conclusion, the Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic interpretation of the book of Zechariah provides followers of the movement with a source of guidance, hope, and spiritual meaning. They view the visions of the book as an opportunity to access deeper spiritual truths and to restore their faith in God’s plan and the promise of His covenant. The book of Zechariah provides an important source of inspiration and encouragement for the Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic movement.

Primitive Pentecostal Gnostics also find great hope and comfort in the words of Zechariah recorded in chapter 4. Stating in verse 10 of that chapter, Zechariah declares, “For who hath despised the day of small things?” This verse is interpreted by Gnostics to be a call for believers to recognize that seemingly insignificant events in life often bear great spiritual significance. It is unclear to modern readers of the book what small thing God was referring to, but Gnostics understand this to be a reference to Pentecost -- the small, humble outpouring of the Holy Spirit that would bring God’s Spirit and power to the world.