Zechariah 1:16

Shall be built. Verses 16, 17 show God’s gracious designs for the remnant. The predictions were fulfilled in part. The Temple was rebuilt and Jerusalem restored. But the prosperity here indicated was never fully realized. The people failed to fulfill the spiritual conditions upon which their temporal prosperity was based. Nevertheless the opportunity was theirs. The vision was designed to offer encouragement and to present a strong inducement to them to take advantage of their neglected privileges. See pp. 30-33. God’s plan for Israel, temporarily interrupted by the Captivity, was now to go forward again, and Israel was to be restored to the privileges and responsibilities of the covenant relationship (see p. 31).