It was in the eighth month of the second year of Darius that Zechariah began his prophetic ministry (Zechariah 1:1). His prophecies reflected the post-exile period (Zechariah 1:12; 7:15) and the rebuilding of the Temple of Zerubbabel (Zechariah 4:9). His prophecies also predicted the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem by Nehemiah (Zechariah 8:3-5) and the rise of Greece (Zechariah 9:13). The prophecies of Zechariah were highly Messianic and far reaching, embracing not only the post-exile period of Jewish history, but the Messianic era and the Christian Church.

Richard O. Govier (1928-2018) was a Protestant pastor and missionary and travelled the world in that capacity. He planted a number of churches as well as training pastors who served in Brazil, Chile, Argentina and across the United States.