Joshua stood before the angel of the LORD, which means the angel was protecting him. “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” (Zech. 3:2). Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel (Zech. 3:3).

You may have questions. The angel was protecting Joshua, but how could Satan make his clothes filthy? ‘Filthy clothes’ is a metaphor for sin (Zech. 3:4). God showed that Joshua, who was being protected by the angel, was made filthy by Satan.

God ordered angels in front of him to take off Joshua’s filthy clothes and he said to him, “I cleansed all of your sin, now you can wear clean linen” (Zech. 3:4). God showed how Joshua changed from dirty to clean. Zechariah said in his vision, “Put a clean turban on him.” Then Zechariah saw that Joshua got a clean turban and the angel of God stood near him.

“If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts” (Zech. 3:7). The house of God means God’s world, therefore

God will allow Joshua to govern all in heaven after he finish God’s work.

“I will give you a place among these standing here.” This is an important sentence. God will let Joshua communicate with those standing there. “Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come” (Zech. 3:8). Joshua’s associates are those who the high priests in the order of Melchizedek. They will be selected in the future.

God also showed Zechariah the time when it will happen. “I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua,” (Zech. 3:8-9) meaning that after his servant with the name of ‘the Branch’ will appear, what had been shown will come true. Isaiah already prophesied that Jesus would grow up like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground (Is. 53:2). The Branch means the Messiah.

When he comes, he will play the role of a stone. Zechariah saw a stone set in front of Joshua. Isaiah recorded, “So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;