The Lord Comes and Reigns
Comments for Study 5
Pick to read this Bible passage in a separate window.
Zechariah wrote the last three chapters at the end of his prophetic ministry at a old age, perhaps in his 80s. This was around 490 B.C. at the end of the reign of Darius I. The temple and the wall around Jerusalem had long been finished.
I. Jerusalem's Enemies Destroyed (12:1-14)
>1. What will happen to Jerusalem and Judah? (1-2)
* Zechariah 12:1-2 "This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares: "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem."
* "An Oracle" -The term here is actually part of the original text. The Hebrew word is also used in Isaiah and Malachi. The Hebrew word implies the message was a burden for the prophet to deliver; that is something that they did not want to deliver finding it unacceptable, but did so because they were a faithful messenger of the Lord. An oracle often concerns Gentile nations.
* "The word of the LORD" -Jesus' word is sharper than a double edge sword. Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Revelation 1:16 says, "...out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance." And when Jesus comes again he will slay his enemies with one word. Revelation 19:14-16 says, "The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
* "concerning Israel" -The remaining chapters of Zechariah is all about Israel, in particular, their shepherd which was introduced in the previous chapter. Israel here is not just the northern kingdom. Rather it looked further down the future to a time when Judah and Israel have been reunited. Through Jesus that time is now happening. Jews are accepting Jesus as the Messiah and Christians are accepting Jesus is a Jew.
* "who forms the spirit of man within him" -The Lord is working on man's broken spirit.
* "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling." -Experiencing God's judgment is compared to becoming drunk on wine. It is the fate of wicked nations. God's wrath is a cup the wicked drink. Jesus prayed on the Mount of Olives, "Take this cup from me," meaning the wrath he would undergo when he took on the sins of the world. The surrounding nations will be so drunk they will whirl around and around until they are dizzy.
* "Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem." -The surrounding nations will act crazy, as if drunk when they surround Judah and Jerusalem. The fulfillment of this was not possible until after the 1967 A.D. six day war between the Palestinians, Egypt, Syria and Israel when Jerusalem was for the first time in over 2,000 years under the control of the Jews. Therefore, Jerusalem as it is now will be under the control of the Jews from now on though the nations try to take it away from them. Why? Because the Lord God, who made the heavens and earth is on the side of Israel, his redeemed people.
* Zechariah 14:2 speaks of another battle at Jerusalem, perhaps when the antichrist breaks the seven years treaty with Israel. It says, "I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city." I do not know of a time in the past that this has ever happened. The Babylonian attack was in Zechariah's past. Alexander the Great did not fight against Jerusalem; he was welcomed in. The Maccabees didn't have a battle in Jerusalem like this. Rome gained Jerusalem with little resistance since Herod was allied with them. In 70 A.D. Rome all but emptied Jerusalem, killing many Jews and exporting many more into slavery all throughout the Romans empire. Israel didn't have control of Jerusalem again until after WWI. The battles in 1948 and 1967 A.D. was won by Israel. So this has to be a future war when all the nations will be against Judah and Jerusalem. The Bible speaks of several wars against Israel that will happen very soon. There will be a war against Jerusalem that will force Israel and the antichrist to sign a seven years treaty and I believe this will be very soon. Also, The Lord Jesus will destroy Israel's enemies at the end of the seven years, Armageddon, and at the end of his one thousand year reign. These to can hardly be called battles since none on the Lord's side are injured let alone are killed. So, Zechariah 14:2 seems to coincide with the antichrist being allowed to win against the saints for a time during the seven years of tribulation. (Daniel 11:31-32, 36-45; Revelation 6:9-11, 7:14)
* Zechariah 14:12-15 speaks the outcome of the battle in 14:2. It does not say these will happen right after it. It says, "This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. On that day men will be stricken by the LORD with great panic. Each man will seize the hand of another, and they will attack each other. Judah too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected--great quantities of gold and silver and clothing. A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps."
* Joel 3:2-3 and Joel 3:9-16 also speaks of a war against Jerusalem, different than Zechariah 12 and 14. Joel 3:2-3 says, "I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. They cast lots for my people and traded boys for prostitutes; they sold girls for wine that they might drink." Joel 3:9-16 says, "Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, 'I am strong!' Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down your warriors, O LORD! 'Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow-- so great is their wickedness!' Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel."
* Revelation 16:16-21 seems to be the same as Joel 3:2-3 and Joel 3:9-16. Revelation 16:16-21 says, "Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible."
* See a map and picture of Megiddo Valley to the right. The book of Revelation says that armies will gather in the end times at a place "which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon". (Revelation 16:16) This term literally means the Mount of Megiddo and refers to the ancient fortress of Megiddo that controlled the Valley of Jezreel. In English the word was transliterated as Armageddon, and the term came to be applied to the Valley of Jezreel which lies in front of Har-Magedon, running diagonally across Israel from Haifa to the Jordan River.
* Ezekiel 38 and 39 also speak of a war against Israel. Some point out that the nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38:5-6 as the allies of Russia (Gog) do not include a single Arab state with a border adjacent to Israel. The nations identified in Ezekiel are Persia (Iran), Cush (Egypt and/or Sudan), Put (Libya and possibly Algeria and Tunisia), and Gomer (Turkey), and Beth Togarmah (Turkey/Southern Russia). They point out that there is no mention of the nations that share a common border with Israel — namely, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and Gaza (Palestinians).
* Psalm 83 also describes a war against Israel, though it appears to be different than the others above. The nations mentioned in Psalm 83 are Edom and the Ishmaelites (Jordan), Moab and the Hagrites (Jordan), Gebal (Jordan or Syria and Lebanon), Ammon (Jordan), Amalek (Palestinian), Philistia (Palestinian), Tyre (Lebanon), and Assyria (Iraq/Iran). These are not the same as Ezekiel 38-39. However, it could be that both lists make up the nations in the battle before the seven years of tribulation begins.
* The Bible seems to speak of at least three more times that Israel will be attacked by groups of nations and/or all the nations. The first is just before the seven years of tribulation which will be the cause of the seven year truce between Israel and the antichrist. (Ezekiel 38-39 and/or Psalm 83) The second is at the end of the seven years of tribulation when Jesus comes again. (Revelation 16:16-21) Half way through the seven years the antichrist will break the Israeli seven year contract and enter the yet to be constructed temple in Jerusalem proclaiming himself God. Many Jews will flee Jerusalem but it does not seem there will be a battle in Jerusalem at that time. The third is after Jesus one thousand year reign when Satan is released and then defeated once and for all time. (Revelation 20:7-10)
* Amos three hundred years before Zechariah stated that once Israel is re-established in their land it will remain theirs. It says, "I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,"
* For information on the future of believers in Jesus read the manuscript The Believer's Future - Hope that Inspires found on this site.
>What will the Lord do for Jerusalem "on that day" when it is attacked? (3-4)
* Zechariah 12:3-4 "On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness," declares the LORD. "I will keep a watchful eye over the house of Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations."
* "On that day" -"On that day", "in the last days", "in that day" and "in the day of the Lord" all refered to the future from the Old Testament prophets' point of view. They all referred to events concerning Jesus first and second coming. The day of the Lord is the time when God reveals His sovereignty over human powers and human existence.
* "On that day" -In Hebrew this is just one word "yom". The KJV translates this "And in that day". Zechariah's main theme is the day of the Lord, repeated sixteen times in the last three chapters of his book.
* The Old Testament prophets often spoke of "The day of the Lord" as the time when God reveals His sovereignty over human powers and human existence. For example "The day of the Lord" is the dominant theme of Joel. Besides Joel six other Old Testament prophets (Isaiah 13:6,9; Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3; Amos 5:18,20; Obadiah 1:15; Zephaniah 1:7,14; Malachi 4:5; perhaps Zechariah 14:1 too) uses the term "the day of the Lord". Sometimes the prophets of Israel and Judah abbreviated it to "that day". It was familiar to their audience, a term by which the audience expected light and salvation (Amos 5:18), but the prophets painted it as a day of darkness and judgment (Isaiah 2:10-22; 13:6,9; Joel 1:15; 2:1-11,31; 3:14-15; Amos 5:20; Zephaniah 1:7-8,14-18; Malachi 4:5). The Old Testament language of the day of the Lord is aimed at warning sinners among God's people of the danger of trusting in traditional religion without commitment to God and to His way of life. It is language that could be aimed at judging Israel or that could be used to promise deliverance from evil enemies (Isaiah 13:6,9; Ezekiel 30:3; Obadiah 15). The day of the Lord is thus a point in time in which God displays His sovereign initiative to reveal His control of history, of time, of His people, and of all people.
* The apostles Peter and Paul also used the term "day of the Lord" (in place of "Lord" they also put "God" and "Lord Jesus"). (Acts 2:20; and 1 Corinthians 1:8, 5:5; and 2 Corinthians 1:14; and 1 Thessalonians 5:2; and 2 Thessalonians 2:2; and 2 Peter 3:10-12)
* The apostles used the terms "last times" and "last days" referring to the whole period introduced by Jesus' first coming. (John 11:24; Jude 1:17-18; Acts 15:16-18; Hebrews 9:36; and 2 Peter 3:3) These days are last in comparison to Old Testament days, which were preliminary and preparatory. (Romans 16:25-26; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:26) Also, the Christian era is the time of the beginnings of prophetic fulfillment. (1 Corinthians 10:11) The "days" can be interpreted as "ages" (Matthew 12:39, 13:39-40, 49, 24:3, 28:20; Ephesians 1:21, 2:7; and 1 Timothy 6:19; Titus 2:12; Jude 1:25) (periods of time) that reflect the six days of creation with the seventh day as a day of rest. Indeed the apostles very clearly call the one thousand year reign of Jesus as "the Lord's Sabbath" and "the day of rest". (Hebrews 4:1-11, 6:5; Revelation 14:13) Jesus himself invited us to his day of rest (Matthew 11:19; Luke 18:30, 20:34-36) and to work now and rest in the future (John 9:4). Since this is the time just before the Sabbath rest, then we are in the sixth day, the time when man and woman (Adam and Eve) were created. The Lord God Almighty is called the "King of the ages". (Revelation 15:3)
* Blackstone wrote in his book Jesus is Coming "The division of time into sevens, or weeks, permeates the Scriptures. A fundamental enactment of the Mosaic Law was the keeping of the Sabbath (Ex. 20:8). This was based upon God's great rest day in Genesis 2. Upon this is founded not only the week of days, but also the week of weeks leading to Pentecost (Lev. 23:15-16); the week of months, with the Atonement and seven days feast of Tabernacles in the seventh month (Lev. 23:27-28); the week of years, ending with the Sabbatic year (Lev. 25:4); and the week of weeks of years, ending with the seventh Sabbatic year, and followed by the year of Jubilee (Lev. 25:8-12)." He continues with more and quotes 2 Peter 3:8 then continues, "so we also have the great week of Millenniums. Six thousand-year days of labor and then the Millennium, or blessed seventh thousand-year of rest." He is not the first to see the significance.
* For more on this time period read the manuscript "The Believer's Future - Hope that Inspires" found on this site.
* Eschatology is the teaching concerning the last things in world history. The Greek word "eschatos" means "last" or final." Accordingly, eschatology is the study of the things expected to occur at the end of history. This does not include what will happen after the Lord Jesus creates the new heaven and the new earth as described at the end of Revelation.
* "when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her" -"Her" here is Judah and Jerusalem. Israel cities in Hebrew are feminine. This is all the nation, not just some of them.
* "an immovable rock" -Jerusalem will not be defeated.
* "I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness" -The weapons of war will betray the aggressors.
* See a painting of Jesus Coming in Glory to the right.
>What will the people of Jerusalem have to acknowledge? (5)
* Zechariah 12:5 "Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts, 'The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the LORD Almighty is their God.'"
* "the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts" -Right now the leaders of Israel have not accepted Jesus as the Messiah though many Jews have accepted him. When the Lord saves Israel because of the believers among the common people the leaders will realize that it was Jesus who saved them as these verses predicted.
* "the people of Jerusalem are strong" -They are strong not because of their weapons and ability.
* "because the LORD Almighty is their God" -All will know that Israel was saved by God. Those who had put their faith in Allah and lost the war will realize that the God of the Jews and Christians is the one and only true God.
* Zechariah 12:10-13:3; Ezekiel 36:24-29, 37:1-14; Romans 11:25-26 seem to foretell the same event. Right now more and more Jews are returning to their Lord and God, Jesus the Messiah in fulfillment of the prophecies.
>2. What did the Lord compare Judah to? (6)
* Zechariah 12:6 "On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a fire-pot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume right and left all the surrounding peoples, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place."
* "like a fire-pot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves" -After the leaders accept Jesus as the Messiah, Zechariah seems to state another war. See Joel quote below.
* "They will consume right and left all the surrounding peoples" -The nations surrounding Israel right now will become Israel again when they loose the battle Zechariah just proclaimed.
* "Jerusalem will remain intact in her place" -Jerusalem is now the official capital of Israel and will remain so. However, Tel-Aviv has many of the government offices.
* Joel 2:3-8 "Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste-- nothing escapes them. They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle. They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks."
* Revelation 19:11-16 "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
>What will the Lord establish and how? (7)
* Zechariah 12:7 "The LORD will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the honor of the house of David and of Jerusalem's inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah."
* "The LORD will save the dwellings of Judah first" -Judah was the father of one of the tribes of Israel (Jacob). During Zechariah's ministry after the exile those who returned to Jerusalem were called Jews for the first time. The Jews will be saved first per Paul in Romans (see below).
* "the house of David" -David was a descendant of Judah and was never called a Jew (see note above). His son, Solomon put great taxes and burdons on those subject to him. (1 Kings 12:4) Perhaps this is why we are told this. Also, during Zechariah's ministry and after none of David's descendants became king. Centuries later Mary and Joseph who were descendants of David were of no importance in Israel.
* "Jerusalem's inhabitants" -The people in the cities around Jerusalem suffered greatly at the expense of Jerusalem. Centuries before Zechariah the prophet Micah said Assyria would attack and destroy the cities of Judah because of Jerusalem's sins. (Micah 1:5, 8-16) During the Millennium they won't need to fear that again. The Lord will put them first.
* In the soon to begin new age the people who had trusted in Jesus will be rewarded or have their rewards taken away based on what they did in their lives. The Lord's judgement at the Bema seat will be based on what we did or did not do by faith, hope, and love now.
* Romans 2:6-11 "God will give to each person according to what he has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.
* Luke 19:11-26 is Jesus' parable of a master who left for a long time and put his servants in charge of his people.
>How will the Lord enable Judah's army? (8)
* Zechariah 12:8 "On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the LORD going before them."
* "shield those who live in Jerusalem" -Armies will surround Jerusalem at the end of the seven years tribulation. Those in Jerusalem will confess Jesus is the Messiah, the Lord God Almighty and ask for him to come to save them. He will do so.
* "the feeblest among them will be like David" -During the six day war in 1967 A.D. when Egypt, Syria, and the Palestinians invaded Israel the Lord God made mighty warriors out of the Israelites. Many miracles occurred so that the Israelites won every battle, gained territory, and pushed out the invaders in six days. On the seventh day they rested and praised their God. This will happen again and again for the last days are upon us.
* "the house of David will be like God" -The house of David refers to the kingly line. David's sons had several disappointments and some of his descendants did not serve the Lord. Through Jesus, the fulfillment of the Lord promise to David, the promise will be kept and David's kingdom and rulers will be restored and righteous.
* "like the Angel of the LORD going before them" -2 Samuel 14:17 "And now your servant says, 'May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is like an angel of God in discerning good and evil. May the LORD your God be with you.'" 2 Samuel 19:27 "And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever pleases you."
>Why?
* Zechariah 12:9 "On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem."
* Could not happen until Israel reclaimed Jerusalem in the six day war in 1967 A.D.
* Literally there will be a war against Jerusalem and Jerusalem will win because Jesus is eternal God, the Son of the Most High.
>3. How did Jesus' crucifixion fulfill verse 10? (John 19:34-37)
* Zechariah 12:10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son."
* John 19:34-37 "Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."
* "a spirit of grace and supplication" -Grace is unmerited divine assistance. Supplication is a humble entreaty, petition, and prayer.
* "They will look on me, the one they have pierced" -When Jesus died on the cross the soldiers pierced his side as to open the heart in order to be sure he was dead. Water and blood flowed from his heart proving he was dead. John, the apostle quoted this verse when stating his personal testimony. (John 19:33-37) Here this also applies to those who look to Jesus by faith.
* "they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child" -The grief at the cross was great for John, Mary the mother of Jesus and the other women there. (John 19:25)
* "They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son."
Today is a day of morning. The scene of the cross is prophecied here. This is quoted in the gospels. Jesus was pierced to ensure that he was dead. The women at his feet cried and morned.
Today I weep. Tomorrow I will have no energy. Then Sunday a miracle will change everything. Only God can stop my weeping. Look what I have done. Someone had to die because I am a rut. I am weeping. I am mourning.
* See a painting of Jesus' side being pierced to the right.
* "grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son" -The tears of those who love Jesus.
* Jeremiah 6:26 "O my people, put on sackcloth and roll in ashes; mourn with bitter wailing as for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us."
* Isaiah 53:5 "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
>Why will there be weeping?
* Zechariah 12:11-14 "On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, and all the rest of the clans and their wives."
* "the weeping in Jerusalem will be great" -As a result of war.
* "like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo" -Hadad Rimmon is either the name of 1) a place near Megiddo, where the people mourned the death of King Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:20-27) or 2) a Semitic storm god (2 Kings 5:18, Ezekiel 8:14), whose name means "Hadad the thunderer" in Babylonian (i.e. Epic of Gilgamesh).
* "all the rest of the clans and their wives" -The weeping here is not just Judah, it is all the twelve tribes.
>Do all respond this way to Jesus' crucifixion?
* No.
* The point of these verses is that people who look to Jesus by faith will be grieved that he suffered and died for their sins. In order to have such anguish one needs to accept their sins, the consequences of their sins, and inability to save themselves from them. A person must also accept Jesus took the punishment for their sins purely out of love and obedience. Do you have sorrow such as this?
II. Cleansing From Sin (13:1-14)
>4. How is Jesus' blood like a fountain? (1; Heb. 9:11-14)
* Zechariah 13:1 "On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity."
* Hebrews 9:11-14 "When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"
* "a fountain will be opened" -Jesus' blood. Blood is the life of a person. Hebrews 9:11-14 "When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"
* "to cleanse them from sin and impurity" -1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
* Colossians 1:19-20 "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."
* Hebrews 9:22 "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
* 1 Peter 1:18-20 "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake."
* Revelation 1:5 "Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,"
* Jesus was jailed, beaten, and scourged. A whip made of short leather straps that were impregnated with bone and sharp pieces of metal was lashed onto his body thirty-nine times. His pure blood and pieces of flesh that were ripped from his side splattered on the ground. A crown of thorns was thrust into his head as streams of pure blood and sweat ran down his head. A robe was placed on him and he was given a stick that was made to be a staff while evil men ridiculed him. They spit on him, mocked him, and beat him. (Luke 22:47-71)
* The white and red blood cells in his heart separated and poured out of his heart when the shaft sliced through his body. (John 19:35) The separation only happens when the blood stops flowing for one is heavier than the other, so they separate.
* In his book, The Chemistry of the Blood, M. R. DeHann, M.D. explains the origin of blood: "The blood which flows in an unborn babe's arteries and veins is not derived from the mother but is produced within the body of the fetus' It is only after the sperm has entered the ovum and a fetus begins to develop that blood appears. As a very simple illustration of this, think of the egg of a hen. A non-fertilized egg is simply an ovum on a much larger scale than the human ovum. You may incubate this non=fertilized hen's egg, but it will never develop. It will dry up completely but no chick will result. But let that egg be fertilized by the introduction of the male sperm and incubation will bring to light the presence of life in an embryo. After a few hours it visibly develops. In a little while red streaks occur, denoting the presence of blood. According to scientists from the time of conception to the time of birth not ONE SINGLE DROP OF BLOOD ever passes from mother to child The mother contributes no blood at all."
Jesus' pure blood was not conveyed by his mother, the daughter of sinful Adam. Rather, it was conveyed by the pure seed of his Heavenly Father!
Centrioles are supplied by the father's sperm. A centriole is the center of a centrosome and is a minute protoplasmic body. Plasma is the fluid part of blood and protoplasm is organized living matter, the fluid complex of the living nucleus that is often designated the physical basis of life. The basis of life is in the father's protoplasmic seed: a seed made of fluid and plasma - water and blood. Jesus came by just such a seed. John tells us there is "one who came by water and blood - Jesus Christ (1 John 5:6) John also tells us that when Jesus died he saw the blood and water come out of Jesus side separately, thus marking his death. (Source, In Search of Israel by Batya Wootten.)
Through his act of love Jesus' bride was cleansed of sin by his pure blood. (Rom. 4:25) Thus, Jesus was able to establish again the lost love relationship with his bride. God and anyone in the human race who wants it can have a relationship again. As a symbol of this, when Jesus died on the cross, the curtain that separated the most holy of holies from the place where priests could stand in the temple in Jerusalem was torn in two. (Matt. 27:51) The curtain was the symbol of sin separating God from his people. With Jesus' death for his bride, sin was removed and thus no longer would Jesus be separated from his bride. (Col. 1:19-21)
* The above was taken from "The Believer's Future -Hope That Inspires"
* Jeremiah 31:34 and Ezekiel 36:25 state Jesus' blood is the basis of the new covenant.
* The Lord spoke of the future as the temple was being rebuilt. The temple represented the throne room of God. The high priest once a year entered to offer blood for his sins and the sins of God's people. With that as a backdrop God tells of the Messiah's first and second coming. He continued the message started in chapter 12 here by stating, "On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity." Jesus's blood is the fountain that cleanses sin and inpurity.
The author of Hebrews states, "But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"
I believe in the power of Jesus's blood.
>Why was prophets no longer needed after Jesus first coming? (2-3)
* Zechariah 13:2-3 "On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more," declares the LORD Almighty. "I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother, to whom he was born, will say to him, 'You must die, because you have told lies in the LORD's name.' When he prophesies, his own parents will stab him."
* "I will" -Repeated in these two verses. The Lord Jesus will remove these.
* "I will banish the names of the idols from the land" -The specific bowing down to carvings of wood, metal, and/or rock has been removed from among people when Jesus' teachings were accepted. Idol worship has been removed from earth for several centuries now. Yet the concept of submitting other things in the place of God still exists. When Jesus comes again in glory to reign from Jerusalem he will be the only one that people will worship.
* "they will be remembered no more" -Complete removal has not happened yet. The names and images of false gods and idols exit as "works of art and history".
* "I will remove... the prophets... from the land" -Commentaries point out that false prophets were a problem in Zechariah's time (Nehemiah 6:12-14) and is in our time (Matthew 24:4-5, 11, 23-24, and 2 Thess. 2:2-4) However, does the verse here specifically say false prophets? It can also include all prophets. During the Millennium there will be no need for prophets for Jesus himself will be on the earth, and we will rule with him being an extension of his word. This is why Paul could firmly state, "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears." (1 Corinthians 13:8-10) Also at the end of Revelations John says that no one should add or subtract from the Bible. Implication is that there will be no new revelation until Jesus comes again. The office of prophet slowly disappeared during the first generation after Jesus resurrection and ascension. Now all Jesus' people do is repeat his words and explain them. There are no need for prophets at this time.
* "I will remove ...the spirit of impurity from the land" -The term "unclean spirit" in the New Testament occurs only here in the Old Testament. Often unclean spirits were behind idols. When Jesus comes again all the demons who follow Satan will be locked up. (John 20:1)
* "if anyone still prophesies" -When Jesus comes again to rule everyone will know that there will be no need for prophets.
* "You must die, because you have told lies in the LORD's name" -There will be tolerance among the people for false prophets during the Millennium.
* 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
>5. Why are prophets ashamed? (4-6)
* Zechariah 13:4-6 "On that day every prophet will be ashamed of his prophetic vision. He will not put on a prophet's garment of hair in order to deceive. He will say, 'I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth.' If someone asks him, 'What are these wounds on your body?' he will answer, 'The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.'"
* "be ashamed of his prophetic vision" -Shame come from a feeling and realization of one inadequacies and from being caught doing wrong.
* "He will not put on a prophet's garment of hair in order to deceive." -Elijah, John the Baptist, and Jesus wore the poor man's cloths. (2 Kings 1:8; Matthew 3:4; Isaiah 53:2) Deceivers, false prophets wore the same even though they grew rich by their deception. But Zechariah saw a day when false prophes wouldn't wear such clothing.
* "I am not a prophet. I am a farmer" -Jesus often portrayed himself as a farming in his parables. But that is not the point here. False prophets will hide their practices.
* "What are these wounds on your body?" -False prophets would cut their bodies to increase their prophetic ecstasy in idolatrous rites. (1 Kings 18:28; Leviticus 19:28, 21:5) The Occults still practice this.
* "The wounds I was given at the house of my friends" -The prophets would deny the wounds were self inflicted.
* When Jesus, the Word of God came in the flesh two thousand years ago people were astonished by his teachings. (Matthew 7:28, 13:54, 22:22; Mark 1:22, 27, 6:2, 11:18, 12:17; John 7:15) At that time he taught them in parables. How much more amazing will his teaching be when he reigns from Jerusalem during the Millennium? False prophets will practice in secret.
>6. How was verse 7 fulfilled? (Mark 14:27)
* Zechariah 13:7 "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!" declares the LORD Almighty. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones."
* Mark 14:27 "You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'"
* See a drawing of Jesus arrest to the right.
* "my shepherd" -Jesus
* "against the man who is close to me" -Judas betrayed Jesus, the Son of God, arrested, tried, crucified, and died. Jesus is loved by the Father.
* "I will turn my hand against the little ones" -The disciples were persecuted after Jesus' ascension.
* The disciples were also scattered when persecutions being led by Saul, who became Paul shortly after Jesus' ascension. The Jews were scattered in 70 A.D.
>Why does trouble sometimes happen to God's people? (8-9)
* Zechariah 13:8-9 "In the whole land," declares the LORD, "two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'"
* "the whole land" -Initially Israel in the apostles day. Also in the time starting just before and during the seven years of tribulation this will be true of the whole earth.
* "two-thirds will be struck down and perish" -Many Jews died during the Roman-Jewish wars. This also applies to the end of this age. Most of mankind will die from a combination of wars of men, the work of Satan and his demons, and the wrath of God.
* "one-third will be left in it" -A remnant.
* "This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold" -The Lord God test his people. Abraham was tested when the Lord told him to sacrifice Isaac, the son of the promise. (Genesis 22:1; Hebrews 11:17) The Lord tested the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. (Exodus 15:25, 16:4, 20:20) Moses said, "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." (Deuteronomy 8:2) And, "He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you." (Deuteronomy 8:16) The Lord tested the generation of Israelites that followed. (Judges 22:2, 3:1, 4; and 2 Chronicles 32:31) Solomon said, "I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent." (1 Chronicles 29:17a)
* Ezekiel 5:2 "When the days of your siege come to an end, burn a third of the hair with fire inside the city. Take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city. And scatter a third to the wind. For I will pursue them with drawn sword."
* Ezekiel 5:4 "Again, take a few of these and throw them into the fire and burn them up. A fire will spread from there to the whole house of Israel."
* Ezekiel 5:12 "A third of your people will die of the plague or perish by famine inside you; a third will fall by the sword outside your walls; and a third I will scatter to the winds and pursue with drawn sword."
* Revelation 9:15
* "They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'" -When Jesus comes again.
* Jesus said of the seed that fell on rocky soil, "Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away." (Luke 8:13)
* 1 Thessalonians 2:4 "On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts."
>What is the secret to passing these tests? (Phil. 4:4-7; John 16:33)
* Philippians 4:4-7 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
* John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
* James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
III. The Lord Comes and Reigns (14:1-21)
>7. What must have those who returned to Jerusalem thought by verses 1 and 2?
* Zechariah 14:1-2 "A day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided among you. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city."
* "A day of the LORD is coming" -In Hebrew this is "yom YHWH bo" which can also be translated "A day is coming for the Lord". The emphasis is not the day or its coming, but the Lord. Chapter fourteen is entirely about one day, Jesus' second coming.
* "your plunder will be divided among you" -Jerusalem is the subject of the plunder.
* "I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it" -The Lord himself will cause the nations to gather with the purpose of having them fight against Jerusalem. Zechariah is speaking of the time to come when the whole world has a united government under the Antichrist. (Isaiah 8:9, 29:7, 34:2, 63:3-6; Matthew 24:30) All the nations gathered against one city, Jerusalem means a large army representing and represented by all the nations. The fulfillment will not be possible until all the nations either agree or at least are fooled or forced into attacking Jerusalem. Some believe they will attack Jerusalem because it resists joining the united earth order under the Antichrist who betrayed them in the middle of the seven year treaty. (Daniel 11:36-12:4)
* "the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped" -Jerusalem will lose this battle. God's people do at times experience defeat. There are reasons for this including but not limited to; judgement, discipline, training, the spiritual battle, testing, etc.
* "Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city." -Did not occur in the Babylonian nor the Roman exiles. The Babylonian exile did happen in three distinct times. The first very few Jews including Daniel were taken to Babylon in 605 B.C. The second exile in 597 B.C. contained thousands of Jews. The third and last exile in 586 B.C. emptied the city of all but the very poorest in Judah. In 70 A.D. Jerusalem was again emptied except the poorest in the land. Therefore this has not been fulfilled yet.
* Zechariah writes elsewhere of battles against Jerusalem and Judah. Zechariah 12:2-3 speak of Jerusalem being protected. Here Jerusalem loses the battle. In chapter 8 the Lord promises to bless Jerusalem. Chapter 9:1-8 speak of judgement against other nations. In between these are prophecies about Jesus' first coming. It becomes clear that Zechariah's prophecies are not in chronological order. People were confused when Jesus came nearly two thousand years ago just as we are now. So why did the Lord reveal his word in this way? First we must understand that these prophecies did not come all at once. They came over periods of time (this based on other prophets revealing when they received the Lord's word). Secondly, a common method of revelation in a prophets life was a little bit at first of the two main subjects, Jesus' two comings in chronological order. Then a little bit more later, then a little bit more later. Thus to us who read the prophets book in one sitting we are confused. This is why Bible study, especially chapter by chapter, verse by verse is very important. Today to many people preach, write, study and listen to topical studies while ignoring studying the entire book.
* The entire chapter is about the day that Jesus comes again. He will come to the aid of his people. He will fight for them. He will make a way to escape Jerusalem when his people are trapped in the city surrounded by enemies. As the Red Sea parted to make an escape for Israel, so here the Mount of Olives will split.
This is a detailed account of Jesus establishing his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
Those who study eschatology have little to say about this chapter and many other verses about the end of this age. Many are in the minor prophets and in Jesus's parables. They only focus on Daniel and Revelation to establish a timeline and predict days and times. Why? And even in predicting the rapture and return they are wrong.
The most important event to come is revealed here, Jesus arrival in the flesh. As the angels told the apostles as they stood on the Mount of Olives, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." They now this because of Zechariah's prolhecy here and in other places too. Oh if only we studied all the Bible!
The Lord let his people get trapped. He let them become vulnerable. Not that they were vulnerable for he was waiting, but rather that they could not trust in themselves. All they could do was trust and wait. They had to wait for him to rescue.
Jesus is the same today. He let's me get trapped and vulnerable. He tests my resolve to trust in him. All are tested this way. All his children will at one time or more become surrounded and vulnerable. Yet, I am never vulnerable for he is here ready to come to my aid if I just call on him. Jesus part the Mount and let me escape. Come to my aid as you did and will do again.
>When Jesus comes again where will he stand first and what will happen there? (3-5)
* Zechariah 14:3-5 "Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him."
* See picture of the Mount of Olives Cemetery to the right.
* "Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations" -This could be the wars at the beginning or the end of the Millennium. (Revelation 11:15-18, 18:1-24, 20:1-10) See earlier study for more on these wars.
* "the Mount of Olives" -The Old Testament calls it this only here and 2 Samuel 15:30. Ezekiel 11:23 only calls it the mountain on the east side of the city. The Mount of Olives looked across the Kidron valley down into the Jerusalem and the temple. It is about 200 feet (67m) higher.
* "his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem" -All agree this is the first place Jesus will stand when he comes again.
* "the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west" -In order to travel east towards Jericho people need to travel around the Mount of Olives. Jesus is probably speaking of this in Mark 11:23. The angels who appeared to the disciples as they stood on the Mount of Olives watching Jesus ascend to heaven said, "Men of Galilee why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)
* "You will flee by my mountain valley" -The Lord Jesus will vacate Jerusalem before he deals with the nations that have surrounded it. When David was forced to leave Jerusalem because of his son Absalom he stood on the Mount of Olives to worship and review those who were leaving with him. (2 Samuel 15:30-32)
* "Azel" -Azel means noble in Hebrew, a son of Saul. Azel meaning here is unclear. It may have been a place on the opposite side of the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem or is a preposition meaning near to,” beside,” or a noun meaning, the side.” Translations vary: “Azal” (KJV, NRSV), the other side (TEV), “Azel” (NAS, NIV), the side of it (RSV).
* "You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah" -Uzziah was king of Judah five hundred years before Zechariah. The earthquake during Uzziah's time was so great Zechariah and Amos could use it as a reference point. When Jesus died Jerusalem experienced an earthquake that caused the curtain the the temple to tear in two (Matthew 27:54) and when Jesus rose from the dead (Matthew 28:2). Jerusalem sits on a junction of three faults.
* The Israelites will not need to fight as they didn't in Exodus 14:13-14. "Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
* "Then" -After he fights the enemies.
* See a picture of Jerusalem to the right. The Temple Mount is on the top/middle, the Kidron Valley is the green area running left to right just beneath it, and the Mount of Olives on at the bottom right.
* "Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him" -"Come" here obviously does not mean come to earth, a common meaning today. Rather, Zechariah is speaking of coming to Jerusalem.
* "holy ones" -Can include both angels and saints.
* Revelation 14:1-2 "Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps."
* Isaiah 29:5-8 "But your many enemies will become like fine dust, the ruthless hordes like blown chaff. Suddenly, in an instant, the LORD Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire. Then the hordes of all the nations that fight against Ariel, that attack her and her fortress and besiege her, will be as it is with a dream, with a vision in the night-- as when a hungry man dreams that he is eating, but he awakens, and his hunger remains; as when a thirsty man dreams that he is drinking, but he awakens faint, with his thirst unquenched. So will it be with the hordes of all the nations that fight against Mount Zion."
* Ezekiel 38:18-23 "This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man's sword will be against his brother. I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'"
* Luke 21:10-11 records Jesus say, "Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven." Though these prophecies aren't exactly tied to his coming and standing on the Mount of Olives.
>Why might there be no evening? (6-7; Matt. 16:27, 24:30-31)
* Zechariah 14:6-7 "On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime--a day known to the LORD. When evening comes, there will be light."
* Matthew 16:27 "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done."
* Matthew 24:30-31 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other."
* "on that day" -Yom in Hebrew meaning an expanse of time, the same day as the events in the rest of Zechariah 14.
* "there will be no light, no cold or frost" -Jesus' resurrection body (and the resurrection bodies the saints will receive) illuminates. His glory was revealed on the mount of transfiguration and as John records in Revelation. When he comes Jerusalem will not experience night.
* "It will be a unique day" -The things that happen in this day have never happened before nor will happen again. Some of these things are due to the largest earthquake ever, other unique earthbound events, and never before happening cosmic events.
* "without daytime or nighttime" -Though the earth will still spin on its axis and revolve around the sun Jerusalem will be illuminated by Jesus and the saints. The sun will still be in the sky, but its light will not be needed.
* "a day known to the LORD" -The Lord did not reveal to the prophets when this "unique day" would be though many have tried to predict the date since. Jesus taught his disciples, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36) When Jesus said "that day" he was referring to what he had just taught them concerning "the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn." Thus its the same day that Zechariah is talking about here in chapter 14. Jesus continued describing the unknown day and hour as a day the nations, "will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." (Matthew 24:30-31) This day is the "last trumpet" Paul wrote about in 1 Corinthians 15:52. So why is the unique day unknown? Jesus also said at that time, "If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them." (Mark 13:20; Matthew 24:22) Different opinions prevail as to what "cut short" and "shorten" mean. A few teach the twenty-four hour day will be turned into a twenty-three or a twenty-two hour (or whatever length) day; but "days" is plural so they are wrong. Also doing this would still make the day of Jesus second coming and the resurrection of the dead calculable to those who would be alive at that time. Another more plausible teaching is that as the end of the seven years (Revelation's seven years and Daniel's seventieth week) approaches the prophetic clock stops just like Daniel's prophetic clock of seventy weeks has now stopped. (The two thousand years we are now in are not part of the prophetic clock.) Thus a gap in Daniel's seventieth week (the seven years of Revelation) would contain the one thousand year reign of Christ. Thus, no one knows when Jesus will come and stand on the Mount of Olives which will cause the prophetic clock to stop. I believe it will happen in the last half of the seven years.
* "When evening comes, there will be light" -Evening brought on by the earth rotation will occur. However, Jerusalem will still have light, not because of street lamps, but because of Jesus' presence as mentioned above.
>8. What is living water and where will it flow? (8; Jer. 2:13; John 4:10, 7:37-39)
* Zechariah 14:8 "On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in summer and in winter."
* Jeremiah 2:13 "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."
* John 4:10 "Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
* John 7:37-39 "On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."
* "living water" -Jesus is living water the source of mans life; though some state that this will also be a literal a river. (Ezekiel 47:1-12)
* Psalm 46:4, 65:9; Isaiah 8:6; Jeremiah 2:13; Ezekiel 47:1-12; Joel 3:18; John 4:10-14, 7:38; Revelation 22:1-2
>Who is Jesus according to verse 9?
* Zechariah 14:9 "The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name."
* "The LORD will be king over the whole earth" -Jesus has always been in total control. Yet the forces of evil, Satan and those who follow him have been trying to destroy his rule. There has been battles in heaven and on earth. When Jesus comes again all his enemies will be taken out of heaven and earth. Then Jesus will sit in Jerusalem and rule as king of his world.
* "there will be one LORD" -Jesus
* "his name the only name" -Jesus
* When Jesus comes again on this "unique day" everyone on the earth will know and believe that Jesus is God, the Messiah, the Son of God, the creator of heaven and earth, the light and life of men.
>And what will happen to Jerusalem when he makes it his capital city? (10-11)
* Zechariah 14:10-11 "The whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up and remain in its place, from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses. It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure."
* "Geba" -Geba means "hill" in Hebrew. Its a town about six miles (10km) north-northeast of Jerusalem. It just within Benjamin's borders (Joshua 18:24) and given to the Levites (Joshua 21:17). Geba represented the northern border of a Judah to be flattened out into a plain dominated by God ruling on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
* "Rimmon" -Rimmon means "pomegranate" in Hebrew thus being a common name. This Zimmon is a town 35 miles (60km) south-southwest of Jerusalem. Its within Judah's territory (Joshua 15:32) but then given to Simeon (Joshua 19:7; compare 1 Chron. 4:32).
* "Arabah" -Arabah means "dry area because of lack of rain" in Hebrew thus being a common name in Palestine. Zechariah is most likely referring to The entire Jordan Valley running 70 miles (120km) from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, or more precisely the desert areas above the actual Zor or lushly fertile areas on the immediate shore of the Jordan. Thus the area of the new Jerusalem of Jesus' one thousand year reign will experience little rain, but be lush because of the two newly created rivers of living water that have their heads in Jerusalem.
* "Jerusalem will be raised up and remain in its place" -The land will be flat and higher than the surrounding area.
* "from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepress" -The whole city in Zechariah's time.
* "It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure"
* Jesus and his "holy ones" (true Israel) will reign from this newly created and enlarged Jerusalem.
>9. What fate awaits those who oppose Jesus now? (12)
* Zechariah 14:12 "This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths."
* "plague" -Plagues are associated with the wrath of God such as what fell upon Egypt.
* "all the nations that fought against Jerusalem" -Since verse 2 and 3 says "all the nations" this means the whole world.
* "Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet" -Sound similar to a nuclear event.
* This could be the same event as 2 Peter 3:10-13. "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."
>How will those who try to stop Jesus' coming respond? (13)
* Zechariah 14:13 "On that day men will be stricken by the LORD with great panic. Each man will seize the hand of another, and they will attack each other."
* "men will be stricken by the LORD with great panic"
* "Each man will seize the hand of another, and they will attack each other" -The Lord has used this tactic before.
>Who will receive the plunder? (14-15)
* Zechariah 14:14-15 "Judah too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected--great quantities of gold and silver and clothing. A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps."
* "Judah too will fight at Jerusalem" -They will not be fighting against the Lord, but fighting for the Lord. Joel wrote, "
* Joel 2:1-11 describes this army of the Lord. It says, "Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand-- a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come. Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste-- nothing escapes them. They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle. At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale. They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks. They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows. Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine. The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?"
* "The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected" -The spoils of the war.
>10. What is the Feast of Tabernacles and how is it celebrated when Jesus reigns?
* Zechariah 14:16-19 "Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles."
* "Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King" -During the Millennium.
* "to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles" -The feast of Tabernacles is the last of the seven feasts of the Lord. (Leviticus 23)
* "worship the King" -Jesus.
>What will people do when they come to worship Jesus in Jerusalem? (20-21)
* Zechariah 14:20-21 "On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD's house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD Almighty."
* "all who come to sacrifice" -Sacrifice was a part of the Levitical system. There were many types of sacrifices including the Passover lamb.
* "there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD Almighty" -A Canaanite is anyone who is morally or spiritually unclean, not cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
>How should this inspire us today?
* Live by faith, hope, and love.
|
