A Examine of Zechariah 12
Opening: “On That Day!” That’s a phrase the prophet Zechariah makes use of repeatedly to explain the Second Coming of Messiah Jesus. We’ll have a look at that as we speak as we come to the dramatic twelfth chapter of his ebook. This chapter provides us one of the vital emotional moments of the entire Bible!
Introduction / Assessment
Immediately we’re coming to a number of the most pivotal chapters in the whole Bible in regards to the returning of Jesus Christ to this planet. Chapters 12, 13, and 14 are as essential to biblical prophecy as another portion of Scripture, and we be taught issues right here that aren’t revealed anyplace else within the Bible.
Let’s evaluate the ebook of Zechariah very briefly. Zechariah and Haggai have been prophets who have been despatched by God to encourage the remnant from Babylon to renew constructing the Second Temple and repopulating Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Zechariah informed the group about eight visions he had acquired from God on a single night time. Then there was one symbolic motion on the finish of chapter 6. Then Zechariah turned to preaching and predictive prophecy. Chapters 7 and eight give us Zechariah’s reply to a query the remnant had about whether or not they need to proceed to quick for the restoration of Israel. The ultimate six chapters of the ebook divide into two completely different oracles or burdens or prophecies. Chapters 9, 10, and 11 finish on a fairly dismal notice. We’re informed there are two shepherds who will seem sooner or later. The primary one, the Good Shepherd, will probably be rejected by Israel and valued at solely 30 items of silver, which will probably be thrown into the temple and given to a potter. Then there’ll come up one other shepherd, an evil particular person, who would be the antichrist.
If the ebook ended there, we’d have a tough time calling Zechariah the prophet of encouragement. However now we come to the ultimate part of the ebook—chapter 12, 13, and 14, which give us vivid depictions of the Battle of Armageddon, the conversion of the nation of Israel, the return of Christ, and the onset of the Millennial Kingdom.
Let’s learn Zechariah 12. Even a easy studying of this chapter makes it clear these are dramatic future occasions related to the Eskaton—the Final Days. Discover particularly the dramatic phrase that happens fifteen occasions in these chapters: “On That Day.”
12 A prophecy: The phrase of the Lord regarding Israel.
The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the inspiration of the earth, and who kinds the human spirit inside an individual, declares: 2 “I’m going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the encircling peoples reeling. Judah will probably be besieged in addition to Jerusalem. 3 On that day, when all of the nations of the earth are gathered in opposition to her, I’ll make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all of the nations. All who attempt to transfer it’s going to injure themselves.
4 On that day I’ll strike each horse with panic and its rider with insanity,” declares the Lord. “I’ll maintain a watchful eye over Judah, however I’ll blind all of the horses of the nations. 5 Then the clans of Judah will say of their hearts, ‘The individuals of Jerusalem are sturdy, as a result of the Lord Almighty is their God.’
6 “On that day I’ll make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch amongst sheaves. They’ll eat all the encircling peoples proper and left, however Jerusalem will stay intact in her place.
7 “The Lord will save the dwellings of Judah first, in order that the glory of the home of David and of Jerusalem’s inhabitants is probably not higher than that of Judah. 8 On that day the Lord will defend those that stay in Jerusalem, in order that the feeblest amongst them will probably be like David, and the home of David will probably be like God, just like the angel of the Lord going earlier than them. 9 On that day I’ll got down to destroy all of the nations that assault Jerusalem.
10 “And I’ll pour out on the home of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They’ll look on me, the one they’ve pierced, and they’re going to mourn for him as one mourns for an solely baby, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will probably be as nice because the weeping of Hadad Rimmon within the plain of Megiddo. 12 The land will mourn, every clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the home of David and their wives, the clan of the home of Nathan and their wives, 13 the clan of the home of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14 and all the remainder of the clans and their wives.
With this passage we’re coming to what we frequently name the Battle of Armageddon.
1. The Battle of Armageddon
12 A prophecy: The phrase of the Lord regarding Israel.
The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the inspiration of the earth, and who kinds the human spirit inside an individual, declares:
Discover the three-fold description of God. He created the huge universe that surrounds the earth, virtually infinite to our creativeness in all instructions, crammed with stars and planets and galaxies with out quantity. He created earth as our dwelling place; and He created us as human beings in His picture, physique and spirit.
The implication is that if He can do these issues, He can care for the threats in opposition to us, the enemies we face, and the present and future occasions that provoke concern and concern. Nothing is inconceivable for the God of Israel.
2 “I’m going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the encircling peoples reeling.
The middle theme of this passage is Jerusalem, that historical metropolis on the northern flanks of the Judean desert, the town David selected as his capital, and the town the place Jesus was slain and resurrected. The whole lot in world historical past goes to come back all the way down to Jerusalem. That is an important metropolis on this planet, in historical past, and sooner or later.
Within the Final Days, the armies of the world will encompass this metropolis. However Jerusalem could be a cup that sends her enemies reeling. That is Previous Testomony language for judgment. Isaiah 51:17 talks in regards to the cup of God’s wrath that His enemies will probably be compelled to drink to the dregs. Jeremiah 25 describes the cup crammed with the wine of God’s wrath, which all nations will drink.
Judah will probably be besieged in addition to Jerusalem.
Fashionable Jerusalem now spreads via a lot of biblical Judea, so the whole space round Jerusalem will probably be below siege within the days earlier than the Lord returns.
3 On that day, when all of the nations of the earth are gathered in opposition to her, I’ll make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all of the nations. All who attempt to transfer it’s going to injure themselves.
You probably have been to Jerusalem, you realize it’s a metropolis of rock that units on rock—the well-known Jerusalem limestone with its golden glow. What Zechariah is saying right here is that the nations are going to attempt to uproot Jerusalem like a stone, however they are going to be unable to take action. They’ll harm themselves. I can’t assist considering of my grandfather, W. L. Morgan, who died in 1921 on the age of 51. At one level I heard his loss of life happened as a result of he harm himself making an attempt to maneuver a big stone out of the street. Properly, that’s what’s going to occur to the nations that collect round Jerusalem close to the top of the Nice Tribulation. The antichrist will probably be on the verge of lastly destroying Israel and the Jewish individuals. However God will intervene. Verse 4 says:
4 On that day I’ll strike each horse with panic and its rider with insanity,” declares the Lord. “I’ll maintain a watchful eye over Judah, however I’ll blind all of the horses of the nations.
Simply because the armies of Armageddon are prepared to complete their assault on Jerusalem, one thing goes to occur that can immediately flip the tide. The Lord Himself will intervene. He’s going to drive the enemy mad. He’s going to overturn their navy methods and their weapons for conflict. In Zechariah’s day, the best navy weapon was the horse. However as we speak, we have now planes and drones and missiles. The armies are going to be struck with panic and confusion.
Discover the metaphors right here. God’s eye will probably be open towards Judah, however He’ll shut the eyes of the horses. They are going to be blinded. Verse 5 goes on to inform us that an consciousness dawns on Israel. God has come to assist them!
5 Then the clans of Judah will say of their hearts, ‘The individuals of Jerusalem are sturdy, as a result of the Lord Almighty is their God.’
Verse 6 begins with this dramatic phrase: “On today….”
6 “On that day I’ll make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch amongst sheaves. They’ll eat all the encircling peoples proper and left, however Jerusalem will stay intact in her place.
God will flip Israel right into a harmful hearth that can burn her enemies like a flaming torch units a dry area on hearth. Now verse 7 provides us an fascinating element. When the nations are occupying Israel and Judah from their ahead working base at Armageddon to the north, the Lord will come to Israel’s deliverance. He’ll begin by saving the Jews within the areas surrounding Jerusalem, then He’ll transfer to save lots of the town itself.
7 “The Lord will save the dwellings of Judah first, in order that the glory of the home of David and of Jerusalem’s inhabitants is probably not higher than that of Judah.
Verse 8 repeats the “On this Day” components and tells us how God’s deliverance will transfer from outdoors the town to inside the town. Verse 8 say:
8 On that day the Lord will defend those that stay in Jerusalem, in order that the feeblest amongst them will probably be like David, and the home of David will probably be like God, just like the angel of the Lord going earlier than them.
Keep in mind David? Together with his easy slingshot and stone he introduced down Goliath. Abruptly even the feeblest resident of Jerusalem will probably be as highly effective because the boy David. And the home of David will probably be like God, just like the angel of the Lord. Who’s the descendant of David who’s like God and who is known as within the Previous Testomony the “angel of the Lord”? For the primary time on this chapter, we’re given a touch about who is absolutely behind this sudden reversal of Israel’s fortunes through the Battle of Armageddon.
Verse 9 is a abstract verse that condenses the earlier eight verses into one assertion:
9 On that day I’ll got down to destroy all of the nations that assault Jerusalem.
Discover the phrase “all of the nations.” Verse 2 refers back to the “surrounding individuals.” Verse 3 talks about “all of the nations of the earth.” Verse 4 mentions the “horses of the nations.” This isn’t a regional conflict. It’s a world conflict. It’s a world conflagration. Zechariah 12:1-9 describe the Battle of Armageddon because the nations of the world encompass Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem.
However now, from Zechariah 12:10 to 13:1, we have now a second dramatic occasion. Not solely is Israel saved in a navy sense; she goes to be saved in a non secular sense. At this determined second in her historical past, the nation of Israel and the Jewish persons are lastly going to obtain and welcome the Messiah whom they rejected at His first coming. Have a look at verse 10.
2. The Salvation of Israel
10 “And I’ll pour out on the home of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They’ll look on me, the one they’ve pierced, and they’re going to mourn for him as one mourns for an solely baby, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
The very first thing I need to level out to you is the One who’s talking. These are the phrases of Jesus the Messiah. He’s the one who has been talking in chapter 12: They’ll look on Me, the One they’ve pierced.
The apostle John quotes this verse in John 19:34-37: “…one of many troopers pierced Jesus’ facet with a spear, bringing a sudden move of blood and water…. This stuff occurred in order that the scripture could be fulfilled… ‘They’ll look on the one they’ve pierced.’”
Jesus mentioned, in impact, right here in Zechariah: “I’ll pour out on the nation of Israel the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of grace, the Spirit of salvation. They’ll see Me. They’ll see Me, whom they pierced at Calvary.”
Women and gents, this was written 500 years earlier than the time of Jesus Christ, and but we’re informed on this passage how he would die, by piercing, and that He would return alive to be seen by those that had Him pierced. And He’ll pour out on them the Spirit of supplication, of prayer.
Joel talked about this second too, when He mentioned in Joel 2:28ff:
“And afterward, I’ll pour out my Spirit on all individuals. Your little children will prophesy, your previous males will dream desires, your younger males will see visions. Even on my servants, each women and men, I’ll pour out my Spirit in these days. I’ll present wonders within the heavens and on the earth, blood and hearth and billows of smoke. The solar will probably be turned to darkness and the moon to blood earlier than the approaching of the nice and dreadful day of the Lord. And everybody who calls on the identify of the Lord will probably be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will probably be deliverance, because the Lord has mentioned, even among the many survivors whom the Lord calls.”
Do you see the concord between Joel’s predictions and people of Zechariah? We might go on and harmonize this with what Jesus mentioned about His return and with the ultimate chapters of the ebook of Revelation. How a lot clearer might it’s?
Even the apostle Paul speaks of today when he says in Romans 11:25-27: “I don’t want you to be blind to this thriller, brothers and sisters…. Israel has skilled a hardening partly till the total variety of the Gentiles has are available and on this approach all Israel will probably be saved. As it’s written, ‘The deliverer will come from Zion; he’ll flip godlessness away from Jacob.’ And that is my covenant with them once I take away their sins.”
Within the ultimate days of the Nice Tribulation, the devil-filled antichrist will deceive the nations and convey them to encircle the nation of Israel to destroy each final Jew and at last convey to a bitter finish his history-long battle with God’s chosen individuals. He’ll arrange his command and management headquarters at Armageddon to the north of Jerusalem, occupy Israel, and the armies of all of the nations on earth will encompass Judah and Jerusalem. At that second, the Lord Jesus Christ will intervene. The nation of Israel will see Him whom they pierced and mourn for Him. And He’ll pour down on them the Spirit of grace and supplication and salvation, and so all Israel will probably be saved.
Verse 11 says:
11 On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will probably be as nice because the weeping of Hadad Rimmon within the plain of Megiddo.
The phrase “mourn” happens 5 occasions in verses 10, 11, and 12. On this verse, Zechariah appears to be referring again to the day when good king Josiah was slain, resulting in inconsolable grief. It was a time of nationwide mourning. When the Jewish individuals acknowledge how they rejected their Savior when He got here to them within the first century, it’s going to break their hearts. Verse 12 says:
12 The land will mourn, every clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the home of David and their wives, the clan of the home of Nathan and their wives, 13 the clan of the home of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, 14 and all the remainder of the clans and their wives.
13 “On that day a fountain will probably be opened to the home of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.
The forgiving grace of Jesus Christ will probably be poured out on the Jewish individuals and on the nation of Israel like large heavenly fountains gushing from Heaven to cleanse and restore. And we should always always remember that the identical fountain is offered proper now to everybody on earth. That is the verse that impressed Isacc Watts to write down:
There’s a fountain crammed with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins.
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their responsible stains.
Conclusion
And so Zechariah 12 is without doubt one of the most essential eschatological chapters within the Bible. It tells us in regards to the Battle of Armageddon and the nationwide conversion of the Jewish individuals. I can not assist however surprise why it’s so seldom learn within the pulpit or preached about in our sermons. However it helps us perceive the significance of the Jewish individuals in God’s plan for human historical past, and why, even now, the presence of the Jews of their historical land of Israel is a outstanding signal of the occasions through which we stay.
