Overwhelmed! That’s what I feel about Zechariah, and for all of the prophets in general. I have imagined myself in their position, attempting to express to the people within earshot, things they do not understand, and may not ever see come to fruition in their lifetime. These precious prophets are often making proclamations regarding people, leaders, or circumstances that don’t even exist at the time they are writing. I wonder, how do they explain or interpret these messages when the people and circumstances are not based in the current reality? Do you know what I mean? All they know is the God from whom these instructions, warnings, and orders came; and they know that if God said it- it will happen.
This is what I know. Zechariah is a prophet that lived during the time that the temple is being restored after Judah’s captivity in Babylon. If you remember I had written about the “clock ticking” from the prophecy a couple weeks ago. Hint: Daniel and the 70 sevens? As Zechariah writes, this clock has begun with the rebuilding of the temple and of Jerusalem. Zechariah’s contemporaries are all involved in this important work: Zerubbabel, Haggai, Darius, and Ezra. Note: If you’re wondering why there is so much prophecy toward the back half of the Old Testament, that is because it is organized with the prophet’s writings all together in chronological order.
Let’s take a moment to review. So far this year, we have studied some of the great chapters of the Bible that touch on the Law (first five books) introducing God, creation, mankind, sin, the law, and the special people who were chosen by God to tell His story. Following that, are the history books (Joshua-Esther) which tell the story of the relationship between God and His people. Next are the wisdom books (Job – Song of Solomon) and the rest are the prophets which are going to foretell the future, both near and far. When you understand the layout, and the fact that the books chronologically are all layered on top of each other from the birth of Israel to the end of the the Old Testament, it makes more sense. For example consider David, he is written about in Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and he wrote many of the Psalms. His son Solomon took over and is written about in these books and he wrote more of the wisdom books than his dad. As the kingdom if Israel is divided, we see prophets emerge one after another with warnings, predictions, and wisdom from God to man, telling mankind to turn from their sin and be blessed, or remain in defiance and face the wrath of God. God’s people finally have to face their own punishment for worshiping other gods and denying their own God, and that is where we find ourselves at the writing of Zechariah.
From the end of the prophets (Malachi) in 430 B.C. there is a period of silence. God is finished speaking to His people. Let that sink in! 400 years later we have a voice crying in the wilderness, which is the next prophet we know as “John the Baptist” preparing the way for the Messiah. The Christ! Repent and be baptized is his message. We’ll get to that later, but after this dark and desperate time we know the GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY is on it’s way.
Back to Zechariah 12-14. I can tell you that I read and meditated on these chapters and am so thankful to: #1 be living in this age where I have the Bible in hand and can piece together some of these references, especially understanding the timeline as I just mentioned above. #2 I am grateful to be a child of God and my sin covered by the blood of Christ. The wrath of God is not something I’d ever want to face and I know with certainty that I won’t have to. #3 I am grateful for theologians who’ve dedicated their lives to studying the scripture to be able to assist people like me!
Here is a really simple outline of these chapters that contain the second oracle to the Jews who have returned to Jerusalem from captivity. I share this with you so you see the overall picture of the intention in this prophecy. It is written to Israel, about their future, the future of their enemies, and their God.
- The Lord will deliver Jerusalem. (2:1-9; 14:1-7)
- The Lord will cleanse Israel. (12:10-13:9)
- The Lord reigns over all the earth (14:8-11, 16-21)
This may be all you really need to have a greater understanding of these chapters, but I still needed help to sort out and organize the prophecy that was jumping from one event to another. I knew it would help me to refresh my memory about the chronology of the end times as they relate to these chapters written by Zechariah. Therefore, I’m going to share my study, and if this not neccessary for you, please feel free to skip to the end. 🙂
Context: The prophecies written in Zechariah are regarding events that take place in the last half of the tribulation. At this time, the antichrist is ruling as god of the world in Jerusalem. Note: I’ll use the number references only for the verses we’re talking about from Zechariah 12-14. The Jews fall into three groups: they are either killed (13:8), following the antichrist (Revelation 3:9), or are saved (13:9) and part of what is known as the remnant who flee to the safety of Petra (14:5; Isaiah 63:1; Daniel 11:41).
Following these events is the pouring out of the last seal judgement (Revelation 8,9; 11:15-19) which consists of 7 plagues, then 3 messages (Revelation 14:6-7, 8, 9-11) then the pouring out of seven bowls of judgement (Revelation 16), next the destruction of Babylon (Revelation 18) and THEN we come to the “Battle of Armageddon” (Revelation 16:16; also found in Isaiah, Joel, Zechariah 12:2; 14:2, 3, 12 and Revelation 19:11-21). Note: This battle comes at the end of the tribulation, but is not the final battle. The battle we are talking about here will be held over much of Israel, from Megiddo (12:11) to Edom which is approximately a 200 mile stretch and in the center of it all will be the all important city of Jerusalem (14:1, 2). Note for later: Petra is located in Edom. God himself is gathering the nations to fight in this battle (14:2). Also note: the Mount of Olives is just overlooking Jerusalem and this is the place where Jesus will return to the earth. (14:4). It’s not unreasonable to assume that the antichrist would place his armies here in Jerusalem where he could keep an eye out for the coming Christ to take Him upon His arrival, right? He knows prophecy too. With this world battle’s center being in Jerusalem you can easily see that the city will be destroyed for the final time. (14:2).
Stay with me, as we move on in the timeline now.
When the city is destroyed, Christ will come, touching down on the Mount of Olives, and causing an earthquake there (14:4, 8). He (Christ) gathers the remnant in Petra, with the Church (believers who’ve been raptured), and the angel army, and will defeat the antichrist. Just the appearance of Christ on the battlefield will cause demoralization (12:2; 14:13) and more destruction (12:4; 14:12, 15). The beast (aka antichrist) and the false prophet (world religious leader who raised the antichrist from the dead) will now be thrown permanently into the lake of fire (Rev 19:20).
Pause for a moment; there are many purposes to be fulfilled in the second coming of Christ. One of those is the victory of the battle of Armageddon and throwing the antichrist and false prophet into the lake of fire forever. Another is to regather faithful Israel in their time of sorrow (12:10-12; 13:6) which leads to their restoration and ultimate joy written of in Isaiah. Of course there are many more but those are written about in other books so we’ll leave it for another time.
But to finish the story (because I hate being left hanging), following the battle and punishment of the 2 evil ones, is a period of 75 days (Daniel 12:11, 12), then the Millennium (thousand year reign), after which Satan is set free for the one the final battle. Satan is forever defeated. The old heavens and earth are destroyed and the new are created and God and all of His people live in His presence eternally. Whew!!!!
Now what does this matter?
Well it matters to me because it’s God’s story. The the rest of His story that began at creation, that I entered in 1962 A.D., where He gave me a life and the purpose. All of these exciting details of what happens when and how and with whom or to whom are far less important than the God who was, who is, and who is to come. When I find myself trying to read the signs of the times (which are shouting really loudly these days, in my opinion) I have to remember what is most important is the Author. It’s His story, the timing is His timing, and my job is to Honor Him and share the facts that He has orchestrated EVERYTHING to be in relationship with Him (John 3:16). Humans have proven themselves sinful and selfish for thousands of years now (Romans 3:23). The penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23). God in His undeserved and unimaginable grace and love, sacrificially carved out a plan that reunites Him and me, and you, and all of us (Romans 5:8).
It takes a willful choice on our part to recognize our sin, to repent, and to commit our life as a servant of Christ (Romans 10:19-10)
We have the easy part in choosing Him. Christ has done all of the work to cover and pay the penalty of our sin (Romans 5:1; 8:1) He is the One who transforms our lives, gives us hope and a future. He is the one who has defeated sin and death. He is a fair judge and does not pardon those who never repented of their selfishness nor recognized and bowed themselves to His Deity. He leaves the choice to us. And for those who have made the choice to follow and serve Christ as Lord and Savior, He has given us the job of telling His story, and living out our faith authentically and faithfully before the world (Matthew 28:16-20).
