Zacarias 12
James Montgomery Boice · Citado em PreceptAustin
Zacarias 12
Boice - The last three chapters of Zechariah contain a second “oracle,” or “burden” (Hebrew massaʿ) of the prophet, corresponding to the burden of chapters 9–11. But in the first section the burden is laid upon Hadrach, a Gentile nation, while in the second section the burden is laid upon Israel. This points to the chief difference between the two oracles. To go back to the words of David Baron (in Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah), the first oracle concerns “the judgment through which Gentile world power over Israel is finally destroyed and Israel is endowed with strength to overcome all their [sic] enemies,” while the second concerns “the judgment through which Israel itself is sifted and purged in the final conflict with the nations and transformed into the holy nation of Jehovah.” Boice quotes Feinberg - Charles Feinberg says, “The actual events, world-embracing in character, which are presented include the world confederacy against Jerusalem; the victory of God’s people, empowered of the Lord; the conviction of Israel nationally by the Spirit of God; the presentation of Christ as their rejected Messiah; the national Day of Atonement; the cleansing of the hearts of the nation; the purging of the land from idolatry and false prophets; parenthetically, the crucifixion of the Messiah; the time of Jacob’s trouble; the partial success of the nations invading Palestine and besieging Jerusalem; the appearance of the Messiah for his people; their rescue and his coming with his saints; the changed and renovated Holy Land; the establishment of the Messianic kingdom; the punishment of the nations for their futile assault on Israel; the celebration of the kingdom feast, the Feast of Tabernacles; and the complete restoration of the people of God to a holy nation.” It would be hard to find a more complete treatment of the events of the end times in all Scripture. Charles Feinberg comments on the exceptional importance of Zechariah 12-14 - "As a portion of the prophetic Scriptures it is second to none in importance in this book or in any other Old Testament book. It is indispensable to an understanding of the events of the last days for Israel—the time of the Great Tribulation and the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth." Steven Cole looking ahead writes that "Zechariah 11 predicts Israel’s rejection of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and her subjection during the Tribulation to the worthless shepherd. This will plunge the nation into a time of severe testing, described by Jeremiah 30:5-7+ as “the time of Jacob’s distress.” Daniel 12:1+ calls it “a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time.” This time of testing culminates in the Battle of Armageddon (Joel 3:9-16; Rev. 16:16-21; Zech. 12:1-9; 14:2-3) (ED: More accurately the campaign of Armageddon - SEE NOTE), when God will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle. At the last minute, just before Israel is annihilated, God will supernaturally rout the enemy and deliver His people. Our text describes the physical deliverance of Israel in Zechariah 12:1-9, and the spiritual deliverance of Israel in Zechariah 12:10-14. The great military victory that God will achieve for His helpless people illustrates the great spiritual salvation that He also brings. Both sections emphasize the truth that God is mighty to save His people according to His purpose. (Zechariah 12 Sermon) A Caution - The discerning reader needs to be wary of which commentary he or she reads when studying the predictive prophecies in Zechariah 12-14. For example, the older work, the Pulpit Commentary has a comment on Zechariah 12:3 which at first sounds reasonable but then merges with a ridiculous conclusion - "This (the phrase all the nations of the earth) indicates that the struggle spoken of is no mere local conflict, waged in Maccabean or other times, but the great battle of the world against the Church, which shall rage in the Messianic era." Beloved, that assertion is taking this phrase totally out of context (remember Context is King in interpretation) and is clearly erroneous. The immediate context (Zech 12:2) clearly states that this conflict is against Jerusalem...against Judah. It is NOT against the Church, who will not be present during the horrible events in these last days leading up to the Return of the Messiah, days which John describes in detail in Revelation 6-19, where he makes not a single mention of the Church! See discussion of when the rapture occurs. See 151 pages of articles on pre-tribulation rapture, also overview of pre-tribulation rapture. THE LITTLE APOCALYPSE OF ZECHARIAH Arnold Fruchtenbaum writes that "The Greek title for the Book of Revelation is “The Book of the Apocalypse.” The Book of Revelation deals with the subject of prophecy or eschatology, which is the study of the events of the Last Days. The last three chapters of the Book of Zechariah deal with the same or similar material as that found in the Book of Revelation, therefore, these three chapters can be called “The Little Apocalypse of Zechariah.” Given the fact that Zechariah 12-14 is concerning Israel, it should come as no surprise that a keyword (see importance of observing key words) in this unit is Jerusalem, found 23 times in 20 verses with 11 of these occurrences in Zechariah 12: Zech. 12:2; Zech. 12:3; Zech. 12:5; Zech. 12:6; Zech. 12:7; Zech. 12:8; Zech. 12:9; Zech. 12:10; Zech. 12:11; Zech. 13:1; Zech. 14:2; Zech. 14:4; Zech. 14:8; Zech. 14:10; Zech. 14:11; Zech. 14:12; Zech. 14:14; Zech. 14:16; Zech. 14:17; Zech. 14:21 Other key words in Zechariah 12-14 include: LORD - 26x in 22 verses - Zec 12:1 Zec 12:4 Zec 12:5 Zec 12:7 Zec 12:8 Zec 13:2 Zec 13:3 Zec 13:7 Zec 13:8 Zec 13:9 Zec 14:1 Zec 14:3 Zec 14:5 Zec 14:7 Zec 14:9 Zec 14:12 Zec 14:13 Zec 14:16 Zec 14:17 Zec 14:18 Zec 14:20 Zec 14:21 God - 4x in 4 verses - Zec 12:5, 8, 13:9, 14:5 That day - 17 times in 16 verses - Zec 12:3 Zec 12:4 Zec 12:6 Zec 12:8 Zec 12:9 Zec 12:11 Zec 13:1 Zec 13:2 Zec 13:4 Zec 14:4 Zec 14:6 Zec 14:8 Zec 14:9 Zec 14:13 Zec 14:20 Zec 14:21 Nations - 8 times in 8 verses - Zec 12:3 Zec 12:9 Zec 14:2 Zec 14:3 Zec 14:14 Zec 14:16 Zec 14:18 Zec 14:19 Notice that by simply observing the key words the general theme of the prophecy of Zechariah 12-14 comes into focus so that we can see that this great prophecy deals with the relationship of the the LORD GOD with the nation of ISRAEL, its capital JERUSALEM and the Gentile NATIONS of the world IN THAT DAY. Below is a simple summary of the major events alluded to in Zechariah 12-14 which occur IN THAT DAY which is actually many individual days all composing the general time period known as the Day of the LORD. Notice that Zechariah's prophecies span "two ages," (or two kingdoms) the "age (kingdoms) of man" and the "age (kingdom) of Messiah." And so we find that Zechariah in some sections describes the last days of Jerusalem in this present evil age (Gal 1:4+) and in other sections he describes the first days of Jerusalem in the Millennial Age. Notice also that Zechariah's prophecies are not strictly chronological from chapter 12 to 14, but skip around somewhat as exemplified by the fact that one will encounter several descriptions of the "Campaign of Armageddon" in all three chapters. If you keep these thoughts in mind, you will be less likely to be confused by the incredible events described in Zechariah 12-14 "The Little Apocalypse of Zechariah." One could summarize Zechariah 12-14 as describing the return of Messiah, the conversion of Israel and the establishment of the Kingdom of God. The folowing table expands on the events that will occur in the fearful, glorious Day of the LORD. IN THAT DAY THE DAY OF THE LORD The Campaign of Armageddon - Nations Gather Against Jerusalem (Zec 12:2-5) Day of the LORD includes Great Tribulation (Mt 24:15, 21+), Time of Jacob's Distress (Jer 30:7), a time of distress (Da 12:1) Jerusalem Initially Captured by the Nations who Slay 2/3's of Israel (Zec 14:1-2, 13:8) Messiah Returns to Defend Jerusalem and Defeat the Nations (Zec 12:6-9, 14:3, 12-15) Messiah's Return Brings a National Day of Atonement in Israel (Zec 12:10-14, 13:1, 8-9) Messiah's Return Brings Cosmic & Topographical Changes (Zec 14:4-8) Messiah Establishes His Kingdom & Reigns as King Over All the Earth (Zec 14:9) Messiah's Kingdom Purged of Idols and False Prophets (Zec 13:2-6) Jerusalem Rises and Experiences Peace (Zec 14:10) Feast of Booths Celebrated in Messiah's Earthly Kingdom (Zec 14:16-19) Everything in Jerusalem is Holy to the LORD (Zec 14:20-21) THE SOVEREIGN GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE The burden of the word of the LORD - The first burden of the word of the LORD in this last section of predictive prophecy was described in Zechariah 9:1-11:17 (notes) and was "against the land of Hadrach, with Damascus." Zechariah 12-14 deals primarily with prophecy that is future to us (I write in 2017), and as such records the incredible events that will surround the Second Coming of the Messiah. Zechariah 13:7 is an exception as this passage is a prophecy that has been perfectly fulfilled in the past at Messiah's First Coming, being quoted by the Messiah Himself, the Good Shepherd Who gave His life for His sheep (Mt 26:31, Mk 14:27+, Jn 10:11+). But just as surely as that one prophecy has been fulfilled, rest assured that all of the predictive prophesies in Zechariah 12-14 will come to pass just as they are written for "God, Who cannot lie, promised long ages ago." (Titus 1:2+). Burden in English is a weight to be borne or conveyed, in this case to be conveyed by God to His people to give them a word of encouragement and hope, in the Biblical sense, where "hope" is not "hope so" but "hope sure," and signifies an absolute assurance of future good or a certainty that God will do good to someone (in this case the nation of Israel) in the future. David Baron, on burden (massa') of the word of the LORD comments that "inasmuch as this siege, or "straitness," ( a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs) and the solemn events of that day synchronize with the Time of Jacob's Distress (Jeremiah 30:7+), and covers the period of unparalleled sufferings and tribulation by means of which the Jewish nation is itself first purged as in a fiery furnace, the prophecy properly begins with the words massa debar Yehovah al Israel "the burden of the word of Jehovah upon (or over) Israel". The word massa, as we have seen, when dealing with Zechariah 9:1 spoke entirely to prophecies which contain threatenings and announced judgments. But though it will be a time of unspeakable anguish for Israel, the climax of all their sufferings and tribulations through all the centuries since the commencement of "the times of the Gentiles," they "shall be saved out of it." Yea, in their greatest extremity, and in the time of their most dire need, God Himself in the person of their Messiah shall interpose on their behalf, and He will be "jealous for His land, and have pity on His people." (Israel's Final Conflict And Great Deliverance)
Zacarias 12
Boice asks the question about whether this passage refers to our times or end times? - But to what period do they belong? And to what people? They obviously follow the first coming of Jesus Christ, for 12:10–14 describes a universal repentance in which people mourn for “the one they have pierced” (v. 10). But does that concern events shortly after Jesus’ death, perhaps events accompanying the first preaching of the gospel at Pentecost or shortly thereafter? Does it refer to the expansion of Christian preaching and church growth throughout all subsequent ages? Or does it relate to something special to happen at the end of this age? Quite a few Reformed thinkers pick the second possibility and see the blessing of these chapters as belonging to the church, not to Israel nationally. This is probably the majority view in Reformed circles, due to the more basic conviction that the people of God are one, the church being an extension of Israel, and that reversion to a day of national Jewish blessing would be a step backward from the fulfillment of all prophecy in Christ. Unfortunately for this view, the chapter does not speak generally about “the people of God” or even merely about “Israel.” It repeatedly stresses the names of Jerusalem and Judah. And when it talks about Israel’s repentance, it does so by reference to the specific Jewish clans or tribes: “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” (vv. 12–14). There is probably no more specifically Jewish prophecy in the book. But if these chapters refer to Jews specifically and not to the church as the New Testament Israel, then the events to which they refer must be future. For it is certain that there has not yet been a national repentance by Israel nor an enjoyment by them of the blessings here enumerated. And if this is the case, then the battle referred to in Zechariah 12:1–9 must be the last great battle, Armageddon, and the repentance of verses 10–14 a time of national salvation prior to the second coming of the Lord. Indeed, when the chapters are viewed in that light, the repeated “on that day” is seen quite naturally to refer to that last and great day of the Lord’s return in judgment. These chapters are a prophecy of the events of those end times. Spurgeon is more honest than many modern preachers who regard these promises as fulfilled to the church - This is true literally, but it is also true spiritually. As the Church of God is to be a cup of trembling to its enemies, so is it also to be a burdensome stone. They do not like it, they cannot bear it. They would, if they could, get rid of the spiritual Church of God; but they cannot get rid of it. There it is: — a stone, cut out of the mountain without hands, which will grow until it fills the whole earth, and breaks in pieces everything that opposes it. Those who set themselves against God, and against his Christ shall find themselves crushed to atoms by this mighty stone. I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples - Literally "a stone of burden." It is a heavy stone which is difficult to lift. Notice again the I will signifies that it is the sovereign Lord Who will bring these events to fruition. As an aside, if He is in control of the end of this age, then He is surely in control of the "middle," and thus He is in control in your life, even though your life may seem out of control. Have you yielded your will to His good and acceptable and perfect will? (Ro 12:2). I WILL As mentioned earlier there are 6 "I will" statements by God in Zechariah 12, signifying the omnipotent power of God Almighty, the LORD of armies, will bring the incredible events of this chapter to fruition. It's as if God said "I said it and I will accomplish it for My chosen nation of Israel!" And everyone who loves what God loves will shout : Thank You Lord! Hallelujah! Mranatha (Come Lord)! Hosanna (Save now)! Amen (So be it)!" All who lift it will be severely injured - Those who seek to harm Israel will be harmed as described below. So Jerusalem is pictured as a heavy stone which the Gentiles attempt to "life" (to destroy), but they will end up being crushed by that stone, for the Stone Himself will return and crush them (Da 2:34-35-note, Da 2:44-45-note). Severely injured is the Hebrew sarat which means to incise or scratch. While past history had resulted in the nation being uprooted by various conquerors, in this ferocious finale, the battle of the ages (more accurately "of this present age"), Jerusalem will prove to be too "heavy" to conquer, " so "heavy" with God's glory and so rooted in his promises that no nation will be able to move them." (NET)