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Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Zacarias 14
Wiersbe - The Lord concludes this message to Jerusalem by describing a courtroom scene in which He stands to testify against His people (Zeph 3:8). While the impending Babylonian Captivity is involved here, there is also an end-times application in the Battle of Armageddon, when the nations of the world converge against Jerusalem. God will pour out His wrath upon these nations, deliver His people, and establish His kingdom (Zech. 14:1–9). His jealous anger will burn like fire against all who resist His truth and disobey His Word. The terrible Day of the Lord will dawn and there will be no escape (see Zeph. 1:2ff). (Be Concerned) Isaiah also prophecies of this day addressing the future Jewish remnant Come, my people, enter into your rooms and close your doors behind you; Hide for a little while Until indignation runs its course. For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; And the earth will reveal her bloodshed And will no longer cover her slain. (Isaiah 26:20-21) Comment: Note the phrase inhabitants of the earth which signifies this is not a local, Middle Eastern judgment but a judgment that affects the entire world. Therefore by default this has to be speaking of God's judgment at the end of the age and as such would parallel the Zechariah 14:3 passage at the end of the Great Tribulation. Why do we say the Great Tribulation? Notice that Isaiah 26:20 refers to with the phrase "indignation" the Hebrew word zaam (02195) which is used in Daniel 11:36-note in a passage describing the coming Antichrist who "will prosper until the indignation (zaam) is finished, for that which is decreed will be done." John
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Wiersbe - The remnant has been praying to God (Isa. 26:11–19), and now God speaks to them and gives them the assurance they need (Isaiah 26:20–21). He promises to shelter His people from the terrible attacks of the enemy (Rev. 12:1-17) (ED: SEE ESPECIALLY Rev 12:6, 14-note describing the persecution of the "woman" Israel in the last half of Daniel's Seventieth Week, the time known as Jacob's Distress [Jer 30:7-note], aka the Great Tribulation which begins in Mt 24:15-note, and is specifically named in Mt 24:21-note). God will punish His enemies who have slain His people, whose blood cries out from the earth for vengeance (Ge 4:10–11; Ezek. 24:7–8; Rev. 6:9–11-note). The unjust shedding of blood pollutes the land (Nu 35:29–34; Ps. 106:34–39) and invites the judgment of God. (Be Comforted) Egypt was the most powerful nation in the world and the Lord fought against them as they pursued Israel to eradicate her from the face of the earth, just as the Gentile power of the end times will be seeking to do to Israel. The God of Exodus is the God of Zechariah 14:3, Moses writing... Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and said, “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea. 2 “The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will extol Him. 3 The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name. 4 “Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; and the choicest of his officers are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 “The deeps cover them; They went down into the depths like a stone. 6 “Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. (Exodus 15:1-6) (And all God's people said "Amen!")
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Wiersbe - Amos ends his prophecy with the wonderful promise that Israel shall be planted, protected, and never again pulled up from her land “says the Lord your God.” Your God! What a great encouragement for the Jews to know that, in spite of their unbelief, their God will be faithful to keep His covenant promises. (Be Concerned) ESV Study Bible - This final blessing of the people is predicated upon their recognition of their Davidic messiah, something that is yet to occur. See Rom. 11:25–27. Charles Dyer - “God’s promises for the future are anchor points to keep us stable, and to give us hope in times of personal distress and difficulty. The more we understand what God has promised for the future, the more we can endure our problems today.” In prophesying of Messiah's Second Coming to take His throne Isaiah wrote There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6) Security (0983)(betach from batach = to trust) means security, confidence (belief that one is safe and secure - Isa 32:17, Job 24:23, Mic 2:8). In its first occurrence betach emphasizes the status of a city which was certain of not being attacked (Ge 34:25). All three uses in Psalms speak of God enabling us to dwell securely (Ps. 4:8; 16:9; 78:53) Betach is frequently coupled with yashab (to dwell) as here in Zech 14:11 and means to dwell in safety. The Septuagint translates betach in this passage with the adverb pepoithotos which means confidently or securely. Warren Wiersbe - The glorious temple will be established by the Branch (Zech 6:12–13), and Christ the King-Priest shall reign in majesty and peace. “Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited” (Zech 14:11) for the first time in history. The glorious living waters will flow out to heal the land (Zech 14:8 and Ezek. 47:1ff). The Gentile nations will worship at Jerusalem (14:16ff), and holiness will characterize the city that Zeph. 3:1 calls “filthy.” The cleansing of Zech 3:1-10 will be a reality, and there will be peace in the world. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Ps 122:6). For when Jerusalem has peace, there will be peace among all nations. (Wiersbe's Expository Outlines of the OT) GOD'S PLAN FOR JERUSALEM FIVE PROPHETIC PEAKS "O LORD, revive Thy work in the midst of the years. In the midst of the years make it known. In wrath remember mercy" (Habakkuk 3:2+) SEGMENTS OF TIME AT LEAST 2000 YEARS SEVEN YEARS 1000 YEARS ??? FOREVER AND EVER AMEN! PROPHETIC PEAK #1 Jerusalem destroyed by Babylon 586 BC PROPHETIC PEAK #2 Jerusalem destroyed by Rome 70 AD PROPHETIC PEAK #3 Jerusalem sacked by Gentiles/Saved by Messiah at end of 70th Week "Jehovah will go forth and fight against those nations" Zec 14:3+ PROPHETIC PEAK #4 Jerusalem surrounded by Nations at end of 1000 years Re 20:7-10+ No place found for earth & heaven Re 20:11+ 2Pe 3:10+ PEAK #5 New Jerusalem After all passes away THE CHURCH AGE Daniel's 70th Wk Seven Year Period often called "The Tribulation" (click for chart) Great Tribulation ends with return of Messiah as King of kings to defeat of Antichrist who is cast into Lake of fire at beginning of 1000 yr reign Re 19:20+ All things new Re 21:5+ Begins: Pentecost Ends: Rapture of church When is Rapture? Most likely prior to Daniel's 70th Wk 1Th 4:13-18+ Antichrist makes firm covenant w Israel for 7 years - Temple rebuilt Antichrist breaks covenant after 3.5 yr Da 9:27+ Antichrist desecrates Holy Place in Temple - Abomination of desolation initiates Mt 24:15+ begins 2 Th 2:3+ 2 Th 2:4+ 3.5 yr, 42 mo, 1260 days, time, times, and half a time Called the Great Tribulation Mt 24:21+ or Time of Jacob's Distress Je 30:7+ Christ reigns from Jerusalem David reigns over Israel Saints reign with Christ Re 20:4-6+ Zec 14:8 living waters will flow out of Jerusalem Zec 14:9 the LORD will be king over all the earth Zec 14:10 Jerusalem will rise Zec 14:11 People will live in... Jerusalem in security. Zec 14:16 all the nations... will go up to worship the King and celebrate the Feast of Booths. Heaven and earth passed away Re 20:11+ New heavens and New earth Re 21:1+ Babylon 605-538 BC Medo Persia 538-333 BC Greece 333-63 BC Rome 63 BC until ca 476 AD Revived Roman Empire (What is it? Can't be dogmatic - many favor European Union when composed of 10 nations) Messiah Reigns 1000 Years Great White Throne Jdgmt Re 20:11-15+ Eternity Righteousness dwells 2Pe 3:13+ THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES Begins = Babylon tramples Jerusalem underfoot Ends =Jesus the Stone crushes Antichrist and all the Gentile powers at end of Daniel's 70th Week Da 2:34-35+, Da 2:44-45+, Re 19:17-21+ Time that parallels Times of Gentiles = This Age - Mt 24:3, 13:39-40,49, 28:20 Next Age = 1000 year reign = Messianic Age = Millennium = Visible Kingdom of God Satan bound 1000 yr but released & deceives countless Gentiles to rebel one last time against the beloved city - devoured by fire & Satan cast into Lake of fire Heavens pass away w roar & elements destroyed w intense heat & earth & works burned up New Jerusalem Comes down from God Made ready as a bride adorned for her husband Re 21:2+ THE LAST DAYS Begins: Jesus' first appearance He 1:2+, 2Ti 3:1+, 1Pe 1:20+ Ends: Jesus returns Main point: We are living in the Last Days All the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. Zec 12:1-3+ I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle Zec 14:1-3, 12-15+ Everything will be Holy to the LORD Zec 14:20-21+ Unbelievers cast into Lake of fire Re 20:15+ Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, (2 Peter 3:11+) Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless (2 Peter 3:14+) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:11-14+) Beloved, what/Who you looking for will determine what/Who you are living for! Zechariah 14:12 Now this will be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth. Now this will be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples: Zec 14:3 12:9 Ps 110:5,6 Isa 34:1-17 66:15,16 Eze 38:18-22 Eze 39:4-6,17-20 Joe 3:1,2 Mic 4:11-13 5:8,9 7:16,17 Rev 16:1-21 19:17-21 their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet: Lev 26:18,21,24,28 De 28:59 2Ch 21:15,18,19 Ps 90:11 Ac 12:23 Rev 9:5,6 16:10,11,21 17:16 18:6-8 A PLAGUE FROM THE LORD > ROT Now this will be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem - Keep the context in mind - Chronologically these verses follow verse 3. In other words, this battle return to fill in the more details of the conflict described in Zechariah 14:1-3 and specifically picks up where verse 3 left off describing that the "LORD will go forth and fight" (Zech 14:3-note). So in keeping with the context of Zech 14:1-3, Zechariah describes the final stages of the fatal campaign of Armageddon when all Israel's enemies would be defeated once and forever. The plague mentioned here is reminiscent of the fate of the Gentiles in Zechariah 12 “In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will strike every horse with bewilderment and his rider with madness. But I will watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. (Zech 12:4-note) Isaiah described this day in Isaiah 63:1-6-note, and in verse 6 Jehovah proclaimed His victory “I trod down the peoples in My anger and made them drunk in My wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.” Comment: Compare the figure of the enemy being trampled with Zechariah's description of a divine plague causing flesh to rot! The end of Israel's enemies will not be a pretty scene! There is no mistaking that this picture of the vengeance of Jehovah (cf "day of vengeance" in Isa 63:4) on Israel's enemies which will be poured out at His Second Coming (cf Rev 19:15-note, Rev 19:21-note) What the Bible teaches - God will...accomplish His fearful vengeance on the enemy. He will send, supernaturally, a plague, He will cause panic to overtake the attackers, and He will use the remnant and empower them to engage in the fight against the enemy, thus completing their total destruction. Henderson - The representation of the punishment is the most horrible that can be imagined—a living skeleton, rapidly wasting away! (The Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets) Plague (0834)(maggephah from nagaph = to strike or smite) means a blow, pestilence, defeat, plague, slaughter, plague, pestilence, strike, smite. It always denotes a plague sent by God. Maggephah frequently describes a blow reflecting divine retribution (as in Zech 14:12, 15, 18). In the first use of maggephah describes the plagues of Egypt intended to pierce Pharaoh's heart (Ex 9:14) ultimately did so in the from of the last plague (Ex 12:23). Memory of that divine judgment on human rebellion was enshrined in the Passover (Ex 12:27), national memory (Josh 24:5), and legal system (cf. Lev 26:17; Dt 28:25). Israel, although constantly warned, went astray repeatedly (e.g. Ex 32:25; Nu 14:42) and ultimately was smitten by God with two exiles (northern kingdom to Assyria in 721 B.C. and southern kingdom to Babylon in 586 B.C. the latter including destruction of the Holy Temple, from which the glory of God had departed (see Glory of God). This rebellion required atonement for this ever present sinfulness (Ex 30:12) and sin (Nu 16:46ff). Maggephaph - 26x in 25v - blow(1), calamity(1), plague(19), plagued(1), plagues(1), slaughter(3). Ex 9:14; Nu 14:37; Nu 16:48; Nu 16:49; Nu 16:50; Nu 25:8; Nu 25:9; Nu 25:18; Nu 26:1; Nu 31:16; 1 Sa 4:17; 1 Sa 6:4; 2 Sa 17:9; 2 Sa 18:7; 2 Sa 24:21; 2 Sa 24:25; 1 Chr. 21:17; 1 Chr. 21:22; 2 Chr. 21:14; Ps. 106:29; Ps. 106:30; Ezek. 24:16; Zech. 14:12; Zech. 14:15; Zech. 14:18 In the last days God's plagues (but root verb - nagaph = to strike or smite, usually divine, fatal or disastrous) will effect repentance on Egypt, Isaiah recording "The LORD will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the LORD, and He will respond to them and will heal them." (Isa 19:22) Their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth - Think about this scene - if the flesh rots, all that is left is the skeleton and without flesh (muscle) to hold it up, it literally falls to the ground! Anyone who has seen Raiders of the Lost Ark recalls a most incredible scene when the Germans open the Ark of the Covenant and their flesh melts (click for a short click of this horrific scene!). Eyes and tongue destroyed making them unable to see or to speak! Charles Feinberg - Putrefaction and decay will set in while the body is still alive, indeed, still standing—an indication of the frightful suddenness of the visitation. “To strengthen the threat there is added the rotting of the eyes which spied out the nakednesses of the city of God, and of the tongue which blasphemed God and His people (cf. Isa 37:6).”(Keil) What the Bible teaches - The description of the effect of the plague is terrible in the extreme and nothing quite like it has been experienced in warfare before, unless one compares it with what happened when atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, in 1945. However, it is not nuclear warfare which will be the means of such terrible suffering, for the victory will be achieved by the power of God alone. The consuming of the enemy here is not the result of any humanly devised scientific invention. It is clear then from the passage that the plague comes from God. The foes of Israel will be destroyed by a living death, the rotting of the body while still alive. How horrible this will be. There will be the corruption of death together with an awful sense of their sin in seeking to overthrow God's people and city. Such will be the character of the plague that those who suffer it and those who witness it will be compelled to own that it is the hand of God in judgment....Why is the tongue singled out? The two different parts of the body mentioned doubtless have a solemn significance. The tongue is the member with which this satanically inspired army will blaspheme God (cf Rev 16:9, 11, 21-note) and His earthly people. God's just punishment will be meted out upon them. The ESV Study Bible summarizes Zechariah 14:12-21 - The Nations Humbled and Brought into Submission. After the nations have suffered a gruesome defeat, they will dedicate themselves to worshiping the true God in Jerusalem. Zechariah 14:13 It will come about in that day that a great panic from the LORD will fall on them; and they will seize one another's hand, and the hand of one will be lifted against the hand of another. It will come about in that day that a great panic: Zec 12:4 Jdg 7:22 1Sa 14:15-23 2 Ch 20:22-24 Eze 38:21 Rev 17:12-17 POWERFUL PLAGUE PERPETUATES PANIC As noted in Zech 14:12, in this passage Zechariah continues his "prophetic flashback" (from verse 11) as he goes back to describe the days of the final war against the Gentile nations preceding the unique day (Zechariah 14:4-6,7) which led in turn into the days of restoration (the Messianic Kingdom or Millennial Kingdom) described in Zechariah 14:8-12. It will come about in that day that a great panic from the LORD will fall on them - Who would not panic at the sights described in Zechariah 14:12! So here we see that Jehovah keeping His word to Israel in Dt 7:23 (circa 1410 B.C.) where He promised to "throw them (ISRAEL'S ENEMIES) into great confusion (mehumah) until they are destroyed." And so here in striking the Gentiles arrayed against Israel and Jerusalem He brings great panic on them (from the LORD = direct divine intervention and retribution). This is the ultimate reaping of the curse prophesied in Genesis 12:3 that "the one who curses you I will curse!" Anti-Semitism will be repaid in full (and then some!) in that day, the Day of the LORD. Dear reader, if you have a hint of Anti-Semitism in your heart, let me encourage you to confess it to the LORD God, repent and seek His forgiveness. Charles Feinberg - The plague is one form of visitation; another is mutual destruction through a supernatural panic. One will prevail over another and lift his hand to strike his friend dead. Compare Zech 12:4; Judges 7:22 (Gideon and the Midianites); 1 Sa 14:16–20 (Jonathan and the Philistines at Michmash); and 2 Chr 20:23 (Jehoshaphat and Ammon, Moab, and Edom). Panic (04103)(mehumah from hum = to roar, to go wild, to confuse) means tumult, confusion, disquietude, discomfiture. Most of these instances are associated with the judgment of Yahweh. Even Israel was the recipient as prophesied in Dt 28:20 in the section of Blessings and Cursings (cf Ezekiel 7:7). The Lord was against the Philistine city of Ashdod because of the capture of the Ark of the Covenant by these pagans, and the plague of tumors threw the inhabitants of the city into "a panic" or "dismay" (1 Sa 5:9, 11) just as the sight of flesh rotting on skeletons will cause great panic on the Gentiles seeking to annihilate Israel. These aggressors will be the one's annihilated! Men bring "turmoil" to themselves foolishly by seeking after wealth, and rejecting the path of wisdom (Pr 15:16). Finally, tumult existed within the city of Samaria because all justice and order had been overthrown by open violence (Amos 3:9). The Septuagint translates mehumah in Zechariah 14:13 with the noun ekstasis which describes an abnormal state of mind, in this context astonishment and terror. Mehumah - 12x in 12v - confusion(5), disturbances(1), panic(2), tumult(1), tumults(1), turmoil(2). Deuteronomy 7:23 “But the LORD your God will deliver them before you, and will throw them into great confusion until they are destroyed. Deuteronomy 28:20 "The LORD will send upon you curses, confusion, and rebuke, in all you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken Me. 1 Samuel 5:9 After they had brought it around, the hand of the LORD was against the city with very great confusion; and He smote the men of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them. 1 Samuel 5:11 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines and said, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, so that it will not kill us and our people." For there was a deadly confusion throughout the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. 1 Samuel 14:20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. 2 Chronicles 15:5 "In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for many disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. Proverbs 15:16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD Than great treasure and turmoil with it. Isaiah 22:5 For the Lord GOD of hosts has a day of panic, subjugation and confusion In the valley of vision, A breaking down of walls And a crying to the mountain. Ezekiel 7:7 'Your doom has come to you, O inhabitant of the land. The time has come, the day is near-- tumult rather than joyful shouting on the mountains. Ezekiel 22:5 "Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you, you of ill repute, full of turmoil. Amos 3:9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, "Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria and see the great tumults within her and the oppressions in her midst. Zechariah 14:13 It will come about in that day that a great panic from the LORD will fall on them; and they will seize one another's hand, and the hand of one will be lifted against the hand of another And they will seize one another's hand - This is not "hold my hand because I am frightened" but seizing their former associates with a hostile intent as the context of the next phrase (against the hand of another) indicates. The Hebrew word for seize is chazaq which is the same word used by David when he explained to King Saul that when a lion rose up again him and took a lamb from the flock, he "seized him by the beard and struck him and killed him." (1 Sa 17:35). Chazaq is used again to describe the hostile intent in 2 Sa 2:16 = "Each one of them seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side." We see similar descriptions of internal "implosions" in military forces in Ezek 38:21, 1Sa 14:20, 2Chr 20:23, Hag. 2:22. In Jdg 7:22 we read "the LORD set the sword of one against another even throughout the whole army." And the hand of one will be lifted against the hand of another - (cf Ezek 38:21) This is the extreme version of Jesus' prophecy of the last days declaring that "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold." (Mt 24:12-note) When the LORD was with His people in the OT, a similar pattern was seen. For example (1 Sa 14:20) records "Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle (against the Philistines); and behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion (mehumah = "panic" in Zech 14:13)." Samuel goes on to explain that "the LORD delivered Israel that day" (1 Sa 14:23). Indeed in that day of Zechariah 14:1-3, 12-14 it will be Jehovah Who delivers Israel by His direct visible literal supernatural intervention. Zechariah 14:14 Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold and silver and garments in great abundance. Judah also will fight at Jerusalem. Zec 10:4,5 12:5-7 and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold and silver and garments in great abundance: 2Ki 7:6-18 2Ch 14:13-15 20:25-27 Isa 23:18 Eze 39:9,10,17-20 TO THE VICTORS BELONG THE SPOILS Judah also will fight at Jerusalem - Some versions like New American Bible actually translate this as "Judah also shall fight against Jerusalem," but in the context of the Anti-Semitic Gentile nations coming against the Holy City to annihilate God's Chosen people, one would hardly see fellow Jews fighting one another. Some writers suggest this group of Jews is those who escaped in Zechariah 14:4-5 who are returning to battle the Gentiles that may have survived, but this is not clear from the text. NET Noteadds that "The Hebrew phrase בִּירוּשָׁלָם (birushalam) with the verb נִלְחַם (nilkham, “make war”) would ordinarily suggest that Judah is fighting against Jerusalem (so NAB, CEV). While this could happen accidentally, the context here favors the idea that Judah is fighting alongside Jerusalem against a common enemy. The preposition בְּ (bé), then, should be construed as locative (“at”; cf. KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT)." The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold and silver and garments in great abundance - This is clearly in the time following Jehovah's defeat of the Gentile forces when the Jews will gather or collect the spoils of war. This is a "divine reversal" of Zechariah 14:1 where "the spoil (was) taken from" Israel by the Gentile forces. Charles Feinberg - Oriental armies carried large amounts of gold and silver with them on their march (2 Ch 20:25). Apparel is often mentioned in lists of spoil, because it was an important item of wealth in the East. (Note Jdg 5:30 and 2 Ki 7:15.) (The Minor Prophets) Zechariah 14:15 So also like this plague will be the plague on the horse, the mule, the camel, the donkey and all the cattle that will be in those camps. THE ANIMAL KINGDOM WILL ALSO SUFFER So also like this plague will be the plague on the horse, the mule, the camel, the donkey and all the cattle that will be in those camps - We see that the animal kingdom will suffer. Joshua records a similar pattern in the judgment of Achan for his sin of taking goods that were under the ban (prohibited by God from being taken as spoil or booty)... Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the mantle, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent and all that belonged to him; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor. (Joshua 7:24) Recall also God's command to King Saul when they captured the Amalek ‘Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” (1 Sa 15:3) Charles Feinberg - The beasts are described as suffering the same plague as their owners. Animal creation was involved in man’s judgment at the fall and in the flood. The point is that everything connected with those who rebel against God and seek to destroy His people will suffer the same judgment. Woe! Plague (0834) see maggephah Zechariah 14:16 Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. it will come about that any who are left of all the nations: Zec 8:20-23 9:7 Isa 60:6-9 66:18-21,23 Joe 2:32 Ac 15:17 Ro 9:23,24 11:5,16,26 Rev 11:13,15-17 will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts: Zec 14:17 Ps 24:7-10 Isa 6:5 Jer 46:18 48:15 51:57 Mal 1:14 Lu 19:38 Joh 1:49 Php 2:9-11 Rev 19:16 and to celebrate the Feast of Booths: Zec 14:18,19 Lev 23:33-36,43 Nu 29:12-38 De 16:13-16 31:10-13 2Ch 7:8-10 8:13 Ezr 3:4 Ne 8:14-18 Ho 12:9 Joh 7:2,37-39 THE FULFILLMENT OF THE FEAST OF BOOTHS Then (at that time; at the time in question, at that point in time, at that moment, on that occasion) - Always pay close attention to this "time sensitive" conjunction, especially in passages like this which are clearly eschatological (prophetic), for this word will give you a clue as to the sequence of events. It will come about - This phrase begs the question when will this transpire? As discussed below this clearly will be the inception of the true "New Age" not the "Age of Aquarius" that the "New Agers" were deluded into thinking would be coming upon this fallen, Christ rejecting world. This Divine "New Age" will come about not because the world as we know it will experience continual evolution, for the truth is that we are experiencing a moral/ethical devolution, which will climax with a "divine revolution" described in the Revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 6-19 which will climax in Revelation 19:11-21). Things will get better to be sure, but before they get better they will get much worse, in fact the worst the world has ever experienced. But believer, take hope, for our Redeemer is strong and He is faithful and His coming is drawing nigh to usher in His "New Age," the Age of the Messiah, the one thousand year Millennial Reign of the Righteous One on earth. The world is "upside down" but will (prayerfully soon) be made "right-side up" by His timely arrival at the end of time (of this present age). And so as Peter would exhort us "Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness" (2 Peter 3:11-note) and "Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless." (2 Pe 3:14-note). A "REMNANT" AMONG THE NATIONS That any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem - Here Zechariah describes what we might call the "Gentile Remnant." In context those left that go up to worship are Gentiles who believe in Messiah and survive the horrors of the rule of the Antichrist. Not all the people in the nations that went against Jerusalem were themselves against Jerusalem but quite to the contrary. In the Gentile Judgment of the Sheep and Goats in Mt 25:31-46 we see the separation is based upon how one treated the Jews and presumably also Gentile converts. For example, “The King will answer and say to them (THE SHEEP ON HIS RIGHT), ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." (Mt 25:40) And then He will declare in Mt 25:46 "“These (GOATS ON HIS LEFT) will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous (SHEEP ON HIS RIGHT) into eternal life.” Feinberg makes an interesting point noting that "When the Lord’s judgments are in the earth, the nations learn righteousness....For the remnant of the nations God has promised a rich feast. The Prophet Isaiah writes At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For when the earth experiences Your judgments (The Day of the Lord) The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. (Isaiah 26:9) (In the Millennium) The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples (INCLUDING THE GENTILE AND JEWISH REMNANTS - AND I BELIEVE ALSO FOR ALL THE BELIEVERS WHO HAVE RETURNED WITH HIM FROM HEAVEN - DOES THIS NOT MAKE YOUR HEART SOAR, EVEN IT IT IS "SORE" TODAY!) on this mountain; A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine. (Isaiah 25:6) Lindsey describes the nations commenting that "After Jerusalem becomes secure and Messiah’s worldwide reign has been established (Zech 14:9–11), then the survivors from all the nations (any who are left of all the nations) will worship annually in Jerusalem. “The survivors” are not the Jewish remnant that had been scattered among “all the nations,” for the Jewish remnant will already have been regathered to the land at the time of the Second Advent. Rather, these survivors are from nonmilitary personnel of those nations whose armies were destroyed by Messiah in the attack on Jerusalem (Zech 14:1–5; cf. Rev. 19:19). The armies in the Campaign of Armageddon will be destroyed, but not the people of the nations they will represent. Furthermore, they will be the survivors of the divine judgment on the Gentile nations who will enter the kingdom of Christ as “sheep,” the “goats” having been barred from entrance into the Millennium (Mt 25:31–46)." (Bible Knowledge Commentary) Related Resources: Judgment of the Sheep and Goats Matthew 25:31-32a: The Judgment of the Nations 1 - John MacArthur Matthew 25:32: The Judgment of The Nations 2 - John MacArthur Matthew 25:32b-46 The Judgment of The Nations 3 - John MacArthur Will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts - Zechariah has quickly shifted the description from war to worship. Ponder the incredible contrast Zechariah presents in this passage for the Gentiles who came against Jerusalem for destruction now come for worship! Clearly, this indicates that there has been a major spiritual and geo-political transformation. Indeed, Zechariah has taken the reader from terror and false worship of the Antichrist in the last half of the Great Tribulation, to celebration and true worship of the Christ Who Alone deserves men's worship! Will go up (05927)(alah; Lxx = anabaino) is used over 800x in the OT and primarily means to ascend, which is true even now of Jerusalem as you ascend a winding road to enter the city. It will be even more true with the transformed topography of the Millennium for around the city all the land will be changed into a plain and Jerusalem will rise (Zech 14:10-note) This worship of the King is in a sense a fulfillment of the promises to King David that his throne would endure, for the Messiah was of the lineage of David (cf Mt 1:1, 6, 20, 2 Sa 7:13, 16; Luke 1:32-note) Zechariah previously described the reversal of Gentiles (the anti-Semitism of the old age [the one we are now in] will be replaced by pro-Israel sentiment) in the new age of the Messiah (Hallelujah!)... “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘It will yet be that peoples (GENTILES) will come, even the inhabitants of many cities. 21 ‘The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I will also go.” 22 So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD.’ 23 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’(Zech 8:20-23)
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Wiersbe - The day would come when Messiah would reign and all Israel’s fasts would become feasts! “And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying” (Isa. 65:19). Zechariah and Isaiah were both saying, “Don’t live in the past tense; live in the future tense! Rejoice at the promises God gives you for a joyful future!”....When Messiah restores His people and establishes His Kingdom, the Gentiles will trust the true and living God and come to Jerusalem to worship Him. Isaiah saw a river of Gentiles “flowing” into the city (Isa. 2:1–5) and Micah used the same figure (Micah 4:1–5). (Be Heroic) (Bolding added) the day will come when in common life holiness will be the guiding star,