BACKGROUND
This chapter anticipates the second coming of the Messiah as the divine King. It looks to the universal earthly reign of the Lord. It covers the initial plundering of Jerusalem, the judgment of the Gentile armies, and the establishment of His millennial, 1000-year, reign, and concludes with a description of worship in Jerusalem.
Zechariah refers to the "day of the LORD." Many prophets have referred to it (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6,9; Jeremiah 46:10; Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Amos 5:18; Obadiah 15; Malachi 4:5). This is a day of universal judgment on the whole world (Isaiah 24).
Zechariah refers to the "day of the LORD." Many prophets have referred to it (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6,9; Jeremiah 46:10; Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14; Amos 5:18; Obadiah 15; Malachi 4:5). This is a day of universal judgment on the whole world (Isaiah 24).
On that day, The Mount of Olives will be split in two when the Messiah appears accompanied by His holy ones (14:4). This is the place from which He ascended (Acts 1:11-12). It is also the place where He taught His disciples what would happen in the end times (Matthew 24).
This time will also have a host of miraculous natural phenomena (see also Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Joel 2:10, 30-31; 3:15; Matthew 24:29). Notice also the living water that will flow out of Jerusalem that was also mentioned in Ezekiel 47.
The key verse is 14:9:
Enemies will be defeated. False gods will be cut off and no longer remembered (13:1-2). In Jerusalem, The LORD will be worshiped by the survivors from all the nations and the Feast of Tabernacles (14:18-19; Leviticus 23:33-43) will be celebrated as it is a feast of thanksgiving for God's gracious blessings!
The LORD will be king over the whole earth.
On that day there will be one LORD,
and His name the only name.
Enemies will be defeated. False gods will be cut off and no longer remembered (13:1-2). In Jerusalem, The LORD will be worshiped by the survivors from all the nations and the Feast of Tabernacles (14:18-19; Leviticus 23:33-43) will be celebrated as it is a feast of thanksgiving for God's gracious blessings!
Of the seven feasts, the Feast of Tabernacles will be the only one left to be celebrated since Passover was fulfilled in the death of Christ (1 Corinthians 5:7; John 1:29), Feast of First Fruits was fulfilled in His resurrection (John 15:23), Day of Atonement in acceptance of His salvation, Pentecost with the arrival of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, Feast of Unleavened Bread in the life of believers today as they walk in holiness, and the Feast of Trumpets will be fulfilled when God gathers His people from the ends of the earth (Isaiah 18:3,7; Matthew 24:29-31). Those who do not come will be punished, but I cannot imagine nations will not come. At this time, holiness will be the order of the day!
REFLECTION/APPLICATION
The predictions of Jesus' first coming all came true. We can be assured that the predictions regarding His second coming will come true also.
Take some time to reflect upon the prophecies of His first coming as you prepare your heart for the coming Christmas Season!
PRAYER
These verses from Zechariah are in Handel's Messiah:
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O daughter of Jerusalem:
Behold the King cometh unto thee:
He is the righteous Savior,
and He shall speak peace unto the heathen.
(Zechariah 9:9, 10; Matthew 21:5)
And here is a link to a devotional I wrote:
Handel's Messiah (online or Microsoft Word document)
1 comment:
I LOVE worshiping God through Handel's Messiah!
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