ZECHARIAH LESSON 14
We will begin this lesson in Zechariah 14:1 "Behold, the day of
the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee."
This is clearly a day of great trouble for Jerusalem. This,
probably, happens just before the coming of the Lord as King of kings.
Zechariah 14:2 "For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem
to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the
women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity,
and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city."
This, indeed, is a great battle where all of the heathen nations
are against Jerusalem. One thing that we must remember in all of this,
is at this time the wrath of God has fallen upon the earth. All of the
believers in Christ are in heaven. Jesus has not come back to set up
His kingdom. The fact that they are captured, reminds us of the attack
by Babylon, but I personally do not believe that is the same battle.
Half of the city was not left then. I do not even believe this is the
battle of Armageddon, because this battle takes place in Jerusalem and
many are taken. At the battle of Armageddon, no Jews are lost, and the
battle is in the valley of Megiddo.
Zechariah 14:3 "Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against
those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle."
This is not an ordinary battle. The LORD does miraculous feats,
Himself in this battle. This battle is the LORD's.
Zechariah 14:4 "And his feet shall stand in that day upon the
mount of Olives, which [is] before Jerusalem on the east, and the
mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and
toward the west, [and there shall be] a very great valley; and half of
the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the
south."
This is speaking of a tremendous earthquake, when the Lord Jesus
sets His foot on the Mount of Olives. It is interesting to know that a
fault line, with earthquake potential goes right through the Mount of
Olives. Seismologists tell us that a tremendous earthquake here, could
trigger other earthquakes around the world. God deals with people
through natural disaster many times. Throughout the Bible, God has
sent earthquakes to cause people to repent. We are, also, told that
near the coming of the Lord Jesus as King, there will be earthquakes
in divers places. This earthquake will open the eastern gate of the
city of Jerusalem, and Jesus will walk through the gate.
Zechariah 14:5 "And ye shall flee [to] the valley of the
mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea,
ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days
of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, [and] all the
saints with thee."
This is speaking of the remnant of God's people fleeing into a
chasm, where they feel they will be safe. This is at the end of wrath
upon the earth, when the Lord has come to set up His kingdom. The
saints will be with Him, because they will reign with Him for 1000
years. It appears many years earlier, there had been a devastating
earthquake in this very region that caused great panic. This
earthquake, however, may be the trigger for that earthquake that will
be felt around the world.
Zechariah 14:6 "And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the
light shall not be clear, [nor] dark:"
With the debris from that type of earthquake, there would be no
sunlight breaking through. This would be a hazy day.
Zechariah 14:7 "But it shall be one day which shall be known to
the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, [that] at
evening time it shall be light."
Jesus is the Light of the world. He brings physical and spiritual
Light. This is a day of uncertainties, and the fact that it is hard to
determine whether it is dark, or light, adds to that. When all seems
lost, Jesus comes and brings the Light. The night is turned into day.
Zechariah 14:8 "And it shall be in that day, [that] living waters
shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and
half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it
be."
This is speaking of that time when Jesus reigns as King. Jesus
told the woman at the well, if she drank of that water, she would
never thirst again. John 4:14 "But whosoever drinketh of the water
that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall
give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting
life." This is speaking of that water of life which flows from God
Himself. These "living waters" are speaking of the blessings that will
flow out to all of God's people.
Zechariah 14:9 "And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in
that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one."
This is speaking of that time, when Jesus will reign as King of
all the earth. He will have an everlasting kingdom. Revelation 11:15
"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven,
saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our
Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever."
Philippians 2:9 "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given
him a name which is above every name:" Philippians 2:10 "That at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and
[things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;" Philippians 2:11
"And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."
Zechariah 14:10 "All the land shall be turned as a plain from
Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and
inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the
first gate, unto the corner gate, and [from] the tower of Hananeel
unto the king's winepresses."
This just speaks of the land around Jerusalem being a fertile
plain. The blessings of the Lord are upon it. Jesus sets up the
headquarters of His kingdom in Jerusalem.
Zechariah 14:11 "And [men] shall dwell in it, and there shall be
no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited."
The root cause of all the destruction is gone. Satan is bound for
1000 years, and they are not tempted to sin during this time. The only
reason there was destruction before, was because they were tempted of
Satan to be unfaithful to God. There will be perfect peace, because
the King of Peace will be in Jerusalem.
Zechariah 14:12 "And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD
will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their
flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their
eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume
away in their mouth."
This speaks of a plague such as an atomic disaster. This is the
only thing that would bring this type of injury. The destruction will
be swift. Even before they fall to the ground their flesh, and eyes,
and tongues are burned up.
Zechariah 14:13 "And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] a
great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay
hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise
up against the hand of his neighbour."
This, again, is speaking of the heathen nations around Israel.
The heathen nations will fight against each other. They will destroy
each other.
Zechariah 14:14 "And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the
wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together,
gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance."
This is really speaking of the church inheriting all the wealth
of the world at this time. They will be blessed of God. Remember this
church is made up of all who believe in Jesus, Jew and Gentile, alike.
Zechariah 14:15 "And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the
mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall
be in these tents, as this plague."
This is speaking of the destruction of the animals, along with
the people, in this terrible destruction.
Zechariah 14:16 "And it shall come to pass, [that] every one
that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall
even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts,
and to keep the feast of tabernacles."
Those that are left after this terrible destruction, shall be the
subjects of Jesus as King. They will come to Jerusalem once a year to
worship King Jesus. This is during the thousand year reign of Jesus.
Those who had been thought of as heathen have converted to the worship
of the One True God. "Tabernacles" was the feast of the ingathering.
This would be celebrated to remember their coming to God from the
worship of heathen gods.
Zechariah 14:17 "And it shall be, [that] whoso will not come up
of [all] the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King,
the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain."
This obligation of worship will be adhered to, because to not
come, would bring instant punishment. They would have no rain for
their crops on the years they did not come. This will not happen,
because Satan is locked up and cannot tempt them to sin.
Zechariah 14:18 "And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come
not, that [have] no [rain]; there shall be the plague, wherewith the
LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of
tabernacles."
Egypt symbolizes the world away from God. As I said, they will
not be tempted not to come, because Satan is bound. If for some
reason, of their own will, they do not keep the feast, God will punish
them. This seems highly unlikely, however.
Zechariah 14:19 "This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the
punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of
tabernacles."
These are the people that Jesus, and all of the believers, rule
over. It appears, they may need some managing.
Zechariah 14:20 "In that day shall there be upon the bells of
the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD'S house
shall be like the bowls before the altar."
These bells are like the bells on a sleigh. They tell where the
animals are at all times. They, also, are imprinted with their owner's
name. This tells us that everything, and everyone, belong to God. They
proclaim the HOLINESS of God every time they ring. Romans 14:17 "For
the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and
peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." I Peter 2:9 "But ye [are] a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;
that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out
of darkness into his marvellous light:" The mitre of the high priest
had this same inscription. Exodus 39:30 "And they made the plate of
the holy crown [of] pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, [like to]
the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD." Jesus is the great
High Priest. This is just speaking of HOLINESS spreading in the entire
world. It spreads from the least to the most.
Zechariah 14:21 "Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall
be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall
come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall
be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts."
The mention of Canaanites is speaking of those who sold things in
the temple. Matthew 21:13 "And said unto them, It is written, My house
shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of
thieves." Everything, even the vessels, shall be holy. There will be
no Levitical distinction. All shall be holy. All of verse 21 above,
is speaking of the sacrifice of the blood. Jesus did all that for all
believers in Christ, when He made the prefect sacrifice for all time
for everyone who believes. Malachi 3:4 "Then shall the offering of
Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old,
and as in former years."
Zechariah 14 Questions
1. The nations are gathered against ___________ in this battle.
2. What percentage of the people go into captivity?
3. Where are the Christians, when this battle takes place?
4. Why does the author believe this is not the battle of Armageddon,
or the battle where Jerusalem is taken captive to Babylon?
5. Who fights against those nations?
6. Where do Jesus' feet stand in that day?
7. What happens to the place where His feet rest?
8. What is this, really?
9. What does the author find interesting about this area?
10. What do the seismologists tell us about this fault?
11. Why did God send earthquakes?
12. What will this earthquake do, to make an entrance into Jerusalem
for the Lord?
13. Where do the people flee?
14. How many years will the Christians reign with Jesus, on the earth?
15. What will cause it to be neither night, or day?
16. Who provides the Light?
17. Quote John chapter 4 verse 14.
18. What are the "living waters" speaking of?
19. Quote Revelation chapter 11 verse 15.
20. Quote Philippians chapter 2 verses 9, 10, and 11.
21. What was the root cause of all the destruction?
22. Quote Zechariah chapter 14 verse 12.
23. What type of plague is this?
24. Who is affected by this plague?
25. How often shall everyone go to Jerusalem to worship?
26. What is this feast?
27. What shall be on the bells of the horses?
28. Where had this same inscription been before?
29. Quote 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 9.
30. What are the Canaanites, in verse 21, speaking of?
31. Quote Malachi chapter 3 verse 4.
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