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Created page with "Questions about fasting arise in chapters 7 and 8. Fasting on the Day of Atonement was the only required fast, but the Jews fasted to remember fallen Jerusalem. Why fa..."
Questions about fasting arise in chapters 7 and 8. Fasting on the Day of Atonement was the only required fast, but the [[Jews]] fasted to remember fallen [[Jerusalem]]. Why fast if the city will be destroyed? [[Zechariah]] uses this to teach them the true meaning of fasting, and to promise the restoration of the city in [[peace]] and joy.
In chapters 9--14 there are two enlightenments given to the people. First, the [[prophet]] describes the quest of the great general, Alexander the Great. History tells us that he destroyed many cities, but not [[Jerusalem]]. He threatened the city, but never carried out any of his threats. Before Alexander arrived, the Jewish high priest had a dream which he felt was of [[God]], and in the dream he was told to dress in his robes and meet Alexander outside the city. With him went the priests in their white robes. When Alexander saw the scene, he was dazzled. In fact, he claimed that he, too, had dreamed of this very scene. Alexander entered [[Jerusalem]] peacefully and never harmed the people or the city in any way. Perhaps [[Zechariah]] saw in Alexander's visit a small [[vision]] of the coming of [[Jesus]] Christ to the Holy City, for in chapter 9:9 he predicts Christ's arrival in [[Jerusalem]]. This was fulfilled, of course, on Psalm Monday when [[Jesus]] rode into the city. Alexander came for war; [[Jesus]] came with [[peace]]. How did they treat Christ? Even though He came in [[peace]], He would be rejected, and [[Zechariah]] 13:7 tells us that He would be arrested and smitten, which is fulfilled in [[Matthew]] 26:31. He would be sold for the price of a slave ( [[Zechariah]] 11:12) and this is fulfilled in [[Matthew]] 27:3-10. The result was that He was wounded in the house of His friends ( [[Zechariah]] 13:6), and pierced on the cross ( [[Zechariah]] 12:10). What a tragedy that [[Jerusalem]], whose name means "the city of [[peace]]," would reject the Prince of Peace, and crucify Him.
Chapters 12--14 contain prophecies concerning [[Israel]]'s future. The last three and one-half years of the Tribulation Period will find only one-third of the nation surviving to enter the Kingdom (chapter 13:8,9). Note the repetition of "in that day," referring to the Day of the [[Lord]]. It occurs some 13 times in today's reading.
In chapters 12:1-8 and 14:1,2, we see all the Gentile nations gathered together against [[Jerusalem]]. The Antichrist has moved into [[Jerusalem]], broken his covenant with the [[Jews]], and made the Temple his headquarters for worldwide worship (see II Thessalonians 2; Revelation 13). During the last half of the Tribulation Period the kings of the earth will begin to assemble for the great final battle--the Battle of Armageddon (see Revelation 16:12-16; 19:19- 21). We might also note in [[Zechariah]] 14:1,2 that [[Jerusalem]] does suffer terribly in this battle before the [[Lord]] returns to deliver her. When the battle is at its worst, [[Jesus]] will return to the Mount of Olives (chapter 14:4). This will fulfill the promise of Acts 1:11,12. The glory had departed from Mount Olivet (Ezekiel 11:22,23). An earthquake will change the entire area (see [[Micah]] 1:4; [[Nahum]] 1:5 and Revelation 16:18,19). This change will undoubtedly make possible the new landscape required in Ezekiel's magnificent Temple (see Ezekiel 40--48), since the present arrangement would make so large a structure impossible.
The newly-formed valley will also make a way of escape for the people in [[Jerusalem]], but the final [[victory]] will be Christ's (Revelation 19:11,12). Finally, the nation will look upon the pierced One (chapter 12:10; [[John]] 19:37; Revelation 1:7), and will repent of her sins and mourn. [[God]] will cleanse them of their sins. Note the specific groups of people who will repent (chapter 12:12-14)--[[David]], which means royalty; [[Nahum]] , the prophets; and Levi, the priests. The glorious Temple will be established by [[Jesus]] Christ, and He shall reign as King-Priest in majesty and [[peace]]. [[Jerusalem]] shall be safely inhabited (chapter 14:11) for the first time in history. The glorious living waters will flow out to heal the land (chapter 14:8; Ezekiel 47:1). Gentile nations will worship at [[Jerusalem]] (chapter 14:6), and holiness will characterize the city that [[Haggai]] called filthy. The cleansing mentioned in [[Zechariah]] 3 will be a reality, and there will be [[peace]] in the world. When [[Jerusalem]] has [[peace]], there will be [[peace]] among all nations.
In chapters 9--14 there are two enlightenments given to the people. First, the [[prophet]] describes the quest of the great general, Alexander the Great. History tells us that he destroyed many cities, but not [[Jerusalem]]. He threatened the city, but never carried out any of his threats. Before Alexander arrived, the Jewish high priest had a dream which he felt was of [[God]], and in the dream he was told to dress in his robes and meet Alexander outside the city. With him went the priests in their white robes. When Alexander saw the scene, he was dazzled. In fact, he claimed that he, too, had dreamed of this very scene. Alexander entered [[Jerusalem]] peacefully and never harmed the people or the city in any way. Perhaps [[Zechariah]] saw in Alexander's visit a small [[vision]] of the coming of [[Jesus]] Christ to the Holy City, for in chapter 9:9 he predicts Christ's arrival in [[Jerusalem]]. This was fulfilled, of course, on Psalm Monday when [[Jesus]] rode into the city. Alexander came for war; [[Jesus]] came with [[peace]]. How did they treat Christ? Even though He came in [[peace]], He would be rejected, and [[Zechariah]] 13:7 tells us that He would be arrested and smitten, which is fulfilled in [[Matthew]] 26:31. He would be sold for the price of a slave ( [[Zechariah]] 11:12) and this is fulfilled in [[Matthew]] 27:3-10. The result was that He was wounded in the house of His friends ( [[Zechariah]] 13:6), and pierced on the cross ( [[Zechariah]] 12:10). What a tragedy that [[Jerusalem]], whose name means "the city of [[peace]]," would reject the Prince of Peace, and crucify Him.
Chapters 12--14 contain prophecies concerning [[Israel]]'s future. The last three and one-half years of the Tribulation Period will find only one-third of the nation surviving to enter the Kingdom (chapter 13:8,9). Note the repetition of "in that day," referring to the Day of the [[Lord]]. It occurs some 13 times in today's reading.
In chapters 12:1-8 and 14:1,2, we see all the Gentile nations gathered together against [[Jerusalem]]. The Antichrist has moved into [[Jerusalem]], broken his covenant with the [[Jews]], and made the Temple his headquarters for worldwide worship (see II Thessalonians 2; Revelation 13). During the last half of the Tribulation Period the kings of the earth will begin to assemble for the great final battle--the Battle of Armageddon (see Revelation 16:12-16; 19:19- 21). We might also note in [[Zechariah]] 14:1,2 that [[Jerusalem]] does suffer terribly in this battle before the [[Lord]] returns to deliver her. When the battle is at its worst, [[Jesus]] will return to the Mount of Olives (chapter 14:4). This will fulfill the promise of Acts 1:11,12. The glory had departed from Mount Olivet (Ezekiel 11:22,23). An earthquake will change the entire area (see [[Micah]] 1:4; [[Nahum]] 1:5 and Revelation 16:18,19). This change will undoubtedly make possible the new landscape required in Ezekiel's magnificent Temple (see Ezekiel 40--48), since the present arrangement would make so large a structure impossible.
The newly-formed valley will also make a way of escape for the people in [[Jerusalem]], but the final [[victory]] will be Christ's (Revelation 19:11,12). Finally, the nation will look upon the pierced One (chapter 12:10; [[John]] 19:37; Revelation 1:7), and will repent of her sins and mourn. [[God]] will cleanse them of their sins. Note the specific groups of people who will repent (chapter 12:12-14)--[[David]], which means royalty; [[Nahum]] , the prophets; and Levi, the priests. The glorious Temple will be established by [[Jesus]] Christ, and He shall reign as King-Priest in majesty and [[peace]]. [[Jerusalem]] shall be safely inhabited (chapter 14:11) for the first time in history. The glorious living waters will flow out to heal the land (chapter 14:8; Ezekiel 47:1). Gentile nations will worship at [[Jerusalem]] (chapter 14:6), and holiness will characterize the city that [[Haggai]] called filthy. The cleansing mentioned in [[Zechariah]] 3 will be a reality, and there will be [[peace]] in the world. When [[Jerusalem]] has [[peace]], there will be [[peace]] among all nations.