Zechariah 12-14

Zechariah 12-14
This portion is prophetic, even for us today. They include events that concern Israel, Jerusalem, the final world war, the 2nd coming of Jesus, the Kingdom that Jesus will set up on Earth.




EVENT 1 (Zechariah 12:1-3): Eyes of the world will be on the city of Jerusalem
Jerusalem would become the center of attention. The city will make its surrounding people/nations stir. Jerusalem will be a burden too heavy to handle for all the nations. Anyone trying to fix the problems concerning Jerusalem will find no solution.


This is happening today. The center of the Middle East problem is Jerusalem. There is great commotion surrounding the city, and it's a burdensome problem that no one has been able to solve.


Israel is surrounded by Arab nations today. One of the biggest contentions between these nations and Israel is the control over the city of Jerusalem. Israel recently was willing to give up almost everything to reach peace with the Palestinian nations. But because Israel refused to give up Jerusalem, the treaty was negated. THE PEACE TREATY WAS NEGATED ALL BECAUSE OF JERUSALEM!


Why do the Palestinians even want Jerusalem? This is the one million dollar question! Jerusalem is not mentioned once in the Koran, and yet Jerusalem is deemed the 3rd most holy site by Islam. The Dome of the Rock is built there, and they claim that is where Abraham sacrificed Ishmael (not Isaac!) and where Muhammad ascended to Heaven. Verses of the Koran are inscribed inside the Dome. Crazy thing is, the Koran verse that claims Muhammad ascended to Heaven at that exact spot is not inscribed on any of the walls of the Dome! If this spot was deemed holy because of Muhammad's ascension, one would think of the thousands of verses inscribed within the Dome walls, this would be one of the more important verse to include!


Scholars have shown that the Isalmic claim on Jerusalem has been nothing but a myth propagated in recent years to arouse Arab passions against the growing Jewish presence in Jerusalem. (Those interested in the issue are encouraged to sift through recent history and news.)




EVENT 2 (Zechariah 12:4-9): Nations of the world gather against the city of Jerusalem; Jerusalem miraculously protected by God
God will defend Israel and ensure Jerusalem's success:
1. By direct intervention (Zechariah 14)
2. By confusing Israel's surrounding enemies (jumbling up communication, networking, etc.) (Zechariah 12:4)
3. By empowering His people in Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:6-8)


Partial fulfillment of this prophecy:
Israel declared independence in 1948. Since then, they been involved in 4 huge wars, being attacked by Arab nations around them: Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia, who were determined to drive the Jews into the sea. It was roughly 0.5 million Jews at the time against 40 million Arabs, and yet they were able to defend their state! Moreover, at the the end of the war, they were able to acquire 2/3 more territory than they were granted by the UN Resolution of 11/29/1947.


In 1956, Egypt closed the Suez Canal. The ships going through there benefited Israel, and thus they shut it down. Later that year, Egypt, Jordan and Syria signed a treaty to combine its army. Israel went on a preemptive strike and won.


In 1967, the Six-Day War took place. This was the shortest war in history. Egypt lined up 80,000 men, Syria, 40,000, Jordan, 40,000, Saudi Arabia, 20,000, and Iraq, 5000, against Israel borders. These Arabian nations were heavily armed by Russia. Israel was outnumber 20:1. Nevertheless, Israel defeated them, pushed them back in 6 days, AND got Jerusalem!! 


If we're still wondering how God would protect Israel, we cannot ignore the miracles surrounding Israel's victories.




EVENT 3 (Zechariah 12:10-13:6): Israel recognizes Jesus and embraces Him as their Messiah


Zechariah 12:10
God is speaking, and God said He was pierced. To those who still question whether Jesus is God, look no further. There is no doubt that Jesus is God.


Zechariah 12:10-14
There comes a time where the Israelites will recognize their Messiah and mourn the sins committed against Him.


Zechariah 13:1
The sins of Israelites will be forgiven. The Israelites will see Jesus and hear the Gospel, and they will be cleansed.


Zechariah 13:2-6
The lands of Israel will be restored. There will be no more idols. There will be no more false prophets.




EVENT 4 (Zechariah 14:1-8): Jesus Christ comes again and defends Jerusalem and Israel in a supernaturally


Zechariah 14:4
When Jesus returns and lands on the Mount of Olives, He will split it into two. Some believe this may just be an allegory. However, scientists have discovered a fault line running through the Mount of Olives today. 


Zechariah 14:5
When Jesus returns, He returns with an army of angels and His raptured Church.


Zechariah 14:8
Cf. Ezekiel 47 




EVENT 5 (Zechariah 14:9-21): Jesus Christ is King of the Earth, reigning and ruling the Earth from Jerusalem


Zechariah 14:16
There will be survivors of the Gentile nation who make it to the millennial reign. Those who do not go to Jerusalem and worship Jesus will suffer drought. (There is still free will. People can still choose to do what they want.)


Zechariah 14:20-21
Everything about Jesus' kingdom will be holy. EVERYTHING.