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Zechariah Series - Session #11: Israel: Saved and Cleansed
Download Session #11 Israel saved and cleaned DOWNLOAD Session #11 'Israel saved and cleaned ' Bible Verse Handbook VIEW Session #11 'Israel saved and cleaned ' Bible Verse Handbook online Session 11 Israel: Saved and Cleansed (Zech. 12:1-13:6) I. INTRODUCTION A. After the visions in Zechariah 1-6, the question arises, what about the Gentile nations who oppress Israel? Zechariah receives two prophetic oracles (Zech. 9-11 and Zech. 12-14) that answer this question. Their theme is the messianic King who brings judgment and blessing as He empowers Israel, defeats the Gentile world powers, and establishes the kingdom (Zech. 9-14). B. Both oracles speak of war between the Gentile world powers and Israel, but in different ways. The Messiah will deliver, empower, and regather Israel, and overthrow
her enemies. The Messiah will save, refine, and transform Israel in the context
of a global war The second oracle gives more details about the global war that is introduced in the first oracle C. The complete fulfillment of most of the events in these six chapters will occur at the time of Jesus’ second coming. In Zechariah 12-14, the phrase “in that day” occurs 18 times, indicating the end of the age (12:3, 4, 6, 8 [2x], 9, 11; 13:1, 2, 4; 14:1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 20, 21). D. Zechariah 12-14 is one of the most dramatic and important prophetic passages in Scripture. It is a “must-know” passage. In it, we see the conclusion of God’s mysterious end-time plan.Zechariah tells of Israel’s great victories, horrific suffering, and world leadership (12-14). It is a gift from God, showing us the storyline. Its message must be boldly proclaimed to all. E. Surprisingly, God’s plan to make the “transition from this age to the age-to-come” includes all nations making war against Israel as the context in which Jesus will return to deliver Israel and destroy her enemies. How is it possible that one small nation could so enrage the whole world? F. Zechariah 12 gives an overview of the events from the military
and spiritual points of view. (The events are in chronological order in 12:1-13:6. Then the story is told again in 13:7-14:21). G. Zechariah’s message has several seeming paradoxes. Israel
will see both revival and apostasy. Her best and worst days are
yet ahead. Her victory and suffering will surpass anything in history. H. Israel’s main crisis is not with Islam or other anti-Semitic nations, rather it is with God. Her crisis is rooted in the fact that God loves Israel, and yet the majority of Israel does not love God. God will not violate their free will, but will use the great difficulty to lead them to His great love. I. Zechariah’s end-time message is politically incorrect, offending Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Zechariah’s most offensive message to Israel is that 2/3 of them will be killed (13:8). Zechariah’s most offensive message to Islam is that all will worship the God of Israel (14:16). Zechariah’s offensive message to the Church is God’s
Jerusalem-centric plan for world dominion. A. The Lord introduces this oracle by reminding us that He has the power to create the heavens, the earth, and all humanity (12:1). His plan as set forth in this oracle will require this kind of power. No matter how impossible things appear to Israel, nothing is impossible for God. The fact that He formed the spirit of man within him assures Israel that He understands the human make-up and, therefore, knows that His plan, as seen in this oracle, will work in leading Israel to salvation. 1 The burden…of the LORD against Israel. Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him: (Zech. 12:1) B. This prophecy begins with burden which is translated as oracle or a heavy burden (12:1). The two main events in this oracle are the siege of Jerusalem (12:2-3; 14:1-2) and the return of the Messiah, leading to Israel’s salvation and the transformation of the whole earth (12:10; 14:3, 9). 1 The burden [oracle] of the word of the LORD against Israel. (Zech. 12:1) C. The Battle for Jerusalem is a spiritual, political, and military battle for the control of Jerusalem. It is one of the most significant battlefronts in the spirit today; Jesus will end the battle when He returns. D. The end-time siege around Jerusalem (12:2-3). This same siege is described again (14:2). 2 “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples [nations], when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. 3 And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples [nations]; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.” (Zech. 12:2-3) E. The leaders of the nations will work together under the Antichrist’s leader to lay siege against Jerusalem and Judah (Mt. 24:15-22). This siege will last for 3½ years (Rev. 11:2-3; 12:6; 13:5). F. The siege begins with the nations that surround Jerusalem (12:2), but it escalates to all nations (12:3; 14:2) joining the siege to try to destroy the Jewish people and capture the city. They do not bomb the city, but seek to capture it intact for religious purposes. G. Two metaphors warn the nations of their danger—cup of drunkenness and heavy stone (12:2-3). The nations drink the cup and are injured by the stone by opposing God’s purpose for Jerusalem. 1. Cup of drunkenness: The nations that resist
God’s purpose for Jerusalem will become 2. Heavy stone: God will make Jerusalem like a
very heavy rock with sharp edges to every 2 “For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem.” (Zech. 14:2) 2 “I will gather all nations…I will enter into judgment with them there [Jerusalem].” (Joel 3:2) 8 “My determination is to gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms [at Jerusalem], to pour on them My indignation…all the earth shall be devoured with…My jealousy.” (Zeph. 3:8) I. Satan also works to draw the nations to Jerusalem but with evil purposes (Rev. 16:13-14; 19:19). Armageddon is an area in the valley of Megiddo, in the northern
part of Israel. This area will 14For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty…16And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. (Rev. 16:14-16) J. Gentile world leaders will accept the leadership of the “worthless shepherd” (Antichrist) as Israel did in Zechariah 11:15-17. K. One reason that the Lord intentionally put so much oil in Arab lands is so that the money from it could be used to seduce the nations to stand with them against Israel. The Lord is reenacting the “David and Goliath drama” to reveal His salvation, but this time it is on a global stage. He put Himself in “divine checkmate” so that it will take His great power to solve Israel’s great dilemma. L. No one has the power to deliver Israel. God will kick every prop from beneath Israel. He will not allow America to be a prop for Israel. The ally that Israel most needs is a holy, praying and fasting, prophetic Church. Israel has Jesus on her side and so does not need the military strength of America. America needs Israel more than Israel needs America. M. The accumulated impact of many social, economic, religious, and political dynamics will create a scenario where everyone will be forced to “make a decision” to stand for or against Jesus and Jerusalem. There will be no neutral ground. The Lord will cause everyone to be in the “valley of decision” by the many dynamics that will develop related to Jerusalem. 14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! The day of the LORD is near… (Joel 3:14) N. He will use Jerusalem as the issue to separate those who are His from those who are not His in all the families, schools, neighborhoods, work places, and churches across the whole earth. O. Iran’s President Ahmadinejad said in a speech (August
1, 2012) to ambassadors from Islamic countries, “Liberating
Palestine would solve all world problems.” He said that the
ultimate goal of world forces must be the annihilation of Israel.
He went on to say that anyone who loves freedom and justice must
strive for the annihilation of the Zionist regime to pave the way
for world justice. A. The Lord will release confusion and a spirit of insanity on the Gentile armies (12:4; Deut. 28:28). Imagine terrified horses that are suddenly struck blind and that are being led by insane soldiers. 4 In that day…I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. (Zech. 12:4) 1. Panic: Zechariah prophesied a great panic coming on these Gentile armies (14:13). 13A great panic from the LORD will be among them. Everyone
will seize the hand of 2. Open My eyes: The Lord will open His eyes on
the house of Judah. This speaks of His B. The Lord will supernaturally empower the small Israeli army as a weapon in His hand (12:6). The political leaders of Judah who live outside Jerusalem will see the events in verse 4 and will conclude that God is helping Jerusalem. This will greatly encourage those in Judah (12:5). 5 “And the governors of Judah shall say in their
heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the
LORD of hosts, their God.’ 6 In that day I will make the governors
of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch
in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on
the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited
again in her own place—Jerusalem.” 1. Like a firepan: The newly encouraged leaders
of Judah will also receive supernatural 2. Like a fiery torch: The military success of the leaders of Judah will be comparable to fire that burns dry grass effortlessly and instantaneously. This new ability will surprise them. C. The Lord will empower the soldiers who live in Judah first, to create unity with Jerusalem (12:7). The Lord will do this because He does not want the people living in Jerusalem to assume that they are more important to the Lord, especially after receiving such great help as seen in verse 8. Those in Judah will be in a more defenseless condition, as indicated by them dwelling in tents, and contrasted with those in the well-defended capital city. All this will work together to help end the long-standing in-fighting among the Jewish leadership (11:6, 14). Zechariah earlier prophesied that the “house of Judah” in the south (10:3, 6) and the “house of Joseph,” (10:6) or “Ephraim,” in the north (10:7) would all be anointed for battle, not just those in Jerusalem. 7 The LORD will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory
of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than
that of Judah. 8 The LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the LORD before them. (Zech. 12:8) 1. Like David: The most feeble person without any skill to fight shall be as David—Israel’s greatest military hero. When Jesus returns, He will empower Israel (9:13; 10:3-7). 5 They shall be like mighty men, who tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle. They shall fight because the LORD is with them. (Zech. 10:5) 2. Like the Angel of the Lord: Suddenly the house
of David will receive an unusual measure of supernatural strength to fight, as if the Angel of the
Lord went before them E. Jesus will destroy all the nations (12:8). This will be the greatest military reversal in history. The most extreme judgment in history will occur in the largest, most violent battle in history. 9 “It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” (Zech. 12:9) F. All kings will be gathered with their armies (Rev. 19:19; Joel 3:2, 12; Zeph. 3:8). It will be the only time in history when all the kings of the earth will be together in the same city. Jesus will kill all of them and will replace all governments of the earth in one great event (Rev. 19:21; Ps. 110:5-6; Isa. 24:6, 21; 66:24). 19I saw the beast [Antichrist], the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him [Jesus]… 21The rest [all the kings] were killed with the sword…from the mouth of Him… (Rev. 19:19-21) G. Jesus will defeat the Antichrist in the sight of all nations (Rev. 19:20). 8 …lawless one…whom the Lord will consume
with the breath of His mouth. H. The leaders of Jerusalem will receive Jesus, a Jewish man, as their messianic King. Jesus will establish His throne in Jerusalem (Mt. 19:28; 25:31; Jer. 3:17). Then He will transition the earth to the millennial kingdom, as Israel and all the nations on the earth are born anew on one day. 7 Lift up your heads, O you gates [Jerusalem]...And the King of
glory shall come in. 8 I. In that Day, Jesus will show Himself as the greater Moses when
He frees the captives of Israel from prison camps. He will be seen
as the greater Joshua when He leads Israel, who are refugees in
the nations, to the Promised Land, and as the greater David when
He wins back Jerusalem and establishes His throne and tabernacle
there! He will come as the greater Elijah to confront the Antichrist,
cleanse the earth of idolatry, and turn Israel and the nations to
God. A. After this great military victory, Israel will have deep humility without any pride, as they understand that Jesus was loyal to them for centuries when they despised Him. God will deliver Israel in a way that causes them to love Jesus more than the nations that they looked to for help. B. Zechariah described Israel’s national repentance and conversion (12:10-14). His focus changed from physical to spiritual deliverance (Deut. 30:1-10). After Jesus defeats Israel’s physical enemies, He confronts their greatest enemy—their sin and unbelief. This people did not receive the two witnesses who testified of Jesus in Jerusalem for 3½ years. 10I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me [Jesus] whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son. (Zech. 12:10) 1. Look on Me: Jesus will personally call the nation of Israel to look on Him. As Jesus called Saul of Tarsus to look on Him, so He will call the whole nation to look. Paul’s conversion is a prophetic foreshadowing of Israel’s national salvation. They will be as surprised as Paul was to discover that Jesus of Nazareth is the God of Israel. 3 Suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4
Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting
Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And the Lord said,
“I am Jesus…” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You
want me to do?” 2. Both Jesus and John elaborated on Zechariah’s prophecy that Israel would look on Jesus. They both prophesied that all Jews and Gentiles would see Him They will see Him while He is on the clouds (yet close enough to the earth to see Him). 7 He is coming with clouds, and every eye [Jews and Gentiles] will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. (Rev. 1:7) 30“All the tribes of the earth will mourn, and
they will see the Son of Man coming on 3. Jesus told the Jewish leaders who killed Him that they would see Him (Mk. 14:62). 62“You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Mk. 14:62) 4. The Lord will be “seen” over His people (9:14) in the context of Israel being raised up as mighty men (9:13) and the Lord defending them. 14Then the Lord will be seen over them, and His arrow
will go forth like lightning. The Lord will blow the trumpet, and
go with whirlwinds from the south. (Zech.
9:14) 6. Whom they pierced: Israel did not know that
their hatred of Christ was hatred of God. 7. The Spirit of grace: The Spirit of grace and supplication refers to the anointing of revelation, power, and prayer. This will help the people come to salvation. The prophets promised that the Spirit would be poured out on Jerusalem (Isa. 44:3; Joel 2:28-32). C. Israel’s national repentance and mourning is described graphically (12:11-14). There will be great mourning in Jerusalem and throughout all Israel. All Israelites will mourn in this national repentance. The mourning will be intense, universal, and yet personal within each family: 11“There shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12And the land shall mourn, every family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; 13the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves; 14all the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves.” (Zech. 12:11-14) 1. Like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon: Zechariah
compared Israel’s national mourning D. The political and priestly families were the ones most responsible for Jesus’ death. David and Levi represent the most prominent in their family lines. Their sons, Nathan and Shimei, represent lesser prominence in their family lines. Together, they represent the whole family, to indicate that the mourning affects every family, from the least to the greatest. 1. House of David and Nathan: These two families
represented the political arena—they 2. House of Levi and Shimei: These two families
represented the priestly arena—they were the priestly family.
Shimei was a grandson of Levi (Num. 3:18). A. Zechariah 13 continues with the theme of Israel’s national salvation. The same people and places are mentioned within the same timeframe in both chapters. The events in 12:1-13:6 are chronological. Once Israel receives her Messiah, He begins to cleanse the land. B. Israel’s national cleansing is from sin, idols, false
prophets, and the unclean spirit (13:1-6). God will open a fountain
of grace to cleanse Israel of all her national and individual sin. 1 “In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. 2 It shall be in that day…that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land.” (Zech. 13:1-2) C. Jesus will open a fountain for the total cleansing of Israel,
spiritually and physically Jesus will remove idolatry, false prophets, and the unclean spirit
that was in the land, related to the abomination of desolation (the
center of Antichrist worship) being in Jerusalem Satan will be thrown into prison, and the Antichrist and False Prophet into the lake of fire (Rev. 19-20; 20:1-3). D. This new cleansing will cause false prophets to be afraid and put to shame (13:3-6). 3 “If anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother who begot him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, because you have spoken lies in the name of the LORD.’ And his father and mother who begot him shall thrust him through when he prophesies. 4 And it shall be in that day that every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they will not wear a robe of coarse hair to deceive. 5 But he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a farmer; for a man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.’ 6 And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then he will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’” (Zech. 13:3-6) E. The zeal for purity will be so great in that day that even the parents of a false prophet will put him to death as the Law commanded (Deut. 13:6-9), thrusting a sword through him (13:3). F. This situation for the false prophets will be so dangerous that
they will deny their past
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