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Saturday, February 1st, 2025
the Third Week after Epiphany

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Bible Commentaries
Zechariah 12

ZechariahZec 11 ZechariahZec ZechariahZec 13

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Verses 1-14

Intro:
1. After the 8 visions(ch.1-6); the 4 Revelations(ch.7,8) the book winds down w/2 Prophecies(see burdens/oracles).
  1. Ch.9-11 – The Messiahs 1^st Advent.
  2. Ch.12-14 – The Messiahs 2^nd Advent.
  3. Burden – Oracle, “what is lifted up”(by the voice).
2. Title – Fire & Water!
  1. Ch.12 deals with the Fire of Judgment;
    Ch.13 deals with the Water of cleansing.
3. Zechariah now describes the end of tribulation & the beg. of the Mill.
FIRE OF JUDGMENT! (ch.12)
1. HIS BELOVED CITY! (1-9)
2. (1) We love the phrase, “more than conquerors”. (see Rom.8:37, then 36)
  1. Usually society sees us as “losers”, not “conquerors”!
  2. Same w/Israel here. “They were just getting off the mat after a knockdown, but are depicted by a panorama of pictures of power!” (Jim Townsend; The Minor Prophets; pg92)
3. (2) Jerusalem – will be the center of world attention!
  1. Jerusalem is mentioned 52 x’s in this book; 22 x’s in the last 3 ch.s!
4. (3) “in that day” – 20 x’s in the last 3 chapters.
  1. Referring to the day of the Lord. When the Lord has His heyday. When wrongs are righted!
  2. The time towards which all of creation unavoidably moves!
    1. Yet as it says from the beginning it is rooted in God!!!
  3. All gathered against Jerusalem – When is this?
    1. This is none other then Armageddon! Where:
      1. The Nations agree to cooperate in their fight against God & His people(Ps.2)
      2. Satan uses his powers to influence the nations to gather(Rev.16:13-15)
      3. And, the Lord exercises his sovereign powers in gathering them.
5. 5 Pictures are painted here!
  1. [1] A Cup! (2)
    1. The picture is that of people boldly coming straight up to a bar to drink; but then end up staggering/reeling/swaggering away.
  2. [2] A Big Boulder! (3)
    1. Before bar bells, weight machines, & pulling buses, weightlifters would compete by lifting heavy stones.
    2. They would often try hoist a large boulder over their head, but instead, getting it to shoulder height often they’d run short of muscle power.
    3. Or the picture of the farmer clearing his fields of boulder s & throwing his back out because of it.
  3. [3] Puzzled Ponies! (4,5)
    1. You’ve heard of 3 blind mice? Blind horses!
    2. Panic hits horse & horseman. Result: Chaos.
  4. [4] A Firepan! (6)
    1. Firepan in the woodpile – a pan for holding or carrying fire.
    2. Torch in the sheaves. Either would ignite quickly. 2.5.4.2.1.Another would be smoking inside a fireworks booth.
    3. They would consume their enemies quickly.
  5. [5] A Giant Killer! (7-9)
    1. Imagine a whole bunch of giant killers!
    2. From Wimps to Warriors!
6. So, do you see yourself as “more than conquerors?” Or “less then losers?”
  1. Rom.8:36-39 "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
7. PERCEIVING THE PIERCED PRINCE! (10-14)
8. (10) In the future day, Israel will see the pierced Messiah return from heaven.
  1. It will be the same Messiah they rejected long ago, bearing the selfsame wounds they inflicted then.
  2. The Spirit of Grace – The outpoured Spirit would “sensitize” the inhabitants of Jerusalem to the One they pierced.
    1. Acts 2(Pentecost) was of course the 1^st installment!
  3. Is.53:5[NIV] “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
  4. Rev.1:7 “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.”
  5. Poem – C.E.Peglar
    His brow is marred & on His side
    Wence flowed the cleansing, crimson tide The Marks of love are found.
    In every wound I read the guilt
    And thank Him that His blood was spilt To bring this sinner nigh.
  6. So, the One whom they Rejected(12:10a), they will Receive(13:1), by Repenting(12:10b-14), & thus Receiving forgiveness & cleansing!
9. (11-14) See 2 Chron.35:20-25.
10. Like God’s people Israel, we experience many trials & testings; but the Lord will see us through & share His kingdom & glory w/us…
  1. Paul & Barnabus went around “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." Acts 14:22

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Verses 1-14

Intro:
1. After the 8 visions(ch.1-6); the 4 Revelations(ch.7,8) the book winds down w/2 Prophecies(see burdens/oracles).
  1. Ch.9-11 – The Messiahs 1^st Advent.
  2. Ch.12-14 – The Messiahs 2^nd Advent.
  3. Burden – Oracle, “what is lifted up”(by the voice).
2. Title – Fire & Water!
  1. Ch.12 deals with the Fire of Judgment;
    Ch.13 deals with the Water of cleansing.
3. Zechariah now describes the end of tribulation & the beg. of the Mill.
FIRE OF JUDGMENT! (ch.12)
1. HIS BELOVED CITY! (1-9)
2. (1) We love the phrase, “more than conquerors”. (see Rom.8:37, then 36)
  1. Usually society sees us as “losers”, not “conquerors”!
  2. Same w/Israel here. “They were just getting off the mat after a knockdown, but are depicted by a panorama of pictures of power!” (Jim Townsend; The Minor Prophets; pg92)
3. (2) Jerusalem – will be the center of world attention!
  1. Jerusalem is mentioned 52 x’s in this book; 22 x’s in the last 3 ch.s!
4. (3) “in that day” – 20 x’s in the last 3 chapters.
  1. Referring to the day of the Lord. When the Lord has His heyday. When wrongs are righted!
  2. The time towards which all of creation unavoidably moves!
    1. Yet as it says from the beginning it is rooted in God!!!
  3. All gathered against Jerusalem – When is this?
    1. This is none other then Armageddon! Where:
      1. The Nations agree to cooperate in their fight against God & His people(Ps.2)
      2. Satan uses his powers to influence the nations to gather(Rev.16:13-15)
      3. And, the Lord exercises his sovereign powers in gathering them.
5. 5 Pictures are painted here!
  1. [1] A Cup! (2)
    1. The picture is that of people boldly coming straight up to a bar to drink; but then end up staggering/reeling/swaggering away.
  2. [2] A Big Boulder! (3)
    1. Before bar bells, weight machines, & pulling buses, weightlifters would compete by lifting heavy stones.
    2. They would often try hoist a large boulder over their head, but instead, getting it to shoulder height often they’d run short of muscle power.
    3. Or the picture of the farmer clearing his fields of boulder s & throwing his back out because of it.
  3. [3] Puzzled Ponies! (4,5)
    1. You’ve heard of 3 blind mice? Blind horses!
    2. Panic hits horse & horseman. Result: Chaos.
  4. [4] A Firepan! (6)
    1. Firepan in the woodpile – a pan for holding or carrying fire.
    2. Torch in the sheaves. Either would ignite quickly. 2.5.4.2.1.Another would be smoking inside a fireworks booth.
    3. They would consume their enemies quickly.
  5. [5] A Giant Killer! (7-9)
    1. Imagine a whole bunch of giant killers!
    2. From Wimps to Warriors!
6. So, do you see yourself as “more than conquerors?” Or “less then losers?”
  1. Rom.8:36-39 "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
7. PERCEIVING THE PIERCED PRINCE! (10-14)
8. (10) In the future day, Israel will see the pierced Messiah return from heaven.
  1. It will be the same Messiah they rejected long ago, bearing the selfsame wounds they inflicted then.
  2. The Spirit of Grace – The outpoured Spirit would “sensitize” the inhabitants of Jerusalem to the One they pierced.
    1. Acts 2(Pentecost) was of course the 1^st installment!
  3. Is.53:5[NIV] “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
  4. Rev.1:7 “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.”
  5. Poem – C.E.Peglar
    His brow is marred & on His side
    Wence flowed the cleansing, crimson tide The Marks of love are found.
    In every wound I read the guilt
    And thank Him that His blood was spilt To bring this sinner nigh.
  6. So, the One whom they Rejected(12:10a), they will Receive(13:1), by Repenting(12:10b-14), & thus Receiving forgiveness & cleansing!
9. (11-14) See 2 Chron.35:20-25.
10. Like God’s people Israel, we experience many trials & testings; but the Lord will see us through & share His kingdom & glory w/us…
  1. Paul & Barnabus went around “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." Acts 14:22

return to 'Top of Page'

ZechariahZec 11 ZechariahZec ZechariahZec 13

Copyright Statement
These files are the property of Brian Bell.
Text Courtesy of Calvary Chapel of Murrieta. Used by Permission.

Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on Zechariah 12". "Bell's Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/zechariah-12.html. 2017.

Bible CommentariesZechariah 12

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

Verses 1-14

Verses 1-14

Bible Commentaries
Zechariah 12