Bible Commentaries
Zechariah 14

Verses 1-21

1. Intro:
   1. The year 1969. The place the moon. The mission Apollo 11.
      1. They raised an American flag and left a plaque, signed by the Apollo 11 crew and President Richard Nixon, reading “Here men from planet earth first set foot upon the moon. July 1969 a.d. we came in peace for all mankind.”
      2. ​​​​​​​And we all remember when Neil Armstrong 1^st stepped on the moon, the words which became the 20^th centuries best known, “That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” (Neil Armstrong)
      3. Tonight we have in Zechariah not one small step but, “One giant step for God, one giant thrust for mankind!”
2. Change IS Coming!
   1. ​​​​​​​(1,2) Armageddon…The 6^th Bowl!
   2. (1) Note the typical Heb. “summary verse” of the sack of Jerusalem.
      1. The day is coming!
      2. Those days will be shortened - Mt.24:21,22
   3. (2) I will gather! {So God’s to blame?}
      1. How does this work?
         1. God gathers them – Zech.14:2
         2. Demons gather them – Rev.16:14
         3. The kings gather themselves – Ps.2:2
      2. This is what some have called in theology à Confluence = “flowing together”. [Synonym is Concurrence]
         1. “Ideas or events concur when they agree w/one another or flow together at the same time.” (R.C Sproul; pg.79; The Invisible Hand.)
      3. Example Job 1. - We have a great cast of characters that were all involved in carrying out God’s ultimate bidding (Now staring: The Sabeans, the Chaldeans, Satan, Job, & God)
         1. When the hedge was pulled back Satan seized the opportunity to unleash his assault against Job.
      4. Example #2 – Joseph. - A classic story of concurrence. What all his brothers, the Ishmaelites, Potiphar’s wife, the chief butler who forgot him in prison meant for evil….God meant/planned for GOOD!!!
         1. Q: Has a tragedy struck you or your family? Can you admit you haven’t read the end of your story. A story that has been written by God before you were even around?
         2. Q: Can you trust him tonight for the next chapter & chapters of your life?
         3. Q: Do you believe He has your best interest in mind?
         4. Q: Do you think He can in fact work ALL things together for good…for you too? [By faith & facts, believe it tonight!]
   4. 6^th Bowl (Rev.16:12-16)
      1. Why 3 Frogs? They are cold-blooded amphibians who dwell in 2 worlds. Many have poison in their skin. Many can change color at will, & can leap a remarkable distance.”
         1. So these demons are cold-blooded fiends, creatures of 2 worlds, full of venom & poison for mankind, & are swift paced to lead men to their blood-bathed-end!
      2. [16:15] We need to watch for Him! We also need to watch out for the “embrace the world”.
         1. “The Lion of persecution might not be a threat to us, but we are being hugged by the Bear of this world.”
         2. Comfortable in his warm, fuzzy arms, but he’s slowly squeezing & the church doesn’t feel it!
      3. [16:16] Armaggedon: har/hill Meggido (the hill of Meggido) Also called The plain of Esdraelon, Valley of Jezreel.
         1. Here: Barak defeated the armies of Canaan, Gideon defeated the Midianites, and here King Saul lost his life.
         2. Post biblical times battles fought here: The Egyptians, Christian Crusaders, Druz, Turks, Arabs, Persians, even Napoleon Bonaparte who called this “The most natural battlefield of the whole earth!”
   5. (3-5) 2^nd Coming!
   6. (3) Technical term for a king “going out” to battle.
   7. (4) His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives!
      1. If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle.
         If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle.
         If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
      2. Here the Son of Man comes on His White Steed, dismounts, & the when the foot touches…look out!
         1. You can envision a sledgehammer cracking open a walnut!
      3. Job remarked, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God,” (19:25)
      4. Q: Is this not the very last place His foot walked on this earth?
         1. Yes, Acts 1:11,12 “who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey.”
            1. This also proves its “literal” fulfillment.
      5. Also, Ezekiel tells us that when the Glory of the Lord departed from Jerusalem(11:23) it also departed from this mountain. “The glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain, which is on the east side of the city.”
      6. Show Picture from Mnt. Of Olives!
         1. It is a 2,700’ high central peak of a mile long, north & south ridge of limestone hills.
         2. It rises 200’ above the Temple mount.
   8. (5) My mountain valley – Maybe valley of Jehoshaphat(Joel 3:2,12)
      1. Where God will judge the Gentiles? (i.e. sheep/goat judgment)
   9. (5b) My favorite…“& all the saints with Him!”
      1. 1 Thes.3:13 “that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”
   10. (6,7) In the Heavens!
   11. Illumination, climate, topography all change in Jerusalem & most likely on the face of the whole earth.
       1. Mt.19:28 "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
       2. Light change - maybe just for that specific day of His return?
   12. (8,9) On the Earth!
   13. (8) A channel carved out w/a 2-directional flow!
       1. This year-round provision will promote unsurpassed fertility throughout the land.
       2. Is.35:1,2 “The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, The excellency of our God.”
       3. The Dead Sea – See Power Point Map
       4. See Ezek.47:1-8
       5. Different from the River in Rev.22 (Why? No Temple in the Rev one)
   14. (9) This is a pivotal point in the passage!
       1. Here our, “Thy kingdom come prayer” is finally answered!
       2. “King over all the earth” – That’s why John says, “King of Kings & Lord of Lord’s”
   15. (10,11) Jerusalem!
       1. ​​​​​​​(10) i.e. all of Jer.!
       2. (11) This is for good. Never to be destroyed again!
   16. (12-15) Parenthetical Flashback! (to vs.2)
       1. The Plague [12,15] – on the enemies(both human & beast)
       2. The Panic [13] – from the Lord.
       3. The Plunder [14] – taken from the Gentile armies.
   17. (16-19) Feast of Tabernacles!
       1. ​​​​​​​Finally, the nations will worship! – That’s all God has been seeking!
       2. “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” (Jn.4:23)
       3. The Feast of Tabernacles was a feast of joyful celebration(Lev.23).
          1. So the kingdom age will be a time of holiness & happiness in worshiping & serving the Lord.
   18. (20,21) Holiness to the Lord!
   19. (21) Canaanite – symbolic of anything ceremonially unclean & ungodly.
   20. (20) This seems to be the removal of the dichotomy/split between secular & sacred!
       1. The Public Life – “engraved on the bells of the horses.”
          1. i.e. they are equal in holiness to the priests gold headband!
          2. Your dogs leash & collar are as holy as our communion trays!
       2. The Religious Life – “The pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar.”
       3. The Private Life - “every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts.”
       4. Show picture of Pomegranate.
          1. Q: Ok, so what doesn’t have “Holiness to the Lord” written upon it in your life?
          2. Q: Take a quick mental list of anything you “can’t” write it upon? (in your home, garage, office) - Get rid of it!