DECEMBER 28
It is very interesting that both
Zechariah and Revelation are zeroing in on the same battle and events
surrounding the second coming of Jesus. Notice however that in both books, the
Lord is showing us what will happen from two completely different perspectives.
While Revelation is showing us what is happening in heaven, at the same time,
Zechariah (in our reading today and tomorrow) is at ground level, in the city,
showing us the carnage that will come to the Jews as they cry out for the
Messiah. When they cry out He will come and the tables will be turned and then
what we read today in Revelation 19:17-21 will take place.
Zechariah
12-13
Zechariah 12
V. 1 This is a solemn declaration to
the right of God to do what He is about to do. It makes me think of what we'll
be reading about Jesus in Revelation 19. Also, this sounds like the way Paul
begins some of his charges to Timothy in 1 & 2 Timothy, declaring God's majesty.
God bases His right to save and to judge based on the fact that He is the
author of creation and the author of the life of man. I'd say that gives Him
the right, alright.
Vs. 2-3 We have seen before that God is
very passionate about Jerusalem. God will make Jerusalem a sliver in the world
and everyone will become totally preoccupied with trying to remove it. But the
more they try to destroy it, the more they will hurt themselves.
It is hard to know what is really
happening here, but it could be as follows. It seems to me that just before the
mid-point of the Tribulation, the army of "Magog" will come into
Israel to fight against Jerusalem and will be supernaturally destroyed. The
antichrist will come upon Jerusalem, kill the two witnesses and defile the
temple, declaring himself to be the Messiah or God. The Jews will flee
Jerusalem, as Jesus told them to and head for the hills, literally. Toward the
end of the Tribulation and very near to the time Christ returns, it looks like
the Jews will slowly come back into Judah and into Jerusalem. Probably the
antichrist will set up his headquarters somewhere else. While he is preoccupied
with hunting and killing Jews and believers worldwide, he will also have to
deal with the arrogance of "Babylon" and the other nations that do
not bow to him. Somewhere in this last year of the Tribulation, and close to
the end, the bowl judgments will be poured out. This would allow the Jews to
come back to Jerusalem. It could also be that some revelation is given through
the Spirit to draw the Jews back for the coming of Christ. It is obvious from
Scripture where He is to return.
As the armies of the world begin
fighting each other 75 miles north of Jerusalem, it could be that the Jews
retake the city and a portion of the antichrist's army comes against Jerusalem
to wipe them out. This could be the time that Christ returns to save His city
and His followers. We will see tomorrow that this army will kill many and rape
and pillage. It will look like extermination is certain for those in Jerusalem.
Those Jews who still haven't made a decision will have their opportunity. It
will be during this utter distress that they call out to the Lord, saying,
"Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." This is my take on
things.
Notice that in these last three
chapters, the phrase, on that day,
will be used quite a bit. It would be worth underlining it.
Vs. 4-5 On that day, God will strike the armies around Jerusalem with
terror. It might be that lightning that Jesus talked about. Those living around
Jerusalem (the people in Judah) appear to be holding back and not joining those
who have gone into Jerusalem. But they will see that the people who have
believed and gone into the city to wait for the return of Christ are suddenly
given a supernatural strength and protection.
Vs. 6-9 This is fighting. The clans of
Judah will be supernaturally inspired and everyone will become a warrior. The
people in Jerusalem will be like David in his fighting ability. Those descended
from David will be awesome and unbeatable, like Samson. Though the main
fighting is 75 miles north on the plain of Megiddo (Har-Megiddo = Armageddon),
the forces that thought taking Jerusalem would be a piece of cake will be
totally destroyed. When the antichrist finds out that his troops are being
swept way, he will be too far north to do anything about it. Just for chuckles,
look at the end of this document and you'll find the route from Megiddo to
Jerusalem.
It is important to see all of the Bible
together. Revelation shows us the judgments on the world that weaken the
structure of the nations. Revelation shows the nations gathering to fight north
of Jerusalem. Zechariah shows us God's passion for His city, and the battle
going on there when Jesus arrives.
Vs. 10-14 These people in Jerusalem
will see the Lord return to the Mt. of Olives. Many of them are believing, but
those who are not will be cut to the heart just like the Jews were after
Peter's message in Acts 2:37. They will weep and repent for the entire history
of Israel. The houses of Nathan, Levi, and the Shimeites were all branches of
David's descendants.
V. 10 This is quoted in John 19:37
regarding Jesus.
V. 11 This is a reference to the
mourning of the people when King Josiah was killed. Josiah was killed on the
plain of Megiddo. Although the word "Armageddon" only occurs in
Revelation, this is a clear allusion to the place and the battle that will rage
there.
Zechariah 13
Vs. 1-6 These verses express the
complete cleansing that will take place on
that day, from sin and from all forms of deception and lies.
Vs. 7-9 This will be the devastation to
Jerusalem as that army attacks. In the press of this battle, as the people are
losing and dying, they will cry out, Blessed
is He who comes in the name of the Lord. The lightning will come and
terrify the army. The people in Jerusalem, first, will be inspired with joy and
superhuman ability like Samson or one of David's three champions. The battle
will turn as the Lord appears and arrives to save His city.
To see how devastating this battle at
Jerusalem is, look at the first four verses of tomorrow's reading. When the
Lord comes, it will look very, very bad for the Jews in Jerusalem. Then, at the
moment He comes, the armies are terrified; the unbelieving Jews mourn in
repentance and trust Christ, and those who had already believed are already
feeling their muscles bulging and are ready to mix it up.
Revelation
19
Meanwhile in heaven…..
Vs. 1-3 This
multitude are those killed in the Tribulation as seen in Revelation 7:9. They
are praising God for the coming judgment.
It is hard to grasp
that the destruction and judgment of "Babylon" is such an important
event. It reminds me of Genesis 15:16 where God told Abraham that He wouldn't
give him the land yet because the iniquity
of the Amorites is not yet complete. Apparently the full measure of
the saints was finally martyred in Babylon and now the sin of mankind and the
full measure of guilt were complete. With the judgment of Babylon, the full
righteous wrath of God could now roll. But it isn't only judgment that is
complete.
Vs. 4-5 This worship of the elders and creatures is because
of this pivotal event.
Vs. 6-10 Now, I'm not sure how all of this worked toward the
announcing of the marriage supper of the
Lamb at this point, but it did. That is, I think the order of events is
important. The marriage supper has to occur after the Tribulation is over.
Something in what has just happened also opened the door for the announcement
of the marriage supper celebration of the Lamb and the church, His Bride. The
destruction of Babylon and the vengeance on the blood of the saints was
important.
V. 6-7 This multitude is the church and they are announcing
the marriage.
V. 8 These righteous
deeds didn't make her pure, but were a symbol of her redemption in Christ.
This is our work in the harvest. For we
are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:10)
V. 9 So, we see the Lamb and there is the Bride, the church.
The church is given this special honor. It is important to realize that God has
special things planned for different groups of believers. Also, there is a
difference in rewards and position. For example, the 24 elders are limited to
24. That position and those rewards are granted only to them. There are those
who believed in the OT, before Christ; most of whom will not be resurrected
until the end of the Tribulation/ the beginning of the Millennium. So, who is
invited to this marriage feast? It seems that this feast will be on the earth,
and those invited will be all who are resurrected at the coming of Christ, as
well as those who enter into the Millennial Kingdom of Christ.
V. 10 John was overcome by all of this and fell down to
worship the messenger, but the angel gently corrected him. Earlier when John
fell down to worship, it was Jesus, so that was OK.
So what does it mean, the
testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy? If prophecy means, "the
telling of things to come," then inherent in talking about Jesus is the
revealing of God's past, present and future program of redemption and judgment.
Vs. 11-21 Now in very quick order we have the second coming
of Christ. Apparently the stage was fully set with the destruction of Babylon.
It really is interesting that in Zechariah we've been reading what will be
happening in Jerusalem, in growing detail, while this is going on in heaven.
Vs. 11-16 Now the King is coming to fight.
This army with the Lord might be angels, but who knows. Just
to keep things in perspective, this battle will result in the deaths of all of
the opposing soldiers. This then is not Jesus sending out His angels to
separate the wicked from the righteous. That will happen once Jesus is
established on His throne. That is the judgment Jesus referred to as the
separation of the sheep and the goats. On the other hand, those who are
unbelieving and die here will be sent to Hades where they will sit in
punishment to be resurrected to judgment before the white throne at the end of
the Millennium. Then they will be sent to hell, the lake of fire.
V. 15 That Jesus will rule with a rod of iron is simply saying it will be with unbending
truth. No one will be able to tell Jesus He doesn't know their hearts or that
He is misjudging their motives.
Vs. 17-21 Putting everything together, Jesus first returns
to Jerusalem, to the Mount of Olives and saves Jerusalem. This is visible to
everyone, including the armies to the north who now turn all of their fire
power (if they have any) on Jesus. I suppose that since Jesus shows up with an
army, they think they can fight against Him. Obviously one angel could decimate
a human army, but so could anyone with the Lord who was empowered by the
Spirit. In Zechariah we have already heard that the believers will be given
superhuman ability. The appearance of a human army could inspire arrogance on the
part of the armies gathered. They probably think they can put up a fight and
win. That might be the human side of the fight. It could also be that on the
spiritual side of things, another battle is raging between Satan's angels and
Michael and his angels.
V. 20 There is not a lot of drama or fanfare here. The
antichrist and the prophet are captured and they are immediately thrown into
the lake of fire. They become the
first official inhabitants of hell. What a great honor.
V. 21 Everyone else who is killed goes to Hades, that place
of waiting, in punishment until they stand before Christ for judgment.
This is all coming. Knowing Jesus means we know these events
are certain. The same blood that saves is the same blood that judges the sin of
the world. Now is the time to work in the harvest, reaching the lost and making
disciples, who will make disciples until the time when Jesus comes.
Psalm
147
This is a great
psalm. Underline or make a list of the things God does. Once you see this
pattern, you also see when the pattern is broken, like in vs. 5 and 10-11.
Vs. 1-6 It is
interesting reading this immediately after Zechariah and Revelation.
Vs. 7-11 In my Bible
v. 9 of this psalm is immediately to the right of Revelation 19:17-18. That,
too, is pretty interesting. Verse 11 says it all.
Vs. 12-20 The Lord's
interest in Jerusalem/Zion is something we are used to by now. God will call
all nations there during the Millennium for blessing.
Vs. 15-19 It is
interesting to me that suddenly we have all of these references to the Word.
Didn't we just see the Word on a white horse?
V. 20 is meant here
to be a privilege, but in Israel's history, knowing God's decrees, and
disobeying them, has also been what has led to judgment. But here, having the
Word is their joy.
Proverbs 31:1-7
The words of King Lemuel are vs. 1-9. We know nothing about
this guy. No king of Israel ever had this name. God knew who he was and here
are a few words Lemuel's mother taught him.
V. 2 I read this and laugh. How often do parents look at
their sons and say what are you doing?
Here, she has to ask him three times. I wonder what he was doing. J
Obviously the repetition emphasizes her love and concern for him.
V. 3 This is immorality, adultery or sexual excess. We saw
what it did to both David and Solomon.
Vs. 4-5 This caution is toward drunkenness and excess, not
drinking within bounds. Jesus drank wine.
Vs. 6-7 Excess in drinking is OK for those who are on their
deathbed or those who have suffered a great tragedy, probably to get them to
sleep.
If you’re reading along
and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these
comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in
growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see
the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples,
meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out
and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal
manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us
more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only
meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's
plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to
keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the
people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to
find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples,
disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a
complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find
it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more
descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the
Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the
commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never
hurts.
I am not endorsing any
particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte
Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with
us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their
own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular
tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to
criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has
written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like
documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to
print.
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