Zechariah Chapter 14 "The Lord's Day" This Bible
Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's
transcription/ location is provided by http://www.theseason.org Zechariah 14:1 "Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee." "Behold", "look and see" is the command here. The events of this chapter are going to happen on the "Day of the Lord", also referred to as "the Lord's Day". When that day comes to pass, Satan will have ruled for the past five [5] month from his headquarters in Jerusalem [Revelation 9:5 and 10]. By the time that this "Day of the Lord" takes place, the entire world will be locked into the Antichrist's [Satan's] one world religious system, and the locust army of fallen angels will be in full control. Details of that time of Satan's control are written of Revelation 9, and Joel 1 and 2, and many other places. When this "day of the Lord cometh" our generation will be well tested, with only a few passing the test and looking forward to our Lord's return. The rest of the world [including most Christians] to face the shame that came upon them in their playing the role of the harlot. Just three and a half days prior to the this day, the entire world entered into the wildest celebration this earth has ever seen, for Satan will had killed the two troublemakers, that had cause all their problems. Those troublemakers were the "two witnesses" of God, giving the final warning of this earth age; and no one wanted that guilt put upon them. They were satisfied with their Christ, and ignorance, this Christ is the Antichrist. Now they were dead and rotting away, and the party is about over. The world will be given ample cause to believe Satan, the Antichrist, to be the true Christ, for he will posses supernatural abilities, and one of those abilities is to bring peace to the world. Also, don't forget those countless numbers of fallen angelic beings [appearing to be men] that will come with Satan. Then too, the Churches have allowed Satan's flesh and blood kin, the "Kenites" to teach and write their doctrines for them, so even the Christians will be prepared for the grand show the Antichrist will give. Do you get what Zechariah is telling us here? There will be no middle of the road people at this time. You will either know God's word, and what to expect, or you will not. If you do; then you are one of God's elect, and If you do not, you are not. The division is clear cut, and it is formed by your understanding of the order of the events of the end times, brought about through your study of God's word that you place in your mind. That is where the seal of God is [In your mind]. The seal is what you know to be true. Zechariah 14:2 "For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city." There are actually two applications to this verse for "the women ravished". In the spiritual sense those women ravished are those of the bride of Christ. Many of the Christians today will be ravished spiritually at the coming Satan in his role as the "instead of Christ", also referred to as the Antichrist. The "houses" that shall be rifled, will be rifled because of their ignorance to God's Word. They are the church houses that teach their traditions and false doctrines that will lead their people into Satan's captivity. However there shall be a small residue of the people, those that have taken the time study God's Word to know the truth, and they shall not be cut off from our Lord Jesus Christ, they know the truth to have the "seal of God" in their minds and Satan will not be attractive to them. The Antichrist's one world religious system will control most all religious forms, so this commitment to Satan's system is not difficult to understand. Jerusalem will be taken in battle and under the control of the Antichrist's world army, and the residue of the people there are Satan's flesh and blood kids, the "Kenites". This will no difference then how it was prior to the flood of Noah's day of Genesis 6, when the band of fallen angels took the women of the earth for their play things. This is why women are warned in the Bible to keep a vail over their heads. Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:36-38; "But of that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Matthew 24:37 "But as the days of No'-e [Noah], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew 24:38 "For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that No'-e entered into the ark," Those women of Noah's day were marrying and giving in marriage to the fallen angels. From that sexual union with the angles, they had children, or what ever they appeared to be, for the Bible called them "Nephilim", or Giants, which in the Hebrew text dictionary, # 5303, and # 5307, "Ne-phil-im, meaning fallen ones". These characters and coming back to earth with Satan as part of his "Locust army". Zechariah 14:3 "Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle." Remember in Luke 23, where Jesus Christ was carrying the cross up the hill to be crucified, and women of Jerusalem were standing by and weeping, and crying for Him? Then in Luke 23:27-28 we read; Luke 23:27 "And there followed him a great company of people, and of woman, which also bewailed and lamented him." Luke 23:28 "But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children." Jesus knew the way it was in Noah's time, and that upon His return it would be the same way. Only upon His return the "elect" of God would be covered and veiled, and would not yield to those "fallen ones". This condemnation will be on the children's souls that are living in our generation, and that condemnation will come at Christ's return for those unveiled. There are many different ideas as to when and how these battles will take place. However, there is only one battle this could possibly be, and that was in the "battle to overthrow Satan" in the first earth age, prior to the time of Adam and Eve. That came when Satan tried to turn all the children of God against God. One third of the angelic beings fell with Satan in that battle. The next battle that God will personally take part in will be on "the day of the Lord", at His return. Remember, that first battle totally devastated the entire earth; "And the earth [became, in the Hebrew text] void. " [Genesis 1:1] The age of the flesh followed that first destruction, and this age will end at the sounding of the seventh trump, when the Lord Jesus Christ shall return to set up His new kingdom age. Zechariah 14:4 "And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south." This will happen on "the day of the Lord". God will shake the earth and send fire and brimstone upon it. The earthquakes will flatten the cities to where not one stone will stand upon another. Those two great mountains will shake, and the mount of Olives will split. All prophecies concerning Christ return include Mount Zion, and the Mount of Olives will be fulfilled. This is where Christ's feet will touch the earth, when He returns. When Jesus and His disciples were departing out of Jerusalem before he would be delivered up to be crucified, they asked Him what it would be like at His second coming. Matthew 24:2 "And Jesus said unto them, "See ye not all these things [Temple buildings]? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Sure the city of Jerusalem has been destroyed from time to time, but there are still many stones stacked upon each other from the original construction. A simple trip to Jerusalem reveals that, for the wailing wall is one of the most popular markings of that city. Before that time another temple shall be built, and the Antichrist shall rule from that spot. Then at the seventh trumpet, and Jesus Christ's return there will be a great shaking that will level the city of Jerusalem. At that shaking not one stone will be left upon another. Yet God will make a way of escape for his elect on that day. Then the "east gate", the one facing the "sun to the temple" will open a way of escape for God's people. That way will be there, and this destruction is not to be feared by one of God's elect. Zechariah 14:5 "And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee." "Azal" means, "a new selected place". This is a place selected by God for His people, and God will protect His own there. Zechariah 14:6 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:" There will be no day or night as we have today, for we are in a new age, a new other dimension, and the new dispensation of the Millennium age of Christ's Kingdom. Zechariah 14:7 "But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light." The reason we will have a new light is Jesus Christ has returned. He will be our Light. Zechariah 14:8 "And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be." This is the waters of the "living water", and that "living water" is offered by Jesus, just as He gave that water to the woman at the well. When you take of that water, you never thirst again. This water will be given when Christ is on earth, and Satan and his hosts are put away. The other thing to keep in mind, is that you will be in your spiritual [soul] body at this time, and it is incorruptible to all souls and yet immortal to God's elect. Zechariah 14:9 And the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name One." The time of Christ's happening is very close at hand. This tells us who that King will be, and when it shall happen. Jesus Christ will return, and from that day forth He will be the King of all kings, and the Lord of Lords. Zechariah 14:10 "All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses." This is during the Kingdom of Jesus Christ here [in the Millennium age], and He will rule over all places, and all peoples right here on earth. Zechariah 14:11 "And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited." Fix in your mind that when Jesus Christ is reigning over His kingdom, there will be true peace on earth and in every mind. Once Satan is placed into the pit, he never again will gain the power over you. Sure Satan will be released for a very short time, but he will never be given the supernatural powers and forces that he will have in his role as Antichrist. Zechariah 14:12 "And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth." Many modern day critics say this refers to a nuclear war. This also shows their lack of understanding of I Corinthians 15:50-52. For on that "day of the Lord" major things are going to happen. We talked earlier about the destruction, the earthquakes, fire and brimstone, and the fact how the whole earth was going to change. However, on that day also, all flesh bodies will also be destroyed. This is the time of the seventh and last trumpet of I Corinthians 15:52 and Revelation 11:15-19, when God's judgment comes on this earth age. We are told by Paul, that it is this time when all flesh will change in the twinkling [wink] of an eye, and all people will be changed into their incorruptible bodies. So any concern for this flesh and blood body will simply not matter. All flesh bodies will be part of the dust of the ground, and not of any use. I Corinthians 15:50 "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." Paul is about to reveal a secret that has been hidden to all those that have lived up to this time, and it is important that you understand this secret. That secret is that "flesh and blood cannot inherit [exist in] the kingdom of God." Not one soul will be living in their flesh and blood body in the Millennium age of Jesus Christ's kingdom. I Corinthians 15:51 "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed," A "mystery" is something that is unknown to the reader until all the clues have been identified and understood. This mystery that Paul is going to reveal is that at a certain point in time there will be no more death [sleep] for all those living in their flesh bodies will be changed into another bodily form. A new dimension will exist, and flesh and blood bodies will disolve away, and the inner soul body will take on a newly formed body. The flesh and blood bodies we have now are made from the dust and elements of this earth for this earth age, and we will be in a different earth age, with different bodies. We shall all be changed into that new body that will live for the entire thousand year Millennium age. This is all part of God's plan that is written in His Word. I Corinthians 15:52 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." This then sets the time that the end of this age of the flesh shall be, "At the last trump", the last trumpet is the seventh trumpet. When the seventh trumpet sounds, all the rest of the trumpets have already taken place; the one world system has formed and Satan and his fallen angels have already come to earth and played their roles for the time of the great deception. Those times will be destroyed at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we will all have been changed into our incorruptible bodies. That event will not take a month or a day or an hour or even a second, but it will be instant, faster than you can wink your eye. This should be a reminder to each of us when the sixth trump sounds for when Satan arrives here on earth with his fallen angels for the great tribulation [deception], we will be in our flesh bodies. We will not see Jesus in our flesh bodies for the Millennium age. If mom is still in the nursing home, if you still enjoy eating at the cafe down the street, and if the kids are still in school and the choir still sings on Sunday morning, what you have witness is the false messiah's return at the sixth trumpet. The sounding of the seventh and last trumpet will mark the age of all flesh life, and the elements that go to make up this earth age. I Corinthians 15:53 "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." Many pastors today use these verses to give support to their teaching of the rapture doctrine, and they have missed the entire message that Paul is revealing to the elect. They use this to give strength to a soul sleep theory that at the seventh trumpet all the dead shall be raised in a rapture. They could never be more wrong, for at death all souls return to the Father that sent that soul to this earth age at conception. Paul is telling us here that at that seventh and last trumpet, all souls living in their flesh bodies must put on their incorruptible body. That body will be in a fixed state, for there will be no old people nor will there be any babies, for all souls will be mature with full understanding of the wisdom of God. No soul will not have to ask their neighbor for the truths of the Word of God, for God will place in their minds full understanding. This is why those that fell to Satan in this earth age will be tried by their works only, at that close of the Millennium age, for the Millennium age is a time of discipline and works. Revelation 20:12 "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." The "dead" are the spiritually dead, living in the Millennium in their incorruptible bodies. The elect are judged out of the Lamb's book of life, where only their name is given, for their sins are all forgiven and blotted out, and Jesus Christ received the glory for their works. Revelation 20:13 "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." This is at the close of the Millennium age, after all souls had the opportunity of following the Lord Jesus Christ, for they had the Word, and the knowledge to know the truth, and the time of teaching and discipline, and the judgment here is by their works only. Salvation by faith and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is not of the Millennium age, but of the age of flesh and blood human beings. Today we are in the flesh and in the time of faith. Our salvation and the judgment for this age is based on our faith; what we hear and read of the Word of God, and how we take those truths and base our lives upon them. Jesus Christ is not with us today, but His Spirit is in us to convict us of sin and to guide us when we allow Him to. When we know the truths from our study of His Word, we will not be deceived by Satan at his arrival. We will have our rewards and for our eternal life at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Those that follow Satan and are deceived by him and his wonders that he shall perform, will be tried and tested through their works in the Millennium, if they were ignorant of their actions in this flesh age. When this comes to pass, Christ will be Lord of the earth, and we will all be part of that new kingdom, in our new unaging bodies. Mortal means liable to die, and there will be no deaths during the Millennium age, however those that follow Satan at the close of the Millennium age, when Satan is released for a short season, will follow Satan into the lake of fire. Zechariah 14:13 "And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor." On "the day of the Lord", and thereafter, all people will be in their spiritual bodies, and each soul will have total recall of all their sins. They will all know and remember all the lies their neighbors told to deceived them. Then most Christians will not be happy with each other when they see the religious games their church systems played on them. However, when they see the simplicity, the fairness, and the love God is offering to them in His Word; then understanding will also come to them. Those Christians that followed Satan and his beast system in the flesh age will each see, and will know that they have no one to blame but themselves. For they willingly followed those church systems, with their traditions and false doctrines, and would not seek the truth for themselves. We have God's written Word with us now, and with certain tools [ such as the Companion Bible, Strong's concordance and dictionaries], and we can seek out the truths of the love of God ourselves. Zechariah 14:14 "And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance." On the "day of the Lord", there will be no shortages in anything that is needed. Zechariah 14:15 "And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague." These are all beasts of commerce and trade. The "plague" of these beasts indicate that there will be no use for them in our spiritual bodies, and they just will not be around. Their use will be like the giant reptiles of the first earth age. Zechariah 14:16 "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles." The "feast of the tabernacles" is the "feast of the harvest". It occurs at the time of harvest, and the only thing harvested in the Millennium age is the harvesting of souls. It sets men's [soul's] minds on the only thing you have to offer to our Lord, "your love, and worship". Remember that at the seventh trumpet when Jesus Christ, the only Begotten of the Father returns to earth, we enter a new dimension, and new dispensation when the things of the flesh body are completely done away with. In that new body that each soul shall have, the things of the flesh simply will not exist for they will be of a different dimension. The only thing that will matter in Christ's kingdom will be your love and devotion to our Lord. Zechariah 14:17 "And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. When the King of kings is on earth, and all are in peace and full of understanding [recall], there will still be many that just don't care. They know that the only thing that can be offered is their love for our Heavenly Father, and they will refuse to give it. God will force no one to give their love to Him, and the rejection of giving their love to Christ will be the loss of their soul. This is what will happen following the Millennium age, and the great white throne judgment, of Revelation 20:12-15. Revelation 20:14, 15 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death [of the soul]. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Zechariah 14:18 "And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles." Here, "Egypt" refers to those who have allowed Israel to lean on them, and then when Israel does rely on that support, it is withheld from her. God is saying here, that those who give lip service, yet will not come to Jerusalem to offer their worship and love, God will destroy all of them following judgment. Their names are not in God's "book of life". In the Millennium kingdom God will still allow you, even with your full knowledge and understanding of who Satan is, and knowing that he and his followers are going to complete destruction, God will allow you to choose that for yourself. There will be many that will commit spiritual suicide willfully at the close of the Millennium age. Today many pastors will promote their traditions and lead their flocks right into Satan's hands, and then see the truth and leave their flock under Satan's captivity. They are so committed to their church systems, and the way of life that it gives, for they will not change until it is to late for their congregations. The dear members of their congregations that have relied on them for the truth, are given nothing but lies and traditions, and their hope is in nothing but fairy-tales like the rapture doctrine. Zechariah 14:19 "This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles." When all people have full recall and understanding, then doctrines will be known and fully understood. So what then is the purpose of the Millennium age, prior to judgment? DISCIPLINE! You either love the Father, or your going to hell, "This shall be the punishment of all nations", and they will worship the Lord in the manner He requires, or they will fall short. We know that the first death is the death of our flesh bodies, which our forefathers have experienced. The "second death" is the death of the soul. All those who love God will not experience this second death, for with repentance, and God's grace, comes eternal life. Zechariah 14:20 "In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar." "Holiness unto the Lord" will be written everywhere, for a reminder. It is similar to "in God we trust" on our money and seals. Only this reminder will be like a label, for it will be a natural reaction to write it. The respect for the Lord will be so great that even common pots, like a bowl on the altar of God will draw us to remember the Lord in respect. To pay respect to God will be like combing your hair today, you do it automatically and with care. Zechariah 14:21 "Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts." Here is our sacrifice of love to the Lord again. The "Canaanite" is a misleading word. It has a double meaning, but both apply in this case. The first is rendered "poor of the flock". They were the "Kenites", and were the merchants in the House of God, also called "traffickers of the sheep". The other use of "Canaanite" was to show what was unclean. Why will they not be there in the "tabernacle of the Lord"? Because if they hear the word of the Lord, and repent, and love the Lord, they will no longer be Kenites, but the "sons of the Living God" They will be saved just as sure as you or I. The Kenites will never be allowed to spread their false doctrine, and rip God's people off again after the return of our Lord. Matthew 13:11-17 discusses this in detail.
Home .~ Plough .~ Seeds .~ Vine .~ Potter .~ Seasons .~ Sonshine .~ Rain .~ Field |