Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.  Zechariah 14:1-2

Many people might not realize this but the Old Testament prophet Zechariah foretells alot of details about the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. While Christians have spent the last 2,000 years speculating when and where Christ will return, the prophet Zechariah by the Holy Spirit has already given us great details into the second coming of Jesus!

The Day of The Lord, this is a term/title is used about 31 times in The Bible, its referencing not only the physical return of Christ , but also the judgement of God upon the world. So when Jesus does return, what is the first thing to happen? 

“I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem” The entire world will come against Israel, doesn’t that sound familiar today? As I’m writing this, the majority of people, including those who profess to be Christians, hate Israel. We blame Israel for all the worlds problems, why? Because it is written! God already foretold this is how it would be! You hate Israel because you were groomed by Satan to hate them! 

But the good news for the remnant of Israel and the world, is The Lord himself Jesus Christ is coming to save Israel! Isn’t that a tough bitter pill to swallow for all the anti-semtic “Christian Nationalists” The Lord you came to serve is coming to restore the people you hate!

Jesus also foretold this event in his Olivet Discourse..

At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. / And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.  Matthew 24:30-31

Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle.  And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.  Zechariah 14:3-4

Where will Jesus Christ physically return? The Holy Spirit says “the Mount of Olives”, why would Jesus return there? The Apostle Paul answers this question, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit 

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;  For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”  Romans 11:26-27

The deliverer , Jesus Christ, will come out of Zion (Jerusalem) and turn away the ungodliness of Jacob (Israel) Why would God do this? “For this is my Covenant with them” So if you want to know why Israel is the center of the news and all prophecy, because Israel is the center of the return of Jesus Christ!

Just as when Jesus ascended back into Heaven from the Mount of Olives, the angels said 

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.”  Acts 1:11

Just as Christ physically ascended to the right hand of The Father, Jesus will physically return at the Mount of Olives to save the remnant of Israel and bring judgement upon the would, Amen!

“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,” Says the LORD of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.  Zechariah 13:7

As you walk through the book of Zechariah, you realize the prophet is pointing you to Jesus Christ, the fulfilment of the Messianic prophecies. Just as Jesus was the fulfilment of Zechariah’s prophecy in the Triumphant Entry riding on a donkey in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Zechariah 9:9) 

Here we see another fulfillment of prophecy by Jesus, as Christ predicts his disciples will abandon him when they take him away to be beaten and crucified as The Lamb of God (Isaiah 53) When you understand who Jesus Christ is, then the Old Testament scriptures and shadows make perfect sense. Without Christ, what sense would these scriptures make?

Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’  Matthew 26:31

Jesus clearly identifies himself as the “Good Shepherd” Jesus is The Shepherd prophesied by Zechariah here, Christ is the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for His Sheep, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who will walk with us through the valley of death

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.  John 10:11

And it shall come to pass in all the land,” Says the LORD, “That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, But one-third shall be left in it:  I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’ ”  Zechariah 13:8-9

So what about Israel? The prophet Zechariah states “in all the land” meaning Israel. And as predicted the majority “two-thirds” will reject Christ and be cut off. However “one-third” the remnant of God will be saved. They will call upon the name of Jesus and will be saved (Romans 10:13) 

As the Apostle Paul prophesied under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, as the prophet Elijah fortold , God will always have a remnant chosen by grace. There will be a remnant of Israel that will be saved in the end, this is written and prophesied by the Word of God

In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.  Romans 11:5

“In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.  “It shall be in that day,” says the LORD of hosts, “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.  Zechariah 13:1-2

In a continuation of Chapter 12, where Christ returned to save Israel, and all of Israel mourned over Jesus as the Son of God pierced on the cross! And the Holy Spirit was poured out, the remnant of promise is fulfilled. (Romans 11) 

So now God is going to “clean house” in Israel literally, Christ not only wiped away the sins of Israel as prophesied “All Israel shall be saved” (Romans 11:26) Christ will also remove the idols, the false prophets and false religion. Jesus will cleanse Israel from their depravity and fulfill his promises in the New Covenant

“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— Jeremiah 31:31

It shall come to pass that 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. Zechariah 13:3

The name of Jesus, the name above all names (Philippians 2) causes division wherever it is mentioned. Just as Christ said “ I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34) The truth of Christ will bring division among the households in Israel, as it has brought division among homes since the resurrection

Jesus will separate the Wheat from the Tares, the Sheep from the Goats, The wise and the foolish brides, the gospel of Jesus Christ is a sword because its the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)

“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.  But he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a farmer; for a man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.’  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.’  Zechariah 13:4-6

The false teachers and false prophets are now exposed, the light of the gospel has exposed the darkness (Ephesians 5:11) And because of this, false teachers will do what they do best, they will lie about their identities, they will lie about their religion, but they will stand before The Lord in judgement

As Jesus warned us about these decievers ““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. “ (Matthew 7:15)

Christ will save and restore His remnant of Israel, many will deny or hate this including the Church, however this also fulfills prophecy “On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her “ (Zechariah 12:3)

“And I 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 whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.  Zechariah 12:10

Just as the prophet Daniel fortold , “The Messiah shall be cut off “ (Daniel 9:26) the prophet Zechariah foretells “They will look on Me (God) who they pierced” The crucifixion of Christ was clearly foretold since the foundations of the world. Yet the majority of Israel missed it, the majority even said “Let his blood be upon us and our children” (Matthew 27:25) They crucified the Lord of Glory (1 Corinthians 2:8)

But how will they know? Just as prophesied “I will pour the Spirit of grace and supplication” The Holy Spirit was poured out upon Israel on the day of Pentecost , and remember the words of the Apostle Peter when the Spirit was poured ““Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36)

And notice not only did God fortell He would be crucified, but once the Holy Spirit comes, the elect will mourn and understand Christ is The Son of The Living God! For God so loved the world, He gave his Only Begotten Son (John 3:16)

In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.  And 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;  the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves;  all the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves.  Zechariah 12:11-14

And on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit is poured down upon Israel, the scales from their eyes are removed on the elect, and they will mourn over the Son of God, they will mourn over their sin, repent, and turn to The Lord Jesus Christ for salvation!

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”  Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Acts 2:37-38

Those of you who reject Jesus as Messiah, may you meditate upon these words of the prophet Zechariah, as well as the prophet Daniel, as well as the prophet Isaiah

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.  Isaiah 53:5

The burden of the word 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: “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.  Zechariah 12:1-2

The judgement of Israel has been fortold and has been fulfilled as Gods people rejected their Messiah Jesus, whom they crucified on a cross. As the prophet begins this message “the word of The Lord against Israel” , make no mistake about it, this is judgement by God upon Israel

The Lord himself, who became flesh and walked among us (John 1:14) also prophesied about this very moment in 70 AD when the Romans will destroy Jerusalem and the Temple

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near.  Luke 21:20

And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.  In that day,” says the LORD, “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.  Zechariah 12:3-4

This is also a future prophecy about the final battle of Armageddon, when all the nations, all the demonic forces of the world, will come against Israel once and for all to destroy her. As prophesied “ I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all people” Why does the world hate Israel? Why is their so much anti-semitism since the beginning of time?

Because Satan hates Israel, Satan hates Gods elect, Satan knows that the return of Christ is all centered around the restoration of Israel

And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.  Revelation 16:16

And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the LORD of hosts, their God.’  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.  Zechariah 12:5-6

Even though Israel is a small nation, even though Israel is hated by the majority of the world, including the apostate “Church”, Israel will prevail because they are under the divine providence of God

There are many even reading this that may not like that, many want Israel to be destroyed forever, however God never breaks his promises or covenants!

“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.  In that day 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.  It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.  Zechariah 12:7-9

Notice what God promises here, “I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” How will this happen? The prophet Zechariah will reveal later in this book, but The Lord Jesus himself will return to the Mt of Olives and deliver Israel

You might say, how or why? Because God always had a remnant, an elect group of Jews that never bowed a knee to Baal, this is why Israel is always the center of all Biblical prophecy, because the return of Christ is centered around Israel

But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.  Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  Romans 11:4-5

Then I said, “I will not feed you. Let what is dying die, and what is perishing perish. Let those that are left eat each other’s flesh.”  And I took my staff, Beauty, and cut it in two, that I might break the covenant which I had made with all the peoples.  So it was broken on that day. Thus the poor of the flock, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the LORD. Then I said to them, “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.  Zechariah 11:9-12

Now as we look at this section of the text today in Zechariah, the first thing that jumps out at you is the reference to “30 Pieces of Silver” , the mention of this should bring you back to when Judas betrayed Christ and sold him for 30 pieces of silver 

and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.  Matthew 26:15

Is this a coincidence the Son of God was sold for the 30 pieces of silver mentioned by the prophet Zechariah? Of course not, there are no coincidences in the Word of God. So how do we reconcile these texts, very easily when you understand what Christ accomplished on the cross, not only the atonement for our sins (1 John 2:2) but also the fulfilment of the Old Covenant (Matthew 5:17)

Look at what God says to Israel here “I might break the covenant which I had made with all the people” What is this talking about? Its the judgement of Israel in 70 A.D. , its the destruction of the Temple (Matthew 24:1-2) This is the fulfilment of the Old Covenant, and a New Covenant in Christ is being prophesied and completed by Jesus

Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.  Luke 22:20

Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.  Hebrews 9:15

By Judas betraying the Son of God, the religious leaders of Israel paying 30 pieces of silver to hand him over to be crucified, they have fulfilled these prophecies and essentially the Old (Mosaic) Covenant

And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD for the potter. Zechariah 11:13

If your not convinced by the prophecy of the 30 pieces of silver, how about this next part. The religious leaders knew this was “blood money”, they couldn’t recieve this money for the Temple because they know it was from the shedding of innocent blood, so they spent the money on a “Potters field” to bury foreigners and strangers. This was prophesied also by the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 18 and 19) and fulfilled by Judas and the religious leaders

This is what the LORD says: “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take some of the elders of the people and leaders of the priests,  Jeremiah 19:1

Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel, / and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord had commanded me.”  Matthew 27:9-10

Then I cut in two my other staff, Bonds, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.  Zechariah 11:14

This text predicts the rejection of the true Messiah, Jesus Christ, the crucifixion of Christ began the judgement of God upon Israel and the ending of the Old Covenant 

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”  Acts 2:36

Open your doors, O Lebanon, That fire may devour your cedars.  Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, Because the mighty trees are ruined. Wail, O oaks of Bashan, For the thick forest has come down.  There is the sound of wailing shepherds! For their glory is in ruins. There is the sound of roaring lions! For the pride of the Jordan is in ruins.  Zechariah 11:1-3

When it comes to eschatology, the study of end times, 70 AD is an important event in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, not only symbolic of God’s judgement upon Israel and the end of the Mosaic Covenant. 

This is exactly what the prophet Zechariah is prophesying about here, the same what Jesus predicted at the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) The sign of the old religious system coming to an end (The Temple, The Sacrificial System, The Priest Line)

And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”  Matthew 24:2

Thus says the LORD my God, “Feed the flock for slaughter,  whose owners slaughter them and feel no guilt; those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich’; and their shepherds do not pity them.  For I will no longer pity the inhabitants of the land,” says the LORD. “But indeed I will give everyone into his neighbor’s hand and into the hand of his king. They shall attack the land, and I will not deliver them from their hand.”  Zecharian 11:4-6

The reference to the religious leaders, the false shepherds , who have misled the people and led them to the slaughter. The false teachers who have rejected the true Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and have conspired to crucify The Lord of Glory on the cross

“The shepherds do not pity them” the religious leaders of Israel have no concern for their people, just as false teachers and false prophets (Matthew 7) they are only concerned with themselves 

God warns of his judgement “They shall attack the land, and I will not deliver them from their hand” The destruction of Jerusalem foretold because of the sins and disobedience of his people, and ultimately their rejection of the true Messiah, the son of God, Jesus Christ

“And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.  Daniel 9:26

But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.  Matthew 22:7

So I fed the flock for slaughter, in particular the poor of the flock. I took for myself two staffs: the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bonds; and I fed the flock.  I dismissed the three shepherds in one month. My soul loathed them, and their soul also abhorred me.  Zechariah 11:7-8

As Jesus revealed, Christ is “The Good Shepherd” (John 10:11) The Christ has come to feed and protect His sheep, Gods people. Jesus is also the Way, the Truth, and The Life (John 14:6) by His word, he exposed the false shepherds, the religious leaders, the 3 shepherds (priests, elders, and scribes) They are all corrupted and The Good Shepherd has exposed their wickedness and removed their positions, the fulfillment of the Mosaic Covenant

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. / Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.  Jeremiah 23:1-2

Those who are the true Sheep, the people of God, hear the voice of the Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and listen to His voice and follow Him (John 10, Psalm 23)

Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.  For the idols speak delusion; The diviners envision lies, And tell false dreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep; They are in trouble because there is no shepherd.  Zechariah 10:1-2

Where does your hope come from? The prophet Zecheriah and telling Israel to ask God for their needs, to trust in God as their provider and not the false idols of this world. Isn’t this very relevant for even us today? What do we put our faith and trust in? Who is going to make America great again? God or our government? Who do we really put our faith in when times are tough?

As God says “They are in trouble because there is no shepherd” The good news is we have a Good Shepherd in Jesus Chris (John 10) The One that all the prophets of the Old Testament are pointing towards, put your faith in Christ and He will take care of you like a Shepherd over His flock

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.  John 10:11

My anger is kindled against the shepherds, And I will punish the goatherds. For the LORD of hosts will visit His flock, The house of Judah, And will make them as His royal horse in the battle.  From him comes the cornerstone, From him the tent peg, From him the battle bow, From him every ruler together.  Zechariah 10:3-4

Many false shepherd have come and gone, many that misled Israel (religious leaders) and many false shepherds today, but God will not be mocked! Notice the warning God have to false shepherds through the prophet Jeremiah:

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD. / Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD.  Jeremiah 23:1-2

But notice “From Him (Judah) comes the cornerstone” Out of Israel , God sent his only Begotten Son, the Messiah, the Good Shepherd, to save us from our sins! (Matthew 1:21) The Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ, is the foundation of our faith, that will never leave or forsake us, One day Israel will turn to Him for salvation!

So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.  Isaiah 28:16

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, And the riders on horses shall be put to shame  “I will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back, Because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside; For I am the LORD their God, And I will hear them.  Zechariah 10:5-6

As we know the world is against Israel, however as the prophet states “they shall fight because The Lord is with them” God will keep His Covenant with Israel and save and restore them during the Millennial Reign of Christ. “For I AM The Lord their God, and I will hear them (Israel” Those who fight against Israel are fighting against The Lord God

When Christ first came, He came as the The Lamb of God to take away our sins (John 1:29) However when Christ returns, He will return as The Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5), to rule and reign with a rod of iron

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.  Revelation 19:11