December 29
Zech 14:1-21 | PS 148:1-14 | Prov 31:8-9 | Rev 20:1-15
As with most of the prophetic books in Scripture, the book of Zechariah contains both near and far prophecy. The first 8 chapters consist of visions primarily concentrating on near events. Notice all of the prophecies are not written as possibilities or even probabilities, but as absolutes. God's Word says , "It will", "It shall", etc. The last 6 chapters of Zechariah largely concern the future Messiah. While chapters 9-11, mostly surround Jesus' first coming, chapters 12-14 primarily concern His second coming. The Jewish people had difficulty reconciling the two very different pictures of the coming Messiah. One they referred to as Messiah ben Joseph who appeared to be a Suffering servant, while the rest of the prophecies depicted a conquering King, called Messiah ben David, who would usher in peace and prosperity. Though difficult to fully comprehend, Scripture describes both in great detail and states them as absolutes. The Jewish people at the time of Jesus also did not fully understand this distinction as we read in John 6:14-15, after Jesus fed the 5000, "Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world." Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone." But for us, we know that He has indeed already come. Knowing this we can be absolutely sure that He will indeed come again.
We read in Zechariah 9:9, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey." Notice 500 years before fulfilled, it is written as a definite. In Matthew 21:1-11, this prophecy is fulfilled on Palm Sunday, as he descends from the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 11:10-11 discusses the staff called Beauty, "And I took my staff, Beauty, and cut it in two, that I may break the covenant which I had made with all the peoples. So it was broken on that day..." This one day which usher in a New Covenant, was the day when Jesus died on the cross, when our Suffering Servant made full payment for our sins. It even describes in great detail, Judas' role and the thirty pieces of silver in 11:12. As interesting as this all is, it gives us assurance that everything that is yet to unfold will do so as precisely as these past events have. The people at this time will remember and reflect on this past event as we read in 12:10, "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." Yes they will reflect on what transpired on the cross, as was clearly prophesied in Psalm 22, that our Messiah would indeed be pierced, and Isaiah 53:5, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;...". But God's story is still unfolding. We are told in Zechariah 14:3-4, concerning Jesus' second coming, "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;...". It's not that this event might occur, or probably will occur, it will definitely occur exactly as detailed according to His Word.
Now that we know what is definite, what still remains which lies in the realm of uncertainty? Though Jesus has indeed come, and he will indeed come again, what is to happen with each individual on the earth. This is where choice comes in. People have to make a choice, and there are only two options: either for Him, or against Him. There is no middle option of ambivalence. A middle of the road stance is cast as a choice against Him. Those who stand with Him will celebrate at His second coming. Those who reject Him will shudder at His second coming. For those of us who have made the choice for Him, another area of uncertainty exists: what are we doing with this guaranteed, absolutely true information? Are we selfishly keeping it to ourselves, just being thankful that we are on the right side of future history? Or are we moving forward and warning the world that sides must be chosen, and only one side leads them to eternal life with God. Knowing the certainty of these events, how can we remain silent? This isn't a game, but a future reality. May we reach out to the unsaved world in confidence. As Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." All of us in the army of God have been given a commission by the Commander-in Chief, Jesus, Himself, in Matthew 28:18-20. May we all take heed and take our commission seriously.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: