Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi – Back from Exile

Lesson 8: “The End Times” Zechariah 12 - 14

 

“Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations…” Zech. 14:3

 

the end of Zechariah, the end of times

·        We've seen before that some passages seem to be circular. These last chapters are like that. So, instead of proceeding from start to finish, we'll look at significant events

·        In Matt. 24:3, the disciples asked "When will these things happen?" Jesus answered with the Olivet Discourse, but Jesus said "When you see the budding of the fig tree, you know that it is near." Jesus also said "No man knows the day or the hour." But it begins with the Rapture

 

The Rapture

·        Paul describes this event in I Thess. 4:13-18. Here's a couple reasons why many believe the Rapture comes before the Tribulation, and not at the 2nd Coming

Ř     In Rev. after the beginning of the description of the Tribulation, the Church is not mentioned

Ř     Evangelism is now the responsibility of the Church. In Rev., it speaks of God dealing with Israel, not the Church, and the Jews are responsible for evangelism (144,000)

 

After the Rapture comes the Tribulation

·        This is the Daniel's 70th week (read Dan. 9:24-27). The "ruler" is the little horn of Dan. 7:8,19-22 and Rev. 13:1-4 (notice Dan. 9:27 implies the Temple exists)

·        In the middle of the 7 year period, the Antichrist turns on the Jews. See Matt. 24:15-20, and II Thess. 2:3-9 and Rev. 13:5-8. Note the terrible events listed in Matt. 24:21-22

·        Now see Rev. 9:14-15, Rev. 16, Ezekiel 38-39

 

The parallels in Zechariah

·         Zech. 12:3-4 and 14:1-2 describe terrible fighting around Jerusalem

·         Rev. 16:19 says all cities are destroyed (does Rev. 16:20-21 sound like nuclear war?)

·         Rev. 14:20 says blood up to horses' bridles for 180 miles

·         At this darkest hour, the Lord returns as absolute ruler; see Zech. 14:3

 

The return of the Lord

·        He will confuse the armies of the world (Zech 12:4 and 14:12-15)

·        He will save the surrounding country first, then Jerusalem (12:7-9)

·        Rev. 19 also describes the Lord's return

·        The beast and false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:19-20) and the rest of the beast's army is killed (Rev. 19:21)

·        According to Ezek. 39:9-10, for 7 years people will use the weapons for fuel, it will take 7 years to bury the dead (Ezek. 39:12) and Israel will know that "I am God" (Ezek. 39:22) This is also what Zech. 12:10-14 is describing

·        Chapter 13 describes the land being cleansed, and the people will follow God

·        Zech. 14:20 says EVERYTHING will be dedicated to the Lord (Remember from chapter 3, we saw that saying on the foreheads of the priests, now everything belongs to God)

 

For next week, read Malachi