The Prophecy of the Coming Day of the Lord and the Messiah’s Kingdom, 14:1–21
(Zechariah 14:1–21) Introduction:
the final chapter of the great book of Zechariah
predicts several more astonishing prophecies—prophecies that continue to speak
of the end times and the Day of the Lord.
Parts of this chapter parallel chapters 12 and 13—and shed further light on
their predictions. Here Zechariah describes in more detail six key events to
take place in the periods known as the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord. As noted in the
prior discussion of chapter 13, the Day
of the Lord refers to the time when Christ returns to earth in visible
power and glory to establish God’s kingdom throughout the world.
It is this physical, visible
kingdom on earth that is the awe-inspiring subject of Zechariah’s prophecies in
chapter 14. The prophet begins with nations attacking Jerusalem during the
Great Tribulation. He then describes these nations’ final destruction at Christ’s
Second Coming. The Day of the Lord
will see Christ fully manifested, plainly revealed to everyone in all His glory
and majesty. His power will be manifested physically and supernaturally—it will
be visible to all. His appearance will be accompanied by incredible natural and
supernatural events. He will vanquish all enemies of God; He will cleanse the
land of sin and idolatry, and He will establish righteousness and justice
throughout the whole earth. When Christ returns, life will be restored to its
original purpose, the purpose for which everything was created. Life will be
holy, set apart to the Lord to bring glory to Him. People and nations will
rightfully worship the true Creator, and those who do not will be punished.
This is the wonderful message of the passage before us, The Prophecy of the Coming Day of the Lord and the Messiah’s Kingdom,
14:1–21.
Of concern here is, [ Event
3—the establishment of the Messiah’s kingdom on earth (14:8–11)].
1. Event
1—the attack of Jerusalem (14:1–2).
2. Event
2—the Messiah’s intervention and visible appearance (14:3–7).
3. Event 3—the establishment of the Messiah’s kingdom on earth
(14:8–11).
4. Event
4—the destruction of Israel’s enemies (14:12–15).
5. Event
5—the universal worship of the Messiah, the King (14:16–19).
6. Event
6—the setting apart of all life as holy to the Lord (14:20–21).
(14:8–11) Israel, Prophecies Concerning, Security of Jerusalem—Security in
Christ’s Kingdom—
Security for Jerusalem: the third event described by Zechariah is the establishment of Christ’s kingdom on earth. Jerusalem will be the seat of Christ’s throne and government. From the Holy City of Jerusalem will flow living water—salvation, righteousness, and justice to all the nations of the world. Worship of the Lord will be instituted throughout the whole earth, and the Lord’s Name will be the only Name worshipped. Even the surface features of the land will be changed. Jerusalem will be physically raised up above the surrounding plains. She will become the capital of the world, never again to be attacked or destroyed. The city and her people will be at peace forevermore. Note the Scripture and outline:
OUTLINE
SCRIPTURE
3. Event 3—the establishment of the Messiah’s kingdom on earth
a. He will provide a spring (river) of living water: Will flow out from Jerusalem
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.
b. He will rule over the whole earth from Jerusalem: There will be only one Lord, one Ruler, & one Name worshipped
9 And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.
c. He will change the surface features of the land, vv.4–5
1) The land around Jerusalem will be leveled & become a plain (like Arabah)
2) The capital of Jerusalem will be raised to form a high mountain above the surrounding plain, 8:3; Is. 2:2; Mic. 4:1–3
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.
d. He will populate & bring peace to Jerusalem: Never again will it be destroyed
11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
a. The Messiah will provide a spring (river) of living water that will flow out from Jerusalem (v.8). As with many passages of Scripture, this verse has both a literal and a figurative meaning. First, there will likely be a real stream or river that surges out of Jerusalem and waters the land. This river will nourish the fields and vineyards of Israel, making her a fertile and prosperous region. Far richer than this material prosperity, however, will be the salvation, righteousness, and justice that flow forth from Jerusalem to the utter ends of the earth. In other words, there will be a physical manifestation of Israel’s spiritual wealth. The salvation and cleansing power of Christ as well as His justice and righteousness will be visible in, and symbolized by, the stream of living water that flows forth from Jerusalem. The prophets Isaiah and Amos spoke similar words about Israel’s abundant fruitfulness:
Ø “He shall cause them that come of Jacob to
take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with
fruit” (Is. 27:6).
Ø “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them” (Am. 9:13–14).
The beauty and fullness of this
picture—the stream of living water—can scarcely be exhausted. Consider some
of the blessings of the Lord that will flow from His Holy City Jerusalem,
blessings of both material and spiritual prosperity:
• Physical Health
• Spiritual Health
• Emotional Health
• Justice
• Truth, Righteousness, and
Purity
• Love, Peace, and Joy
• Salvation
• Reconciliation
• Mercy and Faithfulness
• Forgiveness and Grace
In Zechariah these waters are said to flow to the former sea (eastern
sea, Dead Sea) and to the hinder sea (western sea, Mediterranean Sea). This
pictures the renewed fertility and fruitfulness of the whole region and also
the spiritual riches that will flow from Israel to all the world. This river is
said also to flow year-round. In other words, its waters will never cease.
Unlike the rivers of Israel now, most of which dry up during the summer months,
this river will never dry up. It will flow and give life forever.
b. The Messiah will rule
over the whole earth from Jerusalem (v.9). Since the beginning of the
world, the human race has ruled the earth and brought it near destruction.
People have chiefly brought violence, war, degradation, corruption, and
depravity to God’s beautiful creation. They have chosen leaders and rulers,
kings and queens who more often than not exploit and oppress others and abuse
the precious resources of the earth. However, all of this will change when the
true King returns. The Savior, Jesus Christ, will rule over the earth and
establish truth and justice. His righteousness will be poured out upon the
world, and His Name will be the only Name worshipped. There will be only one Lord
and one Ruler—Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. What a
glorious day that will be!
c. The Messiah will change
the surface features of the land, v.10 (see vs.4–5). At Christ’s return, there
will be earthquakes and cosmic events that darken the sun, moon, and stars.
There will be a new river of life flowing out of Jerusalem. Now comes the
promise that Jerusalem, the Holy City itself, will literally be raised to
prominence.
1) The whole land
surrounding Jerusalem, from her northern to her southern borders, will be
leveled and become a great plain (like Arabah). This will make the Holy City
more prominent than all the land around her.
2) The capital of Jerusalem
will be raised to form a high mountain above the surrounding plain (see 8:3;
Is. 2:2; Mic. 4:1–3). The gates of the city mentioned in this verse simply
indicate that the whole city will be raised. Imagine the powerful geological
forces at work—the power of God—to change the face of the land! On that day, no
one will be able to dispute that the Lord reigns on earth and that Jerusalem is
His chosen and Holy City. Jerusalem has been set apart by the Lord since the
beginning of time, yet she has not always been prominent. In Christ’s coming
kingdom, the city will at last receive her deserved recognition as the City of
God. Every nation and person on earth will know that Jerusalem is the capital
of the world and that Christ, the true King, rules there. The city’s spiritual
prominence will be visibly pictured by her physical prominence. She will
literally be raised up by the Lord Himself.
d. The Messiah will populate and bring peace to Jerusalem: never again will she be destroyed (v.11). This verse summarizes the blessings that Christ will bring to Jerusalem and then to the whole world. The Holy City will forever be inhabited and never again be destroyed. Christ will bring lasting peace to the earth; therefore, Jerusalem will be eternally secure. Remember that all this is made possible because Christ offered His life as a “ransom for many.” He secured peace with God on behalf of the whole human race. This peace was not blindly or haphazardly won. It was God’s plan from the beginning, and it was won with the precious blood of Christ. Christ is the Lamb of God, the perfect, unblemished Lamb that was slain for the forgiveness of sin—the sins of the whole world. It is because of His loving sacrifice that peace has been won, and His peace will extend not only to Jerusalem but also throughout the whole world and throughout all time. Christ’s peace will be everlasting.
Thought 1. A parallel can be found in this passage for believers
living today. God has designated a capital
city even today—a special place for His presence to dwell. It is also a
place from which His righteousness and saving power flow forth, from which His
grace and love are extended to people all over the world. This place is in the hearts of true believers. God’s Holy
Spirit dwells in the heart and soul of every true believer, and His Spirit
pours forth love through the lives of those who trust Him. Every man, woman,
and child of God today can share the streams of living water that Jesus
promised us (Jn. 7:37–38). His Spirit abides in us as long as we abide
in Him (Jn. 15). We need to keep sharing His wonderful love and grace
with the world until He returns in glory. As we do so, we look forward to the
day when Christ’s kingdom will be established not only in our hearts but also
in the life of His church.
God’s Word makes many wonderful
promises about Jerusalem. This Holy City—set apart for the purposes of God—will
be the center of the world in Christ’s coming kingdom. All true believers are
promised entrance into this Holy City—the eternal city of God.
God’s Word gives us many wonderful promises concerning Jerusalem:
Ø “But in the last days it shall come to
pass, that the mountain of the house
of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be
exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall
come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the
house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk
in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar
off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under
his fig tree; and none shall make them
afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it” (Mic. 4:1–4).
Ø “But Jerusalem which is above is free,
which is the mother of us all” (Ga. 4:26).
Ø “For he (Abraham) looked for a city which
hath foundations, whose builder and maker is
God” (He. 11:10).
Ø “But now they (believers) desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore
God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a
city” (He. 11:16).
Ø “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto
the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable
company of angels” (He. 12:22).
Ø “For here have we no continuing city, but
we seek one to come” (He. 13:14).
Ø “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar
in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him
the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my
God: and I will write upon him my new
name” (Re. 3:12).
Ø “And I John saw the holy city, new
Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for
her husband” (Re. 21:2).
Ø “And he carried me away in the spirit to a
great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem,
descending out of heaven from God” (Re. 21:10).
Ø “And if any man shall take away from the
words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the
book of life, and out of the holy city, and from
the things which are written in this book” (Re. 22:19).
Ø “But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I
create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy” (Is. 65:18).
Ø “Then shall there enter into the gates of
this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in
chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever” (Je. 17:25).
Ø “But Judah shall dwell for ever, and
Jerusalem from generation to generation” (Joel 3:20).[1]
[1] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2009. Habakkuk–Malachi. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
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