Zechariah 14

What’s Happening?

Zechariah prophesies that soon God will be King over the whole earth, and his capital, Jerusalem, will be secure forever. But first, God recruits all the armies of the world to wage war against the evils of Jerusalem. The city is attacked and half its population is carted off into exile (Zechariah 14:1-2). But then God appears with an army and places his feet on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:3-4). His army pushes the enemy back and his feet crack the Mount of Olives in two. A valley is formed, and the faithful in the city escape through it (Zechariah 14:5).

God says the disorder of that day will be like the disorder that was present before the creation of the world (Zechariah 14:6). And just as he did all those years ago, he will create a new garden of Eden in Jerusalem from the chaos. Soon, rivers of life-giving water will flow from the city and light will dawn on Jerusalem as if for the first time (Zechariah 14:7-8). Jerusalem will be secure, never to be attacked again. And then God will invite his faithful people to come and reinhabit the capital city of a New Creation (Zechariah 14:11).

Then God, as King, summons the whole world to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16). This feast celebrates God’s rescue of his people from Egypt and their subsequent founding as a nation. It’s appropriate then, at the founding of God’s New World Order, to invite all nations to that same feast. But God warns that those who refuse to participate in the dawning of this new Eden will be cursed (Zechariah 14:17-19). They will be separated from experiencing God’s creative power, and will suffer plague and panic instead (Zechariah 14:12-14). 

Finally, on that day of new creation, God says Jerusalem will be like one big temple. Everything in it will be pure and everyone in it will be priests. There will be no more merchants taking advantage of sincere worshipers. Instead, and for the first time in God’s history with his people, anyone at any time, anywhere will be able to thank God with a sacrifice (Zechariah 14:20-21).

Where is the Gospel? 

In the final book of the Bible, the apostle John describes another battle where all nations of the earth will be gathered against Jerusalem (Revelation 20:8-9). And during that battle, Jesus appears with all the armies of heaven, purifies his people of evil, destroys their enemies, recreates the earth, and establishes his final Kingdom (Revelation 19:14-21). It’s the final clash between those opposed to God’s New World Order and the faithful people of God. 

The apostle John describes that day, not like the Feast of Tabernacles, but as a wedding feast—as if Jesus is our groom and he’s finally coming home to live with us, his bride. The gates of a recreated Jerusalem are then opened wide as kings from all over the world bring their gifts to the party (Revelation 21:24-25). Indeed, the whole world is invited to celebrate (Revelation 19:7-9). 

John promises us that the day is coming soon when Jesus will make all things new (Revelation 21:5, 22:12). If you are tired of the greed and evil you see within God’s people, if you are wounded by the attacks of those opposed to God’s Kingdom, be encouraged. Soon, neither evil nor hostility will ever exist again. There will be no trace of curse, plague, or panic (Revelation 22:3). Jesus will come and wage war on all that threatens his people, and soon you will be in God’s life-giving presence forever. So don’t ignore Jesus’ wedding invitation. He wants to celebrate with you in his new Jerusalem.

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who is coming soon. And may you see Jesus as the one who purifies his people of evil and destroys those opposed to God’s Kingdom of Peace.