Introduction: Two main subjects dominate the closing of this great book of comfort to Israel, Zechariah. We are once again confronted with the destruction of the enemies of Israel and the establishment of the millennial kingdom under the Lord Jesus Christ. The constant reminder serves to encourage the Jewish believers.

I. THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM'S ENEMIES (14:12-16):

The "plague" is incomparable in its level of severity. This obviously corresponds with the tribulation judgments of the Book of Revelation when anti-Semitism will reach its apex in world history. The seven last plagues in which "is filled up the wrath of God" (Rev. 15:1) are poured out upon the inhabitants of the earth in the frightful vial of judgment of (Rev. 16:1-21). These events take place just prior to the Second Advent of (Rev. 19:11-21).

Besides the deadly plague the enemies of God's people will be thrown into such confusion that they will kill one another in a wild panic. Similar instances of God's confounding and destroying His people's foes by causing them to slaughter one another in a confused fight to the death at close quarters are found in (Jud. 7:22), in the case of Gideon's victorious three hundred, and Jonathan's great triumph over the Philistines at Michmash (I Sam. 14: 14-16.

The collection of the wealth of the invading armies will yield an immense quantity of booty for Israel in the form of gold, silver, and garments. This will come from the well equipped contingents composing the invading military powers, who will be cast into utter confusion in order to be annihilated (II Chron. 20; II Kings 7:2-8).

Verse 15 describes how the entire encampment of the enemy, including the cavalry and the beasts of burden, will fall under the same "ban of utter destruction", and Jerusalem, it is said, will be forever delivered (cf.vs.11). The Mosaic law provided that a city which had committed the crime of idolatry and incurred the penalty of the ban, was to be totally wiped out. Its human inhabitants, as well as the animals in it, were to be exterminated, as in the case of Jericho (Josh. 6:17,18,21). Achan who disobeyed the law of the ban, was himself visited with its terrible severity. His oxen and other animals were stoned and burned along with himself and his children (Josh. 7:24,25), demonstrating the awfulness of falling under the curse of God, as those who attack Jerusalem in her final assault.

 

II. MILLENNIAL WORSHIP AND GOVERNMENT (14:16-21):

A. Jerusalem the religious capital of the millennial earth (14:16) -

"Everyone that is left" gives a hint how decimating and widespread will be the judgments and how wholesale will be the extermination of the wicked preceding the establishment of the kingdom.

How will these converted and worshipping Gentiles express their adoration of the Lord? They will celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This is the only one of the seven Jewish festivals (Lev. 23:4-44) which is represented in this prophecy as being observed in the kingdom age.

Many answers have been given why only the Feast of Tabernacles will be observed in the millennium. The answer is: it is the only one of the seven feasts of the Lord which at that time will be unfulfilled typically and the only one which will be in process of fulfillment by the kingdom itself. The Passover (Lev. 23:4,5) was fulfilled in the death of Christ the Redeemer (I Cor. 5:7; 1 Pet. 1:19). The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Lev. 23:6-8) is being fulfilled in the holy, separate walk of the believer in fellowship with his Savior (I Cor. 5:6-8; 2 Cor. 7:1; Gal. 5:7-9). The Feast of First fruits (Lev. 23:9-14) was fulfilled in the resurrection of Christ (I Cor. 15:23). The Feast of Pentecost (Lev. 23:15-22) was fulfilled in the formation of the Church at Pentecost fifty days subsequent to the resurrection of Christ (I Cor. 10:16; 12:12,13). The Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23:23-25) will be fulfilled in the future regathering of Israel at the beginning of the kingdom (Isa. 18:3,7; 27:12,13; Eze. 37:1- 14). The Day of Atonement (Lev. 23:26-32) in its prophetic feature will be fulfilled in the conversion of Israel at the second advent (Zech. 12:10-13; 13:1) and preparatory to the millennium. Only the Feast of Tabernacles at that time will be unfulfilled in its prophetic aspect as typical of the kingdom rest of Israel after her regathering, and the blessedness typified by that festival will be in process of fulfillment throughout the kingdom age. Moreover, the joy and blessing foreshadowed in the celebration will then not only be the portion of the saved Israel,but shall also pervade all nations of the earth.

B. Rod-of-iron rule regulating millennial worship (14:17-19) -

The stern note emphasizing the rod-of-iron rule of Messiah struck in Zechariah's sixth vision of the Flying Scroll (Zech. 5: 1-4), once again appears in the notice regulating millennial worship (Ps. 2:8-12).

It is interesting that the family of Egypt, is singled out for mention, especially when Egypt has notoriously and in striking contrast to Palestine been independent of rainfall and dependent upon the annual inundation of the Nile River for her sustenance. But the fact must not be overlooked that sometimes the Nile failed and Egypt suffered famine, as in the seven- year dearth in Joseph's day (Gen. 41:54) and similar times of extreme scarcity recorded on the Egyptian monuments, as in the time of Zoser. Moreover, the Nile was dependent upon the rainfall in the African hinterland, which could be effected. Then, too, there will be drastically different climatic changes in the kingdom, which will effect all nations, including Egypt.

C. Israel's holiness as a high priestly nation in the millennium (14:20,21) -

The entire nation, cleansed from sin by Messiah, the Servant the Branch, shall be in function and purpose, what the high priest was set to be in Israel - the representative of God to the nation. With the people cleansed, the whole land and everything in it, including the bells of the common horse (vs. 20) as well as every common pot in Jerusalem and in Judah, are emphatically declared (by the word order) to be Holiness to the Lord (vs. 21).

Further to emphasize the fact that every phase of life in the kingdom will be sanctified and holy and nothing would any longer be considered secular, the utensils or pots in the Lord's house, to which some degree of sanctity attached, shall be as holy as the strictly sacred bowls before the altar.