Zechariah by Chuck Missler Lesson 9

Took the Sabbath off for the Lord....took Sunday off for myself lol- Got completely wrapped up in a new endeavor I am contemplating, separate from this one. Also spent some time making slides for Malachi and decoding the Book of Romans by Paul from DVD to mp4. Looks pretty good in 720p I must say.

The scope of this final section (9-14) is the same as the visions of Chap-
ters 1-6: from Zechariah’s time to the establishment of the Kingdom
over Israel in blessing (Acts 1:6). The time the fasts become feasts.
9-11: The 1st Advent.
12-14: The 2nd Advent, the Shepherd-King

In verses 1-8, the campaign of Alexander the Great is highlighted: his
successes in vv.1-7; the deliverance of Jerusalem in v.8.

Alexander The Great

Verse 1]
The burden of the word of the Lord in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus
shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel,
shall be toward the Lord.

Hadrach (only here in OT), now identified with Hatarika mentioned
in the annals of Assyrian kings as an Aramaean country near Damas-
cus and Hamath against which Assyria campaigned in 772, 755, and
733 b.c.
The reference to Hadrach on the 8th century b.c. stele of King Zakar
or Hamath attests to its influence as a name for the entire hinterland
region of Phoenicia, beyond the Antilebanon mountains from Damascus
and South Syria to North Syria in the region of Arpad.

Verse 2]
And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very
wise.

Hamath was the principal city of Upper Syria, on the Orontes. It was
Antiochus Epiphanes who named it Epiphania.
At the Battle of Issus in SE Asia Minor (October, 333 b.c.) Alexander
the Great inflicted a defeat upon Darius and the Persians which threw
open Syria and Israel to his lightning-like conquests, and exposed
Egypt to his victorious armies.
Alexander—the prophet emphasizes—was visible as the instrument
of the Lord.

Verse 3]
And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust,
and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

Tyrus (Tyre) is singled out for special mention. Tyre is the exemplar
of the materialistic world. Here perverted wisdom and pride is mani-
fested through her “prince” (Ezek 28:2, 4-8) which is then expanded
by Ezekiel to embrace the pre-fall career of Satan (Ezek 28:11-19).
[Merril F. Unger, Biblical Demonology, pp. 181-200.]

The Assyrians under Shalmaneser besieged it for 5 years unsuccess-
fully. The Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar tried for 13 years in vain.
The pride and self-security of the Tyrians were proverbial.

Verse 4]
Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea;
and she shall be devoured with fire.

Tyre (Heb. Tsor, “rock”; Greek, Turos) is involved in an intentional
pun on matsor, “bulwark, citadel, or ramparts” from the root tsur, “to
besiege.” Surrounded by a wall 150 ft. high as an off-shore island
fortress, an insular bastion of wealth.

Alexander took it in only seven months! He built a causeway, directed
new siege engines against it, and exploited a navy amassed from
nearby city states.

Verse 5]
Ashkelon shall see [it], and fear; Gaza also [shall see it], and be very sor-
rowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall
perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.

Only 4 of the 5 capital cities of Philitia are mentioned. (Gath at that
time was probably incorporated into Judah. Cf. Amos 1:6-8; Zeph
2:4; Jer 25:20.)
Gaza held out for five months; the king, Batis, was dragged to death;
10,000 of its inhabitants slaughtered, the rest sold into bondage.

Verse 6]
And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
"mamzer," “bastard, illegitimate,” from a root meaning “to alien-
ate.” [Could this be a remnant of the Rephaim (Gen 6:4, “also after
that...”)?]

Verse 7]
And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from
between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, [shall be] for our God, and
he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.

Reference seems to be made to the remnant of the tribes of Canaan
who were incorporated into the commonwealth of Israel in the time
of David and Solomon. (Cf. Araunah, 2 Sam 24:18; also 1 Kgs 9:20,
21.) Philistia will become part of the people of God and will share
in the blessings of Israel.

The Deliverance of Jerusalem
Verse 8]
And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him
that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall
pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.

Josephus, Antiquities, XI, 8:3-6. Alexander’s request for tribute was
refused by Jaddua, the high priest, who refused to break his oath of
loyalty to Darius. Alexander, in a rage, threatened severe punish-
ment upon Jerusalem as soon as Tyre had fallen and he had reduced
the Philistine strongholds. Juaddua ordered the population to make
sacrifices to God and pray for deliverance. In a dream, Jaddua was
told to go and meet Alexander.

When Alexander was not far from the city, the high priest led a ven-
erable procession to meet him. When Alexander saw the vestments,
etc., he saluted the high priest, adored the name of YHWH, and said
he had seen this in a dream at Dios in Macedonia. Presented with the
prophecies of his own career in Daniel (7 & 8), he treated the Jews
kindly and spared the city.

Israel’s Own King
Verse 9]
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold,
thy King cometh unto thee: he [is] just, and having salvation; lowly, and rid-
ing upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. The Unexpected King.

It is critical to our interest to establish that the book of Daniel was in
documented form almost three centuries before Christ was born.

The Angel Gabriel interrupted Daniel’s prayer and gave him a four-verse
prophecy that is unquestionably the most remarkable passage in the
entire Bible: Daniel 9:24-27. The four verses include the following:

9:24 - The Scope of the prophecy: 70 weeks (of
years);
9:25 - The 69 weeks of years;
9:26 - The interval between the 69th and the 70th
week of years;
9:27-The 70th Week of years (yet future).

9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to
finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconcilia-
tion for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the
vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command-
ment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be
seven weeks, and three-score and two weeks: the streets shall be built again,
and the wall, even in troublesome times.

The Interval: Daniel 9:26
There appears to be a gap between the 69th week (verse 25) and 70th
week (verse 27):

9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for
himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city
and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood and unto the end
of the war desolations are determined.

The Messiah is to be “cut-off”: the Hebrew is “karat” which means
to be executed. Yes, the Old Testament predicts that the Messiah is
to be killed! That is exactly what happened at the crucifixion. (See
Footprints of the Messiah for an indepth study of the Old Testament
predictions about the Messiah.)

Also, “the people of the prince that shall come” (see Behold a White
Horse Briefing Package for a study of the different titles used in the
Old and New Testaments) would destroy the city and the sanctuary.
That very week Jesus also predicted the destruction of Jerusalem:

"For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench
about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee;
and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou
knewest not the time of thy visitation."
Luke 19:43-44

For over 1900 years, there has been no Temple in Jerusalem.

The 70th Week: Daniel 9:27
There is one week of years yet remaining to be fulfilled. This final
seven year period is the subject of a great number of passages that
we cannot even summarize here. But it is clear that the events of
this remaining week of years requires the rebuilding of the Temple
in Jerusalem (Mt 24:15; 2 Thess 2:4; etc.). The provocative news is
that they have begun! (Do see our briefing package, The Coming
Temple.)

9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the
consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Back to Zechariah Chapter 9
Verse 10]
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen:
and his dominion [shall be] from sea [even] to sea, and from the river [even]
to the ends of the earth.

[Between vv. 9 & 10 is an unseen interval embracing the church age
in which we live. This was hidden in the OT (Cf. Eph 3:3-6).]

The rule of the Messiah will remove all the instruments of war from
His people (Hos 1:7). His rule will be over the entire earth, centered
in Jerusalem.

Verse 11]
As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners
out of the pit wherein [is] no water.

Verse 12]
Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare
[that] I will render double unto thee;

Verse 13]
When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up
thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of
a mighty man.
(Judah + Ephraim: no “lost tribes” here.)

Verse 14]
And the Lord shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the
lightning: and the Lord God shall blow the trumpet (shofar), and shall go with whirl-
winds of the south.

Shofar: the curved horn of the ram, used as an instrument of alarm
(Ex 19:16; Judg 7:22) or in sacred ceremonies (Lev 25:9; Ps 47:5;
81:3; 150:3).

Verse 15]
The Lord of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with
sling stones; and they shall drink, [and] make a noise as through wine; and
they shall be filled like bowls, [and] as the corners of the altar.

The Lord will defend them. Cf. Ps 2.

Verse 16]
And the Lord their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people:
for they [shall be as] the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his
land.

In that day... the flock of His people... Protected by their Shepherd (Ps
23; Ps 100). Jewels (Mal 3:17). Ensign (Isa 11:11, 12).

Verse 17]
For how great [is] his goodness, and how great [is] his beauty! corn shall
make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.