This Article: (5 Pages)
1) Understanding Zechariah 14
Zechariah 14 presents a vision of the future, the distant future for the then contemporary nation of Israel in the 6th Century BC. Since then Israel was destroyed completely and scattered, then regathered and now established on the world stage as a nation revived since 1948. For us today in the twenty-first century, looking back now over two thousand years since Zechariah (520-518 BC) was given this prophecy, we see now the beginning of the fulfilment of this vision of an impending world calamity. This prophecy is about our world. We will see now the value of the promised peace on earth.
The opening verses of Zechariah 14, create a vision of war. Many nations come against the nation of Israel to fight and Jerusalem is subjected to invasion by these nations. Note in Zechariah 14:1 that in the English translation the word 'spoil' is used. It is interesting to note that this word incorporates the word for this modern world's life blood, sp-'oil'. In the Hebrew the word 'spoil' is 'shalal', from a word meaning 'drop' or 'to fall'. It is not about 'goods' but rather about an action. Related words are 'shalleketh' for felling trees, and 'shâlak' meaning to 'throw with force' and the downward swoop of a bird of prey. 'Shalal' describes oil, both in its symbol of a 'drop' and that it spurts forth from the deep well.
1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.
2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14:1-2)
It is then that the world will witness an amazing defeat of these nations. The Creator will destroy the armies of these nations that invade Israel. The Messiah will return to the earth and will oppose the oppressors of Israel. Zechariah 14: 3 continues and explains that Israel will be saved through direct Divine intervention
3 Then shall Yahweh go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. (Zechariah 14:3)
There have been many wars fought in mankind's history. This war will be like no other experienced by mankind.
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