Zechariah 12 – 13“Israel’s Fountain of Salvation”

May 10, 2015First Baptist ChurchJackson, Mississippi

USA

What’s the number one thing?

The Glory of God!

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The Glory of God!

Corinthians 10:31 NKJV31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

May Memory Verse

2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

How to study the Prophecy of the Minor Prophets

1. Consider each verse a piece of a bigger puzzle – maybe 1,000,000 pieces

- Only God knows exactly the final picture

2. Important details are “scattered in small pieces” in all verses

- Each piece of the puzzle will fit perfectly

3. How to determine where the pieces fit?

- Look for how it applies to Israel

Studying the Minor Prophets

Zoom In and Out of Time

– Does it refer to current circumstances?

• Pre or post exile

– Does it refer to the near future?

• Coming of the Messiah (fulfilled by Jesus)

– Does it refer to end times?

• Tribulation or Millennial Reign or Eternity

• Multiple applications

Quote

“Our main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.”

Thomas Carlyle

Jesus’ comment on prophecy

Matthew 5:17-18 NIV17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter (jot), not the least stroke of a pen (tittle), will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

“jot & tittle” in KJV

Zechariah: Prophet and Priest

• Zechariah means “the Lord remembers”

• Born in Babylon during the Exile

• Returned to Jerusalem with grandfather, Iddo, and Zerubbabel with the first exiles 538 BC– Father was Berechiah, who died at an early age

• Became a member of the Great Synagogue, a council of 120 Temple leaders led by Ezra– This group evolved into the ruling elders called the

Sanhedrin

Zechariah’s Death

Matthew 23:35 NIV35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

• Considered the last martyr of the Old Testament.

Zechariah’s Ministry 520-480 BC

Zechariah’s Messages to Judah

1. Complete the rebuilding of the Temple

2. Commitment to a spiritual renewal of Judah

3. Prophecy about Judah’s future Messiah

4. God is still in control – Creator & Sustainer

Zechariah’s Messianic Prophecies

• Christ coming in lowliness (6:12; 13:7)• The humanity of Christ (6:12; 13:7)• Betrayal for 30 pieces of silver (11:12-13)• Christ’s crucifixion (13:7), • Christ’s priesthood (6:13), • Christ’s kingship (6:13; 9:9; 14:9,16), • Christ’s reign (9:10)• Christ’s coming in glory (14:4)• Building of the Lord’s temple (6:12-13)• Establishment of peace & prosperity (3:10)

Jesus explains these prophecies on the road to Emmaus

Luke 24:25-27 NIV25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

• At least 100 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled with Jesus’ 1st Coming

Zechariah’s End Times Prophecies

• Siege of Jerusalem (12:1-3; 14:1-2)

• Initial victory of Judah’s enemies (14:2)

• Lord’s defense of Jerusalem (14:3-4)

• Judgment on the nations (12:9; 14:3)

• Topographical changes in Judah (14:4-5)

• Celebration of Feast of Tabernacles in Millennial Reign (14:16-19)

• Ultimate holiness of Jerusalem & her people (14:20-21)

Focus TodayZechariah 12-13

• Prophecies for Jesus’ 1st coming and rejection

• Prophecies for Jerusalem (city) and Judah (land of Israel) during the Tribulation Period

• Prophecies during the Millennium (1,000 Year Reign, Messianic Kingdom)

Battle of Armageddon

• Battle at the end of the Tribulation where God destroys the armies of the Antichrist

• Plain of Meggido – 60 miles north of Jerusalem

Battle of Armageddon

Zechariah 12: 1-9 Preview

• The Creator of the world is bringing history to an end.

• Nations will attack Judah (Israel) and Jerusalem at the end of the Tribulation in the Battle of Armageddon.

• God will cause confusion among the attackers and Israel will turn to God

• God destroys the attacking nations

• “In that day …” refers to this Tribulation time

Zechariah 12:1-2 NKJV

1 The burden of the word of the Lord against Israel. Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him: 2 "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12:3-4

3 And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. 4 “In that day," says the Lord, "I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.

Zechariah 12:5-6

5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, 'The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the Lord of hosts, their God. ' 6 In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they shall devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place—Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12:7-8

7 "The Lord will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall not become greater than that of Judah. 8 In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them.

Zechariah 12:9

9 It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Preview of Zechariah 12:10-14

• God sovereignly acts to save Israel

• Israel’s repentance comes because they look to Jesus, the One they rejected and crucified

• Israel mourns for their rejection of Jesus at His 1st coming

Zechariah 12:10-11

10 "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. 11 In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.

Zechariah 12:12

12 And the land shall mourn, every family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; …

• Refers to individual faith in Christ, not corporate salvation

Zechariah’s Prophecy Fulfilled in Revelation

Revelation 11:13 NKJV13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

• A genuine experience of salvation of the Jews coming to faith in Christ at end of the Tribulation

Preview of Zechariah 13:1-6

• Salvation of Israel through the blood of Jesus from a fountain (verse 1)

• Israel is cleansed from deception of false prophets and worship of idols (verses 2-6)

Zechariah 13:1 MKJV

1 "In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

• Hymn: “There is a Fountain” by William Cowper in 1764 while suffering depression

There Is A Fountain

Zechariah 13:7a NKJV

7a "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,"Says the Lord of hosts.

• Deity of Christ – “My Companion”

• Death of Christ designed before the foundation of the world – “Awake, O sword …”

Zechariah 13:7 NKJV

7 "Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,Against the Man who is My Companion,”Says the Lord of hosts.Strike the Shepherd,And the sheep will be scattered;Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.

Jesus quotes Zechariah 13:7

Matthew 26:30-31 NKJV30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:

'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

Mark 14:50 NKJV50 Then they all forsook Him and fled.

Preview of Zechariah 13:8-9

• Only a portion of Israel will remain faithful to Christ and be alive at the end for His 2nd

coming

– Live through the Tribulation

• The remnant (1/3) will survive the fiery refinement to live in the Millennial Kingdom

Zechariah 13:8

8 And it shall come to pass in all the land," Says the Lord,"That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die,But one-third shall be left in it:

Zechariah 13:9

9 I will bring the one-third through the fire,Will refine them as silver is refined,And test them as gold is tested.They will call on My name,And I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people';And each one will say, 'The Lord is my God.'"

Lesson Summary Questions

1. Why is Israel so important and always the center of controversy?

2. Is salvation for the Jews (Israel) different than for Christians?

3. Is Israel’s rejection of Jesus final?

Why is Israel so important and always the center of controversy?

• They are God’s chosen people, still.

• God has a special plan for Israel, and Satan wants to defeat that plan.

• God made promises to Israel that He will fulfill in His own time in history.

Is Salvation for Jews different from Christians?

• Israel will repent of unbelief and embrace the Messiah(Jesus).

• John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

• “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” (1st verse of There Is A Fountain)

Is Israel’s rejection of Jesus final?

Romans 11:25-27 NKJV25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

"The Deliverer will come out of Zion,And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

27 For this is My covenant with them,When I take away their sins."

Who are the “all Israel” referred to in Romans 11:26?

• Jews who have accepted Christ as Messiah before Rapture will be taken up at Rapture

• All Jewish people who accept Christ after the Rapture and are alive at the end of the Tribulation.– Large numbers of Jews will accept Christ during

the Tribulation, but many will be martyred – Revelation 7:14 describes them wearing white

robes.

Closing Thoughts

• We can trust the word of God – prophecy has been and will continue to be fulfilled.

• God will fulfill His promises to Israel – His own time, and His own way

• Live with a Christian World View of life and current events

• Summary of Prophecy: Jesus Wins! Get Ready!

No Other Way to Salvation

John 14:6 NKJV6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

The Plan of Hope & Salvation

John 3:16 NKJV16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 14:6 NKJV6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Romans 3:23 NKJV23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23a NKJV23a For the wages of sin is death,

• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve

death, died in this life to pay the penalty for our sins.

• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in Revelation 21:8.

Revelation 21:8 NKJV8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Romans 5:8 NKJV8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23b NKJV23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Revelation 21:7 NKJV7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”

• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to accept Jesus as our Savior.

Romans 10:9-10 NKJV9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 NKJV13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD

shall be saved.”

If you have questions or would like to know more, Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-979-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/