Bible Study Seattle

Here’s one of the great Christmas scriptures. Jesus will war for his people and bring unbelievable peace to the world:

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem!
Look, your King is coming to you;
He is righteous and victorious,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the horse from Jerusalem.
The bow of war will be removed,
and He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His dominion will extend from sea to sea,
from the Euphrates River
to the ends of the earth.
As for you,
because of the blood of your covenant,
I will release your prisoners
from the waterless cistern.
Return to a stronghold,
you prisoners who have hope;
today I declare that I will restore double to you.
For I will bend Judah as My bow;
I will fill that bow with Ephraim.
I will rouse your sons, Zion,
against your sons, Greece.
I will make you like a warrior’s sword.
Then the Lord will appear over them,
and His arrow will fly like lightning.
The Lord God will sound the trumpet
and advance with the southern storms.
The Lord of Hosts will defend them.
They will consume and conquer with slingstones;
they will drink and be rowdy as if with wine.
They will be as full as the sprinkling basin,
like those at the corners of the altar.
The Lord their God will save them on that day
as the flock of His people;
for they are like jewels in a crown,
sparkling over His land.
How lovely and beautiful they will be!
Grain will make the young men flourish,
and new wine, the young women.” Zechariah 9:9-17

Who are the prisoners who have hope in verse 12? The dead! Furthermore, he promises double what they had before. Just like Job: “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his prosperity and doubled his previous possessions.” Job 42:10

Many nations that hated Israel will be laid low. But then a funny thing happens. Healing and restoration come to the haters:

“The word of the Lord
is against the land of Hadrach,
and Damascus is its resting place—
for the eyes of men
and all the tribes of Israel
are on the Lord—
and also against Hamath, which borders it,
as well as Tyre and Sidon,
though they are very shrewd.
Tyre has built herself a fortress;
she has heaped up silver like dust
and gold like the dirt of the streets.
Listen! The Lord will impoverish her
and cast her wealth into the sea;
she herself will be consumed by fire.
Ashkelon will see it and be afraid;
Gaza too, and will writhe in great pain,
as will Ekron, for her hope will fail.
There will cease to be a king in Gaza,
and Ashkelon will become uninhabited.
A mongrel people will live in Ashdod,
and I will destroy the pride of the Philistines.
I will remove the blood from their mouths
and the detestable things
from between their teeth.
Then they too will become a remnant for our God;
they will become like a clan in Judah
and Ekron like the Jebusites.” Zechariah 9:1-7

Did you catch that last part?

“…they will become like a clan in Judah…”!!!

Today many nations hate Israel, but not so in the future:
“The Lord of Hosts says this: “Peoples will yet come, the residents of many cities; the residents of one city will go to another, saying: Let’s go at once to plead for the Lord’s favor and to seek the Lord of Hosts. I am also going. Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead for the Lord’s favor.” The Lord of Hosts says this: “In those days, 10 men from nations of every language will grab the robe of a Jewish man tightly, urging: Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
Jerusalem will flourish so much that other nations will seek to join her and seek the Lord there.

Zechariah 8 has some wonderful things to say about the future of Jerusalem:
“The word of the Lord of Hosts came: “The Lord of Hosts says this: I am extremely jealous for Zion; I am jealous for her with great wrath.” The Lord says this: “I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, the mountain of the Lord of Hosts, and the Holy Mountain.” The Lord of Hosts says this: “Old men and women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of advanced age. The streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in them.” The Lord of Hosts says this: “Though it may seem incredible to the remnant of this people in those days, should it also seem incredible to Me?”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. The Lord of Hosts says this: “I will save My people from the land of the east and the land of the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem. They will be My people, and I will be their faithful and righteous God.”
Jerusalem has a bright future after Jesus returns to live there.

The phrase ‘Vine & Fig tree’ turns up a lot in the scriptures.
“Throughout Solomon’s reign, Judah and Israel lived in safety from Dan to Beer-sheba, each man under his own vine and his own fig tree.” 1 Kings 4:25
“Don’t listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: ‘Make peace with me and surrender to me. Then every one of you may eat from his own vine and his own fig tree, and every one may drink water from his own cistern.” 2 Kings 18:31
“He killed their vines with hail and their sycamore fig trees with a flood.” Psalm 78:47 [There’s that flood analogy again!]
“The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines give off their fragrance. Arise, my darling. Come away, my beautiful one.” Song of Solomon 2:13
“All the heavenly bodies will dissolve. The skies will roll up like a scroll, and their stars will all wither as leaves wither on the vine, and foliage on the fig tree.” Isaiah 34:4
“On that day, each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree.” This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.” Zechariah 3:10
“And He told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil?’” Luke 13:6-7 [Here is an allusion to second death; notice it happens in three years (or three thousand years from Jesus’ time)].
“Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither can salt water yield sweet.” James 3:12
[Here is an allusion to the spiritual body verses the earthly body].

A double prophecy:

“Listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your colleagues sitting before you; indeed, these men are a sign that I am about to bring My servant, the Branch. Notice the stone I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes. I will engrave an inscription on it”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“and I will take away the guilt of this land in a single day. On that day, each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree.” This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.” Zechariah 3:8-10

The Branch is Jesus. The seven eyes are: “For who scorns the day of small things? These seven eyes of the Lord, which scan throughout the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” Zechariah 4:10 Here again we see Zerubbabel, and also:

“Then I saw One like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth.” Revelation 5:6

Zech 3:9: “And I will take away the guilt of this land in a single day,” a reference to the crucifixion, but also a reference to the Day of the Lord, the great thousand year ‘day’ when Christ reigns. Zech 3:10: “Each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree.” The vine represents:

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.” John 15:1-4

The fig tree represents:

“I discovered Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers like the first fruit of the fig tree in its first season.” Hosea 9:10 The fig tree is Israel!

Jesus will rule from heaven, and Israel will rule earth.

More wonderful news about the future:
“Daughter Zion, shout for joy and be glad, for I am coming to dwell among you”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day and become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent Me to you. The Lord will take possession of Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and He will once again choose Jerusalem. Let all people be silent before the Lord, for He is coming from His holy dwelling.” Zechariah 2:10-13

This has clearly never happened yet! Foreign nations joining themselves to Israel considering themselves Israelites. This is what awaits us in a few centuries. God was very generous about foreigners joining Israel:
“You must not exploit a foreign resident or oppress him, since you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 22:21
“The Israelites traveled from Rameses to Succoth, about 600,000 soldiers on foot, besides their families. An ethnically diverse crowd also went up with them, along with a huge number of livestock, both flocks and herds.” Exodus 12:37-38
Israel will be the chief nation of the world in that day.

Zerubbabel was governor of Judah during the completion of the second temple. Haggai 2:20-23 says:
“The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah: I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overturn chariots and their riders. Horses and their riders will fall, each by his brother’s sword. On that day”—this is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts—“I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, My servant”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you.” This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.”
Is this a prophecy about the future? Will Zerubbabel have a significant part to play in the completion of the Millennial temple? He is also prominently mentioned in Zechariah:
“So he answered me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts. ‘What are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. And he will bring out the capstone accompanied by shouts of: Grace, grace to it!’”

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you. For who scorns the day of small things? These seven eyes of the Lord, which scan throughout the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

I asked him, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?” And I questioned him further, “What are the two olive branches beside the two gold conduits, from which golden oil pours out?”

Then he inquired of me, “Don’t you know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I replied.

“These are the two anointed ones,” he said, “who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Is Zerubbabel one of the annointed ones? Verse 23 of Haggai 2 says, “One that day – the declaration of the Lord of Hosts – I will take you, Zerubbabel sone Shealtiel, My servant – the Lord’s declaration – and make you like My signet ring, for I have chosen you.”

Wow!! Will Zerubbabel command mountains to turn into plains? Will he be like a future Moses? Will he be the one to put on the capstone of the great pyramid of Gizeh? Will they build up it’s original white limestone exterior?
Zerubbabel is mentioned in both Matthew’s and Luke’s account of the geneology of Jesus.

More details about the return of Jesus just before the resurrection of the second born:
“God comes from Teman,
the Holy One from Mount Paran.
His splendor covers the heavens,
and the earth is full of His praise.
His brilliance is like light;
rays are flashing from His hand.
This is where His power is hidden.
Plague goes before Him,
and pestilence follows in His steps.
He stands and shakes the earth;
He looks and startles the nations.
The age-old mountains break apart;
the ancient hills sink down.
His pathways are ancient.
I see the tents of Cushan in distress;
the tent curtains of the land of Midian tremble.
Are You angry at the rivers, Lord?
Is Your wrath against the rivers?
Or is Your rage against the sea
when You ride on Your horses,
Your victorious chariot?
You took the sheath from Your bow;
the arrows are ready to be used with an oath.
You split the earth with rivers.
The mountains see You and shudder;
a downpour of water sweeps by.
The deep roars with its voice
and lifts its waves high.
Sun and moon stand still in their lofty residence,
at the flash of Your flying arrows,
at the brightness of Your shining spear.
You march across the earth with indignation;
You trample down the nations in wrath.
You come out to save Your people,
to save Your anointed.
You crush the leader of the house of the wicked
and strip him from foot to neck.
You pierce his head
with his own spears;
his warriors storm out to scatter us,
gloating as if ready to secretly devour the weak.
You tread the sea with Your horses,
stirring up the great waters.” Habakkuk 3:3-15

Fortunately this is still about 200+ years out. But those who are living at the time won’t forget! Mountains breaking apart, and rivers completely changing course! This is remodeling on a vast scale! Another angle:
“A voice of one crying out:
Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness;
make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
Every valley will be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill will be leveled;
the uneven ground will become smooth
and the rough places, a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will appear,
and all humanity together will see it,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 40:3-5

All humanity together will see it??
They must be resurrected to see it. It’s reminiscent of the installation of the Tabernacle with Moses:

“On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron, his sons, and the elders of Israel. He said to Aaron, “Take a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and present them before the Lord. And tell the Israelites: Take a male goat for a sin offering; a calf and a lamb, male yearlings without blemish, for a burnt offering; an ox and a ram for a fellowship offering to sacrifice before the Lord; and a grain offering mixed with oil. For today the Lord is going to appear to you….” leviticus 9:1-4
“…Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them. He came down after sacrificing the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the fellowship offering. Moses and Aaron then entered the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Fire came from the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell facedown on the ground.” leviticus 9:22-24

Here’s an odd but interesting scripture:

“Woe to him who dishonestly makes
wealth for his house
to place his nest on high,
to escape from the reach of disaster!
You have planned shame for your house
by wiping out many peoples
and sinning against your own self.
For the stones will cry out from the wall,
and the rafters will answer them
from the woodwork.” Habakkuk 2:9-11

The Stones will cry out? Does this sound like:
“Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples. He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”
Luke 19:39-40

I’m not sure if stones will actually speak, but they may have markings that testify and point out some truth as the stones of the great pyramid testify about God’s timeline. The church are referred to as living stones:
“Coming to Him [Jesus], a living stone—rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God— you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it is contained in Scripture:

Look! I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and honored cornerstone,
and the one who believes in Him
will never be put to shame!” 1 Peter 2:4-6