Zechariah 13:3-5. Why such harsh punishments for simply “prophesying”?
Israel had been filled with false prophets, prophets of Ba’al and so many other gods. The harshness here is directed to those still daring to lead God’s people into false worship. Even the marks of a prophet (v.6) will be suspicious as false ones would cut themselves and leave wounds showing. The prediction here is that these undercover false prophets will make up stories about how they got those marks.
A warning to all who persist in falseness in our own day.
Zechariah 14. When do all the events of this chapter take place?
When…
…all nations are gathered together against Jerusalem.
…the Lord Himself fights against those nations.
…the Lord returns to the Mount of Olives.
…the saints return with Jesus.
…the light of the sun goes out.
…the living waters flow out of Jerusalem.
…people’s flesh rots on them while they stand (nuclear/chemical warfare).
…the remaining nations travel to Jerusalem once a year to worship the King.
…the bells on the horses say “Holiness to the Lord.”
In other words, at the coming of Jesus, His judgment on the nations, and the setting up of His international Kingdom. This chapter is one of the most incredible of all of Scripture for its clarity of end-time detail!
MALACHI
Malachi 1:4. Once more Edom. Will it indeed survive?
Verse 4 seems to say that there will at least be an attempt to re-build Esau’s doomed land. How successful this is, or whether it happens at all we do not know. But the final outcome is sure. God will tear down whatever they build up.
Malachi 3:1-2, 4:5. Is this coming Messenger John the Baptist, or Jesus? What about Elijah? And is this the first century, or the last of earth’s history before the Millennium?
Clues, clues. Let’s look at the description given to see if we can figure it out.
He is God’s Messenger.
He will clear the way before “Me”, God.
[Elijah] comes before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.
Then it would seem that the subject is changed. Now we start discussing the Lord Who will suddenly come to His Temple. The next verses are all about
The Messenger of the Covenant
The One Whose coming is hard to be endured.
He is like a refiner’s fire.
The Lord, Who suddenly comes to His Temple.
There seems to be a double fulfillment here. Remember that Jesus said that John the Baptist was the “Elijah” that was to come. And John came in the power and spirit of Elijah, we are told.
Yet, Elijah could well be one of the two prophets who come in the Tribulation hour. So, the real Elijah will return, and “clear the way” again!
Understood? First coming, John/Elijah prepares, Jesus comes. Second coming, Elijah prepares, Jesus comes. I don’t know if Malachi understood all of that but it does seem that this is the way things are. Two comings. Two Elijahs. One Jesus coming two times.
Malachi 3:16-18. What is the “book of remembrance”, and when did it get written?
This is a text that could easily be “spiritualized”, but first let’s check out the possible literal fulfillment. Ezra 9:4 records a time when men who trembled at the word of the Lord came to Ezra and joined forces with him and righteousness. It seems that there was a similar group in Malachi’s presence, countering the men described in the three verses preceding.
These men wanted to do the right thing, and let their wishes be known. A record was made of their names and intentions, and God promises that those who so love Him will be given special attention in the future when His “jewels” are gathered together. There will be a distinction in Israel now, between the good and the evil.
We can draw lessons from this and apply it to our lives, but it is always best to see what God is saying before we build on the foundation.
Older
Top
