Alright, if you'll take your Bibles and let's turn to Zechariah chapter 13 tonight. Zechariah chapter 13. These last three chapters of the book of Zechariah, I'm talking about Zechariah 12, 13, and 14. deal with this great subject of the events of the end times in Israel that are directly connected with return of the Messiah, Jesus, our Lord. So these descriptions we see are really intertwined in, in, in chapter 12, excuse me, chapter 13, 14, and 15. Chapter 12, 13, and 14. I get it right. Okay. Now, understand that Zechariah 12, verse number 11, through Zechariah 13 verse number 5, if you read this, that seems to be a parenthetical section that is inserted between two very moving descriptions of the Messiah's wounds. We see his wounds in chapter 12 and verse number 10 when it says, And I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced. They shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only son and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. And then that parenthetical picks up after that, and then it picks up there in chapter number 13, verse number 6, we see some more wounds, some more description of the wounds of our Savior And one shall say unto him, what are these wounds in thine hands? And he shall answer, those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. So, I want you to note the phrase there in chapter 13, verses 1 and 2, in that day. Now, that phrase occurs repeatedly in these three chapters. You'll see it over and over again. In fact, I've got it circled. every time that it shows up in my Bible. I encourage you to do that. Underline it or circle it because it's important. We saw it in chapter 12 as the sequence of events begin in this particular time of the day of the Lord that includes the revelation or the unveiling of the Messiah to the nation of Israel. Now, in chapter 12, verse number 3, we saw the hatred for Jerusalem, including hatred for Judah and Israel. We saw how that draws the nations of the world into the battle of Armageddon. The Lord then, in verse number 4, the Lord begins the deliverance of his people as they are oppressed by the battle. We saw how the Lord continues to empower his people in the battle in verse number 6. And then in chapter 12 verse number 8, the Lord defends the inhabitants of Jerusalem and empowers even the weakest among them is empowered by the Lord. And then in verse number 9 we saw the Lord Messiah comes himself to destroy Jerusalem's enemies and to save his people as they turn to him as a group, as a whole nation in mass you might call it. they will turn to the Lord Jesus Christ there as he comes to the battle of Armageddon and rescues them, and we see in verse number eleven, the mourning of the Lord's people is detailed as he is revealed, and as they turn to him in repentance and faith, the, the tears flow, you know, they mourn for him there, and then we saw the, in chapter number 1 here of, of, excuse me, verse number 1 of chapter 13, a detailed description of the results of their salvation. Notice verse number 1. This is a, they, they, they, they, as a nation they have received the Lord, the Messiah. And in verse number 1 here, it says, In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness, and it shall come to pass in that day, there it is again, in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered, and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. So, we see first of all there, it mentions a fountain opened in verse number 1. The fountain mentioned in this verse is said to be for sins and for uncleanness. Well, we're going to give a picture of that tonight whenever we protect the Lord's table. We're going to protect the Lord's table tonight after the after the message, and that fountain that was filled with blood, drawn from Emmanuel's veins, as one song says, we're going to remember that. We see surely this refers to none other than the fountain of the cleansing blood of the Lamb of God, the Savior. We know that Ephesians 1 verse number 7 says in whom we have redemption, talking about Christ, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace. I like that. Amen. Revelation 1 verse number 5 speaks of Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth unto him, listen, unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood. That old song by William Cowper, there's a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins, and sinners plunge beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains. Now, a fountain is suggestive of the continual flow of forgiveness that comes from the cross of Calvary. Aren't you glad for that? I mean, you know, we fall short of the God's glory each and every day. We need that continual cleansing, and it's there. Amen. The psalmist said in Psalm 36 verse 9, for with thee is the fountain of life. And we know that with God is the fountain of life. Listen to Romans 11 verse 26. And it's talking about this time that we're talking about here tonight. And so all Israel shall be saved. As it is written, there shall come out of Zion the deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. And that's the period there of chapter number 12, the latter part of chapter number 12 and the first part of chapter number 13. We see not only a fountain opened, but we see there in verse number 2, we see idolatry is ended. Idolatry is ended. You know, idols have been a problem in Israel. ever since their return to the promised land under the leadership of Moses and Joshua. If you don't believe it, just take some time to read Joshua chapter, excuse me, Judges chapter 1 and Judges chapter 2 and you will see that. Presently, we know that Israel is a center for many religions which are all tolerated by the Jewish state. But the climax of all idolatry will be set up by the Antichrist when he establishes the abomination of desolation in the holy place of the temple. And Jesus Christ spoke about that in Matthew chapter number 24 and verse number 15. But listen to 2 Thessalonians 2 verse number 4. It speaks of this son of perdition. That's another name for the Antichrist. He says, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Jesus will cleanse that temple, the Antichrist and all other filthiness there, and when Messiah, Jesus returns to set up his kingdom in Israel, he will first remove that abomination, out of the way. In fact, Revelation chapter number 19 and verse number 20. It says, And the beast was taken, that's the Antichrist, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them which had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both, talking about the beast and the false prophet, these both were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. The name, the names of all idols will be cut off. It's not just any idols, particular idols, but all idols will be cut off and it says not even remembered, not even remembered. They will not be remembered by Israel and they will not be remembered against Israel by the Lord anymore. When they would return to the idols, the Lord would many times have the prophets point back to when they would do that and be unfaithful and say, don't you remember, don't you remember you did that and it didn't turn out well for you? Well, there won't be any need. When he gets rid of the idols and gets rid of the memory of the idols, there will be no need for any of that. Third thing that we see there in the second part of verse number two is we see the false prophets and the unclean spirit will pass out of the land. Now, understand that in the time of the Great Tribulation and the reign of terror by the Antichrist, people will increasingly fall prey to demonic doctrines and will be introduced to occult practices. And could I tell you that people are being primed for that even today? I mean, there's so much demonic going on in a cult. It's involved in a lot of what comes out of Hollywood anymore. And what you see that's being introduced in all kinds of places. I think people are being primed for when this time of deception comes. Now Satan himself will seize the power over the world through the reign of the Antichrist and through the false prophet. And we know that they will demonically deceive this world through signs and lying wonders. And this will not be without results, especially in Israel. In fact, this time of the end times will produce many false prophets. Now, Jesus Christ warned of this very thing in Matthew 24 and verse number 11. Listen to what Jesus said. He said, and many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. The Lord Jesus warned about this time that would come. In Matthew 24 and verse 24, Christ said, for there shall arise false Christs and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders insomuch that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. I'm glad it's not possible, aren't you? Amen. Now, the Antichrist will be the greatest of all of the false prophets, and we've already spoken of his demise. He'll be cast into the lake of fire, and when Messiah returns, he will destroy all idolatry and all false prophets, and he will rule with a rod of iron, and he will see that nothing like that arises again. There won't be that going on in that thousand year reign of his. Now, I want you to think about this. Right now, there are at least twenty major religions, at least twenty in the world, and countless number of other beliefs or isms, cults of all various sorts, but at that time there will be no other religions in the world. You will worship Christ. Christ will be the center of worship. False prophets will no longer be tolerated. Look at verse number three. Zechariah 13, verse three, and it shall come to pass that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that beget him shall say unto him, thou shalt not live, for thou speakest lies in the name of the Lord, and his father and his mother that beget him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. That's spoken of in Deuteronomy 13, verse 6 and 8, under the law, Moses said, If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods which hath not known thou nor thy fathers, namely of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth, Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him, but neither shalt thou in eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him. And so, just bringing really what is just punishment for one that prophesies falsely. Now notice the false prophets shamed and exposed In verses four and five, look at verse number four. It shall come to pass in that day, there's that phrase again, in that day, that the prophet shall be ashamed, every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied, neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive. But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am a husbandman, for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. They're shamed and they don't want to even admit that they were false prophets. Hey, I wasn't not a false prophet. I've been keeping cattle from my youth. Now, we see the wounds there mentioned in Messiah's hands in verse number 6. Verse number six says, And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those which I was wounded in the house of my friends. Now, there are many expositors who say that the question posed in this verse is addressed to the false prophet. Spoken of in verses 3 through 5, but the assumption is that the wounds there are of the false prophet who were somehow caused by a mutilation from involvement in occult practices and rituals Such as the remember the false prophets on Mount Carmel. They would cut themselves. You know they would Cut into their flesh, but if you understand that chapter 12 verse 11 through chapter 13, verse number 5, as I said before. If that is a parenthetical section, which I believe it is, this would be picking up from chapter 12 verse 10, speaking of the Messiah's wounds, so that chapter 13 verse number 6 is also speaking of Messiah's wounds. Now, these wounds of Messiah's pierced hands and side remained even in Christ's resurrected body. Look at, with me, hold your place there, and let's look at John chapter number 20. John, John's Gospel chapter number 20, and this is after the resurrection, and Christ appears to the eleven, and Thomas, the, the one that had doubted, did not, was not there when the other disciples had seen the resurrected Lord. Remember, Thomas said that he, he was not going to believe. Look, look at John chapter number 20, verse number 24, but Thomas, One of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord, but he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days, again, his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God." So Messiah's wounds remained even in Christ's resurrected body. Now, I don't know, but some have suggested that if we're going to be like Christ, and we are in Christ, that maybe we're going to have those wounds. He took our wounds for us. We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Scripture says that. Now, whether we're going to have the wounds or not, it doesn't specifically say, but I could see where somebody might come up with that. But here Messiah reveals that these everlasting wounds had been inflicted at the urging of those who should have been his friends. Think about it. Should not the scribes and the Pharisees and those that were handlers of the law, should they not have recognized the Messiah and been his friend? Should they not have? They should have, shouldn't they? But they didn't. They called for Him to be crucified. They wanted Him to be wounded. And the very leaders of the nation of Israel who He came to redeem were the ones who called out for Him to be crucified. Now this interpretation is also supported by the fact that the next verse is most certainly applicable to the wounding of Messiah. I believe verse number six is talking about the wounding of Messiah because verse number seven is obviously talking about him. Look at verse number seven. Awake, O sword, against my shepherd and against the man that is my fellow, sayeth the Lord of hosts, smite this shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered. And I will turn my hand upon the little ones. Now, this verse is quoted in Matthew 26 verse 31 and also in Mark chapter 14 verse 27 by Christ himself. Okay? Christ quoted this verse as being applicable to him. Christ, the good shepherd, if you remember he had prophesied in John 10 verse number 11 that he would give his life for the sheep. You know, they could not take his life from him without his, without his cooperation, could they? They tried. You remember there were times when they were sought to put him to death and they couldn't get a hold of him. But when he determined, the time is, this is the fullness of time, when he determined to come, he gave himself, he freely gave himself for the sacrifice of our sins. Now, verse number 7 there is a dual prophecy that speaks both of the scattering of the disciples at the arrest of Christ as well as of the scattering of Israel into the end times when they would return to him and the land. They've been scattered for a long time, since AD 70. began coming back into Israel in the 20th century there. And there's continuing of the return there into the land. Then at his coming they returned to him as well. Now the last part of the verse says, and I will turn my hand upon the little ones. Little, meaning small or ignoble, not noble, I guess, worthless, base, not honorable. These, I believe, refer to those who are poor, weak, and humble. At first, it was His disciples who became poor and weak at His death. Look at 1 Corinthians 1, though. These are the ones that God has called. 1 Corinthians 1. And verse number 24 through 29 here. Paul is talking here about Christ calls those that the world looks at as being foolish. And you know, if you read the book of Acts, you know that those that showed forth the power of God in their life, they were looked on as being unlearned and ignorant men. That's how they were looked on. but they saw the power of God at work through these guys' lives. Now, look at verse number 24, 24 says, but unto them which are called, well let's back up to verse 23, but we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren... He's talking to these Corinthian believers. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. He didn't say not any. He said not many, okay? So there, there are some who are maybe wise and, and mighty and, and noble, but not many. But, but God, notice verse 27, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. and base things of the world, and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence." Nobody can say, well, you know, I came to Jesus because I was smart enough. No. You came to Jesus because Jesus quickened your heart by His Holy Spirit. And He showed you your need of salvation. If He had not come to you and showed you your need, and the Holy Spirit had not convicted you of that need, you would have never come to the Lord on your own. None of us would have. But notice 30, but of him are ye in Christ Jesus, of who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that according as it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. And we do glory in the Lord tonight, amen? Thank God for being born in this land. for being raised. I could have been raised by some heathens, but I was raised by a couple that loved the Lord. My parents were God-fearing people. My parents, they had a strong influence in my life and in the life, really, of others. I could see that very thing. I'm glad that I was born in that so that I got the truth and that the truth to quicken my heart and to help me see my need of salvation and I came to the Lord. Back in our text here, let's wrap this up in verse number 8 and 9. And we see the remnant here mentioned in verse number 8 and 9. It says, And it shall come to pass that in all the land that the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die, but a third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and I will refine them as silver refined, I will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on my name, and I will hear them, and I will say, It is my people, and they shall say, The Lord is my God. And these verses speak of the terrible time that this remnant of Israel that are saved goes through. There are many attacks on Israel in the last days which will cost them many lives and bring many of them to their knees. And two-thirds of the people will perish in the war described there in verse number 8. And so only a third will make it through this time. Even this last one-third will be refined before they will be saved as a remnant. They will call upon the name of the Lord, and the Lord will answer them and say, It is my people. And they will answer, The Lord is my God. Now, these verses in chapter 13 as well as what we saw in chapter 12, these are some very insightful prophetic verses dealing with the end time and dealing with Israel and her Messiah. Next time, which will be not next week, next week we're not meeting Sunday evening, but two weeks away, Lord willing, we will see some additional prophecy details revealed about these times in chapter 14 as we close out our time in the great book of prophecy. And I've enjoyed going through this again. I think it was about 10 years ago when I first went through it. and uh... is expanded The number of messages that I preached at this time, I looked at and I couldn't believe. Well, that's the way it is. The longer you're around, the more the Lord opens up to you. I appreciate you coming and listening to these things. What should we take away from what we've been taking a look at in Zechariah? I'll tell you what we should take away. We're getting close. Getting close. When you see everything that's happening in Israel right now, it's very interesting to see the Lord's hand already helping Israel out. When you talk about what happened with the pagers and the exploding pagers and the exploding radios, Who would have thought of such a thing? Well, God has given His people good knowledge, and the Lord did that for them. And other things, they were able to take out this, I think just in the last day or two, the leader, the top guy of Hezbollah, even after it was first denied that they had taken him out. It's confirmed. He was taken out. And the Lord is protecting Israel in the midst of fire coming in from all sides. It's amazing. What amazes me is that people have a problem with Israel defending herself from all the attacks. Hundreds, up into the thousands of missiles being fired into the land of Israel. Do they not have a right to defend themselves? They do. And so we can see that what's happening right now is going to cause the world even more to turn against Israel. And those that stand with Israel now, there's going to come a time when I know our nation doesn't stand as close as we used to, but we're going to be with that number that's in the Armageddon going against Israel. All nations are going to be involved in that. You know, I hate to say that, but all nations are going to be involved, as if our nation makes it at that point. You know, if we're still around. And so, understand the closeness that we are to the Lord returning. If we're that close to the Lord coming back to rescue Israel, how close are we to the rapture? We believe in a pre-trib rapture here, and we believe in the pre-millennial reign of Christ, the coming of Christ, and the reign of Christ in the millennial, for a literal 1,000 years. We're going to have a time here, let's pray, and then we're going to have a time of self-examination. And I trust that you will take time to examine yourself