Dead Rising

It's no secret that the world has a fascination with the undead. From classic zombie movies like "Night of the Living Dead" to more recent hits like "The Walking Dead," it seems that the idea of a zombie apocalypse continues to captivate our imaginations.

As a young boy, I remember being both scared and thrilled by the thought of hordes of the undead shuffling towards me, threatening to take me down with their relentless pursuit. But as I've grown older and become a man of faith, I've come to realize that our fascination with this genre misses the point of what God has to say about the end of the world.

People are fascinated with zombies for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include:

Survival and End of the World scenarios - The idea of a zombie apocalypse presents a survival scenario where individuals must use their wit and resourcefulness to survive.

Horror and Thrill - The undead concept is often portrayed as frightening and gory, making it an exciting and thrilling genre to watch.

Social Commentary - Many zombie movies and shows use the zombie genre as a way to comment on society and the human condition. For example, the film “28 Days Later” comments on the consequences of extreme violence and the breakdown of society.

Popular Culture - The zombie genre has become a significant part of popular culture, with a huge following of fans who love the idea of zombies and their representation in various forms of media.

Mystery - The idea of a mysterious virus that turns people into zombies has intrigued people for decades. It presents a scenario where normal people become something else, adding a layer of mystery to the genre.

Zechariah 14:9 LSB

And Yahweh will be king over all the earth; in that day Yahweh will be the only one, and His name one.

Zechariah 14:10 LSB

All the land will be changed into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; but Jerusalem will rise and inhabit its site from Benjamin’s Gate as far as the place of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s wine presses.

Zechariah 14:11 LSB

And people will inhabit it, and there will no longer be anything devoted to destruction, for Jerusalem will be inhabited in security.

Zechariah 14:12 LSB

Now this will be the plague with which Yahweh will plague all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem; their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth.

Zechariah 14:13 LSB

And it will be in that day, that abundant confusion from Yahweh will fall on them; and they will take hold of one another’s hand, and the hand of one will go up against the hand of another.

Zechariah 14:14 LSB

And Judah also will fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold and silver and garments in great abundance.

Zechariah 14:15 LSB

And in the same way, the plague on the horse, the mule, the camel, the donkey, and all the cattle that will be in those camps will be like this plague.

Zechariah 14:16 LSB

Then it will be that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths.

Zechariah 14:17 LSB

And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, there will be no rain on them.

Zechariah 14:18 LSB

And if the family of Egypt does not go up or enter, then no rain will fall on them; it will be the plague with which Yahweh plagues the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths.

Zechariah 14:19 LSB

This will be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Booths.

Zechariah 14:20 LSB

In that day there will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, “Holy to Yahweh.” And the pots in the house of Yahweh will be like the bowls before the altar.

Zechariah 14:21 LSB

And every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to Yahweh of hosts; and all who sacrifice will come and take of them and boil in them. And there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of Yahweh of hosts in that day.

The Last Days

In Zechariah 14:9-21, we see a vivid depiction of the last days ahead. The prophet Zechariah paints a picture of a world in chaos, with the dead rising from their graves and the armies of the world gathered to do battle against the Lord.

But what is most striking about this passage is the way in which God intervenes. He comes down with power and might, smiting the enemy and defeating death itself. And in the end, the Lord is victorious and the world is restored to a state of peace and prosperity.

Focus on the Living

So what does this mean for us? It means that we must be prepared for the last days ahead. We must live our lives in a way that is pleasing to the Lord, so that when the end comes, we will be found worthy to stand with him in glory.

This means putting aside our fear and our fascination with the undead, and instead focusing on what is truly important. We must seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and trust in his power and grace to see us through.

Removal of Fear

But this message is not just for individuals. It's also a call to the church to remove the fear from people's hearts and to help them see the truth about the last days ahead.

We must help our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to see that they don't need to be frightened of the dead, but instead they should be prepared. We must show them the love and power of God, and help them to understand that in the end, our Lord will be victorious and death will be defeated.

Prepare to Stand Firm With God

So, as we close this sermon, let us take to heart the words of Zechariah 14:9-21. Let us put aside our fear and our fascination with the undead, and instead focus on what is truly important: living lives that are pleasing to the Lord, so that we may be found worthy to stand with him in glory.

And let us be a church that removes the fear from people's hearts and helps them to see the truth about the last days ahead. Let us be a people who are not frightened of the dead, but instead are prepared to stand with the Lord in the final battle.

So may God grant us the strength and the courage to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to him, and may he be with us always, until the end of the age. Amen.

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