ZECHARIAH 14:9-21

{Zechariah 14}

One of the things that keeps us emotionally invested in a good story is the hope that at the end of the story the good guys will win. Throughout the story it might look a little hairy and sometimes impossible, but we’re all pulling for the heroes to triumph and evil to be vanquished. We wanted Luke Skywalker to bring about the downfall of the Empire. We wanted Frodo to destroy the Ring and defeat Sauron. We wanted the Avengers to undo what Thanos had done.

But it’s not just when we are wrapped up in our favorite stories that we hold out hope that the good guys will win. We want that in real life. However, unlike our movies and novels where we’re not exactly sure how things will turn out, we know without a shadow of a doubt how things will turn out for us and this world. I can tell you with full authority that the only Good Guy who ever existed will win. And all those are connected to Him by faith will enjoy the fruits of His victory.

As we wrap up our study of Zechariah, we find that no matter how uncertain the world looks right now, we can find hope in the promise of Christ’s imminent and eternal reign, and it encourages us to live right now in light of His coming Kingdom.

God used Zechariah to give an oracle to the Jews returned from exile, encouraging them to live obediently for the Lord, because no matter how things may look on the outside, God and His people will win in the end. As we look at the rest of this chapter bit by bit, we first see:

1) God’s eternal rule and restoration

Zechariah 14:9–11 LSB

9 And Yahweh will be king over all the earth; in that day Yahweh will be the only one, and His name one. 10 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. 11 And people will inhabit it, and there will no longer be anything devoted to destruction, for Jerusalem will be inhabited in security.

In the previous passage, Jerusalem and Judah were under siege. Then Yahweh descended upon the earth, landed on the Mount of Olives, splitting it to make a way of escape for those who were stuck in Jerusalem, and then He defeated His foes. The theme is continued here. Jesus, who is Yahweh in the flesh, will reclaim the world that seemed lost from the Fall.

V. 9 makes the great proclamation that Jesus will reign over all the earth. While, technically, He already does—seated at the right hand of the Father, sovereign over all that happens in the universe—but at His return He sets up His rule over every square inch of the earth. And doing so, he fulfills many prophecies of His global dominion:

Daniel 7:14 LSB

14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory, and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every tongue Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not be taken away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.

Psalm 72:8 LSB

8 May he also have dominion from sea to sea And from the River to the ends of the earth.

What this will mean for the day of Christ’s return is that there will no longer be a part of the universe that is in rebellion against Him. As it says elsewhere in Scripture, everything will be brought under His feet, and His eternal reign will be fixed. Now, the passages of the prophecies kind of go back and forth about fights and battles, but this is a summary statement for what it all leads to.

Then in vv. 10-11 it talks more about what is happening to prepare for Christ to be held up as the ultimate King. It speaks about topographical changes. We know that there will be a new heavens and new earth, so things will definitely change. Here it speaks about how the place where Christ will set His throne will be central and exalted above all else.

If what it says is literal, the cities mentioned represent the northern and southern part of Judah. However, it might be more in line with the general idea of renewal which leads to the centrality of Christ’s reign over all that exists.

But we do know this, that v. 11 gives the promise that God’s people will be safe and secure. There is the idea that Jerusalem will no longer be susceptible to enemy attack as it had been throughout its history. And for us it is a reminder that the persecutions and hardships that believers go through for their faith will no longer be an issue. We may experience those things now, but we won’t then. So, it is an encouragement to persevere in the midst of whatever we experience in the present because our future in Christ is secure. Then in the next part of the passage we see:

2) God’s just judgment of the enemy

Zechariah 14:12–15 LSB

12 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. 13 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. 14 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. 15 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.

Those who fought God by fighting His people will receive their due. V. 12 is kind of graphic—almost like a horror movie. It describes a plague upon the people—almost zombie-like. Most likely it is not literal, but describes a complete deterioration of a person mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and bodily. The description ensures that no matter what happens, it is not a natural judgment that befalls them, but rather it is divine and it is total. It is described in v. 15 that even their animals would be plagued. There is no escape from the hand of God.

V. 13 then describes confusion in the enemy camp where such fear and anxiety and angst fall upon them, they don’t know whether they’re coming or going, and they don’t even know who is standing right next to them. It says that they will actually turn against each other and fight one another rather than God’s people. This reminds us of the story of Gideon, when he and his people surrounded the Midianite camp. The Midianites were thrown into chaos, and fought one another, leaving a decisive victory in the hand of the Israelite army. But, here again, it shows a divine hand upon them. This is not bad luck. This not from human hands. God purposely judges those opposed to Him.

But v. 14 says that God’s people will have a hand in defeating the enemy. With Jesus leading the way, the holy army will fight and what belongs to the enemy will then become theirs. In a sense it is a reversal of fortune—symbolic of a restoration of what was previously lost or threatened. And then we are given another picture of:

3) The universal worship of the King

Zechariah 14:16–19 LSB

16 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. 17 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. 18 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. 19 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.

The enemy will be defeated, and Lord Jesus will receive the worship of those who then occupy the earth. From all over the world people will flock to worship Jesus—He deserves and receives the devotion and commitment of all.

The reference to the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles is a reminder of what has been gained in Jesus Christ. The original Feast of Booths was celebrated to remind Israel that during their wilderness wanderings God was present with them and led them—a cloud by day and fire by night. So, it was a commemoration of God’s presence.

What we celebrate in Jesus Christ is that while we were pilgrims on this earth, Christ was with us the entire time. But then, at His return, we get to celebrate the fact that He is literally, physically present with us for all of eternity. And the picture given to us here is that there will be representatives from all tribes, tongues, and nations surrounding the throne of Jesus praising His name. What this prophesied for the Jews of Zechariah’s time is that Gentile’s from all over the globe would join in the chorus of the redeemed. And in the eternal state we see:

4) The pervasive holiness of the eternal state

Zechariah 14:20–21 LSB

20 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. 21 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.

When the garments for the Israelite high priest were made (back in Exodus), it included a sacred inscription on the golden plate of his turban that said HOLY TO YAHWEH. It signified his dedication and his role in bearing the iniquity of the holy things. But here it says that such an inscription will be placed on things like bells on horses reins, pots and pans, and other things.

What this signifies is that there will no longer be a distinction between what is holy and unholy, sacred or common, because everything will be holy—separated and consecrated to the Lord. Everything that exists and everything that is done will be for the sake of the Lord. There will be a complete sanctification of everything.

In our present day and age, we have a tendency to split things between religious and secular. For those in a non-ministerial jobs, you might think of your job as secular. But then you come to church and you serve the Lord through the church, you might think of that as religious or holy. And the two never seem to meet.

But in the eternal state, there won’t be such distinctions because all you have and are and do will be unto the Lord. So, in the eternal state, if you have a hammer because you are building something, the hammer, the nails, the wood, and your labor are all holy because you are doing it for the Lord as directed by the Lord. I don’t know if there’ll be electronics in the eternal state, but if there are, your computer and phone and tablet will be holy unto the Lord. Nothing will be common or mundane.

It’s just hard to fathom right now because we are disjointed people in a disjointed world. We don’t think along those categories. But it says in v. 21 that anything that is unholy or impure will be completely removed forever. It says there will no longer be Canaanites in the house of Yahweh in that day. Canaanites were symbolic of sin and evil—things that will be excluded forever.

So, Christ’s return will usher in His universal and eternal reign, the judgment of God’s enemies, the wonderful worship from people all over the world, and a completely holy and righteous existence.

As far as the specifics of this passage, it is viewed from three different angles. The Premillennial Dispensational view takes everything very literally, emphasizing a distinction between Israel and the Church. They see chapter 14 of Zechariah as the Battle of Armageddon and the ushering in of the Millennium. Like all the views, it has its issues.

For example, it talks about people coming to sacrifice in Jerusalem in v. 21. However, the sacrificial system is long gone and will remain so because Jesus is the final and ultimate sacrifice for sins. Also, the idea that people would still refuse to worship Jesus even after what He did doesn’t make sense in a literal way. Also, the celebration of the Feast of Booths also doesn’t make sense literally because Jesus is the fulfillment to which all the festivals and feasts pointed. It makes more sense as a picture of celebrating Jesus’ presence with His people.

Amillennialists interpret these passages more non-literally and symbolically, seeing its fulfillment not in a future earthly reign of Christ for a thousand years, but rather in the present spiritual reign of Christ through His church, culminating in the new heavens and new earth. This view understands the prophecies concerning Israel and Jerusalem as being fulfilled in the eschatological reality of the eternal state. Of course, this view has its problems too in dealing with some very specific details that are listed.

The Postmillennial view interprets this passage as a prophecy describing the gradual, yet ultimately victorious, expansion of God's kingdom on earth through the preaching of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit, leading to a period of widespread righteousness and peace before Christ's return. This view sees the "millennium" as a spiritual reign, not a literal thousand-year period, where the influence of Christianity transforms society and culture. But the problem is that there is no biblical evidence that the world would be so changed before Christ’s return.

There are some lessons that we can garner from this passage. First, acknowledge and live under Christ’s supreme authority now, knowing it will be fulfilled in the future. Christ reigns in every area of our life in the present, and we live as such because He will reign over everything in the end.

Second, find your security in Christ now, and know that the future safety He guarantees is an anchor to give us courage to endure. Third, understand God’s hatred and justice against sin, so live holy now, knowing that holiness will be our eternal state in the future.

My prayer is that God’s messages through Zechariah are an encouragement for today, knowing the wonderful promises He gives us in the future. And we want to pray that others will find that same hope that it offers us...