Zechariah chapter number 14 verse number one the bible reads behold, the day of the Lord cometh and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished, and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives etc. we'll get into that.
In this passage we're changing gears in the book of Zechariah, now we're talking about that most important event known as the day of the Lord. This is something that the Bible talks about over and over again. Many references to this in the New Testament and Old Testament. When we study the New Testament, especially we are talking about the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. For example, if you would flip over to 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 we'll come right back to Zechariah 14. While you're turning to 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 I will remind you of Acts chapter 2 for example where the Bible says the Sun Shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. It shall come to pass that who so ever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved in Acts chapter 2.
One thing that comes up over and over again with the day of the Lord is the Sun and Moon being darkened. That's the one thing that comes up over and over again when you look at this weather you're in the Old Testament in passages like Isaiah 13 or Joel chapter 2 or whether you're in the New Testament Acts chapter 2 etc. The Sun and Moon being darkened is the key event of the day of the Lord. If you would look at 1st Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 1; But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
First of all, let me point out to you that the very beginning of this chapter it says But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. That right there should tell us that he just finished talking about something else that relates to this. The word but there is in contrast with something else. That's a conjunction. We all know what the end of 1st Thessalonians 4 is about. It's the famous passage about the Rapture the trumpets are going to sound Jesus Christ will come in the clouds. We will turn alive and remain will be caught up together with them so shall we ever be with the Lord. Look at the last words of the chapter.
Chapter 4 verse 18 where for comfort one another with these words. He's comforting them about the fact that the dead in Christ shall rise first then we will see our loved ones again at that event known as the Rapture. At the second coming of Christ. Then in verse 1 of chapter 5, it says but of the times and the seasons brethren you have no need that I write unto you. He said in chapter 4 verse 13, But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. He goes on into explaining the resurrection of the dead at the Rapture. He says But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
Therefore, if we were to read this as a logical person, we can obviously tell that the day of the Lord and Christ coming on the clouds at the Rapture is the same event. He tells us all about the rapture and then he says, but I don't need to tell you of the timing of the Rapture because you already know that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. If the day of the Lord was something different that wouldn't make any sense at all. I don't need to tell you about the timing of the rapture because you already know timing of the day of the Lord. By the way, those are two totally different things. That wouldn't make any sense would it? It's because they are one and the same. That's why when we look up the day of the Lord in scripture we constantly see references to the sun and moon being darkened and then when Jesus Christ describe the rapture in Matthew 24 when he talks about the trumpet sounding and Christ coming in the clouds to gather the elect what does it say is going to happen first?
The Sun will be darkened the moon will not give her light. Clearly the day of the Lord and the Rapture are both talking about the same day. Why is that? Well the day of the Lord is a day of punishment for the unsaved. This is the day of his great wrath. The Bible tells us in Luke 17 that the same day that light went out of Sodom and Gomorrah it rained fire from heaven and so shall it be also in the day of the coming of the Son of Man. When Jesus Christ comes in the clouds and the Rapture takes place the same day God going to rain fire and brimstone from the sky. I know that that's not what the Kirk Cameron movie told you but that's What the Bible teaches. That it's going to be a day of destruction. It's not even people disappearing but rather we're going to be caught up together in the clouds, and every eye shall see Christ in the clouds when he comes and so on and so forth.
We see here that the day of the Lord is a day where they say look at verse number 3 of chapter number 5 there; Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. The Bible is saying that we're going to be around when that day comes, but it's not going to catch us by surprise. It's not going to overtake us the thief. People will often quote this about how the rapture is coming as a thief in the night there's even a whole movie about it called a thief in the night. What they failed to mention is that if you're saved, it's not coming as a thief in the night because you can see it coming.
You see the signs leading up to it that Matthew 24 explain. Here he says sudden destruction cometh upon them not sudden destruction on us because of course we are going to be raptured at this time. This is after the tribulation but before God pours out his wrath. That's what the Bible teaches and I don't have time to preach the whole sermon about the rapture and the tribulation. I'm just trying to help us get our bearings of where we are in the book of Zechariah here when we talk about the day of the Lord. This is a heavy sermon tonight because this is a heavy chapter. We've got to go into all this information. It says in chapter 14 of Zechariah verse number one if you want to get back there.
Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished, and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. What I want to point out here is that the Bible is teaching us at Zechariah 14 that leading up to the day of the Lord that Jerusalem will be taken.
It says that all nations will be gathered against Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be taken, and it says the houses are going to be rifled, and the women ravished, and half of the cities shall go forth into captivity. Jerusalem is going to be conquered. Everybody see that in the passage here? It's going to be a terrible judgment upon Jerusalem. I mean when you see people being killed and half of the city is taken captive meaning that they are removed from the city there are imprisoned. They're put in a camp or whatever. It talks about how the women are going to be ravished. This is a horrible thing to happen to the city. Then it says in verse three Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
What some people will do to twist this passage because of their Zionist pro-Israel view which is not a scriptural view. The Bible teaches that we as Christians are God's chosen people, not the Christ-rejecting Jews. What they'll to do is they'll try to spin this to make their political case and say poor Jerusalem poor Israel is this victim that all the nations are going to come against it. We've got to stand with Israel. We've got to defend Israel. Then after this bad thing happens to Israel God is going to punish all those nations that had the audacity to go against Israel except they are forgetting one thing. Look at beginning of verse two.
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem. The part that's going over there head here is the fact that God is the one who's punishing Jerusalem. He's the one who is behind the attack. Let's stop and let that sink in for a minute. That's what the Bible says here, and they'll turn to this type of passages, but they'll fail to point out that it's God punishing the Jews. This is God's punishment on Christ-rejecting Israel. This may happen in our lifetime because the second coming of Christ may happen in our lifetime and this is something that occurs shortly before Christ comes in the clouds for the Rapture. Let's see this taught In the New Testament. Let's go to Luke chapter 21. We have to understand that we're studying Bible prophecy, especially about the end times especially about the second coming of Christ our primary source for material should be the New Testament.
The New Testament is more clear, and we should always interpret the Old Testament through that lens of the New Testament where we can see more clearly because Jesus explains things more clearly and the Book of Revelation explain things more clearly than they understood it back in the Old Testament. They were thousands of years back, and they saw through a glass darkly. Look at Luke 21. Let me just remind you that Luke 21 is a parallel passage with Matthew 24 and Mark 13. It goes through the same as in the same sequence, but it has different details that are not found in Matthew 24.
It's about the same period of the tribulation. Look what it says in verse 20 of chapter 21; And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out, and let not them that are in the countries enter there-into. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land. What's that in the land referring to? In the land of Israel. In the land and wrath upon this people. Talking about the people of Israel. Here's one thing that you know notice. When you're reading the all of that discourse as this passage is known. Matthew 24 Mark 13 Luke 21 he'll say over and over again you yee your second person plural ... pronoun.
He'll say for example then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you. Talking about Christians being persecuted he's talking to Christians. You shall be hated of all man for my name's sake, or he says a little later in this exact chapter when you see all these things begin to come to pass then look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh. Notice when he talks about Israel, he doesn't use that you you're what does he say? He says them it's going to be wrath in the land and upon this people. Them which are in Judea. Notice it's not the you anymore it's them. Yet people will say this is just ... this chapters only talking to the Jews. If it's talking to the Jews then how come when he talks about the people in Israel at that time it switches to a them?
It's going to be upon this people. They ... he doesn't say you he says, and they verse 24 shall fall by the edge of the sword and Shall be led away captive into all nations. That sound familiar from Zachariah 14? And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring. Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Then shall they see ... does it say you shall see? No, because every eye shall see him. That's why he uses they there because they are going to see him also. Then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Speaking to the believer the reader or the listener of this preaching.
What is the timeline in this passage? We see Jerusalem compassed about with armies. We see Jerusalem made desolate. We see the people carried captives into all nations then we see the signs in the Sun and Moon and stars. Then we lift up our heads and our redemption draweth nigh. Everybody got it? Which is known as the day of the Lord which is known as the rapture in our common vernacular? Let's get a little more info here. Let's go to Revelation chapter 11. In Revelation chapter number 11 it says in verse 1, And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
a thousand two hundred and threescore days forty-two months three and a half years. These are all the same measurement of time. The Bible talks about the city being trodden under foot of the Gentiles forty and two months. It uses the same language in Luke chapter 21 verse 24 when it says Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. If we study Revelation chapter 11 the two witnesses the whole thing. It's crystal clear that the two witnesses are prophesying in the second half the latter half and Daniel's 70th week. This event that happens at the midpoint of that 7 years is known as the abomination of desolation. Where it's going to be ... Jerusalem is going to be laid desolate at that time.
What are we saying here? At the midpoint of the seven year end-times period Known as Daniel's 70th week. At that midpoint is when Jerusalem is attacked and made desolate and trodden down of the Gentiles. After that takes place is when we have the Sun, and Moon darkened, and it's a few months later when we have the Sun, and Moon darkened and when Christ comes in the clouds at the rapture and so on and so forth. We want to make sure we get that timeline of events and of course, I've I created that Daniel's 70th-week chart to help, show this in a graphic form and all ... which is on our website. We have the revelation series DVD's back there because you can't fit it all into one sermon folks. It's a lot of information about the end times. That's why there's a 22 hour DVD back there about revelation.
Anyway, I'm just trying to get you to understand this is one part here that at the midpoint of Daniel 70th week is going to be this event. The abomination of desolation and this is the time when Jerusalem will be destroyed. It's known as the days of vengeance when all the things that had been written are fulfilled. Where Jerusalem basically get the punishment that they deserve. The existing city of Jerusalem right now is a very wicked place. It's not a Godly place. It's not a place of fearing the Lord and praying to the Lord no it's a place of rejecting Jesus Christ. It's a place that is populated by Jews who blaspheme and reject and hate the Lord Jesus Christ and also populated by Muslims which deny he's the son of God and also teach blasphemous doctrine by their false prophet Mohammed.
It's not a place of Bible-believing Christianity. It's also a place of great sinfulness. Israel is one of the most sinful countries in the world as far as just sodomy and filth and all of the just promiscuity and wickedness that goes on. God is going to punish that city of Jerusalem at the midpoint of Daniel's 70th week that is their time of vengeance. That is when they will be punished, and that is going to happen before the rapture. That's going to happen before the day of the Lord comes. let's go back to Zechariah 14 with that basic timeline in mind. Understanding the timeline of events here. Let's read this and actually get what a teaching here. In verse 2 of chapter 14, it says for I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle.
Why would God gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle if supposedly according to the Zionist today Israel is still to this day the apple of his eye and those are his chosen people, and he's going to defend them and supposedly they have all these stories about all these miracles where all the Arabs came and attacked, and it was just a miracle that we just defeated them all with God's help. Why would God help you? You hate Jesus. You reject the Lord. You have a false religion. They think God is on our side God's with us. Even today the American people think that we have to support Israel to have God with us. You need to support Jesus if you want God with you. God is not with Israel. God is against Israel and in fact, God is just treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath.
He's going to bring punishment ... a special punishment upon Jerusalem. That even happens before he comes and pours out his wrath upon the whole earth. He brings a special punishment upon Jerusalem, not a supernatural punishment but rather he gathers all nations against Jerusalem, and he brings them into the attack which he did throughout Israel's history anyway many times. He brings them into attack he says I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle verse two there ... and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Does it say half are going to go into captivity and the other half are going to get saved? No it says that half the people are taken captive, and the other half stay there. Let's keep reading. it says Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. Some people would look at this and say well that doesn't make sense. Why would he bring the nations against Israel and then turn around and punish the nations for what they just did. Here's why because this is what God has done throughout history. in the Bible, there are many examples of this where for example God brought the Babylonians to punish the children of Judah and then as soon as he was done punishing them then he turned around and punished the Babylonians.
Why? because he's punishing the whole earth. He starts out by punishing Jerusalem and then he turns around and punishes all the other nations that attacked Jerusalem. He pours out his wrath upon the whole world. It actually makes perfect sense that he then in verse three goes forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. Why? Because those are not righteous nation's either. They are also and unGodly nations. How does he go forth and fight against those nations. Well, he pours out his wrath in the form of the trumpet and vial judgments of Revelations. If you think about a trumpet is often signifies going to battle.
It's like God declaring war upon this wicked nation when he sounds those seven trumpets and pours out his wrath. That's what we see happening in verse 3 then in versus 4 it says and his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
Here he talks about Christ returning the Mount of Olives which makes perfect sense because if you remember when Jesus Christ ascended up to heaven he has ascended on the Mount of Olives. All the disciples were looking up, and they see him go up into a cloud, and they say you men of Galilee why are you still gazing up into heaven. This same Jesus, which was just taking up from you into heaven, shall so come in like a manner like you see him going into heaven. He comes in the exact same way in the sense that he even come geographically at that point of the Mount of Olives. That's where he comes down, and it says here that the mountain is going to leave. There's going to be a great earthquake, and the mountain is going to split. It talks about people fleeing to the mountains and so forth.
Of course, the yee here is a different yee because the fact that we're not reading Luke chapter 21. We're reading the book of Zechariah, which was written to the children of Judah in the Old Testament. It says at the end of verse 5 here, and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. There are many proofs of the fact that Jesus Christ is God in the book of Zechariah. A lot of proof of Christ Deity. For example, it talked about the Lord all capital LORD. The Lord being sold for 30 pieces of silver for example. It talks about here the Lord coming back. The Lord is going to come and who is it that will come? It's Jesus that comes in the clouds. It's Jesus that went up at the Mount of Olives but notice it says here that it's the Lord that she'll go forth in verse 3.
His feet are going to stand on the Mount of Olives. How could you read this passage and come to any other conclusion but that Jesus and Jehovah are one in the same. It's saying here Jehovah that capital LORD and it's all stuff that Jesus is going to do. According to the New Testament. This is great proof that Jesus Christ is God that he is the Lord and that he was a Deity. It says here the Lord shall come and all the saints with thee. There are many passages that talk about this in the New Testament for example in 1st Thessalonians 313 at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Also, in the Book of Jude, it says behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints to execute judgment upon and to convince all that are unGodly among all that have unGodly deeds and of all their heart speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against them.
It talks about Christ coming in the clouds with ten thousands of saints to bring judgment upon the earth. Some people have said it this way ... well you know at the rupture he comes for his own and at the revelation 19 what they call the second coming when which falls because the Second Coming is the Rapture because the Bible calls the Rapture in 1st Thessalonians 4 the coming of the Lord. Unless that's coming 1.5, that is the second coming. If you can just count. He came in Bethlehem that's one. 1st Thessalonians 4 the coming of the Lord that would be the second coming. Revelation 19 is not the second coming revelation 19 is Armageddon, which takes place a few years after the second coming of Christ at the rapture. They'll say well, he comes with its own at the rapture, and he comes I'm sorry ... he comes for his own at the rapture and with his own at Armageddon who's ever heard that before?
Here is the thing about that it's false because he comes with his own at the Rapture. The Bible says in 1st Thessalonians 4 the key rapture passage they which are asleep in Jesus shall God bring with him. When Jesus Christ comes in the cloud, he will bring with him those who are asleep in Jesus. You say wait a minute I thought the dead in Christ shall rise first it's both. Why? because the souls are in heaven and the bodies are asleep in the dust of the earth. That's why in the same passage 1st Thessalonians 4 it says they which are asleep in Jesus shall God bring with him but then it also says the dead in Christ shall rise first why? because it's only the bodies that are rising.
The souls a being brought with him. That's what takes place at the rapture. It talks about the fact that the Lord my God shall come and all the saints with thee. Let just review the first five verses here. What's the order of events here? We have all nations being gathered against Jerusalem. Jerusalem is destroyed the women are ravished the people are taken captive it's judgment of wrath upon the land. Then the Lord is going to go forth to fight against those nations he comes he sets his feet on the Mount of Olives it splits in half. It says the Lord my God shall come and all the saints with thee. let's look at verse 6. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. After God punishes and pours out his wrath on this earth then at that time, there's going to be the millennial reign of Christ where Jesus Christ rules and reigns on this earth. The reason everything seems to be happening in rapid succession in this passage is that this passage is giving 0 detail. It's just jumping from one event to another; Jerusalem is destroyed God goes forth to fight against the nation's comes in the clouds. Now we are at the millennium, and it’s because he's not giving any detail. Don't make this your main passage. let revelation be your main passege were lots of detail is given.
Matthew 24 lots more detail long passages that teach this and flush this out. If we look at what's being stated in this passage, it's all in the same order that Jesus taught in the revelation time. He's just not give any details. It's happening in rapid succession where it goes destruction of Jerusalem Christ comes in the clouds the wrath is poured out and then we have the millennial reign of Christ. Let's talk about this millennial reign of Jesus Christ. It says in verse number 9, and the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. We need to be careful that we don't get too carried away with all the in that days where it says in that day this in that day that.
We don't want you to think that this all happens ... everything is happening in one day because we know that this is not all happening in one day because in revelation it's clear about periods of time for example between Jerusalem being laid desolate and Christ ruling and reigning. We know that the Bible says it will be trodden into foot 42 months. We don't see that in this passage. This passage does not give that timeline because it's giving very little detail. When he says in that day these aren't, all the same, that day's. First of all the number one in that day often just means in that period of time like for example if I said in my day we didn't have urinals in the women's restroom like they have at ASU now. Back in my day.
I'm not referring to a single day am I? I'm just saying back in that time. Also, the in that day is often referring to what he just talked about. What he just referred to. He would refer to some stuff and then say in that day. It's not, all the same, day just so you know. We use that term in that day that chapter 12 chapter 13 chapter 14. This is all way too much to happen in one day. It's referring to at that time. It's a figure of speech. The Bible says in verse 9, and the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day meaning in that time period when Jesus is king over all the earth which is going to be more that one day long it's going to be a thousand years long. It says that in that day there shall be one Lord, and his name one.
Let's talk about this period of the millennium. If we back up a little bit into verse number 8 it says And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. Let's get some more details on this from Ezekiel chapter 47. Flip over to Ezekiel chapter 47. The Bible's talking about Jesus Christ ruling and reigning be king over the whole earth and it says that at that time there's going to be this living waters going forth from Jerusalem. Flowing from Jerusalem. Go to Ezekiel chapter 47. This passage has always stood out to me my entire life because I'm from Sacramento California.
In Sacramento, there's a great river going through Sacramento. That's why the city is built there, and there's this water district building that's right next to the river, and I've seen the building my entire life. It has a Bible verse on the side of ... or part of the Bible verse on the side of the building. It says everything shall live whither the river cometh. It's a great river there that Sacramento is based on. Everything shall live whither the river cometh and then it has the reference it says Ezekiel 47 verse number 9. Let's go ahead and read that passage. let's start in verse number 6.
And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that everything that liveth, which moveth, whither soever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed, and every thing shall live ... here's the quote from the building in Sacramento. everything shall live whither the river cometh.
Jump down if you would to reverse number 12 and by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. Basically in this scripture we see that there's this great river that's flowing out of the temple. Look at verse number 1 of chapter of 47. Afterward, he brought me again unto the door of the house ... and the house is this great temple that he has been describing for several chapters. Afterward, he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
This is similar to a scripture in revelation 22 where it talks about the river of life and the trees growing by the side of the river, and they bring forth their fruits every month, and the leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations. That is talking about during the new heaven and the New Earth where there's going to be a river of life. In the new heaven and the new earth, there is no temple because God and the lamb are the temple of it. They're ... basically, the Bible says in revelation 22 that that river of life is actually going to flow out from God's throne because he is the temple in the in the new heaven and the new earth. There's not a physical temple.
During the millennium, there is a building of a temple. During the millennium, there's going to be a similar phenomenon where there's going to be this river of life that flows out of the temple that brings healing everywhere it goes. These streams work. Think about how when God pours out his wrath on this earth. The Earth is going to be destroyed and polluted and messed up from all of the fire and brimstone and water into blood and remember how a third of the fish in the sea are all dying, and all these animals are dead plants are dead. God is going to bring miraculous healing during the millennium through this river that's going to flow out from Jerusalem flow out from the temple of God and bring life into the oceans and bring life back into this earth. This river of life.
There's a symbol of this in John chapter 7. Look over John chapter 7 in the New Testament. John chapter number 7. Look what the Bible says in verse 37 of John chapter 7 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said ... watch this out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Think about what the Bible says about us. We're the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in us. We're not our own we've been bought with a price. We are the temple of the Holy Ghost the Bible says. Just as in the Millennium, the temple is going to have this life-giving river flowing out of it and just as in the new heaven and the New Earth the throne of God will have that life-giving river flowing out of it the water of life.
The Bible says that we as Christians spiritually not literally have this river of life flowing out of it. Did you ever sing that song in Sunday school I've got a river of life flow out of me? Put up your hand if you've ever sung that song. Yeah, hands all over the building. I've got a river of life flowing out of me ... that song is based on this. The Bible says that who so ever believeth on Christ ... and I just love whenever the Bible says who so ever believeth because that's what salvation is. It says out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water then explains it in the next verse. It says this spkie of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost the Bible says is that river of life that's coming out of us. What does that mean? We basically have the power we have the ability to bring life to that which is dead spiritually speaking. The one who is not saying they're dead in their trespasses in sins they can be quickened through the power of the Holy Ghost through that river of life spiritually that comes out of us. When we preach to them, the gospel and the Word of God is on our lips, and we preach to them the planned salvation we can bring to life the dead. We can raise the dead literally not physically but spiritually literally raising the dead and bringing life to that which is dead.
That's the symbol here of this river. It's also, of course, a literal River when we’re talking about the Millennium. When we’re talking about when Christ is reigning over the whole earth. That's what the Bible is referring to. Let's go back to Zechariah 14. It says in Zechariah 14 that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem and the Lord's going to be king over all the earth. After he destroys and punishes then he comes and sets up his kingdom and that living water brings life and healing to the land itself. The Bible says in verse number 10 all the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.
These are places geographically that meant more to them back then than they mean to us today. We don't know these places right now. And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor.
And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague. That's referring of course to Armageddon right at the beginning of this millennial period right before Jesus Christ is ruling over a totally peaceful earth. There is that final struggle at Armageddon the revelation 19 event that was referred to earlier. Am I on verse 16? And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
What the Bible is teaching here is that during the millennium the feast of Tabernacles is a holiday that will be celebrated during the millennial period and that all the nations will come up and worship the King worship Jesus Christ at the feast of Tabernacles once a year. If they don't, they'll be punished and plagued. He says it won't be ... he'll cause it not to rain will in those places as a punishment or if it's a place where it never rains anyway like Egypt where they are not expecting a lot of rain then he will send a different plague the Bible says. That's what is referred ... you say what in the word the Feast of Tabernacles. Why the Feast of Tabernacles? If you think about the feast and holidays in the Old Testament the Feast of Tabernacles is not really that big one that you think of is it what would be the big ones that you think of? The big holidays? What?
Church: The Passover.
Pastor: The Passover. That's a big one that you think of? Day of Atonement probably right Yom Kippur. Yeah, you think Okay. the Day of Atonement is a big one, and the Passover is a big one. The feast of Tabernacles is one that a lot of times in the children of Israel history they didn't even celebrate. Kings had to bring this back centuries later and say well we haven't done this in centuries. The Bible says we're supposed to be doing it so then they would start doing it. It's one of the more obscure of the Old Testament holidays and feast days that you wouldn't think that much about. It's odd isn't it? that he's not talking about hey! they all have to come and celebrate the Passover. Hey! everybody needs to come and do the Day of Atonement. No, it's only one thing that's mentioned. Just the Feast of Tabernacles. Isn't that odd?
Let me explain to you why. Because the bible talks about the feast of the Lord and they were divided if we study Leviticus 23. They were divided basically into the spring feast and the fall feast. The spring feast consists of of course the Passover the Feast of Unleavened Bread the Feast of the first fruits Pentecost that is your spring line up a feast. Well, here's the thing Christ fulfilled those at his first coming. He was the Passover lamb he was the bread of life he was the first fruits of the resurrection and of course the day of Pentecost was the fulfillment of that feast of weeks known as Pentecost. That was a shadow of things to come of that day of Pentecost. When Jesus Christ spoke in parables about his second coming, he said the harvest represents the end of the world. If we think about the fall feast or the harvest feast he talked about them being fulfilled basically at the end of the world.
His first coming he fulfilled the spring feast. At his second coming, he fulfilled the fall feasts. Well, if you look at the fall feast you have the Feast of Trumpets which is the first day of the 7th month, and then you have the Day of Atonement, which is also that is the sounding of a trumpet in the year of the Jubilee every 50 years. That's on the 10th of every 7 months then 5 days later you have of course the Feast of Tabernacles later in the month of the seventh month. I just wanted to stay in July, but it's not July of course. It's in the fall. It’s a few months later that that Seventh month you have the Tabernacles. Think about it. At the second coming of Christ and I have taught this in the revelation series and in many other sermons. That sounding of the trumpets at the exact midpoint of the year is symbolic of when the anti-Christ basically declares war at the saint at the exact midpoint of Daniels 70th week.
The 7th day ... the 10th day of the 7 month we have the Day of Atonement and the sounding of the Jubilee trumpet proclaiming Liberty. That a picture of the Rapture when the trumpet sounds and the glorious liberty of the children of God as Romans 8 describes that Resurrection Day at the Rapture. In the end times, we can clearly see a fulfillment of the feast of Trumpets and of the trumpet of the Jubilee on the Day of Atonement at Christ's second coming. What about that other feast? What about the Feast of Tabernacles? That's the one that's left isn't it? That's the one where you're okay well what does that represent? Well, I think that is clear from this passage that the Feast of Tabernacles represents the millennium.
That's why during the Millennium that final feast will be celebrated. That'll be the final phase of the second coming of Christ where they celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles because of the fact it makes perfect sense because it's Jesus Christ dwelling among us. For example, in the new heaven and the new earth, the phrase is given the tabernacle of God is with men and he shall dwell among us. That Feast of Tabernacles symbolizes Jesus Christ coming in this earth at the end of the world and dwelling among us and being on this earth physically once again as he was at his first coming. That is what the feast of Tabernacles presents. There is going to be a celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles once a year during the millennial reign of Christ during those a thousand years.
Let's keep reading here it says in verse number 20 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness Unto The Lord; and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts. There are some false doctrines that people take from this verse 21. I need to just stop for a moment and explain verse 21 here so that we don't get carried away with Falls doctrines. keep in mind we're reading the Old Testament okay. The New Testament is much clearer, and we need to let the New Testament explain the Old Testament to us and not just get carried away with our own interpretations of the Old Testament and just ignore everything the New Testament teaches.
Here's the thing. Right away when we look at this passage, the thing that should jump out at us in that last verse 21 is where it says there shall be no more of the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts. Does that sound like the teaching of the New Testament? That a certain nationality would be excluded from God's house? Is that what the New Testament teaches? No. In fact, there are plenty of scriptures that clearly teach that God's house in the New Testament is a house of prayer for all nations. That would include the Canaanite. of course, there aren't any Canaanites left are there? Who here tonight is a Canaanite? There's no such thing as a Canaanite anymore. That's a nationality that nobody identifies with any longer.
Some people will twist these passages and say “whoever is a Canaanite are a bunch of brown people or ... you're not going to be in the house of God. Whoever that is" some people would say " the Canaanite is the Palestinians are is black people or its Arabs or whatever." Hold on a second is the what new Testament teaches. Are there not scriptures that teach that in Christ there is no Jew or Gentile there's no Scythian there's no barbarian. There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek. It's a house of prayer for all nations. He's made all kinds of the earth with one blood. This isn't about excluding a physical nationality get real people.
What does the New Testament teach? It teaches that sometimes people are spiritually given a certain nationality. Go to Ezekiel chapter 16. Even in the Old Testament God would do this. In the Old Testament God would do things like this. Look what it says in Ezekiel chapter 16 verse number one Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, cause Jerusalem, to know her abominations. Who is he talking to? Jerusalem. Cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, and say, thus saith the Lord God unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and your mama was a Hittite. No, I'm just kidding. He said thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother, an Hittite.
What is he saying here? He is saying look you that live in Jerusalem the Jews. He's saying I look at you, and I say your father is a Hittite, and your mother is an Amorite. He's not talking about their physical nationality is he? He's saying look even the Jews when they're being wicked are spiritually a Canaanite at that time. He's saying look If you're wicked I'm going to call you an Amorite and i a Hittite. It's like where he says of Jerusalem in Revelation chapter 11 that the city is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified. In Isaiah chapter 1 verse 10 he says to the elders of Jerusalem, he said you elders of Sodom. why? Because he says look in Romans too, he's not a Jew, which is one outwardly. Neither is that a circumcision which is outward in the flesh but he's a Jew, which is one inwardly.
Circumcision is that one of the hearts and one of the spirit not in the letter was member praise is not a member of God. When he says here in this prophetic passage Zachariah 14 verse, there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord in all of us. He's not saying we're going to exclude a particular nationality. He's not saying no Arabs no blacks no whatever. You know what he's saying no one who is spiritually a Canaanite. He can't be referring to a literal Canaanite there aren't any. There's not a person on this planet who would say I'm a Canaanite. It's not even a thing anymore. Are their spiritual Canaanite?
Well, what were the Canaanites like? you know the Canaanites were worshiping false gods. The Canaanite were completely perverted, and it lists all their perversions and Leviticus chapter 18 and Leviticus 20 it says is all these things that these Canaanites did before you. All these things that the people of the land do. All these horrible abominations. When he says there's going to be no more of the Canaanites, it's not about race. It's about a type of person that's a spiritual Canaanite. Jesus says we who believe in Christ are spiritual Israel. Spiritually Jews on the inside we are the circumcision which worships God in spirit and rejoices in Christ Jesus and has no confidence in the flesh. I just want to point that out right away. Those of us who believe what the New Testament teaches about Israel about the fact that election is by grace not election by race.
Those of us who believe that that all of us are equal red and yellow black and white and that Jew is not somehow better than a Gentile. Those of us who believe that teaching ... this is what they'll say you're a replacement theology guy Yeah right exactly now you're getting it. I'm glad you're starting to understand the Bible. You're starting to understand what the Bible teaches. The kingdom of God shall be taken from you Israel ... physical Israel according to the flesh and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Sounds like you've been replaced. Physical Israel has been replaced by a spiritual nation made up of all believers. That's replacement. They've been replaced, and they'll say oh well you know those who believe in replacement theology they tend to spiritualize things.
Yeah, we do. You tend to canalize things. I'd rather be a little too spirituals than too carnal in the way I read my Bible. They tend to spiritualize things. Yeah, I'm going to spiritualize the Canaanite because I don't think that the whole course of human history and the tribulation and the rapture and God pouring out his wrath and the whole millennial period Is just so we can get those darn Canaanites out of the temple. Dang Canaanites get them out. No, because guess what that doesn't make any sense unless you take a spiritual view. I take the Bible literally when its literal but sometimes the Bible is not literal. The bible Is usually literal but there are times when it's clearly symbolic. For example, when Jesus said who so ever drinks this water shall thirst again but who so ever drinks the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.
Is he saying that you're never going to be thirsty for physical water? no, spiritualize that okay. You got to use your brain a little bit here. I believe that a good rule of thumb when you're studying the Bible is that It should be literal unless it's clearly not literal because we should assume things are literal unless it's just obvious that is not literally. Unless common sense would just clearly show us, okay if a woman standing on the Sun with the moon under her feet that's not literal. woman clothed in the Sun Moon under her feet yeah that's not literal. That doesn't ... you probably didn't need me to tell you that did you? The first time you read that you probably instantly knew that that was symbolic okay.
It's the same thing here clearly what we're talking about. You say no your wrong it's a literal Canaanites okay let's just throw out the whole New Testament then that just keeps telling us over and over again how God's not a respecter of persons, and now there's no difference between a Jew and the Greek. look if God is down on Canaanites why is one of his disciples called Simon the Canaanite. Okay, I guess Simon isn’t even going to be allowed in this thing. One of the 12 disciples is going to get stopped at the door. Excuse me ...no because in Christ none of that matters. It's a spiritual Canaan that were talking about a spiritual Canaanite. Another false doctrine that people will take from this passage is they'll say that in the in the millennial reign of Christ that the animal sacrifices will be re-instituted. This is their only passage because it's clear everywhere else that the sacrifices are over.
They'll come to Zechariah 14, and this is there a big passage to show that basically burnt animal offerings are coming back in the Millennium. That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. You know who wants you to believe that can I tell you want to believe that? Satan and the Antichrist because when he comes and impersonates the Millennium. When he claims to be the second coming of Jesus Christ, guess what's going to be back? animal sacrifices okay. The Jews they want animal sacrifices to come back because they were jack the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Of course, they want to bring back sacrifices. These false teachers will use this passage to try to twist and say burnt offerings are coming back in the millennium. Let me just spiritualize this for you. These aren't burnt animal sacrifices that he's talking about.
Let's go to the New Testament and see if God ever uses the term sacrifice in a spiritual way. Go to Hebrews chapter 10 first of all and let me show you that the animal sacrifices are over. There is a lot of Scripture in Hebrews about this but again stop and think when the Anti-Christ comes we know that initially the temple is going to be rebuilt, and there is going to be a daily sacrifice of animals. Morning and evening sacrifice which is what the Jews today want. They want to rebuild their temple and have their animal sacrifices in their Christ-rejecting religion. According to the Bible, there are all kinds of sacrifices that need to be done. Individuals bring sacrifices all the time for all manner of different sin offerings and trespass offering but according to Judaism they only want to bring back just the morning and evening sacrifice and that it.
Just the morning and evening sacrifice and guess what that is what is going to be in the Anti-Christ temple before the abomination of desolation. That's what it says the morning the daily offering the morning evening sacrifice is what's we're going to see at the abomination. I talked to these Rabbis when we were filming machine to Zion. They said by the time Jesus Christ came on this earth the Jews had already stopped doing the animal sacrifices accept all they did was the morning and evening sacrifice. That's all they did anymore they weren't doing all these other little offerings. They're already preparing people for the thing of the morning and evening is already enough. anybody understand what I'm saying?
Well, that's a lie because remember when Jesus was born Mary brought down the two turtle doves for her purification. That wasn't just the morning and evening no they're bring it as an[inaudible 00:57:24] What about when Jesus heals a leper? Go offer the sacrifice. There's no evidence that's a lie from this ... that lie about the fact that Jesus is not the Messiah also. Look at Hebrews chapter 10 and this is what the Jews are missing of course. It says in verse 10 by the which will we are sanctified ... this is chapter 10 verse 10. Through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all and every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices which can ever take away sins. He's talking about the Jews who are still offering sacrifices back then they can never take away sins. This man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever sat down on the right hand of God. Does that sound like we have to bring back those animal sacrifices? No way.
It's once for all it's done Jesus did it its over they keep offering it somebody needs to send them the memo that Jesus has already paid it once for all. They didn't get that memo. You guys didn't get the memo okay well, let me send my army in 70AD and destroy your temple and destroy your city and burn it down then maybe you'll get the memo. They did get the memo because they haven't done animal sacrifices since. They are not doing them now. He finally got through to them in a language that they understood. They don't like to admit that that's why they quit doing it. That Jesus was the Lamb that was slain once for all. Flip over to chapter 13. We see the animal sacrifices are done. We saw that in chapter 10 there's other scripts we could turn to, but we're almost out of time.
Look what the Bible says in chapter 13 verse 15 by him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. What's the sacrifices continually? Sacrifice of the sacrifice of praise sacrifice of giving right sacrifice of good works. Go to 1st Peter chapter 2 and while you're turning there I'll quote for you ... now somebody help me find this verse because I printed my notes ... I have no notes for this sermon because I printed my notes and I left them at home. Alright, I confess. I messed up, and I had a real important verse in my notes everything else was in my mind except this one reference where they're talking about offering up spiritual sacrifices.
It's got to be in 1st Peter chapter 2. Somebody find it for me help me out here. I know it's somewhere in 1st Peter chapter 2. It's a great verse. While you're finding it let me quote to you another verse. The apostle Paul ... what is it? Verse 5 alright great thanks. That didn't take long who needs notes. Just involve the crowd a little bit. In Philippians chapter 4 he says I am full .... Paul's said I'm I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Giving to the need of the saints doing good work praising God these are all known in the New Testament as spiritual sacrifices. We don't need an animal sacrifice any longer. Look at 1st Peter 2 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Look we're talking spiritual sacrifice here. This isn't us spiritualizing it this is God spiritualizing it and saying well in the New Testament we don't offer physical sacrifices because Jesus was the sacrifice once for all. In the New Testament what kind of sacrifices do we offer? Spiritual sacrifice.
That's not just is spiritualizing things and making things up. That's what the Bible says its spiritual sacrifices. If we're looking at the old testament passage here where he talks about the fact that all day they that sacrifice unto the Lord shall take and see there ... it's not saying they're going to do a burnt offering and sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat because Jesus already put his blood on the mercy seat and that's only blood on the mercy we need. It's once for all that's a done deal. It's just a giving of offerings it's a giving of food. It's a coming together and feasting and rejoice and they're bringing food but its not a burnt sacrifice unto the Lord.
That's why he doesn't get specific about any kind of a burnt sacrifice. In the Old Testament when they did the Feast of Tabernacles there were burnt offerings involved. Obviously, in the Millennium, we're going to be celebrating the feast of Tabernacles in a new way. In the New Testament way with spiritual sacrifices and we're going to be worshiping Jesus and it's going to be the one holiday that basically is required to be observed in the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ when he is ruling and reigning on this earth. That concludes the book of Zechariah it's a fascinating book. Very deep a lot of strong need of the word. It's one that you have to study hard and cross reference a lot of Scripture. I hope that you feel as I do, and I don't know about you, but you know Zechariah has always been one of the harder books in my opinion. I think probably everybody would agree with that statement. It's a deep book.
I don't know about you thought but after the last 14 week studying Zachariah. I feels like its been laid bare. I feel like now this book is not hard to understand at all. I feel it's been just demystified. I hope you feel the same way as I feel. That just shows how when we come that God house with the Holy Spirit as our guide and we open the Bible and when we use the New Testament to guide us this book makes a lot of sense. It doesn't contradict anything that's being taught in the New Testament. Praise God the Word of God is consistent but there have been plenty people who'll try to twist this book for their own political Zionist type of agenda be not deceived. Let's prioritize with a word of prayer. Father, we thank you so much for the chapter Lord, and we pray that you would just bless us as we go about the rest of our week Lord and that we would be profitable servants on to You Lord bring it back safely on Sunday and in Jesus name we pray Amen.
