The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
Zechariah 12:1-4
Zechariah was a post-exhilic prophet who is mentioned, along with Haggai, as ministering to the Jews returning from the Babylonian Captivity in Ezra 5. Haggai's chief concern was the restoration of the temple (search for the posts "Drought" and "The Fruit of Confession") while Zechariah was directed by the Holy Spirit to focus on the establishment of a godly government which will have its fulfillment in the return of Jesus Christ. Zechariah's use of "in that day..." reminds us that he was looking well past his current situation to the Day of the LORD. It is that day that is upon us. It is a day when all of the world's nations rush headlong into an encounter with God over the city of Jerusalem.
How can people not see that these prophesies are in the process of conclusion? The message of the burden of Israel found in chapters 12-14 is clearly unfolding in our time, yet the majority can't see it. Jerusalem is the very burdensome stone and the very cup of trembling Zechariah said that it would be. The city of peace is anything but a peaceful place and the gaze of the whole world, as foreseen, is upon it. The answer is found in 2 Peter 3:4 with this question asked by the scoffers and doubters of the last days, "Where is the promise of his coming?" Even as the Word is coming to pass there would be a spiritual fog over the very people who are puppets in its accomplishment. These unbelievers have seen miracles like the reformation of the nation of Israel after 2000 years of destruction and many other clearly fulfilled prophesies; however, their foolish heart is darkened to the point they can't acknowledge the God of the miracles and prophesies.
It reminds me of Xerxes in the book of Esther when he asked, "Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?" (Esther 7:5b) How could he ask that question about Haman? He let Haman talk him into the edict that called for the annihilation of the Jews. That same sort of cloud of preoccupation and obsession seems to be over the vast majority of men and world leaders today. Was he so obsessed with himself and his power that he could not see that he was being taken advantage of by his Prime Minister? Could He not see he was a stooge in the plan of satan?
This same fog was over many at Jesus' first coming. Surely, they recognized that this miracle worker was different than the charlatans whom they had seen before? They even acknowledged that he had brought Lazarus from the dead after 4 days. Yet, they conspired to kill Lazarus too as recorded in John 12:10-11, "But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus." How could they not see that they were the assembly of the wicked prophesied of in Psalm 22 as killing the Messiah? Here was a man like no other, but their sin blinded them to the overwhelming truth of God with them.
That is where you and I come in. People who do not know Christ are dead in their sin. They need a resurrection. Dead people have no clue what is going on around them. Those dead to what the Holy Ghost is doing are rushing themselves towards the great tribulation before the coming of Jesus. They need praying saints to pray for their spiritual resurrection. Since we are in the season of Passover and Resurrection Sunday wouldn't today be a great day to begin praying for the spiritually dead to arise to life in Jesus Christ? May God bless and hear your prayers.
Some of the following news articles are strong reminders that the world is blindly rushing towards judgment. Please pray for those who are unwittingly bringing wrath upon themselves. They will literally bring hell on earth in the tribulation and spend eternity in the lake of fire without life in Jesus.
Israel and the Middle East--Zechariah's Prophesies Are Soon2Come
Report: Obama's Diplomatic Plan - PA State, No 'Return' - Defense/Middle East - Israel News - Israel National News Here is a blind President who cannot see that this plan will bring wrath down upon America. He is calling for surrender of a portion Jerusalem.
Jewish, Not Arab, Roots in Judea and Samaria - Politics & Gov't - Israel News - Israel National News
End Time Technology
Deutsche Bahn and NXP Continue Cooperation on "Touch&Travel" - Business - Press Releases - msnbc.com
Godlessness In The Last Days
A Tribute to Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Sometimes when you talk to people and tell them the truth, you come to the conclusion that....
ReplyDeleteMathew 13:15
This people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed.
There is such a religious overload today, that the Truth is like a beautiful jewel that's been buried under a mountain of religious trash,and if God doesn't open their eyes, they will never see it.
This narrative could have been titled "Situational Awareness." Those who have a godly continence and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ do indeed have ears to hear and eyes to see phrophetic events unfold before them on the world scene. Unfortunately, even Pastors with blogs can be so pre-occupied, that they too don't see or hear those who are trying to take advantage or manipulate them. As we wait expectantly and look excitedly towards the rapture of Christ's Church and His ultimate return, let's not be so forward looking that we fail to see what is happening just a few steps or keyboard strokes from us.
ReplyDeleteIn His Service,
Tom