February 22, 2006

  Theses closing verses (14:12-21) must be understood in the light of vs.9,

“And the LORD shall be king over all the earth in that day…”—that is,

the universal and manifest power of Jesus Christ on a global scale as the only

Ruler and Potentate (I Tim.6:14-15).

  Verses 12-15 are chronologically after vs.1-3 as it describes the nature of divine wrath visited upon these virulent antisemitics who sought to destroy Jerusalem.  “this shall be the plague that shall strike..” –the Hebrew for ‘plague’ and ‘strike’ has the same root and is used to emphasize the force of this action of destruction.  Such judgment is the fulfillment of the curse of Gen.12:3 concerning divine cursing on those who curse the descendants of Abraham as well as Deut.30:7.  The language of vs.12 is frightening in its nature and devastation of the human body—“their flesh shall dissolve…eyes shall dissolve…tongues….”  The NIV has “rot” as the Hebrew word denotes “to fester”- Psa.38:5. See also Psalms 59, with particular interest in vs.12-13 and 109:17-20.  The LORD gives these wicked just what they speak of –“cursing”.

  Secondly, the LORD visits His judgment with “panic” =KJV & NIV; KJV has

“tumult”.  It is a circumstance of mental distraction or mania—causing infighting

by soldiers where they strike one another.  All order and authority is lost with subsequent acts of self-destruction by the army surrounding Jerusalem.

  Thirdly, in vs. 14, the soldiers of Israel will join the fray defending their city and assaulting the enemy and with great financial gain as the result- see II Kings 7:2-8- “the wealth of the surrounding nations shall be gathered together..”

  Vs.15 speaks of how the plague reaches even to the animals used by the invading army---reminds us of the totality of God’s judgment with Achan in

Josh.7:24-25.  Further, by destroying the animals, it eliminated a means of

escape.

  Now vs. 16 moves us to the period of the rule of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev.19:16 and 20:4)—“who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem”.  These words show us that the United Nations assault on Jerusalem in vs.2 was not without exceptions.  Clearly, in establishing His rule on earth, Christ now deals with the remaining peoples or tribes that physically survived the Great Tribulation.  But His rule is characterized by forcefulness—see  Psa.2:1-12 which describes in part the nature of His Absolute Dictatorship in righteousness—see also Rev.2:26-27 and 12:5.  This government (Isaiah 9:6-7)

is not a representative democracy or republican constitutional government of the people.  It is absolute rule of justice (Isa.32:1-13) of a visible King (Isa.33:17)

requiring honor, obedience and worship by everyone!  Failure to do so will bring prompt and effective judgment- see 14:17-19.

  To reflect such honor, nations will be required to respond to the annual Feast of Tabernacles of Israel- the feast of Ingathering (Ex.23:16 & 34:22) is the same as the F.of Tabernacles (Deut.16:13).  With seven feasts for Israel and six having fulfillment, the F.of Tabernacles is appropriate for the millennium.

          FEAST                                               FULFILLMENT

Passover- Lev.23:4-5                            death of Christ,the Redeemer- I Cor.5:7

Unleavened Bread- Lev.23:6-8                Holy Walk of believer- I Cor.5;8

First fruits- Lev.23:9-14                         Resurrection of Christ- I Cor.15:22-23

Pentecost- Lev.15-22                            Arrival of H.Spirit- Acts 2:1-4

Trumpets- Lev.23:23-25                   Regathering of Israel- Isa.27:12-13, Ezk.37

Atonement- Lev.23:26-32                  Atonement for Israel- Zech.12:10-13, 13:1

    The last Feast is of the Tabernacles—Lev.23:33-43 which is fulfilled in the

Millennial Rest of Israel-Amos 9:11-15, Zech.1:17, 3:10, 6:13, 8:3-13, 23.

  Alongside the peace, rest, prosperity and ascendancy of Israel will be the

Widespread godliness that will characterize Her peoples—vs.20-21 “Holiness to the LORD”  is found on bells of the horses [public righteousness]….pots in the LORD’s House [ceremonial and religious righteousness]…every pot in Jerusalem and Judah [private righteousness].

    “no more Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts”- the use of the negative for a positive; only godly believers will live in Israel and attend to the

worship.