Thread: Zechariah 13: 8-9 and the Tribulation of Matthew 24: 29
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Zechariah 13: 8-9 and the Tribulation of Matthew 24: 29
Posted : 2 Jan, 2013 02:06 PM
Zechariah 13: 8-9 and the Tribulation of Matthew 24: 29
"And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two
parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left
therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will
refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried:
they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is
my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God (Zechariah 13: 8-9)."
John Gill, the 18th century Reformed Baptist, says of Zechariah 13: 8
that "...for this prophecy seems to have respect, not to the
calamities of the Jews at the destruction of Jerusalem, after the
death of Christ, when a few were saved, a remnant according to the
election of grace, yet so as by fire, for whose sake the days of
tribulation were shortened; but to the external state of the church,
and the trouble of it throughout Christendom, about the time of the
destruction of antichrist: two parts therein shall be cut off [and]
die;
all hypocrites, formalists, and outward court worshippers; who seem
as if they would be at this time two thirds of the professors of true
religion; who will not be able to stand the hour of temptation that
will come upon all the earth, to try the inhabitants of it; which
will be the last struggle of the beast of Rome, (Revelation 3:10) but
will be twice dead, plucked up by the roots; will die to the
profession of religion, and be cut off from the people of God, and
have no more a name with them: but the third shall be left therein;
the few names in Sardis, which have not defiled their garments; the
hundred forty and four thousand that will stand with Christ, and by
him, on Mount Zion, being redeemed from among men, (Revelation 3:4)
(14:1,4) compare with this (Revelation 16:19) ."
John Gill believed that Zechariah 13: 8-9 applies to Christians
in the end times, and is not limited to Old Testament Israel.
However, he is a little ambiguous in saying this prophecy is about the trouble of the church "...throughout Christendom, about the time of the destruction of antichrist."
The Reformed leaders in the 18th century thought the two beasts of Revelation 13 were Roman
Catholicism and the Pope. This is not completely wrong, but it can now be seen that the first beast of Revelation 13: 1-10 is a
mix of the leopard, bear and lion kingdoms (Revelation 13: 2) in Daniel 7, and including one head of this first beast whose deadly wound was healed (Revelation 13: 3). The second beast is the false prophet, representing many false prophets (Matthew 24: 11, II Peter 2: 1, I John 4: 1).
The second beast in verse 12 is said to cause many to worship the first beast whose deadly wound was healed. The first beast appears to be a composite of the spirit of anti-Christ (verse 3) and a powerful government based in part on the four beast empires in Daniel 7. The second beast is the false prophet, who in the very end times takes over the churches.
Ezekiel 5: 1-5 and 5: 12 can be seen to reinforce Zechariah 13: 8-9.
In the parable of ol Ezekiel cutting off his hair and beard
there are also three main parts, representing the people of God.
Ezekiel 5: 5 says "This is Jerusalem," not meaning the prophecy is
limited only to Old Testament Israel, but to all of God's people.
Again, Jerusalem as God's people is burned with fire in verses 2 and
4 and in verse 12 one third will die by pestilence, a third by famine
and a third by the sword. But in verse 3 Ezekiel is to take a very
few in number and bind them in his skirts. These few in number are
not said to go through a fire.
Zechariah 13: 8-9 does not specifically say that the three parts of those who claim to be the people of God are divided evenly into thirds, that is, each of three parts is not necessarily 33 percent.
Interestingly, like God, man was made in the image of God, having three parts, body, mind and spirit. When Revelation 9: 14-15 says four angels who are bound in the river Euphrates are loosed they are to "slay the third part of men." Metaphorically this says the fallen angels are to destroy man's third part, which would be his spirit. Could the tribulational spiritual conflict be a wrestling (Ephesians 6: 11-17) between a small remnant which "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth," and that part of all who claim to be the people of God which at that time comes out of false doctrines, against those whose spirit has been so diminished that they are spiritually dead and are operating only in the flesh? Will the spiritual dead seek to have those they wrestle against harmed physically?
And - Zechariah 13: 8-9 does not tell us what the two parts that are cut off represent, or who they are. We might use Luke 10: 19 to tell us the identity of the two parts that are cut off, since these two parts metaphorically identified are found in scripture representing those who claim to be of God, but who are not. "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." Luke 10: 19
"Tread on" in Luke 10: 19 is important. "Tread" is Strong's number 3961, which
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance says means "to trample, literally or figuratively, tread down under foot."
I went to http://www.houlton.net/monk/ and typed in the Greek slot 3961 it says 3961, or pateo, means "to tread
a) to trample, crush with the feet
b) to advance by setting foot upon, tread upon: to encounter successfully the greatest perils from the machinations and persecutions with which Satan would fain thwart the preaching of the gospel..."
Christ is not talking here about literal serpents and scorpions. Serpents and scorpions are used as metaphors. Serpents and scorpions refer to people. And in Revelation 9: 1-3, the metaphorical bottomless pit is opened and the implication is that demon spirits are released. "And there came out of the earth locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power." The demon spirits inspire the people who are referred to metaphorically as locusts and scorpions. This inspiration by the demon spirits contributes to the spiritual darkness and insane behavior of the tribulation of Matthew 24: 29-30.
In Joel 1: 4-12 a metaphoric army of locusts and cankerworms are said to "lay my vine waste" and to have "barked my fig tree." The vine and the vineyard in the New Testament represent Christ and his people. In John 15: 1-5 Christ is the vine. In Luke 13: 6-9 Christ is seen as the dresser of the vineyard who begs the Father not to cut down the fig tree representing physical Israel, before Christ has an opportunity to give it new life. The vineyard and the fig tree represent physical Israel and in Luke 13: 6-9 there is a hint of that transformation of physical Israel that is forecast to happen in II Kings 21: 13, Isaiah 29: 16 and Jeremiah 18: 1-6
But who are the serpents and scorpions?
Christ in Matthew 23: 33 says to the Pharisees "Ye serpents, ye
generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"
The serpents refer to Pharisees, or Pharisee types of individuals, those who assume authority over Christians. Christ says in Matthew 16: 6 "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees."
Ezekiel 2: 6 has something to say on scorpions used metaphorically. Look at verses 3 to 7: "And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.
For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.
And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious."
Ezekiel is calling physical Israel scorpions. And he says "And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words..."
Did you ever hear a scorpion talk? Scorpions are being used
metaphorically here and not literally. Scorpions are God's people in rebellion against his absolute authority and they are rejecting some or many of his doctrines - and they can sting and cause hurt anyone who defends scriptures to them out of love for the scriptures.
Zechariah 13: 8-9 can be applied to the tribulation of Matthew 24: 29-30.
The fire of Zechariah 13: 9 can be the trials and tribulations experienced by those before they come to be in Christ, are born again in him (John 3: 1-7), and have a great love of his truth, and in can be the chastisement by the Lord of them both before they are in Christ and afterwards. Hebrews 12: 11 says chastening yields the "peaceable fruit of righteousness."
The fire of trails, tribulations and chastening refines those chosen by Christ as silver or gold is refined, and in Zechariah 13: 9 the Lord says that then "...they shall call upon my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God."
The trials, tribulations and chastisements during the Matthew 24:29-30 tribulation can be a greater fire which will refine some of those who claim to belong to Christ, but who are lukewarm (Revelation 3: 16) toward him and are in false doctrines. Then they will call on the Lord to forgive and accept them. He will then say "It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord in my God." A third part can come out of the fire of the tribulation to the Lord. This third part may not be 33 percent, leaving 66 percent to be cut and die as Zechariah 13: 8 says. The third part that comes through the fire to the Lord and his doctrines may be just that, a third part, and less than one third, leaving the two parts in false doctrines to be cut off.
Zechariah 13: 8-9 and the Tribulation of Matthew 24: 29
Posted : 2 Jan, 2013 06:46 PM
THE GREAT COMMISSION: Matthew 28:18-20: Jesus says, �All authority in heaven and on *EARTH has been given to Me {Not some RC Pope}. Therefore go and make disciples of *ALL NATIONS*...teaching them to **OBEY EVERYTHING** I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very *END OF THE AGE*!�
THE HARVEST IS THE END OF THE AGE!
Matthew 13:39-43: Jesus says, �The Harvest is the *END OF THE AGE and the harvesters are *ANGELS*. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the *END OF THE AGE*. The Son of Man will send out His *ANGELS*, and they will weed out of His kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. *THEN the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father!�
I Corinthians 15:22-24: �For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits, then when He comes, those who belong to Him. Then the **END** will come, when He hands over the Kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.� And so when Jesus comes again at the *END OF THE AGE* He will hand over the Kingdom to God the Father!
Mark 13:10 Jesus says, �The *AGE TO COME* is Eternal Life!�I Timothy 6:19: In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the *COMING AGE*, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life!�
THE DISCIPLES ASKED JESUS, �WHAT WILL BE THE SIGN OF YOUR COMING AND THE END OF THE AGE??�
Is it a pre-trib rapture or the persecution and testing of God's saints and a great falling away at the beginning of the Great Tribulation??
� Matthew 24:3,9-13:� The disciples asked Jesus, �What will be the sign of your Coming and the *END OF THE AGE*?? Jesus answered�.. {During the 1260-dayGreat Tribulation} �Then *YOU* will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and *YOU will be hated by all nations because of Me.� At that time many will turn away from the Faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of *MOST* will grow cold,{THE GREAT APOSTASY} but he {The Called, Chosen & Faithful-Rev 17:14b} who stands firm to the *END will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to *ALL NATIONS*, and then the *END will come!�
And then we find just before the beginning of the 1260-day Great tribulation that there will be saints saved by the blood of Jesus from *EVERY Tribe, Language and Nation:
Revelation 5:9: �You {Jesus} are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from *EVERY Tribe, Language, People and Nation!�
Just after the coming of the 4 Horsemen in Revelation 6:1-8 and just after the start of the 1260-day Great tribulation; we see this scene in Heaven:
Rev 6:9-11: When He {Jesus) opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain {MARTYRS} because of the Word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, �How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge the inhabitanrts of the earth and avenge our blood?� Then each of them was given a *WHITE ROBE*, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed {Martyrs just like Jesus} as they had been was completed!
Rev 8:9, 13,14: After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count from **EVERY** nation, tribe and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing WHITE ROBES......Then one of the {24- See Rev 4:4,10} elders asked me, �These in WHITE ROBES�who are they and where do they come from?�...And he said, �These are they who come out of the Great Tribulatoion {Tribulation MARTYRS}; they have washed their ROBES and made them WHITE in the blood of the Lamb. At present the God's Word has only been translated into about 2,000 of the 6,000 languages in the world and faith comes by hearing and reading the Word of God! And so this prophecy in Matthew 24:13 above which must take place *BEFORE* the Harvest and 2nd Coming of Jesus will only be fulfilled *DURING the Great Tribulation!
The Heavenly rewards for the faithful and courageous *MARTYRS* is one of the most important central themes in the book of Revelation. For they will reign with Jesus in Heaven and according to Revelation 7:14-17: They are before the Throne of God and God will spread His tent over them before the Second Coming of Jesus. They will receive WHITE ROBES washed in the blood of the Lamb. Never again will they hunger or thirst and God Himself will wipe every tear from their eyes. Jesus will be their Shepherd and will lead them to springs of Living Water. :angel::angel::angel::angel:
