Someone asked:
"so do you deny Zechariah 14:9-21 ? Do you even have an exposition of it ?"
Answer:
I don't know fully, that's why I ask questions.
But some things I do know:
1. Zechariah's prophecies were intended, at least partly, to inspire the Jews of the captivity with the courage to leave the only life they'd known, go back 'home' to the land of Israel, and rebuild a temple and get on with the Levitical style of worship which Moses had commanded them;
2. They responded, and built the temple, and finished it. It was a finished project
3. God had commanded them to build it - the prophecies weren't worded like building it would just be something they would do even though God wasn't asking them to.
4. All of the nations who had brought-about Israel's downfall, did end-up seeing their own demise.
5. It did come to pass, that people from all over the known world began making annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the feast of tabernacles. Examples are mentioned in the New Testament.
6. Despite all that fulfilment, there was still a sense in Israel that there was 'more'.
7. But there wasn't consensus in Israel about what the 'more' would look like. There were many different parties, each with their own version, each vying for the nation's support
8. Each of them were seeking and proposing answers to questions like:
What might the 'more' mean?
What might it look like?
When might it happen?
Who might He be?
What, if anything, should we do to help it happen?
Who in Israel might qualify to be part of it?
What about those who have already died: will they miss out?
9. It was into that world, that John the Baptist started announcing his answer to some of those questions
10. The gospel was announced as the answer to those questions. It was the gospel 'of the kingdom' - not a gospel about something 'other' than kingdom.
11. As part of the prophetic/kingdom scheme, Christ was sacrificed once for all, as prophesied.
12. The Levitical priesthood has therefore now been superseded forever
13. Old Testament imagery like temple, mountain, city and river were applied in a Christ-centred, gospel-shaped way in the New Testament literature, without mentioning a Levitical-style future at all
14. The future will involve the complete and final rollout of what's already been inaugurated by the gospel, by the cross and resurrection. It won't involve reverting back to the shadow.
15. Zechariah 14:9-21 wasn't a standalone prophecy. It was part of a wider prophecy which included verses which the New Testament claims have now been fulfilled (around Jesus, the cross, and the ministry of the gospel).
16. God hasn't withdrawn any promises to Israel - however, like the rest of humanity, modern Israelis are now on 'this' side of the cross - not still back on the other side of it.
So with all that in mind, I could probably attempt to "rightly divide" Zechariah. Divide it between past, present and future. Between imagery and meaning. Etc.
But still, I wouldn't say it's easy.
Still asking. Still learning.
Thank you.
"so do you deny Zechariah 14:9-21 ? Do you even have an exposition of it ?"
Answer:
I don't know fully, that's why I ask questions.
But some things I do know:
1. Zechariah's prophecies were intended, at least partly, to inspire the Jews of the captivity with the courage to leave the only life they'd known, go back 'home' to the land of Israel, and rebuild a temple and get on with the Levitical style of worship which Moses had commanded them;
2. They responded, and built the temple, and finished it. It was a finished project
3. God had commanded them to build it - the prophecies weren't worded like building it would just be something they would do even though God wasn't asking them to.
4. All of the nations who had brought-about Israel's downfall, did end-up seeing their own demise.
5. It did come to pass, that people from all over the known world began making annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the feast of tabernacles. Examples are mentioned in the New Testament.
6. Despite all that fulfilment, there was still a sense in Israel that there was 'more'.
7. But there wasn't consensus in Israel about what the 'more' would look like. There were many different parties, each with their own version, each vying for the nation's support
8. Each of them were seeking and proposing answers to questions like:
What might the 'more' mean?
What might it look like?
When might it happen?
Who might He be?
What, if anything, should we do to help it happen?
Who in Israel might qualify to be part of it?
What about those who have already died: will they miss out?
9. It was into that world, that John the Baptist started announcing his answer to some of those questions
10. The gospel was announced as the answer to those questions. It was the gospel 'of the kingdom' - not a gospel about something 'other' than kingdom.
11. As part of the prophetic/kingdom scheme, Christ was sacrificed once for all, as prophesied.
12. The Levitical priesthood has therefore now been superseded forever
13. Old Testament imagery like temple, mountain, city and river were applied in a Christ-centred, gospel-shaped way in the New Testament literature, without mentioning a Levitical-style future at all
14. The future will involve the complete and final rollout of what's already been inaugurated by the gospel, by the cross and resurrection. It won't involve reverting back to the shadow.
15. Zechariah 14:9-21 wasn't a standalone prophecy. It was part of a wider prophecy which included verses which the New Testament claims have now been fulfilled (around Jesus, the cross, and the ministry of the gospel).
16. God hasn't withdrawn any promises to Israel - however, like the rest of humanity, modern Israelis are now on 'this' side of the cross - not still back on the other side of it.
So with all that in mind, I could probably attempt to "rightly divide" Zechariah. Divide it between past, present and future. Between imagery and meaning. Etc.
But still, I wouldn't say it's easy.
Still asking. Still learning.
Thank you.
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