OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES AWAITING FULFILMENT 5
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES AWAITING FULFILMENT 5
The Lord will make the chief men of Israel like a flaming torch of fire in the sheaves devouring all the nations surrounding them. He will give victory first to the rest of Israel before Jerusalem, so that the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will not be exalted above Israel. The feeble will be as powerful as David was, and the house of David will be like God - the Angel of the Lord, Christ, who will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem (CP Zech 12:6-9 also Eze 38:1-7, 14-23 with Rev 9:13-16; 14:20; 16:12-16). In that day Christ will baptise the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem with the Holy Spirit. The Jews will look upon Christ, whom they pierced. They will all be converted to Christ and the nation of Israel will be born in one day (CP Zech 12:10 - 13:1 also Isa 66:7-8 with Jn 19:34, 37 and Ro 11:25-29). The fountain referred to in Zech 13:1 is a symbolic reference to the means of cleansing and purification of the Jews through the atoning death of the One they pierced (CP 1Jn 1:7). In that day Christ will cut off the names of the idols from the land. They will never be remembered. He will also cleanse the nation from the deception of false prophets and their doctrines of demons. Anyone who falsely prophesies after this will be killed by their own parents so there will no longer be any false prophets in the land (CP Zech 13:2-6).
Next the prophecy predicts that two thirds of the nation of Israel will die in the Tribulation, leaving only one third to fight Antichrist, and make up the nation that will be born in a day at Christ's second advent (Zech 13:8-9 and 14:14 with Ro 11:25-29). Just prior to Christ's second advent at the end of the Tribulation, Israel will be invaded by the forces of Antichrist. Jerusalem will be captured, its houses ransacked, and the women raped. The spoils will be divided among the invaders while the city's inhabitants look on. Half the population will be taken as slaves while the other half remain in the city. Then shall Christ destroy Antichrist and the confederation of Gentile nations and their armies that support him (CP Zech 14:1-3, 12-15 with Mt 24:29-31; Lu 21:20-28; 2Th 1:7-9; Jude 1:14-15; Rev 19:11-21). On His way to the battle of Armageddon Christ will set down first on the Mount of Olives which will split in two, leaving a great valley into which the Jews who survive the Tribulation will flee for protection from Antichrist's armies and the outpouring of God's wrath at Armageddon. Christ will have all the redeemed of God and the angels with Him (CP Zech 14:4-5). It will neither be light nor dark that day but at evening time, after Christ has won the battle, it will be light. The battle will only last one day (CP Zech 14:6-7 with Isa 30:26).
Living waters will flow from Jerusalem, creating life all year round, wherever it flows. Christ will be the King over all the earth. There will be topographical changes in Israel. The land around Jerusalem will be turned into a plain, with Jerusalem elevated above the rest. Jerusalem will be safely inhabited, no longer under threat by anyone (CP Zech 14:8-11). The Gentile nations which fought Christ will now come and worship Him. Those who fail to do so will suffer severe drought and famine (CP Zech 14:16-19). The last two verses in this prophecy simply explain the absolute holiness of Christ's Millennial Kingdom (CP V 20-21).
In the next end time prophecy we have another instance of Christ's first and second advents being referred to in the same passage (CP Mal 3:1-5). V 1 has been fulfilled in Christ at His first advent. Christ was the Messenger of the Covenant for whom the Messenger of God - John the Baptist - prepared the way (CP Mal 3:1 also Isa 40:3-5 with Mt 3:1; 11:10; Mk 1:2-4; Lu 1:67, 76; 7:27). V 2-5 in Mal 3 await fulfilment in Christ at His second advent (CP V 2-5). Here Malachi predicts Christ's second advent in judgement. He will come as a refiner's fire to purify the priests, the sons of Levi, to refine them like gold and silver so that they can make offerings of holiness and righteousness that are pleasing to the Lord, as in the days of old. Christ will also punish all iniquitous behaviour by those who do not fear God (CP Mal 3:17 - 4:3). This is the last end time prophecy in the Old Testament awaiting fulfilment in Christ at His second advent. My jewels in 3:17 refers to the remnant of Israel. They will be cleansed of their sins, converted to Christ and made into God's jewels. They will return to their own land able to discern between the righteous and the wicked. The proud and those that do wickedly will burn like stubble in the flaming fire that will go out before Christ and the armies of Heaven at His second advent (CP Mal 4:1 with 2Th 1:7-10; Rev 19:11-15). In Mal 4:2 Christ is called The Sun of Righteousness who will bring healing to every person on earth in the Millennium and the New Earth (CP 4:2 also Isa 33:24; 35:5-6; Eze 47:12). Christ will enable the righteous to tread down the wicked at Armageddon. They will be like ashes under their feet (CP Mal 4:3 with Mic 7:10). This study is now complete. It is not exhaustive but will suffice for the purpose of this exercise.
For a more detailed teaching on Armageddon and the Millennium, see author's studies Daniel's Seventieth Week - The Last Seven Years of This Age in his book Advanced studies in the Christian faith (Volume1), and Armageddon, Judgement of the Nations,Christ's Millennial Reign and the Eternal Kingdom in his book Advanced studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).
These Studies by Br Val Boyle may be downloaded and freely distributed but not sold for profit.