OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES AWAITING FULFILMENT 4
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES AWAITING FULFILMENT 4
At His second advent Christ will also fulfil Micah's Messianic prophecy that the Messiah will deliver Israel from Antichrist, and restore her as a nation to fellowship with God (CP Mic 5:4-15). Christ will be the Peace - the preserver of Israel - when Antichrist, the Assyrian, makes war with her, invades Palestine, and attacks Jerusalem, which precipitates Christ's second coming. Israel will raise up seven shepherds and eight principal men against him (CP V 4-5). It is not known who these men are, but they will be under Christ at His second coming, who will destroy Antichrist and his armies at Armageddon, and lay waste to Assyria (CP V 6 also Isa 14:3-6; 30:30; 63:1-5; Eze 38:17-23; 39:1-7; Joel 2:1-11, 20; 3:1-16, 19; Zeph 2:13-15; Zech 14:1-3 with Mt 24:29-31; 2Th 1:7-9; Jude 1:14-15; Rev 19:11-21). The remnant of Israel will be feared among the Gentiles when they know that Antichrist and his armies have been destroyed at Armageddon, and that Christ is restoring Israel as a nation to fellowship with God. Christ will cut off all the enemies of Israel in those days, as well as destroy all witchcrafts. There will be no more casting spells or fortune-telling. All items of pagan worship will be destroyed (CP Mic 5:7-15 also 4:6-8; Isa 11:11-16; Zech 2:6).
Another end time prophecy awaiting fulfilment at Christ's second advent is Zeph 1:7-18 (CP Zech 1:7-18). The day of the Lord's sacrifice in V 7-8 refers to the destruction of the multitudes of antichrist's armies in the battle at Armageddon and others as well (CP V 7-8 also Isa 34:6; Jer 46:10 with Rev 19:11-21). The guests that Christ bid that day were the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field that will eat the dead bodies of those slain at Armageddon (CP Eze 39:17-20 with Mt 24:27-28; Lu 17:34-37; Rev 19:17-18). Princes, king's children, robbers, merchants and all other classes will also be destroyed in that day. It will be a day of desolation and destruction of houses and vineyards and cities (CP Zeph 1:8-18 also Joel 2:1-2a with 2Th 1:7-9; Rev 19:11-21). It is interesting to note here that the fish gate referred to in Zeph 1:10 is in the north wall of Jerusalem from which direction it is prophesied the future Antichrist will come (CP V 10 with Eze 38:14-16). Christ will also fulfil Zephaniah's next end time prophecy at His second advent (CP Zeph 3:8-20).
In this prophecy by Zephaniah, in V 8 Christ exhorts the faithful remnant of Israel to be patient, for the time is coming when He will gather all the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles to pour out His fiercest anger and wrath upon them. The whole world will be affected by His jealous anger. This complete prophecy will be fulfilled in the battle of Armageddon and the events preceding and succeeding it, at Christ's second advent (CP V 8 also Isa 34:1-8; Joel 2:18; 3:2; Zech 1:14-15; 8:2; 14:1-3 with Rev 14:14-20; 19:11-15, 21). After the judgment in the Millennium the Lord will purify the lips of all nations. They will undergo an inward spiritual cleansing and speak from a pure heart (CP Zeph 3:9 also Isa 6:5 with Mt 12:34-35; Lu 6:45). All nations will worship God and serve Him with one accord (CP Zech 8:20-23; 14:16, 21). Under Christ's instructions the Gentiles will help the dispersed Jews return to Israel as an offering to the Lord (CP Zeph 3:10-13 also Isa 11:10-12, 15-16; 27:12-13; 49:6, 22-24; 60:8-12: 66:16-21). The afflicted and poor people in the midst of the remnant of Israel in Zeph 3:12 will not be physically sick and poverty stricken, but humble and lowly. They will have been forgiven their iniquities (CP V 12 also Isa 33:24; 35:5-6 with Rev 21:3-7). The remnant of Israel will have much to sing, shout and rejoice about in the Millennium at Christ's second advent. Not only will all their enemies have been destroyed, but their Messiah - King, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself will be right in their midst. There will be no need of weakness or fear, because Almighty God will make their name to be praised by every nation in the world where they were put to shame (CP Zeph 3:13-20 also Isa 4:2-4; 9:6-7; Zech 2:10; 14:8-11, 20-21 with Lu 1:32-33).
The next end time prophecy awaiting fulfilment in Christ at His second advent is by Zechariah (CP Zech 2:1-13). The man with a measuring line to measure the width and the length of Jerusalem, symbolises the restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem in the Millennium under the Messiah after its near destruction by Antichrist and his armies, which precipitates Christ's second coming. The statement by the angel in V 4 that "Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein," means that it will be rebuilt without walls in order to accommodate the vast number of inhabitants. It will be Divinely protected though - Christ will be a wall of fire all around her, and He will be her glory (CP V 1-5 with Isa 4:2-6; 40:5; 49:17-21; 60:17-18). Christ will be in the very midst of Israel ruling personally and visibly in the earth in those days - the Millennium (CP Isa 9:6-7; 52:7-10; Eze 43:7; Zech 14:8-11 with Rev 11:15; 20:6). The Jews who are still in exile in the Millennium will be summoned to return to Israel (CP Zech 2:6-13). Many Gentile nations will join themselves to the Lord in the Millennium (CP Zech 8:20-23 also Isa 2:2-4; 56:6-8; 60:1-3). But Israel will still be God's choice of a people for Himself. They will still be His portion in the Holy Land (CP Zech 2:12 also De 32:9 with Ro 11:25-27).
Christ will fulfil Zechariah's next prophecy at His second advent as the Man whose name is "The Branch", who will build God's temple in the Millennium (CP Zech 6:12-13). And He shall grow up out of His place in V 12 has been technically fulfilled at Christ's birth and His first advent, but His second advent is also in view here when He will build God's temple. Christ is referred to as The Branch many times in scripture (CP Zech 3:8-10; Isa 4:2; 11:1-6; Jer 23:5-6; 33:14-16). Zechariah's next end time prophecy will be fulfilled at Christ's second advent when He returns to Zion to dwell in Jerusalem as King of Israel (CP Zech 8:3-8 also 14:9-11 with Lu 1:32:33). When Christ returns to dwell in Jerusalem it will be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of Hosts the Holy Mountain (CP Zech 8:3). It will be a city of truth for it is ruled over by the One who is characterised by truth (CP Jn 14:6). And Zion will be a Holy Mountain because the King who lives there is Holy (CP Isa 6:3 with Rev 3:7).
The next prophecy by Zechariah in this study is Messianic. It predicts both the first and second advents of Messiah in the same passage (CP Zech 9:9-17). V 9 predicts Messiah's first advent, which is quoted in Mt 21 and Jn 12 as having been fulfilled in Christ (CP Mt 21:1-5; Jn 12:14-15). In Zech 9:10 the battle of Armageddon is predicted, which will be fought at Christ's second advent, after which all weapons of war will be abolished (CP V 10 with Isa 2:4; 9:5-7; 11:1-10). Christ will have dominion over the earth and speak peace to all nations (CP Zech 14:1-3, 9-11, 16 with Lu 1:32-33). The remnant of Israel will be saved and there will be abundant prosperity among God's people (CP Zech 9:11-17 with 14:14). The next, and last end time prophecy by Zechariah awaiting fulfilment in Christ at His second advent occupies all of Ch 12, 13 and 14 (CP 12:1 - 14:21). The term, in that day, used regularly throughout this prophecy refers to Christ's second advent and the battle of Armageddon. Christ's supernatural defence of Jerusalem in that day will be so terrible that all nations aligned with Antichrist fighting against Israel and seeking to destroy Jerusalem will tremble and shake with fear of the Lord who will be visible over Israel at His second coming (CP Zech 12:2 also 9:14; 14:1-7, 12-15; Joel 2:11 with Mt 24:29-31; 2Ti 1:7-9; Rev 7:1; 19:11-21). All that seek to destroy Israel and Jerusalem will be cut off (CP Zech 12:3; 14:1-5). In that day Christ will strike every horse with terror and blindness, and their riders with madness in the armies of Antichrist (CP Zech 12:4 also 10:5). In that day the Jews will acknowledge the Lord as their strength (CP 12:5).