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Articles 2014-2017
Recently, while preparing to get together with some brethren for a time of intercessory worship, I sensed the Lord lead me to read Zechariah Chapter 8. That evening we found His blessing as we sang and prayed around the theme of Israel, her present tribulation, and her coming salvation.
Consider the following thoughts to see if the Lord might reveal some spiritual ammunition for intercession. The great spiritual war for the soul of the world is intensifying. O Lord, help us to discover our God-given weaponry in conjunction with Holy Spirit targeting wisdom so that as we stand in Your presence, we might speak accurately Your words over the nations.
Again the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; with great fervor I am zealous for her.’
When the Lord says that He is zealous for something, it is important that we give heed, that we pay attention. Many years before He sent His Son, God made clear His intention to come and to make His presence known in the city of Jerusalem.
”Thus says the Lord: ‘I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, the Mountain of the Lord of hosts, the Holy Mountain.’
Jesus did come to Jerusalem two thousand years ago, but she did not become known as the city of truth. Rather, she was seen as the city who rejected her Lord and who was subsequently destroyed by the Roman Empire. But God’s promise still stands. Because of His great love for Israel (Romans 11:28), because of His abundant mercy toward her and even toward the whole earth, and not because of any inherent righteousness in the Jewish people themselves He will come by the power of His Spirit and establish Jerusalem in His truth.
”Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each one with his staff in his hand because of great age. The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.’
Both young and old will flourish. The elderly will not have their lives cut short due to judgment on the land, and the young will enjoy life securely. Israel will be able to both look backward and study her recent and distant history and also to look forward to a future ensured by the blessing of the Lord.
”Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, will it also be marvelous in My eyes?’ says the Lord of hosts.
When the Lord asked this question, Israel was small in population and weak militarily when compared to the Babylonian Empire. And He wanted them to ask themselves that if what He promised seemed difficult for them to believe, did they also think it was difficult from His perspective. In other words, did they think that He might be a bit concerned that He had promised more than He could deliver? Remember Paul’s words. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think… (Ephesians 3:20)
”Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Behold, I will save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west;
God’s people knew what it was to be saved from the land of the east. A remnant had returned from Babylon. But what was in the west? Today, if you go straight west from Israel, you run into Georgia and Florida in the United States. I have heard some believers ask if the USA is ever mentioned in scripture. Well, here is one example. We have seen in our own day many Jewish people moving from the United States to the land of Israel in fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy.
Of course, when the Lord mentions an event “involving the East to the West”, He is also probably referring to something worldwide. Again, from all over the earth, God is gathering the Jews to their land.
I will bring them back, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be My people and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.’
Not only will the Lord bring Jews to the land of Israel from all over the world, He will also draw them to turn with hearts of repentance to Him. And they will become a people of intimate faith in Him like their father Abraham. Already, the messianic believers in Israel stand as a foretaste of the coming salvation of the whole nation.
”Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Let your hands be strong, you who have been hearing in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, who spoke in the day the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord of hosts, that the temple might be built. For before these days there were no wages for man nor any hire for beast; there was no peace from the enemy for whoever went out or came in; for I set all men, everyone, against his neighbor.
The Lord wanted the people to remember how the prophets Haggai and Zechariah had encouraged those who began to rebuild the temple after returning from Babylon. In those days, wages were scarce and opposition against the faithful came from many outside the land as well as from many within the land. Yet God had been faithful and had brought them to this point in His purpose. He was still with them. “Keep turning to Me. And keep believing in My commitment to you and to My purpose among you.”
’But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the Lord of hosts. “For the seed shall be prosperous, the vine shall give its fruit, the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew–I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these.
Notice God’s words, “But now”. Something had changed with the foundation of the second temple. God was setting up His people in the land for momentous events. It would take many years to develop, but He would surely bring His purpose to pass. The Greeks, the Syrians and Egyptians (the kings of the north and the south – Daniel 11), and the Romans would indeed bring great pain. But the Jews would continue in their land with the Lord giving them success in their agricultural pursuits. What they planted would prosper; what grew up from the ground would increase. And the heavens would provide the necessary moisture for great harvest.
Similarly, in the days of Moses, God had promised His people a wonderful inheritance in the land of Canaan. Yet because of their sins, the generation that heard that promise instead experienced His judgments and died in the wilderness. So the next generation accompanied by Joshua and Caleb went in to possess the land. Likewise, in Zechariah’s day, God was pledging great fruitfulness to the people of the second temple. Indeed, the glory of this latter house would be greater than that of the former (Haggai 2:9).
While there was indeed agricultural blessing in the years following Zechariah, yet God’s promise seemed to entail more. He was after more than simply natural fruit among His people (Matthew 21:33 - 46). While the glory of the former house (Solomon’s temple) had been God revealed in a cloud, the greater glory of the second temple was Christ – God revealed in flesh. And with the greater manifestation of glory, there came a greater revelation of God’s salvation and also a greater manifestation of His judgment.
Though the Lord had promised great fruitfulness to His people, He had also alluded to their coming worldwide dispersion among the nations when He promised to bring them back from the land of the west (see verse 7 above). In other words, God was faithful; He would fulfill His words to His people. On the other hand, their sins would cause Him to reveal His faithfulness in ways that many failed to foresee. At first glance, a quick look at Zechariah Chapter 8 could lead one to conclude that there was only blessing in Israel’s future. But we all know in looking back from our day that there was yet great stress and tribulation that lay ahead of His people.
And it shall come to pass that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, let your hands be strong.’
Here the Lord is clearly speaking of the judgment of worldwide scattering because of His people’s sins. When Israel failed to recognize her day of visitation, Jerusalem became a city broken down and overrun by her enemies instead of a city of truth (Luke 19:41 - 44).
Shortly after Christ’s pronouncement of God’s impending judgments through the Roman armies (Luke 21:20 - 24), He came to Israel in saving power through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Acts Chapter 2. Thousands were indeed saved from the power of sin, and over the next 40 years (i.e., throughout the book of Acts) God kept reaching out to the nation in His mercy.
”For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Just as I determined to punish you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and I would not relent, so again in these days I am determined to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear.
The Lord’s commitment to do good to Israel was irrevocable. And it overshadowed the necessity of His coming judgments. Though His judgments did come to pass and Israel was scattered into the ends of the earth because of the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, yet the irrevocable calling of God (Romans 11:28 - 29) stands in our day as the undergirding guarantee of Israel’s capital one day becoming the city of truth. In fact, the Lord has promised that just as He would not relent in His promise to bring punishment, so He will not relent in His promise to do good for Israel’s sake. Here is good news for the whole earth. No matter what men and many invisible spiritual forces throw against this little nation in the Middle East, God is committed to her preservation and salvation.
The Lord had promised that the whole house of Israel would be re-gathered after being spiritually dead and scattered for a long time (Ezekiel 37:1 - 2).[28] Though gathered and integrated as a nation in their own land, yet they would still need to be visited by the breath of God so that they could then arise an exceedingly great army (Ezekiel 37:10). In the days to come, the spiritual forces of the Lord among the nations will receive a great infusion of strength when Israel turns again to the Lord her God and is filled with His Spirit, His breath.[29] Today it is as if there is a great hole, a great void in God’s army. We are not yet complete. The war is intensifying; the darkness is spreading across the earth. But great visitation from heaven lies in our future. Notice the apostle Peter’s words to Israel in the first century.
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you–even Jesus.
(Acts 3:19 - 20 NIV)
Seasons of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord in the days following Israel’s rebirth. Those final great times of visitation will then result in the return of Christ.
If all this seems a bit beyond our faith level, perhaps we need to ask ourselves the same question God asked the Jews in verse 6 above.
”Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, will it also be marvelous in My eyes?’ says the Lord of hosts.
Our hope is not in the next American president or any other earthly leader but in the Lord our God who has plans for the whole earth. Nothing is too difficult for Him. Though spiritual warfare is increasing, spiritual darkness is spreading, and the effectiveness of the Lord’s army to bring change in the earth seems insufficient, yet He who sits in the heavens laughs at the arrogance of the nations and their rebellion toward Him and His Messiah. And He has something to say to them in His wrath and deep displeasure. Yet I have set My king on My holy hill of Zion (Psalm 2:6). Our King reigns. We believe this with all of our hearts. But what should we do next?
These are the things you shall do: speak each man the truth to his neighbor; give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; and do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,’ says the Lord.”
Here the prophet’s message sounds just like Christ’s own words in the gospels (Matthew 5 - 7; Luke 6). Jesus taught His disciples how to live in a season of both imminent visitation and impending judgment. Here is God’s strategy for us in the years ahead. Let us receive His grace to be people of truth in the inner man. Let our judgments reveal truth, justice, and peace. Let us love those around us. And let us live lives appropriate to our promises.
Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘The fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.’
Days of fasting that had been set aside to commemorate significant events of judgment in His people’s history would now become days of feasting instead of mourning because of God’s merciful salvation.
”Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Peoples shall yet come, inhabitants of many cities; the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, “Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord, and seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also.” Yes, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord.’
To some degree, these verses are already being fulfilled. Today, many believers go to seek the Lord and to pray in His presence in Jerusalem. Conferences of believers from the nations are regularly convened for the purposes of worship, intercession, and biblical teaching.
But when Israel turns to God, such activity will fill the whole capital city not just a small portion of it. And it will involve the citizenry, not just a small number of visitors. As a nation, in those days Israel will be seeking and serving the Lord her God wholeheartedly.
”Thus says the Lord of hosts: “In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ‘ “
Finally, Israel will be recognized for her true identity. The Lord God of heaven will have revealed himself in her midst, and she will have responded in faith and repentance. And many unbelievers will see the amazing changes and want to know the God of Israel.
As a foretaste of those coming days, many Christians today have testimonies of how unbelievers came to them and asked how they could participate in God’s salvation. Scripture informs us to always be ready to give a response to everyone who asks about our reason for such hope in our lives (1Peter 3:15). In days to come, many will be asking the Jewish people these very questions. Momentous days are yet ahead. Indeed, God is faithful.
Donald Rumble – April 2016
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Subject: Truth be known
Time : 2016-04-22 21:56:48
Your teaching is full and so in depth yet somehow, there in the text I saw the joy of praying for the peace of Jerusalem. For it is God's will that she should have peace. It is not in begging the Lord for her peace, because quite frankly, she has little peace in the natural and in the spiritual. But God brings His peace in faith. When praying in agreement with Him, He joyfully disperses His peace. We need only to agree. This may be too simple for your ears, but for mine, I find great peace and joy and comfort in realizing my prayers are heard as I agree with His will be done! Blessings of insight-even though my insight doesn't compare, I felt to share what His Spirit blessed me with in hopes that it would encourage you. I think how you shared the deep love that God has for Israel opened my heart to see beyond what I know to be true and realize what I know to be truer than true-
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