Zacarias 12
Tony Garland · Citado em PreceptAustin
Zacarias 12
Garland has an excellent summary of the Campaign of Armageddon which is often incorrectly called "The Battle of Armageddon." Below is just the Dr Garland's introduction. The words “the Battle of Armageddon” are almost a household phrase. Like the “number of the Beast” and “666,” it is a phrase which is familiar to many people who have almost no knowledge of anything else recorded in Scripture.1 The reason these phrases are so widely known is because of the seemingly sensational aspects of what Scripture records concerning the Tribulation, and especially its conclusion, when the kings of the earth are gathered “to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon” (Rev. 16:16). The events are of such magnitude that they are difficult to conceive of, even in our day of powerful weaponry and great potential for devastation. They would seem to record the end of history as we know it.Along with a widespread familiarity with the phrase “the Battle of Armageddon” are some common misconceptions concerning what the phrase entails. The two most notable misconceptions are: (1) the phrase describes a battle; (2) the battle is fought exclusively at Armageddon. The student of Scripture will find that neither of these common beliefs are accurate: rather than being a single battle at a single location, a more lengthy military engagement is involved spanning a region nearly 200 miles long.So where did the idea of a “battle” come from? It originates from an unfortunate translation of a passage in the book of Revelation: “For they are spirits of demons performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” [emphasis added] (Rev. 16:14, NKJV cf. KJV). The term for battle in this verse is πόλεμον [polemon] , which more correctly denotes an extended engagement rather than a single battle.2 This is reflected in the more accurate rendering found in the NASB: “For they are spirits of demons performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty” [emphasis added] (Rev. 16:14, NASU).The “battle” of Armageddon is in fact a more lengthy “war.” In order to emphasize its broader scope, a number of commentators have taken to referring to it by the phrase we have used, the military “campaign of Armageddon.” Even in this phrase there is some imprecision because significant battles which comprise the campaign take place elsewhere then the site associated with Armageddon: While the term “Battle of Armageddon” has been commonly used, it is really a misnomer, for more than one battle will be taking place. For this reason, many prophetic teachers have stopped employing that term and are using the term “Campaign of Armageddon” . . . But this too, is a misnomer because there will be no fighting in Armageddon itself; all of the fighting will take place elsewhere. . . . It should be noted that the passage says nothing of a battle in this valley, for no fighting will take place here. The valley of Jezreel, guarded by the Mountain of Megiddo, will merely serve as the gathering ground for the armies of the Antichrist. (Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of Messiah,) For Tony Garland's full discussion of this topic click The Campaign of Armageddon. Zechariah 12:3 "It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it. It will come about in that day Zec 12:4,6,8,9,11 2:8,9 10:3-5 13:1 14:2,3,4,6,8,9,13 Isa 60:12 Isa 66:14-16 Eze 38:1-39:29 Joe 3:8-16 Ob 1:18 Mic 5:8,15 Mic 7:15-17 Hab 2:17 Zep 3:19 Hag 2:22 I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples: Da 2:34,35,44,45 Mt 21:44 Lu 20:18 though: Zec 14:2,3 Mic 4:11-13 Rev 16:14 17:12-14 19:19-21 20:8,9 NATIONS INJURED TRYING TO CARRY A HEAVY STONE Kaiser entitles this verse "His immovable city," adding that "But the city will not budge. Jerusalem will prove to be such a heavy stone that all nations that attempt to lift it will hurt themselves or, more literally, herniate themselves." (Ibid) (Bolding added) It will come about - Stop there! God said it and that settles it! What He says will come to pass, whether we believe it or not, or whether we fully understand it or not. That day - 17 times in 16 verse - Zec 12:3 Zec 12:4 Zec 12:6 Zec 12:8 Zec 12:9 Zec 12:11 Zec 13:1 Zec 13:2 Zec 13:4 Zec 14:4 Zec 14:6 Zec 14:8 Zec 14:9 Zec 14:13 Zec 14:20 Zec 14:21. This begs the question "What day?" In the context of Zechariah 12-14 this "day" is when the nations of the world come against Israel. In the Timeline below this event will occur in the last 3.5 years (in the box with red highlight) of the so-called Tribulation (see diagram). This day describing the final siege of Jerusalem is one of the days that will occur in the Day of the Lord which includes the events of the three and one-half year period of the Great Tribulation, (synonymous with the Time of Jacob's Distress described in Jer 30:7 and "a time of distress" described in Daniel 12:1-note). And so the Day of the Lord includes the final Gentile campaign of Armageddon which is abruptly terminated by the Second Coming of Messiah and is followed by the Millennial Reign of Messiah, which in turn is followed by the destruction of the created universe as we know it. Peter describes the annihilation of the universe writing that "the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up." (2 Peter 3:10-note) Clearly that day in Zechariah 12-14 refers to the Campaign of Armageddon which will take place at the end of the Great Tribulation. The prophet Joel describes this same great day “For behold, in those days and at that time, When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem (BEFORE HER RESTORATION THERE WILL BE A TIME OF REFINING), 2 I will (AGAIN NOTICE GOD IS IN CONTROL OF THIS GREAT DAY) gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there on behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; and they have divided up My land....Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down, O LORD, Your mighty ones. 12 Let the nations be aroused and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. (Joel 3:1-2, 11, 12) Messianic Jewish writer David Baron writes "The phrase that day which is mentioned no less than 14 times in these last three chapters, is indeed "the day of the Messiah," but it is the day not of His first advent in humiliation, but of His manifestation in glory. It is, therefore, pre-eminently called a day for Jehovah the day set apart and appointed by Him not only for the display of His majesty and vindication of the holiness and righteousness of His character and ways, but it is the day of the manifestation of His Divine might and glory in the destruction of Israel's enemies, and the salvation of His own people. (The Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah) James Montgomery
Zacarias 12
Garland comments on He may strike down the nations - He should strike is pataxē : “Strike down, slay.” “As inflicting a heavy or fatal blow.” Nations is ethnē which can also be translated Gentiles. With one exception (Rev 11:2-note), the context in the book of Revelation indicates that the Jewish nation is included in this term. Those among Israel who reject Jesus as Messiah will be included among the slain at His Second Coming (Ezekiel 20:34-38). If Jesus literally and physically slays His enemies at His Second Coming (Rev. 19:21-note), how is it that the sword is figurative—coming out of His mouth? It represents the sword of the Spirit, the word of God: that which God has set forth as His spoken will (Eph. 6:17-note). Those who are slain meet their doom because they are judged by God’s righteous word (Heb. 4:12-note). They have consistently violated its precepts and standards and their destruction has been prophesied. In many ways, the action of their slaying is the unavoidable result of what God has said. This is why Jesus slays His enemies with His lips: “He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked” (Isa. 11:4-note). His mouth is like a sharp sword (Isa. 49:2). Hence, when Antichrist is destroyed, he is consumed “with the breath of [the Lord’s] mouth” (2 Th. 2:8). The ultimate reason they are slain is found in God’s testimony—the law written in stone found in the ark of the covenant (Rev. 11:19-note; Rev 15:5-note). The written law is His word, thus the weapon is said to come forth from His mouth. See Revelation 1:16-note.They are actually slain twice by His word. First, the enemies of Christ are physically killed at His Second Coming (Rev. 19:21-note). This is the first death. Next, the enemies of Christ are judged by God’s word before the Great White Throne and cast into the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:12-note). This is the second death. But - What a glorious term of contrast! Consider the "5P's" - Pause to Ponder the Passage then Practice it in the Power of the Spirit. This contrast is between utter destruction on the one hand for the Christ-rejecting Gentile nations (and tragically 1/3 of the Christ-rejecting Jews - Zech 13:8-9-note) and deliverance on the other hand for the repentant 2/3's remnant of Israel. O happy day! I will watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness - Messiah's return is divisive, bringing about the ultimate division between human beings who have yielded to and confessed Him as Lord and Savior (Ro 10:9-10) and those human beings who have repeated rejected His gift of salvation by grace through faith. While He opens His eyes toward Judah (and in fact spiritual opens the eyes of the remnant), He blinds the horses of those reject Him. Clearly the striking of the horses blind would be a significant impediment to the peoples waging war. Charles Feinberg adds that "In the same hour that God blinds the eyes of Israel’s enemies [actually their horses], He will open His own upon the house of Judah in love and compassion to protect them.” (The Minor Prophets) Watch over is paqach which means that Messiah will open His eyes upon the Jews! This is a Hebrew idiom for care and attentiveness. Solomon asks God "that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place." (1 Ki 8:29; cf similar idea in 2 Chr 7:15; Neh. 1:6). God sees Jacob's time of distress in these last days and He will intervene with His perfect timing. It is interesting to note that paqach is translated in the Septuagint with the verb dianoigo which is used for opening the heart of Lydia in Acts 16:14-note A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened (dianoigo) her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. Comment: So in the same way that the Lord opened Lydia's heart (the "eyes of her heart"), so too Messiah whose eyes are open to Israel will one day open the eyes of the hearts of the Jews (cf Acts 26:18-note) so that they might have their spiritual blindness removed (see 2 Cor 3:14-16-note, cf 2 Cor 4:4-note) and be enabled to see that Jesus, the God-Man, is in truth their long awaited Messiah!