THE LAST ORACLE of the Book of Zechariah consists of chapters 12,13, and 14. These chapters deal with events of the Tribulation Period and emphasize the pouring out of the wrath of God upon the Gentile world powers and the conversion of Israel at the end of the Tribulation. Finally, the Millennial Age is introduced at the conclusion of the oracle. In the present installment I shall deal with chapter 12:1-9. In the next article 12:10-13:7 will come up for consideration. The concluding installment of this series will consist of an exposition of the final portion 13:8-14:21.

The prophet Zechariah began the prediction by the use of the word translated burden. This is an oracle fraught with momentous news regarding judgment. Of course, Israel, being in the center of God's plan, occupies a central position in this message. The Lord speaks of Himself in verse 1 as the Creator of the universe and the one who made man. The biblical writers nowhere ever recognize the philosophical deductions of pantheism in any form whatever. They represent the Supreme Being as existing from all eternity and of His creating this earth at a given, specific time. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Moses, the prophets, and the psalmists likewise frequently emphasized the fact that Jehovah is the one who created the entire universe. Thus in a pictorial manner Zechariah declared, "Thus saith Jehovah, who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him ..." We may not understand, and can never so long as we are in the flesh comprehend the act of creation; but we believe it because the Scriptures affirm this as a fact. It is most reasonable.

God forms the spirit of man within him. In Genesis 2 we are told that God made man's body of the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of lives and he became a living soul. Man is thus represented throughout the Scriptures as consisting of spirit and body. We are utterly dependent upon God every moment of our existence, for it is in Him that we live, move, and have our continual being. To Him we owe everything.

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling unto all the peoples round about, and upon Judah also shall it be in the siege against Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples; all that burden themselves with it shall be sore wounded; and all the nations of the earth shall be gathered together against it."

Zechariah, speaking in a figure, compared Jerusalem to a cup of strong drink, which God will hand to the peoples round about Israel and from which they will drink and reel in a drunken stupor. Jerusalem, with her people, belongs especially to the Lord. He has chosen that city as a place of His dwelling (Ps. 132). He has likewise created Israel for His glory. He has threatened a curse upon those who curse this people. Thus whenever the people of any nation attacks Palestine, Jerusalem, or the Jews, they stir the ire of God against themselves. When the nations, in fulfillment of this prediction, come against Jerusalem, the people of Judah likewise shall be involved in the fray.

Continuing the prediction of judgment upon the Gentile nations for attacking the Jews, the prophet declared that the Lord would make Jerusalem and its people a burdensome stone for all the peoples. The picture presented in this verse is that of a person who is picking up a rough heavy stone which cuts and bruises his hands whenever he attempts to lift it. Thus those nations, dabbling in Jewish politics, are doomed to suffer punishment at the hands of the Lord for touching His chosen people. From the last clause of verse 3, we learn that the prophet foresaw an international movement against Israel, for their armies will be gathered together against the holy city.

In that day, saith Jehovah, I will smite every horse with terror, and his rider with madness; and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the peoples with blindness."

As the forces of the United Nations of the end-time charge against Jerusalem, the Lord will intervene miraculously and will smite every horse in the advancing army with terror and the rider with madness. The horses will probably be smitten with blind staggers and will be frightened dreadfully so that they become unmanageable. Not only will the stroke fall upon the animals, but the soldiers, the cavalrymen, will likewise be smitten with madness, that is, with insanity; and, as these advancing armies approach the holy city, their ranks will be thrown into utter confusion.

Are we to take this language literally? Have not the nations turned from the ancient methods of warfare and adopted modern, mechanized equipment? Such is the case today. Nevertheless, cavalry is being used at the present time. It is altogether possible that it still may be used even more then than at the present time. If we are not to take this literally as indicating cavalry, we can understand how it was necessary for the prophet to speak of this future army in terms with which his auditors were familiar. This is a possible explanation of the difficulty. Nevertheless, it is quite likely that the language is to be taken literally, exactly as it appears.

And the chieftains of Judah shall shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in Jehovah of hosts their God."

According to this verse the leaders of the Jewish people inhabiting the country of Judah will naturally look to their leaders in Jerusalem for guidance and assistance. This is natural. People belonging to any movement usually look to their headquarters for guidance and assistance. But the Lord, in verse 6 of this prophecy, says that He will reverse this order and that He will make the people living in the rural districts of Judah "like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they shall devour all the peoples round about, on the right hand and on the left." Thus the Lord in that final terrific struggle will come to the assistance of the people of Judah and deliver them before He brings the final deliverance to Jerusalem. That He will rescue Judah first is stated in verse 7:

Jehovah also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem be not magnified above Judah."

At the proper moment the Lord will come and bring the sorely needed deliverance to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

In that day shall Jehovah defend the in habitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of Jehovah before them. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem."

The promise here is made that the feeble and weak ones in Jerusalem shall be strengthened by superhuman power and that they will become mighty as was David. David achieved exploits because of special strength and assistance from God (I Sam. 17). Thus everyone in Jerusalem at that time will become a mighty warrior.

There is a special promise made to the house of David: "... and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of Jehovah before them." The house of David will stand out prominently above all the inhabitants of the Land in receiving supernatural strength and power. In that final conflict each of them will be as God, being endued with superhuman strength and sagacity. They will become as "the angel of Jehovah" before their enemies. This assistance will account for the signal victory that Israel will win over her enemies in the final struggle.

But Jehovah himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, will be the one who decides the final issue. According to verse 9 He it is who will destroy the nations that battle against Jerusalem.

Great will be the carnage, bloodshed, and suffering in the final war of the great day of God the Almighty. But Israel, supernaturally empowered by her Messiah whom she will before that time have received, will perform exploits and her Lord will come when she pleads for Him to do so, bringing the longed-for deliverance.