Zechariah 12
Verse 1 burden Zech. 12.-14. from one prophecy the general theme of which is the return of the Lord and the establishment of the kingdom. The order is: (1) The siege of Jerusalem preceding the battle of Armageddon (Zechariah 12:1-3); (2) the battle itself (Zechariah 12:4-9); (3) the "latter rain" in the pouring out of the Spirit and the personal revelation of Christ to the family of David and the remnant in Jerusalem, not merely as the glorious Deliverer, but as the One whom Israel pierced and has long rejected (Zechariah 12:10); (4) the godly sorrow which follows that revelation (Zechariah 12:11-14); (5) the cleansing fountain Zechariah 13:1 then to be effectually "opened" to Israel. Verse 8 David Kingdom in O.T., Summary: I. Dominion over the earth before the call of Abraham (1) Dominion over creation was given to the first man and woman Genesis 1:26,28. Through the fall this dominion was lost, Satan becoming "prince of this world" ; Matthew 4:8-10; John 14:30. (2) After the flood, the principle of human government was established under the covenant with Noah (See Scofield "Genesis 9:1") . Biblically this is still the charter of all Gentile government. II. The Theocracy in Israel. The call of Abraham involved, with much else, the creation of a distinctive people through whom great purposes of God toward the race might be worked out (see "Israel" Genesis 12:1-3; Romans 11:26). Among these purposes is the establishment of a universal kingdom. The order of the development of Divine rule in Israel is: (1) The mediatorship of Moses Exodus 3:1-10; 19:9; 24:12 (2) The leadership of Joshua Joshua 1:1-5 (3) The institution of Judges Judges 2:16-18. (4) The popular rejection of the Theocracy, and choice of a king-- Saul, 1 Samuel 8:1-7; 9:12-17. III. The Davidic kingdom (1) The divine choice of David 1 Samuel 16:1-13 (2) The giving of the Davidic Covenant 2 Samuel 7:8-16; Psalms 89:3,4,20,21,28-37. (3) The exposition of the David Covenant by the prophets Isaiah 1:25,26; Zechariah 12:6-8. See marg. "Kingdom" and refs. (See Scofield "Isaiah 1:25") The kingdom as described by the prophets is: (a) Davidic, to be established under an heir of David, who is to be born of a virgin, therefore truly man, but also "Immanuel," "the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" Isaiah 7:13,14; 9:6,7 ; 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5; Ezekiel 34:23; 37:24; Hosea 3:4,5. (b) A kingdom heavenly in origin, principle, and authority Daniel 2:34,35,44,45 but set up on the earth, with Jerusalem as the capital ; Isaiah 2:2-4; 4:3,5 ; 24:23; 33:20; 62:1-7; Jeremiah 23:5; 31:38-40; Joel 3:1,16,17. (c) The kingdom is to be established first over regathered, restored, and converted Israel, and then to become universal Psalms 2:6-8; 22:1-3124:1-10; Isaiah 1:2,3; 11:1,10-1360:12; Jeremiah 23:5-8; Jeremiah 30:7-11; Ezekiel 20:33-40; 37:21-25; Zechariah 9:10; 14:16-19 (d) The moral characteristics of the kingdom are to be righteousness and peace. The meek, not the proud, will inherit the earth; longevity will be greatly increased; the knowledge of the Lord will be universal; beast ferocity will be removed; absolute equity will be enforced; and outbreaking sin visited with instant judgment; while the enormous majority of earth's inhabitants will be saved Isaiah 11:4,6-9; 65:20; Psalms 2:9; Isaiah 26:9; Zechariah 14:16-21. The N.T. Revelation 20:1-5, adds a detail of immense significance--the removal of Satan from the scene. It is impossible to conceive to what heights of spiritual, intellectual, and physical perfection humanity will attain in this, its coming age of righteousness and peace. ; Isaiah 11:4-9; Psalms 72:1-10. (e) The kingdom is to be established by power, not persuasion, and is to follow divine judgment upon the Gentile world-powers Psalms 2:4-9; Isaiah 9:7; Daniel 2:35,44,45; 7:26,27; Zechariah 14:1-19 (See Scofield "Zechariah 6:11") . (f) The restoration of Israel and the establishment of the kingdom are connected with an advent of the Lord, yet future Deuteronomy 30:3-5; Psalms 2:1-9; Zechariah 14:4. (g) The chastisement reserved for disobedience in the house of David 2 Samuel 7:14; Psalms 89:30-33 fell in the captivities and world-wide dispersion, since which time, though a remnant returned under prince Zerubbabel, Jerusalem has been under the overlordship of Gentile. But the Davidic Covenant has not been abrogated Psalms 89:33-37 but is yet to be fulfilled. Acts 15:14-17. angel (See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4")