Review & Application (Zechariah 14)

Having concluded the video series lessons of our study, in our final class we reviewed the lessons that we had learned over the course of this entire study. Then, we sought make application of what we learned with a brief analysis of one chapter of a prophetic book: Zechariah 14.

1. Review

Here are the summary points of each of the eight lessons in this study:

Lesson #1 – Essential Hermeneutical Perspectives

1. Confusion leads to either apathy or blindly following so-called ‘experts.’
2. Prophets were “organically inspired” and thus their intentions establish the original meaning.
3. The New Testament writers provide us with both interpretation and an approach to interpretation.

Lesson #2 – A Prophet’s Job

1. Prophets were not just predictors of the future, but had many roles.
2. The prophets’ primary role were emissaries of God’s covenants.

Lesson #3 – People of the Covenant

1. God’s covenants: (all humanity) Adam & Noah; (Israel) Abraham, Moses, David; (Christ) New
2. The prophets viewed humanity as being divided into three groups:

            1) Those outside covenant with God

            2) Those in covenant with God

            3) Those redeemed in covenant with God

Lesson #4 – Dynamics of the Covenant

1. Every covenant in the Bible was full of God’s grace, but also required humans to be faithful.
2. God’s judgments and blessings came through war and nature, and followed certain patterns.

Lesson #5 – Historical Analysis of Prophesy

1. The monarchical period established an essential background for the writing prophets of the Bible.
2. The writing prophets may be divided into three phases or waves:

            1) Assyrian judgment

            2) Babylonian judgment

            3) Restoration period

Lesson #6 – Literary Analysis of the Prophets

The literature of the writing prophets can be divided into three categories:

            1) Historical Narrative (biographical or autobiographical)

            2) Communications with God (laments or praises)

            3) Communications with people (blessings or judgments)

Lesson #7 – The Purpose of Predictions

1. God is sovereign and unchanging in His character, covenants, and counsel.
2. God’s counselor plan is perfectly carried out necessarily, freely, and contingently
3. The purpose of predictions of the future was to activate humans to repent, but they could rebel

Lesson #8 – Unfolding Eschatology

1. Moses’ basic covenant pattern of exile and return from exile establishes the foundation for the Bible’s eschatology.
2. Daniel forms the turning point in the prophets’ understanding of eschatology, as extending the exile from 70 years to 490.
3. The New Testament affirmed that Jesus was the fulfillment of the latter-days hope of restoration and salvation for God’s people. Yet, the New Testament also teaches that Christ fulfills these hopes in three stages: the inauguration, continuation, and consummation of the kingdom.
4. Zechariah 14

Historical and Literary Context: As is proper of any study of Scripture, we began by setting the book of Zechariah in its historical context. The book of Zechariah contains early prophecies (1:1-8:23) which were dated between 520 and 518 B.C. and later prophecies (9:1-14:21) which were not dated. The final composition of Zechariah probably finished between 516 and 460 B.C. We also reviewed the basic literary structure or outline of the book of Zechariah:

Chapters 1-9 – Zechariah’s message about the Temple Reconstruction

1:1-6                – Oracle

1:7-6:8             – Symbolic Visions

6:9-15              – Symbolic Ceremony

7-8                   – The Bethel Visitors

Chapters 9-14 – Zechariah’s message about Future Trials and Restoration

9-11                 – First Oracle or ‘burden’: Announcement of Zion’s King

12-14               – Second Oracle or ‘burden’: The Destiny of the People of God

Chapter 14

Then, we read Zechariah, chapter 14, and analyzed its structure and meaning:

The Great Battle in ‘That Day’ (vv. 1-15)

1-2a – Yahweh will judge His people through the nations

2b-5 – Yahweh will keep a remnant, defend them, provide an escape, and come with His holy ones

6-9 – ‘That day’ will be unique: cosmic upheavals and living waters (John 7:37-39); Yahweh is made king over all the earth (Philippians 2:9-11; Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:36)

10-13 – The territory outside the city will be laid waste, all Jerusalem will be safe (Galatians 3:13); Judgment in war and nature

14-15 – Judah will receive the spoils; the enemies of God will be spoiled

The Feast of Booths, punishment, and extended sanctification

16 – People from the nations will come to worship Yahweh (feast of Booths) (John 7:37-39)

17-19 – No blessing, but curse and punishment for those who do not worship Yahweh (feast of Booths)

20-21 – No distinction between sacred and secular, the house of the Lord will be pure (John 4:19-24)

While our study of Zechariah 14 was not exhaustive, we sought to understand the application of this portion of Scripture through the lens of the unfolding eschatological view of the New Testament. That is to say: the prophecies of Zechariah 14 were fulfilled at the first coming of Christ, are being fulfilled now, and will be ultimately fulfilled at the second coming of Christ.