Judgment against Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12

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The prophecy of Zachariah, in this chapter 12, centers around the time of the Battle of Armageddon [Sixth Plague of Revelations 16:12-18] and the the Day of the Lord, as described in Zachariah 14.

• The prophecy is from the Creator of all heaven, earth, and people.
• Jerusalem is made a cup of drunkenness against those who bring a siege comes against her.
• Jerusalem is made to be a very heavy stone, too heavy for her enemies to heave away.
• Jerusalem’s governors are made to be a firepan in the woodpile against Jerusalem’s enemies.
• Jerusalem’s house is defended by the Lord.
• The house of David and people of Jerusalem will mourn for Him whom they pierced.

The prophecy is from the Creator of all heaven, earth, and people.

“The burden of the word of the Lord against Israel. Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him:” Zachariah 12:1

This prophecy of Zachariah is against Israel. This prophecy comes from the Spirit of God who who is the Creator of all the heavens above us. From the first heavens of the blue skies above us, to the second heavens above the blue skies into space, to the third heaven, above space, where the throne of God is [“He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.” Ephesians 4:10]

Our Lord, God, is the Creator of all the earth. He is the Creator of every piece of earth on all seven continents all around the world. Our Lord, God, is the Creator who forms the spirit within every person on this planet. God has created every person to be the home of the Holy Spirit, by which we have fellowship with God through our spirit, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 1 Corinthians 6:19

Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, all things were created, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1-5

Jerusalem is made a cup of drunkenness against those who bring a siege comes against her.

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.” Zachariah 12:2

As part of the judgment God brings against Israel, Jerusalem is made to be like a cup of drunkenness. A cup of drunkenness is something people drink from and become drunk by its contents. All the people surrounding Jerusalem will be made drunk with wrath and violence against Jerusalem. They will lay siege against what remains of Jerusalem today. Today, Jerusalem is already divided between East and West Jerusalem, East Jerusalem being part of the West Bank and West Jerusalem still considered part of Israel. We already see how those of the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Iran, etc. are drunk with the rage to lay siege of Jerusalem. With that, the global culture in cities around the world routinely riot and protest against Jerusalem for one reason or another. On top of that, the majority of countries of the United Nations are against the independence of the State of Israel.

While we see today how drunk the peoples are in their desire to lay siege of Jerusalem, the days around the Battle of Armageddon will be devastating for Jerusalem. That is described in the post on Ezekiel 39 concerning the Day After the Battle of Armageddon.

On the map below, you can see where West Jerusalem [in Israel] is compared to the West Bank, East Jerusalem being in the West Bank. Then you can see how large the West Bank is, which shows how progressive the siege against the government of West Jerusalem, and all of Israel is. Then you can see the neighboring enemies of Israel, such as the Gaza Strip [southwest corner of Israel along the Mediterranean Sea], Lebanon to the north of Israel, Iran is not seen on the map, then their is Syria and all the other surrounding Islamist/Muslim countries.

Jerusalem is made to be a very heavy stone, too heavy for her enemies to heave away.

“And it will happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. In that day,” says the Lord, “I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.” Zachariah 12:3-4

In that day, around the time of the Battle of Armageddon, the Lord makes Jerusalem a heavy stone, too heavy to be heaved away. As part of the judgment of God against Israel, the nations will continually try. Today, Jerusalem is considered to be an enormous burden and focus of heaviness within the Middle East region and in the eyes of nations around the world. Today, we see how the global government and its global culture wants to heave Jerusalem away, like tossing a stone out of a garden. While they are trying very hard to heave the independence of Israel away, she will remain in one form or another to the day of the Battle of Armageddon [Sixth Plague of Revelations 16:12-18], to the Day of the Lord.

The Battle of Armageddon comes after the power center of the beast is plunged into darkness in the Fifth Plague of Revelations 16:10-11. When people are no longer “hearing”, no longer have uncanny knowledge, heightened intuition, uncanny authority of others, etc. then you know the next major event to happen is the Battle of Armageddon. Global warming is the Fourth Plague of Revelations 16:8-9 and is instrumental in bringing the destruction of the power center of the beast. The power center of the beast is what gives the beast power over physiology to give people what to speak, do, think, and feel.

Those who try to heave Jerusalem away will be cut to pieces, as described in the post on Ezekiel 39 concerning the Day After the Battle of Armageddon. Though all the nations of the earth are gathered against the heavy stone, they will be cut to pieces, as said by the prophet Joel, “I will also gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land. They have cast lots for My people…” Joel 3:2-3 The “Valley of Jehoshaphat” means the “Valley of Judgment” referring to the Battle of Armageddon.

This is spoken about the global armies coming against Jerusalem in the Battle of Armageddon, “In that day,” says the Lord, “I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.” When God opens His eyes on the house of Judah, that means He will defend Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the capital of Judah.

Jerusalem’s governors are made to be a firepan in the woodpile against Jerusalem’s enemies.

“And the governors of Judah will say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the Lord of hosts, their God.’ In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a firepan in the woodpile, and like a fiery torch in the sheaves; they will devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left, but Jerusalem will be inhabited again in her own place—Jerusalem.” Zachariah 12:5-6

The post on the Day After the Battle of Armageddon from Ezekiel 39 also describes the victory of the remnant of Israel. Speaking of the global government in the Battle of Armageddon, “You will fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you…then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the javelins and spears; and they will make fires with them for seven years.” Ezekiel 39:4, 9

In that day, the leaders of Judah [Jerusalem the capital and governing center] will be like a firepan in the woodpile and like a fiery torch in the sheaves. In other words, the leaders will have a burning fire within themselves to spread like fire in their aggression against their enemies. They will very much be a part of the Battle of Armageddon. The people they govern over will be their inspiration, as the leaders claim the population of Jerusalem to be their strength, strength in the Lord of Hosts, their God. Those of Jerusalem will devour their enemies all around them.

BUT Jerusalem will be inhabited again in her own place. That is a big “But” because that Jerusalem is the eternal New Jerusalem, and her own place is in the new heaven and earth after this present heaven and earth is destroyed. The New Jerusalem comes after the Battle of Armageddon, when this present world is destroyed in the Seventh Plague of Revelations 16:12-18, towards the Day of the Lord. The Christ, Jesus, returns when the Seventh Trumpet sounds, in Revelations 11:15-19.

Jerusalem’s house is defended by the Lord.

“The Lord will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem will not become greater than that of Judah.” Zachariah 12:7

This verse is letting us know that the followers of Jesus are not inferior to Israel [the Jewish people]. The glory of Israel is not greater than the family of Jesus Christ. We are all one in Jesus Christ, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29

The word of God speaks to us of how the younger child receives the blessings of the older child, even though the custom was for the elder to be blessed over the younger. That is prophetic for the younger child of Christianity receiving the blessings of the elder child Israel. Israel, and all the Jewish people will not be made greater than the followers of Jesus Christ. Everyone must come to God through Jesus, which makes us all equal.

Examples include the younger child of Able being accepted by the Lord over his older brother Cain, Genesis 4:1-5. The younger child Zerah assuming the birthright of his older brother Perez, Genesis 38:27-30. And the younger child Ephraim receiving the blessing that originally belonged to his older brother Manasseh, Genesis 48:17-20.

“For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed will be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah will have a son.” And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” Romans 9:6-13

In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them. It will be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” Zachariah 12:8-9

“In that day” refers to the time of the Battle of Armageddon and approaching the Day of the Lord. In that day, the remnant of Israel will be strong in the Lord, having the ability to overcome the Battle of Armageddon, as described in Ezekiel 39. The Lord will step in to defend Israel, and He will destroy all the nations that come against Israel, “I will also gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land. They have cast lots for My people…” Joel 3:2-3 The Valley of Jehoshaphat means, “The Valley of Judgment”, referring to the Battle of Armageddon.

The house of David being like God refers to our Lord Jesus Christ, who symbolically sits on the throne of David as the Son of God. The remnant of Israel will come to acknowledge Jesus as the Christ and Son of God….their Messiah. That is why the Lord will defend them, in that day.

The house of David and people of Jerusalem will mourn for Him whom they pierced.

“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” Zachariah 12:10

The remnant of Israel are also those who had rejected the Christ Jesus, and their ancestors were those whom had Him crucified on the Cross to die a criminal’s death. But the Lord promises that He will pour out the Spirit of grace and supplication upon them. In that day, after the Battle of Armageddon, the Lord Jesus is returning, “…and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” Revelations 1:7 The remnant of the Jewish people will see Jesus, whom they pierced by being responsible for having His hands and feet pierced with nails, and His heart pierced with a spear. They will mourn, a mourning that begs forgiveness for being part of those who pierced Him on the Cross. They will mourn over what they did to Christ Jesus, like a parent who mourns for the loss of an only son. They will grieve for the Lord Jesus as one mourns for the loss of a firstborn child.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

The Lord pours out His Spirit of grace and supplication so that each and very person in this world can come to Him. Come to Him while we were yet sinners, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we will be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we will be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” Romans 5:8-11

“In that day there will be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.” Zachariah 12:11. 

Megiddo means “place of troops” or “place of slaughter.” That is the place of the Battle of Armageddon. There will be a great mourning of repentance when they see the Lord Jesus return from the clouds, a mourning like they will experience in the Battle of Armageddon.

The reference to Hadad Rimmon, in the plain of Megiddo, refers to the great mourning over Josiah [previous king of Judah] who was killed in Megiddo, as quoted, “So he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo. And the archers shot King Josiah.” 2 Chronicles 35:22-23. Josiah was someone very great in the eyes of the Jewish people, symbolizing how they mourned repentantly when seeing the return of Jesus Christ, with the scars of His pierced body, the King of kings, greater than even Josiah.

“After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him. But he sent messengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you.” Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself so that he might fight with him, and did not heed the words of Necho from the mouth of God. So he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo. And the archers shot King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am severely wounded.” His servants therefore took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot that he had, and they brought him to Jerusalem. So he died, and was buried in one of the tombs of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. Jeremiah also lamented for Josiah. And to this day all the singing men and the singing women speak of Josiah in their lamentations. They made it a custom in Israel; and indeed they are written in the Laments.” 2 Chronicles 35:20-25

“And the land will mourn, every family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves;  all the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves.” Zachariah 12:12-14

Mourning and repentance is a personal experience of the heart that brings us to God through Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Each person within a group is individually responsible for their relationship with Jesus. Belonging to a group affiliation is not Salvation.

The whole land of Israel will mourn repentantly when they see the Christ, whose name is Jesus, return. They will not be mourning ritualistically as a Jewish culture, but individually from within their heart and soul. “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1