The Hope
The Hope
Zechariah 14:9-21
“And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in the day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one.”
What we see is not always what it will be. Today we see all the problems and struggles of a broken and fallen world. We see a world that lives in fear and without hope. As we go through the minor prophets, we repeatedly read of the warnings of coming judgment. Like a long winter; we wonder if there is any hope.
As we come to Zechariah 14, we feel the fresh breeze of hope blowing across the landscape. In verse 2, we read of the future appearance of the Lord, when the messianic king arrives, and he will bring final victory over the enemies of Israel. It will begin with the final world war as the nations gather together to fight Israel and his anointed king. However, the last attempt to throw off the rule of Christ will fail as he defeats and judges his enemies, and he will establish his throne in Jerusalem. This final victory of the Messianic king is prophesied more fully in the book of Revelation. In Revelation 19-20, Christ returns and defeats Satan and his followers. The eschatological “Day of the Lord,” prophesied throughout the Old Testament, has now come to fruition. In this day, living waters will flow out of Jerusalem. The symbolism of the living waters is that only God provides life.
In verse 9, we find the apex of Zechariah’s prophecies. The Lord will be established as the king over all the earth. This points to the final step in the redemption of man. From the moment of Adam and Eve’s sin, humanity has rejected the sovereign reign of God. Instead of submitting to him, we have sought to establish mastery over our lives. The result is continual destruction. But now the Lord himself will reign triumphantly over the whole world. When Christ establishes his reign, there will be no other king, and the entire world will finally acknowledge that He is the Lord and he is God. This day will be marked by peace and security. No longer will the curse of sin wreak havoc upon humanity (vs. 11).
Furthermore, he will bring final and complete judgment upon those who have rejected and fought against him (vs. 12-15). When God establishes his kingdom, then he will be the object of worship and adoration for all people and all nations (vs. 16). When he reigns as king, then everything will be recreated new, and all things and all people will now be declared to be holy before God. In Revelation 19:16, we find that Christ will reign, and “on his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” With his reign comes final peace and joy. Humanity's problems will be solved, and we will live in the presence and worship of God, enjoying his blessing forever.
This is the eschatological hope woven throughout the pages of Scripture and culminated in the promise of the Book of Revelation. Peter describes this hope when he states, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this, you greatly rejoice, even though now, for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.” No matter how difficult life seems, we have the unwavering assurance that Christ will return, remove the effects of sin, and restore his righteousness on the earth. That is a reason to celebrate and gives us hope even in our darkest days.
Zechariah 14:9-21
“And the Lord will be king over all the earth; in the day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one.”
What we see is not always what it will be. Today we see all the problems and struggles of a broken and fallen world. We see a world that lives in fear and without hope. As we go through the minor prophets, we repeatedly read of the warnings of coming judgment. Like a long winter; we wonder if there is any hope.
As we come to Zechariah 14, we feel the fresh breeze of hope blowing across the landscape. In verse 2, we read of the future appearance of the Lord, when the messianic king arrives, and he will bring final victory over the enemies of Israel. It will begin with the final world war as the nations gather together to fight Israel and his anointed king. However, the last attempt to throw off the rule of Christ will fail as he defeats and judges his enemies, and he will establish his throne in Jerusalem. This final victory of the Messianic king is prophesied more fully in the book of Revelation. In Revelation 19-20, Christ returns and defeats Satan and his followers. The eschatological “Day of the Lord,” prophesied throughout the Old Testament, has now come to fruition. In this day, living waters will flow out of Jerusalem. The symbolism of the living waters is that only God provides life.
In verse 9, we find the apex of Zechariah’s prophecies. The Lord will be established as the king over all the earth. This points to the final step in the redemption of man. From the moment of Adam and Eve’s sin, humanity has rejected the sovereign reign of God. Instead of submitting to him, we have sought to establish mastery over our lives. The result is continual destruction. But now the Lord himself will reign triumphantly over the whole world. When Christ establishes his reign, there will be no other king, and the entire world will finally acknowledge that He is the Lord and he is God. This day will be marked by peace and security. No longer will the curse of sin wreak havoc upon humanity (vs. 11).
Furthermore, he will bring final and complete judgment upon those who have rejected and fought against him (vs. 12-15). When God establishes his kingdom, then he will be the object of worship and adoration for all people and all nations (vs. 16). When he reigns as king, then everything will be recreated new, and all things and all people will now be declared to be holy before God. In Revelation 19:16, we find that Christ will reign, and “on his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” With his reign comes final peace and joy. Humanity's problems will be solved, and we will live in the presence and worship of God, enjoying his blessing forever.
This is the eschatological hope woven throughout the pages of Scripture and culminated in the promise of the Book of Revelation. Peter describes this hope when he states, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this, you greatly rejoice, even though now, for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.” No matter how difficult life seems, we have the unwavering assurance that Christ will return, remove the effects of sin, and restore his righteousness on the earth. That is a reason to celebrate and gives us hope even in our darkest days.
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