Zechariah’s latter day prophecy

• “in that day” repeated 18 times• The prophecy opens with Jerusalem under seige,

suffering defeat; it concludes with the Kingdom established and Zion exalted

• Israel is invaded (12:3,7-9); Jerusalem is invader’s focus• 2 battles described: invaders initially succeed but are

ultimately destroyed (14:12-13)• It is God who calls the nations to battle (14:2)• The Jews are living in unbelief at the time of the attack

(13:1-2 – a fountain of cleansing needed, idols cut off)• Invaders come seeking wealth (14:1 ‘thy spoil’)• Invaders come to kill Jews! 4 million will die (13:8)

Zechariah is identical to Ezek 38, Dan 11, Joel 2-3

1. Israel to be attacked by a large confederation of nations; it will be a time of great trouble for Israel (#3,6)

2. In actuality, it is God calling the nations and gathering them to this final battle (#4,5)

3. Jews are living in unbelief at the time of the attack (#2)

4. The invading army enters Israel seeking wealth (#9)

5. Jerusalem captured, Jews again go into captivity (#10,11)

6. The invading enemy is initially successful, but subsequently slain (#13,14)

7. An earthquake accompanies the invaders destruction (#15)

8. God will cause the invader to use their own weapons against themselves (#16)

This is how God brings about Israel’s conversion

The pieces must be put together, but what emerges is a single, consistent, complimentary, harmonious portrayal of latter day events

The multiple points of connection strengthens our conviction of the accuracy of the interpretation

Bro Thomas had it right, not by conjecture, but because he put all the pieces together; there’s only one way they all harmonize

An Arab confederacy in the last days, as the great enemy of Israel, does not fit

All 5 prophets tell the same end of the story

Book of Daniel to be understood in the time of the end

“The time of the end, then, is the period of the opening and unsealing of the words of the book (of Daniel KS); so that it may speak intelligibly to “the wise.” The opening and unsealing is effected by the events of the time, being an unmistakable fulfillment of what is written; so that every one of “the wise” cannot fail to understand.”

Exposition of Daniel

Nebuchadnezzar’s Image is the Political Equivalent of Gen. 3:15

In Gen 3:15 (a foundation prophecy on an individual level), there is:

• A head – the serpent who opposes God

• A seed – which arises from the head, exhibiting all the characteristics of the head

• Continuous enmity towards the seed of the woman

• A final victory by the woman’s seed over the serpent and its seed

In Dan 2 (a foundation prophecy on a political/global level), there is:

• A head – “thou art the head…” (v38)

• A seed – which arises from the head, a succession of kings, who exhibit all the characteristics of the head

• Continuous enmity towards the seed of the woman

• A final victory by the woman’s seed, prevailing over the kings

The prophecy of Gen 3:15 reflected in other latter day prophecies

Ezek 38:2 – the prince of Rosh

Hab 3:13 – the foundation of Gog’s neck will be discovered (and removed)

Isa 30:28 – God reaches to the midst of the neck of the enemy

Ps 68:21 – God shall wound the head of his enemies (cp 110:6)

Gen 49:8 – Judah’s hand will be on the neck of his enemies

Babylon stands for more than just Nebuchadnezzar’s empire; just as the Serpent is a symbol for Sin in all its manifestations – all that opposes God, so Babylon is a symbol/proxy for Sin in the political and religious realm of the Kingdom of Men, with

roots back to Nimrod (Gen 10)

The Kingdom of Men vs. the Kingdom of God

At the time of the end there are 2

principle powers at work – Christ and

the saints in contrast to the colossal confederacy of

nations that oppose God and His people

The Kingdom of Men, portrayed in

Daniel 2 as a single colossal

confederacy, is also depicted in a variety

of symbols representing the

individual powers that will oppose the establishment of the

Kingdom of God

Man of Sin

King of fierce countenance

The Desolator

Latter day symbols of the Kingdom of Men

Dragon

False Prophet

Adulterous woman riding

the Beast

King of North

Gog Babylon