THESIS: To show the nature of the life of a believer in the Millennium and the changes it will bring to us and the planet.
INTRO.:
A. Every believer has 3 lives to live. 1) Life on earth for 70 (+or -) years, 2) The Millennial reign of 1000 years on earth with Jesus as King of Kings and 3) for eternity in Heaven, the New Earth and the New Jerusalem. 🔶The first two are fixed and finite and the third is forever and infinite.
B.So much of O.T. prophecy has to do with the Millennium. (Stage 2) Stage 2 for the believer is so different from Stage 1 that we cannot even imagine the vast and far-reaching changes which will take place on this planet and in our new life. In fact, what is revealed, only whets our spiritual appetites for more. This chapter in Zechariah is but a sample or appetizer, but it does yield some very interesting details...
I. TOUCH-DOWN! (Geographical Change)
A. A Massive Earthquake: vv.4,5
1. This will be the “Big One” earth has been waiting for as far as the fantastic geographical, political and religious changes it will set in motion. 2. The “Lord my God” (Jesus Christ) will touch down on the Mt of Olives along with “all the saints” (v.2) and that centuries old graveyard will split & create 2 mountains and a great valley.
B. An Eerie Half-Light: vv.6,7
1. It will be neither day nor night, but the Lord will create a new eerie day/night combination never before seen on the planet. 2. Perhaps the brightness of His presence will overshadow the sun and create this unique condition which will cause darkness to flee away.
C. An Exceptional river: v.8
1. This new river will originate from under the throne of the King and go west to the Mediterranean Sea and east to the Dead Sea. 2. According to Ezekiel 47 they will be “waters to swim in” (v.5) and waters to fish in (vv.9,10) and they will heal the Dead Sea (vv.8-10).
Eze 47:8 Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. 9 And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. 10 And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.
NOTE: I love fishing and was kind of upset when I found out that “there would be no more sea” (Rev.21:1) on the New Heaven and New Earth. But after 1000 years of fishing in the Millennium, maybe I will have had my fill!
D. An Extended Plain: v.10
1. This elevation of the land mass will no doubt have effects on the climate of that region as well. 2. The entire topography of Israel will be affected and all these changes will be supernatural in origin creating respect and reverence for the new King Who is obviously behind them.
NOTE: What an awesome Person is our Savior. He is not only the Creator of the universe but the Renovator of our planet! He can trigger earthquakes, split mountains instantly, create new rivers, heal the Dead Sea and even raise the earth’s surface and level it in the process!!!
Indeed we should sing: “My God, how great Thou art!”
II. TRIUMPH! (Political Change)
NOTE: Jesus doesn’t primarily come back to bring about geographical change, but to bring about sweeping political and religious change! Remember His new role is King (an absolute Ruler) and Prince of peace (as promised at His first Coming).
A. The King of the Earth: v.9
1. The ancient prophecy that “the Government shall be upon His shoulder” will finally be literally fulfilled. 2. The song of the angels on the night of Messiah’s human birth of “peace on earth, good will to men”, will become a reality at last.
B. The Kingdom of Peace: vv.10-15
1. Finally the false pronouncements of all the Popes in Rome & heads of human governments and the prayers of the saints for the “peace of Jerusalem” will become a reality. v.11
NOTE: From Eden after the fall, there has been nothing but quarrels, murders, wars and rumors of wars throughout man’s history. Almost 7000 years of warfare, hatred, violence and a planet bathed in blood!
2. Instead of anti-Semitism there will be worldwide pro-Semitism as the Jewish Messiah mounts His throne! 3. The price of peace is always warfare! vv.12,13
NOTE: Oh the price men will pay for rebelling against the Savior! V.12 is like a scene from some horror film! Men’s flesh will melt and their eyeballs will be consumed in their sockets!
💥This is a picture of the horrors of the Tribulation preceding the Millennium. v.15 (Note v.14 which again reinforces the truth of the wealth of the rich becoming the property of the saints!) 💥How wonderful it will be when the Lord Himself assumes all authority on earth! 💥No more inequities or injustices, no more immorality or lying, cheating or scandals in government! 💥The King will be reigning with His blood-bought saints. And WE will no longer sin! Amen!!
III. THANKSGIVING! (Religious Change)
A. Enforced Worship: v.16
1. The glorious Temple will be rebuilt as a testimony to the sin-barrier between God and sinful man and the High Priest :”which abideth forever” will minister there. 2. Those blood bought saints will rejoice in His holiness and delight to do His will. 3. We will serve under the King of Kings to reign with Him, the left over rebels from the Tribulation will still refuse to willingly bow their knees to our Savior, the King of all the earth, that is why there has to be a Final Judgment at the end of the Millennium.
B. Excluded Wickedness: vv.17-19
1. The Feast of Tabernacles celebrated the fruit, wine and oil harvests, speaking of man’s bounty. 2. In the Millennium this New Thanksgiving Day will be observed to celebrate earth’s freedom from the curse and its new productivity.
ILLUS.: Those who refuse to celebrate will be cut off via drought and famine. This unthankful spirit for the fruitfulness under Christ’s personal reign will be interpreted as rebellion and will be excised with His “rod of iron” rule (inflexible justice).
C. Extended Worship: vv. 20,211.
1. Even the commonplace will be elevated to the status of “holy” including the bells on horses bridles and pots and pans! 2. The land will be holy, the Temple will be holy, the city holy and the subjects will live holy unto the Lord of Lords, the real “Holy of Holies”.
NOTE: All we know and see now is tainted by man’s perverted sin nature. All is unholy. Then, every TV program will be holy, every public event will be holy. This life-style will become boring and obnoxious to the unsaved born into this holy atmosphere and will breed secret rebellion, just as living in a Christian home does today to those unsaved children born and raised there, oftentimes.
CONCL.:
👉Believer in Stage 1 of your existence, don’t get discouraged. A better day is on the way! Stage 2 is coming! 👉The Millennium may only be a short 7 years away and we may just do our waiting in Heaven should the Rapture occur now in our Stage 1 life. 👉In any event, “STAGE 2 IN THE BELIEVER’S 3 LIVES” is far better than Stage 1 and it only gets better after Stage 2!!! What a Savior! What a Salvation! Don’t miss out – get saved today!