Four Wars

“I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born” Zechariah 12:10, ASV).

Our text is a common one, well known among Bible Students. The text is still pending fulfillment, but its fulfillment is approaching. Long ago the Apostle John referred to this text while recording the death of Jesus on the cross. “One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. … (36) For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. (37) And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced” (John 19:34-37). The reference to none of Jesus’ bones being broken is from the law of the Passover lamb in Exodus 12:46, “neither shall ye break a bone thereof.” Numbers 9:12 repeats this directive, “nor break any bone of … the passover.” Bones represent one’s hopes for the future. For example, this is expressed in Ezekiel 37, where the bones scattered in the valley represent the hopes of Israel. “Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost” (Ezekiel 37:11). But soon thereafter the bones stirred, joined bone to bone, covered with sinews, muscles, and skin, representing restored Israel. In the case of Jesus, though he died a tortuous death on the cross, not one of his bones were broken — not one of his hopes for the future was in the least damaged.

On, or Unto?

The reference in John 19:37 to “They shall look on him whom they pierced,” is from our theme text, Zechariah 12:10. That is where John quoted from. There are two words of special interest in this brief expression, namely, “on” and “him.”

The American Standard Version, quoted in the opening text of this article, says “they shall look unto me,” and this is followed in the RVIC as well. The word “unto” is helpful, for Israel will look unto Jesus, first with deep repentance and sorrow that they rejected the prince of glory for roughly 2000 years. Thereafter they will look unto Jesus as their Messiah, King, and leader. They will receive direction from him for their national change of course, and for their use in spreading the blessings of Christ’s kingdom outward to mankind.

John 19:37 in the King James Version says “they will look on him whom they pierced.” The New World Translation is helpful here, “they will look to the One whom they pierced.” The Kingdom Interlinear shows that the word “to” is from the Greek word eis, which can mean “into, unto, to, towards, for, among” (biblestudytools.com). Of these choices, the words “unto, to, towards” are consistent with the context. Israel will not gaze on Jesus (or into Jesus). They will look “unto, to, towards” Jesus for his direction. “Unto” him is our preferred rendering.

Him, or Me?

John 19:37 says that they (Israel) will look on “him” — Zechariah 12:10 appears to say “me.” The RVIC note 97 on this Zechariah text says “Eastern Hb. mss. alone read him.” Eastern in this case evidently refers to Hebrew texts from Jews in or near Babylon, east of the land of Israel. If the original did read “me,” referring to Jehovah, then evidently it means God as represented by Jesus. In either case, John helpfully identified Jesus as the intended subject. Notice that in Zechariah 3:1, “the angel of Jehovah” is referred to, but in verse 2 the reference is simply “Jehovah,” though referring to His representative “angel” of verse 1. In any case, it is apparent that the prophecy will be fulfilled by Israel recognizing Jesus.

When?

Zechariah 12:9 seems to answer this question. “It shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (10) And I will pour … the spirit of grace … and they shall look unto me …” This national recovery will come in response to a remarkable deliverance. Joel 2:13 speaks of this time. When under severe stress by invading powers, Israel is advised, “rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God: for he is gracious and merciful.” The remainder of verse 13, and verses 14-17, emphasize the depth and sincerity of Israel’s plea to God for deliverance. Verses 18-21 then affirm that “Jehovah [will] be jealous for his land, and pity his people … Jehovah will … remove far off from you the northern army … Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for Jehovah will do great things.”

But how will this national deliverance by God, to whom they will pray with earnest imploring, direct them to recognize Jesus as the blessed agent of their deliverance? This seems to require the direction and explanation of the Ancient Worthies, raised to explain to Israel the source of their deliverance.

This seems indicated in Micah 5:5, a parallel passage of God’s final deliverance of Israel. “We shall raise against him [the invading host] seven shepherds, and eight principal men.” The term shepherd is an idiom referring to a king — as a shepherd rules his flock, so a king rules his people. The margin for “principal men” gives “princes of ” men. The seven kings will be the church from above, developed during the seven stages of the Gospel Age. No power on earth will be able to thwart their direction with spiritual power from above. The eight princes are the Ancient Worthies, those to be made “princes in all the earth” (Psalms 45:16). The number eight is appropriate for them, for they will be raised in period “eight” — following the seven stages of the Church.

They will explain to Israel the source of their deliverance. Then, after so many centuries, they will recognize their Joseph, Jesus, their righteous brother, ruler of earth. Then will commence a national mourning and repentance surpassing any other. Zechariah 12:11-14 expressed in symbol the depth of their repentance and recovery. “The land shall mourn, every family apart” (verse 12).

Acts 28

Acts chapters 27 and 28 are often considered a preview of the troubles closing the Gospel Age Harvest and introducing the Kingdom. The 14-day storm “Euroclydon” in this case represents the last troubles of a transition into the Kingdom. Will these 14 days be fulfilled as 14 years?

Chapter 28 then speaks of the inauguration of the Kingdom itself, at the Island of Melita, a picture of the state of Israel. Paul here represents the Ancient Worthies, God’s earthly representatives to assist Israel in recognizing the hand of God, and Messiah, in their deliverance. Acts 28:3: “When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.”

Here in symbol is the early work of the Ancient Worthies, an introductory appearance of them in Israel. When the natives saw creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, ‘Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live” (NASB).

But Paul quickly shook off the threat. “He shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. … after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god” (verses 5, 6).

Symbolically, the Ancient Worthies appear to Israel to encourage them in a good way. But then the attack of the serpent, Satan, appears. When the Ancient Worthies shake off this concern, by God’s miraculous deliverance, the people of Israel will recognize the Ancient Worthies as representatives of God, and accept their direction. Paul then heals the leadership of the island — and subsequently heals the islanders themselves. Three months later he continued to his destination, Rome, the center of world government. So the Ancient Worthies will redirect the leadership of Israel, give spiritual healing to the people, and after some time proceed on to the center of world government.

If this is in the right direction, then this also indicates that the people of Israel will be directed by the Ancient Worthies to a national healing of both leaders and people. The Ancient Worthies will direct their attention to Messiah, accomplishing a national acclamation of Jesus as their leader and savior.

Four Conflicts Leading to the Kingdom

The verses leading up to Zechariah 12:10 suggest four national conflicts that precede Israel’s national repentance. Zechariah 12:6, “In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.”

Today Israel has control again of Jerusalem. In 1980 they adopted the “Jerusalem Law,” declaring Jerusalem the undivided capital of Israel hereafter. Israel did not obtain Old Jerusalem when it received national independence in 1948. They received it as a result of the six-day war of 1967, in which God overruled a remarkable victory for Israel. This is described in verse 6.

Zechariah 12:7, “Jehovah also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.”

In 1948, when Israel received independence, they were invaded by neighboring Arab nations who wished to destroy the fledgling state. God preserved them from this danger as well. The “tents of Judah” refer to the western outlying areas, which Israel did retain from 1948 onward.

“In that day shall Jehovah defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of Jehovah before them” (Zechariah 12:8).

This prophecy does not refer to the war of 1948, for Israel did not yet have old Jerusalem. It would not refer to the war of 1967, for that is when Israel took Jerusalem. It was not “defended” as though a conquering force tried to strip Jerusalem away from Israel. This text refers to the war of 1973, when Egypt and Syria attacked Israel, and were almost victorious. Israel was not well prepared, for the attack was a surprise, and Israel might have lost the struggle. But God promised to “defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem,” and He did so.

Israel has experienced three national wars — in 1948, 1967, and 1973. These three texts, Zechariah 12:7, 6, 8, identify each of these wars. Since 1973, Israel has had many conflicts, but no national wars, for more than 50 years. However, one more national war is indicated in prophecy, in Zechariah 12:9. That would be the battle identified also in the famous passage of Ezekiel 38:1-6. Victory in that crisis will be provided by God in a remarkable, and evident, way. “It shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12:9). The Church will intervene from heaven above, the Ancient Worthies will explain the program to Israel below, and then the blessed Kingdom of Christ will commence.