◄ What Does Zechariah 14:16 Mean? ►

Zechariah was a prophet of God who gave much insight into the first coming of the Messiah of Israel. He also recorded many prophesies that will happen during the 'time of Jacob's Trouble' when terrible tribulation will come upon the whole earth, but he also writes of the future reign on Christ on earth, when Jesus sets up His Millennial rule as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Line by painful line, we read in the book of Zechariah of the devastating results of Christ's first coming when, instead of being proclaimed as Israel's Messiah King, His hands and feet were pierced. Zechariah writes of the time when the true Shepherd of Israel would be rejected and crucified, and gives a shocking chronicle of the consequences of His rejection. He speaks of the day when they will be delivered over into the hands of an idle shepherd, and Jerusalem will become a burdensome stone to all the people of the earth.

But Zechariah also tells of that future time when Israel will mourn over the rejection of their Messiah, Who will return to earth with a flaming sword to save His people from the assault of the Antichrist's aggression. And on that day their Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, will make provision for their cleansing and the remnant of Israel will be re-gathered before a promised time of peace and prosperity floods the whole world, when the earth will be filled with the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

It is during this wonderful future time when Christ rules and reigns as Israel's anointed King, that swords will be beaten into plowshares, and a time of global peace and prosperity will descend upon this war-torn world. Gentiles who trusted Christ during the terrible seven year Tribulation period (and who escaped the Antichrist's onslaught and stood firm to the end), will be settled in their own homestead, and Christ will govern the whole world with a rod of iron.

At Christ's first coming, the Word was made flesh when He came to tabernacle among His people. Immanuel came the first time to dwell with His people (God with us) but He was despised and rejected by those He came to save. However at His second coming He will once again dwell (or tabernacle) with His people, both Jew and Gentile.

The feast of Tabernacles, which is often called the feast of Booths, along with all the other Jewish rites, rituals, ordinances, and laws were set aside at the Cross, but this feast will be reinstated during that Millennial rule of Christ on earth.

During the coming Millennial rule of Christ, Gentiles will be commanded to come up to the holy city of Jerusalem to worship the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Israel and Lord of Hosts. During this coming Millennial kingdom, Gentiles as well as Jews will be required to celebrate the feast of Tabernacles each year, as a glorious memorial for all that Christ has done for them.

Today we are called to eat of the body of Christ and drink of the cup, in remembrance of His sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection. But in the coming kingdom, Jew and Gentile alike will have a different memorial. Any who survive the Great Tribulation will be required to go up to Jerusalem from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the feast of Booths. I wonder if we will hear Christ say in that day: "Do this in remembrance of what I have done for you."

Heavenly Father, thank You that You loved the world so much that You purposed to save Your people, both Jews and Gentiles, from their sins so that all who believe in You will not perish but enter into that glorious relationship when, as Immanuel, You will tabernacle forever with Your people. Thank You, in Jesus' name, AMEN.