What is the abomination of desolation?
Lowe's Commentary on Zechariah 14
New
Jesus and the
Mount of Olives [33 page pdf file]
The events described in Zechariah 12:3-7 apply to the church, under the figure of the city of Jerusalem, when it is under siege by many invaders.
Zechariah 12:3-4
And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all
people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces,
though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with
astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes
upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with
blindness.
"A burdensome stone for all people:" This "stone" alludes to the stone cut without hands in the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, in Dan. 2, that smote the image on the feet, and grew to become a great mountain that filled the entire earth. It represents Christ and his church.
Dan 2:34-35
Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote
the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to
pieces.
Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold,
broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer
threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was
found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great
mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Zechariah identifies Jerusalem with the kingdom of God, and the church, rather than the earthly city, that Paul said was in bondage, and identified with Hagar the Egyptian bondwoman, who was cast out of Abraham's house. [Gal. 4:24-25]
When Jesus called Jerusalem "the city of the great King" [Mat. 5:35] he referred to the heavenly city, not the earthly one, which was "a shadow of good things to come" like other things in the OT. And similarly Jesus referred to his followers as a "city that is set on an hill."
Matthew 5:14
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be
hid.
The Jerusalem of Zechariah's prophecy is not the earthly one! Peter said of the prophets, "not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into." [1 Pet. 1:12]
"Horses:" People with no understanding, [Psa. 32:9] or those who are carnally minded. [Jer. 5:8]
"Blindness:" Refers to spiritual blindness. [John 12:40; Rom. 11:8, 10]
Zechariah 12:5
And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of
Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.
"Governors of Judah:" Teachers and leaders in the church. [1 Cor. 12:28]
"Inhabitants of Jerusalem:" This refers to the Saints, and no doubt it includes those who have gone before, such as the Apostles, whose names are included in the New Jerusalem. [Rev. 21:14]
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.
The people round about being "devoured" by fire pictures the word of God, and the fiery judgment of God's word upon the enemies of the saints. It burns up false beliefs like chaff.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that
obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of
the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in
all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in
that day.
"Devouring" is also seen here:
Revelation 20:7-9
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of
his prison,
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters
of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the
number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of
the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out
of heaven, and devoured them.
Zechariah 12:7
The LORD 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.
"The tents of Judah:" This may refer to saints alive on the earth, perhaps even including the saints of previous centuries, who now await the resurrection. They are included in the New Jerusalem which is being prepared to come down from heaven to earth.
Hebrews 11:39-40
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received
not the promise:
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us
should not be made perfect.
1 Thessalonians 4:15
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are
alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent
[precede] them which are asleep.
This fits the idea seen in Zech. 14:7 of the day of darkness and clouds, that becomes light at evening; and the parable of the tares, where Jesus said, after the tares are removed;
Matthew 13:43
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Copyright © 2010, 2014 by Douglas E. Cox
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