Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
Unless you are a Bible believing Christian who has looked closely at the many prophecies concerning Israel in the last days, this prophecy “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem,” the prophecy from the minor prophet Zechariah would probably mean nothing to you or a causal observer.
I myself haven’t really considered the second half of this prophecy
“when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem”
until very recently, mostly because of the resumed peace talks that we have been hearing so much about between the Israelis and so-called Palestinians, which are in their final phase and concern God’s Holy City of Jerusalem. All of us have been hearing for years these reports coming out of the international community. The Holy City which God calls his own
But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. II Chronicles 6:6is the very city that sets in the heart of biblical Israel, Judea, dubbed the “West Bank”, and is the very land that the Palestinians want for their state, plus one half of Jerusalem, or the “old city” that which is written about all through the Bible.
Zechariah tells us in the above prophecy that both Judah and Jerusalem shall be in the siege by Israel’s enemies.
Are we now seeing the beginnings of this prophecy come to pass? It does appear to be so.
Consider Gaza, the very land mass given to the tribe of Judah according to Joshua, but is now under siege from Israel’s enemy, the terrorist group Hamas, and has been under siege since the land was given to the Arabs as part of land for peace deal under the George Bush and Ariel Sharon administrations.
And now all we hear about, as land for peace history between the Israelis and Palestinians repeats itself after the “Gaza Disengagement”, or siege of Gaza, is reports of the Palestinian Arabs claiming half of Jerusalem, or east Jerusalem, God’s Holy City, as the capital of their future state. It is this very city that Jesus wept over.
How can half of a city be the capital of a state? This is about the most absurd thing I have ever heard of. The only way it can make any sense at all to me is by reading what the prophet Zechariah said about this also:
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Zechariah 14:2Half of the city (of Jerusalem) would go into captivity and the other half would remain safe and secure. When east Jerusalem is given to the palestinians in another land for peace deal as the capital of a palestinian state, the city will again be under siege by Israel's enemies, bringing this prophecy to pass.
It all makes perfect sense now why there is no man made earthly solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict inspite of 60 years of negotiations, and why the Palestinians insist upon acquiring the West Bank or biblical Judea with east Jerusalem as their capital of a state.
And I believe we are seeing the beginning of these two prophecies from Zechariah take place right before our very eyes. Which tells me time is very short and this world as we see it now will be changing at a very rapid pace from here on, considering what has already occurred in Gaza, and now what is being planned by the international community for Jerusalem.
Gaza is far worse off now than it ever was before the siege by the Hamas terrorist organization, and this very area, according to the plan by the EU, Quartet, and the UN will be joined to the West Bank, or biblical Judea, putting Jerusalem under siege, just as Zechariah said. The siege has begun.
Take a look at the map I have included above, which shows biblical Israel with the twelve tribes of Israel and land given to each tribe. Gaza, the lower left border next to the sea labeled "Philistines", to the entire southern half of the West Bank, including Jerusalem, is Judah’s territory, shown in green. A bridge, or corridor will connect the two, according to the plan, making it a "contiguous" territory, under siege.
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Prayer:
ReplyDeleteLord, you cared enough about your people Israel to always have your word speaking to them. And you have given us the Bible today, full of your message to us. Thank you for teaching and leading us through your word and through your Holy Spirit. May I always be attentive to you and learn to obey you and not take your patience for granted. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Toni,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this article. The linking of Zech.12:2, and Zech.14:2 is very interesting.
What is your understanding of 1. siege? 2. they being in the siege against Judah? and 3. they being in the siege against Yerusalem?
Would the two places under siege mean the same military forces are acting against Judah and Yerusalem at the same time? According to Zech.12:2 it appears that way. IF so why would the international forces be against the West Bank/ Gaza; if the are now occupying Judah now?
Shalom In Yahshua.
Yuri
Hi Yuri:
ReplyDeleteAccording to e-sword’s biblical concordance, the definition of siege for the passage of Zechariah 12:2 is as follows, and I would say this definition fits Gaza, which is under the government control of Hamas, and according to Joshua 15:20, Joshua 15:47, this territory (Gaza) was given to the children of the tribe of Judah, the tribe from whence the Messiah, Jesus Christ originates. Genesis 49:10, Hebrews 7:14, Revelation 5:5-6
I would say the same demonic forces, military and/or spiritual, are now working overtime to place Judah (dubbed the West Bank with the Old Biblical City of Jerusalem located there) under “siege” after the Jews and Israel rightfully took the City of Jerusalem under its government control back and reunited the City in 1967, and again making the City the capital of Israel. Zechariah 12:6
The Arabs do not have control of the Old City, or East Jerusalem, which belongs to Jesus Christ, and the children from the tribe of Judah; It is still under the government control of Israel, or the Jews. This is what the dispute is all about, and this is what the int’l forces are against. The arabs have been trying for years to take full control of East Jerusalem since 1967, when the Jews placed the city back under Israel’s control and made the city the capital of Israel again. The city of Jerusalem is not “under siege” yet, Jews as well as arabs both live there and Jews are building there constantly, receiving arab and world condemnation because the world wants the Jews gone from the city of biblical East Jerusalem. This will ultimately lead up to a full blown war, ending at the battle of Armageddon, when our Lord returns to fight for Judah and Jerusalem. Zechariah 14:1-2
To answer your question “Would the two places under siege mean the same military forces are acting against Judah and Yerusalem at the same time?”
It looks to me as if the prophecy of Zechariah 12:2 is occurring in stages because we are seeing it happen over a period of time. In fact, like much of Old Testament prophecies, much of Zechariah Chapter 12 occurs in stages in my opinion.
Zechariah 12:2 siege
H4692
מצוּר מצור
mâtsôr mâtsûr
maw-tsore', maw-tsoor'
From H6696; something hemming in, that is, (objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a siege, (figuratively) distress; or (subjectively) a fastness: - besieged, bulwark, defence, fenced, fortress, siege, strong (hold), tower.
Toni-
October 20, 2011
Ok Toni thanks for you comments.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try and be as clear as possible.
My understanding of Zech.12:2 is as follows:
1. YHWH will make Yerusalem "a cup of trembling unto all the people round about"
You mentioned that Judah and Yerusalem belongs to Yahshua...and to Judah (the heirs of like faith with faithful Abraham). And the story of Jer.32:7-15 is an allegory of Yahshua whose "....right of redemption is thine {Yahshua's) to buy it"[the land] (Jer.32:7) for He (Yahshua) has "the right of inheritance" (Jer.32:8) being made like unto His brethren (Heb.2:14,16) and thus became one with us.
Now what, at Judah & Yerusalem, is so very important to Yahshua as to be made a cup of trembling to all the people of the earth? Can it be the land of itself alone? The Jewish people there who will turn their hearts to Him? Keeping in mind Yahshua said "Behold I make all things new" Rev.21:5.
We know that this gospel of the kingdom shall be preach into all the world for a witness and then shall the end come. (RIght)? The Gospel started with the Hebrew nation and thus it ends with them. Now Shaul says the preaching of the Gospel is nothing other than the preaching of Messiah Yahshua and Him crucified. (1Cor.2:2)
Therefore at the end of all things (the end of this world) we have the preaching of Yahshua and Him crucified from Judah and Yerusalem which; when (the righteous Israelis) learn of and accept Yahshua and His sacrifice made for them just outside Old Yerusalem and the connecting link to the Torah by way of His (Yahshua's blood) on the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant....when that message shall to out to the world....then....all will be convinced (but most will not be converted) that the land belongs to Israel and all who; at that time despise the blood of the everlasting Covenant (Heb.10:29) will be "...cut in pieces" Zec.12:3
That's my current position on this matter.
I wish however in a subsequent post to continue with more with what you have mentioned above.
Shalom Toni,
ReplyDeleteFrom your most recent post I understand your reference to Zech.12:6 to mean that you believe that the 6 day war fulfilled it. Is that what you mean?
Hi Yuri:
ReplyDeleteExactly, Yuri:
Zechariah 12:6 reads:
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.
It is my opinion that the above passage is speaking of the leaders of Israel ( during the time of the miraculous Six Day War), and the IDF, IAF, who defeated the Arabs and who took back the Old City of Jerusalem from the Arabs "and put Jerusalem again in her own place", even in Jerusalem"!
Toni-
October 22, 2011
Toni,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your position on this matter. I certainly have learned some things here. Last night I read Zec.12-14 I've also studied Zech.5 I studied these in relation to Isa.51 and it all ties together.
Are you Jewish?
What is your position on Israel's role in the context of the USA and end time events? Have you heard of Henry Gruver? He has written a book on end times which speaks to Judah's role in it. It is called the Rebirth of Judah and the glorious Church. I'm trying to get a copy of it. I've heard it is very good.
Toni,
ReplyDeleteHave you seen this video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTW59USStlk&feature=player_embedded
Hi Yuri:
ReplyDeleteI saw the video awhile ago on your site I believe. It's a very telling video.
Toni
October 22, 2011
Hi Yuri:
ReplyDeleteGod's prophet Zechariah and his writings is one of my most favorite in the OT; There is a wealth of prophetic events and information written therein and I find myself constantly referring to Zechariah's writings more and more these days as much written there is happening in our time (in my opinion), especially Zechariah Chapters 12 and 14.
I think the USA will eventually turn completely against Israel, it just about has already, and especially more so if Obama remains in the White House another four years; in any event, Israel will have to become isolated from the USA because God will defend Israel and the Jews at the very end according to Zechariah's prophecies,(Zechariah 12:7) meaning that the USA will be out of the picture. The USA is presently financially bankrupt and will not be able to finance Israel in the way of weapons and grants much longer. Further, Obama is making sure that the leaders involved in the Arab Spring who would not attack Israel in the past (Gaddafi, Murbarak) have been taken out, fulfilling prophecy, and opening the door for Ezekiel's War (Gog-Magog.)
No, I have not heard of Henry Gruver, but indeed, Judah has a glorious future. Our Lord has a very special interest in Judah and I am of the opinion that the remnant of Israel come from the tribe of Judah.
No, I am not Jewish. I have been grafted into the natural olive branch.
Blessings,
Toni- October 22, 2011
Shalom Toni,
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree that Israel will become isolated from the US.
You quoted Zech.12:7 (that is one verse I've had some trouble understanding.) I plan on doing some more study on it.
Yes, I get up to date information of the world economies from
http://bobchapman.blogspot.com/2011/10/syria-iran-to-be-invaded-next.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BobChapmanBlog+%28Bob+Chapman+Blog%29
And Mr. Chapman (who I believe is Jewish) is saying exactly what you've mentioned above regarding the state of the US economy.
In regards to your statement "I am of the opinion that the remnant of Israel come from the tribe of Judah." when you day 'come' where are they coming from? (do you mean convert to Christianity?) where in the Scriptures do you base your opinion?
"where in the Scriptures do you base your opinion?"
ReplyDeleteIt's just a "hunch" I have... I am not basing it on any scriptural passage.
Blessings,
Toni