See the Bible Through Jewish Eyes BIBLE STUDY WITH DR. RICH FREEMAN
EVEN SO “COME LORD JESUS”
During this time of year, we tend to focus on
the first coming of Messiah. Various prophecies tell
us how He would come (Isaiah 9:6), to where He
would come (Micah 5:2), when He would come
(Daniel 9:24-27), and even why He would come
(Isaiah 53). That is not going to be the focus of
this study. Instead, I am going to be looking at a
prophecy of Jesus’ second coming in Zechariah 12-
14 and its fulfillment in Paul’s amazing statement in
Romans 11:26, “And so all Israel will be saved.”
For many, the timing of this prophecy is
understood to be at the end of the seven-year
tribulation period, when the antichrist, satanically
inspired, is trying once and for all to destroy Israel
and the Jewish people. All the nations of the world,
under his leadership, will come together as one and
gather as a vast army surrounding Israel. This final
battle is what is commonly called Armageddon
and will be focused primarily in the Jezreel Valley
near Megiddo in northern Israel. Israel, hopelessly
outnumbered is given supernatural empowerment by
the Lord to withstand the onslaught. Zechariah 12:8
describes it in this way: “In that day the Lord will
defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who is
feeble among them in that day will be like David, and
the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the
Lord before them.” That is the context of Jesus’ return
to earth. Israel is under attack from all the nations
of the world, holding them at bay but ultimately
needing the Lord’s intervention to save them.
Zechariah 14:3-4a describes what happens next.
“Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those
nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. In that
day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is
in front of Jerusalem on the east.” One of the blessings
of my ministry with Chosen People Ministries is that
I get to lead tours to Israel every year. One of my
favorite places to go on those tours is the Mount of
Olives so that I can take the opportunity to teach
about this particular prophecy of Jesus’ second
coming. Israel is in a hopeless situation and in need
of the intervention of the Lord to save her. Jesus
returns to fight on Israel’s behalf, and the place He
comes to first is the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
At this point we need to ask an important
question. Why does Zechariah write, “In that day His
feet will stand on the Mount of Olives?” He could have
said, “In that day He will come back to earth on the
Mount of Olives.” The meaning would have been
virtually the same. However, Zechariah, under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is painting a picture
for us of our Messiah with the visible nail scars on
His feet and hands. The parallel to Zechariah 14:4 is
12:10, “I will pour out on the house of David and on
the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of
supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they
have pierced.” When Yeshua (Jesus) returns to save
Israel from that final onslaught, He will be visible
for all to see.
When the Jewish people see Him and recognize
that Jesus truly is the promised Messiah of the
Hebrew scriptures, that will be the fulfillment of
Romans 11:26, “And so all Israel will be saved.” This
does not mean that every Jewish person who has
ever lived gets a free ticket to heaven because they
are Jewish. Rather, all the Jewish people alive when
Yeshua returns will recognize who He is and come
to faith in Him as their Lord, Savior, and Messiah.
Even so, “Come Lord Jesus.”
DECEMBER 2018 / THE CHOSEN PEOPLE - 6
Dr. Rich Freeman, D. Min.
serves as the Vice
President for Church
Ministries and
Conferences with Chosen
People Ministries and
lives in South Florida with
his wife, Julia.
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