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The Cup of Israel

October 7, 2024

Scripture referenced

The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.

  • Zechariah 12 primary text read aloud and discussed throughout the entire sermon

    1 A revelation, Yahweh’s word concerning Israel. Yahweh, who stretches out the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him says:

    2 “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the surrounding peoples, and it will also be on Judah in the siege against Jerusalem.

    3 It will happen in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples. All who burden themselves with it will be severely wounded, and all the nations of the earth will be gathered together against it.

    4 In that day,” says Yahweh, “I will strike every horse with terror, and his rider with madness; and I will open my eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.

    5 The chieftains of Judah will say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in Yahweh of Armies their God.’

    6 In that day I will make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they will devour all the surrounding peoples, on the right hand and on the left; and Jerusalem will yet again dwell in their own place, even in Jerusalem.

    7 Yahweh also will save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of David’s house and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem not be magnified above Judah.

    8 In that day Yahweh will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. He who is feeble among them at that day will be like David, and David’s house will be like God, like Yahweh’s angel before them.

    9 It will happen in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

    10 I will pour on David’s house, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they will look to me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for his firstborn.

    11 In that day there will be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

    12 The land will mourn, every family apart; the family of David’s house apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;

    13 the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of the Shimeites apart, and their wives apart;

    14 all the families who remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

    World English Bible · Read it in another translation

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Joel 2

quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost to explain what the crowd was witnessing

1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of Yahweh comes, for it is close at hand:

2 A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn spreading on the mountains, a great and strong people; there has never been the like, neither will there be any more after them, even to the years of many generations.

3 A fire devours before them, and behind them, a flame burns. The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them, a desolate wilderness. Yes, and no one has escaped them.

4 Their appearance is as the appearance of horses, and as horsemen, so do they run.

5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

6 At their presence the peoples are in anguish. All faces have grown pale.

7 They run like mighty men. They climb the wall like warriors. They each march in his line, and they don’t swerve off course.

8 Neither does one jostle another; they march everyone in his path, and they burst through the defenses, and don’t break ranks.

9 They rush on the city. They run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. They enter in at the windows like thieves.

10 The earth quakes before them. The heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

11 Yahweh thunders his voice before his army; for his forces are very great; for he is strong who obeys his command; for the day of Yahweh is great and very awesome, and who can endure it?

12 “Yet even now,” says Yahweh, “turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”

13 Tear your heart, and not your garments, and turn to Yahweh, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity.

14 Who knows? He may turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal offering and a drink offering to Yahweh, your God.

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion! Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly.

16 Gather the people. Sanctify the assembly. Assemble the elders. Gather the children, and those who nurse from breasts. Let the bridegroom go out of his room, and the bride out of her room.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of Yahweh, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, “Spare your people, Yahweh, and don’t give your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

18 Then Yahweh was jealous for his land, And had pity on his people.

19 Yahweh answered his people, “Behold, I will send you grain, new wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied with them; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.

20 But I will remove the northern army far away from you, and will drive it into a barren and desolate land, its front into the eastern sea, and its back into the western sea; and its stench will come up, and its bad smell will rise.” Surely he has done great things.

21 Land, don’t be afraid. Be glad and rejoice, for Yahweh has done great things.

22 Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness spring up, for the tree bears its fruit. The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.

23 “Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in Yahweh, your God; for he gives you the former rain in just measure, and he causes the rain to come down for you, the former rain and the latter rain, as before.

24 The threshing floors will be full of wheat, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

25 I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I sent among you.

26 You will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied, and will praise the name of Yahweh, your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and my people will never again be disappointed.

27 You will know that I am among Israel, and that I am Yahweh, your God, and there is no one else; and my people will never again be disappointed.

28 “It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.

29 And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit.

30 I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, fire, and pillars of smoke.

31 The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes.

32 It will happen that whoever will call on Yahweh’s name shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as Yahweh has said, and among the remnant, those whom Yahweh calls.

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Acts 2

Peter standing up at Pentecost and quoting Joel to explain the scene

1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.

4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.

6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.

7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?

8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?

9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,

10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”

12 They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

15 For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.

16 But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.

18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

19 I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.

20 The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

21 It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know,

23 him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;

24 whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.

25 For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before my face, For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;

27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.

28 You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,

31 he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul wasn’t left in Hades, and his flesh didn’t see decay.

32 This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.

33 Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.

34 For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand,

35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’

36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”

40 With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.

42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

43 Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

44 All who believed were together, and had all things in common.

45 They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.

46 Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

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Jeremiah 30-31

referenced as the source of the phrase 'time of Jacob's trouble'

30:1 The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,

30:2 “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book.

30:3 For, behold, the days come,’ says Yahweh, ‘that I will reverse the captivity of my people Israel and Judah,’ says Yahweh. ‘I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’”

30:4 These are the words that Yahweh spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah.

30:5 For Yahweh says: “We have heard a voice of trembling; a voice of fear, and not of peace.

30:6 Ask now, and see whether a man travails with child. Why do I see every man with his hands on his waist, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned pale?

30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it. It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he will be saved out of it.

30:8 It will come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Armies, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds. Strangers will no more make them their bondservants;

30:9 but they will serve Yahweh their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up to them.

30:10 Therefore don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says Yahweh. Don’t be dismayed, Israel. For, behold, I will save you from afar, and save your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob will return, and will be quiet and at ease. No one will make him afraid.

30:11 For I am with you, says Yahweh, to save you; for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have scattered you, but I will not make a full end of you; but I will correct you in measure, and will in no way leave you unpunished.”

30:12 For Yahweh says, “Your hurt is incurable. Your wound is grievous.

30:13 There is no one to plead your cause, that you may be bound up. You have no healing medicines.

30:14 All your lovers have forgotten you. They don’t seek you. For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased.

30:15 Why do you cry over your injury? Your pain is incurable. For the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you.

30:16 Therefore all those who devour you will be devoured. All your adversaries, everyone of them, will go into captivity. Those who plunder you will be plunder. I will make all who prey on you become prey.

30:17 For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds,” says Yahweh; “because they have called you an outcast, saying, ‘It is Zion, whom no man seeks after.’”

30:18 Yahweh says: “Behold, I will reverse the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places. The city will be built on its own hill, and the palace will be inhabited in its own place.

30:19 Thanksgiving will proceed out of them with the voice of those who make merry. I will multiply them, and they will not be few; I will also glorify them, and they will not be small.

30:20 Their children also will be as before, and their congregation will be established before me. I will punish all who oppress them.

30:21 Their prince will be one of them, and their ruler will proceed from among them. I will cause him to draw near, and he will approach to me; for who is he who has had boldness to approach to me?” says Yahweh.

30:22 “You shall be my people, and I will be your God.

30:23 Behold, Yahweh’s storm, his wrath, has gone out, a sweeping storm: it will burst on the head of the wicked.

30:24 The fierce anger of Yahweh will not return until he has accomplished, and until he has performed the intentions of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it.”

31:1 “At that time,” says Yahweh, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.”

31:2 Yahweh says, “The people who survive the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.”

31:3 Yahweh appeared of old to me, saying, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love. Therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness.

31:4 I will build you again, and you will be built, O virgin of Israel. You will again be adorned with your tambourines, and will go out in the dances of those who make merry.

31:5 Again you will plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria. The planters will plant, and will enjoy its fruit.

31:6 For there will be a day that the watchmen on the hills of Ephraim cry, ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion to Yahweh our God.’”

31:7 For Yahweh says, “Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout for the chief of the nations. Publish, praise, and say, ‘Yahweh, save your people, the remnant of Israel!’

31:8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth, along with the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her who travails with child together. They will return as a great company.

31:9 They will come with weeping. I will lead them with petitions. I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they won’t stumble; for I am a father to Israel. Ephraim is my firstborn.

31:10 “Hear Yahweh’s word, you nations, and declare it in the distant islands. Say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock.’

31:11 For Yahweh has ransomed Jacob, and redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he.

31:12 They will come and sing in the height of Zion, and will flow to the goodness of Yahweh, to the grain, to the new wine, to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd. Their soul will be as a watered garden. They will not sorrow any more at all.

31:13 Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance; the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

31:14 I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people will be satisfied with my goodness,” says Yahweh.

31:15 Yahweh says: “A voice is…

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Luke 21

referenced alongside Matthew 24 as the Gentile Christian understanding of the tribulation

1 He looked up, and saw the rich people who were putting their gifts into the treasury.

2 He saw a certain poor widow casting in two small brass coins.

3 He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all of them,

4 for all these put in gifts for God from their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had to live on.”

5 As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said,

6 “As for these things which you see, the days will come, in which there will not be left here one stone on another that will not be thrown down.”

7 They asked him, “Teacher, so when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen?”

8 He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them.

9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.”

10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

11 There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places. There will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake.

13 It will turn out as a testimony for you.

14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer,

15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.

16 You will be handed over even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will cause some of you to be put to death.

17 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake.

18 And not a hair of your head will perish.

19 “By your endurance you will win your lives.

20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand.

21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those who are in the middle of her depart. Let those who are in the country not enter therein.

22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! For there will be great distress in the land, and wrath to this people.

24 They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25 There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and on the earth anxiety of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the waves;

26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”

29 He told them a parable. “See the fig tree, and all the trees.

30 When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near.

31 Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that God’s Kingdom is near.

32 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished.

33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.

34 “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.

35 For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth.

36 Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 Every day Jesus was teaching in the temple, and every night he would go out and spend the night on the mountain that is called Olivet.

38 All the people came early in the morning to him in the temple to hear him.

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Matthew 24

referenced as describing the time of tribulation alongside Luke 21

1 Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.

2 But he answered them, “You see all of these things, don’t you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down.”

3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4 Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray.

5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.

6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places.

8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.

9 Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name’s sake.

10 Then many will stumble, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.

11 Many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.

12 Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold.

13 But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved.

14 This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

15 “When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house.

18 Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes.

19 But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days!

20 Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath,

21 for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be.

22 Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.

23 “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it.

24 For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.

25 “Behold, I have told you beforehand.

26 If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it.

27 For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

28 For wherever the carcass is, that is where the vultures gather together.

29 But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken;

30 and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.

31 He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

32 “Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near.

33 Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

34 Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished.

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

36 But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 “As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

38 For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship,

39 and they didn’t know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left.

41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one will be left.

42 Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes.

43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

44 Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?

46 Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes.

47 Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has.

48 But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’

49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards,

50 the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it, and in an hour when he doesn’t know it,

51 and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.

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Daniel 7

referenced for the man of lawlessness making a seven-year covenant with Israel and breaking it halfway through

1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed. Then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.

2 Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke out on the great sea.

3 Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another.

4 “The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand on two feet as a man. A man’s heart was given to it.

5 “Behold, there was another animal, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth. They said this to it: ‘Arise! Devour much flesh!’

6 “After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The animal also had four heads; and dominion was given to it.

7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there was a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth. It devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different than all the animals that were before it. It had ten horns.

8 “I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

9 “I watched until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire.

10 A fiery stream issued and came out from before him. Thousands of thousands ministered to him. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgment was set. The books were opened.

11 “I watched at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke. I watched even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire.

12 As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

14 Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom that which will not be destroyed.

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. “So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

17 ‘These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who will arise out of the earth.

18 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’

19 “Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was different than all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;

20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.

21 I saw, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them,

22 until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

23 “Thus he said, ‘The fourth animal will be a fourth kingdom on earth, which will be different than all the kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth, and will tread it down, and break it in pieces.

24 As for the ten horns, ten kings will arise out of this kingdom. Another will arise after them; and he will be different than the former, and he will put down three kings.

25 He will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints of the Most High. He will plan to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.

26 “‘But the judgment will be set, and they will take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end.

27 The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him.’

28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my face was changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart.”

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Ezekiel 38-39

referenced as a possible mention of ships from Tarshish coming against the man of lawlessness

38:1 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

38:2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

38:3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.

38:4 I will turn you around, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, with all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords;

38:5 Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet;

38:6 Gomer, and all his hordes; the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north, and all his hordes; even many peoples with you.

38:7 “‘“Be prepared, yes, prepare yourself, you, and all your companies who are assembled to you, and be a guard to them.

38:8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land that is brought back from the sword, that is gathered out of many peoples, on the mountains of Israel, which have been a continual waste; but it is brought out of the peoples, and they will dwell securely, all of them.

38:9 You will ascend. You will come like a storm. You will be like a cloud to cover the land, you, and all your hordes, and many peoples with you.”

38:10 “‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “It will happen in that day that things will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.

38:11 You will say, ‘I will go up to the land of unwalled villages. I will go to those who are at rest, who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,

38:12 to take the plunder and to take prey; to turn your hand against the waste places that are inhabited, and against the people who are gathered out of the nations, who have gotten livestock and goods, who dwell in the middle of the earth.’

38:13 Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions of it, will ask you, ‘Have you come to take the plunder? Have you assembled your company to take the prey, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’”’

38:14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and tell Gog, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “In that day when my people Israel dwells securely, will you not know it?

38:15 You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you, and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army.

38:16 You will come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land. It will happen in the latter days, that I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when I am sanctified in you, Gog, before their eyes.”

38:17 “‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Are you he of whom I spoke in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for years that I would bring you against them?

38:18 It will happen in that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh, “that my wrath will come up into my nostrils.

38:19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath I have spoken. Surely in that day there will be a great shaking in the land of Israel;

38:20 so that the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, all creeping things who creep on the earth, and all the men who are on the surface of the earth will shake at my presence. Then the mountains will be thrown down, the steep places will fall, and every wall will fall to the ground.

38:21 I will call for a sword against him to all my mountains,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Every man’s sword will be against his brother.

38:22 I will enter into judgment with him with pestilence and with blood. I will rain on him, and on his hordes, and on the many peoples who are with him, an overflowing shower, with great hailstones, fire, and sulfur.

38:23 I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”’

39:1 “You, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Behold, I am against you, Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal.

39:2 I will turn you around, and will lead you on, and will cause you to come up from the uttermost parts of the north; and I will bring you onto the mountains of Israel.

39:3 I will strike your bow out of your left hand, and will cause your arrows to fall out of your right hand.

39:4 You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you, and all your hordes, and the peoples who are with you. I will give you to the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the animals of the field to be devoured.

39:5 You will fall on the open field; for I have spoken it,” says the Lord Yahweh.

39:6 “I will send a fire on Magog, and on those who dwell securely in the islands. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.

39:7 “‘“I will make my holy name known among my people Israel. I won’t allow my holy name to be profaned any more. Then the nations will know that I am Yahweh, the Holy One in Israel.

39:8 Behold, it comes, and it will be done,” says the Lord Yahweh. “This is the day about which I have spoken.

39:9 “‘“Those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out, and will make fires of the weapons and burn them, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the war clubs and the spears, and they will make fires with them for seven years;

39:10 so that they will take no wood out of the field, and not cut down any out of the forests; for they will make fires with the weapons. They will plunder those who plundered them, and rob those who robbed them,” says the Lord Yahweh.

39:11 “‘“It will happen in that day, that I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the valley of those who pass through on the east of the sea; and it will stop those who pass through. They will bury Gog and all his multitude there; and they will call it ‘The valley of Hamon Gog’.

39:12 “‘“The house of Israel will be burying them for seven…

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John 18

soldiers coming to arrest Jesus in the garden, Jesus saying I am he and them falling down

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered.

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples.

3 Judas then, having taken a detachment of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

4 Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were happening to him, went out, and said to them, “Who are you looking for?”

5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

6 When therefore he said to them, “I am he,” they went backward, and fell to the ground.

7 Again therefore he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,”

9 that the word might be fulfilled which he spoke, “Of those whom you have given me, I have lost none.”

10 Simon Peter therefore, having a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

11 Jesus therefore said to Peter, “Put the sword into its sheath. The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not surely drink it?”

12 So the detachment, the commanding officer, and the officers of the Jews, seized Jesus and bound him,

13 and led him to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.

14 Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should perish for the people.

15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest;

16 but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought in Peter.

17 Then the maid who kept the door said to Peter, “Are you also one of this man’s disciples?” He said, “I am not.”

18 Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals, for it was cold. They were warming themselves. Peter was with them, standing and warming himself.

19 The high priest therefore asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his teaching.

20 Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where the Jews always meet. I said nothing in secret.

21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them. Behold, these know the things which I said.”

22 When he had said this, one of the officers standing by slapped Jesus with his hand, saying, “Do you answer the high priest like that?”

23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, testify of the evil; but if well, why do you beat me?”

24 Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, “You aren’t also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.”

26 One of the servants of the high priest, being a relative of him whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”

27 Peter therefore denied it again, and immediately the rooster crowed.

28 They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves didn’t enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

29 Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

30 They answered him, “If this man weren’t an evildoer, we wouldn’t have delivered him up to you.”

31 Pilate therefore said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,”

32 that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what kind of death he should die.

33 Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, called Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

34 Jesus answered him, “Do you say this by yourself, or did others tell you about me?”

35 Pilate answered, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done?”

36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here.”

37 Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no basis for a charge against him.

39 But you have a custom, that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Therefore, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

40 Then they all shouted again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

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Recap

The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.

On October 7, 2024, the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, Tribe gathered at the TMC for a conversation-style service. Pastor Brian walked the congregation through Zechariah 12, reading the whole chapter together and working out what it means for the moment we are living in. The thread running through everything was the image of Jerusalem as both an intoxicating drink and an immovable rock.

What was said

Before getting into the text, Pastor Brian gave some context on Zechariah as a writer. He is a minor prophet writing in the genre of prophecy, probably around 520 BC, to a remnant that had just returned from roughly seventy years of Babylonian captivity. They were trying to rebuild the temple and find their footing again, and yet God, through Zechariah, chose to speak not about their immediate circumstances but about events far in the future. That gap between what the people needed comfort about and what God decided to address became a framing idea for the whole conversation.

Because the book belongs to the genre of prophecy, Pastor Brian was careful to point out that prophecy can carry multiple layers of fulfillment at once. A passage can have had a partial fulfillment, can be unfolding in the present, and can still point toward a future fulfillment that has not yet arrived. The goal is to read it the way Peter read Joel on the day of Pentecost, so that when events unfold around us we are able to recognize them rather than be caught off guard.

The congregation read all of Zechariah 12 together, with people calling out verses from across the room. A few things came up in discussion: the phrase "on that day" appears repeatedly throughout the chapter and consistently signals the second coming of Jesus. Verse 10, where God says he will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer and the people will look on the one they have pierced, is addressed to the generation alive when that happens. The mourning described at the end of the chapter, with husbands and wives mourning separately, reflects Jewish tradition around formal communal grief, the kind visible today at the Western Wall.

Verses two and three held the center of the conversation. Jerusalem is described as an intoxicating drink that makes surrounding nations stagger, and as an immovable rock that injures anyone who tries to move it. The congregation overlaid those images on current events: the October 7 attack, the subsequent Hezbollah rocket campaign from Lebanon, and Iran launching hundreds of missiles into Israel the week before the service, with a single Palestinian man reported injured as a result. Pastor Brian noted that Hamas named their October 7 operation after the Al-Aqsa mosque, and that Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis all operate as proxies for the Iranian regime. In each case, the pattern from the text seemed to hold: those who came against Israel ended up hurting themselves.

One member who had visited Israel around the same time the previous year described a spiritual heaviness that was difficult to process even as a believer, a feeling of pressure coming from all sides that is harder to sense from a distance. That observation led Pastor Brian to note that Israel is currently fighting on seven fronts simultaneously, including what he called a flood of antisemitic propaganda, and that much of it does not receive full coverage in American media. He framed the cup of Israel as something every nation and every person is being made to drink from, and said the question is what it does to you when you drink it. Does it sober you, or does it make you reel?

Pastor Brian then sketched out what he believes the most vivid fulfillment of Zechariah 12 will look like. He described the return of Jesus to earth in a manner unmistakable to Jewish memory, similar to the way God descended on Sinai, followed by the liberation of Israel, the defeat of the forces gathered against it, and the moment described in verse 10 when the Jewish people recognize Jesus as their Messiah. That recognition, he said, will come with the kind of mourning that moves from national scale all the way down to individual families grieving privately.

The closing point was pastoral rather than political. Pastor Brian acknowledged that whatever someone is carrying right now, this topic can feel distant from a job search or a struggling marriage. But he drew a direct parallel to the remnant Zechariah was originally speaking to: people in difficult circumstances whom God redirected toward a bigger story. The invitation was to bring your circumstances to God and let him speak to you about what is on his heart, trusting that his finger is on Israel, on the land, on his covenant, and on the lives of his people.

Touch points

Things you could actually do this week.

  • Show up barefoot to the one-year anniversary gathering on the Town Square at 5 PM Monday to stand in solidarity with hostages still held in Gaza.
  • If you have never been baptized, or your childhood baptism meant nothing to you at the time, talk to Brian after service about getting baptized on October 13 at the South Park Boat Ramp.
  • Come camping for Sukkot starting October 16 up Little Granite Creek, even if only for an evening to share dinner and sit around the fire with the tribe family.
  • Read Zechariah chapter 12 on your own this week and notice how many times the phrase 'on that day' appears, letting it reorient your thinking about what is unfolding in Israel right now.
  • If you have never been to Israel, start seriously considering joining the Tribe trip planned for 2025, and watch for details rolling out in January.

Doing a Bible study?

Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.

  1. Brian talked about how God responded to Israel's immediate need for encouragement by having Zechariah speak about something far in the future. Has there been a time when you brought a pressing need to God and felt like he directed your attention somewhere completely different? What happened?
  2. Brian described biblical prophecy as having multiple layers of fulfillment, past, present, and future, and warned against anyone who says a passage has already been fulfilled and is no longer relevant. How do you personally approach a passage when you are not sure whether it has already been fulfilled or is still unfolding?

and 3 more questions in the guide

Open the study guide

Resumen en español

El mensaje resumido, en español.

El pastor Brian guio a la congregacion a leer y conversar juntos sobre Zacarias capitulo 12, un libro profetico del Antiguo Testamento escrito para los judios que regresaban del exilio en Babilonia, pero con un cumplimiento mayor que todavia esta por venir. La idea central es que Jerusalem es descrita como una piedra inamovible y una copa embriagadora: las naciones que intentan destruirla terminan danandose a si mismas. El pastor Brian conecto ese texto directamente con lo que ha ocurrido en Israel desde el 7 de octubre de 2023, senalando como Hamas, Hezbola, los hutis y finalmente Iran lanzaron ataques contra Israel y ninguno logro lo que buscaba.

La congregacion participo activamente en la conversacion, compartiendo observaciones del texto y conexiones con los eventos actuales. Brian explico que la profecia puede tener multiples capas de cumplimiento: un cumplimiento pasado, uno que se esta desarrollando hoy, y uno futuro cuando Jesus regrese. Ese dia final, dijo, es cuando el pueblo judio reconocera al mesias al que traspasaron, y llorara profundamente por el. El objetivo de toda la conversacion fue llenar de esperanza a quienes asisten, sin importar lo que esten viviendo personalmente.

Al final, Brian menciono varias actividades proximas de la iglesia: una reunion de solidaridad con Israel al dia siguiente en la plaza del pueblo, un bautismo el 13 de octubre en el rio Snake, un viaje a la Reservacion Wind River del 10 al 12 de octubre para servir a ninos de esa comunidad, y la celebracion de Sucot acampando en Little Granite Creek del 16 al 19 de octubre.

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Pasajes biblicos usados:

  • Zacarias 12 (leido completo en voz alta por la congregacion)
  • Joel 2 (mencionado como la profecia que Pedro cito en Pentecostes)
  • Hechos 2 (Pedro en el dia de Pentecostes)
  • Lucas 21 (la gran tribulacion)
  • Mateo 24 (la gran tribulacion)
  • Daniel 7 y 9 (el hombre de iniquidad y el pacto de siete anos)
  • Jeremias 30-31 (el tiempo de angustia de Jacob)
  • Ezequiel 38-39 (mencionado brevemente en relacion a las naciones)
  • Juan 18 (Jesus en el huerto de Getsemani)
Read the full transcript 10,398 words
Today. Come meet us in a unique way today. Yes, Lord. I tell you, we love you and you are welcoming. Come and have your way in this place.
We're gonna leave here changed today because we welcome you. Yes.
For how many of you, this is your first Sunday at the GMC? Okay. Wow. Wow. That's awesome.
This is how we get a
lot lot of of you. Money. Yeah. We, yeah, we spent a lot of Sundays here at the TMC. TMC stands for Tribe Ministry Center, and it was in 2020 when we felt like oh, there it is.
Oh, the music sounds good. I'll give a little history.
We were meeting at we were meeting at Snow King. Our church is about eight years old. We'll celebrate our eighth birthday at the end of the month. And we're meeting at Snow King. Then COVID happened, turned the world upside down, and we were meeting where all were we meeting?
At homes?
Parks. Parks outside. And one of our our esteemed board members said, hey. There is a there's an opportunity that maybe we could buy, like, a little live work unit in town. And we're like, it's COVID and we're homeless.
What so we looked at it. We looked at it. And a long story short, we ended up here at the TMC. We used the TMC for offices, for meetings, for counseling, things like that. We continued to be outdoors.
We met at Snow King Park. There was one famous Sunday where the sprinklers went off on us. We were on the high side. I don't know if you remember that. Maybe it happened twice or so.
So it was turned into a baptism service. It's the old one. The old baptism. And so that was fun. But then as the temperature started to like get colder and colder, like, where are we gonna meet?
And one of our members of pastor's council was like, guys, we have this space. What if we try to do church in this space? And we're like, that's that's crazy. Impossible. Impossible.
And then we spent two two two wonderful years right here in the TMC. It was being here at the TMC.
Can I
get a little water? Maybe from our fridge. Oh, yeah. That'll work. Thank you.
We spent almost two full years here at the TMC. Thank you so much. And it was also during this time that there began to be a shift in our format that first happened in my heart as the Lord was challenging my views on what I thought, like, success in ministry and what it was supposed to be. There were lots of great things that were happening in other people's hearts during that season as well. Spent two wonderful years here.
And then we went from we went from here to the Virginia. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Doing Christmas and Easter and bigger.
Mhmm. We are gonna do Christmas on the town square again. And for today's conversation, if you are taking notes, we're kind of on a theme of cups, but I've titled this morning's conversation the cup of Israel. So if you're taking notes, you can write the title of this morning's conversation, the cup of Israel. And if you are if you're brand new to tribe, admittedly, this is a a unique venue.
And one of the things that we like to play into with the uniqueness of this venue is it's really easy for us to have a conversation. Whether you're sitting all the way in the back row, like, Hannah a lot. Hi. Good morning. Hi, Hannah.
Yep. And I can hear you just fine. Or you're squeezed in here at the at the front row. This this venue lends itself to being more of a conversation. And we call that the VIP section where Carla is in the back.
Hi, Carla. Good morning. So we invite you to just be a part of this conversation. It's kind of like we're in a living room, but there's a lot of us in this living room. And so let's lean into the conversational feel and the family vibe that we have together this morning.
And what that means is I wanna hear from you. And you can be sitting all the way in the back row, and I'll still get to hear you just fine. If you have your bible with you this morning, let's turn to Zechariah chapter 12. And for some context, let's go ahead and we're going to we'll take turns. We'll read we don't have a mic to pass around this morning because we can all hear you just fine, and the livestream will pick it up.
But let's turn to Zechariah chapter 12. And if you're like, I don't know where the book of Zechariah is, every bible that you have in your lap has a table of contents in it, and so you can just open up the table of contents, find the book of Zechariah, and then turn to that page. In my bible, that will help you, it's on page 771. Or four ten sixty. Yes.
Or Zechariah chapter 12. And why don't we take turns to read all of Zechariah chapter 12. And as we get through a couple of different places in Zechariah, some of these verses, some of these little passages may stand out to you as being familiar. I think maybe we've talked about this before. But the goal is for us to get the big picture of all of Zechariah chapter 12.
And so whoever would like to start reading, would you please go for it?
Mine's titled future deliverance of Jerusalem. Great. This message concerning the fate of Israel came from the Lord. This message is from the Lord who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundations of the earth, and formed the human spirit. I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah.
On that day, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves. Four.
So on that day, says the lord, I will cause every horse to panic and every rider to lose his nerve. I will watch over the people of Judah, but I will blind the horses of her enemies. And the clans of Judah will say to themselves, the people of Jerusalem have found strength in the Lord Almighty, their God.
On
that day, I will make the clans of Judah
From the VIP session. On that day,
I will make the clans of Judah like a flame that sets a woodpile ablaze or like a burning torch among the shelves of grain. They will burn up all the neighboring nations right and left while the people living in Jerusalem remain secure. The Lord will give victory to the rest of Judah first before Jerusalem so that the people of Jerusalem and the royal line of David will not have greater honor than the rest of Judah. On that day, the Lord will defend the people of Jerusalem. The weakest among them will be mighty as king David, and the royal descendants will be like God, like the angel of the Lord who goes before them.
For on that day, I will begin to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
And I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died. The sorrow and mourning in Jerusalem on that day will be like the great mourning for Adad on the in the Valley Of Megiddo. All Israel will mourn each clan by itself and with the husband separate from their wives.
The clan of David will mourn alone as will the clan of Nathan, the clan of Levi, and the clan Shea. Each of the surviving clans from Judah were born separately and with the husbands separate from their wives.
Okay. To get the most out of any passage that we read, and we read this whole chapter, it's important to consider a couple of things. We talked about this before. Who's writing? Who is he writing to?
And in what context is he writing? Like, what time period? And so I don't have I don't have an expectation of you to know this, but just general broad stroke terms. What do you know about the person of Zachariah? What do we know about him as an author?
He's a prophet.
He's a prophet. Yep. And there the prophets are broken into two categories of profits. What's one of the two categories? Minor.
Minor profits and then the Major. Major profits. Great. So what category would Zachariah fit into? Major or minor?
Minor.
He's a minor prophet. Why is he a minor prophet? Well, history records that he was only about five foot three.
I
didn't think the orthopedic shoes I got would really help, but I stand corrected. That's all that tasted. Really a crinkled nose from Steve. King of the dad jokes. I don't get any love.
Alright. Alright. Okay. So we know that Zechariah was a minor prophet. Great.
Anything else we know about Zechariah. How about how about this? How about the genre of book that he wrote? Genre of of this particular book. Eschatological.
Eschatological, which is a fancy term for? Times. N times. Yep. So that that could be one I would say that's a a subcategory of a bigger overarching category.
You'll when somebody says you'd be like, oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right.
Of course. But, yes, you are right, Amanda.
Here in my in the introduction, it says,
Zachariah predicted more about the Messiah than any prophet except Isaiah. Woah. Well, is a great little piece of information that helps us. And did you know that there's more information in the bible about Jesus's second coming than his first. Okay.
I'm looking for the big literary genre. It is eschatological. It is about the messiah. Starts with a p. Is it poetic?
Prophecy. Prophecy. Yes. You're exactly right. So the so this book would fit into the the literary genre that we know of as prophecy.
So when we read Zechariah, the the way that we get the most out of this book is by digging through our our drawer of reader glasses, which our family is like it's like growing and growing. And you're like, okay. These okay. These are my prophecy glasses. So as you read the book of Zechariah, it's important to understand what genre.
So we know that Zechariah was a minor prophet. We know that he wrote the he wasn't sitting down and be like, I'd like to write in the literary style and theme of prophecy. He's just writing what the Lord puts on his heart, what he sees in the spirit, if you will. And it happens to be prophecy. Now how about what time period or so and yes, you can look in your introduction.
What time period was Zachariah writing in? Not necessarily a date, but like what was going on while Zachariah was writing these words? What do you know of? And, yes, Google can help you.
This was this was after the Hebrew people came back from exile. Like, what was it? 50,000 people, Gretchen, came back
from exile? Mhmm. Is that chapter two? Yeah. Correct.
From
VIP. So they have been, yeah, exiled for their naughtiness and and idol worship. And then the lord, as he does, kept his promise even though it was years later, and they got to return back to Jerusalem.
I think it's around five twenty BC.
No. 05/30.
And they came back and they were, like, patching things up and rebuilding the temple.
Now here's something that's interesting about Zechariah. It is a remnant that returns from exile in Babylon. They've been in Babylonian captivity for about seventy years. A remnant is coming back. A a second temple is being built.
Its its latter physical glory was nothing compared to its former glory under king Solomon, the temple that was built. But the people are trying to regain traction in Israel and in Jerusalem. The time when they needed encouragement and exhortation and comfort and strength for that time period. But what does God decide he wants Zechariah to talk about instead? You said it earlier.
A future time Yeah. Of a Messiah. This is a really important preliminary takeaway for us. How many of you have ever found yourself in the midst of a situation where you need comfort, strength, wisdom, direction, and you go to the Lord like, help me with this. And then God says, actually, let's talk about this.
And it's seemingly completely unrelated to what it is that you're going through and what it is that you need. Has anybody ever experienced that? No. Haven't. Yes.
We literally have a a historical example. Israel is just trying to, like, find their feet again. And God's like, I wanna talk to you about something way way way in the future. Now when we read biblical prophecy, here's something else that's important for us to know as we read biblical prophecy. Who it's written to and who is it for?
It was written to Jews in that day. It was written to Jews for a coming generation in the future, unknown to them at this time. Mhmm. And it's written for us today to to get a lot of spiritual and practical nutritional value out of. And here's one of the things to consider with prophecy which makes it a challenging genre of literature to read is that there are multiple layers of truth and there are multiple layers of fulfillment.
And when you hear somebody speak in such a way as that has already been fulfilled and is not relevant for us today, be careful. Mhmm. There is there is a a chance that it has literally been fulfilled and we're like, wow. Cool. Check that box.
Great. But you have to remember that when looking at the genre of prophecy, and there are you can you can look through all of the 66 books in the bible and you probably if you were to guess which book is historical narrative? Which book is I heard Converse say earlier poetic? Which book is prophecy? You probably would do a pretty good job of like guessing, oh, this is this is a book of prophecy.
Although books like the book of Jeremiah has some historical narrative because Jeremiah is like this happened and then this happened and this happened and then I went and cried and then I prayed and then I saw this and it's like prophecy and historical narrative. So like you have to have like one lens of of each. But when looking at the genre of prophecy, it's important to keep in mind that there could have been a fulfillment. There is a current unfolding and fulfillment, but then and also future fulfillment. Mhmm.
And we've seen this in great, like, fictional works and in movies, foreshadowing and types and shadows. And so when we look at the book of Zechariah, we can see some partial fulfillment. We can see some types and shadows that are intended to prepare and design our hearts and calibrate our minds so that when we see a literal fulfillment, we will be able to stand like Peter in the second chapter of Acts on the day of Pentecost when people said, look at these guys, they're drunk. And Peter's able to stand up and say, they're not drunk. It's ten in the morning.
This that you see is that that the prophet Joel spoke about. And then he quotes Joel chapter two. We want to be like Peter so that when we see events unfolding in the world around us, we will be able to say this that you're seeing out here in the world is that that the Lord has been preparing us for in his word. Are you with me so far? Okay.
I knew that you would be. So with that in mind, now let's zoom down all the way into Zechariah chapter 12. And we just read all of Zechariah chapter 12. The next question is, to whom is this passage for? Meaning, for to which generation is this passage?
Go ahead.
Yeah. I feel strongly that it's for us. The time that we live in is, you know, with what's going on in the world in Israel, it's very encouraging. It it it helps us understand, oh, okay. We I can get it based on on what he's he says.
So
you read, specifically, Zechariah chapter 12 because that's what we're talking about. As you see it, you're able to overlay Zechariah chapter 12 carefully and consider overlaying it on today's events. And your takeaway is that it gives you peace and confidence?
Yes. Yeah.
I think it's both and. Okay. Now and the people that he was that were rebuilding the temple at the time We need encouragement as well.
Okay. Alright. Which is which fits perfectly with what I said earlier about prophecy that it can have multiple layers with multiple fulfillments. Yep. And I know that you're not just saying that as a safe answer.
It's both for it's for the the the past, well, and the present, and well, and the future. Just get all your bases covered. What else do you see about to whom this generation this passage is written for or to? And do you have any clues in the text about to whom Zechariah is writing?
Perhaps check verse 10 written to the nonmessianic Jews at the time
of the Lord's return. Mhmm.
Okay. Yeah. That's great. I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer. So oh, this would be a really fun word study, and somebody might be able to, like, crank it out really quickly.
But in chapter 12, how many times is the phrase used on that day? Now when you read on that day, that should cause a little alarm in your head to go off for what in that day? What?
End times. I'm just like
I know. End times and specifically, did you say second coming? The second coming of Jesus. That is exactly right. It's known by a lot of different phrases.
On that day, in that day, the great day, the great and terrible day, it has it has a bunch of different flavors to it. But the basic recipe recipe is is whenever whenever you you see see in in that that day you can you can know that there is a strong likelihood that the author intends for us to cast our gaze to as maybe I heard Gretchen say, end times or the second coming or the second advent of Jesus.
So this is written to the generation that's alive when that happens?
Alright. That is a beautiful summary that you phrased as a question. Right. Right. Say it one more time because I think it's really valuable and it helps us to move forward in our conversation.
So this he's speaking to the people, the generation that are alive when that happens is what I'm reading. On that day.
Yes.
He's speaking to people that will see that on that day.
Mhmm. Yes. So, Joy, you are right. It is it was written for the exiles that had recently returned from captivity in Babylon to strengthen and encourage and comfort them. And a greater, more vivid fulfillment of Zechariah chapter 12 is to yet be unfolded for us.
So bottom line, when we read Zechariah chapter 12, it's for a day in the future. Yes. I have a question. Yes.
Just in this chapter 12 and from verse 12 down to the end, five times, just right there, it says, the wives will be by themselves. Why does that emphasize so many?
Oh, that's that's great. Can does somebody have any thoughts or insight into that? I couldn't hear. Oh, okay. Towards the end of Zechariah chapter 12, it is mentioned several times that the women will be separate from the men.
And this is where our Gentile brains get hung up. I don't understand. But a Jew would or if you've ever been to the Wailing Wall or the Western Wall in Jerusalem, you're like, yep. Makes sense. So what what am I getting at?
Yeah. What are you getting at?
Men and women have to mourn separately. Separately.
Yes. Men and women, according to Jewish faith and traditions, they mourn separately. And if you were to go to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, there's half for the men and another section for the women. And so this is a an indication of formal, deep, sincere, contrite, heavy duty mourning.
Good question.
That's a fantastic question.
It's interesting to note that directly before that, like, verse 11 is the, like, the great morning of the Haddad Ramon in the plane of Medigo where it's like that is a full cultural as a people group type of mourning. And then you look at also, it goes deeper and 12 through the end gets into that, like, personal mourning. That's why it talks about that separation.
Corporate national mourning all the way down to tribes and families and individuals that when verse 10 unfolds, it will penetrate the hearts of the people nationally, religiously, all the way down to an individual. For example, recently, did The United States experience a devastating hurricane? Yes. Are we in The United States? Yes.
Yes. Did we experience it? No. No. But I like what you're pointing out, Connor, is that from the biggest macro all the way down to individuals, They will look upon the one whom they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as for an only son.
Okay. Let's look at verse two and three. This is what I'd like us to to focus on. And we've talked about this several times. I've tried here.
Verse two. I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah. And then verse three. On that day, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All of the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves.
How about from this passage, and it's up here on the screen. I'm not necessarily looking for you to draw any kind of deep spiritual conclusions yet, but how about just some observations that you notice about the text? And we should turn it up.
It is usually pretty solid.
I'm happy to just sit here and trim
it up.
Brian, this is kind of obscure. But Great. When I think or when I see a movable rock, I just immediately think of in Jerusalem the Dome Of The Rock because that's such a special spot. Again, probably obscured. Not relevant, but I because that's where they believe that Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac.
And then the Muslims believe that's where Muhammad Muhammad was rescinded. You know? So it's like a very spiritual special spot. So, yeah, that's what I think of. The words like, no.
That's my rock. I'll do what I want
to do. Okay. So let me help to explain and clarify what you just said. So you said the Dome Of The Rock. The Dome Of The The Rock is a structure on top of what would be considered by many people to be the the flat level courtyard area where the temple once stood.
The Temple Mount of some people thinking consider it is. On the Temple Mount that is a holy Jewish site, there is a building with a dome on it that was constructed by Muslims that enshrines inside a big rock, like a big boulder. And so they call it the Dome Of The Rock. So what you're what you're not saying is the dome of the rock is the immovable rock, but what you're saying is the rock inside the dome of the rock, that's what it makes you think of. Right?
Yes. Don't know. Yes? Okay. Alright.
Alright. So not the building on top that memorializes the big boulder but the big boulder. And really Right. The big boulder, all you can see is just kind of the top of it. You you go inside and you're like There
so much character to use something that other people are putting value on in an inappropriate way, and he's like, I'm gonna do
what I'm gonna do with that. I'm gonna do
what eventually shows shows you. You know?
I love it. What else do you see?
These two verses show the strength of Jerusalem.
Okay. And how and what way?
What do you see? Well, I mean, how he's gonna make them so strong that people are gonna hurt themselves when they try to come against him. And that the strength of Jerusalem, it's gonna be able to defend itself.
Okay? What stands out to me is those words intoxicating drink. I think that in saying that, he's trying to say that they wouldn't be jealous. They're gonna watch Jerusalem so bad like an intoxicated. Mhmm.
Mhmm. Because because I don't know what it is in in Hebrew, but it really stood out
to me from the holders.
Now would be a good time to consider, just like you said, Lee, overlaying what we read in the bible with events that we see unfolding in the world around us.
So you gave me an opportunity. But I the the significance of the immovable rock is Jerusalem will not be destroyed, period. Mhmm. It will not be. So that's encouraging for me this season and time, but I'm sure it was encouraging to the Hebrews at that time when Zechariah spoke that.
Jerusalem, it ain't going away no matter what.
What about the Jews reading this in sixty nine AD, the year before Rome sacked Jerusalem and literally razed Razed. The Temple and Jerusalem. We have to we have to hold these things in a little bit of tension because it's it's it's prudent and wise, but tell me more about Jerusalem. Are you talking about the city? Are you talking about the idea?
Are you talking about the people?
Yes. To me, it's like, okay. The buildings are destroyed. So what? Okay.
It's it's the spirit for lack of a better term. Sure. It's the spirit of Jerusalem. It's the power. It's something, I don't know, a portal from heaven.
I don't know. But whatever it is, it isn't gonna go away.
Yep. Yeah. Okay. I like it.
What else? I see contrast well, similarities between the way Jerusalem is being described here and the way Jesus has been described like a rock of a fence, a rock of stumbling that, you know, that then has hurt himself bond. Well, I guess, no. Jesus hurt his foot. But, anyway, like, Jesus
It's good. It's Let's let's let's let's look at that.
Can repeat
what she said? That she says, I see a similarity between Jerusalem and Jesus. That in the same way that that God made Jesus like an immovable rock that the dirty devil tried to kick out of the way but only ended up throwing his own back out. Do we have any bible verses that you can look up that supports that?
Well, how about when Jesus said, you know, you can tear this place down, but in three days Oh. They're gonna restore it. There's gotta be some significance there or some relationship.
I love it. I love it. Which which goes back to and is a hyperlink to what to your answer, the question that I asked about what and who is Jerusalem. Oh, yeah. That that it's bigger Jerusalem is bigger than the geographical boundaries of a city.
Correct.
There's to this idea or theme of Jerusalem than just a a place with a ZIP code. Building. Yeah.
Yeah. And yet could there be a significance to that geo geographical location? It's like the Lord said God said, this is mine forever. Whether there's a building there or not, it's it's mine. This is mine.
The geography. Mhmm.
I heard somebody once say that God is a territorial being. That that there are defined boundaries of heaven. There are defined boundaries spoken of about the New Jerusalem. There are areas, terrestrial areas on planet Earth that he has put his finger on and says this is mine. Yeah.
A mirror. I want to I want to I want to stay grounded in scripture because although that we historically at the foundation of our nation committed this nation as one nation under God, I I want to confine our conversation to biblical scriptural base because I don't see America in the bible at all. Yeah. I think that I think that we can, and sometimes perhaps, not stretched beyond the bounds of of scripture that that we can that, oh, I I I might see The United States in there. Specifically speaking, there is a time in Ezekiel, maybe '38 or '39 where this man of lawlessness sets his sights on Israel and the holy Land and the people of the covenant, but it says that ships from Tarshish, which is basically like like west west west, come against him and say, not so fast.
Could that be a naval blockade from The United States that deterred him? I don't know. But I just want I want us to be careful. We as a nation, a founding of our nation, said, Lord, we give you this land in our hearts. God's like, that is so awesome.
I love you. I'll bless you. And he has great amazing things for us as a nation still. But for the purpose of our conversation, I wanna try to stay confined to the text. Yeah?
But he has clearly put his finger on Israel and Jerusalem. Yeah. My people, my holy mountain, my city, the city where my name dwells. Now let's overlay what we're reading in all of Zechariah 12 and specifically verse two and three over current events that we see unfolding today. What parallels or connections do you see or can you make?
We already see how Jerusalem is like an intoxicating drink. Everybody it's a real contentious topic everywhere across the world for some reason. Like, why would that be? You know? And everybody wants that land for some reason as well.
Mhmm. So, I mean, I think people just have this feeling of some sort that they want Israel.
Yeah. Well, and even since the formation of it, like, officially being, like, the nation of Israel, Like, historically, there's just been so many people, like, he says, like, trying to go after him. Like, since it was, like I mean, the first week even. Like, that it was an actual, like, okay. This is your place.
Like, we've seen it besieged and all sorts of armies all around coming after it.
Perhaps the most highly contested piece of dirt Yeah. On this planet of ours. And Gretchen and Jacob having been there this time about this time last year Exactly this time last year. Could sense and feel the tension of being pulled by a lot of different nations and cultures and peoples and histories wanting to claim it.
And I would say too, like, when I look at verse two and I see Jerusalem and Judah, in my brain, that just signals that it's talking about Jerusalem, but it's also talking about the people. Like, Judah to me represents the people. And and we see historically the people, the Jewish people consistently being targeted for no reason. Like, even before
they had simply than that they are Right. Jews. Right. Even before they
had land. So we're talking now about them as because it's the land, but it was before they even had the land.
Mhmm. Yeah.
So it's been throughout history. And as I read Zach all of Zechariah 12, the warning is to those people who are
When did that kinda come back together? So Rome came in, conquered both northern and south. So is this Judah the land? Is this Israel
and and Judah? Just rip it south.
So so according to the allotment from Moses, from the covenant of Sinai, the different tribes got their allotment of land. So Judah, the tribe of Judah, had a section like you get Lincoln County. You know? So I think that's part of what you're referring to. But the Northern and Southern kingdoms were really never unified again as tribes until the the United Nations recognized and established the nation of Israel.
And when you read Jerusalem and Judah, I think you might not have heard it too well, but I think Gretchen beautifully pointed out that there's a geographical spot, the land, Israel, and the people of Judah. I don't know if that helped to
because it's actually Judah. Jerusalem's the capital of Judah. So they're the same land too.
So that's why I was Geographically. Geographically.
They're not north and south.
Jerusalem was in the land of allotment given to the tribe of Judah?
Yes.
That's cool. I also
I see a lot of peace for verse in verse three for right now. Like, we live in such a where we're seeing the nations coming against Israel and trying to move it and, you know, just being drawn like that intoxicating drink. But but they will only hurt themselves. And so in a time where we could get spiral into anxiety about what's going on over there and start to think, oh, the world is melting down. We have this promise that if we really believe the bible, then they're only gonna hurt themselves.
And there are people that you hurt. It's not that nobody's gonna get hurt, but but just in, like, big picture zoomed out, we can be assured that God is still in control, that he will protect, you know, the people and the land, and that when we find ourselves spinning out in anxiety about how that's gonna affect everything, we can actually be at peace and go and know we already know the hint. Mhmm. Awesome.
Just had a crazy thought. Well, welcome to try it. We shared it publicly. Maybe the Jews, all the persecution, everything is behind them if we're talking about today. That there's only a a a light crazy ahead.
You know what I mean? No. Well, it I mean, because I'm looking at the end picture, not going through the end times, but the end picture. Because we're all gonna you know, it's not just Jew. It'll be Gentile that suffers through the end times.
But I just kinda feel like all the things that have happened to the Jews from day one are sort of done and over with, and we're moving towards something much greater and much better. I kinda feel that in that verse on that day.
Ask ask my friend Jacob or Sherry that live in Beth Sheehan or Yeah. Marco. Thank you. Right. I'm guessing Mark like like, right now, like, hey.
Hostages and Yeah. Like, how are you doing right now? Like, it's getting brighter. They they certainly would. And we can see in Big picture.
Big picture from the text, we can read in Jeremiah chapter 30 or 31 that there is a time coming known by the Jews as a time of Jacob's trouble. As Gentiles and Christians, we understand that from Luke 21, Matthew chapter 24 as a time of tribulation. Seven in book of Daniel talks about the man of lawlessness will make a covenant with the people. And then Daniel says, like, in his cryptic way, times and certain times and half of times, but then halfway through that, he'll break it. There will be a peace accord made with Israel that will last about that's inked out in paper for seven years.
Through halfway through, as part of a provision, maybe a third temple will be rebuilt. I don't know. But halfway through, the temple sacrifices will be stopped, and there will be a more intense wave of persecution against Israel unlike has ever happened and unfolded in the history of persecution against Israel. To make the holocaust look like a walk in the park, that was only 6,000,000 Jews across
Europe. And that's still yet
to come. That is still yet to come. God will use that for the chastisement of Israel and the exposing of the hearts and attitudes of the nations of the world of their attitude towards Israel. Think of this intoxicating drink almost like a a truth serum. Everyone must drink from the cup of Israel.
It is a stone in all of our paths. Will it provoke you to rage and animosity or trying to delete Israel while they had their chance? Or does it cause a change in your heart? And it says, I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes a nearby nation stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah. On that day, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock.
All of the nations will gather against to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves. When we overlay that today, who attacked Israel on October 7? Hamas. Hamas. Terrorist group based out of the Gaza Strip who also has a political faction to their terrorist organization.
Because the Palestinians living in Gaza ever since 1946 when the nation of Israel was created. What about the Palestinians? What about the Palestinians? We want our own place. We want our own place.
We want own place. There was given to them the West Bank and and the Gaza Strip under Israeli supervision and through suicide bombings, stabbings of civilians, bombings of Sbarro pizza places, continuous raids on Israeli citizens. We want our own state. We want our own state. We want our own state.
Israel said, okay. Fine. Unilaterally pulled out of Gaza in 2005. Here you go. Hamas, a terrorist organization, seized control and rewarded Israel by pulling out in 2005 with more bombings, border attacks, terrorist activity.
And we see the single biggest terrorist act in 2007, almost a year ago. October. November. 2020. Yes.
What did I
just say? 2007.
Oh, yes. Sorry. Sorry. October seventh two thousand twenty twenty three. Thank you.
Single biggest terrorist attack from Hamas coming to remove this the rock of Israel from the river to the sea. Palestine will be free. Push the nation of Israel into the ocean, and then we'll be free.
And interestingly enough, the what they called the mission for October 7 was the name of the Dome Of The Rock.
Al Aqsa, day of freedom. And Al Aqsa is the mosque, not the Dome Of The Rock, but a mosque situated right near there. You're exactly right. So what happened to Hamas as a result of their terrorist attack on citizens of Israel. What was the end result of Hamas?
They got hurt. They were literally ground into the dust. And
just to add to that too, even Hamas, Hezbollah, and and the Houthis, Israel is, like you said, grinding them in the dust, but, ultimately, it's destroying, it's hurting Iran. That because they're they're the source of all of this. And yeah.
So so it is commonly known that Hamas fights Israel as a proxy
Yes.
For the country of the Iranian regime. Yep. Hamas has been reduced to dust at the unfortunate cost of some collateral damage of Palestinians. Regret. Regret.
Regret. Heartbreakingly so. It is Hamas who chooses to set up their mortars and their rockets in schools, in the basements of hospitals, on the balconies of homes, in parks, where embedded within the citizens of the nation or of the people of of Gaza. Hamas tries to remove Jerusalem and they throw their back out. In the midst of okay.
So let me ask you this. What happened October 8? October 7, Hamas attacked Israel. What happened October 8? Hezbollah.
Mhmm. Johnson. Launched hundreds of rockets into Northern Israel as thinking that while they're being distracted and the nation of Israel is focused on on Gaza and in Southern Israel, Hezbollah thought this is our chance. And they just took a big old drink. Oh, yes.
Causing them to become intoxicated thinking that that now is their chance with their enemy being distracted. They could attack and take out Israel. How successful has Hezbollah in from Lebanon been? Not. Not bad.
You're not. I
think the greatest illustration of verse three is last week, Iran launched hundreds of missiles into Israel, and who was hurt? One
One. Palestinian. Palestinian man. Yeah. Israel is fighting a a seven front war right now.
You don't see this necessarily on Bach, CNN, and the SMBC. They're fighting Hamas in the South, Hezbollah to the North. They're fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen. Do you know that the United States Navy just this week sent guided missiles to take out strategic targets in Yemen? United States Navy is landing missiles in Yemen to keep seaports open in the Gulf Of Aqaba.
Yemen has launched missiles against Israel. They're fighting Syria, Iraq. We talked to Hezbollah from Lebanon, Iran, and then the the seventh front of this seven front war is the avalanche, the flood of antisemitic propaganda against Israel. Everyone must drink from the cup. The question is what effect and impact does it have on you?
Does does drinking from the cup of Israel cause you to be more sober, or does it cause you to reel with drunkenness and to lose your footing? Remember when the soldiers came to to arrest Jesus in the Garden Of Gethsemane in the Gospel of John? And they and they said, where's this Jesus? Jesus stepped forward and said, I am he. And it says they just fell down.
I can just picture, like, you know, like, movie special effect. Lost their footing.
I would say too, like, being over there, and I would encourage anybody to go, like, sitting here thinking about a trail without ever going is a different feeling than being there.
And when
you're there, there's this heaviness of there's just a spiritual heaviness like I've never felt before in my life. When you're there, you have all these people crammed into this one place, Arabs, Jews, they they really only have three people. They have Arabs, Jews, and Christians is what they consider their group. K? So if you're not a Christian from America, you're an
Arab or
you're a Jew. You know? That's really their their sex. But for the most part, there's this heaviness that I've never felt before. And when you feel that heaviness, you do start to it's almost like a drunken feeling.
It's almost like even for me as a Christian, having these same beliefs about Israel, it was still hard for me to process. I had a lot of emotions and feelings about Israel being there. And it like, some was anger. Some was disappointment. Some was regret.
And so it's easy to sit here and think about it, but when you're there and realize what they're going through and being in that region, which has definitely has some spiritual significance. Just being in that land has spiritual significance. But feeling the emotions, and they weren't all good emotions. There were some negative emotions against Israel, being in Israel. I don't know why.
That heaviness that came on through the spiritual forces and the battles that's going on there spiritually that we don't understand here in America. Mhmm. It's a different feeling. It's a different thing. So I guess it's one thing to look at it as from a grand point of view, like, see these different countries coming against Israel.
But when you're there, you understand it's pressure from all sides. It's the whole world is, like, pushing against Israel, you know, and you feel it spiritually, and you feel it in the air when you're there. So I would encourage you to go there if you ever get a chance, and you can, and just
feel it. We'll tribe will go in 2025. We'll go. We'll go. Okay.
We'll go in 2025. We'll probably we'll roll out details in January, but we'll go in 2025. A couple of quick takeaways as we start to land the plane. There will be a real, more of the the most vibrant fulfillment of Zechariah chapter 12 on that day, which means when Jesus returns. When Jesus returns, the nation of Israel will will recognize him as their messiah, I believe, because he will descend back to planet Earth in a similar manner that God descended on Mount Sinai.
Every Jew understands and remembers the story of God coming down to visit with Moses and the people of Israel on Mount Sinai. I believe that Jesus will return to planet Earth within our generation in a similar manner that will be unmistakable. And he will then lead an army to liberate Israel to rescue refugees that have been out in the desert seeking asylum, Maybe in the wilderness of Jordan, Realpetra. They they call it the land of Edom back in the bible. And then he will lead those people to retake with I mean, it's kind of hard to imagine, but I'm just trying to paint some accurate f sixteens, f 35 Raptors, Abrams tanks.
And men and women and millions of saints with resurrected bodies, I don't know what that's gonna be like to retake the city of Jerusalem where the antichrist has set up the abomination that causes desolation in the temple. It will defeat the antichrist and his armies. And on that day, verse six, I'll make the clans of Judah like a flame that sets a wood pile ablaze, like a burning torch among sheaves of rain. They will burn up all the neighboring nations right and left while the people living in Jerusalem remain secure. I will give victory to the rest of Judah before Jerusalem so that the people of Jerusalem and the royal line of David will not have greater honor than the rest of Judah.
On that day, the Lord will defend the people of Jerusalem. The weakest among them will be as mighty as King David, that there will be a retaking as Jesus leads recent captives in his train to retake the city of Jerusalem. And once the city of Jerusalem has been retaken and and everybody's and Israelis are done beating their chest, and we are like,
we did it. We
did it. They're gonna look back at the commander of the liberating forces of this man, Jesus, who has returned and be like, oh my gosh. You're more than just a brilliant ground force commander. You're more than a you are saving the world, and they will collectively have a remembering of the one who may have pierced. And be like, and they staggered and real and more.
To land the plane, the goal of today's conversation is to fill our hearts with hope. I know that whatever it is that you may be going through right now today, it could seem as though this topic of conversation is really far distant and removed. Like, how does that help me find a job by the end of October? Right? How does this help me climb out of debt that I'm in?
How does this help knowing this does this help to repair my marriage? Like, I understand that you're going through very real and practical things right now. But in the same way that Zechariah was speaking to the remnant that had returned from Israel and were looking for hope and comfort and God said, well, here's what I wanna talk about. In a similar way, bring whatever it is that you're going through to him and listen to his heart speak to you about what's on his mind to your heart, Israel, and a coming day of freedom, redemption, vindication, and and a season where we will, just as you said, Suzanne, celebrate and be at peace and be be at the light at the end of the tunnel. And in fact, God has a really quirky annual family tradition where he invites his people, his family to go camping for a week, where they can set aside all of the stuff and the things and the and the busyness and and go camping with him, like, literally camping with him where we can where we can rest and rejoice in his goodness and in his provision and in his promise that he's gonna make everything work out and that all we need is just him.
When you're camping, Nancy, you don't have your bedroom, know, your your pediatric Sleep gel mask and, you know, and all the things. We just get to, like like, part of the beauty of camping is you just strip down to the simplicity. And so Jews know that god that family tradition of the lord as Sukkot, and last year, our tribe family celebrated Sukkot by going camping for a whole week. And the the that holiday fell from, like, a a Sunday to a Friday. This year, it falls on, a Wednesday through a next Wednesday.
So do you have that that picture of that calendar? You can see here Wednesday, October 16 through Saturday the nineteenth. Birthday. No. That's October.
October. So, like, coming up really soon. Yeah. Coming up really soon. We are going to as a tribe family, for anybody that that can, we're gonna go camping for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and then Saturday night we break camp and and come home.
And here's what a lot of people did last year. They if you have a camper, you can park it there. If you have a tent, can set it up. Or if you're camping in your van or whatever. People would just come come down to where we're camping after work, and then just we'd be together.
Some people have to get up early to go to work. Some people could stay like that whole time. Like, Clay loved it. You know? He stayed out there the whole time with his little work.
Think. Why don't you miss this one? Oh, he'll miss this one. He's got actually, he missed it. Yeah.
Oh, well. So next week next week, we'll give you better instructions about where we're gonna be, but last year we were up Little Granite Creek. And this year we'll also be up Little Granite Creek. There's little to no cell service up there as you probably know. But if you can come each night, if you can come for, like like, all of those days, probably what we'll do is set up a camp down there.
And then during the day, we have appointments and meetings and things so we go do our work day. But then we'll come back down in the evening. We'll have dinner together, whatever you're bringing down to cook. And and I'm not gonna feed all y'all every night. But I certainly might have some of your feeds.
We'll try. And then, you know, breakfast and then come back up to your normal work day. We'll talk a little bit more about this next week. But when you read when you read Zechariah chapter 12 and especially verse two through three, We talk about sober October. This is a month to drink deeply of sobriety, to have a level head on your shoulders about what's unfolding in Israel, To not not be thrown off by a false narrative that will cause you to stagger and reel and fall down, but to be sober on God's truth.
What does he say about Israel? What does he say about the land? What does he say about the people? That though the land perhaps could crumble and suffer, his finger is still on that, then there's something about the land and the people and his covenant that he will never forsake. And knowing that, we can anticipate and look forward to Sukkot, which is when we get to dwell with him in simplicity and in completeness.
So no matter what you're going through, if it feels like you are under attack on multiple different fronts, hold your ground. Hold your ground. It's the enemy that will throw his back out. So, help us. Yes.
Help us to think rightly about Israel. Help us to to think rightly about your truth. No matter what we're going through, help us to to have a supernatural understanding that your finger is on our lives and that any rocket lobbed against us will just fall into the sea or fall on unpopulated areas. We thank you that your spirit hovers over our lives like an iron dome protecting us. Comfort us and encourage us what we're going through.
And, Lord, we pray specifically for Israel, that you would protect the people of Israel, that you give them wisdom and prudence, and ultimately that that they would have their eyes open to look upon one that they have pierced. Heal their blindness. Heal their brokenness. And, Lord, we pray for the remaining hostages that are still being held in captivity. They're being used as human shields to protect the leader of Hamas Sinmar somewhere in tunnels.
Be with them. Protect them. We pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen. I'll do offering announcements real quick since I'm here.
Recently, there was a an Israeli woman that came through. Her name was Moran. She was a hostage. She was held captive for fifty five days before she was released. She spoke right here at the ward.
I don't know how many of you went to this. I don't know how many more opportunities that tribe can provide for you that that like I can't force you to take advantage of these things. Like if you didn't go while I had word or I don't care whatever I gotta say this. Like like get your butt to these opportunities. Hear the words out of her mouth.
And I thought, I didn't know. It's okay. Not fussy. She said that most nights when she would dream, she would dream of all of these faces of people that she had never met before just coming up to her, hugging her and hugging her and hugging her and hugging her. Are those the prayers of parents?
Are those the prayers of the saints praying for Israel? And when she got to interact with other hostages, they all had similar dreams. Every night, people just coming up to and hugging her. So we pray for Lord, we pray for those the the hostages. By way of announcements, tomorrow, this is one of those opportunities.
Tomorrow at 5PM, there will be a one year anniversary gathering by the Jews of this community on the town square, and tribe has been invited to help, attend, and support, and participate. The invitation has gone out to first b. I've talked to Ray at first b, Ben at PCHAH, Aaron at Gateway, Eric at Cornerstone, and I don't know what I don't know what their attendance will be, but once again, I'm inviting you as a tribe fam. Just set aside your schedule if you're not working. It's on the Town Square at 5PM.
It's about one hour and this I don't know. I don't think I've loaded that graphic. The 11:00 will have the graphic, but it's tomorrow 5PM in Town Square and you're invited to attend barefoot. Come barefoot. Like, without my shoes on, like, that carpet is too prickly for me.
But I'm going I'm going barefoot. As a way of showing solidarity and support for those that are still being held hostage in underground tunnels in Gaza. Talking to Moran, she said that the first thing they did was rip her shoes off. Every other hostage that she encountered during those fifty days being moved around and they all they all had their shoes removed. Just makes them more vulnerable.
It's harder to run away if you're barefoot. And so in solidarity with Jews still being held hostage, take your shoes off there or just leave them in your car as you walk up to the town square. It's only about an hour. So so please make every effort to attend that. October 13, We're would you put that calendar back up just so we can see?
October 13, which will be next Sunday, we're gonna do a baptism. We have two candidates for a baptism so far. And so if you have either never been baptized in water or maybe you got water baptized as like a child or a baby, but it like didn't mean anything to you. But now over these years, you've grown in your faith, you know what it means to die to your sin and to live for Jesus. You know, like, think that I should get water baptized.
Great. Fantastic. Soon as we're done with service here, come see me. October 13, as soon as we're done with service, we will be meeting back at the Virginian on the thirteenth. We are going to hop in our vehicles and we're gonna drive down to the South Park Boat Ramp.
Alright? So that is the South Side of the Snake River Park, not at the boat ramp where they're loading and unloading drift boats, but, like, right at the little parking area. And then we walk down a little travel path, and we're we're gonna do so far, we've got two people signed up for baptism. If you would like to get baptized or you're like, help me to figure out or talk through if maybe I should get baptized, I'm happy to do that as well. Just see me after service today.
So tomorrow, wrap gathering gathering on the town square at 5PM, October 13, we have a baptism. October 16, we're going camping for Sukkot. Even if you just like come down for the evening and hang out, roast a couple of marshmallows and then bounce back over. That's great.
But go back. The tenth, we're going to Wind River. No. The tenth. Ten through the twelfth.
Drive so busy. Ten through the twelfth, we're going over to Riverton, Wyoming to help a church that's doing an outreach to the Wind River Reservation for their kids. They bus them in. We'll do, like, a little fall party with them, get them all jacked up on sugar. Load them up with Jesus.
Okay. I think you said load them back up on the bus.
Load them up on Jesus and then load them back up on the bus. He'd send them up with sugar. So there's there's a a a lot going on, and I get everything. Alright. Let's worship the Lord one other way.
Let's do our tithes and offerings. And it's so fun we haven't got to say this in a while but here at Tribe we don't pass buckets but there is a little black box on the outside of the door that if you have cash or check you can drop your tithe or offering right there. You can also get through our website, drivejh.com. Most people are generous through their smartphones by opening up a new text at 84321, type any amount, and if it's the first time that you're giving, they'll give you some instructions. And then after that, it's as easy as texting a friend.
Lord Jesus, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for being good to us. Lord, we pray for the nation of Israel that your hand of blessing and protection would be on them.
Lord, we pray for the the the families that have been affected by the hurricane either directly, like, on the coast or inland with the flooding and the torrential rains. Lord, we ask that that we would begin to see testimonies of miracles and miracles of protection and and preserving of lives, Lord. And we ask that that your name would be made famous throughout that whole region. Thank you for blessing us here in Wyoming, in Jackson, where our biggest inconvenience is like having to wait forty five minutes in line for traffic while they're repaving our streets. Lord, we have it so good.
Thank you. We just tell you thank you. We love you, and we trust you. By way of saying thank you, we offer to you a portion of our finances. God, I ask that you would receive these finances and use them to make your name famous here at Tribe, in Jackson Hole, the surrounding region, and to the uttermost grounds of the earth.
We pray these things in Jesus' name. And everybody said Amen. Amen. I love you. Next week, we'll be back at the Virginia.
Thanks for being a part of our time here. Stand up. I'll pray for you. Lord Jesus, I command a blessing over our tribe family. Give us a great week.
Fill our freezers full of meat. Help us to enjoy this beautiful fall weather. We pray these things in Jesus' name, the strong son of God. And everybody said, amen. Amen.
Alright. Stay sober. I love you very much. Have a great weekend. Remember, you got this.

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