The final chapter of Zechariah is a challenging one to understand. In interpreting it, one has to decide which military campaign or campaigns against Jerusalem is/are in view at the beginning of the chapter. During the history of Christianity, there have been exegetes who have seen this campaign as
- that of Antiochus IV in 167 BC;
- that of the Romans in 70 AD;
- one occurring in the future, just before the second coming of Jesus.
One also has to decide how literally to interpret the images presented there. Every interpreter sees some combination of literal and symbolic meanings in reading this chapter, as Wolters shows. Decisions are often made according to the eschatological model with which the interpreter is working, including the question of whether there will be a restoration of Israel that will occur on the ground.
I personally favor an inclusive interpretive model that includes both "already" and "not yet" aspects---both the progress of the Kingdom over the centuries and a final intervention in world affairs. I have no problem with things like Feast of Tabernacles celebrations taking place when Christ and the saints are ruling the world (vv 16-18). Certainly the symbolism of the Feast fits well with the great ingathering of the nations described in Zech 14.
One passage in Zech 14 that points to some fulfillment at the Messiah's return is in verse 4: "On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east." The verse connects with Acts 1:11-12, where Jesus ascends from the Mount of Olives and it is promised that he will return as he ascended.
Another passage that connects with the return of the Messiah is in verse 5: "Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him". This passage reminds us of statements about Jesus' return in the New Testament---1 Thes 3:13; Jude 1:14; Matt 24:30-31.
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