Zechariah 14:17 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Zechariah 14:17

Comments

Every male in Israel was commanded to literally go up to Jerusalem for the three major feasts of the year (Exodus 23:14-17). This law is referred to here but it is applied to Gentile believers. It is not to be carried out literally but they must do whatever is the equivalent of this in the gospel age. They must worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and that worship will include all the elements of worship that were incorporated in those feasts – the Passover, the feast of firstfruits, and the feast of booths or tabernacles. If any fail to appear before the Lord, there would be no rain on their lands. This was the punishment threatened against any in Israel who turned aside to serve other gods (Deuteronomy 11:16-17) and listen to the voice of the Lord (Deuteronomy 28:12).If even this discipline does not succeed in causing the God-fearing heathen to worship as he should there will be still firmer judgment upon them. God will no longer wink at sin but will discipline his people no matter what land they come from, for the church of God will be composed of people from all nations and they will all be called to live a life of holiness and to worship in spirit and in truth. Why is the feast of tabernacles chosen? Because it reminds us that Israel was in the wilderness; they were travellers as we too are travellers through this world in which we are strangers like Abraham. The feast of tabernacles came five days after the day of atonement.

Application

Questions

Certainly this does not fit a future literal 1000-year millennium. The literal interpretation requires that heathens from all over the globe undertake a mass movement to Jerusalem which would be completely incapable of accommodating them all. It requires that Jewish feasts that have been fulfilled in Christ and are no longer to be observed according to apostolic teaching, are reinstated and binding on all who believe. What would evil be doing in a millennium when Christ has returned to earth and is ruling from Jerusalem? They also teach that when the Lord returns there will be no unhappiness and the ungodly will somehow be transformed. Why do the Dispensationalists not understand the language of prophecy? How is it that the parables of Christ have not taught them how to interpret figurative language?

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Zechariah 14:17 Commentary and Bible Study