Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to
worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 If any of the
peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they
will have no rain. 18 If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The
LORD [will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the
Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the
nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
20 On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the
cooking pots in the LORD’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. 21 Every pot
in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will
take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in
the house of the LORD Almighty. – Zechariah 14:16-21
The survivors from all the nations that had attacked Jerusalem are the same as the sheep
of Matthew 25:31-46 and the Wheat of Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.
An enigmatic prophecy about Enoch (who was translated into heaven prior to the flood of
Noah) is recorded in the book of Jude. It has a double fulfillment: First, at the time of the Flood
of Noah to judge the antediluvian world, destroying probably many billions of earth’s
inhabitants. Then, at the end of this present age Jesus will again appear “with his ten thousands
of holy ones” (Jude 14-15).
A mystery-filled prophecy in Ezekiel clearly relates in part to the end time and God’s
judgment of his people Israel:
As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will rule over you with a mighty hand and an
outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. 34 I will bring you from the nations and gather you
from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm
and with outpoured wrath. 35 I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face,
I will execute judgment upon you. 36 As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt,
so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD. 37 I will take note of you as you pass under my
rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. – Ezekiel 20:33-37
The promise to gather Israel from the nations was largely fulfilled during the past 100
years by the Zionist movement and the formation of the nation of Israel.
The term “wilderness of the peoples” may refer to Edom, (Southern Jordan, i.e., Petra)
according to some Bible scholars.
The term “pass under the rod” appears in Leviticus 27 and symbolizes a separation of the
consecrated and the unconsecrated animals of the flock.
Isaiah 11 also contains a mystery concerning the end time. In this chapter Messiah is
called a ―Branch‖ from the root of Jesse, the father of King David. As such he will have the
right to rule. Because he will be filled with the Spirit of the LORD, his reign will be just. One
portion of this chapter promises,
In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him,
and his place of rest will be glorious. 11 In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time
to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper
Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea.
12 He will raise a banner for the nations
and gather the exiles of Israel;
he will assemble the scattered people of Judah
from the four quarters of the earth. – Isaiah 11:10-12
National Repentance
As mentioned in the previous chapter, this age will begin with a great outpouring of
national repentance (Zechariah 12:10-14).
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and
supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as
one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.” –
Zechariah 12:10
Restoration and Prosperity
Ezekiel chapters 36 and 37 describe the miraculous regathering of the Chosen People
from all over the earth. The early portion of this narrative foretold the amazing rebirth of the
nation of Israel that we have witnessed in our own generation. The later portion of both of these
chapters goes beyond this present time to the remarkable restoration and prosperity of the
Millennium.
“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will
resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of
lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35 They will say, “This land that was laid
waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and
destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” 36 Then the nations around you that remain will know
that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the
LORD have spoken and I will do it. ‘
37 “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Once again I will yield to the plea of the house of
Israel and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep, 38 as numerous as the
flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts. So will the ruined cities be filled
with flocks of people? Then they will know that I am the LORD. ‘” – Ezekiel 36:33-38
