Review

The points we studied last time were as follows: (1) The number of Israelites who will be saved in the end times is one-third of the total population. (2) These people are called “the remnant of Israel.” (3) The reason they survive the Great Tribulation is that they flee to the “place of refuge.” (4) That “place of refuge” is Bozrah. Verse 12 says, “I will put them together like sheep in the fold (like the sheep of Bozrah); like a flock in the midst of its pasture they will be noisy with men.” This time, let us study in what order the salvation of the remnant of Israel and the Second Coming of the Messiah will take place.

The Second Coming of the Lord (v 13)

A great army will advance in order to destroy the Israelites who have taken refuge in “Bozrah.” (1) At that time, a deep repentance will arise among the Israelites. Zechariah 13:8-9 says: “‘And it will come about in all the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; but the third will be left in it. And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, “They are My people,” and they will say, “The Lord is my God.”’” (2) When repentance arises among the Israelites, the Messiah will return. Verse 13 says: “The one who breaks through goes up before them; they break through, pass through the gate, and go out by it. So their king passes on before them, and the Lord at their head.” “The one who break” refers to the Messiah who rescues the Israelites. The Messiah will go before them, break through the enemy’s encirclement, and set them free. (3) The phrase “their king” indicates that the Messiah possesses humanity. The term “the Lord” indicates the Messiah’s divinity. In other words, the Messiah is One who possesses both humanity and divinity (ref. Isa. 34:1-7; 63:1-6). Paul writes in Romans 11:26, “and so all Israel will be saved.” This will be fulfilled literally. “All” refers to the one-third of the Israelites who survive the Great Tribulation, the people called “the remnant of Israel.” And Paul concludes, “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom. 11:29). Before the national salvation of Israel is fulfilled, salvation has been brought to us Gentiles. For that, let us give thanks to the Lord. Let us also remember that evangelism to the Gentiles and evangelism to the Jews are like both wheels of a cart and let us pray fervently and serve for the expansion of the kingdom of God.