The prophecy of the Second Coming

Zechariah prophesies the coming of the king of the Greeks (Alexander), and then also prophesies the coming of the King of the Jews (the Messiah). Verse 9 is a prophecy of the First Coming, and verse 10 is a prophecy of the Second Coming. Today, let us study the Messiah’s Second Coming in verse 10. It says, “And I will eliminate the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; and the bow of war will be eliminated” (v 10a). (1) War will disappear from the land of Israel. “Ephraim” refers to the northern part of the Promised Land, while “Jerusalem” refers to the southern part of the Promised Land. The people of Israel, who were once divided into the northern and southern kingdoms, will become one people. Then weapons such as chariots, war horses, and bows of battle will be removed from all the land of Israel. Enemies will no longer attack Israel, and Israel will no longer need to defend itself. (2) It is the Lord Himself who declares this. Following this, it says, “And He will speak peace to the nations; and His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth” (v 10b). (1) It is Zechariah who is speaking here. The subject changes from the Lord to Zechariah. (2) The Messiah will proclaim peace to the nations, and the reign of the Messianic Kingdom will begin. (3) “From sea to sea” means from the Dead Sea (the eastern border) to the Mediterranean Sea (the western border). (4) “From the Euphrates River” refers to the Euphrates (the northern border). Normally the expression would be “from the Euphrates River to the river of Egypt,” but here it says, “to the ends of the earth.” It is prophesied that the peace brought by the Messiah’s reign will extend not only throughout the land of Israel, but throughout the whole world.

Psalm 72:8

The above prophecy agrees with what is written in Ps. 72:8: “May he also rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.” For the people of Israel, who were in the midst of suffering, the promise of the coming of the King of the Jews was a great comfort. In order to live in the present, hope for the future is necessary. This truth has not changed even now. For us also, who live in the Church Age, the Second Coming of Christ is the hope and strength that enables us to overcome tribulation. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God… and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:16-18). Amen.