The 144,000 – Parts 12-14

Empowered by Two Witnesses

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God promised Abraham:

 

(1) the land of Canaan,

(2) that he would become the father of many nations, and

(3) through him all nations would be blessed – and at the appointed time, all three promises will be fulfilled.

 

Here’s how:

 

(1) The New Jerusalem – the city whose builder and maker is God, will descend from Heaven and when it lands on Earth, it will encompass the whole territory of Canaan and mush more.

(2) Throughout eternity, the redeemed from every nation and religion will be called “the children of Abraham” because like Abraham, they trusted God. (James 2:23)

(3) The redeemed will also rejoice because through Abraham, the Savior of mankind was born. Thus, all nations are blessed through Abraham.

 

The point here is that God did not abandon the offspring of Abraham during their Babylonian captivity. He promised Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel that Jerusalem and the temple would be rebuilt and it was.

 

Jeremiah 33:4   “For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the houses in this city and the royal palaces of Judah that have been torn down to be used against the siege ramps and the sword.

 

Jeremiah 33:5   in the fight with the Babylonians: ‘they will be filled with dead bodies of the men I will slay in my anger and wrath. I will hide my face from this city because of all its wickedness.

 

Jeremiah 33:6   “’Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.

 

Jeremiah 33:7   I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before.

 

Jeremiah 33:8   I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins and rebellion against me.”

 

You already know that Cyrus set the Jews free in 536 B.C. (at the end of 70 years of captivity) and a few hundred exiles returned to Jerusalem in that Friday year. The rebuilding process was a dangerous and painful undertaking.

 

During Israel’s 70-year absence, squatters had moved in and taken over the land of Judah. Naturally, these squatters did not want the Jews to return to their homeland, so they constantly made trouble for them. Persecution and harsh living conditions led many Jews to regret their return to Jerusalem. The exiles labored for two years to rebuild the city and the temple and then they quit.

 

In 534 B.C. the work of rebuilding came to a stop because of inadequate finances, discouragement and daily harassment from hostile gangs. For 14 years nothing was done toward rebuilding the temple and the city. The exiles barely survived.

 

God looked down on His hopeless people with compassion. He saw their overwhelming discouragement and poverty. Moreover, God waited until the exiles were totally consumed with defeat before taking action. In 520 B.C., 16 years after being set free from Babylon, God raised up a young priest who had returned from Babylon. This young man was Zechariah. 

 

God designed the rebuilding of Jerusalem to be an object lesson in faith. He wanted Jerusalem to be a city built on faith.He did not want the city established on human prowess and illusions of self-righteousness. God wanted the rebuilders to have an experience with Him. He wanted Israel to become a people of faith – as their father Abraham trusted God. 

 

So, God permitted the exiles to experience failure. Human effort to rebuild fizzled in a measly two years and then, after waiting fourteen years, God finally spoke these words through Zechariah:

Zechariah 1:2   “The Lord was very angry with your forefathers.

 

Zechariah 1:3   Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declare the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty…. [notice the conditional nature of God’s off]

 

Zechariah 1:4   Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn form your evil ways and your evil practices,’ 

‘But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declared the Lord…. However, if you return to me, I will bless you…. I have many wonderful things in store for you….

 

Zechariah 2:10   “Shout and be glad, O daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and will live among you, declares the Lord.

 

Zechariah 2:11   “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.

 

Zechariah 2:12   The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem [as His dwelling place].”

 

In other words, Israel, be of good courage! I the Lord have forgiven your sins and if you honor me and trust me, I will enable you to do things that are humanly impossible. I Myself will come and live among you! So, love me, trust me, put your faith in me and let’s get started with the rebuilding!

 

 

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