Ron Weinland places his reputation on line as
“the end-time prophet” with a prediction that
the year 2008 will see the return of Christ.
About a year ago, I received a personal phone
call from one of Ron’s enthusiasts, urging me
to read his book as it reveals the imminent
end of the U.S. and the U.K., in 2008.
Set your watches, this will be a short wait.
We have approximately 47 days left. Why is
it that these guys want to strike a match
so badly to see the earth burn?
They speak so confidently about world war III,
and the death of 2 billion people who must die
in the war to fulfill Bible prophecy.
Most Rapture Ready enthusiasts cite Zechariah
13:9, as their prophetic proof text for this war
of global cleansing.
Strange as it may seem, all the evidence
for the fulfillment of the text in Zechariah point
to the first century as a past, and not a future
event.
Does Zechariah 13 Prophesy 2 Million Will Die?
The elements of the text are:
- The land of Israel
- two-thirds of the people are cut off and die
- one third will be left (the remnant)
- the one-third is refined through the fire
- they call on God’s name and are declared his people
The land is ancient Palestine in the time of Christ
and his apostles. Verse 7, which leads into the text
speaks of Jesus’ crucifixion and the scattering of
the disciples.
Matthew quotes the text as being fulfilled.
Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made
to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:
I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the
flock will be scattered.” (Matthew 26:31)
Following this event, the text says it would come
to pass in all the land that two-thirds in it would
be cut off and die.
Paul speaks of the “cutting of Israel in unbelief.”
Not all who were in Israel were of Israel.
“But it is not that the word of God has taken no
effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,
Nor are they all children because they are the seed
of Abraham; but, “In Isaac shall your seed be
called.”
That is, those who are the children of the flesh,
these are not the children of God; but the children
of the promise are counted for the seed. (Romans
9:6–8).
God was “cutting Israel short in righteousness.”
Had he not extended his mercy to Israel through
the gospel, the entire nation would have been
destroyed.
“Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:
Though the number of the children of Israel be
as the sand of the sea, the remnant will be
saved.
For he will finish the work and cut it short in
righteousness, because the Lord will make a
short work upon the earth.
And as Isaiah said before; “unless the Lord of
Sabaoth had left us a seed, we would have
become like Sodom, and we would have been
made like Gomorrah. (Romans 9:27–29).
Why did God choose to spare some in the
nation and destroy others? Because of
unbelief, (Romans 11:20).
The statement of bringing the one third through
the fire refers to God’s blessings of “believing”
Israel, i.e. those who accepted the gospel.
Paul asked, “I say then, has God cast away
His people? Certainly not! For I also am an
Israelite, of the see of Abraham of the tribe of
Benjamin.
What does Paul mean. Why was he an example
of those God had not cast away? He was a
believer in Jesus Christ.
That is how God preserved the seed of Abraham.
And if you are Christ’s then are you Abraham’s
seed and heirs according to the promise. (Gal. 3:29).
That being said, it is believing Israel (Christian Jews)
who are brought through the fire, while two thirds
of the nation was destroyed in the destruction of
Jerusalem by the Romans.
Hence Peter writes to the pilgrims of the Dispersion,
(Diaspora) Jews in exile who obeyed Christ.
“That the genuiness of your faith, being much more
precious than gold that perishes, though it is
tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and
glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1:7)
That this text fulfills Zechariah 13:9 is without
doubt especially in view of what follows. He also
speaks of their fiery trial in chapter 4:11.
Further it is noteworthy that Peter said the end
of all things had drawn near in the first century.
And that the time of the judgment had come,
1 Peter 4:7, 17).
Both Paul and Peter quote Zechariah 13:9 and its
parallel from Hosea 1:10, 11, 2:23, of God declaring
those of the Diaspora, the 10 northern tribes who
were cut off, as once again becoming his people.
The important point is that both apostles say this
event, which follows the refining of the one-third
of the nation through the fiery trial, occurred in
the first century.
Compare Zechariah 13:9, with the following texts:
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, His own special people, that you may
proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light;
who once were not a people but are now the people
of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have
obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9, 10).
Further note the texts by Paul in Romans:
As He says also in Hosea:
I will call them My people, who were not My people,
And her beloved, who was not beloved.”
And it shall come to pass in the place where it was
said to them, You are not My people, There they
shall be called sons of the living God.’” (Romans
9:25, 26).
In conclusion, each element of the prophecy in
Zechariah 13, has a New Testament counterpart
show fulfillment in the first century.
God’s destruction of Israel for their “smiting of the
Shepherd” and their subsequent impenitence caused
the cutting off the the nation of Israel as God’s
covenant people.
The remnant of Israel and the Gentiles, united
together in Christ as one body, were refined
through the persecutions of the first century.
They are the new Israel of God in righteousness.
To learn more about the Second Coming in A.D. 70,
The Re-Examination, by the author.
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