THE RESURRECTION FORETOLD BY ZECHARIAH 14 WAS IMMINENT IN NT TIMES!
Our examination of Zechariah 14 has revealed– very powerfully– that what Zechariah foretold– i.e. the resurrection — was viewed by the NT writers was being fulfilled in the first century. Be sure to read the previous articles correlating Zechariah with 1 Corinthians 15.
Our argument finds support in the fact of the first century imminence of these end of the age concepts. Paul told the Corinthians “we shall not all sleep” (1 Corinthians 15:51). The resurrection was to be in that generation.
In Romans 16:20 the apostle said: “The God of peace shall crush Satan under your feet shortly.” The crushing of Satan would be the fulfillment of God’s promise in Genesis of ultimate victory; the defeat of death. Paul said it was at hand in the first century. This is a powerful, undeniable declaration that the resurrection was truly near in the first century.
When writing to Timothy Paul urged him to be faithful until the appearing of the Lord. At his epiphany Christ would show “who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords” (1 Timothy 6:15). The parousia of Jesus– for the resurrection — would manifest the only true God–there would be one king over the earth.
In the Apocalypse the Lord appears in glory with a name on his thigh “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:16). This would be at his coming against the harlot city Babylon, the city guilty of killing the Old Covenant prophets 16:6. This can only be Old Covenant Jerusalem.
When that judgment fell Jehovah would be on the throne with the Son (Revelation 22:3). The one true God would rule over the New Creation, and John said those things, “must shortly come to pass” (22:10, 12, 20). This follows the resurrection foretold by Zechariah 14.
The imminence of the resurrection in the first century cannot be ignored or denied. See my book, Who Is This Babylon? for a full discussion of the time statements in Revelation. I examine every major argument I have encountered, that seeks to deny the objective imminence of the fulfillment of Zechariah 14– and thus, of Revelation, and I completely refute those arguments.
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Denying the First Century Imminence of the Resurrection
There are a limited number of ways to counter our argument. It must be shown that 1 Corinthians 15:28 does not concern the establishment of God’s Sovereignty. Yet if the defeat of “the last enemy” and establishment of the “allness” of God does not demonstrate God’s Sovereignty, what would?
It must be proven that Zechariah 14:9 does not speak of the Sovereignty of Jehovah established in his kingdom. Yet the concept of the establishment of “one king” over the earth patently cannot be distorted into any other idea.
It must be shown that Zechariah 14 does not concern the A.D. 70 coming of the Lord. Yet no other event after Zechariah’s time fits the prophecy. Our earlier articles have shown that Zechariah 14 did indeed foretell the A.D. 70 parousia.
It must be shown that Zechariah 14 did not actually predict the end time resurrection, yet, the imagery of the River of Life clearly refutes such a denial.
This being true, since Zechariah 14:9 and 1 Corinthians 15:28 are clearly parallel, it cannot be denied that the resurrection of 1 Corinthians 15 was to occur at the end of the Old Covenant Age in A.D. 70. The fact that Corinthians places resurrection life at the passing of the Old Law fully substantiates this posit.
ZECHARIAH 14| RESURRECTION: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
We have shown that the Scheme of Redemption involved the restoration of the Sovereignty of God that was rejected by man in the Garden. We have seen that man’s desire to be ruled over by kings in a theocracy was a visible symbol of his rejection of God’s sovereignty, but that God promised to one day restore his rule in David’s descendant on the throne in heaven.
We have seen that Zechariah 14:9 and 1 Corinthians 15:28 are parallel texts. Since Zechariah clearly must be placed within the context of the end of the World of Israel this means that the resurrection, being the focus of Corinthians, must be placed within this context as well.
If resurrection life has not come the river of life has not been opened, there is still a curse, the prophecy of Zechariah has not been fulfilled. If Zechariah 14 has not been fulfilled, the judgment of Jerusalem foretold there is yet future. If that judgment has not occurred the Gentiles are yet outside the kingdom of God. One cannot say that the judgment of Israel foretold by Zechariah has been fulfilled but the soteriological elements stand in the future. Those elements were to come “in that day” the day of the Lord’s coming against Jerusalem.
If the judgment on Jerusalem foretold by Zechariah has occurred then resurrection life– that foretold in 1 Corinthians 15–has become a reality. God is “all in all” and dwells with man in His New Creation.
In an upcoming article- perhaps two– we will examine the correlations between Zechariah 14, 1 Peter and the resurrection. You will be amazed at what you will discover, so, stay tuned!