Zec 11:1-17  “The wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Rev 18:3)

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Zec 11:1-17  “The wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Rev 18:3)

[Study Aired August 10, 2023]

In the last chapter of Zacharias, we saw how the elect will water and plant God’s word during the thousand-year reign of the saints (Rev 20:6, Rev 12:5), and how God never intended to give any spiritual increase regarding all those labors in Christ (1Co 3:6-7). That is the main witness left for us in chapter ten of Zacharias, and in chapter eleven we will see how the initial baptisms of the water of God’s word will play out for the world during the reign of our Lord and His Christ (Rev 11:15). 

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

That rod of iron spoken of in Revelation 12:5 will burn away the wood, hay and stubble that is taken from man, but this process does not change the inner man who can only be renewed with Christ’s spirit within him that makes it possible for the gold, silver and precious stones to be purified within him (Heb 6:1-3, 1Co 3:12, Tit 2:13-15, 1Pe 2:9).

Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 
Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 
Tit 2:15  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. 

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy [Rom 11:30-32].

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Dan 3:20-22) are a type of the elect who go through the entire process of judgment in their flesh [3 men] with Christ in their midst who symbolizes the spirit of God abiding in us through that judgment upon us today. Lord willing. The world, which will have the Lord and His Christ in their midst outwardly during the symbolic time frame of one thousand years, will ultimately be consumed by the word of God in the negative sense as were the men that brought Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to the fire (Dan 3:22, Rev 20:8-9

Dan 3:22  Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them [This event parallels what happens to those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego].

God willing, we will move forward and be baptized with fiery trials in this age that will purify the faith of Christ within us, which is what happens when we are crushed under the stone (1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 1:7, Mat 21:44).

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 
1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

Mat 21:44  And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

A rod of iron expresses the unbending and unwavering way in which the elect will not compromise any part of the word of God during that rulership, regardless of the fact that mankind is not capable of doing what is required, nor able to change the corrupt nature we are all given when born into these vessels of dishonor, which can only be changed through Christ (Rom 9:18-21, 2Ti 2:21).

Rom 9:18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 
Rom 9:19  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 
Rom 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 
Rom 9:21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 

2Ti 2:21  If a man therefore purge himself from these [Tit_2:13-15], he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 

Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 
Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 
Tit 2:15  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Zec 11:1  Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars. 
Zec 11:2  Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down. 
Zec 11:3  There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.
Zec 11:4  Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter; 
Zec 11:5  Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.
Zec 11:6  For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.
Zec 11:7  And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. 
Zec 11:8  Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me. 
Zec 11:9  Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.
Zec 11:10  And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. 
Zec 11:11  And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD. 
Zec 11:12  And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
Zec 11:13  And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD. 
Zec 11:14  Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. 
Zec 11:15  And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. 
Zec 11:16  For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. 
Zec 11:17  Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. 

Zec 11:1  Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.

In order for our own self-righteousness to be destroyed, which is iniquity (Eze 18:20), we must be granted to have our minds opened (“open thy doors“) to the reality that the ministries in which we put our trust in this world were all part of a self-righteous harlot system that must be devoured within us by our ‘coming out of her, my people’ (2Co 6:17-18). The doors are open by God’s grace as the son of man sets us free by cleansing us from all self-righteousness, typified by the word LebanonH3844 which means whiteness, our own righteousness, in other words.

The cedar is a tree that produces no fruit and must be cut down and put in its proper perspective in order to benefit the temple of God which we are today. The cedar represents the ministries of Babylon throughout the ages; those who serve the elect in the court as Levi who is joined to the elect in that service (Num 4:17-20, 1Co 3:16). When we can honestly and without any guile admit that we are coming out of Babylon and can see the blind state we were in, we are at that moment opening “thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.” The elect experience this cleansing first so that the rest of humanity can be ministered to through the saints (1Th 5:23).

Num 4:17  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 
Num 4:18  Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites: 
Num 4:19  But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden:
Num 4:20  But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die [Heb 13:10].

During the reign of the saints, the world will recognize the lies of the harlot, as many do even today, the beast then making war with the harlot as a result of those revelations (Rev 17:16). That stance without God’s spirit within us (Rom 8:9) just translates into more self-righteousness and further deception as we become convinced, “If someone had just shown me these things, I would have figured it out and rejected the churches of this world” (Mat 23:29-30). That may be true, but again, rejecting Babylon and continuing in Christ are two separate events, one which is a very wood-hay-and-stubble experience in its nature [coming out of Babylon] and the other requiring the miracle of God’s holy spirit within so we can be disciples indeed of Christ continuing in the truth (Joh 8:30-32).

Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 

Mat 23:29  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
Mat 23:30  And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

Joh 8:30  As he spake these words, many believed on him. 
Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Zec 11:2  Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.

The cedar is fallen” is another way of saying “Babylon is fallen, is fallen” of Revelation 14:8, meaning the influence of Babylon’s tall and fruitless trees in the earth has come to an end “because the mighty are spoiled“, and the howling fir tree demonstrates the great burden this judgment brings upon humanity, represented by the “fir tree” who is seeing Babylon fall (Rev 18:19). They are being spoiled by their previous life of lies and deception that Babylon produced (2Pe 2:17-20, Eph 2:2). The elect will fell all these mighty trees that represent men, to the glory of God. If we are judged in this age, we will be used by God to tear down all the false spiritual temples of mankind and begin to feed the world the words of life that spring forth from the true temple of God, which typifies Christ’s body (1Co 3:16, Mar 8:19-20, Exo 36:36-38). 

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 

Rev 18:19  And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. 

The positive use of the cedar is found in these verses (Lev 14:4, Lev 14:6, Lev 14:49), which demonstrate how our life in Christ as living sacrifices (Rom 12:1) is founded upon cedar wood where we lay down our life with Christ by going without the camp, being bound to the altar where Christ was sacrificed for us (Gal 2:20, Heb 13:13).

Lev 14:4  Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:

Lev 14:6  As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:

Lev 14:49  And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:

Heb 13:13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Bashan” is an area that is east of the Jordan and the “oaksH437 = great tree or other strong tree of Bashan1316 = fruitful, fertile” represent more powerful religious scholars and leaders in the world who are also missing the mark (Jos 13:12, Jos 17:1, Jos 17:5), not being yet baptized in the Jordan which symbolizes our being baptized into Christ’s death where that mark is found (Rom 6:3-4). 

Jos 13:12  All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out [Num 14:9].

Jos 17:1  There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan. 

Jos 17:5  And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;  [Deu 31:2 , Jos 1:2]

Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 
Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The oaks, like the fir trees, are also howling at the thought that all their deep-seated roots of intellectual endeavors have missed the mark (Isa 2:13, Eze 27:6, Hos 4:13, Amo 2:9), “the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day” (Isa 2:17).

All will come to know that they were sacrificed for the elect’s sake; some to be trees that would bear much of the burden of the temple, the physical revealing the spiritual (Rom 1:20) shown in the support beams that these beloved servants of God represent (Rom 11:28, 1Ki 6:9, Mat 7:22).

1Ki 6:9  So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.

1Ki 6:15  And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the ceiling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.

The statement “for the forest of the vintageH1208 is come down” also reminds us that ‘old’ does not mean it is ‘correct’, and what comes to mind are the three ancient scholarly works of “Alexandrinus, Sinaiticus, Vaticanus” (Isa 3:1, Isa 2:11).

Zec 11:3  There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.

This verse makes it clear that the trees previously talked about which are howling are in fact the shepherds who are howling because “their glory is spoiled.” The voice “of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled” is again another way of saying and realizing “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” which wine represents another gospel and not the “the everlasting gospel” of Revelation 14:6.

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

The “pride of Jordan” represents the pride of life that brings forth “another gospel” (2Co 11:4, Gal 1:6-7). In Babylon, Christ’s death does everything. It is substitutionary and not exemplary as it should be, leaving no way for us to be baptized into His death and dying daily so we can fill up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ in our flesh, which is Christ’s body (1Co 15:31, Col 1:24). It is another gospel, one that has been perverted by only knowing Christ after the flesh and not by considering the singleness that is in Christ and His body which makes up the church. The context of Satan’s subtle deceiving is centered around a false gospel, the leaven of the Pharisees that speaks smooth things, drawing us away from carrying our cross and filling up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ (2Co 11:3, Mat 16:6, Col 1:24).

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Gal 1:6  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicityG572 that is in Christ.

G572 haplotēs hap-lot’-acenn   From G573; singleness, that is, (subjectively) sincerity (without dissimulation or self seeking), or (objectively) generosity (copious bestowal): – bountifulness, liberal (-ity), simplicity, singleness.

It is our pride that prevents us from standing in the Lord, and it is only God Who can destroy that “pride of Jordan” which represents the way we naturally serve the Lord in our yet carnal minds and not as those who have been granted to be broken and contrite in our spirits (Isa 66:2) through His hand dragging us to be baptized into the Jordan representing where we become dead to sin and alive in Christ (Rom 6:3, Rom 6:11-12).

Zec 11:4  Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;
Zec 11:5  Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.

God has called the elect as a body to be shepherds, to be kings and priests, who will “feed the flock of the slaughter” (1Pe 2:9). The statement “flock of the slaughter” and “they that slay them” is talking about those who ruled over the laity and took advantage of God’s people by killing their potential relationship with Christ by monetizing the gospel “and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich” and preaching Christ for their own advantage, thinking nothing of it “whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

This spirit of avarice we’re reading represents what is inside all of us until the Lord burns it out. We all, in our appointed time, see ourselves as rich and increased with good not knowing we are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev 3:17) and so lacking in His compassion and love. Lord willing, we go from being self-centered to other-people-centered, with Christ’s mind that tells us “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Psa 103:8-10, Psa 145:8-10, Php 2:3-4).

Zec 11:6  For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.

This verse speaks of how God will deliver and receive every son in time (Heb 2:14-15) through His chastening grace that is His favor upon us (Heb 12:6) as it transforms our thinking so that we are no longer conformed to this world but rather are looking to God to “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom 12:2). 

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 
Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

It does feel at times (1Pe 4:12) like God is not showing any pity to the inhabitants of the land within us when we are going through a severe trial (Mat 27:46, 1Jn 4:17) and likewise for the people during the rule with a rod of iron “For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.” God will use every means at His disposal to accomplish that chastening leading up to the ultimate destruction of the man of perdition on the throne of mankind’s hearts in the lake of fire (2Th 2:8). This is what we are reading about here: “I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.” It is these actions of God that demonstrate His love toward us, and in the end He will show great pity and kindness to all His creation, whose mercy starts with the elect who are first judged (Heb 12:6-7, Mal 3:17, Jas 5:11).

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Zec 11:7  And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock. 
Zec 11:8  Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me. 

The two staffs or rods God takes represent the elect, who are typified by the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3, who will be used by God to “feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock.

These two staves or staffs or rods, BeautyH5278 (Grace) and BandsH2256(Union), have names that represent what God has already done in the lives of those who endure until the end in this life (Mat 24:13) and are then used by God to feed the world with the truth of God’s word. At the same time that the elect are feeding the masses with God’s word, they are also cutting off, through a process of judgment, the false prophets and shepherds of the world, “Three shepherds also I cut off in one month” who we are told “and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.”

God is destroying the old carnal man who is against Christ, “and their soul also abhorred me“, through those who have already been judged and gone through the process of judgment (1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 4:17). God’s resurrected elect bride comes up in the first resurrection with agreeable spirits that are childlike and humble in nature that is what all these words tell us of the pleasant and beautiful bride of Christ who has become a teachable child of God (Mat 18:3) “agreeableness, that is, delight, suitableness, splendor or grace: – beauty, pleasant (-ness)”.

The bride’s role during the reign of the thousand years will be to measure the nations by ruling over them with a rod of iron. The two staffs represent the life of Christ within the elect who will have the power to execute that judgment in the earth so that men will learn of God’s righteousness (Isa 26:9). God’s elect go from being witnesses of these things in the earth today with the earnest of our inheritance within, to receiving an inheritance that will be ruled over with a rod of iron represented by the witness of two staffs called ‘Beauty’ and ‘Bands’. The definition of the staff or rod called ‘Bands’ demonstrates that there will be judgment in the earth during the thousand-year reign of the united-in-Christ saints, the “company (as if tied together)” that is also defined as:

Zec 11:9  Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.

God’s word is rejected because God has not given the world a hunger and thirst to retain His word as He has done for the elect (Mat 5:6). The word goes forth throughout the thousand-year reign, however long it needs to as a witness that His word will not return void (Isa 55:11). It will not be sown in vain even though the world will once again reject Christ and crucify Him afresh as we all do in our appointed time. God’s outlook is clear. He has no intention of giving spiritual life to this lifeless generation which is still being nourished by “the flesh of another” and not by the body and blood of Christ (Joh 6:54-56, Eph 5:30).

The flesh and the blood both represent the word of God; the blood being more connected to the word that should be coursing through us (Col 3:16) to keep us alive as blood does, and the flesh being more representative of the works that a healthy fleshly body can produce.

Mat 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: [Joh 6:54-55, Eph 5:30] for they shall be filled.

Joh 6:54  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Joh 6:56  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

Eph 5:30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. [1Co 10:16]

Zec 11:10  And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. 
Zec 11:11  And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD. 

The famine of the word will progressively come upon the world during the thousand-year reign because God will cause that to happen, which is what this statement means, “And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.” It is when God’s word and His favor is taken away from us that we stand up and take notice (Deu 31:21), whether that is today as those who first experience the rejection and hunger that the prodigal son went through or among those who initially are captivated by the many wonderful works and miracles that the Lord and His Christ will achieve at the onset of their reign on this earth, only to later reject that gospel and be turned to hoping in their own flesh (Gen 6:5). This cutting asunder of the people is what will naturally happen as Christ and His Christ will be rejected when the world comes to understand the true gospel message that does not include their rulership in the great white throne judgment, also revealing to themselves that there is judgment yet to come to those who are being reserved to that day (Rev 20:11-12, 2Pe 3:7). 

Rev 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 
Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works [more or less stripes].

2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment [Rev 20:11] and perdition of ungodly men. 

There will always be those who are left as a witness that these things were so, and they will have a heart to wait upon the word of the LORD in type wanting to attain to a better resurrection as others have (Heb 11:35). “And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.” John the Baptist was just such a person, who pointed to Christ yet still the least in the kingdom of God is greater than John who did not have God’s spirit within him (Luk 7:28, 1Co 10:11).

Zec 11:12  And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

When we acknowledge our sins, we are acknowledging the weight of the judgment that must come upon the body of Christ while in these earthen vessels. The thirty pieces of silver [3×10] represent the process of judgment that must come upon us. If we despise that judgment, which is God’s goodness and forbearance unfolding (Rom 2:4), we will be judged later in the lake of fire, which is what the “and if not, forbear” part of this sentence means. 

The world will learn that it was by grace through faith that both Christ and the body of Christ, the church, were able to endure to the end and be saved. The thirty pieces of silver represent Christ’s redemptive process (Mat 26:15) and the twenty pieces of silver of Joseph represent the redemptive process that the body of Christ experiences (Gen 37:28). The combination of the 30 pieces and the 20 pieces of silver that add up to 50 [5×10] reveals to us how, as the scapegoat and the second dove, God’s elect are connected to the salvation process toward all the world through Christ (Oba 1:21).

Zec 11:13  And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

It is the LORD who tells us to cast our cares upon our Father for He cares for us, and our communion is in the house of God where we learn of the body and blood of Christ (1Co 10:16). This is what we do when we obey God and cast our cares upon the Master Potter, bringing our pricked hearts to our Father of whom it was declared, “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.” All of this is for our sake so we could be cleansed from all unrighteousness (Act 4:27-28 , Isa 53:10, 1Jn 1:9). 

Casting it “to the potter” is another way of saying bring the whole tithe into the house, which is accomplished by the grace through faith process we just looked at [5×10=50] (Luk 11:51, Mal 3:10). The symbolism of casting the silver into the house of the potter is the same as acknowledging what sinful flesh is and what we are guilty of, expressed with the sentence, “And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD“. The “thirty” reveals the need for the process of judgment to unfold so we may go onto perfection on the third day (Luk 13:32).

Also noteworthy is the sarcasm in the way this verse is written, as seen in other versions (LITV and ERV for example), showing us how little regard our flesh has for the holy things of God. God’s spirit within us is only able to make that change (Eze 22:8, Eze 44:8), so that the natural enmity of flesh does not rule over our hope of glory within (1Jn 4:4, Col 1:27):

Zec 11:13  And Jehovah said to Me, Throw it to the potter, the magnificent price at which I was valued by them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw it to the potter in the house of Jehovah. [LITV]

Zec 11:13  Then the Lord told me, “So that’s how much they think I’m worth. Throw that large amount of money into the temple treasury.” So I took the 30 pieces of silver and threw them into the treasury at the Lord’s temple. [ERV]

Mat 27:9  Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value
Mat 27:10  And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me.

Psa 118:22  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 

1Pe 2:4 Whom approaching, a living Stone, having been rejected indeed by men, yet chosen by God, held in honor, [CLV]

1Pe 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 
1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

Zec 11:14  Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. 

The false sense of unity in the churches of this world is being talked about in these verses; the company of believers joined in a lie that will soon be parted (Pro 14:18, Pro 14:24). 

God has allowed for the ecumenical spirit of this world to thrive, the mantra that says ‘unity in the essentials and tolerance in the non-essentials and love in all things.’ Love is not defined as obedience to God’s words in Babylon (1Jn 5:2, 1Co 14:37-38). 

The world would rather be united in a lie than divided by the truth, and during the thousand-year reign of the saints, the Lord will use the body of Christ to “break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel” meaning the false relationship between the religions of the world between themselves and God, typified by “Judah and Israel” who say they are Jews and are not (Rev 2:9, Rev 3:9). 

Rev 2:9  I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. [God knows the works in the body of Christ]

Rev 3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. [God knows the unholy works in the synagogue of Satan]

Zec 11:15  And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. 

The elect are represented by both Beauty and Bands that represent Christ in us who makes it possible for us to be a rod of iron that will use the words of Babylon against themselves to judge them: “And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd” (Luk 19:22). 

Luk 19:22  And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

The world will not learn of war anymore (Isa 2:4), and physically there will be a forced compliance to that effect via the elect. As time progresses however, the world will, by whatever means God has ordained, come up against the camp of the saints with the intention of destroying God’s people (Rev 20:7-9)

Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

Zec 11:16  For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.

While the world will consider this verse to be speaking of the antichrist (Albert Barnes et al) or the likes of Antiochus (F. B. Meyer) or scribes and Pharisees (Matthew Henry) or the bishop of Rome (John Gill), the dispensational view of this verse is also speaking of how the Lord will raise up the church as a shepherd in the land, meaning the elect will be in the midst of all the living on the earth, and no conversion will be accomplished in the land, which is what this means: “shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still“.

The world will stand still when God’s elect are resurrected and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ (Rev 11:15), and we will take away the power the world has, the corrupt spiritual influence from Babylon which promotes the traditions of men in the churches of Babylon, along with the multi-trillion dollar industry of war. God’s elect during the thousand-year reign will “eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces“, which is another way of saying they shall be bread for us (Num 14:9), and their power will be taken away from them symbolized by tearing “their claws in pieces.” The claws which are used by the wild beast to tear at the word of God and not rightly divide it is what we are being told. That power will be taken away due to the rod of iron, Beauty and Bands that are in the hands of God’s people, and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God as the oceans are filled with water (Hab 2:14).

Num 14:9  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. 

Hab 2:14  For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Zec 11:17  Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.

All of this chastening of Israel that represents the world is the natural chastening that precedes the spiritual chastening (Heb 12:6) which will happen in the lake of fire. It will be accomplished during the thousand-year reign to demonstrate to all the world of that time and all who will come up in the second resurrection how God disdains the false shepherds of the world, “Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock!

It is impossible for any of us to understand in an immature state why God would cause these shepherds to err and then punish them for those caused actions. The punishment is described with this verse, “the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.” This punishment is upon the iniquity the self-righteousness, that naturally cleaves to us unless the Lord chastens us, driving that out of us and bringing us to see and believe and lay hold of the strength of His arm, having lost our self-righteous definition of what it means to see. When our arm is dried up and our right eye, representing our own righteousness and spiritual perception, then and only then will we see (Joh 9:41).

Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Lord willing, God will continue to bless us to acknowledge in this age our blindness, and in so doing we can grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ as Babylon falls within us and Christ increases as we die daily (Joh 3:30).

Joh 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease.

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