In chapter 11 of Zacharias, we learn of the effect God’s word has on the nations during the symbolic period of time known as the thousand-year reign (<\/span>Rev 20:6<\/span>, <\/span>Rev 12:5<\/span>). The word of God is not contemptible to the masses at the beginning of this reign (<\/span>Rev 11:15<\/span>) because anon with joy the word will be received (<\/span>Mat 13:20-22<\/span>). In time, however, “<\/span>the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.<\/span>“<\/span><\/p>\n Mat 13:20<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;<\/span> As time goes on, the judgment with a rod of iron will produce the results God intended it to have all along; results that are explained in this twelfth chapter of Zacharias and all of Malachi 1:1-14. It will be a time of plenty for the flesh: plenty of watering and planting of the word, plenty of physical healing, along with the needs of society being met plentifully, as Christ demonstrated when His ministry began on the earth.<\/span><\/p>\n The ministry of our Lord on earth as a man parallels the elect’s rule and reign under Christ during the thousand-year reign, the natural revealing the spiritual (<\/span>1Jn 4:17<\/span>, <\/span>1Co 15:46<\/span>,<\/span><\/i> Rom 1:20<\/span>). Christ healed all the sick that were brought to him, and fed the masses and met the needs of people as those needs arose and were brought to His attention. However, Christ never converted a single soul, and neither will God’s elect during their reign, to teach the world that the increase of all that watering and planting can only come from God and at an appointed time that has been ordained according to the counsel of His own will (<\/span>1Co 3:6<\/span>, <\/span>Eph 1:11<\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n The beginning of miracles which Jesus did in Cana of Galilee [<\/span>another need met by Christ<\/span><\/i> (<\/span>Joh 2:11<\/span>)] declared <\/span>the end from the beginning<\/span><\/span> and was the reason Christ said “<\/span>Woman<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>[<\/span>Mary, a type of elect church<\/span><\/i>]<\/span> what have I to do with thee? <\/span>mine hour is not yet come<\/span><\/span>.<\/span>” That the new wine is better than the present wine at the wedding of Cana represents the thousand-year reign of the saints “when men have well drunk.” The new wine represents the time when the saints are ministering and judging the world in the great white throne judgment with the better wine. A most glorious part of our relationship with Christ, a blessed and joyous experience will be in giving the word, the better wine, the cup that Christ longed to drink with us today and does, to the rest of the world in the lake of fire which will produce converted children for the Groom and Bride of Christ (<\/span>Luk 22:15<\/span>, <\/span>Act 20:35<\/span>, <\/span>Gal 4:27<\/span>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Joh 2:11<\/span>\u00a0 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The <\/span>six<\/b><\/span> earthen vessels in this story in John 2:1-11 represent the witness of the process of judgment that must come upon all mankind in the great white throne judgment (witness 2 x process of judgment 3 = on all mankind = 6). God’s elect have this treasure in earthen vessels today and are being sanctified by God’s word [<\/span>wine<\/span><\/i>] today (<\/span>Joh 17:17<\/span>, <\/span>2Co 4:7<\/span>), and will fill the world with that better wine in the lake of fire. The first wine at the wedding of Cana represents the thousand-year reign when the saints will shower the world with both physical and spiritual abundance, symbolized by the first wine given at the wedding that ran out – “the mother of Jesus saith unto him, they have no wine.” In like manner, there will be a famine of the word toward the end of the thousand-year reign in the sense that the hunger and ‘anon with joy’ spirit will dissipate until the second resurrection, which is when the better wine will be given to all of humanity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Joh 2:1<\/span>\u00a0 And the <\/span>third day<\/b><\/span> there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:\u00a0<\/span> Keeping all of this in mind, it becomes clear that the number 1000 in the expression ‘thousand-year reign’ symbolizes for us the inability for the world to hear the word of the Lord with spiritual eyes that see and ears that hear (<\/span>Jer 22:29<\/span>). “O <\/span>earth<\/span> (<\/span>10<\/b>), earth<\/span> (<\/span>10<\/b>), earth<\/span> (<\/span>10<\/b>), hear the word of the Lord” if multiplied, adds up to the complete <\/span>one thousand <\/b>years, and it is at the end of the thousand-year reign when the contempt of mankind will become very evident as a result of the familiarity of their relationship with Christ and his saints without the accompanying spirit of God which makes that relationship grow into one becoming a disciple indeed (<\/span>Rom 8:9<\/span>,<\/span> Joh 8:31<\/span>). The “inhabitants of Jerusalem”, to which humanity is likened in this study, will rebel against our Lord and His Christ’s rulership being overtaken by Satan who will be loosed for a season (<\/span>Rev 11:15<\/span>,<\/span> Rev 20:7-9<\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n It will be akin to that moment when Christ said, “<\/span>Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?<\/span>” For which of all the works done during the reign of the saints does the world (Gog and Magog) come up against the camp of the saints (<\/span>Joh 10:32<\/span>)?\u00a0 This whole scenario with mankind coming up against the camp of the saints reveals the man of perdition within, a man typified by Judas who was also sent a spirit which caused him to betray Christ and come up against Him (<\/span>Joh 13:27<\/span>).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The “burden of the word of the LORD to Israel” brings with it, in time, a contemptible spirit as mentioned in Malachi 1:1 and 1:7.<\/span><\/p>\n Mal 1:1<\/span>\u00a0 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mal 1:7<\/span>\u00a0 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> contemptible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Here are the verses for this study:<\/span><\/p>\n Zec 12:1<\/b>\u00a0 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.\u00a0<\/b> Zec 12:1<\/b>\u00a0 The burden of the word of the LORD<\/u> for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n “The burden of the word of the LORD” for the world, represented by Israel, is juxtaposed against what God’s word does within us, in our heavens and in the earthen vessels which we are, which is used by God to bring His workmanship unto perfection. It is He who “<\/span>stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.<\/b>” This “burden” has become a joyful burden we can bear through Christ today, and if we are granted to endure until the end, we and all the elect will be used to bring forth the manifold knowledge of Christ that will then become “<\/span>the burden of the word of the LORD for Israel<\/u>, saith the LORD.<\/b>“<\/p>\n These physical events Christ has created, stretching “<\/span>forth the heavens<\/b>” and laying the “<\/span>foundation of the earth<\/b>” (<\/span>Rom 1:20<\/span>), represent what Christ will do within every man in his appointed time in order to conform “<\/span>the spirit of man within him<\/b>” to become a new creation by the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ (<\/span>Rom 12:1-2<\/span>, <\/span>Eph 2:10<\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n Rom 12:1<\/span>\u00a0 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, <\/span>which is<\/span><\/i> your reasonable service.\u00a0<\/span> Eph 2:10<\/span>\u00a0 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Zec 12:2<\/b>\u00a0 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah <\/b>and<\/i><\/b> against Jerusalem.<\/b> God is making the body of Christ, Jerusalem above the mother of us all, “<\/span>a cup of trembling unto all the people round about<\/b> [that are] <\/span>in siege both against <\/span><\/b>Judah <\/b>and<\/i><\/b><\/span> against Jerusalem<\/span>.<\/b>“<\/span> Jerusalem becoming a “<\/span>cup of trembling<\/b>” is the burden of the word of the LORD or “<\/span>Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people.<\/b>” Jerusalem as a cup of trembling is talking about the elect in the first resurrection, “<\/span>the people round about<\/b>” represent the world which doesn’t recognize the ‘man of perdition’ on their hearts (<\/span>2Th 2:3<\/span>, <\/span>Rev 2:13<\/span>). “<\/span>Israel<\/b>” (verse 1) and “<\/span>the inhabitants of Jerusalem<\/b>” (verse 5) include the religious world and their corrupt spiritual influence on the earth (<\/span>
\nMat 13:21<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.<\/span>
\nMat 13:22<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nJoh 2:2<\/span>\u00a0 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.\u00a0<\/span>
\nJoh 2:3<\/span>\u00a0 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.\u00a0<\/span>
\nJoh 2:4<\/span>\u00a0 Jesus saith unto her, <\/span>Woman, what have I to do with thee? <\/span>mine hour is not yet come<\/span><\/span>.
\nJoh 2:5<\/span>\u00a0 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do <\/span>it.<\/span><\/i>
\nJoh 2:6<\/span>\u00a0 And there were set there <\/span>six<\/b> waterpots of stone<\/span><\/span>, after the manner of <\/span>the purifying of the Jews<\/span><\/span>, containing <\/span>two or three<\/span><\/span> firkins apiece.<\/span>
\nJoh 2:7<\/span>\u00a0 Jesus saith unto them, <\/span>Fill the waterpots with water.<\/span> And they filled them up to the brim.\u00a0<\/span>
\nJoh 2:8<\/span>\u00a0 And he saith unto them, <\/span>Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast.<\/span> And they bare <\/span>it.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>
\nJoh 2:9<\/span>\u00a0 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (<\/span>but the servants which drew the water knew<\/span><\/span>) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,\u00a0<\/span>
\nJoh 2:10<\/span>\u00a0 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; <\/span>and when men have well drunk<\/span><\/span>, then that which is worse: <\/span>but<\/span><\/i> thou hast kept the good wine until now.\u00a0<\/span>
\nJoh 2:11<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory<\/span><\/span>; and his disciples believed on him. [<\/span>His disciples believed because of the sign but did not yet understand the spiritual significance of this first miracle.<\/span><\/i>]\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nZec 12:2<\/b>\u00a0 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah <\/b>and<\/i><\/b> against Jerusalem.\u00a0<\/b>
\nZec 12:3<\/b>\u00a0 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.\u00a0<\/b>
\nZec 12:4<\/b>\u00a0 In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.\u00a0<\/b>
\nZec 12:5<\/b>\u00a0 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem <\/b>shall be<\/i><\/b> my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.\u00a0<\/b>
\nZec 12:6<\/b>\u00a0 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, <\/b>even<\/i><\/b> in Jerusalem.\u00a0<\/b>
\nZec 12:7<\/b>\u00a0 The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify <\/b>themselves<\/i><\/b> against Judah.\u00a0<\/b>
\nZec 12:8<\/b>\u00a0 In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David <\/b>shall be<\/i><\/b> as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.\u00a0<\/b>
\nZec 12:9<\/b>\u00a0 And it shall come to pass in that day, <\/b>that<\/i><\/b> I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.\u00a0<\/b>
\nZec 12:10<\/b>\u00a0 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for <\/b>his<\/i><\/b> only <\/b>son,<\/i><\/b> and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for <\/b>his<\/i><\/b> firstborn.\u00a0<\/b>
\nZec 12:11<\/b>\u00a0 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.\u00a0<\/b>
\nZec 12:12<\/b>\u00a0 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;\u00a0<\/b>
\nZec 12:13<\/b>\u00a0 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;\u00a0<\/b>
\nZec 12:14<\/b>\u00a0 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.<\/b><\/p>\n
\nRom 12:2<\/span>\u00a0 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nZec 12:3<\/b>\u00a0 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.<\/b><\/p>\n