Brianroy answers readers questions about the Bible.

An individual wrote and asked:
I do have a question though, concerning three passages of scripture ... How do you see these passages?

Zechariah 8:23 Thus saith HaShem of hosts: In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, shall even take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying: We will go with you, for we have heard that G-d is with you.'

Jeremiah 16:19 O HaShem, my strength, and my stronghold, and my refuge, in the day of affliction, unto Thee shall the nations come from the ends of the earth, and shall say: 'Our fathers have inherited nought but lies, vanity and things wherein there is no profit.'

Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as HaShem my G-d commanded me, that ye should do so in the midst of the land whither ye go in to possess it. 6 Observe therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, that, when they hear all these statutes, shall say: 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'

[Then he asks to the effect of: are they historical only or end-time prophecy related?] Could you help me?

My Reply:

The context of Zechariah 8, as it appears to me, is an entire chapter describing the beginning years of the Millenial Reign.

Verse 3, the L-RD says "I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem will be called the city of Truth..." etc.

When does the L-RD return? Has He yet?

We know Jesus will return and cleave the Mount of Olives in Zechariah 14:4, that He will show Israel the wounds in His hands (inclusive of wrists) in Zechariah 13:6, and that Israel will look upon Him whom they have pierced and mourn in biterness as if for an only Son in Zechariah 12:10.

The return of the L-RD also requires a river of waters to go out from the Mount through the new Valley of Azal through Olivet eastward in Zechariah 14:8 (cf. v. 5, and Ezekiel 47:1ff.).

In fact, the 10 strangers joining to one Jew in Zechariah 8:23 seems to tie in nicely to the participating in an inheritance in Ezekiel 47:21-23,

21 “Thus you shall divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. 22 It shall be that you will divide it by lot as an inheritance for yourselves, and for the strangers who dwell among you and who bear children among you. They shall be to you as native-born among the children of Israel; they shall have an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel. 23 And it shall be that in whatever tribe the stranger dwells, there you shall give him his inheritance,” says the Lord G-D.

so that those who are settling in Judea (of the Tribe of Judah, or Benjamin) may, in that DAY, have this prophecy fulfilled, where 10 men from the nations take hold of a Jew, and join to him, and he becomes their effectual synagogue or Church leader and teacher as well. They become married to that tribe, and any children they have in that Tribal territory is received and accepted as a member of that Tribe (be they in Judah's, or elsewhere in Israel such as with Gad or Reuben, etc.).

You may also wish to compare the City of Truth designation in Zechariah 8:3 to the time period of the G-D of Truth in Isaiah 65:16...again, a Millenial Reign Era designation.


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Regarding Jeremiah 16:19:

I first look to verse 16.

Notice the language as consistent with Revelation 6:16-17 which immediately preceeds Revelation 7's 144,000 Witnesses.

These 144,000 will be endued with powers like and even greater than exhibited by Christ according to the L-RD in John 14:12.

"Amen, Amen, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."


To me, Jeremiah 16:16 can be taken as a dual prophecy. But instead of the short term and then way in the future end times separation of fulfillments, it is a dual way in the future end time fulfillment. There are those hunted and killed in the hills, mountains and caves, probably by Muslim and One World Government forces (in that Time)...tying this in with verse 18 where the Wrath of the LORD is poured out upon those who have practiced idolatry in the Land as Jews (cf. vv.11-13, 20)...and then the second part of this dual prophecy, there will be those of the 144,000 who will seek out them who will hide in caves, and hills and mountains to proclaim the Gospel.
But how far reaching is this geographically? There are a whole lot of mountains and hills and caves on planet Earth.

Verse 15 tells us that this prophecy is dealing with the Land of Israel. Making this search do-able in a timeframe of perhaps months.

So now we look at the events in the context of being in the 7 year Tribulation and Great Tribulation periods, and ask...when will the Gentiles come to Israel and confess their erroneous ways? During the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation, or the second 3 1/2 years Great Day of The LORD Great Tribulation?
No.

It will again fall into the same context of the early days...months...years of the Millenial Reign of Christ. For in the midst of the days of wrath, Jeremiah 16:19 is speaking yet in a further prophetical future time period beyond the one that it is now in. So while the verses immediately surrounding Jeremiah 16:19 are in the Tribulation Week, Jeremiah 16:19 itself is projecting into the Millenial Reign of Christ.


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As for Deuteronomy 4:5-6,

notice where the focus is:
that ye should do so in the midst of the land whither ye go in to possess.

This is dual prophecy: near term to be fulfilled after the Joshua conquest of the Land (1511-1496 B.C.); and to be fulfilled in the Millenial Reign at the End of Days.


In regard to the Millenial Reign:

The Law passes not away to those of Israel to perform in the Land of Israel. The nations at that time, are obligated to often come up to the Land of Israel, and to pay homage to the L-RD and observe events there. In regard to the nations themselves, there appears to be greater leniency outside the borders of the Land of Israel. So that perhaps if you break the Sabbath in the nations in those yet coming times, you get jailed...whereas if you break the Sabbath in the Land of Israel during the Millenial Reign, you get taken outside the Camp (in this case the Land of Israel) and killed (i.e., stoned to death) like in Numbers 15:32-36.

At least, that is how these appear to me. Hope this helps. Peace.