16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
Verses 16-19 portray Messianic worship by the Gentile nations of the world.
14:16
And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
All the nations of the world will come to worship the Messiah every year (Isa 2:3; Mic 4:2; Zech 8:20). The need to go to Jerusalem is because that is where Jesus will reign on the throne of David (2 Sam 7:13, 16; Lu 1:32).
The “Feast of Tabernacles” was one of three feasts in Jerusalem (Deut 16:16). Worship at the Feast of Tabernacles is not restored Judaism but a newly established order that embraces both Jew and converted Gentile. In the Millennium, God will tabernacle among His people as never before (Re 21:3). There is no indication in Scripture that the Feast of Tabernacles is to be applied to the church; this feast pertained to Israel alone, who were to enjoy the harvest of the kingdom. The Millennial feast will be for all believers.
14:17
And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain.
The book of Zechariah mentions Jerusalem 52 times. Worship in Jerusalem is a standard that God will establish for all the world. If they do not keep that standard, then they will not receive rain for their crops. The condition of the Millennium is not equivalent to the eternal state because men will fail their God during this period.
14:18
If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles [tents].
Egypt depends on irrigation from the Nile, not rain. That nation will receive discipline for not keeping the Feast of Tabernacles in the Millennium.
Israel had three principal feasts: Tabernacles, Passover, and Pentecost. Only Tabernacles is mentioned in the future because Passover and Pentecost have been fulfilled. Tabernacles is a feast of joy after a harvest.
14:19
This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
Any nation, as well as Egypt, will suffer discipline from God for not celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles.
PRINCIPLE:
The Second Coming of Christ is the grand theme of prophecy.
APPLICATION:
It is clear from Zechariah 14 that the defeat of Israel’s army will not be complete. God will allow some to live. He will require nations in the Millennium to worship the Messiah. They will make annual pilgrimages to Jerusalem, and they will worship “the LORD of hosts (armies).” The world will recognize the sovereign authority of the Messiah.
