In message 32 of the book of Zechariah we enter the fourteenth chapter which describes in graphic detail the return of the Lord Jesus and the establishment of His Kingdom on the earth. In this chapter He triumphantly takes back the world from the enemy Satan and established His Messianic Kingdom. The term day of the Lord in Hebrew is yom-ba’ leyahweh or “a day is coming-the Lord’s.” “The Day of The Lord” refers to the tribulation (Revelation 6:1-19:16) wherein God takes His vengeance on the earth. This period of time for our earth will see the rise of Antichrist, the establishment of his world headquarters in Babylon and a persecution of the nation Israel that will eliminate 2/3 rds. of them. It includes His return at the end of the tribulation wherein He displays His power to end Satan’s and wicked men’s seizing of the earth. It also includes the time period immediately following that where He sets up His earthly 1,000 year Messianic Kingdom. The last clause of verse one shows a desperate situation for Jerusalem when it is completely plundered by the victorious Antichrist’s allied armies as they invade the state of Israel. The soldiers plunder Jerusalem including raping the women and taking fifty percent of the population as prisoners of war. This is the high point or the worst of the worst of the Tribulation, which the prophet Jeremiah referred to as “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble.” Jacob’s name of course was changed to Israel so it actually means the worst corrective/punishment time for the Jews since they were chosen by God to bring His oracles and the Messiah.
