Fire of Judea
The Judean refugees will fight in Jerusalem
Zechariah 14:14
By Craig C. White
When Jesus returns at the end of the Tribulation period he will vanquish Israel’s enemies alone. That is at least until he enters the land of Israel. Jesus will first rescue the Judean refuges that are hiding in Moab in western Jordan. Then along with Jesus, the Judeans will fight in Jerusalem!
In the verse below, the tents of Judah indicates that the Judeans inhabit the land in a temporary fashion. They are refugees in Jordan.
Zec 12:5-7 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 themselves against Judah.
Judea (or Judah) is the region around Jerusalem. Remember that the inhabitants of Judea were warned to flee to the mountains during the Great Tribulation. The mountains are located in the Jordanian wilderness east of Jerusalem. King David and Elijah took refuge there.
Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Jesus will rescue the Judean refugees hiding in western Jordan. From there the Judeans will continue on with Jesus to fight in Jerusalem and also up along the coast of Israel through the land of the ancient Philistines. The Judean refuges will fight valiantly and regain their land.
Isaiah 63:3 below Jesus proclaims that he has trodden the winepress alone. That means that he has stomped Israel’s enemies like grapes all by himself. This verse specifically references the battle at Bozrah in Edom (southern Jordan). Jesus will fight alone until he destroys the armies that have gathered in Bozrah to wipe out the Judean refugees hiding just to the north in Moab. His garments are stained with the blood of the armies that would have killed the Judean refugees.
Isa 63:1-3 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
So at Edom Jesus will defeat the enemies of the Judean refugees (please read my commentary titled Psalm 83 War). Before Jesus enters Jerusalem he will “save the tents of Judah first”. The “the tents of Judah” are the Judean refugees who have fled to the mountains during the second 3 ½ years of the seven year Tribulation period.
Zec 12:7 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 themselves against Judah.
Jesus will continue with the Judean’s into the city of Jerusalem. The Judeans will fight in Jerusalem.
Zec 14:14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
The Judeans will fight courageously. They will be invigorated by the prospect of saving their brothers in Jerusalem. Jesus will give the Judeans great power to consume their enemies. He will make them into a consuming fire!
Zec 12:5-6 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God. 6 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, even in Jerusalem.
From Jerusalem Jesus will send the Judean refugees west into Gaza and up the coast of Israel to the cities of Ashkelon and Ekron. Jesus himself will continue north out of Jerusalem to the valley of Megiddo (Armageddon). In Amos 1:7 below, to send a fire means that Jesus will send a consuming army against Gaza and up the coast through the land of the ancient Philistines.
Amos 1:6-8 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom: 7 But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof: 8 And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.
The men of Judea will fight in Jerusalem and then to Gaza and up the coast of Israel. What sort of acts of valor will these men of Judea perform in their fight to regain Israel’s land? Well the Prophet Samuel records similar deeds performed by a few of King David’s mighty men. In many cases these men defended the same land that the men of Judea will defend in the future; namely the land of the ancient Philistines.
2Sam 23:8-23 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time. 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: 10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil. 11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory. 13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim. 14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! 16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. 17 And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men. 18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three. 19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three. 20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow: 21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear. 22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men. 23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
When Jesus returns to rescue Israel from their enemies the men of Judea will fight in Jerusalem. Jesus will then send the men of Judea to fight along Israel’s coastline. The same men that had been refugees in Moab during Jerusalem’s Great Tribulation will fight valiantly and deliver the land of the ancient Philistines back to Israel. Perhaps their deeds will also be written down. Perhaps these future men of valor will one day swap stories of daring deed with King David’s mighty men of valor.
