The Prophecy of the Messiah From Humble Arrival to Victorious Reign
Bible Study Guide
The prophets Zechariah and Malachi were the final two voices God raised up before the Old Testament prophetic era came to a close. Together, they marked the end of divine revelation before the four-hundred-year “silent period,” often referred to as the Intertestamental Period. This silence would eventually give way to the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Messiah—first in His coming as Savior, and later in His return as King.
This four-hundred-year span was a dark and sobering moment in human history. God withdrew prophetic communication, and no appointed prophet spoke on His behalf. It became a dividing line between the old covenant and the new, between anticipation and fulfillment. The age of the prophecy of the Messiah would soon become the age of fulfillment.
Within this transition, Zechariah 9 stands as a pivotal chapter. Here, God continues a consistent prophetic pattern seen throughout Scripture—a pattern followed by nearly every prophet of Israel.
God’s Prophetic Pattern and the Faithfulness Behind the Prophecy of the Messiah
The ancient prophetic template unfolds in a familiar sequence:
- Israel turns from God to idols
- God judges Israel for its idolatry
- God judges Israel’s enemies for leading His people astray and opposing His covenant
- God, in mercy, ordains restoration for His people
God always makes a way for His people to return to Him. He remains faithful to His promises, never changing, never forgetting. What is striking in Zechariah 9 is the absence of any promised restoration for the enemies of God. Judgment comes, but restoration belongs to Israel alone—a key theme surrounding the prophecy of the Messiah.
Standing at the Threshold of Judgment and the Prophecy of the Messiah (Zechariah 9:1–4)
(Verses 1-4) In Zechariah 9 passage, the Lord speaks clearly: “The Lord is against the land of Hadrak.” Hadrak (Hadrach)—also known as Aram or ancient Syria—is singled out, with particular emphasis on Damascus. Damascus is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, with an estimated population of nearly 2.8 million people today.
Is there an ancient mystery behind this judgment? Has it already been fulfilled?
To answer that question, we must return approximately 250 years earlier to the prophet Isaiah—a prophet who delivered more prophecy of the Messiah than any other and who also pronounced judgment on Syria:
“See, Damascus will no longer be a city
but will become a heap of ruins.” (Isaiah 17:1)
Like Zechariah, Isaiah offers no restoration following this declaration. And yet, Damascus still stands. This prophecy has clearly not been fulfilled. But how close are we to its fulfillment?
Why Zechariah 9 Matters Today in the Prophecy of the Messiah
Are we standing at the doorway of Damascus’ final destruction? Bible scholars debate the timing, the agents involved, and the chain reaction it may trigger.
What we do know is this: Syria is in collapse. Its government has failed. Its economy is broken. Civil unrest defines daily life. Its currency has nearly collapsed. Most significantly, it has become a hub for terrorism and weapons trafficking throughout the Middle East.
Syria—and Damascus specifically—remains a critical national security threat to Israel. Could Israel ultimately be the nation that brings about the complete destruction of Damascus? And if so, could that event trigger the Ezekiel 38 war?
The nation of Syria now stands in deep upheaval, led by former terrorist leadership and spiraling toward greater conflict. The days ahead will reveal more, but Zechariah 9 places us firmly within the unfolding prophecy of the Messiah and the judgments that precede His return (Tribulation).
Gaza, the Philistines, and Ancient Enemies in Modern Times (Zechariah 9:5–6)
(Verses 5-6) In this passage of Zechariah 9, the prophet turns to another ancient enemy of Israel—one that still exists today: the Philistines (Palestinians) of Gaza.
From the time of Joshua’s entrance into the Promised Land, the Philistines have remained Israel’s oldest internal enemy. Zechariah declares from God:
“I will put an end to the pride of the Philistines.” (Zechariah 9:6)
If present-day fulfillment of prophecy could be described visually in human terms, one foot would be planted in Gaza and the other in Damascus. One prophecy appears near complete; the other stands at the threshold (Destruction of Damascus).
Judgment, Remnant, and the Approaching Prophecy of the Messiah (Zechariah 9:7–8)
(Verse 7) of Zechariah 9 begins to pivot from judgment toward the prophecy of the Messiah:
“I will take the blood from their mouths,
the forbidden food from between their teeth.” (Zechariah 9:7)
This imagery points to the Messiah putting an end to the savage, bloodthirsty hatred directed toward Israel. In the Old Testament, consuming blood was strictly forbidden:
“But be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat. You must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water.” (Deuteronomy 12:23–24)
(Verse 8) moves swiftly toward the gathering of the remnant that survives the seven-year Tribulation:
“Those who are left will belong to our God
and become a clan in Judah.” (Zechariah 9:7)
This refers to the one-third of Israel who will survive and receive Jesus as Messiah at His Second Coming. Ekron—within modern Gaza—is included, confirming that it’s destined for extinction like the ancient Jebusites.
Prophecy of the Messiah – Two Comings, One King (Zechariah 9:9–10)
Here, Zechariah 9 gives one of the clearest prophecies of the Messiah in all Scripture.
(Verse 9) speaks unmistakably of the Messiah’s first coming, fulfilled over two thousand years later in the Gospels:
“See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9, NIV)
This prophecy is fulfilled in Matthew 21:1–9 and John 12:12–16.
(Verse 10) with perfect prophetic tense then leaps forward past present time—over two thousand and twenty-five years—into the future, pointing to the Second Coming of Christ:
“I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.” (Zechariah 9:10)
How Do We Know This Points to the Second Coming of the Messiah?
This removal of weapons signals the end of war. This points to the Millennial Kingdom when Christ will replace war with peace. Isaiah confirms this same future reality of Jesus’ 1,000 year on earth:
““He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4)
It will be a time of great peace unlike any other ever experienced upon the earth.
Jesus Himself confirmed that His first coming was not about earthly peace. But rather to establish the final covenant of salvation for humanity. In fact, His first coming was a time that would bring division between those who chose to believe and accept and those who chose to reject:
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34–36)
Thus, Zechariah 9 unmistakably separates the first and second comings within the prophecy of the Messiah.
Restoration, Reward, and God’s Faithfulness (Zechariah 9:11–13)
(Verses 11–13) briefly return to Zechariah’s present time. God promises to rescue captives and free His people from “the waterless pit”—a reference to dry wells often used as prisons in ancient times.
Verse 12 declares double restoration. This promise has been fulfilled—and continues to be fulfilled—in modern Israel. Despite billions spent by her enemies to destroy her, Israel continues to prosper supernaturally by the grace of God’s hand through technological innovation, military defense, water resource preservation, finance and global blessing.
The God of Israel is faithful. He keeps His promises.
The Remnant, the Kingdom, and the Completed Prophecy of the Messiah (Zechariah 9:14–17)
(Verses 14-17) In the final verses of Zechariah 9, the prophet looks ahead to the Second Coming of Christ and the preservation of the remnant through the seven-year Tribulation. This remnant is the one-third of Jews in Israel that will survive earth’s worse days. Their physical survival will lead to their spiritual revival, and they will look upon and accept their Messiah at His return.
They will cross the threshold and enter the Millennial Kingdom and take their rightful place as God’s people:
“They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.” (Zechariah 9:16)
This is not Israel today—a largely secular nation similar to the United States—but the remnant is still being gathered through rising global antisemitism.
The Jews will be so revered in the Millennial Kingdom that the people of the earth at the time will seek them out. It will be a complete reversal of the antisemitism we see today.
That remnant will lead the nations to God during Christ’s reign:
“In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew… ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’” (Zechariah 8:23)
The prophecy of the Messiah in Zechariah 9 is not only about judgment and restoration—it is about the coming King, His reign, and the glorious reversal that awaits the world when He returns.
Zechariah 9 bridges the First and Second Comings—part of the larger complete Zechariah prophecy timeline revealed in chapters 8–14.
Closing Reflection
Friends, the God revealed in Scripture is not a distant idea or a fading promise. He is the one true God of Israel—unchanging, faithful, and steadfast in all His ways. What He has spoken, He will bring to pass. The same God who made covenant promises to His people has never abandoned them and never will. His faithfulness stands as a living testimony that His Word can be trusted completely. Because He does not change, we can place our full trust, faith, hope, and reliance in Him alone—today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.
Closing Prayer
Faithful and unchanging God,
We come before You in reverence and trust. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever, and every word You have spoken will stand. Thank You for being a God who keeps His promises and never abandons what You have chosen. Strengthen our faith to rest fully in You alone, to walk confidently in Your truth, and to live with hope as Your purposes move toward their fulfillment. Fix our hearts on You as we wait for all that You have promised to be revealed.
In the matchless name of Jesus,
Amen.
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