THE CLAIM:
“Zechariah 12–14 is one single contiguous prophecy. Jesus has not returned yet. To claim He has is actual heresy, and no longer even Christianity.”
— Joel Richardson (Christian Zionist)
THE RESPONSE: Zechariah 12–14 is not a single future prophecy — much of it has already been fulfilled in Christ’s first coming, the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and the spiritual formation of the Church. Let’s walk through it:
1. Zechariah 12:10 — Piercing the Messiah
“They shall look upon me whom they have pierced…” (Zechariah 12:10)
Fulfilled at the Cross:
- John 19:37 directly quotes this as fulfilled at Calvary: “They shall look on him whom they pierced.”
- This mourning is spiritual — not nationalistic. It began at Pentecost (Acts 2:36–41) when 3,000 Jews were “pricked in their heart” and turned to Christ.
2. Zechariah 13:1 — The Fountain Opened
“In that day there shall be a fountain opened… for sin and for uncleanness.” (Zechariah 13:1)
Fulfilled at the Cross:
- Hebrews 9:14 — “How much more shall the blood of Christ… purge your conscience from dead works…”
- Revelation 1:5 — “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”
This “fountain” was opened when Christ died, not at some future return.
3. Zechariah 13:7 — The Smitten Shepherd
“Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered…” (Zechariah 13:7)
Fulfilled in Jesus’ Arrest and the Disciples Fleeing:
- Matthew 26:31 — Jesus quotes this about Himself just before going to Gethsemane:
“All ye shall be offended… for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.”
4. Zechariah 14:1–2 — The Destruction of Jerusalem
“The city shall be taken, and the houses rifled… half of the city shall go forth into captivity…” (Zechariah 14:2)
Fulfilled in A.D. 70 under Titus:
- Luke 21:20–24 — Jesus warns:
“When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.” - “They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations…”
This was not the end of the world — it was the end of old covenant Jerusalem. It fits perfectly with Zechariah 14:2.
5. Zechariah 14:4 — The Mount of Olives Split
“His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives… and the mount shall cleave…” (Zechariah 14:4)
Not a literal topographic event, but a spiritual picture of Christ’s dominion, judgment, and deliverance. Here’s why:
- Acts 1:12 confirms Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives — the place of departure, not future return to split land masses.
- The “cleaving” of the mountain is symbolic of divine intervention — just as mountains symbolized kingdoms and governments (cf. Daniel 2:35,44–45).
6. Zechariah 14:8 — Living Waters Flowing
“Living waters shall go out from Jerusalem…” (Zechariah 14:8)
Fulfilled in Christ and His Spirit:
- John 7:38–39 — “He that believeth on me… out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit…”
- Revelation 22:1 — The river of life flows from “the throne of God and of the Lamb” — not from modern-day Jerusalem.
7. Zechariah 14:9 — “The LORD shall be king over all the earth”
Already true — in Christ’s resurrection and ascension:
- Matthew 28:18 — “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
- Acts 2:36 — “God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord and Christ.”
- Revelation 1:5 — Jesus is “the prince of the kings of the earth.”
This kingship is not pending — it’s proclaimed now to the nations through the Gospel.
Key Problem With Christian Zionism’s View:
They confuse natural Israel with the true spiritual people of God. But:
“They are not all Israel, which are of Israel…” (Romans 9:6)
“There is neither Jew nor Greek… ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)
“He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly… but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly…” (Romans 2:28–29)
CONCLUSION:
- Much of Zechariah 12–14 is already fulfilled in Christ.
- The “one contiguous prophecy” theory collapses under the weight of scripture.
- True Christianity sees Christ as the fulfillment of prophecy — not a footnote in Zionist geopolitics.
To say Christ has not begun His reign, has not opened the fountain of cleansing, or has not fulfilled Zechariah’s words is not Christianity — it’s a denial of His finished work.
“This Jesus hath God raised up… Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted… he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:32–33)