“And the LORD will be king over all the earth.” (Zech. 14:9a)
Jehovah will be king over all the earth. “LORD” written in the Bible in all capital letters is the personal name for God – “Jehovah.” The Bible clearly says that Jehovah shall be king over the earth. The Bible also teaches that Jehovah’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is to be king over all the earth (Psa. 2). Speaking of Jesus Christ we read;
“And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’” (Rev. 19:16)
How can both Jehovah and Jesus Christ be king over the earth?
There are three basic names for God in the Old Testament: Elohim, Adonai, and Jehovah.
- Elohim
The name “Elohim” in Hebrew means, “putter forth of power,” and is found more than 2,300 times in Scripture. It is found in the first verse in the Bible.
“In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth.” (Gen. 1:1)
We are to understand that the One who puts forth power created all things.
- Adonai
“Adonai” means “master or owner.”
“Abram said, ‘O Lord (Adonai) GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus.'” (Gen. 15:2)
The Creator of everything is also the one who is master over it all.
- Jehovah
Then there is Jehovah! As mentioned earlier, “Jehovah” is the personal name of God. God first revealed this name to Moses prior to the Exodus. It is found in Exodus 3:14. At the bush that burned but was not consumed, God commissioned Moses to go back to Egypt to help free the Jews. Moses asked God for some personal identification. Notice God’s response!
“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM; and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’“ (Ex. 3:14)
“I AM” is the Hebrew being verb YHWH. It literally means, “I exist.” The name reveals God’s eternal nature. There never was a time that God did not exist. He always was what He is now and forever shall continue to be. He is the self-existent God. Notice that the name YHWH has no vowels and for that reason could not be pronounced. Later vowels were added and the name was pronounced “Jehovah.”
The Jews, God’s Word, and Jehovah
God carefully protected and preserved His written word down through history. Long before the printing press, each Jewish family selected a scribe. The scribe copied each Hebrew manuscript by hand. These manuscripts were passed down from generation to generation.
When the scribes came upon the names Elohim or Adonai, they prayerfully meditated upon the name. They then changed pens before they wrote the name. But when they came to the name Jehovah, they prayerfully considered the name. Then they took a bath and put on a clean change of clothes. Only then would they return to carefully write the name. This is how holy this name was to them.
There are many places in the Old Testament where the name “Jehovah” is found often and close together. We can just imagine this very clean scribe running back and forth writing the name Jehovah. Such was the care that God provided in order to preserve His word for us.
Christ’s Footprints
Remember, the Bible teaches that both Jehovah and Jesus Christ would one day rule this world. How could this be possible? Footprints give us a tremendous clue! Just prior to His ascension back into heaven, Jesus Christ met with His disciples. They asked Him several questions concerning the restoration of His kingdom upon the earth. Our Lord did not deny that He was going to rule over a kingdom, but He made an issue of the time of His coming kingdom.
“So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, ‘Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority.” (Acts 1:6-7)
Then Jesus was taken up into heaven and disappeared from their sight. He just took off! He ascended into heaven right in front of their eyes.
“And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9)
Two angels standing nearby must have startled the disciples with their presence and these words:
“They also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.” (Acts 1:11-12)
So the Lord ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives with a promise that He would some day return in the very same way that he left. The last footprints of Jesus Christ upon the earth were found upon the Mount of Olives. Keep this thought in mind!
Jehovah Was Pierced
Now back to the name Jehovah. Remember that the name “LORD” is speaking of Jehovah. In Zechariah chapter twelve, verse one we read:
“The burden of the word of the LORD (Jehovah) concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him, ‘Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.’” (Zech. 12:1-2)
Zechariah speaks of Jehovah through several verses of this chapter. Look closely at verse ten.
“I (Jehovah) will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me (Jehovah) whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.” (Zech. 12:10)
Catch this insight! Who is the “Me” of this passage? It is speaking of Jehovah God, the Great I Am. It is speaking of the God who is self-existent! But who was the one pierced by the Jews? It was the Lord Jesus Christ! God gives us a fascinating glimpse of the true identity of Jesus Christ.
Jehovah’s Feet
Zechariah 14:1-4 describes Jehovah’s timely return to deliver Jerusalem from certain annihilation from the nations of the earth. Zechariah explains that Israel will one day be attacked by many nations of the earth. God will use this horrible time to refine Israel and prepare her for the return of the Messiah (Zech. 14:8-9; Mal. 3:1-4). Notice carefully Israel’s desperate condition and God’s timely rescue.
“Behold, a day is coming for the LORD when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south.” (Zech. 14:1-4)
Jehovah, the Great I Am, has feet? Yes, and notice carefully the precise location where His feet are going to land. His feet are going to touch down upon the Mount of Olives. Did you catch the glimpse? That is the exact spot from where Jesus Christ ascended. The feet of the One whom they have pierced (Zech. 12:10) are going to stand that day upon the Mount of Olives, and His footprints do not lie!
The Mount of Olives will be changed, splitting into two parts. God at that time will geologically renovate this fallen earth and establish His kingdom here.
“And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one.” (Zech. 14:9)
Jehovah, the Great I Am, will be king over all the earth and His name will be only one; and that name will be “the Lord Jesus Christ.” That will be the name that is above all names (Phil. 2:5-12). The major theme of the Bible is that Jesus Christ will come again to establish His kingdom over the earth (Isa. 9:6-7; Rev. 19:15, 20:4). On that special day, God will assume His role as our Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. God will one day be King of all the earth in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sources
New American Standard Bible
Dr. Art Crawford