494 VISIONS AND PROPHECIES OF ZECHARIAH
If we interpret Scripture rightly, they shall have entered into covenant and sworn allegiance to a false Messiah, thus culminating their national apostasy, and fulfilling the word of Christ, " If another shall come in his own name, him ye shall receive."
But the covenant of iniquity based upon apostasy will not stand. Infuriated, probably by the faithfulness to the covenant God of their fathers on the part of the godly remnant who shall then be found in the land, the Anti christ forms the purpose of utterly and finally exterminat ing this people, who can never cease, even in apostasy and unbelief, to be witnesses for the living God and His truth. The armies of the confederated nations, the very flower of their strength, are marshalled together in Palestine, their watchword being, " Come, let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance."
The dreadfulness of these hosts I have already dwelt on in my notes on the 1 2th chapter. They march in triumph through the land, easily treading down all opposi tion. And now the enemy in overwhelming force and irresistible fury attacks Jerusalem, which is soon at his mercy. The city is taken, and the " spoil " or booty leisurely " divided in the midst " of her, without any fear on the part of the enemy of interruption or molestation. There ensue scenes of cruel brutality, and lust, and horrors, which usually accompany the sack of cities by enraged enemies, only intensified in this particular case by the accumulated hatred of these confederated hosts against this land and people. Half of the remaining population in the city is dragged forth into captivity, and there is but a small and wretched remnant left, which probably, in the intention of the enemy, are also devoted to destruction.
Well might another prophet exclaim, " Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it ; it is even the time of Jacob s trouble"
But though it is a day which begins with calamity and judgment to Israel, it is not going to end in triumph to
