Did Zechariah’s Prophecy of Two-Thirds Dying Already Happen? The Prophetic Timeline in Zechariah 13 and Its Fulfillment in 70 A.D.

Introduction

The Bible often presents prophecies that encompass multiple time frames, sometimes blending future events with historical ones. One such complex prophecy is found in Zechariah chapters 12 and 13. Zechariah 12 culminates with a powerful Messianic prophecy where the inhabitants of Jerusalem "will look on Me whom they pierced" (Zechariah 12:10 KJV), indicating a future event where the Messiah is recognized by His wounds. This prophecy continues into Zechariah 13:1-6, which describes a future time of cleansing and purification, further denoting a future time frame.

However, in Zechariah 13:7-9, the prophecy shifts, providing a flashback to a significant historical event: the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Here, it is foretold that two-thirds of the people will die, while one-third will survive and be tested. While many believe this is a future event tied to the last days, a closer look at both Scripture and history suggests that this portion of the prophecy has already been fulfilled.

By exploring the dual nature of Zechariah's prophecy, recognizing the future Messianic implications in chapters 12 and 13:1-6, and the historical fulfillment in 13:7-9, we can better understand the prophetic timeline and see how biblical prophecy and history intertwine. Through biblical verses and detailed accounts from the historian Josephus, we can make a compelling case that the catastrophic event of 70 A.D. was the fulfillment of Zechariah’s words in verses 7-9.

Zechariah 13:1-6: The Continuation of the Messianic Prophecy

Zechariah 13:1-6 states:

"In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth. And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." (Zechariah 13:1-6 KJV)

These verses are a continuation of the prophecy in Zechariah 12, which speaks of a future time when the Messiah is recognized by His people. In Zechariah 12:10, it says:

"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced." (Zechariah 12:10 KJV)

This passage points to a future event where the Messiah is acknowledged by those who previously rejected Him. Zechariah 13:6 echoes this theme by mentioning the wounds:

"And one will say to him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." (Zechariah 13:6 KJV)

This suggests a future recognition of the Messiah's suffering and the wounds He received, denoting a future time frame when the people will realize who He is.

Zechariah 13:7-9: A Flashback to the Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

Following the future-focused prophecy, Zechariah 13:7-9 provides a flashback to a past event. These verses state:

"Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the Man who is My Companion," says the LORD of hosts. "Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; then I will turn My hand against the little ones. And it shall come to pass in all the land," says the LORD, "That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die, but one-third shall be left in it: I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; and each one will say, 'The LORD is my God.'" (Zechariah 13:7-9 KJV)

Here, the prophecy shifts to a grim event where the majority of the population, two-thirds, will perish, while a remnant, one-third, will survive but endure trials and refinement. This passage aligns with the historical events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., where the Roman army decimated the city and its inhabitants.

The Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.: Fulfillment of Zechariah 13:7-9

1. The Historical Devastation of 70 A.D.

   The fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. is one of the most tragic and well-documented events in Israelite history. The Roman army, led by General Titus, laid siege to the city, causing widespread famine, disease, and eventually, the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Israelites. Josephus, a historian who witnessed these events, described the horrific scale of the death and destruction:

   "Now the number of those that were carried captive during this whole war was collected to be ninety-seven thousand; as was the number of those that perished during the whole siege eleven hundred thousand..." (The Wars of the Jews, Book 6, Chapter 9)

   This staggering loss of life mirrors what Zechariah described in verses 7-9 when he prophesied that two-thirds of the people would perish. The siege of Jerusalem was not just a military defeat, it was an apocalyptic moment for the Israelite nation, with vast numbers being killed and the survivors enslaved or scattered across the Roman Empire.

2. "Strike the Shepherd, and the Sheep Will Be Scattered"

   Zechariah 13:7 begins with a command to strike the Shepherd so that the sheep may be scattered. This is often interpreted as a prophecy concerning the Messiah's suffering and the subsequent scattering of His followers. In the New Testament, Yahusha Himself refers to this prophecy in Matthew 26:31:

   "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered." (Matthew 26:31 KJV)

   In the context of 70 A.D., this can also be seen as the aftermath of the Messiah's crucifixion and the ensuing persecution and dispersion of the Israelite people.

3. Luke 21:24 and the Scattering of the Israelites

   In Luke 21:24, Yahusha foretold a similar tragedy when He spoke of the coming destruction of Jerusalem:

   "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (Luke 21:24 KJV)

   This prophecy aligns directly with the events of 70 A.D. and echoes the scattering and captivity described in Zechariah 13:7-9. After Yahusha was crucified, the Roman army attacked Jerusalem, and the Israelite people were scattered and enslaved. The parallels between the two prophecies point strongly to 70 A.D. as the moment when the two-thirds of Israel perished.

4. The Massive Death Toll: Evidence from Josephus

   Josephus's firsthand account of the siege provides a detailed description of how many lives were lost. He estimates that over one million Israelites were killed during the siege. If we consider this number in light of Zechariah’s prophecy, we see a striking similarity: two-thirds of the population perished. This devastating loss of life matches the prophecy almost exactly. The remaining survivors, about one-third of the population, were either taken as slaves or forced into exile, fitting the description of the one-third who were spared but subjected to great trials.

5. The One-Third Left Alive: A Time of Testing

   Zechariah 13:9 says that the one-third who survive will be "refined as silver" and "tested as gold." Historically, the Israelites who lived through the siege of 70 A.D. did not escape hardship. Those who survived were sold into slavery, taken as captives, or scattered across foreign lands, enduring a long period of suffering and persecution. The "refining" process mentioned in Zechariah can be understood as this intense period of hardship. These survivors, through their trials, were put through a spiritual and physical fire that tested their faith and endurance.

The Case Against a Future Fulfillment of Zechariah 13:7-9

While some argue that the prophecy of two-thirds perishing is still a future event, there is substantial evidence, both biblical and historical, to suggest that Zechariah 13:7-9 has already been fulfilled:

1. Contextual Shift in Zechariah 13

   The shift from a future-focused prophecy in chapters 12 and 13:1-6 to a historical flashback in 13:7-9 indicates that Zechariah is addressing different time frames. The initial verses speak of the Messiah's future revelation and the cleansing of sin, while the latter verses recall the events surrounding the Messiah's crucifixion and the destruction of Jerusalem.

2. New Testament References Confirm Fulfillment

   Yahusha Himself quotes Zechariah 13:7 in Matthew 26:31, applying it to His own impending death and the scattering of His disciples. This direct reference suggests that the "striking of the Shepherd" was fulfilled in His crucifixion, leading to the subsequent events that culminated in 70 A.D.

3. Historical Record Matches Zechariah’s Prophecy

   The large-scale death and destruction recorded by Josephus closely match the proportions described in Zechariah 13:7-9. Over one million Israelites were killed, and the survivors were enslaved or scattered. If such a massive event has already taken place, it is unlikely that we are waiting for a future fulfillment of the same prophecy.

4. No Indication of a Future Catastrophe of This Scale in Scripture

   While there are prophecies concerning future trials and tribulations, none specifically mention the two-thirds dying in the land of Israel as described in Zechariah 13:7-9. This suggests that this particular prophecy has already been fulfilled.

Conclusion: Recognizing the Dual Prophetic Timeline in Zechariah 13

Zechariah 13 presents a prophetic narrative that spans both future and historical events. The prophecy flows from the future recognition of the Messiah and the cleansing of sin in Zechariah 12 and 13:1-6, where the Messiah is acknowledged by His people, and a fountain is opened for purification. The mention of wounds in Zechariah 13:6 connects back to the piercing mentioned in Zechariah 12:10, emphasizing the Messiah's suffering and the future realization of His identity by those who previously rejected Him.

In contrast, Zechariah 13:7-9 serves as a flashback to the events surrounding 70 A.D. The command to "strike the Shepherd" and the resulting scattering of the sheep correspond to Yahusha's crucifixion and the dispersion of His followers and the Israelite people. The Roman siege of Jerusalem led to the death of two-thirds of the population, just as Zechariah foretold. The survivors were taken through a "fire" of trials, refining their faith and testing their endurance as they were scattered and enslaved across the empire.

Understanding the dual nature of Zechariah's prophecy allows us to see how biblical prophecy can address multiple time frames within a single passage. By recognizing that Zechariah 13:1-6 continues the future-focused prophecy from chapter 12, and that verses 7-9 reflect a historical fulfillment, we gain a clearer picture of the prophetic timeline. This understanding underscores the interconnectedness of Scripture and history, providing powerful lessons for us today.

While some continue to look to the last days for the fulfillment of the two-thirds prophecy, the evidence points strongly to the conclusion that Zechariah 13:7-9 was fulfilled in 70 A.D. Recognizing this fulfillment allows us to focus on the ongoing significance of the Messiah's revelation and the future hope described in the earlier verses of Zechariah's prophecy.