Zechariah 8:8

The call for God's covenant people, in Zechariah 9:12, ‘Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope’, is the key verse for this series. The hope that Zechariah proclaims is hope in God as King, hope that God has come to dwell with us, and hope that the covenant between God and God’s people will be restored. This is the sure hope that holds us captive.

The modern state of Israel is a miracle—an unequivocal fulfillment of ancient prophecies that in the end times God would regather his chosen people into their ancestral land. This seven-day study will take you through the key ideas and verses concerning the prophesied regathering of Israel and Jesus’ promise that its restoration would open the door to his return.

Like Haggai, Zechariah prophesies during the post-exilic period as Israel began resettling in the Promised Land. Zechariah encourages Israel to remain faithful and prophesies of a coming righteous King who will bring salvation to His people (Zechariah 9:10). This book reminds us that we too must be to what God has called us to, always hopefully anticipating when God Himself “will be king over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:9).

This Advent Guide comes from students, faculty and staff at Belmont University. Advent is that season of waiting that carefully and purposefully helps us to realign our priorities and to glimpse, anew, our place before God. Our humble hope is this guide helps people focus more fully on Jesus Christ through the Advent season.