Verse 14. “And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.” And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem] The margin seems to have the better reading: “Thou also, O Judah, shall fight AGAINST Jerusalem.” The Douay version is to the same effect: “And even Judah shall fight against Jerusalem.” The prophet seems to pen this clause with surprise, that even the Jews will be engaged in the last great battle. The wealth of the heathen—gold—silver—apparel] These terms show unmistakably that the scene is at the beginning and not at the end of the 1000 years. For at the second resurrection we hear nothing of wealth, or money, or apparel. Verse 15. “And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.” This verse simply states that the plagues shall affect those beasts that are used as cavalry and for other purposes of war—the horses, camels, mules, asses, etc. The prophet Ezekiel doubtless speaks of the same host of mounted troops in chap. 38: 15; and in verse 22 he says that God will visit them with pestilence, an overflowing rain, hail, fire, and brimstone. Compare also Rev. 19: 19, 20. Also it should be kept in mind that the use of the word “plague” locates these events at the time just prior to the second advent. Verse 16. “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem, shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.” The “left of the nations” here refers to the last generation of Christians—the 144,000 who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. They are mentioned as the “few men left,” when the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and as the “gleaning grapes” and “the shaking of an olive tree,” when the vintage is done; also as the “left in Zion.” See Isa. 24: 6, 13, 14; 4: 2. Other texts speak of the same company as “the remnant,” and “little flock.” Rev. 12: 17; Luke 12: 32. The last church will have nothing to do with the rushing of the nations to the valley of Jehoshaphat. See other predictions of this gathering in Isa. 17: 12, 13; 13: 2–5. Shall go up—to keep the feast of tabernacles] This is a plain prediction of what the redeemed will do in the new-earth state. See Isa. 66: 22, 23. The immortal saints, from Sabbath to Sabbath, and from one new moon to another, appear before the Lord for his worship. Note also Rev. 22: 2, 14, where the tree of life is mentioned, with its monthly products, which will be eaten by the redeemed. In Rev. 21: 3, it is said, “Behold the tabernacle of God is with men.” The feast of tabernacles will doubtless be some heavenly service connected with the city which may not at present be fully understood. Among the Jews it was one of their three great annual feasts. It commemorated the forty years’ wandering in the wilderness. Perhaps it here refers to the grand re-union in the redeemed state after the pilgrimage of the church militant is over. Verse 17. “And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.” This verse, with the two following, teaches a fearful truth. Those “families,” or nations, or peoples, who do not heed the last merciful call to men, will have no part in the heavenly Jerusalem, and also upon them there will be “no rain,”—they will not share in the latter rain which ripens the saints for the heavenly city, and in the time of trouble they will die of thirst and famine, and wilt beneath the scorching rays of a burning sun. When the rivers of water are dried up, Joel 1: 20, and the streams are turned to blood, Rev. 16: 4, and the sun scorches men with fire, Rev. 16: 8, those who have rejected the last call to the marriage supper will pine, and wither, and thirst, and hunger, and miserably perish. Truly they will have “no rain.” Verse 18. “And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.” The same thought presented in the previous verse is continued in this, with the additional idea that the family of Egypt will not go up “that have no rain.” Mark, in Egypt it seldom or never rains, the country being nourished by the inundations of the Nile. But when the rivers of water are dried up, in the time of the plagues, it will be to them the same as if there was no rain. In the last call to men, Egypt, as a nation, will have no particular interest, and so will not be prepared to keep the feast of tabernacles in the kingdom of God. The word “if,” in verse 18, is used in a hypothetical sense, as in Heb. 4: 5. It amounts to a strong affirmation, that Mahometan Egypt will not “go up,” and so will not participate in the heavenly festivities of the nations of the saved. There shall be the plague] Note, the plagues will come upon all who do not enter heartily into the closing work of preparing for the feast of tabernacles. Also these plagues are at the commencement of the 1000 years. And mark, the Lord will smite ALL the heathen who do not have a part in the closing message. The difference between the righteous and the wicked in the time of trouble is well set forth in Isa. 65: 13, 14, which should be carefully read. Verse 19. “This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.” That is, the Egyptians and some other nations will take no special part in the closing work, and so will have no part with the nations of the saved when the tabernacle of God shall be with men. In this connection it may be proper to call to mind the prophecy of Ezekiel, that Egypt should be “a base kingdom,” “the basest of the kingdoms.” Chap. 29: 13, 14. It has been cursed by Moslem despots for many centuries. It is used in Rev. 11: 8 as a symbol of infidelity and lewdness. Verse 20. “In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar.” This is a prophecy of the holy, happy state of the family of the redeemed, when He whose right it is to rule shall be seated on the throne of his father David and reign forever. Luke 1: 32, 33. Verse 21. “Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts; and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts.” The idea presented in verse 20 is here continued. But in describing the heavenly rest, such terms are employed as have direct reference to the temple service. This kind of language is frequently used in the Scriptures when speaking of the worship under the new covenant. Every pot in Jerusalem] In the New Jerusalem, shall be holy. In that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord] This is equivalent to Isa. 52: 1, “Henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.” The wheat and tares grow together only until the end. This verse looks forward to the time when the subtle principle of sin shall be entirely exhausted, and God again have a CLEAN UNIVERSE. May the glad time hasten, when both reader and writer shall keep the feast of tabernacles in the kingdom of God.