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How Many Will Survive? And Who Will Survive? Zechariah 13:8-9

Updated: Nov 30, 2023

By Rabbi Moshe Perets


Zechariah 13:8
וְהָיָ֚ה בְכָל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֔ה פִּֽי־שְׁנַ֣יִם בָּ֔הּ יִכָּֽרְת֖וּ יִגְוָ֑עוּ וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁ֖ית יִוָּ֥תֶר בָּֽהּ:
And it shall come to pass throughout all the land, says the Lord, two parts of it shall be cut off. They shall perish, and the third shall remain therein.

Zechariah 13:9
וְהֵֽבֵאתִ֚י אֶת־הַשְּׁלִשִׁית֙ בָּאֵ֔שׁ וּצְרַפְתִּים֙ כִּצְרֹ֣ף אֶת־הַכֶּ֔סֶף וּבְחַנְתִּ֖ים כִּבְחֹ֣ן אֶת־הַזָּהָ֑ב ה֣וּא | יִקְרָ֣א בִשְׁמִ֗י וַֽאֲנִי אֶֽעֱנֶ֣ה אֹת֔וֹ אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ עַמִּ֣י ה֔וּא וְה֥וּא יֹאמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽי:
And I will bring the third in fire; and I will refine them as one refines silver, and I will test them as one tests gold. He shall call in My name, and I will respond to him. I said, "He is My people"; and he shall say, "The Lord is my God."


Summary


The Rabbi discussed a prophecy from Zechariah, which suggests that two-thirds of the population will perish and the remaining third will survive, either literally or spiritually. He emphasized the significance of observing the 7 commandments of Torah for humanity, as only a third of people will be resurrected and achieve eternal life through this observance.



Zechariah's Prophecy and Human Survival


The Rabbi discussed a prophecy from Zechariah (chapter 13, verse 8), which suggests that two-thirds of the human population may perish, and the remaining third will survive. He explained that this could be interpreted either literally or spiritually. If fulfilled literally, it means physical destruction. If fulfilled spiritually, it means that two-thirds of the population currently lack a significant connection with the divine, making them 'cut off' from eternal life.


The Rabbi suggested that the prophecy may be fulfilled on a spiritual level, and that the current events in Israel could be seen as a model for what will happen to all humanity. The discussion ended with the Rabbi inviting further exploration into how this prophecy could be prevented from being fulfilled on a physical level.


By the adherence to the 7 Commandments of Torah for Humanity and doing your Noahide declaration of Faith: https://www.noahideacademy.org/noahide-declaration



Torah's 7 Commandments for Eternal Life


The Rabbi stressed the significance of observing the 7 commandments of Torah for humanity, highlighting that only a third of people will be resurrected and achieve eternal life through this observance. He clarified that 'proselytize' in this context does not imply conversion, but rather teaching and accepting these commandments.


The Rabbi mentioned that the war of Gog and Magog had already occurred during the Second World War and expressed concerns about those who came close to Torah and potentially reverting to their former pagan beliefs and customs. However, he encouraged everyone to remain committed and seek guidance with a Rabbi through here at the Noahide Academy of Israel.


 

Rabbi Moshe Perets is the President of the Noahide Academy of Israel, Founder and Executive Director of NoahideAcademy.org, the world’s largest Noahide informational website. He accomplished his Rabbinical Studies at the Chabad Yeshiva and his medical studies at the University of Louvain in Brussels, Belgium.



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