Are we to cheer or are we to cry when we read this Bible passage?
We must surely cry when we think of what God says, that ‘the others were hardened’. The prophet Zechariah already saw this; only one third will be left in the land, and two thirds will be struck down. Struck down! Is that not terrible? Only a small part is chosen and the rest will perish... And how will that happen? God gives them a spirit of stupor. Eyes do not see the works of God anymore, and ears cannot hear the voice of God anymore.
How terrible! What about God’s love then? Is that only expressed in the small remnant that will remain in the land?
Unfortunately, it is. But let nobody think God is to blame. Jesus wept over the whole of Jerusalem, because its inhabitants did not recognize the time of God’s coming to them (Luke 19:44). Therefore, they did not get to know the righteousness that comes from God. They sought to establish their own righteousness and did not submit to God’s righteousness (Romans 10:3). So God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done… (Romans 1:28).
But God had wished things to be different. ‘Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28), but: ‘You were not willing’ (Matthew 23:37).
Who are those who are not willing?
In Israel, two third of the population will be struck down, because they want to be Jewish without submitting themselves to the laws of God.
How many 'Christians' will survive that day?