The 'fire' symbolizes the refining trials of the tribulation that purify Israel's surviving remnant — not mere destruction.
Zechariah 13:8-9 shows two parts of Israel will be cut off and die, while the third part is brought through the fire to be refined as silver is refined and tried as gold is tried. Les Feldick identifies this fire as 'the fires of tribulation, the wrath, and the vexation' (Clip 1). The result of this refining is that the remnant calls on God's name, He hears them, and He declares, 'It is my people,' while they respond, 'The LORD is my God.'
Zechariah 13:9 — This verse directly names the fire, defines it as a refining and testing process, and shows its outcome — the remnant calling on God and being recognized as His people.
The prophet Zechariah describes a coming division within the land of Israel: 'in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein' (Zechariah 13:8). God then declares what He will do with that surviving third: 'And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried' (Zechariah 13:9). The passage shows the fire is a refining instrument — the outcome is not annihilation but purification. The same passage reveals the result of this refining: 'they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God' (Zechariah 13:9). Jeremiah 30:7 calls that coming day 'the time of Jacob's trouble' — a day so great that none is like it. In Matthew 24:21, Jesus describes the accompanying tribulation as the worst the world has ever seen.
Les Feldick directly addresses the fire of Zechariah 13:9, identifying it as 'the fires of tribulation, the wrath, and the vexation' that God will use to refine Israel's surviving remnant (Clip 1). He connects this to Jeremiah 30's 'time of Jacob's trouble,' noting that Israel's greatest turmoil is still ahead and that Israel sits in the vortex of the worst days the world has ever known, as Jesus described in Matthew 24 (Clip 0). The refining language — silver refined and gold tried — pictures the severe testings of tribulation purging impurity from the remnant, so that those brought through will call on the Lord's name, He will hear them, He will say 'It is my people,' and they will say 'The LORD is my God' (Clip 1). Les also uses the burning bush as a picture of Israel — constantly in the fires of judgment throughout history yet never consumed, since Israel is God's covenant people (Clips 2, 6). He stresses that the remnant will be providentially protected through this fiery period, just as Israel in Goshen was insulated from the Egyptian plagues and as Israel in the wilderness was supernaturally provided for — even while the remnant remains in unbelief (Clips 4, 5, 7).
Zechariah 13:9 describes the fire as a refining agent: 'I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried.' The same verse shows the outcome — the remnant 'shall call on my name,' the Lord will hear them, He will say 'It is my people,' and they will say 'The LORD is my God.' Les Feldick teaches that this fire is 'the fires of tribulation, the wrath, and the vexation' that God uses to refine Israel (Clip 1).
Les draws parallels to two Old Testament protections. Just as Israel in Goshen was insulated from the Egyptian plagues, the fleeing remnant will be insulated from the ravages of the tribulation (Clip 4). Just as God provided for Israel in the wilderness — clothes and shoes that did not wear out and daily food and water — God will likewise protect and provide for the remnant for three and a half years, even while they remain in unbelief (Clips 5, 7).
Jeremiah 30:7 declares, 'Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble.' Les explains that Jacob always refers to the nation of Israel, and that this coming trouble is Israel's greatest turmoil — the tribulation Jesus said would be the worst the world has ever known (Clip 0). It is within this period that the fire of Zechariah 13 refines the surviving third.
Les sees the burning bush as a picture of Israel — burning with fire but not consumed. 'Israel is constantly in the fires of judgment,' he observes, with every world power trying to obliterate them, yet the nation survives (Clip 2). Les says the reason Israel has survived the millennia against all odds is that they are God's covenant people (Clip 6). The tribulation fire will continue this pattern: two parts consumed in death, but the remnant preserved and purified.
The Time of Jacob's Trouble
Les establishes that Israel's greatest turmoil is still future — the tribulation — when Jesus' words in Matthew 24 about the worst days ever will be fulfilled, with Israel in the vortex.
The Fire Defined
Les directly identifies the fire of Zechariah 13:9 as the fires of tribulation, wrath, and vexation, and shows its refining purpose: the remnant calls on God's name and is acknowledged as His people.
The Burning Bush Picture
Les compares the burning bush that was not consumed to Israel — always in the fires of judgment yet never obliterated.
What Happens to Believers at the Bema Seat?
Now fire not only gives light, it also has heat, and as such, now come back to I Corinthians chapter 3, not only does it manifest with the light, but it is also going to show with its heat how much of our works are going to survive. Now if all of our works are nothing but wood, hay and stubble, how much is going to be left? Nothing.
Goshen-Style Protection
Les teaches the escaping remnant will be insulated from the tribulation's ravages just as Israel in Goshen was isolated from the Egyptian plagues.
Wilderness-Style Care
Les explains that fleeing Jews will be protected for three and a half years, even in unbelief, with God supplying every need as He did in the wilderness.
Covenant Preservation
Les explains that Israel has survived millennia against all odds because they are God's covenant people — the reason God preserves the remnant through the fire.
Divine Provision in the Tribulation
Les compares God's 40-year provision for Israel in the Exodus to His miraculous care for the fleeing Jews during the tribulation.
Zechariah 13:8: And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
Establishes that only a third of Israel survives to enter the refining fire.
Zechariah 13:9: And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
The central verse defining the fire as a refining process that produces a restored relationship with God.
Jeremiah 30:6: Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
Depicts the unprecedented anguish of the day of Israel's trouble.
Jeremiah 30:7: Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
Names the tribulation period as 'Jacob's trouble' and promises deliverance.
Matthew 24:21: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Jesus describes the unprecedented tribulation that Les places at the center of Israel's fiery trial.
Exodus 3:2: And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
The burning bush picture of Israel in the fire yet not consumed, which Les uses as an illustration of Israel's preservation.
Purification. Zechariah 13:8-9 shows that while two parts of Israel are cut off and die, the third part is brought through the fire to be refined as silver and tried as gold. Les Feldick calls it 'the fires of tribulation, the wrath, and the vexation' — a purging process that ends with the remnant calling on the Lord's name and being owned by Him (Clip 1).
Jeremiah 30:7 uses this phrase for a coming day so great that none is like it. Les says Jacob refers to the nation of Israel and that this trouble is the tribulation — the worst days the world has ever known, with Israel in the vortex (Clip 0).
Yes. Les teaches that the escaping remnant will be providentially protected — as Israel was insulated from the plagues in Goshen and cared for in the wilderness — for three and a half years, even while in unbelief (Clips 4, 5, 7).
Watch the Teaching: Why Has Israel Suffered So Much? The Bible's Answer