Zechariah 14:1-21
Q.1. How do we know that this prophecy is yet future? How terrible are the days described? What information did Zechariah give us about the Lord’s return? – (Zech.14:1-6 c.f. Rev.16:17-18; 19:11-16)
Israel had experienced major strife and heartache since Zechariah wrote. However, here he prophesied of a time when all nations will oppose her – 1 a day is coming for the Lord when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle … (Zech.14:1-2). This will coincide with the Battle of Armageddon. Israel will be saved by the presence of God – the Second Coming of Christ – 3 Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. 4 In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south … Then the Lord, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him!  (Zech.14:3-5 c.f. Jde.1:14; Rev.16:17-18; 19:11-16). Thus, Christ’s return marks the time of this prophecy.
Q.2. When will these events take place? How does this prophecy agree with Christ’s? Will this be the end? How will the earth change? – (Zech.14:4, 6-11 c.f. Mt.24:29-31, 36; Ezk.47:1-7)
The nations have become increasingly arrogant, because Christ has not yet physically come (c.f. 2 Pet.3:3-4). Some may try to spiritualize Zechariah 14:3. However, the next verse makes it clear that the feet of the Lord (Jesus) will stand on the Mount of Olives. At this time there will be a massive earthquake. Of this event Jesus declared – 29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory (Mt.24:29-30). Zechariah envisioned exactly the same – 6 In that day there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. 7 For it will be a unique day which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but it will come about that at evening time there will be light (Zech.14:6-7). Jesus substantiated Zechariah’s prophecy – But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone (Mt.24:36). It is clear from the description of Armageddon, that Planet Earth will be completely re-landscaped – 18 And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found (Rev.16:18-20). The prophets agree that Mount Zion will be the most prominent mountain in the new Millennial earth – Now it will come about that In the last days The mountain of the house of the Lord Will be established as the chief of the mountains and will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it (Isa.2:2 c.f. Mic.4:1). Fresh water will gush forth, refreshing all the hills and valleys around Jerusalem (Zech.14:8 c.f. Ezk.47:1-12).
Q.3. How decisive and terrible will the victory be? Who will be reigning? What will He demand? What will be the consequences for ignoring His rule? – (Zech.14:9, 12-21)
Zechariah described the terrible plagues that will inflict those who have fought against Jerusalem (Zech.14:12-15 c.f. Rev.16:1-21). After Christ returns in glory – the Lord will be king over all the earth; in that day the Lord will be the only one, and His name the only one (Zech.14:9). The nations surviving the Great Tribulation will live on and multiply, during the Millennial Reign of Christ (Isa.65:17-25). The nations will seek out the favour of Christ and His people, (Zech.8:20-23) and make an annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem – Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths (Zech.14:16). Zechariah went on to explain that the nations who refuse to celebrate the Feast of Booths (also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Ingathering – Hebrew Sukkot) will be punished with droughts and failed harvests (Zech.14:16-19). Why is the celebration of the Feast of Booths so important? (i) Sukkot was the seventh and last feast given to Israel – Lev.23:1-44. (ii) Sukkot was one of the three feasts celebrated when Jews had to appear before the Lord in the place He would appoint – Ex.23:14-19; Dt.16:16. (iii) Sukkot celebrated God’s promise of a yearly harvest and remembered His protection during the forty years of wilderness journeys – Dt.16:13-17. (iv) The Sukkot tithes and offerings enabled the priesthood to function with the support of the nation – Dt.16:13-17 c.f. Neh.8:13-18. (v) Sukkot is a time of worship and celebration, recognizing God’s gracious provision of rain and harvests. It is a fundamental expression by the nations that they owe everything to God. It is therefore a perpetual commemoration. (vi) Jesus declared at the Feast of Sukkot – 37 … If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, `From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water (Jn.7:37-38). For the nations to ignore the One Who is the Fount of all blessing, is an affront to Him. It means they will miss out on His provision of rain. By contrast, in Israel – 20 In that day there will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, “HOLY TO THE LORD.” And the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Every cooking pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the Lord of hosts; and all who sacrifice will come and take of them and boil in them. And there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts in that day (Zech.14:20-21). The penitence of Israel will be real, and the restoration complete.