< Zechariah 14 >

The prophet again prophesies of the earth shattering event to take place at Jerusalem when all nations will be gathered to battle in the day of the LORD.vs.1-2Waiting for response for Zechariah 14:1-2 The city will be captured and half of the inhabitants will be taken into captivity. Then the LORD will fight against the enemies of Israel as he fought in times past.v.3Waiting for response for Zechariah 14:3 He will do this through the Lord Jesus Christ who will return to the earth with God’s power. Two thousand years ago he ascended to heaven from the mount of Olives just outside Jerusalem Acts 1:9-12Waiting for response for Acts 1:9-12 and soon, approaching Jerusalem to deliver her, he will come again to this mount.v.4Waiting for response for Zechariah 14:4 The power of God in him will then divide the mount of Olives in two to transform the land vs.4-5Waiting for response for Zechariah 14:4-5 enabling water to flow from Jerusalem into the Dead Sea to heal it.v.8;Waiting for response for Zechariah 14:8 Ezekiel 47:1,8Waiting for response for Ezekiel 47:1,8

Jesus and the saints will then enter Jerusalem.v.5Waiting for response for Zechariah 14:5 As a body they will be a manifestation of God in the earth, therefore they are referred to as “LORD my God” (YAHWEH Elohim) which means “He who shall be my mighty ones”. Interestingly, the next verse which seems obscure makes reference in the original Hebrew to “thy splendid ones drawing in their light”.v.6Waiting for response for Zechariah 14:6 This, no doubt, refers to the fact that Jesus and the saints, being of the divine nature, will need to draw in their bright splendour when dealing with mortal men and women because their brightness would physically harm them. The angels did this when revealing themselves to mortal men, and the saints will be equal to the angels.

It is worth noting that at this time prophesied, the LORD will be king over all the earth.

After this terrible war, God will establish universal peace, with the world ruled by the Prince of Peace. People of all nations will be required to come to Jerusalem year by year to worship the LORD and keep the feast of tabernacles.v.16Waiting for response for Zechariah 14:16 Should any people refuse to comply with this requirement, they will quickly be brought into line by the withdrawal of rain v.17Waiting for response for Zechariah 14:17 for the elements will be under Christ’s control. Egypt, however, has negligible rainfall, receiving its water from the River Nile, therefore they will be dealt with by another method.vs.18-19Waiting for response for Zechariah 14:18-19

Worshippers will go up to Jerusalem, where will be the house of God and the throne of the LORD upon which Jesus will sit, and the city will be completely holy to the LORD.