Zechariah 14

Zechariah 14 describes a prophetic vision of a day of the Lord when God will intervene decisively on behalf of Jerusalem. This chapter addresses themes of divine judgment, the battle against Jerusalem, the return of the Lord, and the establishment of His rule over all the earth. It depicts a future time when nations will gather against Jerusalem, but God will deliver His people, transforming the city and restoring it. The chapter concludes with a vision of holiness and universal worship in a renewed world.

Zechariah 14:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Behold, the day of the Lord is coming,
And your spoil will be divided in your midst.
2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem;
The city shall be taken,
The houses rifled,
And the women ravished.
Half of the city shall go into captivity,
But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

This prophecy reveals a coming day when Jerusalem will face a fierce attack, with nations gathered against it. The people of the city will experience significant suffering, symbolized by plundering and captivity. However, there is a glimmer of hope: a remnant will remain, suggesting God’s preservation of His people even amidst judgment.

Zechariah 14:3-5 (NKJV)
3 Then the Lord will go forth
And fight against those nations,
As He fights in the day of battle.
4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,
Which faces Jerusalem on the east.
And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,
From east to west,
Making a very large valley;
Half of the mountain shall move toward the north
And half of it toward the south.
5 Then you shall flee through My mountain valley,
For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal.
Yes, you shall flee
As you fled from the earthquake
In the days of Uzziah king of Judah.
Thus the Lord my God will come,
And all the saints with You.

Here, God Himself intervenes, coming to fight against the attacking nations. His presence on the Mount of Olives causes it to split, creating an escape route for His people. This imagery underscores God’s mighty protection and power over creation, evoking hope for divine deliverance.

Zechariah 14:6-7 (NKJV)
6 It shall come to pass in that day
That there will be no light;
The lights will diminish.
7 It shall be one day
Which is known to the Lord—
Neither day nor night.
But at evening time it shall happen
That it will be light.

The prophecy speaks of a supernatural phenomenon where normal cycles of light and darkness are disrupted, creating a unique, divinely ordained day. This suggests a time when God’s presence will redefine natural order, symbolizing a new era of His rule that transcends ordinary limitations.

Zechariah 14:8-9 (NKJV)
8 And in that day it shall be
That living waters shall flow from Jerusalem,
Half of them toward the eastern sea
And half of them toward the western sea;
In both summer and winter it shall occur.
9 And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.
In that day it shall be—
“The Lord is one,”
And His name one.

Living waters flowing from Jerusalem signify healing and life, with streams reaching far beyond the city. The perpetual flow in every season points to God’s continual provision. This vision culminates with God’s universal kingship, uniting all nations under His name, emphasizing His sovereignty and the harmony of His reign.

Zechariah 14:10-11 (NKJV)
10 All the land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem shall be raised up and inhabited in her place
From Benjamin’s Gate to the place of the First Gate and the Corner Gate,
And from the Tower of Hananel to the king’s winepresses.
11 The people shall dwell in it;
And no longer shall there be utter destruction,
But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

This passage describes a transformed Jerusalem, elevated and secure, contrasting the previous destruction. The city will be rebuilt and safe, a permanent home for God’s people. This vision of peace affirms God’s restoration, where Jerusalem is preserved and inhabited without fear.

Zechariah 14:12-15 (NKJV)
12 And this shall be the plague with which the Lord will strike all the people who fought against Jerusalem:
Their flesh shall dissolve while they stand on their feet,
Their eyes shall dissolve in their sockets,
And their tongues shall dissolve in their mouths.
13 It shall come to pass in that day
That a great panic from the Lord will be among them.
Everyone will seize the hand of his neighbor,
And raise his hand against his neighbor’s hand;
14 Judah also will fight at Jerusalem.
And the wealth of all the surrounding nations
Shall be gathered together:
Gold, silver, and apparel in great abundance.
15 Such also shall be the plague
On the horse and the mule,
On the camel and the donkey,
And on all the cattle that will be in those camps.
So shall this plague be.

God’s judgment on those opposing Jerusalem is depicted as a severe plague that consumes flesh and causes confusion among enemies. This divine retribution illustrates the powerlessness of those who resist God’s plan. Judah’s victory and the gathering of wealth symbolize God’s provision and the restoration of His people’s fortunes.

Zechariah 14:16-19 (NKJV)
16 And it shall come to pass
That everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem
Shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts,
And to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts,
On them there will be no rain.
18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in,
They shall have no rain;
They shall receive the plague
With which the Lord strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up
To keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

After God’s intervention, the remaining nations are invited to worship in Jerusalem annually at the Feast of Tabernacles. Failure to participate results in a drought, reinforcing the importance of revering God. This vision demonstrates a unified world worshiping the Lord, where blessings are contingent on obedience.

Zechariah 14:20-21 (NKJV)
20 In that day “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” shall be engraved on the bells of the horses.
The pots in the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts.
Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them.
In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts.

The chapter concludes with a vision of complete holiness. The phrase “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” signifies total dedication to God, even in everyday items. This sanctification extends throughout Jerusalem and Judah, where all things are consecrated to God’s worship, marking the ultimate transformation and purity in the new era under God’s reign.