Understanding Zechariah 14: The Day of the Lord Explained

Zechariah 14

1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.

2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:

7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.

8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

10 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses.

11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.

14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.

15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.

16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even 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 whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

20 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar.

21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

Zechariah 14 provides a comprehensive prophetic outline of the day of the Lord, spanning from the close of Christ’s heavenly priesthood to the final restoration of the earth 🕊️FEE 245.2.

The Coming of the Lord and the Mount of Olives

The prophecy begins by describing a time when all nations are gathered against Jerusalem to battle Zechariah 14:2. During this period, the Lord goes forth to fight against those nations, just as He fought in the day of battle in ancient times Zechariah 14:3ARSH January 5, 1865, page 46.4. A central event occurs when the feet of Jesus stand upon the Mount of Olives, causing the mountain to cleave in the middle and create a very great valley Zechariah 14:4FEE 245.2. This physical transformation removes every trace of the old Jerusalem to prepare a place for the New Jerusalem to descend from heavenFEE 245.2+1. This specific event takes place at the close of the one thousand years when Jesus, accompanied by all the saints and the angelic host, leaves the Holy City to return to the earth Zechariah 14:5ExV 33.2+1.

The Thousand-Year Period and Judgment

To understand the chronology of Zechariah 14 one must recognize that the "day of the Lord" is a period exceeding one thousand years in lengthFEE 245.2.

• The Second Advent: At the beginning of this day, the righteous are changed to immortality and caught up to meet the Lord in the air 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17PP 88.3.

• The Millennium: For one thousand years, the saints reign as kings and priests in the Holy City Revelation 20:4, 616MR 35.2+1. During this time, the saints join Jesus in a work of judgment, examining the books of life and death to determine the measure of punishment for the wicked 1 Corinthians 6:2-3ExV 33.2+1.

• The Third Advent: At the end of the thousand years, the Holy City descends, and the wicked dead are raised to face their final execution Revelation 20:5ExV 33.2+1.

The Final Cleansing and Restoration

When the wicked are raised at the end of the millennium, they behold Jesus in His resplendent glory and wail because of Him, seeing the prints of the nails in His hands and feetEW 52.2+1. Satan then deceives this vast multitude, leading them to surround the Holy City in a final attempt to overcome the saintsEW 52.2+1. However, fire comes down from God out of heaven to devour them, burning them up "root and branch"—Satan being the root and his followers the branches Revelation 20:9ExV 32.5+1. This same fire that destroys the wicked also purifies the earth, melting it and removing the marks of the curse 2 Peter 3:10ExV 32.5+1.

The Eternal Kingdom

Following this purification, the earth is renewed and becomes the eternal home of the redeemedFEE 245.2+1.

• One King: The Lord shall be king over all the earth, and there shall be one Lord with one name Zechariah 14:9PTUK April 7, 1897, page 214.7.

• The New Jerusalem: The city will be safely inhabited, and there will be no more "utter destruction" or curse upon the land Zechariah 14:11PTUK April 7, 1897, page 214.7+1.

• Living Waters: Living waters will flow out from the New Jerusalem, and the redeemed will dwell in the presence of God forever Zechariah 14:8+1ARSH January 5, 1865, page 46.4.

• Holiness: Every part of the restored world will be dedicated to God, as even the bells of the horses will bear the inscription "Holiness unto the Lord" Zechariah 14:20-21.

This prophecy serves as a solemn warning to prepare for the great day of the Lord by seeking personal acquaintance with God and reflecting the character of Christ todayPTUK June 23, 1898, page 389.20+1.