Examining Zechariah 14 & the Olivet Earthquake

revelation2217 · Feb 7, 2015

The Septuagint sleight is tricky and neato, but that doesn't really get us out of our problem seeing as how Jesus never referred to himself as IHVH, or the capitalized LORD. And too, IHVH in Zech. 14 is clearly speaking of THE IHVH of Hosts. I'm not attempting to diminish from Christ who has been exalted to the Father and has all power in Heaven and Earth, I'm simply saying that I'm not seeing IHVHs Messiah in Zech. 14. I'm seeing IHVH Sabaoth.

Zechariah could have easily used language such as 'In that the day the LORD's Messiah shall do such and such', or 'The feet of the LORD's Messiah shall stand on the Mount of Olives'. There's just one problem: that isn't what Zechariah wrote.

revelation2217 · Feb 7, 2015

I have truly found a new Fnord in Zech. 14. My biggest Fnord until this moment was Ezekiel 38-39, but now I have a new Fnord.

What is a Fnord? A Fnord is a word that we don't understand. A Fnord is something that is there that we believe shouldn't be there, so we ignore it, or explain it away, but it's still there. A Fnord is something that could not possibly have been, cannot possibly be, but is.

And that's Zechariah 14.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5FKSu8MWW0

revelation2217 · Feb 7, 2015

This is my future. But I don't how it's my future.

I'm going to be keeping the Feast of Tabernacles. But I don't how I'm going to be keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

I'm going to Jerusalem to the House of the Lord. But I don't know how I'm going to Jerusalem to the House of the Lord.

But I'm going to Canaan's Land. But it isn't going to be Canaan's land anymore.

That's what Zechariah 14 says.

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso of all the families of the earth goeth not up unto Jerusalem to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts, upon them there shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, neither shall it be upon them; there shall be the plague wherewith Jehovah will smite the nations that go not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that go not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLY UNTO JEHOVAH; and the pots in Jehovahs house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holy unto Jehovah of hosts; and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and boil therein: and in that day there shall be no more a Canaanite in the house of Jehovah of hosts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUx8S4Ut1uA

Rev20 · Feb 7, 2015

revelation2217 said:
The Septuagint sleight is tricky and neato, but that doesn't really get us out of our problem seeing as how Jesus never referred to himself as IHVH, or the capitalized LORD. And too, IHVH in Zech. 14 is clearly speaking of THE IHVH of Hosts. I'm not attempting to diminish from Christ who has been exalted to the Father and has all power in Heaven and Earth, I'm simply saying that I'm not seeing IHVHs Messiah in Zech. 14. I'm seeing IHVH Sabaoth.

Zechariah could have easily used language such as 'In that the day the LORD's Messiah shall do such and such', or 'The feet of the LORD's Messiah shall stand on the Mount of Olives'. There's just one problem: that isn't what Zechariah wrote.

First, let me make the claim that the Septuagint Greek is probably more reliable than the Masoretic text. If it is not a close call, I will choose the LXX over the MAS. As for Zech 14:3, the MAS doesn't follow the storyline that began in 13:7, while the LXX does. Therefore, I don't think you can go wrong with the LXX in Zechariah 14.

As for the Trinity, Jesus claimed He was the Father, twice:

"I and my Father are one." -- John 10:30

"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" -- John 14:9

Either we believe Christ, or we dont. I believe Him.

John said the world was made by him (which would be a pretty neat trick for someone who is not God):

"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. . . He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not." -- John 1:3, 10

Paul implied that Jesus considered himself equal to God:

"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" -- Phi 2:6

And Paul either implied God and Christ would come at the same time, or they are one and the same:

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" -- Tit 2:13

Even in the Old Testament Jesus is referred to as God the Father.:

"For unto us a child is born [Jesus,] unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." -- Isa 9:6

I hope you can see why I have no problem believing that Christ is God the Father. But if that is not convincing enough, let's hear it from God himself:

"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." -- Isa 45:22-23

"But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." -- Rom 14:10-12

Are we bowing to God, or to Christ?

I almost forgot this one. Sorry for the late edit:

"Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest." -- Rev 15:4 KJV

That sorta narrows down the list of Holy people, as well as the number of deities, which should not be too much of a surprise:

"And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:" -- Mark 12:29 KJV

"And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one." -- Zec 14:9 KJV

revelation2217 · Feb 7, 2015

That's great and everything, but David still said

נְאֻ֤ם יְהוָ֨ה ׀ לַֽאדֹנִ֗י שֵׁ֥ב לִֽימִינִ֑י עַד־אָשִׁ֥ית אֹ֝יְבֶ֗יךָ הֲדֹ֣ם לְרַגְלֶֽיךָ׃
IHVH said to my Adonai, sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool. - Psalm 110:1

So when we are dealing with the retribution and blessing of IHVH of Hosts in Zechariah, we are dealing with IHVH Sabaoth, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrBGUqNBEgE

Rev20 · Feb 7, 2015

revelation2217 said:
That's great and everything, but David still said

נְאֻ֤ם יְהוָ֨ה ׀ לַֽאדֹנִ֗י שֵׁ֥ב לִֽימִינִ֑י עַד־אָשִׁ֥ית אֹ֝יְבֶ֗יךָ הֲדֹ֣ם לְרַגְלֶֽיךָ׃
IHVH said to my Adonai, sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool. - Psalm 110:1

So when we are dealing with the retribution and blessing of IHVH of Hosts in Zechariah, we are dealing with IHVH Sabaoth, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrBGUqNBEgE

So, you don't believe there is one Lord?

BTW, what is the point of all the goofy videos?

revelation2217 · Feb 7, 2015

Rev20 said:
So, you don't believe there is one Lord?

BTW, what is the point of all the goofy videos?

Zech 14 is not speaking of the Lord Jesus physically standing on the Mount of Olives, but rather of the divine Presence of IHVH Sabaoth. I'm saying that IHVH Sabaoth in Zech. 14 is clearly a reference to God the Father. There is an order even as written in the Revelation:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John. - Rev. 1:1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9_VOy7VipQ

Rev20 · Feb 7, 2015

revelation2217 said:
Zech 14 is not speaking of the Lord Jesus physically standing on the Mount of Olives, but rather of the divine Presence of IHVH Sabaoth. I'm saying that IHVH Sabaoth in Zech. 14 is clearly a reference to God the Father. There is an order even as written in the Revelation:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John. - Rev. 1:1

This sounds like an argument a Jehovah witness might make? Everyone I know thinks that Christ is the Lord in Zech 14, Christ is hanging on the cross in Zech 12:10, etc.

When are you going to cease from cluttering up these Christian boards with those stupid, secular videos?

revelation2217 · Feb 7, 2015

Rev20 said:
revelation2217 said:

Zech 14 is not speaking of the Lord Jesus physically standing on the Mount of Olives, but rather of the divine Presence of IHVH Sabaoth. I'm saying that IHVH Sabaoth in Zech. 14 is clearly a reference to God the Father. There is an order even as written in the Revelation:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John. - Rev. 1:1

This sounds like an argument a Jehovah witness might make? Everyone I know thinks that Christ is the Lord in Zech 14, Christ is hanging on the cross in Zech 12:10, etc.

When are you going to cease from cluttering up these Christian boards with those stupid, secular videos?

Click to expand...

If you can show me where the Lord Jesus Christ is ever referred to as IHVH Sabaoth, I'll be glad to listen. Until then, I'm going on the working theory that Zech. 14 is in reference to divine activity by God the Father.

That doesn't make me a Jehovah's witness, and what everyone you know thinks doesn't address IHVH Sabaoth in Zech. 14. Maybe what everyone you know thinks is wrong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeYDwmV7SyQ

revelation2217 · Feb 7, 2015

Rev20 said:
revelation2217 said:

Zech 14 is not speaking of the Lord Jesus physically standing on the Mount of Olives, but rather of the divine Presence of IHVH Sabaoth. I'm saying that IHVH Sabaoth in Zech. 14 is clearly a reference to God the Father. There is an order even as written in the Revelation:

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John. - Rev. 1:1

This sounds like an argument a Jehovah witness might make? Everyone I know thinks that Christ is the Lord in Zech 14, Christ is hanging on the cross in Zech 12:10, etc.

When are you going to cease from cluttering up these Christian boards with those stupid, secular videos?

Click to expand...

If you can show me where the Lord Jesus Christ is ever referred to as IHVH Sabaoth, I'll be glad to listen. Until then, I'm going on the working theory that Zech. 14 is in reference to divine activity by God the Father.

That doesn't make me a Jehovah's witness, and what everyone you know thinks doesn't address IHVH Sabaoth in Zech. 14. Maybe what everyone you know thinks is wrong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeYDwmV7SyQ

Rev20 · Feb 7, 2015

revelation2217 said:
Rev20 said:

If you can show me where the Lord Jesus Christ is ever referred to as IHVH Sabaoth, I'll be glad to listen. Until then, I'm going on the working theory that Zech. 14 is in reference to divine activity by God the Father.

Click to expand...

I'll have to show you in another life. I have seen the last of your posts.

Goodbye.

revelation2217 · Feb 7, 2015

Rev20 said:
revelation2217 said:

I'll have to show you in another life. I have seen the last of your posts.

Goodbye.

Click to expand...

Are you promoting reincarnation? That makes you sound like a Hindu.

revelation2217 · Feb 7, 2015

One of the things that needs to be considered in an exposition and analysis of Zech 14 is when this transformation and exaltation of Israel and Jerusalem takes place. What exactly does it portend? It sounds like physical Israel.

On that day Living Water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter. IHVH will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one IHVH, and his Name the only name. The whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up high from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses, and will remain in its place. It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure. - Zech. 14:8-10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHcYaS3m1c4

revelation2217 · Feb 7, 2015

I am constrained by the text to lay some expositional affirmatives of Zechariah 14.

1. Throughout the chapter, the prophet speaks of literal, physical earthly Jerusalem.

2. However, using this passage to assert a second advent of Christ on earth does damage to the text and is foreign to the text. The text speaks of IHVH Sabaoth throughout. There is no mention of a king Messiah doing these things, or a king Messiah reigning in physical Jerusalem, but rather that the Name IHVH is exalted throughout all the earth at that time against all other Gods.

3. Another issue is that seeing that the context is all about physical Jerusalem, the final portion of the chapter cannot be referring to a time within the Jewish Mosaic Covenant, but must be referring to some time afterward, for gentiles were never commanded to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And for some reason, the Feast of Tabernacles, that is the Feast of Harvest is all important to Zechariah's prophetic portent. It is an enigma because it sounds like no custom that has ever been on earth. It does not say 'Passover'; it does not say 'Pentecost'. It specifically states the 'Feast of Tabernacles', that is the Ingathering of the Harvest and the week of dwelling in Tents in the autumn. Why?

The sacking of earthly Jerusalem by IHVH - Behold, a day of Jehovah cometh, when 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.

The vindication of earthly Jerusalem by IHVH - Then shall Jehovah 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 be cleft 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.

The beatification of earthly Jerusaelm by the one name IHVH - And it shall come to pass in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. 9 And Jehovah shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall Jehovah be one, and his name one. 10 All the land shall be made like the Arabah, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and she shall be lifted up, and shall dwell in her place, from Benjamins gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel unto the kings wine-presses. 11 And men shall dwell therein, and there shall be no more curse; but Jerusalem shall dwell safely.

The plague from IHVH against those who fight against earthly Jerusalem - And this shall be the plague wherewith Jehovah will smite all the peoples that have warred against Jerusalem: their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their sockets, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. 13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from Jehovah shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor. 14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the nations 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 those camps, as that plague.

The Feast of Tabernacles for All Nations at earthly Jerusalem - 16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17 And it shall be, that whoso of all the families of the earth goeth not up unto Jerusalem to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts, upon them there shall be no rain. 18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, neither shall it be upon them; there shall be the plague wherewith Jehovah will smite the nations that go not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that go not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 20 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLY UNTO JEHOVAH; and the pots in Jehovahs house shall be like the bowls before the altar.

revelation2217 · Feb 7, 2015

There is something else that is curious to me as well.

The text never states that the presence of God would be in the Temple, but rather on the Mount of Olives, which is opposite to the Temple Mount. This is strange and shocking to us because in former years, the place of God's dwelling and presence was always Mt Moriah, Mt Zion. His presence was in the Most Holy Place above the Mercy Seat of the Ark. But his presence is not here at this time, but rather opposite to it on Mt Olivet. The very Presence of God describes him in anthropomorphic terms as standing on the Mt of Olives.

And his [IHVH's] feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the mount of Olives shall be cleft 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.

Danoh · Feb 7, 2015

Revelation 21:

3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

revelation2217 · Feb 7, 2015

Danoh said:
Revelation 21:

3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Good verse. I can certainly see how this would be the spiritual significance of the Feast of Tabernacles that God was trying to teach Israel by this Feast. The Feast itself was a yearly reminder of their days of wandering and being led by the Spirit of God out of Egypt. It was to remind them that their blessings of harvest and their very livelihood came from the presence of God leading them along the path to their promised land.

So I can certainly see how in the Spirit we all keep a Feast of Tabernacles as it were. My problem is that Zechariah 14 sounds like not only a spiritual significance of the Feast, but the actual ritual pilgrimage of the Feast on earth.

And curiously, it does not mention Passover, or Pentecost. It is as if at this time, Passover and Pentecost have diminished in importance to the Feast of Tabernacles. In fact, to Zechariah 14, it is the only rite of worship of any seeming significance and import.

Danoh · Feb 7, 2015

Again, I'm just looking at these things with you, as I am not 100% settled on them other than what my Mid-Acts Dispensationalism might at times point me to, but even then, I always demand my exhaustive scrutiny of every nook and cranny before I'll allow my settling on an answer, which I then continue to examine and re-examine.... I love The Book!

I find I agree with very few on many issues as a result...but also, that I am still able to learn from any school of thought...

You kind of strike me as someone along this same independent line yourself.

Still, keep an open mind. Refuse to assume going in... I often disagree with many on here... still, some of them are really sharp... Rev20 is one of those and he and I agree on very little, it seems...

Anyway, perhaps because what Zach 14 is seeing is that by then what each feast represented will have been brought to fruition, while tabernacles; which is always last in their cycle of feasts symbolized God's one day tabernacle-ling with man.

I'm thinking the answer is in that somehow. Also, how the last chapter in Revelation ends is similar to how Zechariah's vision appears to depict the LORD ruling with a Rod of Iron.

Revelation 21:

14. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

revelation2217 · Feb 7, 2015

Well, I tell you Danoh, I'm with you on not being settled on any one view of Zech. 14. At this time I can say that I can punch too many holes in the 'major schools of thought' to be honestly comfortable.

However, I did stumble upon one interesting piece of Bible trivia.

Did you know that the only other reference to the Mt of Olives outside Jesus' discourse in the New Testament is found in 2 Samual 15:30, when David was fleeing from Absilom?

That's all. There is no other reference in the entire Old Testament scriptures to the Mount of Olives outside of Zech. 14. And that's what makes it intriguing. There is some very special reason for this prophecy concerning the mount of Olives.

David was there. And we know Jesus was there when he answered the disciples questions regarding the future of Jerusalem and the Temple.

And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? - Mt. 24:3

We see Jesus often resorting to the Mount of Olives as if in some retirement from his times at the Temple.

I just wonder if IHVH of Hosts is not doing the same in Zech. 14. For we do not see Him on the Temple mount in Zech. 14, but rather having his feet upon the Mount of Olives. It is as if He has moved and is now standing opposite to where He once was.

One thing I am convinced of, though, is that this prophecy does not pertain to the Old Covenant. Whatever it is that Zechariah saw, it was far beyond the Covenant of his day after the Babylonian captivity. There was only one other sack of Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity that could legitimately fit the language of Zechariah 14 - Rome.

This does not sound like Antiochus Epiphanes because though he persecuted Jerusalem, he never 'took half the city away into captivity'.

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.

There was and always has been a small remainder of Jews living around Jerusalem and Bethlehem even from the times of Titus. And at least half the city was taken into slavery outright after the siege of Jerusalem by Rome. Josephus also states that 1.1 million were slaughtered outright, that doesn't include all the hundreds of thousands who were trapped inside and ended up starving to death. We estimate from all the people who were trapped in Jerusalem at Passover by the 10th and 5th legions of Vespasian, there would have been something around 2.5 to 3 million people around Jerusalem at that time.

How will this prophecy be fulfilled? What is the meaning of this Feast of Tabernacles pilgrimage to Jerusalem? How is this city to be fully vindicated and the Name IHVH reign throughout the earth from that time on? I have no idea.

What I do know, is that just from a reading of Zech. 14, these things are not accomplished by IHVH's Messiah, but by IHVH of Hosts Himself. There is no need for this supposed 2nd Advent of Christ on earth to fulfill this word of prophecy. It more sounds like it is a personal vindication of the Name IHVH in order that all may know that it was not because IHVHs hand was short and He could not save, but rather because of the sin of the house of Israel that they went into bondage.

What that means is that if some other God, say ALLAH for example, is claiming the rule over Jerusalem, IHVH has a score to settle. For His Name shall be One. It looks like there is one more issue to settle for ever in this world about who is the LORD.

random person · Feb 7, 2015

revelation2217 said:
Well, I tell you Danoh, I'm with you on not being settled on any one view of Zech. 14. At this time I can say that I can punch too many holes in the 'major schools of thought' to be honestly comfortable.

However, I did stumble upon one interesting piece of Bible trivia.

Did you know that the only other reference to the Mt of Olives outside Jesus' discourse in the New Testament is found in 2 Samual 15:30, when David was fleeing from Absilom?

That's all. There is no other reference in the entire Old Testament scriptures to the Mount of Olives outside of Zech. 14. And that's what makes it intriguing. There is some very special reason for this prophecy concerning the mount of Olives.

David was there. And we know Jesus was there when he answered the disciples questions regarding the future of Jerusalem and the Temple.

And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? - Mt. 24:3

We see Jesus often resorting to the Mount of Olives as if in some retirement from his times at the Temple.

I just wonder if IHVH of Hosts is not doing the same in Zech. 14. For we do not see Him on the Temple mount in Zech. 14, but rather having his feet upon the Mount of Olives. It is as if He has moved and is now standing opposite to where He once was.

One thing I am convinced of, though, is that this prophecy does not pertain to the Old Covenant. Whatever it is that Zechariah saw, it was far beyond the Covenant of his day after the Babylonian captivity. There was only one other sack of Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity that could legitimately fit the language of Zechariah 14 - Rome.

This does not sound like Antiochus Epiphanes because though he persecuted Jerusalem, he never 'took half the city away into captivity'.

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.

There was and always has been a small remainder of Jews living around Jerusalem and Bethlehem even from the times of Titus. And at least half the city was taken into slavery outright after the siege of Jerusalem by Rome. Josephus also states that 1.1 million were slaughtered outright, that doesn't include all the hundreds of thousands who were trapped inside and ended up starving to death. We estimate from all the people who were trapped in Jerusalem at Passover by the 10th and 5th legions of Vespasian, there would have been something around 2.5 to 3 million people around Jerusalem at that time.

How will this prophecy be fulfilled? What is the meaning of this Feast of Tabernacles pilgrimage to Jerusalem? How is this city to be fully vindicated and the Name IHVH reign throughout the earth from that time on? I have no idea.

What I do know, is that just from a reading of Zech. 14, these things are not accomplished by IHVH's Messiah, but by IHVH of Hosts Himself. There is no need for this supposed 2nd Advent of Christ on earth to fulfill this word of prophecy. It more sounds like it is a personal vindication of the Name IHVH in order that all may know that it was not because IHVHs hand was short and He could not save, but rather because of the sin of the house of Israel that they went into bondage.

What that means is that if some other God, say ALLAH for example, is claiming the rule over Jerusalem, IHVH has a score to settle. For His Name shall be One. It looks like there is one more issue to settle for ever in this world about who is the LORD.

The Zechariah prophecy regards elements of supercessionism (Israel and Jerusalem are represented by the church at the time of its fulfillment) and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the 1st century. The Holy Spirit is the river of living waters!

As far as Jesus standing on the mount of Olives, it is metaphoric such as is found in Micah 1:3-7, when Samaria fell to the Assyrians.

The Jewish persecutions occurred throughout Asia Minor of multiple nationalities, these are the nations.

Some preterists theorize the "melting of their eyes" could mean when Mt. Vesuvius blew.

Examining Zechariah 14 & the Olivet Earthquake

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1 COR. 10:11; HEB. 1:2; HEB. 9:26,28; 1 PET. 1:20

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