Zechariah 14

Zechariah 14:1-21 . LAST STRUGGLE WITH THE HOSTILE WORLD POWERS: MESSIAH-JEHOVAH SAVES JERUSALEM AND DESTROYS THE FOE, OF WHOM THE REMNANT TURNS TO THE LORD REIGNING AT JERUSALEM.

1. day of the Lord--in which He shall vindicate His justice by punishing the wicked and then saving His elect people ( Joel 2:31 , 3:14 , Malachi 4:1 Malachi 4:5 ).
thy spoil . . . divided in the midst of thee--by the foe; secure of victory, they shall not divide the spoil taken from thee in their camp outside, but "in the midst" of the city itself.

2. gather all nations, &c.--The prophecy seems literal (compare Joel 3:2 ). If Antichrist be the leader of the nations, it seems inconsistent with the statement that he will at this time be sitting in the temple as God at Jerusalem ( 2 Thessalonians 2:4 ); thus Antichrist outside would be made to besiege Antichrist within the city. But difficulties do not set aside revelations: the event will clear up seeming difficulties. Compare the complicated movements, Daniel 11:1-45 .
half . . . the residue--In Zechariah 13:8 Zechariah 13:9 , it is "two-thirds" that perish, and "the third" escapes. There, however, it is "in all the land"; here it is "half of the city." Two-thirds of the "whole people" perish, one-third survives. One-half of the citizens are led captive, the residue are not cut off. Perhaps, too, we ought to translate, "a (not 'the') residue."

3. Then--In Jerusalem's extremity.
as . . . in . . . day of battle--as when Jehovah fought for Israel against the Egyptians at the Red Sea ( Exodus 14:14 , 15:3 ). As He then made a way through the divided sea, so will He now divide in two "the Mount of Olives" ( Zechariah 14:4 ).

4. The object of the cleaving of the mount in two by a fissure or valley (a prolongation of the valley of Jehoshaphat, and extending from Jerusalem on the west towards Jordan, eastward) is to open a way of escape to the besieged (compare Joel 3:12 Joel 3:14 ). Half the divided mount is thereby forced northward, half southward; the valley running between. The place of His departure at His ascension shall be the place of His return: and the "manner" of His return also shall be similar ( Acts 1:11 ). He shall probably "come from the east" ( Matthew 24:27 ). He so made His triumphal entry into the city from the Mount of Olives from the east ( Matthew 21:1-10 ). This was the scene of His agony: so it shall be the scene of His glory. Compare Ezekiel 11:23 , with Ezekiel 43:2 , "from the way of the east.