Since this passage is often used as evidence that the
Second Coming will initially take place at the Mount of
Olives, it needs to be studied more carefully, especially in
light of the other passages, Zechariah 12:7 stated that
Jesus will “save the tents of Judah first,” prior to saving
the Jews in Jerusalem. In Zechariah 14, Jehovah is first
seen as going forth to fight against the nations that had
gathered against the Jews (Zechariah 14:3). It is only after
the fighting of verse three that His feet will stand upon
the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4). Along with this
victory ascent upon the Mount of Olives, a number of events
will occur as the Great Tribulation ends. These events will
be a result of the seventh bowl judgment (Revelation
16:17-21). With the seventh bowl, a voice cries out, “It is
finished,” because the seventh bowl ends the Tribulation.
This declaration is followed by the greatest earthquake ever
to occur in the history of the earth (Revelation 16:18).
This will cause the City of Jerusalem to split into three
divisions, while the city of Babylon will suffer the full
wrath of God (Revelation 16:19). The earthquake that will
shake Jerusalem is described in Zechariah 14:4-5. Not only
will Jerusalem be split into three divisions, but also the
Mount of Olives will be split into two parts, creating a
valley running east and west. This newly formed valley will
provide a way of escape for the Jewish inhabitants of
Jerusalem from the earthquake that will destroy the city. In
this way, the inhabitants of Jerusalem will be rescued
following the deliverance of the other Jews in Bozrah.
The Great Tribulation and “the war of the great day of God,
the Almighty,” the Campaign of Armageddon will come to an
end with these events.
