What Will Happen to the Mount of Olives According to Zechariah?

Direct Answer

Yes — Zechariah 14:4 says the Mount of Olives will split into a very great valley when the Lord's feet stand on it at His return.

Zechariah 14:4 states that the mountain will cleave in the midst, with half moving north and half south, creating a very great valley. Zechariah 14:8 adds that living waters will then flow from Jerusalem, half toward the former sea and half toward the hinder sea. Les Feldick teaches that this prophecy will be fulfilled literally at Christ's second coming to Jerusalem, and it prepares the way for His kingdom rule over all the earth.

Key Scriptures

Zechariah 14:4 — This is the direct verse that describes the Mount of Olives splitting when the Lord's feet stand on it.

Zechariah 14:8 — This verse follows the mountain's split and describes living waters flowing out from Jerusalem.

Zechariah 14:9 — This verse shows the outcome: the LORD shall be king over all the earth.

What Does the Bible Say?

Zechariah 14:4 says, "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." Zechariah 14:8 adds, "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." Zechariah 14:9 concludes, "And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one."

What Does Les Feldick Teach About the Mount of Olives and Zechariah 14?

Les Feldick treats Zechariah 14 as a literal prophecy of Christ's second coming. He points out that Jesus left from the Mount of Olives and is coming back to the Mount of Olives — he says it as leaving "head first" and returning "feet first." He insists the prophecy is not about a spiritualized kingdom; Christ returns to Jerusalem, not New York or Chicago. Les explains that when the Lord's feet stand on the Mount of Olives, the mountain will split into a very great valley, making way for living waters. He identifies the "former sea" as the Mediterranean and the "hinder sea" as the Dead Sea, and says the Dead Sea will become fresh and alive with every species of fish. He contrasts God's instant work at the second coming with modern engineering plans for a canal between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea.

Why Does the Mount of Olives Matter?

Zechariah 14:4 places the event on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. Les Feldick ties this to Acts 1: Jesus left from the Mount of Olives, and he says He is coming back to the same mount. He emphasizes that Christ is coming back to Jerusalem, not to New York or Chicago.

What Happens to the Mountain at His Return?

According to Zechariah 14:4, the Mount of Olives will cleave in the midst toward the east and toward the west, producing a very great valley. Half of the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south. Les says he cannot spiritualize this — the Lord's feet stand on the mountain and it literally splits, preparing for the Kingdom.

What Are the 'Former Sea' and the 'Hinder Sea'?

Zechariah 14:8 says living waters will go out from Jerusalem, half toward the former sea and half toward the hinder sea, in summer and winter. Les identifies the former sea as the Mediterranean and the hinder sea as the Dead Sea. He says the Dead Sea will become living water, with every species of fish that the Mediterranean has now.

When Will This Take Place?

Les places this event at the second coming of Christ. He says God will do it in a moment of time, unlike the modern engineers drawing up plans for a canal between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. The result, as Zechariah 14:9 says, is that the LORD shall be king over all the earth.

From the Teaching

Christ's Return to the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14 Explained.

or mountainous areas. It's just going to be totally habitable and productive. That's the regeneration. And then He'll be sitting in the throne of His glory, there at Jerusalem, on the throne of David. And now look what the twelve have got to look forward to. Read on in that verse, "...you also," the twelve, now not Judas, that's why Matthias has to take his place in Acts chapter 1, "...

Living Waters from Jerusalem

Les identifies the 'former sea' as the Mediterranean and the 'hinder sea' as the Dead Sea, and explains Ezekiel's promise that the Dead Sea will be teeming with fish.

Why Is Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Still Relevant Today? Daniel 2

"...and it shall be in that day," that is accompanying the return of Christ to the Mount of Olives, to the land of Israel, to the city of Jerusalem, "...it shall be in that day that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem, half of them to the former sea," the Mediterranean, "...and half of them toward the hinder sea," or the Dead Sea, "...in summer and in winter shall it be.

God's Instant Work vs. Man's Canal

Les contrasts human engineers planning a canal with God creating fresh-water rivers from Jerusalem to the Mediterranean and Dead Sea in a moment at His second coming.

The Lord's Feet on the Mount of Olives

Les reads Zechariah 14:4-8 literally: the Lord's feet stand on the Mount of Olives, the mountain splits, and living waters flow out from Jerusalem.

Kingdom Setting of the River

Les says Zechariah 14:8 speaks of the millennial kingdom and connects the river to Ezekiel 47, which places its source under the temple in Jerusalem.

Returning Where He Left

Les emphasizes that Jesus left from the Mount of Olives and will return there — 'head first' going up, 'feet first' coming back — citing Zechariah 14.

Jerusalem, Not New York

Les says Christ is coming back to Jerusalem, to the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem, and that the mountain will cleave to prepare for the Kingdom.

Bible Verses

Zechariah 14:4: 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.

This is the central verse describing how the Mount of Olives will split at the Lord's return.

Zechariah 14:8: 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.

This verse shows what happens after the mountain splits: living waters flow from Jerusalem to both seas.

Zechariah 14:9: And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

This verse gives the outcome of the event: the Lord reigns as king over all the earth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the events in Zechariah 14 literal?

Les Feldick says he cannot spiritualize Zechariah 14:4. His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives, the mountain will cleave, and living waters will flow from Jerusalem; he takes these as plain English.

What is the 'former sea'?

Les identifies the former sea in Zechariah 14:8 as the Mediterranean and the hinder sea as the Dead Sea. Living waters will flow from Jerusalem to both.

How does the Mount of Olives split affect the Dead Sea?

Les says the river from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea will make it living water, so that it will have every species of fish found in the Mediterranean.

When will all this happen?

Les places it at Christ's second coming. He says God will accomplish it in a moment of time, unlike man's proposed canal project between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea.

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Source Video

Watch the Teaching: Christ's Return to the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14 Explained.