Jerusalem will be captured with houses plundered and half the people taken captive, but then the Lord Himself will go forth, fight against the gathered nations, and stand on the Mount of Olives.
Zechariah 14:2 shows that the Antichrist's gathering of the nations against Jerusalem will bring the city into severe distress, including plundered houses, abused women, and captivity for half the city. Yet a residue of people will not be cut off. At that moment of apparent hopelessness, the Lord goes forth to fight those nations and His feet stand on the Mount of Olives, establishing His earthly kingdom.
Zechariah 14:2 — This verse directly answers what happens when the armies gather: the city is taken, houses rifled, women ravished, and half the city goes into captivity.
Zechariah 14:3 — This verse shows the Lord's response: He goes forth to fight against those nations.
Zechariah 14:4 — This verse identifies the literal location of His return — the Mount of Olives.
The prophet Zechariah records the Lord's own declaration: "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" (Zechariah 14:2). Then, after the city has been taken and the people are in distress, "the LORD shall go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle" (Zechariah 14:3). The passage then pinpoints the exact place of His return: "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..." (Zechariah 14:4). The book of Revelation likewise identifies the gathering place of these armies as Armageddon, or Megiddo, in the Hebrew tongue.
Les Feldick teaches that Zechariah 14 describes the final battle called Armageddon, when all nations will be gathered against Jerusalem. He emphasizes that the city will be taken, houses will be rifled, women will be ravished, and half the city will go into captivity — typical of war and showing that there will be no mercy. Yet a remnant will not be cut off. Les explains that behind the scenes, the Antichrist puts out the call for the nations to come to the Middle East, and demonic creatures working miracles convince the world's leaders to send their armies. But it is the sovereign God who gathers them to a place called Armageddon, from which the word Megiddo comes. When it appears that Satan is finally going to destroy Israel, then the Lord goes forth. Les also stresses that the Lord in the Old Testament is Jehovah, and Jesus claimed to be the "I Am" of the Old Testament, so it is Christ who returns from glory. His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives. The purpose of this return is not just to go into heaven and eternity, but to set up the earthly kingdom promised to Israel since day one. The gathered armies are destroyed by Christ's return, and the beast, the Antichrist, is taken along with the false prophet.
Zechariah 14:2 records God saying, "I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle." Les explains how this happens: demonic creatures working miracles convince the kings and leaders of the world to send their armies to the Middle East. The Antichrist puts out the call, but it is really the sovereign God who gathers them to a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon, from which the word Megiddo comes.
According to Zechariah 14:2, the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, the women ravished, and half the city shall go forth into captivity. The residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Les describes this as typical of war and notes there will be no mercy.
Les teaches that when it almost appears as though Satan is finally going to succeed in destroying the nation of Israel by these Gentile hordes, then shall the Lord go forth. The Lord — the Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Christ of the New — leaves heaven and goes forth to fight against those nations as when He fought in the day of battle throughout Israel's history.
Zechariah 14:4 says, "And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east." Les connects this with the angel's words in Acts 1 that the same Jesus who ascended will come again in like manner. It will be a literal, visible return to the Mount of Olives.
Les emphasizes that Christ returns in glory to be King of kings and Lord of lords, not just to go into heaven and eternity. His purpose is to set up the earthly kingdom that has been promised to Israel since day one.
Purpose of Christ's Return in Glory
Les introduces this study by saying Christ returns in glory to set up the earthly kingdom promised to Israel, not merely to enter heaven and eternity.
The Lord Fights and Stands on the Mount of Olives
Les quotes Zechariah 14:3-4 and connects the angel's words in Acts 1 to show the same Jesus will come again in like manner, with His feet on the Mount of Olives.
Zechariah 14:2-3 — Jerusalem Taken, Then the Lord Fights
Les explains that all nations gather to Jerusalem, the city is taken with houses rifled and women ravished, and then the Lord goes forth to fight as He did for Israel's battles.
The Lord Jesus Returns When Hope Is Gone
Les emphasizes that when it appears Satan will destroy Israel, the Lord (Christ, the I Am) leaves heaven and goes forth to fight against the gathered nations.
The Beast and False Prophet Taken
Les teaches that the armies gathered to destroy Israel are destroyed by Christ's return, and then the beast (Antichrist) is taken along with the false prophet.
God Gathers the Nations to Armageddon
Les explains that demonic creatures convince the world's leaders to send armies to the Middle East, but sovereign God gathers them to Armageddon/Megiddo through the Antichrist's call.
God Gathers the Nations to Armageddon (Repeated)
Les repeats the same explanation that the Antichrist issues the call, but the sovereign God gathers the nations to the place called Armageddon/Megiddo.
A Preview in Desert Storm
Les notes that Desert Storm was a preview of how quickly the nations can bring armies to the Middle East, but it was not Armageddon — the real event will bring Jerusalem to ruin before the Lord intervenes.
Zechariah 14:2: 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.
This verse directly describes the invasion of Jerusalem and the partial captivity of its inhabitants.
Zechariah 14:3: Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
This verse reveals that after the city is taken, the Lord Himself will fight against the gathered nations.
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 verse identifies the literal physical location of the Lord's return.
Yes. Les equates Zechariah 14 with Armageddon. God says He will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the place is called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon, from which the word Megiddo comes.
No. The city will be taken, houses rifled, women ravished, and half of the city will go into captivity, but the residue of the people shall not be cut off. Then the Lord Himself intervenes and fights.
The Lord goes forth and fights against those nations as when He fought in the day of battle. Les explains that the gathered armies are destroyed by the return of Christ, and the beast (Antichrist) is taken along with the false prophet.
Les teaches that Christ returns to set up the earthly kingdom promised to Israel since day one. His feet will stand literally on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem.
Watch the Teaching: Christ's Return to the Mount of Olives. Zechariah 14 Explained.