“And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them to wardthe former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.” — Zechariah 14:8

Water is vital to life. From the smallest cells on earth to the complex human body, from tiny organisms to enormous mammals, nothing can live without water. No new water is being created; what exists repeats a cycle of evaporation, condensation into clouds, and then rain or snow falling to the earth again. The oceans, which are salty, contain 97.25 percent of the world’s water. Another 2.05 percent is in glaciers and ice caps. That leaves a very small percentage available for plants, animals, and humans. 

Even with just that small percentage, the introduction of water to dry parts of the earth can have a huge impact. For example, the people of Israel have illustrated that water can transform a desert. A Polish-Israeli engineer named Simcha Blass is credited with designing and perfecting irrigation by a drip system which provides specific amounts of water and fertilizer to plants. Interestingly, the idea for this system emerged from an accidental discovery in the desert of southern Israel. One day Blass noticed that a particular tree in a certain location was thriving, while the foliage near it was not. Inspection revealed that a pipe near the tree had sprung a leak and was dripping a small amount of water onto the tree’s root system. Blass then began doing tests with a variety of materials and water pressures, attempting to find a way to cause moisture to drip in regular intervals onto trees and plants. In 1965, he and his son formed a drip irrigation company called Netafirm, and technologies from that firm are now used to help produce crops in other countries of the world.¹ 

If water is so vital to survival and can make such a difference in the productivity of an area, consider what it will be like when the Lord causes “living waters” to go out from Jerusalem as described in the focus verse. This prophecy relates to the Millennial Reign of the Messiah; the earth will flourish when Jesus rules. The curse upon vegetation will be done away with and His living water will heal the land. We look forward to that time! 

In our present day, we can hold onto the promise Jesus made in John 7:38-39 of living water flowing out of our souls, a reference to the Holy Spirit. What reviving and spiritual life the Holy Spirit brings! God has sent Him to be a Comforter, a Guide, to remind us of God’s Word, to give us wisdom when we don’t know how to respond to situations, to help us hold to the truth. Thank God for His Spirit! We can lean on Him as we anticipate the blessedness of the living water going out of Jerusalem during the Millennium.

^1. Kay Wilson, “A Polish Jew Who Made the Desert Bloom,” Christians for Israel International, Feb 26, 2021, https://c4israel.org/news/ history/a-polish-jew-who-made-the-desert-bloom/.

BACKGROUND

This chapter completes the oracle that began in chapter 12 concerning events in the end times, and also completes the prophecies of the Book of Zechariah. The chapter opens with a description of a future war in which all nations will join to fight against Jerusalem. Verses 1-7 and 12-15 provide information about the war and the supernatural intervention of the Messiah at His Second Coming. Verses 8-11 and 16-21 focus on the establishment of the Messiah’s Kingdom and the role that Jerusalem will have during the Millennial Reign. 

The details given in verses 1-5 prove conclusively that these events will occur in the end times. The nations gathered against Jerusalem will overthrow the city and plunder it, leading half of its inhabitants into captivity. While the Romans’ destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 was accomplished by a multinational army and wrought terrible destruction, there was no Messianic deliverance at that time. This text describes the literal appearance of the Messiah at His Second Coming. Verse 4 states that He will descend “upon the mount of Olives” and will fight for Israel when it seems that all hope is gone, bringing about a supernatural deliverance. The Mount of Olives will split in two, creating a new valley running east to west. Through this valley, the Lord will provide a safe path for the rescue of the remnant in the city. 

Verses 6-8 describe other great changes that will take place in nature. The natural light of the daytime sky will abate, and the nighttime sky will become light. This day will be like no other, a new one known only to God. Living waters will flow forth from Jerusalem, the center of God’s earthly kingdom, pouring over the land towards the east to the Dead Sea and towards the west into the Mediterranean Sea; another description of this fountain is found in Ezekiel 47. The phrase “in summer and in winter shall it be” implies that this source of water will be unaffected by the seasons. 

Verses 9-11 foretell that the Messiah will establish His kingdom “over all the earth.” The land between the cities of Geba (in the north) to Rimmon (in the south) will become a leveled plain. Jerusalem, at the center of the Messianic Kingdom, will be geographically elevated, and its inhabitants will dwell in safety.

While Israel will be forgiven and restored, according to verses 12-15, the armies of the nations that came against it will be annihilated along with their implements of war and even their animals, signifying a totality of defeat. This destruction will come about partly by infighting and partly by Judah’s actions against them (see Zechariah 12:2-9). Triumphant Israel will ultimately own all the enemies’ wealth. 

Verses 16-19 indicate that the Gentile nations that survive the war will come annually to Jerusalem to worship the Messiah during His Millennial Reign. The Feast of Tabernacles, originally established to thank God for His provision, protection, and presence during the Israelites’ sojourn in the wilderness, will be celebrated from year to year in Jerusalem. Also known as the “feast of ingathering” (see Exodus 23:16; 34:22), this annual occasion was noteworthy for its joyous, festive nature. Those in the Millennial Kingdom will joyfully celebrate the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel and His final gathering of His people. 

According to verse 17, failure to come to Jerusalem for worship will result in withheld rain. This verse, along with verses 18-19, seemingly indicates that not every individual alive during the Millennial Reign will worship God. Although punishment for those who rebel will be administered equally to all, Egypt is used in these verses to represent any who remain defiant against God and hold antagonism toward Israel. 

The final two verses of chapter 14 indicate that in the Messiah’s rule, the distinction between the sacred and unclean will cease. Under the Law, certain days, places, and implements were set apart and consecrated to God as holy, but in that day, holiness will pervade every aspect of life. This is demonstrated by the fact that the decorative bells on the horses’ bridles will be inscribed with the same words that were on the high priest’s turban, and there will be no distinction between ordinary vessels for household use and the implements used in Temple worship. The word “Canaanite” in verse 21 is representative of any unholy or ungodly person, so there will be no unclean person serving in “the house of the Lord of hosts.”

AMPLIFIED OUTLINE

V. The two burdens
     B. The second burden
          2. The advent of the Messiah (14:1-21)
               a. The future siege of Jerusalem (14:1-2)
               b. The advent of the Messiah (14:3-8)
                   (1) The return (14:3-4)
                   (2) The changes (14:5-8)
               c. The establishment of the kingdom (14:9-11)
               d. The punishment of Israel’s enemies (14:12-15)
               e. The devotion of the nations (14:16-19)
               f. The holiness of Jerusalem (14:20-21)

A CLOSER LOOK

1. What will happen to the Mount of Olives when Jesus returns as King?
2. What possible benefits might there be when Jerusalem is “safely inhabited”? (verse 11)
3. How can considering the future worship of God during the Millennium help us worship the Lord now?

CONCLUSION

We do not have to wait until the Millennial Reign of Christ to have the living water that Jesus promised would flow out of us.