The Mount of Olives
This famous mount, standing east of Jerusalem, is referred to often in the Scriptures. It seems to be frequently linked to prophetic events to occur at the Lord’s return. It was “as he [Jesus] sat upon the mount of Olives” that the disciples asked of the signs of his presence (Matthew 24:3). It was from Mount Olivet that Jesus evidently ascended out of the apostles’ sight, and where the angels promised “this same Jesus … shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11, 12)
Perhaps the most famous reference to it appears in Zechariah 14. There, in dramatic symbology, is described the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, and the subsequent flow of blessing from it.
“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 14:4)
This passage is treated at length in the chapter “Jehovah’s Footstool Made Glorious” – see Volume 4. It describes the establishment of the kingdom in two phases – heavenly, northward, and earthly, southward.
When this is accomplished it will allow the blessings of life and truth, pictured by the river flowing from the temple at Jerusalem, to reach the Dead Sea of mankind, awakening them out of the sleep of death and refreshing them with all the benefits of God’s grace and nourishment. An interesting detail of Zechariah 14:8 is that the waters from Jerusalem will actually flow to both the Dead Sea and the great Mediterranean Sea.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the eastern sea [the Dead Sea], and half of them toward the western sea [the Mediterranean Sea]…” (Zechariah 14:8, ASV)
Perhaps this pictures the two classes of men under Adamic curse – those who are still breathing (Mediterranean), and those in the grave (Dead Sea). Both will be revived, freshered, blessed by the living waters.
The splitting of the mount of Olives, which we see to be symbolic and not literal (though the symbolisms follow closely the potentials of the geographic layout), happens in connection with God’s final deliverance of Israel from her enemies, according to the context of the first three verses. This will come in close association with the raising of the Ancient Worthies, which will directly inaugurate the earthly kingdom, and so differentiate an earthly sphere of God’s kingdom from the heavenly one “splitting” the kingdom of God into two aspects.
The name of the mountain chosen to symbolize the Kingdom government – the Mount of Olives – well suggests the character of that kingdom as offering the blessings of the holy Spirit (represented by olive oil, the special produce of the olive – see Judges 9:9) for enlightenment, solace and peace to troubled mankind. Remember that the olive leaf in the mouth of the dove was used to signal peace and solace after the flood.
There is another reference to the Mount of Olives which, like Zechariah, points to the blessing of the Kingdom through the Spirit of God. It is found in Ezekiel 11. As a preamble to it, Ezekiel is shown visions of the great iniquity of Jerusalem, its idolatrous religious leaders, the “sealing” of the faithful, and the destruction of the rest. (Chapters 8-10) This is a picture for us of the false worship of Christendom, the sealing of the saints, and destruction of the systems of error and the tares they contain.
We know that following the overthrow of Christendom the Kingdom will be established.
So following Ezekiel 9 & 10 might there be a reference to the kingdom work? There is. Ezekiel 11:17-20 refer to the blessing of Israel.
“I will even gather you from the people … and I will give you the land of Israel … I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you … that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”
This happens during the Kingdom. And in connection with this, we read in verse 23,
“And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.”
This appears to end that particular vision of Ezekiel. (See verse 24.)
What mountain is that described as “on the east side of the city”? Zechariah answers “… the mount of Olives … is before Jerusalem on the east.” (14:4) So Ezekiel 11:23 also refers to the Lord’s spirit resting on the mount of Olives as illustrating the blessed effects of the Kingdom of light and peace to comfort and bless Israel and mankind.