Zechariah 14:17

“And it shall be, [that] whosoever will not come up, etc.] This, though it follows upon the former account, must be understood of times preceding the spiritual reign of Christ; for the rain of the Gospel will be upon all the earth in the latter day glory; and all nations will then serve and worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even those that remain after the general destruction of the antichristian states; besides, express mention is hereafter made of Egypt, which designs Rome, (<661108>Revelation 11:8) and the whole manifestly refers to the time of the witnesses prophesying in sackcloth, who had power to shut the heaven, that it rain not, (<661106>Revelation 11:6): of [all] the families of…”

“no rain--including every calamity which usually follows in the East from want of rain, namely, scarcity of provisions, famine, pestilence, &c. Rain is the symbol also of God's favor (Hos 6:3). That there shall be unconverted men under the millennium appears from the outbreak of God and Magog at the end of it (Rev 20:7-9); but they, like Satan their master, shall be restrained during the thousand years. Note, too, from this verse that the Gentiles shall come up to Jerusalem, rather than the Jews go as missionaries to the Gentiles (Isa 2:2; Mic 5:7). However, Isa 66:19 may imply the converse.”

“Whoso will not go up - Cyril: “To those who ‘go not up,’” he threatens the same punishment as persecutors would endure. For enemies, and they who will not love, shall have the same lot. This is, I think, what Christ Himself said, ‘Whoso is not with Me is against Me, and whoso gathereth not with Me scattereth’ Luke 11:23.” Upon them there shall be no rain - Rain was the most essential of God’s temporal gifts for the temporal well-being of His people. Moses marked out this, as his people were entering on the promised land, with recent memory of Egypt’s independence of rain in Egypt itself, and that this gift depended on obedience. “The land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the…”

“14:17 come to Jerusalem to worship: Jerusalem, with God’s Temple, is envisioned as the center of God’s universal kingdom (8:20-22; see Isa 56:6-7; 66:19-23; Mic 4:1; Hag 2:7; Rev 21:1-2, 10-27). • no rain: This was one of the curses God pronounced against Israel for covenant disobedience (see Deut 28:22-24). That curse extended to all the nations, as God’s rule extends over all peoples (cp. Zech 10:1).”

“that: Psa 2:8-12, Psa 110:5, Psa 110:6; Isa 45:23, Isa 60:12; Jer 10:25; Rom 14:10, Rom 14:11 all: Gen 10:32, Gen 12:3, Gen 28:14; Amo 3:2; Act 17:26, Act 17:27 even: Deu 11:17, Deu 28:23, Deu 28:24; Kg1 8:35, Kg1 17:1; Ch2 6:26, Ch2 7:13; Isa 5:6; Jer 14:4, Jer 14:22; Amo 4:7, Amo 4:8; Jam 5:17; Rev 11:6 Zechariah 14:18”