Zechariah 14:4 plainly says, “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east.” The chapter describes nations attacking Jerusalem, the mountain splitting in two, and a valley forming. Where does Scripture say any of this represents the church or some spiritual experience?
Acts 1:11-12 makes it even clearer. Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives, and the angels declared that “this same Jesus” would return in like manner. That means Jesus Himself, not the church taking His place.
And concerning Israel, Paul asked, “Hath God cast away his people? God forbid” (Romans 11:1). God's promises have not been canceled, but neither does that mean every action of the modern Israeli government is righteous or that anyone can be saved apart from Christ.
My question is simple. Where does Scripture authorize us to turn Christ's feet into the church or the Mount of Olives into something other than the mountain God specifically named?
We should be interpreting Scripture by Scripture, not replacing its plain meaning with ideas the text never teaches.