Zechariah 8

In the Old Testament God spoke to the congregation of Israel by the mouth of prophets. The New Testament book of Hebrews has a verse describing this:

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Although we may still have prophets in our day, they are not necessary for us to have in order to hear from God. Through Jesus, we have access to the Holy Spirit which comes to abide within those that will receive Him. We can hear from God by the written word and by the Holy Spirit bringing that word to our remembrance. On occasion we can hear also by direct revelation from the Holy Spirit. Any message, prophecy, tongue or revelation will never contradict the written word God provides for us. Even though some translations of the bible may contain translation errors, the truth is still intact and the word is inspired and God-breathed. The errors are fewer than we would expect since mankind is very fallible.

The study of the prophets in the Old Testament is necessary for us to see and understand how Christ was foretold and learn from the mistakes of Israel as well as how we can enter into the same promises given to Israel by faith in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah.

Zec 8:1 Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,
Zec 8:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.

Zion is a name for the city of David or another name for Jerusalem. It is also a mountain in that area. On the many occasions when Israel or the Jews departed from serving God, it aroused much jealousy within God. Why? If we do not serve God, we are unknowingly serving Satan or representatives of Satan. Satan is out to steal, kill and destroy. He literally desires not only our physical death but for all of us to spend eternity in hell. He has always been out to thwart the purposes of God. Since Israel was God's chosen people to bring forth the Messiah to the world, Israel has always been hated of Satan. That is why we have seen by reading history, a intense hatred for Israel. Those that hate Israel are actually being used of Satan himself to thwart the work of God. Since those that believe in Jesus whether Jews or Gentiles are adopted into the family of God by faith, that hate is also vented toward us as believers. Faith in Jesus gives us a protection that unbelieving Jews may not have at present but nevertheless we are hated as well. The further away from God we live the more we are vulnerable to attacks from Satan. He will attack anyway but if we do not believe and trust in Jesus, we will not be able to withstand the temptations and evil around us.

God is a jealous God because He knows what will happen to those that ignore Him and do not seek Him. He is our only safety.

Zec 8:3 Thus saith the LORD; I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

This is a prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled. Jerusalem at the present time (2007) is not a city of truth. Christ is not yet reigning on that holy mountain of Zion but that time will come and I rejoice to hear of it.

Zec 8:4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.

We can see everyday from watching the news that the day of this peace has not yet happened. They may experience a short period of false peace in order to deceive those that have refused to believe in Jesus Christ but true peace will not come until the prince of peace, Jesus Christ returns in person and literally with His believers coming with Him to reign for a 1000 years. Those believers are those that previously died in the Lord and were resurrected or those that were alive on the earth but faithful until He returned to take them in the air with Him so that they are with Him eternally. This is what some call the rapture of the faithful believers in Him who loved not their lives in this world but loved His return. They return with Christ when He comes visibly in what we call the 2nd coming.

Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Zec 8:5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.

At this present time, it is not safe to play in the streets of Jerusalem but the bible says that time will come and it will come not by the treaties of men but the power of God.

Zec 8:6 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvelous in my eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.

It is a shame that only a remnant is ever saved. The majority of people refuse Jesus Christ. The majority of people choose death rather than life and love sin rather than repentance. The crowd follows the broad way that leads to destruction.

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Zec 8:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;

East of Jerusalem at that time was Media and Persia modern day Iran. It has not changed Israel is surrounded on all sides by people who hate them. The western world would do well to read these passages and not turn against Israel or come against them. We see clearly from scripture that God deals harshly with the enemies of Israel even though at this present time Israel is cut off from God's blessings because of unbelief. They will be grafted in their own vine again.

Zec 8:8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.

This happens after they discover that they were deceived by the anti-christ and they find that the one their ancestors pierced (Jesus) is indeed the one God sent, the Messiah of Israel.

Zec 8:9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, who were in the day when the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
Zec 8:10 For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbor.

All previous times before the time of restoration when Christ returns was nothing but trouble and sorrow. The worst is yet to come during what we call the time of Jacob's trouble or the future great tribulation. This tribulation comes as a last resort to awake Israel to their true Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Zec 8:11 But now I will not be to the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.

It will no longer be as it was before when Israel would serve God for a season and then backslide into darkness, over and over again depending on what kind of leadership they had. Instead it will be a continual fellowship with the Lord in truth and in faithfulness.

Because of the mercy of God the Gentile believers and the Jewish believers do not have to wait for that fellowship with Jesus Christ. We can have that now, today, this very moment. We can believe in Jesus, forsaking our sins and receive Him into our lives. We can be filled with His spirit and walk in the newness of life. We can be baptized in the Holy Spirit. We never have to wait until the literal second coming of Christ. We can have Him with us now through the spirit. There is coming a day though when Jesus will be with us in person visibly.

Zec 8:12 For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
Zec 8:13 And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, let your hands be strong.

The heathen will finally recognize Israel as God's chosen people through whom came the way of salvation. They will no longer be a curse and someone to be made fun of. All nations will have respect toward this country.

Zec 8:14 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not;
Zec 8:15 So again have I thought in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.

This is prophecy and will come to pass.

Zec 8:16 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:

God reminds Israel of His truth. He still demands holy living. He cares how neighbors are treated. If we possess the truth of the gospel and treat people wrong, they will reject our message.

Zec 8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.

God commanded that they:

1. Speak truth to his neighbor
2. Execute judgment of truth and peace
3. Do not imagine evil things against his neighbor
4. Do not love false oaths or lies.

We see that God hates deception, lying and cheating in any form. He demands holiness.

Zec 8:18 And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,
Zec 8:19 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.

The former feast days and remembrances will not be vain ceremonies and rituals with their heart miles away, they will mean something.

Zec 8:20 Thus saith the LORD of hosts: It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
Zec 8:21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.
Zec 8:22 And many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
Zec 8:23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts: In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men out of all languages of the nations, shall take hold, shall even take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

People who formerly did not know the Lord will go to Jerusalem seeking Him. They will seek out the Jews at that time, not to kill or persecute but to identify with them because the Lord is with them. The days of their being a hated nation is over.

Zechariah 9