Shabbat Shalom! Let's turn please to Zechariah chapter 8 today. We're going to read the 23 verses of this chapter. And this very important chapter, because it links with the previous chapter, because the question rose by the leaders who came from Beit El: Should we continue to weep on a fifth month and separate myself as I have done so for so many years? So, chapter 8, in verse 1. Again the word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. Thus says the Lord: I am returned unto Zion: I am returned unto Zion: I am returned unto Zion: I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: And Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth: And a mountain of the Lord of hosts: The holy mountain: Thus says 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: And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.

Thus says the Lord of hosts: If it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of these people in these days, Should it also be marvelous in mine eyes? Says the Lord of hosts: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, 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. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Let your hand be strong: Ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, Which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, That the temple might be built.

For before these days there was no hire for men, Nor any hire for beast, Neither was there any peace to him that went out and came in because of the affliction: For I have set all men, Everyone against his neighbor: But now I will not be unto the residue of these people, As in the former days, Says the Lord of hosts: 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 due, And I will cause the remnant of these people To possess all these things. 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, But let your hands be strong. 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, So again have I thought in these days To do well unto Jerusalem, And to the house of Judah, Feel ye not. 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, 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.

And the word of the Lord of hosts came unto me, Saying, 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. Thus saith the Lord of hosts: It shall yet come to pass, That there shall come people, And the inhabitants of many cities, 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, Yea many people, And strong nations, Shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, And to pray before the Lord.

Thus saith the Lord of hosts: In those days it shall come to pass, That ten men shall take hold, Out of all languages of the nations, Even shall 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. Amazing chapter, isn't it? Here it's a long chapter, This chapter really connect with the previous chapter, Because the question came by two men, Who came from Beit El to Jerusalem, And they came to Zechariah, And the other prophet Peheps Haggai, And the priests, And they asked him, Should I weep in the fifth month, Separating myself, As I have done these so many years?

Should we fast, At the ninth day of the month of Av, Tisha B'Av, Should we continue this, We have done that for 70 years, When we were in Bavel, Because of the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem, Should we now, That we are building this new temple, This remnant of Israel, Who returned from Bavel, Now building this new temple, Should we now continue with the fast, Which was introduced by the leaders of Israel, For those 70 years, We were fasting, We were mourning, We were weeping, We were mourning over the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, And I told you, That the ninth day of the month of Av, Became the second most important fasting day, In the history of our Jewish people, So they asked this question, And you remember, God really challenged them, In chapter seven, He didn't give them an answer yet, But he told them really, Did you really fast for me?

And the answer was really not. And we made an application to us as believers today, Sometime we introduce religious customs, But we really don't do it for God, We do it for ourselves, To please the flesh. And the reason that they were in Bavel, And the temple was destroyed, Because the Lord disciplined them, Because of their disobedience, And that's why they were in Bavel. Now they are here, They are back in the land, A remnant, About 50,000 Jewish people were in that land, At least recorded in Nehemiah and Ezra. Now we are in 518 BC, They began to build the temple, And they were discouraged, Because they were kind of anticipating, To see things great and big, And they are already working on the temple for two years.

So now, They come and ask the question, And here, The Lord gives them an answer, But he does not give them an answer, Until he first of all, Show them some of the promises and intention, That he has for Jerusalem, The very city, Where they were building the new temple. Now, This 8th chapter really divides into three sections, Verses 1-8, Jehovah promised to restore Jerusalem. Verses 9-17, Jehovah exalt this remnant, That were there to work, And to listen to these prophets, That are in their midst. And number 3, The last verses, 18-23, Jehovah's plan for Jerusalem, And the Jewish people. I want you to remember one thing, Brothers and sisters, I read some commentaries, About this passage, And it is interesting, That many people today, Apply this to the church.

The subject is not the church at all, The subject is Israel, Jerusalem, And the Jewish people. The subject is very clear, The church was not in existence, When Zechariah received these messages from the Lord, The church came much later on, And that does not apply to the ecclesia, Which we are part of, They call that one, This applied to national Israel, And the future of the city of Jerusalem. You notice immediately, When we read this chapter, About 14 times, We have the words, The Lord of hosts. The Hebrew word for the Lord of hosts means, Yehovah Tsevaot. Yehovah Tsevaot, Jehovah Tsevaot, Or Adonai Tsevaot, It simply means, That he is, The covenant keeping God of Israel, And he is the covenant keeping God of the armies of Israel.

He is going to bring about the future restoration of Jerusalem, As he indeed promised, And he is the one who is going to lead the armies, He is going to bring about the restoration of the city of Jerusalem. You also will notice that the word Zion, Zion, And Jerusalem is mentioned again and again. At least four or five times the name Jerusalem is mentioned, At least one time the name Zion. And the name Zion, Zion, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Is really the very same location, The very same place. This is very important to understand. The psalmist clarified this for us, Because the psalmist really speaking about the fact that Jerusalem and Zion are the very same location.

And I want to just read that in Psalm 48. It says, Great is the Lord, Verse 1, And greatly to be praised in the city of our God, In the mountain of his holiness, Beautiful for situation, The joy of the whole earth is, Mount Zion, On the sides of the north, The city of the great king. Jerusalem, Zion is synonym, It's the very same place. And he does not speak about the church at all, He is speaking about the city of Jerusalem. Of course, We who are part of the church have a great hope, And a blessed hope to be in the presence of the Lord in heaven, With Yeshua the Messiah.

So let's look over those verses. The first section is verses 1 to 8, Jehovah's promise to restore the city of Jerusalem. Verse 1 again, Here we have the word of the Lord coming again to Zechariah. It's a continuation from the previous chapter, Which is really in the fourth day of the ninth month of Kislev. This is the time in the fourth year of King Darius. You can read in chapter 7 verse 1. It's a continuation from chapter 7 verse 1. It is 518 BC. In verse 2, We read of Jehovah's jealousness over Zion. It says in verse 2, In verse 2, I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy. And I was jealous for her with great fury.

You notice he speaks of Jerusalem in a feminine way. It's just like a husband had to be jealous over his wife. Jehovah is jealous over Jerusalem and the people of God, the people of Israel. And the word for jealous is not in a bad way. And I might have this envy and jealousy over one that have more than we. Or one that have better gifts than we. That is not what God is saying here concerning Israel. But the word kineti, letzion, I was jealous for Zion, means that God wanted Israel and Jerusalem to be for himself. Because he created this nation and this city for himself.

And he loved so much the city of Jerusalem and his jealousy towards the city and the nation was so strong that he didn't enjoy for a moment to see the persecution of the city and the persecution of the Jewish people. He wanted them to be restored back to the land. And notice he said, I was, it's not only I am, but I was, the Hebrew word kineti is in a past tense. All along when Jerusalem was destroyed and the temple was burnt and the Jewish people were scattered. He still was jealous for the city and for the people of Israel. He says here, I was jealous with a great jealousy.

And I was jealous for her with great fury. The word for fury, it was so strong, it's called Chema in Hebrew. Chema means he was hot for the city of Jerusalem. Yeshua said in the seven churches that we read in Revelation chapter 2 and 3. You're neither hot nor cold. When he was writing to one of the seven churches, I believe it was in the church of Laodicea. You're not hot towards me in loving me. You're not cold. In other words, you are lukewarm. But God never is lukewarm towards his people. His affection and love for the people of Israel is without limitation, without interference. His love for the nation and his jealousy for Zion is so unique.

I was jealous for Zion with a great jealousy. And I was jealous for her with great fury. I loved her and I'm going to bring about the promises that I have for this city and the people that belong to this city. Paul wrote to the Corinthian. He said that he was jealous for the believers. He said, I've espoused you as a bride to the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. And the people that belong to him, he espoused him as a bride for her own husband. And you know, you and I also, the Lord Yeshua, the Messiah, is jealous for the body of Christ, for the body of Messiah.

Because we are the bride and he is the bridegroom. Jehovah is the husband and Israel is the wife of Jehovah. And therefore his jealousy towards the people that nothing will harm them was so great. And he is expressing this to the remnant to return in 518 BC. He speaks to them now through the prophet Zechariah. And then notice after he said this expression in verse 2 that he was jealous for the city of Jerusalem and for Zion. Then he says in verse 3, Jehovah gives a promise of Jerusalem and the return of the people of Israel, the people of Judah, to the city of Jerusalem. Thus says the Lord, I am returned unto Zion.

Notice first, he is returning to Zion. And I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth and a mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain. In other words, he promised not only the day will return, but he promised that he will return himself. You know, when the temple was destroyed in 586 by Nebuchadnezzar. And the Jewish remnant went away to Bevel. He left in the presence of the city where he usually dwell. He was no longer there because the Jewish people disobeyed him and he had to scatter them. But he is promising now that he is going to return.

This hasn't happened yet. All what's going on today in Jerusalem and Israel today still does not manifest the return of the Lord to be in the midst of the city of Jerusalem and the people of Israel. The people of Israel are still scattered. And those who are in the city of Jerusalem today, the vast majority still haven't recognized who Yeshua the Messiah is. And you can really see that something is missing. But here's the promise, beloved brothers and sisters, in verse 3. Listen to the name. It says in verse 3. Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth. The city of truth. There will not be any longer that which is not truth in the midst of the city of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is going to be a city declared publicly to the world a city of truth. Paul said, let God be true and every man a liar. The Bible tells us that there is coming a day when the city of Jerusalem is going to be called with such a name. Look at the beautiful name. The city of truth. Now, how can that come about? It couldn't happen that Jerusalem will be the city of truth. And by the way, it's not going on today. It's not a city of truth today. Just the same like Toronto is not a city of truth. And the whole world is not a place that is called a place of truth.

There's so much fallacy, so much wrong, so much that which is not truthful is going on in this world in which we live in. The coming a day when the city of Jerusalem is going to be called Hir-Emet, the city of truth. Why? Because God had returned. Through the person of the Mashiach, through the one that we read about him earlier, through the Tzemach. The one that is the branch who is going to come and reign over this city. It says it is going to be called the mountain of Jehovah of hosts, the holy mountain. There will be truth. There will be holiness in the midst of the city of Jerusalem.

Now, how is that going to happen? Truth cannot come without righteousness. When there is unrighteousness, there is fallacy, that which is wrong, that which is not truthful. But do you know, that reminds us of really what happened when Yeshua, when Jesus, the Messiah, have died on the cross. When Yeshua, the Messiah, have died for us on the cross, on the tree, he made it possible that righteousness and truth will be joined together. And so truth cannot come without God dealing with the question and the need of the nation of Israel. And therefore, it is speaking to us about a future day, the kingdom age, when this city is going to be called the city of truth.

Isaiah calls it in chapter one, in verse 26, and I will restore the judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning. Afterward, you shall be called, speaking about Jerusalem, the city of righteousness, the faithful city. You see, God, have an intention for this city, to be called Il Tzedek, or Il Emet, city of righteousness, city of truth. Righteousness and truth have kissed each other. And it is all happened because of the work that Yeshua, the Messiah, have done for us on the cross. I got to read another verse in Psalm 85. Psalm 85 is a psalm of Korach, and it is the peace-offering psalm that speaks about the Messiah who is going to offer himself as a sacrifice upon the tree.

And look what we read in verse 10. Mercy and truth are met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. When does mercy and truth met together? When does righteousness and peace have kissed each other? The only time is where God judged the Messiah on the tree, on the cross. And now he became a righteous God who has judged sin on the person of his son, Yeshua the Messiah. And now it provides for us peace and shalom. And that's where righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Rather, it happened some 2,000 years ago when Yeshua the Messiah became the sacrifice for mankind. You know, we are in a season where everyone read the Gospel.

Matthew chapter 2. Luke chapter 2. Peace upon the earth. You remember? Peace towards men. Shalom towards men. Because the Messiah was born. Well, that's the only ground upon which Jerusalem shall be called the righteous city and the city of peace. It is only on the basis of the Messiah's work when Yeshua the Messiah paid for us when he died for us on the cross. So, the word of the Lord came to him. The promise of Jehovah to return to Jerusalem. Then verses 4 and 5. In our chapter, Jerusalem will enjoy long days. And Jerusalem will experience security and safety. Verse 4 and 5. Thus sails 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 or very long. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. Now, when I was a little boy, I was playing in the streets of my hometown, Jerusalem. But I'm telling you. My mother told me all the time. And my father told me all the time. Watch it. Don't touch this bag. Don't touch this button. Don't touch this purse. Because a bomb might fly out. And something might happen. Many Jewish boys and Jewish girls lost their legs, their hands because of terrorism. As far as I remember since the time that I was born in Jerusalem, never do I ever remember a time when there was truly a time of peace and safety.

Not too far from our home is the old city of Jerusalem where we used to get shot by the Jordanian from Jordan's side because the old city of Jerusalem was before 1967 occupied by the Jordanian. We never could cross to the other side. It's only after the 67 war, the six day war, where our people, the Israeli soldiers have captured the old city of Jerusalem and Jerusalem have been reunited. But even then, beloved brothers and sisters, there is no shalom. There are constant conflict. There are constant friction. And there is no safety. Thank God for the policemen and the soldiers who protect the people of Israel. But it's still not the same way as it's intended here.

And you notice it says here in verse 4 and 5 that there shall be yet old men and old women in the streets of Jerusalem. And every man with his staff in his hand for, and you notice that, it says for very age. In Hebrew it says merov yamin, for many, many days. Now that takes us to the kingdom age. The only place in the Bible that we know how long the kingdom age will be is in Revelation chapter 20. Where the Lord, the glorified Messiah gives us the length of the kingdom age. Where he says in chapter 20 verse 4. And I saw thrones, and they that sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them.

And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Yeshua, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their forehead, or in their hand. Because they lived and reigned with the Messiah a thousand years. That's the length of the Messiah. That's the length of the Messiah kingdom. We don't have the length of the Messiah kingdom. In the Tanakh, in the prophet, we know that there will be a messianic kingdom. But it was the glorified Messiah who gave to John, Yohanan, the information concerning the messianic age. Malchut Hashamayim, the kingdom age, for a thousand years.

Now, when the tribulation will be over, and everyone from among the people of Israel and the nations who will believe in the God of Israel and the Messiah, every one of them that will enter into the kingdom age will be a saved person. Now, can you imagine if a person at the end of the tribulation was 70 years old? He will enter into the messianic age beginning at 70 years of age. By the time he's going to end up the messianic kingdom, he's going to be 1,070 years old. If a person was 20 years old, he or she will enter into the messianic kingdom. By the time they will end the messianic age, they will be 1,020 years of age.

Can you imagine? Can you match that today? You cannot match this today. Most of us live this scene, 70, 80, 90, 100. Well, I've seen some who are 130 years are an exception to the rule. But the time, the limitation of our life here on earth is very short. 70, 80, if by reason of the grace of God, it may be four score. The psalmist said, 80 years of age. And thank God for those whom God had given longer life. But in the kingdom age, it will be tremendous. Brothers and sisters, according to Isaiah, chapter 65 and verse 20, it said, there shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that has not filled his days.

And then it says, a child will die 100 years old. And a sinner shall be 100 years old, he shall be accursed. In other words, even the children will die if they sinned and didn't accept the Messiah by the year 100. Where do you see a child today who is 100 years old? So you see what we have here, it takes us to the future millennial age, kingdom age, where God is going to restore Jerusalem. And there will be these old men and old women will dwell in the streets of Jerusalem. And every man of them with his staff in his hand for many, many, many days. Very age, as it says here in verse 4.

They might hold their stick, but they're going to walk for many days. And then it says, the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. That speaks of safety and security that will be in the kingdom age, as the Lord promised to restore the city of Jerusalem. In verse 6, Jehovah through Zechariah pointing out to the marvel of his promise. He says, thus says the Lord of hosts, if it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of these people in these days, should it also be marvelous in mine eyes, says the Lord of hosts. He's asking a question.

The word for marvelous here is the Hebrew word Pele or Yipale. It's come from the word, you may have one of the titles of the Messiah is wonderful, marvelous. Isaiah 9 in verse 6. And his name shall be called Wonderful. That's the same name, Pele. You are amazed that it's going to happen, he's saying to the people of Israel. And yes, it is going to happen. It is marvelous, even in my eye, how I was willing to bear with the people, to redeem these people, to restore them to myself, and to restore the city of Jerusalem in the future day. And then in verses 7 and 8, he gives a promise of a full restoration to the people of Israel, both physical restoration and spiritual regeneration.

It says here in verse 7, thus says Jehovah of hosts, behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country, and I will bring them in and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Up to now, it is only physical restoration. He will bring them from the east. He will bring them from the north. He will bring the people of Israel back to that promised land, which already have began. Again, you can see the amount of Israelis, Jewish, Hebrew people, who are living in our own country right now, today, as we speak. Physical restoration has started, it will continue, but it's not yet spiritual regeneration.

Because what's the point if you bring all the Jewish people to the land, and yet all the Jewish people who are going to be in the land will not recognize the living God, Jehovah and the Messiah himself. So here he's promising not only physical restoration, but in verse 8b, he promised spiritual regeneration. Listen, they shall be my people, and I will be their God. Notice, in truth and in righteousness. That's the only basis where Israel can enjoy their relationship with Jehovah, is on the basis of truth and righteousness. And the truth and the righteousness is speaking to us where sin has to be dealt with.

Forgiveness can be provided for the nation, and that was provided when our Lord Yeshua, the Messiah, righteousness of truth has kissed each other when he died on the cross some 2,000 years ago. Now, he was all along their God, and they were all along his people. But they were his people and their discipline. They were his people and their judgment. But now they will be his people in a practical way as well, with the relationship that he will have with them. Now, I want us for a moment to read with me 2 Corinthians chapter 6, to see how Paul used the same expression to the believers in the church age today.

2 Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 11. He's speaking to the body of Messiah. He says, "O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our hearts is enlarged. Ye are not straightened in us, but ye are straightened in your own bowels. Now for recompense in the same, I speak unto you, my children, be ye also enlarged. Be ye not unequal yoke together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? What communion has the light with darkness? What concord has the Messiah with Blyal? And what part has he that is a believer with an unbeliever, with an infidel? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God.

As God has said, I will dwell in them, and I will walk in them, and I will be the God, and they shall be my people." And then he says, "Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, says the Lord of hosts. Touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and I will be a father unto you. And ye shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord of hosts." You see, he's speaking to believers here. But the Corinthians' lifestyle was not pleasing to the Lord, and he's saying to them, "Listen, what fellowship and what communion has light with darkness?" He said, "Therefore, live the way that you used to live, turn back to the Lord, and then you, who are already my sons and daughters, positionally, come and become my son and daughter practically in fellowship with me." So you see how this expression, "I will be," really speaks to a people that belong to him, but they needed to be restored.

Of course, in a connection with Zechariah, chapter 8, those people were returned remnant. They came now from Babel, they believed in God, in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but he tells them what he has a future for the very city that he exhorted them to build the temple at. So it is beautiful to see those encouraging words here in verses 7 and 8. The promise of Jehovah to restore Israel to himself. "You will be my people and I will be your God in truth and in righteousness." That's the only basis upon which God can enjoy relationship with his own people and his own people can enjoy relationship with him.

So verses 1 to 8 is a promise from Jehovah to restore Jerusalem in a future day. But now he's going back to the time in which Zechariah is there with the remnant of Israel. He's going back now in verses 9 to 17. He's encouraging the remnant to listen to the prophets and to continue to build the second temple that they have been working on. So in verses 9 again, hear the words of Zechariah and Haggai. Notice what he says in verse 9. "Thus says the Lord of hosts, let your hand be strong." He's speaking now to the remnant that are in Jerusalem there, 518 BC.

"Ye that hear these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built." He says, "Listen, you now listen to the messages that the prophets," "in this case was Haggai and Zechariah," "saying to you now." "Your forefathers didn't listen to the prophets of old," "Isaiah, Jeremiah, and so on." "That's why they were in Babel." "But you remnant who are now in the land, you listen to the words of Zechariah and Haggai." "The prophets which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid." "They were already there."

"Zechariah and Haggai were preaching to this remnant." "Build the house of the Lord." "God wants you to build the temple so he can establish the sacrificial system." "Things will happen again." "Jerusalem will prosper and be blessed." "And brothers and sisters, I can tell you and I, even when things are looking pretty bad around us," "where there are so many discouragements in the body of Christ, the body of Messiah," "we really need to continue on." "I know we get discouraged sometimes," "and I'm speaking for myself," "and yet there is an encouragement for us." "Just carry on." "Serve the Lord." "Build the body of Messiah." "Be faithful." "Encourage believers." "Be a blessing to your brothers and to

your sisters." "Even though things look difficult around you," "just carry on." "Continue on." "1 Corinthians 15." "Always abounding in the work of the Lord," "as Paul closed chapter 15 and this verse 58." "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast," "unmovable," "always abounding in the work of the Lord," "for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." "The Lord." "That's exactly what the Lord is saying now through Zechariah to the remnant." "You listen to the prophets," "continue on in the building of the temple." "Verse 10." "Before the return of the Jewish people," "he says things were very bad." "Thank God for the way we have it today," "he's saying to

them in verse 10." "For before these days there was no hire for men, nor any hire for beasts." "Neither was there any peace to him that went out and in because of the affliction." "For I have set all men, everyone against his neighbor." "So just think for a moment about the past." "When you were in Bavel, you had so many problems." "This land remained desolate." "Nothing was here in building." "The Jewish people were away from the promised land." "There was no job for a man to build." "There was no job for a beast." "Even an animal didn't work." "Didn't pull any hard things to build a temple or to build houses." "Everything was desolate." "Everything

was in a terrible condition." "In fact, he says in verse 10," "Neither there was any shalom to him that went in and went out." "Even among themselves." "And when they dealt with others outside, there was no peace." "And he's saying to them, you know, look back how things were before." "And be thankful the way that things are right now." "Everything was in chaos." "He said, I was the one that set every man against his neighbor." "You know, sometime, God is sending judgment upon his people." "To have conflict between the people of God judicially." "Because he has a reason for that." "Apparently, according to verse 10," "I set all men, everyone against his neighbor." "You know,

sometime it is a judgment that's sent by God." "God has sent it that it will happen among the people of God." "You remember in the building of the Tower of Babel." "They were all united in building the temple until God confound their languages." "And he produced friction among each other until he scattered them." "And they stopped to build the Tower of Babel." "But now, from the past, he's moving to the present." "In verses 11, 12 and 13, Jehovah promised blessing to the return remnant." "First of all, you notice in verse 11, but now," "I will not be unto the residue," "this is unto the remnant of these people," "as in the former days," "sayeth the

Lord of hosts." "In other words, I will not be to them the way I was to them when I judged them." "I'm going to change things." "The word for residue is the Hebrew word She'erit." "This is the remnant that came back from Babel," "those 50,000 souls or so." "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 these people to possess all these things." "In verse 12, he promised the seed of shalom," "the seed of peace." "You don't see it here in the King James." "Again, that's why it's good to know the

Hebrew." "But in verse 12, he said," "For the seed shall be prosperous," "it really should be the seed of peace." "Zerah ha-shalom." "Notice there will be prosperity." "He promised these remnant who are there now." "Work hard, build the temple." "I'm not going to do what I've done in the past to this rebellious nation." "I'm now going to produce blessing in the land." "Just carry on and do what you are called to do." "Then verse 13, he promised to both houses of Israel to be a blessing in the world." "In verse 13, it shall come to pass that as ye were cursed among the heathen, all house of Judah and house of Israel, therefore will I

save you, and ye shall be a blessing." "Fear not, but let your hands be strong." "Now you notice he mentioned the two houses." "The house of Judah and the house of Israel." "Now that is very interesting." "Because many times people speak about the lost tribes of Israel." "Well, apparently, beloved brothers and sisters," "many of the people who returned to the land of Israel were not only from the tribe of Yehuda." "Some of them came from the other northern tribes of Israel." "That's why he called them not only the house of Judah, but also the house of Israel." "These are the two divided nations, you might say." "One nation that was divided." "Israel was divided." "The

northern and the kingdom tribes have been divided in the time of Yeruvam." "We read it in the book of Kings." "But now the remnant returned." "Some have returned apparently to Jerusalem and Judah from among the Jewish people." "But also some from the other tribes called the house of Israel have returned also to the land." "There is no such a thing of lost tribes." "This is a theory that was taught by those who believe that many other people became the Hebrews." "The so-called lost ten tribes." "Do you know this woman by the name of Hannah?" "We have a few Hannahs in our midst." "That Hannah from Luke chapter 2, she was from the tribe of Asher."

"You read it in Luke chapter 2, she was not from the tribe of Judah." "She from the tribe of Asher, from the northern ten tribes of Israel." "So many have returned, they have dwelt in those areas that belong to the northern tribes of Israel." "Even those people in chapter 7 that came from Beit El." "Beit El was not in the south, it was in the north, it was part of the ten tribes of Israel." "So there is no such a thing of lost tribes of Israel." "Both houses, the house of Judah and the house of Israel." "Revelation chapter 7 speaks about 144,000 Hebrews who will be marked and sealed by the Lord to be the

evangelist people who will evangelize the world during the tribulation." "There were 12,000 men from every one of the twelve tribes of Israel." "God knows his own." "He knows every tribe and everyone that whether he belonged or she belonged to the house of Judah or to the house of Israel." "It's beautiful to see that in verses 11 to 13 the promise is growth and blessings, no more curse." "Israel, the Jewish people have been accursed by the nations, hatred towards the people of Israel was around over the ages against the people of Israel." "But in the future, Israel will be noticed that the opposite." "Verse 13a, curse among the heathen." "Verse 13b, ye shall be a blessing."

"A blessing among the nations of the world." "Fear not, but let your hands be strong." "Don't worry, remnant of Israel, I'm going to restore you." "Be used by me to be a blessing in the coming days in the world which is ahead of you." "Now, Jehovah is speaking, he is now seeking the wellness of Israel." "Verses 14 and 15." "In verse 14, past thoughts concerning Israel was punishment." "For thus says the Lord," verse 14, "I thought to punish you when your fathers provoked me to wrath." "Sayest the Lord of hosts, and I repented not." "In other words, in the past, I wanted to discipline you." "That's why I have done so." "I planned it, I

purposed it, I thought so, and I did so." "That was the past." "In the present time." "In verse 15, present thoughts concerning Israel is wellness and blessings." "He's saying," "But now," notice verse 15, "So again, have I thought in these days," "no longer in the past," "but in these days to do well to Jerusalem." "And to the house of Judah, fear ye not?" "Don't be afraid." "My intention is blessing for you." "I want you to enjoy a blessing." "Before I had to discipline you because you violated my word." "I wanted to punish you." "And he did punish the nation of Israel." "Israel was scattered." "But now," "518 B.C., in the middle of the building of

the second temple," "he is encouraging the remnant and he's saying to them," "I now think well for Jerusalem and to the house of Judah." "Don't be afraid." "And now he's requesting from them to do something." "If there will be a change," "if they will enjoy the blessings of the Lord," "now in verses 16 and 17," "Jehovah requested from the return remnant to have a godly conduct." "This is precious because he already said it in chapter 7," "repeating what he said previously." "He's repeating in this chapter again." "And he's saying to them," "Look, verse 16 and 17," "These are the things that ye shall do." "Four things." "Speak ye every man the truth with his neighbor."

"That's number one." "Number two." "Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates." "Number three." "Let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor." "And number four." "And love no false oath." "For all these things that I hate," "saith the Lord." "You know, we never read much in the Bible about God hating." "You know, God love the sinner, but he hates sin." "That's a beautiful thing that we learned about the Lord." "He is a God of love, but there are things that he hates." "He doesn't hate men, but he hates that which we see here listed up in verses 16 and 17." "You know, he hates when we don't speak the

truth." "And we know that." "He hates when we execute unjust judgment." "When we see wrong, and we see right, and we execute that which we don't give a fair judgment." "Then the third." "He hates when we are imagining in our hearts evil against others." "When we think evil against others." "And he also hates when we give false oaths, false testimony." "For all these things that I hate." "He said this to the remnant of Israel." "You remember in the previous chapter, just turn back in your page to chapter 7." "In verse 8, he said to them already," "For the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying," "Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying," "Execute true

judgment." "Show mercy and compassion every man to his neighbor." Verse 10, "Oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor." "And then forth, let none of you imagine evil things against his brother in your heart." "It's not quite the same four." "He adding and maybe changing here," "but he does mention practical, godly walk that he desires to see among the people of Israel." "Now, don't you think you and I need the same exhortation today?" Paul said in Ephesians chapter 4, when he wrote to the brothers and sisters in Ephesus, he said to them in chapter 4 in verse 30, "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the

day of redemption." "You are sealed, you are saved, you are forgiven, nothing will separate you from the love of God, you belong to the Lord positionally, but don't grieve the Spirit of God." And then he says in verse 31, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice, and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Messiah's sake hath forgiven you." This is something that applies to believers today as well.

Just the same as the remnant needed this exhortation when they returned back into the land. We were challenged by Zechariah, you and I, the Ephesians, were challenged by the apostle Paul. Colossians 3 and verse 12 says this, "Put on therefore as an elect of God, holy and beloved bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any men have a quarrel against any, even as the Messiah hath forgiven you, so also do ye." Verse 14, "And above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to that which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful." Let the word of the Messiah dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto the Lord, and whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do in the name of our Lord Yeshua, giving thanks unto God and the Father by Him." This is Colossians chapter 3 and verse 12 to 17.

Well, God spoke through Zechariah to the remnant, God spoke through Paul to the body of Christ, to the body of Messiah. So, beloved brothers and sisters, verses 1 to 8, Jehovah's promise to restore Jerusalem. Verses 9 to 17, Jehovah encourages the remnant to listen to the word of the prophets, that He uses them for their benefit. Now, here it is, verse 18 to 23. We have Jehovah's plan for Jerusalem and for the Jewish people. That is the conclusion. And finally, He's coming to an answer. Now He's going to answer them about the question, should we continue to fast? Like we have done for 70 years? Should we now fast as we have done it before?

And look what He's saying. And I'm reading now verse 18. And the word of the Lord of hosts came unto me saying, again, Jehovah Tsevaot. Again, Jehovah of hosts is speaking to Zechariah for the nation. Verse 19, Israel fasting in the future will really turn into feasting. The question was, should we fast? Hear what He's saying to them. The fasting that you have introduced was not initiated by me. You have initiated it. You made some sort of a religious fasting, which I did not command you, He's really saying. But those fasting that came because of judgment upon you are going to end up to turn to feasting.

And so He says in verse 19, Jesus says Jehovah of hosts, the first of the fourth months, and the first of the fifth, and the first of the seventh, and the first of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah, joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts. Therefore, love the truth, and peace, and shalom. And now you notice, brothers and sisters, sisters, how many fasting times in the history of our people have been introduced. The fast of the fourth months, of the fifth months, of the seventh months, of the tenth months. You notice how many times in chapter 7, they only ask about the fifth months in verse 3.

And the Lord added in verse 5 of chapter 7, He added the seventh months as well. But all this fasting was introduced by men. It was not requested from God. And now He's telling them, all those fasting that you have done, now, will end up to turn in the future day, into a time of feasting. Now why do one fast? Even if you make it, bring it upon yourself. We fast, we deny, or they deny themselves, from necessary food, because men shall not live by bread alone. Bread is needed. But the fasting was because they have been under sorrow. I don't know about you, when there are problems in our life, we tend to lose the appetite.

But when there is concern and burden for something, like the destruction of the temple, you begin to mourn the loss of what you have had. So you declare a time of fasting. But when that will not be necessary anymore, because they will not be judged like they were judged in the past. They will be restored in submissiveness and obedience to the Lord. And now they are no longer going to be under the need of fasting. And all these days and months of fasting will turn into, as it says here, feasting. It's going to be a time where there will be no longer fasting, but joy and gladness.

The word for joy and gladness, Vesimcha, there is a song we are sometimes singing. Every joy and gladness, when we celebrate in a marriage union, when we sing and celebrate the things of the Lord. And here we can see all this is going to change from fasting to feasting, from sadness to joy, from suffering to enjoy a relationship with the Lord, to feast. And he says, but therefore, in light of what is going to happen in the future, love the truth, love peace, love peace. And he continues now, Jerusalem will be the center blessings for all the nations of the world. It's not going to be New York, it's not going to be Moscow, it's not going to be any other area of the world.

The central place of the blessings of the nations of the world will be in the literal city of Jerusalem, that is right now, present day Jerusalem in the future day, when God will make the city a blessing to the world. it says in verse 20 and 21, a nation will call other nations to go to Jehovah to worship the Lord. It says in verse 20, thus says the Lord of hosts, it shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities, and the inhabitants of one city, shall go to another, and they will say, let us go, speedily, to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts.

I will go also. You know, there will be an encouragement. And you know what? Let's go together, and let's worship the Lord of hosts, Jehovah, the God of Israel. Let's go together. Not only that I'm inviting you to go, but I'm going to go also. You know, it's like in a small scale, it's like inviting a friend to a place where the saints are gathered together. Let's go to the meeting today, where the saints are gathered together to worship Jehovah, to worship the Messiah. I'm going to come with you. We're going to go together. Here, we are not talking about individual, but it's speaking about a people.

The Hebrew word for people is amim, nation, and many inhabitants of literal cities, they're going to speak to one another, and invite one another to go to Jerusalem, to worship the Lord. The inhabitants of one city, shall go to another, shall go to pray, and to seek Him. Brothers and sisters, where do we see this today? Today, there is no seeking of the Lord, no praying to Him by the nations of the world. Today, individuals, believers in Yeshua, the Messiah, can pray to Him, and seek Him in prayer. But that's speaking to us about the future restoration of Israel, where Israel and Jerusalem will be the place of gathering nations to the city.

Isaiah said this in chapter 2. He said, "Many people shall go and say, come, ye, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His path. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." Isaiah chapter 2 verse 3, taking us to the kingdom age, to the messianic age. And finally, brothers and sisters, the last verse. And I think this verse is also very interesting. Not only that Jerusalem will be a gathering center for the nations of the world, but the Jewish people themselves, going to be this priestly nation, whom the Lord will use to be a blessing to the nations of the world.

Look what it says in the last verse of chapter 8. "Thus saith Jehovah of hosts." Notice, it's not the word of men, it's not a human opinion, but it is the Lord Himself saying that. "In those days it shall come to pass that ten men shall take a hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall 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." Now today, if you're going to take a skirt of a Jewish man, and in general, we know very well the vast majority, unfortunately to say, of our people still in blindness.

Many of our people don't believe in the Messiah as yet. Don't believe, actually, unfortunately, it's sadly to say, that many of our own people don't believe in God. And that's sad. That's really sad. But here we find out that every Jewish person will be an avenue of a blessing to the nations of the world. And you notice it says, "Ten men from among the nations." The word for, out of all languages, it's the Hebrew word for, "Mikol L'Shonot HaGoyim." That's where you get the word tongues. You know, sometimes we have a question about tongues. Here is the word tongue. It doesn't speak about anything that is not in the Bible.

It's simply speaking about a language. People from all the languages of the nations of the world, they will come and they will take a hold of a skirt. And the word here for skirt is the word kanaf in Hebrew. And it is also very interesting, because if you remember in Numbers chapter 15 and Deuteronomy chapter 22, the Lord had requested from the people of Israel to have on the corners of their garments that which is called tzitzit. You'll notice how religious Jewish people wear the tzitzit, the four little strings that come from the corners of their garments. The tzitzit was made out of the color blue to represent the heavenly God to whom they are responsible and accountable.

And so they will touch this corner of the garment, that tzitzit, in a corner of the garment of a Jewish person. And they will say, as they hold on to his tzitzit, they will say, "We will go with you." Why? Because we've heard that God is with you. You are a representation of the living God. We want to go with you. We're going to hold your tzitzit and we're going to follow you to where you are going. It's a great prophecy concerning not only the fact that Jerusalem will be a blessing to this world, but the Jewish people, a nation that is called to be a priestly nation, will be used by God to be a blessing to this world.

There will be ten men. It's interesting, the number ten, the number ten is the number of responsibility. In other words, there will be a responsible nation who will hold on in the skirts of one who is a Jew and they will say, "We are going to go with you because God, because the Lord, God is with you." That is not happening today as yet, but that will happen in the future. Today the Jewish people are being persecuted, but in the future day the Jewish people will be a blessing to this world when Israel will be regenerated and the nations of the world will receive the blessing that the Lord intend for them through the people of Israel.

May the Lord hasten this day and bring it about as we long for this day to come very, very soon.