Audio Download

Zec 8:1-23  A city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts

[Study Aired July 20, 2023]

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. 
Zec 8:3  Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto 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. 
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. 
Zec 8:5  And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. 
Zec 8:6  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts. 
Zec 8:7  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; 
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. 
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, which were in the day that 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 neighbour. 
Zec 8:11  But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts. 
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, but let your hands be strong. 
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 well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not. 
Zec 8:16  These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
Zec 8:17  And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
Zec 8:18  And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto 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. 
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  Yea, 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 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.

In this eighth chapter of Zechariah, we learn of God’s ultimate purpose for the elect who are judged in this age (1Pe 4:17, Rom 8:28) so that they can be revealed as the Israel of God (Gal 6:16) who will be called “a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain” which God has made ready through Christ to rule the nations with a rod of iron (Oba 1:21, Rev 19:7, Rev 2:27, Rev 12:5).

Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 

Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 

The “all Israel” spoken of in Romans 11:26 represents the world God will bring into the midst of Jerusalem. “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.” (vs 8)

Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 

This section of Zechariah is a prophecy talking about the time when the world will learn of God’s righteousness because His judgments will be in the earth via the body of Christ, who will be used to “turn away ungodliness from Jacob” (Isa 26:9). God’s people will be a fruitful vine (Zec 8:12) which disseminates the word of truth to a world that will hear what the church has to say, but will not be able to ultimately continue in the truth given to them (Joh 12:47, Rom 8:9, Mat 13:16-17, Joh 8:31-32).

Joh 12:47  And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world [Mat 12:36-37, Luk 19:22]. 

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

God’s elect can conclude with heartfelt joy today through Christ our hope of glory within (Col 1:27) that our labor now, and during that thousand-year period will not be in vain (1Co 15:58, Isa 66:9). Those labors are all to God’s glory to reveal His longsuffering spirit toward the vessels of dishonor who will, at the appointed time, come to see that God’s word will never return void but will deliver all the banished of this world (2Sa 14:14, Rom 9:21-22, Isa 55:11, Rev 20:11, 1Co 15:22). 

God’s mercy toward the weak of the world, the elect (1Co 1:26), is truly unsearchable and past finding out (Rom 11:33). Studying this section of Zechariah reminds us how His ways are not our ways (Isa 55:8-9), and how blessed we are to know our Lord now, to have eyes that see and ears that hear. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1Co 15:58, Joh 8:31-32).

Rom 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 

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. 

If the Lord had not been jealous over His bride, who is likened to “the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain” (Oba 1:21) we would have never been made ready. Because of His faithfulness that which He has promised to start and finish will be accomplished within the body of Christ (Heb 12:2). Christ is jealous of His wife, and because He is a consuming fire, He will burn out of His bride all unfaithfulness, all iniquity so our hearts and minds will grow to be able to bring every thought into subjection to our head Jesus Christ, truly becoming one with the Lord and His body (2Co 10:4-5).

Exo 20:5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 

Exo 34:14  For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

Num 5:14  And the spirit of jealousy come upon him [think of Christ with his bride], and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled: 

Num 5:30  Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him [think of Christ with his bride], and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.

Deu 4:24  For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds😉 
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;(our own thoughts and daily interactions with the world) 

[God equips the body of Christ to deal with our iniquity, our self-righteousness that he visits and promises He will burn out of us, pulling down every stronghold within us and those spirits we wrestle with in others (Mar 13:11-13)]

The “great fury” of verse 2 which God has against us is against our yet carnal minds that must be circumcised and put off in order for the bride to be called “a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain” (Rev 15:8), that mountain being mount Zion who comes up as saviors of this world in the first resurrection who are in perfect subjection to our head Jesus Christ (Oba 1:21).

Zec 8:3  Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto 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. 
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.

The elect are likened to mount Zion (Oba 1:21) to whom God has returned as well as Jerusalem, a city of truth. “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Rev 21:2). Both represent the resurrected body of Christ that will rule on this earth. In regard to this holy mountain called Zion, we learn “and there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the lamb’s book of life” (Rev 21:27).

The rest of humanity who are still alive when God’s government is established on this earth, are spoken of in Zechariah 8:4, and this verse describes the great peace the earth will experience prior to Satan being released for a season (Rev 20:8). “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” (Zec 8:4). 

Being an old man or old woman still bringing forth fruit in our lives is a great blessing and symbol of wisdom (Job 32:7, Psa 92:14). However, when we read “every man with his staff in his hand” it symbolizes for us a world that is still believing in free moral agency, being held up by their own strength, still leaning unto their own understanding, which is all we can do until the Lord takes away our confidence in our own flesh (Job 32:8-9, Php 3:3).

Psa 92:14  They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; 

Job 32:7  I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. 
Job 32:8  But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. 
Job 32:9  Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. 

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, [Joh 4:23] and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 

Zec 8:5  And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. 
Zec 8:6  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
Zec 8:7  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; 
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.

These verses describe for us a time of great peace and prosperity in the earth during the thousand-year reign. “And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof“, and the symbolic language shows us there will be a confidence in flesh because of the hedge God creates during this period until it is taken away at the release of Satan for a season (Rev 20:8). 

To answer the question, “If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts“, we can consider how Paul marveled at how soon people were turned away from the true gospel in his day (Gal 1:6-10), and we will marvel (not being surprised or caught off guard, just marveling at the marvelous work of God in the earth) as we see the world go through this process of being judged “from the east country, and from the west country” and then be shown that there was no conversion during that symbolic thousand-year period of judgment, with no spirit of God within (Rom 8:9). The prosperity of this time is undeniable in its description in God’s word both physically and in the abundance of God’s word which will fill the earth as the oceans are filled with water (Hab 2:14). 

The peace and security this brings is likened unto “old men and old women dwell[ing] in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age” and to “the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.” Nevertheless, none of this gives evidence to the conversion of the masses, only that like Adam and Eve in the ideal garden of Eden as soon as Satan is loosed for his season upon them, it is revealed that they cannot resist the devil and are taken in their own iniquity (Gen 3:4-7).

Gen 3:4  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 
Gen 3:5  for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil. 
Gen 3:6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. 
Gen 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons [actions that symbolize their own iniquity].

The world will be brought into the midst of Jerusalem, “and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness” does not preclude that there is conversion on the horizon, only the opposite as this is a time of great contrast just as it was with Peter who said he would never deny Christ but did, along with the rest of the disciples (Mat 26:31), and Adam and Eve who denied Christ, and Israel who denied Christ, and finally all the world who are alive at that time and will be overtaken by the spirit of Satan just as Judas was the night he betrayed Christ (Joh 13:27); all showing us that our victory and overcoming is solely a gift of God and given at an appointed time.

God bringing them so that “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” is the necessary first step of witnessing the truth to the world, and that word and witness will not return void, but the hypocrisy of all flesh must be driven home for every human that ever lives before salvation (Oba 1:21) can come at God’s appointed time [Isa 26:9, Isa 55:11].

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee earnestly: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

Isa 55:11  so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

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, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

Those who hear in “these days” are those who are blessed to interpret and understand (Rev 1:3) the message that the prophets of old and righteous men of old prophesied, not to themselves but to us upon whom the end of the ages are come (Mat 13:16-17, Heb 10:11, 1Pe 1:12). Our hand is strong because we have been blessed to come to rely on the strength of the Lord through whom we can endure all things (Php 4:13, Tit 2:14). God’s elect are given to have Christ’s righteousness which exceeds that of the prophets of old, and they have inherited the kingdom (Mat 5:20) to lay down the foundational principles “of the house of the LORD” (1Ti 3:15).

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 

Mat 5:20  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

It does not take a converted mind to be given the materials to lay the foundation of truth that would later be understood by those who are given eyes to see and ears to hear, so we have these scriptures that confirm that point (1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11, Eph 2:20).

1Co 10:11  Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. 

Eph 2:20  being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone; [So “that the temple might be built” (Psa 127:1)] 

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 neighbour. 

God set “all men every one against his neighbour” [Christ’s word was divided in Babylon and symbolically residing in the cup of a harlot (Rev 17:5).] witnessing to the truth of Isaiah 45:7. This is the time described in the previous chapter of Zechariah (Zec 7:14) and represents our time in Babylon when there is no stay of bread or water to be found (Isa 3:1, Isa 4:1). If there is no hire for man who is a beast or any hire for beasts to be taken care of, “For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast“, the Lord is telling us there is no stay of bread or water in Babylon by those words (Isa 3:1). What if that all changed, as it will during the thousand-year reign when mankind is given the unadulterated truth of God via the elect, the church? The next two verses demonstrate that God is going to put all His cards on the table so to speak so the world has no excuse (Rom 1:20). In truth we always have an excuse if the spirit of God is not yet given within us to rightly divide the word of truth, otherwise there would have been no point in Christ saying “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Rom 8:9, Luk 23:34).

Luk 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted^G1266 his raiment, and cast lots.

G1266 diamerizō dee-am-er-id’-zo

From G1223 and G3307; to partition thoroughly (literally in distribution, figuratively in dissension): – cloven, divide, part.

Total KJV occurrences: 12

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

God will do something different in that He will make the truth crystal clear to humanity during the thousand-year reign by way of the true church (Col 1:24). Verse eleven is talking about the world during the thousand-year period, “But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts“, and verse twelve is talking about the elect who are that one “seed” (Gal 3:16) which is going to 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“. This prosperity is talking about the word of God going forth from the elect which will not return void in the great white throne judgment, where it will be purified. It is the remnant, the elect, who are told they will possess all things by the grace of God, “And I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.” The “all these” possessed of the elect is the inheritance God has promised to those who lose their life in this age so they can be used to bring in the rest of humanity in the lake of fire; our many children who only come to maturity in the second resurrection (Gal 4:27, Php 4:4).

Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Php 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 

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, but let your hands be strong. 
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 well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not. 

The message is being repeated again here as a witness to the truth that God is going to save all of humanity:  “so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.” God does not determine the timing of that salvation with that sentence, but we know that salvation for the rest of the world is a long-suffering event as declared in Romans 9:21-22. There is a transition being shown from old covenant black-and-white law to a merciful hedging-in of the nations to drive home the point that any ‘ideal’ situation does not bring about conversion unless God’s spirit is within, enabling the temple of God to be built by the grace-through-faith process that is not a part of this dispensation being prophesied about.

Rom 9:21  Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? 
Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction: 

Another shadow of this relationship with God’s true church with the world can be seen with the story of Joseph who fed and clothed his brothers, but in type and shadow language their love was not perfected as they feared (1Jn 4:18) that none of these actions of their now-ruling brother convinced them that they were not ultimately going to be destroyed. This torment Joseph’s brothers endured typifies the time when all the world will be judged in the second resurrection/second death/lake of fire/white throne judgment (Rev 20:14-15).

1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

Zec 8:16  These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
Zec 8:17  And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
Zec 8:18  And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto 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.

These commandments were spoken by the Lord: “Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD” to provoke people to love and good works and represent the relationship God’s elect will forge with the world during the thousand-year reign (Isa 30:21). 

Isa 30:21  And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Then verse 19 demonstrates that there is a process unfolding in these earthly circumstances where humanity is being given the true manna from heaven: “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“, and it is a joyful event  with “joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts [for] …the house of Judah [the elect]” but anon with joy the world is receiving the word of God. That receiving of the word will be shown to have not taken deep root when tribulation comes by way of Satan being loosed for a season (Mat 13:20, Pro 24:10). God has not purposed conversion for humanity at this point, just an intellectual relationship that is more akin to being under tutors and governors (which is how the elect are perceived by the world in their hearts). 

The world’s dedication to Christ and His bride is demonstrated by these many physical fasts: “The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth.” They typify the many wonderful works we do in our flesh, deceiving us into thinking that we are more spiritually mature than we actually are, all by God’s design to demonstrate to us that all the watering and planting in the world which will take place during the reign of Christ and His Christ (Rev 11:15) does not accompany spiritual increase, which only comes at the exact moment that God has ordained it, to His glory (1Co 3:6-7).

Mat 13:20  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Pro 24:10  If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. 

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 
1Co 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

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  Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.

The return of Christ and resurrection of the elect will bring many “strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.” It is in many cities and nations “that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities” to hear the word of the Lord. There will be a zealousness in the earth as people go from city to city to provoke people to go up and hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Simply put, because God’s judgments are in the earth via the body of Christ, men will learn righteousness (Isa 26:9). All these actions of the masses of humanity are typical of the old covenant patriarchs along with prophets and righteous men (Mat 13:17) who sought a better resurrection, which we know is typical language pointing to the first fruits who are already raised in the first resurrection (Isa 26:9, Heb 11:35).

Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 

Heb 11:35  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Zec 8:23  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.

This last verse confirms and explains the zeal of the nations during the thousand-year reign and is typical of how the disciples were initially zealous to drop their nets (Mat 4:20) and immediately follow Christ, only to later discover that upon Christ’s death and being without the spirit of God within them, they went back to be fishers of fish rather than the fishers of men which they would become once the spirit of God was given on Pentecost (Joh 21:3, Mat 4:19). That is what is happening here, where “ten men” which typifies the perfection of the flesh in a collective manner “all languages of the nations” shall take hold of “the skirt of him that is a Jew.” That Jew is the body of Christ (Rom 2:29) which the world will touch and be healed physically by, but not spiritually like the woman who touched the hem of Christ’s garment in Matthew 9:20. There is a zealousness in the earth because the world has heard that “God is with you“, but that zeal is not according to knowledge (Rom 10:2-4, Joh 6:29) because the world is not being saved by grace through faith as yet (Eph 2:8), a gift reserved for humanity in the great white throne judgment. This is very much an eating-of-loaves time we are reading about in this chapter of Zechariah, of which Christ said this: “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” (Joh 6:26). We are told by Christ that it is the natural saving of our life [symbolized by eating loaves and being filled] that will cause a person to be reserved until the second resurrection (2Pe 2:4, 2Pe 3:7). It is by God’s grace that the elect cry out to Him and fear (Heb 5:7), being given a hunger and thirst for His life and appreciating the miracle which that life produces within us [the true bread from heaven] (Mat 5:6), that will increase in those who lose their life for His sake (Mat 10:39).

2Pe 2:4  For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

2Pe 3:7  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 

Mat 10:39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.