If you are like me you have probably not heard many sermons or messages
from Zechariah 8. But this chapter gives some beautiful descriptions of
God's coming kingdom when Jesus returns. The chapter begins with God
restoring Jerusalem. With "great wrath" and "jealousy" (8:2) the Lord
returns to Zion and dwells in Jerusalem (8:3). The great city will have
another name—"City of Truth" (8:3).
This capital city of God's kingdom will be characterized by sweet peace
and fellowship as the Lord himself says:
"Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Old men and old women will again sit in
the streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of
age. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls
playing in its streets'" (Zech 8:4–5).
This section is simple but beautiful and may surprise some. When the
Lord comes again and reigns from Jerusalem, the elderly and young people
will be talking and playing in the streets. Yes, chatting with friends
by the older people and joyous playing by the youth. Are you surprised
at this? Did you expect something more profound or spiritual—perhaps
singing in the eternal choir or talking to angels? I'm sure there will
be plenty of that too, but Jesus' kingdom also means hanging out in the
streets and having a good ol' time with other people. Elderly men and
women are talking about this and that. The kids are playing and
laughing. Perhaps they are chasing each other in a game of tag or
kicking a ball around. Whatever they are doing it includes a lot of
running and much laughing. That's what kids do.
The blessings of Christ's kingdom are certainly profound but they can
also be blessedly simple. As Alva McClain states in regard to this
passage, "This is no kingdom of asceticism where the normal impulses of
humanity, implanted by divine creation, will be rigorously suppressed."
This is a time of "glad release" and "joyous and safe recreation" (The
Greatness of the Kingdom, 228). This passage does not have to be
"spiritualized." It is not "ideal language" that points to some 'later
and greater' spiritual reality. It is what it is. The kingdom of God
means peace in the midst of wholesome fellowship and play.
Streets of major cities are often not safe, but not here. Not at this
time when Jesus reigns. The old can safely be in the streets conversing
with each other and watching children play with no harm coming to them.
No threats to their safety. No purse snatchers or criminals to worry
about. Children can play and laugh with no threat of harm. No predators.
No bullies. No wild animals to devour them.
Evidence for an Intermediate Kingdom
On another note, it appears that age and age discrepancies still exist
when the Lord's kingdom is established. Old men and women at this time
need the aid of a staff "because of age." They possess some weakness
because of advanced years. This strongly suggests the concept of an
intermediate kingdom (or millennium), an era that is different from the
present evil age but different also from the Eternal State in which all
negative aspects of aging and death are removed.
From Zechariah's time until now the conditions of Zechariah 8 have not
happened. There has been no historical fulfillment of this yet. On the
other hand, there will be no elderly who are weak in the final Eternal
State for all remnants of the curse have been removed (see Revelation 21
and 22). What Zechariah describes here, therefore, must take place in an
initial phase of God's kingdom before the Eternal State begins. Such an
intermediate state between the present age and the Eternal State is
described in Revelation 20 where a thousand year reign of Christ is
emphasized.
The rest of the chapter is wonderful too. The Lord will bring His people
from the East and West to live in Jerusalem (8:7–8). The physical
blessings that will occur when God's people are in the land include
agricultural prosperity and proper moisture from the sky (8:12). Many
people and nations will seek the Lord in Jerusalem (8:22). The blessings
of God's kingdom surely include physical blessings too.
Reading passages like Zechariah 8 causes me to long for God's kingdom. I
look forward to the day when we can do even the simplest activities of
life in peace and happiness. All because of our great King Jesus.