1: And then these Messages from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies: A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:
2: "I am zealous for Zion--I care! I'm angry about Zion--I'm involved!" [JC] GOD's Message:
3: "I've come back to Zion, I've moved back to Jerusalem. Jerusalem's new names will be Truth City, and Mountain of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, and Mount Holiness." [JC]
4: A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies: "Old men and old women will come back to Jerusalem, sit on benches on the streets and spin tales, move around safely with their canes--a good city to grow old in.
5: And boys and girls will fill the public parks, laughing and playing--a good city to grow up in." [JC]
6: A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies: "Do the problems of returning and rebuilding by just a few survivors seem too much? But is anything too much for me? Not if I have my say." [JC]
7: A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies: "I'll collect my people from countries to the east and countries to the west.
8: I'll bring them back and move them into Jerusalem. They'll be my people and I'll be their God. I'll stick with them and do right by them." [JC] A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:
9: "Get a grip on things. Hold tight, you who are listening to what I say through the preaching of the prophets. The Temple of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies has been reestablished. The Temple is being rebuilt.
10: We've come through a hard time: You worked for a pittance and were lucky to get that; the streets were dangerous; you could never let down your guard; I had turned the world into an armed camp.
11: "But things have changed. I'm taking the side of my core of surviving people:
12: Sowing and harvesting will resume, Vines will grow grapes, Gardens will flourish, Dew and rain will make everything green. "My core survivors will get everything they need--and more.
13: You've gotten a reputation as a bad-news people, you people of Judah and Israel, but I'm coming to save you. From now on, you're the good-news people. Don't be afraid. Keep a firm grip on what I'm doing."
14: A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies: "In the same way that I decided to punish you when your ancestors made me angry, and didn't pull my punches,
15: at this time I've decided to bless Jerusalem and the country of Judah. Don't be afraid.
16: And now here's what I want you to do: Tell the truth, the whole truth, when you speak. Do the right thing by one another, both personally and in your courts.
17: Don't cook up plans to take unfair advantage of others. Don't do or say what isn't so. I hate all that stuff. Keep your lives simple and honest." Decree of GOD. [JC]
18: Again I received a Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:
19: "The days of mourning set for the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will be turned into days of feasting for Judah--celebration and holiday. Embrace truth! Love peace!" [JC]
20: A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies: "People and their leaders will come from all over to see what's going on.
21: The leaders will confer with one another: "Shouldn't we try to get in on this? Get in on GOD's blessings? Pray to GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies? What's keeping us? Let's go!'
22: "Lots of people, powerful nations--they'll come to Jerusalem looking for what they can get from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, looking to get a blessing from GOD." [JC]
23: A Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies: "At that time, ten men speaking a variety of languages will grab the sleeve of one Jew, hold tight, and say, "Let us go with you. We've heard that God is with you.'"