8:1–23 This chapter is a picture of the ultimate state of the kingdom of God, when God brings His final and fullest blessings on His people. Similar to Isaiah’s portrayal of the future (Is. 65:17; 66:5–24), it gave the postexilic Jews hope that the Lord was still determined to bless them. Since the coming of Christ into the world, the beginning of these blessings is seen, but their full realization awaits the new heavens and new earth (Rev. 21:1).