Page 176 - Jesus is coming - Class version

RESTORATION OF ISRAEL. 173

natural branches yet to be grafted into their own olive tree,
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which should be nothing less than life from the dead.
Jesus said, in Luke 21:24, "And they shall fall by the
edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into
all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the
Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." And
Paul understood this mystery, that when "the fullness of
the Gentiles be come in," "there should come out of Zion
the Deliverer, who should turn away ungodliness from
Jacob." Rom. 11:25-26.
And this is fully confirmed by the following: In Amos 8
and 9, we read of the awful calamities which should come
upon Israel. And not until they had been SIFTED AMONG
ALL NATIONS would the Lord gather and plant them, and
raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen. When the
apostles and elders were gathered in the first council at
Jerusalem, considering this same question about Israelites
and the Church, the Holy Spirit directed the mind of
James to this very prophecy in Amos, to show that during
this sifting of Israel, God was to TAKE OUT of the Gentiles a
people to His name, and AFTER THIS to build again the
tabernacle of David. Acts 15 :13-17. So we see that these
restoration prophecies can not be applied to the Church,
which is first to be TAKEN OUT before Israel and Jerusalem
are to be restored.
Again, one of the most specific prophecies of their re-
storation is addressed, not to the people, but to the MOUN-
TAINS OF ISRAEL, which leaves no possible doubt as to the
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LITERAL MEANING intended.
(21) Rom. 11:15. For if the my people of Israel; for they are
casting away of them te the at hand to come.
reconciling of the world, what 9. For, behold, I am for you,
shall the receiving of them be, and I will turn unto you, and ye
but life from the dead? shall be tilled and sown:
(22) Ezek. 36:1. Also, thou 10. And I will multiply men
son of man, prophesy unto the upon you, all the house of Israe'.,
mountains of Israel, and say, Ye even all of it :" and the cities
mountains of Israel, hear the shall be inhabited, and tho
word of the Lord : wastes shall be builded :
'
8. But ye, O mountains of Is- 11. And I will multiply upon
rael, ye shall shoot forth your you man and beast ; and they
branches, and yield your fruit to shall increase and bring fruit: