The Future Restoration Of Israel - Part 8 - Scriptures In Isaiah Series

THE FUTURE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL - PART 8 - SCRIPTURES IN ISAIAH

This next passage in a long one and I will do it in sections.

{{Isaiah 60:8-9 “Who are these who fly like a cloud, and like the doves to their lattices? Isa 60:9 Surely the coastlands will wait for Me and the ships of Tarshish will come first to bring your sons from afar, their silver and their gold with them for the name of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel because He has glorified you.”}}

One of the things that annoys me greatly is the violence done to scripture by those who can’t be bothered to understand things in context, and the above two verses fit that example. So many people lacking any sense try to make verse 8 apply to the current time with aeroplanes and even wars. They try to identify places. No! It is ignorant nonsense. One must look carefully at the context of these verses and it is then plain that they do NOT apply to our time. Verse 9 says “BECAUSE HE HAS GLORIFIED YOU,” and that puts the passage into Israel's restoration with Messiah in their midst. Verse 9 deals with the return of saved Jews from all over the world, even the distant parts for Tarshish was Spain, about the longest distance they knew, at the other end of the Mediterranean. When these redeemed Jews stream into Israel they bring great treasures with them, often the gifts of the sheep nations in honour of the King who reigns in Jerusalem. The context of these verses is the beginning of the Millennium NOT IN OUR TIME!

These verses can not be spiritualised into the Church or made to apply where they do not fit. Some people do not like the use of “replacement” or “replacement theology” but you are replacing Israel when you take all the Old Testament promises and prophecies that are plainly for Israel and make them apply to the Church. Israel will NEVER be replaced. The Holy One of Israel is not the Lord of the Church (in context). Israel is Israel and the Church is the Church.

Flying like a cloud means so many Jewish saints returning like doves returning home. The purpose of that expression is to say the Jews will be numerous and they are returning. The ships of Tarshish travelled long distances and were substantial ships. They meant the big ships of the time. Every means of bulk transport will be used by the nations to send the Jewish remnant home after the Second Coming.

{{Isaiah 60:10-12 “Foreigners will build up your walls, and their kings will minister to you, for in My wrath I struck you, and in My favour I have had compassion on you. Isa 60:11 Your gates will be open continually. They will not be closed day or night so that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations with their kings led in procession, Isa 60:12 for the nation and the kingdom which will not serve you will perish, and the nations will be utterly ruined.’}}

This is a picture of Jerusalem in the Millennium. Remember this is in the restored world where the remaining nations (much reduced in number I feel, and certainly in population, considering the extent of death in the Tribulation) will honour Israel and do all they can for her. This will be a time of peace and much abundance. God says He struck the nation, and then turned to them in compassion in restoration. That idea is covered by a number of prophets. It is punishment leading to conversion.

Israel will be filled with so many treasures and wealth. I don’t think money will be used in the Millennium, but if it is, then the greedy multinationals will not be operating. National delegations will follow each other bringing treasures to Jerusalem, led by their leaders. If any kingdom turns away from Israel, its fate is set. It will perish. At the start of the Millennium, all the sheep nations will be good for they have helped Israel in its most severe need.

It seems like, as time goes on, there may be nations who decide to abandon Israel and not serve under the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. At the end of the Millennium there is a revolt when Satan goes out to gather all the malcontents from among the nations. These are termed Gog and Magog, meaning a whole mob of them (not the Gog and Magog of the Armageddon war 1000 years earlier). This is described in Revelation 20:7-10. It is hard to understand why there will be so many unbelievers who will breed up in the Millennium; who will secretly despise the Lord of Lords, the King Messiah reigning in Jerusalem.