The reader should note the reference to `the remnant that is escaped'

(Isa. 37:31,32) in connection with this `salvation' when reading Isaiah 45

and its call to `the escaped of the nations' and `the ends of the earth'

(Isa. 45:20,22).  Hezekiah's deliverance from imminent death is spoken of in

terms of salvation:

`In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death ... Hezekiah wept sore ...

I will add unto thy days fifteen years ... I will deliver thee and this

city out of the hand of the king of Assyria' (Isa. 38:1 -6).

When Hezekiah rehearsed the deliverance of the Lord, he said:

`The Lord was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the

stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord'

(Isa. 38:20).

How many have found comfort and renewal in taking to themselves the

words of Isaiah 30:15?  Yet it must be admitted that the primary meaning as

dictated by the context refers to Israel and the nation's need for repentant

turning away from their fatal `trust in the shadow of Egypt' (Isa. 30:2).

Does the phrase `the escaped of the nations' refer to Israel, the people who

have escaped from the captivity imposed by the nations? or does it indicate

Gentiles, those of the nations that escape in the day of wrath?  The answer

is provided by usage, and needs no intricate grammatical explanation.

`The fugitives of Ephraim' are those Ephraimites which were escaped

(Judges 12:4,5).

`Them that are escaped of Israel' refer to Israelites (Isa. 4 2).

The expression therefore `the escaped of the nations' refers to Gentiles.

It is fairly common knowledge among students of prophecy that there is

to be a `Remnant' of Israel that shall `escape', `be left' and which shall

`return' and that through this remnant the gracious purposes of God shall be

accomplished.  It is not so clearly understood that there is also a remnant

of the nations, those that escape and are left after the world -wide

destruction of the time of the end, and that these too have a place in the

day of the Lord.  The prophet Zechariah speaks of both of these remnants in

the closing chapters of his prophecy.

The Remnant of Israel.  `And it shall come to pass, that in all the

land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but

the third shall be left therein.  And I will bring the third part

through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will

try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear

them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The Lord is my

God' (Zech. 13:8,9).

`In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in

confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.  But ye said, No;

for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will

ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift'

(Isa. 30:15,16).

Again, what an evangel is contained in the three words `Mighty to save'

(Isa. 63:1).  The context however speaks of One coming from Edom, with dyed