I N D E X
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Amos, with all his denunciations, does not finish without the promise of restoration:
`And I will bring again the captivity of My people of Israel ... and I will plant them upon their land' (Amos
9:14,15).
Micah 2:12 reads: `I will surely gather the remnant of Israel', and although one more strong denunciation is
made against Israel's sin, yet Micah concludes with the pardoning love of God, and says:
`He will turn again ... Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which Thou hast sworn
unto our fathers from the days of old' (Micah 7:19,20).
Zephaniah says:
`I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your
eyes, saith the LORD' (Zeph. 3:20).
Haggai must be read through to catch the spirit of the closing verses.
Zechariah simply burns with the spirit of restoration; so complete will be the redemption of the people, so holy
will that kingdom be, that he can say:
`In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD ... yea, every pot in
Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts' (Zech. 14:20,21).
Malachi concludes with the promise of the sending of Elijah before the coming of the great and dreadful day of
the Lord. Speaking of John the Baptist, the Lord said to His disciples, `If ye will receive (it), this is Elias (Elijah)
which was for to come' (Matt. 11:14).
Do we still wonder that the apostles, remembering with divinely opened understanding all the Lord's teaching,
and all the teaching of the Old Testament, should say, `Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to
Israel?'
It is impossible here to pursue the theme. He who would know something of the full import and bearing of the
matter must search the whole of the Prophets and Psalms, together with much of the Law. So far as our present
study is concerned we must be satisfied to awaken the already interested reader to further enquiry. Those who
already know the subject will agree as to the fulness of the Scriptures on the theme.
Let us now pass on from the Old Testament to the additional evidence which the words of the Lord Jesus
(spoken during His ministry in the hearing of the apostles, and intended for their instruction) constitute.
CHAPTER 4
The Lord's own teaching concerning the restoration of the kingdom to Israel
The genealogy with which the Gospel according to Matthew opens establishes the fact that Christ is the Son of
David and Heir to his throne. The annunciation of Gabriel to Mary is occupied mainly with the kingly aspect of the
incarnation:
`He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the THRONE
of His father DAVID: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever (the ages); and of His kingdom there
shall be no end' (Luke 1:32,33).
The prophecy of Zacharias at the birth of John the Baptist, speaks of deliverance from the hand of enemies, and
the fulfilment of covenant and oath sworn to Abraham and the fathers (Luke 1:68-79).
The birthplace, Bethlehem, is chiefly associated with kingship: