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dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that
which shall not be destroyed."
"The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole
heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High" (Dan. 7: 13, 14, 27).
In Dan. 9: we find the prophet, having read the promise of restoration from the
desolations of Jerusalem, earnestly praying for its fulfillment. He is then instructed that
within a specified time the whole purpose comprising Israel's restoration shall be
accomplished. We do not embark here upon a consideration of Dan. 9:, but, later, some
more pointed references must be made to the chapter.
Daniel is followed in the A.V. by the Minor Prophets, and these are particularly rich in
their testimony concerning Israel's restoration. Hosea takes a wife at the command of
God, and the children which are born are given the following symbolic names:--
JEZREEL (Hos. 1: 4).--The word has two meanings:--
(1) "May God scatter" (Jer. 31: 10, 11).
(2) "May God sow" (Zech. 10: 9).
LO-RUHAMAH (Hos. 1: 6).--"Not having obtained mercy."
LO-AMMI (Hos. 1: 9).--"Not My people."
Yet immediately following these figures of woe come the words of restoration:--
"Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot
be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass that in the place where it was said
unto them, Ye are not My people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the
living God. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered
together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land; for
great shall be the day of Jezreel" (the day of sowing, i.e., the restoration) (Hos. 1: 10, 11).
"I will sow her unto Me (Jezreith) in the earth, and I will have mercy (ruhamah) upon
her that had not obtained mercy (lo-ruhamah); and I will say to them which were not my
people (lo-ammi), Thou art My people (ammi), and they shall say, Thou art my God"
(Hos. 2: 23).
Joel, too, is full of the same blessed promise. First we have utter desolation:--
"That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust
hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the
caterpillar eaten" (Joel 1: 4).
The Jews refer this to Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome, and Jeremiah confirms this
application:--
"Gather against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain
against her, cause the horses to come up, as the rough caterpillars; prepare against her the
nations with the kings of the Medes" (Jer. 51: 27, 28).
But in Joel 2: 25-28 this utter desolation is reversed:--