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| 1 Thus saith Jehovah: The heavens are my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what is the house that ye will build unto me? and what is the place of my rest? |
Heaven is my throne – Symbolic language to show God's all-embracing power and control. OV2:4; R5547:5
God has heaven for his locality, but his power pervades the universe. OV3:1
God is not present in person everywhere. R5547:5
Earth is my footstool – God's footstool. "I will make the place of my feet glorious." (Isa. 60:13) T76; CR113:6; R5364:4, R5060:5; OV351:1
The entire earth is to become like the Garden of Eden. R6013:5, R5839:1
Jehovah used his footstool before sin entered, but has since removed his presence. R286:1
The word "feet" is sometimes used in the Old Testament to represent permanent establishment, or rest. R286:1
Messiah's Kingdom will not only uplift humanity, but will also ring blessings of perfection to the earth. Eden eventually will be made worldwide. R5364:5
The house – The Temple. R2139:4*
All the blessings secured by the Day of Atonement will result from the establishment of God's residence, or sanctuary, amongst men. T76
Place of my rest – Zech. 14:3-5 describes when and how Jehovah will establish his feet or residence. R286:2
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| 2 Even all these things hath my hand made, and all these things have been, saith Jehovah. But to this man will I look: to the afflicted and contrite in spirit, and who trembleth at my word. |
To him that is poor – The aristocracy of the present age will not be the aristocracy of the new dispensation; but the poor in spirit will reign with Christ to bless all the families of the earth. R2139:4*
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| 3 He that slaughtereth an ox, smiteth a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, breaketh a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, it is as swine's blood; he that presenteth a memorial of incense, is as he that blesseth an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations, |
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| 4 I also will choose their calamities, and will bring their fears upon them; because I called, and none answered, I spoke, and they did not hear, but did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I delight not. |
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| 5 Hear the word of Jehovah, ye that tremble at his word: Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let Jehovah be glorified, and let us see your joy! but they shall be ashamed. |
Hear the word – It remains with you, as it did with the man born blind, to keep silence and remain in the church, or confess his presence and be cast out. R213:6, R4150:4
Ye that tremble – You who judge yourselves; you for whom a word or look of reproof is sufficient. E233
Your brethren – False brethren. SM222:1
Applies also to members of our own families who are not in sympathy with the truth. R5172:5
That hated you – Nearly all persecutions that have come to God's people have come from professed Christians, fellow-believers. R5479:3, R5215:5, R214:1; SM222:1; PD13/23
We do not know but that they will go to the extreme in our day-to kill socially, to kill ecclesiastically, perhaps to kill physically. R5479:3
There is in the human heart a treacherous disposition to do evil if only an excuse for it can be found. PD84/97
Those who have persecuted the Royal Priesthood unwittingly will be mercifully dealt with, and be ashamed. R5636:3, R5893:3
Cast you out – Rejected you. R4094:6
Wherever this present light comes, all who accept it are driven out from organized bodies and its opposers are left to themselves. HG73:5
Those who attempt to use their liberty to preach the good news in the synagogues today will either convert whole congregations or awaken storms of opposition. C182
Evidences multiply that the mob spirit, the inquisition spirit, is growing. PD84/97
The present is the assembling to his standard of the "outcasts" of nominal spiritual Israel. (Psa. 147:2-6) R438:2
LORD be glorified – We do this for the Lord's glory. C182; R4150:4, R634:3*, R4524:1, R5215:5; HG502:1
But actually for the good of antichrist; Churchianity; for the cause of error. R438:2, R4094:6; HG557:6; CR351:2
Like Saul of Tarsus, they thought they did God service. PD84/97
He – Christ. R4094:6
Shall appear – "When he shall appear we shall be like him." (1 John 3:2) So, then. our opportunity for revenge will be future, and our revenge will be to do our enemies good. We will do them so much good that they will be thoroughly ashamed of what they are doing against us. R5260:5
To your joy – Every martyr, in proportion to his faithfulness, will receive a crown of life. PD13/23
They shall be ashamed – Those teaching errors, persecuting, slandering, doing evil. R5916:5, R794:5, R5260:4; PD13/23
Already the world, including the Jews, realize that a great mistake was made in persecuting Jesus; and, to some extent, similar transgressions against the faithful followers of Jesus have been recognized. R5215:5
"Some shall come forth to shame and lasting contempt." (Dan. 12:2) This contempt will last until there has been a proper repentance. R5893:3, R5479:3
We should be sympathetic and realize that with our persecutors it is very much as with the Jews of our Lord's day-had they known what they were doing they would have been very much ashamed of their course. R5173:1
Our revenge will come in then-in helping them out of their meanness and hardness of heart to the blessings then to be free to all the willing and obedient. HG502:1
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| 6 A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of Jehovah that rendereth recompence to his enemies! |
A voice of noise – Confusion. R1648:6
From the city – Babylon. R1648:6
A voice – Of truth and warning. R1648:6
From the temple – The true Church, The Christ. R1648:6
Recompence – In the time of trouble. R1649:1
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| 7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child. |
Before she – Nominal Zion. R1649:1, R4454:1, R5574:5
The great composite Christ shall come forth entire, not one member lacking, before Zion's travail has begun. R5574:6
"Watch ye that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all those things coming upon the world." (Luke 21:36) The overcomers escape all the travail of Zion and the wrath of the world. R184:2, R1649:1
Tavailed – At the end of this age, before the burning, the consuming trouble shall come. R5574:5. R1649:1
Deathly anguish, illustrative of the severity of Zion's trouble and its necessity--without it her children cannot all be born, delivered. R183:2
The first three plagues, preceding the seven last, we understand to be the trouble, or travail, of Zion. R183:6
The "winter" time coming when truth and error are both attacking her. R230:5, 1
The ripe wheat of the Gospel Church are to be separated from the tares and glorified before the burning, consuming trouble shall come. R1649:1, R5574:5
She brought forth – "There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer." (Rom. 11:26) R1649:1
This birth began over 1,800 years ago with the resurrection of Christ Jesus. R1649:1, R5574:5, R4454:2
Before her pain – Before the nominal system will be overthrown. R5574:5
Of a man child – The Christ, Head and Body. R1649:1, R230:6, R5574:5; Q116:T, R184:2
Those who obeyed the call, "Come out of her, my people." (Rev. 18:4) R1649:2
Zion brought forth the Lord, the Head of the Church, eighteen centuries ago. R184:4. R4454:2, R361:2, R5574:5
This is the man-child that is to bless all the families of the earth. (Gen. 28:14; Gal 3:16, 29) The birth of the man-child is the first resurrection. R1649:1
As Joseph who became, through great tribulation of a certain kind, the ruler of Egypt--a type of Messiah and his glorious Kingdom. Q116:6
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| 8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Can a land be made to bring forth in one day? shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her sons. |
In one day – The Millennial day--a day of conversions and revivals along the lines of the truth and not along the lines of fear and misrepresentation. D638
A nation – The Church, the Holy Nation. OV184:6, R4454
The nation of Israel. R1595:1
Israel will be that nation: (1) Spiritual Israel, the "Holy Nation"; (2) Fleshly Israel, its earthly representative. D638
Be born at once – Come forth perfect and complete in the first resurrection. R4454:2; OV185:2, OV184:6, 2
Zion – Christendom, Babylon. R1649:1, R183:2, R5574:5
Typified by Sarah, and again by Rachel. R4454:1; Q115:5
Travailed – The anguish of the time of trouble. R1649:2, R183:2, R184:2
Rachel died in giving birth to Benjamin (son of my pain); type of the Great Company. Q115:5; R4454:1, R184:4
Nominal Zion will die in her travail pains, and. in dying, bring forth the Great Company. R5574:5, R1649:4
She brought forth – The travail upon nominal Zion will quickly liberate the true children of God still in her. R1649:5
The Great Company coming up to glory through great tribulation. (Rev. 7:14) R184:2, R1649:2, R5574. 6
Her children – The Great Company, freed from the nominal Church after the deliverance of the Christ company. R1649:2, R4454:2, R5574:6, R184:1, R230:6
As Benjamin became a type of the Great Company class who do not attain to the throne. Q116:T
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| 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith Jehovah; I who cause to bring forth, shall I shut the womb? saith thy God. |
Bring to the birth – Deliver the Head, Christ. R4319:3, R4454:1
Cause to bring forth – The Body, the Seed of the Sarah covenant, in the first resurrection. R4319:3, R4454:1
As surely as the Head was brought forth, so surely shall the Body also. R5574:6, R4454:2, R1649:1, R369:2, R4319:3
It will be the same resurrection Jesus had that you and I are invited to share. "That I may know the power of his resurrection." (Phil. 3:10) CR50:1; R361:2
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| 10 Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all ye that love her; rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn over her: |
Rejoice ye – The birth of Zion, the exaltation of the Body of Christ, will indeed be cause for rejoicing on the part of all people. R1649:4
For, though it will first dash in pieces all their long cherished hopes, it is the dawn of real hope for all the world. R1649:6, R5574:4
With Jerusalem – Following the birth of the Little Flock and the Great Company will come the birth of the Jewish nation. R5574:6
The earthly phase of the Kingdom of God. A297
Zion and Jerusalem used here interchangeably. R1649:4
Rejoice – Fleshly and spiritual Zion will rejoice together. R5574:6
Because of the exaltation of the Body of Christ to Kingdom power and glory. R1649:4
Ye that mourn – That now try to dissuade her from her course. R1649:6
Not seeing the prize at the end of her faithful self-sacrifice. R1649:6
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| 11 because ye shall suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; because ye shall drink out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. |
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| 12 For thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing torrent; and ye shall suck, ye shall be carried upon the side, and be dandled upon the knees. |
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| 13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. |
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| 14 And ye shall see this, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the grass; and the hand of Jehovah shall be known toward his servants, and he will have indignation toward his enemies. |
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| 15 For behold, Jehovah will come with fire, and his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. |
Like a whirlwind – Symbol of the time of trouble. R5863:6
With flames of fire – Judgments, destructive to evil systems and schemes. R1469:6
The fire of God's jealousy, righteous anger. R5863:6
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| 16 For by fire and by his sword will Jehovah enter into judgment with all flesh: and the slain of Jehovah shall be many. |
By his sword – The truth. R1469:6, R775:4
Slain of the LORD – Conquered by the sword of truth. R1469:6
Shall be many – Great Babylon, with all her denominational legions, will be no more. R775:1
But he smites to bless and he wounds to heal. R775:1
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| 17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one in the midst; that eat swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall perish together, saith Jehovah. |
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| 18 And I, --their works and their thoughts are before me. .... The time cometh for the gathering of all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. |
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| 19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow; to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory: and they shall declare my glory among the nations. |
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| 20 And they shall bring all your brethren out of all the nations as an oblation unto Jehovah, upon horses, and in chariots, and in covered waggons, and upon mules, and upon dromedaries, to my holy mountain, to Jerusalem, saith Jehovah, as the children of Israel bring an oblation in a clean vessel into the house of Jehovah. |
Bring all your brethren – The Gentiles helping the Jews in every way to return to their homeland. HG51:4
Israel's deliverance will be accomplished by some concerted project among the nations. R1343:5
In 1909 the Turkish government invited the Jews of Russia and Romania to settle in Turkey, agreeing to remove all restrictions and grant full citizenship to them. R4431:4
Out of all nations – Now is the Lord's time for the long promised deliverance of Israel. R1343:4
Upon swift beasts – Kirkaroth, swaying furnace, a train in rapid motion. A Jewish proverb says correctly, "When the railway reaches Jerusalem, Messiah comes." C264, C272; R615:3
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| 21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith Jehovah. |
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| 22 For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before me, saith Jehovah, so shall your seed and your name remain. |
The new heavens – The new ecclesiastical powers--the Church, elect in glory with Christ. HG612:5
And the new earth – New conditions of human society, the Kingdom of God. R1343:4
The reorganized social arrangement, wholly different from the present. HG612:5
Pointing to a time when they are fully established. R896:4
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| 23 And it shall come to pass from new moon to new moon, and from sabbath to sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, saith Jehovah. |
From one new moon – From month to month. R1733:1
From one sabbath – From week to week. R1733:1
It is possible that in the beginning of the Millennial age that God may restore the Sabbath and various festivals, and even sacrifices, to teach the world by these as object lessons. R1732:6
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| 24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorrence unto all flesh. |
Upon the carcases – Not living creatures. HG304:2
Not of billions alive in flames and torture. R2603:2
The dead bodies will be in evidence--not a roasting of souls. OV167:4; R112:1, R896:1
That have transgressed – The Jews had a custom of refusing usual burial to the very vilest criminals, casting their dead bodies into the Valley of Hinnom with the filth of the city, indicating that they should be esteemed as the offscourings of society and that their memory should rot. HG304:2
Worm shall not die – Not leave the carcass, but complete the work of destruction of whatever is cast into the Valley of Hinnom, symbol of the Second Death. R2603:1, R112:1; Q766:1
No one quenched the fires in the Valley of Hinnom. and those carcasses which lodged upon the rocks and did not reach the fire were consumed by worms without hindrance. HG304:2
There are no immortal worms. R896:1
Fire be quenched – But burn on until all is consumed. R2603:1, R111:6
Utter destruction of the Second Death; figure used by our Lord in Mark 9:48. R896:1
A literal fire which would burn ceaselessly is not conceivable. R896:1
To insure quick destruction and thorough disinfection, brimstone is said to have been freely used. HG304:2
And they – The incorrigible, wilful enemies of righteousness destroyed in the Millennial age. R2603:2, R896:4
An abhorring – All shall see the justice. as well as the wisdom, of the utter destruction of the incorrigible, wilful enemies of right. R896:4
Unto all flesh – Unto all who love righteousness and justice. R2603:2
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