D21.04.95.htm

DO YOU KNOW WHO THE PEOPLE
DESCRIBED IN ISAIAH 60:14,15 ARE?

These are people described as having "nobody passing through" (unvisited), who shall be "left entirely (deserted) and hated", but to whom the sons of those that had been afflicting and oppressing them will bow down. (Isaiah 60:14,15 NWT & NEB). Let us try to find out who they might be.

Could they have been The Christ and his disciples? Well no, because they had many people "passing through" (converted to the true faith). Besides, they were not "unvisited" or "left entirely". The Jews perhaps? Or some religious organization? No, for they all have people "passing through" in their thousands, either joining them or leaving them. The people we are considering are called Forsaken and Desolate. (62:4 NEB). The adjectives used to describe them, eliminates those not deemed by Jehovah to be His "Holy People, the Ransomed of the Lord, a People long-sought, a City not forsaken". (62:12 NEB).

So, as the people we are looking for have been "left entirely and hated", they could not be those belonging to any sectarian organization. Furthermore, they would be people who have been afflicted and oppressed, reviled and treated disrespectfully. (60:14 NWT & NEB). They have even been struck with the indignation of God. (60:10).

Concerning them it is written: "Your people shall all be righteous and shall for ever possess the land, a shoot of My own planting, a work of My own hands to bring Me glory. The few shall become ten thousand, the little nation great." (60:21,22 NEB). Whoever they are, their sons shall be brought from afar to the honour of Jehovah the Holy One of Israel, bringing glory to His holy sanctuary and the place appointed as His footstool on earth. (60:9,13 NEB). Can you think of anyone who has been treated disrespectfully and hated, afflicted and oppressed, left entirely with nobody passing through, and struck with the indignation of God?

WHOEVER "REFUSES TO SERVE YOU SHALL PERISH". (60:12 NEB).
Who they are is described in Hebrews 12:22-24: "No, you stand before Mount Zion and the City of the Living God, heavenly Jerusalem, before myriads of angels, the full concourse and assembly of the first-born citizens of heaven, and God the Judge of all, and the spirits of good men made perfect, and Jesus the mediator of a new covenant". (Heb 12:22-24 NEB). These "first-born citizens of heaven" are 144,000 Spirit anointed sons of God ransomed from every nation by The Christ to be a Kingdom of priests to our God commissioned to reconcile mankind to Jehovah the Holy One of Israel. (Rev 5:9,10. Isaiah 61:6). "They shall call you the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel." (60:14 NEB).

"And they must rebuild the long-standing devastated places; they will raise up even the desolated places of former times, and they will certainly make anew the devastated cities, the places desolate for generation after generation." (61:4).

When will all this take place? The answer: "Soon, in the fullness of time, I will bring this to pass". "I Myself, Jehovah, shall speed it up in its own time." (60:22 NEB & NWT). The "fullness of time" is at the end of the "Esau" age and the commencement of the "Jacob" age on earth. This prophecy is yet to be fulfilled. (2 Esdras 6:7-10 NEB).

(Cont. on Page 16/8/95).

21/4/95.