(Cont. from Page 24/5/01A).
 

The New English Bible translation of Isaiah 61:4 has greater precision than the New World Translation, and reads: "Ancient ruins shall be rebuilt and sites long desolate restored; they shall repair the ruined cities and restore what has long lain desolate." (NEB). The words "ancient ruins shall be rebuilt" signifies a re establishment of what used to be.

But the New World Translation reads: "they must build the long-standing devastated places", and wrongly implies building in previously uninhabited places such as wildernesses, swamplands, deserts, etc. That Jehovah may be glorified, His Will is for His anointed priests in heaven to restore spiritually desolated people on earth by His Spirit;  people descended from the  generations of "former times". (61:4).  It begins with the "small one" who "in the fullness of time" shall become a "mighty nation". Jehovah "will bring this to pass".  (60:22 NWT & NEB).

That the intended spiritual meaning of the prophecy refers to people and not places is borne out by Isaiah 61:8,9 (NEB): "For I, the Lord, love justice and hate robbery and wrong doing; I will grant them a sure reward and make an everlasting covenant with them;  their posterity will be renowned among the nations and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them will acknowledge in them a race whom the Lord has blessed."

As to the vision of the woman distressed over the loss of her son on Page 24/5/01A, she represents "Zion"     spiritual "Jerusalem". The fulfilment of the prophecy described in 2 Esdras 10:38-54 (NEB) is but a shadow of the reality of the restoration of "Zion" described in verses 25-27. When anointed members of "Zion" completed their testimony on earth, satan's political "wild beast" then went on to "defeat and kill" them.  (Rev 11:7  11 NEB).  But when faithful anointed ones are resurrected to heavenly life, spiritual "Jerusalem" will be restored, and will be the heavenly government of God over all the earth.  (Rev 20:4-6).

The dream/vision described on Page 24/5/01A is an indication of the closeness of the restoration of spiritual "Jerusalem".

24/5/01B.
 

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