Gathering the Gentiles to Israel
Jesus said: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd.” John 10: 16. This is exactly the same thing that is stated in Isa. 56: 8. “The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.” And this also is the same thing that was stated by James at the meeting of the apostles and elders in Jerusalem: “Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and will set it up: that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” Acts 15: 14-18. The Lord is the same from the beginning, and his works are always the same. He works no differently in the closing part of the gospel from what he did in the beginning. He called Abraham when he was but one (Isa. 51: 2), and took him from among the heathen. Joshua 24: 2, 3. All along in the history of Israel he kept adding to them from among the heathen, as in the case of the harlot Rahab, and Ruth the Moabitess, both of whom are among the ancestors of Christ after the flesh. God also sent prophets to the Gentiles, as in the case of Jonah, warning them to10repent; and one prophet, Jeremiah, was even before his birth ordained to be a prophet to the Gentiles. See Jer. 1: 5, where the word “nations” is exactly the same that is rendered elsewhere “heathen” or “Gentiles.” In the Bible, “nations,” “heathen,” and “Gentiles,” are all the same. Israel was begun by the calling of one from among the heathen; it was built up by the calling of others, in spite of the prejudices of those who did not understand the plan of the Lord, and who wished to make him as exclusive as they were; and the promise still is, “Yet will I gather others to Israel, to those of Israel who are already gathered.” And when all have been gathered out, through the preaching of the gospel, there will then be but one nation in all the earth; for the word of the Lord is, “The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish.” Isa. 60: 12. “And the Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name One.” Zech. 14: 9. The people who are thus gathered to Israel will all be Sabbath-keepers. The characteristic of that nation will be that every individual will keep the truth, the law of God. It will be established in righteousness. Isa. 54: 14. Of those who obey the message, “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters,” it is said, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14: 12. Who will accept the whole gospel, and not be content with man’s perversion of it? — Present Truth.