Query for Bro. Bates by Joseph Bates

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 29, 1857

Query for Bro. Bates.

By Joseph Bates

IN your late article in Review, in your summary disposition of God's plans, both before and subsequent to the end of the one thousand years' reign, whereabouts are the Lord's promises to "Israel" and "the land of Israel," to be placed or fulfilled, as prophesied in Eze. xxxvi, and Amos ix, 8-15?

Ans. We understand that the Lord's promises to "Israel," and to "the land of Israel," referred to in the texts above named, will all be fulfilled to living Israel, in the commencement of the day of the Lord, previous to the resurrection of the just.

"The day of the Lord" commences before the thousand years of judgment, [Isa. xiii, 9; Zech. xiv, 1, 2; 1 Thess. v. 2, 3,] and continues beyond the thousand years. See Zech. xiv, 8-11; 2 Pet. iii, 10, which compare with Rev. xx, 7-9, 12-15.

God's promises to Israel and the land of Israel in the above named chapter, are, I will gather you, and cleanse you, a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I renew within you. "I will take away the stony heart. . . . and I will put my spirit within you." "And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers." And the desolate land shall be tilled." "And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the renewed places, and plant that that was desolate." Verses 24-38.

By reference to chapters xi, 17-21; xx, 34-44; xxxiv, 25-31; xxxvii, 18-23, 26, you will see that Ezekiel frequently referred to these promises, showing their fulfillment to be at the time of Israel's coming into the land of the covenant of peace, at the time that God puts a "new spirit" within them.

Jeremiah was contemporary with Ezekiel. He prophesies of the same events, pointing to the same time. See chap. xxx, Jacob's trouble. Also xxxi, 1-14, 18-30, 35-40; xxxii, 36-44; xxxiii, 7-26; xxxiv, 4-7.

Amos ix, 8-12, points to the same time, and also harmonizes with the following prophecies in Isaiah. Chap. ii, 1-12, 20-22; xi, 10-16; lxvi, 18-21; lix, 21; also Lam. xi, 27.

The 15th verse of Amos ix, in connection with Ezekiel xxxvi, 12-15, and the first clause of verse 10, will, we believe, be fulfilled in the last end of the day of the Lord, after the resurrection and utter destruction of the unjust. When, as it reads, the land shall devour men no more. The same as Zech. xiv, 11, "And there shall be no more utter destruction."

As Joel's entire prophecy, to the 17th verse of chap. iii, has its fulfillment in the commencement of the day of the Lord, and before the commencement of the thousand years at the resurrection of the just, we will examine part of it in connection with Eze. xxxvi, 24-38; Amos ix, 8-14.

Chap. i, 9-20, points us to the distressing state we are now approaching, of drouth and famine, both for man and beast. Chap. ii, shows a restoring of the land again, and the precious fruits of the land, to man and beast, and afterwards God's Spirit to be poured out on all flesh. "And in the remnant whom the Lord shall call." Then "the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel." Chap. iii, 16.

You see that God calls Israel "his people," and "my people," in this prophecy of Joel, the same as he does in Eze. xxxvi, and Amos ix, 8-14, and shows their gathering and deliverance will be at one and the same time, and also the pouring out of the Spirit on the living saints. At the resurrection of the just, God's people are called, the whole house of Israel. Eze. xxxvii, 11, 12.

Joel is also in harmony with Eze. that the desolate land becomes as the garden of Eden.

We are therefore taught most clearly in the foregoing, as we are in other prophecies, that the gathering, deliverance, and the pouring out of God's Spirit on Israel, is all at one and the same time, and includes all the living saints of every name, just prior to the resurrection of the just. See Luke xviii, 7, 8; Zeph. ii, 1-3; Jer. xxx, 7; Dan. xii, 1.

In accordance with the prophecies of Isa. xi, 11, 12; lxvi, 18-21; Zech. xiv, 1-3; Joel iii, 1, 2, 12, many of the remnant of literal Israel, will be gathered and delivered in Jerusalem in Asia, at the battle of the great day of the Lord. At the same time all the Israel of God in every nation will be delivered, and receive the Spirit of God, and afterwards be redeemed from their respective nations with all the righteous dead, at the second appearing of Christ. JOSEPH BATES. Allegan, Allegan Co., Mich., Jan. 2d. 1857. N. B. The above "Query" from Bro. M. Adams of Philadelphia, would have been answered before, if his letter had not miscarried. J. B.