Isaiah 49:19, commentary and pictures

The promise is that Zion's ruined and wasted land, her desolate places and land of destruction, will even now become too narrow by reason of its inhabitants, while they that swallowed her up and destroyed and devoured her are removed far away. It is a true and righteous promise by which the Lord comforts His people and has mercy on the afflicted, not a tantalizing or empty raising of hopes. In this it shows part of the way by which Christlike attributes of character may be obtained.

Its crowded waste places are fulfilled when Bible truth is proclaimed in large camp meetings and memorials of God's truth are planted in every place possible. That fulfillment comes through conversions after a hard, constant battle to reach people lost in error and disobedience, including many who oppose self-denial and refuse the Sabbath and ministers who pervert the Scriptures and wrest the Word from its true meaning. Even some who do not take their stand at once help advance the work with their means and with their sympathy, while they that swallowed up God's people are far away.

It foretells the work of presenting the warning message to the world, giving the reasons for belief and using camp meetings to give the information the world desires and has a right to know, with the presentation of truth supported by means. It includes establishing sanitariums in different parts of the world as an educating power to reform the people and restore in them the moral image of God. It brings conversion through knowledge of the Word so that converts use their means and ability to extend the knowledge of the truth. In camp meetings it arouses slumbering senses to see departure from the Lord's ordinances through worldly policy and conformity to worldly principles bringing transgression against the law of God.