advents, and that it is " this same Jesus " who was born of a Jewish virgin, and who minutely fulfilled the things written in the scroll of the book, in reference to Messiah's sufferings and atoning death, who shall " so and in like manner " come again that is, literally, visibly, bodily to the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and in the clouds of heaven, even as the disciples saw Him go up into heaven.
And this is the hope, not only of the Church, which is His body, consisting of the whole blessed company of the redeemed, whether those who through the ages have fallen asleep in Him, or those who shall be alive and remain till the day of His appearing, who shall only be perfected together " in that day," but of Israel and the nations; for then Israel's long night of weeping shall end the true " King," even Jehovah Jesus, shall be " in the midst of them," and the many great and precious promises in refer ence to Messiah's reign, and the time of peace and blessed ness for this earth, shall be fulfilled.
One great and blessed consequence of His judgments which shall then be abroad in the earth, and of His coming to dwell in the midst of Zion, is that the original purpose of God in the call and election of Abraham and his seed namely, that in them all the families of the earth shall be blessed shall be fulfilled: "And many nations shall join themselves unto Jehovah in that day, and shall be My people; and I will dwell in the midst of thee; and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent Me unto thee." Yes, when the Lord in His mercy shall rebuild Zion, and appear in His glory, " then the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, and all the kings of the earth His glory" (Ps. cii. 13-22). And not only shall they fear Him, but they shall willingly "join themselves unto Him" the word being the same as that used of the " son of the stranger" who shall "join him self" to the Lord " to serve Him, and to love the name of Jehovah " (Isa. Ivi. 3-6); and of Israel themselves, who in that day " shall join themselves to Jehovah in a perpetual covenant which shall not be forgotten" (Jer. 1. 4, 5).
