Ok. We see things differently so there is no use discussing it further. My only point is who is “they” in “they shall rebuild the old ruins”?
If you read OT prophets. and there are many of them
they is Israel.
Israel is the only ones that had their cities and sanctuaries destroyed because of their sin. and God promised, if they repent he will rebuild them
To me “they” is his disciples and Paul who spoke constantly that the NT is “edification” and “rebuilding” …and I also think we disagree over what “the ruins” are that are being build up through and by the edification of Christ.
again, That is not what the prophet said.. I could not prove that prophecy was fulfilled by using this as a spiritul interpretation.
plus the disciples did not rebuild anything, they built something new.. The church.
Again, Here is just a few prophecies concerning the restoration of Israel and the rebuilding of the ruins and cities which were destroyed because of her sin
Isaiah 61:4
And
they shall rebuild the old ruins, They
shall raise up the former desolations, And
they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of
many generations.
ez 36: 6 “Therefore prophesy
concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains, the hills, the rivers, and the valleys, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy and My fury, because you have borne the shame of the nations.” 7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “I have raised My hand in an oath that surely the nations that
are around you shall bear their own shame. 8 But
you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come. 9 For indeed
I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. 10 I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11
I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and [d]bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. 12 Yes, I will cause men to walk on you,
My people Israel; they shall take possession of you, and you shall be their inheritance; no more shall you bereave them of children.”
Amos 9:
“On that day I
will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And epair its damages; I will
raise up its ruins,
And
rebuild it as in the days of old;
12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom,[
k] And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,” Says the Lord who does this thing.
13 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; The mountains shall drip with sweet wine, And all the hills shall flow
with it.
14
I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. 15
I will plant them in their land, And no longer shall they be pulled up From the land I have given them,” Says the Lord your God.
Ezek 37: 21 “Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “
Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22 and
I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. 23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I
will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
And I think we disagree at who are “that they be trees of Righteousness” because (Imo) it moves on past the “pause” where He stopped off reading and on to “the comfort” “joy” “garment of praise” parts where it speaks of “trees of Righteousness planted of the Lord” and the “Fruits” those trees yield. Paul spoke continually on “that you bear fruit” it was his hope in the Lord that the Righteous -Life (Christ)in them bears Fruit. If we say He stopped there and shut the book because it is future yet still …to me we miss the disciples and Paul saying they were build up what had been ruined and wasted, those old waste places they were building up against through the power given of God for edification of His habitation. Which power came by the Holy Spirit sent and returned for edification and the work of building. (For Edification) of His body.
He stopped here
And the day of vengeance of our God.....
Everything in the prophecy after these words concern the day of vengeance.
When did that day, or hour, or time occur
That is where I’m stuck …what do you say is ruined or wasted that is said to be built up, raised up again ANew in Him?
God told Israel if they sinned against him, he would make their land and cities a waste land.
Lev 26:
27 ‘And after all this, if you do not obey Me, but walk contrary to Me,
28 then I also will walk contrary to you in fury;
and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
29 You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters.
30
I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and cast your carcasses on the lifeless forms of your idols;
and My soul shall abhor you.
31
I will lay your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries to desolation, and I will not smell the fragrance of your sweet aromas.
32
I will bring the land to desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it shall be astonished at it.
33
I will scatter you among the nations and draw out a sword after you;
your land shall be desolate and your cities waste.
This happened three times
1. When Assyria laid the northern kingdom to waste (2 kings 17)
2. Babylon (see daniel 1)
3. Rome - as we know in 70 AD.