Pay heed, you distant peoples

Isaiah 49:1-13 Listen to Me, you coasts and islands, pay heed, you peoples far distant. The Lord called and named me [Isaiah = the Lord has saved] before I was born. He made me His spokesman. My reward is to be with God.
The Lord said: Israel are My servants, through whom I shall win glory. My task for you is to bring back Jacob to the Lord, so that Israel will be gathered again to God. Is it not too simple a task for you, to restore the 12 tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel? They will be a light to the nations, so that My salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
The Redeemer and Holy One of Israel says: You were once despised and in subjection, but the Lord has chosen you and kings will honour you. In the time of My favour, I will answer you and will help you on the Day of Deliverance. I have formed you and destined you to be a light for the peoples, restoring the Land and living once more in its desolate places.
I say to the captives: go free – to those in darkness: [exile] come out. Everywhere there will be pasture, water in plenty. It will not be too hot, for the One who loves them will guide them along highways and level paths. They are coming – some from far away, the North, West and the lands of the South. Shout for joy, you heavens, earth rejoice, burst into song you mountains. For the Lord has comforted His people and has compassion on them in their distress.
Isaiah 49:14-23 The Lord says: I shall never forget My Land or My people, they are always before Me. I did indeed raze the Land and destroy your oppressors, but now all Israel is flocking back to their heritage, brought back by the nations in honour and reverence. You will know that I, your God has done this and none who trust in Me will be disappointed. Reference: REB, NIV, KJV. Verses abridged.

‘His spokesman’, Isaiah reveals what is to be, the secret of things to come. He prophesies the ‘restoration the 12 tribes of Jacob and the return of the survivors; His servants, through whom He will win glory’. The survivors are those who the Lord has protected during His fire judgement of the nations. The great and terrible Day of the Lord’s vengeance and wrath ‘will raze all the holy Land and destroy the oppressors’. Psalm 83, Rev. 6:12-17
Almost all of the Book of Isaiah, relates to the restoration of the Israelites to the Promised Land. The Lord’s people are destined to be a ‘light to the nations’ and spread the gospel around the world. The Lord will answer their prayers for help on the Day of Deliverance. Isa 30:26, Isa 63:4, Zechariah 9:14-17. “pay heed you peoples far distant’ the Israelites, all of His righteous people, still scattered around the world. Some of Judah have returned to a part of the Land. All righteous Israelites will ‘come from far distant places, from all directions’, and settle in the new country of Beulah. Isaiah 62:1-5 ‘ALL who trust in the Lord will not be disappointed’. Israelites include all who trust God and ‘call out to Him’. Joel 2:32, Revelation 7:14
‘It will not be too hot’ and they will be guided and their needs provided for. Psalm 107 They will ‘restore the Land and buildings’, and live there in safety and prosperity, Hosea 2:14-23, Ezekiel 36:8-12, ‘so that My salvation may reach the ends of the earth’. This will be achieved by the 144,000 - 12,000 selected from each tribe, who will go out in pairs to preach the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of Jesus. ‘Israel, you are My servants, through whom I shall win glory.’ Revelation 14:1-7, Isaiah 66:19
No mention is made of the Millennium reign of Jesus and ‘ you will know that I your God has done this’, proves that Jesus is not physically present as yet, therefore this restoration of Israel is before that event. All this is in order for His people: righteous Israel, to fulfil their destiny, to fulfil the promises made to the Patriarchs, and to prepare for the Return of Jesus. It is them who say “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord”, at the Return.

No Jack, the Bible is clear- physical righteous Israel will go back to their heritage as so many prophesies tell us. Isaiah 11:11-12, Isaiah 62:1-5, Ezekiel 36, Jeremiah 31, Hosea 14:4-7, Joel 2:21-27, Amos 9:13-15, Micah 7:11-12, Nahum 2:1, Zephaniah 3:20, Zechariah 8:1-8 and many others that confirm the great Second Exodus of all Israelites, be they true descendants of Jacob or grafted in. Rev 7:9 proves this will happen BEFORE the Return.

BTW don't excuse yourself because of age, I'm 72, we GAIN knowledge and understanding!

In order for God to fulfil His unconditional promises to the Patriarchs, He must restore the true descendants of Jacob. However they will be judged and those who revolt and rebel will not go back to the holy Land. Ezekiel 20:34-38
The great chapter of Ezekiel 37, tells of the rejoining of Judah and the Northern tribes of Israel and their spiritual regeneration at that time.
Also, as you point out, those gentile faithful believers will be grafted into Israel. Confirmed by the 'peoples of every tribe, nation and language' gathered in Jerusalem after the Sixth Seal Day of the Lord's wrath. Rev. 7:9

Thank you for your caring and response!

Since from waaay back always had a special agape for Ezek, eg, Ezek.37, especially my conclusion of vs. 15-28 which Rom.4:9-13 expounds upon. Paul teaches my conclusion again in Romans. He foretells to Israel, hardened in unbief, its eventual restoration and blessdedness; when he explains in Rom.4:9-13 that to Abraham or his seed the promise tht he was to be the heir of the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness of the faith, which Abrahm had when still uncircumcised,that he might becme a father of all those who believe, though they be not circumcised,and a father of the circumcision, not just of those who are of the circumcision, but of those also who walk in the footsteps of his faith.

Old Jack

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All what you say is correct and scriptural.
But what most don't realize, is the Northern ten tribes of the House of Israel are still scattered among the nations. To say they have already rejoined with Judah is frankly ridiculous as what will happen when they do, Ezekiel 37:20-27, plus the great spiritual regeneration of Ezekiel 37:1-14, is patently not fulfilled as yet.
It is well proven that the ten tribes, taken to the Caucasus region of Assyria, migrated westward and are now known as Caucasian people. It is them, [us] who have embraced Christianity and to whom the promises of God to His people pertain.
So it will be righteous Israelites who will gather and live in all of the holy Land, soon after the next prophesied event; the Sixth Seal, Psalm 83 destruction of those attackers of Israel.

Your sins are as scarlet- they may yet be as white as snow.

Isaiah 1:2, 16-21 Give ear, you heavens and earth - for it is the Lord who speaks; I reared children, but they have rebelled against Me. Now, put away your evil deeds, learn to do good, pursue justice and protect the oppressed.
Come, let us argue this out, says the Lord. Though your sins are as scarlet, they may yet be white as snow. If you are willing to obey, you will have the best that the earth yields, but if you refuse and rebel, then the sword will devour you.
How the faithful people have played the harlot! Your glory has turned to ashes. Your rulers are rebels, associates of thieves, taking bribes and denying people’s rights.

Isaiah 1:24-31 This, therefore, is the Word of the Lord, the Mighty One of Israel: Now I will get relief from My foes and avenge Myself on My enemies. Once again I shall act against you to refine you of your impurities. Rebels and sinners alike will be broken and those who forsake the Lord will perish. Your idols will turn out to be false and worthless. You will be like a tree with falling leaves, like a waterless garden. The strongest person and their works will flare up and burn with no one to quench the fire.
I shall make your judges and councillors as they once were. Then you will be called the place of the Righteous, the Faithfull people. The Land of Israel will be redeemed with justice and her returning people by righteousness.
Reference: Revised English Bible, some verses abridged.


“though your sins be as scarlet” : Israel is indicted for their faithlessness. Jer.4:22, Jer. 3:10-11&25, Isaiah 59:12-14
“they may yet be as white as the snow”: There is the hope that although our sins are piled high, we can be cleansed – if we are willing to obey the Lords commandments and Laws and have faith in Him, then He will reward us with great blessings. Psalm 40:1-5, Psalm 80:14-19, Isaiah 45:22-25, Romans 5:6-11, Titus 3:3-6
“ Once again I shall act – if you refuse and rebel, you will die” This refers to the Day of the Lord’s vengeance – the next prophesied event, when the Lord’s enemies are punished. Deuteronomy 32:41, Isaiah 66:15-16, Habakkuk 3:12, Malachi 4:1
All Israel will be judged on that Day as well, 1 Peter 4:17-18, Isaiah 35:4, Jeremiah 6:9-15 The Lord’s people will be tested and refined, those who refuse to acknowledge the Lord will die. Ezekiel 20:38, Hosea 7:1, 1 Cor. 3:12-15, Romans 1:28-32
“ungodly people and their works will burn to ashes”, On the Day of the Lord’s wrath, fire from the sky will destroy His enemies – a CME sunstrike. Isaiah 30:26,Malachi 4:1&3
“I will give you wise leaders”: The leaders of His people, in the new nation of Beulah, Isaiah 62:1-5 – resettled in the Land, will be wise and just as in ancient Israel. Daniel 12:10, Daniel 11:33, Ezekiel 39:25-29, Isaiah 32:15-20, Jeremiah 3:15, Jeremiah 30:21

Jeremiah 6:8-15 Be instructed, Jerusalem [Judah], or your God will depart from you and will devastate the Land. Isaiah 22:11-14
The Lord says: Glean like a vine the remnant of Israel, one last time, like the vine dresser – pass your hand over the branches. Isaiah 5:5-7
To whom shall I speak and give warning? Who will hear me? Their ears are blocked, they are incapable of listening. They treat the Lord’s Word as a reproach, it has no appeal for them. Ezekiel 14:2&10, Ezekiel 22:26-28
But I am full of the anger of the Lord, I cannot hold it back. Isaiah 63:1-6 I must pour it out onto all the people of the Land. Their houses will be given to others.
For all the leaders and people only consider themselves, their prophets and Rabbis are all frauds, every one of them. They fail to address the real problems of their people. They say: “All is well”. All well? Nothing is right and just. They ought to be ashamed because of their sinful practices, yet they have no sense of shame, therefore they will fall with a great crash and be brought low on the Day of My reckoning. Jeremiah 8:8, Ezekiel 33:25-26, Isaiah 6:11-13

Jeremiah 6:16-30 The Lord says: you should enquire about the Way that leads to righteousness. But they said: “We refuse”. Then I appointed watchmen – listen for the call they told them. But they said: “We refuse”. Therefore hear you nations and take note of the plight of these people. I am about to bring ruin upon them, for all their sinful ways and ignoring My instructions. Your sacrifices are not acceptable and your offerings do not please Me. Isaiah 22:14, Zephaniah 1:4-6, Matthew 24:41-42
Therefore the Lord says: I will set obstacles before this people, which will bring them to the ground, father, sons, friends and neighbours will all perish together. Jeremiah 12:14-17 A great host appears, like men arrayed for battle, against you; Zion.
News of their coming has reached us and our hands hang limp, agony grips us, pangs as of a woman in labour. Do not go outside, for the foe will smite you there, as terror is spread around the world. Mourn and wail as the despoiler comes upon us in an instant. Isaiah 10:17, Isaiah 29:5-6, Zech. 3:9
It is appointed to assay My people, testing their conduct, but they are all rebels, mischief makers and corrupt to a man. The bellows blow, the fire is ready. All types of metal in vain the refiner refines, but the impurities cannot be removed. Call them reject silver, for God has rejected them. Matthew 21:43 Ref: REB.

All of this prophecy in Jeremiah is telling us about the coming judgement/punishment by fire– the Lord’s Day of vengeance and wrath. This terrifying event will affect all the world, but especially the Middle East and all this prophecy applies specifically to Judah, the current inhabitants of part of the holy Land. Jeremiah 12:14, Ezekiel 20:46-48, Ezekiel 21:1-17
‘a great host appears, like men ready for battle’ This description, along with Joel 2:1-11, is an allegory of what will happen. These verses say how the Lord will act on His great Day of vengeance and wrath: Isaiah 63:1-6, Rev 6:12-17 A coronal mass ejection flash will ‘come in an instant’, seen in eight minutes, Isaiah 30:26, but the main mass of superheated hydrogen will take about 24 hours to travel to earth and ‘news of its coming will reach us’. ‘Do not go outside’, is obvious – get into shelter and stay there until it passes, Isaiah 26:20-21, ‘as terror is spread around the world,’ for at least 24hrs. Psalm 18:7-15, Isaiah 2:12-21, Zeph. 1:14-18, 2 Peter 3:7&10 Their houses will be given to others’. Ps. 69:33-36

God Protects His Treasure
Zephaniah 1:2-13 The Lord will consume and get rid of humans and all living things from the Land. The wicked will be brought to their knees. Ezekiel 20:47-48 & 30:1-5, Jer. 30:23-24
Judah will be judged and those who have neither sought the Lord nor enquired of Him will be cut off. Ezekiel 21:3, Isaiah 22:14, Zechariah 13:8-9, Jeremiah 12:14
Be silent before the Lord, for the Day of vengeance is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice and set apart those He has invited. Isaiah 66:15-16, Malachi 4:1, Rev. 6:12-17
I shall punish all you leaders and officers on the Day of the Lord’s sacrifice. Cry and wail, you merchants and dealers, all who fill their lord’s house with violence and fraud, you will be destroyed on that Day of distress, desolation, darkness and death. Jeremiah 13:19-27.
I shall search for all those complacent people, those who say the Lord will do nothing. They will build and plant, but all will be destroyed. Jeremiah 12:4+12-17, 2 Peter 3:3-4
Zephaniah 1:14-18 The Great Day of the Lord’s wrath is near, a Day of destruction and battle cries. Great distress will come on the peoples who have sinned against the Lord; their blood will pour out on the ground. Their wealth will not save them, for He will make a sudden and terrible end to all who live in the Land. Isaiah 2:12-22, Habakkuk 3:12-14, Joel 2:1-11
Zephaniah 2:1-15 Humble yourselves, you shameful nation, before the Day arrives, before the burning anger of the Lord comes upon you. Jeremiah 6:8, Jer. 8:5-12, Matthew 21:41-43
Seek the Lord, all you who live humbly, obeying His laws. It may be that you will be sheltered on the Day of the Lord’s anger. Isaiah 31:5, Micah 5:1, Revelation 6:12-17.
Gaza will be deserted, woe to all you Philistines, at midday I shall crush you – your land will belong to the survivors of Judah. Amos 1:6-8, Ezekiel 25:15-17, Obadiah 19-21.
I have heard the insults of the Ammonites, those who revile against My people. Moab and Ammon will become a wasteland for evermore and the remnant of My people who survive will dispossess them. Ezekiel 25:1-11, Jeremiah 9:25-26. Because, they [the Ammonites, i.e. Jordanians] have insulted My people and encroached on their Land, I will bring terror upon them. Jer. 12:14, Amos 1:13-15, Ezekiel 21:28-32, Jeremiah 49:1-27.
You Cushites will be slain by the Sword of the Lord. Psalm 83, Jer. 49:28-33. [Cush, a son of Ham; the African peoples] Syria and Iraq will be devastated, becoming a wasteland, all who pass by will scoff at her fate. Isaiah 17:1, Isaiah 33:10-12, Nahum 3:18-19. Then the nations of the coasts and islands will worship the Lord. Isaiah 49:1-6, Isaiah 66:18b-21
Zephaniah 3:1-8 Woe betide that tyrant city, filthy and foul. [Jerusalem] She heeded no warning and refused to trust the Lord. Her leaders were as wolves and lions. Her prophets are treacherous men and her Rabbis do violence to the Law. Ezekiel 14:21-23, Jeremiah 8:8
Yet every day, the Lord dispenses justice, but the evildoer knows no shame. Matt 23:25
I have wiped out this arrogant people, their cities are abandoned. Isaiah 22:14., Ezekiel 21:4
I said surely they will fear Me and accept correction, that they would escape destruction, but no, they eagerly continued in their evil ways. Isaiah 22:11, Ezekiel 16:59
Therefore, says the Lord, wait for the Day when I accuse you. I will gather nations in order to pour My wrath upon them. The whole earth will know the fire of My jealousy. Hab. 3:12, Jeremiah 8:3, Hebrews 10:27, Romans 1:18
Zephaniah 3:9-20 Then I shall restore pure lips to all peoples. So that everyone may call on the Name of the Lord and serve Him with one accord. Hosea 2:14-23, Isaiah 52:6.
My worshippers, from distant places will bring their offering to Me. Isaiah 66:20-21
On that Day, Jerusalem, you will not be shamed because I will have rid you of your proud and arrogant citizens. Isaiah 65:11-12, Isaiah 65:1-7
Only a remnant of lowly and humble people will survive. They will be righteous and nothing will make them afraid. Isaiah 14:1, Malachi 3:17, Matthew 13:44
Shout for joy, Israel, your punishment is over, your enemies defeated. Isaiah 35:1-10
The Lord is now in your midst, He will show His love for you. Isaiah 41:8-10, Psalm 118.
When that time comes, I will deal with your oppressors. I shall gather you and bring you all home. Ezekiel 34:11-16, Isaiah 65:8-9.Jeremiah 16:14-16
You will have honour and praise among all the peoples when I restore your fortunes before your eyes. It is the Lord who speaks. Jeremiah 33:6-9, 2 Esdras 1:35-40, 2 Esdras 2:12-28. Ref: Revised English Bible. Verses abridged.

‘God has Kept His Treasure’: Zephaniah’s name in Hebrew = God hides in order to protect, also means God is a vigilant watch keeper. Zephaniah was a prophet at the time of King Josiah, circa 620 BCE, 100 years after the exile of the House of Israel. God will keep His people safe. Amos 9:9, Jer. 31:36, Isaiah 49:15-16, Matt. 13:44
‘The Great Day of the Lord’s vengeance and wrath is near’: This is the next prophesied event that we can expect to happen. It will be an earth directed blast of fire from the sun, as Isaiah 30:26a, 2 Peter 3:7 and Malachi 4:1 informs us. It will literally fulfill all the graphic prophesies about that Day. The results of that terrible Day will be: ‘a sudden and terrible end to all who live in the holy Land, Palestinians, Arabs, Africans and the proud and arrogant citizens of Judah will all die by this sword of the Lord’s judgement’. Jeremiah 11:16, Ezekiel 21:3, Ezekiel 30:1-5 ‘The whole earth will know the fire of My wrath’, a worldwide devastation, that will destroy most of our modern infrastructure and kill millions. Jer. 25:33, Isaiah 34:6, 2 Peter 3:10, Rev. 6:12-17
‘When that time comes, I will deal with your enemies’ : It is foolish to speculate about another conventional war or a nuclear exchange in the Middle East, as the prophetic truth confirms how the Lord Himself will instigate His fiery wrath against those attackers of Israel. Psalm 83, Psalm 18:7-15, Isaiah 22:1-14, Jeremiah 49:35-37
But those ‘who live humbly, obeying His Laws, may be sheltered on that Day’. Nahum 1:7, Psalm 50:3-6, Daniel 12:1 Then: ‘I will gather you and bring you all home’. Psalm 107, Hosea 2:23, Zech. 10:8-10 This will be the great Second Exodus of the Lord’s people, back to a regenerated Land; all of that area promised to Abraham, Genesis 15:18 but never as yet fully owned by His chosen people. Their right of ownership will be proven when the title deed buried by Jeremiah 32:14, is found.
‘Then the nations of the coasts and islands will worship the Lord’ : This makes it clear that all Israel is far more than just the Jews. Isaiah 49:12 They are coming from far away, some from the North and the West and some from the South. The true, righteous Israelites are now mostly living on islands or in countries with extensive coastlines and in places to the North, West and South of the holy Land. Those nations and peoples are the ones with a Christian heritage, but have fallen away in the latter years, although many remain faithful and it will only be those righteous people; ‘My worshippers in distant places’, who will go to live in the new nation of Beulah. Isaiah 62:1-5, Isaiah 60:21-22, Ezekiel 36, Jeremiah 33, Amos 9:13-15, Acts 26:6-7
‘The Lord is now in your midst’. In the same way as He was for the ancient Israelites. 1 Cor. 10:11 This is confirmed by Ezekiel 43:4 – it will be the Shekinah Glory that will enter the new Temple and also the Lord will ‘reveal Himself to the elders and leaders’, in a cloud, like He did for Moses and David. Jer. 30:21, Isaiah 24:23, Acts 7:37-38

All this is prophesied to happen before the end of this age: The world changer of the Sixth Seal devastation, the regeneration and resettlement of all the holy Land, the establishment of a One World Government, the attack by a Northern confederation led by Gog, a seven year treaty signed between Beulah and the Leader of the OWG, then at the mid-point; the Great Tribulation starts and 3½ years later, comes the culmination, the Lord Jesus Returns for His Millennial reign.