Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/65

 Gentiles" (Isa. 49:6; Luke 2:32); that the Gentiles should come to him "from the ends of the earth " ( Jer. 1 6 : 19}; that his name ' ' shall be great among the Gentiles ' ' (Mai. i : n) ; and that " the glory of the Lord shall be re- vealed and all flesh shall see it together." Isa. 40:5. See also Isa. 42 : 1-7.

The New Testament writers claim a divine anointing which enabled them to realize the fulfilment of the proph- ecies concerning the sacrifice of Christ. They, though preju- diced as Jews to think of every blessing as limited to their own people (Acts n : 1-18), were enabled to see that while their nation would be blessed, all the families of the earth should be blessed also, with and through them. They saw also that, before the blessing of either Israel or the world, a selection would be made of a "little flock" from both Jews and Gentiles, who, being tried, would be found worthy to be made joint-heirs of the glory and honor of the Great Deliverer, and sharers with him of the honor of blessing Israel and all the nations. Rom. 8:17.

These writers point out the harmony of this view with what is written in the Law and the Prophets ; and the grand- eur and breadth of the plan they present more than meets the most exalted conception of what it purports to be
 * * Good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people. ' '

The thought of Messiah as a ruler of not only Israel, but also of the world, suggested in the books of Moss, is the theme of all the prophets. The thought of the kingdom was uppermost also in the teaching of the apostles ; and Jesus taught that we should pray, "Thy Kingdom come/' and promised those a share in it who would first suffer for the truth, and thus prove themselves worthy.

This hope of the coming glorious kingdom gave all the faithful ones courage to endure persecution and to suffer reproach, deprivation and loss, even unto death. And in

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