Israel — God's Servant Nation

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Good evening, everyone. It is time to begin the Bible study. We'd like to welcome you to the Bible study this evening. Would you all please stand for the opening prayer.

Almighty Father in Heaven, we bow before Your great throne at Your Feast of Tabernacles. We thank You so much for being able to be here and for all that this feast means for the world as well as for us. And we look forward to that time when this world, which is so weary and so troubled, will have peace and will understand also the purpose of human life.

Father, we thank You very much for now this third day of the feast, which is now beginning. And we thank You for this opportunity to have a Bible study tonight. We ask Your presence here, Your Spirit, to guide and direct the speaking and the hearing so that we can grow and deepen and broaden in our understanding of the Scriptures.

We thank You for Your Spirit that does inspire us all. And we ask Your blessing and Your presence, and thank You in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Well, happy Sabbath to everyone. We hope that Your feast is off to a very good start.

The election year 2016 is one that we will always remember. And we know that Mr. Donald Trump won that the presidency with the slogan, Make America Great Again. M-A-G-A. Will Mr. Trump be able to make America great again?

Tonight's Bible study is going to focus on the future of the United States as well as Great Britain and other of the Israelite nations. And yes, America is going to be great again. It's going to be great in the future, but in a much different way than envisioned by Mr. Trump.

The Bible study title tonight is From Punishment to Destiny. And it is plagiarizing the title of the last chapter of our booklet, The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy. That is the title of the last chapter, From Punishment to Destiny.

This Bible study tonight assumes that most of us are very familiar with the origin of modern Israel. That you know where modern Israel is. I don't mean just the Jewish nation over in the Middle East or the Jewish people, but all 12 tribes of Israel.

And that we know the origin of the United States and Great Britain. Found in our booklet and very well described in the United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy. But just to know where we stand on this, I'd like to give us a very short and quick little quiz. I know you'd be disappointed if I didn't give you a little quiz anyway.

So it will be easy. I think most everyone is going to make 100, I hope. I believe. The answers will be true and false. So would you take out a clean piece of paper or a piece of paper you can just write an answer down for seven very easy questions. Number one, the history of Britain and America's greatness goes back to Genesis and promises to the patriarchs. True or false? Again, the history of Britain and America's greatness goes back to Genesis and promises to the patriarchs. Number two, I'll go through these quickly. God chose the 12 tribes to be a holy nation and to be an example and model to other nations. True or false? God chose the 12 tribes to be a holy nation and be an example and model to other nations. Number three, true or false? Ancient Israel succeeded in being a godly model of God's way to the other nations. Is that true or false? Ancient Israel succeeded in being a godly model of God's way to other nations. Number four, true or false? The 10 northern tribes of Israel went into captivity where they were absorbed into other nations and they ceased to exist as a people. Is that true or false? The 10 northern tribes of Israel went into captivity where they were absorbed into other nations and they ceased to exist as a people. Number five, true or false? There is no biblical proof that all 12 tribes of Israel exist today. True or false? There is no biblical proof that all 12 tribes of Israel exist today. Number six, the Old Testament prophets foretold a gathering and restoration of Israel at the second coming of Jesus Christ. Is that true or false? The Old Testament prophets foretold a gathering and restoration of Israel at the second coming of Jesus Christ. Okay, number seven, the last one. True or false? God has not cast away the 12 tribes of Israel and He will yet have them fulfill His purpose for them. God has not cast away the 12 tribes of Israel and He will yet have them fulfill His purpose for them. Okay, how do you think you did? Well, let's go over the answers very quickly.

Number one, the history of Britain and America's greatness goes back to Genesis and promises to the patriarchs. That is true. Absolutely true. From Genesis 12 through the rest of the book, most of the book of Genesis, the promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and to Joseph and his two sons.

Number two, God chose the 12 tribes to be a holy nation and to be an example and model to the other nations. True. That's exactly what God had in mind, that they would be a kingdom of priests. We'll read that verse in a few minutes, a holy nation, and that other nations would notice that they were being blessed for obedience to God's laws.

Number three, true or false? Ancient Israel succeeded in being a godly model of God's way to the other nations. What do you think? Absolutely, that's false. Okay, very good. Number four, the ten northern tribes of Israel went into captivity, where they were absorbed into other nations and they ceased to exist as a people.

We've got a little diversity on this one. Let's think about it. The ten northern tribes, we know that Israel divided into two nations, Judah, two tribes to the south, and Israel, ten tribes to the north. Okay, the ten northern tribes did go into captivity to Assyria, where they were absorbed into other nations and did they cease to exist as a people.

That's false. They were not absorbed. Many people think they ceased to exist as a people. No, they continued to exist. They were not absorbed into other nations at all.

All right, number five, there is no biblical proof that all twelve tribes of Israel exist today.

False. There's a lot of biblical proof, and we're going to see a lot of it tonight. We can't begin to see all of it that's in the Bible, but there's a lot of proof that all twelve tribes of Israel exist today.

Let's go to number six now. The Old Testament prophets foretold a gathering and restoration of Israel at the second coming of Jesus Christ. True. We'll read many verses tonight. And number seven, God has not cast away the twelve tribes of Israel, and He will yet have them fulfill His purpose for them.

Absolutely true. That's what this Bible study is going to demonstrate. God has a purpose and a plan for Israel, and He is going to see to it that it is carried out and fulfilled. So how did you do? How many made a hundred? You got all of them correct. All seven of them. That's good. Goodly numbered.

And how many missed only one? Let's have your hands. That is also very good. How many missed only two? That's not too many. So I think we have the vast majority that made a very good grade on this little quiz. But it kind of introduces what I would like to have us to think about this evening. Tonight's Bible study then is going to show that modern-day Israel—of course, already we know that modern-day Israel is the United States, Great Britain, the British Commonwealth of Nations.

But that's just the Joseph part, the Ephraim and Manasseh part. We believe the other of the tribes of Israel are located mainly in northwestern Europe, nations like Norway, Denmark, Sweden, France—some of those nations in northwest Europe. So when we're talking about Israel being great, we're talking about the modern Israelites that are alive now in the English-speaking nations, as well as other nations in northwestern Europe. So they're going to be great, but we're going to see in the Bible that there's a time of trouble.

And that is where we get the title from of the Bible study, From Punishment to Destiny. And it really summarizes very well what we're talking about tonight. We're going to see that there is punishment because of our sins. And then there's going to be repentance, and there's going to be restoration. And Israel is going to be converted—a converted people, something they were not in the Old Testament. And they are going to fulfill what God had in mind for them to be—a model nation for others. So if you're weak at all on these things we're talking about tonight, be sure to read and study our booklet, The United States in Britain and Bible Prophecy.

And also, Fundamental Belief No. 15 on the promises to Abraham also briefly describes the background of what we're talking about tonight. Okay, our time is quite limited. We have about 60 minutes maximum. We'll try to keep it 60 or less for the Bible study tonight. But we know that in Genesis 12 that God promised to Abraham that he would make out of his descendants a great nation. And that all nations would be blessed through his descendants.

We know that those promises break down to twofold, and one being spiritual. There would be spiritual blessings through Abraham's descendant, actually, through Jesus Christ. And we know that that was fulfilled through the tribe of Judah, that Jesus Christ was from the tribe of Judah. So the spiritual promises were fulfilled through the tribe of Judah, through Jesus Christ, who opened up the way for eternal life through the forgiveness of our sins.

But the national promises actually were given for all 12 tribes, but the birthright part of those national promises, which we have seen fulfilled in our time, that the descendants of Joseph, namely Ephraim, were to become a multitude of nations, and then the descendants of Manasseh would become a great nation. We've seen those fulfilled, and that is very well described in our booklet.

We've seen the national greatness fulfilled in so many ways. But God intended all 12 tribes of Israel to be a holy nation. He intended all 12 tribes to be an example for other nations. Let's read that in Exodus 19, verses 5 and 6. We'll turn to quite a few scriptures in this Bible study, and we'll be reading them and turning quickly, because we've got a lot of things to cover in Exodus 19 and beginning in verse 5. Verse 6, here's what God had in mind for them to be. You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

They were to be a kingdom of priests. What is a priest? A priest is a servant. A priest is a minister. The Israelites were to be a servant nation. If we can just summarize it, they were to serve other nations, to help other nations, to show them the way. So yes, you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

That's what God had in mind for the Israelites, and by living God's laws and obeying God's laws, they would demonstrate to the world how other nations ought to live in order to also be blessed. Let's go to Deuteronomy chapter 4, and we see that this is what God had in mind for ancient Israel.

Deuteronomy chapter 4, and we'll read verses 6 through 8.

Deuteronomy chapter 4, verses 6 through 8. Therefore, be careful to observe them, that is God's laws and commandments, for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, surely this great nation. We've seen that word great used in our time, make America great again. God intended ancient Israel to be great in a godly way, and they will be great in the millennium. We'll read those verses in a few minutes, but it's not wrong to be a great nation when you're one that God is using for a godly purpose. That's what God had in mind. Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

For what great nation is there that has God so near to them, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?

God intended for ancient Israel to be a servant nation, to be an example, to be a model nation for others to see, and to emulate. But just to cut through the story of ancient Israel, ancient Israel utterly failed. They did not obey God's laws. They did not demonstrate God's way of life to other nations. And just to cut on through the story of ancient Israel, they went into national captivity. By the time the national captivity has come, they had divided well before that into two nations. The northern ten tribes went into captivity to Assyria around 720 BC. And then the southern two tribes, Judah, went into captivity around 600 BC to Babylon. Many of them came back later. The Israelites, though, never came back. They were taken away by the Assyrians to Mesopotamia, and they never came back. Many people believe they disappeared. They were assimilated into other nations, but that is not what happened. And there's biblical proof for that, and we'll read some of those verses in just a few minutes. But the northern tribes went into captivity. The southern tribes went into captivity. Did God then decide, this just isn't working? So I give up on this idea. No, he did not. And we're going to read verses that God is yet going to fulfill His purpose. You know, our story tonight is the most intriguing one. We go back almost 4,000 years to when God began to give promises to Abraham, and then eventually a nation that was to be great, a great model nation, came on the scene through the 12 sons of Jacob. And they were to demonstrate God's way of life, which they never did. And they went into captivity. But God didn't give up on His purpose and His plan. God doesn't give up easy. And He is yet going to fulfill what He had in mind for ancient Israel. We could skip on ahead to our age and say, well, the birthright promises have certainly been granted. When we look around 1600 at how the British Empire began to spread around the world, and how Britain certainly began to dominate the world in the 1700s, and by the 1800s it is known as the century of Great Britain.

And then the 1900s, Great Britain still, and then the United States came on the scene, especially at the time of World War II. So modern Israel, we know that that's America and Britain. And look at the nations of Northwestern Europe. They have prospered. God has certainly blessed those tribes in Northwestern Europe as well.

We have had an opportunity to portray God's way of life in our time. Modern Israel, that is, has had an opportunity. But like ancient Israel, we have failed as well. At the same time, America and Britain have done much good in the world. Wherever America and Britain have gone, nations have actually grown in prosperity. Conditions have improved. Britain and America have helped to maintain peace. Today, the United States continues to have that role, primarily upon its shoulder. Our nations, certainly America and Britain, do portray the very good national characteristics of Joseph. We can see the goodness of Joseph in the national character of the United States and Britain.

Britain improved the life of native peoples. My wife and I have been able to go to many British areas in the Caribbean, in Africa, New Zealand, Australia. Wherever the British people went, they improved the life of people in those areas. They built roads. They brought prosperity. The United States has done the same thing. What nation after World War II would have done what we have done? We had a plan to rebuild our enemies that were trying to do us in the nation of Germany. We helped to rebuild them and get them back on their feet. And the same thing with Japan. So we see Joseph's character. We can also see some of Joseph's weaknesses. Joseph was quite immature until he grew up. Telling his brothers those dreams wasn't the best idea. He had to do some maturing and growing up. And America and Britain show some signs as well of immaturity and needing to grow up. More recently, we can see that America and Britain and other of the Israelite tribes have rejected Biblical moral standards. And God and the Bible are being rejected. We legalize all kinds of marriage. Anything goes into more increasing sexual immorality abortions.

In the 1830s, that's quite a while back, there was a French statesman by the name of Alexis de Tocqueville who visited America and toured around. And he saw a lot of things he liked. And he wrote that America is great because America is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great. And that is so true. And we have been great because we've had the moral advantage, but we're losing it. And nations are seeing us where anything goes. They also see bloodshed. They see violence. And now we have a whole new level of bloodshed and violence with Las Vegas. So it's sad what is happening now. We see things slipping away as far as our moral advantage is concerned.

At the same time, I would hasten to add that there are many Americans that do claim to the biblical standards. And one commentator probably said it correct, that America is a little bit to the right of center as far as the liberal and conservative stance of most people. A little bit to the right of center. And that, of course, is what put Mr. Trump into the White House. So we still have a lot of good people in our country that do claim to the moral values, and they bemoan what is happening. But this is slipping, slipping fast. But like ancient Israel, modern-day Israel is prophesied to go into captivity and punishment. That's what we want to begin to read into at this time. These prophecies will say Israel, but why don't we read into those prophecies that... And they have an application to ancient Israel. There's many times a smaller application for ancient Israel, but there's a greater application for modern-day Israel, that is, the United States and Britain and the democracies of Northwestern Europe, the twelve tribes of Israel. There's a greater application. I think we'll see that as we go through these prophecies. Okay, let's begin reading Isaiah 1 through 12. Now, I'm just going to skim this, and sometimes you might want to read the whole thing, but it's a section dealing with Israel. And some of it, again, no doubt, applies to ancient Israel, but much more of it applies to modern-day Israel, that is, the United States, Britain, and Northwestern Europeans, and the Jewish people. In Isaiah chapter 1, it's interesting, this book begins in what we were talking about, the moral decline of Israel. It happened to Old Testament Israel, and it's happening to modern-day Israel. Isaiah chapter 1 and verse 4, a last sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children that are corrupted. And it goes on to say in verse 3, near the end, the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints, from the sole of the foot even to the head. There's no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. And aren't we seeing that more and more as a description of our own beloved country? It is so sad, and my heart just grieves for what is happening to our country, what I've seen in my short lifetime and the way things are going. God says we need to change our ways. Verse 16, He always warns, Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, put away the evil of your doings, cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, reprove the oppressor, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. He says, Come, let us reason. And He says in verse 19, If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.

But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. In verse 25, He says, I will turn my hand against you. And is God beginning to turn His hand against us? Look at all the storms and destruction we've had in Texas and in Florida and the Caribbean, and your heart goes out to these people. And look at the bloodshed and the killings like Las Vegas and other cities. In the last few months, since the last Feast of Tabernacles. So, is God turning His hand against us? Is it beginning? Well, it could be. And He says, verse 25 goes on to say, And thoroughly purge away your dross. God is able to purge away all this evil and take away all your alloy. And then restoration. I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the City of Righteousness, the faithful city. You can read on these chapters 1 through 12. They show the sins of Israel. And again, modern day Israel, us, us, show our sins. So much of these first 12 chapters deal with the sins of Israel. But then, interspersed you'll find verses that leap right over into the millennium. For example, chapter 2 and verse 2, Now it shall come to pass in the latter days. Well, that's our time. That the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow to it. God's kingdom will be set up. So that's just ahead of us now. This Feast pictures that time. Many people shall come and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways. And did you know this many times? We skip right over to the house of the God of Jacob. Jesus Christ is going to be dwelling in Jerusalem. And as we'll see, the Israelites are restored to that land. Modern day Israelites are going to be restored to the land that God gave to Abraham. And people then will come to seek God's way to the house of the God of Jacob. God will be that God of Jacob that they seek. In Isaiah 4 and verse 2, God is going to clean up Israel then. We need some cleaning up. We've got a lot of cleaning up that needs to be done. And so from punishment, punishment comes because of our sins, because of our disobedience. Isaiah 4 and verse 2, In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious. The fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped. And that Israel in our time is talking about the English-speaking peoples and democracies of Northwestern Europe and the Jewish people scattered around and about.

Verse 3, It shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and he who remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, because God is going to clean us up. Everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem, when the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, by a time of trouble that God is going to bring upon our people. Oh, brethren, it's going to be a hard time in many ways.

We're going to have to really be close to God and know that He is working out His purpose and His plan. I don't have time to go through reading through all of these Scriptures here in these chapters, but it shows the sins of Israel, and that's why God is going to bring punishment. Chapter 10 of Isaiah shows He's going to bring the Assyrians.

The ancient Assyrians did take Israel into captivity. The modern-day Assyrians are going to take modern Israel into captivity, and God says that actually they are His instrument in doing that. Let's go to chapter 11, and we see the restoration. And that's what this feast is all about, the restoration of Israel, back to the land of Canaan, back to the land that God gave to Abraham.

In chapter 11, we turn to this chapter so often, it shows that animals become tame. It shows the righteous government of Jesus Christ. Verse 9, "'Thy shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.' But coming on down to verse 11, "'It shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord will set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people that are left.' Oh, this is talking about the Israelites being gathered from Assyria, Egypt, and the other nations.

He will set up a banner for the nations, and assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." And it shows these tribes, when they are gathered together, are going to begin to work together. "'The envy of Ephraim shall depart, the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off.'" And so Israel is going to be brought out of a state of captivity. That's where the punishment comes in.

God is going to bring it to pass because of our sins. He's going to let us be corrected. A time of trouble is going to come. But you know, chapter 12, we often don't associate this with chapter 11, but it is. It belongs. It's the end of this section. Chapters 1 through 12 belong together. Chapter 13 gets into something totally different. Prophecies about Babylon. But in chapter 12, in that day, you, you Israelites, will say, you Americans and you British and Norwegians and other of the tribes of Israel, you will say, "'O Lord, I will praise you.

Though you were angry with me, your anger is turned away, and you comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid.' Verse 3, "'And therefore, with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.' In that day you will say, praise the Lord, call upon His name, declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention of His name, that His name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for He has done excellent things. This is known in all the earth." The Israelites will then begin to proclaim God's praises to all the other nations.

Well, let's move along. You find the same message, actually, in Jeremiah, in Ezekiel, in the minor prophets, you will find much, much, much about the sins of Israel. Some of them apply to ancient Israel. Much applies to modern-day Israel today. And the punishment that is going to come upon modern-day Israel because of that. Let's go to Jeremiah 23. Here's a beautiful passage of Scripture, how God is going to restore Israel out of captivity, modern-day Israel, in Jeremiah 23.

And beginning to read in verse 3. Jeremiah 23, in verse 3, But I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their foals, and they will be fruitful and increase. I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them, and they shall fear no more. Says the Lord. Verse 5, Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord.

I will raise to David a branch of righteousness. A king shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment in righteousness in the earth. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely, all twelve tribes. Now this is the name by which he will be called, the Lord our righteousness. So God is going to bring Israel out of the state of captivity, which will be a punishment for our sins.

Let's go to Jeremiah 30. Jeremiah 30. And beginning to read here in verse 3. Jeremiah 30 and verse 3. The days are coming, says the Lord. I will bring back from captivity my people, Israel and Judah. So they will be in a state of captivity. He then describes that punishment that is coming. I heard in verse 5, I heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and this is the time of trouble that is coming upon our people. It's a dreadful time, what is going to happen. And you know, we don't know just how quickly things could develop in our time. Our nation could just go down so quickly. We have to be prepared for that.

It could hold on. It's really in God's hands how much longer things will continue. But it goes on to say in verse 7, Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it. And it is the time of Jacob's trouble. It's the time of Jacob's trouble, Israel's trouble, our people, the modern-day Israelites. This is not talking about ancient Israel. This is talking about modern-day Israel, the English-speaking peoples, the Jewish people, democracies of northwestern Europe. The time of Jacob's trouble. But it goes on to give the good news.

He shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day, says the Lord, that I will break his yoke from your neck and burst your bonds. Foreigners shall no more enslave them. But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their King. David is going to be king over Israel. Think about that.

The king of the earth is going to be in Jerusalem, Jesus Christ. And the king over Israel will very likely also be right there in Jerusalem, since that is where David reigned from anciently. So David is king of Israel, and Jesus Christ is king over all the earth. We'll be right there in Jerusalem. In verse 10, Therefore do not fear, O my servant Jacob, says the Lord, nor be dismayed, O Israel. For behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest, and be quiet, and no one shall make him afraid. For I am with you, says the Lord, to save you, though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you.

Yet I will not make a complete end of you, but notice, I will correct you in justice, and will not let you go altogether unpunished. Do we think we can just sanction and condone any old way of life? It doesn't matter how you live, as long as you don't hurt anybody. We can't just continue living and going this way of life. It is sad.

Our morality is going down, down, down, and it is so very sad to see what is happening. We see that God is allowing terrorism to threaten us from without, as well as from within. We see devastating storms. Brother, we need to be on the alert and discern the signs of the times in which we are living. Well, for the sake of time, I'm going to skip right on through some of the other prophecies here in Jeremiah. But the time is coming that the modern-day Israelites will be punished and corrected with a national captivity, and then God is going to gather them back to the land of Palestine.

All of them will be brought back to the land God gave to ancient Israel. Can you imagine that? Americans in the Middle East coming out of captivity, British, the English-speaking peoples, the Jewish people also brought in. They may settle according to their ancient boundaries. We don't know exactly that, but they will be gathered back to that land. That's what this is talking about. The minor prophets also have a lot of writings, and we just don't have time to read them all tonight.

But you can read in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the minor prophets. There are New Testament verses as well that show the captivity. For example, the Olivet prophecy. Jesus talked about people that would be carried away captive to nations. Who would that be? It's the modern-day Israelites. The book of James, chapter 1 and verse 1, is directed to the twelve tribes of Israel. That is one of the verses that shows that the ten northern tribes did not cease to exist.

Because Paul referred to them in the book of Acts, and then James, in chapter 1 and verse 1, addressed his whole letter to the twelve tribes of Israel scattered abroad. Josephus says they were those ten northern tribes that people think got lost. They were up around the area of the Black Sea. Our booklet brings out how the Scythians, they came to be known, many of them as the Scythians, then migrated on over into northwestern Europe. There's a whole chapter tracing from the ancient Middle Eastern world over to northwestern Europe. So there's much proof in the Bible. Of course, we know that there's going to be 144,000. 12,000 comes from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. They will be sealed just before the Day of the Lord. So we know the Israelites are around today, aren't they? They did not cease to exist. Just to cut right on through this, they're going to go through a national captivity. There's going to be a punishment. God said, I will not leave you altogether unpunished. You will be corrected. We cannot get away with the way of life that we want to live. We can't condone just anything, which is coming to be the case. But then, in captivity, our people will repent. The verse says that our people will loathe themselves. L-O-A-T-H. They will hate themselves for what we have done. Americans, British, we'll look back. Oh, boy! We can hardly believe the sinful condition that began to be condoned in our country. Finally, they will repent. God will bring Israel back to the land of Palestine. The Israelites will then, as a converted people, be that example and model nation. Let's go and read a few verses about that. Isaiah 41, verse 8. God doesn't give up easy. He will yet use Israel as that holy priesthood nation.

Isaiah 41, verse 8. But you, Israel, are my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham, my friend, you whom I have taken from the ends of the earth and called you from the farthest regions, and said to you, you are my servant. I have chosen you and have not cast you away.

So God has not cast away the Israelites. He will yet use them as that model nation. Isaiah 43, verse 1. Isaiah 43, verse 1.

So if God wants to work his way of salvation to all nations by choosing one nation to be a model nation, that is his prerogative, and that is exactly what he's doing. He has chosen the Israelites, and he says, you are mine. I've got a purpose, a big and important purpose for you. Let's go in this chapter 43 to verse 19. Isaiah 43, verse 19.

I like the way God says things. He doesn't say maybe I can persuade them to. He says, they shall proclaim my praise. They will be my holy priesthood nation. They will fulfill the purpose I have in mind for them. Chapter 44, verse 1.

From the womb who will help you. So in verse 21, Isaiah 44, and verse 21.

Brethren, one of the important things as far as what the Feast of Tabernacles pictures is a restored Israel that comes out of captivity, out of punishment, having been thoroughly corrected, and people who have been humbled and brought back to the land of Palestine, and begin to serve as God's servant nation, illustrating and demonstrating his holy and righteous way of life. You know, I want to read just a little bit from our booklet, United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy.

Continuing here.

What a wonderful thing this is. It makes me very, well, just thrilling. It's an intriguing story. It began almost 4,000 years ago with Abraham and promises made to him, and comes on through to our age and our time today. And it has a wonderful, glorious chapter just ahead at the start of the millennium, when Israel will at last fulfill her purpose that God has in mind. And continuing just another statement or two here. The glory of the restored Israel will shine far greater than Israel's golden age under Solomon. Through its creator, Israel will gain fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth. That's Zephaniah 3 and verse 20. Israel will finally become the example God intended her to be. God has not forgotten, nor will he ever forget his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The pages of history and prophecies yet to be fulfilled show God remaining true to every detail of his Word.

This is one of the exciting stories or aspects of this Feast of Tabernacles. But, brethren, did we get the picture? Can we make it real very quickly? Can we imagine all 12 tribes of modern-day Israel, English-speaking peoples, Americans and British, French, the Jewish people, Norwegians, Danish, being gathered together out of a coming captivity, all coming together to the land that God promised to Abraham. And the lost tribes, the Jewish people, know who they are. They know they come from the tribe of Judah. But all the other tribes don't know, so these tribes will all learn their identity.

They'll be brought up to date on world history. They actually are descended from ancient Israel. Some of them may have already heard a message from God's church. We've been preaching that message a long time. They will learn their identity. They will have borders. Israel will be given borders according to Genesis 15 and verse 18, stretching from the Nile River all the way to the Euphrates. That's something ancient Israel never realized. That's a lot larger than ancient Israel's borders, all the way from the Nile River to the Euphrates River. That's a huge chunk of territory. And think of this. Here's Israel, God's model nation, at the very crossroads of the three major land masses of the world that are connected, that is Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Here they are, right at the crossroads, God's model nation. And the twelve tribes being one nation for the first time since Solomon's death. One nation. You can read that in several places, Ezekiel 37 being one of them. And think of the structure of government. Jesus Christ will be the overall king, over all nations of the earth, but under Jesus Christ will be King David, resurrected.

Is he qualified, the man after God's own heart, to lead Israel and help them to be the model nation? King David is well qualified to be the king of Israel and show the Israelites under his rule how to demonstrate God's way of life. And then think of this, Jesus said to his twelve disciples that in the restoration, the regeneration, they would each of them be ruling or judging one of the tribes of Israel. So under King David will be the twelve apostles. Are they qualified? They are well qualified. They gave their lives. What will Peter have? I envision Peter having either Joseph or maybe Judah, one of the leading tribes. But Peter will have one of the tribes.

James and John, each of them will have one of the tribes. But they will work under King David. King David will be over the whole nation, and the twelve apostles will be under him and teaching people God's way. No doubt under the twelve apostles will be other kings and priests ruling over precincts or maybe over two or three cities. Can we imagine that? Can we imagine a humble, repentant people? According to Jeremiah 31, they will come with tears streaming down their faces. Can we imagine that? Americans and British people with a repentant heart coming back to the land of Palestine. Can we imagine them entering into a new covenant, a new covenant relationship, which means they will then be repentant and they will be baptized and they will receive God's Holy Spirit.

Baptisms are going to be pretty high, maybe millions and millions of Israelites baptized. And entering into that new covenant relationship, because Jeremiah 31 said, the days are coming, I will enter into a new covenant with the house of Israel, and I will write my laws upon their hearts and minds. Can we imagine that? Can we imagine a humble and repentant people? Let's see, we have time. I think we do have time to turn to Zephaniah chapter 3.

This is beautiful here. It gets to the very heart and the very attitude of what we're saying is coming our way, in the way of the Israelites. They're going to have this kind of humility, this kind of closeness to God. And they can be God's servant nation at last. Zephaniah chapter 3 and verse 12. And this is talking about Israel, the restored Israel, the repentant Israel. I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people. Our people are not going to be exalted.

We're not going to be saying, oh, we're the greatest nation on earth. You know, we have that today. That no doubt turns other nations off, I would think, toward us.

But I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people. They shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies. Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they shall feed their flocks and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid. Let's continue on.

Sing, O daughter of Zion, shout, O Israel, be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord has taken away your judgments. He's cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst. You shall see disaster no more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Do not fear. Zion, let not your hands be weak. The Lord your God is in your midst. The mighty one will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will quiet you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing. I will gather those whose sorrow over the appointed assembly. In verse 19, Behold, at that time, I, God, will deal with all who afflict you. It's not going to be wonderful. Think of this. Israel will have no military protection. There won't be any money being set aside for military expenses. Won't that be nice? We spend so many billions and billions of dollars today. And just think, if we were to just turn to God and trust him implicitly, this would happen today. We wouldn't need a military budget.

God says, I will deal with all who afflict you. I will save the lame. This is verse 19. Gather those who were driven out. I will appoint them for praise and fame in every land where they were put to shame. In verse 20, In that time I will bring you back, even at the time I gather you.

For I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I return your captives before your eyes, says the Lord. This is a beautiful passage of Scripture. It encapsulates a lot of what we're saying here about Israel being restored as God's model nation.

By the way, as far as no military, as far as trusting in God, you could read Ezekiel 38 and 39. And Gog and Magog and these other nations come up against this nation that was gathered out of captivity because they see Israel prospering. These twelve tribes are now very prosperous. This may be a few years into the millennium. They see all this prosperity down there and they say, we're going to go and get some of that. Nations to the north like Russia, China, India, perhaps some of those nations are going to want to come against Israel. They'll see this nation that says of unwalled villages. What is an unwalled village? In ancient times, no military protection. Israel will have no military protection, but they have the greatest protection that there could possibly be. And it goes on to say that God will defeat these armies that come down and it will take seven years for the Israelites to use all of the remnants of the army that comes down. It will take seven months to bury the bodies. There's going to be a great destruction. So Israel will be trusting God and God will be with them and back them up. Brethren, in conclusion, there's much more that could be said about this. So read our booklet, if you would, the last chapter, from punishment to destiny. That has what we have spoken about tonight. From punishment to destiny. Mr. Trump wants to make America great again, but he's not going to succeed. He just isn't able. But God is able, and God will make Israel great again and make Israel a servant nation to the rest of the world. International relations are going to reach an all-time high. Nations are going to see Israel. Israel will be leading the way. Let's read one final passage about how international relations are going to be wonderful.

It's going to be a productive time. Nations will be at peace with each other. They will accomplish so much through cooperation. Let's go to Isaiah 19. Isaiah 19 shows the nations, converted nations. By the way, the Gentile nations will learn God's way. They will also enter that New Covenant relationship.

They will be blessed. Russia, China, Germany. All the nations of the earth, as they follow God's laws, they follow the example that Israel is setting. All the nations of the earth begin to realize the blessings of obedience to God's laws. That's going to be wonderful. In Isaiah 19, verse 23, In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. They will all be serving, working together. In that day, Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land. Apparently, Israel, Egypt, and Assyria will be three of the leading nations in the millennium. Verse 25, Brother, I hope that the Bible study has been helpful to you. I hope you've enjoyed it. It's been interesting. What a story, isn't it? Going back almost 4,000 years. It has a tremendous ending, doesn't it? Tremendous ending. Sleep well tonight. Enjoy the Sabbath. We'll see you tomorrow afternoon. Remember to be in your seats by 2.45. Good night.