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Sea, the northern extremity of which lies nearly due east from Jerusalem,] which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the river shall come, shall live; and there shall be a very great number of fish, because these waters shall come thither; for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it, from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets: their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the Great Sea, exceeding many."* Ezek. xlvii. 1-10.

In citing Zech. xiv. we have already adverted to the earthquake by which the Mount of Olives is to be rent at the coming of the Lord. We are not aware that that prediction has ever been viewed in connection with this prophecy by Ezekiel; yet they appear to reflect light on each other. For if a river is to flow from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, a channel must needs be prepared; and as that Sea lies east from Jerusalem, the channel must needs be formed in that direction. Now the waters of the New River are to "issue out toward the East country, and go down into the Desert, and go into the sea ;"-but the Mount of Olives "is before Jerusalem, on the East," and it might therefore naturally have been expected that through it a channel should

* The value of this prediction of the future productiveness of the Dead Sea will be best appreciated by those acquainted with the perfect contrast which its present state exhibits. "Hitherto," says the well-informed Editor of the Modern Traveller,' after a careful examination of the most recent and authentic testimony on the subject -"hitherto, we are without any satisfactory evidence that the Lake contains any living creatures," even the lowest species of shell-fish not excepted. Palestine, p. 219. For thousands of years the Jordan has rolled its flood of fertile freshness into the bosom of this Asphaltite Lake, daily conveying thither millions of tons, and still it remains unhealed as ever. The extreme and bitter saltness of its waters continues a lasting token of Divine indignation against sin, and exhibits a striking memorial of Heaven's out-poured wrath, which overwhelmed the guilty cities of the plain. But when the predicted stream shall mingle with the waters of the Lake, those waters shall be "healed," and yield variety of fish,-" exceeding many."

have been made, even if there had been no intimation to that effect. But not only are we informed that this mountain "shall cleave in the midst thereof," but that the rent made shall be in the very direction requisite for the course of the River above referred to. It shall "cleave in the midst thereof, toward the East and toward the West." By this, "a very great valley" shall be formed, a valley which "shall reach unto Azal;" for "half of the mountain shall remove toward the North, and half of it toward the South." Zech. xiv. 1-5. Were any thing farther requisite to confirm the correspondence noticed, it may be found in the fact that this very prediction of Zechariah is immediately followed by a similar declaration, containing the additional fact of these waters being divided, and forming two distinct rivers running in opposite directions, the second flowing into the Western Sea, or Mediterranean: “And it shall be in that day, that living waters, [waters always springing and running,] shall go out from Jerusalem, half of them toward the former sea, [the eastern or Dead Sea,] and half of them toward the hinder sea [the western or Mediterrannean sea]: in summer and in winter shall it be." Zech. xiv. 8. Of that which flows into the East or Dead Sea, it is here said "the fishers shall stand upon it, from Engedi even unto Eneglaim. Ezek. xlviii. 9. The latter place is not elsewhere mentioned in Scripture; but Engedi is a well-known port on the west side of the Dead Sea, in lat. 31 deg. 25 min. north; lon. 35 deg. 40 min. cast. (Josh. xv. 62.) This Eastern river, then, having its source in Jerusalem, appears to flow through the desert of Tekoah, (lying directly in the river's course,) till it disembogues itself into the Dead Sea, at Engedi.*

*The Rev. Mr. Mason, in his Gentiles' Fulness, almost seems to admit-as it will be difficult for any one after carefully reading the 41st and following chapters of Ezekiel to deny that the Jewish Temple shall yet be re-erected, as he refers, (page 134,) to "the duties and provision of their priests," so minutely described by the prophet. But he afterwards censures severely a writer for expressly declaring this, and for maintaining the waters to be real which are thus represented as having their source in the Sanctuary. But if the Sanctuary itself be real, (and every thing in the description forbids any other

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SECTION XIV.

THE NATIONS COMING TO WORSHIP IN JERUSALEM.

THE Redeemer having, with wonderful condescension, deigned to dwell with men, and his temple being rebuilt in Jerusalem, the nations are represented as coming to worship before him. A prediction to this effect is given in precisely the same terms by the prophets Isaiah (ii. 2, 3,) and Micah: "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the House of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow into it; and many nations shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the House of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." Micah iv. 1, 2. In this prediction "the House of the God of Jacob" and "the mountain of the House of the Lord" are both considered by many as the church; and the "nations" and "people" coming thither, as those becoming members of it. Were we even to look no further than to the words quoted, this would appear an unnatural interpretation of the passage, and when viewed together with its context it at once appears inadmissible. The quotation we have made is evidently a contrast to something previously declared: "But in the last days it shall come to pass," &c. There are here two marks of contrast; "but," in contradistinction to

interpretation,) how else are we to explain the waters which the prophet saw issuing from under its threshold-forming a stream, to observe the course of which he was brought without the outer gatewhich gradually enlarged in its progress, from ancle depth till it became an impassable river-the waters of which abounded with fish of various kinds, and whose banks were covered with fruit-bearing trees-which flowed down through the desert till it emptied itself into the sea, and on a certain portion only of which, fishermen were employed in spreading forth their nets? The rise of this river is also predicted by the prophet Joel: "And a fountain shall come forth of the House of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim." Joel iii. 18.

something formerly mentioned, " it shall come to pass;" and "in the last days" circumstances shall differ from those at another period also referred to previously. These points of contrast have been unskilfully separated in our translation, by placing them in different chapters; but by looking at the last verses of the preceding chapter the meaning of those quoted will instantly appear. That chapter contains an exposure of the hypocrisy of the heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel," and a threatening is denounced of coming desolation on their land: "They build up Zion with blood, [this is not the church certainly,] and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money; yet will they lean upon the Lord and say, Is not the Lord among us? None evil can come upon us. Therefore [on account of this their iniquity] shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the House as the high places of the forest. But in the last days," &c. Thus, then, we see that it was the literal "Jerusalem" and "Zion" and "mountain of the House," which, for the sin of Israel, were to be "ploughed" and laid in "heaps," and have literally been

so.

And it is in contrast to their present state, that from the same "Jerusalem" and "Zion" and " House of the Lord," the word of the Lord shall again go forth, and to which "in the last days" many nations shall come. This shall be at the Millennium, when "nation shall not lift up a sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more." ver. 3.

Again, "At that time, they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered unto it to the Name [the incarnate Word?] of the Lord to Jerusalem; neither shall they walk any more after the imaginations of their evil heart." Jer. iii. 17. This is when the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north," to their own land; "and at that time, they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord." It is, therefore, at the restoration of Israel, and after the conversion

of "all the nations;" for "neither shall they walk any more after the imaginations of their evil heart."

So also, by the prophet Zechariah, "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, It shall yet come to pass that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities; and the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord." Zech. viii. 20-22. These inhabitants of "many cities" shall go not to the church merely, for in doing so they would not need to leave their cities. But, stirring up each other, "the inhabitants of one city shall go to another," seeking their company in going to "Jerusalem;" whither they shall go together to seek the Lord of hosts," and "to pray before the Lord"--plainly implying His presence there. And that it is the literal Jerusalem is farther evident from the honour they shall put on the Jews: "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold (out of all languages of the nations), even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." ver. 23.

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In a psalm containing decided references to the restoration of Israel and the Millennial period, it is said, "Because of thy Temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee;" then "princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God." Ps. lxviii. 29, 31. The very reason of these "kings" going to Jerusalem is because God's "Temple" will be there.

The attendance of the nations at the regular and stated feasts, the Lord expressly declares by the prophet Isaiah: "It shall come that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see my glory....and it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord." Is. lxvi. 18, 23. Although in these words Jerusalem is not named, yet it is plainly implied: "They shall come,”

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