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cution 〃went everywhere preaching the word〃 （Acts 8：4）； and shortly after； Saul the persecutor was converted and became Paul the apostle to the Gentiles。
The many prophecies concerning the Saviour's advent led the Hebrews to live in an attitude of constant expectancy。
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Many died in the faith； not having received the promises。 But having seen them afar off； they believed and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth。 From the days of Enoch the promises repeated through patriarchs and prophets had kept alive the hope of His appearing。
Not at first had God revealed the exact time of the first advent； and even when the prophecy of Daniel made this known； not all rightly interpreted the message。
Century after century passed away； finally the voices of the prophets ceased。 The hand of the oppressor was heavy upon Israel。 As the Jews departed from God； faith grew dim； and hope well…nigh ceased to illuminate the future。 The words of the prophets were uncomprehended by many； and those whose faith should have continued strong were ready to exclaim； 〃The days are prolonged； and every vision faileth。〃 Ezekiel 12：22。 But in heaven's council the hour for the coming of Christ had been determined； and 〃when the fullness of the time was come； God sent forth His Son； 。 。 。 to redeem them that were under the law； that we might receive the adoption of sons。〃 Galatians 4：4； 5。
Lessons must be given to humanity in the language of humanity。 The Messenger of the covenant must speak。 His voice must be heard in His own temple。 He； the author of truth； must separate truth from the chaff of man's utterance； which had made it of no effect。 The principles of God's government and the plan of redemption must be clearly defined。 The lessons of the Old Testament must be fully set before men。
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When the Saviour finally appeared 〃in the likeness of men〃 （Philippians 2：7）； and began His ministry of grace； Satan could but bruise the heel； while by every act of humiliation or suffering Christ was bruising the head of His adversary。 The anguish that sin has brought was poured into the bosom of the Sinless； yet while Christ endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself； He was paying the debt for sinful man and breaking the bondage in which humanity had been held。 Every pang of anguish； every insult； was working out the deliverance of the race。
Could Satan have induced Christ to yield to a single temptation； could he have led Him by one act or even thought to stain His perfect purity； the prince of darkness would have triumphed over man's Surety and would have gained the whole human family to himself。 But while Satan could distress； he could not contaminate。 He could cause agony； but not defilement。 He made the life of Christ one long scene of conflict and trial； yet with every attack he was losing his hold upon humanity。
In the wilderness of temptation； in the Garden of Gethsemane； and on the cross； our Saviour measured weapons with the prince of darkness。 His wounds became the trophies of His victory in behalf of the race。 When Christ hung in agony upon the cross； while evil spirits rejoiced and evil men reviled； then indeed His heel was bruised by Satan。 But that very act was crushing the serpent's head。 Through death He destroyed 〃him that had the power of death； that is； the devil。〃 Hebrews 2：14。 This act decided the destiny of the rebel chief； and made forever sure the plan of
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salvation。 In death He gained the victory over its power； in rising again； He opened the gates of the grave to all His followers。 In that last great contest we see fulfilled the prophecy； 〃It shall bruise thy head； and thou shall bruise his heel。〃 Genesis 3：15。
〃Beloved； now are we the sons of God； and it doth not yet appear what we shall be： but we know that； when He shall appear； we shall be like Him； for we shall see Him as He is。〃 1 John 3：2。 Our Redeemer has opened the way； so that the most sinful； the most needy； the most oppressed and despised； may find access to the Father。
〃O Lord； Thou art my God； I will exalt Thee； I will praise Thy name； For Thou hast done wonderful things； Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth。〃 Isaiah 25：1。
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Chapter 59
〃The House of Israel〃
In proclaiming the truths of the everlasting gospel to every nation； kindred； tongue； and people； God's church on earth today is fulfilling the ancient prophecy； 〃Israel shall blossom and bud； and fill the face of the world with fruit。〃 Isaiah 27：6。 The followers of Jesus； in co…operation with heavenly intelligences； are rapidly occupying the waste places of the earth； and； as the result of their labors； an abundant fruitage of precious souls is developing。 Today； as never before； the dissemination of Bible truth by means of a consecrated church is bringing to the sons of men the benefits foreshadowed centuries ago in the promise to Abraham and to all Israel；to God's church on earth in every age；〃I will bless thee； 。 。 。 and thou shalt be a blessing。〃 Genesis 12：2。
This promise of blessing should have met fulfillment in large measure during the centuries following the return of the Israelites from the lands of their captivity。 It was God's
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design that the whole earth be prepared for the first advent of Christ； even as today the way is preparing for His second coming。 At the end of the years of humiliating exile； God graciously gave to His people Israel； through Zechariah； the assurance： 〃I am returned unto Zion； and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem： and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth； and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain。〃 And of His people He said； 〃Behold； 。 。 。 I will be their God； in truth and in righteousness。〃 Zechariah 8：3； 7； 8。
These promises were conditional on obedience。 The sins that had characterized the Israelites prior to the captivity； were not to be repeated。 〃Execute true judgment；〃 the Lord exhorted those who were engaged in rebuilding； 〃and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother： and oppress not the widow； nor the fatherless； the stranger； nor the poor； and let none of you imagine evil against his brother。〃 〃Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor； execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates。〃 Zechariah 7：9； 10； 8：16。
Rich were the rewards； both temporal and spiritual； promised those who should put into practice these principles of righteousness。 〃The seed shall be prosperous；〃 the Lord declared； 〃the vine shall give her fruit； and the ground shall give her increase； and the heavens shall give their dew； and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things。 And it shall come to pass； that as ye were a curse among the heathen； O house of Judah； and house of Israel； so I will save you； and ye shall be a blessing。〃 Zechariah 8：12； 13。
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By the Babylonish captivity the Israelites were effectually cured of the worship of graven images。 After their return； they gave much attention to religious instruction and to the study of that which had been written in the book of the law and in the prophets concerning the worship of the true God。 The restoration of the temple enabled them to carry out fully the ritual services of the sanctuary。 Under the leadership of Zerubbabel； of Ezra； and of Nehemiah they repeatedly covenanted to keep all the commandments and ordinances of Jehovah。 The seasons of prosperity that followed gave ample evidence of God's willingness to accept and forgive； and yet with fatal shortsightedness they turned again and again from their glorious destiny and selfishly appropriated to themselves that which would have brought healing and spiritual life to countless multitudes。
This failure to fulfill the divine purpose was very apparent in Malachi's day。 Sternly the Lord's messenger dealt with the evils that were robbing Israel of temporal prosperity and spiritual power。 In his rebuke against transgressors the prophet spared neither priests nor people。 〃The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel〃 through Malachi was that the lessons of the past be not forgotten and that the covenant made by Jehovah with the house of Israel be kept with fidelity。 Only by heartfelt repentance could the blessing of God be realized。 〃I pray you；〃 the prophet pleaded； 〃beseech God that He will be gracious unto us。〃 Malachi 1：1； 9。
Not by any temporary failure of Israel； however； was the plan of the ages for the redemption of mankind to be
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frustrated。 Those to whom the prophet was speaking might not heed the message given； but the purposes of Jehovah were nevertheless to move steadily forward to their complete fulfillment。 〃From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same；〃 the Lord declared through His messenger； 〃My name shall be great among the Gentiles； and in every place incense shall be offered unto My name； and a pure offering： for My name sh