THE HOPE OF ISRAEL - The Preterist Archive

The Hope of Israel: What Is It? 221
and there should be no hesitation or reluctance so to
do, seeing that figurative language is the customary
language of the prophets. And a most satisfactory explanation
of those expressions immediately presents
itself, when we call to mind that God's people constitute
His true dwelling place. It was Israel that was "fallen,"
and that was, in God's contemplation, in "ruins." It
was Israel that God purposed to "raise up again"
not, of course, the natural Israel, but the spiritual
Israel, the true "Israel of God," a people composed of
the saved remnant of the natural Israel, with whom
are incorporated into one body, forming one spiritual
house, the called from among the Gentiles. To these
Amos refers in the words "remnant of Edom, and of
all the heathen (Gentiles) upon whom My Name is
called" (Am. 9:12, marg.). Instead of "remnant of
Edom," James has "residue of men," which indicates
that Amos used the word "Edom" figuratively to designate
all who were not "Jacob," that is, non-Israelites.
The words "Gentiles upon whom My Name is called"
refer back to the words "to take out of them a people
for His Name"; which further serves to show that
the prophecy of Amos has its fulfilment in God's present
day visitation of the Gentiles.
The word "tabernacle" is used of God's dwelling place
in the N. T. Thus we read in Hebrews 8:1, 2 concerning
Christ that He is "a minister of the sanctuary,
and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, and
not man" ;
and again, in the last vision of the Apocalypse,
John saw the New Jerusalem coming down from
heaven, and heard a great voice saying, "Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men" (Rev. 21:1-3). Moreover,
in this connection the Lord Jesus announces