Correspondence

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8. J. L., Coatbridge. Isa. 66:77Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. (Isaiah 66:7), shows that before the travail of Zion, or Israel, the man child, or Christ, would be born. “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child.” Then verse 8 as distinctly foretold, “As soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” This also will come to pass. When Christ was born there was no particular travail or trouble to Israel or Zion. But when the time of tribulation shall come, such as never was, then the remnant of Israel will appear.
Compare Mic. 4 The chief dominion shall come to Zion. (Ver. 8.) This does not hinder the previous travail of the daughter of Zion. (Vers. 9, 10.) In chapter v. it is foretold that Messiah shall be born in Bethlehem, that He would be caught up to God; and that He is from the days of eternity. “Therefore will he give them up [Israel], until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.” Then, as in Isaiah, follows the time of Israel’s blessing.
Christ was born in Bethlehem: He was rejected by the nation, crucified, dead and buried: but raised up from the dead, and received up to God. Israel then was given up to the Romans and scattered amongst all nations. “Therefore will he give them up until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth,” &c. (Mic. 5:33Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. (Micah 5:3).) They are thus given up, and will be, as a nation, until the time of the end shall come.
If we now turn to Rev. 12, verse 1 gives us the woman, the Jewish nation, which is to have the first dominion in this world. Verse 2, her future travail when she bringeth forth the remnant.
Verses 3, 4, 5: the birth of the man-child, Jesus the Christ Satan’s opposition as leading Herod to destroy Him the man-child, as Christ, including His body, the church, caught up to God. (Ver. 6.) Israel flee into the wilderness, as in Mic. 4:1010Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies. (Micah 4:10). The dragon then persecutes the remnant. (Rev. 12:13-1713And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. 14And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. 15And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:13‑17).) The quotations as above from Isa. 66:77Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. (Isaiah 66:7) and Micah make the subject quite clear, and all the politics of this world are tending to that time of the end: Israel’s travail or tribulation; and then the supremacy of Zion over the whole earth. Such will be the end of the Eastern question. Men may forget God in all this, but God will not forget His ancient people Israel. To this also agree the words of Jesus in Luke 21:20-2720And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 25And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:20‑27), with the certainty of His return. The Lord lift up our hearts; soon we shall be caught up to meet Him in the air, before He comes to judge the quick.