ISRAEL is the Light of the World [Isa 60:1-3]

Hi Interested one,

You are invited to read the thoughts of Pastor Charles Taze Russell on the meaning of Isaiah 60:1-3 from the Expanded Bible Comments book. 

I enjoy reading the entire right side column first, often finding it flows like a narrative, even though it is made up of simple quotes excerpted from his works over many years. 

You are invited to click the links to allow him to expound his views confirmed by world events.  Indeed, all our recent history shows that his thoughts then are exactly true today:  all eyes are upon ISRAEL and will continue to be, as we wait for the transition from the Anarchy to God's Kingdom on Earth.  

RcB

Isaiah 60: 1-3

Scripture	Expanded Comments
	from Pastor Charles Taze Russell unless indicated by an *
1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.	Arise, shine – Has a double application-first to spiritual Israel, and second, to Israel after the flesh.R2036:1, R2372:5  "Arise, give light." R1746:6  Beginning to be spoken to natural Israel in 1878. R107:2*  Reminding us of our Lord's counsel to Mary after his resurrection. When she would linger in his presence he reminded her to bear the good tidings to the other disciples. R2036:6  Through the secondary instrumentality of the fleshly seed of Abraham shall all the nations of the world be blessed. R1746:6  God's message to fleshly Israel at the dawn of the Millennial age. R1747:1  The prophet calls upon the saints to shine now; all who have been enlightened by the Harvest Message. R2036:2  Thy light is come – "The Sun of Righteousness," the Lord Jesus at his second advent. R2036:1  Light, to Israel, was the hope of the resurrection. That hope is not yet realized, "waiting for the completion of the resurrection of Christ." R751:2*  The Bride (as part of the "Sun of Righteousness"). R238:2*[R237:15], R2037:4[R2037:5]  The Lamb (Head and Body) is the light thereof. (Rev. 21:23) R244:1*  When the finished Temple of God shall displace the present tabernacle. R1982:2
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.	Behold, the darkness – Confused regarding the plan of God; from the standpoint of human creeds.CR267:2; A18  Evidenced by the some 600 sects of Christian people, besides other sects of other religious people. CR267:2  Cover the earth – Civilized society. R3686:2; CR227:4  And will continue to do so until all the members of the Church, the "Body" of the great High Priest, shall have first gone beyond the second veil (actual death) into the Most Holy by resurrection change. T90  Of the world's population of 1,424,000,000 (1883) nearly two-thirds are still total heathen, and the remainder are mostly Mohammedan or followers of great apostate churches. R535:2*  The entire 6,000 years of the reign of sin, from Adam's disobedience until the establishment of the reign of Christ, has been a night time. HG433:3  Satan is "the ruler of the darkness of this world." (Eph. 6:12) A68  But the world is not always to remain in this condition. "The morning cometh." (Isa. 21:12) A21  And gross darkness – "The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not." (2 Cor. 4:4) T90; R2122:6  There are different shades of darkness. R5099:5; CR220:5  The majority are not able to see the desirability of the truth. R5338:3  Notwithstanding the faithfulness of Jesus and a few lightbearers. R4987:6  Human affairs have become demoralized by the darkness of ignorance and superstition. R5097:2  God's people have need to take heed to every step. CR251:4  The people – The heathen. R3686:2; CR220:4; SM240:2, SM435:2  Glory shall be seen – The bow of promise; the Lord comes while yet darkness covers the earth.A18; R2036:2  There is a refractive light and influence wherever the Lord's saints reside. SM699:T  When, by and by, we shall shine in the glory of the Kingdom for the blessing of the whole world.R2036:5
3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.	And the Gentiles – The nations of the earth in general, the heathen. A18, R535:1  Not only the living Gentiles. but also the living Jews, shall come to the light and blessing of the Millennial Kingdom. R2402:4  Come to thy light – Applies to spiritual Israel; also to fleshly Israel restored to favor. D638  After the resurrection of the Church. Christ will be revealed in glory and light to Israel. They shall fall before him and go out as a people through whom God will lighten the Gentiles. R751:3*  From Israel the light will shine out which will bring the chastened world to its knees and usher in the pouring out of the spirit of holiness "upon all flesh." D639  The world will be given time to see in Israel the operation of divine government, in contrast with anarchy, so that the majority of all nations shall desire the Kingdom rule. D638  None shall be permitted to languish in darkness or fail of eternal life by reason of lack of knowledge, but in due time all the blind eyes shall be opened. R2409:1  And kings – Earth's principal ones. D638