I. To whom it is made —
To the Millennial period, in the first instance, it most undoubtedly refers —
[The whole preceding context clearly shews this. In the beginning of the chapter, God denounces the heaviest judg- ments against his " rebellious people." But, having deter- mined not utterly to destroy them, he says, " As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it ; so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may
not destroy them all b " Then, having contrasted in
very strong terms the felicity of the faithful with the misery of those who shall have provoked him to anger, he proceeds to declare, that the whole nation, yea, and the whole world also, shall be restored to his favour, and enjoy a degree of prosperity unknown to his people, even in the most distinguished periods of their history. So great shall be the change on earth, that it shall be as if " new heavens and a new earth were created:" and all former seasons, whether of prosperity or adversity, shall be forgotten, as being altogether lost in the contemplation of their present bliss c. Holiness and happiness will then reign throughout all the Church, without intermission and without alloy d. His Jewish people shall no more be subjected to the judgments that have been inflicted on them. Instead of being cut off in the midst of their days, their lives shall be so pro- longed, that a person of a hundred years of age shall be accounted but an infant ; and if cut off at that age, he shall be regarded as having prematurely perished under the displeasure of an angry God. Both they and their offspring shall be so blessed of the Lord, as to bear in every respect the marks of his special favour ; and, above all, their communion with him shall be most sweet and intimate, and their commu- nications from him most rich and abundant e.]
But it also belongs to the Church of God in all ages —
[The prophets speak of this privilege as belonging to the saints in their days. David, in his Psalms, is full of this sub- ject : " The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth : He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him ; he will also hear their cry, and will save themf." The Prophet Isaiah says, " Thou shalt call, and the Lord shall answer ; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am?." To the same effect, the Prophet Jeremiah also speaks:
b vei. 8 — 10. c ver. 17. d ver. 18, 19. with 2 Pet. iii. 13. e ver, 20 — 25. with Rev. xxi. 1 — 4. f Ps. cxlv. 18, 19.
s Isai. lviii. 9.