A SECOND COMING ANNOUNCED

A SECOND COMING ANNOUNCED 

"I will, go and return to my place, till . . ." Hosea 5:1

The word till, with which we end the quotation, is an arresting and illuminating word. In this chapter we have the prophet's special message to the priests, to the people, and to the king, concerning the national pollution, and the Divine judgments consequent thereupon. These latter are described in their progressive nature. First there was the JUDGMENT OF THE MOTH AND ROTTENNESS. This was already upon them; they were sick and feeble, who should have been strong. Then there would be the JUDGMENT OF CALAMITY FROM WITHOUT, suggested under the figure of the lion and the young lion, both hunters of the prey. The final form was the JUDGMENT OF THE DIVINE WITHDRAWAL. Jehovah declared that He would go and return to His place. This was the direst calamity necessarily which could befall this people. It will be remembered that much later, Ezekiel saw in visions this very thing happen in the case of Judah. It was in connection with this FINAL PHASE OF JUDGMENT that the prophet used this word till. The DIVINE WITHDRAWAL WAS NOT TO BE FINAL; it was a method intended to produce a result, which would make HIS RETURN POSSIBLE and that at His Second Coming. "In their affliction they will seek Me earnestly," and when that is so, He returns. The ultimate glory of Ezekiel's vision was that he saw the RETURN OF JEHOVAH TO HIS HOUSE AND SO TO HIS PEOPLE. That note is forever to be found in the words which speak of the judgments of Jehovah upon His people. When, long after these things, the Messiah had to pronounce a DOOM UPON THE CITY, and prolong the period of the desolation because He was rejected, we still find the word till; "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate; for I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth TILL ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Matt 23:38; Luke 13:35) And He will return again as Hosea made known in this chapter.