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he ushering in of His everlasting kingdom。 The message was unmistakably plain：
〃Arise； shine； for thy light is come； And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee。
〃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。 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light； And kings to the brightness of thy rising。
〃Lift up thine eyes round about； and see： All they gather themselves together； they come to thee： Thy sons shall come from far； And thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side。〃
〃And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls； And their kings shall minister unto thee： For in My wrath I smote thee； But in My favor have I had mercy on thee。 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually； They shall not be shut day nor night； That men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles； And that their kings may be brought。〃
〃Look unto Me； and be ye saved； all the ends of the earth： For I am God； and there is none else。〃 Isaiah 60：1…4； 10； 11；45：22。
These prophecies of a great spiritual awakening in a time of gross darkness are today meeting fulfillment in the advancing lines of mission stations that are reaching out into the benighted regions of earth。 The groups of missionaries in heathen lands have been likened by the prophet to ensigns
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set up for the guidance of those who are looking for the light of truth。
〃In that day；〃 says Isaiah； 〃there shall be a root of Jesse； which shall stand for an ensign of the people； to it shall the Gentiles seek： and his rest shall be glorious。 And it shall come to pass in that day； that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people。 。 。 。 And He shall set up an ensign for the nations； and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel； and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth。〃 Isaiah 11：10…12。
The day of deliverance is at hand。 〃The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth； to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him。〃 2 Chronicles 16：9。 Among all nations； kindreds； and tongues； He sees men and women who are praying for light and knowledge。 Their souls are unsatisfied； long have they fed on ashes。 See Isaiah 44：20。 The enemy of all righteousness has turned them aside； and they grope as blind men。 But they are honest in heart and desire to learn a better way。 Although in the depths of heathenism； with no knowledge of the written law of God nor of His Son Jesus； they have revealed in manifold ways the working of a divine power on mind and character。
At times those who have no knowledge of God aside from that which they have received under the operations of divine grace have been kind to His servants； protecting them at the risk of their own lives。 The Holy Spirit is implanting the grace of Christ in the heart of many a noble
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seeker after truth； quickening his sympathies contrary to his nature； contrary to his former education。 The 〃Light； which lighteth every man that cometh into the world〃 （John 1：9）； is shining in his soul； and this Light； if heeded； will guide his feet to the kingdom of God。 The prophet Micah said： 〃When I sit in darkness； the Lord shall be a light unto me。 。 。 。 He will bring me forth to the light； and I shall behold His righteousness。〃 Micah 7：8； 9。
Heaven's plan of salvation is broad enough to embrace the whole world。 God longs to breathe into prostrate humanity the breath of life。 And He will not permit any soul to
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be disappointed who is sincere in his longing for something higher and nobler than anything the world can offer。 Constantly He is sending His angels to those who； while surrounded by circumstances the most discouraging； pray in faith for some power higher than themselves to take possession of them and bring deliverance and peace。 In various ways God will reveal Himself to them and will place them in touch with providences that will establish their confidence in the One who has given Himself a ransom for all； 〃that they might set their hope in God； and not forget the works of God； but keep His commandments。〃 Psalm 78：7。
〃Shall the prey be taken from the mighty； or the lawful captive delivered？〃 〃Thus saith the Lord； Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away； and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered。〃 Isaiah 49：24； 25。 〃They shall be greatly ashamed； that trust in graven images； that say to the molten images； Ye are our gods。〃 Isaiah 42：17。
〃Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help； whose hope is in the Lord his God！〃 Psalm 146：5。 〃Turn you to the stronghold； ye prisoners of hope！〃 Zechariah 9：12。 Unto all the honest in heart in heathen lands〃the upright〃 in the sight of Heaven〃there ariseth light in the darkness。〃 Psalm 112：4。 God hath spoken： 〃I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not； I will lead them in paths that they have not known： I will make darkness light before them； and crooked things straight。 These things will I do unto them； and not forsake them。〃 Isaiah 42：16。
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National Retribution
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〃I will correct thee in measure； and will not leave thee altogether unpunished。〃 Jeremiah 30：11
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Chapter 32
Manasseh and Josiah
The kingdom of Judah； prosperous throughout the times of Hezekiah； was once more brought low during the long years of Manasseh's wicked reign； when paganism was revived； and many of the people were led into idolatry。 〃Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err； and to do worse than the heathen。〃 2 Chronicles 33：9。 The glorious light of former generations was followed by the darkness of superstition and error。 Gross evils sprang up and flourishedtyranny； oppression； hatred of all that is good。 Justice was perverted； violence prevailed。
Yet those evil times were not without witnesses for God and the right。 The trying experiences through which Judah had safely passed during Hezekiah's reign had developed； in the hearts of many； a sturdiness of character that now served as a bulwark against the prevailing iniquity。 Their testimony in behalf of truth and righteousness aroused the anger of Manasseh and his associates in authority； who
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endeavored to establish themselves in evil…doing by silencing every voice of disapproval。 〃Manasseh shed innocent blood very much； till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another。〃 2 Kings 21：16。
One of the first to fall was Isaiah； who for over half a century had stood Judah as the appointed messenger of Jehovah。 〃Others had trial of cruel mockings a