Turn to me, O children who are returning, says the Lord, for I am your spouse, and I will gather you, one from the city and two from the tribe; I will bring you to Zion. I will provide you with shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with wisdom and instruction. In those days, when you have multiplied and flourished in the land, the Lord declares, they will no longer say: ‘the ark of the covenant of the Lord’; it will not be remembered, nor will it come to mind, nor will it be sought any longer. The Jewish people often believe this was fulfilled upon their return from Babylon under Cyrus, king of Persia, and Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel; even if not everyone returned, this is also reflected in the words, I will take one from the city and two from the tribe.
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However, it is more fitting to view this fulfillment in the coming of the Lord, when the remnant was saved, as stated by the Apostle: If the Lord of hosts had not left us, we would have become like Sodom and Gomorrah (Rom. 9:29). They were then brought into Zion, of which it is declared, ‘Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God’ (Psalm 86:2). Shepherds chosen according to His heart—apostles and apostolic figures—will arise to bring forth a multitude of believers. As the gospel is preached throughout the world, their hope will rest not on Jewish rituals, but on the guidance of Christ and His teaching. Instead of relying on the ark of the Lord, which contained the law of Moses, they themselves will be regarded as the temple of God. They will not engage in obsolete sacrifices like the misguided Nazoreans, but will embrace spiritual worship. Some interpret this in relation to the end times when, following the fullness of the Gentiles, all Israel shall be saved.
THEOSIS