17. Who is Zion’s Repurchaser, and when does he repurchase Zion?

¹⁷ Under the Law of Moses, an Israelite who sold himself into slavery could be bought back out of slavery by a repurchaser. Previously in Isaiah’s prophetic book, Jehovah has been characterized as the Repurchaser of repentant individuals. (Isaiah 48:17) Now he is again described as the Repurchaser of repentant ones. Isaiah records Jehovah’s promise: “‘To Zion the Repurchaser will certainly come, and to those turning from transgression in Jacob,’ is the utterance of Jehovah.” (Isaiah 59:20) This reassuring promise is fulfilled in 537 B.C.E. But it has a further fulfillment. The apostle Paul quoted these words from the Septuagint version and applied them to Christians. He wrote: “In this manner all Israel will be saved. Just as it is written: ‘The deliverer will come out of Zion and turn away ungodly practices from Jacob. And this is the covenant on my part with them, when I take their sins away.’” (Romans 11:26, 27) Indeed, Isaiah’s prophecy has a greatly extended application​—one that reaches down to our time and beyond. How so?

19. What covenant does Jehovah make with the Israel of God?

¹⁹ Jehovah now makes a covenant with the Israel of God. We read: “‘As for me, this is my covenant with them,’ Jehovah has said. ‘My spirit that is upon you and my words that I have put in your mouth​—they will not be removed from your mouth or from the mouth of your offspring or from the mouth of the offspring of your offspring,’ Jehovah has said, ‘from now on even to time indefinite.’” (Isaiah 59:21) Whether these words had an application upon Isaiah himself or not, they were certainly fulfilled in Jesus, who was assured that ‘he would see his offspring.’ (Isaiah 53:10) Jesus spoke words that he had learned from Jehovah, and Jehovah’s spirit rested upon him. (John 1:18; 7:16) Fittingly, his brothers and fellow heirs, members of the Israel of God, also receive Jehovah’s holy spirit and preach a message that they have learned from their heavenly Father. They are all “persons taught by Jehovah.” (Isaiah 54:13; Luke 12:12; Acts 2:38) Either through Isaiah or through Jesus, whom Isaiah prophetically pictures, Jehovah now covenants never to replace them but to use them to time indefinite as his witnesses. (Isaiah 43:10) Who, though, are their “offspring” who also benefit from this covenant?

20. How was Jehovah’s promise to Abraham fulfilled in the first century?

²⁰ In ancient times Jehovah promised Abraham: “By means of your seed all nations of the earth will certainly bless themselves.” (Genesis 22:18) In harmony with this, the small remnant of natural Israelites who accepted the Messiah went out into many nations, preaching the good news about the Christ. Starting with Cornelius many uncircumcised Gentiles ‘blessed themselves’ by means of Jesus, Abraham’s Seed. They became part of the Israel of God and a secondary part of the seed of Abraham. They are part of Jehovah’s “holy nation,” whose commission is to “declare abroad the excellencies of the one that called [them] out of darkness into his wonderful light.”​—1 Peter 2:9; Galatians 3:7-9, 14, 26-29.

21. (a) What “offspring” has the Israel of God produced in modern times? (b) How are the “offspring” comforted by the covenant, or contract, that Jehovah has made with the Israel of God?

²¹ Today the full number of the Israel of God appears to have been gathered. Still, the nations continue to be blessed​—and on a grand scale. How? In that the Israel of God has had “offspring,” disciples of Jesus whose hope is everlasting life on a paradise earth. (Psalm 37:11, 29) These “offspring” are also taught by Jehovah and are instructed in his ways. (Isaiah 2:2-4) While not baptized with holy spirit or considered to be participants in the new covenant, they are strengthened by Jehovah’s holy spirit to overcome all the obstacles that Satan puts in the way of their preaching work. (Isaiah 40:28-31) Their number now reaches into the millions and continues to increase as they produce offspring of their own. Jehovah’s covenant, or contract, with the anointed ones gives these “offspring” confidence that Jehovah will continue to use them too as his spokesmen to time indefinite.​—Revelation 21:3, 4, 7.