In the debate over Biblical eschatology, a central pillar of the postmillennial argument has been the prophesied future revival among the Jews.

Romans 11, and other Scripture passages, point to an event where the Jews will finally turn to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. A number of Reformed theologians, however, have tried to "spiritualize" this event, so that in their view it is not referring to the Jews (as a people) at all. This frequently leads to the erroneous Amillennial view.

Herman Witsius, the noted Dutch theologian of the seventeenth century, was a major proponent of the more natural interpretation of these passages, and in this booklet he strongly opposes those who spiritualize the interpretation. Witsius begins this piece by saying, "We may reckon among the benefits of the New Testament the restoration of the Israelites, who were formerly rejected, and the bringing them back to the communion of God in Christ" (p. 4).

He then expounds upon Romans chapter 11, showing this to be the case. Having completed this exposition, he notes that any other interpretation (i.e., other than "Israel" meaning the Jews in Romans 11) is wrong: "From what we have said before, it appears, that they depart from the apostle's meaning, who, by *all Israel*, understand the *mystical Israel*, or the people of God, consisting both of Jews and Gentiles, without admitting the conversion of the whole Jewish nation to Christ, in the sense we have mentioned" (p. 8).

In summary form, Witsius' position is that "we are to expect the general conversion of the Israelites in time to come, not indeed of every individual, but of the whole body of the nation, and of the twelve tribes" (p. 16).

This is a great future event that Christians can look forward to. A major revival is yet to occur. 22 pages (extracted from The Economy of the Covenants by George White).