l***@hotmail.com
2006-08-29 03:35:05 UTC
One of the issues of discussion lately has been the concern of
distinquishing Israel from the Church. Any clear understanding of
Biblical doctrine absolutely requires an appreciatation and application
of proper distinctions. Since Pentecost, one of the key biblical
distinctions to be understood is the distinction between Israel and the
Church. Failures in drawing or maintaining this basic distinction has
led major theological schools draw up heretical conclusions. There are
many avenues upon which we can traverse in presenting theological,
historical or most especially, biblical defense for the continuation of
Israel's distinct identity from the Church. Initially, however, I
would like to stick with the biblical distinction between Israel being
presented as the "Wife of Jehovah" as to be distinquished from the
Church as being represented as the "Bride of Christ." The biblical
account of the first of these, the Wife of Jehovah (WJ), presents YHVH
as the husband of Israel. A careful study of this relationship reveals
six distinct stages of development.
Stage One: The Marriage Contract
Most of us when reading the book of Deuteronomy, the book most quoted
from by Christ during His first advent, often look at it as a rehashing
of the 3 books of law prior to it: Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. In
point of fact, the very title, Deuteronomy," means a second [giving] of
the law." Actually, there is very little in this book which is not
already stated in the previous three. However, there is one very
important aspect of Deuteronomy which Moses intends to distinquish it
from the preceeding three -namely, the giving of the Law is specific to
Israel on a very unique basis- a marriage relationship between Jehovah
and the elect Nation of Israel. Many noted Jewish rabbis point to the
fact that the entire literary style of Deuteronomy is in the very same
format as an ancient marriage contract. Deuteronomy is the marriage
contract signed between Israel and God, wherein Israel becomes espoused
to Jehovah as His wife. Briefly we will note a few passages which
illustrate this.
Deut 5:1-3. It is here that God declares that He has entered into a
covenant (contractual) relationship with the descendents of Jacob.
This is the specificity of Sinai. In the following points, this will
be supported by the writings of both the major and minor prophets.
Deut 6:10-15. Jehovah declares that He is a jealous husband. Here in
God, as a faithful husband, warns His wife, Israel, against adultery.
Because it is God who is Israel's husband, adultery is defined by the
worship of other gods. The warning given to Israel is nothingless than
the fierce and burning jealousy with which God will kindled against
her. One notable result of Israel's forsaking her marriage vows, is
expulsion from the promised land grant.
Deut 7:6-11. Again, Moses expresses the election of Israel in v. 6.
In vs 7 & 8 the reason for such a calling is given. Israel is not
specifically chosen out from the other nations of the world because of
any thing special, in fact, there is nothing really special about her
at all. The one and only basic reason for her election is that it
pleased God to bestow His special love upon her. It is because of His
love Israel that God enters into a marriage contract wth Israel. It is
because of the covenantal relationshi that Israel is now obligated (vv.
9-11) to remain faithful to Jehovah alone. Jehovah here implores His
wife to remain steadfast in her relationship with Him, faithful and
obedient, the Lord of her life.
Ezek. 16:8 "Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at
the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your
nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so
that you became Mine," declares the Lord God.
The major prophet Ezekial here reveals the heart of God on His wedding
night with His wife, Israel. The Sinaic Covenant contractually
declares the distinctiveness of Israel as the wife of Jehovah.
Stage Two: The Great Adultery
Even though there are many explicit warnings given to Israel, sternly
admonishing her to remain faithful to her Husband God, she does not
listen. (cp 1 Cor 10:11) Several prophets from the Jewish Testament
illustrate this fact. Jere 3:1-3 declares that Israel has not only
been an unfaithful wife, she has in fact played the harlot with many
lovers. Verse 20 declares she deliberately turned away from her
Husband to play with other suitors.She is guilty of adultery and
because of this harlotry, the original contract was broken.
Jer. 31:32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the
day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My
covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them, "declares
the Lord.
The Mosaic/Sinaic covenant is proven conditional by the fact that
disobedience on the part of one party nullied the contract. Jeremiah
testifies to the obvious that it was not the Husband who voided the
contract. Rather, it was the wife who obstantly chased after other
gods in spiritual adultery.
Ezekiel futher expounds this aspect in 16:15-34, declaring Israel
guilty by playing the harlot (v. 15). She was especially evil because
instead of seeking gain from her patrons, she paid her lovers (.vs
16-19) for their services. Israel sought from strangers that which she
would not allow her rightful Husband to provide to her.
Even beyond this evil, Israel went so far in her adultery as to
sacrifice her own children to these hired lovers (vs. 20, 21). She
abandoned her first love, the love of her yourth when God first entered
into a relationship with her (v. 22). It is interesting to note that
in vs. 23-29, that the very lovers which she frequented where the gods
of the nations which would in the end be used to punish her for her
wickedness -Egypt, Assyria and Babylon. It was a weakness of heart
(depravity of heart) which caused Israel to bribe her lovers (vs.
30-34).
The minor prophet, Hosea, as God's agent, is most interesting in
illustrating the adultery of Israel. In 2:2-5, Israel is formally
charged as being guilty. Her children were the products of these
adulterous relationship and where hence illegitmate (v.4).
Stage Three: Separation
Is. 50:1 Thus says the Lord, "Where is the certificate of divorce, By
which I have sent your mother away? Or to whom of My creditors did I
sell you? Behold, you were sold for your iniquities, And for your
transgressions your mother was sent away.
By law, a written certificate of divorce was required (Deut 24:1).
Through Isaiah, God states that He has not yet come to the point of
offically serving a writ of divorce. Instead of divorce, a separation
takes place.It was a separation which lasted for nearly 100 yrs, but
with no positive effect borne from it.
Stage Four: Divorce
Even after this time of separation, Israel, the wife of God, has not
repented and returned to her husband. Therefore God has only one
option left to Him.
Jer. 3:8 "And I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I
had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce, yet her treacherous
sister Judah did not fear; but she went and was a harlot also.
What was true for the northern tribes was soon followed by the southern
tribes.
Stage Five: The Punishment
Deuteronomy declares the punishment that would result if Israel played
the harlot. For unfaithfulness, she would be punished. Many
prophecies speak of this punishment.
Ezekiel 16:35-43 After stating the cause of her punishment, adultery
(vv 35-36), Ezekiel then reveals the punishment itself (vs 37-41). The
nations whos gods Israel had played the harlot with, would be the very
thing with which Israel would be destroyed. Later in this chapter,
Ezekial, the necessity of this punishment is again spoken of:
Ezek. 16:58, 59 "You have borne the penalty of your lewdness and
abominations," the Lord declares. For thus says the Lord God, "I will
also do with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath by
breaking the covenant.
The program of despensing this judgment is describes in Hosea 2:6-13.
Judgment comes to purify the unfaithful wife. To show her need for her
true Husband. Punishment will finally reveal to her her nakedness,
causing shame and removal of joy and material blessings. And though
this program of judgment was to be a long one, God never ceases to out
to Israel to repent and come back to Him (vv. 11-13). God then
discloses the blessings waiting her we she does finally return to Hi
(vs. 14-18). Then, after again declaring that He is her Husband once
again (v. 14) He promises to restore and to provide for her as a good
husband should (vs. 15-18).
And to this very day, this is where Israel stands in her relationship
with God.
Stage Six: Remarriage with Restored Blessings
Now we come to the main point of this thread -that God has not ceased
in His faithfulness to the physical descendants of Jacob/Israel. The
Jewish prophets did not leave off at this point in a state of
hopelessness. Rather, they spoke of a coming day when Israel would be
restored to her original calling, to be the Wife of Jehovah. Of
course, a new marriage contract is necessitated because the old
contract was voided by the writ of divorce cause by Israel's
unfaithfulness. This new contract is specified in Jere 31:31-34.
"Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like
the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by
the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they
broke, although I was a husband to them, "declares the Lord. "But this
is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those
days," declares the Lord, "I will put My law within them, and on their
heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My
people. And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each
man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know Me,
from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the Lord,
"for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no
more."
BOTH houses of Israel are brought back into this reunification. And
unlike the Sinaic marriage contract, this new contract is to be an
eternal, unbreakable contract.
Ezek. 16:60-63 "Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in
the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant
with you. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you
receive your sisters, both your older and your younger; and I will give
them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant. Thus I
will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the
Lord, in order that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open
your mouth anymore because of your humiliation, when I have forgiven
you for all that you have done," the Lord God declares.
This everlasting covenant is the same as that of the "New Covenant" of
Jere 31. The restoration of Israel as Jehovah's wife is also described
in Isaiah 54:1-8 where Isaih begins by declaring that the restored wife
will then begin to bear legitimate children. In the past, Israel had
produced many more illegitimate than legitimate children. But here God
now promises to enlarge Israel's house to accommodate the legitmiate
children she will produce when she returns and reweds her Husband.
In Isaiah 62:4-5 restored Israel regains the full inheritance of the
original land promises. That which she lost and more will be granted to
her as if she were a virgin bride.
Hosea who had much to say about Israel's unfaithful adulteries, also
speaks of her reunion with her Husband in 2:14-23. The courtship and
wooing in the wilderness is described in vs 14 & 15. It is in the
wilderness that God will once again speak to Israel's heart and she
will be humbled and respond to His calling. When she responds her
vineyards will be restored. In vs 16-23 four results of this
restoration are noted.
1. vs. 16-17 Israel will no longer call her Husband by the name,
"Baali" but only "Ishi." Both words in the Hebrew interpret to say,
"my husband" but the former has the sense of "my master" while the
later has the sense of "my man."
2. v 18. Peace and safety are guaranteed not by a human ruler or
government (Dan 9:27) but by God Himself. Never again will Israel fear
invasion by her enemies, by the enemies of God.
3. v. 19-20. The betrothal itself. There are three aspects to this
bethrothal. (1), as to time: this bethrothal is forever. (2) as to
content: righteous, loving, just and merciful. (3) as to quality: it
will accomplished in faithfulness. (4) as to a new meaning to
"Jezreel:"(vv 21-23). The old meaning was "God scatters" but the
second meaning, "God sows" is to be adopted. The marriage will grant
to Israel God's unhindered blessings.
*****************
The restoration of Israel occurs in "The Day of the Lord." This "Day"
includes the time of final harlotry when Israel seeks a peace accord
with the Antichrist at the beginning of Daniel's 70th week. The final
separation occurs at the middle of that week when the covenant is
broken and Israel is scattered and 2/3rds are killed while God hides
1/3 in His city of refuge. It is during this last 3 1/2 yr period
(Dan.12, Jere 30:7, Mt 24, Rev 13:5) , the "Time of Jacob's Trouble"
that Israel is purified and humbled (Zeph 3:12). It then, during the
following Millennial Kingdom where Christ sits in Jerusalem and rules
all the nations of earth, that Israel will realize her elections and
will inherit fully all the promises covenanted to them.
Though there are many figures of speach made throughout these passages,
there is absolutely no justification warranted to "spiritualize" or
"allegorize" the clear intend of these prophecies and covenants. The
Church inherits the spiritual aspects but never the physical aspects of
the covenants made with Israel. Both the term Israel and Jacob are
NEVER applied to the Church. In fact, if this were forced, such an
imprisonment would only turn in on itself as it would then be self
consuming as Israel, as often noted, includes both the faithful remnant
as well as the unbelieving remnant. The Church of the NT is never
composed of an unbelieving remnant. There are those who inflitrate the
local churches, but they are never recognized as being part of the
Church. Only those who have been "born again" are placed in the "body
of Christ." Israel is Israel and the Church is the Church.
Those who would refute this have but one charge: provide both
theological and biblical proof for the allegorical method of
interpretation required to bare such a conclusion.
distinquishing Israel from the Church. Any clear understanding of
Biblical doctrine absolutely requires an appreciatation and application
of proper distinctions. Since Pentecost, one of the key biblical
distinctions to be understood is the distinction between Israel and the
Church. Failures in drawing or maintaining this basic distinction has
led major theological schools draw up heretical conclusions. There are
many avenues upon which we can traverse in presenting theological,
historical or most especially, biblical defense for the continuation of
Israel's distinct identity from the Church. Initially, however, I
would like to stick with the biblical distinction between Israel being
presented as the "Wife of Jehovah" as to be distinquished from the
Church as being represented as the "Bride of Christ." The biblical
account of the first of these, the Wife of Jehovah (WJ), presents YHVH
as the husband of Israel. A careful study of this relationship reveals
six distinct stages of development.
Stage One: The Marriage Contract
Most of us when reading the book of Deuteronomy, the book most quoted
from by Christ during His first advent, often look at it as a rehashing
of the 3 books of law prior to it: Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. In
point of fact, the very title, Deuteronomy," means a second [giving] of
the law." Actually, there is very little in this book which is not
already stated in the previous three. However, there is one very
important aspect of Deuteronomy which Moses intends to distinquish it
from the preceeding three -namely, the giving of the Law is specific to
Israel on a very unique basis- a marriage relationship between Jehovah
and the elect Nation of Israel. Many noted Jewish rabbis point to the
fact that the entire literary style of Deuteronomy is in the very same
format as an ancient marriage contract. Deuteronomy is the marriage
contract signed between Israel and God, wherein Israel becomes espoused
to Jehovah as His wife. Briefly we will note a few passages which
illustrate this.
Deut 5:1-3. It is here that God declares that He has entered into a
covenant (contractual) relationship with the descendents of Jacob.
This is the specificity of Sinai. In the following points, this will
be supported by the writings of both the major and minor prophets.
Deut 6:10-15. Jehovah declares that He is a jealous husband. Here in
God, as a faithful husband, warns His wife, Israel, against adultery.
Because it is God who is Israel's husband, adultery is defined by the
worship of other gods. The warning given to Israel is nothingless than
the fierce and burning jealousy with which God will kindled against
her. One notable result of Israel's forsaking her marriage vows, is
expulsion from the promised land grant.
Deut 7:6-11. Again, Moses expresses the election of Israel in v. 6.
In vs 7 & 8 the reason for such a calling is given. Israel is not
specifically chosen out from the other nations of the world because of
any thing special, in fact, there is nothing really special about her
at all. The one and only basic reason for her election is that it
pleased God to bestow His special love upon her. It is because of His
love Israel that God enters into a marriage contract wth Israel. It is
because of the covenantal relationshi that Israel is now obligated (vv.
9-11) to remain faithful to Jehovah alone. Jehovah here implores His
wife to remain steadfast in her relationship with Him, faithful and
obedient, the Lord of her life.
Ezek. 16:8 "Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at
the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your
nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so
that you became Mine," declares the Lord God.
The major prophet Ezekial here reveals the heart of God on His wedding
night with His wife, Israel. The Sinaic Covenant contractually
declares the distinctiveness of Israel as the wife of Jehovah.
Stage Two: The Great Adultery
Even though there are many explicit warnings given to Israel, sternly
admonishing her to remain faithful to her Husband God, she does not
listen. (cp 1 Cor 10:11) Several prophets from the Jewish Testament
illustrate this fact. Jere 3:1-3 declares that Israel has not only
been an unfaithful wife, she has in fact played the harlot with many
lovers. Verse 20 declares she deliberately turned away from her
Husband to play with other suitors.She is guilty of adultery and
because of this harlotry, the original contract was broken.
Jer. 31:32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the
day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My
covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them, "declares
the Lord.
The Mosaic/Sinaic covenant is proven conditional by the fact that
disobedience on the part of one party nullied the contract. Jeremiah
testifies to the obvious that it was not the Husband who voided the
contract. Rather, it was the wife who obstantly chased after other
gods in spiritual adultery.
Ezekiel futher expounds this aspect in 16:15-34, declaring Israel
guilty by playing the harlot (v. 15). She was especially evil because
instead of seeking gain from her patrons, she paid her lovers (.vs
16-19) for their services. Israel sought from strangers that which she
would not allow her rightful Husband to provide to her.
Even beyond this evil, Israel went so far in her adultery as to
sacrifice her own children to these hired lovers (vs. 20, 21). She
abandoned her first love, the love of her yourth when God first entered
into a relationship with her (v. 22). It is interesting to note that
in vs. 23-29, that the very lovers which she frequented where the gods
of the nations which would in the end be used to punish her for her
wickedness -Egypt, Assyria and Babylon. It was a weakness of heart
(depravity of heart) which caused Israel to bribe her lovers (vs.
30-34).
The minor prophet, Hosea, as God's agent, is most interesting in
illustrating the adultery of Israel. In 2:2-5, Israel is formally
charged as being guilty. Her children were the products of these
adulterous relationship and where hence illegitmate (v.4).
Stage Three: Separation
Is. 50:1 Thus says the Lord, "Where is the certificate of divorce, By
which I have sent your mother away? Or to whom of My creditors did I
sell you? Behold, you were sold for your iniquities, And for your
transgressions your mother was sent away.
By law, a written certificate of divorce was required (Deut 24:1).
Through Isaiah, God states that He has not yet come to the point of
offically serving a writ of divorce. Instead of divorce, a separation
takes place.It was a separation which lasted for nearly 100 yrs, but
with no positive effect borne from it.
Stage Four: Divorce
Even after this time of separation, Israel, the wife of God, has not
repented and returned to her husband. Therefore God has only one
option left to Him.
Jer. 3:8 "And I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I
had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce, yet her treacherous
sister Judah did not fear; but she went and was a harlot also.
What was true for the northern tribes was soon followed by the southern
tribes.
Stage Five: The Punishment
Deuteronomy declares the punishment that would result if Israel played
the harlot. For unfaithfulness, she would be punished. Many
prophecies speak of this punishment.
Ezekiel 16:35-43 After stating the cause of her punishment, adultery
(vv 35-36), Ezekiel then reveals the punishment itself (vs 37-41). The
nations whos gods Israel had played the harlot with, would be the very
thing with which Israel would be destroyed. Later in this chapter,
Ezekial, the necessity of this punishment is again spoken of:
Ezek. 16:58, 59 "You have borne the penalty of your lewdness and
abominations," the Lord declares. For thus says the Lord God, "I will
also do with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath by
breaking the covenant.
The program of despensing this judgment is describes in Hosea 2:6-13.
Judgment comes to purify the unfaithful wife. To show her need for her
true Husband. Punishment will finally reveal to her her nakedness,
causing shame and removal of joy and material blessings. And though
this program of judgment was to be a long one, God never ceases to out
to Israel to repent and come back to Him (vv. 11-13). God then
discloses the blessings waiting her we she does finally return to Hi
(vs. 14-18). Then, after again declaring that He is her Husband once
again (v. 14) He promises to restore and to provide for her as a good
husband should (vs. 15-18).
And to this very day, this is where Israel stands in her relationship
with God.
Stage Six: Remarriage with Restored Blessings
Now we come to the main point of this thread -that God has not ceased
in His faithfulness to the physical descendants of Jacob/Israel. The
Jewish prophets did not leave off at this point in a state of
hopelessness. Rather, they spoke of a coming day when Israel would be
restored to her original calling, to be the Wife of Jehovah. Of
course, a new marriage contract is necessitated because the old
contract was voided by the writ of divorce cause by Israel's
unfaithfulness. This new contract is specified in Jere 31:31-34.
"Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new
covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like
the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by
the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they
broke, although I was a husband to them, "declares the Lord. "But this
is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those
days," declares the Lord, "I will put My law within them, and on their
heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My
people. And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each
man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know Me,
from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the Lord,
"for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no
more."
BOTH houses of Israel are brought back into this reunification. And
unlike the Sinaic marriage contract, this new contract is to be an
eternal, unbreakable contract.
Ezek. 16:60-63 "Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in
the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant
with you. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you
receive your sisters, both your older and your younger; and I will give
them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant. Thus I
will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the
Lord, in order that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open
your mouth anymore because of your humiliation, when I have forgiven
you for all that you have done," the Lord God declares.
This everlasting covenant is the same as that of the "New Covenant" of
Jere 31. The restoration of Israel as Jehovah's wife is also described
in Isaiah 54:1-8 where Isaih begins by declaring that the restored wife
will then begin to bear legitimate children. In the past, Israel had
produced many more illegitimate than legitimate children. But here God
now promises to enlarge Israel's house to accommodate the legitmiate
children she will produce when she returns and reweds her Husband.
In Isaiah 62:4-5 restored Israel regains the full inheritance of the
original land promises. That which she lost and more will be granted to
her as if she were a virgin bride.
Hosea who had much to say about Israel's unfaithful adulteries, also
speaks of her reunion with her Husband in 2:14-23. The courtship and
wooing in the wilderness is described in vs 14 & 15. It is in the
wilderness that God will once again speak to Israel's heart and she
will be humbled and respond to His calling. When she responds her
vineyards will be restored. In vs 16-23 four results of this
restoration are noted.
1. vs. 16-17 Israel will no longer call her Husband by the name,
"Baali" but only "Ishi." Both words in the Hebrew interpret to say,
"my husband" but the former has the sense of "my master" while the
later has the sense of "my man."
2. v 18. Peace and safety are guaranteed not by a human ruler or
government (Dan 9:27) but by God Himself. Never again will Israel fear
invasion by her enemies, by the enemies of God.
3. v. 19-20. The betrothal itself. There are three aspects to this
bethrothal. (1), as to time: this bethrothal is forever. (2) as to
content: righteous, loving, just and merciful. (3) as to quality: it
will accomplished in faithfulness. (4) as to a new meaning to
"Jezreel:"(vv 21-23). The old meaning was "God scatters" but the
second meaning, "God sows" is to be adopted. The marriage will grant
to Israel God's unhindered blessings.
*****************
The restoration of Israel occurs in "The Day of the Lord." This "Day"
includes the time of final harlotry when Israel seeks a peace accord
with the Antichrist at the beginning of Daniel's 70th week. The final
separation occurs at the middle of that week when the covenant is
broken and Israel is scattered and 2/3rds are killed while God hides
1/3 in His city of refuge. It is during this last 3 1/2 yr period
(Dan.12, Jere 30:7, Mt 24, Rev 13:5) , the "Time of Jacob's Trouble"
that Israel is purified and humbled (Zeph 3:12). It then, during the
following Millennial Kingdom where Christ sits in Jerusalem and rules
all the nations of earth, that Israel will realize her elections and
will inherit fully all the promises covenanted to them.
Though there are many figures of speach made throughout these passages,
there is absolutely no justification warranted to "spiritualize" or
"allegorize" the clear intend of these prophecies and covenants. The
Church inherits the spiritual aspects but never the physical aspects of
the covenants made with Israel. Both the term Israel and Jacob are
NEVER applied to the Church. In fact, if this were forced, such an
imprisonment would only turn in on itself as it would then be self
consuming as Israel, as often noted, includes both the faithful remnant
as well as the unbelieving remnant. The Church of the NT is never
composed of an unbelieving remnant. There are those who inflitrate the
local churches, but they are never recognized as being part of the
Church. Only those who have been "born again" are placed in the "body
of Christ." Israel is Israel and the Church is the Church.
Those who would refute this have but one charge: provide both
theological and biblical proof for the allegorical method of
interpretation required to bare such a conclusion.