251. To demonstrate from the Word that it contains pairs of expressions which look like repetitions of the same thing would be tedious, since it would fill pages. But in order to remove any doubt, I should like to quote passages where nation and people, and joy and gladness are mentioned together. The passages in which nation 1
and people are named are the following:
Woe to the nation of sinners, a people burdened with iniquity, Isaiah 1:4.
The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light; you have increased the nation, Isaiah 9:2-3.
Assyria is the rod of my anger; I shall send him against a nation of hypocrites, against the people of my wrath shall I order him to march, Isaiah 10:5-6.
It will happen on that day, the nations will seek the root of Jesse, who stands as a sign to the peoples, Isaiah 11:10.
Jehovah who struck the peoples an incurable blow, mastering the nations with wrath, Isaiah 14:6.
On that day there will be brought as a gift to Jehovah Zebaoth a people torn apart and plundered, and a nation measured out and trampled, Isaiah 18:7.
A strong people will honour you, the city of powerful nations will fear you, Isaiah 25:3.
Jehovah will swallow up the veil over all peoples, the pall over all nations, Isaiah 25:7.
Approach, you nations, and listen, you peoples, Isaiah 34:1.
I have called you to be a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, Isaiah 42:6.
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples assemble, Isaiah 43:9.
Look, I shall raise my hand towards the nations, and my signal towards the peoples, Isaiah 49:22.
I made him a witness to the peoples a prince and law-giver to the nations, Isaiah 55:4-5.
Look, a people coming from the land of the north, and a mighty nation from the corners of the earth, Jeremiah 6:22-23.
I shall make you not to hear any longer the slander of the nations, and you will no longer bear the reproaches of the peoples, Ezekiel 36:15.
All peoples and nations will worship Him, Daniel 7:14.
Lest the nations make a by-word of them, and say among the peoples, Where is their God? Joel 2:17.
The survivors of my people will plunder them, and the remnant of my nation will take their inheritance, Zephaniah 2:9.
Many people and numerous nations will come to seek Jehovah in Jerusalem, Zechariah 8:22.
My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to be a revelation to the nations, Luke 2:30-32.
You have redeemed us by your blood from every people and nation, Revelation 5:9.
You must prophesy again over the peoples and nations, Revelation 10:11.
You will set me to be head of the nations; a people whom I knew not shall serve me, Psalms 18:43.
Jehovah makes vain the counsel of the nations, overthrows the thoughts of the peoples, Psalms 33:10.
You make us a proverb among the nations, a wagging of the head among the peoples, Psalms 44:14.
Jehovah will set peoples subject to us, and nations beneath our feet. God reigns over the nations: the willing ones of the peoples are gathered, Psalms 47:3, 8-9.
The peoples shall confess you, and the nations shall shout for joy; because you will judge the peoples with righteousness and will lead the nations on the earth, Psalms 67:3-4.
Remember me, Jehovah, in showing favour to your people, that I may rejoice in the joy of your nations, Psalms 106:4-5.
There are other passages too.
The reason why nations and peoples are mentioned together is that nations means those who are in possession of good, and in the opposite sense, those who are in possession of evil; and peoples means those who are in possession of truths, and in the opposite sense, those who are in possession of falsities. Therefore, those who belong to the Lord's spiritual kingdom are called peoples, and those who belong to His celestial kingdom are called nations. For all who possess truths and the intelligence they give are in the spiritual kingdom, and all who possess various kinds of good and the wisdom they give are in the celestial kingdom.
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