Centuries before, the pen of inspiration had traced this ingathering of the Gentiles; but those prophetic utterances had been but dimly understood. Hosea had said: "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God." And again: I will sow her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not My people, Thou art My people; and they shall say, Thou art my God." Hosea 1:10; 2:23.

For århundreder siden havde inspirationens pen skildret hedningernes frelse, men disse profetiske ord havde kun i ringe grad været forstået. Hoseas havde sagt: "Israeliternes tal skal blive som sandet ved havet, der ikke kan måles eller tælles. Og i stedet for "I er ikke mit folk" skal de kaldes "den levende Guds børn." Og atter et andet sted: "Jeg sår hende ud i landet, mod nådeløs er jeg nådig og siger til ikke mit folk: "Mit folk er du!" og han skal sige: "Min Gud!" Hos. 1,10; 2,23.