This verse captures the essential vision of redemption. The Atoning Messiah’s mission is to manifest his saving grace to all humanity. The first stage of his mission is to the house of Israel (the first), then to the Gentiles (the last). Both the house of Israel and the Gentiles accept the truth but then depart from it, believing in a corrupted version of the gospel that cannot save them. At this stage, the Messiah again enters the picture with a new revelation—a restoration of lost things. He does this by bringing forth the record of his visit to the Americas, providing the Gentiles with the lost plain and precious parts of the gospel. In this stage, the Gentiles, who had been the last to receive the gospel, now become the first. They then bring the restored gospel to the remnants of Israel, who, having once been the first to receive the gospel, now are the last.
Text:There is no chapter break at this point in the 1830 edition.