Not the least important event shall be the return of the Jews to the land of Palestine.
God, in His Word, has said that they shall return, and whatever nation thinks to hinder them shall have to do with God. "I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people; all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered against it.'' (Zech. 12:33And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. (Zechariah 12:3)) He has given them that land. "It shall not be sold forever.”
“Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (Luke 21:2424And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24).) This nation, "scattered and pealed," is the only one without a country. This also is a matter of prophecy. "For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king....a prince....a sacrifice.... an ... . an ephod or teraphim." (Hos. 3:44For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: (Hosea 3:4).)
This event is so important in the purposes of God, that He has let us know through the prophet Isaiah that He has in view a nation, or confederation of nations, whom He, at the proper time, will summon and which, with the aid of swift ships, will take His people back to their land. (Isa. 18.)
“Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: that sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers to a nation (Israel) scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!" (vs. 1 and 2.)
It is evident that the nation whom God will command to accomplish His designs shall be master of the seven seas.
The following article from the Philadelphia Evening Times, shows what extensive plans are under way for this event. "The Jews are preparing to restore the temple of Solomon. The whole world is being stirred by a startling movement of the Jews toward their home land. Ten years ago there were only one thousand Jews in Jerusalem; there are now a hundred thousand. More than two hundred thousand Jews are found in the colonies recently established in Palestine. More than twenty million dollars are being invested in railroads. Within the next few months Jerusalem shall have become a city of electricity; rails are being laid for electric cars. The Jews have five million dollars in a Jerusalem bank; they have purchased a large amount of land, Until forty years ago the land of Palestine was arid; there were few inhabitants....Rain has come in abundance in the last few years. Palestine again blossoms.”
It is true, that for the present, things have changed greatly for the Jews in Palestine. Owing to the war, they are suffering privations; but this condition can only be temporary and does not alter God's ultimate purpose concerning them or their land.
Thus man is unwittingly carrying out God's plans. The Jews shall restore their own religious rites, sacrifices and temple worship, which however, shall not be accepted of God because of their unbelief. Yet God, from among them, shall have a remnant for Himself.
These God-fearing Jews shall bear witness that Jesus Christ is their promised Messiah; they shall publish the glad tidings of the kingdom for which cause they shall be special objects of persecution. Some shall be martyred for their testimony and for refusing to worship the image of the beast and have his mark upon them. "These shall have part in the first resurrection.”
As to the mass of the Jews, they shall receive the antichrist, worship the image of the Least set up in the temple, take his mark in their hand or on their forehead, without which none may buy or sell. (Rev. 13:1717And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:17).) The setting up of this idol shall take place in the middle of Daniel's last week, after three and one-half years, superseding the sacrifices arid oblations.
It shall be the sign for the instant flight of the faithful remnant of Jews to the mountains of Judea.
“When ye, therefore, shall see the abomination (idol) of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (temple).. flee into the mountains." (Matt. 24:15-2215When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: 17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:15‑22).) As these persecuted Jews flee, they shall carry the good news of the Messiah's coming to set up His kingdom.
Whosoever will have compassion upon their sufferings and succor them shall receive a reward at the coming of the Son of Man. "When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory; and before Him shall be gathered all nations; and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left." (Matt. 25:31-3331When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. (Matthew 25:31‑33).) Those on the right hand shall enter into life eternal; they shall be rewarded for their kind treatment of the persecuted Jews, His brethren. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." Those on the left hand shall be sent away into eternal punishment. "Inasmuch as ye did it not," etc.
This latter class includes all apostate Jews and Gentiles of that day, alive at that time, who have heard the Gospel of God's grace and rejected it. To them is addressed the words, "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matt. 25:4141Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41).) Awful words from the lips of the Lord Jesus who today is saying, "Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy-laden and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).) Beware, ye despisers.
Thus the earth shall be cleansed of all the enemies of Christ and His people.
(Continued from page 280.)
(To be continued.)