We have seen the ruin of all things—apostolic testimony, Judaism and its Temple which was once ordained by God, and finally the shipwreck of God’s new work the primitive undivided Church. Now we shall see how God restores both Israel and the Church to His great thoughts for them at the beginning.
The Preparations for the Time of the End
From the days of Constantine on, Israel and the Church went their separate ways on the earth but with predictable patterns of behavior. Israel’s blindness to Christ continued. So too did their persecutions by the nations among whom they settled down. As for the Church the centuries rolled by with the great truths Paul taught largely obscured or forgotten. Outwardly united, it became a great thing in the earth with many true believers in it and splinter groups outside it. The dark ages took over with a famine of the words of the Lord. This was the judgment of God on the Church for giving up its first love Rev. 2:44Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Revelation 2:4) an act which corresponded to Israel worshipping the golden calf. In both cases captivity followed. Israel was transported beyond Babylon 7:41-43 the Church was led captive to “Babylon the Great” Rev. 17:55And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:5) a term used to describe the false church which enslaved God’s people. The judgment for Israel’s idolatry was the captivity of their bodies; the judgment for the Church’s idolatry was the captivity of the souls of men see Rev. 18:10-1310Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 11And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. (Revelation 18:10‑13). Thus, the earthly portion of Israel and the heavenly portion of the Church was made clear in the kind of captivity meted out to them for their respective departure from the living God. Still, if God punishes His people, He never gives them up. His purpose in disciplining them is to bring them back to Himself.
God had graciously given two revivals to Israel—Hezekiah’s Passover and Josiah’s reading of the Word of God. Two similar revivals were granted to the Church. The Reformation corresponded to Hezekiah’s Passover; the spiritual awakening of the 19th Century to Josiah’s reading of the Word of God. The Reformation exposed the foundation truth of justification by faith long buried in a mound of ritualistic rubbish. In the 19th Century Paul’s doctrine was recovered, and the cry went out “behold the bridegroom comes. Go out to meet Him” Mat. 25:6. This was the Philadelphian era of the Church, soon alas to be followed by Laodicea see Rev. 3:7-227And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:7‑22). The Philadelphian period crested as the 19th Century waned. Men’s minds turned to materialism. As truth was given up in the West man began to take the first steps back to the modern world which is a return to paganism. With the work of His revivals spurned God had, we say it reverently, no option now but to punish the nations at once, and to bring to a head His great counsels for the final blessing of Israel and the Church.
The Meaning of the Two World Wars
In his “Origins of the Second World War” a British historian opines that “the second world war was, in large part, a repeat performance of the first” but then tells us that the causes of the first world war are really unknown despite the research done on the historical documents “this very opulence of explanations suggests that none alone is the right one.”1 Only believers can probe the real causes, for they are theological in nature, and the Christian has a prophetic as well as a priestly role. By this we mean that a Christian is not only a worshipping priest but that he has the spiritual insight to interpret world events where men of the world are baffled. So we submit that there are two main causes for these global conflicts which merged into one another with an armistice between.
The first cause was the need, from a divine viewpoint, of punishing the Western Gentile nations for their refusal of the gospel a warning to them of worse to come. The principal contestants were Germany and the English-speaking nations. Germany was a land most favored by God with the gospel almost the land of the Reformation. The English-speaking nations, though equally blessed in the gospel, were additionally lands of great Bible teaching. Out of them flowed the great recovered truth of the second coming of Christ.
“O England, land of Bible boast
God has smiled upon thy coast
But even now a demon host
Is struggling to be uppermost.”
The demon host prevailed. Bible loving England became the home of Darwinism; Germany became the seat of the “higher criticism.” The severity of God’s judgment on these nations on the battlefield was unparalleled. Out of the wars came the break-up of the British Empire and the partition of Germany—happenings necessary to strip the great of their power and pave the way for the revival of the Roman Empire. God’s warnings went unheeded and the great Gentile powers gradually turned away from the public profession of Christianity toward that apostasy which the Bible tells us is to characterize the time of the end. Christianity, however, was never intended to be a permanent thing on the earth. Judaism is, for the Jew has his portion in this life. In the two world wars God was serving notice to the nations that just as He spared not the Jews—the natural branches of the olive tree—so He would not spare them (the Gentiles) either—read Rom. 11:17-2117And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. (Romans 11:17‑21).
The second reason for the great conflicts must be considered at length. But we will use an illustration. When men stage a play and wish to change the scene, it is customary to draw the curtain. Then, unseen to the audience, the stage is re-set with furniture suited to the next scene. To apply our illustration, Christianity is about to disappear from this world for the second coming of Christ is imminent. It will be replaced, after the rapture of the Church, by Israel. Beginning with the first world war, every happening of consequence in this world has this in view. Israel is to occupy the stage. “God hath not cast away His people whom He foreknew” —Rom. 11:22God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, (Romans 11:2). “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid My face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer” —Isa. 54:7, 87For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:7‑8).
Summer Is Near
The blessed Lord said “but learn the parable from the fig tree. When already its branch becomes tender and produces leaves, ye know that the summer is near. Thus also ye, when ye see all these things, know that it is near, at the doors” —Mat. 24:32, 33. The fig tree speaks of the responsibility of Israel as a nation to bear fruit. It was planted in God’s vineyard, but when the Lord looked for fruit on it He found none. “Then said He to the dresser of His vineyard, Behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this tree and find none: cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said to Him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it, And if it bear fruit, well, and if not, then after that Thou shalt cut it down” —Luke 13:6-96He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. (Luke 13:6‑9). The three years represent the major portion of the Lord’s ministry on earth— “this year also” the period of the Spirit’s striving with them in the Book of Acts when the Lord’s servants dug around it and fertilized it. Note that this parable does not refer to the Roman axe. The conversation is between the dresser of the vineyard and the Lord, who alone could cut the fig tree down. Everything suggests He spared it for summertime—i.e. the millennium, when Israel shall again bear fruit. We are to know when summer is near by watching for signs of life in the fig tree—tender branches and leaves, but no fruit yet. In plain language this is the return of Israel to their land with outward signs of life but with no fruit for God or man yet. This brings us up to modern times.
From the Balfour Declaration to the State of Israel
We live in most stirring times. Within the lifetime of the writer the great prophecy of Isaiah 18 has been fulfilled. This opens with a salutation to the land shadowing with wings—meaning a protective power. This land is also a great naval power which “sends ambassadors by the sea . . . upon the waters.” This power puts the Jews back in their land after a two-thousand-year exile—an unheard of thing—but is not able to protect them once they are there. They are exposed to their enemies. This great naval power is England, with her kindred and daughter nation the United States also active in the move. When England first set out to aid the Jews she was so powerful that it seemed unthinkable she could fail in any national undertaking. But two world wars so sapped her strength that she was compelled to abandon the vital Mediterranean area. Nor could the United States, tied down in a fruitless venture in the Far East, fill the power vacuum. Now let us tie together history and prophecy.
Out of the first world war came the Balfour Declaration. In this the British government, through their Foreign Secretary Lord Balfour, stated that they viewed with favor “the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people.” Whatever man may say, Scripture imputes good motives to the British people for this act, terming them “a land shadowing with wings” —truly a protective power. Few Jews were in the land at this time. Over the centuries it had fallen into the hands of the Arabs, who managed it badly. The swift messengers—the naval might of England—were to go to “a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto.” Lest we doubt that this is Israel read on— “a nation meted out and trodden down, whose lands the rivers have spoiled.” “The rivers” are the nations, the figure being land erosion. In simple terms Israel was carried off to the sea—the world in dispersion, by the nations which flowed over its land. While dispersed, Israel suffered untold persecutions. Yet the thought of a national homeland to escape these agonies did not dawn until just before the first world war. The fountain head of the Zionist movement was the first Zionist Congress at Basel Switzerland, in 1897. There the policy was established to create for the Jewish people a homeland in Palestine secured by public law. The constitution of the Zionist movement was the Balfour Declaration of Nov. 2, 1917. This opened the way for Jewish immigration. However, it remained for sheer terror to force the issue a generation later.
In the second world war Hitler, the very embodiment of evil, rounded up and sent to gas chambers for extermination the appalling number of 6,000,000 Jews in Europe. In this murderous action we see two things. First the continuing government of God against them, for they had said “His blood be on us and on our children” —Mat. 27:25. In this connection the present writer heard Dr. Kish, the world-famous anatomist and Christian lecturer, tell the story of a young Jew in a concentration camp in Hungary, who was scheduled to die in the gas chamber. Overwhelmed at what was happening to his people he got down on his knees and cried “O God, if this is all happening to us for what we did to Christ, show me and I will believe” or words to that effect. He looked up, saw a hole in the barbed wire, crawled through and escaped. He was led to a gospel meeting where he was truly saved. But there was more than the government of God on His disobedient and rebellious people behind this terror. We can also see the hand of Satan. Satan well knows that Christ is soon coming to take the Church out of this world and that when this happens Israel will come into prominence and blessing. This he tried to prevent by attempting to exterminate the Jewish people. In Mat. 2:16-18 he had the young boys killed in an attempt to destroy the Messiah; in the 20th Century he did the same thing to destroy His chosen earthly people.
Britain held the land under a mandate from the United Nations but was so weakened from two wars that she could not enforce the peace there. On May 15, 1948 she surrendered her mandate a day after Ben Gurion declared the independence of the new state of Israel. In a month’s time Israel expanded her boundaries at the expense of the Arabs, who quickly ceased hostilities. Then in June 1967 came the six-day lightning war. Israel not only greatly increased her territory once more but seized and occupied Jerusalem. Unbounded joy seized the Jews as they gathered at the old wall of the Temple to pray and celebrate.
However, Israel’s continued existence in the world is threatened. Surrounded on all sides by Arab nations wanting to exterminate her, she depends on her military strength to survive. The Arab nations greatly outnumber her and are equipped with weapons of war by Russia. She no longer has England to befriend her, or any allies. Worse still, she has returned in unbelief and left God out of everything. Isaiah eighteen makes this abundantly clear. “All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, when a banner is lifted on the mountains, see ye, and when a trumpet is blown hear ye” (a declaration of Israel’s return to the land of their fathers). “For thus hath Jehovah said to me, I will take my rest and I will observe from my dwelling place” (God is watching this return in unbelief but is not in it). “For before the harvest, when the blossoming is over and the flower becomes a ripening grape” (at the very moment of seeming success and prosperity) “he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning-knives, and take away and cut down the branches” (God will intervene in judgment.) “They shall be left together to the mountain birds of prey, and to the beasts of the earth; and the birds of prey shall summer on them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter on them.” (continuous air and land war is waged against them).
Israel’s precarious grip of Jerusalem did not hinder the Jews from going ahead with their national goal—rebuilding the Temple there. The Temple could not be erected on the old site because two mosques straddled it. The Arabs would have declared a “holy war” if they had been demolished. Possession of Jerusalem, however, gave them a viable alternative. One mile West of the old Temple site (and adjoining a building called Hechal Shlomo housing the Chief Rabbinate) they have built what they call “The Great Synagogue.” This terminology disguises the real intent to restore Temple services in Jerusalem when the political climate is right. The building housing the Chief Rabbinate corresponds to the Sanhedrin in the Temple area and has the same name as “The Great Synagogue” itself Hechal Shlomo “The Temple of His Peace.” It is located at 48 King George Street in Jerusalem and prominently marked on road maps of the city, for it is intended to be a magnet for Jews abroad like Herod’s Temple was. As early as 1972 an occult prediction revealed Jewish plans to rebuild the Temple under the guise of a synagogue.2 This prediction was accurate, for construction began in 1974 but was discontinued for a long time.
Then it was recommenced and completed in 1982.
Then under the caption “Begin dedicates $14-million temple” the morning edition of the Toronto Star of Aug 5, 1982 carried a Reuter’s flash from Jerusalem covering the dedication of the Temple the previous day... “Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin took time off from the Lebanese war to dedicate what has been called ‘the world’s most beautiful synagogue’ a soaring $14.5 million building in the heart of Jerusalem... the Israeli designers were given a virtually limitless budget, thanks to donations from wealthy Jews abroad... some 1700 oak seats encircle the marble ceremonial area. Overhead hangs a 3½ ton brass and crystal chandelier fashioned by Italian craftsmen.”
Underneath the building is a first aid shelter capable of handling 2000 casualties. The building itself has three levels. As presently planned the lower level is to be used for social events. It is connected to the main (worship) level by a ramp, elevators, and escalators. Then there is an upper level where the women are segregated. They sit with unobstructed view of the worship area, for the building has no supporting pillars.
It has been pointed out that “the building will have all the articles of furniture necessary to resume sacrificial worship services.”3 This raises the question of why there should be a ramp in this building. People are moved by elevators and escalators, but animals by a ramp. Because this “Synagogue” could be converted to sacrificial worship we think it likely that this is the Temple of God in 2 Thess. 2:44Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Moreover it is unlikely that God would permit a temple to be built on the original site because Judas Iscariot desecrated it. If this view is correct this is the temple which will in turn be desecrated by the Antichrist who is given the same title as Judas the son of perdition c.f. John 17:1212While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. (John 17:12) and 2 Thess. 2:33Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thessalonians 2:3).
God will blot out the memory of what transpired in both temples by erecting the glorious temple of Ezekiel’s prophecy Ezekiel 40-47 on a site elevated and prepared for the purpose. Out of this temple waters will flow toward the East and North. This will be much greater than the temple the Romans destroyed. An English architect claimed it will be the greatest structure ever erected on earth.4 Its construction will be preceded by the national awakening of Israel to accept Jesus as their Messiah. He will subdue their enemies and give peace, not only to them but to the world. “In that time shall a present be brought Jehovah of Hosts of a people scattered and ravaged to the place of the Name of Jehovah of Hosts, the Mount Zion” —Isa. 18:77In that time shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, the mount Zion. (Isaiah 18:7).
The Future Glory of the Church as the Holy City Jerusalem
Just as Peter looks at the Church as a building and Paul as the body of Christ, so John looks at it as the bride of Christ, the Holy City Jerusalem. “Come here, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God” —Rev. 21:9-119And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; (Revelation 21:9‑11). As the bride, the Church is viewed as close to the Lamb’s affections and sharing in the rule of His kingdom under the figure of a city. A city is a center of administration. The seat of this city’s rule is in the heavens from which it descends to earth, over which it reigns. All trace of the ruin man brought into the Church is now gone. The city has the glory of God “and her light was like a stone most precious.” Externally this is the outstanding impression of the holy city—light. God will fill the whole universe with the light of Christ’s glory.
Externally the outstanding impression of the Holy City is that it is a city of light—internally it is that God is there, and because redemption is accomplished, we can be there too. At the end of John’s journey through the city he sees a pure river of water of life flowing out of the throne of God and the Lamb. This divides the street of the city with the tree of life on both banks. Satan borrowed the concept in the layout of Babylon which is similarly divided.
But at the end Babylon no longer rules for Jerusalem has been restored and waters to refresh the earth flow out of Ezekiel’s Temple there. This gives us the big picture—the overthrow of the counterfeit city and waters from God’s throne in heaven and earth flowing out for the blessing of man.5
No one enters the city except by the gates. These remind us that the death of Christ made it possible for us to enter the gates and come into the city. That is because the gates are made of one pearl—the pearl of great price—Mat. 13:46. Christ entered the waters of death to get this pearl but gives us the tree of life. Our first parents were driven away from the tree of life in Eden—but here we find it in the Holy City. Christ having died God can now dwell with man in life’s eternal courts. And because God is with us sin and its effects on man must vanish, just as they did when Jesus was present among men. So God Himself wipes away all tears from our eyes. In the Holy City “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain—for the former things are passed away.” —Rev. 21:44And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4)
“Soon we taste the endless sweetness
Of the Tree of life above
Taste its own eternal meetness
For the heavenly land we love.
In eternal counsels founded
Perfect now in fruit divine
When the last blest trump has sounded
Fruit of God for ever mine.
Fresh and ever new are hanging
Fruits of life on that blest Tree
There is stilled each earnest longing
Satisfied my soul shall be.”