When the British army liberated Jerusalem from the Turks on December 11, 1917, many thought that the time had come for the Jews to have their own land again. Then when the League of Nations gave Great Britain the mandate to govern Palestine, the way seemed open for all Jews to return to their native land. Problems and difficulties beset the British at every turn, however, and their cost ran high, both in lives and money. Many Jews did return to Palestine in those years, but in no sense did it become their own land; and quota limitations have kept many thousands out.
This year, as May 15th arrived, the British surrendered their mandate, and withdrew from the troubled land without honor or praise for all their efforts and expense during 31 years. Thus another milestone in the history of that unhappy land had been marked; another Gentile lord had proved that Jerusalem is a "burdensome stone" (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)).
A few hours before the British mandate ended the Jews announced, at Tel Aviv, the establishment of "the Jewish State in Palestine, to be called Israel." But God's time to make "Jerusalem a rejoicing" has not yet come, and the newly proclaimed State of Israel began in war and turmoil. The Moslem peoples are bent on obstructing the new Jewish State and are ready to wage what they call a "holy war" to that end.
As this is written (on May 25th) reports coming out of Palestine are confused and even conflicting; and by the time this August issue reaches our readers many more changes may have taken place; nevertheless, we may well make some observations.
1. Surely one thing is evident- the "fig tree" is budding. Our Lord said in a word for the Jewish remnant: "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh." Matt. 24:3232Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: (Matthew 24:32). The fig tree is used as a figure of the Jewish nation which for many centuries has been dormant, but now the sap is flowing and it is showing signs of life. This is a necessary forerunner of the great events that are to take place concerning that people and that land during the years of tribulation that will precede the coming of the Son of man in power and great glory. It is not necessary that this sign of Israel's awakening be seen before the Lord comes for us; but if signs of things to take place after we are gone from this world are now being seen, the coming of the Lord is very near.
2. We must not expect a triumphant nation of Israel now, for the "times of the Gentiles" have not yet run their allotted course. They began when God turned His earthly people over to Nebuchadnezzar in B.C. 606, and will end when Christ comes out of heaven as the "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords" (Rev. 19:11-2111And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:11‑21)). The image described in Dan. 2 is a picture outline of the "times of the Gentiles." It began with the head of gold—Nebuchadnezzar—and will remain until the Stone cut out of the mountain without hands (Christ coming in power) strikes the image upon its feet and destroys it. The feet that will receive the stroke of judgment represent the last form of the Roman Empire in its future "ten-king" state—the ten toes. Then, and not until then, will Gentile domination and yoke be broken.
A limited measure of success may be achieved by this new Israel, for there must be some form of Jewish government in Palestine (after the Lord has called His Church home) to be ruled over by the apostate king, called the antichrist, or the false prophet. This "man of sin" will make a treaty with the apostate head of the revived Roman Empire for its support and protection for a period of seven years. This future wicked head of some form of Jewish state is called "the king" in Dan. 11:3636And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. (Daniel 11:36), and some of his doings are described in verses 36 to 40. Thus again we see things taking shape for events to come after the rapture. There is to be a government of Israel then (opposed by Moslems but supported by the Roman Empire) for which current events are making way.
Dan. 11:11Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him. (Daniel 11:1).35 deals with past events; verse 36 to the end of the chapter speaks of the future—the "time of the end." In the former, the history of kings, called "the king of the north" and "the king of the south," is given as it related to Palestine. "The king of the north" was an enemy just to the north of Palestine; "the king of the south" was Egypt, from its location south of Palestine. These two kings were enemies of the Jews and also had frequent quarrels and wars between themselves, with Palestine, lying between them, being used for the battle ground. (When Daniel wrote of these kings it was prophecy, for he lived before them; and so remarkable is the prophecy that infidels seek to prove that Daniel lived later and wrote history.)
In the latter part of the chapter, which takes us on to the future, we find these two kings again in their respective places north and south of Palestine, and 'again the enemies of Israel. Verse 40 says, "The king of the south shall push at him"- the false king of Israel—and "The king of the north shall come against him." Here we find another indication that we are approaching that "time of the end"; for today Egypt is a free nation, lying south of Israel, and opposing the Jews by armed force. The Arab world lying north of Palestine is again invading the land from the north. The Arab world is not yet united under one head, but the people are there north of Israel, and their hostility to the Jew is the same as of old.
In Luke 21:2929And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; (Luke 21:29) where the Lord gives the parable of the fig tree, He adds "and all the trees." Yes, not only is the budding "Israel" an indication of the "time of the end," but the other trees—the "king of the south," the "king of the north," the alliance of Western European nations—all tell the same story: "The coming of the Lord draweth nigh." All the actors in the last great attempt to frustrate the purposes of God and His King (Psalm 2) are beginning to be seen in their respective positions.
"O Lord Jesus, how long? how long
Ere we shout the glad song?
Christ returneth;
Hallelujah! hallelujah!
Amen, Hallelujah! Amen."