We will now look at a few scriptures which tell us how God will restore the kingdom, dominion^ and glory to Israel by judgment, and not by the preaching of the gospel. We shall also find all this closely connected with the personal coming of Jesus, the Messiah, Son of God. However He has been, and still is, rejected, Jehovah says, “Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree; the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” Then mark what He saith to the only-begotten One: God says to His Son, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” This has certainly not taken place yet. The dark places of the earth are still the habitations of cruelty. God, in sovereign mercy, is taking out the church, but this does not alter the fact that Satan is still the god of this world, and the nations are not yet the inheritance of Christ. How, then, does God tell Christ that He shall take possession? Let us hear: “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” (Psalm 2:6-96Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. (Psalm 2:6‑9).)
We shall find this manner of taking possession referred to repeatedly in scripture. The restoration of Israel is very distinctly stated in Isa. 11 This is often misquoted, or misapplied, as though the world was to be converted. “They shall not Kurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” How does Messiah introduce, or bring about, this kingdom blessing? “He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” Then follows the description of the blessedness of the kingdom on earth, when the Lord shall gather Israel from the four corners of the earth. It would be impossible to describe more distinctly how the kingdom will be set up, not a thought of the world being converted, but smitten in judgment. And do not suppose Christendom will escape this judgment of the iron rod.
Paul says to the young converts at Thessalonica, “Remember ye not that, when I was with you, I told you these things?.... For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked [one] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” (1 Thess. 2:5-85For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. (1 Thessalonians 2:5‑8).)
How strange that men should dream of the world’s conversion by the gospel with such distinct teaching as this! To say nothing of Pagan nations, here we are distinctly taught beforehand what we know has been going on for eighteen centuries. What is the history of the so-called church but the history of the mystery of iniquity? And how fast is it ripening in readiness to accept the wicked one, the Antichrist! Who would have though fifty years ago, that professing Christians would now deliberately choose a blaspheming atheist to be their representative? All this daring wickedness shows how near is the coming judgment of this world. We are not writing of things which may, or may not, be, but of things that must be, and must shortly come to pass.
It is quite true that the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, but is it not equally true that it must be first smitten in judgment? And quite true that the Lord Jesus shall come to set up His kingdom in person, “King of kings, and Lord of lords” but when He comes, “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.” (Rev. 19:11-1611And 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. (Revelation 19:11‑16).)
After the history of Christendom in Rev. 2; 3, then we have the judgments that will be poured upon the earth—seals of judgment, trumpets of woe, and bowls of wrath. All these will surely come to pass, when the church of God is gone to be with the Lord. It is impossible to shut the eye to the fact that these things are preparing, just held in check until the church is complete, and forever with the Lord. What elements of destruction are really waiting the dread and awful disruption like an earthquake! (Rev. 6:1212And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; (Revelation 6:12).) Men feel that society cannot hold together much longer. What perplexity! What deep and increasing distress! In the midst of plenty, yet all classes hastening to ruin. Are we really near the end of this period of abounding grace? Is judgment at the door, and yet men deceiving and being deceived? Is it not a cruel deception to be telling the nations that they will all be converted, and a spiritual millennium come to pass, when the nations are surely about to be judged? We have seen in the Psalms, when the time comes, that the King shall be set upon the holy hill of Zion, and the heathen given unto Him, it will be for judgment, as with a rod of iron. We have seen in Isaiah the same judgment smites the earth before Messiah’s kingdom is set up. We have seen in Revelation the same judgment when He comes to reign. We only need to compare these scriptures with the whole testimony of the prophets, and the teaching of Christ, and we shall find the whole word of God in every part in perfect harmony. We will now point out a few scriptures which show that these judgments introduce Israel’s future blessing and glory.
In Isa. 61 The day of vengeance precedes the comfort and blessing of Israel, and the rebuilding of all their waste cities. Jerusalem shall then be “a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.” No more to be forsaken or desolate. (Chap, 62.)
As has often been noticed, the exact order in these prophecies is very striking. In chapter 61, first, the living ministry of the Lord Jesus, as pointed out by Himself in Luke 4 Then, when He closes the book the parenthesis of the present period of grace is omitted. (Ver. 2.) Then the day of vengeance, introducing the kingdom and glory of Israel, to the end of chapter 62. In chapter 65 we have the most blessed description of Israel’s future. “Be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” &c.
Do we believe these words of God? Read the full description of Israel’s millennial glory, to the end of the chapter. It may be said, Certainly we must believe what God says; but may not all this be brought about by the Jews being converted, through the preaching of the gospel of the grace of God? If such should be our reader’s thoughts, we would ask, Have you never noticed that the Spirit of God has explained most fully how all this will be brought about? “For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.” Now, is this grace, or judgment? Surely it is the public interference of the Lord in judgment. He says, “I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.” Then, after these judgments, we learn how those Jews who escape will be sent as missionaries to the nations. “And they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.” Then all Israel are gathered from all nations “to my holy mountain, Jerusalem.” Then, from that time, during the days of the kingdom of God on earth, “shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.” (Chap. 66:15-24.) What light these words throw on Israel’s future, and how that future will be brought about.
In Eze. 36:23-3823And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. 24For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. 29I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. 30And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. 31Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. 32Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel. 33Thus saith the Lord God; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. 34And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. 35And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. 36Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it. 37Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock. 38As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 36:23‑38) is a wondrous prophecy of God’s unchangeable purpose to bless Israel. Mark, every verse is a statement what God will do for them. God will take them from among the heathen, gather them out of all nations, bring them to their own land, sprinkle clean water upon them, put a new spirit within them. They shall dwell in the land. The fruit of the tree and the increase of the field shall be multiplied. They shall then repent, and be converted—shall dwell in the desolate cities, rebuilt. Palestine shall become like the garden of Eden. Surely no Christian can suppose that God will not perform His word to the very letter. Read to the end of chapter 37. “My tabernacle also shall be with them; yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I, the Lord, do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.”
But is this brought about by the gospel? Far otherwise. Chapters 38, 39 bring before us, as we have seen, the full particulars of the overthrow, in terrible judgment, of the modern vast empire of Russia, in connection with the final establishment of the kingdom of Israel. Surely the hesitancy of Christians to believe what God hath spoken helps the skeptic to reject the truth of God altogether. “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog: Rhos, prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,” Ac. (See Septuagint translation.) Thus has God more than two thousand years ago, foretold the final solution of the Eastern Question. The vast empire of Rhos, which covers the countries under the influence and power of Russia, prince of Moscow and Tobolsk; Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them. The immense multitude shall come up against the mountains of Israel. They shall come like a storm, and be like a cloud to cover the land. The powers of the West shall be aroused by this terrible and wicked invasion of Palestine after the return of Israel. “Sheba and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? Hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? To carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?” Then God is against Rhos, and destroys this vast northern multitude. The implements of war will serve Israel for fuel. And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying them, that they may cleanse the land, as we saw in our last paper. Thus will God be glorified in judgment on the wicked, when He has mercy on the whole house of Israel. Then shall they dwell safely in their land, and none shall make them afraid. What an end of human politics! This was foretold long before there was any empire of Rhos, or Russia. Is it not evident that, instead of the world being converted when God sets up His kingdom on earth, these vast multitudes of Russia must have sunk into downright infidelity and defiance of God?
Here we must close, for the present. If our readers are interested in these stupendous events so near at hand, they only need study in a reverent spirit, in dependence on the Holy Ghost, the scriptures pointed out. God will surely gather His people Israel to their own land. It is impossible for Him to break His word. Indeed the promises to them occupy a large portion of the Old Testament prophets, as well as having a distinct place in the teaching of the Lord, the Epistle to the Romans, and the Book of Revelation.
Blessed as will be the place of Israel on earth, yet, let our hearts be bowed in worship and thanksgiving because our calling and glory are heavenly, even as He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ. If they will be as a nation separated to God from all peoples on the earth, how ought we even now to be separated to Him, not of this world, even as He is not of this world. Thus may He sanctify us by His truth; His word is truth.