PROFESSING Christendom, the “Wild Olive Tree” (Rom. 11:17), is about to be “cut off” for not continuing in God’s goodness. When this takes place (and how soon it may occur!), a remnant of Israel, now lost amongst the nations, will be awakened by the Spirit of God to their high destiny as the Head of Nations (Exod. 19:6; Deut. 28:1, 13). After “the great tribulation” (Rev. 7:14), which will “come upon all the world to try them that dwell on the earth” (Rev. 3:10), the Lord Jesus Christ, now on His Father’s throne, will come in glory; every eye shall see Him, “and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.” He shall come, the Deliverer of Israel, “and turn away ungodliness from Jacob” (Rom. 11:26); and reign as King in Mount Zion from the river to the ends of the earth.
The prophecy of David refers to this wonderful crisis in the world’s history. “Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And He shall be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain” (2 Sam. 23:1-4).
Again, referring to this bright era in the world’s history, a well-known poet writes—
“He shall come down like showers
Upon the new-mown grass,
And joy and hope like flowers
Spring up where He doth pass.
Before Him, on the mountains,
Shall Peace the herald go,
And righteousness in fountains,
From hill to valley flow.
Kings shall fall down before Him,
And gold and incense bring;
All nations shall adore Him,
His praise all people sing.
Outstretched His wide dominion
O’er river, sea, and shore,
Far as the eagle’s pinion,
Or dove’s light wing can soar.”
MONTGOMERY
What led to the writing of the foregoing was the reading of an article by a worthy servant of Christ, long since passed away to be with the Lord, but who “being dead yet speaketh.”
“Darkness as gross as that which for ages has covered Israel, is yet to fall upon all the vaunted enlightenment of Gentile Christendom. They would not ‘walk in the light’ while they had the light, and it shall be taken from them.
“The saints being caught up to meet the Lord in the air, ‘the light of the world’ (Matt. 5:14-16) gives place to darkness.
“Out of this darkness, according to the testimony of Isaiah 49:6, Israel is to be the first to emerge. She (Israel) is to be new-born to God, with all the throes and anguish of childbirth. She is to be ‘chosen’ once more in the furnace of affliction (‘the great tribulation’ before alluded to).
“All that I can say here is, that a little remnant of Judah will first be brought to the Lord amid the cruel persecution of their unbelieving brethren.”
And in the judgments of those days — be warned! dear reader, because the moment is so near (Rev. 6:9-11, 12:10-17, 13:7) — “it shall come to pass, that in all the land (Palestine), saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third part shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God” (Zech. 13:8, 9).
“Jesus is the name that charms us,
He for conflict fits and arms us;
Nothing moves and nothing harms us
While we trust in Him.”
KELLY.
The foregoing words and poetry are inserted as edifying and instructive for the spiritual understanding of these solemn subjects. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Rev. 3:22). “The time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3, 22:10).
H. P.