The State of the Godly Remnant of Jews in the Last Days, in Contrast With Abraham

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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Dear ——, As to Abraham having seen “my day,” as the Lord tells the Jews in John 8:5656Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (John 8:56); it seems to be a general expression. But I daresay that in the scene in the close of Genesis 14, when he returned victoriously from the slaughter of the confederate kings, we find a definite presentation of the “day” of the Lord, which he then saw. Melchisedec met him with bread and wine, and blessed the most High God and Abraham His servant.
This scene presents a tableau of what the ushering in of the “day” of the Lord will be, that is, the Kingdom. Israel (the seed of Abraham) return in weariness, but victoriously from their conflict with their enemies. Jesus comes forth as King of Righteousness from the heavens and from Jerusalem, the city of peace. He brings forth strength and joy (bread and wine) to refresh the weary remnant of His people, and He blesses the Most High God — God’s millennial name; then possessor of heaven and earth. The former, long defiled by evil spirits and Satan’s power, being cleansed by the casting down of Satan (Rev. 12). While the earth, long in rebellion against God and His Christ (Psa. 2, Acts 4., etc.), are in peace, all conflicting powers being then overthrown (Rev. 19). He also blesses “Abraham of the Most High God,” and is thus as Melchisedec — a Priest upon His throne (Zech. 6:1313Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:13)) — both King and Priest, the link between the then peaceful heavens, and the earth in blessing under His sway. The night has passed away; the day of the Lord has come.
The knowledge of the godly remnant of Israel differs from that of Abraham, in the first place by the fact of Exodus 6:33And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. (Exodus 6:3). “I appeared unto Abraham,... by El Shaddai, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them.” “God Almighty” (El Shaddai) was the patriarchal name of God, “Jehovah,” the name by which “I AM” revealed Himself to Israel. Next, Jesus has been “in all their afflictions, afflicted” (Isa. 63:99In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. (Isaiah 63:9)), and has given a divine character and voice to their cry in the Psalms.
When the time of the calling of the Church is over and she is taken to glory, the Lord will “turn his hand upon the little ones” of His ancient people, in the interval between His having come for His saints and His appearing in glory with them. This period is termed the “great tribulation” through which the godly remnant of the Jewish people have to pass. They are godly; under law; upright in heart, yet confessing their people’s blood-guiltiness, they are looking for Jehovah’s intervention against their enemies. They are persecuted under the beast, betrayed by their false brethren who have received the Antichrist. All these sorrows find expression in the Psalms. In using them they begin, as I understand it, but dimly at first, to perceive that some One has been in these trying circumstances before them. One, who when He cried to Jehovah, was heard. “This poor man cried and Jehovah heard him, and delivered him out of all his troubles.” This encourages them to cry that He may deliver them. Gradually the thought of His being more than man dawns and grows on their souls. Jeremiah may tell them “Cursed is the man that trusteth in man” (Jer. 17:55Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:5)), while Psalm 2 will say — “Blessed are all they which trust in him.” This seems a contradiction; but the perception of His divine nature is gradually but effectually taking its place in their soul, until the moment comes when. He appears to their deliverance, and they look on Him whom they pierced and mourn, and find him to be Jehovah’s fellow — nay, Jehovah Himself.
Another difference between Abraham and them is, that they look for the earthly blessings of the kingdom; not something outside this scene, as Abraham. Though if they are slain they find their reward in heaven itself.