Chapter III

Evidence from Israel's History and Present State that Points to the Speedy Consummation of this Age

(Continued from page 237.)

If the evidence we have been considering shows that the Church of God is soon to close its earthly history, and that the Gentile dominions must shortly surrender their lease of power to Him who shall reign as King of kings and Lord of lords, that which Israel's past and present condition furnishes is of an even more startling character. The Lord Jesus said to his eager, inquiring disciples, in that great prophetic discourse which we have already noticed in part, " Now learn a parable of the fig tree:When its branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors " (Matt. 24:32, 33). And again in the companion passage in Luke, we are told, "He spake unto them a parable; Behold the fig tree and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh. So likewise ye, when ye see these things being fulfilled, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh" (Luke 21:29-31). Mark 13:28, 29 is almost the exact counterpart of Matthew.

Now why does our Lord direct special attention to the Jig tree ? Is it not because it is the particular symbol of Judah, which was likened to "a fig tree planted in a vineyard?" See Luke 13:6-10. "The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel," as depicted in Isaiah’s:1-7. Because of their sin the Lord rooted out the vines of all the twelve tribes and left His vineyard desolate. After the Babylonian captivity Judah was planted as a fig tree in the desolated vineyard. This fig tree, Christ Himself nurtured in the three years of His ministry. He came seeking fruit, only to find none. When this was manifested as the settled condition, and "nothing but leaves" was found, the fig tree fell under the curse and withered from the root. But, in the last days, the fig tree of Judah is to revive and to put forth leaves and bear fruit. When revival is noticed, the end will be near. This is the clear teaching of the Lord in the "parable of the fig tree." As we look upon the Jewish nation today, who can fail to see the leaves and fruit both pushing out from the stock which has been dry so long ? Judaism is experiencing a revival of the national spirit, and, as never since apostolic days, Jews are turning in heart to the Lord whom they once rejected.

The national revival might be likened to the green leaves. The spiritual awakening would more readily answer to the developing fruit.

We look first at the "leaves." For centuries, Jewish history has been the verification of prophecy. Israel, scattered and peeled, have been outcasts among all nations; a people despised and scorned; yet provoking the envy of their Gentile neighbors, and a certain feeling of awe likewise. This is something about the undying Jewish people which the nations cannot comprehend. The Jew assimilates with none, yet pervades all. He is the unquestionable man of destiny, for he represents that race, or "generation," which shall not pass away till all these things be fulfilled.

Persecuted and oppressed, it is true to-day as in Egyptian times that "the more they afflicted them the more they multiplied and grew." Yet, though the Jew has ever secretly cherished the hope of a coming Messiah and restoration to Palestine, for centuries his national spirit seemed utterly crushed, and he lacked the sense of solidarity which alone can assure the integrity of any nation. Yet in his most wretched estate the Jew has never become identified with the peoples among whom he wandered. We speak of men of other lands, naturalized in another country, after this fashion:as German-Americans, or Anglo-Americans, or Scotch-Canadians, and so on. But we do not speak of Jewish-Britons, or Jewish-Americans, or Jewish-Germans, etc. Instead we know them as American Jews, English Jews, Russian Jews, and so on. Wherever born, they are Jews, and only Jews.

The last century has intensified this national feeling in a marvelous way, and resulted in the birth of the world-wide Zionist movement, having for its avowed object the return of the Jews as a nation to Palestine, the acquirement of their ancient patrimony, and the foundation of an independent Jewish state-possibly a protectorate, under the care of one or more of the great world-powers.

Has the present fearful war in Europe jeopardized these plans or disheartened the Jew ? Has the present season of intense suffering in Palestine made such a scheme seem foolish and futile ? Not at all. More than ever the Jewish spirit is asserting itself. More than ever the Jews feel they must establish a Hebrew commonwealth. As things now are, whoever wins in this world-war, the Jew must lose. Jews are fighting in the ranks of all the great opposing armies. Jews are suffering in all the lands desolated by strife and the unspeakable horrors of famine and pestilence. The Jew is caught, as it were, between the upper and nether millstones. He does not want to be found in such a plight again. To avoid it he sees only one way. That is, to become once more an independent nation.

And this plan appeals not only to the Hebrew race, but to Gentile statesmen as well. What the final outcome of the war will be, none can fully forecast, but the necessity of establishing in Palestine a buffer-state appeals to nearly all the powers. It is confidently asserted that serious consideration is being given to such a plan in diplomatic circles; and no one who believes his Bible will be surprised to hear at any time that an active movement has been started to bring this about.

Prophecy has foretold all this. The Jews are to be gathered back in unbelief to their own land by the help of some great maritime power (see Isa. 18), and given a place in the counsels of the nations. Before our very eyes we see all heading up toward this consummation. The fig tree is putting forth her leaves. The national life-sap, if I may so put it, is once more manifesting itself in the one-time dry and desolate tree of Judah. And this is the sure indication that the period of Gentile domination is fast drawing to a close.

Money is flowing into the coffers of the Zionist societies. Influential Jews hitherto indifferent, because largely agnostic and rejecting their own Scriptures, are giving their countenance and aid to a scheme that once seemed to them visionary and absurd. National feeling has wrought where of religious feeling there was none. And thus men who believe not the prophets are fulfilling them in their ignorance.

At about the beginning of the present war it was common report that a member of the powerful Rothschild family was negotiating with the Turkish government in regard to giving a mortgage on the land of Palestine. The Porte, needing money, had turned to the great Jewish banking house for the accommodation. The daily papers declared the Rothschilds were ready to accede to the Sultan's desire if the coveted land of Israel were given as security, and free access granted to all Jews, with full religious toleration and other privileges. If this be indeed true, the war will only prove a means of making such an arrangement more desirable at its close. But, by whatever means it may be brought about, we may rest assured that Jerusalem will soon be the Jewish capital and Palestine a Jewish state.

And now I desire to press the solemn truth that all this forces upon us. The coming of the Lord ·must be very near, for the prophetic scriptures give us no reason to believe that such a condition of things as we have depicted above, will be brought about so long as the Church is on earth. But time speeds on, and preparations are fast taking place for the re-gathering of Israel and their establishment in their own land after the Church has gone. And the Church will be caught away from this scene at the coming of the Lord to the air; hence the solemnity of the sign of the green leaves ! The Midnight Cry sounds louder each passing day !

"Trim your lamps and be ready,
For the Bridegroom's nigh." H. A. I.

(To be continued.)
I Shall be Satisfied