Israel's Place in the Plan of God —O Israel!

Biblical Research Monthly
February—April 1955
By Dr. David L. Cooper
"Come now, and let us reason together"

(The first of three articles)

The sentence, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah," is an utterance that Isaiah the prophet spoke in one of the most powerful and impassioned appeals that is on record in any literature. He introduced his message by calling upon the heavens and the earth to listen to the august and all-important message which he was delivering from the Lord God, the Almighty, to His Chosen People the Jews. In the same spirit of faith as the prophets of old, let me say that I address myself to the Chosen People, pleading with them, "Let us reason together about what I consider the most important question of any man's life." The things which I have in mind are of a spiritual nature. It is conceded by all thinking people that spiritual matters transcend by far all material concerns. Spiritual values are obviously of far greater importance than material affairs, since they reach out into and affect one's eternal existence, whereas the physical, material things of this life only affect us during our short sojourn in this world.

I recognize the fact that there are among the Jewish people, the chosen People of the Lord, different groups. There are those who have accepted the rationalistic interpretation of the Scriptures, and who do not see in them the inerrantly inspired revelation of the God of Israel to mankind. To this class I am not especially now appealing, because I am taking my stand upon the thesis that the Scriptures are absolutely and fully inspired of the Lord. Those who do not believe in the inspiration of the Scriptures will not accept my reasoning on this occasion—though I wish in the depths of my heart that they would and could see that the Scriptures are infallibly inspired of God. But my appeal is to those two great groups of the Jewish people known as the Orthodox and the Conservatives. These generally believe that the Books of Moses and the Prophets were inspired of God and are reliable as a revelation from the Lord. To them, they are authoritative in matters both spiritual and ethical.

I recognize the fact that the Orthodox position concerning inspiration, as a rule, does not correspond to my conception of inspiration. To them Moses was on the highest pedestal of divine revelation, whereas the Prophets, though speaking by the Spirit, were not inspired so fully as was Moses. Moreover, the writers of the third division of the Hebrew Bible are not considered by this group as being on the same high level of inspiration as the Writings of Moses. Since both the Orthodox and the Conservative Jewish men and I are on common ground in admitting the absolute inspiration of the Writings of Moses, we have a foundation on which we can both stand and reason. It shall be largely from this point of view that I shall present the case as I see it to my Jewish friends.

Unfortunately, some Jewish people misunderstand the motive of Christian people, in their approach to them concerning their faith in Jesus of Nazareth as the Jewish Messiah. This misunderstanding is, in very many instances, due to an improper understanding of the real facts on the part of the one who is presenting the claims of Jesus to the Jewish people. My friends think that the Christians, in their approaching them with the message of Jesus, consider them as heathen, pagans in darkness. May I dispel this erroneous idea at once! No really intelligent and enlightened Christian considers the Jewish people as heathen who must be "missionized."

Frequently, those who are approaching the Jews are considered as being prompted by mercenary reasons. This is a mistake, though some few may be guilty of such a motive.

There are those of us who have honestly and conscientiously studied the Tenach (Old Testament) in the original languages in which it is written, and have sought diligently over a long period of years to find out exactly what are the teachings of Moses, and the Prophets concerning Messiah and eternal redemption through Him—as well as all other subjects that are presented by them. Let me give my own personal testimony on this point. For forty-nine years I have made an honest, conscientious, sincere effort—to the limit of my abilities and opportunities—to know what is the correct teaching of Tenach as well as the New Testament. I spared no means, time, nor energy in this quest for truth. I have seen many things there that I have not found written in any man's book nor heard fall from any man's lips. In the spirit of a true scientist, I have for years sought for truth in order that I might know it, to the end that I might give it out to the Jew first and also to the Greek. The desire to give out the truth as it is learned is the attitude of the true scientist. Whenever a man searches and makes discoveries in any field of human interest and endeavor and brings to light facts, things, principles, and truth, he wants immediately to pass these good things on to others, that they too may enjoy the fruit of his labors. If a man has made some discoveries in the Word of God and does not wish to pass them on to others that they, too, might enter into the joys and blessings coming from his findings, something is the matter with that man! He does not have the spirit of a true scientist. I think that I have the spirit and the outlook of the real scientist; hence I wish to call the attention of my Jewish friends to certain facts which I have discovered in the Word of God concerning Israel's past, present, and future standing before God and in the world. Of course, many of these things which I mention from time to time have been seen by numerous others, who have proclaimed them from the housetop. Every scribe instructed into the kingdom of God is like the householder who brings forth things both new and old (Matt. 13:52).

ISRAEL'S PAST

As we look back into the dim, distant past of the primitive world we see that a pall of spiritual darkness settled down upon the world. This condition, as we learn from the Book of Genesis, chapter 3, was the result of man's disobeying God and pitting his will against that of the Almighty. Men were groping their way in this terrible darkness. To alleviate this situation, the Lord God Almighty created

Israel as the Light of the World

A glimpse at the entire ancient world reveals the fact that idolatry was the order of the day. Men and women were bowing down to stocks and stones, living in ignorance, filth, and sin of the worst sort.

Originally, man had a knowledge of God. The late Dr. Langdon of Oxford found, as he believed, absolute and positive proof that primitive man did have a knowledge of God, and that monotheism was the worship of primitive man. Later, however, man fell into polytheism. Thus idolatry sprang up all over the world. The conclusion of this great scientist regarding primitive man is confirmed by the revelation of God through the Apostle Paul: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth n unrighteousness; 19 because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse: 21 because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves; 25 for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen" (Rom. 1:18-25).

Since man refused to retain God in his knowledge, the Lord gave him over to a reprobate mind, to do the things that were improper and sinful.

The prophet Isaiah painted one of the most vivid, graphic descriptions of those engaged in idolatry in chapter 44, verses 9-20. When men refused to retain God in their knowledge, and the Lord delivered them over to the powers of darkness, He "shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand." Such was the condition of the ancient world as was set forth by Moses and the Prophets.

God has a yearning and a longing over every human being, "not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9). "…The eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him" (II Chron. 16:9). In the days of Abraham God, figuratively speaking, looked all over the world for a man whom He could trust. He found one such individual in the person of Abraham, who lived in the midst of an idolatrous environment. In his day there was a tiny spiritual light flickering in the land of Palestine in the kingdom of Melchizedek, who was king of Salem, that is Jerusalem, in its early days. This man was king of Salem, and priest of God Most High. Since he reigned over a kingdom, there were evidently laws which obtained in his realm. God found Abraham in the midst of the evil environment of idolatrous Babylonia and called him forth into this better and more spiritual environment in the kingdom of Melchizedek. When the Lord gave Abraham this call, He said that in him and his seed He planned to bless all nations.

When Abraham was ninety-nine years of age and his wife Sarah eighty-nine, they were past the age of parenthood. Their bodies, so far as procreation was concerned, were as good as dead. The Lord performed a biological miracle upon their bodies, which made possible the birth of Isaac. Referring to this miracle, Isaiah spoke of it as an act of creation (Isa. 43:1). Thus in a very special sense God created the Jewish nation in that He performed a miracle of creation in making possible the birth of Isaac. When He did this, He injected into the bloodstream of the Jewish race (figuratively speaking) potentialities, capabilities, and powers-such as no other nation enjoys.

To Abraham and his seed God gave the land of Canaan as a perpetual inheritance. He enlarged upon this promise as we see in Genesis 15:18-21.

Israel's Checkered History

Abraham's descendants providentially were led to leave Palestine and to go down into Egypt where the Hebrew people later became a nation under the well-organized government of the Pharaohs. When the time approached for the Chosen People to leave Egypt, God providentially brought them out under the leadership of Moses. When they came to Sinai on their journey to Canaan, God delivered to His people the law and entered into a covenant with them. After wandering about in the wilderness for forty years, the children of Israel entered the Promised Land. Having the revelation of God and being in covenant relationship with Him, they stood as a sentinel on a bridge, holding aloft the torch of revelation, that its light-giving rays might radiate out to all peoples of the world. Thus Israel was the torchbearer of spiritual life, light, and power to the entire world.

Israel as God's light bearer in the land of Palestine was faithful at times—but only at times. As proof of this fact, let us remember that during the era of the Judges—a period of something like 450 years—Israel's history ran in cycles of apostasy from God, being delivered over to some of the surrounding nations, who persecuted them, repentance on the part of the Chosen People, and their calling upon God and His raising up a judge to bring deliverance to them. Thus in six cycles Israel's history ran during this period of lawlessness. During the monarchy there were times of declension. For some reason or other the Chosen People constantly went off into idolatry. But, praise God, there were four great reformers who called the nation back to God; namely Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah and Josiah.

At certain times and under the influence of outstanding men, the nation of Israel stood like a Gibraltar for the truth of God. The people suffered and many of them died as martyrs to the truth of God. This was especially seen in the struggle of the Maccabees against the Greco-Syrian rulers of Syria. The outnumbered nation of Israel fought valiantly for a period of a hundred years because of their faith in God and their refusal to accept and adopt the heathen practices of the Greco-Syrians.

Israel was given the services of God and the revelation of the Lord. Everything that we Christians of the present day have, has come from God through Israel to us. Israel's contribution to our civilization is incalculable.

(The second of three articles)

In the preceding section we have taken a rapid survey of Israel's past, which is gone forever, never to be recalled. The past embraces the nation's history from its beginning to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are now to investigate its present condition, which began with the cross and extends to Christ's second coming at the end of the Tribulation—an era of nineteen hundred (plus) years of duration.

ISRAEL'S PRESENT
The History of Israel Pre-written

The prophets of God were given, at times, visions of the past, of the present, and of the future. Those who wrote the history of the nation of course were given an outline and the details of the facts of the past, just as those who were foretelling the future were likewise given the information concerning events and things to come. One required as much inspiration as the other. Those who wrote the history of Israel as we see it in the narrative portions of the Old Testament are called in the Hebrew Bible the "former prophets."

Moses wrote the history of Israel ahead of time, especially in Leviticus, chapter 26, and in Deuteronomy, chapter 28. These two pivotal passages are of the utmost importance if a person is to study and comprehend the trek of Israel through the centuries and to understand the philosophy of their history. This record, pre-written, began with the days of Moses and traced the checkered course of the nation through the centuries until the time when penitent Israel will be brought back into fellowship once more with God and will be restored to the Land. At that time the Chosen People will become the head of the nations, according to the promise set forth in Deuteronomy 28:13. The first of these chapters was spoken while Israel was at Sinai soon after the tabernacle had been erected in the second year of the wilderness wanderings, [the second] when the nation was encamped on the east side of Jordan immediately before Joshua led them across into the Promised Land.

(I would urge everyone who wishes to get the most out of this study to stop now and read these two chapters, praying the Lord's blessings upon him.)

Israel's Tragic Mistake

Frequently men and women make tragic mistakes that determine, or affect, their entire lives. The same thing is true of nations. What was the tragic mistake of Israel? The one that has affected its entire history through the last two thousand years? The answer to this question is found in the Scriptures. It appears in a statement that was made by Jesus of Nazareth, the Hebrew Messiah, to the Sadducees. This sect of the Jews was made up of the rationalists and the materialists of that day. They denied the existence of spirits and the immortality of the soul. In order to entrap the Lord Jesus in His teachings, they came to Him with a hypothetical question, stated in such terms as these: Moses commanded that, if a man died without children, his brother should marry the widow and raise up children to him so that there should be no cessation of a tribe or family in Israel. This was what God commanded. But the Sadducees said to the Lord Jesus that there were seven brothers, the first of whom married a certain woman and then died, leaving no seed. The wife was married to his brother, who likewise died. The woman outlived all seven brothers, who had her to wife. Finally she died. The question which they put to the Lord Jesus was this: In the resurrection, whose wife shall she be? Since all seven of them had her. Our Lord replied to them, "ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living" (Matt. 22:29-32).

The two tragic mistakes that Israel as a nation made were: First, that they did not know God in a personal way; and second, that they did not know the Scriptures. The language of the Lord Jesus shows that men can actually know God and walk with Him by faith. Enoch walked with God and knew Him in a personal way. Abraham, the patriarchs, and the worthies of old knew God in this sense.

But the Sadducees to whom our Lord spoke did not believe in spirits, nor angels, nor in immortality of the soul. On account of their atheistic, skeptical attitude it was impossible for them to know the Lord God Almighty. In the second place, they did not know the Scriptures nor the power of God. The Scriptures have been given by divine inspiration and preserved to us, just as they had been preserved to the Jews to whom Jesus was speaking. Not believing that they were inspired, the Sadducees ignored the study of them. It was possible for them to know the teaching of the Scriptures, if they had only had a desire to acquire a knowledge of them, and had they done as Moses commanded in Deuteronomy 6:4-9—to teach their children the Word of God daily, in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. "4 Hear, O Israel" Jehovah our God is one Jehovah: 5 and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart; 7and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates."

Had they done this and had believed in God as they should, they would have experienced the power of the Almighty in their own lives and could have enjoyed God's saving grace and power daily.

The Apostle Paul in Antioch of Pisidia spoke of the rulers of the Jews at Jerusalem in a similar manner: "27 For they that dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet asked they of Pilate that he should be slain. 29 and when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead: 31 and he was seen for many days of them that came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses unto the people" (Acts 13:27-31). According to this statement of the inspired man of God, the authorities at Jerusalem did not know God and Christ in a personal manner—as they could have, had they taken life seriously and had sought God by faith. Neither did they know the voices of the prophets, which were read every sabbath. It is altogether possible for one to hear the Word of God continuously and yet not comprehend its import. People must have a desire to do the will of God if they are to understand what the Word says. It is spiritually discerned. The Lord Jesus said on one occasion that, if any man wills to do the will of God he shall know of the teaching, that which He was giving them, whether He was speaking simply of Himself or from God. Thus reading the Scriptures constantly and regularly means absolutely nothing as far as comprehension is concerned, unless one has the will to do the will of God under all conditions.

A person can go regularly to a Jewish temple, to a synagogue, or to a church and hear the Scriptures read and expounded every week, and yet, after a long lifetime of engaging in religious services, he can know practically nothing about the Word and the will of God. When people do not know what God has said in His Word, they can be mistaken and can actually carry out that which the Word foretells. Such is the plain declaration of the inspired man of God relative to the leaders of Israel of the first century.

By Not Knowing the Scriptures, the Leaders of Israel
Rejected Their Long-expected Messiah

Moses and the prophets foretold that God would send the Messiah of Israel to deliver them. Jacob on his death-bed foretold the two comings of the one Messiah (Gen. 49:10). "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh come; And unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be." Balaam, who wished to curse Israel, but was not permitted by the Lord to do so, spoke by the Spirit of God and likewise foretold, in his four oracles recorded in Numbers, chapters 23 and 24, both comings of Messiah—especially His second advent.

In Deuteronomy 18:15-19 Moses gave a most marvelous and clear-cut picture of the coming of the Messiah, who is here spoken of as a Prophet: "15 Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16 according to all that thou desiredst of Jehovah thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of Jehovah my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And Jehovah said unto me, They have well said that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him."

King David spoke of Messiah as his Greater Son and gave a delineation of Him and His work in the prophecy found in II Samuel 7:11b-16: Moreover Jehovah telleth thee that Jehovah will make thee a house… And thy house and thy kingdom shall be sure for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever." The same promise, made more specific, appears in I Chronicles 17:10b—14: "Moreover I tell thee that Jehovah will build thee a house. 11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days are fulfilled that though must go to be with thy fathers, that I will set up they seed after thee, who shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne for ever. 13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son; and I will not take my lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee; 14 but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom for ever; and his throne shall be established for ever."

The hymn writers of Israel in the Book of Psalms spoke most glowingly of the Messiah. Isaiah was very specific in such a passage as Isaiah 7:14 and foretold the manner of Messiah's coming into the human realm, namely, by miraculous conception and virgin birth: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Micah named the place where He would be born, namely, in Bethlehem of Judah: "But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2).

Scores of prophecies relating to Messiah's first advent into the world are found here and there throughout the Old Testament Scriptures. It is to these passages that the Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul referred in their condemning the Sadducees and other leaders of Israel for not recognizing Him, but for rejecting Him—in absolute ignorance, which, as we have seen was entirely due to the fact that they did not take their religious life seriously and did not believe what the prophets had said.

It is true that God ordered the stoning of any false prophet who would try to lead Israel into idolatry. Concerning the execution of a false prophet see Deuteronomy 13:1-5. Also read Deuteronomy 18:20-22. If Jesus had been proved to be a false prophet, the Jews would have been right in clamoring for His death—according to these declarations. But all facts showed that He was the long-expected Messiah. In rejecting Him, the people of Israel committed the tragic blunder that brought down upon themselves the wrath of the Almighty. He therefore, in A.D. 70, let the stroke of judgment fall upon His Chosen People, which destroyed their existence and scattered them among the nations, where they have resided until the present time.

In conclusion, let me call attention to the fact that the inspired Apostle Peter struck the keynote regarding Israel's tragic error which has determined the life of the entire nation since then: "12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? Or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. 14 But ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you, 15 and killed the Prince of life; whom God raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16 And by faith in his name hath his name made this man strong, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is through him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 And now, brethren, I know that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18 But the things which God foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus. 21 whom the haven must receive until that times of restoration of all things, whereof God spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old" (Acts 3:12-21).

(The third of three articles)

ISRAEL'S FUTURE

In our studies we have already seen Israel's past and his present. Now it is for us to look out into the future and see what is in store for this great nation. As we peruse the messages of Moses and the Prophets, we see that there are five distinct items of special interest that pertain to the future of Israel. In the first place, concerning Abraham's literal descendants God said that

"… in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed"

The cornerstone of all prophecy, especially as related to Israel, is found in Genesis 12:1-3. Here God entered into a sevenfold covenant with Abraham, using the following language: "Now Jehovah said unto Abraham, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee: 2 and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing; 3 and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all of the families of the earth be blessed." This promise is repeated and enlarged upon in subsequent revelations that the Lord made to the ancient patriarch. For instance, the Angel of Jehovah, who is none other than Jehovah himself, declared to Abraham after he had attempted to offer his son Isaac upon the altar: "By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, 17 that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the sea-shore: and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice" (Gen. 22:16-18). This promise has in nowise been fulfilled. Since it was made by the Eternal God, who cannot lie, we may be certain that the Lord will fulfill this promise to the very letter. Thus Israel is to become the channel of world blessing and is to possess the gate of his enemies.

Israel to Be used in Bringing About the World-wide Revival

That there is to be a world-wide revival is evident from Isaiah 17:7,8 which reads as follows: "7 In that day shall men look unto their Maker, and their eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. 8 And they shall not look to the altars, the work of their hands; neither shall they have respect to that which their fingers have made, either the Asherim, or the sun-images." This quotation is taken from the American Standard Version (1901 ed.) which follows the Hebrew literally. From this we see that men in general, or the majority of men, "In that day"—the Tribulation—will turn to the Lord and receive Him.

Again, in Isaiah 26:9, the prophet declared: "…for when thy [God's] judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness." Since we are told that the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness, we must understand by that expression that the prophet was speaking of the major portion of humanity.

Though we are not told specifically in the messages of the Prophets through whom this world-wide revival will come, that information is given to us in Revelation, chapter 7, which is in perfect alignment with the statement that in Abraham and his seed should all families of the earth be blessed. An examination of Revelation, chapter 7, shows that there will be in the first part of the Tribulation, a mighty army of 144,000 Hebrews who will be sealed against the terrific judgments of the Tribulation. They are sealed because they are servants of God. Immediately after this prediction we see an innumerable host of people, who come "out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples and tongues," and who wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. This vast throng is so very great that no man can number it.

John was very much interested in this prophecy. In a conversation with one of the elders, a celestial being, he confessed that he did not know who this great multitude was. This celestial creature told him: "These are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:14). Let us note the fact that these people "come out of the great tribulation." There is but one "great tribulation," which is the last seven years of the Christian Dispensation, during which God will pour out His judgments upon a sin-cursed, God-defying earth. Daniel spoke of the Tribulation (Dan., chap. 12) as being a time of distress the like of which has never been before and never will be after that time. So these people come out of that period of wrath and indignation. Moreover, they wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. There is but one possible interpretation of that statement, namely that these people accept the Lord Jesus and His atoning blood and make themselves white through the merits of His shed blood.

When we see these facts and realize that it was God's plan originally as stated to Abraham, to bless all nations in and through his seed, and when we see these 144,000 servants of God presented to us immediately before we are given the vision of the world-wide revival, we put all these facts together and cannot resist the conclusion that these 144,000 Jewish servants, or believers, are the ones through whom the great world-wide revival will come. Thus there is a great future for Israel, when God will use His Chosen People in bringing a blessing to the entire world.

The Twofold Mission of Israel in the End Time

Without a doubt Micah in 5:5-8 was speaking of Israel of the end time: And this man shall be our peace. When the Assyrian shall come into our land, and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. 6 And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our border. 7 And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples as dew from Jehovah, as showers upon the grass; that tarry not for man, nor wait for the sons of men. 8 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep; who, if he go through, treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and there is none to deliver."

The man who is referred to, and who will be the "peace" of Israel at this future time is none other than the Messiah, whose birth is mentioned in Micah 5:2.

The Assyrian mentioned in verse 5 is doubtless one of the ten dictators who, along with the Antichrist, govern the world during the Tribulation Period. This Assyrian will, in the future, invade the land of Palestine. Israel will be able to strike back, as we see in Micah 5:6, being strengthened by the Lord God and granted deliverance from this inveterate enemy. At that time the remnant of Israel will play a twofold role in world affairs. According to verse 7 this remnant of Israel will be in the midst of the people "as dew from Jehovah, as showers upon the grass." This verse shows that the remnant of Israel in the end time will prove to be a blessing to all the nations. When this verse is read in the light of the verses discussed above, it becomes apparent that Israel is the channel of blessing to the entire world. But in verse 8 this same remnant of Jacob will be among the nations as a lion is among the beasts of the forest, which goes through, treads down, and tears in pieces. But there is no one who can deliver out of his hand. This last verse speaks about the role that the remnant will play from a military standpoint. Further elucidation on this point may be seen in Zechariah 12:1-9.

Israel to Fill the Earth With Fruit

In Psalm 67: 1, 2 we have this prayer, which amounts to a prophecy:

"God be merciful unto us, and bless us,
And cause his face to shine upon us;
2 That thy way may be known upon earth,
Thy Salvation among all nations."

This prediction foretells that the nation of Israel will be brought to the point that they will pray for God to have mercy upon them and to bless them,

"2 That thy [God's] way be known upon earth,
Thy [God's] salvation among all nations."

From this passage we see that the world will not have been completely evangelized up to that time by anyone. Moreover, it shows that the remnant of Israel will see the world situation from a spiritual standpoint as it is. They will catch a vision of their divine calling and mission to be the channel of blessing to all nations. They will therefore pray this petition and will carry out the prediction literally as is foretold here.

In Isaiah 27:2-6 we have a prophecy concerning Israel as the vineyard of Jehovah. In this prediction the Lord promises that He will care for and protect Israel, this vineyard of His. Moreover, He tells us in verse 6: "In days to come shall Jacob take root; Israel shall blossom and bud; and they shall fill the face of the world with fruit." From this verse we see that there is a most important work that Israel will yet accomplish in fulfillment of the prophecy that God will bless all nations in and through Abraham's literal seed.

From Romans, chapter 11, we see the same prediction. There will be as much difference between the conditions that now obtain and those which will exist when Israel comes into fellowship with God, as there is difference between life and death. This analogy the Apostle Paul draws to show forth the wonderful work and accomplishments that God will bring about through converted Israel. (See Romans, chap. 11.)

Israel the Head of the Nations

According to Deuteronomy 28:13 God will, when Israel becomes obedient to Him, make him the head of the nations instead of the tail, as he is at the present time. Thus a great, wonderful, and marvelous future lies out before the people of Israel—whenever they see the tragic mistake made by their ancestors nineteen hundred years ago in rejecting Jesus of Nazareth as their Lord, Saviour, and Messiah. Let us do all we can to bring them to the point where they will accept Him and thus change the entire civilization of the world.