| Highlights of Dawn | June 1969 |
Israel Fulfilling Prophecy
THE whole world is in a state of foment, including Israel in the ancient Holy Land. For a considerable time now the news out of the Middle East tells of border clashes between Israel and her Arab neighbors, and there have been bombings by Arab guerrilla units within Israel. Following the Six-Day War of 1967 the Arab states, with the help of Russia, have been rearming for the announced purpose of destroying Israel as a state, claiming that Palestine belongs to them. The guerrilla bands of Arabs are particularly outspoken along this line.
Meanwhile, feverish efforts are being made to bring about a settlement of the differences between Israel and her Arab neighbors. The “big four” powers—Russia, Great Britain, France, and the United States are endeavoring to help in these negotiations, realizing as they do what an outbreak of full-scale war in the Middle East might well mean to the peace of the world. As Christians, and students of prophecy, we do not need to fear what the outcome of this Middle East crisis might be, for we know that whatever it may be it will fit into God’s over-all plan for the blessing of Israel, and as a matter of fact, for the Arabs also, and indeed for all the families of the earth.
For twenty-five hundred years the Israelites were a subject people. As we saw last month, they lost their national independence in 606 B.C., when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon overthrew their last king, and took the people captives to Babylon. As a nation they remained captive until A.D. 70-73, when the nation was destroyed and the people scattered among the Gentiles.
Moses, the lawgiver of Israel, in a speech shortly before his death, and before the Israelites had entered their Promised Land for the first time, prophesied that they would be uprooted from that land and scattered among all nations. (Deut. 29:24 and 30:1-6) He also foretold their re-gathering. We quote, “And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.”—Deut. 30:5,6
It was not until Israel was destroyed as a nation in A.D. 70-73 that the people were scattered among all nations, and it was concerning the return from this “captivity” that Moses prophesied. He said, “Then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: and the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.”—Deut. 30:3-5
Moses uses the word “captivity” to describe the dispersion of Israel among the nations, and this word is also used by the Prophet Joel when forecasting their return. We quote: “Behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem. I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.”—Joel 3:1,2
Note the time identification in this prophecy—“in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem.” This has been occurring in our day. It was toward the close of the nineteenth century that the Zionist movement began to function for inducing the Jewish people to go to Palestine. But it was difficult then for Jews to emigrate to Palestine, for the land was under the control of the Turkish Government. But some did go back, among them Levi Eshkol, who at the time of his recent death was Prime Minister.
It was not until, as a result of the first World War, the land was opened to the Israelites under a British Mandate and the Balfour Declaration that the “captives” began to return in any great numbers. So here we have a positive identification of the time mentioned in the prophecy. And then, to make it even more emphatic, the Prophet Joel, speaking for the Lord, said that at this same time “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat.”—vs. 2
In verses 9-14 of this chapter it is made plain that this gathering of the nations is for the purpose of war, and in the 14th verse the “valley of Jehoshaphat” is interpreted as “the valley of decision.” This gathering, it seems obvious, is the great gathering of the nations to Armageddon, and it has been taking place at the very time the Lord has been gathering his typical people Israel back to the Promised Land, just as the prophecy foretold.
Those who have little or no faith in the prophecies of the Bible are quick to say that what is happening throughout the earth today is simply a matter of history repeating itself. And, of course, in a general way we could say that there has always been trouble in the world. But here in the prophecy of Joel we have a forecast of something which is unique. It assures us that the Lord “will bring again the captivity” of his people, and that this will take place at the same time the Gentile nations of earth are gathering for war. History records no such combination of circumstances, so we are not witnessing history repeating itself.
The Land Parted
Through Joel, the Lord tells us that he will plead with the nations “for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.” (vs. 2) We should not presume to be too sure of details, but this could be a reference to the fact that the Holy Land has been divided by the nations, with Israel occupying only a portion of it, while her enemies hold on to the remainder.
There is much controversy among the nations right now over this situation; and while we doubt not that in due course the Lord will have his way and the Israelites will possess all the land, it would be unwise to speculate as to just how this will be brought about. As students of prophecy, the Lord’s people can frequently identify the fulfillment of the Lord’s forecasts, but to interpret prophecies before they are completely fulfilled usually leads to becoming prophets instead of students of prophecy, and this we should endeavor to avoid. Humanly conceived prophecies are usually wrong.
With Fury
Another informative prophecy concerning the regathering of Israel is given to us in Ezekiel 20:33-37. We quote: “As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: and I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.”
Several points in this prophecy are well worth noting. It says that the Israelites would be brought out of the various countries where they were domiciled, by the Lord and “with fury poured out.” It is a fact that while great strides have been made in the Holy Land in rehabilitating the country, it has been done during a period of almost constant struggle, turmoil, suffering, and crisis.
This is also described in the prophecy of Jeremiah 30:3-5, which reads, “Lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.”
From the natural standpoint, we would suppose that when the time came for the Lord to restore his people to the Promised Land there would be nothing but rejoicing among them, but here we are informed that there would be “a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.” How true this has been of the Israelites in connection with their returning to the Promised Land! It agrees with Ezekiel’s prophecy concerning the “fury” that would be poured out upon them.
The Lord Rules
Another point we should note in Ezekiel’s prophecy is the statement of the Lord, “I will rule over you.” The Hebrew word here translated “rule” is often translated “reign.” The Lord reigned over ancient Israel through their various kings, Zedekiah being the last of these kings. Ezekiel declared at that time that this arrangement would be no more, “until he come whose right it is.” (Ezek. 21:26,27) We believe that this is a reference to Jesus, and that Jehovah has been ruling through him in connection with the events at this end of the age. The thought is well expressed on page 307 of “The Divine Plan of the Ages,” where the time in which we are living is scripturally identified as the “Day of Jehovah.” We quote:
“It is called the ‘Day of Jehovah’ because, though Christ, with royal title and power, will be present as Jehovah’s representative, taking charge of all the affairs during this day of trouble, it is more as the General of Jehovah, subduing all things, than as the Prince of Peace, blessing all.”
The Wilderness
Ezekiel’s prophecy also indicates that when the Israelites are first gathered out from the nations they are brought into “the wilderness of the people. (Ezek. 20:35) This language takes us back to the deliverance of the Hebrew people from their bondage in Egypt. Their destination then was the Promised Land, but first they were brought into the wilderness, where they remained for forty years.
That was a literal wilderness, but now it is a different “wilderness”—“the wilderness of the people.” While it is true that many of the Israelites are now already in the Promised Land so far as a geographical setting is concerned, they are in the symbolic “wilderness of the people.” In other words, Israel today, as a nation and as a people, is plagued with the same problems that confront the other nations of earth. The hearts of the Israelites are filled with fear even as are the hearts of other people. While Israel is a member of the United Nations, the United Nations cannot solve its problems. The Promised Land is as yet, largely a location on the map. The peace and joy and life which God has promised are not yet realized by the returning exiles.
The Covenant
But this situation will change in God’s due time. The prophecy states that the Lord will bring his people “into the bond of the covenant.” This seems to be a reference to the promised New Covenant, which, we learn through Jeremiah, will be made “with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.” (Jer. 31:31-34) This part of the prophecy has not yet been fulfilled. We have a sequence of events described, some of which we can see at least in dim outline, but for the conclusion we are still waiting.
Ezekiel 37:1-14 is another prophecy of Israel’s restoration. In this highly symbolic prophecy the Israelites are likened to a valley of dry bones which, the Lord explained, pictured the “whole house of Israel.” The people say, “Behold, … Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.” This very well expresses the sentiments of most Israelites through the centuries of their dispersion.
In this prophecy the restoration of “the whole house of Israel” is symbolically described as a coming together of these “bones,” and their being covered with flesh and skin. We quote: “So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God, Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.”—vss. 7-10
A Progressive Picture
The coming together of these “dry bones,” their being covered with flesh and skin, and then their receiving life, indicates that the full restoration of Israel to favor with God, and their receiving life under the terms of the New Covenant, is a progressive development in the plan of God. We may not be able to identify with certainty just what steps in this progress are represented by the “bones” coming together, and their being covered with flesh, and skin. It is obvious, however, that these steps are but preparatory to the final step of receiving the breath of life.
Verses 11-14 read, “Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.”
This is not a prophecy of the resurrection of the dead. We suggest that the “graves” from which the Israelites are shown to be delivered are the various countries in which, through the centuries of their dispersion, they have been domiciled. They had no national recognition in these countries, and much of the time were a persecuted people. But now these dry bones are being assembled, and as the plan of God progresses he will pour out his spirit upon them and they will have life, in that glorious time when Israel and all the world will receive life.
The last three verses of chapter 39 read, “When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.”
The Kingdom
The pouring out of God’s Spirit will take place through the operation of the Messianic kingdom. The Scriptures reveal clearly that this kingdom will consist of a spiritual and an earthly phase. The spiritual phase of that kingdom will be the exalted Jesus and his glorified footstep followers. These will be on the divine plane, invisible to human eyes. The human representatives of this spiritual rulership will be the resurrected faithful ones of past ages. On this point we would like to quote a revealing and scriptural comment from the book, “The Battle of Armageddon,” beginning on page 625:
“The beginning of the earthly phase of the kingdom … will, we understand, consist wholly of the resurrected holy ones of olden time,—from John the Baptiser back to Abel;—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the holy prophets. (Compare Matt. 11:11; Luke 13:28; Heb. 11:39,40) While these Ancient Worthies will have neither part nor lot in the spiritual kingdom, because not ‘called’ thereto, that high or ‘heavenly calling’ not being possible until after the ransom had been paid by our Lord Jesus, yet they will occupy a position of preferment above the world, having attested their faith and love during the reign of evil, in a manner approved by God. Thus they were prepared and proved worthy to be the earthly ministers and representatives of the spiritual kingdom. In harmony with this it is written in the Psalms, as addressed to the Christ—‘Instead of [being longer considered] thy fathers [they] shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes [chief ones, captains] in all the earth.’—Ps. 45:16
“These Ancient Worthies will be unlike the remainder of mankind, not alone in the fact that their trial is past while the trial of the world in general will just be beginning; but they will be unlike them also in the fact that they will have attained the reward of their faithfulness—they will be perfect men, having completely restored to them all that was lost in Adam of mental and moral likeness to God, and perfection of physical powers. Thus they will not only be the ‘princes’ or chiefs of earth (the earthly representatives of the heavenly kingdom—Christ and his church), but they, individually, will be representatives of what all the willingly obedient may attain to under the New Covenant.
“When Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the Ancient Worthies have been resurrected, and shall appear among the regathered Israelites, about the close of the time of trouble with Gog and Magog, their superior mental powers will speedily distinguish them from others. Moreover, their perfect minds will quickly grasp present-day knowledge and inventions; and they will be peculiar in many ways, as was the man Christ Jesus, of whom the people said, How knoweth this man literary matters, having never learned. (John 7:15) And as Jesus taught the people positively, definitely, clearly, and not doubtfully and in a confused way, as did the scribes, so it will be with the perfected Ancient Worthies, when they appear amongst men. Besides, these worthies, … ‘princes’ of the new earth (the new order of society) will be fully qualified for the honorable position assigned to them.
“Thus we see that when God’s time for the inauguration of the kingdom among men shall arrive, his agents will all be amply ready for the service; and their master-strokes of wise policy, their moderation and dignified self-control, and their personal exemplification of every grace and virtue will attract men and quickly enlist them—chastened under the great tribulation—in active co-operation. Even before the disclosure of their identity, doubtless the people of Israel will have remarked their pre-eminence over other men.”
All to be Tried
As this quotation states, the inauguration of the kingdom will mean that the judgment, or testing of the whole world of mankind, will then be beginning. The word “judgment” as used in the Bible with respect to the world’s thousand year judgment day means a test, leading up to and culminating in a reward of life for those who pass the test successfully, and a sentence of death for those who do not. Jesus, and the church associated with him, will be the judges in that great judgment day.
We know that the Israelites will be on trial in that day of judgment, for Jesus said to his disciples, “Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matt. 19:28) While the Lord will pour out his Spirit upon Israel and all flesh, the people will still need to be tested and instructed in the ways of righteousness. The New Covenant into which the Israelites will be brought calls for the writing of God’s law in their hearts, and this takes time.
And not alone will the Israelites participate in that future judgment. Matthew 25:31,32 reads, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.” Then follows a symbolic outline of the great future judgment of the people of all nations. Those who pass the tests of that judgment are described as “sheep.”
The qualifying factor mentioned in connection with the sheep is that they manifest an unselfish attitude, especially toward those in need. This means that they joyfully enter into the spirit of that great reconstruction period, and doing this the Lord reckons their love as though it had been demonstrated directly toward him. This means that the people of Israel and of all nations will have an opportunity to co-operate in the work of blessing then being conducted under the direction of the Ancient Worthies. It is surely a blessed prospect!
This is why it is such an encouragement now to realize that the “dry bones” of Israel’s lost hopes are being restored, even though gradually. We note every evidence of God’s hand over them as being a token of his returning favor, preparing them—even though they are unaware of it as yet—for the great restoration to life which undoubtedly is drawing very near.
Whether the present unsettled situation between Israel and her Arab neighbors will improve, or whether it will deteriorate into a full-scale war, perhaps escalating into world war, we do not know. What we do know is that when the Lord’s due time arrives, he will establish peace in Israel, and among all nations, and that all the ends of the earth will ultimately rejoice in the goodness of Israel’s God, and the God of all nations, and will see his glory manifested in the establishment of his kingdom, and in the “restitution of all things.”