IS R A E L L IV E S AGA IN ! Second in a Prophetic Series
By George T. B. Davis*
A FTER ten happy days in Haifa and the area of Tiberias and Lake Galilee, my wife and I set out for Jerusalem, “the city of the great King.” We left Haifa about seven o’clock in the morning. As the train came alongside the platform at Haifa, there was a rush for seats. But through the Lord’s good ness, and the kindness of the train starter, we secured good places. The train was crowded for it was only two days before the celebration of the sec ond year of Israel’s independence. Many of the passengers were going to Jerusa lem to see the parade and join in the festivities. In our car were several orthodox Jews with beards, black hats and long robes. The cars were plain but comfortable. We were very glad to find modern shut ters at the windows. They were very useful in shielding us from the sun. As we ate the breakfast our friends had provided, we were of interest as Ameri can visitors to several sun-tanned young Jews who sat opposite us.* One of our eggs broke and got on our fingers. One of the young lads quickly went and got water to wash our hands. The broken egg had “broken the ice,” and soon we were smiling at one another. It is a four-hour journey from Haifa to Jerusalem. For some miles the train runs along the shore of the Mediter ranean and then through the plain of Sharon. We stopped along the way at various flourishing colonies and villages, and more and more people crowded into the train until many were standing. At one station a well-dressed, fine- looking young Jew, about thirty years of age, boarded the train. As he could not find a seat, he stood in the aisle quite near to us. He had in his hand a bag containing several luscious-looking oranges. Presently he took one of them out of the bag and began to peel it with his fingers. Mrs. Davis offered him a fruit-knife that we had with us. The young man thanked us heartily and then kindly presented us with one of the oranges. It was a hot morning, and the orange proved most refreshing. Presently the young man began to tell us about the various places through which we were passing and about the conditions in Israel. Then he took his wallet out of his pocket, and showed us pictures of his parents and brothers and *Executive Secretary of the M il lion T estaments C ampaigns . Reprinted from the book, I srael R eturns H ome A ccording to P rophecy , obtainable at 1505 Race Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Page Ten
sisters. We discovered that he was a grower and exporter of oranges. We had a most interesting conversation for nearly two hours. We learned that he had lived in Jerusalem for twenty-five years and that he spoke Hebrew, Arabic, English and German. As the train was nearing Lydda, Mrs. Davis asked the young man to tell us something of what had happened at
commanded by German officers, and were expecting an attack. I crept up to a bush only 30 meters (about 90 feet) from the place where the German offi cers were giving the Arab troops the plan of defending the airport. I could hear distinctly and understand every word they said. “ After hearing their plan of defense I hurried back and phoned the com mander of the Jewish troops. We had already received our orders, but after hearing my report the commander at once changed the plan of attack and gave us fresh orders. We rushed for ward with our small tanks and machine guns and by seven o’clock that morning the airport was in our hands. “ Then we advanced on the town of Lydda. There was a severe fight for two hours more, but by nine o’clock the town was also captured. It was with the Lord’s help that we won the battle.” As the young man told us the story, the train was climbing steadily, up, up, up through the hills to the city of Jerusalem which is 2,400 feet above sea level. The Psalmist called it “ beau tiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth” (Psalm 48:2). After he finished, we began to witness to him. I pulled from my pocket a copy of our Prophecy Edition of the Hebrew New Testament, and said “ I will be glad to give this Book if you will read it.” To our sur prise, he answered: “ I already have a copy exactly like that one.” When I asked whether he had read it, he smiled and replied: “What would be the use of having the Book if I did not read it?” We began to tell him how we all have sinned and that it is only sacrificial blood that will atone for our sins as de clared so plainly in the third book of Moses: “ It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Lev. 17:11). We told him how the shedding of the blood of lambs and goats and bulls, under the Old Covenant, all pointed to the Lamb of God who came to this earth to shed His blood on the cross to wash away the sins of all who believe in Him. We declared that Jesus not only died for us on the cross, but rose again, and is now in heaven interceding for us. We declared that God’s Word teaches that He is coming again, this time not as a suffering Messiah as long ago, but a reigning Messiah—to rule and reign in Jerusalem over Jews and Gentiles alike throughout the whole word. The ex-captain listened intently to all that we said. Mrs. Davis especially sought to make the way of salvation clear and plain. As the train entered the T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
New Jerusalem Post Office Lydda during the recent Arab-Jewish war. We were especially interested be cause Lydda has the finest airport in the Middle East. Planes of various countries, including the United States, Britain, Belgium, France, Italy, Switz erland, Scandinavia, South Africa and the Philippine Islands, bring passengers to Israel from all parts of the world. Israel also has her own planes which fly between Lydda and various lands. The airport is quite near the ancient town of Lydda where Peter, in the days of the early church, healed Aeneas (Acts 9:32-35). The young man gladly consented to tell us the story of the capture of the Lydda airport and the town by the Jews. And it was a remarkable providence that he of all others should have told us the narrative, for he himself had taken a prominent part in the battle. He said, “ I was captain of one of the Jewish companies that captured the Lydda airport, and the Arab town of Lydda. The attack on the airport began at five o’clock in the morning. It was still dark. Softly I went very near to the Arab troops to reconnoiter. The Arabs on our side of the airport were
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