prominent world Jews, there is evidence that many believe that the nation itself is destined to be a superior world power, that one day they will dominate world affairs and, as one of their prophets promised, will “reap the riches of the Gentiles.” The press recently reported a prominent Zionist as saying, “Ours is not a religious movement, primarily. We accept men who are agnostics, skeptics, or who have no religion at all, if they are only in sympathy with our national movement.” Many Zionists are devout Judaists, but there is reason to doubt that genuine religious Jews dominate the move ment. Some Jewish leaders have told me that ihey are not looking for a Messiah, because their own nation is the Messiah and has a world program which it can carry out best, if Israel is established once again as a nation. But Bible students are startled when they turn to Daniel 9:27 to learn that Israel will be completely de ceived by Anti-Christ. In that chapter the prophet is talking about the coming of the Messiah. When He comes, writes Daniel, He shall be cut off and have nothing; that is, He will not be accepted and will not receive the kingdom. Christians remember that Jesus was cut off. Isaiah prophesied that Messiah would be cut off from the land of the living, and it happened at the Cross. Then the people of the prince, which is one of the names that Daniel used for the Anti-Christ, shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Anti-Christ'will confirm a covenant with Israel for one week (seven years) and in the middle of the week (3% years), he will viciously reveal his hatred and antagonism to all religions; attacking the Jewish worship and causing the sacrifice and the oblation to cease. Then will come “great tribulation.” Israel will pass through the fire of terrible judgment. It is remarkable that before this time Jewry has a peaceful co-existence with Anti-Christ, and many will think that the millen nium has come. But Anti-Christ will break the peace treaty with them, a treaty that probably promises to protect the little nation with his international military might. Just the time the Jews have settled down to what they think is perfect safety under the Beast’s protection, some thing will happen that will cause the world dictator to break his covenant with Israel, and turn loose upon them the most vicious program the world has ever seen. Jesus warned, “For there shall be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will be again; and except those days be shortened, no one could endure and survive.” The strange feature, if we understand the Bible aright, is that the suffering is dictated by a Jew, for we have some reason to believe that the beast will be a Jew. “What else could he be?” says one writer. “Nobody would accept a Messiah who was not a Jew.” But the Palestinian Jews will not long stand for Anti-Christ, for there will be many thousands of the spiritually-minded who have studied the Scriptures, and know that the beast does not fulfill the qualifications of the Messiah. Perhaps they cause an uprising that makes the beast turn upon them. The soil of Palestine and perhaps of the whole world will be saturated with the blood of God’s ancient people. This is the “time of Jacob’s trouble.” More Jews will perish than those Hitler liquidated. Anti-Christ will make a desperate try to wipe the kingdom of God from the face of the earth. Before this the redeemed Church has been caught away out of the tribulation, so Satan cannot triumph. God finally intervenes and Jesus Christ comes to destroy this Anti-Christ and deliver His ancient people. END
Anti-Christ, the Nations, the Church & Israel (cont.) not be out of order in the Assembly, for there is no recognition of God at the United Nations, though there is a statue of the pagan Zeus (Jupiter) in the foyer. The beast could ultimately “make war there with the saints,” and easily gain “power over all kindreds and tongues and nations.” That may not be possible just now; but let certain restraining forces be removed, and this world tyranny could become a fact almost overnight. But the “beast out of the earth,” the false prophet is absolutely essential to the first beast’s power. Religion, whether it be false or true, has been the most effective controlling power of the masses. The false prophet is able to do more to unify the people under Anti-Christ than does the first beast himself. The false prophet exercises or exerts all the power and control of the first beast, Revelation 13:12-16. He performs great signs, startling miracles, even making fire fall from the sky in the sight of men. But the religious head goes further; he has an image of the beast erected and by devilish power, imparts the breath of life into the beast’s image, so that the statue can actually talk. He puts to death those who will not bow down and worship the image of the beast. Image adoration is a big feature of the Roman Church, and the practice is permeating some branches of Protestantism. Here is the coming head of a world religion working hand in hand with the devil. What an evil trinity! The spiritual head is powerful. He may be able to get the co-operation of the devil’s legions of demon agents with the gesture of his hand and the thunder of his voice. One may well imagine the excited press dispatches and radio and television bulletins and pictures, showing that this man actually caused flaming billows of fire to descend from heaven. The world will stand aghast, and the Jews may be deceived and believe this is God’s working, for some will remember the Bible’s record of Elijah’s bringing down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel. Anti-Christ, according to the Bible, will deceive the Jewish nation, who will at that time be back in their land with the temple built and priests offering the sacri fices in the outer court and the holy of holies. To Bible students modern Zionism is an enigma. Through this mixed Palestinian multitude in spiritual blindness, God is apparently bringing about His purposes. Bible prophecies declare that a remnant of Jews are to return to Palestine, and will be there when Christ comes back again. It is difficult to believe that modem Zionism is fully in keeping with Biblically revealed Zionism. I am told that a comparatively few Jews are in Palestine with the idea that their Messiah may come there. Perse cution of one form or another throughout the world has given thousands the desire to establish a nation where they can have a sense of world security. Palestine has potentialities of great wealth. The land may have rich oil deposits like neighboring Iraq and Saudi Araba. The chemical wealth of the Dead Sea has not yet been computed. Facilities for extracting the bil lions of dollars worth of chemicals that are there and needed in this scientific age, are being created. These are the appealing things that attract many Jews from many lands. Not many American Jews are emigrating because they do not need the wealth of Palestine nor the security of that land. But there is implanted in the heart of every Jew who is the “seed of Abraham” an inescapable Mes sianic consciousness. Millions of Jews have believed that a man would arise among them who will be a world power and dictator and will destroy their enemies. In the writings of some
THE KING'S BUSINESS
28
Made with FlippingBook Online document