part 2
Later, God brought Israel into Canaan and made them a kingdom. But when they displeased God by their lives, He divided their kingdoms into two and named them Israel and Judah. Israel, the larger of the two, consisted of ten tribes, and Judah of two tribes The ten tribes, Israel, turned out to be more ungodly than the other two, and therefore God gave them to the Assyrians. This is called the Assyrian Captivity. The remaining two tribes called Judah too followed suit with the others in their wickedness, and they were later taken captives by the Babylonians. The glorious temple which King Solomon built was destroyed and all the treasures of the house of the Lord and those of the king's house were taken away to Babylon. But after a period of seventy years' stay in exile they returned to Canaan, being delivered from their captivity. All the belongings of the temple were also restored.
When they returned they built a second temple at Jerusalem by the hand of one Zerubbabel and this temple, therefore was called Zerubbabel's temple, these two temples in Jerusalem are very significant and they reveal the wonderful truth of the two spiritual Churches in the New Testament. The captivity and the return of Judah speak of the backsliding of the early Church and its resuscitation now. "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former" (Hag. 2:9). It means that the glory of the Church to be caught up (raptured) should be greater than the glory of the Church that shall be resurrected at His coming.
Coming back to Israel again, the two tribes, who returned from Babylon were again conquered and taken captives to different parts of the world about seventy years after Christ, according to His own prophecy (Read Lk. 21:24). "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled."
Since the fulfilment of this prophecy, for years Jerusalem was in the hands of the Gentile kings, first of Rome, then of the Turks and last of the Arabs. But now the time of the Lord is come. Some time close to the beginning of the 20th century, a few outstanding Jews in Europe were fired with an ambition to get Palestine back to the Jews. For this they formed a movement called "Zionist Movement." At first they could think of no other means but to send willing Jews to Palestine, so that they might buy the land from the then occupants and settle down there. This was a long and hazardous process. They could achieve very little by this method. Many of the people who went there to settle down, were badly afflicted by various diseases and their labour brought forth little reward. But the time of the Lord had come, and there broke out the First World War 1914-1918.
This was an opening for the Jews. As an organised group they joined the side of the Allies, and as a reward for their contribution to the war efforts, the British Parliament by a declaration promised the Jews Palestine as a national home, if and when they won the war. By providence the Allies were victorious and the Turks who were occupying Palestine were defeated and driven out, to make the declaration possible. Thus the doors were opened for the Jews to come back, and the prophecy in Ezek. 37 started its fulfilment. The dry bones of the Jews received life, and sinews and flesh came upon them. Ezek. 37:1-14. Israel began to flow into Palestine. Not only the two tribes called Judah, but also the ten tribes who were earlier taken captives by the Assyrians began to flow in. Of course this was not without difficulty. They faced severe opposition from the Arabs and the Britishers themselves. They had much fighting with the Arabs. But the time of the Lord had come and the Second World War of 1939-45 broke out. We are aware how Hitler, the Chancellor of Germany, and the cruel initiator of this Second World War tried to annihilate the Jews in Europe. Although he managed to destroy millions of them under tragic circumstances it was God's way of driving the Jews to Palestine. Thus the end of the Second World War found nearly 29 million Jews in Palestine. Their number is steadily on the increase. As a result of the Six Days' historic war in 1967, between the Jews and the Arab nations, today the whole of Palestine is back in the hands of the Jews. The prophecy our Lord that "Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the time of gentiles be fulfilled", Lk. 21:24, is now almost fulfilled. "He shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth" of Is. 11:12 is also fulfilled. This is an evidence that Jesus is coming soon Rev. 21:20. Amen, even so, come, Lord Jesus. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come" (Rev. 22: 17).
(To be contd)
Signs of the Second Advent of Christ
(Continued from Feb. March '72)
3. Fig tree and all the trees: “Behold the fig tree, and all the trees, … know of your ownselves that summer is nigh at hand … so likewise … know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand” (Lk. 21: 29-31).
The fig tree is a parable for the Jews. As we saw before, they are flourishing now. All the trees speak of the various nations of the world. It is a marvellous sight to see that a great effort is being made to build up all the downtrodden nations of the earth. The United Nations Organization which came into existence in 1945 had then only 51 nations in it's membership. But today it has 130 free nations in its roll. "When ye see things come to pass know ye that the Kingdom of God is nigh at hand".
The Lord Jesus is coming soon; let us get ready to meet Him.
4.. Kings of the East coming to power:
"And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared”. (Rev. 16:12).
This speaks of the kings of the east marching against Palestine to fight against it. East means east of Palestine or the Asiatic countries. In Asia, China has become the most powerful nation; the Chinese are exerting their influence over all the other nations in the east. Eventually, China will capture all the eastern countries, and will become one mighty kingdom. We find the signs of it already before us. China's policy as Russia spoke out sometime back, is to wipe out the nations that they capture, and fill that place with their own people as they have done in Tibet. Oh God! Save us from these people. The coming of the Lord is very near and let us get ready to meet Him.
3.Gog and Magog power coming against Israel: ”Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him” (Ezek. 38:2).
Gog is the chief prince of the land of Meshech and Tubal. Meshech is Moscow and Tubal is Tobolsk of Russia. Chief prince need not be a particular man. It could be the evil power or devil that rules over that land, as we read of the prince of Persia in the book of Daniel. “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but lo, Michael one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia”(Dan. 10:13). Here the prince of Persia is the evil spirit that controls the kingdom of Persia and Michael is one of the chief princes of the angelic host.
We read of three appearances of Gog against Israel and Palestine in the Word of God. They are in Ezekiel 38, 39 Revelation 20:8.
The 38th chapter speaks of Gog coming against the mountains of Israel. ”After many days thou shalt be visited in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have always been waste; but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them” (Ezek. 38:8).
This shows that Russia will join hands with the Arab nations as they are now doing and go against Israel to battle. But they would be withstood by the Israelites, with the help of certain other nations. Read Ezekiel 38:13:” Sheba and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish with all the young lions thereof.” The merchants of Tarshish are the Britishers and the young lions thereof are the Americans. America was part of the British Empire and therefore the Americans are called the young lions thereof. God has revealed this through the prophet long beforehand, even long before these countries came to power.
We can see shadows of these happenings in the air today. Sadat, the Egyptian President challenged in 1971 the Israelites, saying that they would decide their own destiny and fight against Israel that year itself.
This war should take place just before the coming of the Lord; because in this war Israel will get help from Britain, America etc. This may be called a war by proxy because although this is a war between the Israelites and the Arab nations, there are secret mighty powers behind them; Russia and the Eastern Europe with the Arabs and Britain and America with Israel.
In this war Russia on the side of the Arabs will surely be defeated, as we read in Ezekiel 38:13. Nevertheless, Christ will come somewhere about this time and take His Church unto Him, so that Satan may be cast into the earth (Read Revelation 12:7). Unless Satan is cast into the earth the Antichrist cannot be revealed. The Antichrist is an individual, in whom Satan will enter and make him extraordinary. Read Revelation 13:2. “And the dragon (Satan) gave him, his power and his seat and great authority”. He (Antichrist) will become ruler over the whole world. And all the world wondered after the beast” (Rev. 13:3).
This beast or Antichrist, shall also be called Gog the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Read Ezekiel 39:1. “Therefore thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God: “Behold I am against thee, Oh Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.”
Israel will make a covenant with this beast for seven years, but in the middle of the seven years, they will fall out with him, and there will be terrible persecution and tribulation for them for 3 ½ years (Read Daniel 9:27). At the end of this period, the beast the Antichrist who is also called Gog, will march against Israel and Palestine. This time will not get help from any other nation. It is here that the 144,000 Jews who are sealed on their foreheads, will cry to God and God Himself will fight for them. Thus battle is called the battle of Armageddon. This is described in Ezekiel 39, Revelation 19 and Joel 2. Here the beast and his associate, the false prophet will be caught and cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20). This takes place at the end of the tribulation or before the Millennium starts.
The final appearance of Gog is at the end of the Millennium when Satan is left loose. “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations, which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog” (Rev. 20: 7-8). Satan works again as the chief prince; but is finally judged.” And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Rev. 20:10). The coming of the Lord is very near.
Kingdom of Rome coming to power:
" And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never all be destroyed." (Dan. 2:44). "In the days of these kings" is otherwise in the days of the ten toes; rising out of the Roman Empire. "And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken." (Dan.2:42). The same thing is defined in Rev.17:12. "And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast."
Rome is coming to power in the name of Gog or Russia. After the Second World War, the whole of Eastern Europe fell into the hand of the Russians. Now the Western Europe is forming a European Economic Society or Common Market consisting of ten nations. They are France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Italy, West Germany, Britain, Ireland, Norway and Denmark. There were only six nations in confederation, the first named six; but there is a great move to unite the other four also. These ten nations are otherwise ten kings. They want to remain as one nation or kingdom. But after the return of Christ, when the antichrist or Gog comes to power, they will join hands with him. Read Rev. 17:13. "These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast." Rome is coming back to power.
So we can already see the ugly head of the antichrist peeping through the troubled sea of nations. The Lord's coming is very near - let us get ready.
7. Signs in the sun and the moon:
" And there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring." (Lk. 21:25). On July 14th 1969 the first-ever manned satellite landed on the moon and since then, there were other explorations and probes made on the moon. What else is going to take place we do not know. These are signs of the return of Christ. Distress of nations - since the last world war, the nations of the world are in increasing distress. The greatest problem of the nations is the millions and millions of uprooted people called evacuees or refugees, such as, the Palestinians, the Pakistanis, Tibetans, etc.
They are helpless and without the necessities of life, and subject to all kinds of sicknesses, and privations. And it has great distressing effects on the nations of the world.
8. Civil wars in diverse places; famines:
Labour strikes, labour against the employers and employees against their managements.
Student strikes, social uprisings, Black power movement, Hippy movements, the teenagers problems; these are giving great perplexity to the nations. Jesus is coming soon! Let us get ready to meet Him.
' 9. Flood destructions, earthquakes and typhoon destructions are innumerable all over the world. What about accidents of automobiles, air crashes, etc., in diverse places?
By sea erosions there are immense losses to property and people. In certain places, islands have vanished with their inhabitants. Jesus is coming soon! Let us get ready to meet Him.
10. Unprecedented discoveries:
" But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." (Dan. 12:4).
1. Electricity
2. Electronics
3. Atomic energy or nuclear power
4. Automobiles crowding the streets
" The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall *justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like lightnings." (Nah. 2:4).
5. Aeroplanes
6. Computers
7. Laser beams
There are innumerable other wonderful discoveries in all the walks of life. They are both constructive and destructive, but they will be used more for destruction than construction in the last days as it is said, "Beat your ploughshares into swords, and you pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say I am strong." (Joel 3:10).
Innumerable destructive weapons are discovered so that nations and their existence itself can be destroyed in a short time. "Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea; for the devil is come down unto you." (Rev.12:12). Jesus is coming soon! Let us get ready to meet Him.
11. Population increase:
This, they say, is the greatest problem of humanity. If the population grows at this rate, they say within another ten years, the earth will sink under the burden of it; people may have to eat one another for mere existence. The prophecy in Deut. 28:52 will be fulfilled. Under the pretext of population curb, they have relaxed all moral laws, such as abortions, sodomy, use of cosmetics, sterilization, family planning, etc.
12. Pollution of air, water and land :
This is causing great anxiety in the hearts of the leaders of the world. As industries grow, pollution also increases and the same is the effect of the increase of population. If air, water and land are polluted, then existence will be impossible. This is a foretaste of the great tribulation, as we read in Rev. 16:1-7.
(To be contd.)
Signs of the Second Advent of Christ
European Economic Society or Common Market:
This was at first formed of six Nations, as explained before, viz., France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy and West Germany and four more will join them and become one united state like that of America. The other four are Ireland, England Norway and Denmark. This union will take place by the beginning of 1973, in spite of opposition in England and in Europe. This is a fulfilment of the word of God (Read Rev. 17:12-13). "And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings...these have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast". It means they will play themselves into the Communist group of Eastern Europe and Russia. That time is drawing nigh. Jesus is coming soon! Let us get ready.
People losing natural affection:
Children against parents, brother against sister, sister against brother, etc "This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their ownselves... without natural affection... traitors...having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away" (2 Tim. 3:1-5). If we carefully consider the above verses we shall see that never in the history of humanity did people come to this state of degradation as we see today.
At the close of the last Great World War with the loss of so many men in the battle, there was a very large majority of women left in the countries of Europe and Asia and most of these lost their sense of morality. A new generation with very little sense of morality has since risen up. Permissiveness is the law of this society. Everything is permitted and no check is made. This results in their moral, spiritual and physical destruction. The coming of the Lord is at hand, let us get ready.
(15) Apostasy in Christendom; R. C system coming to power again:
Although this is mentioned last it is not the least. "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on earth?" (Luke.18: 8). ''Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first" (2 Thess. 2:3).
Although apostasy set into the Church of God by the second or third century, yet God sent revivals into it from time to time. The Lutheran revival of the 16th century is the most noteworthy, and widely spread.
