Just what is meant by “Israel’s Return”?
Answer.—By Israel, the Bible means the Jewish people (John 4:22; Matt. 10:5, 6; 15:24). And it sets forth two lines of thought connected with their return: (1) their return to their land, and (2) their return to God’s favor. Let us first consider (1):
The antecedents to their return to their land are their dispersion among all nations and their persecutions, both during the Dark Ages and in more recent times. Their dispersion throughout the Gospel Age in many lands was forecast in Lev. 26:33-39; Jer. 16:13-16; 30:11; Hos. 3:4. The desolation of their land and cities was forecast in Lev. 26:31-35, 43; Deut. 29:22, 24, 27; Isa. 17:4-6; Jer. 4:20, 26-28; 12:4-7, 10-13; 19:8; Amos 3:14; 5:3, 5; 7:8, 9; Mic. 1:6; Matt. 11:20-23; Luke 10:12-15; 21:24. These prophecies have had an abundant fulfilment. Until recently, the land has been practically bereaved of the Israelites, its fertility has been greatly diminished and it has been desolate. The inducements to Israel’s returning to their land are their religion, their patriotism, their persecutions in various countries, their need of a place where they can dwell in safety, the awakening of national consciousness, the returning fertility of the land and the resumption of business there. We see it becoming an actuality, in part due to the individual and collective initiative manifested by the Jewish people in Israel, e.g., in their colonization and collective immigration. The prophecies point it out (Jer. 16:14-18; 30:4-8, 18-22; 31:4-14, 21, 23-25, 27, 28, 35-40; 32:36, 37; 33:7, 10, 11; Ezek. 36:1-15, 24-38; 37:1-28; Hos. 3:4, 5; Amos 9:14, 15). These Scriptures cannot refer to their return from Babylon, for they call it the return from the North country, while Babylon is east of Palestine. The predicted seven times (7X360 years) or 2520 years’ punishment (Lev. 26:18, 21, 24, 28), lasted from 607 B. C. to 1914 A.D. Particularly since 1914 A.D. there has been an ever increasing activity along the lines of the above inducements. Even as far back as the 1890’s political Zionism began to influence numbers to return to the land, and their return is progressing rapidly.
Secondly, we consider Israel’s return to the Lord’s favor. The cause for their loss of the Lord’s favor was their stubbornness and pride, culminating in their rejection of Christ. In Lev. 26:14-45 Moses gave a remarkable prophecy of the punishments that God forecast as coming upon them for their violations of His covenant. Hos. 3:4, 5; Matt. 23:27-39; Luke 19:42; Rom. 11:10, 11; 11:25 also indicate their loss of the Lord’s favor. However, their blindness and disfavor were not to continue forever, according to the Scriptures (Lev. 26:40-45; Psa. 102:13-17; Isa. 40:1, 2; Ezek. 16:60, 63; Rom. 11:25-32). In harmony with these prophecies, and the fact that we are living in the time to expect their fulfilment, we find Israel’s blindness and prejudice against Jesus passing away; whereas Jews formerly were very bitter against Jesus, many of them now regard Him as the greatest of their prophets. We find the New Testament translated into Hebrew being circulated among the Jews; we find much non-sectarian evangelism being used to awaken in them a recognition of their mistake in rejecting Jesus, and also in helping them to see that He is the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament. The glorious results of Israel’s return to the Lord’s favor are shown in Rom. 11:12, 15, 16; Ezek. 16:46-63. For more details on this subject, please see The Bible (E Vol. 12) pp. 367-377. ’72-70
Answer.—By Israel, the Bible means the Jewish people (John 4:22; Matt. 10:5, 6; 15:24). And it sets forth two lines of thought connected with their return: (1) their return to their land, and (2) their return to God’s favor. Let us first consider (1):
The antecedents to their return to their land are their dispersion among all nations and their persecutions, both during the Dark Ages and in more recent times. Their dispersion throughout the Gospel Age in many lands was forecast in Lev. 26:33-39; Jer. 16:13-16; 30:11; Hos. 3:4. The desolation of their land and cities was forecast in Lev. 26:31-35, 43; Deut. 29:22, 24, 27; Isa. 17:4-6; Jer. 4:20, 26-28; 12:4-7, 10-13; 19:8; Amos 3:14; 5:3, 5; 7:8, 9; Mic. 1:6; Matt. 11:20-23; Luke 10:12-15; 21:24. These prophecies have had an abundant fulfilment. Until recently, the land has been practically bereaved of the Israelites, its fertility has been greatly diminished and it has been desolate. The inducements to Israel’s returning to their land are their religion, their patriotism, their persecutions in various countries, their need of a place where they can dwell in safety, the awakening of national consciousness, the returning fertility of the land and the resumption of business there. We see it becoming an actuality, in part due to the individual and collective initiative manifested by the Jewish people in Israel, e.g., in their colonization and collective immigration. The prophecies point it out (Jer. 16:14-18; 30:4-8, 18-22; 31:4-14, 21, 23-25, 27, 28, 35-40; 32:36, 37; 33:7, 10, 11; Ezek. 36:1-15, 24-38; 37:1-28; Hos. 3:4, 5; Amos 9:14, 15). These Scriptures cannot refer to their return from Babylon, for they call it the return from the North country, while Babylon is east of Palestine. The predicted seven times (7X360 years) or 2520 years’ punishment (Lev. 26:18, 21, 24, 28), lasted from 607 B. C. to 1914 A.D. Particularly since 1914 A.D. there has been an ever increasing activity along the lines of the above inducements. Even as far back as the 1890’s political Zionism began to influence numbers to return to the land, and their return is progressing rapidly.
Secondly, we consider Israel’s return to the Lord’s favor. The cause for their loss of the Lord’s favor was their stubbornness and pride, culminating in their rejection of Christ. In Lev. 26:14-45 Moses gave a remarkable prophecy of the punishments that God forecast as coming upon them for their violations of His covenant. Hos. 3:4, 5; Matt. 23:27-39; Luke 19:42; Rom. 11:10, 11; 11:25 also indicate their loss of the Lord’s favor. However, their blindness and disfavor were not to continue forever, according to the Scriptures (Lev. 26:40-45; Psa. 102:13-17; Isa. 40:1, 2; Ezek. 16:60, 63; Rom. 11:25-32). In harmony with these prophecies, and the fact that we are living in the time to expect their fulfilment, we find Israel’s blindness and prejudice against Jesus passing away; whereas Jews formerly were very bitter against Jesus, many of them now regard Him as the greatest of their prophets. We find the New Testament translated into Hebrew being circulated among the Jews; we find much non-sectarian evangelism being used to awaken in them a recognition of their mistake in rejecting Jesus, and also in helping them to see that He is the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament. The glorious results of Israel’s return to the Lord’s favor are shown in Rom. 11:12, 15, 16; Ezek. 16:46-63. For more details on this subject, please see The Bible (E Vol. 12) pp. 367-377. ’72-70
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