An Alphabetical Analysis
Volume 9 - Prophetic Truth - Page 128 of 223
INDEX
*
An acre = 0.405 hectare.
Israel's title to Palestine is flawless.  The Jewish people have six
titles to Canaan, based on the six models obtaining property in land --
homestead law, by gift or grant, by covenant, by conquest, by right of
tenure, and by purchase.
A look at a
world map reveals that Palestine is situated in the centre
of the land
surface of the earth.  It has been called the heart of the
world.  God
designed this land for the Jews 251 years before Abraham
was born.
Deuteronomy 32:8
reads:
'When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he
separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the
number of the children of Israel'.
The Midnight Cry, June, 1956.
PROPHECY
AND
THE
MYSTERY*
If the dispensation of the Mystery is a parenthesis, occupying the
period between Israel's rejection and their restoration, then in the nature
of the case it will not be a part of Old Testament Prophecy.  If at other lo
-ammi periods (See the article Lo-ammi2 for explanation of this term) the
prophetic clock stopped, so that it influenced the computation of years and
times, then we should not expect the mystery to be visualized by the Old
Testament prophets at all.  If the Mystery was 'hid in God' until revealed to
Paul the prisoner, then it could not form a part of Old Testament prophecy.
*
For an exposition of the Mystery, and allied themes, An Alphabetical
Analysis Parts 1 to 5 should be consulted.
Being clear over this, we can consider some prophetic features that
pertain to the dispensation of the Mystery, without involving ourselves in
contradiction.  For example, there are prophetic utterances that indicated a
drastic change in Paul's ministry, which, without in any way anticipating
that which was still 'hid in God', nevertheless revealed the pathway that led
to the new territory that stretched beyond Acts 28.  Such a passage is Acts
20:22 -25.  It is evident at the reading of verses 17 -21 that Paul was
bringing one ministry to a close, and it is equally evident at verses 22 -25
that he was looking forward to another.  'And now' marks the moment of the
new departure, in contrast with the ministry described in verses 18 -21 and
dated 'from the first day that I came into Asia'.  'I go bound ... bonds ...
await me'.  A 'prison' ministry is here envisaged, but no details were at the
time revealed, for he said, 'not knowing ... save ...'.  Paul himself
acknowledged that he did not know at the time what lay before him, except a
ministry associated with prison.  For this new ministry with its bonds and
afflictions Paul, by grace, was ready and willing, saying:
'But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto
myself, So That I Might Finish my course with joy, and the ministry,
which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the
grace of God' (Acts 20:24).