*

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

'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.

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).