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ungodliness from Jacob' could not be explained of any past act of Grace that has hitherto been shown, either
towards Jews or Gentiles. I saw that it could be explained only of the future forgiveness of Israel, as a nation. I
saw also that Israel when nationally converted, are not to be merged in the present Gentile Church, for then they
would have been represented in this chapter as graffed in upon the Gentile branch, which constitutes in Romans
11, the symbol of the present professing Church. On the contrary, it is said in this chapter that, as a distinct
branch, they shall be graffed back into their own olive tree. These, and a few other connected truths, I began to
discern, though dimly and imperfectly'.
B. W. Newton goes on to give clear and un-compromising testimony to the failure of the Preterite system of
Prophecy, in which so much that is really future is interpreted of the past, and with this, we are in complete
agreement, but his conviction now to be cited, that there is a threefold division of time in Israel's history, pointed so
clearly to the present dispensation of the Mystery, that one is still left amazed and distressed that eyes so touched by
the spirit of grace should not have seen the open door, and have entered into all the blessings that are revealed in the
great Epistle of the Mystery, Ephesians. We quote again from B. W. Newton:
THREE PERIODS IN ISRAEL'S HISTORY
I observed also, that the history of Israel during the time of their punishment and subjection to the Gentiles is
distributed into three distinct divisions: the first extending from Nebuchadnezzar to their dispersion by Romans,
the second being the present Period of their dispersion, the third, the yet future period of their national
re-establishment in unbelief; so, the prophetic visions of Daniel are to be divided into three parts, corresponding
to these three periods. But I observed this likewise, that when the first of these periods terminated, historic
detail terminated. As soon as the dispersion of Israel was effected, and they ceased to have a recognized
national existence in their land, there is a pause in the historic detail of Daniel - no person, no place, no date is
mentioned during the present period of dispersion. But when the third period of their unbelieving history
commences, when they again have returned in unbelief to their own land, then the historic detail of Daniel re-
commences, and is given with even greater emphasis than before. So entirely is Gentile history made in the
Scripture to revolve around Jerusalem as its centre. Whilst Jerusalem nationally exists, the history of the nations
that are brought into connexion with it is given; but when Jerusalem ceases to exist nationally, the history of the
Gentiles in Scripture ceases too.
We are in the interval, the period of dispersion, now. It will terminate when Jerusalem is nationally
reconstituted. (Watching and Waiting, March - April 1953).
Look at the words `no person, no place, no date is mentioned during the present period of dispersion'. These
words cry aloud that Dispensational Truth demands during the period of Israel's blindness which commenced at
Acts 28:23-31, that no Old Testament Prophecy is being fulfilled. Matthew 24 also must belong not to the present
calling of the Mystery, but to the `third period' when the `historic detail of Daniel recommences'; that a new
revelation, with a new sphere, constitution and hope must be given by God if any Gentile is to be saved and blessed
during the setting aside of the hitherto exclusive channel of blessing - Israel. Accepting B. W. Newton's view and
taking it to its logical conclusion, we have the following threefold division of Israel's history:
FIRST DIVISION
SECOND DIVISION
THIRD DIVISION
From
`There is a pause'.
Unbelieving
Nebuchadnezzar to
Here  comes  the
history
Dispersion by the
dispensation
of
commences,
Romans, A D. 70, a
the
Mystery,
a
historic detail of
few years after Acts
parenthesis,
Daniel
28.
unconnected
with
recommences.
Israel, Prophecy or
Daniel  nine  is
Covenants.
From
intimately linked
Acts  28  to  the
with Matthew 24
resumption
of
(Matt. 24:15),
prophecy.
and so, completely
disassociated from
the
Second