(Rev. 22:16) but never David himself. Ezekiel 34:24 and Jeremiah 30:9 make it clear that David is referred to as

separate from God and can only be the David of the Old Testament.

Another important feature of the earthly part of the kingdom of God is that, when it is set up, sin will be dealt

with summarily and not allowed to fester and grow. This is absolutely vital to the permanence of this kingdom and

its righteous rule. Scripture makes it quite clear that the reign of Christ will be with a `rod of iron'. In other words

there will be strict discipline and control. The references to the `rod of iron' rule are found in Psalm 2:9; Revelation

2:27; 12:5 and 19:15.

When one considers the state of the world at the present time with its ungodliness and rebellion against God and

the fact that prophetic Scripture indicates that this will grow worse as this age comes to its end, it is surely not

surprising that, initially at least, the returning Christ will use His almighty power in no uncertain way to bring His

enemies under control.

Psalm 110 is quoted seven times in the New Testament (Matt. 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42; Acts 2:34; 1 Cor.

15:25-28; and Heb. 1:13; 10:13) and it pictures the Lord Jesus reigning`in the midst of His enemies' (Psa. 110:2).

Psalm 101:8 reads:

`Morning by morning will I uproot all the lawless of the land, that I may cut off out of the city of Yahweh, all the

workers of iniquity'. (Rotherham)

If God found it necessary to do this in the Old Testament dispensation, He surely will repeat it during the

millennium where there are His enemies and those who render Him `feigned obedience'. The Authorised Version

marginal notes in Psalms 18:44; 66:3 and 81:15 give the translation `feigned obedience'. Brown Driver and Briggs'

Lexicon gives the meaning of Kachash: `Be disappointing, deceive, fail, grow lean' and in reference to the Psalms in

question, their note reads: `Cringe, come cringing, make a show of obedience'.

In Deuteronomy 33:29 where the same word is used we read: `And Thine enemies shall be found liars unto

Thee'. In each case the Septuagint uses epseusanto, `they lied'. It is evident therefore that the millennium, blessed

though it is and world-wide, is not the perfect state. Deception and death are still there, needing the restraining hand

of the Lord to keep control for not all the seed of Satan have been removed at this point.

CHAPTER FOUR

If God's unconditional promises are to be fulfilled which were made to the patriarchs concerning an everlasting

seed and an everlasting land, then it is obvious that the present condition of Israel, scattered all over the world, must

be altered and the nation gathered back to this land of promise. The same God Who warned Israel that this

world-wide scattering would take place if they continued their idolatrous and rebellious ways, is the God Who has

promised to regather them and this is absolutely vital to His earthly kingdom purpose as the previous studies have

shown. Just as the scattering in judgment was literal, and no amount of spiritualising can alter this fact, so the

bringing of the nation back to the large part of the Middle East as detailed in Genesis 15 must be literal too. `He that

scattered Israel will gather him' (Jer. 31:10).

The testimony of the Word of God on this point is so clear and voluminous that one is amazed that Bible lovers

could ever have missed it. We give some of the references here. In Isaiah 11:11,12 God speaks to Israel. `And it

shall come to pass in that, day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His

people ... and He shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four

`Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the

north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the ends of the

earth; even every one that is called by My Name: for I have created him (Israel) for My glory, I have formed

him; yea, I have made him' (Isa. 43:5-7).