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greatness of the Lord's mercy that, in spite of the enormity of their crime, He was ready
to pardon their sin, and during the period covered by the Acts of the Apostles, His
longsuffering again waited for their response to the Divine offer of restoration through
Peter's lips in Acts 3: 19-26. The Lord's longsuffering waited in vain and His verdict
on Israel at this particular time is found in Rom. 10: 21, "all day long I have stretched
forth My hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people". Acts 28: sees the terrible
warning of Isa. 6: 9, 10 at last fulfilled with its consequent blinded eyes, deaf ears and a
non-understanding heart, a condition which has characterized the Jewish race all through
this present dispensation. But is this the end of the story for Israel? There are some who
would not hesitate to say that it is. Such would assert that the promises to Israel are
fulfilled in a spiritual way through the Church. But do these people realize the
consequences of what they teach? If this is so, then the "I wills" of Gen. 12: and 15:
have been broken and this cuts at the very foundation of our own faith, for it means that
God has broken His word and if this is true, what security have we as members of His
Body, relying by faith on the same word? We would rather believe God than man,
however eminent he may be. The Scriptures declare that the gifts and calling of God are
without repentance (i.e. change of mind on His part, Rom. 11: 29). God has never varied
His plan for world blessing through the Jew and not a single Scripture, taken in its
context can be brought forward to substantiate the idea that the Church has taken over
this prerogative of Israel. Moreover such teaching nullifies the truth of the Ministry of
the New Covenant which Jer. 31: emphatically asserts belongs to Israel the nation,
when at last they shall be given an understanding heart and shall be My people again
(verses 32-36). Rom. 11: 27 alludes to this time and it is linked with the return of the
Lord Jesus Who shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob (26). But before this can
happen, we find that a representative number of the earthly people must return to their
land, rebuild their temple and restore their sacrifices even though still in unbelief. As the
dispensation of the Mystery closes, this movement amongst the Jews begins and
Ezek. 37: foretells this period. The people of Israel are likened to dry bones--
withered and lifeless--and as Ezekiel prophesies, sinews and flesh come upon them and
finally "breath came into them and they lived and stood upon their feet, an exceeding
great army" (Ezek. 37: 9, 10). It is the spirit of resurrection that animates them, for
we read in verses 12-14:
"Therefore prophesy and say unto them. Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my
people, I will open your graves . . . . . and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall
know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people and brought you
up out of your graves, and shall put My spirit in you and ye shall live, and I shall place
you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken and performed it,
saith the Lord."
The quickening of Israel is by resurrection power and whether we deal with
individuals or with the chosen nation, we cannot get away from this fundamental fact.
The days that we live in are solemn indeed, but to the humble student of prophecy
they are thrilling as well--for we can see the beginnings of Ezek. 37: taking place
under our own eyes. Something has happened to the Jew which has not been since the
destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, namely they have acquired national status again in
their land. The importance of this from a scriptural standpoint should be evident. There