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intent: "His heart shall be against the holy covenant" (11: 28). This covenant is referred
to in Dan. 9: 27: "He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week."* In the
midst of the seven years he breaks the covenant, causing sacrifice and offering to cease,
and in its stead (see note of The Companion Bible on Dan. 9: 27) brings in the
abomination that maketh desolate.
[NOTE: * - The time that elapses from the making of the
covenant to verse 31 is 3½ years of the last seven of Dan. 9:]
(Daniel22, p.103-up)
Such is the analysis of the place that Egypt occupies in the Prophetic Scriptures. At
the moment of writing, the dispensation of the Mystery still runs its course, and Israel are
still Lo-ammi, "not My People". The re-shuffle of the nations in Middle East is a
preparation for the day fast approaching when the prophetic clock will begin once more
to tick and the Day of the Lord will dawn. While, therefore, our own blessed hope must
be realized before these things come to pass, their proximity but reminds us that "now is
our salvation nearer than when we believed".
THE GATHERED PEOPLE
A survey of the scattering and the gathering of Israel,
and their association with the land and the city of their fathers,
their repentance and the coming of the Lord.
When we endeavour to compute the time of the end, without of course attempting "the
day and the hour" which is forbidden, there are certain features which are key events
which, if seen in their right relationship with other prophetic features, will lead us to an
approximation of the character of the time of the end, even though many details can only
be understood in the light of their fulfillment. Prominent among such subjects, is the
future gathering of Israel by the Lord to the land of promise. It will be observed that we
have said "the future gathering" and "by the Lord", the present occupation of the land by
Israel being rather in line with Abraham's mistake which led to the birth of Ishmael. A
future "gathering" of Israel presupposes a past "scattering", and we believe an
examination of the Scripture closely dealing with these related events will be profitable in
more ways than one.
In the N.T., the Greek word diaspora "the scattered" has become, practically, a title of
Israel. Diaspora occurs three times:
"Then said the Jews among themselves, whither will He go, that we shall not find
Him? Will He go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles (Greeks) and teach the Gentiles
(Greeks)?" (John 7: 35).
"James (literally Jacob), a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve
tribes, which are scattered abroad, greeting" (James 1: 1).
"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia" (I Pet. 1: 1).