THE CONVERSION OF ISRAEL

By HERMAN NEWMARK

(This year [i.e., when this article was first printed during April/June 1998 by S.G.A.T.] marks the 50^th Anniversary of the re-establishment of the State of Israel. When in 1948, this came about, the present secretary of the Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony, then a young man, thought that he was certainly a sign that the Lord’s coming was very near, and he expected the other signs foretold in Holy Scripture to quickly follow. But 50 [now 68] years later we still watch and wait for that glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ. This reminds us that we have to wait God’s time. The month before the historical event, in April, 1948, Mr. Newmark, of the Hebrew Christian Testimony to Israel, had spoken at an S.G.A.T. Conference in London and his message was subsequently printed in the Conference Report. We give it as printed, shortly afterwards, so that it reads as spoken and written in 1948.

It amazes us that in view of the history of the nation, that there are still modernists and a-millennialists who seem unable or unwilling to believe what God has plainly stated in His Word of Truth, and they continue to further their theory that God has no purpose for the nation He chose. Such incredulity seems astounding” - Ed.)

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The new State of Israel has been set up since this address was spoken. May 15^th. 1948, was a landmark in the history of the Jews, for on that date they proclaimed the inauguration of the independent State of Israel, of which the first president is Dr. Wisemann. The Mandate for Palestine was given to Britain in 1920, when Mr Churchill said that God deals with the nations as they deal with Israel! In 1923 Jews began to enter and colonise the land. In 1918 there were only 50,000 Jews in Palestine. Now there are nearer 750,000.

William Blackstone was a great lover of Israel, and through his book “Jesus is Coming,” he was much used to spread the truth of the fact of the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus. I read this book to my profit as a young Christian in Japan. In his old age he came to see that the Lord’s coming is not to be in secret, but is to be in manifested glory. The reason why he made this change was that his pioneer of Second Advent truth was subject to correction by the Word of God.

I used to hold and teach the secret rapture of the Church and the nay-moment coming of Christ, until I found that there were no Scriptures for these two theories. I was bound, therefore, to give them up. Since then I have met members of earnest truth-seekers all over Britain who, after doubts concerning these two extra-scriptural doctrines, have gradually dropped them. One friend remarked at the time of the Hitler persecution of the Jews, “I never thought that the Church would be here on earth to witness Jacob’s trouble as we have done. Can you give me something to read on the teaching that the Church is not to be removed before the tribulation?”

I am personally convinced that the doctrine that Christ is to make a secret return for His Church is the main reason why so many otherwise sound Bible teachers have either given up the pre-millennial advent or believe in no millennium at all! Because they could not accept these unscriptural theories, they have given up the pre-millennial advent altogether. This reminds one of the enlightened Jew, who, in discarding the Talmud throws the Bible away with it!

The S.G.A.T. Case is Scriptural

Although the Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony would not claim perfection for its teaching on the Second Advent, all Bible students are bound to admit that it can give more solid Scripture for its views than any other system. It neither explains away prophetic Scriptures or speculated upon extra-scriptural notions.

The subject before us for consideration is that the conversion of Israel will take place at the return of Christ after the great tribulation. One important reference to the truth is in Matthew 24: 29-30. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken; and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

J. N. Darby, who was mainly responsible for spreading the secret rapture theory, based this idea on the mistaken conception that tribulation means the wrath of God, and that these terms are interchangeable. He reasoned that since the Church could not experience the wrath of God, therefore it must be removed from the earth in secret before the great tribulation came.

Dr. Horatius Bonar knew his Bible better, when a century ago, he wrote “I will see you again” was the solace of the early Church - “till then her lot below is sorrow and tribulation.”

The Lord Jesus departed from the Jews and Jerusalem as in Matthew 23, and then in chapter 24, He addresses the Church. Some think that because He speaks in this chapter of tribulation the whole chapter is Jewish. One answer to this bold assumption is that in the Gospel of John, the Lord was addressing the same disciples, and said in chapter 13: 33, “As I said unto the Jews … so now I say unto you.” He spoke then to His disciples not as being Jews but as being the Church.

In Matthew 24: 15, He says to Christians, “When ye therefore see the abomination of desolation, spoken by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place … behold, I have told you before.” But when we reach verse 30, the Lord says “then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” I suggest that this change from the second to the third person indicates that in verse 29 the Church is caught up to meet the returning Lord in the air.

It has often been pointed out that Psalm 110: 1 is the most frequently quoted Old Testament verse in the New Testament. It is thus constantly emphasised that the Lord Jesus will not leave His Father’s right hand some years earlier for His Church?

In Matthew 24: 30, Israel sees Christ and His Church manifested in glory. Then shall the tribes mourn as foretold by the prophet Zechariah, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me Whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart: all the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.” (12: 9-14).

The Son of Man appearing in the Clouds

The Son of man appearing in the clouds is a reference back to Daniel 7: 13-14, “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

The sign was not something concerning the Son of man, but is the Son of man Himself in heaven. When in Matthew 26: 63-66, the Lord spoke of this to the high priest, he called Him a blasphemer, for the Lord was referring him to Daniel 7: 13, and claimed to be the Son of man Whom Daniel had foretold. “But Jesus held His peace. And the high priest answered and said unto Him, Thou hast said, nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.”

Stephen saw heaven opened and the Lord Jesus at God’s right hand. The Lord here tells the Jews who were rejecting Him that the time would come when they should see heaven opened, and the Son of man on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of glory. It was too much for Caiaphas to stand, and became his excuse for sending the Lord of Glory to crucifixion.

Israel Will See Our Lord’s Return

Israel will see Him before He reaches the earth, and doubtless will also witness the glorious sight of His Church caught up to meet their coming Lord in the air, and proceeding with Him to the Mount of Olives as foretold in Zechariah 14: 4-5: “And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives … and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.” The Lord also said in Matthew 13: 43, “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” The whole creation is groaning, we are told in Romans 8: 22-23, and waiting for the manifestation not only of the Son of God, but also of the sons of God by adoption, His Church. This will lead to Israel’s mourning indeed, and to their national conversion. Then will they confess the whole of Isaiah 53, and will exclaim as the Lord foretold in Matthew 23, and in Psalm 118. “The Stone which the builders refused is become the Head Stone of the corner … Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of Jehovah!”

They will also exclaim as in Isaiah 25, “Lo, This is our God; we have waited for Him … This is Jehovah; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation!”

In this connection, I would emphasise that Paul quotes this chapter for the resurrection of the dead in Christ in that wonderful 1 Corinthians 15. Israel’s awakening and conversion are therefore intimately associated with the resurrection and translation of the Church. Israel’s glory cannot precede the glory of their Messiah, and the Church is Messiah’s body, then Israel’s glory and that of the Church* are closely connected. Revelation 1: 7 confirms that the Lord’s coming in the clouds and that “every eye shall see Him, and that they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail (tribes of the land shall mourn) because of Him. Even so, Amen.”

[* See also G. H. Lang’s “Firstborn Sons Their Rights and Risks”, (pp. 79-80)]

While preparing this address, I was given a copy of “The Coming of the Son of Man” and would like to quote from Mr. Poole-Connor’s closing chapter. “‘I will pour … upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications, and they shall look upon Me Whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn … and the land shall mourn, every family apart’ (Zechariah 12: 10-12). Tribulation shall have done its bitter, but salutary work; another Elijah-ministry shall have turned the people to God (Revelation 11); the Spirit of truth shall take the vail from their hearts (2 Corinthians 3: 16); and in the fountain of the Redeemer’s Blood shall their sin be washed away (Zechariah 13: 1).

“Thus to that land where a manger cradled Him, to that land where Jewish unbelief delivered Him to die beneath Rome’s iron hand, shall He return. Nor shall He come alone. As He descends He shall utter His voice that wakes the dead and transforms the living. His mighty trumpet shall summon His saints to share His glory and fall into rank beside Him.

“Inseparably linked with Israel’s conversion is the fulfilment of the believer’s hope. When the LORD shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory (Psalm 102: 16). The hour of Israel’s deliverance is the hour when the saints shall be raised. ‘At that time Thy people shall be delivered … and many [and therefore not all] of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake’ (Daniel 12: 1-2). When the veil is taken from Israel’s heart, Isaiah declared, God shall swallow up death in victory - a prophecy coming to pass. Paul tells us, at the first resurrection (Isaiah 25: 7-8 and 1 Corinthians 15: 54). Then, too, shall angelic ministers separate the true from the false, in every land where Christ’s Name shall be professed, casting the false into the outer darkness, and gathering the true, shining like the sun, to the side of the Lord. And with this glittering train He shall move onward to deliverance and victory. The LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with Thee.”

Out of the mouths of two witnesses let every truth be established!

Developments to be Expected in Israel

The Jews are to possess the whole land in the age to come. “For, lo, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will bring again the captivity of My people Israel and Judah, saith Jehovah: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it” (Jeremiah 30: 3). But meanwhile they are returning still in unbelief, and there is no Scripture which gives them independence in the Land before they receive Messiah.

They are to accept the false messiah, or the Antichrist. “I am come in My Father’s Name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive” (John 5: 43).

Temple worship will be restored, the ritual being directed by the priests, and some Gentiles adhearing to Temple worship as at the first advent of our Lord. “O give thanks unto Jehovah for good: because His mercy is for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that His mercy is forever. Let them now that fear Jehovah say, that His mercy is forever. We have blessed you out of the house of Jehovah” (Psalm 118: 1-4, 26).

Before our Lord’s return, sacrifices will be offered again in unbelief, and after His return in faith. “Bind the sacrifice with cords, unto the horns of the altar” (Psalm 118: 27. See also Ezekiel 40-48).

The Man of Sin Will Sit in the Temple of God

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way (literally, “only there is one that restraineth, until he come to be out of the midst)” (2 Thessalonians 2: 3-7).

The Abomination of Desolation Will Stand in the Holy Place

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9: 27). “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of Thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation to that same time: and at that time Thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12: 1-3).

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him understand)” (Matthew 24: 15). [None but Christians read the book of Daniel. Certainly Jews do not, for in Europe they are forbidden to read it by the rabbis, under a curse.] “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matthew 24: 21-22).

“And these are the words that Jehovah spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith Jehovah: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child: wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it; it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30: 4-7).

“And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His Name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13: 5-8).

“And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, by those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image of the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13: 14-17).

“And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court of the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months” (Revelation 11: 1-2). “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21: 24).

The Anti-Christian Nations Shall Come Against Jerusalem

The anti-christian nations shall come against Jerusalem and be smitten when Christ appears. “And it shall come to pass in that day, I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” (Zechariah 12: 9). “All the nations compassed me about; but in the name of Jehovah I will destroy them. They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about; but in the Name of Jehovah I will destroy them” (Psalm 118: 10-12). “Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken … and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall be cut off from the city” (Zechariah 14: 1-2). “They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee; the tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them” (Psalm 83: 4-8).

“For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations, and bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for My people … Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted My land. And they have cast lots for My people: and they have given a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. Jehovah also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but Jehovah will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel” (Joel 3: 1-3, 16).

The Redeemer Shall Come to Zion

The Redeemed shall come to Zion and all Israel shall be saved. “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob” (Romans 11: 25, 26). “Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of Jehovah … God is Jehovah Which hath showed us light … Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee: Thou art my God, I will exalt Thee!” (Psalm 118: 26-28).

May the Lord hasten His Word to perform it!

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To Jerusalem

By Mrs M. A. Chaplin.

(This poem is taken from a collection of poems in a book entitled “Chimes for the Times.” It was written in the last century, the book having been published in 1891. These are not the only verses written by Mrs Chaplin in this particular subject. Being over 100 years old, and written a long while before the State of Israel was set up in 1948, and even before 1917, it reminds us that those who, like Mrs Chaplin, [rightly] understand that God means what He has said concerning the Jewish people [and His Land restored (Rom. 8: 21, 22)], can always be confident that God will fulfil His Word – Ed.)

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Queen of the cities of earth, oh when

Shall thy glory gladden the eyes of men?

All Kings, all peoples look with pain

To see thee desolate remain.

The heathen adore who were want to deride thee;

Thy ‘beautiful garments’ are lying beside thee;

Fling them about thee. Rise from the dust;

Daughter of Zion, ye shall ye must.

God, thy Redeemer, is mighty and true.

Soon shall thy children with patience view

Him Whom they pierced on yon fair hill,

Despised - yet the Messiah still.

And their keen self-reproach shall break forth into singing,

(Like the wail of the East when the firstborn is dying;

Like home-yearning exiles, heart broken and sore),

They shall kneel to the King they have learned to adore.

Sad is the spell which has held for so long

The children of that land of song.

It suited not their native pride

That the King of the Jews should be crucified.

But to call them forsaken of God is a libel,

The ‘Jew’ shall return to the land of the Bible.

And a crucified God be the soul’s only stay

When the children of Israel are passing away.

Beautiful land! Our eyes would [yearn to] see

The glory yet in reserve for thee.

The Gentile world will rejoice to share

In the rivers of blessing rising there.

The hearts ceased with pride as with stone shall be broken,

And only the language of patience spoken;

And Zion, the chosen of God from her birth,

Shall be crowned by all nations the Queen of the earth.

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“But My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed Me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it:” (Numbers 14: 24, R.V.).

“Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,

Who only doeth wondrous things:

And blessed be his glorious name for ever;

And let the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Amen, and Amen:” (Psalm 72: 18, 19, R.V.).

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“For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God:” (John 12: 43).

“Do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be a servant of Christ:” (Gal. 1: 10).

“It is a light thing to be judged by man’s judgment, and all the lighter since they are so prone to judge by a false standard. What is it to me that men condemn me if God only approve? The longer I live, the less I think of human opinions on the great questions of right and wrong as God sees them. They will judge both themselves and others falsely. Even the Church sometimes condemns and excommunicates her nest men. I have known cases, and could name them, in which I am confident they have done this very thing. They have cut men off from their communion, and now everybody sees that the men excommunicated were the best men of the Church.

It is a blessed thought that the only thing we need to care for is to please God. The only inquiry we need make is – What will God think of it? We have only one mind to please, and that the Great Mind of the universe. Let this be our single aim, and we shall not fail to please Him. But if we do not aim at this all we can do is only an abomination in His sight.” - C. G. Finney.

“May I have grace to live above every human motive; simply with God and to God, and not swayed, especially in missionary work, by the opinions of people not acquainted with the state of things, whose judgment may be contrary to my own.” - Henry Martyn.

Make not a man your measuring rod

If you would span the way to God;

Heed not our petty “worse” or “less,”

But fix your eyes on perfectness.

Make for the loftiest point in view,

And draw your friends along with yoy.

- Amos R. Wells.

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