had left Palestine. No one can say truthfully that they have yet been
fulfilled in no degree or sense, unless they find such fulfilment in the
conquests of the Saxon race. These predictions cannot apply to the Jews,
for they are few, nationless, and without a government. Touching the
past history of both Judah and Israel in Palestine, we shall find it to
be barren of victories, territory, acquisition, and number, in comparison
to other nations. They have never occupied the land given to Abraham in
fulness. In Solomon's time they bare rule only over a part of it. The
Gentiles and heathens have occupied it more and longer than the sons of
Abraham. But what failed to be accomplished in the past, is held grandly
in reserve for this day, the next few years. God will remember His
promise to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. He will remember it to
fulfil it, in spite of hell or earth.
We have been blind and guilty in the past, unconscious of our origin, and
as a natural consequence, ignorant of our place and special work. In
interpreting the Word of God we have been lavish in spiritualising, and
greedy in materialising, overlooking the fact that nine-tenths of the Old
Testament is a material history about one people, and that through them
God's special providence was to flow to all other nations; and the New
Testament plants the life and prosperity of the Gentile world upon the
course and progress of Israel. God said to Abraham, "In thee shall all
the families of the earth be blessed:" and more, "and in thy seed shall
all the nations of the earth be blessed." Israel, being scattered and
cast off, became a blessing to the world. They gave to the surrounding
nations the only true idea of God, for in their lowest condition and
idolatry they preserved the name and knowledge of Jehovah, and Christ
sent His disciples after them through one of their own Tribe--namely,
Benjamin--telling them not to go into the way of the Gentiles, nor into
the cities of the Samaritans, "but go rather to the lost sheep of the
House of Israel." To these sheep Christ declares He was sent. Where
were these sheep? They were scattered about in Central Asia--in
Scriptural language in Cappadocia, Galatia, Pamphylia, Lydia, Bithynia,
and round about Illyricum. From these very regions came the Saxons: from
here they spread abroad North and West, being the most Christian of any
people on the face of the earth then, as well as now. Their reception of
the Gospel gave them power over the surrounding nations, to whom they
were, as it had been foretold, witnesses for Jesus and providence in a
very special manner. What then, we say with Paul, will be the blessing
of Israel--recognized and fully restored to God's favour? If so much
good was carried and bestowed upon the Gentile nations because Israel was
scattered, how much, and what are the blessings in store for those
nations when Israel and Judah be restored? Paul compares it to a
resurrection--like as when the barrenness and desolation of a Winter is
supplanted by the fruits and beauties of Summer. "If the casting away of
them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them
be, but life from the dead?" (Rom. xi. 15).
It is reasonable to suppose that this world is subject to the providence
of God. Such a supposition is grandly sustained by the laws and
operations of nature without, and the experience and intuitions of the
mind within; and I believe this providence to be all-comprehensive,
bounding, and cognising all things, past, present, and future, both small
and great; claiming the ages for its measure, the universe for the field
of its operations, and the Infinite as the source of power. "The Lord
Jehovah reigns, let the earth rejoice." Let me persuade you to
thoroughly believe in the precision, the intimacy, and the completeness
of this providence. This doctrine we need to fully learn and accept.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," and it is He
"who hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and meted out
heaven with a span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure,
and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance." Aye,
and more, yet closer still does this providence approach us in our
affairs. "By Him kings reign and princes decree judgment. He bringeth
the princes to nothing; He maketh the judges of the earth as vanity."
Even closer yet, for without His permission a sparrow cannot fall to the
ground; and so intimate is He with us, that He knoweth the number of the
hairs of the head. Now all this kind of Bible instruction is intended to
teach the nearness of God to us, and His interest and intimacy with
nations and nature. Let us not think for a moment that nations can rush
to war and be outside this circle of providence. Let us study to know
God's mind, His plans and purposes with the nations; for rest satisfied
that His plan will finally be accepted by men and nations, and His
purposes will prevail. Kings may plan, diplomatists may diplomatise,
scientists may analyse, theologians may teach and preach their isms, and
politicians may make platforms and construct rings, yet none, nor all
combined, can stay the hand of God. "He doeth according to His will in
the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth." He can
initiate, permit, modify, and destroy. Once we truly recognise the
sovereignty of God over us, conceit will lie dead at the feet of
humility.
The Church at large has but a slender hold upon this great doctrine.
They look upon the great movement of wars and strife, rising and falling
of nations, as looks the country stranger upon a railway engine the first
time, the whirling wheels, the steam and smoke and burnished boiler rivet
his attention so completely, that he sees not the driver in his car. So
men are dazed with the show of pomp of courts and councils, with the
harangues of legislators and march of regiments, that they discern not
the master hand behind that directs all. "Verily, Thou art a God that
hidest Thyself." No, no, friends; English bravery, nor American
ingenuity will not account for all that England has done on the line of
victories, and the marvellous and rapid growth of these United States.
As God said long ago through Moses, so He could say to-day--for heavenly
counsel was given to the children of Israel on entering the Promised
Land, with a design of suppressing their pride and enabling them to form
a correct idea of their success in driving the strong and greater nations
of Canaanites and Philistines--"Speak not thou in thine heart, after that
the Lord thy God hath cast them out from before thee saying: For my
righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land; but for
the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before
thee. Not for thy righteousness, or the uprightness of thine heart, dost
thou go to possess the land, but for the wickedness of those nations the
Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, that He may perform
the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. Understand, therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this
good land to possess it for thy righteousness, for thou art a
stiff-necked people" (Deut. ix. 4).
By the same rule and for the very same reason that Israel conquered
Palestine, does England go on from conquest to conquest. And because God
remembered to perform His promises made to the patriarchs upon their
seed, America was opened for the Puritans, who are without doubt the
descendants and representatives of Manasseh, of whom God said "he should
be a people, a great people."
The rule of England and America over other people, is to be as life from
the dead--that is, whatsoever country England conquers and rules, it is
better for the people, and the country, and the world. They give to the
people a liberty that they would not have given to themselves; they
develop the resources of the country as never before, and by trade and
commerce bless the people and cause them to be a blessing unto others.
And better still, they make known to the conquered ones, in due time, the
riches of faith in Christ. So we have no hesitation in saying, a thing
patent to every unprejudiced observer, that the aborigines of the
conquered colonies of Great Britain are treated better by their
conquerors than they ever treated themselves. The Africans, in the
conquered colonies of Africa, are better off under British rule than
those colonies or portions unconquered are. The hosts of India enjoy
more, fare better in every grace and virtue in all that goes to adorn and
develop mankind, under the British government and protection than they
ever did or would under self-government. So the French, Germans,
Italians, Russians, Spaniards, and the numerous progeny of emigrants to
this country, fare better in every way with Manasseh, than they did in
their own lands. Of course, both in England's rule and America's, there
are many defects; but taking all in all, the good will out-weigh the bad;
and more so as the years roll on.
True, an arbitrary purpose and an individualism is seen on the surface,
yet under it all there is the hand of God. The farmer is free as to what
he sows, but the Divine, without interfering with his freedom, regulates
the harvest to plenty or famine. The Saxon people, England and America,
stand in a new light to the world by the teachings of the Bible. Being
Israel or the Ten Lost Tribes, they become at once the chosen agents of
God for the glorious purpose of evangelising the whole world, and
finally, by reducing the whole earth to the plane of universal liberty
and peace.
It was necessary that these two nations should first be taught the art of
mediation, for the ends of peace; that they should learn and show to the
world that national disputes and grievances can be settled without an
appeal to the sword. Hence we have, and what is much better, the world
has, Geneva and Alabama and the fish bounty treaty of Canada and the
United States. Not all the press did on either side, nor all the carping
and blustering of individuals, could prevent the happy consummation of
both these treaties. To God be praise, for they are prophetic harbingers
of a better day coming.
No hand nor power, nor combination of powers, can stop the onward march
of Israel to her God-ordained goal. Her future is to spread on the right
hand and on the left. Island after island, colony after colony, will
fall into her hands for mutual benefit. Russia may contest this march,
and will, for she is as much the appointed agent of contest from Heaven
as England is to advance. In a few years she will try to take the place
of England among the nations, as she has just done in Afghan. Russia
promised, no doubt, that she would and could protect the Ameer against
England, but the bargain was outside of the aims of Providence, hence it
could not be sustained. It is ordained of Heaven that Afghan fall into
the hands of England, if England be Israel.
Against this fate-like division of the world Russia is going to contend
and fight whenever she gets a chance. It would pay Russia and many other
countries to read that "When the Most High divided to the nations their
inheritance, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the
people according to the children of Israel" (Deut. xxxii. 8). These
bounds God will maintain wherever they run; whatever country they cut in
two, no matter, the earth must finally conform to this Divine geography.
This purpose is strongly set forth by Isaiah xliv. 7: "And who, as I,
shall call and shall declare it, and set it in order for Me, since I
appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming and shall
come." This same sturdy fact is taught by Paul when speaking to the
Athenians, telling them that God "hath made of one blood all nations of
men to dwell on the face of the earth, _and hath determined the times
before appointed_, _and the bounds of their habitations_." National
destinies are not so much things of chance, or prizes for the sword, as
many think. God promised to David, when both Israel and Judah were
prosperously settled in Palestine under David's reign, that He would
appoint a place for His people Israel, and plant them there, and they
should not be moved, neither should the wicked afflict them, as aforetime
(2 Sam. vii. 10.) This promise God has kept. He has given them the
British Isles, where none can afflict them, as they were wont to do when
Israel was scattered in Asia and Europe. God has found Manasseh a home
in this land of blessings and rich acres.
England, by a necessity, was forced to find new countries to provide for
her multiplying population. Then she is forced to enter other nations as
a missionary. She, with Manasseh, is chiefly responsible for the
evangelisation of the world, and of course they are at work all over the
world, for England and the United States send out more missionaries than
all the world beside. Russia needs no land for colonisation, for now her
inhabitants number only thirty-four to the square mile, while England
numbers 889. If we take in all the territory under Russia and England,
even then England has more to the square mile than Russia. Russia
comprises about 8,000,000 square miles, and England, with her late
additions, leaving out the United States, numbers about 9,000,000.
Joining Ephraim and Manasseh together, they own one-fourth of the whole
world--namely, about 13,000,000 square miles; the whole earth numbers
51,340,800 square miles. Besides, Russia is not a missionary country.
She neither sends any, nor accepts any, being at present the only nation
closed to missionary operation and toleration. The past few years Russia
has gained rapidly in territorial power. With the conquest of Bokhara
and portions of Turkestan, or Independent Tartary, she has added some
800,000 square miles.
At the beginning of the last century the Russian advance forts were 2,500
miles distant from those of England. At the close of the century the
distance was 2,000. Then in 1810 it was reduced to 1,000. And since
1855 it has been reduced to 400. And now, of course, they want it
reduced to nothing by getting control of Afghan.
How wonderfully clear are the fulfilling events of the prophecy. This
king of the North is to become a strong king, who, when Israel and Judah
are settled in Palestine, will have spirit and power to attack them. So
he is ripening, growing, and gathering power ready. Russia now comprises
nine crowns, eight of which are crowns of conquest. Russia's one grand
desire is to possess Palestine, especially Jerusalem. The Crimean war
was waged for rights and extended privileges in this holy city. To-day
Russian pilgrims swarm thither by the thousands every year. A few years
ago she built outside the Jaffa gate what she called an hospice, which
was designed to be nothing more nor less than a fort. It is in a
position commanding the whole city, and is a place of great strength.
Often she has tried to possess the city and land. By-and-bye she will be
permitted by Providence to pour her troops into this "land of unwalled
villages," and when having nearly achieved the ambitious plan of ages,
and nearly realised her one great national idea, she will perish, to rise
no more, "on the mountains of Israel." Her history is set forth by
Ezekiel xxxviii. and xxxix. chapters.
Palestine and Jerusalem have borne undeniable evidence for prophecy and
Providence. The whole land and the Book have been wonderfully agreed
during the past eighteen centuries. How significant and telling the
wailings and lamentations of the devout Jews, who crowd under the walls
of the mosque of Omar, the site of the ancient temple. Here, each
returning Sabbath, groups of Jews may be heard dolefully crying: "_Ali
bene_, _Ali bene_; _bene bethka_; _bekarob_, _bimheira_, _bimheira_;
_beyamenue_, _bekarob_," which, being interpreted, means, "Lord build,
Lord build; build Thy house speedily, in haste, in haste; even in our day
build Thy house speedily." Yes, mourning brethren of Judah, the time is
coming when the house shall be built and the voice of wailing no more
heard in the streets.
Can any student or inquirer after the truth fail to see that in our day a
prophecy is being fulfilled? Can any one shut their eyes to the
wonderful fact that Israel is breaking forth on the left and on the
right? God has long ago said that Israel were the people of His
inheritance, and that Jacob was the lot of His inheritance, or His
girdle, or cord, as the word lot means. Then, if you turn your attention
to Great Britain and her colonies, including Manasseh, you will see this
girdle or measuring line around the earth. Let me aid you by pointing
the same out for you. Look at the Eastern hemisphere circle, enclosing
the Gentile nations. Begin with Great Britain; pass on to the Channel
Islands, Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus, West Coast African Colonies, St.
Helena, Cape Colonies, Mauritius, Seychelles, Perim, Aden, Ceylon, India,
Burmah, Straits Settlements, Labuan, Australian Colonies, Hong Kong, and
the Dominion of Canada. In the Western hemisphere commence the circle
with Canada and United States, Fiji Islands, New Zealand, Falkland
Islands, British Guiana, British Honduras, West India Islands, and
Newfoundland. Do we not plainly see that Israel is possessing "the isles
of the sea," "coasts of the earth," "waste and desolate places?" These
things are not hid in a corner; they proclaim the intentions of God, an
over-ruling Providence; and who and where the Lost Tribes are. A miracle
and prophecy are fulfilling before our eyes.
ISRAEL AND POPULATION.
DISCOURSE IV.
PROPHETIC LATTER DAYS--OUR BEARINGS IN THE AGES--UNWISE
IMPATIENCE--ISRAEL TO BE ALWAYS A NATION--HER EMPIRE--HISTORIC CAREER OF
AND FUTURE OF ENGLAND, AMERICA, AND JUDAH--RELATIVE INCREASE OF
POPULATION--THE INFIDEL SAXON--JEWISH, BRITISH, AND AMERICAN INTERESTS
ONE--A FULL END OF ALL NATIONS BUT ISRAEL--FAMINE HENCEFORTH ONLY FOR THE
HEATHEN--ARBITRATION TO BE ENFORCED BY ISRAEL--AMERICAN
ABSORBTION--STARTLING FIGURES OF FUTURE POPULATION--THE BALANCE OF POWER.
"Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the
sea, which cannot be measured or numbered; and it shall come to pass
that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people,
there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living
God."--Hosea i. 10.
A period of time is frequently referred to in the Scriptures as being the
"latter days." It is, therefore, very important for the prophetic
student, and the Church of Christ at large, that the time of days spoken
of should be known. For connected with these days are a number of
prophecies waiting fulfilment, and they are of such a nature that their
fulfilment may easily be discerned. In breadth and scope they cover much
territory and include many people. They cannot be hid in a corner, for
the parts are so numerous and the interests so great. The fulfilment of
these prophecies will make a radical and fundamental change in Church and
State.
I take it for granted we are now entering into the time of the latter
days--a time that precedes by a natural consequence the millennium. It
is, therefore, unwise on the part of any person to claim that Christ may
come any day, and that His millennial reign may be begun at any moment.
It is but fair that we should carefully consider our bearings in the
circle of Providence and our position in the ages. The story and work of
redemption are grand, full of interest and thrilling incidents; still we
must take things in their order. Some stories we read are very
fascinating. The plot culminates, the characters and incidents converge
toward and centre in the hero. At such a point we are often carried away
with our sympathy for the hero; we become anxious for him, and desires to
know the issues, and so are tempted to skip a few pages and get at the
end unwisely and unlawfully. Thus I think many are carried away by a
loving desire for the millennium; they become anxious for the return of
the Hero of redemption; they skip a few pages of Providence, and come to
the end too soon.
These days are preparative, and in such a preparative stage we are
warranted to look for the fulfilment of certain prophecies; for
prophecies, indeed, of such a nature and character that no Bible student
need be mistaken as to the time, place, and conditions of fulfilment. We
have called your attention to one of these prophecies, and pointed out to
you how the same was literally fulfilling before the eyes of all. God,
in olden times, made promises to Abraham, the patriarchs, and their seed.
These promises were nothing more nor less than prophecies. He attested
the same by His own oath. He called to witness the sun, moon, stars,
sea, night, day, the seasons, seedtime and harvest. These He called His
ordinances. These ordinances may depart from before Him, but the seed of
Israel should not cease to be a nation. They were not only to be a
nation, but a company of nations. To this end, in the latter days, they
were to come in possession of the isles of the sea, the coasts of the
earth, waste and desolate places; to inherit the seed of the Gentiles,
and cause their desolate cities to be filled. They were to possess and
rule over the heathen. In the latter days they were to possess Edom and
Esau--that is, Turkey--and so come in possession of their own land,
Palestine. Now I call you to witness, and ask you if these things are
so? Before your eyes, before mine, before the eyes of all the world, God
is fulfilling His promises made to the fathers.
The very exceptions to the sweeping and comprehensive possessions of the
seed of Jacob are pyramidal witnesses to the same. The House of Judah
was to become homeless, without a nation and without a government, after
they left Palestine; but to be a people known by the race feature, and by
their unwavering adherence, attachment, and fidelity to the Mosaic
worship. This exception all can see, and none can truthfully deny. They
have had money and men enough to buy and rule a nation, but as yet they
have none. Their talent, their ability, and their money, have been the
chief factor in the rule, prosperity, and greatness of many nations in
the past as well as now. And the second conception is not less grand and
conclusive. Let any one inquire what was to be the portion of the Tribe
of Manasseh, and they will find that Manasseh was to be a distinct
people, a great people; for so said the dying patriarch Jacob. Now such
a people, a great people, we hold Manasseh to be at this day in the
people of the United States. Some sixty colonies England has overrun,
established, or conquered, and she is busy at work yet conquering and
gathering in. But is it not remarkable that she has never lost one of
the many save the United States? Will any one give an earthly reason for
this marvellous exception? I presume no one can. There is, however, a
Divine reason. Moses, when giving his prophetic benediction to the
Tribes of Israel, gives us an insight into this question. Speaking of
Joseph and the wonderful blessing in store for his sons Ephraim and
Manasseh, he says: "His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and
his horns are like the horns of unicorns; and with them he shall push the
people together to the ends of the earth; _and they are the ten thousands
of Ephraim_, _and they are the thousands of Manasseh_" (Deut, xxxiii.
17). And further light is thrown on this subject when we notice what
Isaiah says in the forty-ninth chapter. The children of Israel, when
settled in some Isles, would lose a portion of themselves, and still the
"children which thou shalt have _after thou hast lost the other_, shall
say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me, give place to me
that I may dwell." The simple and natural interpretation of such a
passage is, that the Isles referred to were the British Isles. The
children lost refer to Manasseh, the Pilgrims, and Puritans who came from
England. And the cry for more room after they have left, shall lead
England to look for lands in which to colonise her surplus population,
all of which she has done and is doing.