Here is a political question, which it will puzzle politicians to answer. Some, on reading it, will at once claim the honor for America, others for Britain, and others look to the Russian colossus as the one which shall tower high above all. If we trust to the imaginings of the fleshly mind, unenlightened by the word of Prophecy, we may spend all our days in speculating on the Future, and yet be very far from the truth.
The nations and governments of earth, as at present constituted, are unstable as water, and liable to mightiest changes. Instance the powerful nations of Assyria, Greece, Rome, or Egypt. Where are the magnificent cities of Nineveh and Babylon? They are all come to nought, and are brought down to the dust. Their glory has departed, and is lost in the past. Seeing, then, those once prosperous nations and mighty empires have been removed and are lost, how presumptuous it is for vain man, in this late day, to undertake the task of diving into Futurity, to bring therefrom the history of nations now existing, unless aided by the unerring light of Revelation! By bringing this luminary to bear upon our subjected reason, we can at once decide the question before us.
All Bible readers are aware, that at one period of our world’s history there was a powerful nation existed, which sprang from a man chosen of God, viz., Abraham. This nation (Israel) was under God’s especial care, and he wrought mighty wonders and miracles in their midst, such as were never witnessed by any other people; but, notwithstanding these, they were a stiffnecked and rebellious people, choosing to serve dumb idols rather than the ever-living and true God. Consequent on their disobedience they were punished many times; but this failing to bring them into subjection, God determined to cast them of for a time, and he suffered the great powers and enemies of Israel, then existing, to carry them captive into all nations, and thus they have remained to this day.
If we were to believe the false teachings of many of the so-called enlighteners of the people, who teach for hire, and use smooth words, we should say that the nation so scattered would ever remain so; but we choose rather to receive the plain word of God, untainted by the fanciful interpretation put upon it by these hirelings.
Concerning this nation God says: “For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee; in a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee.” (Isa 54:7,8). We see that, compared with the duration of mercy and kindness which is to be extended towards them, the season of their affliction is comparatively but a moment; yea, as though to reduce it still more, he terms it a small moment.
The prophet Zephaniah, in a vision of the Future, (chap 3:14,) calls upon Israel to shout, because, he says: “The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy;” and, as though this was not sufficient for Israel, he blesses them still more: “The King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not see evil any more.” In verse 19th, he says: “I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.”
Again: “The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might; they shall lay their hand upon their mouth; their ears shall be deaf; they shall lick the dust like a serpent; they shall move out of their holes like creeping things.” (Micah 7:16,17). What terror and submission! In Isaiah 54:15, we read that “Whosoever shall gather together against thee (Israel) shall fall for thy sake;” and verse 17: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;” and in Ezekiel 37:26–28, the Lord says: “Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them (in their own land, verse 25,) and multiply them yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people, and the heathen (nations) shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.”
From the proof adduced, (not a tithe of which has been given) we conclude—
1. That Israel are to be restored to the land from whence they were taken captive, and are to be subjects of God’s everlasting mercy and kindness.
2. That the judgments God has poured upon them for so many centuries are to be taken away, and the enemies who have served themselves of Israel are to be cast out.
3. When reestablished in this enviable position, they will be further blessed by the residence in their midst of the King of Israel, even Christ, and with him, as their King, they shall not see evil any more; but every land where they have been put to shame shall resound with the praise and fame of Israel restored.
4. Such a mighty power and excellence shall be granted to this once despised nation, that all other nations (republics included) shall be as it were struck dumb, and amazement will seize them.
5. All nations or weapons of war brought to bear against Israel at that day cannot prosper, for God will be with them as their shield.
6. A covenant of peace will be made between them and God, and he will cause them to increase rapidly, by reason of the peace and prosperity they will enjoy; and for evermore he will be their God and they his people. And now, we leave the matter between the reader and the word of God, whether the question we undertook to solve is not fairly answered?