1000. Preparing Israel for Christ's Promised Return
Preparing Israel for Christ's Promised Return
"The presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus" (Act_3:19-20)
Let us read just here Act_2:19 and Act_2:20. We are quoting from the "1911" translation: "Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, in order that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send the Christ."
The Greek bears out this translation, and makes the Lord's coming contingent upon Israel's repentance and turning again to her Lord.
This does not mean that the Church may not be first taken out, but it does mean that Israel must be prepared in heart to receive the Lord before He comes to the Mount of Olives and to restore the Kingdom unto Israel.
1. We now begin to understand the significance of the coming of the two witnesses who will be the heralders of Christ's return.
Malachi clearly speaks of the mission of Elijah, who is to be one of the two. Listen to Malachi's words:
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse" (Mal_4:5-6).
John the Baptist had a mission similar to that which still awaits Elijah's return. He came in the spirit and the power of Elijah. In fact had Israel been open to receive the Lord, Elijah would doubtless have been sent instead of John. A study of the ministry of John will give an idea what Elijah will do.
In Revelation much is told of the ministry of these two men who are to come from God. They have power to work miracles similar to those wrought both by Moses and Elijah in the olden days. As Moses and Elijah were withstood, hated and contemned so will they be hated by the whole earth. Even many in Israel will doubtless refuse them. Yet, they will have much to do in turning the hearts of many in Israel back to God again.
2. We now begin to grasp some of the deeper meaning of the Great Tribulation, the day of Jacob's trouble. The sorrows of Israel and her anguish will be so intense; she will be so hated and persecuted, maligned and hounded unto the death, with both the devil and the antichrist centering their wrath against her and her beloved city, that she will at last cry out in the anguish of her soul unto God, repenting and turning again.
When Jacob heard that Esau was coming against him, he was greatly afraid and distressed. Then he cried unto God in his distress and the Lord heard him and delivered him. So will Israel cry and open her heart.
Israel will undergo a change of heart. To be sure, the finality of this change will await Christ's actual appearance in the cloud, for when Israel sees Him and beholds His wound marks, when Israel sees His garments are red, like one who treadeth the wine press, then will she mourn for Him. They who pierced Him will look upon Him and a nation will be born in a day.
Israel will be repentant in her sorrow, and ready to return to the Lord, much as the prodigal son was prepared, when the father ran and fell upon his neck and kissed him; much as Peter was prepared when the Lord said, "Go tell My disciples and Peter." A Godly sorrow worketh a repentance not to be repented of.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR