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XXXIX - 5 (06)
“Watchman,
what of the night?”
"The hour has come, the hour is
striking and striking at you,
the hour and the end!" Eze. 7:6 (Moffatt)
Luke 21:24
Page 2
“Dual Covenant Theology”
Page 6
Parallels?
Page 7
Editor's Preface
In 1974 a North
American Division Bible Conference was conducted in three different places
across the United States. I attended the conference held at Andrews University.
One of the topics presented by a respected Adventist theologian was "The
Unique Contribution of Adventist Eschatology." He noted that the interest
at the time of his presentation in the Second Coming of Christ was based on
"Three Facts." On the third fact he commented: "The
re-establishment of the state of Israel has generated intense excitement that
this historic event is a dramatic fulfillment of prophecy, indicating that the
end is near." Then he commented on what he perceived to be the Adventist
perception of the establishment of the Jewish State. He declared:
"Seventh-day Adventists do not see theological importance in the establishment
of the Jewish state in 1948 or the annexation of Old Jerusalem in 1967"
(p. 6). This is a difficult position to defend in the light of all the evidence
that is being presented in this issue of WWN. While it is true that Dr. Zurcher's book on
Christ of the Revelation had not
been published in 1974, at least not in English, The 20th Century Bible Course was
still in vogue. A little research would have discovered Edson White as well as
Ellen White's comments on Luke 21. Further "home work" would have
brought to light the subject of Christ's Second Coming assigned to Arthur S. Maxwell
for the 1952 Bible Conference. Sadly, the failure to see the theological
importance of Christ's prophecy has been detrimental to Adventism.
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Luke 21:24
"Jerusalem shall be trodden of the Gentiles
(nations - εθνων),
until the times of the Gentiles (nations -
εθνων) be fulfilled."
James Edson White,
second son of James and Ellen White, entered the
publishing work at the early age of 15. At the Review & Herald office he learned
and mastered the printer's trade. Sensing the need of funds for missionary work
and the profit that could be derived from the sale of Bible oriented books,
White pushed forward the writing and sale of 12 books in all. Among them was The Coming King, which for years was the
leading subscription book produced by Seventh-day Adventists for colporteurs (SDA Encyclopedia Vol. 11, p. 890). In
the chapter on the "Destruction of Jerusalem," White tells of the
terrible carnage inflicted by the Roman soldiers, and cites this as a fulfilment of Jesus' prophecy as given in the first part of
Luke 21:24 - "they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led
away captive into all nations (τα
εθνη)." Then he adds a
closing paragraph to the chapter:
We also read that "Jerusalem shall be trodden
down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles he fulfilled." This
will be when the work of the gospel is finished" (p. 109, 1906 edition).
This is a declarative
and definitive statement of how Luke 21:24 was understood. The book was
published by the Review & Herald Publishing Association, and as noted above
"was the leading subscription book produced by Seventh-day
Adventists" for years. In other words, it is as official an interpretation
as could possibly be given to Luke 21:24 apart from the General Conference in
session.
Five years later, Edson's mother directed a letter to Dr. J. H. Kellogg which
is filed as Letter 20, 1901 (Ms. Rel., #14, 1102, pp. 139-149). In this letter, after
discussing general matters Ellen White declared Luke 21:24, in full context, to
be "present truth," and "an object lesson." We discussed
this letter in some detail in this year's January issue of WWN (pp. 6-7). She
wrote:
Will not the people of God take heed? In the
twenty-first chapter of Luke, Christ foretold what was to come upon Jerusalem;
with it He connected the scenes which were to take place in the history of this
world just prior to the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven with
power and great glory (p. 149).
When Christ comes in
the clouds of heaven, "the work of the gospel" will have been
"finished." Ellen White's letter to Kellogg would appear to be an
endorsement of her son's position as given in The Coming King.
The Coming King was superseded as the leading subscription book for Adventist
colporteurs by Bible Readings for the Home Circle. In the 1915 edition, which
was stated to be "New, Revised, and Enlarged," the following
questions and answers can be found in the chapter on "The Gathering of
Israel."
1. Because of disobedience, what experience came to
Israel?
"I will make you
to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth." Jeremiah 34:17.
2. What prophecy spoke of their return from
captivity?
For I know the
thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of
evil, to give you an expected end... And I will turn away your captivity, and I
will gather you from all nations, and from all places whither I have driven
you.... (Jeremiah 29:11-14)
Note – The first dispersion of the Jews occurred BC
606-588, under Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. In 457 BC under Artaxerxes, the
Persian king, large numbers of Jews returned to Palestine, their home land.
3. How had Moses spoken of another and greater
dispersion?
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The Lord shall bring a
nation against thee from afar, from the end of the earth, ... and the Lord
shall scatter thee among all people from the one end of the earth even unto the
other (Deut. 28:49-64).
Note –This calamity and dispersion occurred in 70
A.D., under Titus, the Roman general. ...
5. How long was Jerusalem to be trodden down of the
Gentiles?
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) ....
6. What will terminate the "times" allotted
to the Gentiles?
And this gospel of the
kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a
witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come Matt. 24:14.
This reflects the
same position as stated by Edson White in
The
Coming King. Then another question is asked - "Why was the gospel to
be preached to the Gentiles?" The answer is taken from Acts 15 when at the
first Church Council James, the moderator, declared - God "did visit the
Gentiles to take out of them a people for
His name" (ver. 14). The
1915 edition goes even further, noting that "many nations" will go to
Jerusalem thinking they will arrive at truth citing Micah 4:2, but in reality
they will be gathered to the battle of the great day of God Almighty (Rev.
16:13, 14).
In 1949, Bible Readings for the Home Circle was
revised. Attention was directed to one major change by Leroy E. Froom in his
questionable apology,
Movement of Destiny
(See pp. 427-428). Interestingly, the chapter on "The Gathering of
Israel" in the 1915 edition of
Bible
Readings was reproduced without change in the 1949 revision for the first
seven questions and answers except for the omission of the note under question
5 (p. 258).
The 1949 edition (p.
315) did add a new section - "True Israel in God's sight." This has
led to the "spiritualizing" away of the literal city of Jerusalem and
substituting the concept of a "spiritual Israel," as is suggested in
the revised edition's new section to the chapter. But such does not reflect the
context. It was the literal, historical Jerusalem that was "compassed with
armies" (Luke 21:20); likewise it is the same Jerusalem that would be
"trodden down of the nations (εθνων) until the
times of the nations (εθνων) be fulfilled" (21:24).
This was not the only
problem that Adventist prophetic interpretation faced during the decade leading
up to the establishment of the present State of Israel. For the colporteur were
published paperback books on various Biblical topics. These sold for 25 cents, and
were known as "bread and butter books." If the colporteur could not
place Bible Readings in the home he
could sell a paperback or two and thus have money to live on. These same books
were used as the "gift of the month" by the Voice of Prophecy. One
such book was
Palestine in Prophecy
by J. C. Stevens copyrighted in 1944. The last paragraph of the book reads:
The apostle Paul speaks of old Jerusalem as being
"in bondage with her children" Galatians 4:25. Had the Jews been
faithful, Jerusalem would have been enlarged and beautified to become the
center of the whole earth, beautiful for situation. But throughout the
generations [since] the fall of that city in A.D. 70, Jerusalem has been
"a burdensome stone" and "a cup of trembling unto all the
people" (Zechariah 12:2, 3); and it will be so to the end of time.
Palestine and Jerusalem do not have a bright future in this present world, and
those who are holding the hope of national restoration for the Jews are
following a theological will-o-the-wisp (p. 95).
In 1947, the Pacific
Press published a
paperback
written by Roy F. Cottrell,
The Jews and
Palestine. He wrote:
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The father of modern Zionism was Theodor
Herzl, an Austro-Hungarian journalist. In 1896 he
published a book entitled,
The Jewish
State. The following year the first Zionist Congress convened in Basel,
Switzerland, and presented to the world its program for "a publicly
assured and legally secured home for the Jewish people in Palestine" (p.
57).
Near the close of
this chapter, the conclusion is drawn:
The God of heaven who overthrew the city and nation
and who because of their apostasy dispersed the inhabitants to the ends of the
earth, forever settles the question of a complete return and restitution in old
Canaan by asserting that it "cannot be" (p. 61.
In 1947, the
published position of the Church was that it was impossible for a Jewish State
to ever be restored in Palestine. One year later, in 1948, the Jewish State
became a reality.
In 1948, I became
pastor of the First Church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Sabbath following
the establishment of the Jewish State, I prepared a sermon to shore up confidence
in the Church's position. I told the congregation - "Don't get too
disturbed. Do not become overly alarmed. There are still more Jews in New York
City that can possibly get settled in the small area of Palestine." I had
no other answer, which was no answer. What was I to say? In other words, as a
result of current events, it became obvious that we as a Church were fallible
in our prophetic interpretations, and that there needed to be some re-thinking.
In 1952, a Bible
Conference was held in the Sligo Church. At this
conference, Arthur S. Maxwell, editor of the Signs of the Times, was assigned the topic, "Imminence of
Christ's Second Coming." In his presentation he discussed three areas of
unfulfilled prophecy, one of which was "developments in Palestine."
What he said needs to be carefully considered in its entirety:
The recent dramatic restoration of the nation of
Israel has focused the attention of mankind once more upon Palestine. Many
Christians have mistakenly permitted themselves to believe that the return of
thousands of unconverted Jews to their native land is in fulfilment
of the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, not realizing that, since the
death of the Son of God on Calvary, there is no salvation, nor eternal
homeland, except for those who believe in Him and accept His sacrifice.
However, there is one prophecy concerning Palestine
that we should all be watching with special care. Said Jesus, "Jerusalem
shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be
fulfilled" Luke 21:24.
For nineteen centuries Jerusalem has been trodden
down of the Gentiles. It is still trodden down of the Gentiles. Despite the
amazing prowess of the Israeli troops, the ancient city of Jerusalem is still
in Arab hands. A Mohammedan mosque still stands upon the site of Solomon's
Temple. Victorious as were the forces of Israel in every other part of
Palestine, they failed to take the most dazzling objective of all. Mysteriously
they were held back from achieving this most cherished goal, this culminating
triumph, as by an unseen hand.
What could be the reason? Only that the times of the
Gentiles are not fulfilled (said in 1952).
Centuries ago Israel was not permitted to enter
Palestine for a certain time because "the iniquities of the Amorites"
was "not yet full" (Gen. 15:16); that is, not until the probationary
time allotted to the Amorites had run out.
It may well be that the same principle applies today,
on a wider scale. If so, then Jerusalem is to remain trodden down by Gentiles
till the probationary time of all Gentiles has run out. If this be correct, how
much hinges upon the fate of this ancient city and the power that occupies it!
(Our Firm Foundation,
Vol. 2, pp. 230-231).
During this
mid-century period various Bible correspondence courses were prepared by and
for the Voice of Prophecy. Others for personal lay evangelism also appeared.
Among these was the 20th Century Bible Course. Lesson 5 of this course was
captioned, "Time Running Out." It was based
upon a discussion of Jesus' eschatological discourse recorded in Matthew 24,
Mark 13, and Luke 21.
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A paragraph prefaced the lesson telling of the reaction of both
the Jews and His own disciples to Jesus' prophecy of the destruction of the
temple. The second question asked - What sign did Jesus give that would
indicate when the destruction of the city was at hand? The student was directed
to Luke 21:20 for the answer. This note followed:
The city of Jerusalem was surrounded by the Roman
armies in A.D. 66. After a period of time the army withdrew and the Christians,
recognizing the sign given by Christ ... fled the city and did not return. In A.D.
69 the Romans returned, and destroyed the city in A.D. 70. Nearly a million
people died or were sold into slavery at that time, but not a single Christian
died. They watched for the sign that
Christ had given and obeyed His instructions. The temple was burned to the
ground as Christ had foretold (even though the soldiers had orders not to
destroy it). Christ foresaw the future and outlined it to his followers so that
they could be saved.
Question #3 asked -
How long did Christ say that Jerusalem would be trodden down? The student was
directed to Luke 21:24 for the answer. This note then followed:
Old Jerusalem and the temple site has
been occupied largely by the Gentile nations until 1967 when the Jews took
possession of it in a "lightning victory." This portion of Christ's
prophecy was fulfilled in our day!
In 1980, the second
quarter's Sabbath school lessons for the Adult Division was "Christ of the
Revelation" authored by Dr. Jean Zurcher. He not
only authored the lessons, but also prepared a special "Helps" book
by the same title which was translated into the English from the French. In
this book, he noted the fulfilment of Luke 21:24 and
its significance. He wrote:
We shall not linger over the numerous signs given by
Jesus in this discourse. One only will occupy our attention, the one that
especially deals with time. Even in our days it constitutes a critical point in
the political world: Jerusalem. In fact, Jerusalem is both the beginning and
the culmination of Jesus' prophecy. For Him as for Daniel the prophet, the
history of nations as that of the people of Israel, is written in the tragic
setting of the history of Jerusalem. The latter is the sign by which the fate
of the former is determined. So having predicted the destruction of Jerusalem
and the dispersion of the Jews "into all nations," Jesus declared,
"Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled (Luke 21:24).
Few today would deny the precision of this prophecy.
The destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies in AD 70 is a historical fact
commemorated on the triumphal arch of Titus in Rome. The dispersion of the Jews
among all nations is still a reality. As for Jerusalem, nineteen centuries of
history should provide adequate proof that it has been "trodden down of
the Gentiles" – first by the Romans, then by the Arabs, next by different
Christian nations during the Crusades, fourth by the Turks up to the end of the
first world war, then by the British, and finally by the Jordanians until the
Six-Day War in June, 1967.
This prophecy of Jesus was a sign for the Christians
of the Apostolic Church, who lived at the beginning of the times of the
Gentiles, and it remains a sign for us who live at the end of the times of the
Gentiles. Again, we must know how to discern its meaning.
It is not a matter of our seeing in the return of the
Jews to Palestine and in Israeli conquest of Jerusalem a sign of the approaching
conversion of the Jews, as so many Christians think. Nothing in Jesus' prophecy
allows such an interpretation. However, if we cannot see that Jerusalem is an
exceptional sign of the times, then might we not be placing ourselves in the
same position as the religious leaders who knew how to "discern the face
of the sky" but could not discern the obvious "sign of the
times"?
In order to understand Jesus' statement, three
questions need answering. First, exactly what does the expression "the
times of the Gentiles" mean? Then, what should be understood by the fulfilment of the times of the Gentiles? Finally, what
connection is there between the retaking of Jerusalem by the Jews and the fulfilment of the times of the Gentiles?
As I understand the Biblical language, the times of
the Gentiles is the period set aside by God for the evangelization of the
heathen nations. It is not the time needed for them to be converted to
Christianity, as some think, but for them to hear the gospel. It is in this
sense that Jesus said:
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"This gospel of
the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a
witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matt. 24:14).
I believe that the times of the Gentiles began in AD
34 when the prophetic seventy weeks that God set aside for the people of Israel
ended. The baptism of the first "heathen" - the
Ethiopian eunuch and the centurion Cornelius - as well as the conversion of
Paul as an apostle to the Gentiles mark the beginning of these new
times. And if I have understood the prediction of Jesus properly, this time
will be "fulfilled" when Jerusalem will cease to "be trodden of
the Gentiles." The fact that since 1967 Gentiles no longer have occupied
Jerusalem means, therefore, that we are now living at the end of "the
times of the Gentiles."
Jerusalem here constitutes the last sign by which the
Lord shows us that the history of this world is coming to its climax and that
the restoration of all things is at hand. And should God tarry once more in the
fulfilment of His promise, we should understand that
He "is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9) (Christ of the Revelation, pp. 71-72).
"Dual
Covenant" Theology
There is and has been
a close working relationship between the Religious Right and representatives of
Judaism. Now a new theology regarding Israel has emerged, which is embraced by
the leading lights of the "Religious Right" -Falwell
and Pat Robertson. This relationship and theology were reported in The International Jerusalem Post for March
3-9, 2006. The report was captioned - "Falwell:
Jews need not convert to get to heaven." It read:
An evangelical pastor and an Orthodox rabbi, both
from Texas, have apparently persuaded leading Baptist
preacher Jerry Falwell that Jews can get to heaven
without being converted to Christianity.
Televangelist John Hagee
and Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg
whose Cornerstone Church and Rodfei
Sholom congregations are based in San Antonio told The Jerusalem Post that Falwell had adopted Hagee's
innovative belief in what Christians refer to as "dual covenant"
theology.
This creed, which runs counter to mainstream
evangelism, maintains that the Jewish people have a special relationship to God
through the revelation at Sinai and therefore do not need "to go through
Christ or the Cross" to get to heaven.
Scheinberg said that this
has been Hagee's position for the 25 years the two
have worked together on behalf of Israel, and that Falwell
had also come to accept it. Falwell had sent a
representative to the San Antonio launch of Christians United for Israel in
early February, as did popular televangelist Pat Robertson.
Hagee, who will serve as
CUFI national chairman, says the new organization aims to be a kind of
"Christian AIPAC" (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) through
which every pro-Israel Christian organization and ministry in America can speak
and act with one voice in support of Israel on biblical issues.
The main issue, following disengagement from the Gaza
Strip, is not to give up any more of the land of Israel, he said.
Many Christian denominational leaders who represent
some 30 million evangelical Christians in the United States - have expressed
support for CUFI in writing.
Scheinberg said he had
worked with Hagee since 1981, when the pastor first
broached the idea of organizing a night to honor Israel, which has become as
annual event.
"He came to the Jewish community and of course
they were sceptical, they were a bit suspicious,
anxious about whatever agenda he might have," the rabbi recalled. "He
took public positions against proselytizing the Jews, which some of his own
colleagues at that time criticized him roundly for, for
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example Falwell
was at that time very critical of his nonconversionary
statements regarding the Jews. But that is not the case though. Falwell has changed his position," he said.
Hagee has been consistent
in this theological position, Scheinberg said, and
this was reflected in both the declared policy of CUFI and at the public launch
of the organization last month.
"It seemed there was a great deal of unity - not
unanimity - on conversion, a non-proselytizing agenda, that the Jews have a
special covenant, and this was stated over and over," the rabbi said (p.
7).
Parallels?
Jesus' prophetic
discourse covered the end of two "times" - the "times of
Israel" as a chosen people of God, and the "times of the
Gentiles" (nations). There would be a "new" Israel of God (Gal.
6:15-16). The Jerusalem of this "new" Israel would not be in the time
of secular history, but be the climax of sacred history. "The
nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it" (Rev.
21:24). The question is: Are there any parallels between the closing of
the two "times"?
Through the prophet
Daniel, Israel was given notice that a period of time was allotted to them -
"Seventy weeks" (prophetic) time were determined for them (9:24). In
that time the Messiah would come. The way they would relate to that
"Prince" would determine their fate. The eschatological discourse of
Jesus as recorded in Matthew 24 is prefaced by the first step in the closing of
the "times of Israel." Jesus declared, "Behold your house is
left unto you desolate" (23:38). Then the text reads - "Jesus went
out, and departed from the temple" (24:1). The temple veil was soon to be
rent, and a new and living way opened (Heb. 10:20). In the discourse, He
directed their attention to "Daniel the prophet" and the desolation
to come (24:15). Between that hour in AD 70, and the time when He then spoke
would come AD 34, the stoning of Stephen and the end of the "seventy
weeks." In that period of time would be the ministry of Paul, who would
tell the Jews of the Diaspora, that their religious leaders had the Messiah
killed by the Romans, and that they had to join the "new" Israel of
God with the Gentiles whom God was calling out to be a "people for His
name" (Acts 15:14).
From the same discourse of Jesus,
Luke focuses on the closing of the other "times" - the times of the nations.
This brings questions to the fore. What was to be the final call to the nations?
To whom was the final message entrusted? What have they done to it, and with it?
Luke 21:24 cannot be shunted aside as of
no consequence. The fact that Christ is the truth, the crucifixion of truth is
the same as crucifying Him. The parallel between AD 27-31, 1950, and our day
should be painfully evident. . .
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Texts to consider with Luke 21:24:
Daniel 11:45 - "He shall plant the
tabernacles of his palace between the seas (Dead, Galilee, and the Great) in
the glorious holy mountain."
Revelation 16:16 - "They gathered
them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Har-Mo’ed (Mount of the
Congregation).
Isaiah 14:13 - "For thou hast said
in thine heart ... I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation (Har-Mo’ed),
in the sides of the north" (See also Ps. 48:2).
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