LET GOD BE TRUE

CHAPTER XVI

GATHERING THE JEWS
 — PAST AND PRESENT

WHILE the second global conflict was raging and the Nazi hordes were overrunning nation after nation, horrifying reports came filtering through, testifying to the fact that the Jews were suffering once again. This time it was not only persecution and oppression, but mass annihilation. Since the conflict has subsided, with a measure of peace restored, a census of the Jewish population of Central Europe has been taken. This report shows the prewar population was 7,000,000. but the population over the same area in 1946 was 1,400,000. Hence the Jewish question becomes once more an international one.

² Now with the second world war over, the power behind anti-Semitism is still strong. With their suffering fresh in the minds of the people, all Zionist organizations exerted every effort possible to influence the leading powers to do something about it. They demanded that Palestine be converted into a Jewish state, a permanent homeland for the Jews as a nation.

³ Bible prophecy proves beyond a question of doubt that the nation of Israel was at one time God's chosen people. The orthodox Jews and many religionists of "Christendom" believe that Bible prophecy foretells that the Jews will be regathered once more into their "Holy Land of Palestine". They claim that that time is now here and that their effort in that direction is in fulfillment of these prophecies.

⁴ Considering the past and present experiences of the Jews causes many questions to arise in the minds of all intelligent people. Since the Jews were at one time gathered together as God's people, why were they cast off and scattered? Why and by whom have they been persecuted for centuries? Why such a wave of anti-Semitism sweeping the world today? Will they be regathered in Palestine, and does Bible prophecy support such a movement? If not, what is the proper course for the Jews to take in order to be gathered as a free people?

⁵ It is commonly understood that Jews are of the race who speak now the Hebrew and Yiddish and Spanish-Jewish tongue. From Abraham on down through his grandson Jacob, this race of people were known as Hebrews. (Genesis 14:13; Acts 6:1; 2 Corinthians 11: 22) Jehovah changed Jacob's name to Israel. Hence Jacob's descendants became known also as the children of Israel, or Israelites. Jacob (or

Israel) had twelve sons, who became the heads • of the twelve tribes of Israel. — Genesis 32: 28; 35:23-26; 49:28.

⁶ Just before Jacob's death he called his twelve sons before him and made to each a statement of prophecy. Judah was the fourth and favored son, and a special blessing was bestowed upon him in these words: "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: . . . The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." (Genesis 49:8-10) This prophecy shows that the real deliverer of Israel would come through the tribe of Judah. He would be the long-looked-for Messiah, the seed of Abraham. One of his names would be "Shiloh", meaning peaceful one, rest.

⁷ The name "Jew" or "Judean" comes from the paternal name Judah, meaning "praise to Jehovah". Many believe that only those who are the descendants of Judah are real Jews, but Jehovah recognized as Jews all Israelites who were faithful, regardless of tribe from which they descended, and who had faith in God's promise to Judah. A real Jew is one who has the faith of Abraham and who is devoted to the service and praise of Jehovah.

A CHOSEN PEOPLE

⁸ In the outworking of Jehovah's purposes he organized the children of Israel into a special, holy, chosen nation. He did this for a specific reason, namely, for his great name's sake. Moses said to them: "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth." (Deuteronomy 7:6-8) This people organized into a nation with Jehovah as their God and Sovereign Ruler had a typical Theocratic government. They were therefore used to make and enact prophetic types and shadows of greater things to come. (Deuteronomy 18:15-18) Moses was instructed to assemble the children of Israel at Mount Sinai. There Jehovah inaugurated the law covenant with them. The condition under which they would receive the benefits of the covenant was that of faithfulness. As the law and the ten commandments were given, Jehovah stated to them: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."  — Exodus 20:3.

⁹ Since all God's laws are perfect, why did he give a perfect law to an imperfect people and instruct them to keep it? There are five principal reasons why the law covenant was given:

(1) It served as an addition, a temporary addition, to Jehovah's promise to Abraham, that 'through him and his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed'. — Genesis 12:1-3; Galatians 3:19.

(2) It was used to prove Israel, that they might be given an opportunity to show their love and devotion to Jehovah. — Exodus 20: 20.

(3) The heathen nations round about the Israelites practiced demon religion; so the true worship was given through the law to protect God's people from being ensnared by demonism. — Deuteronomy 7:16, 25.

(4) Time after time the Israelites failed to keep the law and fell to demon religion and became slaves to the heathen nations. Then they would cry unto their God Jehovah and he would hear them and deliver them. If the Jews had been submissive to God's will, they would have learned and admitted that it was impossible for an imperfect people to keep God's perfect law. Actually, the law amplified their sin-cursed condition, showing them their need of a redeemer and Messiah. — Romans 3:19, 20; 5: 20.

(5) Why the law was given is further answered by the apostle Paul, a faithful Jew: 'The law was added because of sin and transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise had been made. So the law was our tutor [schoolmaster] to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.' — Galatians 3:19,24.

CAST OFF

¹⁰ Finally, after more than 900 years of favor, they become grossly wicked and rebellious. Their last reigning king, Zedekiah, 'did evil in the sight of God. He mocked the prophets whom Jehovah sent and despised the words of God spoken by them and misused the prophets.' (2 Chronicles 36:12-16) Thus God's wrath was kindled against them, and his final decree was issued: "And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end . . . Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him." (Ezekiel 21: 24-27) This divine action took place in 607 B.C. That marked the end of the Jews as a politically free, Theocratic people. They were assaulted and taken captive by the Babylonians, and thereafter Jerusalem lay desolate for seventy years.  — 2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36.

¹¹ At the close of Jerusalem's seventy-year desolation a remnant of faithful Jews began returning to the homeland, and the temple was rebuilt and also the city of Jerusalem. With the passing of time the restored Jews came under the power of the rabbis with their traditions of men and religious institutions, and they

became victims of "rabbinism". This brought them into conflict with Jesus Christ, and they rejected him and called for his being impaled on a tree, A.D. 33. Thirty-seven years later Jerusalem, as foretold by Jesus Christ, was destroyed by the Roman armies; and A.D. 73 the last Jewish stronghold, at Masada, was destroyed and the Jews were scattered to the ends of the earth. They not being 'Jews inwardly' and not having 'circumcised hearts' through faith in the Messiah whom Jehovah had sent to them in His Son, Jehovah cast them off as his people, letting them be without temple, priest or sacrifice. — Romans 2: 28, 29; Matthew 23:37,38.

A REMNANT GATHERED

¹² With the Jewish nation being completely cast off, does that mean that no Jews would ever have an opportunity to gain salvation and life? No. Keep in mind the promise given to Judah, that "the sceptre [right to rule] shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be". "Shiloh" was one of the names given to Christ Jesus, who also was of the tribe of Judah. In 33 (A.D.) Christ Jesus rode into Jerusalem and offered himself as their King and Messiah. Instead of joyfully receiving him, they followed their priests and rabbis and cried out, 'Let him

be impaled; let his blood be on us and on our children.' (Matthew 21:5,9,42; 27:22) However, a small remnant received him and gained that which was promised. The apostle Paul states, 'Israel failed to get what it sought, but those whom God selected got it. The rest became callous and blind and have remained that way to this day.' — Romans 11: 7,8, Goodspeed.

¹³ In the light of these facts, is it necessary for the Jews today to continue to have their holidays, rituals and ordinances as they did in olden times? Once again the apostle answers: "He [God] forgave us all our misdeeds, canceled the bond which stood against us, with its requirements, and put it out of our way when he nailed it to the cross. So no one can call you to account for what you eat or drink, or do about annual or monthly feasts or Sabbaths. That was all only the shadow of something that was to follow; the reality is found in Christ." (Colossians 2:13,14,16,17, Goodspeed) Those who are 'Jews inwardly' live in the realities, and not in the "shadows" of the past, and do so by faith in Messiah or Christ.

ZIONISM

¹⁴ Because of the world-wide anti-Semitic spirit and the activities against the Jews by so-called "Christians", many movements have been organized to aid them. In 1897 the first Zionist Congress, called together by Theodor Herzl,

was held at Basel, Switzerland, where 206 delegates assembled. That meeting marked the birth of what is now known as the "Zionist" movement, to "create for the Jewish people a home in Palestine secured by public law".

¹⁵ The purpose of Zionism is to open up and organize the land of Palestine into a Jewish state so that a permanent homeland will be provided for the Jews, and that to such end the governments that have interests there may be appealed to for their support and co-operation. Many Jewish leaders believe that the Bible supports their claim that they will be regathered to their "Holy Land of Palestine". As proof these quote scriptures such as Jeremiah 32:37, "Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely." (See also Isaiah 40:1, 2.) They do not realize that the first or miniature fulfillment of that promise applied to the Jewish remnant that returned from Babylon in 537 B.C. and that the major or complete fulfillment applied to the "Israel of God" made up of 'Jews inwardly' or spiritual Israelites who come out from captivity to this Babylonish world. (Galatians 6:16) From and after A.D. 1919 these have been gathered into the earthly condition of Jehovah God's favor as his witnesses

and as ambassadors of his kingdom established in the hands of his Messiah.

¹⁶ When the British army on December 9, 1917, delivered Jerusalem from the Turks and the British foreign secretary, Balfour, issued the "Balfour Declaration", the Jews felt that their long-looked-for hopes would be fulfilled. The League of Nations in 1922 mandated Palestine to the British. At that time a "White Paper" was issued setting out the British government's policy respecting Palestine, and also in 1939. The 1939 paper states, "His Majesty's government therefore now declares unequivocally that it is not part of their policy that Palestine should become a Jewish state . . . but rather that a Jewish home or community should be established within Palestine." Actually, as late as 1946, the so-called "promised land" had become a land of unfulfilled worldly promises.

¹⁷ With many statesmen getting behind a movement to encourage Britain to modify its policy of restricting further immigration into Palestine, Dr. Israel Goldstein, the head of the Zionist organization of America, stated, "Palestine is a matter of life and death to the Jews." The postwar appeal for the Jews made by President Truman and others in 1945 was rejected by the British. They suggested that the United Nations organization cope with the problem. The hatred of the Jews by politically

powerful Arabs is known to all. Reports in 1946 stated that if the Jews were left in Europe there would be mass suicides and if they were sent to Palestine there would be mass murder. The agitation has been keen on both sides.

CONTINUAL PERSECUTION

¹⁸ If the regathering of the Jews were of Jehovah God, would he have to appeal to and work through the rulers of this world (Satan's world) to accomplish his purposes! Jesus says, "My kingdom is not of this world." Note also that in every land where the persecution has been the worst, there a Catholic, Nazi, Fascist or totalitarian-controlled government has been in power. The greatest enemy of the Jews today is the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. Why? you may ask. The physical facts furnish the answer. The Jews at one time were Jehovah's chosen people with his name upon them, After they were cast off and scattered they became one of Satan's chief targets of assault, because it is Satan's purpose and delight to reproach, slander, persecute and destroy any people or organization that has Jehovah's name connected therewith. Catholic Action is the chief weapon used by Satan the Devil to assault Jehovah's ancient typical chosen people as well as to assault the present-day antitypical chosen people, namely, Jehovah's witnesses. If more Jews are in the future gathered to Palestine, it will only

be a political, humanitarian gesture, and not of God's provision according to prophecy. God's promises concerning restoration are being fulfilled upon his spiritual Israelites, Jehovah's witnesses, who are the remnant of faithful followers of His Messiah.

THE PROPER COURSE

¹⁹ We are now living in the last days of this wicked world, the time foretold by Jehovah's prophet at Daniel 2:44: "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." The proper course for the Jews today who desire salvation and life is to abandon the Rabbinic religion and all political movements, and take a stand for God's kingdom and exercise the faith that Abraham and the prophets manifested. "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help." (Psalm 146: 3) Look to the way which Jehovah has provided and call upon him. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." — Romans 10:12,13.

²⁰ The facts and prophecies prove that the natural Jews will never again be a chosen, re-gathered people. They have as a people flagrantly rejected the Messiah, his truth and his

kingdom. It is a false hope that they must be regathered to Palestine and be converted in mass to Jesus Christ prior to his second coming and as a sign of the early establishment of his kingdom. God's kingdom was established A.D. 1914, and then Christ Jesus came into Kingdom power at his Father's right hand, and this without any mass conversion of natural Jews to Christ. Much of their suffering has been brought upon themselves by their commercial, rebellious course of action. They will ever be a target of assault by Satan and his agents until Armageddon cleanses the earth of all opposers of Messiah-Christ. Therefore, their only hope is to accept Jehovah's Messiah, Christ Jesus, and come under the protection of his kingdom.