Reflection - April 2003

In the closing years of the 18th century, when John Adams was the American President, in the Calvinistic Baptist Chapel in Woburn, Massachusetts, the pastor Elias Smith was preaching from the Bible. He was paid to preach from the Catechism, but this, as he later wrote, “contained contradictions and impossibilities, and was contrary to the plain declarations of the Scriptures.” So he continued to preach Bible truth, until “this news was carried to the bishops in Boston, and I was dismissed.” One of his sermons, given more than two hundred years ago in that chapel, is an astonishingly vivid commentary on events unfolding in the Middle East in 2003 – and beyond! - Editor

Ever since Jerusalem was taken by Titus, the Jews have been scattered into all parts of the world. In many countries, and at different times, they have been treated with great cruelty. Notwithstanding all they have met with, they still retain the idea of returning to the land of Canaan, according to what their prophets have told them. Their situation is such that it will not be difficult for them to return when that day arrives for them to fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines [Palestinians] to the promised land.

The chief thing which hinders the return of the Jews is the power of the Turks who now possess the land. This power must and will be weakened before the Jews return, for they have ever been great enemies to that nation. By some means or other the Turks will leave the land to them, and remove at such a distance that the Jews will not fear them. I think it altogether likely that as a Gentile led them out of their land (Titus the Roman) so a Gentile will lead them back. It appears from prophecy that they will also appoint themselves one leader or head to go before them out of the lands where they now are. If Hosea 1:11 does not refer to such a time, I cannot tell what it means.

The coming of the Son of Man
O what a remarkable day will that be (a day near at hand) when the inhabitants of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, shall hear a proclamation from the one who is at the head of the Jews go forth into every place where a Jew is found, calling him to join the great company who are returning to the land of their fathers! Such a time as this will cause all believing Gentiles to rejoice with this people; because the Lord has visited them, and because this will be one of the last signs of the coming of the son of Man to reign on the earth, when wars shall cease to the ends of the earth, and all nations shall call him blessed.

When the Jews return to their land, those who do business will trade with the Jews, who having just come from distant parts, will want many things from those who do business on the great waters; this will turn the trade of the seas to them (Isa. 60:5).

Gog shall come against Israel
It is thought by many, that when the Jews return, they will all be converted, or submit to Jesus Christ; but according to the prophecy, there will be a sudden attempt made by the Gentiles to overcome them, take their riches and their land from them, and even advance towards them with apparent success. At which time, when they are in great distress, Jesus Christ will appear, subdue their foes, and dwell among them. It is plain from the prophecies, that after the Jews return and are peaceably settled, that there will be a combined power against them, which shall endeavour to overcome them. This army will be commanded by Gog (Ezek. 38). This combined army is made up of those nations who believe in the religion of Mahomet. This prophecy says plainly, that Gog shall come against God’s people Israel in their land, and it shall be in the latter days. When this army comes against Jerusalem it will be a time of the greatest trouble that the Jews ever experienced; they will expect nothing but to be wholly swallowed up by their enemies. It appears from Zechariah 14 that one half of the city of Jerusalem [will be] taken by Gog and that his great army will cut off multitudes of the Jews in the land, before they take Jerusalem.

This will be the time when the Lord’s feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives, and when Jesus Christ will be seen in the air over Jerusalem to the joy of his friends and the terror of his enemies. Besides this appearance of Christ over Jerusalem, he will cause the most terrible earthquake that ever was; it will be felt all over the earth, and seas (Ezek. 38). It will part the Mount of Olives and make two of it. O what a day this will be! Who may abide the day of his coming?

At this very time, the Lord Jesus will bring all these nations down into the valley of Jehoshaphat and there judge them, and decide the controversy between these heathen and the Jews. When he will come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, then is the time when the Jews, God’s people, will be willing to have this man to reign over them. God’s design in all this is to make Himself known to the Jews, and in all the earth. The sudden and dreadful overthrow of this great and powerful army, will prepare the way for the spread of the knowledge of Jesus over all the earth. We now see what will be done at the coming of Christ; his enemies slain, the mountain parted, the Jews delivered, and the way prepared for the spread of the knowledge of Christ over all the world, who will reign on the earth a thousand years.

Christ will raise the dead
The first thing which Christ will do when he comes, besides destroying the great army of Gog, and delivering the Jews from their distress, will be to raise the dead saints and change those that are alive that they may live with him on the earth a thousand years. Every saint will be called out from where they now lie buried in silence; not one forgotten or missed. The wicked will utterly perish in their own corruption.

Signs of Christ’s coming
When Jesus Christ spoke of his coming, he told his disciples of the signs of his coming, by which all might know when the time was near. He says that there shall be wars, distress of nations, and men’s hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which shall come upon the earth; and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. At the time when Christ comes, there will be but few believers in the world (Luke 18:8).

I once thought that all the governments on earth, contrary to Christ’s, would be overthrown before Christ came to reign on earth; but a better knowledge of the Scriptures constrains me to give up that belief as unscriptural. There is so much said of what Christ will do when he comes, that I believe it will not be done until he comes and dwells on this earth. When this great army of all the kings of the earth is destroyed, then, and not till then, will all human governments and human religions come to nothing.

I have one request to make. Search the Scriptures whether these things are so. If you are unbelievers, repent, and believe the gospel. If you are believers, pray for me, for yourselves, live as pilgrims, and long for glory. Such, through grace, I hope to meet in the New Jerusalem, where Jesus shall be our light, our glory and our joy forever. Amen and Amen.