The Signs Of The Times
"There has not been a war in the eastern hemisphere in the last fifty years that has failed to induce the belief that Jews would go back to Palestine as a result of it. Still wars have ceased, peace has followed, but the Jews are scattered as before."
Thus wrote Dr. T. W. Brents in his "Gospel Sermons" published by the Gospel Advocate Company in 1891. Twenty-three years after this publication the great World War began. One of the results of the war was the promise of the British government to favor the Jews giving to them a national home in Palestine. The move to reestablish the Jews in their native land has since been known as "Zionism."
In order to complete their theory of speculation the Premillennialists assert the return of all Jews to Palestine to be with Christ when He returns to sit on the literal throne of David at Jerusalem for one-thousand years. Like a drowning man grabbing at a straw they take hold of such events as "Zionism" and shout "the signs of the times."
Last winter I corresponded at length with a Premillennialist Baptist preacher. He thought he saw in Matt. 24:32, 33 a direct fulfillment today. There Jesus said, "Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; even so ye also, when ye see all these things know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors." Quoting from the Baptist preacher: "Throughout scripture Israel is referred to as a `Fig Tree'...Israel has been apparently dead as a nation. But like a fig tree in spring is being revived in Zionism today."
Unfortunately for the theory, however, the British government decided last spring in favor of the Arabs thus bringing to an end the hopes of Jewish restoration through Zionism. I recall a newspaper article expressing the dejection of countless Jews as a result of the government's action. But I'm sure that the Jews themselves were not much more disappointed than some of the premillennialists who thought they saw a scriptural fulfillment in the Zionist move. But why should they worry? If they missed it yesterday it is comparatively easy for them to decide it refers to current events today. Especially with a new war in progress and a Jewish-hater destined to lose (or win-I wonder which it will take to uphold their theory).
Several years ago some premillennialists thought the "king of the north" referred to the Czar of Russia-now it seems to be Mussolini-tomorrow?
Dr. Brents says again, "But are there scriptures that speak of the return of the Jews to Jerusalem? Yes, many of them; but most of them were written either before or during the captivity, and had their fulfillment in the return of the Jews from Babylon. We think it likely that many of the Jews will become weary of waiting for their long-looked for Savior, and will accept the Christian religion, but as a nation, never. This is not only unreasonable, but impossible their is an individuality about the Christian religion that cannot be dispensed with."