The Mankato free press., 1910-06-10
PULPIT.
Pastor Russell's S
Discourse
On jerusalem

| ~
ooO~-s-s-s-s's-s-s-s-s-s
double" Is now fulfilled. that Israel's
blessing has already begun. that The
opening OF Israefs eyes is now il
progress. For this reason we have
chosen for our text. Comfort We. com
Tort We my people, saith your God
Cry unto Jerusalem and say unto ier
that her appointed time is accomplish.
eel. for she hath received at the Lords
hand double 1.-THE two parts of her
chastisement] for all her sins" Be.
cause the double" is completed, we
may speak the words Of comfort
Thirty four years ago we called at
tention to these facts. but few had
ears to hear. When eighteen wears
ago we visited Jerusalem. having IL
| mind chiefly the fact that the time for
the regathering of Israel was nigh n,
| hand. and that the set time to favor
Ilon mad come, we found no hearing
ears amongst the Jewish people: and
ZhonlSm had not then been dreamed
| OF. Our communications with the rep-
resentatives of the Baron Hirsch I'm
migration Fund. and also with the ex-
ecutors of the Sir Moses Moptefioro
Jewish Relief Fund met with scant
recognition. Nevertheless. we felt sure
that lsraels double" had been full
filled. and that her morning of ioy
would soon break.
Meantime how much has happened
during those eighteen years. Zionism
has risen and engendered the hope of
the chosen people" in every land. and
turned their eyes toward the land of
promise: not that all are thinking of
returning thther. but that every Jew
who retains faith in the God of his
fathers. and in the Abrahamic prom
ise. is now looking and hoping for the
time Of blessing. long foretold. They
know not about their double: they
have not been studying the Holy Scrip
lures. but the teachings of their an
clients. as presented by the Talmud
They have been making very similar
mistake to that of Christian people.
who have been studying the creeds Of
the dark ages" instead of the Word
of God
The Three Doubles"
Glance with me at three different
statements by the Lord through the
Prophets of Israel respecting lsrael's
double of experience: the first. an
experience of Gods favor: the second,
an experience of equal length without
divine favor. Notice first Jeremiah's
prophecy Jeremiah xvi. 1S,. After
telling Of Israel's disfavor. and then
of their regathering. the Lord declares,
"And first | will recompense their in
iQuity and their sin dOubte"-some of
the recOmpense with favor. and some
favor. Jeremahs prophecy
looks down to the double" from his
own day. which was more than six
hundred years before the second part
Of their double" began.
Turn now to Zechariah's prophecy.
and note that prophetically he takes
his standpoint at the very time when
the second part of the double" be-
gan. His words are. Even to-day do
declare that will render double unto
thee tZechariah tx. 12).
Come next to our text. and note that
he Prophet Isaiah stands with us. and
views the matter from the standpoint |
hat the double" of experience has
been fulfilled: Speak comfortably unto
J,,a, Sh.k
pointed time is accomplished. because she
tafh receiUed at the LORDS hand double
two equal parts] for her sins" 1t is
,ur understanding that this double"
cached fulilment. in the year 1878
4. d.. and since that date we have
)een declaring to the best of our abil-
ty. as the Lord granted opportunity.
hese comforting words to Israel. as
uring Gods chosen people that their
,eriod of disfavor has ended. and that
hey are gradually returning to pros.
,erity; that Divine favor began with
hem in 1878. Yea. more than this,
'ur sermons which to some extent re-
lect this feature of the Divine program
elating to Israels restoration to Di-
inc favor. are being read to conSid-
rable extent by Hebrews as well as
" Christians: their eyes are gradually
pening. as the Scriptures foretell they
hall do.
But how may we know when the
urning point Of Israel's double" took
lace? How may we know that the
In,5 nj in,
eply that the answer to the question
ecessitates an acknowledgment of
esus as the Messiah. lsrael.s reiec-
lon of him as their King. marks the
urning point of Gods favor. as the
rophecy Of Zechariah. just quoted.
istinctly shows Neither Christians
or Jews have appreciated the full i'm
ort of the incident mentioned i'm the l
Gospel; that five days before his cruci-
xion. Jesus rode upon an ass. after
le manner Of Jewish kings. into the
ty of Jerusalem. multitude sur q
him. and going before him. 4
nouting. "Hosanna to the Son Of Da- c
Id! Blessed is he that cometh in the {
anne of Jehovah. The Prophet t
echariah called attention tn this in n
dent centuries before 1t occurred. ana =
len gives the Lords words. Even to- =
ay do l declare. will render double :
nto thee"
IsraePs history as nation began !.
ith the death of Jacob. when he gave :,
IS blessing to the twelve tribes. The :
,riod from that time to the death Of a
,sus. according to the Scriptures. was 2
'45 years; and like period of disfa- 8