The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-11

Jewish Relief Fund met with scant
recognition: Nevertheless, we felt sure
that Israefs double had been full
filled and that her morning of ioy
would soon break
Meantime how much has happened
curing those eighteen years. Zionism
mas 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 thither, but that every Jew
who retains faith in the God of his
fathers. and the Abrahamic prom
Use, is now looking and hoping for. the
time of blessing, long foretold. They
know not about their "double;" they
Lave not been studying the holy scrip
lures, but the teachings of their an
They have been making a 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 Israefs
double" of experience: the first an
experience of Gods favor; the second,
an experience of equal length without
divine favor. Notice first Jeremiah's
telling of Israels disfavor, and then
of their regathering. the Lord declares,
And first 1 will recompense their in
iquity. and their sin Troublesome of
the recompense with favor, and some
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 particularly he takes
his standpoint at the very time when
the second part Of the double" be-
gan. His words are, Even today do
declare that I will render double unto
thee" (Zechariah tx, 12).
Come next to our text and note that
the Prophet Isaiah stands with Us, and
views the matter from the standpoint
that the double of experience has
been fulfilled: Speak comfortably unto
Jerusalem, cry unto her that her ap-
pointed time is ACCOMPLISHED, because
she hath received at the Lords hand
double two equal parts for her sins"
1t Is our understanding that this "dou-
ble'' reached fulfillment in tho year
1873 A. D.. and since that date we
have been declaring to the best of our
ability, as the Lord granted opportun-
ity, these comforting words to Israel,
assuring Gods chosen people that their
period of disfavor has ended, and that
they are gradually returning to pros
perity; that divine favor began with
them in 1878. Yea. more than this,
our sermons which to some extent re-
fleet this feature of the divine program
relating to Israel's restoration to di-
vine favor are being read to consid-
cradle extent by Hebrews as we'll as
by Christians; their eyes are gradually
opening as the scriptures foretell they
shall do.
But how may we know when the
turning point of Israel's double" took
place? How may we know that the
double was completed in 1878? We
reply that the answer to the question
necesSitateS an acknowledgment of
Jesus as the Messiah. Ieraers rejec-
ton of him as their king. marks the
turning point of Gods favor, as the
prophecy of Zechariah, Just quoted,
distinctly shows. Neither Christians
nor Jews have appreciated the full i'm
port Of the accident mentioned In the
gospel; that five days before his cruel
fixion, Jesus rode upon On ass. after
the manner of Jewish kings, into the
city of Jerusalem. a multitude sur
rounding him. and going before him,
shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of Da-
vidi Blessed is he that cometh in the
name of jehovah" The prophet
Zechariah called attention to this in
cident centuries before it occurred. and
then gave the Lords words, Even to-
day do I declare. I will render double
unto thee
IsraePs history as nation began
with the death of Jacob. when he gave
period from that time to the death of
Jesus, according to the scriptures. was
1,S45 years, and like period of disfa-
vor measuring from the days of Jesus
rejection marks the year 1873. as the
end of IsraeHs disfavor-the time
when the message of comfort should
go forth. However, divine favor was
only gradually taken from Israel, and
altogether a period of thirty-six years
intervene between the death of Jesus
and the utter destruction of Jerusa-
lem. Similarly we should expect that
the return of favor would be gradual,
a like period of SO years; and this
would bring us to the year 1914, as the
time when Gods favor for his people
will be publicly and openly manifested.
1.-THE Seed of Abraham
The question now arises, What has
God accomplished during the latter
half of IsraePs double DID ne pass
by his chosen people to directly bless
the Gentiles, or how shall we under
stand divine providence with respect
to this matter?
We answer that Almighty God had
one feature of his plan which he did
not make known directly and explicit
" to Abraham or any other prophet;
he kept that feature of his purpose
secret 1t is this: Messiah could not
be a man and yet accomplish the great
things which Jehovah intended, as
stated in his word. The law called
for an eye for an eye, tooth for
tooth and a mans life for mans life.
In this God set forth his principle gov
erning his course of dealing with men.
AS by man (Adam) came the sentence
death, and through heredity upon all
of his offspring, even so the divine law
purposed that there must be sacrifice
of one human life to offset the one hu-
man life condemned to death. The
one who would thus meet the demands
of justice on behalf of the race would
have the right to give eternal life and
human perfection to every member OF
Adams race willing to accept it on the
terms of the divine law. 1t was for
this reason that Christ was to die, ''the
just for the unjust