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Hear the Bible COME ALIVE IN SONG!
Hear the Bible COME ALIVE IN SONG!
Sermon onThe Mystery and Miracle of the JewBy Brian Pepper On one occasion King Frederick of Prussia demanded of a preacher that he prove in one word that the Bible was true. Without any hesitation the preacher replied, "The Jew, your majesty, the Jew!" Nowhere in all the world is there anything so strange, so remarkable yet so sad as the Jew. The Jewish race is one of the oldest in the world. When ancient Rome in her heyday wielded the scepter of universal domain, the Jews formed but a mere province of that mighty empire. Today however, Rome’s ruins lay moldering in the dust. The Jews, whom she conquered and slaughtered, live on as virile as ever before. When Disraeli, Britain's Jewish Prime Minister, was taunted in the House of Commons concerning his Hebrew birth, he replied, "Yes I am a Jew, and when the ancestors of the right honorable gentleman were brutal savages in an unknown isle, mine were priests in the temple of Solomon."
It is rather significant to notice that every nation that has persecuted the Jews has in time crumbled and vanished.
Only two nations around Judea remain today
and these two, Persia and Greece, were the ones who befriended the Jews.
Origins of the Jewish Race
These mystery people are the descendants of Abraham, the Hebrew.
They migrated to Egypt while they were still a family, and while they were in that country were forced into bitter bondage under the Egyptians.
Because of their phenomenal growth, which was considered a menace to the security of the Egyptians, an order was made that all the Jewish male infants were to be slain. But the efforts to stem the increase were in vain, the same as it has been ever since.
Finally through Moses, God miraculously delivered Israel from Egypt and made them a great nation and settled them in Palestine, the centre of the then known world.
Preview given of the History of the Jewish people
Before Moses died God gave him a preview of the history of the Jewish people. This was recorded 3,500 years ago and its remarkable fulfillment is taking place before our eyes today.
In Deuteronomy 28:1,13, Moses said, "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently
unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth.
Verse 13. And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them."
The Lord shall make thee the Head and not the Tail
Israel became the head and in her central geographical position where all the routes of trade met and crossed, she was the instrumental in God's hands in spreading the knowledge of the true God. As the Scripture indicated she was set on high above the nations. "She was the head and not the tail." Jews High in Fields of Endeavour While the Jewish people have ceased to be a nation in 70 A.D. nevertheless it is remarkable that in almost every field of endeavour they are at the top. Even their enemies admit this. In the "Who's Who" of U.S.A, Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, etc, there is presented an extended list of Jews.In the music world, Mendelssohn, Bach, Schubert, Schuman, Rubinstein and many others were Jews. Herschel, Einstein, and others led in the scientific world while among physicians they stand almost unexcelled. Insulin, Cocaine, Salvarsin, the Wasserman Test, serum for meningitis, vitamins and Beri Beri cure, and many more were all discovered and developed by Jews. Of the 40 Germans awarded the Nobel prize, 30% were Jews. Deuteronomy 28:12 says, "The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow."
Columbus in his expedition to the New World was financed by Jews. Napoleon’s ambitions were blasted by the Jewish gold of the Rothschilds. George Washington in his struggle of the Revolutionary War was saved by the finance of the Salamans, Sevys and others of New York and Philadelphia. Germany claims that her defeat in World War 1was due to the Jewish gold, talents and influence. In U.S.A. the Jews control the Dry Goods and clothing business of that great nation. Theatre ownership and management, the motion picture industry and numerous other enterprises are likewise under their control. Similar facts could be repeated in almost country. Although the Jew has risen superior as Moses predicted, yet there has also befallen him the following. An Astonishment, a Proverb and a Byword Deuteronomy 28:37 says, "And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee." Jeremiah 24:9 adds this: "And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them."
God says that the Jew would become an astonishment, a proverb, a byword, a taunt and a reproach. Ever since 70 A.D. when Jerusalem was destroyed, the Jew, wherever he has wandered, has been taunted and reproached. He is a proverb and a byword even amongst us today. Seldom is he unnoticed and so many look upon him with disdain. So said the prophet 3,500 years ago. Jews Forsook Covenant of God Deuteronomy 29:25 gives the reason for this attitude toward the Jew. "Then men shall say, because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers which He made with them when He brought them forth out of the land of Egypt."This was the condition of their inheriting the Promised Land. Moses foresaw their failure to fulfill this condition and said, Verse 28, "The LORD would root them out of the land." This took place 1500 years later. The LORD will Root them out of their Land Moses moreover said, in
Deuteronomy 28:49-51,
"The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:
And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee."
They would be sold into slavery
Let us read verse 68, "and the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you." This text tells how the Jews would be sent to Egypt and be sold into slavery and that no man would buy them.
At the destruction of Jerusalem the slave markets of the world were so gluttered with Jewish captives that they could not be sold.
In verse 64 we read, "And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone." In this verse it predicts how they would be scattered among all people from one end of the world to the other. Today, wherever mankind is found, whether it be barbaric or highly civilized, there you will find the Jew. He is in every land and in every race.
The Jews would find no Ease among the Nations
Verse 65
says, "And among these nations shalt thou find no ease; neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes and sorrow of mind."
The Jew would find no ease among the nations.
They would be Wanderers among the Nations In Hosea 9:17 further emphasis is added to this: "My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations." They were to be wanderers among the nations. The word wandering Jew is and truly a description of a people who have mingled among the nations for so long. There is a famous book entitled 'The Wandering Jew', and some years ago it was male into a film. I thought that it was rather strange that
The part of Wandering Jew was taken by Conrad Veight the famous German actor well known for his Prussian characters.
However the epithet "wandering Jew" is evidence of the truthfulness of Moses words.
For almost 1800 years the Jew has been a wanderer, without rest, without home and without a country.
The Jews would remain Apart from the Nations However, perhaps the most astonishing predictions about the Jew is the fulfillment of Numbers 23:9. "For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo the people shall dwell alone and shall not be reckoned among the nations." After 3,500 years this is still true. The Jews have remained apart, or distinct, from the nations. This is unnatural and unparalleled. I remember during the last war hearing of an experience concerning a Jew. Unlike us Gentiles the Jew does not remove his hat during worship. At a military church assembly one of the soldiers did not remove his hat. A very efficious junior officer went over to the soldier and knocked his hat off with his cane. On questioning further the officer learnt that the man was a Jew and so he had to apologize and replace the soldier’s cap, for such an action was a crime in the Queens army. Yes the Jews have remained apart, or distinct from the nations.
All other nations of the past around Palestine have disappeared, or have been absorbed into more virile races. But not so the Jew, he stands distinct.
The Jews shall Preserve their Nationality The ancient Egyptian monuments depict him with the same physiognomy, particularly the "Jewish nose".
The U.S.A. is a modern example of the natural outcome of the blending of different races. For two or three generations they preserve their nationality, but after that it is lost.
The Jew, however, "shall dwell alone," and today he is still distinct in religion, custom and physiognamy.
The Jews would receive Cruel Treatment from the Nations Moses also predicted the treatment the Jews would receive from the nations. In Leviticus 26:33-37. "And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies." Wherever the Jews have set foot they have felt the cruel stroke of persecution. Almost every nation has persecuted them. England has been as guilty as any other. For 400 years the Jews dare not set foot on English soil because of the abuse they received. The prediction is still being fulfilled.
Germany's campaign against this ancient race filled the world with horror. Approximately six (6) million fell victims to the Nazi hatred.
"The existence of the Jew," says the historian "is known by the chronicles of their massacre”.
The Jews Live on and Retain their Nationality Yet in spite of it all they live on and retain their individuality of race. This is miraculous. Why is it? Well Leviticus 26:44 shows why, "And yet for all that when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God," It is quite clear that GOD would not destroy them but rather that they would live on right down to the very end of time. It is very interesting to read the record of what would befall the Jews and to recognize that all this was foretold by the Jews themselves. To me it is one of the most positive evidences that the Bible is an inspired book. I ask you, what people writing of themselves and of their destiny would predict such fearful things, and more than that, these things have happened to the very letter.
Ruin and Desolation of Palestine Foretold In Leviticus 26:31-33 is foretold the ruin and desolation of the land of Palestine. "And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours. And I will bring the land into desolation and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste." Dean Stanley wrote, "Palestine, above all countries in the world, is a land of ruins." For centuries Palestine has been in the hands of foreigners. It has been devastated and laid waste. Today Palestine is still being desolated. There is continuous friction between the Jews and Arabs, and Russia has greedy eyes on her for there is over 30 year’s supply of Uranium in Palestine.
It has great treasures for the Archaeologist. No other country in the world with the exception of ancient Egypt can compare with it.
Israel would become a Tourist Destination In
Deuteronomy 29:22 there is another remarkable prediction, that the stranger or foreigner shall come or visit from a far country.
Through the Christian era millions of pilgrims have come from distant shores to see the land that has been made sacred by the Son of God.
Today Palestine is still one of the great attractions to the tourist.
I do not think that I would be exaggerating if I were to say that no other country has such an interest as the Holy Land does.
Modern Israel And what about the Jew today? It is obvious that the Jews have returned as a nation, but not as God’s chosen nation As a matter of fact when the constitution of modern Israel was formed the word God was not mentioned in it. Modern Israel is purely political; there is nothing spiritual about it. I know every now and then you hear some leading preacher or evangelist expounding on the radio that the Jews are going to all go back to Palestine and then they will accept Christ and the world will be converted. There is one thing that these earnest and sincere men fail to realize, and that is the promises that were made to the Jews back in the old Testament times were conditional. If Israel would do as the LORD told them then so and so would happen. I want you to notice what it says in Jeremiah 18:7,9,10 "And at what instance I shall speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build, and to plant it; if it do evil in my sight, and obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit them." God says if they do evil and do not obey my voice the I will have to cancel out all the good promises that I have made to My people. The promises to the Jews were conditional upon their acceptance of Christ. They refused Him as their Messiah and in doing so they were cast off by God as His chosen nation. No better illustration of this is found than the words of the Saviour Himself.
Luke 13:34,35 says, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
Behold, your house is left unto you, desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord."
Their house or nation would be desolate until the LORD Himself returns in glory.
History of Jews a Lesson to Mankind The history of the Jews is a tremendous lesson to mankind. We are seeing nations today, nations that were at one time great Christian countries, but today are abandoning the God who has led them to greatness. I suppose no more tragic case could be used than that of Britain, once known as Great Britain. In that country which was once one of the strongest Christian countries, churches are being closed by the score many are being used as warehouses and storerooms, petrol stations, even pubs. A very tiny percentage of the population attends church. In London less than 2% of the population attends church. Yes Great Britain has gone down and down. Rudyard Kipling warned of this in the hymn – God of our fathers, known of old. Eight times he uses the words 'Lest we forget’, God help us that we to do not become careless and indifferent. The sad experience of the Jewish people is a warning that we dare not heed. May God help us to keep our faith clear and shining. How true was that preacher when King Frederic of Prussia demanded that he prove in one word that the Bible was true, "The Jew, your majesty, the Jew!" |
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Brian Pepper (1916-1995) was born and raised in New Zealand. After serving in WWII he studied theology at Avondale College in NSW in the early 1950s.
He served as an SDA pastor in WA, SA and Tasmania from the 1950s to 1990s. 
