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city is estimated at from 40,000 to 50,000, being more than half the entire population. Besides these, there are large colonies at Tiberias, Safed, Joppa and Hebron, and several other smaller ones in various parts of the country. The entire Jewish population of Palestine is said to be more than 80,000, so that a greater number have already returned than the 49,697 who went up with Zerubbabel from Babylon. Ezra 2:64-65.

The anti-semitic agitations in Germany, Austria and France, and the fierce persecutions in Russia and Roumania, have stirred up the Jews of the world as the eagle doth her nest. Deut. 32:11.

National hopes and aspirations have found vent in the organization of Chovevi Zion (Lovers of Zion) societies, and Shova Zion (colonization) societies throughout Europe and America. Land is being purchased and funds raised, on installment plans, to send back the members by lot.

A railroad has been completed from Joppa, and the engine speeds up to Jerusalem like one of Nahum's "flaming torches," (Nahum 2, 3) which, the prophet says, "shall be in the day of His preparation," over the roadway which the Arabs call "Trek el Kods," significantly coinciding with the Hebrew "Derech Hakodesh" (Way of Holiness) of Isa. 35:8.

This "highway," cast up as the Hebrew "Maslol" indicates, is a special preparation for the return of the people to Zion. Isa. 35:10.

Other lines of railway are projected or actually under construction to Hebron, Jericho, Acre, Tiberias and Damas

cus.

The Turkish hold upon the country is continually weakening, and there is considerable talk of a Jewish state. May we not conclude that the Lord is even now setting "His hand again the second time" for the restoration of His people ?10

(10) Isa. 11:11. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and

from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

"He that scattereth Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd doth his flock." Jer. 31:10.

Besides these, we have other evidences. Many are running to and fro upon the highways of travel, or searching diligently through and through the prophetic Word, which is doubtless the true meaning of the passage (Dan. 12:4) and which is a sign of “the time of the end."

The awful dearth of spiritual life in the great nominal church is another evidence.

The restless and perplexed condition of the nations is also suggestive. And there are several other evidences of which we might speak, all of which substantiate the fact that the day is "approaching." Heb. 10:25.

And lastly, while it is entirely unscriptural and wrong to put the second coming of our Lord any distance into the future, and likewise unscriptural and wrong to fix a date, or name the time when He shall come for His bride, yet there will be a privileged company of saints living upon the earth11 at the time when He shall descend from heaven,1 and who shall say that they will all be taken by surprise? Every generation that has lived since He went away, however dark and unspiritual it may have been, has had its band of faithful watching ones.

12

Shortly previous to the first coming of Christ, the Holy Ghost, although He had given, through Daniel, the definite prophecy of the seventy weeks, gave a special revelation unto the devout Simeon,-who was "waiting for the consolation of Israel," to-wit: "that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Luke 2:26. And this leads us to ask: May not the same blessed Spirit, who thus revealed this mighty event to Simeon of old (and probably to the aged Anna, also) 13 likewise give unto a

(11) 1 Cor. 15:51. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.

52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised in

corrruptible,
changed.

and we shall be

(12) 1 Thes. 4:16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

(13) Lu. 2:36. And there

favored one, or a chosen few of the faithful watching ones, to know that their glad eyes shall see His appearing, and that they shall never taste of death.14 Even so now, many of the most devout and faithful of God's people, in all denominations, both in this and foreign lands, are seriously impressed with the conviction, that the coming of the Lord is near.

These are certainly sufficient evidences to enforce the apostle's injunction, that we should exhort one another "and so much the more as" we "see the day approaching." Heb. 10:25.

For, if the day, or Revelation, is near, the Rapture is still nearer. And again the general conviction among Bible students and earnest Christians, that the great prophetic periods, which point to the Revelation are nearly ended, and the deep conviction expressed by many, including even statesmen and scientists, that some great event is near, may well lead us to enquire,

Watchman, What of the Night?

15

9916

Ever since the sin of Adam and Eve this world has been a DARK PLACE," a moral "Night." By faith the believer looks forward, through prophecy, to the Day,15 the glorious Day, which is coming, when salvation, which is now by

was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

37. And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

38. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

(14) John 11:26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

(15) 2 Pet. 1:19. We have

also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in your hearts.

(16) John 1:5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

John 3:19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

faith and hope,17 shall be revealed 18 in all its grandeur and glory.19 For this Day the hearts of God's people yearn with earnest desire.

"Watchman, what of the Night?"

"Watchman, what of the Night?"

The watchman said: "The MORNING cometh, and also the NIGHT." Isa. 21:11-12.

To the believer it will be Morning;

To the ungodly it will be Night.

Jesus is the Morning Star,20 and He is also the Sun of Righteousness.21 Only those who are up early and watching see the Morning Star. So it will be only the true and faithful church which will see Christ at the Rapture as the Bright and Morning Star.

As the Son of Righteousness He will appear to Israel, and all the world, at the Revelation.

Over forty centuries of the Night were past when Paul wrote, "the Night is far spent, the Day is at hand." (Rom. 13:12). And surely, as eighteen centuries have since passed, it must now be ALMOST MORNING.

O! then, dear reader, "let us who are of the Day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an hemlet, the HOPE OF SALVATION. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain Salvation by our

(17) Rom. 8:24. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25. But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

(18) 1 Pet. 1:5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor

and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

(19) 1 Cor. 2:9. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

(20) Rev. 22:16. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Also 2 Pet. 1:19.

(21) Mal. 4:2. But unto you that fear my name shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Thes. 5:8-9. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others, but let us Watch and be Sober. 1 Thes. 5:6.

A dear brother writes us as follows: "I find so many who are willing to receive the truth of the Second Coming, but it is generally those who are passing through affliction, or those living very near the Lord. Those who are enjoying the well watered plains of this world, seem to care very little about seeing the Owner of the Estate. But He will come. Hallelujah! He will come. Yes! He is coming. The bride who knows the Bridegroom, and is true, says, He is coming. 'Come Lord Jesus,' Come! Come!! Come!!! Come!!!! A poor cursed earth (Rom. 8:19-22) groans out Come! Thank heaven, He speaks:

SURELY I COME QUICKLY.'"
Rev. 22:20.

I'm waiting for Thee, Lord,
Thy beauty to see, Lord,
I'm waiting for Thee,

For Thy coming again.

Thou'rt gone over there, Lord,
A place to prepare, Lord,
Thy home I shall share

At Thy coming again.

'Mid danger and fear, Lord,
I'm oft weary here, Lord,
The time must be near

Of Thy coming again.

Whilst Thou art away, Lord,
I stumble and stray, Lord,
Oh, hasten the day

Of Thy coming again.

Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. Lu. 12:37.

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