{102} It would be simply impossible in a brief note even to enumerate all the recent amazing changes in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Since the fulfilment of a prophetic epoch a few years ago, pointed out at the time by the writer as an indication that the “Times of the Gentiles” had virtually ceased, Jerusalem has for the first time in her history been “inhabited as towns without walls” (Zechariah ii. 4), the dwellings having spread outside in rapidly increasing suburbs, which make it more like a modern city than the Jerusalem of old. Jews are permitted to hold magistracies and to perform civic functions; they are also allowed to practice in medicine and in the legal profession. Elementary and secondary schools are established in which only the Hebrew language is used; banks and various institutions are flourishing, and a new Hebrew university is about to be founded. Jewish agricultural and manufacturing colonies in large numbers are at work in different parts of the land, and a recent number of the _Jewish World_ gives a long account of a visit a few weeks ago to these colonies by the newly appointed Governor of Jerusalem. The visit was an official inspection, and the result one of the greatest possible importance to the Jewish nation. Amongst many other things, the Governor (himself an Albanian) stated that he was directed by the authorities in Constantinople to grant to these colonies the right of electing their own councils and appointing their own mayors, fixing rates, retaining some of the Government taxes for their own use, enrolling their own police, whose uniform and ammunition should be supplied by the Turkish Government, granting title deeds for land, permits for building, besides other privileges of considerable importance. I submit that it can no longer be said of the city or of the land that it is “trodden down of the Gentiles.” How startlingly significant are these facts in connection with our Lord’s words regarding His Return!