The Witness of the StarsBullinger, E. W. (Ethelbert William)
Religion
The Witness of the Stars
Bullinger, E. W. (Ethelbert William)
Astronomy; Astronomy in the Bible; Bible and science; Constellations
We claim that the Lord Himself has joined these “times of the Gentiles”
with the city of “Jerusalem,” and we say, “What, therefore, God hath
joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matt. xix. 6).
When Jesus spoke of this _treading down_, it looks as though it were then
still future; for He said, “Jerusalem _shall be_ trodden down,” etc., The
occupation of Jerusalem by Babylon, Medo‐Persia, Greece, and Rome, was for
purposes of _government_ rather than for a wanton treading down.
Government on the earth was committed unto them. But when Jerusalem passed
from the government of the Roman Empire into the hands of the Turks, it
could then be said, in a very special sense, to be “trodden down.” For of
any government worthy of the name there has been none; and of desolation
and desecration the city has been full. Under the feeble rule of the
Turks, all the Gentiles seem to have combined in laying waste the holy
city.
Though Jews are returning thither in ever‐increasing numbers, they are
only strangers there. They have as yet no independent position, nor can
they make any treaties. But when these “times” shall end, it means that
they will have a position of sufficient independence to be able to make a
treaty or league with the coming Prince (Dan. ix. 27); and then the course
of events will bring on another treading down of 1260 literal “days” which
will thus have had a fore‐shadowing fulfilment in years! This is written
in Rev. xi. 2. And to save us from any misunderstanding, the time is
given, not in days, but in “_months_.”
The angel, after directing John to measure the Temple of God and the
altar, adds, “but the court which is without the Temple leave out, and
measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles; and the holy city shall
they tread under foot forty and two months.”
This refers to a future treading down, which will be limited to the brief
period of “forty two” literal “months,” during the time of the coming
Prince; and “in the midst” of the last week, when he shall break His
covenant with the Jews,(87) set up the “abomination of desolation” (Dan
ix. 27; which is still future in Matt. xxiv. 15), and “tread down the holy
city.”
We now desire to specially emphasize the fact that all these dates, and
their termination in a rapidly approaching fulfilment, refer ONLY TO
JERUSALEM, AND THE GENTILES, AND THE JEWS! They refer only to the end of
the Gentile possession of Jerusalem, and to the settlement of the Jews in
their own city and land.
These “times and seasons” have nothing whatever to do with “the Church of
God” (1 Thess. v. 1). The mystical Body of Christ, whenever its members
are complete, “will be taken up to meet the Lord—the Head of the Body—in
the air, so to be ever with the Lord” (1 Thess. iv. 15‐17). This glorious
event has nothing to do with any earthly sign or circumstance, so far as
the members of this mystical Body are concerned.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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