THE QUIET HOUR

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 6 October 1934, Page 9

THE QUIET HOUR

BY REV. H. CURRAN N~l. THE JEWISH FIG TREE. "Now learn a parable of the Fig Tree: When his branch is vet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see ,all these things, know that it (Ho 11. V.) is near, even at the doors.” (Matt. 24: 32, 33). Probablv every Bible student is aware that the Jewish nation is. the Fig Tree. And very many, who do not use the Bible much, if at all, know that something is now taking place among' the Jews, and they are asking: WHAT DOES IT MEAN? In these articles we hope to make this clear to those who will take the trouble to read them thoughtfully. Wo, who read our Bibles, see what: was a dry and barren tig tree, suddenly showing tender branches, and putting forth leaves, telling us that summer is nigh, and that our beloved Lord and Master, Whom we long for, IS NEAR, EVEN AT THE DOORS. While I am writing this, many Jews are homeward bound, and many others are getting ready to follow tlieir brethren home. Our Lord, speaking of Palestine, said: "There shall be distress in the land, and wrath upon the people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive

INTO ALL NATIONS;

and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the Times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (Luke 21: 23, 24). It was not to be forever. There would be an end.

When the Palestinians saw their fig trees coming into leaf, it was impossible to deceive them about the nearness of summer.

“And when these things begin to come to pass, -then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And He spake to them a parable: Behold the Fig Tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass know ye that

THE KINGDOM IS NIGH AT HAND” (Luke 21: 28-31). Are we stone blind? Do the extraordinary things taking place around us tell us nothing?

Even the non-churchgoing man in the street sees that something is about to happen. Are we so'uneducated that after all the Lord lias said, we. cannot re(ul the meaning? Thank God, He has His faithful, watching, waiting ones, who are reading the meaning, that blessed meaning: He is near, even at the doors. This is what Paul in Titus 2: 13, calls THAT BLESSED HOPE. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to nil men, teaching us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly. righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for • that blessed hope, and the -glorious appearing of the Great God and our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people (for His own possession R.V.), zealous of good works.” (Titus 2: 11-14). . And, what are the signs of the Pig Tree putting forth its leaves? We shall try to show some of them in these articles.

THE DEAD SEA SIGN. The Lake of Galilee is six miles wide and 14 miles long, covering a surface of 112 square miles. A good deal of the lake is about 130 feet deep, and some parts as deep as 800 feet. Tae surface of the lake is 700 feet below the surface of the Mediterranean Sea. The Jo-rdan runs into this lake, and out from it again, until it empties itself into the Dead Sea, 1300 feet below the surface of the Mediterranean. For thousanls of years the Jordan lias been running into it, carrying into that tremendous chasm untold wealth, and leaving it there. It is estimated that there is more wealth in the Dead Sea than in all of the banks of the world.

it is believed thaj it contains more than thirty billion tons of salt. The waters are composed of common salt, salts of potash, bromide and chloride of magnesium. Besides other products, it is estimated .that a thousand tons of potash per annum could be obtained. In the same region there is abundance of copper, coal, oil, -sulphur and bitumen. . Over 430 Jews and Arabs are engaged extracting bromiqe and salts of potash from the Dead Sea. Jerusalem is 2600 feet above sea level. In about 45 minutes, in winter, one can leave the -snows of Jerusalem and go down to the Dead Sea, where it is perpetual summer, 1300 feet below sea level.

The cursed site of Sodom and Gomorrah is no-w become a blessing, from whence untold wealth is being gained for the restoration and upkeep of Palestine and God’s ancient people. JEWISH EMIGRATION SIGN. The emigration of Jews into Palestine in 1933 was between thirty-five and thirty-six thousand, being the largest of any year in recent times. Last year, 1933, there were 225,000 Jews back in their own land. When 420 Jewish boys and girls, and a hundred adults with their families were leaving Warsaw for Palestine, over 5000 Jews crowded the platform. The train was crowded an hour before the time for departure. And, unlike the usual emigrants, they were rejoicing and saying, “We are going home.” TEL AVIV. In the last twenty years this purely Jewish city has sprung up, with about 100,000 people, in and around- the city, which is now joined up to Jaffa. The Jaffa oranges arc reputed to he the best in- the world. In 1933 more than five million cases of oranges and grape fruit were exported from this port. Most of our readers will remember that God promised to scatter His people, and He did it. And they will remember that He promised to gather them again. He is certainly doing this. “For thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I, even I, will both search My sheep,

AND SEEK THEM OUT.

As a shepherd seeketli out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered, so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered. . . . And I will bring them

out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land” (Ezek., 34: 11-13). (To be continued.)

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