Spurgeon, Ryle and the Jews
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Important messages
I want to present to you an important
study for our times, according to two of the most important figures of the 19th
Century, C. H. Spurgeon, a Baptist preacher, and J. C. Ryle, a bishop in the
Church of England. I have gotten my material from two sources: One on Spurgeon
from Dennis M. Swanson of The Master’s Seminary and the other on J. C. Ryle from
the Middletown Bible Church. My purpose is to use the direct quotes from these
two men and not to refer to personal comments, which the sources may have
added.
The object, which we will pursue, will
be to see the viewpoint that each of these men had, concerning the return of
the Jews to their Promised Land. This is an extremely important issue in our
day, because Israel was reestablished as a sovereign nation in 1948, fulfilling
prophecies which are 2,500 to 2,700 years old. Yours and my viewpoint on the
subject will determine, whether or not we have concrete evidence to point to
the soon return of Christ to reign upon the earth.
Spurgeon and Ryle were contemporaries,
both English, and died just before the beginning of what is known as the
Zionist Movement… the return of the Jews to Palestine from all points of the
globe. Without further ado, let us first allow Charles Spurgeon to relate to us
his view on a pre-millennial rapture of the church. He will also show that
there will be two resurrections, that of the just, separate from that of the
unjust. Later, of necessity, both Spurgeon and Ryle will tell us about the
literal interpretation of Bible prophecy:
The Servant Christ
Labels:
Isaiah
39. An expository study of Isaiah, chapter 42
A
Messianic prophecy
“Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my
chosen, in whom my soul delights” (v.1). Having shown us that He is able to raise up a servant, who will
restore the Jew to his homeland, God is now saying that He can and will do more
for His people. Here is One, who will carry out the purposes of God incomparably
beyond what Cyrus can do. He comes to this earth, as a Servant, meek and lowly
of heart. “Though he was in the form of
God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself
nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And
being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point
of death, even death on a cross” (Phil.2:6-8). The apostle Paul, of course,
speaks of Jesus Christ.
This Servant will bring to pass the eternal will of
God, conceived before the foundation of the world and designed to extend into
the countless and measureless eons, after time will be no more. He is chosen
and upheld in the heart of a delighted God: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt.3:17). It
was proclaimed by the Father at His baptism, when the Holy Spirit came upon
Him. His ministry began and continues as a work of the trinity and just so, it
is prophesied in our first verse. “I (the
Father) have put my Spirit (the Holy
Spirit) upon him (the Son).” It is our pleasure to consider a
chapter, which begins with an unmistakable reference to the Messiah. The Jew
today joins us in the conviction that this passage refers to the Messiah,
although, of course, he is still awaiting His coming.
In his Gospel, Matthew quotes directly the first four
verses of this chapter, showing that the inspired writer is satisfied that
Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled them. The message and demeanor of the Christ will
not be aggressive (v.2), something which we should take into account,
concerning our evangelistic and missionary efforts. We can take personal
comfort in the fact that Jesus will not break the bent reed nor put out the
lowest flame, but in compassion will straighten and strengthen them both. He
was not a revolutionary, mustering the strong to fight, but a Savior, calling
the weak and wounded to His side (v.3). Only God Foretells the Future
Labels:
Isaiah
38. An expository study of Isaiah, chapter 41
We have read of Assyria and its king recently in the
book of Isaiah. Not only is there prophecy concerning this empire, but we have
learned some of its history, particularly that which relates to its invasion of
Judah. Isaiah foresaw the Babylonian Empire and he spoke of the satanic
influence upon it.
A
message to the nations
In this chapter, Isaiah begins to prophesy concerning
Cyrus of Persia and we will learn much of him in the following chapters. He
becomes a prominent figure, who is even named by Isaiah in 44:28 and 45:1, long
before his birth (see also 41:2, 25; 45:13; 46:11). In the books of Ezra and
Nehemiah, he has much to do with the return of the Jews to their land and the
rebuilding of their temple.
Divine Attributes and Power
Labels:
Isaiah
37. An expository study of Isaiah, chapter 40
Comfort,
comfort my people
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your
God” (v.1). This chapter is one of the great
treasures of Isaiah and ranks among the highest portions of Scripture. It is a
wonderful word from God for His flock. His intentions are always good towards
them and His longing is for them to feel comfort and security under His care. He
instructs His messengers to give comfort.
He chastens, as a good father always must, and He said
in his covenant with David, concerning his offspring, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he
commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes
of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took
it from Saul…” (2 S.7:14-15). The destiny of Saul should never be used to
frighten the Lord’s sheep into obedience and subjection. The end of David’s
line was not to be compared with Saul’s. “Speak
tenderly to Jerusalem…” Conflict was one of the ways, in which God frequently
disciplined, but now Jerusalem is assured that the war had ended and the
punishment was more than sufficient (v.2).
Hezekiah’s Illness and Error
Labels:
Isaiah
36. An expository study of Isaiah, chapters 38 and 39
Chapter 38
Please open your Bible to Isaiah 38, so that you can
follow the text, as I try to comment on it. We run into a difficulty in this
chapter, but it only serves to teach us the ways of God. It is our purpose in
the study of Scriptures, not to look for support for pet doctrines, but to open
our hearts to learn the character of God and His dealings with mankind.
When we contemplate the sovereignty of God, we must
take the relationship between God and man into account. Abraham was His friend
and He spoke and communed with him. This
is a most wonderful thing in God’s personality: “The Lord said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do’” (Ge.18:17).
God was also very intimate with Moses and spoke with him, “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Ex.33:11). I have
always been amazed at the following passage, when God intended to destroy the
Israelites, after they made a golden calf to worship. He exclaimed to Moses, “Let
me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against your people” (Ex.32:10).
Moses actually detained the hand of the Almighty.
There are multiple times in the Bible, when we see the
Lord withholding judgment, which He had declared upon people. The case of Jonah,
prophesying destruction to the people of Nineveh, is a classic example, when the
grace and mercy of God entered into the picture. Here is another interesting
prophecy from the life of Paul, in which the disciples in Tyre prophesied: “Through the Spirit they were telling Paul
not to go on to Jerusalem” (Ac.21:4). Agabus also prophesied concerning
this in Caesaria, and all the Christians tried to persuade him not to go on,
but finally resigned to “let the will of
the Lord be done” (21:14). We must conclude that, in the end in every case,
the sovereign, unchangeable will of God is done.
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