Zechariah 8:23 Thus said the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations… Curious inquiry into the future, and confident prediction as to times and seasons, are both to be eschewed. The former is unprofitable; the latter is most presumptuous. But we must not run from one extreme to another. It is as much our duty now to "discern this time," as it was the duty in our Lord's day to discern that time. We ought to look behind us, before us, and anticipate the next act of the world's mighty drama. The dispensation of Gentile mercy has now lasted for nearly 2000 years. But it is not designed to be eternal. We have plainly laid down for us in Holy Scripture the signs which shall mark its closing in, when God shall turn Himself to the Jew again. And we are as much bound to look at these signs now as the Jew was in his day. These signs are four in number. Two given by our Lord Himself, and two by the prophet Daniel. 1. "This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matthew 24:14). Our Lord's second sign is a painful one. "Iniquity shall abound" (Matthew 24:12). Daniel's first sign is, "Many shall run to and fro." His second is like unto it. "Knowledge shall be increased," Let us look around us, behind us, before us; do we see anything like the fulfilment of these predicted signs? He must be blind indeed who does not see the first sign advancing rapidly to its fulfilment, in the Gospel of the kingdom published to all nations. There are now afloat in the world about two hundred million copies, of a translated Bible. This enormous circulation is seconded by corresponding preaching. But the world is not yet converted? No, for Christ's sign is not its conversion, but His Gospel preached as a witness. The Christian Church is now gathering the first fruits of the earth. Everyone has the fulfilment before him of Daniel's sign, "Many shall run to and fro." In this the prophet gives us exactly the characteristic of the present age. Daniel's second sign is equally manifest in our time. It is the amazing progress of science which has enabled us to avail ourselves of the powers of nature. With all this running to and fro, and all this advance of knowledge, is the world to go on improving in its spiritual and moral character? Our Lord's last sign, "iniquity shall abound," affirms the contrary, And His apostle explains in detail the meaning of His Master's words (2 Timothy 3:1-4). There are too many signs that these perilous times are already upon us. Never in the experience of civilised Christendom has crime been so audacious as now. As the times of the Gentiles seem closing in, the Jew is coming again into prominence. May we then expect that the Jew will come up once more as a nation, to act his part in the world's great drama? Distinguished expositors tell us that the prophecies respecting the Jews have all been fulfilled in the past, and no prophecy whatever respects the Jews in the future. When were the solemn words of the text fulfilled? Judah returned from Babylon, indeed, but it was to remain in the midst of the nations, a humbled and despised people. But they shall be fulfilled when, in the words of St. Paul, the Jews shall be as life from the dead to the nations of the earth, and a world's love and gratitude and devotion shall be their spontaneous and most abundant recompense. (William Tait, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you. |
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