In our study of the Chart we saw that the Mil- lennial, or Kingdom Age, would begin at the close of the Gospel Age. We also found that the Gospel Age began with the closing of the Jewish Age. In this chapter we will examine certain Scriptures that clearly indicate the length of the Gospel Age. First, we turn to Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers. … And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things. (Jer. 16:14,15,18.)

“‘And first [before the favor will come] I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double.’ The Hebrew word here rendered ‘double’ is mishneh, and signifies a second portion, a repetition.” B, 218.

We know that from the death of Jacob the children of Israel were God’s chosen and favored people, but he declares in the verses just quoted that a time will come when his favor will cease and for an equal time they will have no favor with God. If, then, we can find just when their time of favor ceased, and just how long it was, we shall be able to find not only where the double will begin, but also where it will end. If, then, we turn to two scriptures found in Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. … Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; (Zech. 9:9,12.)

and

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Matt. 23:37-39.)

we find that these two passages taken together indicate the time when God’s favor ceased. Our Lord’s words, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate,” show the casting off, and the prophet, referring to this very occurrence, says, “to-day I declare I will render you double,” showing that here the double is to begin.

Our next step is to learn if the Scripture clearly shows the exact length of Jewish favor.

We find from

Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. (Ex. 12:40,41.)

that from the giving of the covenant to the exodus from Egypt was 430 years.

From

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. (Gen. 12:3,4.)

If, then, Israel had enjoyed 1845 years of favor up to A.D. 33, and if there began the disfavor to last another 1845 years, it is clear that the double must have ended in 1878. And one proof of the correctness of these figures is the fact that in 1878 the “Berlin Congress of Nations” was held, in which Lord Beaconsfield (a Jew) was the central figure and took the leading part, and by the amendment of Turkish laws the condition of the Jews residing in Palestine was greatly bettered, as well as the privilege extended to others to locate there and hold real estate.

But we must remember that the year 1878 was but the turning point of returning favor to Fleshly Israel. We have already learned from our study of “The Times of the Gentiles,” that Jerusalem and its people will continue to be trodden down — controlled and oppressed by the Gentiles, until the “Times of the Gentiles be fulfilled,” and hence, though favor was due and began in 1878, the Jew will not be received back into full favor until A.D. 1914, a period of 37 years, corresponding exactly to the time of their fall, which, though begun in A.D. 33, was not complete until the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Having found Scriptural evidence of the beginning and close of Israel’s Double, let us turn to some texts that will show that the Gospel Age will close at the same time and the Millennial Age begin. That the work of the Gospel Age is going on during the time of Israel’s disfavor we know, but still let us read And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: (Acts 15:13-16.)

and

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

ISRAEL’S DOUBLE. 95

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (Rom. 11:25-27.)

These both declare that the work of the Gospel Age, the taking of a people from among the Gentiles, is to be done during the time of Israel’s disfavor or blindness, but that when that is accomplished, blindness will depart from Israel, favor be returned to them, and “all Israel be saved.”

Now, one more prophecy concerning the double,

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (Isa. 40:1-5.)

Could anything more clearly show that with the end of Israel’s double Millennial work will begin.

See B,201-245.