Though "the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof", there is one spot to which He lays a special claim - the land of Palestine (Israel). Though presently inhabited by Israel, it is claimed by the Palestinian Arabs; the whole Arab world is determined on its ultimate "liberation" for their possession.
    But it is GOD'S LAND! He has deeded possession of it to Abraham, Isaac & Jacob - NOT to Ishmael, Esau and the Arabs! UN resolutions, super-power agreements; nothing that men may desire or devise will ever change the fact that it belongs to God.
    Within this land He has singled out one spot where He has placed His name and chosen for His dwelling-place. It is "the City of the Great King" - Jerusalem, (Psalm 48:1-3; 132:13-14). In David's day Mt. Zion was the citadel of the city - the center of political and military strength. Mt. Moriah was the center of its spiritual power, where the temple was built.
    When Jesus comes as King, His voice will go forth from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.
    There is more than OIL or TYRANNY involved in the present Mid-East conflict! E.G.

    Before the universe existed, God purposed the earth as the sphere wherein He would produce and prepare a special, elect, holy and spiritual people for the eternal companionship of His own dear Son. They would be a people for His own possession; a people who, in their corporate capacity, would ultimately be known as Christ's own "body", "bride", "house" and "temple"; the "Lamb's Wife". Destined to share the throne of the universe with her Divine Lover and Lord, this people are now being prepared, educated, trained, disciplined and equipped for her ultimate position of SHARED AUTHORITY at the Lord's right hand - when He sits upon the re-established throne of His father David.
    With the call of Abraham, and the covenant made to him in Ur of the Chaldees, God began the perfecting of a two-fold "SEED"; the bringing into the world of His own Son and the preparing of a special people for His praise - a people who would ultimately be given to the Son as His Bride. This did NOT include all the physical offspring of Abraham; the "seed" (in both

cases) would be provided through ISAAC, the son of promise, who was graciously given to Abraham and Sarah in their old age.
    Of Isaac's offspring God also made a difference: the progressive development of His covenant-purpose was to be carried forward through his younger son, Jacob, (Gen. 25:21-28).
    Despising his birthright, Esau sold it to his younger brother for a bowl of soup! (Gen. 25:29-34). Not content with the possession of the birthright, Jacob STOLE THE BLESSING that his father had intended to give Esau - whom Isaac dearly loved.
    In a memorable experience at Jabbok, Jacob "wrestled with God" and was compelled to admit his wretchedness. Then God changed his name to "Israel" - "Prince with God", or "Ruled by God", (Gen. 32:22-30). The bulk of Old Testament scripture deals with Jacob and his offspring - only incidentally with other nations, as they were in some

way associated with the destiny of this people.
    Twelve sons were eventually born to Jacob. Nor were they different from other people; they were all SINNERS! When a famine came to their land, Jacob sent 10 of his Sons to Egypt in search of food for their sustenance. There they found their younger brother, Joseph, whom they had previously sold into slavery. In Egypt he had been blessed and exalted by God to the right hand of Pharaoh; only in the throne was Pharaoh greater than himself.
    Freely forgiving his brothers; viewing the strange twist of events in his life as the hand of God's providential working (to preserve the house of his beloved father), Joseph not only sent food again and again; he eventually sent for Jacob to come to Egypt until such time as the famine was ended.
    Jacob died in Egypt, but his sons stayed on until there arose a Pharaoh  "who knew not Joseph" and began to severely afflict and persecute them. In affliction they remembered the God of their fathers and poured out their heart-cries to Him. Their ultimate deliverance from bondage in Egypt was with the mighty hand and stretched-out arm of Jehovah . In delivering His own people, God overthrew the army of Pharaoh in the Red Sea.
    At Mt. Sinai God constituted Jacob's offspring, Israel, an "holy nation" and committed to them a priestly ministry through which all nations of the earth might be

brought to know Him. As His THEOCRATIC KINGDOM on earth, they were to be a "peculiar people" - the reins of their hearts fully controlled by God, their king. They solemnly pledged themselves to do all that God commanded. He gave them a territory and established for them such a system of laws as the world had never known. Through a walk of faith-obedience in the way He had appointed, they would be perpetually established as "a kingdom of priests" who would show forth God's praise among the nations.
    The history of Israel has been one long, sad, tragic story of rebellion, wandering, desolation, repentance, restoration and blessing - only to begin the same long, sorry cycle again and again.
    In patience, tenderness and loving compassion toward their weakness God sent prophets to them again and again - urging them to turn their hearts back to Him Who was their only source of help. But they slew the prophets, despised God's word, spurned His loving entreaties and went after strange gods until Jehovah could forbear no longer. He sent them into captivity that they might learn the folly of trusting in gods made by human hands.
    Ultimately, in His great mercy, God restored Judah to her own land. Though she paid lip-service to her divine Deliverer, her heart was not right toward Him. Then, God sent HIS OWN SON to call for the "fruits of righteousness" from His vineyard. And they CRUCIFIED HIM! They said, "We will NOT HAVE this

man to reign over us!"
    Is it hard for you to understand why God would strip such a people of their SPECIAL STATUS as "heirs of the kingdom", and give it to a people who would bring forth the kind of fruit that ought to be produced under such divine care?
    While our Lord walked as a man among men, He established a spiritual "organism" which He called "MY CHURCH". The ministry that the covenant-nation refused to perform has now been committed into the hands of this new institution. Hers is the glorious privilege of heralding the "good news" of God's provision for sinners - to every nation and creature! It is the responsibility of the Lord's OWN CHURCH (the one He personally established and commissioned) to "call out from among the Gentiles" a people for His own name and possession. He has predestinated such a people to be "conformed to the image of His Son".
    A number of things have been divinely provided for the "perfecting" or "maturing" of this people toward Christlikeness:
    1. A PERFECT REVELATION of His own person, will and purpose: God has not left His people in the dark!
    2. AN INSPRING RECORD of the triumphant lives of many whose loving hearts have yielded their joyful submission to His control in ages past.
    3. THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT: to illumine our minds and guide

our steps; to sustain and encourage us in the way of righteousness; to warn, reprove and rebuke us when we begin to forsake the appointed way. And
    4. A DIVINELY CONSTITUTED LOCAL ASSEMBLY and "household of faith" (a New Testament church) wherein we may, in mutual love, respect and commitment to the lordship of Jesus Christ: encourage, admonish and provoke one another unto love and good works.
    Under the pastoral guidance of one who truly cares for our souls, we may find such spiritual nourishment as will sustain strengthen and help us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our dear Lord. In the functioning relationship of a New Testament church, brethren learn how to really "CARE" for each other and "to watch over one another in brotherly love". We dare not take the attitude of Cain; we have a responsibility to CARE! - more

for others than for ourselves. God has made us our "brother's keeper". This is a responsibility from which we cannot escape.
    Within the fellowship of a New Testament church, we learn the necessity of DISCIPLINE (child-training) - involving the experience both of SELF-discipline and of such AUTHORITY as is necessary to correct and restore the erring and rebellious among the brotherhood. As Bro. Edward Byrd has so powerfully set forth in one of his deeply instructive books: "Learning to Rule is NOT EASY!"
    Here, by precept and example, we learn the concept of such FAITH- OBEDIENCE as springs from a genuine love for God and desire to honor Him with our lives. Beside this there is the exercise of a priestly ministry - as we learn to share the blessings of our divine life, and the "good news" of God's provision of salvation, with those who are yet "in the world" and "in bondage to sin".
    While it is true that God already envisions us as "seated in the heavenlies" IN THE BELOVED; In both a literal and physical sense, we are EARTHBOUND - facing a vicious and unrelenting enemy in an unceasing spiritual warfare! Our ACTUAL sharing of Christ's throne must await His return to "raise up" the throne of His father David. The throne on which He is NOW seated is NOT HIS, but His Father's! But His throne will be both REAL and ETERNAL. It will be shared ONLY with those who, by faith, and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, are OVERCOMERS! (Rev, 3:21; I John 5:4). E.G.