Untitled article by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, October 8, 1867

PALESTINE AND THE JEWS.

By James White

The Age-to-Come teachers have been increasing in their efforts to prove the “Return of the Jews” from the Scripture promises; and they have also many times asserted that the prospect was very favorable for their speedy return to Palestine. Their arguments from the prophecies having been abundantly refuted, I wish to call attention to the present actual prospect of their soon or even ever possessing Jerusalem.

So sanguine have been some that the Lord was opening the way for the settlement and possession of the “land of promise,” and believing that great blessings were in store for those who would go up to possess it, that, from time to time, efforts have been made to colonize “the faithful” there. The last, and which of course, should have been the most successful as the time of the promise draws near, was made by a party from New England, who went there in 1866. Mr. H. H. Jessup, a well-known American Missionary, wrote from Beirut, Sept. 3, 1866, as follows:

“We were distressed at the news of the coming of a colony of Americans from Maine to settle at Jaffa. The Consul at Jerusalem has written to Mr. Seward, to dissuade the deluded people from such an insane undertaking; but they will not be dissuaded. Nothing less than the “sacred” soil will satisfy them. They will find the Turkish Government suspicious, and opposed to them at every step. Once outside of Jaffa gardens, the plain is frequented by the Bedouin, and they will find the Holy Land too hot for them in more senses than one. It seems sad that sober reason could not have reached them. I have noticed advertisements of the scheme in the papers from time to time, but regarded it as a hoax. We now hear they are coming. May the Lord have mercy on them.”

“An accurate history of the visionaries who have made similar raids on the Holy Land during this century, either as individuals or in companies, would be one of the most astonishing books ever written. But this ‘down east’ attempt to get further east bids fair to cap the climax.”

But they would not be dissuaded; they went, and I have read the account of their experience there. It may be briefly summed up in the words of Ezekiel: “lamentation, and mourning, and woe.” They did not find the climate as favorable as they expected, nor the land productive, as had been represented to them. Sick and dying; destitute of provisions and other necessaries of life; with cunning, and most cruel enemies on every side, the worst fears of Mr. Jessup seemed more than realized. And those who urged them into this fanatical step, take but little notice of their disappointment and sufferings, lest, perhaps, their own blindness and folly should thereby be exposed and rebuked.

So much for present efforts and prospects. Let us look for a moment at the future. The Western Christian Advocate of Sept. 11, 1867, in a leading article entitled “Can Jerusalem be sold?” presents some facts of deep interest on this subject. It says the low state of Turkish finances gives rise to some such talk, but a sale is considered impossible. In that event it says—

“A new crusade might break out against the successful purchaser, or against any purchaser. The very thing that Christians, above all things else, desired for half a millennium, they would now as anxiously dread. The possession of Jerusalem by any single body of the Church is impossible. France will never allow Russia to own it, nor Russia, France; nor will either or both of them allow the treasure to pass into England’s hands; nor will she and Prussia allow any other party undisputed ownership. Nor can the Rothschilds be permitted to buy it for their people; for the Christian powers will not grant the Jews such a privilege lest their own rights be disturbed by the possible fanaticism of reviving Judaism. So jealous are these powers, that to-day each Christian clan holds semi-fortified posts in or near the Holy City. Russia has built an enormous convent near the Damascus gate, professedly for its Church, actually to control the city. It has the solidity and proportions of a fortress, and is admirably situated for military purposes. The church built by England and Prussia on Mount Zion, had political and military, as well as ecclesiastical ends in its location; and France received as a gift from the Sultan a site on Bezetha, the north-east tower of the city, not far from the tower of Antonia—the Latin race where it was in the days of Pilate—as finely adapted to the same idea, as are England’s and Russia’s. The Jews have hospital grounds with fine stone buildings, opposite the Joppa gate. So that four powers surround the Holy Sepulchre to-day, armed as the legions of Pilate, Herod, and Calaphas in that solemn midnight centuries ago. In the north-east of it stands the Roman Catholic, on the north-west the Greek Church, on the south the Protestants, on the south-west the Jews.”

“Jerusalem can never be sold to either party. An attempt to thus dispose of it would create greater commotion than the offer of Constantinople to England, Greece, or Russia.”

Instead of “assured peace” there is no other spot on the globe so completely fitted for a scene of contention and war. No one of the powers interested will let these false “visions of peace” be fulfilled if it is to be possessed by any rival. Though of no special value in itself, perhaps to either nation, it is yet a treasure which all covet, and none can possess in security. Its future is not hard to mark out. The Ottoman power is declining and must soon sink. Then the jealousy of the nations over Jerusalem will come to its crisis. Then will that “great river Euphrates” be “dried up,” and “the way of the Kings of the east be prepared.” Then will the Lord “begin to bring evil upon the city which is called by his name,” and “all the kingdoms of the world which are upon the face of the earth,” “shall fall and rise no more” in the mighty conflict—the “battle of the great day.” See Rev. xvi, and Jer. xxv. The “peace and safety” cry is the great delusion of the day. Lord, spare thy people! J. H. W.