Spread of the Truth Among the Jews by Frederick C. Gilbert

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 17, 1910

Spread of the Truth Among the Jews

By Frederick C. Gilbert

WE are sure there are many of our dear people who are interested in the advancement of the third angel's message among the lost sheep of Israel. These people, to whom the Lord originally gave the oracles to give unto our fathers, certainly must have the last warning message before the blessed Messiah comes to earth the second time. The work among these people must be conducted on plans quite different from those employed in work for other nationalities, still we can thank God and take courage at the omens which we constantly see as we progress. The bitter spirit of opposition and persecution is waning wherever the words of truth penetrate; because the Jews are made to see that what they supposed was the Christian religion is not Christianity at all.

In laboring for the Jews the great difficulty is to get them to see the relation between Sabbath-keeping and Christianity; between the Old Testament and the New Testament; between Jesus and the Jews. So-called Christianity, under the guise of Roman and Greek Catholicism, has so bitterly and relentlessly persecuted the Jews that the masses have for centuries regarded the Christian religion as their most-to-be-dreaded foe. But we thank the blessed Lord that there is balm in Gilead for them; and the oil of grace, which can heal their wounds and their mistakes, is the gospel of Jesus, as given in the blessed third angel's message.

For some time the Jews, in localities where we have been laboring, have noted a difference between us and other Christian workers among them. They call us “the Sabbath Christians,” while they call the others “the Sunday Christians.” It is wonderful how the bitter prejudice of the Jew is stilled when he learns that there are Christians who observe the seventh day of the week, and who abstain from the eating of swine's flesh. It is a marvel to many of them when they learn there is a whole denomination of Christian people who have implicit faith in Moses and the prophets, and who really believe the decalogue as spoken by Jehovah upon the summit of Sinai.

I am sure of this; if our dear people everywhere could realize what a mighty weapon the blessed Christ has placed in their hands to utterly destroy all Jewish prejudice, they would make more strenuous efforts to bring this truth to the Jews. We do not have to go to them as we do to the Gentiles. We do not have to argue or discuss with them about the Sabbath, or the sanctuary, or the tithing, or many of these other things which the Gentiles regard as so singular and so strange. These are the Jews by birth and by inheritance.

But what they need to see is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and that this Jesus is portrayed in the Old Testament; that Jesus, their Messiah, observed the same laws and ordinances that the Lord told them to observe, and that this same Jesus told his followers to do the same thing; and that there are to-day thousands all over the world who are following the same Jesus in all the commandments which Jehovah gave to his people through Moses and the prophets.

Beloved reader, if you have never talked on these subjects with the Jewish friends and neighbors in your community , just try it. Send to the Good Tidings Home, Concord, Mass., for a supply of Jewish literature, and then call on some of your Jewish friends and neighbors, telling them that you have some Jewish literature you would like to have them read, and also that this literature is not given away by the people whom they regard as missionaries, but by a denomination who are Christian Sabbath-keepers.

We are sure that you will be agreeably surprised to see how many Jews there are, who, though at first they may refuse to receive your literature, will accept it eagerly when they learn some things about your belief. The Jew must know Seventh-day Adventists. He must know there is such a people in existence. When he learns this, there will come a great change over him concerning the truth of the gospel.

We are glad to say that we are receiving constant encouragement from Jews as well as from our people, where this literature is being circulated. God is certainly moving upon the hearts of the Jews at this time. The angel has indeed come down, and has troubled the waters. Those who step in will surely be healed. We must do what we can to persuade the Jews to step in. Here is a sample letter from a Jew touching this point:—

“DEAR FRIEND GILBERT: I ask you to please read my letter through, and give me a right answer. As I heard you speaking many times, I found out that it is the best way to get acquainted with you. I read certain books [meaning tracts], and while reading them, they gave me much love, and I want you to give me more love, and to take away the darkness of my eyes, and give me the true light; for I realize that I am a sinner. I see that the suffering Messiah is calling me, Come to me, poor sinner, and I will give you rest. And I want to have this rest. I want to study the Word of God. I want to have his holy name, who was pierced for our sins, and believe on him, of whom the prophet wrote that the suffering Messiah will give his life for us poor sinners.

“How happy I am to tell you that I found the true light, religion. Please answer me, for I want to study the Word of God, and give my heart to him, and be cleansed through his blood.

“Lord God, bless me, and give me strength and light to come through thy Son. Bless Brother Gilbert, and all who believe in him. Amen.

“Please, Brother Gilbert, answer me at this address, me a poor sinner.

“LOUIS ROSENTHAL.”

We might give many similar letters, which convince us that the Holy Spirit is able to work upon the Jewish hearts if we will but work together with God.

We are glad to say that at the present time we have three young Jewish people at the South Lancaster Academy, and we trust they are preparing to enter the work of the Lord. The Lord has been blessing the work at the Good Tidings Home at Concord, Mass., and we feel that this Home is destined to do a good work for the poor lost sheep of Israel.

In the Good Tidings of the Messiah, a monthly magazine, you will find much that will teach you how to work for the Jews. If you do not read it, send to Good Tidings of the Messiah, Concord, Mass., for a sample copy, or send your subscription for a year (twenty-five cents).

Be sure to pray for the work among the Jews. The Lord loves them, and has a people among them yet to be saved.

F. C. GILBERT.