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Royalty and Ruin
A Self-application
They had pronounced their own doom! Under Jesus’ searching
gaze they knew He read the secrets of their hearts. They saw a
picture of themselves in the tenants.
Regretfully Christ asked: “Have you never read in the Scriptures,
‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner-
stone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you
and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.”
Matthew 21:42-44
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The Jewish nation determined that they would not receive Jesus
of Nazareth as the Messiah. From that time on, darkness surrounded
their lives like midnight. The predicted doom came on the Jewish na-
tion. In their blind rage they destroyed one another. Their rebellious
pride brought the wrath of their Roman conquerors on them. The
Romans destroyed Jerusalem, laid the temple in ruins, and plowed
its site like a field. Millions were sold as slaves in heathen lands.
The Assignment to Spiritual Israel
What God intended to do for the world through Israel, the chosen
nation, He will finally accomplish through His church. He has en-
trusted “His vineyard to other vinedressers,” who faithfully “render
to Him the fruits in their seasons.” These witnesses for God are the
spiritual Israel, and God will fulfill to them all the covenant promises
He made to His ancient people.
For many centuries, secular and religious law prohibited preach-
ing the gospel in its purity. As a result, the Lord’s great moral
“vineyard” was almost unoccupied. The people were deprived of
the light of God’s Word. Error and superstition threatened to blot
out true religion. God’s church was as surely in captivity during this
long period of persecution as the children of Israel were during the
exile in Babylon.
But, thank God, the privileges given the people of God when
they were delivered from Babylon have been restored to spiritual
Israel. In every part of the earth, men and women are responding to
the Heavensent message, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the
hour of His judgment has come.”
Revelation 14:7
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