Page 214 - Jesus is coming - Class version

ISRAEL RETURNING. 211
city is estimated at from 40,000 to 50,000, being more than
half the entire population. Besides these, there are large
colonies at Tiberias, Safed, Joppa and Hebron, and several
other smaller ones in various parts of the country. The en-
tire Jewish population of Palestine is said to be more than
80,000, so that a greater number have already returned
than the 49,697 who went up with Zerubbabel from Baby-
lon. Ezra 2 :64-65.
The anti-semitic agitations in Germany, Austria and
France, and the fierce persecutions in Russia and Roumania,
have stirred up the Jews of the world as the eagle doth
her nest. Deut. 32 :11.
National hopes and aspirations have found vent in the
organization of Chovevi Zion (Lovers of Zion) societies,
and Shova Zion (colonization) societies throughout Europe
and America. Land is being purchased and funds raised,
on installment plans, to send back the members by lot.
A railroad" has been completed from Joppa, and the en-
gine speeds up to Jerusalem like one of Nahum's "flaming
torches," (Nahum 2, 3) which, the prophet says, "shall be
in the day of His preparation," over the roadway which the
Arabs call "Trek el Kods," significantly coinciding with the
Hebrew "Derech Hakodesh" ("Way of Holiness) of Isa.
35:8.
This "highway," cast up as the Hebrew "Maslol" indi-
cates, is a special preparation for the return of the people
to Zion. Isa. 35:10.
Other lines of railway are projected or actually under
construction to Hebron, Jericho, Acre, Tiberias and Damas-
cus.
The Turkish hold upon the country is continually weak-
ening, and there is considerable talk of a Jewish state.
May we not conclude that the Lord is even now setting
"His hand 'again the second time" for the restoration of
10
His people?
(10) Isa. 11:11. And It shall from Egypt, and from Pathros,
come to pass in that day, that the and from Gush, and from El am,
Lord shall set his hand again an from Shinar, and from
tne second time to recover the Hamath, and from the islands of
1
remnant of his people, which ^
shall be left, from Assyria, a&d seft