JUDAISM OVERTHROWN: OR, THE KINGDOM RESTORED TO THE TRUE ISRAEL

Acts 1:6, 7-“When they, therefore, were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his own power.”JUO 1.4

The question of the disciples in this text, implies three things: 1. That Israel once had a kingdom. 2. That it was then subverted, and had been taken from them. 3. That they understood that it was some time or other to be restored again.JUO 1.5

The answer of Christ, so far from correcting their views, or intimating that they were mistaken in their expectations, tended directly to confirm them in the opinion they already entertained. “It is not for you to know,” etc. As much as to say, although there are appropriated times and seasons for the occurrence of what you anticipate, and they are yet future, it is not for you to know them.JUO 1.6

If it be affirmed that the disciples of Christ expected a temporal kingdom under the Messiah, it is denied, and the proof is demanded. That they expected a visible kingdom is true; but they expected also that it would be eternal in its duration, and not temporal. Their opinion was based on the Scriptures, which everywhere represented the kingdom of Messiah to be everlasting, without end. That they erred in respect to the subjects of that kingdom, is freely admitted-they supposing the Jews were the favorites of heaven.JUO 1.7

In pursuing the subject, we shall consider,-JUO 4.1

I. The Kingdom of Israel-what it was.JUO 4.2

II. Its Subversion-when and for what cause.JUO 4.3

III. The Restoration of the Kingdom-its heirs and subjects.JUO 4.4

IV. The Times and Seasons of its Restoration.JUO 4.5