4. The God of Heaven.

[Notes of Addresses on Prophetic Subjects by P. Ben, Delivered before the Assembly, Gathered at YMCA, Secunderabad, 2014.]
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The times of gentiles (Luke 21:24) had begun with the imperial rule of Babylon. It is the radical change that has affected the entire corporal structure on earth- brought in a new politico-social dimension. The ancient theocratic economy of the kings of Judah was disbanded to usher in a universal power sourced providentially from Jehovah (Is 39:6-8).

Jehovah’s cherubic throne was manifested at the river of Chebar (Ezek 1) - reverted to the primeval majesty of providential government. Israel’s theocracy was temporarily set aside and Jehovah has now taken His place in heaven from where He affects an indirect rule.

Back in Ex 34, there is visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, but not so in Ezek 18-‘the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father’. Jehovah’s government on earth has been temporally set aside. The seeming change here is that Jehovah’s direct government of old from Jerusalem was apparently lost to oblivion. Ezekiel denies this- for he asserts that in Ch11 the glory of Jehovah has left Jerusalem (as a consequence of Israel’s sins) but has taken His place in providential rule from heaven (Ezek 1).

Solomon sat on the throne of the Jehovah as king (1 Chr 29:23) exhibiting the reign of Jehovah on earth in His anointed. This is to be realized in greater glory in the Person of Christ in future.*

*Refer to the millennial reign of Christ in Ps 72.

The shift of cherubic glory from Jerusalem to Chebar had set aside Zion’s privileges for Babylon’s rise. Jehovah’s title in the times of gentiles is the God of heaven.*

*In the book of Daniel- Jehovah is the God of heaven, the Most High.

The first significant beginning under the indirect rule of God is setting up of Nebuchadnezzar in power. The empires that were subsequent to Babylon were providentially set up whereas in the case of Babylon, it was by the direct hand of God.*

*The only heathen on earth who had directly been sanctioned by Jehovah from heaven was the king of Babylon (Dan 2:37-38). Mede-Persia, Grecian and imperial Rome are but inferior to Babylon (Dan 2:38) as their ascendency to power as due to the play of providential elements. For this reason the head of gold in the dream is distinctively Babylonian (Dan2) but the limbs and the body are of inferior metal.

The times of gentiles are the four empires- which are fully brought out in the prophecies of Daniel. The power they exert is given to them from heaven and their inglorious end in the future is from heaven by Him who sat on a horse (Rev 19)*

*Armageddon is not to be mistaken for the judgment on the nations. For the former, judgment flows from heaven but for the latter, judgment emanates from Zion. We shall consider them in a detailed manner subsequently.

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