Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/254

 exercising the dominion of earth as originally designed. When thus restored, it will again be the Kingdom of God on earth, under man, God's appointed representative.

During the Jewish age God organized the people of Israel as his kingdom, under Moses and the Judges a sort of Re- publio-but it was typical only, And the more despotic rule afterward established, especially under David and Solomon, was in some respecfts typical of the kingdom promised, when Messiah should reign. Unlike the surrounding nations, Israel had Jehovah for their King, and their rulers nominally served under him, as we leam from Psa. 78 : 70, 71. This is quite definitely staled in 2 Chron. 13 : 8 and i Chron. 29 : 23, where Israel is called "the Kingdom of the Lord/' and where it is said that Solomon "sat on the THRONE OF THE LORD, instead of David his father/ 1 who sat upon or exercised the rule of the same throne for the forty years previous, following Saul, the first king.

When the people of Israel transgressed against the Lord, he chastised them repeatedly, until finally he took away their kingdom entirely. In the days of Zedekiah, the last who reigned of the line of David, the scepter of royal power was re- moved. There the typical kingdom of God was overthrown.

God's decision relative to the matter is expressed in the words, "Thou profane, wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, Thus saith the Lord God: Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same. ... I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be NO MORE, until he come, whose right it is; and I will give it him." (Ezek. 21 : as-**?-) In fulfilment of this prophecy the king of Babylon came against Israel, look the people captive and removed their king. Though afterward restored to national existence by Cyrus the Mede, they were subjects and tribute payers to the successive empires of Mcdo^Persia, Greece and Rome,

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