The sermon transcript discusses the issue of life and death and the importance of extending mercy, even at the risk of one's own life. It emphasizes the need to help refugees and those in need, as an act of grace that can lead them to believe in God. The sermon also highlights the longing for God's theocratic kingdom and the return of Jesus to establish his throne in Jerusalem. It emphasizes the role of the church in seeking and discerning God's will and fulfilling his purposes, particularly in relation to the restoration of Israel.

We read a word from the book of Jeremiah, chapter 29. Jeremiah 29, verses 11 to 14. For I know well what thoughts I have about you, says the Lord. Thoughts of peace and not of suffering, that I give you the end you await. And you will call upon me, and go to me, and ask of me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, for if you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, says the Lord. And I will turn your captivity, and gather you from all nations, and from all places where I have cast you out, says the Lord. And I will bring you back to this place, from where I have cast you out. Do you know who this is? This is the people of God, the chosen people, Israel, that is coming back now, that the Lord is gathering again in his land. And we are allowed to see how old vows are fulfilled. That is wonderful. On Tuesday we had a service in Dalville, where Brother Aert made it clear to us what our, that is, the responsibility of the Christian Jews towards Israel is, what we should actually share with Israel. We are their debtors, because because of their disobedience we are caught up in the oil business. And now I thought afterwards about what we could do to win over the Jews for Jesus. We also have Jews here in Switzerland, quite a few. And they are quite closed off for themselves. And they don't want to be harassed, of course with the Gospel. But that is not harassment, that is prejudice. If they were also believers, then they should also have a clear goal in mind. They know exactly what healing is. And then a sister came to me. Brother Klaus Büblich-Hüsen gave me her address in Germany. I visited her last year with my wife. And we had a very interesting meeting there. This woman came up with the idea of how to bring the Gospel to the Jews. And she had a husband who was working in the church. He had some function in the state church. And because of his positive belief, he lost his job one day. And he became unemployed. And that went on for a long time. And she heard that in Basel, at the Fetal, the Free Evangelical Theological Academy, a Hebrew course was being conducted. And so she decided, because the man could make the household, and to see the children, that she would go to Basel and learn Hebrew. And she passed the course successfully. I don't remember if it was three months or six months. Anyway, a long time. She lived with other believers. And afterwards she returned home. And what did she do? She started writing letters to Jews in Israel. She let a telephone book come from Israel. From Jerusalem and different areas. And she was looking for addresses. She was inventive. They say that love is inventive, right? And so she wrote to different people. And she sent them literature in Hebrew. And she explained with her Hebrew knowledge what she actually intended. And look at this. The man was with her. She received positive answers. And questions about how to behave with this and that place of the Bible, and with this prophecy. And she could give them information in Hebrew. And a whole series of Jews came to believe. In Israel. Then I thought, well, actually you could do that here too, right? Maybe we are so inventive. Maybe we love the Jews so much that we... They speak German here. We don't even need to learn Hebrew. Then we can also send them so much literature. Which then speaks to their hearts. It is important to do it on a private basis. Not organized. With a title like we have here. The International Missionary Association. It would be a red cloth. But you don't have that. You have to be careful. You have to make personal contact with the Jews. Maybe one or the other has good thoughts. The Lord hears prayers. If it is a burden for us. He can actually show us something that links the contact to the Jews. And who knows, maybe we have here in Zurich or elsewhere a Messianic community of Jews who have become believers. That would be wonderful, wouldn't it? So, the kingdom of God is built on earth. Here the kingdom of God is on earth. And that prepares us for the heavenly kingdom. The heavenly kingdom. That is not here on earth. But the kingdom of God is in us. And if we have the Lord in us, then he will also lead and guide us. We hear his voice. We are his sheep. He is the good shepherd. And he guides us for his name's sake. Also to the Jews. His outsiders. His beloved children. To whom he still extends his arms. He already wanted to gather them in Jerusalem when he was on earth. And they didn't hear him. They didn't want him. They didn't want him. But now they are becoming more and more open in the Klemme. Also in Israel. The communities there are growing. They are accepting. And when Brother Art comes to Israel, then he finds open doors. They used to do that. But today they like to hear the word of God. And we should not forget, also what is happening in the world now, prepares the Jews. Also internally. And we have to realize that. As Christians we have a responsibility. And we are their debtors. We want to pay this debt. We have not only made a Holocaust. We have also done other things. And there have always been such Christians who protected Jews and took them in to save them from persecution. And we should do that in the future too. And we want to start right away. And learn that. This is a commemoration that I wanted to add now. I did not say the name of this sister on purpose so that there is not a pilgrimage there. We can do that here too. The Lord shows us that already. I would like to pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you that you have not abandoned your people. You love them. And you lead them also through the night. Even in the greatest danger you are with them as you are with us. And you want to lead them back again. They came to the country. But they must also come to you in the country itself. And you are there. And you are here. You are everywhere. We thank you that we can also announce your salvation to them. We ask you, show us your ways. And we thank you that you are with us today and in the afternoon. You will save your servant and equip him with the word that it is important for us that we continue to do your will and carry out your mission to your beloved people. Amen. I would like to pass on some messages to those who speak to us in a brotherly way. We have put up two lists on the table for people who would like to have a cassette. We have been able to force this device to work with great effort. I thought it was a device that could be operated here without further ado. But it is a little more complicated than my old box that I left at home. And I hope the cassettes will be good. They will be sent to you when you sign up there on the list. Sometimes it is good when you listen to these lectures again and can think carefully. And then you will be enriched even more. So don't forget to sign up if you want to. Then there is also some free literature there. We also have some English edition friends. This is the book with the testimonies of the rabbis who became believers. But unfortunately it is only in English. I don't have any more German. They will be sent again when they are printed. Then I would like to say that every Monday we have an Israeli prayer hour. We mainly pray about concerns against Israel. This is on Kramerstrasse 7, not far from here. And at 8 o'clock in the evening, the next Monday, we have such a meeting again. We are cordially invited. If you have any burden for Israel and want to pray about it, you are welcome to join us. I would also like to say that tomorrow we will have another meeting with Arthur Katz. This does not mean we. It is a community in Aarau. Unfortunately, I can't tell you the address. But I have a telephone number. If you are interested, you can have a telephone number from me and inquire there. He will serve again at 8 o'clock. And we look forward to that his service is more and more asked in Switzerland. He also has other circles where he serves. And then he goes on to Germany and to Finland. He has already been to England or France. So he is an international evangelist for Israel. And so we want to ask the Lord again and again that he needs him and blesses him in his mighty service. The collection is also for him. He has many expenses, of course, with his travels. There we also have a box on the table at the back. Whoever wants to give something will be blessed. And now I would like to give the floor to our brother. Hello, Saints. Good to see you again. Some of you for the first time. Well, we need the grace of God to convey the subject of God. That's what Paul continually groaned, grace for utterance to speak. What shall we groan? Grace to fulfill what God speaks. So if the Lord is with us today, this should be an expensive afternoon. In the sense of what will be required of us in hearing such things. May God take from us our harmless curiosity about Israel. The novelty of our curiosity. Our sentimental sense. This will never do. Only an apostolic mindset can lay hold of this mystery and recognize the sacrifice required for its fulfillment. It's a fulfillment that the Lord could have brought by himself sovereignly. But he is pleased to employ an essentially Gentile church. Why? Because the Lord is pleased so that my Jewish people will require an eternity to thank you. For giving yourself so sacrificially for their redemption. From whom they could never have expected it. Seeing that there has been such a historic enmity between Gentiles and Jews. Can you see the genius of God in this? Oh, the depths of the riches, both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God. So this is a vast statement about the genius of God, the mystery of God in what he has desired. Of such a kind that even our sentiment might interfere with the apprehension of it. So I want to add my own prayer for this speaking this afternoon. That it would be something more than an informative word. A word that will perform a work in them that believe. And that it will be a contribution, a step toward the fulfillment itself. All the more because we are so unassuming and unimpressive. Speaker and audience alike. The more vibrant Christians are out riding their bicycles and sailing their boats. But you older ones are here. And God will be all the more glorified through you. Because he delights in employing that which is weak and foolish. This is my sole qualification to be his servant. Hallelujah. So Lord, we're pleased that you have such a preference. What kind of a God are you that chooses the thing that is weak and foolish? To confound that which is wise and strong in itself. Little wonder that your Jewish people cannot recognize you. For they very much esteem strength and wisdom. But thank you for the mercy that empties them. And will bring them to the necessary weakness. That will desire your strength. Even for their redemption. And your eternal purposes through them. Employ this speaking. I don't know how to begin it or how to end it. So we call upon you as the great Alpha and Omega whose honor is so involved in this mystery. So come now and establish it yourself. We thank you and give you the praise in Jesus' holy name. And God's people said Amen. So, I know that the burden of the Lord for today is the issue of his divine government. And the word government is not even attractive for me. It sounds so bureaucratic. The shuffling of papers such a weariness to the flesh. And so it must be at the earthly level. But from the heavenly it's quite another thing. His government is righteousness and peace. Not just the mere elimination of strife and discord. But the whole manner of a heavenly living. That is invested with the shalom of God. Do you desire that? Do you expect it in a substantial way? Or are you democratic, all too democratic? I was amused at the excitement even on the part of Christians for the coming down of the wall from East Germany. Or the collapse of the communist systems in the Eastern nations. We shared with Czechoslovakia and other of these nations the excitement in taking democratic steps. As if this were the end of all things. The best of all that could be desired. But it's only been a short time and already the disillusionment is setting in. We need something much more. The rule of God himself in the earth and among the nations that they might beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks and study war no more. Probably one of the greatest tragedies of the Christian faith is the harmless way in which we speak of the kingdom of God. It is always rather ambiguous. It has a kind of an airy sense but never points to anything quite specific. But the scriptures are very explicit about this kingdom. The theocratic rule of God not the democratic rule of men. We should daily be breathing thy kingdom come, thy kingdom come, thy kingdom come. So what has this to do with Israel? And Israel's restoration? Everything. For the issue of Israel's return is the issue of the coming of the king. The issue of the Lord in coming as king and the establishing of his kingdom on their holy hill on the throne of David forever. Do you believe that? Literally a very real system of government on a particular throne of David that fulfills the covenant promises of God to that people and answers the legitimate question of the disciples of Jesus is it time now to establish the kingdom of Israel? For the kingdom of Israel is the kingdom of God but it's the kingdom for all nations whose locus and capital is in Jerusalem. The literal city for out of Zion shall go forth the law and out of Jerusalem the word of the Lord to all nations. Are you with me so far? How do the nations feel about that? How delighted are they in the anticipation of God's theocratic rule? Frankly, they're not too excited because they enrich themselves in unrighteousness and have pride profited by their rule in self-seeking ways and love their privilege and want it to continue and I'm speaking now not only about earthly rulers but the true rulers of this world the gods of this age the principalities and the powers of the air the invisible realm of demonic rulership as expressed through a fallen angeology a fallen network of angels in rebellion against God but still holding governmental office in the heavenlies and turning it to their own advantage that men should worship them as the gods of this world and to turn away the attention of men from him who is God Am I speaking, mistress? Have I lost you? Do you know of the presence of these powers of the air? Do you know of the presence of these powers of the air? We even say there's something in the air just crossing from one national border into another the whole atmosphere has changed there's something in the air and that something is the invisible realm of demonic spirit that have brooded uninterruptedly over those places to influence and sway the conduct of those nations and they want to maintain their rule and will resist in every way this kingdom that will come and have already resisted almost to the point of the annihilation of the Jewish people What's the connection? Simply this Jesus said you will not see me again until you will say blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord His coming is altogether related to their repentance and return Acts 3.21 says that he is actually contained in the heavens pent up waiting for the restoration of all things spoken by the prophets since the world began and what have these prophets spoken uniformly? The restoration of Israel in the last days The return to their land through the mercies of God the acknowledgement of Jesus as Lord and the establishment of a kingdom through them in promise to their fathers that will be established upon the throne of David literally The powers of the air know this better than the church How then shall they avert the threat to their vested and unchallenged rule by annihilating that people through whom the rule comes Therefore I can tell you with complete confidence that the Nazi time was only a foreshadowing of something much greater a final and severe persecution of the Jewish nation throughout all the earth to the point of annihilation and the greater number of them will not survive it but out of that persecution God will bring a remnant that the redeemed of the Lord shall return to Zion and mourning and sighing shall flee away and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads This is God's last day scenario and the anti-Semitic hatred is accelerating in every nation even as I speak And so where will be the church at this time in the final extremity of Israel in the last days God's very provision for the preservation of this remnant by the extension of your mercy that they might obtain mercy when the issue of mercy for them may be the issue of life or death and when the extending of mercy might be at the risk of your own life You should time it You should tie me up and carry me out of this room Are these things to speak to an intelligent and polite audience such a fearful and apocalyptic scenario when everything seems so peaceful today and this is the best of all possible worlds and really brother Art we don't really need God's theocratic kingdom if it is God's theocratic kingdom that we live in when it got to come at such a price as this can't we just improve what we have progressively this is our secret heart we want amelioration not glory and so the Lord remains pent up in the heavens waiting for the church is the key to Israel's redemption and Israel's redemption is the key to the kingdom and the kingdom is the key to health for the nations millennial sanity the peace that is not the result of political compromise when we say peace peace but there is no peace but the peace that is with righteousness and so in the book of Haggai the last prophet before Zechariah chapter 2 verse 6 thus says the Lord of hosts once more in a little while I'm going to shake the heavens and the earth the sea also and the dry land and I will shake all the nations and they will come with the wealth of all nations and I will fill this house with glory says the Lord that he established the bounds of the nations according to the number of the sons of Israel according to the number of the sons of Israel that somehow the whole issue of world government the rule of God over the nations is altogether proportionate to the sons of Israel and that's why Jerusalem is not only to be their capital but the capital of God in the world for he has established the nations the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof to glorify him when they come under his lordship and authority and the rule that goes forth out of Zion and what shall happen to the nations that refuse that design they suffer curse if they will not come up to Jerusalem and celebrate the feast of tabernacles by an actual physical act of submission in the acknowledgement of the rule of God from Israel God will deprive them of rain and in the absence of rain is the plagues that's what it says in Zechariah chapter 14 the last chapter verse 16 and 17 and all that remain from all the nations that again come to Jerusalem they will come year after year to worship the king the lord of the lords and to celebrate the feast of tabernacles but they will not come up to Jerusalem from the genders of the earth to worship the king the lord of the lords verse 19 verse 19 this will be the punishment of the Egyptians and the punishment of all nations that do not come up to celebrate the feast of tabernacles can you understand why the peoples die They want to break off the connection with God and with his anointed, but he holds them in derision. He laughs them to scorn. He will set his king on his holy hill Zion and give him the nations for his inheritance. This needs to come into our consciousness, into our understanding, into our millennial expectation for which Israel's restoration is the key. That when he will again be their king, and his prince David will rule over them, and establish his sanctuary and his dwelling place in their Zion, then also will he be king over all the earth. We won't see nations starving to death while the Swiss have their coffee in their cafes and their torte and the other customary luxuries, completely indifferent to the suffering that is elsewhere in the world, and helpless to affect it. For of the righteousness and of his peace there shall be no end, and the trees will clap their hands, the hills will skip as rams, nature itself will respond to the beneficent rule of God, the mental asylums will be emptied, and abortion will be unknown. Righteousness, a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth, righteousness, thy kingdom come. And how it will be opposed by the powers of hell, who hate Israel unto death, because they know that this is the people through whose restoration he comes. And what will you do in that day? You know what the German church did. It collapsed. It could not identify with this hated people for fear that it would suffer their fate. This will really be the test for us of whether or not he is Lord. Lord of our substance, our security, our homes. We had best begin now to bring everything under his rule. For the way in which we shall respond to this people in that last day determines our eternal destiny. When did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked? Insomuch as you did not do this to the least of these, my brethren, you did it not unto me. Depart therefore in that place that is prepared for the devil and his angels. Will we be a people who can see that to extend mercy to them is to do it for him? And when they come as refugees and driven people through our communities, whatever the consequence to ourselves, whatever the risk involved, we cannot help but extend mercy. We must give water to the thirsty and clothing to the naked and food for the hungry. And so will they see the Lord in that grace and be moved to jealousy and believe in him whom their fathers opposed. And so the redeemed of the Lord shall return unto Zion and sighing and mourning shall flee away and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads because of you. This is a little bit more than planting a tree in Israel. And we will not have the incentive to do it except that we recognize it is for his glory. And we will not have the incentive to do it except that we recognize it is for his glory. That the king come and take his throne on the throne of David in their city and that holy hill. That the Lord shall go forth out of Zion and the word of the Lord to all nations. This is God's program for peace. So aren't you pleased that you are alive for this hour? And for this purpose have you come. The privilege of participation in the concluding drama of this age. Israel's return. His coming. His kingdom. His rule. To the nations. Millennial blessing. Through the obedience of the church. Even if it should require their life. Then only is he Lord. Let's be able to sing that now with greater meaning. With truth. With sincerity. Uncompromisingly. Even repentantly. Lord, I am one of those. I move myself at my will. To obtain a better job and a more lucrative response. I did not think to consult you. I certainly would not have thought to consult my elders. I am my own man. And of the increase of his government and of his peace there shall be no end. Now and forever. Let it become now. His kingdom come. His rule. Your government. Your government. Upon his shoulder. In truth. Hallelujah. Let's pray. You pray. Transact with the king. Establish something. In truth. That you might know his peace. Deep in your soul. The end of fear and intimidation and threat. For he has become Lord. Over all. Right from where you sit. Just a few words out of your mouth. Will establish it. Imagine what this will mean for the churches. Imagine what this will mean for the communities. Whose elders will now be earnestly sought after and consulted about the decisions of our life. They are not accustomed to this. They don't even desire it. It puts them under a new responsibility. To be able to seek for and find the mind of the Lord for others. To confirm or to nullify. This is a real obligation. That can only be performed in the spirit. By men who have done nothing more than open and close windows and move chairs. It requires the church to be church. For only as true church can it fulfill God's purposes toward Israel. What is less than that can fulfill our purpose. Nice meetings, biblical preaching. But it doesn't fulfill his. So even Israel in her unbelief. Is a factor toward the church. That compels it to be church. Even against her own reluctance and unwillingness. All the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God. Who has been his counselor? It's not only an Israel that needs us. It's a church that needs them. To be the incentive to be what we need to be. Or suffer an eternal embarrassment. Do you want such a church? This would be nothing less than a kind of revolution. It requires us really to be saints. Really to seek the Lord. And to pray for those who are in places of responsibility and leadership. And to be authentically joined to such a body. Which is more than the issue of attending. One would almost think that this were the purpose for our salvation. And that's the way it needs to be seen. We are saved for his sake and not our own. Something is required from which we have shrunk. And the pathetic condition of the church speaks for itself. Let it first say, he is Lord, he is Lord. And then we'll see God moving toward his people Israel. So I want to conclude with a prayer for the church. The church of Zurich. The church of Switzerland. The nation of the reformers. Who didn't go far enough. And who even now are not taken seriously enough. That the generation of our youth can puncture their veins with their drugged needles in the very shadow of the statue of the reformer. All because the kingdom had not come. And that he is not really Lord. Even while we sing the chorus. To him every knee will bow. And every tongue confess. That Jesus is Lord. To the glory of God the Father. Lord we just conclude this afternoon with a prayer. Joining our hearts together. And praying for the church in this land. And in this city. So weak. So lacking in power. In authenticity. So constituting no threat to the powers of darkness that brood overhead. May our love for Israel. Our jealousy for your coming and your kingdom. Prompt us and stir us. And there submit ourselves in truth. To your lordship through men. Bless the church in Zurich. That it might bless Israel. And hasten the day of your appearing. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.