THE HOPE OF ISRAEL - The Preterist Archive

CHAPTER XVIII
BUILDING AGAIN THE TABERNACLE OP DAVID
The apostle James, in announcing the decision of
the great and epoch-making Oonference of the apostles
and elders at Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-21) which Conference
was historically the first General Council of
the Christian Church, cited the words of the prophet
Amos, through whom God had said: "In that day ivill
I raise up again the tabernacle of David, that is fallen"
(Amos 9:11).
The present writer has frequently been asked the
meaning of this prophecy concerning the tabernacle
of David; and inasmuch as the passage is sometimes
referred to in support of the idea of a future restoration
of the Jewish nation, it is appropriate that due
consideration be given to it in this volume.
By reference to Acts 15:1-21, it will be seen that
the question presented for the decision of the Conference
was whether the Gentiles, who had been converted
to Christ, should be circumcised and commanded to
keep the law of Moses (v. 5). For some had taught
them, saying, "Except ye be circumcised after the
manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved" (v. 1). That
question was of capital importance, as may be clearly
seen in the light of Paul's Epistle to the churches of
Galatia. The conference, therefore, marked a momentous
epoch in the history of the Kingdom of God.
For a proper understanding of this record, and particularly
the words of James, we must give heed to the
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