CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHART.
WE will now turn to the chart itself, and, first of all, give a short general description of its construction and purpose.
It will be noticed that the whole chart is divided by a horizontal line into two parts; the uppermost (colored blue) to represent the heaven or heavenlies, and the lower (colored green) the earth; so as thus to show the transactions in each sphere separately, as well as the points at which they come in contact. Below this middle line, the successive epochs are indicated by narrow oblong and perpendicular lines, numbering ten epochs in all, as shown by the figures at the lower margin of the chart; while the various dispensations are represented, for the most part, by small circles between each of the epoch lines, also numbering ten in all, as marked by the capital letters at the bottom, from A to K.
The narrow red line that runs through the three dispensations C, D, and H,—i.e., from the call of Abram to the Captivity, where it is broken off, and again resumed in the millennium,—is intended to represent the history of the Israelites as a nation, under the special and direct government of God, during which He could say of them, " Ye are My people." After the Captivity, more than two thousand years ago, they ceased to be a nation of God's people, and they have ever since continued in the " Loammi " position of "Not My people," having been cast off for their repeated rebellions. Hence the break or discontinuance of the red line at epoch 5. But they will be restored again as a nation to God's favor, and to their own land, as stated in Hos. 1:1010Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. (Hosea 1:10)—" In the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God." Therefore the red line is again resumed, and continued through the millennial dispensation.
The great image of Dan. 2 is used to represent the "TIMES OF THE GENTILES," or the history of the nations of the world, from the time of Nebuchadnezzar to the end of the age, extending through the three dispensations E, F, G, from epochs 5 to 8. The Christian dispensation is shown in an oblong space—marked F below—and divided into two parts, the ministries of John the Baptist and of Christ, and the Church period.
In this latter portion the professing Church, or Christendom, is indicated by the figure of the seven-branched candlestick, because it is so represented in Rev. 1:2020The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:20), and its history is given in the addresses to the seven Churches, from Ephesus to Laodicea (Rev. 2 and 3.).
In this division the oval figure that is seen is intended to represent the " one body," or the assembly of God, composed of all true Christians, wherever they are found, whether scattered among the various denominations, or, it may be, not connected with any of them; and it is seen again in the oval above in the heavens, after the first resurrection. The dark space immediately following the Christian period is intended to show the "day of tribulation " (Dan. 12:11And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1), and Matt. 24:2;12And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Matthew 24:2)), and the semicircle that follows this represents the millennium, its red line showing that Israel is now restored. The next shaded space after the millennium and epoch 9, indicates the last apostasy and final battle; after which is the judgment of the great "white throne," and this carries us down to the very end of this world's history. Then follow the new heaven and new earth, that emerge into the eternal state, which is indicated by the arc of an endless circle. The lines in the heavens show the first coming of Christ to this world, His ascension to heaven; and then the two stages of His second coming,—first, for His saints, before the day of tribulation, then with them just before the millennium. The larger oval figure in the heavens and the crown below represent the saints of the first resurrection—the "New Jerusalem "—reigning from above over the earth during the thousand years of the millennium.
Next we see this great serpent cast down from the heavens to the earth during the day of tribulation; and after that day closes, he is bound in the bottomless pit for a thousand years. Being again loosed, he comes to the earth, to lead its inhabitants to their last rebellion and utter destruction; after which he is finally cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:7-157And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:7‑15)).
Each of the foregoing points, which have been just glanced at in a general way, will be treated of more fully when they come up for consideration in their regular order.
NOTE-In this reprint edition (1971) it was impossible to reproduce the chart in the original colors indicated in the text. Although printed in black and white we believe that the material is self explanatory. Ed.