My Dear Friend,
We must expect to find difficulty in learning from Scripture, i.e., there will be many things which will appear bard to be reconciled with our pre-conceived opinions, or perhaps with other parts of truth. But if we see any one truth clearly revealed in any portion of God’s word, it would be wise to cling to it, and to wait until its irreconcilableness with other parts of truth be made apparent; and, in the meanwhile, to hold both in their apparent irreconcilableness, trusting to the Lord. Difficulties may be permitted to cross our way in order to try our faith, but surely not to check our inquiry into any part of the revealed counsels of God; for “the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children.”
It is remarkable that the Prophetic Scripture is especially and peculiarly marked as the guide of the Church in the latter day. The Transfiguration was vouchsafed to the Apostles as an evidence that they were not following cunningly devised fables; “Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here who shall not taste of death until they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom;” and after six days He taketh three disciples, and they see an earnest of the glorious manifestation of Jesus with His risen saints, whilst they themselves typified the position of others, who, being in unglorified bodies, shall behold and walk in the light of the glory. This transitory vision of “the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ,” (for so it is termed by Peter,) was an encouraging earnest to the Apostles of that, for which they were still waiting, even at this present hour; “but, (says he) we have a more steadfast or abiding (βεβαιότερον) evidence, even than that vision; viz. the word of prophecy, whereunto we do well to take heed until the day dawn;” and the reason of its importance is this, that is not the setting forth or exposition of ordinary individuals, (ιδιας επιλυσεως) but of holy men, who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. I believe it to be of great importance to remember that Scripture is in reality the επιλμσις, the solution from God, and not the thing to be solved;—that it is a revelation, and not a thing hidden, though unbelief acts and thinks differently, and so nullifies the end of God in revealing.
The words “whereunto ye do well to take heed,” do to my mind afford a solemn warning not to neglect the study of prophecy; we may be saved, through grace, even though we neglect obedience to this and many other commandments of the Lord; but faithful and wise discipleship is a different thing; and it appears to me that this one text would authorize me to say, (what daily facts corroborate,) that attention to this part of Scripture is essentially necessary to all who desire to be wise servants in the latter day.
Let us take, as an instance, one branch of our service only; viz. testimony to those around us. We see the world anxiously pursuing their schemes of political and moral improvement, avowedly expecting the predicted period of the earth’s blessing to be reached hereby, and drawing many Christians into sanction of and union with their projects. Surely we are not to be silent here, but to show from Scripture that Babylon (Rev. 1816And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! (Revelation 18:16)) is the end, and judgment the only portion of all the efforts of Gentile greatness. It is the word of prophecy which alone places us in the position of Noah, or Lot, enabling us authoritatively and definitely to point out the character of the coming ruin, even though we may seem to be as those who mock. Without referring to the prophetic record, how could we say that Joel 316The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:16), Zeph. 3:88Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. (Zephaniah 3:8), and Zech. 128In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. (Zechariah 12:8) and 14, will all take place previous to the Millennial blessedness? and if this were all, surely the knowledge of this alone would supply us with an all-important subject of testimony. And so it is felt to be, by all who have availed themselves of this blessed light, and we continually see of our brethren who refuse to attend to it, not only failing in testimony, but encouraging the delusion and actually co-operating in the plans by which worldliness and infidelity are lulling themselves into their last fatal sleep; taught as they are even by Christians to believe that the awful prophecies of judgment have been for the most part exhausted, and that promises of Millennial blessing are alone before them. This has been the distinct and repeated testimony of many servants of Christ, since the present century commenced, They have spoken of the period when “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord,” but Satan has thrown a veil over the connected and preceding events, and so they have been made false witnesses of God, and have cried “peace, peace,” when they ought to have said, “Behold I come as a thief;” when not only the world but even many of our Christian brethren have fallen into this delusion; it is no little privilege to be able unhesitatingly to say, that instead of a gradual and uninterrupted progress into Millennial rest, not only must the Lord be first revealed in His glory, therefore (1 Thess. 4:1616For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 4:16).) the saints he raised; but also that the manifestation of the Man of Sin, the greatest and most marvelous exhibition of Satan’s power which has ever yet been witnessed, is to be the concluding event of the present dispensation, and that consequently things are tending thereunto, instead of to the Millennium.
If we have learned nothing more than this from the Prophetic Scriptures, we have no little reason to be thankful. It enables us to put before the believer his proper and prescribed object of hope, viz. the coming of his Lord; and before the world, and those Christians who are in the world, the awful fact that yet a little while and God will withdraw the check which He is now keeping on Satan’s power, (2 Thess. 2:77For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:7).) and will also send on men strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. It enables you to say that the 7th of Daniel, from the 8th verse downwards, and the 2nd of 2nd Thessalonians, and similar chapters, are yet to be fulfilled; and you know not what practical effect may be produced, even from the mere circumstances of having these passages brought to bear upon the mind; for the Scripture is the sword of the Spirit; and if we simply desire to bring its edge upon the soul, to let it speak its own message, we need not fear being presumptuous, we shall not be adding to what is written.
If we are asked what evidence there is for the occurrence of the events just referred to previous to the Millennial blessing, I would refer to the two following passages, where it cannot be said that figure or symbol obscures the meaning, and which must I think be conclusive to every candid inquirer.—The first is Isaiah 16:21, where it is written:—
“Behold the Lord cometh out of His place,
1. To punish the inhabitants of the world for their iniquity.
2. To punish the Serpent.” (chap. xxvii. 1.)
3. After this it is said, “Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.”
The second is in Zech. 14 where it is written,
1. “The Lord my God shall come and all the saints with thee.” (verse 5.)
2. “The Lord shall be king over all the earth; in that day shall there be one Lord and His name one.” (verse 9.)
3. “Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited,” (verse 11.) and even “upon the bells of the horses shall be holiness unto the Lord.” (verse 20.)
The present dispensation terminates, or rather the next commences, with these events, The present dispensation commenced, as regards the earth, at the flood. It was then that the efforts of man were renewed, and they instantly began to operate again against God, — “Let us make ourselves a name;” God has interfered with merciful chastisements and testimony, but He has never since the flood broken the chain of human projects, neither will lie, until the Son of man is revealed: and then it will be as it was in the days of Noah. (Matt. 24)
The history of this dispensation, as given in the Scripture, may be divided into three parts:—
1. The history of the Jews, commencing with Abraham, and terminating at the coming of the Lord, as described in Zech. 12 and 14.
2. The history of the Gentile nations, as commencing from Nebuchadnezzar, and concluded by the events described in Joel and Rev. 16:44And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. (Revelation 16:4), and 19:19.
In the present dispensation we see the Jews made a “hissing and reproach,” and enjoying none of the blessings promised unto Abraham, and confirmed unto David. We know that this, their present state, will not continue forever; for our Lord Himself has said, that “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles,” not forever, but “TILL the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled,” (Luke 21) i.e. till their time of allowed pre-eminence shall have concluded; or, to use the language of Scripture, till the Gentile image, revealed in vision to Nebuchadnezzar, shall have run its course, and shall be smitten with the stone of destruction. Again, we are told that the moral blindness of Israel will continue until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in—i.e. till all those, who are to be gathered out from among the Gentiles into the Church by the preaching of the gospel, shall have been gathered out: for as soon as the elect Church shall have been fully gathered in, the visible Gentile Church, as a branch bearing no fruit, will be broken off, and then the Jewish will be grafted in again.
Without then attempting to determine the times or seasons, we learn from these two passages, that the termination of the dispensation towards the Gentile nations, as regarded in Daniel, in the responsible exercise of entrusted power from God, and also the termination of the dispensation towards the elect Church, as viewed in the Epistles, will be cotemporaneous with the restoration of the Jews to the favor of their Covenant God. The Scripture history of the Jews, at the close of this dispensation, after their spontaneous return in unbelief, is contained in such places as Isa. 29 —Isa. 66:66A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies. (Isaiah 66:6).—Joel 26Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. (Joel 2:6)—Zech. 126In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:6) and xiv. and similar chapters—i.e. wherever final deliverance by the Lord is mentioned as vouchsafed to them in extremity of distress.
With respect to the history of the Gentile nations, it is obvious that those included within the image of Daniel are specially the subjects of judgment at the close. Every vision either in the Old or New Testament, which refers to their history, unvaryingly describes their systems as continuing to flourish till sudden destruction comes upon them; because they speak great words against the Most High, in the person of their last glorious Head. And the characteristics of all these systems is this from first to last, viz. contrariety to the precepts of the sermon on the Mount. And as to the elect Church, they, until the end of the present dispensation, are called to be like their Master, and not to reign.
Indeed everything testifies that the curses, and not the blessings of the Prophets, are now resting upon Israel and Judah; —that darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the peoples;—that saints are not reigning over (on) the earth;—(Rev. 5:1010And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10).) that Satan is unbound, and that creation is not freed from the bondage of corruption, and rejoicing in the glorious liberty of the children of God.
But if we know from the plainest testimonies of Scripture that the earth is hereafter to be blessed, there one thing which surely must be allowed to be essential to its blessing, and that is, righteous rule. Man’s anxious endeavor in every age, and in every country, to secure for themselves right laws and right government, and also the manner in which Scripture speaks of the character of King and Judge, sufficiently show that government is a thing which God knows and man practically feels to be all-important to welfare and happiness here. Accordingly the Scripture always marks the assumption of governing power by the Lord Jesus, as the necessary pre-requisite to the time of earthly peace, — “Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a KING shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the EARTH, In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely.” (Jer. 23) “Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful,” &c. “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end; upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth even forever,—The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.” (Isa. 9)
What was it the earth lost when the visible glory of the Lord departed, or was grieved away from His Temple at Jerusalem? Not the secret-sustaining power of Him, who still upholds both it and everything in it;—not the controlling power with which He graciously interferes to check the god of this world, who animates its systems, and rolls along its evil course; but it lost the blessing of that power wherewith He was proposing to order the distribution of all His gifts, and to reign as alone supreme. I say proposing, for the result was in part dependent on man’s fitness to receive, and therefore the blessing failed. But when the vision, which represented this power of Almighty rule, is again seen by the Prophet Ezekiel returning to Jerusalem (as it yet shall), the words are, “Son of man, the place of my THRONE”—sufficiently indicating what the character of the blessing is.
This, then, is not the power bearing upon the world now. God has indeed, in mercy provided for its government; but He has left it in the hands of man, and they ought to have used it for His glory—He gave it to Nebuchadnezzar, and has continued it through succeeding kingdoms of the Gentiles down to the present hour. Like health and strength, or fruitful seasons, it is a blessing from Him; but it has little of the character of His supremacy now—it has been progressively debased. from the gold, into the silver and the brass, and finally the iron; and in the meanwhile He, “whose right it is,” (Ezek. 21:2727I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. (Ezekiel 21:27)), who was seen by Ezekiel sitting on the throne of sapphire, above the firmament of terrible crystal, is despised and rejected by them— “They stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe: and when they had platted a crown of thorns they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand, and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, hail! King of the Jews; and they spit upon Him, and took the reed and smote Him on the head.”
It was thus that He was treated by them who could have had no power against Him, except it had been given them from above; and it proves that the Gentiles who not only “lived and moved and had their being,” but also governed by Him, were using against Him and not for Him all that they had received. And has their conduct been altered. since? Are their laws and their enterprises now in more accordance with His precepts delivered on the Mount, or with the words of His Apostles?— “Recompence to no man evil for evil, If thine enemy hunger feed him.” Let the offender’s individual benefit be the paramount consideration in all your conduct toward Him, and let every law by which you rule be sufficiently flexible to be bent to this, It can be so in our families and in the Church, for the rule, which we exercise as a master or parent, owns no directory but the law of Christ, and no human authority comes in between our heavenly Master and ourselves. The fountain of legislation is in Him. But is it so with the world’s laws? Do they emanate from Him or are they not rather based on principles of pride, and selfishness, and revenge, according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now worketh in the children of disobedience? Shall we then covet their administration, and laying aside the New Testament of our Lord and Savior, take for the time another directory, which is of man; and that because we seek honor of men, and not that which cometh from God only?
If we accept the honor, we owe allegiance to that from which the honor cometh, and we are bound to fulfill the service that is due to our self-chosen master. We must punish and we must praise as he commanded]: or even where the service may not be so directly or positively marked, as prescribed law will often cause it to be, yet a regard to expediency and the good of society i.e. the good “of the course of this world,” will often be found to place us in the circumstances of Pilate, who would gladly have released the innocent, but he feared the words of the Jews when they cried out, saying, “If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend, for whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.”
Subjection to power is different from the administration of it. The Lord Jesus showed full subjection, and the Apostle teaches us not only to obey the powers that be, but also to recognize them as blessings from God, quite as much as health, or rain, or fruitful seasons. But the Lord disclaimed all desire of administering this power, and plainly said, now is my kingdom not from hence; for how can the laws of a world, which lieth in the wicked one, be otherwise than contrary to the mind of Christ? and until Satan is bound, this must be its unaltered state.
If then, in discipleship to Christ, we could shrink from wielding the power of the world, even in the world’s own sphere, how much more should we tremble at its introduction into the Church of God? The world can choose fit instruments for the prosecution of its own plans, and can see where the suitable qualifications are. It appoints to “Office,” and “Office” gives to him who bears it an instant claim to my reverence and honor, as it is written, “fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor:” nor does moral qualification enter into the question at all. But never, till apostasy prostrated every principle of truth and spiritual judgment, was “Office,” apart from qualification by the Holy Ghost, recognized in the Church of God. Though Titus or Timothy had appointed one destitute of the qualifications which the Apostle describes, his authority must have been disowned. How much more when they, who have no part nor lot in Christ’s service, appoint those who are equally aliens with themselves, and then say, let his “Office” be honored. Surely it is the lie of Satan, and it behooves us watchfully to remember that word,
“Thou hast tried them who said they were Apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.”
Unless we give heed to these things, we cannot rightly estimate the present condition of the earth. The Gentile national system, as commenced in Nebuchadnezzar, has a distinct character,—a beginning and an ending of its own; it is watched and prophesied of by God, and is responsible to Him; but it is as essentially distinct from the Church of God, as the eleven, when gathered in the upper chamber at Jerusalem, were distinct from those who were treading the courts of Caesar. Whether any such distinctness has been preserved, and whether we are seeking it, or whether we are accessory to the maintenance or spread of the world’s authority and principles in the Church of the first-born, it is for our consciences to answer. We know how the Gentiles will end their course, even at Armageddon, and we know that the vine of the earth will be cast in the wine-press of the wrath of God. Then shall that word be fulfilled, “Remove the diadem, take off the crown, exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. 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.”
But what is written of Him “whose right it is?” That He is long-suffering, not desiring that any should perish, but rather that they should come to repentance. The circumstances of His abasement, when He was mocked by the soldiers, not only show the character of the world’s rebellion, but present us also with a just and most blessed picture of the still continued forbearance of the Lord of glory, rightfully clothed in purple, for He is and ever was a King; rightfully crowned, though allowing it to be with thorns, and consenting still to hold over the world a reed instead of the rod of iron, even though all power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth.
He hath entered into the glory which He had with the Father before the world was, and reigneth as God over all blessed forever; for Jehovah said unto Him, as the Son of man, “Sit thou at my right hand TILL I make thy enemies thy footstool.” But the instrument which is still being used towards His enemies is the testimony of love. Behold a sower went forth to sow. This is the character of His present dispensation towards a rebellious world, which, as God, He sustains and nourishes, for otherwise it could not continue to BE. He sows the word of peace. It is not the agency of the wheels of Ezekiel—i.e. of Almighty and resistless power, but the foolishness of preaching is the instrument whereby He saveth them that believe, but will this instrument (new and mysterious to the disciples who expected only the exercise of such destroying power, as their forefathers had witnessed), accomplish the work of universal blessing? The next parable to the sower tell us—No! for tares preclude the universality of the wheat, and prove the existence of an enemy capable of hindering universality until he is himself bound. But still it is written, “As I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.”
When then will this blessing come? in other words, when will the earth rejoice? The Scripture answers, “Before the Lord, when He cometh to rule.” (Psa. 97:1111Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. (Psalm 97:11).) This and the following Psalm describe Him, not as mocked and crowned in derision, but with a fire going before Him and burning up His enemies round about Him. (Psa. 98:33He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. (Psalm 98:3).) THEN it is said, “The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice;” and the Apostle quoting from this very Psalm, declares it to refer to the time when Jehovah shall again have brought (οταν παλιν εισαγαγη) the First-begotten into the world. Here, then, we have one direct evidence of the dependence of the earth’s blessing upon the second coming of Christ to REIGN.
Again, when our Lord Jesus was asked by the High Priest, “Art thou the Christ the Son of the Blessed? He answered I am; and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” (Mark.) We know that He hath not yet come in the clouds of heaven. But these words are the words of the Prophet Daniel, and it was to these that our Lord referred,— “I saw in the night visions, and behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him; and there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve Him.” Therefore the still future time when He shall come with the clouds of heaven, (See Matt. 24:3030And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30). Rev. 1:77Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7).) is the time when all people, nations, and languages shall own His power; and the kingdom, and dominion, and greatness of the kingdom UNDER the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.
The words of the Apostle, 3rd of Acts, show with equal distinctness that the heavens retain the Lord Jesus only TILL the times of the restitution of all things; and the 8th Psalm, which describes creation placed in blessed subjection to the power of man, gives us (as proved by its quotation in Heb. 2) not only the Scripture’s own description of “the world (or rather inhabited earth) to come whereof we speak,” but marks subjection to Jesus as the leading characteristic of the earth’s blessing. But it is a future subjection, as indeed facts—testify; for, says the Apostle, we see not yet “all things put under Him.” It is only when the seventh trumpet is sounded, which marks the conclusion of the present dispensation of the Father towards the world which has rejected the Son, that it is said, “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” Thus, then, we have four concurrent testimonies, not only that the time is FUTURE when He taketh to Himself His great power and reigneth, but also that the blessing of the earth dependeth hereupon.
Accordingly it is said “The Lord reigneth, let the EARTH rejoice.” But not to the nations of the earth; on the contrary; the nations are angry when the time comes that He should destroy them that destroy the earth, for they are its destroyers, and it is they that will be “broken to pieces together and become like the chaff of the summer threshing-floor.”
It is said, “the nations were angry;” but more than this is revealed respecting the closing period of this OUR dispensation.—The Apostle in the Revelation, records the vision respecting it; he explains the symbols which he saw, and their explanation is this:— “They (i.e. the symbols which he saw) represent the spirits of devils working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” This is but one of the passages which describe the fearful power of Satan in the latter day, and it shows that man, when forsaken by his long-suffering God, becomes only the devil’s slave, unconsciously though willingly led on to quick destruction. They are gathered to Armageddon—to the valley of judgment (Joel 3)— around Jerusalem, (Zech. 14) there to be finally smitten by Him, of whom it has been said that, “the rod of His power shall be sent out of Zion:” (Ps. 110.) for even as it cannot be that a Prophet should perish out of Jerusalem, as Jerusalem has been, and (when the Jews return in unbelief) will again be the theater, on which the fullness of human iniquity is exhibited,—so is it also the destined sphere of the manifested judgments of the Lord, even as it is written, “Whose fire is in Zion, and His furnace at Jerusalem.” (Isa. 31;9.) Accordingly, the Mount of Olives is marked as the place on which He shall stand when He cometh to enter on the exercise of His great and dreadful power. (Zech. 14) And again, it is written in Isaiah, “A voice from THE TEMPLE, a voice from THE CITY, a voice of the Lord, that rendereth recompense to His enemies.” “The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake.” (Joel 3) —
“By fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh, and the slain of the Lord shall be many.” How many we cannot tell; but none, I believe, of the gathered Gentiles will be spared, nor any tares throughout the world. The Gentiles, having received power from above, are accordingly answerable for its exercise. The professing Church are accountable to Him as Son of man, whom they have professed to follow in humiliation; and I do not see it written that any of these are spared.
But to the Jews, beloved for the fathers’ sakes, the following promise is made in Zechariah: “And it shall come to pass that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die, but the third shall be left therein; and I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they shall call on my name, and I will hear them; I will say it is my people; and they shall say the Lord is my God.” In Isa. 66 also it is written, “I will send those that escape of them (i.e., the Jews) unto the nations, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory, and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.” Of Israel also (or the ten tribes), it is written, “Behold I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.” So that we know from the certain testimony of Scripture, that some at least of the Gentiles, some of the Jews, and many of Israel will be preserved through the period of judgment.
But there are some will be preserved not through, but from this period of judgment, even those who have washed their garments, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb: for they shall be caught up to meet the Lord when He cometh. “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we, which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep; for the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we, which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” They shall be taken into heavenly glory, even unto the heavenly Jerusalem, where they cannot die any more, for they are equal unto the angels, and are the children of the resurrection—where nothing shall be earthy or according to the flesh, but where all shall be according to the Spirit.
But if it is not unworthy of God and of Christ to humble themselves unto the things of earth, if it is not unworthy of the Son to take as HIS kingdom a ruined creation, groaning beneath the power of the devil, that he may reclaim and bless it, surely it is not unworthy of glorified saints to say, “Thou hast made us unto our God, kings and priests and we shall reign over (επι) the earth.”
But I must postpone to a future occasion the Scriptural evidence respecting this glory of the saints, and also a few remarks respecting the progressiveness of Millennial blessing. May we have grace to see
why judgment is coming on the Gentiles and on the professing Church, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
Yours, &c.,
X. Z.