THE glory of the coming kingdom of God has been briefly touched on in the earlier pages of this volume. Our pages are nearly at their end, and we can but add a few words on the ever-joyful theme. In one way or another almost every book of the Bible contains references to the coming of the Lord Jesus—whether to His coming to earth to suffer and to die, or to His coming in power and glory to judge and to rule. Unless we apprehend this fact, we are necessarily at a loss in understanding the Word of God. The divine plan respecting man and this earth is the display of divine glory; and the effecting of this is committed to the Man of God's right hand—His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Where man has persistently sinned away the privileges and honors committed to him, Christ will re-establish those privileges and honors to the glory of God, and in a fresh and more excellent way.
We live in an age in which the scriptures which foretold Christ's coming to this earth in humiliation, have been fulfilled. It would be almost possible to place side by side the history of Christ's life as presented in the gospels with the prophetic words relative to His life. Minutely and perfectly the word of prophecy has been realized. Such a fact should create, at least, a little feeling of propriety in those who deny the foretelling of God's Word; while, to the believer in inspiration, it is absolute proof that those scriptures which speak of that which is still future, will be in their time also distinctly fulfilled.
The root prophecy concerning the kingdom may be said to be God's word to the serpent respecting the woman's Seed: "It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." The latter part of that word was fulfilled when our Lord—the Incarnate One, the Son of Man—died upon the cross. The former part of the word remains to be fulfilled, and this will take place amongst the last things described in the Word of God.
The Christian is looking forward to the fulfillment of the Lord's word: "Surely I come quickly," and its gracious result to him, for when Christ comes, we shall be like Him, and we shall enter into the Father's presence with Him. All the saints will rise from among the dead, and all will compose the one redeemed family before God and the Lamb.
There is, however, much, very much, yet to be accomplished in reference to Christ's coming. We do well, in our day of priestly assumption, to consider the Lord as the High Priest in heaven, and to remember that He will come forth as Priest "the second time without sin unto salvation," even as the high priest of Israel, after he had made atonement before God, came forth to bless expectant Israel which waited for him. When Christ comes to this earth in His glory, priesthood will be seen in its due place on earth, and it will be invested with peculiar glory.
And thus will it also be regarding the kingly glories of the Lord. The princes and kings of the earth are not celebrated for devotion to God. The Lord will reign to God's glory and to the earth's blessing. The poor shall be satisfied, and peace shall prevail. Then the earth, already offering to man new wonders from her bosom, shall "yield her increase" in all fullness, and, in a way hitherto unknown, man shall replenish and subdue it.
When man is fully blessed upon the earth, the animals shall reap the result, and this creation shall enjoy the effects of "the glorious liberty of the children of God."
And what shall be said as to righteousness, in reference to Christ's coming? This is a most fruitful theme of Scripture. The Lord will be not only Priest and King in His glory on earth—He will be Judge. He will purge out of the kingdom all things that offend and do iniquity, and His rule will be established in equity.
In like manner the eternal state will be ushered in by the Judge taking His seat upon the throne. Righteousness, eternal righteousness, will be established, and eternal love will reign.
To pursue the golden thread throughout Scripture is a profitable study, and it is highly interesting to note the variety of blessings which are yet awaiting their fulfillment at the coming of Christ. It would occupy many pages such as this to enumerate them. The reader will find a profitable and enjoyable occupation in the effort to do so, and one which will lead his heart upward to the Coming One.