'This 5ame Jesus, ^ iWrilCH ISTAKEHOP P from You into m ' heaven, SHALL so \ jk COME IN LIKE MANNER/ m AS YE HAVE SEEN HIM r" GO INTO HEAVEN.” V ^ •23 D.L. MOODY J.C. RYLE GEORGE MULLER C.H.SPURGEOr^ D.W. WHITTLE GEO.C.NEEDHAM HARRIET BEECHER STOWE ■ ^ tViis material is re ^ ^ The person » the library from sponsibl'fo;;l^Srar.n on or before the , ri'et. stamped below. , _ rix:=r-.--"- M ifi flt/6 1- 05 5 VEB )q 1 JftU Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates \ https://archive.org/details/jesusiscoming00blac_0 : -'/V'^iSISSliiMs JESUS IS COMING library O f THc UNIVER SHYSf By W. E. B. “SeEK YE ODT OP THE BoOK OP THE LORD AND KEAD.” ISR. 34, 16. NEW YORK AND CHICAGO. jfleming lb. IRevell Company Publishers of Evangelical Literature. ^ 4 PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. We re-dedicate this little book to those who ‘‘ love our Lord’s appearing.” It has been our prayerful desire to furnish, in abbreviated form, a hand book that might serve as a convenient reference in the study of this truth, and as an aid in the presen- tation of it to others. We gratefully acknowledge the blessing of God, which has so rested upon it that it has become necessary to issue a second edition. In doing this we have decided to considerably enlarge it, but we trust that this enlargement may not frustrate the design as expressed above. We have no desire for controversy, but have only sought to testify our convictions regarding the scrip- tural importance of this subject, and to aid candid inquirers in obtaining ” like precious faith with us.” After continued, earnest and prayerful study, we are more than ever confirmed in the faith that Christ’s coming will be pre-millennial, and this all impoy- tani point we would emphasize, if possible, with the zeal and earnestness manifested by the early disciples, who repeateaiy taught us to look for Jesus. Phil. 3, 20 ; Tit. 2, 13 ; Heb. 9, 28 ; 2 Pet. 3, 14. We would not be dogmatic concerning the order of events subsequent to our Lord’s return, and should any hold views different from what we have set forth as the result of our study, we will cordially strike hands with them, if we may unite upon the great fact that His return will be pre-millennial and that the time of it, is uncertain and imminent. Matt. 24, 42. And further, that this hope (Tit. 2, 13) begets a purifying, separating power in the heart, winning us unto holiness and love, i John 3, 3 ; I Thes. 5, 23-24. For the kind criticism and helpful suggestions of brethrei^ dearly beloved — we express our sincere thanks, and we humbly pray for the continued blessing of ” the Coming One.” W. E. B. ^ CONTENTS. Page. Dedication, — - Preface to Second Edition, Jesus is Coming, 7 “ I don’t care anything about it!”. — - 7 ^ The Christian’s incentive to a holy life, 8 “Oh, that’s Second Adventism,” Q “ It don’t concern me,” etc.,- 9 Its importance in the Word, lo Practical, - 10-76 Forty statements showing its practical character, 122 We are not ‘speculating,’ ii Literal vs, ‘Spiritual ’ interpretation, ii Luke I, 31-33. - II Conversation between a Christian and a Jew,- ii Symbols, figures, etc., 12 The allegory. Gal. 4, 24-31, 12 ' ‘Spiritualizing’ subverts the authority and power of the Word, and saps the foundation of every Christian doctrine, 13 Purpose of language, 13 Prophecies literally fulfilled at His first coming, 14 ^ Prophecies to be literally fulfilled at His second coming, I4 ^ His coming does not mean death, 16 ^ Death is an enemy, 16 It will not apply in Scripture referring to His coming,.. 17 ^ It is not practically the coming of Christ 18 Intermediate state of the dead, 18 Quotation from Rev. David Brown, 18 Substituting death for His coming degrades the doc- trine of the resurrection, ig We are not taught to watch for death, but for Christ’s coming,- 20 It does concern us, and we may understand it,. 20 4 CONTENTS, The Three Appearings, 21 The Departure and Promise, 21 The Lord’s Supper, a token, 22 The very Pole Star of the Church, 22 Believed by the Fathers, and its History, 22-43 Origen and his ^Spiritualizing’ error, 23 Post-Millennialism, 23 The principal question, — Is the coming to be Pre-Millennial or Post-Millennial, 24 Arguments showing the coming to be Pre-Millennial. 1. Antichrist, — 25 2. Immediately after the Tribulation, 25 3. Persecuted Church, 25 4. Tares and Wheat, 26 5. Literal Reign of Christ, 26 6. Resurrection out of the Dead, 28 Order of the resurrection, i Cor. 15, 22-26 28 Dead in Christ rise first, i Thes. 4, 13-17 28 The First Resurrection, Rev. 20, 4-14 28 Before the Millennium, 30 Therefore Christ’s coming must be pre-millennial, 30 Objections to literal first resurrection considered. 1. No right thus to aggregate texts, 30 2. Only souls mentioned in Rev. 20, 4, 30 3. Spiritual life in Paradise, 31 4. Only the beheaded mentioned, etc., 32 5. Last day, = 1000 years, 33 6. Just and unjust rise simultaneously, 33 7. Only one passage, 34 Quotation from Dean Alford, 35 Argument from Greek testament, 36 7. Watching, 40 “ A little while,” 42 The early church a watching church, 43 Hold the traditions (teachings), 2 Thes. 2, 15, 46 CONTENTS. h Apostles not mistaken, 46 Early Christians did not hold false hope, 46 We must watch as they did, 46 Diagram — Outline of events, and explanations, — 48 Rapture — Revelation — distinction between them, 51 The Church — The Millennial Kingdom — distinction between them, 55 The Church — A distinct body. - 55 — A Mystery, 59 — A Virgin of Sorrow, 60 — To be rewarded, 61 The Kingdom is the manifestation of the glory of Christ and His saints, — 56 Its manifestation is still future, 56-57 It is now hid in mystery, 57 Explanation of its coming “ nigh ” or being “ at hand ” when Christ came 58 Nominal Christians, 62 The True Church — The Body of Christ, 63 — The Bride of Christ, 64-144 The Tribulation, 65 T he Resurrection, 66 The Judgment, 67 Antichrist, 69 The Pre-Millennial Coming-— the one point,- 73 Pre- z/j'. Post-Millennialism, 74 Preach the Word,” 74 Pre-Millennialism, Vital and Inspiring,- 75 Quotation from Dr. Brown,- - 75 Objections answered. 1. It discourages Missions, 76 2. It discourages Work, - - 77 3. Too many unsaved friends, 77 4. “ My kingdom is not of this world,” 78 5. “The Kingdom of God is within you,” 79 6 CONTENTS. 6. “ The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink,” 8i 7. “ Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom,” etc.,- _ 81 8. It disparages the work of the Holy Spirit, 83 9. It makes the Gospel a failure, 85 10 The Gospel has not been preached in all the world, 85 11 “ There be some standing here,” etc., 88 Mat. 16, 28; Mark 9, i ; Luke 9, 27, 88 ‘ Spiritual ’ coming on the day of Pentecost, 88 ‘ Typical' coming at the destruction of Jerusalem, 88 “Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel ” Mat. 10, 23 93 12. Gloomy view of the future, 94 Philosophy of despair, 94 Opposed to the idea that the world is growing better, 94 “ The days are evil,” 96 Cannot average church and world together, 96 Triumphs of art and science do not argue an increase in godliness, 97 Civilization and refinement not the source of holiness, 100 Christians are the light of the world, loi are the salt of the earth, loi The light may be hid, .101 The salt may lose its savour _toi The leaven and parables of Mat. 13, 102 It w^ould be cruel for Christ to come while so many millions are unsaved, 105 This world dies every 33 years, 105 “This generation ” 107 Israel — the generation which passes not away, .107 To be restored, 108 The “second time ” — No more to go out, &c., iii < Not a “ spiritual ” application of the prophecies. _ 1 16 The study of prophecy the best weapon to meet soph- istry and skepticism, 120 References showing this to be a Practical Doctrine,.. 122 Outline of the order of events — Scripture Texts, 125 References to some of the principal passages, 139 Anathema Maran-atha, 142 Jesus Christ coming in the Flesh 142 The sweetest comfort, -I43 The Time, 147 ^ 3 - JESUS IS COMING Reader, do you know that Jesus is coming again ? He said that He would (John 14, 3), and His word endureth forever (i Pet. i, 25), for He is the truth (John 14, 6). The angels said He would come again. “ The same Jesus,** “and in like manner*' (Acts i, ii), and they were not mistaken when they announced His first coming. Luke I, 26-3^, +2. 8-18. The Holy Spirit, by the mouth of the apostles, hath repeatedly said He would come again, i Thes. 4, 16; Heb. 9, 28, + 10, 37, &c. Is not such an event, stated upon such authority, of vital importance to us.^ At His first coming, the world rejected Him. He was the despised Nazarene. But when He comes again, He will ap- pear as “ the BLESSED and only Potentate, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.’* i Tim. 6, 14-15. He is coming to sit upon the throne of His glory (Mat. 25, 31), and to be admired in all them that believed (2 Thes. I, 10), and to rule, in judgment and equity, all the nations of the earth. Psa. 2, 9 ; Isa. 9, 6-7 ; Rev 2, 25-27. How glorious it will be to see the King in His beauty Isa. 33, 17. Perhaps you are not a Christian, and say — “ I DON’T CARE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.’’ Then, dear friend, we point you to the crucified Savior as the ONLY HOPE OF SALVATION. 8 y£S[/S 7S COMING We beg of you to “ kiss the Son/' lest ye perish from the way. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him. Psa. 2, 12. What shall it profit you it you gain the whole world and lose your own soul Mat. i6, 26-27. He is coming, and we know neither the day, nor the hour, when He may come. Mat. 25, 13. What if He should come now.? Would you be found of Him in peace (2 Pet. 3, 14), or would you be left behind to endure the terrible things which shall come upon the world (Luke 2 1 , 25-26), while the church is with Christ in the air (Luke 21. 36, +i Thes.4. 17), and be made at His appearing (2 Thes. i, 7-10). to mourn (Mat. 24, 30 and pray to the mountains and rocks to hide you from His face.? Rev. 6, 16. “Prepare to meet thy God,” was the solemn injunction to Israel (Amos 4, 12), and everyone of us, both Jew and Gentile, must meet Him, either in grace or in judgment. We, then, as ambassadors for Christ, beseech you : be ye reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5, 20), now, in the accepted time, in the day of salvation. 2 Cor. 6, 2; Lu. 14. 31-33. Do let us entreat you to repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out (Acts 10, 42, 43 + 17, 30, 31), and that you may turn “ to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from Heaven ” (i Thes. i, 9-10), and be un- blamable at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, i Thes. 3, 13. But if you are a Christian, then we point you to HiS COMING AGAIN, as THE TRUE INCENTIVE TO A HOLY LIFE. I John 3, 2-3. Jesus is coming, therefore mortify your members which are upon the earth, that you may appear with Him in glory. Col. 3. 4-5. 9 yESUS IS COMING, Strive and pray for purity of heart, that you may “ be like Him and see Him as He is.” Mat. 5, 8 ; i John, 3, 2-3. Search the Word, that you may be sanctified and cleansed thereby (Eph. 5, 26), and that your whole spirit, and soul, and body, may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, i Thes. 5, 23. But possibly you say, with contempt, “OH, THAT’ S SECOND ADVENTISM.’ ’ Beloved, have you considered that Moses (Deut. 33, 2), David (Psa. 102, 16), Isaiah (59, 20 and 60,1), Jeremiah (23, 5-6), Daniel (7, 13), Zechariah (14, 4 5), all the prophets and apostles (Acts 15, 15- 17) were believers in the SECOND ad- vent OF Christ? And because some, by setting dates and other errors, have brought disrepute upon this doctrine, shall we cast it aside altogether ? But it may be you say (as we have been pained to hear from so many even earnest Christians) : “ WELL, I DON’T THINK IT CONCERNS ME MUCH, ANYWAY ; I’ve always thought that in most cases it meant death, and if I’m prepared for death, that’s enough; and there is too much speculation about it to suit me ; and I don’t believe it's a practical doctrine ; and, more than that, I think its a mis- take to pay so much attention to it.” Yes, even thus do many Christians, — who profess to be members of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12, 12-27), and who have been espoused unto one husband, that they may be presented to Him (2 Cor. ii, 2), — summarily dispose of this precious truth, that Jesus is coming, to take unto Himself His bride. John 14, 3; Eph. 5, 23 32. O, beloved, do not thus deprive yourself of this comforting truth. Please take your pencil and mark in your Bible the passages that pertain to it ; and see yESUS IS COMING. io HOW LAKGE A POKTION OF THE WORD IS DEVOTED TO IT If the Holy Ghost has deemed it so important, is it not worthy of our attention ? The Word exhorts us (i Thes. 4, i8; 1 Cor. i, 7) to give attention to it (Rev. i, 3) ; and the danger of condemnation is to them who do not. Luke 12, 45-46 + 21, 34-36; I Thes. 5, 2-7. Again, please to examine the passages cited under the heading, “ A Practical Doctiine,” on page 122, and see how Jesus and the apostles used this doctrine to incite us to watchfulness, repentance, patience, ministerial faithfulness, brotherly love, &c., and then decide whether anything could be more practical. Surely no doctrine, in the Word of God, presents a deeper motive for crucifying the flesh, and for separation unto God, and to work for souls, as our hope and joy and crown of re^ joicing (f Thes. 2, 19; Dan. 12, 3), than this does. For the whole teaching of it is, that our conversation (citi- zenship) is in heaven ; from whence, also, we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body. Phil. 3, 20-21. It awakens groaning for the adoption, to- wit, the redemption of our body. Rom. 8, 23 ; Luke 21, 28. It gives us a view of the world, as a wrecked vessel (Mat. 7, 13 14; I Thes. 5, 3; 2 Pet. 2, 3-9 + 3, 5-12), and stimulates us to work with all our might that we may save some. I Cor. 9, 22. Most, if not all, of the evangelists of our day are animated by this doctrine, and surely their work is practical. Again, Peter says, “ We have a more sure word of pro- phecy*, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed (as unto a light that shineth in a dark^ place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise) in your hearts" (2 Pet. i, 19)! ; and he * Gr- We have the prophetic word more confirmed. fSee Tregelles' punctuation. ^ESUS JS COMING, II exhorts us to be mindful of these words ( Ch. 3, 1-2). Therefore we are not speculating when we prayerfully study prophecy. But you ask, ‘‘ AEE NOT THESE PROPHECIES TO BE INTERPRETED ‘SPIRITUALLY r And does not this ‘coming’ mean cur acceptance of Him at conversion, and the witness of the^ Spirit Or does it not mean His reign over the Church? &c.” No ! Not at all. Think a moment. Do you condemn the Jews for rejecting Christ, when He came in such literal fulfillment of prophecy, and yet reject the same literalness about his second coming? This is not consistent, and while we believe Luke i, 31, to be literally true, let us believe likewise in regard to verses 32 and 33. “31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. “ 32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest : and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father, David. “ 33f. And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever • and of His kingdom there shall be no end.’* The inconsistency of accepting literally verse 31, and ‘ spiritualizing ’ 32 and 33, is clearly illustrated by the follow- ing account of a conversation between a Christian minister and a Jew ; “ Taking a New Testament and opening it at Luke i, 32, the Jew asked: ‘Do you believe that what is here written shall be literally accomplished, — The Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father, David ; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever?’ ‘ I do not,’ answered the clergyman, ‘ but rather take it to be figurative language, desenptive of Christ’s spiritual reign over the Church.’ Then ,’ replied the Jew, ‘ neither do I believe literally the words preceding, which say that this Son of David should 12 yESUS IS COMING, be born ot a virgin ; but take them to be merely a figurative m.anner of describing the remarkable character for purity of him who is the subject of the prophecy,’ ‘But why,’ continued the Jew, ‘do you refuse to believe literally verses 32 and 33, while you believe implicitly the far more incre- dible statement of verse 31 ?’ ‘I believe it,’ replied the clergyman, ‘ because it, is a fact.’ ‘ Ah !’ exclaimed the Jew, with an inexpressible air of scorn and triumph, ‘ YOU believe Scripture because it is a fact ; I believe it because it S the WORD OF GOD.’ ” And now, dear reader, was not the argument of the Jew candid and forcible ? There are svmbols, figures or tropes, metaphors, &c., used in Scripture and there are, also, allegories. But, unless they are so stated in the text, or plainly indicated in the context, we should hold only to the literal sense. The words of Christ in John 7, 38 we are told in the very next verse were spoken “of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive.” The allegory in Gal. 4, 24-31, in no possible manner detracts from the literal sense of Scripture, but on the con- trary it confirms it. We know that both Hagar and Sarah had a literal physical existence. Mt. Sinai and Jerusalem are literal. We have a literal Christ, the mediator of the new covenant, (Heb. 12, 24). And so we believe that the “Jerusalem which is above,” of which Sarah is typical — “the heavenly Jerusalem,” (Heb. 12, 22), “the new Jerusalem which cometh down out of heaven from God,” (Rev. 3, i2-f2i, 2, 10), is also literal, tangible and real. How then, are we authorized, from such examples as these, (which are most prominent among those cited by post-millenialists as author- JESUS IS COMING, n ity for ‘‘ spiritualizing ”) to do away with the literal sense of Luke I, 32-33, or of the multitude of passages which pre- dict the restoration of Israel, the coming of Christ, or which describe His glorious Kingdom ? There can be no warrant for it. It subverts the authority and power of the Word of God, and Post-millennialists, by so doing, open wide the door for skeptics and latitudinarians of all descriptions. There are a portion of the Israelites in the present day who style themselves reformed '' or “liberal." They likewise spiritualize the Old Testament prophecies and have there- fore ceased to look for any literal Messiah. One of them not long since said to the writer “ the nineteenth cen- tury is the MESSIAH," and this absurd doctrine is now quite generally preached in their principal congregations. That even Jews should thus join with Gentiles in 'spirit- ualizing ‘ Scriptures, is a marvelous sign ot the times in which we live. (“When the Son of Man cometh shall He find (the) faith on the earth.?" Luke 18, 8.) Why! the same process of spiritualizing away the literal sense of these plain texts of Scripture, will sap the foundation of every Christian doctrine and leave us to drift into absolute infi- delity, or the vagaries of Swedenborgianism. What is the purpose of language, if not to convey defi- nite ideas } Surely the Holy Spirit could have chosen words to convey His thoughts correctly. Indeed it is all summed up in the inquiry of a little child, “If Jesus didn’t mean what He said, why didn’t He say what He meant?" But we believe that He did mean what He said, and that His words will “not pass away." Mat. 24, 35. He said that He came “not to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill," and “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, tili all be fulfilled. ' Mat. 5, 17-18. 14 JESUS IS COMING, If He came and literally fulfilled the prophecies of a suf- fering Messiah, Psa. 22, Isa. 53, &c., will He not as surely come and likewise fulfill the prophecies of a glorified Messiah reigning in victory and majesty.? Psa. 2 + 72 + Dan. 7, 13-14 Isa. 9-1- II +60, &c. Think of the many prophecies descrip- tive of a suffering Messiah, which we have seen literally fulfilled, and upon which we rest, as such strong evMence for the truth and inspiration of the Word, to wit: Isa. 7, 14 — Born of a virgin. Mic. 5, 2 — At Bethlehem. Jer. 31, 15 — Slaughter of the children. Hos. II, I — Called out of Egypt. Isa. II, 2 — Anointed with the Spirit. Zech. 9, 9 — Entry into Jerusalem. Psa. 41, 9 + 55, 12-14 — Betrayed by a friend. Zech. 13,7 — Disciples forsake Him. “ II, 12 — Sold for thirty pieces of silver. “ II, 13 — Potter’s field bought. Isa. 50, 6 — Spit on and scourged. Psa. 69, 21— Gall and vinegar. Psa. 22 — Hands and feet pierced. — Garments parted— -lots cast. Isa. 53 — Poverty, suffering, patience, and death. And many other passages. All these were literally fulfilled when Christ . came. Do not, then, reject the literal fulfillment of those numerous prophecies which describe His future coming, and His glorious reign upon the earth. Namely : — That He shall come Himself, — i Thes. 4, 16. That He shall shout, — i Thes. 4, 16. That the dead will hear his voice, — John 5, 28. JESUS IS COMING, 15 That the raised and changed believers will be caught up to meet Him in the air, — l Thes. 4, 17. That He will receive them unto Himself, — John 14, 3. That He will minister unto His watching servants, — Lu. 12, 37. That He will come to the earth again, — Acts i, 1 1- To the same Mount Olivet from which He ascended, — Zech. 14, 4. In flaming fire, — 2 Thes. i, 8. In the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, — Mat. 24, 30; i Pet. i, 7, +4, 13. And stand upon the earth, — Job 19, 25. That His saints (the Church) shall come with Him, — Deut. 33, 2 ; i Thes. 3, 13; Jude 14. That every eye shall see Him, — Rev. i, 7. That He shall destroy Antichrist, — 2 Thes. 2, 8. That He shall sit in His throne, — Mat. 25, 31 ; Rev. 5, 13. That all nations will be gathered before Him, and He will judge them, — Mat. 25, 32, That He shall have the throne of David, — Isa. 9, 6-7 ; Lu. X, 32 ; Ezek. 21, 25-27. That it will be upon the earth, — Jer. 23, 5-6. That He shall have a kingdom, — Dan. 7, 13-14. And rule over it with His saints, — Dan. 7, 18-22-27; Rev. 5, 10. That all kings and nations shall serve Him,— Psa. 72, ii ; Isa. 49, 6-7 ; Rev. 15, 4. That the kingdoms of this world shall become His kingdom, — Zech. 9, 10; Rev. ii, 15. That the people shall gather unto Him,— • Gen. 49, i o. That every knee shall bow to Him, — Isa. 45, 23, That they shall come and worship the King, — Zech. 14, 16 1 Psa. 86, 9. i6 JESUS IS COMING. That He shall build up Zion, — That His throne shall be in Jerusalem, — Psa. 102, i6 Jer. 3. 17 ; Isa. 33, 20-21. That the Apostles shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, — Mat. 19, 28 , Lu. 22, 28 30. That He shall rule all nations, — Psa. 2, 8-9 ; Rev. 2, 27. That He shall rule with judgment and justice, — Isa. 9, 7. That the Temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt (Ezek. chapters 40-48), and the glory of the Lord will come into it, — Ezek. 43, 2-5, -f 44, 4 That the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, — Isa. 40. 5. That the wilderness shall be a fruitful field, — Isa. 32, 15. That the desert will blossom as the rose, — Isa. 35, i, 2. And His rest shall be glorious, — Isa. ii, 10. And many more we might mention. Surely, there is no symbolism in these plain prophecies, which gives us any authority to spiritualize ” them. Rather let us expect that He will as literally fulfill these as He did the others at His first coming. AGAIN, HIS COMING DOES NOT MEAN DEATH. His FIRST coming did not mean death to the Jews, and they did not so understand it ; neither does His SECOND coming mean death to Christians, nor should they so under- stand it. Jesus makes a clear distinction between death and His COMING in John 21. He tells Peter how he should die, and then, by contrast, He speaks of John, saying: “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee .'^” That is. that John might not die, but live till Jesus should come again. The disciples so understood it, and reported that Ue should not die. Death is an enemy (i Cor, 15, 26), and at Christ’s coming JESUS IS COMING, 17 we are raised from the dead, and shout victory over death and the grave. “O Death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is thy victory?” i Cor. 15, 23, 54, 55. If we are faithful unto death (that is, though faithfulness cost us our lives) He has promised us a crown (Rev. 2, 10.) but we do not receive it until He comes. 2 Tim. 4, 8; I Pet. 5, 4. Nothing is promised us at death, except to be at rest (2 Thes. 1,7; Rev. 14, 13) in Paradise (Lu. 16, 22. +23, 43). But we are promised all things in the resurrection, when Jesus comes. Lu. 14, 14, +20. 35-36 ; Rom. 8, 32. Therefore we find Paul yearning for this resurrection, Phil. 3, II. He did not want to be unclothed by death (2 Cor. 5, 4), but clothed upon by the resurrection. 2 Cor. 5, 4; i Cor. 15. 53-54. Let any one insert “ death ” in the passages which speak of Christ’s coming, and see how it will apply. For instance: “For ‘death’ shall come in the glory of his Father.” Mat. 16, 27. “When ‘death’ shall sit in the throne of his glory.” Mat. 19, 28. “ Hereafter shall ye see ‘ death ’ sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” Mat. 26, 64. “ Behold he (death) cometh with clouds and every eye shall see Him.” Rev. i, 7. “For cur conversation is in heaven, from whence, also, we look for ‘ death.’ ” Phil. 3, 20. If the reader thinks that these are exceptional passages, we beg of you to try it in other Scripture referring to His coming. The only possible similarity consists in analogy — viz : in the fact that we do not know the time when we shall die. But thanks be to God, we may not die at all, for “ We shall not all sleep.” i Cor, 15, 51. i8 JESUS IS COMING. “ There will be one generation, at least, who will realize that the coming of our Lord is not death/' And if it is not admissible to say “ for ‘ death, ^ himselt. shall descend from heaven with a shout," (i Thes. 4, 16), neither is it admissible to say '‘Watch, therefore; for ye know not what hour ‘ death ' doth come." Mat, 24, 42. For, by such wresting of Scripture, we jostle this promi- nent truth, of our Lord’s advent, into the back-ground, and substitute therefor the ‘ grim monster,’ death. It is assuming too much, to say that death is practically, to the believer, the coming of the Lord. For we do not know it, and the Scriptures do not assert it. On the con- trary, the events which occur, as the Scriptures teach us, when the Lord comes, do not occur at the death of a Chris- tian. The dead are not then raised, nor are the living believers changed, as they will be when the Lord comes. We know very little about Hades or the intermediate state of the dead, but it would appear, from Rev. 6, 9-11, that the departed souls yearn for the execution of Judgment, which occurs when the Lord comes. See i Cor. 4, 5, +2 Tim, 4, i; ELev. II, 18; Mat. 25, 31-40. Spiritually, the believer is with Christ now, and always (John 14, 23 ; Mat. 28. 20), but, to be with Christ, bodily or personally (John 12, 26, + 17, 24), is only to be attained by the resurrection, at His coming. John 14, 3, + i Thes. 4, 18. Therefore, it is entirely unscrip- tural to instruct the believer to look for death, as being synonymous with, or equivalent to, the Lord’s coming. Rev. David Brown, although a prominent post-millennialist, recog- nizes this and he says : “ The coming of Christ to individ- uals at death — however warrantably we may speak so, and whatever profitable considerations it may suggest — is not fitted for taking that place in the view of the believer which Scripture assigns to the Second Advent." And he very properly illustrates by the following passages : JESUS IS COMING. IQ “ Let not your heart be trout .^d, (said Jesus to his sor row- ing disciples): In my Father’s house are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go away ’ — What then? ‘ Ye shall soon follow me? Death shall shortly bring us together?’ Nay; but Mf I go away, I will come AGAIN AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF ; that where I am there ye may be also.* John 14, 3. ‘ And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel ; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven, this same Jesus which is taken up, from you into heaven shall ’ — What ? Take you home soon to himself, at death? Nay, but shall ‘so COME in like manner as ye have seen him GO into heaven.’ Acts i, 10 ii. “And '' he adds, “how know we that by jostling this event, (the Advent) out of its scriptural place in the expect- tations of the Church, we are not, in a great degree, destroy- ing its character and power as a practical principle ? Can we not believe, though unable to trace it, that God’s meth- ods are ever best ; and that as in nature, so perhaps in revel- ation, a modification by us of the divine arrangements, apparently slight, and attended even with some seeming advantages, may be followed by a total and unexpected change of results, the opposite of what is anticipated and desired? So we fear it to be here.”* We would that we had space to quote more, for we admire this frank admis- sion — that death is not the coming of our Lord— from one who labors so hard to support post-millennialism. Again, the substitution of death for the coming of the Lord, prac- tically degrades the grand doctrine of the resurrection, from its lofty prominence in Scripture, to almost an unnecessary, appendage. * Second Advent pages. 21, 22. 20 JESUS IS COMING. But we believe in the preaching of Jesus and the resur- rection, (Acts 4, 2, + 17, 18.). and we look forward, with joyous anticipation to the resurrection from the dead, as the time when Jesus shall give us the victory over death, i Cor. 54 - 55 - Oh ! that Christians might realize “ the grace that is to be brought unto '' us (not at death but) ‘‘at the revelation of Jesus Christ." i Pet. i, 13. Nowhere in the Savior’s teachings are we commanded to watch or prepare for death. But we are commanded to watch and prepare for Christ’s coming. Therefore, let us not be deceived by the thought that our great enemy. Death, is the precious coming of Jesus. So, beloved, we conclude that this glorious doctrine does concern you. Then, perhaps, you say : “ I don’t know much about it, and I can’t understand it.’’ But do you want to under- stand it If so, God’s word is open to you. The Holy Spirit will teach you (John 14, 26 ). He will show you things to come (John 16, 13 ), and these pages are written with the earnest desire to aid you in the study of this truth. Will you study it ? Will you search for yourself, as did the noble Bereans '> ( Acts 17, 1 1, ) not merely to read through this little book, but to use it simply as an index, and go to the Word, search out the passages herein referred to, read them, and pray over them, until the Holy Spirit guides you into the truth ? If so, we believe that you will see the light, and find comfort to your soul. Said a Christian, who had long opposed the truth of the pre-millennial coming of Christ, “ I have spent the happiest night of my life, for last evening I saw the truth concerning the SECOND COMING.” It filled him with joy, and he is one yusus IS COMING, 2t who has been greatly used in leading souls to Christ. May God bless and thus use you, dear reader. THE THREE APPEARINGS. The grandest fact in history is that Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, has been in this world. And the most important fact of the present is, that He is now in Heaven making intercession for us. Heb. 7, 25 ; Rom. 8, 34; I John 2, i. And the greatest prophesied event of the future is, that He is COMING AGAIN. These three appearings are beautifully set forth in the 9th of Hebrews. His appearing upon earth “ to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." Verse 26. His entering “ into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Verse 24. “ And unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time, without sin unto salvation." Verse 28. While He was here upon earth He said : “ It is expedient for you that I go away" (John 16, 7), and He went away. Acts I, 9. He said, “ I go to prepare a place for you." But HE PROMISED, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself ; that where 1 am, there ye may be also." John 14, 2-3. He gave us this promise as our HOPE AND COMFORT while He is away. He said : “ In the world ye shall have tribulation " (John 33)» " shall weep and lament, and . . . be sorrowful, . . . but I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN, and your heart shall rejoice.” Verses 20, 22. 22 JESUS IS COMING Nothing can be more comforting to the Church, the bride ot Christ (Eph. 5, 23-32), than this precious promise, which our absent Lord has left us, that He will come and receive us unto Himself, and that we shall be with Him, to behold His glory. John 17, 24. He has given us THE LORD’S SUPPER, that we should take the bread and the cup in remembrance of Him (Lu. 22, 19), and to show His death, till He come. I Cor, II, 26. We have this simple and loving memorial, for a continual sign of this PROMISE, during all the earthly pilgrimage of the church (Heb. ii, 13 ; i Peter, 2, ii), and through it, we look forward from the cross to His coming, when He will drink it anew with us, in His Father’s king- dom (Mat. 26, 29 ; Lu. 22, 15-20), at the marriage feast of the Lamb. Mat. 22, i-io; Luke 14, 16-24; Rev. 19,7-9. It is a constant reminder of His promise, pointing our eye of faith to His coming again. “ He is faithful that promised (Heb. 10, 22-25), and we are exhorted to have confidence and patience, that we may “receive the promise,” “for yet a little while, and he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry.’* Heb. 10, 35-37. One has truly said, that the coming of Christ is THE VERY POLE STAR OF THE CHURCH,* and the apostle Paul calls it “That blessed hope.” Tit. 2, 13. Jesus and the apostles and the prophets have given great prominence, in the Scriptures, to this inspiring theme. The early Fathers and the Christian Church, for the first two centuries of our era, ftDund in it their chief source of hope and comfort. The belief, that Jesus was coming in glory, to *Rev. David Bro’wn, D D. ^ESUS IS COMING, 23 reign with His saints on the earth, during the Millennium, was almost universal with them. But in the third century there arose a school of interpreters, headed by Origen, who so “ spiritualized ” the Scriptures, that they ceased to believe in any literal Millennium whatso- ever. Their system of interpretation has been severely con- demned by Martin Luther, Dr. Adam Clarke and other commentators. When Constantine was converted and the Roman empire became, nominally, Christian, it appeared to many that the Millennium had come, and that they had the kingdom on earth. The Church, hand in hand with the world, plunged into the dark ages, until awakened by the great reformers of the sixteenth century, who again began to proclaim the com- forting hope and blessed promise of the coming of Christ ; and since that time the subject so long neglected, has been studied and preached with increasing interest. Indeed in the last two centuries, it seems to have risen (with the doctrine of salvation by simple faith in a crucified Saviour) into some- what the same prominence which it occupied in the early church. God be praised for it. Who shall say. it is not the fulfillment of the early and latter rain ? James 5, 7-8. But about the year seventeen hundred a new error crept into the Church, to* wit : POST-MILLENNIALISM. This was instituted by Daniel Whitby, an English divine, or proclaimed by him as a new hypothesis,, namely, that the Church would prosper and extend until the world should be converted, and this triumph of the Church would constitute the Millennium ; and that Jesus would not come until after the Millennium. ^4 JESUS IS COMlNd, No wonder that he calls it a “new hypothesis,” for he himself bears testimony in his “ treatise on Traditions,” that the doctrine of the Millennium, or the reign of Saints on earth a thousand years, passed among the best ot Christians for two hundred and fifty years, for a tradition apostolical, and, as such, is delivered by many fathers of the second and third century, who speak of it as the tradition of our Lord and his apostles. For want of space we refer the reader to “The Voice of the Church,” by D. T. Taylor, to show the long line of eminent witnesses, embracing Her mas, Justin and the Mar- tyrs, Luther, Melanchthon, Mede, Milton, Burnett, Isaac Newton, Watts, Charles Wesley, Toplady, and a host of others, illustrious in the annals of the Church, who, through the past eighteen centuries, have borne overwhelming testi- mony to the truth of the pre-millennial coming of Christ.* Strange indeed, that the Church, in the face of such evi- dence, should drift away from the simple teaching of the Word and the faith of the fathers. And yet, though of such recent origin, this error of post- millennialism has not only CREPT INTO THE CHURCH, but has been accepted by the great majority of Christians, pastors, and people, especially in this country. This then is the principal point of the question, namely : Will the coming of Christ occur before the Millenniu u, and may it therefore happen at any moment, as Pre-millennialists believe? or will it occur after the Millennium, and thus be, at least, a thousand years in the future ? as Post-millennialists believe. ^ We invite your prayerful attention to the following scrip- tural arguments, which, we believe, show that it will be *See also page 43. yESUS IS COMING, 25 PRE-MILLENNIAL. L In 2 Thes. 2, 8. The Antichrist, who is on all sides confessed to be pre-millennial, is to be destroyed with the brightness of His (Christ’s) coming, or more literally the ripiphany (appearing*) of His own presence. This fixes the coming of Christ to he pre-millennial. Bishop Mcllvaine says of this argument that “ it is wholly unanswerable.” Even Mr. Brown, the great champion of post-millennialism, admits that this is an apparent evidence for the pre-millennial advent, and he has been obliged to meet it by that process of “ spiritualizing ” Scripture which has been so condemned by Dr. John Pye Smith, Martin Luther, Sir Isaac Newton, Bishop Hooker, Dr. Adam Clarke, and others. On this argument alone we might rest, but we have others fully as conclusive. II . In Mat. 24, 29-31. The coming of the Son of Man t is said to be immediately after the Tribulation. But this Tribulation is pre-millennial or before the reign of peace. Mat. 24, 21; Lu. 21, 24, &c. ; Isa. 24. 16-23,-1-60, 2, &c. See also diagram on page 48. And therefore, the coming is pre-millennial. III. The TRUE CHURCH is a persecuted, suffering, cross- bearing people (John 15, 19-21,-1-16, 33) thereunto appointed (i Thes. 3, 3), so that “ all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution ” (2 Tim. 3, 12) ; and this will continue * See Greek k 7 Ct(pavB(a same word used in i Tim. 6, 14; 2 Tim. I, 10, -H 4, i,+ 4,8 ; and Titus 2, 13 ; in each place translated appearing. tThis IS his coming at the Revelation . see diagram, page 48. 26 JESUS IS COMING. until Christ comes (2 Thes. i, 4-10), which precludes any Millennium until after His coming. IV. We are nowhere in the New Testament directed to look for the Millennium before the coming of Christ. But we are expressly taught, that the tares and the wheat will grow together until the end (of this age) ; that evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse ; that as it was in the days of Noah, and Lot, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man. Mat. 13; 2 Pet. 3, 3-4; i Tim. 4, 1-2; 2 Tim 3, 13; 2 Tim. 4, 3-4; Lu. 17, 26-37; Mat. 24, 37*51. And such is the character and number of the tares, that their destruction, before the harvest, would endanger the children of the kingdom. Mat. 13, 29. This absolutely precludes the idea of a millennial reign of righteousness in this dis- pensation. From the time that the first Adam surrendered the king- dom to Satan, the effort to re establish it with man has been a continual failure, though it was given to Noah (Gen. 9, 1-2) Saul (i Sam. 9, 16, + 13, 13), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 2, 37,+ 4, 25-32), and others. And it will be a failure in this sin- cursed earth, until the second Adam, who has overcome Satan, shall return to purify the earth and establish the king- dom on resurrection ground. Therefore there will be no Millennium until Christ comes. But while we are not told to look for the Millennium, we are repeatedly and most solemnly enjoined to look for the return of our Lord. So we again conclude that His return must be pre- millennial. V. The millennial kingdom will be a literal reign of Christ on the earth, and not simply a spiritual exaltation of the Church, “A king shall reign in righteousness” (Isa. 32, i ; Jer, 23, 1-6), “upon the throne of David” (Isa 9, 6-7; Lu. i. yESUS IS COMING. 27 32 33) “in Jerusalem” (Jer, 3, 17 ; Zech. 14, 16). The Apostles shall sit upon the twelve thrones (Mat. 19, 28), and the Saints shall reign on the earth. Rev. 5, 10. Speaking of the kingdom, or crown of Israel, the Lord God says : “ I will overturn, overturn, overturn it : and it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is; and 1 will give it Him.” Ezek. 21, 27. The multitude of passages which bear upon this fact, we can not even refer to. Dr. J. Pye Smith says, that they are far more numerous than those which describe the humil- iation and suffering of Christ. And they are so specific, so full of detail, so like the prophecies concerning the first coming, in their literalness, that our post-millennial brethren are compelled to do the utmost violence to the laws of interpretation, in the “ spirit- ualizing ” method with which they meet this argument. We believe that we have the word of prophecy spoken by “holy men of God,” “as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter i, 19) ; and that we should direct our first efforts toward understanding the literal sense (as it is called), “ which alone,” as Martin Luther says, “is the substance of faith and of Christian theology.” Jesus is in “ heaven,” at “ the right hand of God ” (i Pet. 3, 22), “ upon the throne with the Father” (Psa no, i; Rev. 3, 21), in the Holy of Holies, or true Holy Place (Heb. 9, 24), making intercession (Rom. 8. 34). for those that come unto God by Him. Heb. 7, 25. But Heaven has only re- ceived Him until the time of restitution of all things (Acts 3, 21), when He shall come again, to sit in the throne of His Father David. Acts 3, 20; Lu. i, 32, 33. This again proves His coming to be pre-millennial * ^ For further evidence of the distinction between the Church and the Kingdom, see page 55. yEsus IS COM me. VI. We believe we have a conclusive argument based upon the Resurrection, which may be briefly stated as follows : All the dead will be raised, but, as Jesus was raised out of the dead, and the rest of the dead were left, so the dead in Christ that are His at His coming, will be raised out of the dead, and the rest of the dead will be left, until another and flnal resurrection, and the Millennium will occur between these two resurrections, thus clearly showing Christ’s coming to be pre>millennial. We believe that any unprejudiced mind will be convinced of this by simply reading the following passages : I Cor. 15, 22-26. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order : Christ the first fruits ; afterwards they that are Christ’s at His coming Then (or afterwards) the end* The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death, I Thes. 4, 13-17. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For IF we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him 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. Rev 20, 4-14. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon theri; . . . . and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, .... and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand ^ears. But the rest of the dead *The Greek (ita) here signifies next in order, but not necessarily immediate, as will be seen by the use of the same word in Mark 4, 17, 28; i Tim. 2, 13. And in this same chapter, (verses 5-7) it is used interchangably with ^Tteita (epita). ThF fact seems to have been altogether overloo ed by Post-Millenm- alists who have therefore entirely miscjn: rued the passage* JESUS IS COMING, 29 LIVED NOT AGAIN UNTIL THE THOUSAND YEARS WERE FINISHED. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the Nations And I saw a great WHITE THRONE, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away ; . . . . And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God ; . . . . and the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell (Hades) delivered up the dead which were in them. . These three passages are so plain, that the wayfaring man need not err therein. In the first, we are told the order of the resurrection — each in his own order” (Gr, Band.) The figure is taken from troops moving by bands or regiments. First, Christ (“ the first born from the dead.” Col. i, 18). Next, the godly, who die in Christ and who are His at His coming. Next, the end, when the rest of the dead ” (who are not Christ’s) shall come forth and death kself be destroyed. The second passage, reiterates and emphasizes the fact, that the dead in Christ shall rise first and that they rise when the Lord descends from Heaven with a shout. The resur- rection of the ungodly is not spoken of, for they have no part in this blessed FIRST RESURRECTION. In the third passage, we have the first resurrection com- pleted by the resurrection of the Tribulation Saints (seep. 66) and the reign with Christ for a thousand years is stated to occur before the rest of the dead are raised. And after the thousand years the rest of the dead, who lived not again until the thousand years were finished, stand before God ; and death and Hades deliver up the dead in them. JESUS IS COMING. This one thousand years, is the millennium (Latin, mille annum). What could be plainer than this proof that Christ’s coming is to be pre-miliennial? The dead in Christ are raised at His coming and they are raised before the Millen- nium. Therefore His coming must be pre-millennial. But it is objected that we have no right thus to bring to- gether these passages from different parts of the Word. We answer — why not.^^ Are they not all inspired (2 Tim. 3, 16)? Are they not all the product of one mind.J^ Read carefully, John 14, 26, + 16, 13 ; Acts l, 8, +2, 4 ; i Cor. 2, 10; 2 Pet. I, 21, and see how plainly we are taught that they are all the utterances of the Holy Spirit. And it is clear that they all relate to the same subject, viz : the resurrection. Paul uses quotations in the same manner in Rom. 3, to prove that all have sinned, and again in Rom. 10, to prove the righteousness which is of faith, and in Heb. ii, to show the fruits ot faith. We must certainly acknowledge the pro- priety of following his example. Indeed the same method of aggregating proof texts, is used and relied upon to show the divinity of Christ and every evangelical doctrine. But it is objected that only the souls are mentioned in Rev. 20 and therefore it cannot be a literal resurrection but is only the regeneration, or spiritual resurrection and present life of believers in Christ. The fallacy of this is easily seen, for these holy dead enjoyed the spiritual resurrection before they ‘‘ were beheaded for the witness of Jesus.” Clearly, it was because of this spiritual life in Christ and their faith in the Word of God, that they became witnesses for Jesus and refused to worship the beast, or his image or receive his mark, and therefore they were beheaded (see chap. 13,11-15). Besides, (psukee- souls) means also, life, person or individual. See same word in Acts 2, 41, “ there were added unto them about JESUS IS COMING, 31 three thousand souls (persons) and in Acts 7, 14, +27, 10, 37, + 1 Cor. 15, 45, + 1 Pet. 3, 20, 4-Rtv. 12, ii, + i6, 3 it unmis- takably means persons. A spirit could not be beheaded. Only a person having body and spirit could be beheaded, and such it is evident these were. But they suffered physi- cal death : that is, separation of soul and body, and became part of the great company of THE dead. The 5th verse emphatically confirms this — these being that portion of the dead ones {y^KpCsOv) who lived, while “ the rest of the dead LIVED NOT AGAIN until the thousand years were finished,*' and “this is the FIRST resurrection.” In this objection, post-millennialists manifest one of their most remarkable inconsistencies. They labor assiduously to disprove the literalism of the first resurrection, described in verses 4-6 where ^6rce?-zao=to live and ^¥:?f 10 +5, 13,4-7, 12, -4 10, 6,4-11, 15,414, II, -415, 7,4-19, 3,-4 20, 10,422, 5. JESUS IS COMING, 5i Two thinfi^s are of vital importance, in order to the right understanding ot this subject, and these are i First. The distinction between THE RAPTURE AND THE REVELATION. Rapture means to be caught up, or away. Revelation (ar;ro%afAz;^z?-apokalupsis) means Ap- pearing or shining forth or manifestation. Rom. 8, 19. The Rapture occurs when the Church is caught up to meet Christ in the air(i Thes. 4, 15-17), before the tribulation; and The Revelation occurs when Christ comes, with His saints, to end the Tribulation, by the execution of righteous judgment upon the earth. 2 Thes. i, 7-10 ; Jude 14, 15. At the Rapture, Christ comes for His saints. John 14, 3. At the Revelation, He comes with them, i Thes. 3, 13; Jude 14 ; Zech. 14, 5. He certainly must come for them before He can come with them. The assurance that God will bring them (Greek — lead them forth) with Jesus (i Thes. 4, 14) is evidence that He will first come for them, they being caught up to meet Him in the air. Verse 17. The Greek word here rendered “ to meet signifies a going forthy in order to return with. The same word is used in Acts 28, 1 5, where the brethren came out to meet Paul and had a season of thanksgiving with him at Appii Forum and The Three Taverns, when he was on his way to Rome. This exactly accords with our being caught up to meet Christ and after- ward returning to the earth with Him. Again, at the Rapture Christ comes as the Bridegroom (Mat. 25, 10), to take unto Himself His bride, the Church. Eph. 5, 23-32, At the Revelation, He comes, with His bride, to rule the nations. Rev. 2, 26-27, +5, 10, + 12, 5,-fi9, 15. 52 JESUS JS COMING. At the Rapture He comes only to meet the saints in the AIR, I Thes. 4. 17. At the Revelation, He comes to the earth (Acts i, n), and His feet stand upon the same Mount Olivet from which He ascended. Zech. 14, 4-5. At the Rapture the Church, like Enoch, is taken out of the world. Acts 15, 14. At the Revelation, the millennial kingdom is begun. Acts 15, 15-17. In Luke 21, 28, the Rapture is referred to at the beginning of the Tribul^,tion. “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads ; for your redemp- tion ctraweth nigh.” (Redemption here meaning the first resurrection, same as in Rom. 8, 23 ) In Luke 21, 31, the Revelation is referred to, wnen “ these things ” (the Tribulation) have COME TO PASS, and the king- dom of God draweth nigh. The Rapture may occur any moment. Mat. 24, 42. The Revelation can not occur, until Antichrist be re^ vealed, and all the times and seasons, (which point to the day of the Lord) in Lev. 26, Daniel and Revelation be fuL filled. The Revelation ushers in the day, the Day of the Lord, Luke 17, 30, I Thes. 5, 2. +2 Thes. i, 7-10, +2 Pet. 3, 10-12, and many other passages. The failure to make this distinction has led to great con- fusion among commentators upon this suviject. For instance : In 2 Thes. chapter 2. The apostle, in the first verse, speaks of the Rapture, to wit : the coming of the Lord and our gathering together unto Him, of which He had written so fully in the previous epistle,, especially in the 4th chapter. In the second verse he speaks of the Revelation, or Day yESUS IS COMING. 53 of the Lord,* which could not come, except there be a fall- ing away first, and the “ man of sin ” and “ that wicked,” or the Antichrist, be revealed. And yet, most commentators have argued that the apostle, in both of these verses, referred to one and the same event, and thus they have made Scripture contradict itself. But we see plainly, that Paul had no intention of contra- dicting Christ’s admonitions, unto all, to watch for His com- ing, as being imminent. Mark 13, 35-37; Luke 12, 35-40. He only made the distinction, as above stated, between the Rapture and the Revelation. The persecuted Thessalo- nians thought that they were in the Tribulation, and that the Day of the Lord had set in.f But Paul corrects them^ first by reminding them that the Lord had not come for THEM YET, as He had said that He would (i Thes. 4, 15-17) and then by adding certain other things which must occur before the Day of the Lord should come. He had told them that the Day of the Lord should corneas a thief in the night, (i Thes. 5, 2), but that they were not of the night, and therefore he exhorts them to watch and be sober. (See also Lu. 21, 36.) Another evidence of the difference between the Rapture and Revelation, consists in the fact that the Church is to escape the Tribulation, which precedes the Revelation. (Mat. 24, 29-30) * Greek, the oldest MSS. read = Lord, not Xpi(lTOV= Christ. See Bengels’ Gnomon and others^ \ SySCtTfKSy (enesteeken) which authorized version ren ders “at hand,” means to be present, or to have set in. See same word in Rom. 8, 38, -f i Cor. 3, 22, i-7, 26 ; Gal. T, ^ j Hebe 9, 9, in each place rendered '‘present” 54 JESUS IS COMING, Enoch, a type of the Church, by his rapture, — that is by being caught away or translated (Heb. ii, 5) — escaped the flood. Christ says, in Luke 21, 36, “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.’' And in keeping with this injunction He gave a blessed promise to the Church, in Rev. 3, 10, viz : “ Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold I come quickly,” &c. A special hour, or time, of temptation — i. e., trial — is here mentioned, which shall come upon all the world (ozKOt;/tfi^ 77 --oikoumenee=the whole habitable- same word in Mat. 24, 14-all the world). It is a time of trouble not limited to Juoea, but as exten- sive as the inhabited earth. This accords with the great tribulation described in Mat. 24, 21, a “tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world . . . nor ever shall be.” Jesus promises to keep the Church from, or out of this tribulation, or hour of temptation, that is, the watchful and prayerful believers will escape it. Luke 21, 36. Now, as it covers the whole earth, there is no way of escape from it, but to be taken out of the world, and this is accomplished by the Rapture. Acts 15, 14, and i Thes. 4, 17, which thus presents a glorious deliverance for the Church. The elect, (Mat. 24, 22), a portion of Israel. (Isa. 65, 9, 15, 22, Rom. IX, 5-7), will be gathered back to Jerusalem. (Isa. I, 26-27 ; Zech. 10, 6-12), and pass through the fire, or great trial. Zech. 13, 8-9; see Psa. 27. 5, + 31, 20,457, I ; Isa. 26, 20. JESUS IS COMING, 55 Like Enoch ; the Church escapes from it. Like Noah ; Israel passes through it. So the Church should humble herself to walk with God (Micah, 6, 8), as Enoch did (Gen. 5. 24), having the testimony that she pleases God (Heb. ii, 5), and watch for the Rap> ture at any moment. The Jews, through their dates and seasons, may look for the Revelation, or day of the Lord, a day of thick darkness to them, in which there is no light at all. Amos 5, 18 20. Yet, in it they will accept Christ (Zech. 12, 9 14), and ‘‘at evening time it shall be light,” and “ living waters shall go out from Jerusalem.” Zech. 14. 6-8. The Rapture, or being caught away, at the coming of the Bridegroom, is full of the sweetest comfort for the believer, and therefore Paul says “ comfort one another with these words.” I Thes. 4, 18. But the Revelation of Christ with His Saints, to take ven- geance on the ungodly, is full of solemnity and terror to them, who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thes. I, 7-10; Rev. 6. 12-17. The second point is : The distinction between THE CHURCH, AND THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM. The Christian Church, {SHKXr](jia-Qk\d^ts\2iy) meaning assembly or congregation, is distinct from the congregation of the Mosaic dispensation, or Church in the wilderness. Acts 7, 38. For, until after Christ came, it was a thing of the future. This is proved by His assertion in Mat. 16, 18. “On this rock WILL I build my Church ; ” showing that it had not yet been built. And. it is likewise distinct from the Millennial Kingdom, which is to follow it. The Church is a companion of Christ in His humiliation, 56 y^SUS JS COMlNd, manifesting His sufferings and fijling up the afflictions which are behind^ Col.i, 24, +2 Cor. i, 5-6; Phil. 3, 10, +2 Tim. I, 8. The Kingdom is the manifestation of the glory of Christ which shall follow(i Pet. i, ii), when He “shall sit in the throne of His glory,” and when they who have suffered with Him during this time of trial, shall also be exalted to regal power and authority. Mat. 19, 28 ; Lu. 22, 28-30. This Kingdom was at hand (Mat. 3, 2, +4, 17,4-10, 7), that is, it came nigh, Lu. 10, 9, ii (or approached, same Greek word Lu. 12, 33; Heb. 10, 25), when Jesus, the King, came. So much so, that the three favored disciples witnessed a fore- taste of its glory and power, on the Mount of Transfiguration. Mat. 16, 28,4-17, 19; Mark 9, i-io; Luke 9, 27-36, and especially 2 Peter i, 15-18. But the Jews rejected it and slew their King. They were not willing to have this man reign over them, and therefore the Kingdom did not “ immediately appear.’^ It became like a nobleman which “ went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.” See Luke 19, 11-27, By this parable Jesus distinctly taught that the Kingdom was in the future. It was in the future when Christ said : “ I say unto you, I will not anv more eat thereof (the passover), until it be ful- filled in the kingdom of God,” and again, “ For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.” Luke 22, 16-18, also Mat. 26, 29; Mark 14, 25. It was in the future when the thief cried “ Lord remember , me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” Luke 23 42. Joseph of Arimathea, who laid Jesus’ body in the sepulchre, “waited for the kingdom of God,” which also indicates that it was still in the future. Mark 15, 43. SI ^£Sl/S /S COMING. It was still future, when Paul exhorted the disciples to con- tinue in the faith, and said that we must through much tribulation enter into tlie Kingdom of God." Acts 14, 22. It was in the future while the persecuted Thessalonians suf- fered, that they might “ be coun ted worthy of the Kingdom of God.” 2Thes. 1.4.5. It was most assuredly future when, years afterward, Peter gave his exhortations as follows, wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall : For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Pet. I, lo-ii. And it has been future during all the long, sad history of the faithful and godly Church, while she has suffered the terrible persecutions of fagot, inquisition, ban- ishment, ridicule and false accusation. 2 Tim, 3, 12. And it will be future, until, Jesus, “ having received the Kingdom " (Lu. 19, 15) shall return to recompense tribu- lation to those who have troubled the Church (Luke 19, 27 ; 2 Thes. I, 6-10) and “sit in the throne of His glory." Mat. 19, 28. Then the kingdom, which, for these centuries, has been hid in mystery, (Mat. 13, ii; Mark 4, ii , Luke 8, 10), shall be manifested in power and glory. Mat. 13, 43; Luke 13* 25-29 ; Rom. 8, 17-23. Then shall “ the kingdom of the world become our Lord's and His Christ’s, " (See Greek. Rev. ii, 15 ; Dan. 7, 14) and then shall the Kingdom be given unto the saints of the most High. Lu. 12, 32; Dan. 7, 18-27. Therefore we pray, as Jesus taught us. THY KINGDOM COME." 5B yESUS IS COMING, The Church militant, which was begun on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), ends at the Rapture, before the Tribu- lation. The Kingdom begins with the Revelation, at the close of the Tribulation. It is the personal reign of Christ on earth. He was prophesied to be King of the Jews. Isa. 9, 6. He was born King of the Jews. Mat. 2, 2. He said He was the King of the Jews. Mat. 27, ii. He was crucified as King of the Jews. Mat. 27, 37. He came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, saying the time is fulfilled, the Kingdom of God is at hand. ” Mark i, 14-15. He said the Kingdom was among them. Lu. 17, 21, margin. He came unto His own, but His own received Him not. John 1, II. He would have set up the Kingdom (Mat. 23. 37 39), but they rejected and crucified Him. Howev^er, God raised Him from the dead and set Him on high. Mat. 22, 44; Acts 2, 34-36 ; Heb. 10, 12-13. He sent the Holy Ghost into the world, and under His power and guidance, the apostles went out preaching the good news of the Kingdom(Acts 2, (&c.), to the Jews first (Mat. 10, 6 ; Acts 3, 26), but they rejected it, and the disci- ples turned to the Gentiles. Acts 13, 46,-1-18, 6,428, 28. Thus the kingdom came nigh unto the Jews, who spurned it, and while it waits * (Mat. 23, 39), God visits “ the Gentiles, to * This we believe is the true explanation of this subject. The Kingdom did come “ nigh ” when Christ came, and had they received Him, it would have been manifested, but now it is in abeyance, or waiting until He comes again. However the Greek word 8 yyi^GD=:>= engizo. which is trans- lated at hand in Mat. 3, 2, -I-4, 17, + 10, 7, and is come nigh in yEsus IS coM/Ara take out of them a people for His name'* (Acts 15, ^4), breaking down the middle wall of partition, to make of twain .ciii Jews and Gentiles who believe in His name) one new man (Eph. 2, 14-15), that is, the Church, or Mystical Body of Christ. Eph. 4, 12-13, + 5, 32. Thus the Church came in as a mystery, and was but rarely, if at all, spoken of in the old testament prophecies. For we read in Rom. 16, 25, that it is a “mystery, which was kept secret since the world began," and in Eph. 3, 3-6, “ The mystery * * which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men," and in Col. i, 24-27, * “ Even the mystery, which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest * * the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles." It was this MYSTERY of the Church, which so puzzled the prophets and caused them to enquire, and search diligently what the Spirit meant when it testified beforehand the suf- ferings of Christ. See i Pet. i, 10-12. They could under- stand the Glory of the Kingdom, which should follow, but could not understand the mystery, which has been revealed unto us, and which interested the angels ; to wit : a suffering Messiah “and a persecuted Church. The Church IS TO be the Bride of Christ, which He is going to present unto Himself. Eph. 5, 23-32. Luke 10, g-ii, does not necessarily mean immediately near. For we find the same word used in Rom. 13, 12 : “ The day is at hand'' and in Heb. 10, 25, *• as ye see the day approaching “ and in James 5, 8, “The coming of the Lord draweth nighp and in I Pet 4, 7, “the end of all things is at handP each of whicn passages are yet unfulfilled. So we see that the word engizo (is at hand) covers a peri od cA more than 1800 years, and reaches unto the second coming cJ the Lord. 6o JESUS IS COMWG, But NOW, she is a Virgin of sorrow and affliction, a com panion in suffeiing with her espoused Husband — the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. ii, 2. He said : “ Because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you,” and, ‘‘ if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you,” (John 15, 19-20); and, “ in the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16, 33), and the apostle says, “yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecu- tion. 2 Tim. 3, 12. See also John 17, 14; i Thes. 3, 3. And this is perfectly consistent. For this world has murdered the Son of God, and is guilty of his blood, but the Father bears this insult to His matchless love and grace, patiently staying the day of vengeance, being long suffering and not willing that any should perish. 2 Pet. 3, 9. If he thus bears with the murderers of His Son— will He not bear with the persecutors of His Church } And this persecution will continue until Jesus comes and takes the Church away (i Thes, 4, 16-17), and saves her from the GREAT HOUR OF TEMPTATION (OR TRIAL), which shall come upon all the world (Rev. 3, 10), when He shall recom- pense tribulation to them that have troubled her. 3. Thes. i, 6. And this spirit of rebellion and persecution will continue, even though the tribulation (Rev. 16, 9, ir, 14, 21), and up to the very day of the Lord (2 Pet. 3, 3-10), when Christ shall be revealed in flaming fire (2 Thes, i, 7-10) with His saints, to execute judgment upon the earth. Jude 14. So we see that there is no place in the whole earthly history of such a persecuted Church, for the millennial kingdom. For, in that time, “ righteousness and peace ” shall kiss each other, “ truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look out of heaven.” Psa. 85. “ A King shall reign in righteousness, and Princes shall JESUS IS COMING. 6i rule in judgment.” Isa. 32, i. With righteousness shall He judge the poor. Judah and Israel shall be restored and dwell safely. There shall be no harm nor destruction in all God’s holy mountain, and even the animals shall be at peace. See Isa. ii ; Jer. 23, 3 8,+ 32, 36 44 ;Ezek. 34, +36, + 37 ; Rom. 8, 21-23 ; and many, many others. Again, from all of these passages, and especially Isa. 60, we see that restored Israel and Jerusalem are to be the very CENTRAL GLORY of the millennial kingdom. But God does not restore Israel and rebuild Zion, or Jerusalem, until He appears in His glory. ‘‘ When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory.” Psa. 102, 16. And He does not build up Zion or the tabernacle of David, until He has taken out the Church. Acts 15, 14 17. Thus we see a clear distinction between the suffering Church and the glorious kingdom, which are separated by the tribulation, to-wit : THE CHURCH. ^ tribulation. § THE KINGDOM. See Diagram^i page 48. But, do you ask : “ Is the church always to suffer and be persecuted ? ” Surely not. For she shall yet be married. And the light affliction shall work out a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory in the things which are not (yet) seen (2 Cor. 4, 17-18), and the church shall be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which she suffers, when the Lord 62 JESUS IS COMING. Jesus is revealed from heaven. 2 Thes. i, 4-10. Therefore we glory in tribulations ; knowing that tribulation worketh patience ; and patience, experience ; and experience hope. Rom. 5, 3-4, And when Christ, who is OUR HOPE (i Tim. i, i) and OUR LIFE shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory. Col. 3, 4. If we suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him. Rom. 8, 17 ; 2 Tim. 2, 12. We shall reign on the earth. Rev. 5, 10. Hence we conclude that the Church shall be recompensed in reigning, with Christ, over the millennial kingdom. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Lu. 12, 32 ; Dan. 7, 18, 22, 27. O ! then, let us pray as Jesus taught us : “ thy kingdom come ! ” But do you say “ The Church is not persecuted, and does, even now, enjoy comparative peace ? ” We answer, it is because the professing Church (and by this we include Roman Catholics, Greeks, and all nominal Christians, — in all perhaps 400,000,000) has conformed so largely to the world, that the world has little if any contro- versy with her. Of what avail to God are nominal, cold-hearted, world- conforming Christians.^ He wants a separate and holy people ; and the command is, “ Come out and be ye separ- ate.” 2 Cor. 6, 14-18. We believe, that the birds of the air and the leaven in the parables of Mat. 13, represent the children of the wicked one, or hypocrites, which have lodged in the Church, and the false doctrines which have crept in, and so pervaded the professing Church, that it has, in the main, become merely formal ard nominal. God wants zealous Christians, in whom the Word of life shall burn as it did in Jeremiah’s bones. And are not the number of these few, even to-day ? JESUS IS COMING. 63 The professing Church is luke-warm, and, we fear, almost ready to be spued out of the Master’s mouth. But, thanks be unto His name, there are those who are rebuked and chastened, and who are buying gold and white raiment, and anointing their eyes that they may see, and who will over- come and sit down with Christ in His throne. Rev. 3, 14-22. THE TRUE CHURCH. There is truly a church, and it is the body of Christ (Eph. i, 22-23), C)NE AND INDIVISIBLE (i Cor. 12, 12-27), composed of all true believers in Him. Eph. 4, 4-16. It may be called a church within, or among the churches, — the wheat among the chaff. And let us remember that this true CHURCH OF CHRIST is appointed unto affliction, and that die intervals of rest (Acts 9, 31) only strengthen her to endure new and varied forms of persecution. This has oeen her history, and we may expect it will be her future, amid the scoffers, evil men and seducers of the last times. 2 Pet. 3, 3; I Tim. 4, 1-3; 2 Tim. 3, i-i4,+4. i-5- And yet it is her blessed privilege, in all her affliction, to know that she travails in the birth of souls (i Cor. 4, 15; Gal. 4. 9 ; Phile. 10), which are born from above by the Holy Ghost (John 3), and that the gospel (good news) of the kingdom, which she preaches, is the power of God unto salvation unto all who believe. Rom. i, 16. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that H' might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spr- or wrinkle, or any such thing ; but that it should be holy without blemish.^ 64 yESUS JS COMING, In this precious passage (Eph. 5) the Church, as the bride of Christ, is typified by the most intimate, tender and sacred relationship known among the children of men. Abraham’s servant went into a far country (Gen. 24) to seek a bride for Isaac, who was the honored type of- Christ as a sacrifice. Gen. 22. So has the Holy Spirit come into the world to seek a bride for Jesus. The servant said, ** Hin- der me not.” So the Holy Ghost is striving with the world, and pleading with cold-hearted professors, that He may hasten the presentation of the bride to the Bridegroom. See Mat. 22, 2-10. Rebekah said : I will go.” So the bride should be yearning to go. God has made the wedding and prepared the feast, and all things (except the bride) are ready for the rapturous meeting, and blessed are they who are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. Rev. 19, 9. O ! that the Church would work a hundredfold more earnestly for the conversion of souls and the edifying of the body of Christ, that the bride might be complete, and thus hasten the coming of her Lord (2 Pet. 3, ii, 12, margin), ever listening to catch the midnight cry: behold the BRIDEGROOM COMETH ! ” and “SO be ready to go out to meet Him. ’ Mat. 25, 6. “ O ! I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine ; He brings a poor vile sinner into His “ house of wine.” I stand upon His merit,— I know no safer stand, Not e’en where glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land. The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s faee : I will not gaze at glory, but on my King of Grace ; Not at the crown He giveth, but on His pierced hand, — The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel’s land.” JESUS IS COMING. 65 THE TRIBULATION. We use this term to designate the whole period of earthly history, between the Rapture and the Revelation, or between the Church and the millennial kingdom. It will not alto- gether be a time of tribulation, for, in it, “ they shall rejoice and send gifts one to another ” (Rev. ii, 10), and shall say “peace and safety.” i Thes. 5, 3. We believe that it wil^ be comparatively a short season, because the 6000 years, and the times, or year- days, of prophecy, have nearly run out. Doubtless it embraces the last one of Daniel’s seventy weeks(Dan. 9, 27), for the reason that then, God begins to deal with Israel again, after He has taken the Church away (Acts 15, 13-17). and yet, it is probable, that it includes much more than the seven years of that week. It is certain, that there will be in it a period of unequalled trial, sorrow and calamity (Dan. 12, i ; Mat. 24, 21), spiritual darkness and open wickedness, Lu. 18,7; 2 Pet. 3,2-4. It is the night of the world. John 9, 4; Lu. 17, 34. But the true Church which is not of the night (i Thes. 5, 5), being watchful and prayerful, will be accounted worthy to escape it, by the Rapture, and to stand before the Son of Man (Lu. 21, 36; Rev. 3, 10), while a third part ot Israel will be brought through it (Zech. 13, 9), and for the elect’s sake, the days of this culminating tribulation shall be shortened (Mat. 24, 22), by the revelation of Christ. 2 Thes. I, 7, -1-2, 8, &c. From Isa., chapters 24 to 28, an idea may be gained of the terrible character of this period, dur- ing which Antichrist will also be revealed (see p. 69). Some, especially from the remnant of Israel, will accept of Christ and become His witnesses, and be .slain by Antichrist. These we call the tribulation saints who are to be raised at the close of the great tribulation as the gleanings of the great harvest ol the first resurrection, 66 yESUS IS COMING. THE RESURRECTION. In regard to the Resurrection we would say, that the liteial rendering of i Cor. 15, 23 is, but each one in his own band^” It seems plain that the resurrection of those “who are Christ’s at His coming,” includes both those who constitute the Bride— together with the Old Testament saints,* the friends of the Bridegroom (John 3, 29), — who are raised at the Rapture, when Christ comes into the air ; and also those who believe and suffer during the tribulation (Rev. 13, 15), who will be raised at the Revelation (when Christ comes to the earth), to take part with Him in the millennial kingdom. Rom. II, 15; Rev. 20, 4 6. This latter we represent by “ R. T.” on the diagram. Then, the great harvest of the first Resurrection — or the >lesurrection of Life — includes : CHRIST, - - - - the first fruits. THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S AT HIS COMING. W g ^ H <1 ^ THE CHURCH AND OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS. THE INGATHERING. THE TRIBULATION SAINTS. f THE / GLEANING. The second Resurrection, or Resurrection of Judgment (Greek, John 5, 29), occurs after the Millennium, and includes the remaining dead. Rev. 20, 12-14. * Job 19, 23, 27 ; Isa. 26, 19; Ezk. 37 ; Hosea 13, 14; Heb. 39.40. JESUS IS COMING. 67 JUDGMENT. We often hear Post-millennialists use the expression General Judgment," thereby conveying the idea of some future day in which all mankind will simultaneously appear before God to be judged. The expression is not in the Scriptures. Pre-millennialists believe that the Judgment is general, ONLY in the sense that all are judged— but not all at the same time. The Judgment of believers, as sinners, is past, being accomplished in Christ on the cross. '‘He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (Greek, Judgment); but is passed from death unto life." John 5, 24. See also John 3, 17-19. Judged instead. of condemned. There is a Judgment day coming, not a day of twenty- four hours, but a long series of years. Day is used to designate such a period, in 2 Cor. 6, 2 ; Eph. 6, 13. and Heb. 3, 8. The “Hour" in John 5, 25, has been over eighteen centuries long. So “ the hour" in John 5, 28, may be centuries of years. This “ Day of Judgment" « is also called “ The Day of the Lord,"^ “The Last Day,’*^ and ‘The Great Day.”<^ a Mat. 10, 15,-1-11, 22, +11, 24, +12, 36 ; Mar. 6, li ; 2 Pet. 2, 9, + 3, 7 ; I John 4, 17. b Isa. 2, 12, +13, 6, 9, 4-34, 8 ; Lam. 2, 22 ; Ezk. 13, 5 ; Joel i, 15. +2, I, +3. 14 Amos 5, 18 ; Obd. 15 ; Zeph. i, 7, 8, 18, -f2, 2, 3 ; Zech. 14, i ; i Cor. 5, 5 ; 2 Cor. i, 14 ; i Thes. 5, 2 ; 2 Pet. 3, 10. c John 6, 39, 40, 44, 54, -f-Ii, 24; 2 Tim. 3 i. d Jer. 30, 7 ; Hos. i, ii ; Joel 2, 11,31; Zeph. i, 14; Mai. 4, 5 ; Jude 6; Rev. 6, 17, 4- 16, 14 ; Acts 2 20, 68 JESUS IS COMING, It is ushered in with plagues (2 Thes. i, 6-10; Rev. 19, II 21), and closes in fire (Rev. 20, 10, 15), between which a long season of the ‘‘Sure mercies of David” (Isa. 55,3; Acts 13, 34) or the Millennium. Rev. 20, 4-6. In it there will be four visible Judgments, in the following order : I. The Judgment of the Saints for their works, i Cor. I* 5 » + 3 * 13*15 ; 2 Cor. 5, 9-10 ; Rom. 14, 10-12. This is not on earth. Compare i Thes. 4, 13-18, with 2 Thes. 1, 6-10, Rev. 19, 11-16. These glorified saints receive their judgment undeniably before that of the ungodly. Sec Mat. 25, 14-30. The Judg- ment of the servants occurs before the Judgment of the nations. Mat. 25, 31-46. See also i Pet. 4, 17-18. II. The Judgment of the living nations, who are upon the earth at the Revelation. Jesus is Judge of the quick (or living) and DEAD. Acts 10, 42 ; 2 Tim. 4, i ; i Pet. 4, 5. The Church or Saints, having been before caught up in the Rapture, come with Christ to execute judgment (i Cor. 6, 2; Jude 14, 1 5) upon the world or living nations. (Mat 25, 31-46.) This is the judgment of the quick, or those who are living upon the earth, when Christ comes at the Revela- tion. He separates the sheep from the goats, gathering out all things that doth offend (Mat. 13, 41 42), and sets up His kingdom (verse 44). The third party, his brethren, are the Israelites (Psa. 122, 8), who are never to be reckoned among the nations. Nu. 23, 7-9. Then follows the Millennium, which is one continuous day of Judgment (Acts 17, 31), when the righteous Judge will be upon earth (2 Tim. 4, 8), and when judgment shall be laid to the line and righteousness to the plummet. Isa. 28, 17. III. The Judgment of the dead at the Great White Throne. Rev. 20, 12-15. See also Mat. 10, 15,4-11. 21-24, 4- 12, 41-42 ; 2 Pet. 2, 9, f 3, 7 ; Rom. 2, 5-16. ^ESUS IS COMING, 69 IV. The Judgment of angels (i Cor. 6, 3 ; 2 Pet. 2, 4; Jude 6 ; Rev. 20, 10 ; Mat. 25, 41) into fire “ prepared for the devil and his angels.*’ The ungodly go there first. Com- pare Rev. 19, 20 with Rev. 20, 7-10 ; 2 Pet. 2, 4; Jude 6. Such events, requiring intervals of time, preclude the idea expressed in the term, “general judgment.’’ The “ Day of the Lord ” has two aspects, to- wit : Judg- ment on God’s enemies, and deliverance and blessing on God’s people. Isa. 2, 1-21, +4, 1-6 ; Joel 2, 21-27, 3L + 3» 12- 17 ; Dan. 7, 9-14 ; Zech 14, 1-21 ; Zeph. 3, 8-9 ; Mai. 4, 1-3. So we have the judgment : — — of believers — as to their character — on the cross. — of believers — as to their works — at the Judgment seat of Christ. —of the living nations — at the Revelation. —of the ungodly — at the Great White Throne. ANTICHRIST. This name introduces to us one of the most solemn and foreboding subjects in the Word of God. An antichrist, — one absolutely opposed to Jesus Christ, — we are told, shall come. I John 2, 18. The spirit of antichrist is already in the world, denying the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh, either in the past (i John 4, 3), or in the future (2 John 7. Greek, coming in flesh.) This spirit of antichrist, now possessed by many, will cul- minate in one person, the antichrist, who will deny both the Father and the Son. i John 2, 22. That he is a single individual is plainly taught in 2 Thes. Zy where he is called “that man of sin ”... “the son of perdition ” — “that wicked,” or properly, “ the Lawless one.” 70 JESUS IS COMING As Christ is the express image of God (Heb. i, 3), so it appears that antichrist is the culminating manifestation of Satan, “The prince of this world.” John 14, 30. His coming is “ after the working (energy, or inward working) of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders and de- ceivableness of unrighteousness.” He will be a “ strong (or inward working) delusion,** to them who believe not the truth. 2 Thes. 2, 9-12. This mystery of Lawlessness (so the Greek) already worked in the days of the apostle, but there has been a hindering power, which, we believe, is the Holy Spirit, in His present manifestation, or office, viz : as the reprover of the world and gatherer of the church. When He, the restraining one, is taken out of the way (or out of the midst), at the rapture of the church, then shall the mystery be un- veiled, and the Lawless one be revealed, (verses 7 and 8). He will be received even by the Jews (John 5,43) who, having returned to their own land and rebuilt their temple, will make a treaty with him, called by the prophet “ a cov- enant with death and an agreement with hell.” Isa. 28. 15-180 And antichrist will exalt himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God (the rebuilt temple at Jerusalem) and sheweth him- self that he is God. 2 Thess. 2, 4. Doubtless he is the king described in Dan. ii, 36 &c., who shall do according to his own will and magnify himself above every god: Again he is seen as the beast described in Rev. 13, 11-18, whose number is the number of a man. 666, and who per formes “ great wonders and deceiveth them that dwell upon the earth,” by means of His miracles, and has the power to kill those who will not worship the image of the beast. And again he is seen in Lucifer, or the day star, of Isa. 14. of whom the king of Babylon was a type, and who weakens yESUS IS COMING. 71 the nations, exalts his “ throne above the stars of God,” and sits **upon the mount of the congregation.” Such, in brief, is the awful picture which Scripture gives us, of this great opponent of Christ. Many think that he has already been manifested in Antiochus Epiphanes — or the Popes of Rome— or Mohammed and his successors, all of which we regard as erroneous. The Popes have received their exaltation and power, as the pretended vicars of Christ, and not as His opponent. It is a great mistake therefore to call them, the antichrist, or the opposing one- Antiochus was doubtless a type of antichrist. And, in his opposition to the worship of Jehovah, his sacrifice of the hated swine in the temple and his merciless treatment of the Jews, he has given us a miniature picture of what the final antichrist will do. But he passed away long before Paul and John wrote of the antichrist to come. Likewise Mohammed may be in some sense a type, but that is all. No ! antichrist is still in the future and he will not be man- ifested until the true church has bee 1 taken away, at the rapture, as described in i Thes. 4, 16-17- For Paul says, 2 Thes. 2,1, “we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto Him,” — that is, by this very fact of the rapture, of which he had previously written them ( i Thes. 4, 16-17), arid which must first occur before the apostasy should come to the full, and the man of sin be revealed. This is confirmed by verse 7. The Holy Spirit, who, while He is gathering the bride — i Cor. 12, 13 ; Eph. 4, 30 — reproves the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, (John 16, 8) will, when he is taken out of the way, catch up the bride to meet the Lord in the air, leaving the apostate church, — adulterous Israel and the ungodly world, to believe a lie (verse ii), and then shall the lawless one be revealed. Praise God, that the church is to be kept 72 JESUS JS COMING. from this awful hour of temptation. Luke 21, 36 ; Rev. 3, 10. She shall be with her Lord (i Thes. 4, 18, +5, 9 10), while the world is ruled by antichrist. Bus though antichrist shall so greatly exalt himself and rule over the world with such power, yet “ shall he come to his end, and none shall help him.” Dan. ii, 45. The Lord shall destroy him “with the brightness of His coming,” 2 Thes. 2, 8) literally “ will paralyze (him) with the forth- shining of His arrival.'’ (See Rotherham’s translation), when He shall come, with His saints, to execute judgment upon the ungodly Jude 14 i5. Yes, he shall “ be brought down to hell (sheol), to the sides of the pit.” They that see him shall narrowly look upon him and consider him, saying y “ is this THE MAN that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms ; that made the world as a wilderness and destroyed the cities thereof.^” Isa. 14, 15-17. We would call special attention to the fact that antichrist denies the Father and the Son (i John 2, 22) and that the Greek words in 2 Thes. 2, 7-8 should be rendered “the mystery of lawlessness” — “the lawless one.” This, we think, gives an alarming significance to the atheistic and lawless trio of communism, socialism and nihilism, so rap- idly spreading in our day, and which seeks to wipe out all law relating to marriage, property, &c. It may be that these are the immediate precusors of anti- christ. At any rate, he is surely coming, and sad indeed is the thought of a godless world, rushing on to such a cul- mination of evil. is COMING. n We believe that the foregoing outline of the order of events will commend itself to every careful student of the Word. However, we persistently urge but one point, and that is the PRE-MILLENIAL COMING OF CHRIST AND RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS. This we believe to be the great hope for the Church, and the principal event for which believers wait. I Thes. I, 10. Much has been revealed in regard to the Tribulation, the Kingdom, &c., which follow the Rapture ; but it is, as it were, only an outline. And, dear reader, let us not be dis- couraged if we cannot fully understand it. Do not forget that The King is coming. And when He comes it will be time to make known, in detail, the manner of the kingdom, i Sam. lo, 25. Post-millennialists apparently forget this altogether, and because they cannot fully understand those things in regard to the Lord’s coming, which we now see through a glass darkly, they reject what is plainly revealed. If, even in the present dispensation, we cannot explain the doctrines of “Free Will,” and “ God’s Sovereignty,” to our mutual understanding, — much less can we compre- hend the glory, which shall be revealed in us, in the coming kingdom. Let us not be disturbed, then, by the questions which they ask 5 such as — How will men be saved during the Millennium } What will be the means of grace } What may take the place of the preaching of the gospel ? and of the sacraments of the Church } The Jews could not have answered similar questions before the first coming of Christ. It was not revealed until He came. Jesus is coming again, and it is just as consistent that we shall receive an addition to the revealed Word of 74 yESUS IS COMING. God when He comes, as it was when He came before. He will speak again, who spake as never man spake (John 7, 46), even the dead will hear His voice (John 5, 28), and the gracious words which shall proceed out of His mouth (Lu. 4, 22), will be a continual revelation. Mat. 1 1, 27. It will all be plain when Jesus comes, for we shall be like Him and see Him as He is (i John 3, 2), eye to eye (Isa. 52, 8), and face to face, i Cor. 13, 12. Post-millennialists seem to think that all must be accom- plished under the church, and with present instrumentalities. Pre-millennialists look for the main accomplishment under Christ Himself, who will cut short the work in righteousness (Rom. 9, 28), and with different instrumentalities. Isa. 4, 4 ; Zech. 14, Post-miilennialism exalts the church. Pre-inillennialism exalts Jesus and fills the heart of the believer with a living, personal, coming Saviour. Post-millennialists, though ACKNOWLEDGING that the Second Advent of Christ is the very pole star of the church, have little heart in it, and are disposed to say very little about it. This is natural and perfectly consistent for those who believe the event is a least a thousand years away. They very seldom preach or talk about it. What a contrast to Paul, who charged Timothy to PREACH THE WORD (2 Tim. 4, 2) ;* and when writing to Titus, of the blessed hope and glorious appearing of Jesus, he said : “ These things speak.” Ch. 2, 1 5. And again, when writing to the Thessalonians of the de- I bear full witness, in presence of °God and Christ Jesus “^who is about to be judging living and dead, both as to his ^forthshining and his kingdom proclaim the word.” Rother- ham’s N. T. from the Gr. text of Tregelles JEStJS is COMING. 75 ocent of the Lord and the rapture of the church, he said : •‘Wherefore comfort (or exhort) one another with THESE WORDS.” Ch. 4, 18 ; see also 2 Tim. 3, 16 ; Heb. 10: 25 ; 2 Pet. I, 19. We ask our post-millennial brethren. Why do you not give the church these comforting v/ords, — this “ meat in due season?” “ Blessed is that servant whom His Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.” Lu. 12, 43. Ah ! brethren, post-millennialism is hiding this STAR OF HOPE from the church, and incurring thereby a responsibility that God alone can estimate. The church is languishing because of this neglected truth. We beg of you to heed the following solemn words from Dr. Hugh McNeill: “My reverend brethren, watch, preach the coming of Jesus. I charge you, in the name of our common Master,— Preach the coming of Jesus; solemn- ly and affectionately, in the name of God, I charge you, — Preach the coming of Jesus. Watch ye, therefore, lest, coming suddenly. He find the porter sleeping.” Pre-millennialism has a vital life in it, and gives the dis- ciple a real love and relish for the Word of God, which opens up to him like a new book. Even Mr. Brown recognizes this, and he says : “ Pre-mil- lennialists have done the Church a real service by calling at- tention to the place which the second advent holds in the Word of God and the scheme of divine truth.”* ^ Many have we heard say, “ Why, the Bible is another book to me since I accepted this truth.” And though one is almost lost in the unfolding majesty and infinity of God’s plans revealed therein, yet do we find it such a store-house of truth and comfort, that continual study ever gives us richer food. *The Second Advent, p. 13. ^6 IS COMING. It is the MOST PRACTICAL DOCTRINE in the Christian faith, for “every man that hath this hope in Him (Christ) purifieth himself even as He (Christ) is pure.” i John 3, 3. And do we not want practical holiness } Again, this doctrine when received into the heart is a mighty power to separate one from the love of the world. And were it thoroughly believed and preached in the church, she would readily give of her substance so liberally that we should not be begging for money to sustain our missions. It was this doctrine that inspired the sainted Bliss, and gave his songs such favor. How all of us love to sing “When Jesus Comes,” or “Hold the Fort for I am Coming.” The church and the people want this truth, and God wants them to have it, we are assured, by the man- ifest interest and attention with which He blesses its pre- sentation. SOME OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. I. It is objected that this doctrine discourages missions. This is not true. The missionary spirit among the evan- gelists of to-day is a sufficient answer to this. And let us name, among the missionaries who held this faith, Ben E^ra, Joseph Wolf, James McGregor Bertram, L. D. Mansfield, Gonsalves, Dr. Kalley and Hewitson. “This was the hope that inspired Heber, the great mis- sionary bishop of the English Church, who gave us that glorious missionary hymn ‘From Greenland’s Icy Moun- tains,’ and who spent his strength and rested from his la- bors ‘ on India’s coral strand ! This was the hope that energized Gutzlaff, the opener of China, and Bettleheim, the opener of Japan ; that inspired the noble Duff, who, under its influence, woke moderate Scotland from its lethargy, and was the pioneer of his in- JESUS IS COMING. 77 domitablfc race in India. This was the hope that inspired and cheered and everjoyed McCheyne and our own Poor, and Lowrie, and Rankin, and Lowenthal, and a host of others.” Mr. Lord affirms that among missionaries of all denom- inations, there is as great proportion of pre-millennialists, as there is among the ministry at home. They earnestly labor, as did the apostle, to save some from the wrath to come. Rom. II, 14; I Cor. 9, 22 ; i Thes. i, 10; Jas. 5, 20. II. It is objected that it discourages work. This is most inconsistent and untrue, for the very essence of the doctrine is to Watch, Work and Wait, and to work NOW for the night cometh when no man can work.* John 9, 4. III. Some object that they have so many unsaved friends, they cannot wish Jesus to come. Work then, for we read “ all that my Father giveth me shall come to me” (John 6, 37, 39), and whosoever will may come. Rev. 22, 17. Knowing the terror, (fear) of the Lord, let us persuade men. 2 Cor. 5, ii. The Antedeluvians would not heed the preaching of Noah, and even Lot’s kindred (his sons-in-law) would not go with him out ot Sodom, So there will be those who will not accept of Christ. But of all who believe in Him (John i, 12) not one will be lost. John 10, 28. The Israelites were often led to repentance, in the midst of adversity and calam- ity, and so if our friends will not be entreated to accept of Christ now, it is perhaps possible that they may do so under the visible judgments of God, during the Tribulation. But whether they will or not, let us consider, that the great mass of humanity are engulfed in the maelstrom of sin, which is sweeping its millions down to graves of destruction (Mat. 7, 13), and compared to them, in numbers, the true believers *See page 95. 78 JESUS JS COMING. are but a handful. In the Millennium all this will be changed, “ for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea ” (Isa. ii, 9), and ail men shall bow to the righteous scepter of King Immanuel. Isa. 45, 23-24 ; Rom. 14, II ; Phil. 2, lo-ii; Lu. 1,32-33; Mic. 4, 1-7. We would not sacrifice the hundreds of lives upon a pass- enger train, to save the life of even a friend who willfully exposed himself to danger upon the track ; and are not all men our brothers } and shall we not yearn to save them from the tide of spiritual death ? Oh ! then, let us cry with the Holy Spirit: “Even so come, Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22, 20. For when He comes the work will be cut short in righteous- ness. Rom. 9, 28. IV. It is objected that Jesus said: “My Kingdom is not of this world.” John 18, 36. True! not of the spirit of the world (i John 2, 15-17), just as believers are not of the world. John 15, 19. The correct rendering of the pass- age is, “ My Kingdon is not out of this world.” That is, it does not emanate from this world. He is not (f out of this world. John 8, 23. Both He and His Kingdom are from above. Col. 3, 1-4 ; Gal. 4. 26. But it will be set up on this earth, in accordance with the prayer which he taught us “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” Luke II, 2; Dan. 2, 44, +7, 14, 18,27; Jer. 23, 5-6. Earth- ly kingdoms are corrupted by the deception of Satan. But in the millennial kingdom he will not deceive them, for he shall be bound. Rev. 20, 1-3. There is nothing essentially sinful in matter. Adam was sinless before his fall and he had a material body. Christ has a material body and is without sin. The earth was cursed because of sin and the spirit of the world clings to sin. Rom. i, 17, 32. But when the curse is removed (Rev. 22, 3) and all things that offend are gathered out of the JESUS IS COMING. 79 kingdom (Mat. 13, 41), then shall all creation have that for which it groans (Rom. 8, 19-23), and the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom ot their Father. Mat. 13 - 43 - V. It is objected, that the kingdom of God is not ma- terial and visible, but that it is spiritual and invisible. In support of this the following words of Jesus in Luke 17, 20- 21 are cited. “ When He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said : The kingdom of God cometh not with obser- vation ; neither shall they say, lo, here ! or lo, there ! for be- hold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Observation should be translated “ careful watching,” see Dr. Adam Clarke, or “narrow watching,” see Rotherham. The marginal, and better reading for “ within you ” is “among you.” see Rotherham, Wilson, Prof. Whitting, and others. He did not say that the kingdom of God was with- in, or in the hearts of those wicked Pharisees, but that it was among them, viz: within the Jewish nation. As Bengel states it, “ within is here used, not in any respect of the heart of individual Pharisees, .... but in respect to the whole Jewish people. The King, Messiah, and therefore the kingdom is here : ye see and ye hear.” The sense, then, is as follows : The kingdom of God cometh not with “careful watching.” That is, not in such a way as to be discerned only by sagacious critics, nor is it to be seen only by those who are scrupulously watching for it. They shall not say, Behold here or there, for the king- dom ot God is among you, to-wit : it was then visibly present among them, in the person of Jesus the King. And so it will be visibly present when He comes again. Rev. 6, 1 6. It did not, and will not, need scrupulous watching to discern it. Had they received Him with faith, — instead of 8d 7 ESC/S IS COMING. (narrowly) watching Him with deceitful spies, Luke 20, 20 — they might have realized that their King was then visibly present, and ready to usher in the universal manifestation of the kingdom, which had been seen by the favored disciples on the Mount. Mat, 17, 9; Mark 9. i-io,+2 Pet. i. 16-18. How gladly He would have then fully manifested Himself as King, and established His Kingdom among them, is shown by His words of tender yearning in Mat. 23. 37-39. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the prophets, and stonestthem which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gath- ereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not ! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto \ ou. Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say. Blessed w he that cometh in the name of the Lord.’’ He came in His Father’s name ; but the Israelites to whom He spoke would not receive Him John 5, 43. “ He came unto His own and His own received Him not.” John I, II. Prefering a robber, they rejected and crucified their King and so the kingdom waits until they shall accept Him (Zech. 12, 10, + 13, 6; Mat. 23,39; Rom. 1 1, 25-28), when the king- dom of the world shall become the kingdom of our Lord’s and of His Christ’s and He shall reign for the AGES OF AGES. See Greek. Rev. ii, 15. Oh ! Blessed “ King of Kings \ ” come, and may “ Thy Kingdom Come.” The King there in His beauty, Without a veil is seen ; It were a well-spent journey, Though sev’n deaths lay between^ The Lamb, with His fair army, Doth on Mount Zion stand, And glory, glory dwelleth In Imrnanuers land* JESUS IS COMING. 8i VI. It is objected that Paul said, “The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Rom. 14, 17, Indeed it is not “ meat and drink,” or eating and drinking, or simply outward observances. Neither was the Kingdom of Israel meat and drink, nor the Roman Empire. But the subjects ol each did eat and drink, and Paul simply taught that they should do so circumspectly and with charity. So will the subjects of the Kingdom of God eat and drink. Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdom ol God.” Luke 14, 15. “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Rev. 19, 9, See the Feast of Isa. 25, 6-8. Jesus himself said, “ I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” Mat. 26, 29. And again. “ i appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Fath- er hath appointed unto me ; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom.” Luke 22, 29-30. This is the strongest proof that the kingdom will be literal and mate- rial, though it shall be freed from the curse of sin. Mat. 13, 4143- VII. It is objected that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. i Cor. 15, 50. Certainly we do not inherit it through the flesh — the unregenerate man. But through the Spirit we are born again (John 3, 3-5), created anew in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2, 10), and made “joint heirs” with Him. Rom. 8, iS'iy. The flesh profiteth nothing. The Spirit quickeneth. John 6, 63. Paul in this chapter (i Cor. 15), is treating of the subject of the resurrection which he proves to be so important, that without it, we could not inherit, or become possessed of the Kingdom of God. “Flesh and blood ” he says cannot in 82 JESUS IS COMING, herit it, and therefore he shows that at the resurrection, ou^ bodies of corruptible flesh and blood, which have died, shall be raised in incorruption and immortality. And the bodies of those who are living at that time shall be changed and (see Phil. 3. 20-21) “fashioned like unto His glorious body." Now, in our flesh and blood, we are bearing the image of Adam, the first man, “ which is of the earth, earthy." But at the resurrection we shall be changed so as to “ bear the image of the heavenly," “the second man," “ the Lord from heaven." See verses 4 S- 4 - 9 * And He who raised up Christ from the dead, and who hath given us the Spirit of adoption (sons hip) whereby we become heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, will, by His Spirit that dwelleth in us, also quicken (or make alive) our mortal bodies. Rom. 8, 11-17. Then, and then only, can ive inherit (i Cor. 15, 50), or come into possession of the Kingdom (Dan. 7, 18, 22), which God hath promised to give uuto us. Luke 12, 32. Hence, we see the vital importance of the resurrection, without which we could not inherit the Kingdom of God,* verse 50. The evident purpose of this objection is to support the assertion made by Post-millen- nialists that the Kingdom is only spiritual and that there is nothing literal or material in it. But Paul says nothing of the kind and his whole argument is entirely to the contrary. For he asserts that our (T oofuia (soma-body) which is sown in corruption, dishonor and weakness, will be raised in incor- ruption glory and power, (see verses 42-44 and 53-54) or if living, will be changed in the twinkling of an eye (verses 51- 52). In these glorified bodies we shall “ inherit the king- dom prepared for" us “from the foundation of the world." Mat. 25, 34. For Christ the rightful heir of all things (Mat, *Here let it be noticed is another evidence that the Kingdom is yet future. JESUS JS COMING, 83 21, 38 ; Heb. i, 2, + 1 Tim. 6, 1 5) will be there and we shall be there to reign with Him. Rom. 8, 17, +2 Tim. 2,12 ; John 17, 24. And He will have his glorified body, His body that was raised (Luke 24. 39) and ascended (Acts i, 9) and entered into Heaven. Heb. 4, 14, +9, 24. The glorified body which Stephen saw there, Acts 7, 55, and which Paul saw (Acts 9, 5) and also John, Rev. i, 13. The body which bears the scars of the cross (Rev. 5, 6) ; “ A Lamb as it had been slain.” Yes, He will return in the flesh. Acts I, II. The true reading of 2 John 7, is, “ who confess not Jesus Christ coming* in the flesh.” See also Isa. 63, i- 6, and Rev. 19, 11-16. And “ we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him.” i John 3, 2. Therefore it is clear, that we, in these same bodies, changed into the im- age of Christ’s glorious body, shall inherit the Kingd om of God. VIII. It is objected that this doctrine disparages the work of the Holy Spirit. Not so ! For what is the work of the Holy Spirit } He is gathering the bride. He teaches, guides, and comforts her (John 14, 17-26,416, 13-15), until she is presented to Christ. Eph. 5. 27. At the same time He reproves the world of sin^ and of righteousness, and judgment. John 16, 8. He may be grieved (Eph. 4, 30), resisted (Acts 7, 51), and quenched (i Thes. 5, 19) now, but He will not always strive with man. Gen. 6, 3. His present work will be finished, and the King of kings and Lord of lords will come forth with the armies of heaven to subdue His enemies (Rev. 19) and finish the work. Rom. 9, 28, &c. It was ‘‘ the Spirit of God,’ which “moved upon the face *Gr. coming. See page 142. 84 JESUS IS COMING. of the waters ” in the beginning (Gen. i, 2 ), and we believe He had a part in all the work of creation, Gen. i, 26. He strove with sinners before the flood, Gen. 6, 3. He spake by the prophets, Acts i, 16, +2 Pet. i, 21. He was specially granted unto Joseph and others. Gen. 41, 38 ; Ex. 31, 3 ; Num. 1 1, 17, +24, 2, +27, 18, +2 Kings 2, 9, &c. &c. In short, He has been engaged in all the work of crea- tion and redemption. We do not believe that His work is a failure because of the flood, nor because the Jews have rejected Christ, and as natural branches, have been broken off. Rom. II, 20. Neither do we believe His work will be a failure, though the preaching of the gospel in the present dispensation shall only result in the salvation of '‘some.*' Luke 13, 23-24, + ! Cor. 9, 22. We feel sure that He shall have a part in the glory and triumph of the millennial dis- pensation, for even the Israelites shall then have a new Spirit within them. Ezk. ii, 19, and refs. And the nations are to be ruled, in peace and righteousness, by Him upon whom the Spirit of the Lord doth rest. Isa. ii, 2-4, +61,1-3. Let us then have no fear of jealousy on the part of the Spirit, because of the triumphs of Christ. Rather let us be sure that He seeks to hasten the presentation of the bride, — which is being sealed by Him (Eph. 4, 20), — unto her Lord — who hath the spirit without measure (John 3, 34), that these twain, united into one (Eph. 5, 30. 32), may be the one per- fect man (Eph. 4, 12-13), the Holy temple (i Cor, 3, 16, +6, 19 + 2 Cor. 6, 16), built for the habitation of God in Spirit.* Eph. 2, 20-22. And who can estimate what shall be accom - plished by the Spirit, through this holy, living Temple, in which He shall dwell. No wonder that He yearns to hasten its completion. See the type of His haste in Gen, 24,56. But this completion shall not take place until the Lord *So the Greek. IS COMIMG, BS comes, when the Head shall forever be united to the body. I Thes. 4, 1 8. Therefore, in this we may realize, to some extent, the meaning of that yearning cry of the Spirit ‘ Even SO COME Lord Jesus.’ Rev. 22, 20. IX. It is said that it makes the gospel a failure. But this is not so. Man is a failure. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Rom. I, 16). It is not the incompetency of the gospel, but the willful unbelief of sinners that prevents the evangeliza- tion of the world. Jesus said ; “ Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6, 37. But He also said Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life.” John 5, 40. While we are to preach the gospel everywhere, we are not to expect that all will receive it. For, when “ He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,” He also added, “ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16, 15-16. But “what if some did not be- lieve? Shall their unbelief make the truth of God ot none effect ? God forbid.” Rom. 3, 3. Salvation shall be revealed in the last time, i Peter i, 5. Jesus shall see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied. Isa. 53, II. “ After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in their hands, and cried with a loud voice, saying : Salvation to our God which sit- teth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” Rev. 7, 9-10. Alleluia ; Amen ; Alleluia. X, It is objected that the gospel has not yet been preached in all the world, as Christ asserted it should be, in Mat. 24, 14, and therefore we cannot yet look for Christ, nor the end to come. Let us carefully examine this pasage •. 86 JESUS IS COMING. “ This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations ; and then shall the end come.’’ 1st. The end is unquestionably the end of the age (rov ai&jvo^-iou aionos) of which the disciples asked in verse 3. 2d. The world ( oiHOV /len^-oikoiimenct) means habita- ble, that is, the inhabited earth. 3d. The gospel of the kingdom, is the good news, or glad tidings of the kingdom to come. These glad tidings, it is asserted shall be proclaimed in all the inhabited earth for a witness unto all nations and then (rorf-tote) shall come the end of this age — or dispensa- tion. It will be noticed that the time, during which the preaching shall continue, is determined entirely by the qual- ifying clause “for a witness unto all nations.” When the witness is complete, then shall the end come. Now, no finite mind can determine when the witness is complete. If we could, the evidence is to the effect that it has passed already. For when the gospel was preached on the day of Pentecost, there were present “ devout men out of every nation under heaven.” Acts 2, 5. Afterward the disciples were scattered abroad and went about preaching the Word. Acts 8, 4. “ And they went forth and preached everywhere.” Mark 16, 20 * Paul says, in Rom. 10, 18, “ Their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world,”*! (world here being from the same word oiHOV/ASrf^-oikoumenee that is used in Mat. 24, 14). And again he says in Col. i, 23*! that the gospel had al- ready been “ preached to every creature which is under heaven.” *See Bengeirs Gnomon. |See Jamison P'aussett and Brown, also Alford. JESUS IS COMING, These inspired statements as to the universal preaching of the gospel ought to be conclusive. Mighty as it makes the work of the early disciples, J do not see how we can re- fuse to accept it. (See Dr. A. Clarke on Mat. 24, 14 as to the especial point of the universality of this preaching, also the authorities previously cited). Surely we must give no broader meaning to the word oiKOVjxevrj (oikoumenee) used by the Holy Spirit in Mat. 24, 14 than in Rom. 10, 18, or than to the equally strong words used in Col. i, 6 and 23. If we limit the one, we can with equal propriety, limit the other. Because we have so full an account of Paul’s work, we are apt to depreciate what was accomplished by the other Apostles and Disciples. Peter was in Babylon (i Pet. 5, 13), and tradition gives us account of the preaching of the gospel in Parthia, India, Ethiopia, Scythia, Spain and Britain. So then we may rest confidently on the plain statement of Col. I, 23, as being such fulfillment of Mat 24, 14, that the church from that day to the present, has not had, neither can have, in this, any sign or prophesied event standing be- tween believers and the Lord’s coming. If we take it upon ourselves to judge that the witness is not complete, or more presumingly, that it cannot be complete for centuries to come, then are we foolishly assuming a prerogative which belongs to God only. Surely, only God can judge when the witness to all nations is complete, and here lies the essence of this entire ques- tion. If the church is the agent which is to proclaim the gospel until the witness is complete, no mortal can judge but what the witness shall be completed this moment. But we have no evidence that the church is the only agent, and it is quite probable that she is not, for we read of another agent in Rev. 14, 6. Therefore the witness may not be completed, until after yESUS JS COMiNd, 8iS the church is taken away, and this other heavenly messenger proclaims the everlasting gospel to them that dwell on the earth, even unto every nation and tribe and tongue and peo- ple. Rev. X4, 6 (see Greek). In this case it is not the church which shall complete the witness and it evidently can be no sign to her. We conclude then that like the “ day and hour Mat. 24, 36), it is known to God only, and the church can have no definite sign in it. Therefore nothing is left for us to do, but to faithfully continue proclaiming the glad tidings of the coming kingdom while we watch momentarily for the Bride- groom. XI. It is objected, that we are taught in Mat. 16, 28 ; Mark 9, i, and Luke 9, 27 that the coming of Christ, and of the kingdom, should occur during the lifetime of some of the multitude (Mar. 8, 34) to whom Jesus spake, and that there- fore His coming and kingdom can only be interpreted spir- itually y viz : the establishment of the power ot the gospel, by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, on the day of Pentecost, or as some figuratively, viz: the destruction of Jerusa- lem and the Jewish polity by the Romans, and the estab- lishment ot the church. That is, as they say, — Christ came, by His Spirit, on the day of Pentecost and manifested His power through the disciples, in the preaching of the gospel, performing ot miracles, &c., — or. He came through the Ro- man army, destroyed Jerusalem and overthrew the Jewish polity, — and that His Kingdom, is the church over which He now reigns, or (as some say) in which, or through which He now reigns over the nations of the earth. We answer — The Holy Spirit is a distinct person, not to be confounded with the person of Christ. The Saviour ex- pressly said : “ I will pray the Father and He shall give you another comforter" (John 14, 16), and if it be another, it can- JESUS IS COMING, 89 not be Himself He, the Holy Spirit, came according to the promises (John 14, 16, 26,4-15, 26, 4- 16, 7), and it is entirely inconsistent to confound this event with Christ’s return, which latter, is in accordance with other promises, that He should Himself come again. They are two events, as dis- tinct as the births of Moses and John. It is true that Christ is spiritually with, or in, believers (John 14, 23, 4- 1 5, 4, 4 - 17, 23 ; Gal. 4, 19 ; ) and it is just as true that He always has been, and that in this sense He has never left them, for He said : Lo ! I am with you alway” Mat. 28, 20. Mark the language : “ I am with you alway.” He was with them during those days of prayer previous to the day of Pentecost, and He has been with His people all the time. But suddenly the (Parakleetos) Comforter came, anoth- er person and for a special and glorious purpose. It is. therefore, conclusive, that this coming of the Holy Spirit is a manifestation of the Divine presence, entirely different from, and superadded to, the spiritual presence of Christ, which latter, according to His own language, has neve^* been with- drawn from His people. He never went away spiritually, but he did go personally and visibly, and in like manner shall He return. Acts i. ii. Again, after the day of Pentecost, the disciples continued to talk of the coming of Christ, which they surely would not have done if His promise to return was fulfilled on that day. And after the destruction of Jerusalem (about A. D. 71), St. John wrote the book of Revelation (about A. D. 96), in which he repeatedly speaks of the coming of Christ as being yet future, clearly showing that it could not have been fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem. Again, as we have before shown, the church is not the kingdom, but the body of Christ (Eph. i , 22-23) bride. Eph. 5. She is not to be reigned over (John 15, 15) but to go yESUS JS COMING. suffer and reign with Christ. Rom. 8, 17, +2 Tim. 2, 12 She is to be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God for which she suffers/' (2 Thes. i, 5) and therefore Paul exhorts the disciples (members of the church) ‘‘that they must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God." (Acts 14, 22), and Peter stirs us up, putting us in remem- brance to add the Christian graces and give all diligence to make our calling and election sure, for so an entrance shall be ministered unto “ us " into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ." 2 Pet. i, 5-11. Surely this language plainly distinguishes between the church and the kingdom, and as plainly asserts that the kingdom is yet future. So we see that both the spiritual and figurative interpretations of the coming of Christ are without foundation. Another theory has been advanced, viz : that the coming of Christ in His Kingdom (Mat. 16, 28) was fulfilled in what they term the spiritual coming on the day of Pentecost, — and that His coming in the clouds of heaven, in the glory of His Father, with the holy angels, &c., is his real, person- al. visible coming at the end of the gospel age (which they also hold to be the end of time and of the world. This seems to us to be founded upon a mere distinction of terms, where there is no difference in fact. For is it not at His coming in His Kingdom that he shall be manifested in His glory 2 Thes. i, 10. History proves — and all our ideas of the glory of Kings coincides with the fact — that such glory is identical with the majesty and manifestation of their kingdoms. It is in Christ’s Kingdom that He shall rule all nations with a rod of iron (Psa. 2, 8-9 ; Rev. 12, 5, +19, 15), and it is in His Kingdom that He is to be manifested as “ the Blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.'' JESUS IS COMING. 9 ^ ) Tim. 6, 15; Rev. 19, 16, Therefore His coming in His Kingdom and His coming in His glory are synonymous, and both are yet future. Then what do the passages mean, to wit : Mat, 16, 28, “verily I say unto you, there be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom,” — or as in Mark 9, i, “till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power,” — or as in Luke 9, 27, “till they see the kingdom of God.” We answer first, the limiting clause “ shall not taste of death ” may have the deep signification, in which sense the true believers, who were standing there, shall never experi- ence it. See John 8, 5i'52. This is certainly the significa- tion the same language has in Heb. 2, 9, and if we under- stand it likewise in these passages, then we have all eternity for the fulfillment. However we only suggest this. We do not rely upon it, for we believe the word “ till ” more than intimates that the “ some ” should taste of death, and that therefore natural death or separation of soul and body was meant. But now let us mark well what the “some ” standing there were to see, and then let us go up the Mount of Transfigur- ation, and gaze through the favored eyes of Peter, James and John upon the scene which is recorded immediately after the passages we are considering. Behold His face shining as the sun and His raiment white and glistening as the snow, or as the light. See Moses and Elias as they appear in with Him, and listen to the communings of this exalted trio. Then bow in silent awe, as the cloud of surpassing glory overshadows them, and reverently listen to the voice of God, the Father, saying “ This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him.” No wonder that, even the fa- vored and beloved disciples, trembled with fear beneath this 92 JESUS IS COMING, supernatural majesty and effulgent glory. Surely this was I Am (John 8, 58) spanning the centuries and giving these apostles a view of His coming and kingdom. So they understood it and Peter especially confirms it. ‘‘For,” he says, “we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and com- ing of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye witnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the ex- cellent glory, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount.” 2 Pet. i, 16' 18. We cannot tell how much of the future they saw in that enraptured hour, but doubtless they had a specific vision of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in His kingdom and glory. And we have only to turn to Revelation, where we find that He “which is and which was, and which is to come ” permitted John \o see (Rev. i, 2, ii &c.) it most definitely. His enraptured vision swept the centuries. Time, to him, was annihilated and he gazed upon the literal facts. He actually saw them. Thirty-six times does he say “ I saw,” seven times “ I beheld,” and five times “ I looked,” besides many similar expressions. And he saw the very things mentione 1 in the passages. “ And I SAW heaven opened, and behold a white horse ; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire and on His head were many crowns, .... and He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood : and His name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean And He hath on His ves- ture and on His thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lopd of Lords. He saw the beast and kings of the earth gathered and JESUS /S COMING. 93 taken and cast into the lake of fire. He saw Satan bound, and he saw Christ and His saints reigning for a thousand years. He saw it all in perfect fulfillment of the statements in the passages we are considering. Rev. 19, + 20. Paul also saw Christ in His glory and doubtless he saw all that John did, and probably more, for He saw things that it was impossible for a man to utter. (2 Cor. 12, 4, margin.) Surely these are an absolute and literal fulfillment of what Jesus promised “ some ” should see, and satisfactorily explain the passages in question. Another passage is cited in support of the above theories, viz : the spiritual coming on the day of Pentecost or the figurative coming, in the destruction of Jernsalem &c., and that is Mat. 10, 23, “verily I say unto you ye shall not have gone over (or finish) the cities of Israel, till the Son of Man be come." In regard to this we answer, that this was spoken to the twelve disciples, when Jesus sent them forth two by two, with a message especially for and exclusively to Israel. We find from Mark 6, 30, and Luke 9, 10, that they returned to the Master, of course, without finishing the cities. And there is no evidence that they ever, in like manner, renewed the visitation preaching the message “ the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (See Mat. 10, 7). Indeed they could not, for Is- rael had rejected their King, and the kingdom had become like a nobleman which went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and return. Luke 19. ii, &c. But from the force of the word “ till " we believe that the message will be renewed (perhaps by the “ two witnesses " after the Church is taken away,) to the unbelieving Israelites, who shall yet return to their land and restore Judaism (See Isa. 40, 9-1 1 margin), and before they shall have gone over the rebuilt cities, the Son of Man shall appear again. P 4 JESUS IS COMING. XII. It is objected that this doctrine presents a gloomy view of the future, — that “it is the philosophy of despair,’* — that it stands opposed to the popular idea ; viz : that the world is growing better, and “if it is true,” it is sarcastically said, “we might as well fold our hands and wait for Christ to come.” We candidly think that many, who raise these objections, have altogether mistaken the spirit and work of Pre-milleni alists. We neither despair, nor fold our hands to sleep. On the contrary, we are filled with a lively (Greek — living) hope (i Pet. I, 3), the most “blessed hope ” (Tit. 2, 13), while we strive to save some from this worldly, sinful and adulterous generation, which is nigh unto cursing and whose end is to be burned. Gal. 1,4; Heb. 6, 8 ; Mai. 4, i. We would not deceive them with the hallucination that they are “growing better,” for as the apostle has said, “ we know that we are of God and the whole world lieth in wick- edness (Greek, — in the wicked one), i John 5, 19 — and there- fore we would tell them in the plain words of Scripture, that they are in the broad way that leadeth to destruction .(Mat. 7, 13), and that they must repent or perish. Luke 13, 3. And further that this same world, once overflowed by the flood, is now “ stored with fire* against the day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 2 Pet. 3, 5-7. We rejoice over every one of those, who by believing the gospel, the good news of the coming kingdom, (Acts 14, 21- 22), are saved from this awful fate and made “Joint heirs with Christ,” (Rom. 8, 16-17) “to an inheritance ... re- served in heaven for us,” and “ who are kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation, ready to be revealed in t;he last time,” and who “ hope to the end for the grace that *So the Greek. JESUS IS COMING. 95 !s to be brought unto " us “ at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” I Pet. I, 4, 5, 13. Surely this positive conviction of coming doom is a might- ier incentive to action, than can be the quieting fallacy, that things are moving on prosperously and that EVEN THE WORLD IS GETTING BETTER. And this is clearly proved by the zeal and faithful work of the ministers, evangelists, and laymen, who hold and pro- claim this doctrine of the pre-millennial coming of Christ. It is true that they do not expect the conversion of the world in this present evil age* (Gal. i, 4), but they do believe that a millennial age of peace is coming, and they do strive in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation," to shine as lights in the world holding forth the word of life," (Phil. 2, 15-16) that they may snatch some brands from the burning (Mai. 4, i ; i Cor. 3, 13-15 ; Jude 23), to increase the godly company who shall be ready to welcome the Bride- groom. Mat. 25, 10. Why then should they be so bitterly opposed for proclaim- ing this scriptural doctrine ? Are they not all members of the body of Christ (i Cor. 12, 12-27)? And, as such, do they not merit the warmest sympathy and prayers of the Church ? Shall they be condemned, because, like the early church, they are holding the traditions (or teachings handed down) of the apostles (2 Thes. 2, 5, 15) and looking for Jesus (Phil. 3, 20; Tit. 2, 13 ; Heb. 9, 28)? God forbid ! But let us remember that “we be brethren," strangers and pilgrims (Heb. 11, 13), whose “ citizenship " is in heaven (Phil. 3, 20). And let us speak “the truth in love," be built up in love (Eph.4, 15-16), and “ walk in love," (Eph. 5, 2) “ redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Eph. 5, 16. *So the Greek. 96 JESUS IS COMING, Yes, THE DAYS ARE EVIL, and we freely admit that this doctrine does present a gloomy future in the present evil age, for this world of sinners, who are full of unbelief and radi- cally opposed to Christ, His people and His salvation , (John 14, 18-22, -m6, 33, -M7, 14; 2 Cor. 6, 14-18; Eph 5, ii ; James 4, 14; i John 2, 15, -1-5, 19, and many others,) They are rejecting God^s gracious entreaties for reconciliation, (2 Cor. 5, 20) and rushing madly on toward the day of wrath. Rev. 6, 15 17. But there is no gloom in the future for those who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us,” (Heb. 6, 18) and “ who have received the Spirit of adoption,” become children ” and “ heirs of God ^.nd joint heirs with Christ. . . For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.^’ Rom. 8, 15-18. There seems to be a prevailing disposition to balance up the good and the bad in the world by a process of general average, in which the triumphs of art and science, the pro- gress in inventions, discoveries, etc., are counted as moral goodness, and it is concluded that the world, on the average, is growing better. But this is utterly fallacious and, we fear, a grand decep- tion of Satan, for. First, there is no such thing as averaging together the true church and the world. There is no possible consan- guinity. The one is from beneath,”— the other “from above.” The one “is of this world,” — the other “ not of this world.” John 8, 23. They must not be yoked together, tor there is no fellowship, communion, concord, part or agre^r- ment between them. They are and always must be separa;?.e. 2 Cor. 6, 14-18. The true church is in the world, but not of it (John 17, 1 1 -16). There are three parties, in the world. JESUS IS COMING. 97 viz : the Jew, the Gentile and the Church of God (i Cor. lo.. 32). As the Jews were a separate, called-out and peculiar people (Ex. 19, 5~6, +33, 16 ; Deut. 7, 6; Psa. 135, 4), not to be reckoned among the nations (Nu. 23, 9), so is this true church a separate and peculiar people (Tit. 2, 14 ; i Pet. 2, 9), called unto cleansing and holiness (2 Cor. 7, i ;Eph. 5, 25-27) sealed by the Spirit of God, unto the day of redemption (Eph, 4, 30), no longer darkness but ‘‘ children of light,” and exhorted to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness ” (Eph. 5, 8-11). They are of God while the whole world lies in the wicked one.* i John 5, 19. There is an irrepressible conflict between them — no possible harmony exists. On the contrary, their principles and tendencies are absolutely opposite. It is therefore entirely inconsistent that they should be spoken of as forming one general mass. Second, the triumphs of art and science, the progress in inventions, discoveries, etc., by no means argue an increase in godliness. Many of the acknowledged leaders, to-day, in science and philosophy, yes, even those who rank the very highest among them are positive infidels. And very many more, who disclaim absolute infidelity, deny the divinity of Jesus Christ. It is strange, indeed, that the Christian optimists, in their noisy trumpetings of the strides of science, should lose sight of this momentous fact. And history bears a similar testi- mony. The power, splendor and wisdom of David and Solomon were followed by the idolatry and innocent blood of Ahab and Manasseh, resulting in the overthrow of Jerusalem, and the Babylonish captivity. The temple, built by Herod was one of the grandest works of art. It fairly flashed with splendor, and the temple ser- vice was conducted on a magnificent scale. The Jews, of * So the Greek, g8 JESUS IS COMING. his time, enjoyed great privileges in literature and learning, and yet they crucified the Lord Jesus. The Greeks rose to a pinnacle of triumph in literature, poetry and art, and yet they failed by wisdom to find out God. To them he was the unknown God. Acts 17, 23. See how plainly this is brought out in i Cor. chapters i, 2 and 3, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (i, 21). The trouble is not with the heads, but with the hearts of men. No matter how great the learning, man must have a new heart, and this is obtained not by education, but by the operation of the Spirit of God. It was not many wise men after the flesh who received the grace of God in Corinth, but the simple and the despised. “ I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,” said Jesus, “ that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent (discerning ones) and hast re- vealed them unto babes.” Luke 10, 21. The world then by “wisdom” or “philosophy ” (Col. 2, 8), or “ science falsely so called” (i Tim. 6, 20) can never find out God. Indeed, we have a clear evidence of this, in the ration- alism, infidelity and atheism of our day. No matter how re- fined and polished is their garb or the delicacy with which they may be set forth, still they are only the poisonous deceptions of him, who can appear as “ an angel of light” (2 Cor. ii, 14). The truth is, that Satan is the arch enemy of God, and the world, in this present evil age (Gal. i, 4) is in his power (John 5, 19) so that he besets the people of God with his “ wiles,” and arrays against them “ principalities, powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world.” Eph. 6, 11-13. Therefore the Christian must “love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him. JESUS IS COMING. 99 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." i John 2, 15-16. Surely then this wicked world, which is so radically opposed to God, and under the present control of His arch enemy, is not growing better- On the contrary, judgment, fire and perdition are before it. (2 Pet. 2. 2-6, +3, 7 ; Jude 7 ; Mark 9, 43-48 &c., &c.) Perilous times are coming ( i Tim. 4, i &c., + 2 Tim. 3, I &c.). “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived.’^ The tares, which naturally grow much faster than the wheat, shall con- tinue up to the harvest. (Mat. 13, 40) “The mystery of iniquity " which already worked in the days of the apostles, shall culminate in “ the man of sin" the personal antichrist, whom even the mass of the Jews will receive (John 5, 43 ; Isa. 28, 15 22), and who will be so great and rule with such universal authority, that he is to be destroyed only, by the personal appearing of the Lord Himself. 2 Thes. 2, 8. There is no hope then, for the world, but in the coming of Christ the King. And, praised be God for the promises. The Lord will come at the end of this age. Antichrist will be destroyed (2 Thes. 2, 8; Rev. 19, 20). All things that oflend shall be gathered out (Mat. 13, 41 43) and the Millen- nial Kingdom of righteousness shall be established on the earth. So while there is a gloomy prospect for the world during this evil age, there is a bright and glorious prospect during the coming millennial age. But perhaps it is still insisted that the world has made great progress in civilization and refinement, in benevolence, in personal liberty, international fraternity, Christian work, &c. In proof of this, the abrogation of slavery is cited, — also the cessation of the inquisition and martyrdom — the es- tablishment of charitable institutions, the great postal and lOO JESUS IS COMING. commercial means of communication, built upon the agen- cies of steam and lightning — the right of trial by jury, In ternational arbitration, missionary triumphs, &c. Well, first of all we answer that civilization and refine- ment are not the source of holiness. They may elevate the head while the heart is untouched. The gilded palace of sin is as certainly the gateway to hell, as the darkest den of vice. The cultured and scientific atheist, is as surely in the ser vice of Satan, as the thief or the murderer. Jesus, Himself classed them all together when He said he that is not with me is against me.” Mat. 12, 30. So it matters not how much more like an angel of light the serpent may appear? nor how civilized and refined the world may be, Satan is the devil still. And the world is still the world. His manifestations and methods may be changed, but the spirit of darkness is the same. And accordingly, we see that while slavery is disappearing — communism, socialism and nihilism are lifting their godless, headless forms. And darker are their forbodings than were even the days of the inquisition and martyrdom. Oppressing monopolies, syste- matic peculation and fraud are parallel with charitable insti- tutions. The mails, so useful for news and correspon- dence, afford a most convenient agency for disseminat- ing the flood of obscene literature, which is blasting the morals of the young. Trial by Jury has too often proved a mere farce, in which the criminal escapes. The Nation which opened the way for the missionary, also forced upon the teeming millions of China the awful curse of Opium. While missionary efforts have been greatly blessed abroad (and praise God that they have), infallibility, ritualism, skep- ticism and desecration of the Lord’s day have more than equally triumphed at home. And let it not be forgotten that JESUS IS COMING. loi the monstrous assumption of infallibility has triumphed in what was once an apostolic church of Christ, the mother of us all. The past century has had its full share of war and carnage. Numerous, dark and fearful have been the fields of blood up to this very year. In short, Satan is on the alert, and fully up to the times, multiplying his deceptions on either hand, as he will continue to do, until chained by the angel, at the beginning of the Millennium. Rev. 20, 1-3. Lastly, it is argued that, as Christians are the light of the world, and the salt of the earth (Mat. 5, 13, 16 ; Phil. 2, 15), the greatly increased number of professed Christians must certainly have augmented the light and the salt, and conse- quently have made the world better. Jesus was indeed the light of the world, but He shone in the darkness and the darkness comprehended it not. Men loving and clinging to the darkness, because their deeds were evil, would not see the light, and were not made better by it. John i, 5, +3, 19-21. So true Christians, reflecting the the light from heaven, only intensify the darkness about them. The darkness is still darkness and cannot be im- proved. The sinner must forsake it and come to the light or he can never be sav^ed. Let us notice carefully that Jesus speaks of the salt losing its saltness and becoming good for nothing, and He also intimates that the light may be hid under a bushel. And therefore He exhorts, “ Have salt in yourselves.” Mark 9, 50. Evidently the Jews lost their “ savour,” (Mat. 5,' 13) and “ were broken off” Rom. 1 1, 20. This leads to the solemn query, — is the professing Church progressing or declining in faith and spiritual life } The kingdom in mystery (Mat. 13, 10- ii), or the state of JESUS JS COMING. io2 Christenuom Christ comes again, is taught us, we believe, by the parables of Mat. 13. The parable of the Sower shows the varied and imper- fect reception of the Word. The parable of the Tares shows the early and continued effects of Satan’s presence among the saints. The parable of the Mustard-seed shows outward growth sheltering evil. The parable of the Leaven shows the gradual and utter corruption of the truth. The parable of the Treasure hid in a field shows what Israel is to be in the world. The parable of the Pearl of great price shows what the Church is to Christ. And the parable of the Drag- net shows the cleansing of the kingdom at His second coming.” There is, perhaps, but little opposition to this interpreta- tion of the parables, excepting that of the Leaven, which has quite extensively been interpreted to teach exactly the oppo- site, viz: that the power and influence of the gospel or Christian life is to permeate the masses of the world, until the whole is leavened into holiness. The inconsistency of this is seen when we consider that precisely the contrary is taught by the parable of the sower and the tares, each of which most undisputably show that^evil is to continue and grow up to the end of the age. This is surely the most sufficient and scriptural reason for assigning the same typ- ical meaning to the leaven, in this and the correlative pas- sage (Luke 13. 21), which we find it to bear in the numerous other passages, where the same word is used, viz : the con rupting influence of evil and the symbol of death. See care' fully Mat. 16, 6-12 ; Mark 8, 15 ; Luke 12, i ; i Cor. 5, 6-8; Gal. 5, 9. Here then we are most emphatically taught not only that the world is growing no better, but that the professing church itself, will lose its saltness, becoming nominal and yESUS IS COMING, 103 lukewarm, fit only to be spued out of the Master’s mouth. Rev, 3, 16. The entire teaching of the Word of God, we believe, agrees with this. And we have but to take an unprejudiced survey of the church even now, to seethe truth of it. The loss of spiritual power in the different branches of the great nominal church, has not resulted from the casting out of truth, but from the imbibing and internal workings of false doctrine, which, like leaven have fermented the mass. Little by little the ordi- nary bishop of Rome has developed into an infallible Pope. Image worship, the confessional, world conformity and post- millennialism have all worked out their enormous growth like the little leaven in the meal. How do the great Papal, Greek, Lutheran and Anglican churches, in their stateliness, ritualism, popularity and spir- itual emptiness of to-day, compare with the despised Naza- rene and his followers (i John 4, 17), or with the persecuted, consecrated and godly congregations (ekkleesias) of the first two centuries. And are not the present evangelical denominations, by world- ly conformity and increeping doubts regarding the inspiration of the Word, &c., dangerously tending in the same direction } j How very few among them are to-day crying out for separa- ticn and holiness. Surely, no one can fail to see the corrupt- ing influences of the leaven permeating even all of them. We realize that this is an awful fact. It is not even pleas- ant to state it. But, while Noah’s preaching was not pleas- ant to them that heard it, still it was true and the flood did come. Likewise the prophesying of Jeremiah was exceed- ingly unpleasant, but it was true and was followed by the terrible fate of the city, and the Babylonian captivity. The preaching of Jesus was at times of fearful severity (Mat. ii, 21-24, -fi8, 7-9, -f23, 13-39), but was it not true? So 104 JESUS IS COMING, would we humbly, yet faithfully proclaim the Word of God. We would cry aloud and spare not,” (Isa. 58.) fully believ- ing that, upon an apostate church (2 Tim. 3, 6-9, 4-4, 3-4; Rev. 17), rebellious and murderous Israel (Mat. 27, 25), and a sinful world, the day of darkness is coming. Joel i, 15 ; Amos 5, 18-20; Zeph. i, 14-18; Mai. 4, i ; 2 Pet. 2, 17 ;Jude 5 - 13 ' But even in the darkness, so gloomy for the ungodly, there is hope — bright, glorious hope for the faithful, i Thes. 5, 5-8; I Pet. I, 13. For God always has had, and ever will have a faithful remnant, i Kings 19, 18 ; Rom. ii, 5. There were those, in blind unbelieving Israel, who waited for and accepted the Messiah. Luke 2, &c. So there will be those in the church who will wait for (i Thes. i, 10) and welcome the coming Bridegroom , Mat. 25, 10. And there shall be a remnant in Israel, who, passing through the darkness and fire (Zech. 13, 9), will yet accept their King. Zech. 12, 10, Rom. 9, 27, +11, 25-26. And there shall even be a remnant (residue or remainder) among the Gentiles (ungodly world) who shall seek after the Lord. Acts 15, 17. Glory to God ! the darkness shall yet flee away before the Sun of Righteousness, arising with healing in His wings (Mai. 4, 2-3), when He comes to sit in the throne of His glory. Mat. 19, 28. The mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established and all nations shall flow unto it (Isa. 2, 1-6; Mic. 4, 1-5 please read it) during that bright millennial day of peace and glory. (Acts 17, 31 ; Rom. 13, 12 ; Rev. 20, 4-6) which shall follow “ this present evil age ” (Gal. i, 4) and in which even the creature “ shall be delivered from the bond- age of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” Rom. 8, 21. ‘‘They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain : for the earth shall be full of the knowl- edge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” Isa. ii. 9. ^ESUS IS COMING. 105 “ A better day is coming, a morning promised long, When girded Right, with holy Might, will overthrow the wrong; When God the Lord will listen to every plaintive sigh. And stretch His hand o’er every land, with justice by and by. The boast of haughty Error no more will fill the air. But Age and Youth will love the truth and spead it everywhere ; No more from want and sorrow will come the hopeless cry ; And strife will cease, and perfect peace will flourish by and by. Oh / for that holy dawning we watch, and wait, and pray. Till o'er the height the morning light shall drive the gloom away; And when the heavenly glory shall flood the earth and sky, We’ll bless the Lord for all His Word, and praise him by and by.” XIIL It is objected that it would be cruel for Christ to come in Judgment upon the world, while there are so many millions unsaved. We answei,— Is not such a declaration, a presumptions criticism of God’s motives ? Was the flood an expression of cruelty, or rather was it not a manifestation of God’s love and mercy, toward them who should live after, in that He swept away the great overflow of wickedness? Surely it was done in mercy. And now let us remember that this world DIES every thirty-three years. The average of human life is even a little less than this. The world is in the power of the devil (i John 5, 19), and he has the power of death. Heb. 2, 14-15. He has slain this world with the sword of death, over fifty times in the present dispensation. Think of it ! more than fifty worlds gone down in the whirlpool of death. Each generation brings on to the scene, an entirely new world. And how few, out of these .. are converted. How few are reached by the gospel life-boat, and how few of those reached, heed the message of salva- io6 yESUS IS COMING, tion The great mass sweep on, like a wrecked vessel, iri darkness and unbelief, to the Judgment. The coming of Christ will inaugurate a far better state of things. For, when He comes, all things that offend shall be gathered out and the kingdom shall be established in right- eousness. Mat 13, 31-43, 49-50. And even though the subjects of the kingdom (not the reigning ones, Luke 20, 36 ; Rev. 20, 4*6) may die during the millennial age, yet shall they die in a good old age, the child even a hundred years old (Isa. 65, 20), and their death shall be blessed. Rev. 14, 13, and though the Millennium is not the perfect state, yet Judg- ment will speedily follow the sinner of that day, or the nation which shall swerve from serving God. Isa. 65, 20 ; Zech. 14, 16-19. Surely, then. His speedy coming cannot be counted an unmerciful event. The wonder is rather at the long-suffer- ing of God, which now, 2 Pet, 3, 9, 15 (as before the flood, i Pet. 3, 20) waits in such patient pleading. But He will fulfill His promise, and the Coming One* will come (Heb. 10. 36-37) and cut short the work in righteousness. Rom. 9, 28. Then let us not look upon Christ’s coming as cruel or unmerciful. He has said “ SURELY I come quickly,” and let us have the mind of the Holy Spirit, who replied “ EVEN SO COME Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22, 20, “ Then welcome, thrice welcome, ye tokens of God! What else but His coming can comfort afford? What presence but His set this prisoned earth free? O Star of the Morning, our hope is in Thee!” * So the Greek. JESUS IS COMING. I07 XIV. Jesus said : “ This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled.” Lu. 21, 32. See also Mat. 24, 34 ; Mar. 30 * Some have construed “ generation ” to mean a time ot thirty or forty years ; and, as Jerusalem was destroyed within forty years after Christ spoke, they refer all he said to that event. But we believe generation,” as there used, means the whole existence of the Israelitish race. Compare the follow- ing passages where the same Greek word is used : Mat. ii, 16, + 16, 4 ; Mark 8, 38 ; Luke 7, 31, +9, 41, +11, 29, 30, 31, 32, 50, 51 ; Luke 16, 8, +17, 25 ; Acts 2, 40 ; Phil. 2, 15 (Nation). In Psa. 22, 30, we read : ‘‘ A seed shall serve Him ; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.” And in Psa, 24, 6 : “ This is the generation of them that seek Him.’* In Prov. 30, 11-14, the generation of the righteous and the generation of the wicked, are clearly distinguished. Hence we conclude that the generation of the Israelites were not only to see the destruction of Jerusalem, but the coming of Christ (at the revelation) and the end of the age. Mat. 24, 3- And their wonderful preservation, as a distinct people, through all the persecutions, vicissitudes and wanderings of the past eighteen centuries down to the present moment, is a standing miracle, attesting the truth of God’s word, and assuring us of His purposes in their future history. Said Frederick the Great to his chaplain : “ Doctor, if your religion is a true one, it ought to be capable of very brief and simple proof. Will you give me an evidence of its truth in ONE WORD ? The good man answered, — “ Israel.” Other nations come and go. but Israel remains. She passes not away. God says of her : “For a small moment JESUS IS COMIIvd. ' io8 have I forsaken thee ; but with great mercies will 1 gathei" thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment ; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord, thy Redeemer." Isa. 54, 7-8. ISRAEL IS TO BE RESTORED. But, perhaps you say : “ I don’t believe the Israelites are to be restored to Canaan, and Jerusalem rebuilt." Dear reader ! have you read the declarations of God’s word about it } Surely nothing is more plainly stated in the Scriptures. We would that we had space to quote the passages, but we can only give you a portion of the referen- ces. Wc beg of you to read them thoughtfully. Divest yourself of prejudice and preconceived notions, and let the Holy Spirit show you, from His word, the glorious future of God's chosen people, w’ho are beloved" (Rom. ii, 28), and dear unto Him as the apple of His eye." Zech. 2, 8. 1st. — God calls Abraham. Gen. 12, i. 2nd. — God’s promise to Abraham. Isaac. Jacob. Gen. 12, 2-7. Gen. 13, 14-17. Gen. 15, 18. Gen. 17, 8. Gen. 26, 1-5. Gen. 28, 1-15. Gen. 35, 10-12. 3rd. — The land described. Ex. 23, 31 ; Nu. 34; Deut. ii, 24; Deut. 34, 1-4.; Josh. I, 2-6. 4th. — The land partially possessed, i K. 4, 21. 5th. — Punishment prophesied for disobedience. Lev. 26, 14-39; Deut. 4, 22, +28, 15, -f 31, 16. 6th. — Israel’s sins. Judges 2, ii-ig ; i Sam. 8, 6 ; 2 Kings 21,11; 2 Kings 24, 3; Jer. 15,4; and many others, especially Mat. 27, 25. JESUS JS COMING. lOQ 7th. — The promises to be remembered and restoration assured; Lev. 26, 40-45, especially verses 42, 44, 45. Deut. 4, 31. 30, i-io, especially verses 4, 5, 6. 2 Sanu 7, 10, II. Joel, 2, 18-32. “ 3. b 21. Amos 9, 11-15, especially verse 15. Hosea i, 10, ii. “ 2, 14-23. “ 3 » 4 - 5 * Isa. 2, 2-5. “ 9. 6-7- “ 10, 20-23, especially verses 21, 22. “ II, 10-16, especially verse ii, second time. “ 19, 23-25. « 27, 12, 13. “ 33, 20-24. “ 43* 1-7, especially verses 5, 6, 7. “ 49, 13-26, “ “ 22, 23. “ 60, 1-22, “ “ 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 18, 21. “ 61, i-ii. “ 62, 1-12. “ 65, 8-10. “ 65, 17-25- “ 66, 19-24. Jer. 3, i2-ig, especially verses 17, 18. “ II, 4, 5- “ 16, 14.16. “ 23, 3-8, especially verses 3, 4, 6. “ 29, 10-14 “ 30, 1-24, especially verses 8, g, 10, ii, 20. “ 31, 1-40, “ “ 8, 9, 10, 12, 28, 35, 38. “ 32, 3 ^- 44 > “ “ 37 . 39 . 40. 41, 42, iO JESUS 2S COMING “ 34. 7-17. “ “ 7. 8, 14, 15. ib. “ 44, 28. “ 46, 27-28. “ 50, 4 - 8 . “ 50, 17-20. Ezk. 6, 8-io> especially verse 9. “ 20, 36. 44, “ 40. 41, 42, 43, 44. “ 28, 24-26, It