Page images
PDF
EPUB

springing of a mine. There is a moment of deep suspense after the match has been applied to the fuse which is to fire the train. Men stand at a distance and hold their breath. There is nothing seen but a thin small column of white smoke rising, fainter and fainter, till it seems to die away. Then men breathe again; and the inexperienced soldier would approach the place thinking that the thing has been a failure. It is only faith in the experience of the commander or the veterans, which keeps men from hurrying to the spot again, till just when expectation has begun to die away, the low, deep thunder sends up the column of earth majestically to heaven, and all that was on it comes crushing down again in its far circle, shattered and blackened by the blast.

"It is so with the world. By God's word, the world is doomed. The moment of suspense is past; the first centuries, in which men expected the convulsion to take place at once; for even apostles were looking for it in their lifetime. We have fallen upon days of scepticism. There are no signs of ruin yet. We tread upon the earth like a solid thing fortified by its adamantine hills for ever. There is nothing against that, but a few words in a printed book. But the world is mined; and the spark has fallen; and just at the moment when serenity is at its height, "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the feet of the avenger shall stand upon the earth.”

The heavens are still before the storm,

Deep peace preludes the earthquake's shock,
And silence broods upon the air,

Before the blast that rends the rock.

What then, though earth cry "rest and peace,"
Nor see on high the lifted rod?

A moment, and the stroke descends;
And swift shall come the day of God.

[merged small][graphic]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

SPECIAL NOTE I

THE PAROUSIA AND THE MILLENNIUM.

WHETHER the Parousia (or Second Coming) of Christ pre

cedes or follows the Millennium is a point much debated. The chief arguments on both sides are here presented for the reader's consideration.

POST-MILLENNIAL POSITION.

I. The reign of Christ is Spiritual. It has already begun. He sits as King at God's right hand, and will gradually bring the whole world under his sway, by the preaching of the Gospel, accompanied by the working of the Holy Spirit. His Kingdom already exists, according to his sayings: "My Kingdom is not of this world. *** The Kingdom of God is within you." His Second Coming, therefore, will be after the thousand years to end earthly affairs, and "deliver up the Kingdom to the Father."

II. The "first resurrection" mentioned in Rev. 20: 1-6 is symbolic, and indicates merely the uprising to power and world-wide supremacy of the persecuted Church, which will thus bring in the Millennium. The literal resurrection of both just and unjust will be at the close of the Millennium.

III. The parables of the mustard seed, and of the leaven hid in the meal indicate that the world is gradually to be brought under the power of the truth by the agencies now in use, and give no intimation of its being brought about by Advent and Judgment.

IV. Many passages connect the Parousia with the resurrection and the general judgment, such as Dan. 12: 2; John 5: 28, 29: Matt. 25: 31-46, etc. This seems inconsistent with a theory sepa

rating the Parousia from the general judgment by a thousand years. V. The early creeds, like the Apostles', the Nicene, the Athanasian, and many others, make similar representations, and give no intimation of two resurrections separated by a long period of time; which seems unnatural if the Apostles really taught such a doctrine. VI. The passages relied upon to prove Premillennialism are inconclusive. Some of them like Matt. 19: 25 sq.; Lev. 19: 11 sq.; Acts 1:6-8; 3: 21, are too indefinite to have much weight; the remainder, like 1 Cor. 15: 23 sq.; 1 Thess. 4: 16, 17; 2 Thess. 1: 7-10; Rev. 20: 1-7; Dan. 12: 1-13 etc., "though difficult of explanation, are no sufficient basis for the doctrine.

PREMILLENNIAL POSITION.

The "manifestation of the Parousia" of Christ is at the beginning of the Millennium and the efficient cause of it. At that time Christ's people will be raised, but no others till the thousand years are finished. This view is supported by the following doctrines (or teachings) of the New Testament:

I. THE DOCTRINE OF A DELAYED KINGDOM. No time need to be taken to show that the Millennium is in a special sense, the period of the kingdom or reign of Christ. This is so clearly the voice of Scripture, both of the Old and New Testament, as to be conceded by all. Dr. David Brown, himself a post-millennialist, says that the period will be one marked by "the universal diffussion of revealed truth, the universal reception of the true religion, unlimited subjection to Christ's sceptre, universal peace, much Spiritual power and glory, the inbringing of all Israel, the ascendency of truth and righteousness in human affairs, and of great temporal prosperity."

So far then there is an agreement. During the millennium Christ holds the sceptre and possesses the kingdom. But when

« PreviousContinue »