Chapter XV: Part VII: Coming Events and Signs of the Times (2)

NOTES.—“To my mind this precious doctrine—for such I must call
it—of the return of the Lord to this earth is taught in the New
Testament as clearly as any other doctrine in it; yet I was in the
church fifteen or sixteen years before I ever heard a sermon on
it. There is hardly any church that does not make a great deal of
baptism; but in all of Paul’s epistles I believe baptism is spoken
of only thirteen times, while it speaks about the return of our
Lord fifty times; and yet the church has had very little to say
about it. Now I can see a reason for this. The devil does not want
us to see this truth; for nothing would wake up the church so
much. The moment a man takes hold of the truth that Jesus Christ
is coming back again to receive His followers to Himself, this
world loses its hold on him. Gas stocks, and water stocks, and
stocks in banks and railroads are of very much less consequence to
him then. His heart is free, and he looks for the blessed
appearing of his Lord, who, at His coming, will take him into His
blessed kingdom.”—_“__The Second Coming of Christ,__”__ by D. L.
Moody, pages 6, 7._

“ ‘This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, _shall
so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven_,’ is
the parting promise of Jesus to His disciples, communicated
through the two men in white apparel, as a cloud received Hun out
of their sight. When after more than fifty years in glory He
breaks the silence and speaks once more in the Revelation which He
gave to His servant John, the post-ascension gospel which He sends
opens with, ‘_Behold, He cometh with clouds_,’ and closes with,
‘_Surely I come quickly_.’ Considering the solemn emphasis thus
laid upon this doctrine, and considering the great prominence
given to it throughout the teaching of our Lord and of His
apostles, how was it that for the first five years of my pastoral
life it had absolutely no place in my preaching? Undoubtedly, the
reason lay in the lack of early instruction. Of all the sermons
heard from childhood on, I do not remember listening to a single
one upon this subject.”—_“__How Christ Came to Church,__”__ by A.
J. Gordon, D. D., pages 44, 45._

7. At His ascension, what assurance was given of Christ’s return?

“And while they looked steadfastly 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 so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven_.” Acts 1:10, 11.

8. How ancient is this doctrine of Christ’s coming?

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, _Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints_, to execute judgment upon all.” Jude 14, 15.

NOTE.—Seeking to cast reflection upon modern believers in the
advent doctrine, a man in Hungary not long ago remarked to a
colporteur of this faith that he had heard that the first
Adventist preacher is still living. “Yes,” replied the colporteur,
“the first Adventist preacher is still living, yet the Adventist
faith is thousands of years old. The Bible says that Enoch also,
the seventh from Adam, preached the coming of Christ in glory and
power, and Enoch is still living. He was translated to heaven
without seeing death, and will never die.”

9. What was Job’s confidence concerning Christ’s coming?

“For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: ... whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” Job 19:25-27.

10. How does David speak of Christ’s coming?

“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him.” Ps. 50:3. “For He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth.” Ps. 96:13.

11. How does Paul give expression to this hope?

“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Phil. 3:20. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13.

12. What is Peter’s testimony regarding it?

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of His majesty.” 2 Peter 1:16.

13. When are the saints to be like Jesus?

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, _when He shall appear, we shall be like Him_; for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2.

14. What scriptures show that Christ’s coming will be a time of reward?

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and _then He shall reward every man according to his works_.” Matt. 16:27. “And, behold, I come quickly; _and My reward is with Me_, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22:12.

15. To whom is salvation promised at Christ’s appearing?

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and _unto them that look for Him_ shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb. 9:28.

16. What influence has this hope upon the life?

“We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And _every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure_.” 1 John 3:2, 3.

17. To whom does Paul say a crown of righteousness is promised?

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but _unto all them also that love His appearing_.” 2 Tim. 4:6-8.

18. What will the waiting ones say when Jesus comes?

“And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isa. 25:9.

19. Has the exact time of Christ’s coming been revealed?

“But of that day and hour _knoweth no man_, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Matt. 24:36.

20. In view of this fact, what does Christ tell us to do?

“_Watch therefore_: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” Verse 42.

NOTE.—“In the Scriptures, the constant note, the continually
recurring exhortation, is to be prepared for the Lord’s
coming.”—_Dean Alford._ “The proper attitude of a Christian is to
be always looking for his Lord’s return.”—_D. L. Moody._ See “How
Christ Came to Church,” by A. J. Gordon, pages 49, 50.

21. What warning has Christ given that we might not be taken by surprise by this great event?

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 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.” Luke 21:34-36.

22. What Christian grace are we exhorted to exercise in our expectant longing for this event?

“Be _patient_ therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also _patient_; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:7, 8.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

I am waiting for the coming
Of earth’s long-expected Lord;
For the signs are now fulfilling
That He gave us in His Word.
I am watching, I am waiting,
For that promised happy day;
Yet I do not cease my working;
I must work as well as pray.
W. S. CRUZAN.

Manner Of Christ’s Coming

Coming In Glory. "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see
Him." Rev. 1:7.

1. Is Christ coming again?

“I will come _again_.” John 14:3.

2. How does Paul speak of this coming?

“Unto them that look for Him shall He appear _the second time_ without sin unto salvation.” Heb. 9:28.

3. Did the early disciples think that death would be the second coming of Christ?

“Peter seeing him [John] saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry _till I come_, what is that to thee? follow thou Me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple _should not die_: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry _till I come_, what is that to thee?” John 21:21-23.

NOTES.—From this it is evident that the early disciples regarded
death and the coming of Christ as two separate events.

“ ‘Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not
the Son of man cometh.’ Some people say that means death; but the
Word of God does not say it means death. Death is our enemy, but
our Lord hath the keys of death; He has conquered death, hell, and
the grave.... Christ is the Prince of Life; there is no death
where He is; death flees at His coming; dead bodies sprang to life
when He touched them or spoke to them. His coming is not death. He
is the resurrection and the life. When He sets up His kingdom,
there is to be no death, but life forevermore.”—_“__The Second
Coming of Christ,__”__ by D. L. Moody, pages 10, 11._

4. At His ascension, how did the angels say Christ would come again?

The Ascension. "This same Jesus ... shall so come in like manner as ye
have seen Him go into heaven." Acts 1:11.

“And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and _a cloud received Him out of their sight_. And while they looked steadfastly 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 so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven_.” Acts 1:9-11.

5. How did Christ Himself say He would come?

“For the Son of man shall come _in the glory of His Father with His angels_.” Matt. 16:27. “Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming _in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory_.” Matt. 24: 30. “For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when _He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels_.” Luke 9:26.

6. How many will see Him when He comes?

“Behold, He cometh with clouds; and _every eye shall see Him_, and they also which pierced Him.” Rev. 1:7.

NOTE.—Christ’s second coming will be as real as was His first, and
as visible as His ascension, and far more glorious. To
spiritualize our Lord’s return is to pervert the obvious meaning
of His promise, “I will come again,” and nullify the whole plan of
redemption; for the reward of the faithful of all ages is to be
given at this most glorious of all events.

7. What wonderful demonstration will accompany the Lord’s coming?

“The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven _with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God_: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” 1 Thess. 4:16.

8. What warning has Christ given concerning false views of the manner of His coming?

“Then if any man shall say unto you, _Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not_. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the _desert_; go not forth: behold, He is in the _secret chambers_; believe it not.” Matt. 24:23-26.

9. How visible is His coming to be?

“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Verse 27.

Object Of Christ’s Coming

The Transfiguration. "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me."
Rev. 22:12.

1. For what purpose did Christ say He would come again?

“I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, _I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also_.” John 14:2, 3.

2. What part will the angels have in this event?

“And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and _they shall gather together His elect_ from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matt. 24:31.

3. What takes place at the sounding of the trumpet?

“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_.” 1 Thess. 4:16.

4. What will be done with the righteous living?

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be _caught up together with them in the clouds_, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Verse 17.

5. What change will then take place in both the living and the sleeping saints?

“We shall not all sleep, but _we shall all be changed_, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised _incorruptible_, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on _incorruption_, and this mortal must put on _immortality_.” 1 Cor. 15:51-53.

6. When are the saints to be like Jesus?

“But we know that, _when He shall appear, we shall be like Him_; for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2.

7. How many will receive a reward when Christ comes?

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and _then He shall reward every man according to his works_.” Matt. 16:27.

8. What does He say He will bring with Him when He comes?

“Behold, I come quickly; and _My reward is with Me_, to give every man according as his works shall be.” Rev. 22:12.

9. What promise is made to those who look for Him?

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him _shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation_.” Heb. 9:28.

10. When did Christ say the good would be recompensed?

“For thou shalt be recompensed _at the resurrection of the just_.” Luke 14:14.

11. Have the worthies of old gone to their reward?

“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, _received not the promise_: God having provided some better thing for us, _that they without us should not be made perfect_.” Heb. 11:39, 40.

12. When did Paul expect to receive his crown?

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me _at that day_: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” 2 Tim. 4:8.

13. Will this be a time of judgment?

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, _the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all_.” Jude 14, 15.

14. How did David express himself on this point?

“_For He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth_: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth.” Ps. 96:13.

15. When did Paul say Christ would judge the living and the dead?

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, _who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom_.” 2 Tim. 4:1.

16. What great separation will then take place?

“When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: and _He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats_.” Matt. 25:31, 32.

17. What will He say to those on His right hand?

“Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, _Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world_.” Verse 34.

18. What will He say to those on the left?

“Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, _Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels_.” Verse 41.

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At the sounding of the trumpet, when the saints are gathered home,
We shall greet each other by the crystal sea;
When the Lord Himself from heaven to His glory bids them come,
What a gathering of the faithful that will be!

When the angel of the Lord proclaims that time shall be no more,
We shall gather, and the saved and ransomed see;
Then to meet again together, on the bright, celestial shore,
What a gathering of the faithful that will be!

At the great and final judgment, when the hidden comes to light,
When the Lord in all His glory we shall see;
At the bidding of our Saviour, “Come, ye blessed, to My right,”
What a gathering of the faithful that will be!

When the golden harps are sounding, and the angel bands proclaim
In triumphant strains the glorious jubilee;
Then to meet and join to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb,
What a gathering of the faithful that will be!

J. H. KURZENKNABE.

The Resurrection Of The Just

The Resurrection Of Christ. "I am He that liveth, and was dead; ... and
have the keys of hell and of death." Rev. 1:18.

1. Concerning what should we not be ignorant?

“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.” 1 Thess. 4:13.

2. What is set forth as the basis for hope and comfort?

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, _even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him_.” Verse 14.

3. When will this resurrection of the saints take place?

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto _the coming of the Lord_ shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. _For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven_ with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: _and the dead in Christ shall rise first_.” Verses 15, 16.

4. What will then take place?

“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Verse 17.

5. With what are we to comfort one another?

“Wherefore comfort one another _with these words_.” Verse 18.

NOTE.—The hope of a resurrection from the dead to a life immortal
is the great hope set forth in the gospel.

6. Concerning what did Christ tell us not to marvel?

“Marvel not at this: for _the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth_; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28, 29.

7. What is said of those embraced in 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.” Rev. 20:6.

8. Upon what one fact does Paul base the Christian hope?

“Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But _if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain_. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that _He raised up Christ_: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For _if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins_. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are _perished_. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” 1 Cor. 15:12-19.

9. What positive declaration does the apostle then make?

“_But now is Christ risen from the dead_, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Verses 20-22.

NOTE.—The resurrection of Christ is in many respects the most
significant fact in history. It is the great and impregnable
foundation and hope of the Christian church. Every fundamental
truth of Christianity is involved in the resurrection of Christ.
If this could be overthrown, every essential doctrine of
Christianity would be invalidated. The resurrection of Christ is
the pledge of our resurrection and future life.

10. What does Christ proclaim Himself to be?

“_I am the resurrection and the life_: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.” John 11:25, 26. “_I am He that liveth, and was dead_; and, behold, _I am alive forevermore_, Amen; _and have the keys of hell and of death_.” Rev. 1:18.

NOTE.—Christ changed death into a _sleep_. Absolute death knows no
waking; but through Christ all who have fallen under the power of
death will be raised, some to a life unending, some to everlasting
death.

11. What question does Job ask and answer?

“_If a man die, shall he live again?_ all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. _Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee_: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of Thine hands.” Job 14:14, 15.

12. Why did Job wish that his words were written in a book, graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever?

“_For I know that My Redeemer liveth_, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet _in my flesh shall I see God_.” Job 19:25, 26.

13. How does Paul say the saints will be raised?

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and _the dead shall be raised incorruptible_.” 1 Cor. 15:51, 52.

14. What great change will then take place in their bodies?

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is _sown in corruption_; it is _raised in incorruption_: it is _sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory_: it is _sown in weakness_; it is _raised in power_: it is _sown a natural body_; it is _raised a spiritual body_.” Verses 42-44.

15. What saying will then be brought to pass?

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Verse 55.

16. When did David say he would be satisfied?

“As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, _when I awake, with Thy likeness_.” Ps. 17:15.

17. What comforting promise has God made concerning the sleeping saints?

“I will _ransom them from the power of the grave_; I will _redeem them from death_: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction.” Hosea 13:14.

18. What else has He promised to do?

“And God _shall wipe away all tears_ from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev. 21:4. See pages 759-785.

The Deluge. "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away."
Matt. 24:39.

The World’s Conversion

After The Flood. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:13.

1. What did Christ say would be the condition of the world at His second coming?

“_As it was in the days of Noe_, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” Luke 17:26. See also verses 27-30.

2. How was it in the days of Noah?

“And God saw that _the wickedness of man was great in the earth_, and that _every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually_.... And _the earth was filled with violence_.” Gen. 6:5-11.

NOTE.—In a sermon delivered at Savannah, Ga., Dec. 2 1912, Bishop
A. W. Wilson (Methodist) said: “Old Rome in her worst days never
harbored such conditions of vice as are prevalent in our highest
social circles. Never at any period of the world’s history has the
moral stratum been so thin or so low.”

3. How did Paul characterize the last days?

“This know also, that in the last days _perilous times shall come_.” 2 Tim. 3:1.

4. What did he say would make those times perilous?

“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Verses 2-5.

5. Are things to grow better or worse before the Lord comes?

“_But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse_, deceiving, and being deceived.” Verse 13.

NOTE.—“Even to the end of time there will still be occasion for
the same complaint; the world will grow no better, no, not when it
is drawing toward its period. Bad it is, and bad it will be, and
_worst of all_ just before Christ’s coming.”—_Matthew Henry, on
Luke 18:8._

6. According to the parable of the wheat and the tares, how long are the good and bad to remain together?

“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil.” “_Let both grow together until the harvest_: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them.” Matt. 13:38, 39, 30.

7. When does the harvest come?

“The harvest is _the end of the world_.” Verse 39.

NOTES.—Thus it is plain that the wicked (the tares) live with the
righteous (the wheat) till the end of the world. There is, then,
no time before Christ’s coming for a sinless state, in which all
men will be converted and turn to God.

Harper’s “Book of Facts,” edition 1906, article “Religion,”
classifies the population of the globe religiously as follows:—

Non-Christian Christian
Buddhists 400,000,000 Roman 175,000,000
Catholics
Brahmans 250,000,000 Protestants 110,000,000
Mohammedans 180,000,000 Greek Church 90,000,000
Fetish-worshipers 150,000,000 Various 25,000,000
Jews 8,000,000
Various 62,000,000
1,050,000,000 400,000,000

From this it will be seen that only about one fourth of the
world’s population are even nominal Christians.

8. For what purpose did Christ say the gospel was to be preached in all the world?

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world _for a witness unto all nations_; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24:14.

NOTES.—He did not say that all would _receive_ the gospel, but
that the gospel was to be _preached_ in all the world _for a
witness_ unto all nations, and that _then_ the end would come.

Commenting on Rev. 20:2, Dr. Adam Clarke says: “Probably no such
time shall ever appear, in which evil shall be wholly banished
from the earth, till after the day of judgment, when, the earth
having been burned up, a new heaven and a new earth shall be
produced out of the ruins of the old, by the mighty power of God;
righteousness alone shall dwell in them.”—_Clarke’s Commentary,
edition 1860._

9. When is the “man of sin,” or “mystery of iniquity,” called also “that Wicked,” to come to an end?

“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.” 2 Thess. 2:8.

10. How long was the little horn of Dan. 7:25 to make war with the saints?

“I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; _until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom_.” Dan. 7:21, 22.

11. How will the day of the Lord come upon the world?

“For yourselves know perfectly that _the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night_. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, ... and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” 1 Thess. 5:2-4.

NOTE.—There will be but two classes in the world then: those in
darkness, who are looking for a time of peace and safety, and
those not in darkness, who are looking for the day of the Lord,—a
day of waste and destruction,—the coming of Christ and the end of
the world. See Jer. 7:1-19; Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:1-11; Zephaniah 1.

12. What will some who are in darkness say when they hear about the Lord’s coming?

“Knowing this first, that _there shall come in the last days scoffers_, walking after their own lusts, and saying, _Where is the promise of His coming?_ for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” 2 Peter 3:3, 4.

13. What will be popularly taught in the last days?

“But in the last days ... _many nations shall come, and say_, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; ... and He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; _and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more_.” Micah 4:1-3. See also Isa. 2:2-5.

NOTE.—Notice, this is not what the _Lord_ says, but what the Lord
says _many nations_ shall say in the last days. And this is the
very message now heard in every land,—a great world’s peace
movement; a call for all nations to disarm, to go to war no more,
and to profess religion.

14. What message indicates the true condition of things?

“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; _Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong_.” Joel 3:9, 10.

NOTE.—On this question of preparing for war, note the following:—

Armies of the World

Regular National Army
Standing Army Including
(1909) Reserves
Austria-Hungary 409,000 5,840,000
Belgium 45,000 125,000
British Empire 250,000 1,050,000
China 60,000 1,000,000
Denmark 14,000 68,000
France 630,000 4,350,000
Germany 617,000 3,000,000
Greece 28,000 178,000
Italy 264,000 3,200,000
Japan 225,000 600,000
Netherlands 40,000 500,000
Norway 30,000 95,000
Persia 24,500 105,000
Portugal 30,000 175,000
Russia 1,100,000 5,200,000
Servia 35,000 353,000
Spain 100,000 1,000,000
Sweden 62,000 500,000
Switzerland 140,000 275,000
Turkey 350,000 1,500,000
United States 89,128 208,054
Total 4,542,628 29,322,054

Naval Expenditures of the Great Powers for Ten Years—1902-11.

Expenditure New
Construction
Great Britain $1,761,500,000 $589,875,000
Germany 737,695,000 351,010,000
France 660,695,000 236,430,000
Russia 556,730,000 164,280,000
Italy 301,145,000 82,750,000
Austria 154,070,000 74,165,000
United States 1,150,680,000 367,050,000
Japan 288,505,000 76,155,000
Total $5,611,320,000 $1,941,715,000

Thus in only ten years these eight great powers spent over seven
and one-half billion dollars on their navies.

“The immense armies maintained by European countries have come to
be a terrific drain upon their respective nations.”—_Nelson’s
Encyclopedia, article __“__Army.__”_

15. While making these war preparations, what are men saying?

“They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, _saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace_.” Jer. 6:14.

NOTE.—Every one conversant with existing conditions in the world
today knows this is true. While the message of peace is being
proclaimed, the nations are arming as never before; wars are in
progress almost continually; international complications are
constantly arising; and a world war is feared as imminent, and
constantly looming in sight. The world today is a vast armed camp.

16. But does not the Bible say that the heathen are to be given to the Lord for an inheritance?

“Ask of Me, and _I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance_, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.” Ps. 2:8.

17. What will the Lord do with them?

“Thou shalt _break them with a rod of iron_; Thou shalt _dash them in pieces_ like a potter’s vessel.” Verse 9. “And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should _smite the nations_: and He shall _rule them with a rod of iron_: and _He treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God_.” Rev. 19:15.

NOTE.—How suddenly surprised those who have been preaching peace
and safety will be when the end comes is indicated in the text
already quoted: “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the
Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say,
Peace and safety; then _sudden destruction cometh upon them_.” 1
Thess. 5:2, 3. All heedless of the signs of the times, and
indifferent to the future, the world will come up to the day of
the Lord unprepared. As a thief in the night, coming with
stealthy, muffled tread, this day will take all unawares who are
not looking, watching, and waiting for their Lord’s return.
Instead of looking for the world’s conversion, we should be
looking for Christ’s coming.

‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐

The coming King is at the door,
Who once the cross for sinners bore,
But now the righteous ones alone
He comes to gather home.

The signs that show His coming near
Are fast fulfilling year by year,
And soon we’ll hail the glorious dawn
Of heaven’s eternal morn.

Look not on earth for strife to cease,
Look not below for joy and peace,
Until the Saviour comes again
To banish death and sin.

Then in the glorious earth made new
We’ll dwell the countless ages through;
This mortal shall immortal be,
And time, eternity.

F. E. BELDEN.

The Gathering Of Israel

Wailing Place Of The Jews. "The Lord shall set His hand again the second
time to recover the remnant of His people." Isa. 11:11.

1. Because of disobedience, what experience came to Israel?

“I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.” Jer. 34:17. See Jer. 25:8-11.

2. What prophecy spoke of their return from captivity?

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.... And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and _I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you_, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” Jer. 29:11-14. See also Jer. 23:3.

NOTE.—The first dispersion of the Jews occurred B.C. 606-588,
under Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. In B.C. 457, under
Artaxerxes, the Persian king, large numbers of Jews returned to
Palestine, their home land.

3. How had Moses spoken of another and greater dispersion?

“The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, ... and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, ... and the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other.” Deut. 28:49-64.

NOTE.—This calamity and dispersion occurred in 70 A.D., under
Titus, the Roman general. Says the Popular and Critical Bible
Encyclopedia, Vol. II, article “Jerusalem,” page 932: “Jerusalem
seems to have been raised to this greatness as if to enhance the
misery of its overthrow. So soon as the Jews had set the seal to
their formal rejection of Christ, by putting Him to death, and
invoking the responsibility of His blood upon the heads of
themselves and of their children (Matt. 27:25), the city’s doom
went forth. Titus, a young, brave, and competent Roman general,
with an army of sixty thousand trained, victorious warriors,
appeared before the city in April, 70 A.D., and the most
disastrous siege of all history began.” See pages 313, 314.

4. Under what striking symbol was all this foretold?

“Thus saith the Lord, Go and get _a potter’s earthen bottle_, and ... break the bottle ... and ... say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; _Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter’s vessel, that cannot be made whole again_.” Jer. 19:1-11.

NOTE.—“No city on the globe has suffered more from war and sieges
than Jerusalem.... Storming legions, battering-rams, and catapults
have razed it again and again. And yet, the general outline of the
city has always been preserved. Zion and Mt. Moriah remain in full
view from Olivet, and there, on those hills, stretching away
toward the west, city after city has come and gone in the passing
ages.”—_Popular and Critical Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. II, article
__“__Jerusalem__”__ pages 928, 929._

5. How long was Jerusalem to be trodden down of the Gentiles?

“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, _until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled_.” Luke 21:24.

NOTE.—Jerusalem stands for the people, the truth, and the true
worship of God. It is first mentioned in the Bible as Salem (Gen.
14:18); is spoken of figuratively as a mother bringing forth the
children of God (Gal. 4:26, 27); and is a type of the holy city,
New Jerusalem, which is to be the metropolis of the new earth. In
Rev. 11:2 it is used as a type of God’s people during the long
period of 1260 years of papal persecution, who are there referred
to as “the holy city,” which the Gentiles “tread underfoot forty
and two months.”

6. What will terminate the “times” allotted to the Gentiles?

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and _then shall the end come_.” Matt. 24:14.

7. Why was the gospel to be preached to the Gentiles?

“Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, _to take out of them a people for His name_.” Acts 15:14.

8. What false idea of this gathering were some to hold?

“And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Micah 4:2.

9. For what will the heathen be assembled in Palestine?

“Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat.... Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision [margin, concision, or threshing; i.e., war]: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3:12-14.

10. Under whose influence are the nations to be assembled?

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are _the spirits of devils_, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16:13, 14.

NOTE.—Infatuated by the doctrine of the world’s conversion and a
temporal millennium of peace, prosperity, and good will among men,
the deluded nations will aim to make Jerusalem the center of a
glorious kingdom, at which place they will doubtless expect Christ
will come and take up His reign as their king. This was the
favorite idea of the crusaders in the dark ages. But the crusaders
were mistaken in their conception, and sorely disappointed. So
also will the modern crusaders be mistaken and disappointed; for
one object of Christ’s second coming will be to “smite the
nations” and to destroy these armies assembled. Rev. 19:15.

11. Unto whom are God’s people to be gathered?

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until _Shiloh_ come; and _unto Him shall the gathering of the people be_.” Gen. 49:10.

12. How did Christ speak of the gathering of the Gentiles?

“Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” John 10:16.

13. What great gathering yet awaits God’s people?

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that _the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people_.... And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall _assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth_.” Isa. 11:11, 12. “And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and _they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other_.” Matt. 24:31.

The Millennium

The Binding Of Satan. "And he laid hold on ... Satan, and bound him a
thousand years." Rev. 20:2.

1. What text definitely brings the millennium to view?

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and _judgment was given unto them_: ... and _they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years_.” Rev. 20:4.

2. Whom does Paul say the saints are to judge?

“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? _Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?... Know ye not that we shall judge angels?_” 1 Cor. 6:1-3.

NOTE.—From these scriptures it is plain that the saints of all
ages are to be engaged with Christ in a work of “judgment” during
the millennium, or one thousand years.

3. What prophecy had Paul upon which to base his statement?

“I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and _judgment was given to the saints of the Most High_.” Dan. 7:21, 22.

The Millennium.

The millennium is the closing period of God’s great week of time—a
great sabbath of rest to the earth and to the people of God.

It follows the close of the gospel age, and precedes the setting
up of the everlasting kingdom of God on earth.

It comprehends what in the Scriptures is frequently spoken of as
“the day of the Lord.”

It is bounded at each end by a resurrection.

Its beginning is marked by the pouring out of the seven last
plagues, the second coming of Christ, the resurrection of the
righteous dead, the binding of Satan, and the translation of the
saints to heaven; and its close, by the descent of the New
Jerusalem, with Christ and the saints, from heaven, the
resurrection of the wicked dead, the loosing of Satan, and the
final destruction of the wicked.

During the one thousand years the earth lies desolate; Satan and
his angels are confined here; and the saints, with Christ, sit in
judgment on the wicked, preparatory to their final punishment.

The wicked dead are then raised; Satan is loosed for a little
season, and he and the host of the wicked encompass the camp of
the saints and the holy city, when fire comes down from God out of
heaven and devours them. The earth is cleansed by the same fire
that destroys the wicked, and, renewed, becomes the eternal abode
of the saints.

The millennium is one of “the ages to come.” Its close will mark
the beginning of the new earth state.

4. How many resurrections are there to be?

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto _the resurrection of life_; and they that have done evil, unto _the resurrection of damnation_.” John 5:28, 29.

5. What class only have part in the first resurrection?

“_Blessed and holy_ is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power.” Rev. 20:6.

6. What will Christ do with the saints when He comes?

“I will come again, and _receive you unto Myself_; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3.

NOTE.—In other words, Christ will take them to heaven, there to
live and reign with Him during the one thousand years.

7. Where did John, in vision, see the saints?

“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.” Rev. 7:9.

NOTE.—This scripture shows plainly that the righteous are all
taken to heaven immediately after the first resurrection. This
accords with the words of Christ in John 14:1-3, where He says, “I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and _receive you unto Myself; that where I
am, there ye may be also_.” Peter desired to accompany Christ to
those mansions; but Jesus answered, “Thou canst not follow Me now;
_but thou shall follow Me afterwards_.” John 13:36. This makes it
clear that when Christ returns to earth to receive His people, He
takes them to the Father’s house in heaven.

8. What becomes of the living wicked when Christ comes?

“_As it was in the days of Noe_, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and _the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot_; ... the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and _destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed_.” Luke 17:26-30.

9. What does the apostle Paul say concerning this?

“When they shall say, Peace and safety; _then sudden destruction cometh upon them_, ... and they shall not escape.” 1 Thess. 5:3.

NOTE.—When Christ comes, the righteous will be delivered and taken
to heaven, and all the living wicked will be suddenly destroyed,
as they were at the time of the flood. For further proof see 2
Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 6:14-17; 19:11-21; Jer. 25:30-33. There will be
no general resurrection of the wicked until the end of the one
thousand years. This will leave the earth desolate and without
human inhabitant during this period.

10. What description does the prophet Jeremiah give of the earth during this time?

“I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was _without form, and void_; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, _there was no man_, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the _fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down_ at the presence of the Lord, and by His fierce anger.” Jer. 4:23-26.

NOTE.—At the coming of Christ the earth is reduced to a chaotic
state—to a mass of ruins. The heavens depart as a scroll when it
is rolled together; mountains are moved out of their places; and
the earth is left a dark, dreary, desolate waste. See Isa. 24:1-3;
Rev. 6:14-17.

11. How does Isaiah speak of the wicked at this time?

“It shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and _shall be shut up in prison_, and after many days shall they be visited.” Isa. 24:21, 22.

12. How long is Satan to be imprisoned on this earth?

“I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and _bound him a thousand years_, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled.” Rev. 20:1-3.

NOTE.—The word rendered “bottomless pit” in this text is _abusos_,
the Greek term employed by the Septuagint in Gen. 1:2, as the
equivalent of the Hebrew word rendered “deep” in our English
versions. A more literal translation would be “abyss.” It is a
term applied to the earth in its desolate, waste, chaotic, dark,
uninhabited condition. In this condition it will remain during the
one thousand years. It will be the dreary prison-house of Satan
during this period. Here, in the midst of the moldering bones of
wicked dead, slain at Christ’s second coming, the broken-down
cities, and the wreck and ruin of all the pomp and power of this
world, Satan will have opportunity to reflect upon the results of
his rebellion against God. But the prophecy of Isaiah says, “After
many days shall they be visited.”

13. The righteous dead are raised at Christ’s second coming. When will the rest of the dead, the wicked, be raised?

“The rest of the dead lived not again _until the thousand years were finished_.” Verse 5.

NOTES.—From this we see that the beginning and the close of the
millennium, or one thousand years, are marked by the two
resurrections. The word millennium is from two Latin words,
_mille_, meaning a thousand, and _annus_, year—a thousand years.
It covers the time during which Satan is to be bound and wicked
men and angels are to be judged. This period is bounded by
distinct events. Its beginning is marked by the close of
probation, the pouring out of the seven last plagues, the second
coming of Christ, and the resurrection of the righteous dead. It
closes with the resurrection of the wicked, and their final
destruction in the lake of fire. See diagram on page 356.

14. What change is made in Satan’s condition at the close of the one thousand years?