The Conflict with Paganism

At the time of the introduction of Christianity, a system of false religion was almost universal, and the world was held fast under its iron rule. It was paganism under the Roman government. Rome was the fourth universal kingdom that ruled the earth, and held supreme power when Christ appeared to set up the everlasting kingdom of God. Rome’s religion was then purely heathen. As soon as the apostles went everywhere throughout the Roman kingdom preaching the gospel and planting Christian churches, Christianity incurred the hatred and opposition of this pagan system and its adherents. Thus a great conflict between pure primitive Christianity and the pagan systems of religion took place. This is brought to view in the book of symbols (Revelation).

“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: and she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew a third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man-child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Rev. 12:1–11).

The kingdom of God on earth was represented by the church of God, and it soon came into conflict with all the vile powers of heathenism enthroned in the Roman Empire. But the kingdom Christ established was destined to overthrow all the kingdoms of pagan darkness and to stand forever. It was that stone (Dan. 2:31–35) which smote the iron kingdoms of paganism under the Roman power and broke them to pieces. In the above passage from Revelation, we have a woman clothed with the sun, which represents the early church, and who is opposed by the great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns. This great dragon, which is easily identified by its heads and horns, symbolizes the Roman Empire under its pagan form. We notice that the church is set forth in a double symbol—a woman and her son—in order to show two phases of her existence during the great apostasy. The phase represented by the man-child who was caught up unto God, and to his throne is that phase of the church which was cut off from the earth through martyrdom and persecution; while the phase represented by the woman who “fled into the wilderness” is that phase of the church which continued on earth, but was hidden in the great apostasy.

Next appears a great warfare between Michael—Christ—and his angels, and the dragon. This represents the early conflict of Christianity with paganism. The result is given in the following language: “And the great dragon was cast out.” Christianity triumphed over heathenism. “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down ... and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Here we have the glorious triumph of Christianity during its primitive period, over the great systems of heathenism.

That this triumph did take place, all who are acquainted with the pages of history know. While the pagans fought with sword and faggot and beasts of the earth, slaughtering thousands of the people of God, the Christians went forth to battle with no other weapon than the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. And thank God, “they overcame.” Those early Christians were consecrated for “they loved not their lives unto the death.” They gladly went to the chopping block, to the amphitheater, to the stake; but they went testifying—that the blood of Jesus saves. And it is a historical fact that often by the literal slaughter of a few Christians, great numbers of heathens would be convicted and convinced of the truth, and turned to Christ. Then the time came when a decree went forth from the Emperor himself, that all the heathen temples should be destroyed, and Christianity became the universal religion of the Empire. Thus in the progress of Christ’s reign, one after another of his great enemies were defeated. This began to fulfill the Psalmist’s prediction, “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” Thousands and millions in those primitive times were saved from sin, raised up to the real plane of holiness, and reigned in life through the abundant grace of God.

The Beast and His Image Destroyed

The next great antagonistic power to combat Christ’s true kingdom is brought to view in Rev. 13:1–10, also in Revelation 17. This was the papacy—a false and corrupt form of Christianity. But finally, after a long conflict which covered a period of twelve hundred and sixty years, in which thousands of saints were martyred, and the woman—apostate church—was “drunken with the blood of saints, and with the martyrs of Jesus,” the Lamb overcame this power, and she was made “desolate and naked.” This, of course, refers to the fall of popedom under the great work of the Protestant reformers.

After this arises another power under the symbol of a two-horned beast (see Rev. 13:11–18). This is Protestantism, or the period of sectarianism and division. In a strict sense, the apostate condition of the church covers the whole period of the reign of popery, and also Protestantism, for the Protestant sects are none other than the harlot daughters of the great mother-denomination, Rome (see Rev. 17:5). And all these are included in the great “MYSTERY BABYLON.” But in Revelation 18 is foretold the time of a great reformation in the onward progress of the kingdom of God and Christ’s redemptive reign, in which the downfall of this antagonistic babel of confusion is declared, and God’s people are called out of her. Here we have the separation of the pure church from the whole realm and maze of apostasy, which is now being accomplished in the “evening light” age of the church. This pure redeemed church is brought to view in Revelation 15:2, 3 “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”

The Glorious Triumph

Notice that this mighty host of redeemed saints have the “victory over the beast and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.” Thank God, here we have the triumph of God’s saints over false religions—the victory which is being enjoyed now in this blessed evening time. It will be further observed that this triumph gives honor to Christ and glory to His name, as the great “King of saints.” This triumph of Christ’s kingdom over the enemies of the church is further brought to view in Revelation 19:1–8.

Next, we see the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gather together to make war against Christ and His mighty host (see Rev. 19:19). These are gathered together by unclean spirits of devils. It is a gathering of the remnants of all the false religions of earth (Rev. 16:13, 14). It is the final conflict before the revelation of Jesus Christ from heaven, called “the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” All this maze of false religion is seen under the figure or symbol of “Gog and Magog.” These will compass “the camp of the saints about, the beloved city,” which represents the pure church in this evening time. The preparation for this great and final conflict is now going on, and already there is a confederation of the different false religions of earth against the pure church of God.

But He who never lost a battle, who is sitting at the right hand of God, until every enemy is made his footstool “for he must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet”, shall triumph in this conflict also. For when these false religions are gathered together to strike one awful blow fire will descend from heaven and devour them (see Rev. 20:9). This to my mind represents the coming of Jesus Christ “in flaming fire” in His second advent. The devil, as well as the advocates and adherents of every false religion of earth will be cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10). At this same time the universal resurrection of the dead will take place, which will destroy the last enemy—death.

When the last enemy shall be thus destroyed, this particular phase of Christ’s reign will have accomplished its purpose and will cease, for He will reign until every enemy is destroyed, which implies that when the last enemy—death—is destroyed, the redemptive reign will end.

But the redemptive reign of Christ has a two-fold purpose. Not only is it intended to destroy all the enemies and antagonistic powers of the church and kingdom, but to restore what was lost through the fall. Christ reigns upon a mediatorial throne for the salvation of a lost world. While the world lasts, Jesus as the Messiah and mediator, must reign. His kingdom of grace and salvation and His reign during this dispensation is for the redemption of mankind. He is the world’s advocate and Saviour. In Acts 3:20, 21 we read that “he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you, whom the heaven must receive until the time of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Christ’s kingdom was established to restore to man the very thing he lost through the fall.

The heavens will contain Christ until the last trump is sounded; then Christ will leave the mediatorial throne and take the judgment seat, when the world will be left without an advocate, without a Saviour, without further opportunities of redemption. The numberless dead will all come forth, and the multitudes will be summoned before the great tribunal and stand in judgment before the great white throne. At this time “every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess to the glory of God the Father.” Satan, the prince of darkness, with his myriads of demons, together with all the host of apostates and rebels who closed their probationary state in rebellion against Christ’s throne, will fall before Him and acknowledge Him the “King of kings and Lord of lords.” This will be the final great triumph. Then with an awful command, He will say to them on the left hand, “Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting punishment,” and they shall be “punished with an everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and to the glory of his power.”

Then Christ will receive the innumerable company of redeemed saints who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. These “shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air,” and after this meeting, He will present them to His Father as the harvest, the fruit, the success and accomplishment of His death and resurrection—and great redemptive reign. This is the “restitution of all things.” What God lost in the fall through Satan and sin, Christ now restores as a result of His great work and mission. What a day of triumph! What an hour of rejoicing! From the hour Christ was anointed by the Holy Spirit during His baptism in the Jordan and began preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, until the judgment scene is closed, the wicked punished, and the righteous rewarded, all things have been committed to the Son. The Father committed the work of redemption and even the work of final judgment to His Son Jesus Christ but when this particular work which has been committed to the Son is accomplished, Christ’s reign, or this particular phase of it, ceases, and He delivers back “the kingdom to God, even the Father.” The Son Himself will be subject to the Father who will reign “all in all” as from all eternity.;—H. M. Riggle

Eternity

(A chapter from the book, “Jesus Is Coming Again,” by H. M. Riggle.)
“The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy” (Isa. 57:15). This is the only text in the King James Version of the Scriptures where the word “eternity” occurs. It is probably one of the most comprehensive words in the Bible and in all language. It embraces everything past, present, and future. It comprehends God himself, who “inhabiteth eternity,” for he was before all things. If people would only stop long enough in their mad rush through the rattle of social, political, and commercial events, and world affairs that are occupying their minds, and carefully consider the great eternity to which we are all hastily going, this world in which we live would be different. Eternity cannot be measured nor fully comprehended. No cycle of years can estimate it. It is a boundless ocean, a shoreless sea, a “world without end.”

The reward of the righteous in heaven and the punishment of the wicked in hell will be to all eternity. The same terms employed to express and to measure the never-ending bliss, glory, and reward of the righteous beyond the resurrection and the judgment are used to express the never-ending torment and punishment of the wicked. There are three words in the New Testament that express eternity, and they are translated from the same Greek word aionios. These are eternal, everlasting, and forever. I will consider them in the order given.

First, eternal. With reference to the future state of the righteous: “in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:30); “eternal glory” (2 Tim. 2:10); “eternal inheritance” (Heb. 9:15); “a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5:1). With reference to the future state of the wicked: “is in danger of eternal damnation” (Mark 3:29); “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7).

Second, everlasting. With reference to the righteous: “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Rom. 6:22); “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 Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:10, 11). With reference to the future state of the wicked the same term is employed “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous unto life eternal” (Matt. 25:46); “Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (vs. 41).

Third, forever. Applied to the future of the righteous: “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever! (Dan. 12:3). “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever” (Rev. 22:5). Now we turn to the eternal state of the wicked: “To whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever” (2 Pet. 2:17). “To whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” (Jude 13). Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. In the day of judgment they will be cast into it. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented … forever and ever” (Rev. 20:10). In the final day of eternal rewards Jesus will sentence the wicked to the same hell of fire and torment (Matt. 25:41). “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever” (Rev. 14:10, 11).

The same words that measure the life, the salvation, and the inheritance of the righteous in heaven, as well as the punishment of the lost in hell, are used to measure the existence of God himself, the endurance of his throne in heaven, and the existence of the Holy Spirit. Let me call your attention to a few examples: “The everlasting God” (Rom. 16:26). “The eternal Spirit” (Heb. 9:14). “King eternal” (1 Tim. 1:17). “The Son abideth ever” (John 8:35). “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever” (Heb. 1:8). No earthly wisdom can overthrow these solid truths. As long as heaven shall last, as long as the righteous enjoy its felicities, so long will the damnation of the wicked last. I believe it will be profitable to give the definition of these terms by standard authors, and authorities. Everlasting: “Eternal” (Liddell and Scott,) “perpetual” (Young), “without end, perpetual and interminable” (Schleusner), “to eternity” (Cremer), “indeterminate as to duration, eternal” (Baxter), “unlimited as to duration” (Greenfield), “ever-enduring, perpetual, implying eternity, without end” (Robinson), “lasting or enduring forever; endless” (Webster). Eternal: “Of infinite duration; everlasting” (Webster). Forever: “For a limitless time or endless ages” (Webster).

Let us draw some comparisons. Time, the whole period of human history from creation to the end of this world, is but a fragment of eternity. It might be likened to a small island in the midst of the ocean. Gradually its sands are being washed away by the mighty billows which sweep against its shores. At length—God only knows how soon—the billows of eternity will sweep over and wash away the last sands of time and nothing will remain but eternity. Now, reader, your life and mine are but a very small fragment of time. Let us suppose that the average human life on this earth is seventy years and that the future would last only 100,000 years. Would it not pay to be a Christian? Imagine you would have to suffer as much and endure as many hardships and persecutions as Paul did, even for seventy years. You would have 99,930 more years of glory and happiness with Christ, the angels, and the redeemed hosts of heaven, than all your period of suffering here. Glory to God, my soul says, “Press on to glory.” On the other hand, I want to appeal to the sinner on the same basis. Suppose for seventy short years of life here, you could enjoy all the pleasure that sinful life can give, climb to the pinnacle of earthly fame and honor, accumulate riches so you could revel in worldly aggrandizement, and then die without hope. You would have 99,930 more years of torment amidst howling demons and the “weeping and wailing” of the damned in hell than all your years of enjoyment in sin. What a fool you are to live another day in sin!

Listen! 100,000 years do not measure the future. It takes ten hundred thousand years to make a million, and a thousand million to make a billion. I heard a speaker say that approximately one billion minutes have passed since the day Christ was born in Bethlehem. This statement interested me, so I began to count. There are 1,440 minutes in a twenty-four hour day, and 525,600 in a year. Multiply this by the years that have elapsed from the birth of Christ to January 1, 1942, and the sum total is a little over 1,000,000,000. Now think of as many years as there have been minutes since the Savior was born. May we wake up to the realities of the future! It takes a thousand billion to make a trillion, a thousand trillion to make a quadrillion, a thousand quadrillion to make a quintillion, a thousand quintillion to make a sextillion, a thousand sextillion to make a septillion, a thousand septillion to make an octillion, a thousand octillion to make a nonillion, and a thousand nonillion to make a decillion, written with a 1 and 33 zeros.

Some school teachers of Indiana met a number of years ago and decided to get an idea of how many a decillion is. One of them, Charles H. Hartung, pastor of a congregation in Fort Wayne, Ind., told me the result. They bored a hole in a plank two inches deep and two inches in diameter, filled it with mustard seed, and counted every seed. They found 16,000 of these seeds to a cubic inch. From this they began their calculations. Before they reached the enormous sum of a decillion, they had enough mustard seed to cover the whole earth as deep as the distance from here to the moon. Think of that many years! Let us suppose that a bird comes from a far-distant planet, make one trip in each decillion years, and carries away as much water in its tiny mouth as it can contain. How long would it take that bird to empty a two-gallon pail of water? That bird can transfer to that distant planet all the waters contained in the springs, wells, ponds, rivers, lakes, and oceans, and actually drain this earth dry, and that would not measure eternity. After carrying away all the water on this earth, suppose the bird still continues its journey only once in a decillion years, and carries away in its tiny mouth a grain of sand from the seashore, or a bit of dust. That bird can carry away the entire globe on which we live, and eternity has not been measured. Friend, YOU are going there. We shall all soon be there. Death is the gateway through which we all must pass, and death fixes our destiny either in heaven or in hell. While you are reading this, your casket may be in some undertaker’s room, and the pick and shovel that will dig your grave may be in a tool house. The minute your lungs cease to inhale and exhale, the moment your heart stops beating, you are there. The supreme question of life is, Are YOU READY?