This chapter was written and contributed to this work by Geo. L. Cole. 1899

Most all the teachers of the Millennium heresy find it necessary, in order to hold their position, to claim that Christ is not sitting on the throne of David in this dispensation, and therefore there must be another dispensation ?a Millennium of a thousand years?in which Christ will sit upon the throne of David. But if the word of God is against their theory, it must fall. May we not find in the prophecies sufficient evidence or proof, as to whether it is this dispensation or another, in which Christ sits upon David's throne? If we find clear evidence that it is this dispensation, then why look for another in which to accomplish that which is being fulfilled in this present one? Let us turn to the prophecy. Ps. 132 :11?"The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David: he will not turn from it. Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne." The 17th verse reads, "There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed." Paul speaks, "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."?Rom. 1:3, 4. It is evident the prophet was speaking directly of Christ when he said, "Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne." For this purpose Christ came into the world. The fulfillment of this scripture, as I mentioned in the second chapter of Acts, clearly evidences I the fact that it was in this dispensation that Christ was to sit upon David's throne. But we turn to Isaiah 9 :5-7?"For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood, but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." The government is to rest on Christ's shoulder while he sits upon the throne of David, and upon his throne in his kingdom from hence forth even forever, or from this time forth.

But when is the fulfillment? at the beginning of the Christian dispensation, or at the beginning of the supposed Millennium dispensation? It was when a child was born unto us, when a son was given. This is clearly evident, that the beginning of the reign of Jesus Christ on the throne of David was fulfilled in the days of his incarnation. As this was to be "with burning and fuel of fire," we ask, When does this burning begin ? John the Baptist said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire; whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Any New Testament student can easily observe this to be a fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, while it is clearly evident again that it is in this dispensation that Christ sits upon David's throne, while the government rests upon his shoulder, and rules his kingdom with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. Isa. 16 :5? "And in mercy shall the throne be established, and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness." Has he not been doing this through this dispensation? If he has, he is sitting upon the throne of David now. In Luke 1:31-33 is a prophecy which was from the mouth of an angel who said unto the virgin: "Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 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: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Do we have presented before us in this prophecy two dispensations? Not by any means. The birth of Christ, his name, his origin, his throne and reign, are all connected and must be in one dispensation?that is the present one.

Amos 9:11, 12?"In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this." This scripture is quoted by the apostle James in Acts 15:13-17, which reads exactly with the Septuagint version. We learn in Isa. 16:5 that the throne and tabernacle of David are identical; therefore if the raising up of the tabernacle of David can be proved in this dispensation, the throne of David being identical with it, will prove to be also in this dispensation. Now let us turn to the New Testament fulfillment of these prophecies.

FULFILLMENT.

Acts 2:30 says of David, "Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption." David says that Christ was to be crucified?put to death? but if he was not resurrected, he could not sit upon his throne. Since he came sitting on the throne of David during his incarnation, he must be resurrected in order to continue upon the throne. The prophet seeing this before, spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell?hades?neither did his flesh see corruption. Had his flesh seen corruption, then the prophecy that Christ was to sit upon David's throne henceforth even forever would have been nullified; but as his body did not see corruption, he therefore continues to reign upon the throne of David.

The apostle Peter here quotes the language of David, as we observed above, in Psalm 132:11, and he presents the same to us as having been, and being fulfilled at that time, which gives us positive evidence that this dispensation was the prophetic one in which Christ was to reign upon David's throne. Let us read Acts 15:13-17?"After they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, harken unto me: Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things."

The visiting of the Gentiles and seeking out of them a people for his name was building the tabernacle of David, 1 and, as we have observed before, the throne of David was in the tabernacle of David. We then have Christ sitting upon David's throne in this dispensation, because it is in this dispensation that the Gentiles are chosen as a people i for his name, "that the residue of men might seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called, saith I the Lord." Thus we find in the Old Testament declare tion of prophecy and the clearness of the language in which it is expressed, also in the New Testament citation of its fulfillment, the clearest evidence that could be desired by any one, that Christ now sits upon David's throne.

DAVID IS A TITLE NAME FOR CHRIST.

As further proof that Christ now sits upon David's throne, we will call your attention to the fact that David is a title name for Christ in the following texts: Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 34:23, 24; 37:24-28; Hos. 3:5; Heb. 4:7. If Christ is called David, it then follows that if Christ sits upon his throne, it must be David's throne, from the fact that he is called David in these prophecies, and the same fulfilled declare Christ upon his throne, and that it was David's throne. But he could not sit upon his throne unless he were king; therefore we examine

CHRIST AS KING.

We will notice first in prophecy Zech. 9:9, 10?"Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion: shout. O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation: lowly, and sitting upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." Could we imagine this to be in some future dispensation, when we find it is already fulfilled during Christ's incarnation? Then Christ was a king during his incarnation. If so, he must be a king yet; but as to the extent of his kingdom we will now read the 10th verse?"And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battlebow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea and from the river even to the ends of the earth." "Speak peace unto the heathen" refers to the salvation of the Gentiles. These two verses agree and each alike evidences the fact that it is in this dispensation, and not a succeeding one, that Christ is King, and his kingdom, or dominion, extends to the ends of the earth.

Isaiah 33:22?"For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; he will save us." Millennium teachers admit that Christ is Lord and Savior, but he is not a King as yet: but this language declares him to be our King and our Lawgiver. The New Testament is the law he has given us, which proves as a discipline, ruling all the subjects of his kingdom on earth. This prophecy we will now find to have been

DECLARED AS FULFILLED.

In Matt. 21:1-9 Christ as a King is said to have come, riding into Jerusalem upon an ass, and this is exactly what Zechariah said he would do. "And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" But this is made plainer in Mark 11:10, where the people cried, "Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!" The people believed then that Christ had come in the kingdom of his father David.

Neither were they disappointed, because Matthew says all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, "Tell ye the daughters of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek and sitting upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." "Jesus answered My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should no be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a King then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a King. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Ever: one that is of the truth heareth my voice."?John 18 :36, 31

Here Christ acknowledges himself to be a king, to possess a kingdom, and his servants were the subjects of the same. It might be perplexing to some if they under stood David's kingdom to be of this world and Christ'' kingdom not of his world, how that Christ could be on David's throne. The subjects of David's kingdom were the children of God in that dispensation, while the children of God are the subjects of Christ's kingdom in this dispensation. This solves the mystery and adds another clear evidence to the fact that this is the dispensation in which Christ was to reign as King upon the throne of his father David, and there is not one text, to my knowledge that speaks of Christ on David's throne that could possibly refer to any other dispensation than the present one.

We that are now translated into the kingdom of his dear Son (Col. 1:13) know that his kingdom is righteous-ness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom. 14:17), and a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of his king. dom. Heb. 1:8. He reigns over us in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem. Isa. 24 :23; Heb. 12:22. And he must reign (continue) till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death 1 Cor. 15 :25, 26. This is accomplished at his second coming. Then the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father. 1 Cor. 15:22-24 The time when Millenarians expect him to begin his reign is the exact time that these texts declare that he ceases to reign, having delivered the kingdom to the Father. Hence if Christ does not reign over us in this dispensation, he never will. May the deceived ones learn this before the coming of the Lord. Amen.

Chapter 5
The Second Coming Of Christ And What Will Follow

It is an undeniable fact that the church in her present condition is instructed to look for the return of Christ from heaven, as the next great event. Nowhere are we instructed to look for a pre or post-millennial reign on earth. We will present the arguments relating to the subject of this chapter under several propositions.

I. THERE IS BUT ONE PERSONAL COMING OF CHRIST FUTURE

"What shall be the sign of thy coming?"?Matt. 24:3. "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."?2 Thess. 2:1. "I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."?1 Thess. 5 :23. "Whom the Lord shall . . . destroy by the brightness of his coming."?2 Thess. 2:8. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ."?Tit. 2:13. "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time."?Heb. 9:28. "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."?1 John 2:28. "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of our Lord.... Be ye also patient: establish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."?James 5 :7, 8.

Some latter-day teachers advocate three comings of the Lord yet future, but all the foregoing scriptures with many more teach us to look for but one coming, which will be at the end of this world.

II. THE MANNER OF HIS COMING.

1st. Visibly. "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."?A 1:9-11. This is clear. "This same Jesus, shall come again, in like manner" as he went up. He went up bodily and visibly. They saw him ascend, "and a cloud received him out of their sight." "In like manner" shall he descend from heaven. "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and ever eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him."?Rev 1:7. "The powers of heaven shall be shaken. And this: shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."?Luke 21:26, 27; Mark 13:26. "A', then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven and 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; Mark 14 :61,

Russel and other Millennium advocates teach that Christ has already come in his second advent. But their whole "presence of Christ" theory is without support of a single text of scripture. The positive testimony is that when he comes in the clouds of heaven "every eye she . see him." Mark you, dear reader, not only will the righteous see him, but all the tribes of the earth, "and they also which pierced him" shall see him when he comes.

2nd. Unexpectedly. "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth."?Rev. 16:15. "If therefore thou shall not watch, I will come on thee as a thief."?Rev. 3:3. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night."2 Pet. 3:10. "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 ?1 Thess. 3:2, 3. "And take heed to yourselves, lest a any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, an drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day con upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on a 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. "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."?Matt. 24:37-39.

This is very plain. The coming of Christ is a great and solemn event pending, for which the church is to look and watch, for which to be ready. That day and hour the Father only knoweth. When the rending heavens shall reveal his presence, this world will be in a Sodom state, and as the antediluvian world before the flood. The millions of earth will be sleeping in carnal security. Thousands dreaming of Millennial glory. Oh, the surprise and disappointment of the masses in that great day! Never since the foundation of the world has there been a day like this, in the surprise and terror with which it will break upon the thoughtless millions of the population. Business and pleasure will occupy the minds of men as usual up to the close of the preceding day. The sun will rise and set with the same placid majesty, and fling his smiling radiance with the same bountiful profusion on this devoted world as he sinks beneath the western horizon. Myriads will go to rest, dreaming of future years of wealth and happiness. But the loud blast of the "trump of God" will awake them to sleep no more; and looking up they will see the heavens on fire. The worldling, elated with schemes of opulence and splendor, will suddenly find his visions dispelled by the light of eternity, and the despairing cry, "The Judge is come!" The astounded senate will suddenly break up at the crash of the conflicting elements, and hurrying away in wild confusion, see that the great Legislator is come. The ermined judge and the manacled prisoner will hear themselves alike summoned without ceremony to the great tribunal. The miser, counting his gold, or reckoning his profits, will be panic stricken by the knell that tells him gold has no more value, and his priceless soul is lost, forever lost, in seeking a bursted bubble. The procrastinating trifler, dreaming of mercy after years of worldly pleasure, will be filled with dismay to see that the day of grace is past and the hour of retribution come. The anxious speculator, the busy merchant, the thriving tradesman, racking imagination with schemes of gain, panting to reach the goal of wealth, and revel in earthly aggrandizement, without one thought of God or eternity intruding on the vision of anticipated bliss, will be struck with terror to find the delusive mirage break up before the glare of the flaming skies and the catastrophe of a ruined world. The atheist, who denied God's being, will be appalled at the sight of his person. The Demases who have forsaken him for the world, the Judases who have betrayed him for silver, and all the host of apostates and blasphemers who have despised his name and trampled on his blood, will stand aghast when the great day of his wrath shall break upon their sight. It was an awful night in Egypt when every family rose up to bewail its firstborn struck with death. It was a day of awful vengeance when the siege of Jerusalem closed with the crash of a ruined city over one million one hundred thousand dead bodies. It was a day of anger when the deluge burst upon a degenerate world and overwhelmed its despairing millions in one common grave.

But this day exceeds them all; for it is the day when time has run its course, when universal retribution shall be rewarded, when God himself shall come down to take vengeance on them that know him not, and pent up fires shall envelop the earth in a general conflagration. Throughout the New Testament the most solemn charges and warnings are given to the church to be ready for that great and awful event. "Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord cloth come."?Matt. 24:42. "There be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh."?Ver. 44: While to the masses Christ's coming will be a great surprise, his faithful church will be "looking and hastening unto the coming of the day of God." "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober."?1 Thess 5:4-6.

3rd. With his saints. "Them also which sleep In Jesus will God bring with him."?1 Thess. 4:14. "At the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."?1 Thess 3:13. The spirits will return in that day and reanimate these bodies just raised.

4th. With a shout. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God."?1 Thess. 4:16.

5th. Quickly. "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."?Matt. 24:27. "Watch ye therefore; . . . lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleep ing."?Mark 13:35, 36. "Surely I come quickly. Amen Even so, come, Lord Jesus."?Rev. 22 :20.

III. THE OBJECT OF HIS COMING.

There are four things clearly stated in the New Testament that will take place at Christ's coming.

1st. The general or universal resurrection of all the dead. There will be millions of people, good and bad, living upon the earth when Christ comes. These, Paul tells us. will not taste death; but "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."?1 Cor. 15 :51, 52. No one will deny that the apostle here speaks of a resurrection which includes the church: and mark the fact that the trump which calls them forth is called the "last trump.' By this we are to understand that all the dead, both right eous and wicked, will come forth at that time; for how could another trump call forth the wicked a thousand year after the "last trump" had sounded? Preposterous. The language is clear. "The trumpet ['last trump'] shall sound, and the dead [all the dead] shall be raised, . .and we [the living] shall be changed." "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 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 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: 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." ?1 Thess. 4 :13-17. Here we are plainly told that the resurrection of the dead will take place at the very time "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, . . . and with the trump of God"?the last trump. The order of the resurrection is also clearly given. All that "are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For . . . the dead in Christ shall rise first." "The living, who are left over to the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who fell asleep. Because the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout, . . . and the dead in Christ will be raised first, then we, the living, who are left over, shall at the same time with them, be caught away in the clouds, for a meeting of the Lord in the air; and so we shall be always with the Lord."?Emphatic Diaglott. "The living who are left over to the arrival of the Lord, in no wise may get before those who fell asleep. . . . For the dead in Christ will rise first; after that, we the living who are left over, all at once, together with them, shall be caught away," etc.?Rotherham. "We who are living, who survive to behold the appearing of our Lord, shall not enter into his presence sooner than the dead."?Conybeare and Howson. This is clear and conclusive. The saints living on earth when Christ comes will not "precede" the righteous dead. They will first be raised, before we will enter into the presence of the Lord. After this we "together with them" shall be caught up and be forever with the Lord.

The reason the wicked are not mentioned in this scripture is because the apostle was treating directly on the hope of the church. When the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, not only will the righteous dead hear his voice, but the wicked also will come forth at the same time. "For the hour is coming, 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. This scripture forever demolishes the theory of an intervening thousand years between the resurrection of the righteous and that of the wicked.

Christ positively declared that all that are in the graves, both they that have done good and they that have done evil, shall hear his voice, and come forth in the same "hour." Daniel looking forward with prophetic eye the very end of time, beholds this universal resurrection, and thus describes it: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt "?Dan. 12:2. This text is rendered in Young's Bible Translation as follows: "And the multitude of those sleeping in the dust of the ground do awake, some life age during, and some to reproaches, to abhorrence age during." Here again, it is taught that the whole multitude of the dead, both righteous and wicked, will come forth in the last day. In Paul's defense before Felix, he boldly declares "that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust."?Acts 24:15. How many resurrections? "A resurrection of the dead." Who ! included in that resurrection? "Both the just and lust." So positively teaches the immutable word of truth which liveth and abideth forever. "A resurrection there shall certainly be, both of righteous and of unrighteous."?Rotherham's Translation. In the name of Jesus we ask: Could language more clearly teach but one literal resurrection, and that resurrection made up "both righteous and of unrighteous?" If Paul had believed Millennium heresy, he would have said "There shall be two resurrections of the dead; one of the just, the other of the unjust. But, thank God, Paul was not of the "simpler sort" Origen speaks of, but spoke by inspiration of God.

The Revelator says that when "he cometh with clouds," "every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him."?Rev. 1:7. This so clearly proves that both classes of the human family will be raised at that time that there is no appeal from it. "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it.... And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God: and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; . . . and they were judged every man according to their works.... And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."?Rev. 20:11-15. Here again we see the dead, all the dead, coming forth from land and sea, and immediately the judgment scene follows, and the separation of the righteous and wicked, "and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." The language clearly implies that in that day of final examination some will be found in the book of life and others not. "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."?1 Cor. 15 :12, 13. "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead."?Ver. 21. "He shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." ?John 11:24. Who, but such as are blinded by deception, can fail to see that in these texts but one resurrection, the "resurrection of the dead"?all the dead?is spoken of; and that resurrection will take place "at the last day"?

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. . . . And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all."?1 Cor. 15 :22-28.

This text is clear and conclusive. (1) All of Adam's race will be raised from the dead. (2) This will take place at Christ's coming. (3) Then cometh the end. "Cometh" is not in the original text. "Then the end" is the correct rendering. The Millennial advocate says that "immediately after the resurrection of them that are Christ's at his coming, the kingdom will be set up, and Christ will reign upon earth with his saints one thousand years, after which the wicked will be raised." Nothing of the kind is hinted at in the text. In fact it proves directly to the opposite. With the resurrection of "them that are Christ's" comes the end. "Then the end, when he shall have delivered up [mark you, not set up] the kingdom to God. When he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet." Here the apostle clearly shows that Christ's kingdom is not a reign of perpetual rest from his enemies, but one of continual conflicts and victories. Christ reigns while his enemies are being conquered and not after they are all conquered as Millenarians teach. The enemies Paul speaks of him conquering are spiritual antagonizing powers. In the morning of the Christian era, Christ went forth "conquering and to conquer."?Rev. 6:1, 2. The first enemy was sin, which he conquered on the cross. Next he conquered the dragon (Paganism). See Rev. 12:3, 7-10. Next, the beast (Popery); then, his image (Protestantism); then, the Gog and Magog union of false religions (These points will be taken up fully in subsequent chapters.); and finally, he conquers death in the resurrection of the entire human family. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." Ver. 26. This makes the end of his reign, being the last enemy to conquer. "Then the end" when he shall deliver up the kingdom to the Father, the end of time, the end of probation, the end of this world, the end of the reign of Christ, as the second person. Christ now reigns upon a mediatorial throne. But soon he will leave that throne for the judgment seat. Then the world will be without an advocate, without a Savior, or further opportunity of salvation. The redemption plan will then have been finished. The sacrifice for sins was offered; the Spirit came and strove with all flesh; the gospel was published to all nations; Christ comes in the clouds of heaven; the judgment is set, and eternal rewards and punishments are meted out to all men; Christ delivers up the kingdom to the Father, who no more reigns particularly in the Son, but "all in all," as from all eternity. So 1 Cor. 15:22-28 is utterly fatal to the Millennial heresy; for instead of Christ setting up the kingdom, it positively says that at the time of his coming he will "deliver up" the kingdom which he now possesses and over which he now reigns. To sum up all the foregoing scriptures, the following facts are clearly taught:

1st. There will be a literal resurrection from literal graves.

2nd. This resurrection will take place the instant of Christ's coming.

3rd. It will be universal. "All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth."

4th. Being universal, it includes the two great classes of the human family?"they that have done good and they that have done evil."

Having proved that the universal resurrection of all the dead will take place the instant of Christ's coming, we will now prove that the judgment scene immediately follows.

2nd. The general judgment, the reward of the righteous, and the punishment of the wicked. "Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead."? 1 Pet. 4 :4, 5. "And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead."?Acts 10:42.

When will this judgment take place? Answer: '1 charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at appearing and his kingdom." "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. 4:1, 8. Thank God for this clear testimony. Instead of setting up a Millennial reign, it is positively declared that Christ will Judge the "quick" ( just changed) and the "dead" (just raised from their graves) at his appearing, and at that time the apostle and all who love his appearing will be crowned. "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts."?1 Cor. 4:5, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?? 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 :26, 27. "But after hardness and impenitent heart treasures" up unto self wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds."?Rom. 2:5, 6. "Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still."?Rev. 22:12,11.

That a Millennial age will follow Christ's second coming is utterly refuted. The revelation of Jesus Christ 'from heaven will be the time of the general judgment, the reward of the righteous, and the perdition of the ungodly. [et us briefly glance at the foregoing texts. As before observed, 2 Tim. 4:1, 8 proves that Christ will judge the quick and the dead "at his appearing" (not a thousand years after), and in that day the righteous will be crowned. '[Cor. 4:5 also proves that the judgment will take place when the Lord comes who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness.' Yes, dear reader, in that day "God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret shag, whether it be good or whether it be evil."?Eccl. 12:14. And "every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."? matt. 12:36. In Matt. 16:26, 27 is a blast of warning to men that Christ will come in the glory of his Father, and then [at that time] he shall reward every man according to his works," and then there shall be no more escape from sin, but the wicked shall have forever lost their soul. Rom. 2 :5, 6 is a solemn warning to ungodly men who oppose the truth and presume upon God's mercies. To such, the revelation of Jesus Christ from heaven will be a day of wrath, when God shall "render to every man according to his deeds." Rev. 22:11,12 also proves that the instant of Christ's coming shall eternally fix the doom of all men, whether pure or filthy. Amen. The fact that all, both righteous and wicked, will be judged at the same time, is fatal to Millenniamism. But such is the plain testimony of scripture.

Chapter 6
The First Resurrection

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection."?Rev. 20:6. Having seen in the previous chapter that the final and universal resurrection of all the dead will take place at the instant of Christ's second advent, it follows conclusively that the resurrection here referred to as "the first resurrection" must precede his coming. If an actual resurrection takes place now, it must be the first, for it precedes in point of time the literal resurrection of either the righteous dead or the wicked. But do the scriptures teach such a resurrection ? Yes. John says, "We know that we have passed from death unto life."?1 John 3:14. This is clear. 1. An actual resurrection now takes place. Men pass from "death unto life." 2. This resurrection is spiritual, and makes men "blessed and holy." Be assured, dear reader, that the writer is one that "hath part in the first resurrection."

But says one, "There can be no resurrection except there first be a death." True. But death reigns on every hand. Every unregenerated man and woman is dead, spiritually dead?"dead in trespasses and sins."?Eph. 2:1. "We were dead in sins."?Ver. 5. "You being dead in your sins."?Col. 2:13. "To be carnally minded is death."? Rom. 8:6. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die."?Ezek. 18:4. "Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."? Jas. 1:15. "Sin revived, and I died."?Rom. 7:9. "She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth."?1 Tim. 5:6. "He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." ?1 John 3:14. God told our fore-parents when he forebade them to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." They transgressed, and death?spiritual death? was the immediate result. But this did not stop with Adam. The effects of the fall were far reaching. The whole human family was plunged into death as the result of the same. 'By one man [Adam sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."?Rom. 5:12. Again, we read that "death reigned from Adam to Moses."?Ver. 14. The word death in these texts clearly refers to spiritual death in trespasses and sins, because it is used interchangeably with the word sin.

Spiritual death reigned from Adam to Moses. Then Moses gave a law, but it was too weak to give life. Paul says, "If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law."?Gal. 3:21. Spiritual life then could not be obtained under the law. So it is a positive fact that spiritual death reigned over the world from Adam to Christ. Death was God's decree upon fallen man. Think of it! over five thousand years death reigned over the world. Oh, the misery and woe that followed in its trail! But hark! While death is reigning and the millions of earth are in slumber, we hear the sweet accents of the gospel reverberating throughout the length and breadth of the earth, bringing comfort to its despairing myraids that Christ "hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."?2 Tim. 1:10. "I am come that they might have life."?John 10:10. "Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."?Eph. 5:14. Amen.

The first resurrection began with this gospel dispensation. Surely no one will deny that the spiritual work of God in our souls is a real and indeed very important resurrection. The loud blast from the trumpet of truth to fallen man in this dispensation is: "Awake, thou that deepest and arise from the dead." Jesus said, "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. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live." "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."?John 5:24, 25. Need anything be plainer than this? The first resurrection is spiritual. It is progressive, or a continuous operation throughout the gospel era. It was then present, and yet to come. It was personal and conditional. "The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live." Namely, they that hear with acceptance of the same. Again, they receiving this resurrection are justified from all their sins, and "shall not come into condemnation, but are passed from death unto life." We will next give examples of those who had attained unto this resurrection.

Paul exhorted the Roman brethren: "Yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead." Rom. 6:13. "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved;) and hath raised us up together."?Eph. 2:1, 5, 6. "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses."?Col. 2:13. "Ye are risen with him."?Ver. 12. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above."?3:1. "We know that we have passed from death unto life."?1 John 3:14. The following undeniable facts are clearly set forth. First. All sinners are dead in trespasses and sins. Second. All such are commanded to awake out of sleep and "arise from the dead." Third. When men and women get saved in Christ, an actual resurrection takes place. Fourth. This resurrection makes men "blessed and holy." Fifth. It being an actual resurrection, and antedating all others, must of necessity be the first.

While the millions quickened to life throughout this entire gospel dispensation all taken together compose the "first resurrection," it may properly be said that there have been two spiritual resurrections; namely, The mighty host raised up before the "dark ages," and the second host saved since that time. Through the pure gospel of the primitive church, a large host of souls were raised from death unto life. They were "a royal priesthood," "a holy nation." They reigned "in life" over Satan, sin and the world. But soon the darkness of the apostasy crushed out the light of God. "What are termed the middle ages commenced with the fifth, and terminated with the fifteenth century. Of these the first six are denominated the dark ages; but throughout the whole period, Christianity suffered a long eclipse of a thousand years."?Goodrich's Church History, Page 478. During that dark period salvation work, with a few exceptions, ceased; and the "rest of the dead" of Adam's fallen race "lived not again until the thousand years were finished." The kingdom of God was largely hid under the human rubbish of men. The reign on earth ceased, and the only reign enjoyed by the people of God was enjoyed "with Christ" in Paradise by that host who had taken part in the first resurrection. But the reformation again brings the resurrecting grace of God into action, and thousands of the "rest of the dead" have been and are being made alive in Christ. Hallelujah! See Rev. 20:4~6.

Chapter 7
The Abrahamic Covenant

"Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: . .. and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; . . . And Abram took Sarah his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered; . .. and into the land of Canaan they came.... And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land."?Gen. 12 :1-7. "And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be." "In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates."?Gen. 15:5-21. "And in thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed." Gen. 22:18. "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; ... And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.... As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.... And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting' covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." ?Gen. 17 :1-8.

The covenant here spoken of is truly wonderful, and one that is greatly speculated upon by Millennial advocates. Some teach that it will have a literal fulfillment in the future?that Christ will set up his throne in Jerusalem, which will be the capital of the world, and through his seed (the church selected in this gospel age) all the families of the earth will be saved and dwell in literal Canaan forever. While the many texts already cited, which prove that the second coming of Christ will be the day of judgment, and will eternally fix the doom and destiny of all men, and at which time this earth will be "burned up," and "pass away" and "no place be found for it"?while these texts are a perfect refutation of all such chaffy theories, yet we feel led of the Lord to give a thorough exposition of this covenant. It is one that contains a number of promises, which, when properly divided, are as follows:

First. "I will make of thee a great nation." "And will multiply thee exceedingly." "Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be." "Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates ;" i. e., the land of Canaan. Second. "Thou shalt be a father of many nations. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." "I will give unto thy seed after thee, all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession."

The first of these were personal and familiar; the second, spiritual, universal, and eternal: or, in other words, the first had respect to Abraham's natural descendants, according to the flesh; the promise of "a great nation" in own family. The second had respect to the Messiah and all his people. This blessing is spiritual and eternal.

These promises?the first for a nation, the second for all time and eternity too embrace within them the entire nations; the first for fleshly and temporal, the second for spiritual blessings; the first for a time, the second for all destinies of humanity. They are the fountains of two streams of promises, prophecies, and histories, which, born that moment, began to flow, and whose waters meander through all ages, and disembogue themselves at last into the vast ocean of eternity. The distinction of Jew and Gentile is conceived in these promises. The Jew stands Abraham's "nation." The Gentile is always a cosmopolite?a citizen of any nation. The Gentiles, or "the nations', on the one side, and the Jews on the other, are here first placed in comparison and contrast. But after being for a time severed by a special providence, both meet in the Messiah, by a mystic tie, and become one in him; in whom "there is neither Jew nor Gentile, bond nor free, male nor female."

Two covenants, sometimes called two testaments, "old and new," are founded on these promises. The "old" or Sinaitic covenant?the law?was established upon the first. That law was given to only one nation?the Jews. It was a "middle wall of partition" between them and the Gentile nations. They were a favored people above all the nations of the earth. The "new testament" was established upon the second. These promises upon which the new covenant was established, Paul tells us are "better promises" than those upon which the old covenant was established. (Heb. 8:6). The whole Jewish nation, with all their peculiarities, grew out of the first; the whole Christian church, out of the second. We will now proceed to prove that the first of these promises, which related to Abraham's literal seed the Jews, have been fulfilled.

Promise. "I will make of thee a great nation, and will multiply thee exceedingly, until thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven for number." Fulfillment. "The Lord your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude."?Deut. 1:10' "Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the Lord thy God hath made tbee as the stars of heaven for multitude."?Deut. 10:22. "But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under; because the Lord had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens."?1 Chron 27:23. "Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude and as the sand which is by the seashore innumerable These all died in faith."?Heb. 11:12, 13.

Promise. "Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates." Fulfillment. Just before his death, Moses went to the top of Pisgah that is over against Jericho. "And the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, and the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes."?Deut. 34 :1-4. "Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them."?Deut. 1:7, 8, 21. Just before the children of Israel crossed over Jordan into Canaan, "the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, ...now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of our foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you,. ,..From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, . . . Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them."?Josh. 1:1-6. They crossed over Jordan (Josh. Chapters 3 and 4) and possessed the land. (Joshua, Chap.12 to 22.) "Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry. And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt."?1 Kings 4:20, 21. Read carefully Ps 105:9-44. Here David tells us clearly the promise of God to Abraham's literal seed was fulfilled. Now turn to Nehemiah 9. "Thou art the Lord the God who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; ... and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed 61 words; for thou art righteous."?Verses 7 and 8. In verses 8 to 22 is given a description of God's dealings with Israel from their exodus from Egypt to the time they arrived at Jordan. Now we read verses 23-25? Ҕheir children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it. So the children went in and possessed the land,... And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and olive. yards, and fruit trees in abundance; so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness." This line of scripture could be drawn out considerably, but abundant proof is given that the promises of the Abrahamic covenant to "Israel after the flesh" have been fulfilled. This cuts off one branch of Millennialism; for many contend today that these promises will have a literal fulfillment in the future, when (as they say) Christ will reign over the Jews in Palestine. Having seen that the promises to Abraham's natural descendants have beer, fulfilled, we will now prove that those respecting the Messiah and his people reach their fulfillment in this gospel age.

Promise. "Thou shalt be a father of many nations." Fulfillment. "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For i! they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: . . . Therefore it Is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, (as it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations)."?Rom. 4:13-17. Nothing is plainer than the fact so clearly stated in this text, that the promise of God to make Abraham a father of many nations has a spiritual fulfillment in the New Testament dispensation. God is making all nations children of Abraham, by bringing them into the faith of the gospel. "For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed." "Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles."?Rom. 9:6-8, 24. "Now,we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise."? Gal. 4:28. "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham."?Gal. 3:7. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."?Ver. 26. "And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abrahamճ seed, and heirs according to the promise."? Ver. 29. Every convert of the cross, from the dawn of this dispensation to its close helps to constitute this great family, the children of Abraham, the "Israel of God."

Promise. "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." Fulfillment. "He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."?Gal. 3:16. "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ."?Ver. 14. Christ then is the seed through whom all nations were to be blessed. Russel and other Millennial advocates teach that Christ is now selecting a certain few out of the Gentile nations, a select "seed," through whom he will extend special offers of salvation to all families of the Berth in the Millennium. The scriptures quoted above prove his theory a falsehood. "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles [nations] through Christ." And, "Behold, now is the day of salvation." Full salvation is the blessing promised. "Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities."?Acts 3 26. Here we are told that the blessing of Abraham promised through Christ includes a turning away from iniquities. This was something that could not be obtained under the law. A turning away from iniquities signifies the obtaining of grace to live a sinless life; hence God's oath to Abraham vouchsafes to us, through Christ, grace to "serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life."?Luke 1:74, 75. A present, perfect salvation from all sin, in the holy image of God, is now offered to all nations; yea, to "every creature," through the gospel of Christ; and the highest inducements are held out for men to embrace the same. Multitudes of all nations have washed their robes and made then white in the blood of the Lamb. Amen.

Promise. "I will give unto thy seed after thee all the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession." Fulfillment. As before proved, all true children of God whether Jews or Gentiles, in this dispensation compose the spiritual seed of Abraham, the "Israel of God," who were to obtain. tain the blessing promised. This blessing was to come through Christ. Through Christ we obtain a perfect salvation from sin, an eternal soulrest. This is the spiritual Canaan we now inherit and receive for an everlasting possession. The literal land of Canaan inherited by the Jews was a type of the complete redemption we have in Christ Jesus, i. e., perfect holiness. The literal Canaan given to the Jew was only for a time. Its blessings were temporal. The spiritual Canaan which it typified is for all time and eternity. Its blessings are spiritual and eternal. Hence it is an "everlasting possession." "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham." This shows conclusively that the Canaan here promised has a spiritual signification, and meets its fulfillment in the grace of God bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."?Gal. 3:13, 14. Here Paul positively declares that "the promise of the Spirit" is the "blessing of Abraham," and that the same has "come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ." This he identifies with the "inheritance" given to Abraham by promise (See verses 1418.); and we receive the same "by faith." There was no inheritance promised in the covenant but "Canaan," which Paul by authority of heaven interprets to be "the Spirit." Christ instructed his disciples to tarry at Jerusalem, and wait for the "promise of the Father," the "baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire."?Read Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 5. They obeyed and received the promise. See Acts 2:1-4, 32, 33. It is said of all the patriarchs and good men who lived under the law, that "these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise."? Heb. 11:39. The Holy Spirit in the sense of the abiding Comforter was not received under the old dispensation, because, according to the plain teaching of the New Testament, he could not be received in this sense until after the incarnation and glorification of the Savior. See John 1:39; 16:7. But we further read that God has provided these "better things" (namely, the glorious fulfillment of his promise) "for us."?Heb. 11:40. hallelujah! "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." Acts 20:32. "Inheritance among them which are sanctified,"?Acts 26:18. "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance."?Eph. 1:11. "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." Col. 1:12. "To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before hin, all the days of our life."?Luke 1:72-75. This is clear and conclusive. The experience of entire sanctification, or perfect holiness, is the spiritual land of Canaan "we which believe do enter." (1) Through spiritual birth then become children of God. (2) All the children of God (both Jews and Gentiles) in this dispensation are the seed of Abraham. As such they are "heirs" to the "inheritance" promised. (3) This inheritance is clearly stated to be Ҵhe baptism of the Holy Spirit," "sanctification," or ~perfect holiness." These terms relate to the same experience. (4) This experience is not received by a transition from earth to heaven, nor is it deferred to future age It is now received "by faith," and can be lived and enjoyed "all the days of our life."

"Far down o'er the ages a promise divine,
Descending to us in tbe fullness of time:
A seed should appear as the stars of the heaven,
And they should inherit a land to be given.

"Oh, we are the seed, so happy and blest
That dwell in the land of Canaan's holy rest:
Here streams of pure love are flowing along,
And anthems of glory are sounding in song.

"This land is salvation and holiness pure;
We find it in Jesus, our title is sure.
O sweet land of Beulah, thy glory divine
Forever and ever unclouded shall shine."

?Selected.

In Paul's letter to the Hebrews, chapters 3 and 4, the apostle draws an analogy between Israel in the wilderness and children of God not yet fully saved; also between literal Canaan and the spiritual "rest" "we which have believed do enter." God had promised the children of Israel rest in the land of Canaan. The first generation did not enter this land, "because they believed not." Of them he sware, "They shall not enter into my rest." "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." ?3:19. We have before shown that literal Canaan was a type of the experience of perfect holiness. God had promised to give Israel rest in the land of Canaan, "from all their enemies round about."?Deut. 25:19. "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."?Ex. 33:14. By exterminating all the Canaanites who were born and bred in that land, the children of Israel were to possess the land and have rest. How clearly this typifies the complete redemption we have in Christ Jesus! The various bents of evil?pride, selfishness, jealousy, fear, covetousness, anger, etc.are born in us. These are in. ward enemies. Christ "condemns sin in the flesh," and "destroys the works of the devil" out of us; namely, saves us from these enemies, and enables us to serve him "in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life."?Luke 1:74, 75. Not one of these enemies is allowed to remain and lurk in the walls of "man's soul." Perfect love casteth out fear, and the soul sinks down into a perfect tranquillity, a haven of rest?a rest that gives "quietness and assurance forever." This is the land of Beulah. Here "peace is extended like a river," and the soul is enabled to "rejoice evermore," and "in everything give thanks"; even in times of trial, adversity, disappointment, pressure, opposition, and misunderstanding. Here e soul feasts on "fat things" and is "satisfied." This so far surpasses the experience of the masses, that they naturalIy suppose it can only be obtained in a supposed Millennium or after death. But thank God, the redeemed have found it in this life. "We which have believed do [present tense] enter into rest." Hallelujah! You see this is present. Believers now "do enter" by faith into the Canaan "rest." The apostle urged the Hebrew converts to enter this perfect soul rest. 4:1; 4:11; 10:19-22; 12:14.

We have clearly proved that those promises in the Abrahamic covenant which related to his literal descendants after the flesh reached their fulfillment under the Law; and that those which related to the Messiah and his people reach their fulfillment in the gospel age: that the very things people are looking for in their Millennium, now possess and enjoy in this last and best dispensation of God's love and mercy. Here again the word of truth gets far ahead of the dark age Millennium theory.

"The kingdom of God is within you,
So the greatest of teachers hath said;
And the faithful and loving have found it,
And enjoyed it before they were dead.
"The Word, and the blood of the Savior
Is the anchor in which we do rest;
And heaven began with its favor
Now we reign with the pure and the blest."

[ Continued...See Link Below... ]