 The Ascension 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 1:11 Foreword Having
been solicited
on numerous occasions by friends who
love the
"BLESSED HOPE" to prepare a small comprehensive pamphlet on the SECOND COMING OF CHRIST illustrated with a few simple charts for the information of those who may desire to know about the Lord's Return, the Author has prepared this little booklet and sends it forth on its mission praying that God will richly bless its testimony. THE AUTHOR. "SUNNYSIDE," Fox Chase, Phila., Pa. October 28, 1918 SUBJECTS 1. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST 2. THE TRANSFIGURATION 3. THE SPIRIT WORLD 4. THE RESURRECTION 5. THE IMMINENCY OF THE SECOND COMING 6. THE HISTORY OF THE DOCTRINE 7. THE CHURCH VERSUS THE KINGDOM 8. IS THE WORLD TO BE CONVERTED BEFORE CHRIST COMES? 9. THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES 10. Poem -- "HE SHALL Come"  Click Image for a Larger View
"In My Father's House are many mansions: if it were not so,
I would have told you. 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.
There is no fact in history more clearly established than the fact of the "First Coming" of Christ. But as His "First Coming" did not fulfill all the prophecies associated with His "Coming," it is evident that there must be another "Coming" to completely fulfill them. It was because the religious leaders of Christ's day failed to distinguish between the prophecies that related to His "First Coming," and those that related to His "Second Coming" that they rejected Him. Peter tells us (I Pet. 1: 10, 11) that the prophets themselves did not clearly perceive the difference between the "Sufferings" and "Glory" of Christ. That is, they did not see that there was a "TIME SPACE" between the "Cross" and the "Crown," and that the "Cross" would precede the "Crown." But we have no such excuse. We live on this side of the "Cross," and we can readily pick out all the prophecies that were fulfilled at Christ's "First Coming" and apply the remainder to His "Second Coming." It is clear then that Christ's "First Coming," important as it was, is not the "doctrinal centre" of the Scriptures, that is, Christ's "First Coming" was not the centre of a circle that contains all doctrine, but was one of the foci of an ellipse of which the other is the "SECOND COMING." This is shown on Chart No. 1. The Chart takes in the whole Mediatorial Work of Christ, Prophetic, Priestly and Kingly. This is included in an ellipse, the foci of which are the "First" and "Second" Comings of Christ. The "Cross" represents His "First Coming" and the "Crown" His "Second Coming." Between the "Fall" and the "First Coming" we have the "ALTAR," which points backward to the "Fall" and forward to the "Cross." Between the "Comings" we have the "TABLE" which points backward to the "Cross" and forward to the "Second Coming." Between the "Second Coming" and the surrender of the "Kingdom" we have the "THRONE," which points backward to the "Second Coming" and forward to the surrendering of the "Kingdom." The Apostle Paul in his epistles clearly distinguishes between the "Comings" and their doctrinal significance. In his letter to the Hebrews he classifies Christ's "appearings" as "Hath He appeared" (Heb. 9:2'6), "Now to appear" (Heb. 9:24), "Shall He appear" (Heb. 9:28). In his letter to Titus (Titus 2: 11, 12), he brings out the doctrinal significance of these "appearings." As a Prophet He died for our "JUSTIFICATION," as a Priest He lives at the right hand of God not only as our Advocate, but our "SANCTIFIER," and when He comes again as a King it will be for our "GLORIFICATION."  Click Image for a Larger View While the First and Second Comings of Christ are separated by this Dispensation they are nevertheless not complete in themselves, the Second necessitated the First, and the First demands the Second. They are both necessary to complete the Plan of Salvation. The First Coming was for the salvation of my "SOUL;" the Second is for the salvation of my "BODY," for there can be no resurrection of the body until Christ comes back. THE SECOND COMING
I. AS TO THE FACT 1. THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS HIMSELF. Matt 16: 27. "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 work."
Matt. 25: 31, 32. "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." John 14: 2, 3. "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. 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 21: 22. "If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee? Follow thou me." 2. THE TESTIMONY OF HEAVENLY BEINGS. Acts
1: 10, 11. "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."
This passage declares that the SAME JESUS shall return IN LIKE MANNER as He went, that is, that His return will be visible and personal. The two "men" that "stood by" were probably Moses and Elijah. They appeared with Jesus on the Mt. of Transfiguration, they were doubtless the "two men" who testified to the women at the tomb that Jesus had risen (Luke 24: 4, 5), and they will be the "Two Witnesses" that shall testify during the Tribulation. Rev. 11: 3-12. 3. THE TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLES PAUL-"For
our conversation is in heaven; from whence also
we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our
vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,
according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things
unto himself." Phil. 3: 20, 21.
"Looking for that `Blessed Hope' and the `Glorious Appearing' of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Titus 2: 13. "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. JAMES-"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord." James 5: 7. PETER-"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." II Pet. 1: 16. Peter here refers to the Transfiguration of Christ on the mount (Matt. 17: 1-5), which was a type of His Second Coming. Moses was a type of the "resurrection saints," and Elijah of those who shall be translated without dying. Peter, James and John were a type of the Jewish Remnant that shall see Him when He comes, and the remaining disciples at the foot of the mount, unable to cast the demon out of the boy, of those professed followers of Jesus who shall be left behind at the Rapture, and who shall be powerless to cast the demons out of the demon-possessed people of that period. JUDE-"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoke against him." Jude 14: 15. JOHN-"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." I John 2: 28. "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him." Even so, Amen. Rev. 1: 7. 4. THE TESTIMONY OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. "For
as often as ye eat
this bread, and drink
this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." I
Cor. 11: 26.
The Lord's Supper is not a permanent ordinance. It will be discontinued when the Lord returns. It is a Memorial Feast. It looks back to the "Cross" and forward to the "Coming." An engagement ring is not intended to be permanent. It is simply a pledge of mutual love and loyalty, and gives place to the wedding ring. So the Lord's Table may be looked upon as a betrothal pledge left to the Church during the absence of her betrothed. Paul in all his epistles refers but 13 times to Baptism, while he speaks of the Lord's return 50 times. One verse in every 30 in the New Testament refers to Christ's Second Coming. There are 20 times as many references in the Old Testament to Christ's Second Coming as to His First Coming. THE FIVE THEORIES 1. That His Coming Again Is "SPIRITUAL" and Was Fulfilled at Pentecost. It was not Christ but the Holy Spirit that came at Pentecost, and his coming was conditioned on Christ's absence, for Jesus said, "It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter (H. S.) will not come unto you; but if I DEPART, I will SEND HIM UNTO YOU." John 16: 7. If the Holy Spirit is only another manifestation of Christ, then they are identical, and that NULLIFIES THE TRINITY. The fact is, the whole New Testament was written after Pentecost, and declares over 150 times that the Second Coming of Christ was still future. And more, none of the events predicted as accompanying the Second Coming occurred at Pentecost, such as the Resurrection of the "Dead in Christ," the Translation of the "Living Saints," the "Binding of Satan," etc. 2. That the "CONVERSION OF THE SINNER" is the Coming of the Lord. This cannot be, for at conversion the sinner comes to Christ, not Christ to the sinner; and the sinner's conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit, and not the work of Christ. It is true that there is such a thing as the spiritual indwelling of Christ in the believer, but His Second Coming, like His First Coming is to be an outward, visible, personal coming. 3. That "DEATH" is the Coming of the Lord. The text that is used more than any other for funeral sermons is -"Watch, therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh." Matt. 25: 13. The context shows that this refers to a future coming of Christ. Christ could not come to the earth every time a person dies for two reasons (1) A soul passes into eternity every second, and this would necessitate Christ's remaining continuously on the earth. (2) Christ is engaged in His High Priestly functions in the Heavenlies, and could not leave them to come to the earth for the souls of the dying. The fact is, that at death the believer goes to Christ. Christ does not come for him. Death is always spoken of as a departure. "Absent from the body, present (at home) with the Lord." II Cor. 5: 6-8. If Jesus had meant by His Second Coming "Death," He would have said to His Disciples-"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will send `Death' to bring you to myself," but He did not. He said-"I will come again and receive you unto myself." The last chapter of John's Gospel settles the matter. Peter said to Jesus-"Lord, and what shall this man (referring to John) 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 (John) should not DIE." John 21: 21-23. We see from this that the Disciples did not think that the "Coming of the Lord" meant "death." There was a great difference between these two things in their mind. Death is an enemy (I Cor. 15: 26, 55), it holds us in the grave, it robs the body of its attractiveness, it is the "Wages of Sin" (Rom. 6: 23), and the result of God's wrath, while the Second Coming of Christ is a manifestation of His love. Christ is the "Prince of Life." There can be no death where He is. Death flees at His coming. When He was on earth nothing could remain dead in His presence. His Coming is not death but resurrection. He is the "Resurrection" and the "Life," and when He Comes, He will change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His "Glorious Body." Phil. 3:20, 21. 4. That the "DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM" in A. D. 70 by the Romans Was the Second Coming of the Lord. The Lord was not present at the destruction of Jerusalem. It was destroyed by Roman soldiers, and none of the things that are to occur at the "Second Coming" occurred at the destruction of Jerusalem, such as the resurrection of the dead, the translation of living saints, and the physical changes that are to occur at Jerusalem and in the land of Palestine at Christ's coming. Zech. 14: 4-11. Ez. 47:1-12. Christ's purpose in coming back is not to destroy Jerusalem, but to RESTORE it. It must be trodden down of the Gentiles until the "Times of the Gentiles" are fulfilled, "then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." Luke 21: 24-28. The Book of Revelation, written 26 years after the destruction of Jerusalem, speaks of the Second Coming of Christ as still future. 5. That the "DIFFUSION OF CHRISTIANITY" is the Second Coming of the Lord. This cannot be true, for the "Diffusion of Christianity" is gradual, whereas the Scriptures declare that the "Return of the Lord" shall be SUDDEN and UNEXPECTED, as a "Thief in the Night." Matt. 24: 27, 36, 42, 44. I Thess. 5: 2. Rev. 3: 3. Again the "Diffusion of Christianity" is a process, while the Scriptures invariably speak of the "Return of the Lord" as an EVENT. The diffusion of Christianity brings Salvation to the wicked, whereas the "Return of the Lord" is said to bring not salvation but SUDDEN DESTRUCTION. I. Thess. 5: 2, 3; II Thess. 1: 7-10. II. AS TO THE TIME While we do not know the day or the hour of Christ's Coming we know that it will be PRE-MILLENNIAL The very structure of the New Testament demands that Christ shall return before the Millennium. Here are a few reasons. 1. When Christ comes
He will RAISE THE DEAD, but
the Righteous dead are to be raised BEFORE the
Millennium, that they may reign with Christ during the 1000 years,
hence there can be no Millennium before Christ comes. Rev. 20: 5.
2. When Christ comes He will SEPARATE THE "TARES" FROM THE "WHEAT," but as the Millennium is a period, of UNIVERSAL RIGHTEOUSNESS the separation of the "Tares" and "Wheat" must take place BEFORE the Millennium, therefore there can be no Millennium before Christ comes. Matt. 13: 40-43. 3. When Christ comes Satan SHALL BE BOUND, but as Satan is to be bound during the Millennium, there can be no Millennium until Christ comes. Rev. 20: 1-3. 4. When Christ comes Antichrist is to be DESTROYED, but as Antichrist is to be destroyed before the Millennium there can be no Millennium until Christ comes. II Thess. 2:8; Rev. 19:20. 5. When Christ comes the Jews are to be RESTORED TO THEIR OWN LAND, but as they are to be restored to their own land BEFORE the Millennium, there can be no Millennium before Christ comes. Ez. 36:24-28; Rev. 1: 7 (Zech. 12: 10). 6. When Christ comes it will be unexpectedly, and we are commanded to watch lest He take us unawares. Now if He is not coming until AFTER the Millennium, and the Millennium is not yet here, why command us to watch for an event that is over 1000 years off? III. AS TO THE MANNER The First Stage of His Return is called "THE RAPTURE;" the Second Stage-"THE REVELATION." The time between the two Stages is not less than seven years, and is occupied in the heavens by the "JUDGMENT OF BELIEVERS FOR WORKS," and on the earth by "THE GREAT TRIBULATION." See Chart No. 4, p. 36. THE RAPTURE From this we see that "The Rapture" will be twofold. 1. The Resurrection of the "DEAD IN CHRIST." 2. The Translation of the "LIVING SAINTS." This twofold character of "The Rapture" Jesus revealed to Martha when He was about to raise her brother Lazarus. He said to her. "I am the `Resurrection and the Life,' he that believeth in Me, though he were dead yet shall he LIVE (First Resurrection Saints) ; and whosoever LIVETH (is alive when I come back) and believeth in Me shall NEVER DIE." John 11: 25, 26. This twofold character of The Rapture, Paul emphasizes in his immortal chapter on the Resurrection. "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, and we shall be changed. For this Corruptible (the dead in Christ) must put on incorruption, and this mortal (the living saints) must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY. O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING? O GRAVE, WHERE IS THY VICTORY?" I. Cor. 15:51-57. The last two lines refer only to those who are "changed without dying," for it is only those who will not die who can shout "0 Death, Where Is Thy Sting? "0 Grave, Where Is Thy Victory?" In II Cor. 5: 1-4, Paul expresses his longing, and the longing of the Saints, to be among those who should not be "unclothed" by Death, but who should be "clothed upon" by Immortality "without dying." "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle (the body), were dissolved (that is die), we have a building of God, an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. For in this (body) we groan, earnestly desiring to be `clothed upon' with our house which is from heaven; if so be that being `clothed' we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle (the body) do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be `unclothed' (by death), but 'clothed upon' (by immortality), that `mortality' might be swallowed up of life." In his letter to the Philippians, while Paul hopes that "If by any means he may attain unto The (out from among the dead) Resurrection, yet he pressed toward the mark for the 'prize' of the High (out and up) Calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3: 11-14. That is, while Paul would esteem it a great thing to "rise from the dead" at the First Resurrection, and be "caught up" with those who should be "changed," yet he would esteem it a "prize" if he could be caught up "without dying," that is, live until Jesus came back. THE RAPTURE WILL BE A "SURPRISE" We see from this that when Christ comes back it will be when we are not expecting Him. He will come as a thief comes. A thief does not announce his coming. He comes for a certain purpose. He does not take everything there is in the house. He takes only the precious things, the jewels, the gold, the silver and fine wearing apparel. He does not come to stay. As soon as he secures what he is after he departs. So Jesus at the Rapture will come and take away the saints only. The thief leaves much more than he takes. He leaves the house and the furniture and the household utensils. So the Lord at the Rapture will leave the wicked and the great mass of the heathen behind for those who will be taken will be comparatively few. We must not forget in our study of this subject that there are to ,cc two resurrections of the dead. The first, of the Righteous dead before the Millennium, and the second of the Wicked dead after the Millennium. Rev. 20: 4-6. The subject cannot be treated fully in this pamphlet but will be found in the author's larger work on "Dispensational Truth," in the chapters on "The Resurrection" and "Spirit World" with charts. It will not only separate the saints from unbelievers, but it will separate husbands from wives, brothers from sisters, friends from friends. "I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left." Luke 17:34-36. The words "men" and "women" in this passage are in italics. That means that they are not in the original, and so the passage should read there shall be "two in one bed," husband and wife, or two brothers, or two sisters, or two friends. Two in "bed" indicates night; two grinding at the mill, morning or evening; two in the field mid-noon. This shows that the Rapture will happen all over the earth at the same time or as the Apostle describes it in a "moment," or the "twinkling of an eye." "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) is the way Jesus puts it. The "Rapture" will be the most startling "event" of this Age and Dispensation. As it is to occur in the "twinkling of an eye" and all over the earth at the same time, that part of the world that is not asleep will witness the event. As to the "Shout of the Lord," the "Voice of the Archangel," and the "Trump of God" we do not know whether their sound will be heard and distinguished by others than the "dead in Christ" and the "living saints." We know that one day the Father spoke to Christ in a voice that He understood, but the people who stood by mistook it for "thunder." John 12: 28, 29. When the Lord appeared to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus and spoke to him, the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, "hearing a voice," but seeing no man, and not understanding what was said. Acts 9:3-7. We know however that the "dead in Christ" will hear the sound, for it will be "intensely penetrating." There will be no graves so deep, no catacombs so rock covered, no pyramids or mausoleums so thick, but what the sound shall reach their depths and the "dead in Christ" shall hear the cry-"awake ye sleeping saints and arise from the dead, it is MORNING, the morning of the FIRST RESURRECTION." On the morning of that glorious day the air will be filled with the "spirits" of the "Dead in Christ," come back to earth to get their bodies, raised and glorified. Whether the cemeteries and country church yards will look like ploughed fields, and monuments and grave slabs be overturned and vaults and places of sepulchre be shattered by the exodus of those who found their last resting place there, and thus testify to the fact of the literal bodily resurrection of the dead, or whether the sainted dead shall slip out of their sepulchres without disturbing them, as Christ arose and left the tomb without breaking the seal, the angel rolling away the stone simply to show that the tomb was empty, we are not told, only the event itself will disclose the manner of the First Resurrection. If the dead slip out of their places of sepulchre without disturbing them, the First Resurrection will be secret and probably unknown to the world, but it will not be so with the "Living Saints" who arc translated. If it is night on our side of the globe when the Rapture occurs the community will wake up in the morning to find all the real Christians gone, disappeared in the night. Many may hear the sound of the "Midnight cry" "BEHOLD
THE BRIDEGROOM COMETH,"
but thinking it only thunder, will turn over for another nap, but in the morning they will find the bedroom door locked, with the key on the inside, just as they locked it before retiring, and the clothes of the loved one who occupied the room with them lying where they were placed when taken off the night before, but that loved one, who was a Christian, missing. Husbands will wake up to find that Christian wives are gone, and wives will wake up to find Christian husbands gone. Brothers and sisters will be missed, and dear children absent, and not an infant will be left behind. Many faithful servants and employees will not report for duty, and the world will awake to the fact that the Bible is true, and the much despised doctrine of the Pre-Millennial Coming of the Lord to gather out His saints is no fanciful interpretation of Scripture. If it be day with us when the Rapture occurs, the "EVENT" will be startling. As it was in the days of Noah (Matt. 24: 36-39), the people will be eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, buying and selling, planting and building. If it be at a pleasant time of the year, the boats, and cars, and parks will be filled with pleasure seekers. If it be in the midst of the week, and during the business hours of the day, the shops and stores will be filled with shoppers and the mills with toilers, and the streets of the cities lined with men and women and children on pleasure and business bent. Suddenly a noise from heaven will be heard like a great peal of thunder. The people will rush to doors and windows, and those on the streets and in the fields will look up to see what has happened. To the vast majority it will be but a startling and alarming sound, but to many it will be the At first the whole thing will be a Mystery, until some one who had heard or read about the "Rapture of the Saints," realizing what has happened, will explain the situation. But one of the surprises of that day will be that so many professing Christians, and among them many ministers and Christian workers, will be left behind, while some who were not known to be Christians will be missing. The next day's papers will be full of what happened the day before, and many of them will be swelled to twice their ordinary size by the pressure on their advertising columns for information as to missing ones, and for help to fill important vacancies and positions of trust. For a few days the excitement will be intense. Then the people will settle down to the inevitable. With the exception of a few who will repent and turn to God, the mass of the people will become more hardened and wicked than before, and some who lost loved ones will be embittered. As the Holy Spirit will have gone back with the "Raptured Ones," and the "Saints," the SALT of the earth, been taken out, there will be nothing to prevent the rapid degeneration and "Moral Putrefaction" of those who are "left," and sin and iniquity and all manner of crime and worldliness will increase and pave the way for the manifestation of Antichrist, under whose administration the world will rapidly ripen for judgment. WHO ARE TO BE TAKEN  "They That Were Ready Went in with Him to the Marriage and the Door Was Shut." Matt. 25: 10. The order of the Resurrection is-"Christ the 'First Fruits,' afterward they that 'are Christ's at His Coming.' " Paul says-"Behold, I show you a Mystery; we shall not all 'sleep,' but we shall ALL Be Changed." I Cor. 15:51. Then there is another fact that we must not forget, and that is, the Unity of the Church. "For as the Body Is One, and hath many members, and ALL the Members Of That One Body, Being Many ARE ONE (BODY; so also is Christ. For by One Spirit are we ALL Baptized Into One Body." I Cor. 12: 12, 13. All then who have been "born again" (John 3: 3-7) are part of Christ's "Body," and we cannot conceive of Christ's "Body" being divided ; part of it remaining "asleep" in the grave, and part of it "raised in glory" ; part of it left to pass through the Tribulation, and part of it "changed" and caught up to meet Him in the air. If "all" the Church are to pass through the Tribulation, then instead of waiting and watching "for the Lord," we should be waiting and watching "for the Tribulation," which is contrary to the teaching of Christ Himself. Matt. 24:42-44. The Tribulation is not for the perfecting "of the Saints." It has nothing to do with the Church. It is the time of "Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30: 7), and is the "Judgment of Israel," and it is God's purpose to keep the Church Out Of It. Rev. 2: 10. The Book of Revelation is written in chronological order. After the fourth chapter the Church is seen no more upon the earth until she appears in the nineteenth chapter coming with the Bridegroom "from" Heaven. The entire time between these two chapters is filled with appalling judgments that fall upon those that "dwell on the earth," and as the Church is not of the earth, but is supposed to "sit together in 'Heavenly Places' in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2: 6), she will not be among those who "dwell on the earth" in those days. The confusion is largely due to the fact that students of Prophetic Truth do not distinguish between Christ's coming FOR His Saints, and WITH His Saints. The former is called the "Rapture," the latter the "Revelation." Numerous passages in scripture speak of Christ coming "with" His Saints (Zech. 14: 5, Col. 3: 4, I Thess. 3: 13, I Thess. 4: 14, Jude 14), but it is evident that they cannot come "with" Him, if they had not been previously caught out "to" Him. All such passages refer therefore to the "Revelation" and not the "Rapture." The typical teaching of the Scriptures demand that the Church be caught out "before" the Tribulation. Joseph was a type of Christ and he was espoused to, and married Asenath, a Gentile bride, during the time of his "rejection by his brethren," and "before the famine, which typified the Tribulation, because it was the time of "Judgment of his Brethren." This is the time of Christ's rejection by "His Brethren"-the Jews, and to complete the type He must get His Bride the church, "before" the Tribulation. Moses, who is also a type of Christ, got his bride, and she a Gentile, "after" his rejection by his brethren, and "before" they passed through the Tribulation under Pharaoh. Ex. 2: 23-25. Enoch, a type of the "Translation Saints," was caught out "before the Flood, and the Flood is a type of the Tribulation, and Noah and his family of the "Jewish Remnant" or 144,000 sealed ones of Rev. 7: 1-8, who will be preserved through the Tribulation. How thrilling the thought that some of us shall not die, that in a moment, in the "twinkling of an eye" without being unclothed by the ghastly hands of Death, and instead of the winding sheet of the grave, we shall be instantly changed and clothed with the glorious garments of immortality. What a transport of joy will fill our being as we suddenly feel the thrill of immortality throbbing through our veins., and find ourselves being transported through the air in the company of fellow Christians and of our loved ones who fell asleep in Jesus. What welcome recognitions and greetings there will be as we journey up with them to the "Bridal Halls of Heaven," where we shall join in the new and triumphal song of Moses and the Lamb. Rev. 5: 9, 10. "Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there FEW that be saved? And He said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait (narrow) gate : for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in (when He comes), and shall not be able, when once the 'Master of the House' is risen up, and hath SHUT THE DOOR, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know not whence ye are: then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets. But He shall say, I tell you, I KNOW YOU NOT WHENCE YE ARE; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YE WORKERS OF INIQUITY." Luke 13:23-27.  The Foolish Virgins "Too Late! Too Late! Ye Cannot Enter Now" The time of the closing of the door is revealed in the Parable of the "Ten Virgins." It will be when the Bridegroom comes, and those that are ready (the "Wise Virgins") have gone in with Him to the "Marriage." When the "Foolish Virgins" come later, and say"Lord, open to us," He will answer-"I KNOW YOU NOT." That is, I never knew you. You were only mere professors. Then follow the words-"Watch therefore (be ready), for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh." Matt. 25: 1-13. Note that the persons shut out are not those who never heard the Gospel, but those who had been professing followers of Jesus, who had eaten and drunk in His presence and even gone out to meet Him. It may readily be supposed that the taking away of loved ones at the Rapture will cause many of those left behind to seek the Lord, but as the Holy Spirit goes back with the Church, and for the time being ceases His Office Work of Regeneration, who is to convert those who are left? There is a passage in Hebrews that has troubled many a sincere soul who has feared that they had committed the "Unpardonable Sin." It is this "For
if we sin (continue
to sin) willfully after that we have received the knowledge (that is
know about it) of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for
sins, but a
certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation,
which shall devour the adversaries." Heb. 10:26.
The preceding verse shows that this warning is connected with the Lord's Coming-"So much the more, as ye see 'The Day' approaching-the "DAY OF THE LORD." The expression-"there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins," implies that those who thus sin against their knowledge are without hope. That there will be a "Great Multitude" saved after the Church is "caught out" in the "Time Space" between the "Rapture" and the "Revelation," is clearly revealed in Rev. 7:9-17, and some of them may be of those "left behind," but they will have to pass through great tribulation and suffer a martyr's death for refusing to worship the "Image of the Beast." Rev. 13: 11-17. And we read that-When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed (at the close of the Great Tribulation) from Heaven with His mighty angels, in "flaming fire" He shall take vengeance on them that "KNOW NOT GOD," and that "OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST." II Thess. 1 : 7-10. Let us not run the risk of being left behind.  The judgment of the Believer is threefold. At the Cross as a "Sinner" for sin; this is Past. John 5: 24. As a "Son;" this is Present, and consists of "self-judgment" and confession, or else the punishment of chastisement. I Cor. 11: 31, 32. As a "Servant;" this is future, and is a judgment for "Works" at the  Click Image for a Larger View It will not be a judgment in the sense of a "trial" to see whether the judged are innocent (saved) or guilty (lost), for it is a judgment of the "saved only." It will be like the judges' stand at a Fair, or Race Track, where rewards are distributed to the successful contestants. Paul describes such a scene in I Cor. 9:24-27. It is not a judgment for sin, but for "works." This judgment is described in I Cor. 3: 11-15. "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones (valuable building stones, as marble, etc.), wood, hay stubble; every man's 'Work' shall be made manifest; for the 'Day' (Judgment Day) shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by 'fire,' and the fire shall try every man's 'work' of what sort it is. If any man's work 'abide' which he hath built there upon he shall receive a reward.' If any man's work shall be 'burned' he shall suffer 'loss;' but 'he himself shall be saved;' yet so as by fire." The result of this judgment is "reward" or "loss." All our "bad" and "dead works," represented by the wood, hay and stubble, will be consumed, and only our "good works" shall remain. There is much which passes for Christian service which is merely human and secular, and does not count in our eternal reward. For those who deserve a "reward" it will be The Crowning Day
After the Grecian games were all over the runners, wrestlers, and successful contestants assembled before the "Bema," or judges' stand, which was an elevated seat on which the Umpire sat, and the winners received a "corruptible crown" of "laurel leaves." Some had no reward, they had lost the "Victor's Crown." But while there was no reward there was no punishment, they were not cast out. The New Testament speaks of Five Crowns. 1. The Crown of "LIFE."
This is the "Martyr's" crown, and is mentioned twice. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation (testing), for when he is 'tried' (at the judgment Seat of Christ), he shall receive the 'Crown of Life' which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." James 1 : 12. "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer; behold, the Devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried (tested) and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful 'unto death,' and I will give thee a 'Crown of Life."' Rev. 2: 10. Notice it does not say "until" death, but "unto" death. They were not to recant, but to remain faithful unto a martyr's death. To recant was to lose the crown. This refers to the martyrs of the Tribulation Period. 2. The Crown of "GLORY." This is the "Elder's" or "Pastor's" crown, given by the Chief Shepherd when He shall appear. But it is not for those who serve for "filthy lucre" or "lord it over God's heritage." I Pet, 5: 2-4. 3. The Crown of "REJOICING." This is the "Soul Winner's" crown. Those brought to Jesus by us will be our "crown of rejoicing" at His Coming. I Thess. 2:19, 20. Phil. 4: 1. 4. The Crown of "RIGHTEOUSNESS." This is the crown of those who "love His appearing and will be given in 'that day--the Day of His Appearing. II Tim. 4:8. 5. The "INCORRUPTIBLE" Crown. This is the "Victor's" crown, and is for those who "keep under their body." I Cor. 9: 25-27. Who do not yield to their fleshly lusts. Who do not permit themselves to be diverted from the work for the Master by worldly amusements and pleasure, nor saturate their body with drugs. If we do not want to be "ashamed at His Coming," I John 2:28, let us see to it that we keep our body "under" and so live that we shall secure a crown. THE
ROYAL WEDDING
After the Saints have been "caught out" and "judged," they, as the "Church," will become the "Bride of Christ." The "Marriage" of the Church is prophetically referred to by Jesus in the Parable of the "Marriage of the King's Son" (Matt. 22: 1-14), and is consummated in Rev. 19: 7-9. "Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him: for the Marriage of the Lamb' is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of Saints. And he saith unto me, write, Blessed are they which are called unto the MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB." Notice that it does not say the "Marriage of the Bride," but the "Marriage of the LAMB." That grand event will be not so much the consummation of the hopes of the Bride, as it will be the consummation of the plan of God for His Son, arranged for before the foundation of the World. Eph. 1: 4. The "Marriage of the Lamb" is the consummation of the joy of Christ as a MAN. It would not have been possible if Christ had not been born in the flesh. Otherwise it would have been the union of "dissimilar natures," for the "Bride" is of "human origin." This is why Jesus took His "human nature" back with Him to Heaven, and today we have in Heaven the MAN Christ Jesus. I Tim. 2: 5. While the "Bride" was chosen for Christ "before the foundation of the world," the "espousal" could not take place until Christ assumed humanity and ascended to Heaven as the Man Christ Jesus. There have been many long betrothals but Christ's has been the longest on record. He has been waiting for His Bride nearly 1900 years, but He will not have to wait much longer. Soon Heaven shall resound with the cry- "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him, for the Marriage of the Lamb is Come." Rev. 19: 7. There have been many royal weddings of international interest, where the invited guests and spectators witnessed a spectacle magnificent in its appointments, and rejoiced in a union that bound together different nations. But the wedding of the Lamb and His Bride the Church will surpass them all, for it shall unite Heaven and Earth in a bond that shall never be broken, for what God (the Father) shall join together, no man shall ever put asunder, and that union no divorce shall ever break. The Bride shall be "arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of Saints." Rev. 19: 7, 8. The word "righteousness" is plural, and should read "righteousnesses." Not the imputed righteousness of Christ, but the "righteous acts and works" of the saints themselves, that shall remain after they have passed through the "fiery test" of the "Judgment for Works" at the "Judgment Seat of Christ." I Cor. 3: 11-15. What a contrast there will be between the purple and scarlet colored dress, and jewel bedecked person, of the "Harlot Wife" of Antichrist (Rev. 17: 3, 4), and the spotless white robe of fine linen of the Bride of the Lamb. During the time occupied by the "Judgment of Believers" and the Marriage of the Lamb in the Heavenlies, there will be awful times on the earth. The Jews will have, in large numbers, been gathered back to their own land, Palestine. About this time ten of the Nations occupying the territory of the old Roman Empire will enter into a Federation of Nations. Among the "Ten Kings" of those nations will arise the "Antichrist." He will soon prove himself to be a "Great Ruler" and will be made PRESIDENT. The Government will be a "Democratic Monarchy." The President will make a "Covenant" with the Jewish people. It may be a Covenant restoring to them their own land and recognizing their national existence. Whatever its character, the Prophet Isaiah speaks of it as a "Covenant with DEATH and HELL." Isa. 28: 15. For 3/ years the President of the Federation will keep the Covenant. Then he will break it. For the balance of his reign 3/ years he will cause an awful persecution of the Jews, called by Jesus "The Great Tribulation." Matt. 24: 21, 22. For a description of this period see my larger work. In the Middle of this period, or at the time when Antichrist shall break the Covenant, there will be The "Tribulation Period" of 3Y2 years will be the "Judgment of the Jews." As all of God's promises to the Jews are earthly, their Judgment must be earthly. This judgment is a "National Judgment." For all their national sins God is going to make them "Pass Under the Rod." Ez. 20: 34-38. He is going to cast them into his "MELTING POT." Ez. 22: 19-22. Malachi 3: 1-3. In the midst of their "fiery trials" in this time of "Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30: 4-7; Dan. 12: 1), they will cry to the Lord as they did amid the brick-kilns of Egypt and God will send them Him of whom Moses was a type, even the Lord Jesus, who shall then come "with" His Saints in the "Second Stage" of His Coming, the Revelation, and as He shall descend upon the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4), they shall look upon Him whom they "pierced" and a nation, the Jewish Nation, will be re-born in a day. Ezek. 36: 24-27. Isa. 66: 8. When Christ comes for the Saints at the Rapture, He will be the "Morning Star." Rev. 22: 16. When He comes with His Saints at the Revelation He will be the "Sun of Righteousness." Malachi 4:2. When Christ shall come back at the Revelation He shall find the armies of Antichrist gathered together at Armageddon (Rev. 16: 13-16), and He shall destroy them with the "Sword of His Mouth" (Rev. 19: 15, 20, 21), and the "Beast" and the "False Prophet" shall be cast alive into the "Lake of Fire." Then all the Gentile Nations will be summoned to the Valley of Jehoshaphat for judgment, and the "Son of Man" shall sit upon the sudden and as unexpected as was the "Rapture." The sun will rise on that day strong and clear. Gentle breezes will waft themselves over the earth. There will be no signs of a storm or of the coming judgment. The people will be buying and selling, building and planting, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. The statesmen will be revolving in their minds new plans for the world's betterment. The philanthropic will be devising new ways to help the people. The pleasure-loving will be seeking new sources of pleasure. The wicked will be plotting dark deeds; and the unbelieving will be proving to their own satisfaction that there is no God, no heaven, no hell, no coming judgment, when suddenly there will be a change. In the distant heaven there will appear a "POINT
OF LIGHT,"
outshining the sun. It will be seen descending toward the earth. As it descends it will assume the form of a bright cloud, out of which shall stream dazzling beams of light, and flashes of lightning. It will descend apace as if on the wings of the whirlwind, and when it reaches its destination over the brow of the Mt. of Olives it will stop and unfold itself to the terrified and awe stricken beholders, and there will be revealed to them Jesus seated on a "White Horse" (Rev. 19: 1116) and accompanied with His Saints and the armies of Heaven. Then shall be fulfilled what Jesus foretold in His Olivet Discourse-"Then shall appear the sign (a cloud) 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. A
PRACTICAL DOCTRINE
But why, you ask, should we put so much emphasis on the "Second Coming of Christ"? Why not talk and preach about the practical affairs of life? About the social and commercial problems of the world and their solution through the Gospel? The answer is that the only way to solve these problems is for Christ to return, and the longer His "Return" is delayed, the longer it will be before these problems are solved. 1. AS TO THE JEWS.
The Jews are a downtrodden people. Their only hope is the Return of the Lord. When He comes back they shall be restored to their own land and become a nation again. "Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be said, The Lord liveth, that brought up the Children of Israel out of the Land of Egypt ; but the Lord liveth that brought up the Children of Israel from the land of the NORTH (Russia) and from ALL THE LANDS whither He had driven them; and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers." Jer. 16: 14, 15; Isa. 43: 5-7. And they shall never again:dn be dispersed. "For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up." Jer. 24: 6. This has never as yet been fulfilled. 2. AS TO JERUSALEM AND PALESTINE. "Thus saith the Lord Jehovah; in the day that I will cleanse you from all your iniquities I will cause the cities (of Palestine) to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be builded. And the land that was desolate shall be tilled. . . And they shall say, this land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden." Ez. 36: 33-35. Joel 3: 18. Joel 2: 24-26. "Thus saith the Lord of Hosts; there shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof." Zech. 8: 4, 5. Zech. 14: 20, 21. 3. AS TO THE NATIONS. When the Lord Jesus Christ returns He will sit upon the "Throne of His Glory" at Jerusalem, and shall separate the "Sheep Nations" from the "Goat Nations," and only the "Sheep Nations" will survive as nations and be permitted to become part of the Millennial Kingdom. Matt. 25: 31-40. These nations will become righteous. "And it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts, and to keep the 'Feast of Tabernacles."' Zech. 14: 16. As the result of all this the nations "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. But '-hey shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid." Micah 4: 3, 4. Isa. 2: 4. The only way then to stop wars and labor troubles and all socialistic -nd anarchistic movements is for Christ to return and set up His Millennial Kingdom. 4. AS TO SATAN. The only way to get rid of Satan and all his evil influences and powers is for Christ to come back, for when He comes back Satan will be bound and cast into the Bottomless Pit for 1000 years. Rev. 20: 1-3. 5. AS TO THE EARTH. Since the Fall of Man the earth has been cursed with thorns and thistles and all kind of insect pests and disease germs, and man by the sweat of his face has been compelled to earn his daily bread. Even the brute creation became carnivorous and learned to prey upon each other, and the "whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." Rom. 8:22. But all this will be changed when Christ comes back, for then "the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose." Isa. 5: 1. "Then shall the earth yield her increase." Psa. 67: 6. And the ploughman will "overtake the reaper," and the treader of grapes him that "soweth seed." Amos 9: 13. THE BLESSED HOPE "The Blessed Hope" is also a "Purifying Hope." "And every man that hath this hope in him PURIFIETH HIMSELF." I John 3:1-3. That is, every one who is looking for the Lord's return will try to keep himself pure. It will make us "Patient." "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the Coming of the Lord. . . . Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the Coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5: 7, 8. It will make us "Watchful." "Watch ye therefore, for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all WATCH." Mark 13:35-37. If we are watching for the Lord we will be careful of our conduct. We will not want Him to come and find us doing questionable things, or in questionable places. We will not want to hoard money, nor spend our money in an extravagant manner, we will want to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven by contributing to missions. We will see to it that in our homes there is no kind of literature, or art, or pictures, or anything that we would not like His pure eyes to see if He were to be a visitor in our home. In short, "The Blessed Hope" helps us to cling lightly to this world. It will not make us idle and negligent, butt will fill us with zeal to be found a faithful servant at His return. For this reason it is a noteworthy fact and a witness to the power of the doctrine, that those who believe it are the most consecrated, unselfish, and strenuous workers in the Master's service. This "Hope" will also keep us from being "ASHAMED" at His Coming. "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." I John 2:28. If we are watching for Him and our house is in order, and we are ready to give a faithful account of our Stewardship we shall not be ashamed before Him at His coming. Matt. 25: 14-30. The "Hope" of the Lord's Premillennial Return fills the heart of those who believe it with joy. In Luke 24: 52 we read that when Jesus was parted from His Disciples and ascended into Heaven, that "They returned to Jerusalem with GREAT JOY, and were continually in the Temple, PRAISING and BLESSING God." That seems strange conduct on their part, for naturally we would suppose that His Departure would have filled them with sadness. But when we recall that, when He Ascended, two men stood by in white apparel and told them that Jesus would come back again, we can understand their joyfulness. Acts 1: 11. It has often been said in opposition to the doctrine of the Second Coming, "If Christian people believe that Jesus is soon coming back why do they build houses and churches and make investments and plan for the education of their children and so on?" The answer is that Jesus' coming back will not do away with the need for houses and churches and education. The world moved on just as before after His First Coming, and it will do the same after His Second Coming. People will need homes and churches. Business will go on as before, and the unconverted children of Christian believers will be left behind and need homes and education and means to live on. The prosperity of the world will be greater during the Millennium than ever before. So there is no occasion for those who are looking for the Lord's Return to neglect the affairs of this life. What we as Christians hope for is that the Lord will come back and take us out of the world before the awful days of the "Tribulation Period" come, and then when they are over and Jesus comes back to reign we shall come back with Him as glorified beings to rule and reign over the Millennial earth, and probably visit churches where once we worshiped, and institutions that our money built. The preacher of the Doctrine of the Premillennial Coming of Christ wields a "two-edged sword." The unbeliever when urged to become a Christian may say I am young and there is plenty of time and so may put off the time of decision, but when he is told that it is not a question of time, or the mere salvation of his soul, but that Jesus may be back at any time and it is a question of being ready to meet Him, then he sees the importance of immediate decision. Dear reader of this pamphlet, are you a Christian, and as a Christian are you a believer in the "Blessed Hope," and are you looking for the speedy coming of the Lord, and doing all you can to hasten His Return, and thus bring back THE KING? If not, I beseech you to drop everything and settle the question of whether you will be "caught up" to meet the Lord in the air when He comes, and thus escape the awful days that are coming on the earth-days in which no one can buy or sell unless he has the "Mark of the Beast," and all those who have that "Mark" are eternally doomed. Rev. 13:15-17.  The Transfiguration Is this true? If not, what is the explanation of Jesus' words? Here we see the misleading character of the chapter divisions in the King James Version of the Scriptures. There should be no chapter division between Matthew 16th and 17th. The passage should read "Verily
I say unto you, There
be some standing here, which shall not
taste of death, till they see the Son of
Man COMING
IN
HIS KINGDOM. And
after six
days Jesus taketh
Peter, James,
and John his brother, and bringeth
them up
into an high
mountain apart, and was TRANSFIGURED
before them:
and His
face did shine as the sun, and His
rainment
was white as
the light.. And, behold, there appeared
unto them
Moses and
Elias (Elijah) talking with Him." Matt. 16: 28; 17:
1-3.
In this "Transfiguration Scene" we have a fulfillment of Jesus' words, that there were some, only three, Peter, James, and John, of His Disciples, who should not "taste of death" until they saw the Son of Man "Coming in His Kingdom," for the "Transfiguration Scene" was a "rehearsal" of the "Second Stage" (Revelation) of Christ's Second Coming. Like as John was transported across the centuries into the "Day of the Lord," and had revealed to him in the Book of Revelation the things that are to come to pass in the "Latter Days," so Peter, James and John had a "Foreview" on the Mount of Transfiguration, of the Coming of Christ in His Glory. In that "Scene" Moses was a type of the "First Resurrection Saints" (Jude 9), and Elijah of those who shall be "caught out" without dying (II Kings 2: 11) ; and their glory on the Holy Mount is a sample of the Glory of the Saints at the Rapture. That this is a correct interpretation of Jesus' words is clear from the statement of Peter "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 (Glory).
For He
received from God the Father Honor and Glory, when there
came such a voice to Him from the 'Excellent Glory.'
This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And
this Voice which came from Heaven we heard, WHEN
WE WERE WITH HIM IN THE HOLY MOUNT" (the
Mount of
Transfiguration).
II Pet. 1: 16-18.
(Matt 17:5 ) From the use of the word "COMING" in this passage we see that the "Transfiguration Scene" was a "Foreview" of the "Second Coming," and was a fulfillment of Jesus' words that some of His Disciples should not taste of death until they saw the Son of Man "Coming in His KINGDOM." Another passage has been cited in the attempt to prove that the Coming of the Son of Man is only spiritual. It is "But
when they
persecute you in this city, flee ye into
another; for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the
cities of Israel, till the Son of Man BE COME." Matt.
10: 23.
These words were addressed to the "Twelve Disciples." Jesus sent them forth to preach, that "the Kingdom of Heaven was AT HAND." They were limited in their ministry to the "Lost Sheep of the House of Israel," and were forbidden to go to the Gentiles or Samaritans. Matt. 10: 1-7. They never finished their work. The King was rejected, and the offer of the Kingdom at that time was withdrawn, hence the Coming of the Son of Man was postponed. But the Gospel of the Kingdom is to be renewed after the Church is "caught out," and will be preached by the "Two Witnesses" (Moses and Elijah) and the "Godly Remnant" of Israel during the "Tribulation Period," and when they shall, in that day, have gone over the "Cities of Israel," Christ will return to the Mt. of Olives.  *For a full account of the "Spirit World" see the writer's book on "The Spirit World When Jesus died on the Cross His body was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea (Matt. 27: 57-60), and His soul went to Paradise, where He had an engagement that day to meet the soul of the "Penitent Thief" (Luke 23:43), whose body was buried in the "Potter's Field." It was in their "Soulish Bodies" then that they met in Paradise. When Jesus' "soul" returned from "Paradise" on the third day to reoccupy His body in Joseph's tomb, He did not return alone, He led "captivity captive" (Eph. 4: 8-10) and brought out with Him all the souls of the "Righteous Dead" imprisoned in the Paradise section (P) of the "Underworld," and placed them in the "Paradise" of the "Third Heaven" (E), to which Paul was caught up. II Cor. 12: 1-4. This is clear from other scriptures. Jesus said the "Gates of Hell" (Hades, the Underworld) should not prevail against the Church. Matt. 16: 18. Then "Hell" (Hades) has gates to prevent the escape of its inmates. What Jesus did before He came back from the "Underworld" was to seize the "Keys of Hades," unlock the "Gates" of the "Paradise Section'' (P) and empty it of its inmates, and then lock it up that it might remain empty. As proof of this we have Jesus' declaration to John on the Isle of Patmos, 66 years later, when He said-"I am He that liveth, and was dead: and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen: and have the 'KEYS OF HELL' (Hades) and of DEATH (the Grave)." Rev. 1: 18. Jesus then by His Resurrection unlocked not only the "Paradise Section" of "Hades" and transferred the souls of the "Righteous Dead" to the "Paradise Section" of the Third Heaven, but He also has the "Keys of DEATH," that is, of the "GRAVE," and when the time comes He will unlock the graves of the dead and resurrect their bodies. As far as we know the souls of the "Wicked Dead" are still in the "Hell Section" of the "Underworld," and will remain there until the "Second Resurrection" at the close of the Millennium, when they will return to the earth and get their bodies, and then go to the "Great White Throne judgment," from which they will be consigned to the "Lake of Fire." Rev. 20: 12-15.  Click Image for a Larger View From what has been said we see that the souls of the "Righteous Dead," since the resurrection of Jesus, go to the "Paradise" of the "Third Heaven" (E), that they may be "WITH THE LORD." Phil. 1:23. II Cor. 5:8. There they will remain until the time comes for the "Rapture of the Church," when they will return with Jesus, and while He tarries in the air (I Thess. 4: 17), they will continue on to the earth (see Chart) and re-enter their resurrected and glorified bodies, for we read that when Jesus comes back He will bring with Him the souls of those who "SLEEP IN JESUS." I Thess. 4:14. The expression, "Sleep in Jesus," has no reference to "Soul Sleep," but is a term applied only to the bodies of the "Righteous Dead," and signifies that we are to think of the bodies of the "Dead in Christ" as only sleeping or resting. While "Paradise," as a suburb of Heaven, is a glorious place, it does not follow that the state of the Righteous there is more blissful than, it was in the "Paradise Section" of the Underworld. We must not forget that while the souls of the Righteous in Paradise are free from sorrow and sickness, and enjoy the society of the saints of all ages, their state is more one of rest and waiting than of activity or service (Rev. 6:9-11), for it is a state of limitation and incompleteness, for they have not as yet received their resurrection body with all its glorious powers, nor been judged so as to receive their reward, or crown, if they are entitled to any. The description of Heaven and the New Jerusalem as given in the Book of Revelation is still future, and the things there described will not come to pass until after the Rapture of the Church. From this we see the meaning of the Apostle when he says-"We groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY" (Rom. 8:18-23); and as this is not possible until the Return of the Lord Jesus, who will then change our "vile body," that it may be fashioned like unto His GLORIOUS BODY" (Phil. 3:20-21), we should be doing all we can to hasten His Return.  Click Image for a Larger View  Click Image for a Larger View The Resurrections *For a fuller description of the Resurrections see the writer's book on "The Spirit World." One of the objections to the Doctrine of the "Second Coming of Christ" is the claim that He may come back at any time. Post-millennialists tell us that the writers of the New Testament looked for Him to come back in their day, and as He did not do so, is proof that they were mistaken, and that Paul in his later writings modified his statements as to the imminency of Christ's return. It is a fact that while Jesus said: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. . . . Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh" (Matt. 24:42-44), He did not in these passages teach that He would return during the lifetime of those who listened to Him. In fact, in His Parables He intimated that His return would be delayed, as in the Parable of The Talents, where it is said: "After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh." Matt. 25:19. What Jesus wanted to teach was the sudden and unexpected character of His return. As to the Apostles, while they exhorted their followers to be ready, for the "night is far spent, the day is at hand," and the "coming of the Lord draweth nigh," their language simply implied "imminency," but not necessarily "IMMEDIATENESS." And the use of the word "WE" in I Cor. 15:51, "WE" shall not all sleep, but WE shall all be changed," is not a declaration that the Lord would return in Paul's day and some would not die but be translated, for the Apostle is talking about the Rapture and he means by "We" a certain class of persons, the saints that shall be alive when that event occurs, whether in his day or at some later time.  Click Image for a Larger View It was clearly known to our Lord that certain events must come to pass before His Return, but to have disclosed that fact would have nullified the command to "Watch," therefore He in "mystery form," as in the seven parables of Matt. 13, hid the fact that His Return would be delayed. It would take time for the "Sowing of the Seed," the growth of the "Wheat" and "Tares," the growth of the "Mustard Tree," and the "Leavening of the Meal." So rapid was the spread of the Gospel in the first century that the followers of Christ were warranted in looking for the speedy Return of the Lord, but it was true then, as in every century since, that we do not know what the extent of the "Harvest" is to be, and when it will be ripe, so the Lord can return. Matt. 13:30. Uncertainty then as to the "time" of the Lord's return is necessary to promote the "watchful" spirit. If the early Church had known that the Lord's Return would have been delayed for 20 centuries, the incentive to watchfulness would have been wanting. By "Imminency" we mean "may happen at any time." For illustration, you hurry to the railroad station to catch a train. You find the train has not arrived, though it is past the hour. Though it is late it is on the way, and it would not be safe for you to leave the station, for it may arrive any minute, but as a matter of fact, it does not come for half an.hour. Now if you had known that it would not arrive for half an hour you would have used the time in some other way than "waiting" and "watching." So we see that "Imminency" does not necessarily imply "IMMEDIATENESS," but does demand "Watchfulness." It is the firm conviction of the writer that there has been unnecessary delay in the Return of the Lord, caused by the failure of the Church to obey the "Divine Commission" to evangelize the world (Matt. 28:19, 20), and it is past the time when He should have returned. Of course, this was foreseen by God, and His foreknowledge has held back the development of the forces of evil, etc., until the "Fulness of the Gentiles" should be gathered in, and the "Harvest" is ripe for the gathering. Rev. 14:14-20. At no time in the history of the Christian Church have the conditions necessary to the Lord's Return been so completely fulfilled as at the present time; therefore, His Coming is IMMINENT, and will not probably be long delayed. Let us be ready and watching. While the writer, as stated, is disposed to believe that the Return of the Lord is "past due," and while he is no "time setter," yet there is a "theory" that may throw some light on the IMMINENCY
OF HIS RETURN
that it might be well to examine. It is called THE
GREAT WEEK OF HUMAN
HISTORY,
and is based on the "Seven Days" of the "Creative Week," and the declaration of scripture (II Pet. 3:8), "That one day is with the Lord as a THOUSAND YEARS, and a thousand years as ONE DAY." The Millennium in the Old Testament is described as a "Sabbath Keeping" period of rest, and is referred to as such in Heb. 4:4-11, where it is associated with the "Seventh Day" of the "Creative Week." Now we know that the length of the Millennium is 1000 YEARS (Rev. 20:1-9), and if it corresponds with the "Seventh Day" of the "Creative Week," why should not the remaining six days be of the same length? If so, and those days correspond with the past of human history, then from the date of the "Creative Week" up to the beginning of the Millennium should be 6000 years of human history. In confirmation of this we have the fact that a careful study of the genealogical tables and history of the Old Testament seem to show that from Adam to Christ was about 4000 years, or four days of a thousand years each, corresponding to the first four days of the "Creative Week," and from Christ down to the present time we have over 1900 years, or nearly 2 days of 1000 years each, thus making nearly 6 days of 1000 years each of human history, and as Christ is to come back before the Millennium, and all signs point to His speedy return, then the "theory" that the "Seven Days" of the "Creative Week" are typical of Seven "One Thousand Year Periods" is not unwarranted in Scripture. If our inference is correct, then it follows that the Return of the Lord will take place before the close of this present century. How much before is uncertain. If the Millennium is to be ushered in in A.D. 2000, then the "Rapture" must take place at least 7 years before that. See Chart No. 5, on "The Seven Thousand Years of Human History." But right here we must sound a note of caution. There is too much confusion in Biblical Chronology to fix any dates with certainty. Doubtless God has ordered it so, so as to keep us in doubt as to the exact date of the Lord's Return. It may have been 4075 years, instead of 4004 (as generally given), from Adam to Christ. In that case we are living in the year 5993 from the creation of Adam, or on the eve of the Rapture. Again we must not forget that God uses in "Prophetical Chronology" the Calendar Year of 360 days to a year, while we use the Julian or Astronomical Year of 365% days, and it would be necessary for us to find out what kind of year is used and reduce it to the Calendar year. Thus we might find that we are nearer the end of the six thousandth year than we are aware, and that the Return of the Lord is IMMINENT. However, while we may look upon the above theory as suggestive and in a way confirmatory of the near coming of the Lord, it is not conclusive, and we are not warranted in fixing any date based upon it. And further, we must not forget that the "Rapture" may take place some time before the "Tribulation Period" begins and Antichrist is revealed. So if we could fix the exact date when this century will close, and count back 7 years, the Rapture might occur 5, 10 or even 25 years before that, so as to give time for the rebuilding of Babylon and other events that are to occur before the Tribulation Period can begin, otherwise the Rapture would not be a surprise. It is not for the Christian to look for "Times" and "Seasons" and "Signs." To do so will put him in the class of those who say: "My Lord delayeth His Coming" (Luke 12:42-48). and he will become preoccupied with other things and neglect to be watchful. Let us live as if we expected the Return of our Lord at any moment.  Two Women Grinding at the Mill. Luke 17:30-37 The Apostolic Church was Pre-Millennial, and for over 200 years no other view was entertained. The writings of the "Church Fathers" abound in evidence of that fact. But about A. D. 250, Or;gen, one of the Church Fathers, conceived the idea that the words of Scripture were but the "husk" in which was hid the "kernel" of Scripture truth. At once he began to "Allegorize" and "Spiritualize" the Scriptures, and thus founded that school of "Allegorizing" and "Spiritualizing" interpreters of Scripture, from which the Church and the Bible have suffered so much. The result was that the Church largely ceased to look for the Lord's Return. When Constantine became sole Emperor of Rome in A. D. 323, he united Church and State, and bestowed such great gifts and privileges ion the Church, that it claimed that the Millennial blessings of the Old Testament had been transferred from the Jews to the Christian Church. The arrogance and persecution of the Papal Church led to the charge that it was the "Beast" (Antichrist) of the Book of Revelation. This led to an effort to expunge the Book of Revelation from the Sacred Canon, and when this failed, the Bible was locked up and became a sealed book, and the gloom of night settled down upon all Christendom. The result was the "Dark Ages." But amid the gloom God was not without witnesses to the Blessed Hope. At the Reformation the doctrine of the Premillennial Return of the Lord was revived, but was again lost sight of in the religious controversies that led to the formation of numerous sects. The result was an ebb of spirituality and the growth of Rationalism, which refused to believe that the world was fast ripening for judgment, and a new interpretation of the Millennial Reign of Christ was demanded. This interpretation was furnished by the Rev. Daniel Whitby (1636-1726), a clergyman of the Church of England, who claimed that in reading the promises made to the Jews in the Old Testament of their restoration as a nation, and the re-establishment of the Throne of David, he was led to see that these promises were spiritual and applied to the Church. This view he called a "New Hypothesis." He claimed that Israel and Mount Zion represented the Church. That the promised submission of the Gentiles to the Jews was simply prophetic of the conversion of the Gentiles and their entrance into the Church. That the lying down of the lion and the lamb together typified the reconciliation of the Old and New natures, and that the establishment of an outward and visible kingdom at Jerusalem, over which Christ and the saints should reign, was gross and carnal, and contrary to reason, as it implied the mingling together of human and spiritual beings on the earth. The times were favorable for the "New Theory." A reaction had set in from the open infidelity of those days. All England was in a religious fervor. The "Great Awakening" followed under Whitefield and Wesley, and it looked, as Whitby claimed, that the Millennium was about to be ushered in. That he was mistaken the events of history since that time have shown. It is evident that we are not in the Millennium now, as the "Godless Civilization" of today proves. Nevertheless his "Theory" was favorably received everywhere, and spread with great rapidity and became an established doctrine of the Church, and is what is known today as the "Post-Millennial" view of the Second Coming of Christ, and supposed to be the orthodox faith of the Church. In short, "Post-Millennialism," as advocated in our day, is barely 200 years old, while "Pre-Millennialism" dates back to the days of Isaiah and Daniel. The sad thing is that this "false doctrine_e" of "Post-Millennialism" is taught in our Bibles by the headings of the chapters in the Old Testament. For illustration the headings of chapters forty-three and four of Isaiah read-"The Lord comforteth The Church with His promises," whereas the chapters are not addressed to the Church at all, but to Jacob and Israel, as we see by reading them. The ordinary reader overlooks the fact that the chapter headings of the Bible are put there by the publisher and should be omitted, as they are misleading, as for illustration the title to the Book of Revelation, which is called "The Revelation of St. John the Divine," whereas it should be called  The "Church" and the "Kingdom" are not identical. They are never confounded in the Scriptures. The Church is compared to a "House" (I Tim. 3: 15), to a "Temple" (I Cor. 3: 16-17), to a "Body" (I Cor. 12:12-31), but never to a "Kingdom." Christ is the "HEAD" of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Col. 1:18), but He is never spoken of as its "KING." His relation to the Church is that of "LORD" (Master). I Tim. 6:13-14. The saints are not His "subjects" or His "servants," they are fellow "HEIRS." Rom. 8: 17. The Church is not to be ruled over by Christ, but to rule with Him. The Church is here, the Kingdom is TO COME. The Church is being "built up," a gradual process, the Kingdom is to be "SET UP," a sudden event. The Church is an invisible and Heavenly "SPIRITUAL ORGANISM," entered by the "New Birth," and is to be "caught out," while the Kingdom is an outward, visible, and earthly "POLITICAL ORGANIZATION" that is to be "set up" on the EARTH, of which the Jewish Nation will be the "Head" (Deu. 28: 11-13), and will have a King, a Throne, and a Capital City-Jerusalem. The Kingdom is characterized by a "Throne," the Church by a "Table." Thus we see that the Church and the Kingdom have different "spheres" of work, and different "time periods" in which to do that work. Therefore what God has separated let no, man join together.  Click Image for a Larger View  Click Image for a Larger View I. WHAT THE CHURCH IS To the Old Testament Prophets the Kingdom was no "'Mystery," neither was the fact that the Gentiles were to be saved. Rom. 9: 25-26 (Hosea 2:23). The "Mystery" was what was to come in between the "SUFFERINGS" (Isa. 53:1-12) and the "GLORY" of Christ (Psa. 72: 1-20. Dan. 7: 13-14), that is, between the "CROSS" and the "CROWN." I Pet. 1:7-1L This "Mystery" was revealed to the Apostle Paul. Eph. 3: 1-11. It was that God was going to form an entirely "NEW THING," composed of both Jew and Gentile, to be called the Church. The purpose then of this Dispensation is not the bringing in of the "Kingdom," or the conversion of the world, but the "out gathering" of an "Elect Body."-THE CHURCH. Acts 15:14-18. 2. The Church is a BODY. The Church is not only an "Elect Body," it is the "BODY OF CHRIST." Eph. 1:22-23. As its "HEAD," there could be no Church until Christ had been raised from the dead and seated at the Right Hand of God, for God does not make headless bodies. In I Cor. 12:12-13 we are told how this "Body" is formed. It is formed by "Spirit Baptism." The Church then could not have existed until the "Gift" of the Holy Spirit on the "Day of Pentecost." Therefore the Church is composed only of those who are baptized into it by the Holy Spirit, that is by the "New Birth," and when the Holy Spirit ceases His work of "Baptism" the formation of the Church as Christ's "BODY" will cease, and the Church will be complete, and be taken out of the world. The Church then is not an "Organization," but an "ORGANISM"-a LIVING BODY. 3. The Church is a BUILDING. In I Cor. 3:9 the Church is spoken of as "God's BUILDING," and in verse 16 as the "TEMPLE OF GOD." In Eph. 2: 20-22, as a building in process of construction, it is spoken of as being "fitly framed together" and growing into a "HOLY TEMPLE" for the "HABITATION OF GOD" in the Person of the HOLY SPIRIT. As God's Presence was manifested in the Tabernacle by the "Shekinah Glory," so now in this Dispensation, when Israel, nationally, is out of fellowship with God, and there is no Temple at Jerusalem, the Church is the "Habitation of God" on earth, where He manifests Himself through the "Third Person" of the Godhead-the HOLY SPIRIT. Matt. 18: 20; 28: 20. The "Spiritual Temple" of the Church could not be erected until Christ became the "ROCK." Matt. 16: 18. I Cor. 3:9-11. Then upon Christ the "Rock," the "Foundation of the Apostles and New Testament Prophets" was laid (Eph. 2:20-22), and the first layer of the superstructure of 3000 "Living Stones" (I Pet. 2: 5) was laid on the "Day of Pentecost" (Acts 2:41), and a few days later the second layer of 5000 was added (Acts 4: 4), and so on, down the centuries, the Church has been growing as a "HOLY TEMPLE." 4. The Church is to be the BRIDE OF CHRIST. At present the Church is a "VIRGIN," but a Virgin espoused. II Cor. 11:2. The first Adam had his bride and so must the "Last Adam." Some hold that the Church cannot be both the "Body" and "Bride" of Christ, and that the "Bride" must be Israel. But we must not forget that there are "Two Brides" mentioned in the Scriptures, one in the Old Testament and the other in the New. The one in the Old Testament is "Israel," the Bride of Jehovah, the one in the New Testament is the "Church," the Bride of Christ. Because- of her whoredoms Israel is at the present time a "cast off WIFE." When she ceases from her adulteries she will be taken back. Jer. 3: 1-18; Ezek. 16: 1-63; Hosea 2: 1-23, 3: 1-5. She will not be taken back as a "Virgin," but as a "Wife." But it is a "VIRGIN" that the Lamb (Christ) is to marry. So the "Wife" of the Old Testament cannot be the "Bride" (Virgin) of the New Testament. Again, the "Wife" (Israel) is to reside in the earthly Jerusalem during the Millennium, while the "Bride" (the Church) will reside in the New Jerusalem. These distinctions make it clear that Israel cannot be the "Bride" of Christ. Where the word "Wife" is used in Rev. 19: 7-9; 21:9-10, it signifies the relation of the Bride to Christ after marriage, when she is no longer "Bride" but "Wife." As to the Church being both the "Body" and "Bride" of Christ, we have the type of Eve, who was of the body of Adam before she became his bride.  Click Image for a Larger View II.
THE MISSION OF THE
CHURCH
As we have seen, the Church is not an "Organization," but an "Organism." Therefore it is not a "Social Club" organized,and supported for the benefit of its members. Neither is it a "Place of Amusement" to pander to the carnal nature of man. Nor is it a "House of Merchandise" for the sale of "Indulgences," or other commodities, whereby the money of the ungodly can be secured to save the penurious church member a little self sacrifice. Neither is it a "Reform Bureau" to save the "bodies" of men. The reformation of men is very commendable, as are all forms of "Social Service," but that is not the work of the Church. All the great philanthropic and civilizing agencies of the world are "By-Products" of Christianity, but the "Mission" of the Church is her "COMMISSION" to "Evangelize" the world. Mark 16: 15-16. Acts 1: 7-8. The "Kingdom Idea" has robbed the Church of her "UPWARD LOOK," and of the "BLESSED HOPE." There cannot be any "Imminent Coming" to those who are seeking to "Set up the Kingdom." The "Kingdom Idea" has robbed the Church of the "Pilgrim" and "Martyr Spirit," and caused it to go down into Egypt for help. When the Church enters into an "Alliance with the World," and seeks the help of Parliaments, Congresses, Legislatures, Federations and Reform Societies, largely made up of ungodly men and women, she loses her "SPIRITUAL POWER" and becomes helpless as a redeeming force. The end of such an "Alliance" will be a "Religious Political Regime" that will pave the way for the revelation of Satan's great "Religious Political Leader" and "Superman"the ANTICHRIST.  Click Image for a Larger View III. THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IV. THE PRESENT LOCATION OF THE CHURCH IN THE SPIRITUAL HEAVENS  Click Image for a Larger View If this is the "Night" of this Dispensation what luminary in the "Spiritual Firmament" are we to look to for light? What luminary gives light in the physical heavens at night? The Moon. Then we must look to the "MOON" of the "Spiritual Firmament" for light, and that is the Church. The Moon shines by reflected light from the Sun, so the Church shines by reflected light from the "Sun of Righteousness." The Moon is only visible in the night, so the Church is only visible in the night of this Dispensation. When the "Sun of Righteousness" arises, and the "Day of the Lord," or "Millennial Day," dawns, the Church will become invisible, not because she will cease to exist, but because her light will pale before the greater light of the "Sun of Righteousness." What time is it then on the Dial of God's Timepiece? It is NIGHT. But what time of the Night? Let the Apostle Paul answer. "The night is far spent, the day IS AT HAND." Rom. 13:12. Jesus divided the night into "Four Watches." "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the 'Master of the House' cometh, at EVEN, or at MIDNIGHT,.or at the COCK-CROWING, or in the MORNING." Mark 13:35. The "Four Watches" are FIRST
WATCH:-"Evening." From 6-9 P. M.
Corresponding to "Apostolic
Times."
SECOND WATCH:-"Midnight." From 9-12 P. M. Corresponding to the "Dark Ages." THIRD WATCH:-"Cock-crowing." From 12-3 A. M. Corresponding to the "Period of the Reformation." FOURTH WATCH:-"Morning." From 3-6 A. M. We are living in the "MORNING WATCH." How beautifully this is pictured prophetically in the experience of the Disciples on that night on the Sea of Galilee when the winds were contrary. Matt. 14: 22-33. After the miracle of feeding the 5000 Jesus constrained His Disciples to embark in their boat for the Galilean side of the Lake while He sent the multitude away, and then went into a mountain apart to pray. When the Disciples were halfway across the Sea they were caught in one of those sudden and severe storms that sweep over the Sea of Galilee, and, because the winds were "contrary," they "toiled in rowing," and could make no progress. Then it was that Jesus came to their rescue walking on the sea, that became a liquid floor, smooth and level, beneath His Holy Feet. The Disciples did not dare to turn back, for that would have been to fail in duty, but Jesus saw their faithfulness and was on His way to their rescue. They did not know it, but Jesus was COMING, and we are told the time, that it was the "FOURTH WATCH" of the night-the "MORNING WATCH." That tempest tossed boat on the Sea of Galilee is a type of the Christian Church breasting the waves of sin and worldliness and false doctrine of this Dispensation. It is long past midnight, and it seems as if all the available forces of evil are associating themselves together, to, by one cyclonic effort, swamp the frail bark of the Church, and cause it to be engulfed in the waves of sin and unbelief. Over against it blow the "CONTRARY WINDS" of Atheism, Skepticism, Infidelity, Ritualism, Formalism, Unitarianism; Rationalism, Spiritualism and the "False Cults." To many it is a dark hour. Sabbath Desecration, Lukewarmness, Indifference, and Worldliness are sapping the strength of the toilers in the boat. The clouds thicken and blacken, and the sky becomes more overcast as the "Falling Away" advances. II Thess. 2: 3. Many are pessimistic. But amid the deepening gloom we must not forget that the "darkest hour" of the night in just before the dawn. Jesus has not forgotten His Disciples. He sees them "toiling in rowing." Soon He will leave the "Place of Intercession" and come to their rescue. Soon above the clouds that are now beginning to hide the "Empress of the Night"-the Church, as she sinks toward the horizon, will be seen "THE
MORNING STAR."
The "Morning Star" is the herald of the coming day. It is seen only by the "Watchers" or the early risers. In the "Spiritual Heavens" Christ is also the "BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR." Rev. 22:16. II Pet. 1 : 19. He is the "Morning Star" when He comes and takes out His Church at the "Rapture," He is the "Sun of Righteousness" when He comes back with His Church at the "Revelation" to reign on the earth. The appearance of the "Morning Star" only intensifies the darkness of the night. So between the appearing of Christ as the "Morning Star," and His coming as the "Sun of Righteousness," there will be a period. of great darkness, known as "The Great Tribulation." Matt. 24: 21, 29-31. We are living in the "Fourth Watch," soon the "Morning Star" will appear, and the Church will be "Caught Out." Then will follow the "Great Tribulation," and after it will come the "SUNRISE" of that bright "Millennial Day," when Christ, as the "SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS," shall shine in full orbed splendor in the "Spiritual Heavens" of a "DAY" that is to be 1000 years long.  The Drag Net Matt 13:47-50 Is the World to be Converted
Before Christ Comes
The common opinion is, that the Gospel is to be preached in all the world until the whole world is converted, then will follow the Millennium, after which Christ will come back and there will be a "General Resurrection" and a "General judgment," and the earth will be destroyed by fire, time will cease and eternity begin. Is this the "Program" of the Scriptures? After nearly 1900 years of Gospel preaching are the churches of Christ throughout the world multiplying with great rapidity? Are the congregations in the churches increasing in numbers and taxing the seating capacity of the churches to accommodate them? Are the churches in downtown and congested districts stronger and more crowded and influential than ever? Are the professing followers of Christ more consecrated, spiritual, and benevolent than ever before? Are Christian men and women taking their religion into their business and social affairs as never before? Are our young men and women forsaking the world in large numbers and giving themselves to the ministry and missionary work? Are the treasuries of the missionary societies burdened with an oversupply of funds? Have our churches no difficulty in meeting their financial needs? Have the cities, towns and countries of the world, where the Gospel has been preached for centuries, become thoroughly Christianized, so that today worldliness and sin is largely unknown in them? Is it a fact that the children of Christian parents naturally and willingly accept the Gospel so that Christianity is growing as rapidly as the birthrate in Christian families? Is Christianity so influencing business, commercial and manufacturing enterprises, that business is now being conducted on Christian principles? Are the combinations of capital and labor run on the basis of the "Golden Rule," and in the "Spirit of Christ"? Are the nations of the earth beating their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks? Are they dismantling their navies and diminishing the size of their armies? Have cities and towns ceased building jails, prisons, penitentiaries and houses of correction? Is there no further use for officers of the law and courts of Justice? Is the government of our towns and cities and nations more free from misrule than ever before? Is the law more honored, and are there fewer divorces and more purity of life in the 20th century than in the 19th? To ask these questions is to answer them. Is the Gospel then a failure, or have we misinterpreted its mission? There are three lines of argument we may follow in seeking our answer. I. The HISTORICAL Argument
The history of the world, as outlined in the Scriptures, has consisted up to the present Dispensation, of five Dispensations, all marked as the Rev. A. T. Pierson, D.D., so clearly outlined, by seven features essentially the same-"First, an advance in fullness and  Click Image for a Larger View |