The Date of the Crucifixion

isaac newton

That Issac Newton was intellectually gifted, cannot be denied. He bestowed upon mankind many gifts, of which these are but a few.

  • Newtonian Mechanics
  • Universal gravitation
  • Calculus
  • Binomial series
  • Optics branch of physics

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newton

But his lesser-known works are what make him even more fascinating. His love for biblical prophecy and eschatology.

Among those works are his commentary on the book of Daniel and the Apocalypse.

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His acute attention to detail has pointed out that the 70 weeks of Daniel chapter 9 have been misinterpreted from the onset of a few centuries. Newton may be the only other commentator, besides a few other people that I could name on one hand, who does not merge the 62 and 7 weeks into one linear continuation of 69.

Though this article is not about Newton’s eschatology on Daniel. It is worth quoting here.

“Know also and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to cause to return and to build Jerusalem, unto the Anointed the Prince, shall be seven weeks. The former part of the Prophecy related to the first coming of CHRIST, being dated to his coming as a Prophet; this being dated to his coming to be Prince or King, seems to relate to his second coming. There, the Prophet, was consummate, and the most holy anointed: here, he that was anointed comes to be Prince and to reign. For DANIEL’S Prophecies reach to the end of the world; and there is scarce a Prophecy in the Old Testament concerning CHRIST, which doth not in something or other relate to his second coming.

We avoid also the doing violence to the language of DANIEL, by taking the seven weeks and sixty-two weeks for one number. Had that been DANIEL’S meaning, he would have said sixty and nine weeks, and not seven weeks and sixty-two weeks, a way of [numbering] used by no nation.”

Date of the Lord’s Passion

Now as to his understanding of the date of the crucifixion of our Lord, the following information about Newton’s belief can be found and analyzed here.

https://www.scribd.com/document/491270988/johnpratt-com-Newtons-Date-For-The-Crucifixion

It is a lengthy and technical read so I will only summarize his thoughts and then respond with my own.

  • Newton starts his dating when Christ was baptized and started his ministry in the year AD 29, the 15th year of Tiberius Ceasar’s reign as told by Luke 3:1,2.
  • There were 5 Passovers during Christ’s ministry.
  • Newton believed that Christ was crucified on a Friday. This greatly influenced his decision making when looking at the new moon years of 31 – 36 AD.
  • Christ was crucified on the Day of the Passover when the lamb would have been offered.
  • Newton calculated the days of the week that the 14th (passover) fell on as such.

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I do not wish to illegitimize Newton’s contribution on this subject. I believe the answer was right in front of him and he did not see it. Like most of the Christian world he fell prey to men’s ideas and philosophies. A preconceived view that Christ died on a Friday is not taught by scripture. If one would only use a little logic, you would see that Christ had to have been taken down off the cross Wednesday before night fall.

Mat 12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

 

Joh 11:9  Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

Mar 16:9  Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 

Three days and three nights of twelve hours equals seventy two hours. It is clear Jesus spent seventy two hours in the grave and rose early Sunday morning. Even our Lord, who has power over heaven and earth and all the laws at his disposal, did not try to compress those hours in two days starting Friday. We can know the time that he was taken off the cross by starting at the morning of the first day of the week, and counting backwards.

Mar 16:9  Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 

[Side note] Remember that the Jewish day began with night; Gen 1:5. Whereas the Julean day begins at midnight and splits the night (literal night, as in no sun) between twelve hours of day, the Judean day begins with twelve hours of night (again, as in no sun), and ends with twelve hours of daylight. Once you understand this concept it will start to make more sense.

The only logical answer is that he gave up the ghost while on the cross on a Wednesday eve. For a more in-depth study of the Wednesday crucifixion please read here: What Day did Jesus die on (cloversites.com) The only disagreement I would have, with the author, is his conclusion that Jesus was crucified on the same day the lamb was sacrificed.

Another misunderstanding is the belief that Jesus died on the evening of the killing of the Passover. He ate the Passover with his disciples, washed their feet, and was betrayed on the 14th day of the first month.

Some argue that he ate the Passover the day before the ascribed time.

Mar 14:12  And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? 

Luk 22:15  And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

We have a situation where either the Passover lamb is killed on the 15th, after the lamb is supposed to be killed, or this is an example where the whole 8 days are considered the days of unleavened bread, including the 14th day. It was the day that “they killed the passover”.

Some even argue that he ate the lamb early in the morning instead of the evening. The scripture states that they went out to the mount of olives, after the supper, in the evening.

Mar 14:27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.   (30)  And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Regardless of whether he ate the lamb early or late does not change the fact that it was the following morning when he was led to Pilot. It was the 15th day that he was placed on the cross.

Mar 15:1  And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. 

Both Matthew and Mark tell us that Jesus was led to Pilate in next morning of the Passover, but John gives us more.

Joh 18:28  Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. 

Someone may argue, “See, the pharisees hadn’t eaten the Passover lamb, so it must be the 14th still. Well John 18:28 doesn’t contradict Mark 14:12. It is up to us to resolve this “seemingly” contradiction. Three times we were told that the lamb was to be eaten in the evening and nothing should be left of it by morning. See Exodus 12:10; Num 9:12; Deut 16:4. The Pharisees had until morning light to partake of the meat of the lamb. Anything left would have to be burned. So, when it stated that they arrived early, it was still dark before the breaking of the light. The alternative is, if this is not the solution, that Jesus ate the Passover before the actual Passover should be eaten. But Mark reminds us differently.

Now that we have established that Jesus died on the 15th of Nisan, and not the 14th, it is just a matter of choosing which year in between the window of 31 – 36 AD. Again, let’s remind ourselves.

The New Moon was the beginning of the month and the first day of the Passover. Psalms 81 tells us that the new moon was the beginning of the new year, at the time of the exodus.

Psa 81:3-6  Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.  (4)  For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.  (5)  This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.  (6)  I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

The 14th day of Nisan for the following years are.

31 AD – Tuesday 32 AD – Sunday
33 AD – Friday 34 AD – Wednesday
35 AD – Tuesday 36 AD – Saturday

Based on my analysis, which I have given previously, 31-AD seems to be the most logical.

In conclusion, it’s worth noting that Newton and others relied on historical dates to establish the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign as 29 AD. Therefore, this determination is not based on scripture. If this article yields any valuable insights, it prompted me to do a more in-depth study on scriptures related to the Passover.

FIRST FRUITS AND HARVEST

A Study in 

Resurrection and Rapture

BY 

G. H. LANG

Second Edition

1946

“We must not adhere to those systems of doctrine that never can bear an infringement of a view that is held popularly. For instance, perhaps we have all been brought up in the notion that all the children of God, in all ages,compose the church of God. Now it will be found on closer research that this is not supported by the Word of God.” *(William Kelly, Occasional Lectures, vii, 19.)

[* We must learn to distinguish between the “Church” and “the Church of the Firstborn”. All regenerate believers are incorporated (through faith in Christ) into ‘the Church,’ – it composes of all the saved of all ages, Old Testament saints as well as New, (Acts 7: 38): but not all (regenerate believers), thought initially given opportunity during this life to ‘attain’ (or ‘gain by effort’) firstborn status (Gen. 25: 32), will make it into ‘the Church of the Firstborn.’ (Heb. 12: 23; Gen. 25: 32, 34). The latter are selected out from the former, and ‘accounted worthy’ (by the Lord) to receive firstborn status and blessings. That is, they will obtain a double inheritance: (1) they inherit ‘eternal life’ through faith – “the free gift of God,” (Romans 6: 23, R.V.); and (2) ‘a just recompense of reward’ for their faithfulness and fidelity – an inheritance in Christ’s Millennial Kingdom in the “Age” to come (Luke 20: 35; Matt. 5: 20). – Ed.] 

The world system that occupies the earth is aged and decrepit. Like some vast, worn‑out machine it creaks and groans as at the breaking‑point. The age is as weary as wicked, and the only solid comfort is that its consummation seems to be nearing. The death‑throes of this vast body corporate will be desperate and painful; yet they will be also the birth‑throes of a better age. 

The chief need of the world is competent government. Even the best disposed and ablest rulers prove signally unequal to relieving the woes of the nations, but for this urgent need the mercy of God has made full provision. He has in readiness a perfect Sovereign for heaven and earth, His own Son, Jesus Christ the Lord, and His coming to earth to assume the government is a chief theme of the Word of God. (Psm. 96: 9‑14; 97: 1: etc.)* 

[* Quotations are usually from the Revised Version.] 

In this expectation the apostles of Christ as devout Jews were trained; but their Lord when about to leave them intimated that there were circumstances connected with that expectation which yet awaited disclosure, and that the Spirit [page 8 – Christ’s Germinal Teachings] of God, Who had visited and inspired the prophets, should come to them also, to abide with them, and to guide them into all the truth, and to disclose unto them those things to come (John 16: 13). One of these yet undisclosed particulars Christ had just hinted in the words of John 14: 2, 3: “In my Father’s house are many abiding places; if it were not so I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go

and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” 

This intimation was probably as yet obscure to the apostles, It suggested: 1. That for them the Lord had in mind an abode away from the earth in the heavenly regions; 2. That that place was not yet ready, but that He was about to go thither and prepare it for their use; 3. That He would come again from heaven; 4. That at His coming He would take them away from the earth to that prepared region; 5. That this was in order that they might be in His company in His heavenly abode. 

Here then is the introduction of the subject of the removal of some of mankind from the earth to dwell in the heavens. In his Progress of Doctrine in the New Testament (24), Bernard has well said, and shown, “that there is no part of the later and larger doctrine [of the New Testament] which has not its germs and principles in the words which Christ spake with His own lips in the days of His flesh. It is provided that all which is to be spoken after shall find support and proof from His own pregnant and forecasting sayings.” This is a fact, and it is of the first importance for a right interpreting of the New Testament. The four Gospels open the truths expanded in the epistles; the latter must be construed with the former and cannot be rightly explained in separation from them. The doctrine of the rapture is an instance. It is rooted in this germinal saying of our Lord, even as that of the first resurrection is rooted in His words in Luke 20: 34‑36: “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage: but they that are accounted worthy to attain to that age [the age to follow this age, the age of the kingdom], and the resurrection which is out from among the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage: for neither can they die any more [as those individuals raised [page 9 – “Going To Heaven] from the dead before that resurrection had done and could yet do]: for they are equal to angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection” 

The doctrine of the Rapture is thus rooted in this germinal saying of our Lord in John 14: 2, 3. The idea itself was not wholly new. Enoch and Elijah while living had been removed bodily from the earth to the heavenly world; but that a similar honour was open to themselves was probably a new idea to the apostles; nor did Christ here make clear whether the subjects of this favour would be found living at the moment or be raised from the dead. These and other particulars were afterwards revealed by the Spirit, and our present purpose is to set forth briefly some main elements of the New Testament teaching upon this theme.

I. THE HOPE.

1. The Necessary Change of Body. Man by constitution is made of and for the earth. He is physically incapable of living in the presence of God (1 Cor. 15: 50; 1 Tim. 6: 16), so that a change of body is indispensable (1 Cor. 15: 50 ‑ 58; Phil. 3: 20, 21; 2 Cor. 4: 16 ‑ 5: 10). It is not at death but at the coming of the Lord that this change will be effected and we shall be made like Him (Col. 3: 4; 1 John 3: 1‑3). 

2. With the Lord. The purpose and effect of this removal and change is that the Lord may have us with Himself, like Himself, to share His glory and authority and to assist in ruling His kingdom (John 14: 3, 17, 24; 1 Thess. 4. 17; Rev. 3: 4, 5, 21; 14. 4; 17: 14; 20: 4). 

3. This is Unique in the Ways of God. The expression “going to heaven” has become a commonplace, used as the equivalent of a sinner being delivered from hell, but it implies vastly more. A king may pardon a rebel liable to death without taking him to live in the royal palace and appointing him to high office and, honour. So sinners might have been saved from eternal death and been given eternal life without their ever being removed to the heavens as their abode. This certainly will be the lot of multitudes of the saved and might have been of all. There will be a new earth with saved nations, and God coming down to them, not their being taken up to His region (Rev. 21: 1 ‑ 31, 24). That some [page 10 – ENOCH] of the saved are to be honoured as above indicated seems to be exceptional in the ways of God and is the final secret of His eternal counsels.* Since God cannot make any superior to His Son, He can do nothing greater than to cause some to share His Son’s glory and authority. This is the highest possible to the creature to all eternity. 

[* Col. 2: 3: omit “even Christ,” and read “in which,” that is, “the mystery of God in which are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.” See Alford, and Darby, New Translation.

4. The Principle of Selection. In view of our sinful state and wicked works it is evident that this “holy calling” to share His own kingdom and glory is given to us by God “not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal” (2 Tim. 1: 9). But since not all the saved of mankind will enjoy this highest destiny there must be some principle of selection, for God always acts on moral grounds, not arbitrarily or by caprice.

(a) Enoch was translated alive to heaven before that first age developed its worst degree of corruption and long before the judgment of heaven was poured out. Concerning him the Spirit emphasizes that he looked forward to the coining of the Lord and forewarned the wicked of the judgment then to fall (Jude 14: 15), as also that he “walked with God” (Gen. 5: 24) in such wise that before his translation he hath had witness borne to him that he had been wellpleasing unto God(Heb. 11: 5). Nothing therefore can be clearer than that the unique privilege of translation must be preceded by such a life of faith in God as produces a clear witness, and a holy walk which God already endorses as wellpleasing to Himself, and which He will crown by a removal to His own sphere of the universe. Unless this were the lesson for us of this christian age why are these pointed comments upon Enoch made in the New Testament? 

(b) Concerning certain Old Testament saints we are told that they desired that heavenly country, looked for that heavenly city, and therefore in practical daily life walked in separation from the world, confessing that they were strangers and pilgrims in the earth. This manner of life amongst the godless and violent was attended by manifold [page 11 – MAKING ELECTION SURE] inconveniences and perils (Gen. 13: 7 ‑ 9; 14: 22, 23; 21: 25; 23: 4, 16; 26: 15 ‑ 21). The divine comment on these men of faith and this way of living is, “Wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God: for [that is, it is evident He is not ashamed of them, because] He hath pre pared for them a city” (Heb. 11: 8‑16), which He would not do for any of whom He might be ashamed. This “wherefore” is most significant. It shows that it was this same manner of life, their response and devotion to the call of God’s grace, that made sure to them their calling, by God’s choice, to the heavenly world. They had not been ashamed to serve the true and living God among men who did not wish to retain Him in their knowledge (Rom. 1: 20); He is not ashamed of them who thus confessed Him. They embraced the offer that grace made them of a place in the heavens, and in consequence they walked a sanctified life in separation from the godless; and therefore He Who was their sanctifier was not ashamed of them, and shall bring them to glory (Heb. 2: 10 ‑ 11), by the first resurrection. 

To us also this applies: to us those of old are set forth as a weighty example (Heb. 11); to us the Scripture, speaking specifically of our obtaining a rich entrance (i.e., by the first resurrection, instead of by the second resurrection after the millennial age) into the eternal kingdom and glory to which we are called, cries: “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure” (2 Pet. 1: 10, 11; 1 Pet. 5: 10). For it was to such as had just

confessed Him to be the Christ of God that Jesus solemnly said, “Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of Him shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in His own glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels” (Lk. 9: 20 – 26; comp. Mk. 8: 38: Mat. 10: 32, 33: Lk. 12: 8, 9; 2 Ti. 2: 10 ‑ 13). 

(c) Thus translation, both of the living, as of the dead by the first resurrection, is consequent upon a life of faith which seizes upon the offer of the heavenly calling and shapes its course and conduct accordingly. So the Lord, dealing with the first and select resurrection, spoke of those that are accounted worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from among the dead (Lk. 20:34 ‑ 36). “That age” (singular) is not a Bible term for eternity, which is not one age but [page 12 – THE OUTRESURRECTION] many. “the ages of the ages” (thirteen times in the Revelation). “That age” is set by Christ in direct contrast to “this age,” and so means the age of the kingdom to follow this age. A general resurrection the Jews expected (Jo. 11: 34: Acts 24: 15), but here Christ speaks of “the resurrection which is out from among the dead” (tees anastaseos tees ek nekron). This is the first clear intimation of such a limited, select resurrection (this doctrine also, as has been pointed out, being rooted in a germinal saying of Christ), and its terms are the key to and must control all subsequent instruction upon the subject. And it is made very clear that this resurrection is a privilege to which one must 

“attain” and be “accounted worthy” thereof. The notion that a share in the first resurrection is a certainty, irrespective of attainment and worthiness, can only be held in direct disregard of this primary declaration by the One who will effect the resurrection and determine who shall participate therein, the Son of God. 

It was through Paul that the Holy Spirit saw fit to give in permanent written form fuller particulars as to this theme (1 Cor. 15; 1 Thess. 4), and it is Paul who elsewhere repeats the words of our Lord Jesus just considered, declaring that, whereas justifying righteousness is verily received through faith in Christ, not by our own works, yet, in marked contrast, “the resurrection which is from among the dead (teen exanastasin teen ek nekron) is a privilege at which one must arrive (katanteeso) by a given course of life, even the experimental knowledge of Christ, of the power of His resurrection, and of the fellowship of His sufferings, thereby becoming conformed unto His death (Phil. 3: 7 ‑ 21). Surely the present participle (summorphizomenos becoming conformed) is significant, and decisive in favour of the view that it is a process, a course of life that is contemplated.

It has been suggested that Paul here speaks of a present moral resurrection as he does in Romans 6. But in that chapter it is simply a reckoning of faith that is proposed, not a course of personal sufferings. The subject discussed is whether the believer is to continue in slavery to sin (douleuein), as in his unregenerate days, or is the mastery (kurieuo) of sin to be immediately and wholly broken? It should be remembered that when writing to the Philippians [page 13 – IF BY ANY MEANS] Paul was near the close of his life and service. Could a life so holy and powerful as his be lived without first knowing experimentally the truth taught in Romans 6? Did the Holy Spirit at any time use the apostles to urge others to seek experiences which the writer had not first known, and to which therefore he could be a witness? And again, if by the close of that long and wonderful career Paul was still only longing and striving to attain to death to the “old man” and victory over sin, when did he ever attain thereto? Such reflections upon the apostle are unworthy, and, as has been indicated, the experience set forth in Romans 6 is not to be reached, or to be sought, by suffering, by attaining, by laying hold, by pressing on, or any other such effort as is urged upon the Philippians, but by the simple acceptance by faith of what God says He did for us in Christ in relation to the “old man.” 

Thus this suggested exposition is neither sound experimental theology nor fair exegesis. Paul indicates as plainly as language can do that the first resurrection may be missed. His words are: “If by any means I may arrive at the resurrection which is out from among the dead.” “If by any means” (ei pos) “I may” – “if” with the subjunctive of the verb ‑ cannot but declare a condition; and so on this particle in this place Alford says, “It is used when an end is proposed, but failure is presumed to be possible”: and so Lightfoot: “The apostle states not a positive assurance, but a modest hope”: and Grimm‑Thayer (Lexicon) give its meaning as, “If in any way, if by any means, if possible,” and Ellicott to the same effect says, “the idea of an attempt is conveyed, which may or may not be successful.” Both Alford and Lightfoot regard the passage as dealing with the resurrection of the godly from death, and Ellicott’s note is worth giving in full. “‘The resurrection from the dead’; i.e., as the context suggests, the first resurrection (Rev. 20: 5), when, at the Lord’s coming the dead in Him shall rise first (1 Thess. 4. 16), and the quick be caught up to meet Him in the clouds (1 Thess. 4: 17); comp. Luke 20: 35. The first resurrection will include only true believers, and will apparently precede the second, that of non‑believers, and disbelievers, in point of time. Any reference here to a merely ethical resurrection (Cocceius) is wholly out of the [page 14 – HOPING TO ATTAIN] question.” With the addition that the second resurrection will include believers not accounted worthy of the first, this note is excellent.

The sense and force of the phrase “if by any means I may arrive” are surely fixed beyond controversy by the use of the same words in Acts 27: 12: “the more part advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they could reach [arrive at] Phoenix, and winter there” (ei pos dunainto katanteesantes), which goal they did not reach. 

Further, speaking upon the very subject of the resurrection and the kingdom promised afore by God, Paul used the same verb, again preceded by conditional terms, saying (Acts 26: 6 ‑ 8), “unto which promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain.” Here the force of elpizei katanteesai “unto which they hope to attain” is the same as his words in Philipplans ei pos kantanteeso, “if by any means I may attain.” This hope of the Israelite of sharing in Messiah’s kingdom is plainly conditional (Dan. 12: 2, 3). It is assured to such an Israelite indeed as Daniel (12: 13), and to such a faithful servant of God in a period of great difficulty as Zerubbabel (Hag. 2: 23). It was also offered to Joshua the high priest, but upon conditions of obedience and conduct. Joshua had been relieved of his filthy garments and arrayed in noble attire (Zech. 3: 1‑5), but immediately his symbolic justification before Jehovah had been thus completed, and his standing in the presence of God assured, the divine message to him is couched in conditional language: “And the Angel of Jehovah protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, If thou wilt walk in My ways, and if thou wilt keep My charge, then thou also shalt judge My house, and shalt also keep My courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by” (ver. 6, 7). 

It is at this point that the “ifs” of the Word of God come in, and are so solemn and significant. Whenever the matter is that of the pardon of sin, the justifying of the guilty, the gift of eternal life, Scripture ever speaks positively and unconditionally. The sinner is “justified freely by God’s grace,” and “the free gift of God is eternal life” (Rom. 3: 24; 6: 23), in which places the word “free” means free of conditions, not only of payment. Eternal life therefore [page 15 – CONDITIONAL PROMISES] is what is called in law an absolute gift, in contrast to a conditional gift. The latter may be forfeited if the condition be not fulfilled; the former is irrevocable. But as soon as the sinner has by faith entered into this standing before God, then the Word begins at once to speak to him with “Ifs.” From this point and forward every privilege is conditional. It is truly “in all wisdom and prudence” that God has made known to us the mystery of His will (Eph. 1: 8, 9). The indispensable minimum,

justification, without which no further blessing is possible, and which the sinner is utterly unable to acquire, having no nature that can produce ought acceptable to God, this God grants freely through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus. But now that a new nature has been implanted by grace, capable through the Spirit of pleasing God, all attainment is made conditional upon the exertion that this new nature is able to make, and must make. The whole promised land, together with the title to share it and the power to conquer it, are gifts of covenant grace, but no one shall get an inch more than he sets his own foot upon, by the use of the power freely granted to faith that obeys. And some who had equal title with the rest shall not reach the inheritance at all, though neither shall they ever get back to Egypt. “Let him that readeth understand,” and ponder the “ifs” of the epistle to the Hebrews.

[* See my Firstborn Sons.”] 

The comments of Mr. David Baron upon the incident of Joshua are impressive. (The Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah, 103105.) I extract the following. “The word ‘protested’ means solemnly to protest, and is intended to express the solemnity and importance of the charge about to be made. The expressions, ‘Walk in My ways’ and ‘Keep My charge’ are frequently used in the Pentateuch for ‘holding on in the way of life, well‑pleasing to God, and for keeping the charge given by God.’ The first part of the charge refers particularly to Joshua’s personal attitude towards the Lord ‑ to fidelity in his personal relations to God; and the second to the faithful performance of his official duties as high priest. And the reward of his thus studying (in his personal and official capacity) to present [page 16 – BARON ON JOSHUA THE HIGH PRIEST] himself approved unto God will be (a) ‘Then thou shalt also judge My house . . .’ (b) ‘And shalt also keep My courts . . . ’ (c) But the climax of promise in this verse is reached in the last clause, 

‘And I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. . .’ ‘These that stand by’ ‑ as we see by comparing the expression with verse 4 – are the angels, who were in attendance on the Angel of Jehovah, and who ‘stood before Him’ ready to carry out His behests. The Jewish Targum … is, I believe, nearer the truth [than many christian commentators] when it paraphrases the words, ‘In the resurrection of the dead I will revive thee, and give thee feet walking among these seraphim.’ Thus applied to the future the sense of the whole verse would be this: ‘If thou wilt walk in My ways and keep My charge, thou shalt not only have the honour of judging My house and keeping My courts, but when thy work on earth is done thou shalt be transplanted to higher service in heaven, and “have places to walk” among these pure, angelic beings who stand by Me, hearkening unto the

voice of My word’ (Ps. 103: 20, 21). Note the ‘ifs’ in this verse, my dear reader, and lay to heart the fact that, while pardon and justification are the free gifts of God to all that are of faith, having their source wholly in His infinite and sovereign grace, and quite apart from work or merit on the part of man, the honour and privilege of acceptable service and future reward are conditional upon our obedience and faithfulness: therefore seek by His grace and in the power of His Spirit to ‘walk in His ways and to keep His charge,’ and in all things, even if thine be the lot of a ‘porter’ or ‘doorkeeper’ in the House of God, to present thyself approved unto Him, in remembrance of the day when ‘we must all be made manifest before the judgment‑seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad’ (2 Cor. 5: 10).” 

By virtue of their relationship to Abraham all Israelites are natural sons of the kingdom which is the goal of their national hopes according to the purpose and promise of the God of Abraham; but the King has told them plainly, first, that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, together with all the prophets ‑ that is, all the men of faith and devotion ‑ shall be in that [page 17 – ISRAEL AND THE KINGDOM] kingdom, but secondly, that it is very possible that some of the sons of the kingdom may forfeit their entrance thereinto (Matt. 8: 10‑12: Luke 13 28‑29); for there are those who may have been first in privilege and opportunity who shall be last in final attainment. 

If, therefore, an Israelite attains to that kingdom it will be on the basis of a covenant made by God with his federal head, Abraham; the source of which covenant is the grace of God in Christ, the working principle of which on man’s side is faith proving itself by obedience. Wherein now does this differ in basic principle from that new and better covenant which introduces to better, that is, to heavenly privileges, to sharing the heavenly sphere of that same kingdom, not only its earthward side? This new and higher order of things is also derived from a covenant made with our federal Head, its source is in that same grace of God, its working principle on our side is a faith that proves its quality in obedience. 

Moreover, since the man of true faith in that earlier age could aspire to this same heavenly city and country as ourselves there manifestly was no difference in his position and ours in this matter, though it may be he had only a more distant view and not so full a revelation of the purpose of God in all this project. So that if they of old could miss their share, on what principle of righteousness shall we be exempted from their need of diligence and obedience? Such exemption not only would contain an

invidious and inexplicable distinction, but it would prove highly dangerous to our moral fibre and our zeal for godliness. And has not this been seen? We heard it boldly stated from a platform, that the sharing in the bridal glories of the wife of the Lamb is guaranteed absolutely no matter what our practical life may or may not have been. But obviously if the very highest of all honours cannot possibly be forfeited plainly nothing is forfeitable, and the whole notion of reward for effort, so heavily emphasized in Holy Scripture, is swept away. For ourselves we repudiate this common teaching as grossly immoral in its tendency, the sheerest antinomianism, and flatly repugnant to the Word. 

The Lord told His disciples that status in the kingdom of the heavens was to be determined by the measure of obedience and of having encouraged others to obedience, and [page 18 – STRETCHING FORWARD] He as clearly added that entrance itself into that kingdom was conditional upon a certain degree of practical righteousness (Matt. 5: 19, 20). He further plainly warned the apostles themselves that except they turned from their high 

mindedness, and became as humble as a little child, they should on no account enter into the kingdom (Matt. 18: 3). And this same possibility of missing our inheritance by practical misconduct became a stock element in the apostolic teaching of their converts, and most especially and notably of Paul (1 Cor. 6: 710; Gal. 5: 19 21; Eph. 5: 5). 

It followed that godly Israelites, bent on securing a share with Abraham in the kingdom of Messiah, served God, as Paul says, with the utmost earnestness and ceaselessly: “earnestly (en ekteneia) serving God night and day” (Acts 26: 7). It is an intensive form of this very word which Paul employs in the Philippian passage (epekteinomenos) to describe his own strenuous endeavours in godly service and suffering to reach that same goal, the out‑resurrection. The word pictures the racer leaning far forward, stretched out toward the goal, straining every fibre to win the coveted prize. It is the sharpest possible rebuke to the complaisant idea that so great a reward is guaranteed to all believers irrespective of piety, zeal, devotion, and life‑long perseverance. Nor is there warrant for the assertion that to Paul only or even first were these themes made known. He indeed learned them direct from the Lord, but so did other “holy apostles and prophets,” according to his own statement (Eph.3: 5). These mighty truths were as much the need of and as much the property of those many saints whom Paul never taught as of that portion of the church of God to whom he ministered. And that the other

apostles did in fact know and teach the truth of a select resurrection, prior to the general resurrection of all men, and thus knew and taught prior even to Paul’s conversion, is seen from the statement in Acts 4: 2, that from the very earliest days they “proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection which is out from among the dead(teen anastasin teen ek nekron). The clearness of their understanding of this first, select resurrection, of which the Lord had spoken while with them, is shown by the definiteness and vigour with which they announced it., for katangello, [page 19 OF CHRIST JESUS] in the A.V. weakly rendered “preach,” means “to proclaim with authority, as commissioned to spread the tidings throughout those who hear them” (Westcott, on 1 John 1: 5). Therefore such a resurrection was not revealed for the first time when Paul wrote to the Thessalonians; those who were apostles before him made it their business to announce this truth to all to whom they proclaimed the gospel, for, as Paul himself tells us, it was the “commandment of the eternal God” that the secret counsel of which the first resurrection is part should be “made known unto all the nations” (Rom. 16: 26), which demanded that other heralds before and besides Paul should receive and proclaim the message. 

When first writing to the Thessalonians he could say that they already “knew perfectly” about the day of the Lord, and when writing again he added that he had told them about these things when with them (1 Ep. 5: 2; 2 Ep. 2: 5). This is further shown by the way he speaks without explanation of those who “will be left unto the presence of the Lord,” to His parousia. How could he have enlarged when with them upon these topics and yet not even himself have known about the vital matter of the first resurrection? Yet this is necessarily involved in the assertion that this truth was not made known before the first letter to the Thessalonians. 

II. WHO ARE THOSE “OF CHRIST JESUS”?

But it is urged that two important scriptures upon the topic of resurrection seem to contemplate all believers as sharing in the first resurrection. These are 1 Thess. 4 and 1 Cor. 15. 

The former passage speaks of those who “have fallen asleep through Jesus” (1 Thess. 4: 14, R.V. marg.). Is this of necessity the fact concerning the end of all believers? Is there not such a thing as death through Satan, acting as the executioner of the sentence of the court of heaven against a believer’s sins?. (1 Cor. 5: 5; 11: 30; Acts 5: 10: comp. 1 Tim. 1: 19, 20: 1 Jo. 5: 16, 17: Jas. 5: 19‑20).

Man through sin is by nature in the power of Satan as the one who, by his angel servants, ends human life when the [page 20 – DEATH IS GAIN] Most High requires.* But the sinner who in faith submits to Christ is transferred from Satan’s authority and is put under that of the Son of God (Col. 1: 13), and thenceforth the Evil One cannot touch him (1 Jo. 5: 18). In life his Lord protects him and in death puts him to sleep. But on account of gross sin, of living again as if a servant of Satan, he may be “delivered unto Satan,” as regards his present experience (Matt. 5: 23, 26; 6: 13; 18: 34, 35) and his bodily life, in which case Satan may be permitted to cut short his life, as the above cited passages show. 

[* Heb. 2: 14; Acts 12: 23; Luke 12: 20, marg. “they,” i.e., angels: contrast Job 2. 6.] 

It is not such A death that is “gain” within the meaning of Phil. 1: 21. When Paul wrote of death as “gain” he made no general statement concerning all believers. He said, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” At that time he was a prisoner, and it was not certain that he would not shortly die for the faith. That was the death immediately in question, and similarly such an one as the faithful Stephen, dying as a witness for Christ, could say, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” The Lord accepted the trust, and the simple record of that dreadful moment is, “he slept.” Doubtless not martyrs alone but each who can truly say, “for to me to live is Christ” may add truly, “to die is gain.” Those who thus fall asleep will, as we expect, share in the first resurrection; others have no guarantee that they will do so. 

But it is further urged that in 1 Cor. 15: 51, the Scripture declares that though “we shall not all sleep,” but some be alive at the descent of the Lord, yet “we shall all be changed,” and surely, says the objector with emphasis, all means all. Truly; but in verse 22, “For as in Adam all die, so also in the Christ shall all be made alive,” “all” means all of mankind, for every child of Adam will at some time be raised by Christ (Jo. 5: 28, 29). But not all at the first resurrection (Rev. 20: 5). Therefore in this very chapter “all” means different things, and in verse 51 requires limiting, since it refers to a smaller company than in verse 22

The last and immediate context is in verses 48, 49, which speak of those who are to “bear the image of the heavenly,” that is, are to share with the Lord in His heavenly form, [page 21 – MAGE OF THE HEAVENLY] glory, and sovereignty. Now the more difficult, and therefore the more probable reading here is as in the R.V. margin: “As we have borne the image of the earthy, let us also bear the image of the heavenly.” It is evident that one

copying a document is not likely to insert by mistake a more difficult word or idea than is in the manuscript before him; so that, as a general rule, the more difficult reading is likely to have been the original reading. Moreover, in this case “let us also bear” is so well attested by the manuscripts as to have been adopted as the true reading by Lachmann, Tischendorf, Tregelles, Alford, and Westcott and Hort, and is given as the text in the latest editions of the Greek Testament, those of Nestle and Von Soden. Ellicott prefers the common reading, but on subjective and internal grounds only, and his remark on the external authority is emphatic: “It is impossible to deny that the subjunctive, phoresomen is supported by very greatly preponderating authority.” Alford (on Romans 9: 5) well says, “that no conjecture [i.e., as to the true Greek text] arising from doctrinal difficulty is ever to be admitted in the face of the consensus of MSS. and versions.” Weymouth gives the force well by the rendering let us see to it that we also bear.” 

By this exhortation the apostle places upon Christians some responsibility to see that they secure that image of the heavenly which is indispensable to inheriting “the kingdom of God” (ver. 50). In this Paul is supported by Peter, who also writes of that “inheritance which is reserved in heaven” (1 Pet. 1: 4), which he describes by the later statement that “the God of all grace called you unto His eternal glory in Christ” (5: 10). But Peter goes on to urge the called to “give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure” (2 Pet. 1: 10), thus showing that this calling to share the glory of God has to be made sure. He is not at all discussing justification by faith or suggesting that it must be made sure by works done after conversion. Justification and eternal life are not in the least his subject. He writes expressly to those “who have [already] obtained like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1: 1). The calling of grace is to share in God’s own eternal glory, or, as Paul expresses it, to share God’s “own kingdom and glory,” and he tells [page 22 – FIRSTFRUITS RESURRECTION] us that he exhorted, encouraged, yea, and testified, to the end that his children in faith should “walk worthily of God” Who had called them to such supreme dignity (1 Thess. 2: 11 ‑ 12). Since therefore this most honourable calling must be “made sure” by “walking worthily,” in order that we may be “counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer” (2 Thess. 1: 5), the reading “let us also bear the image of the heavenly” becomes consistent and important. Thus 1 Cor. 15: 51, 52 is addressed to those who are assumed (whether it be so or not) to have responded to that exhortation, and it will mean that “we [who shall be accounted worthy to bear that heavenly image] shall not

all sleep, but we shall all be changed.” Of that company it is strictly true that all means all

Further, the primary antecedent to verse 52 is in verse 23: “But each [shall be made alive] in his own order: Christ the first‑fruits; then they that are Christ’s in His Parousia: then the end . . .” Does not the whole sentence, in the light of other passages, carry the force: But each shall be made alive, not all at the same hour, but each in his own class or company (tagma); first‑fruit, Messiah; then, next, those of the Messiah, i.e., in His character as first‑fruit, at His Parousia; then, later, the end of all dispensations, involving the resurrection of all, saved and unsaved, not before raised? Here is additional reason for R. C. Chapman’s view (to be considered later) that the first resurrection is one of “firstfruits,” and not of all who will be finally raised in the “harvest” of eternal life. 

The translation “they that are Christ’s” is not an exact rendering. The Greek reads: “then those of the Christ (hoi tou Christou) in His Parousia,” and it is not a question of what these words may mean to an English reader to‑day with his mind obsessed by a certain theory, but what did they convey to a Greek ear of the day when they were written. (See Appendix.) 

In the ideal and possibility all who are “in Christ” are “of Christ,” but that it is possible to be a believer on Him unto salvation from hell and not to be of that privileged personal circle which He will acknowledge before God, angels, and men as His companions, is plainly taught in the [page 23 – THE KING’S COMPANIONS] Word. “If I wash thee not, thou [Peter, my believing, devoted follower until now] hast no part with Me– not “in Me,” that would have forfeited all, including salvation; but “with Me,” which means that unwashed thou canst not continue in My company, My circle (John 13: 8). Again, “Thou hast a few names in Sardis who did not defile their garments, and they shall walk [walk about habitually, peripateesousin] with Me in white, for they are worthy”; that is, they shall be My companions (Rev. 3: 4: compare the personal associates of king Rehoboam, those that had “grown up with him,” (1 Kin. 12: 7‑10). With these who have thus walked with Christ in humiliation and shall walk with Him in glory contrast those mentioned in John 6: 66: “Upon this many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.” But of those who go on with Him He graciously adds, “The one overcoming shall thus [as the consequence and counterpart of having walked in white on earth, of having ‘kept himself unspotted from the world,’ Jas. 1: 27] – shall thus be arrayed in white raiment [as a companion of the King; indeed, as His wife, Rev. 19: 8]; and I will, in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess

his name before My Father and before His angels”; the King’s public acknowledgment that such are of His honoured and intimate circle.

[* Rev. 3: 4, 5: comp. Luke 12: 9, with the use the apostle and the early church made of that saying, as in 2 Tim. 2: 11‑13.] 

The fact that such as show special trust in and fidelity to God are granted intimacy with Him beyond others is very natural and it runs throughout Scripture. Instances are: Abraham, peculiarly the friend of God, from whom Jehovah would hide none of His purposes (Gen. 18: 17‑19): Moses, privileged beyond others of the people of God with mouth to mouth converse with Him, because he was faithful (Num. 12: 7, 8): the prophets, without informing whom Jehovah would not act (Amos 3: 7): of which Elisha is a notable instance, as witness the tone of surprise in his words, 

Jehovah hath hid it from me and hath not told me!” (2 Kin. 4: 27). So God, reproving false prophets, says: “Who [of them] hath stood in the council of Jehovah?” and, “If they had stood in My council” (Jer. 23: 18, 22) – not [page 24 – MY FRIENDS IF] counsel, as A.V., but in “My secret council,” as the Hebrew means, whither faithful prophets were transported in spirit (1 Kin. 22: 19). 

Thus also in the New Testament we learn of very many hundreds who believed on Jesus when He was here (1 Cor. 15: 6, e.g.), but of these, some few enjoyed His special love, as the Bethany family (John 11: 5); a small band were honoured to share peculiarly His toil, ministry, reproach, and company, and will therefore be specially honoured in His kingdom (Lk. 22: 28‑30: Rev. 22: 14): of which few again a smaller circle were more especially favoured with His confidence (Lk. 9: 28: Matt. 26: 37), and one was loved above them all (Jo. 13: 23; 19: 26, 21: 7, 20). 

But as there is no respect of persons, no favouritism, with the Lord, as we are repeatedly and emphatically assured (Col. 3: 25: 1 Pet. 1: 17: etc.), there must have been reason for this distinguishing of some. In John 15: 14, 15, Christ lays down its condition in the words: “No longer do I call you slaves [though it is to be well noted from the openings of the epistles that that is exactly what they continued evermore to call themselves]; for the slave knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known unto you.” Thus as with Abraham His friend, so with these, He had hid nothing from them, had had no secrets, but had made known unto them all that He had heard. But the terms of this incomparable friendship were, and are, “Ye are My friends if ye do the things which I command you,” a condition nowhere

attached to the forgiveness of sins or to the obtaining of eternal life, but of the simple nature of things in friendship between the Creator and the creature, the King and the subject. To this privileged circle all indeed may attain, but it is reached by such only as pay the (in reality) purely nominal but quite unavoidable price of full obedience to their Saviour as their Lord

Thus also in Hebrews 3: 12‑14, we learn that “we have become companions* of the Messiah (metochoi tou Christou), [page 25 – GOD’S HOUSE IF] if it be so that (eanper) we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end.” And in verse six preceding we are told that we are the household over which the Son of God is ruler “if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end.” Israel, though redeemed by blood and delivered, did not become the “house” of God until one whole year after redemption (Ex. 40: 1); and, though the people of God by covenant and redemption, they only narrowly escaped the penalty of never having God dwelling among them and so of not being to Him as a house (Ex. 33: 1 ‑ 3). To be a pardoned rebel, restored to being a loyal subject of the sovereign, is one thing, and is great indeed, but to be a member of the royal house, a chosen intimate of the sovereign, is much greater. His pardon Of the rebel, sealed and delivered, God never recalls; but the privilege of belonging to His Son’s personal circle is contingent and may be forfeited. 

[* Darby, New Translation, note: “I use the word ‘companions’ as being the same one as in c.1:9 metochoi, to which, I doubt not, it alludes; that is, to the passage quoted, Ps. 45. ‘Partakers of Christ’ has indeed quite a different sense.”] 

The type of tabernacle and temple when taken in its entirety shows that the “house” of God may be forsaken by Him and be temporarily destroyed (Jer. 7: 12; Ps. 78: 60, 61; Jer. 12: 7; Ps. 74: 7; Matt. 23: 38); and the New Testament solemnly declares the same as to the believer: ” “Know ye not that ye are a sanctuary of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. If any man destroyeth the sanctuary of God [mars it ‑ see Jer. 17: 7, 9, where the LXX use this word ‑ so rendering the house unfit as a dwelling for the Holy One], him shall God destroy (see 1 Cor. 5: 5: etc.), for the sanctuary of God is holy, which sanctuary ye are” (1 Cor. 3: 16, 17). The believer who so lacks the spirit of Christ, and so walks according to flesh, as to incur that judgment, will indeed, by the changeless grace of God and through the eternal virtue of redemption by the precious blood of Christ, be himself, as to his person, saved, yet only “so as through fire” (ver. 15); but such will not be sharers of the

privileges pictured as being the “house” of God or “companions of the Messiah,” the King. But inasmuch as all who rise in the first resurrection will share those very privileges (Rev. 20: 4‑6), it results that such as are adjudged by the Lord unworthy thereof will not have part in that resurrection, even as the many scriptures reviewed declare. 

Thus the expressions “fallen asleep through Jesus” and [page 26 – GRACE AND FAITH] “those of Him in His Parousia” (those who are to be companions with Him during the period of His “presence” as King of this earth), both allow for the solemn possibility of some who might have been “accounted worthy to attain unto that age [of the Presence] and the resurrection which is from among the dead” (Lk. 20: 35) failing to attain thereto. 

Passages which deal with a matter from the point of view of God’s plan and willingness use general, wide terms to cover and to disclose His whole provision. But these must be ever considered in connection with any other statements upon the same subject which reveal what God foresees of the human element which, by His own creation of responsible creatures, He permits to interact with His working. Out of these elements, through self‑will in the believer, arises the possibility of individuals not reaching unto the whole of what the grace of God had offered in Christ. 

The isolation of the former class of passages produced Calvinism, of the latter Arminianism. Truth is found by construing all Scripture together. The principle of the divine provision is grace: the principle of our attaining is faith; and “according to your faith be it unto you” is the inflexible condition. Now faith is not merely an apprehending of ideas by the intellect, nor only the assent of the reason, though it includes of necessity both of these elements: faith is a principle of action which produces obedience to God and works out in love to men. Incipient faith obeys God upon the primary point of trusting to Christ for salvation from wrath, and it secures that primary benefit for which it trusts. Developing faith obeys God upon various successive points of His holy will; this issues in sanctity of character and purity of conduct; and according to this advance of faith in practical godliness will be the weight of glory which each will be capable of bearing. Any particular possibility for which one’s measure of faith does not qualify will not be obtained. “The path of sorrow is not indeed the meriting, but the capacitating preparation for glory” (Moule on Rom. 8: 18).

It is unquestionable that this unchanging, because unavoidable, rule operates undeviatingly as to benefits available in this life: the Scripture shows plainly that it operates as to benefits available beyond this life. Of these one is the [page 27 – ACCORDING TO FAITH] sharing in the first resurrection and so inheriting the kingdom of God. There is not any ground in Scripture or reason why these particular privileges should be an exception to the invariable rule stated; for the rule lies in the essential nature of man and his relationships with God, and no suspension or exception seems possible so long as God is God and man is man. Apart from faith it is impossible for man to be pleasing to God or for God to grant to him the blessing of such as please Him. The measure of blessing in the possibility is the immeasurable merit of Christ, freely made available to sinners by the grace of God: the measure of blessing in actual attainment is our faith, faith as above defined and evidenced. Therefore both translation and the better resurrection are consequent upon a life of faith that pleases God (Heb. 11: 5, 35). 

“Such faith in us, 0 God, implant, 

And to our prayers Thy favour grant, 

Through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son, 

Who is our fount of health alone.” 

When it is said that the acceptance of the believer in Christ involves the imputation to him of all the acceptability of Christ, and that he is thereby qualified to share the eternal glory of Christ in the presence of the Father, and that consequently his own life and works can have no place in the matter, we point out that, inasmuch as the merit of Christ is imputed judicially to every believer equally, therefore every believer should of necessity share equally in all and every privilege, and no distinction in reward would be possible, one star could not then differ from another star in glory. But the opposite of this is taught in the Word. The imputation of righteousness in Christ gives to every believer equality of standing and of opportunity, but it does not, and cannot, do away with the necessity for faith, or alter the rule that attainment is according to faith. 

It being therefore the case that the first resurrection, while open indeed to all, is a prize which must be attained, and which, like every prize, may be forfeited, it is at once made clear why in Rev. 20: 4‑6, where the two resurrections are set, one at the opening of the Millennial kingdom and the [page 28 – THE BOOK OF LIFE] other at its close, it is said that “blessed and holy” is he that hath part in the former, including pre‑eminently those who in varying degree had suffered for and with Jesus and for the word of God. And that

some believers not accounted worthy of that resurrection, will rise in the second resurrection unto eternal life, though they will have missed reigning with Christ in His Kingdom, fitly explains why at the final judgment the book of life will be opened and searched (Rev. 20: 11‑15). Were it known as a fact that no possessors of eternal life would or could be there this examining of the book of life would not be required, nor should we expect the statement that “if any was not found written in the book” he was cast into the lake of fire; for in that event the natural expression would be “as their names were not found, etc.” 

A correct understanding of future events is of high value in the life of the Christian, but it is not fundamental to the gospel, neither does any rearranging of the order or particulars of those events imperil the faith. Men of undoubted orthodoxy and greatly used of God have taken very divergent views on these topics, which teaches that great names cannot prove any one view to be the true meaning of Scripture. On the other hand, this divergence should assure toleration and earnest research, so that more light may be gained and ever closer agreement be reached. 

It is worthy of mention that Hudson Taylor and R. C. Chapman held the view here advocated. In the Appendix to his small work on The Song of Songs, entitled Union and Communion (ed. 5, p. 83), Hudson Taylor wrote of such as “if saved, are only half‑saved:* who are for the present more concerned about the things of this world than the things of God. To advance their own interests, to secure their own comfort, concerns them more than to be in all things pleasing to the Lord. They may [page 29 – HUDDSON TAY4OR AND CHAPMAN] form part of that great company spoken of in Rev. 7: 9 ‑ 17, who come out of the great tribulation, but they will hot form part of the 144,000, ‘the first‑fruits unto God and to the Lamb(Rev. 14: 1‑5). They have forgotten the warning of our Lord in Luke 21: 34 ‑ 36; and hence they are not ‘accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.’ They have not, with Paul, counted ‘all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord,’ and hence they do not ‘attain unto’ that resurrection from among the dead, which Paul felt he might miss, but aimed to attain unto. We wish to place on record our solemn conviction that not all who are Christians, or think themselves to be such, will attain to that resurrection of which St. Paul speaks in Phil. 3. 11, or will thus meet the Lord in the air. Unto those who by lives of consecration manifest that they are not of the world, but are looking for Him, ‘He will appear without sin unto salvation’.”

Robert Chapman about the year 1896 issued a series of Suggestive Questions. Number 10 includes the following: “Are not the redeemed in Rev. 4 and 5 the same with those in ch. 20: 4, ‘Thrones and they sat upon them’? (verse 5) ‘This is the first resurrection.’ Is it not a resurrection of first‑fruits?” . . . Now in the essential nature of the case first‑fruits are but a portion of the whole harvest, and so the Question proceeds: ‘And the rest of the dead (in the same verse) do they not include all the family of God? not the wicked dead only. Hence, in verse 12, ‘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’ (verse 15). ‘And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into.the lake of fire’.” 

Further as to this last passage, the exact rendering in the Revised Version, “if any was not found written in the book of life he was cast into the lake of fire,” by its negative form strongly supports this view. If it should be said of the crowd at a platform barrier that, If any was found not to have a ticket he was refused admittance, no one would suggest the meaning that not one of all who were there had a ticket or was allowed to pass. [page 30 – DOCTRINE AND HOLINESS

The late Mr. E. S. Pearce was intimately acquainted with Mr. Chapman’s views for he lived with him many years. He wrote to me as follows: “It was Mr. Chapman’s desire that, by so walking with God and by obedience to His Word in all things, he might not shut himself out from the honour of reigning with Christ. He saw no authority from the Scripture for saying that all the children of God would. Rev. 20: 4, ‘And they sat upon them,’ Mr. Chapman considered were distinguished persons, not all the saints.” 

Now from verses 4 and 6 of Rev. 20, “they lived and reigned” and “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection … they shall reign,” it is clear that all who rise in the first resurrection do reign, from which it certainly follows that such as are not accounted worthy to reign do not rise at that time. Who shall say to what large degree this searching, conscience‑quickening belief contributed to the blamelessness of Mr. Chapman’s beautiful life? The doctrine of the coming of our Lord is in the Scripture so set forth as to promote holiness of life (1 John 3: 3; 2 Pet. 3: 11 ‑ 14; 1 Pet. 1: 13). That line of exposition will be found most accordant with Scripture which makes the most imperative demand for holiness. 

To gain that prize I towards that goal will struggle 

Which God has set before; 

To gain that prize ‘gainst sin and death I’ll battle

And with the world make war; 

And if it brings me here but shame and troubles 

And scorn, if pain life fills, 

Yet seek I nothing of earth’s empty baubles; 

My God alone my longing stills. 

To gain that prize, to reach that crown I’m pressing 

Which Christ doth ready hold; 

I mean His great reward to be possessing, 

His booty for the bold. 

I will not rest, no weariness shall stay me, 

To hasten home is best, 

Where I some day in peace and joy shall lay me 

Upon my Saviour’s heart and rest. 

(From the German). [page 31 – THE FIRST RESURRECTION

III. THE PERIOD OF THE PAROUSIA.

The first resurrection, accompanied by the removal of the living, will take place at a certain moment when the Lord Himself shall descend from His present place at the right hand of the throne of God, in the upper heavens, to the neighbourhood of the earth (1 Thess. 4: 15 ‑ 17). He is now absent from the earth: then He will be present again. This will be the commencement of His Parousia (presence). The Word of God shows that this descent will take place at the end of that Great Tribulation which is to be inflicted upon the saints by the Beast at the very close of this age. It has been suggested that the phrase sat down on the right hand of the Majesty in the heights (Heb. 1: 3) does not imply place, but merely dignity. Yet this will not be said of 1 Kin. 2: 19: “The king sat down on his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right hand.” There is a spot in the heaven of heavens where the Father is throned in light unapproachable by man in the flesh. There the Son sits at the right hand of God, and thence He will descend at the hour which the Father has set within his own authority. 

1. Christ stated that a time would come when His enemies should “see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matt. 26: 64): from which it would appear that down to an hour when He is to be seen by the godless at the right hand of power He remains

there, which place therefore He did not leave for the air several years before that time. Christ had said before that the hour when the world should thus see Him would follow the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24: 29, 30). 

2. Now under seal 6 (Rev. 6) the godless are shown fleeing in terror from the face of God and from the wrath of the Lamb and are hiding in the rocks. This accords with paragraph one above and with Isa. 2: 10, 19, 21. The latter passage fixes the hour as that when “Jehovah ariseth to shake terribly the earth,” again showing at what point the Lord leaves the throne on high. Seal 6 repeats the many signs in heaven and earth which Christ said should follow the Tribulation (Matt. 24: 29, 30), which confirms that the [page 32 – THE BLESSED HOPE] “arising” of the Lord and the appearing of His glory to men follow that Tribulation. 

3. According to Paul himself the “blessed hope” of the church is the “appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2: 13), not any secret, invisible event. The words in italics are a repetition of words used by Christ on the same topic (Matt. 24: 29, 30). So that at the close of His then presence with His disciples the Lord pointed them onward to His appearing in glory, and they adopted that appearing as their hope. But the Lord stated that this His appearing would be after the signs that should immediately follow the Great Tribulation. 

The suggestion that the “blessed hope” is a first event and the appearing a second is denied by the grammar of the passage in Greek. “Hope and appearing belong together” (Alford. See also Bloomfield, Conybeare, Weymouth, etc.). “‘The blessed hope’ is the appearing” (Speaker’s Commentary). 

4. The Lord stated next (Matt. 24: 31) that at that moment of His appearing He would gather together His elect. That the elect are Christians, not Jews, is certain. (a) No gathering of Jews to Palestine at this hour is known to Scripture. There is to be one before the reign of the Beast, for he will persecute them there, and another, expressly termed the second, after Christ shall have come to Jerusalem (Isa. 11: 10 ‑ 12). If this at the moment of the appearing were of Jews that later one would be the third. (b) This gathering of the elect is universal: were it of Israelites none of these would be left for that later and second gathering. (c) The Gentile nations, not angels, will be agents of that second gathering of Israel (Isa. 11: 12; 14: 2; 49: 22; 66: 19 ‑ 20). (d) This gathering takes place while Christ is yet in the clouds, whereas Israel are not to be gathered there, but to their land and city. (e) The term “elect” is applied to angels (1 Tim. 5: 21) and to

Christ (Lk. 13: 35; 1 Pet. 2: 6). “Election” is used of God’s purpose concerning Jacob (Rom. 9: 11). The cognate verb “chosen” is used of Jehovah’s choice of Israel as His earthly people (Acts 13: 17), of guests selecting the chief seats (Lk. 14: 7), and of Mary choosing the good part (Lk. 10: 42). None of these places has any bearing upon the interpretation of Matt. 24: 31 and Mk. 13: 27: [page 33 – THE ELECT GATHERED] and in every other place of the many in the New Testament the invariable application of these terms is to Christians. Even in Rom. 11: 5, 7, 28, though Israelites are in view, it is as Christians they form the “remnant according to the election of grace.” Nothing arises to suggest that Christ meant the term in another sense to His former use in Luke 18: 7, “shall not God do justice to His own elect,” or for supposing that the Christians to whom the Gospels first came could think it to have any other than its by that time fixed application to Christians. 

5. Christ further stated that the gathering of the elect should be accompanied by “a great sound of a trumpet” (Matt. 24: 31). This is repeated in 1 Thess. 4: 16, and 1 Cor. 15: 52 describes this as the “last trump.” The last trump of Scripture is recorded in Rev. 11: 15‑18. Under it four events are grouped: (1) The anger of the nations and God’s wrath upon them; (2) The time of the dead to be judged ‑ the godly dead, for it is before the millennium: comp. Dan. 7: 22; (3) The rewarding of the prophets, saints, and those who fear God; (4) The destruction of the destroyers of the earth. 

Thus the raising and rewarding of the godly take place at the same epoch as the destruction of the wicked, and all is after the Tribulation, for it is the time of the destruction of the Beast, and is after he has persecuted, and has killed the Two Witnesses in Jerusalem (Rev. 11: 1 ‑ 13). 6. This is confirmed by the declaration of the strong angel whose message follows trumpet 6 (Rev. 10: 5 ‑ 7). He announces that the mystery of God shall be completed during the period of the seventh trumpet. Paul taught concerning: (1) the mystery (secret); (2) that it was according to the gospel (good tidings); (3) that it was made known according to the commandment of the eternal God; (4) and that this was done through the writings of the prophets (Rom. 16: 25 ‑ 27). The angel repeats these four particulars concerning (1) the mystery; (2) that it was according to the good tidings (the same word as gospel); (3) that it was declared by God; (4) through His servants the prophets. The two passages read thus:

Rom. 16: 25‑27: “Now unto Him that is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been [page 34 – SCRIPTURE TESTIMONY ONE] kept in silence through times eternal, but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith. . . .” 

Rev. 10: 7: “. . . in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished the mystery of God, according to the good tidings which He declared to His servants the prophets.” 

The attempt to make out that these are not the same mystery, and that there are two divine purposes of which all four particulars are equally and separately true, will surely only be made in the interests of some special theory of interpretation. 

The mystery that was such a vital element in apostolic teaching is shown by Eph. 3: 1 ‑ 13 to be the gathering of the church from Jews and Gentiles, and therefore was it to be made known unto all the nations. This work will be completed by the resurrection and rapture, which will be under trumpet 7, which will be after the Tribulation, as shown above under (5). 

7. Other Scriptures also reveal this same grouping of events. In 2 Thess. 1: 6 ‑ 8, it is said that the delivering of the saints from trouble at the hands of the godless will be at the time of the destruction of the latter by the Lord at His revelation in flaming fire with His angels. Thus the church of God is viewed as continuing in affliction right down to the apocalypse (public appearing) of Christ. 

1 Thess. 4: 13 ‑ 18 and 5: 1 ‑ 11, belong together, though often arbitrarily dissevered, and they similarly associate these events for the godly and the godless respectively. The “times and the seasons” of verse 1 necessarily means the times and the seasons in which will come the events just mentioned. No other events have been mentioned, so that there is no other antecedent to the expression, which thus connects the paragraphs. 

Thus the earliest revelations by Christ, the middle period teachings of Paul and others (see 2 Pet. 3: 15, that Peter and Paul taught alike), and the latest through John (Rev. 10: 11), agree. 8. This harmony is seen further in the passages which picture the Lord as coming as a thief. [page 35 – COMING AS A THIEF]

Christ used the figure to warn His own servants of His own household (Matt. 24: 42, 44: Lk. 12: 39). Peter, who heard that warning, repeats it to those who had “obtained like precious faith” with himself “in the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3: 10, 11; 1: 1). Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they, by his particular instruction, knew of that thief‑like coming, and so they need not be caught unawares by its unannounced arrival, only they must be very careful to keep awake, continuing watchful and sober (1 Thess. 5: 21). The Lord from heaven repeats these warnings to the church at Sardis (Rev. 3: 3), plainly declaring that it is possible for Christians to cease to watch (comp. Mk. 13: 36), and so to be overtaken by that day as a thief. Finally, just as wicked spirits are gathering the armies of the Beast for the final battle with the Lamb at His return, the Lord interjects the announcement, “Behold, I come as a thief” (Rev. 16: 15). This were a singularly inappropriate place for the renewal of this warning if in fact the coming as a thief had taken place long previously at a supposed coming of the Lord before the end days entirely. 

Thus it appears that the “house,” and the Lord’s servants in it, continue on earth in His absence down to the close of the Tribulation era when the Beast is preparing for the final battle. 

9. That the first resurrection takes place after the Tribulation is clear from the fact that those martyred by the Beast share therein (Rev. 20: 4). The supposition that this resurrection will be completed in stages, of which this will be the last, is not needed and seems without Scripture authority. 

10. In Rev. 14 there is a series of six visions. In the first a company of saints are seen on the Mount Zion with the Lamb, in the region of the throne of God, for the elders and the living creatures are present, before the throne.* These saints have been “purchased out of the earth” (showing that they are not then on earth), and they learn [page 36 – THE HARVEST] the song of heaven. In the second vision the hour of judgment strikes; that is, the end days begin. In the third we learn that the Harlot, Babylon, has been destroyed, which vision is amplified in ch. 17. In the fourth the Great Tribulation is contemplated, for the Beast is persecuting. After this the fifth vision shows: (1) The Son of man now on the clouds, having therefore come down from Mount Zion. (2) His angels (the sickle, comp. Matt. 13: 39) are gathering up from the earth His “harvest,” the ripened saints He has grown as wheat, and will gather into His barn in safety. The sixth and last vision pictures the destruction of the Beast and his armies, which is further shown in ch. 19: 11 ‑ 21.

[* In Revelation “before the throne” always means a heavenly locality, not on earth. It is the place of the presence of God, of the elders, living creatures, angels, the glassy sea, the heavenly throne and altar. See 4: 5, 6, 10; 7: 9; 8: 3; 14: 3; 20: 12; all its occurrences.] 

Here again the presence on the clouds, with the gathering up of the godly, is put between the Tribulation and the destruction of the lawless. With unique emphasis Christ had taught that the “wheat” must remain in the field with the “tares” “until the harvest” and that the harvest is the “consummation of the age” (Matt. 13: 30 ‑ 39), not any point of time prior to the End Days. In Rev. 14 this harvest is shown appropriately as the last great event but one in this age. 

The whole New Testament agrees in putting at this point the appearing in glory of the Son of man, which was seen from afar by Old Testament prophets; nor does the Scripture know of any earlier descent of the Lord from the throne to the air. And so Paul in one sentence (2 Thess. 2: 1 ‑ 5) grouped together (a) the Parousia, (b) our gathering together unto the Lord, and (c) the Day of the Lord, and most expressly announced and warned that these all must be preceded by the apostasy and the revelation of the Man of Sin. George Muller said: “having been a careful diligent student of the Bible for nearly fifty years, my mind has long been settled upon this point, and I have not the shadow of a doubt about it. The Scripture declares plainly that the Lord Jesus will not come until the apostasy shall have taken place, and the man of sin, the ‘son of perdition’ (or personal Antichrist) shall have been revealed, as seen in 2 Thess. 2.” 

IV. THE PRE‑TRIBULATION RAPTURE.

There are two principal views upon the matters here [page 37 – ESCAPE POSSIBLE] considered: one, that the Parousia will commence prior to the Times of the End, and that at its inception all believers of the heavenly calling, dead and living, will be taken to the presence of the Lord in the air; the other, that the Parousia will occur at the close of the Great Tribulation, until when no believers will be raised or changed. The one view says that no believers will go into the End Times, the other that none then living will escape them. The one involves that the utmost measure of unfaithfulness or carnality in a believer puts him in no peril of forfeiting the supreme honour of rapture or of having to endure the dread End Days: the other view involves that no degree of faithfulness or of holiness will enable a saint to

escape those Days. As regards this matter, godliness and unfaithfulness seem immaterial on either view; which raises a doubt of both views. 

Our study thus far has shown that the former view is unfounded: we have now to see that the latter is partly right and partly wrong. It is right in asserting that the Parousia will commence at the close of the Great Tribulation, but wrong in declaring that no saints living as the End Times near will escape that awful period. 

1. For our Lord Jesus Christ has declared distinctly that escape is possible. In Luke 21 is a record of instruction given by Him to four apostles on the Mount of Olives. It is a parallel report to Matt. 24 and 25 and Mark 13, and it deals specifically with the Times of the End and His Parousia. He foretold great international wars, accompanied with earthquakes, famines, and pestilences, to be followed by terrors and great signs from heaven (vv. 10, 11: comp. Seals 1 ‑ 4, Rev. 6). These things are to be preceded by a general persecution of His followers (ver. 12), which will be the first indication that the End Days are at hand. Then Jerusalem is to be trodden down by the Gentiles right on until the Times of the Gentiles run out (ver. 24: comp. Rev. 11: 2. where the same term “trodden down” is used, and Zech. 14: 1 ‑ 5). This shows that it is the End‑times of which Christ is speaking, as is further shown by His earlier statement that at that time of vengeance “all things that are written” shall be fulfilled. All things that are written in the prophets concerning [page 38 – ESCAPE CONDITIONAL] Jerusalem, Israel, and the Gentiles were not by any means fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. 

Then He mentions the disturbances in nature and the fears of mankind that are grouped under seal 6 in Rev. 6: 12 ‑ 17, and adds explicitly that “then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory,” and that when these things begin His disciples may know that their redemption draweth nigh (ver. 27, 28). In concluding this outline of the period of the Beast the Lord then uttered this exhortation and promise: “But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare: for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth. But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

This declares distinctly: (1) That escape is possible from all those things of which Christ had been speaking, that is, from the whole End‑times. (2) That that day of testing will be universal, and inevadable by any then on the earth, which involves the removal from the earth of any who are to escape it. (3) That those who are to escape will be taken to where He, the Son of Man, will then be, that is, at the throne of the Father in the heavens. They will stand before Him there. (4) That there is a fearful peril of disciples becoming worldly of heart and so being enmeshed in that last period. (5) That hence it is needful to watch, and to pray ceaselessly, that so we may prevail over all obstacles and dangers and thus escape that era. 

This most important and unequivocal statement by our Lord sets aside the opinion that all Christians will escape irrespective of their moral state, and also negatives the notion that no escape is possible. There is a door of escape; but as with all doors, only those who are awake will see it, and only those who are in earnest will reach it ere the storm bursts. In every place in the New Testament the word “escape” has its natural force ‑ ekpheugo, to flee out of a place or trouble and be quite clear thereof.* It never means [page 39 – THE ESCAPE COMPLETE] to endure the trial successfully. In this very discourse of the Lord it is in contrast with the statement, “He that endureth (hupomeno) to the end [of these things] the same shall be saved” (Matt. 24: 13). One escapes, another endures. 

[* It comes only at Luke 21: 36; Acts 16: 27; 19: 16; Rom. 2: 3;2 Cor. 11: 33: 1 Thess. 5: 3: Heb. 2: 3; 12: 25. In comparison with Rom. 2: 3, see its use in the LXX in the interpolated passage after Esth. 8: 13: “they suppose that they shall escape the sin‑hating vengeance of the ever‑seeing God”; also Judg. 6: 11; Job. 15: 30; Prov. 10: 19; 12: 13. The sense is invariably as stated above.] 

The attempt to evade the application of this passage to Christians on the plea that it refers to “Jewish” disciples of Christ, is baseless: (a) No “Jewish” disciples of Christ are known to the Scriptures (Gal. 3: 28: Eph. 2: 14 ‑ 18). (b) The God‑fearing remnant of Israel of the End‑days, will in no wise escape these things that shall come to pass (Mal. 3: 14; Zech. 13: 8, 9; Jer. 30: 7, 8). (c) Nor will they believe on Jesus as their Messiah until they see Him coming in glory (Zech. 12: 9, 10; 13: 6: Matt. 23: 39). (d) The assertion that the title Son of Man is “Jewish” is equally unwarranted, for the term “man” is necessarily universal to the race, and does not belong peculiarly to any one nation. (Comp. John 3: 14, 15; 5: 25 ‑ 29: “whosoever” and “all”). 2. In harmony with this utterance of our Lord is His further statement to the church at Philadelphia (Rev. 3: 10): “Because thou didst keep the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from (ek) the hour of trial, that hour

which is to come upon the whole inhabited earth, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Here also are declared: (a) The universality of that hour of trial, so that any escape from it must involve removal; (b) the promise of being kept from it, (c) the intimation that such preservation is the consequence of a certain moral condition: Because thou didst keep … I also will keep.” As this is addressed to a church no question of a “Jewish” application can arise. Nor do known facts or the Scriptures allow of the supposition that every Christian keeps the word of Christ’s patience (Matt. 24: 12; Rev. 2: 5: Gal. 6: 12: Col. 4: 14 with 2 Tim. 4: 10 concerning Demas); so that this promise cannot be stretched to mean all believers. 

In The Bible Treasury, 1865, p. 380, there is an instructive note by J. N. Darby (see also Coll. Writings, vol. 13, Critical [page 40 – THE WOMAN IN HEAVEN] 1, 581) on the difference between apo and ek. The former regards hostile persons and being delivered from them; the latter refers to a state and being kept from getting into it. On Rev. 3: 10 he wrote: “So in Rev. 3 the faithful are kept from getting into this state, preserved from getting into it. or, as we say, kept out of it. For the words here answer fully to the English ‘out of’ or ‘from’.” That the thought is not being kept from being injured in soul by the trials is implied in the expression “Keep thee out of that hour”; it is from the period of time itself that the faithful are to be kept, not merely from its spiritual perils. 

3. Of this escape and preservation there are two pictures as there are two promises. 

In Rev. 12 is a vision of (a) a woman; (b) a man‑child whom she bears; (c) the rest of her family. Light on this complex figure may be gained from Hosea 4 and Isa. 49: 17 ‑ 21; 50: 1. Israel and Zion, viewed as corporate systems in continuity, are a “woman,” a “mother”; individual Israelites at any one time are the “children.” This usage is the same as when an individual Romanist calls the church his “mother.” The “mother” is that system continuing through the centuries; yet in one sense, the woman at a given hour is composed of her children. 

As to this “woman” the dominant fact is that at one and the same time she is seen in heaven arrayed with heavenly glory and on earth in sorrow and pain. This simultaneous and contradictory experience is true of the church of God only (comp. Eph. 2: 6 with 3: 13 and 6: 10 ‑ 13; and 1 Pet. 1: 3 ‑ 5 with vv. 6, 7). In Scripture Israel corporately has no standing in the heavens: her destiny and glory are earthly. The national divisions of earth do not continue in heaven.

As to the Man‑child, his birth and rapture, as with the whole of this book from c. 4: 1, pointed to events which the angel distinctly said were future to the time of the visions. There is no exception to this, and therefore there is no possible reference to the resurrection and ascension of Christ. Nor, in the fact, did our Lord at His birth escape from Satan by rapture to the throne of God: on the contrary, the Dragon slew Him in manhood and only thereafter did He ascend to heaven. Nor at the ascension of Christ was Satan cast [page 41 – THE MAN CHILD] out of heaven. Thirty years later, when Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he and his servants were still there (Eph. 6: 12), and another thirty years later again, when John saw the visions, his ejection was still future (Rev. 12). 

The identity of this Man‑child is indicated by the statement that he “is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron,” for this is a repetition of the promise (Rev. 2: 26, 27), “And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth My works unto the end [comp. the keeping the word of My patience, as above], to him will I give authority over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron.” This promise is given only to Christ and the overcomers of the churches. As it cannot here (Rev. 12) apply to Him it can only apply to them. 

This removal of the Man‑child cannot be the event foretold in 1 Thess. 4: 15 ‑ 17, for those there in view will be taken up only as far as to the air around this earth when the Lord descends thereto from heaven, but this removal takes the Man‑child to the throne of God, which is where Christ now is, in the upper heavens. This fulfils the promise that such as prevail to escape shall “stand before the Son of Man.” As we have seen, the Lord does not descend from heaven till the close of the Great Tribulation, not before Satan is cast down. Moreover, this one child can be only a part of the whole family, not the completed church in view in 1 Thess. 4 * and 1 Cor. 15. The “woman” out of whom he is born remains on earth, and after his ascent the “rest of her seed” are persecuted by the Beast; but his removal is before the Beast is even on the scene or Satan is cast out of heaven. Thus those who will form this company escape all things [page 42 – FIRSTI7RUITS, HARVEST, VINTAGE] that will occur in the End‑times, as Christ promised; and the identification with the overcomers declares that they had lived that watchful, prayerful, victorious life, upon which, as the Lord said, that escape will depend.

[* In 1 Thess. 4: 15, 17 the word perileipo, “that are left,” deserves notice. It is not found elsewhere in the New Testament, but the force may be seen in the LXX of Amos. 5: 15, and of the verb (in some editions) at 2 Chron. 34: 21; Hag. 2: 3. In each case it means, to be left after others are gone. So the lexicons also, and they are confirmed by The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament. In this place it seems redundant save on our view that the rapture there in question is at the close of the Tribulation and that some saints will not have been left on earth until that event, but will have been removed alive earlier; for to have marked the contrast with those that had died it would have been enough to have said “we that are alive,” without twice repeating this unusual word.] 

Consequent upon this removal of the watchful, Satan is cast out of heaven, and presently brings up the Beast, who persecutes the rest of the woman’s family (12: 17, 18; 13: 7 ‑ 10). So that one section of the family escapes the End‑times by being rapt to heaven, and the rest, the more numerous portion, as the term indicates, go into the Great Tribulation. These latter are such as “keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus” (ver. 17). In Rev. 14: 12, such are termed “the saints,” which in New Testament times, was the term regularly used by Christians of one another; and among their number John had already included himself (1: 2, 9). It covers therefore the church of God, of which he was a leader. 

4. The second picture of this pre‑Tribulation rapture is given in Rev. 14. In this chapter there are six scenes: ‑ 

1. “First‑fruits” with the Lamb on the Mount Zion (1 ‑ 6). 

2. The hour of judgment commences (6, 7). 

3. “Babylon” is announced as having fallen (8). 

4. The Beast period is present and persecution is in progress (9 – 13). 5. The Son of Man on a white cloud reaps His “harvest” (14 ‑ 16). 

6. The “vintage” of the earth is gathered, and is trodden in the winepress on earth (17 ‑ 20). 

The agricultural figure wrought into this chapter by the Holy Spirit is the key to its teaching. In the early summer the Jew was to gather a sheaf of corn as soon as enough was ripe, and this was to be presented to God in the temple at Jerusalem as “first‑fruits” (Lev. 23: 9 ‑ 14). After some time (ver. 15) the whole of the fields would be ripened by the great summer heat and the whole harvest would be reaped. But this, though removed

indeed from the fields where it had grown, would not be taken so far as to the temple, but only to the granary on the farm. Then the season closed with the vintage, and the clusters were not taken away from where they had grown, the winepress being in the vineyard and the grapes being crushed therein. [page 43 – FIRSTFRUITS] Thus the “firstfruits” are shown as on Mount Zion with the Lamb, the “harvest” is taken only as far as to the clouds, which accords with 1 Thess. 4; and the vintage is trodden outside the city of Jerusalem, where the armies of Antichrist are camped. 

The last scene is the destruction of the Beast by the Lord at His descent to Jerusalem (Rev. 19: 15). Next prior to that event is the removal of the elect to the clouds: immediately before this is the period of the Tribulation: preceding that is the destruction of the harlot system of Rev. 17 (see ver. 16 18): this event follows first upon the striking of the hour of divine judgment: but before any of those things of the End commence the Firstfruits are seen with the Lamb in heaven, as He promised (Lk. 21: 36). 

The First‑fruits cannot be a picture of the whole of the redeemed as they will finally appear at the end of the drama of those days, for first‑fruits cannot be more than a portion of the whole harvest, neither can first‑fruits describe the final ingathering. It were a contradiction to speak thus. First 

fruits must be gathered first, before the reaping of the remainder. The number 144,000 need not be taken literally. In the Apocalypse numbers are sometimes literal, but sometimes figurative. 

As has been noted above, these had been purchased out of the earth, which shows that they were not then on earth, and they learn the song of the heavenly choir. Nor can this Mount Zion be at Jerusalem, but must be that in the heavens, for the Lord will not descend to the earthly Zion till after the Tribulation, not before it, as this scene is placed. 

The 144,000 of ch. 7 are a different company. They are the godly Remnant of Israel seen on earth after the Appearing and the gathering of the elect to the clouds, and are sealed (comp. Ezek. 9) so as to be untouched by the wrath of the Lamb now to be poured upon the godless (Zeph, 2: 3; Isa. 26: 20, 21). The identity of these First‑fruits is revealed by a similar means to that which reveals the identity of the Man‑child. These persons are shown as connected with the Father, the Lamb, and the Mount Zion, which also refers

back to the promises to the overcomers, and shows that the First‑fruits will be a portion of the company of the victors, who, it is [page 44 – TWO RAPTURES] promised, will be marked as connected with the Father, the Son, and the New Jerusalem (Rev. 3: 12). These three marks of identification come together in these two passages only. Now the moral features attributed to these First‑fruits show that they had lived just that pure, faithful Christian life which necessarily results from watchfulness, prayerfulness, and patient obedience to the words of Christ, as inculcated in the corresponding passages quoted. 

As the Man‑child and the rest of the woman’s seed were but one family, only removed in two portions, one before the Beast and the other after his persecutions, so first‑fruits and harvest were grown from one sowing in one field, only they were reaped in two portions, one before the hour of judgment and the other after the Beast had persecuted. We have remarked above that these latter are termed “saints,” and that this was the regular title that Christians gave to one another; that it is amplified by the double description “they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” and that in this description John had before twice included himself; so that the terms mean that company in which John had membership, the church of God. Moreover, as the Jewish remnant will not have owned Jesus during the period in view the terms can apply only to Christians

Finally, as between the gathering of the sheaf of first‑fruits and the ingathering of the harvest there came the intensest summer heat, so between the removal of the First‑fruits and the reaping of the Harvest there is placed (ver. 9 ‑ 13) the Great Tribulation, that final persecution which while, like all persecution, it will wither the unrooted stalk (Matt. 13: 21), ripens the matured grain. It is ripeness, not the calendar or the clock, that determines the time of reaping (Mk. 4: 29). The Heavenly Husbandman reaps no unripe grain: hence, “the hour to reap is come” when the harvest is “dried up” (Rev. 14: 15), for the dryness of the kernel in the husk is its fitness for the gamer and for use. Thus the Great Tribulation will be a true mercy to the Lord’s people by fully developing and sanctifying them for their heavenly destiny and glory

It thus appears that the foretold order of events will be: ‑ 1. The removal of such as prevail to escape the Times of the End. These will be taken up to God and to His [page 45 – THE FORETOLD ORDER] throne on the Mount Zion, not to the air. Nor does the Lord come for them; they are simply taken, like Enoch or Elijah: taken to stand before Him and His

throne. Nor is a resurrection announced for this moment. The dead, because dead, will have escaped the End‑times, which escape is the announced object of this rapture. 

2. The Beast arises and persecutes. 

3. The Lord descends to the clouds and gathers together His elect (Matt. 24: 29 – 31; 1 Cor. 15: 51, 52; 1 Thess. 4: 15‑17; Tit. 2: 13; Rev. 14: 14 ‑ 16). At this time there will be the first resurrection. Each who shall be accounted worthy of the coming age will “arise into his lot at the end of the days,” not sooner, certainly not before the End days have commenced (Dan. 12: 13). Nor may we assume of the Firstfruits that they will have priority in the Kingdom over equally faithful saints of earlier times. 

4. After an interval the Lord descends to the Mount of Olives, destroys the Beast and his armies, and establishes the Kingdom of the heavens on the earth. 

It is therefore our wisdom to give earnest, unremitting attention to our Lord’s most solemn exhortation “take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness [that is, fleshly indulgence], and cares of this life [that is, its burdens through either poverty or riches], and that day come on you suddenly as a snare: for so shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of all the earth. But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man (Lk. 21: 34 ‑ 36). 

Oh, dare and sufler all things! 

Yet but a stretch of road, 

Then wondrous words of welcome, 

And then ‑ the FACE OF GOD! 

Many of the perplexities felt as to these themes are caused by misconceptions upon three subjects ‑ the constitution of man, the place and state of the dead, the judgment of the Lord upon His people. Some discussion of these matters follows. [page 46] 

SOUL OR SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE MAN?

V. AN ENQUIRY AS TO MAN’S CONSTITUTION AND FUTURE, WITH REMARKS ON HADES AND PARADISE. 

As treasures heavy and valuable may hang upon a small hook, so consequences weighty and far‑reaching may follow the settlement of what may seem a small point. 

Because at death the spirit of man returns to God who gave it (Eccl. 12: 7), it is generally thought that man goes then to God in heaven. If the passage meant this it would teach that the ungodly, as well as the godly, go to heaven at death, for it refers to man as man. This alone shows that this is not the sense of the passage. But further, the meaning given assumes that the man, the conscious entity, the person, the ego, is his spirit. But if this is not so, then the opinion stated, has no support in Scripture. 

Again, many annihilationists deem that the man, the person, consists of two parts only, the body and the spirit, and that when these are parted at death the person, the conscious, ego, ceases to exist until the two parts are reunited m resurrection. But if the conscious personality has ceased to exist, it is extremely difficult to conceive that it is the identical conscious person that comes into existence again. Would it not rather be a new personality that comes into being at resurrection? How can continuity of personality persist during non‑existence, and how, then, shall this new man be held morally responsible for the deeds of that former person, and be righteously liable to judgment therefor? 

Moreover, this would involve (what indeed we have heard asserted) a disintegration of the person of the Man, Christ Jesus, between His death and resurrection. According to the theory, during that period His humanity was nonexistent. So that whilst the Son of God existed, Christ did not until resurrection. This is fatal heresy, and alone forbids the doctrine in question. 

The alternative must be for the annihilationist to adopt the first mentioned view, that personality attaches to the spirit, as others of that school do. But if it be, that the soul is the [page 47 – MAN FORMED] person, and that after death the soul has its own separate existence, then the whole assertion fails.

Inasmuch therefore as most serious issues are involved, this inquiry is of great practical importance. Indeed. it may be said that many most interesting and profitable themes can only be understood aright by a right understanding of our question ‑ Soul or Spirit, Which is the Man? 

It must here be remarked that this theme, like all such profounder topics of the Word of God, cannot be studied in the English Authorised Version. It is not possible, on account of the deliberate irregularity in translation used by the Translators so as to secure pleasing English. We quote here generally the English Revised Version, and sometimes the New Translation of J. N. Darby (Morrish, London). This, one of the earliest individual translations, remains, in our opinion, by far the most helpful of all such. 

1. THE CREATION OF MAN. 

The creation of man is described in Gen. 2: 7: “And Jehovah Elohim formed man, dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” 

Here are three stages. 1. A material form fashioned but of material particles, dust. This is the body. 2. A somewhat inbreathed by God, named in Eccl. 12: 7, “spirit.” That the “breath” of Gen. 2: 7, and the “spirit” of Eccl. 12: 7 are one is confirmed by the combination of the two terms in Gen. 7: 22: “All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life.” 3. The result, that man became what is here called “soul,” a living soul. 

1. As to the body, it is to be observed that it was not itself the man. It lay there, fashioned and prepared, but the man was not yet there. The body was an inanimate form, which preceded the existence of the man. This as against the Sadducean materialist and his assertion that the body is the man, and that when it dies his existence ends. 2. The same is true of the breath or spirit, which God inbreathed. It also was in existence prior to the man, for God breathed it into the body. It was not God; it is not divine: it is not said that God breathed of Himself, or [page 48 – MAN A TRINITY] breathed His Spirit into the body, but a somewhat not to be defined by us as to its substance or nature, but which God terms “spirit.” In Zech. 12: 1 it is declared to be a created thing, a thing “formed,” as an article made by a potter. It is the same word as “potter” in Zech. 11: 13, and is found first at Gen. 2: 8, God “formed man.” This as against the pantheist, and the doctrine akin to pantheism, that there is a measure of divinity in all men by creation. The immanence of God in all creation is

truth, the identity of all things, or of any created thing, with God is error, deadly error. 

Thus the spirit was not the man, for he only came into existence by reason of the inbreathing of the spirit into the body, which conjunction of two separate, previously existing things, resulted in the creation of a third: “man became a living soul.” 

3. It remains only that the man is what he is here described to be, “a living soul.” The man is the soul, not the spirit, even as he is not the body. This as against the annihilationist theory above mentioned. 

It is fairly certain that every false philosophy that has beclouded the thoughts of man had been instilled into men’s minds by spirits of darkness in Babylon before Moses wrote Genesis, and had thence infected all races. In that case he would have been instructed in them in Egypt among the rest of its learning; and when he was re‑instructed by the God of truth, he so described the creation of the universe, and of man in particular, as to deny every false idea current then or since. 

This threefold composition of man is implied everywhere in the Word of God, and sometimes is distinctly stated. Thus in 1 Thess. 5: 3: “And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame in the parousia of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The body is distinguished from the spirit in James 2: 26: “The body apart from (the) spirit is dead”; and the soul from the spirit in Heb. 4: 12, “The word of God . . . piercing to the dividing of soul and spirit.” 

The man has a body with which he operates upon the material world; but the body is not the man. He has also [page 49 – DEATH] a spirit with which he has dealings with the spiritual realm; but the spirit is not the man. The man himself, the conscious ego, is the soul. Personality in man inheres in the soul, which will become yet more apparent as we proceed, but may be seen in such passages as Ex. 1: 5: “all the souls were seventy souls”; Lev. 4: 2: “if a soul shall sin” 5: 2: “if a soul touch”; Lev. 5: 4: “if a soul swear” 7: 18: “the soul that eateth”, etc., etc. The evident sense is: “If a persondo this or that. See also LXX Ezk. 16: 5. 

2. THE MEANING OF THE WORD DEATH. 

Now “the body without spirit is dead” (Jas. 2: 26), and the soul, the man, cannot use or inhabit a dead body. The spirit imparts to the body vitality,

animation, and makes it usable by man. Thus so long as the two are united man is a living soul, but when God recalls the spirit which He gave, the body ceases to have life, the soul vacates it, and thenceforth, until resurrection, the man is dead. 

But it is carefully and always to be remembered that in Scripture the term “life” does not mean simply existence, but much more and much rather it means a certain mode or quality of existence, and equally so the term “death,” therefore, does not mean, non‑existence, but an opposite state or mode of existence. Many things exist which do not exhibit the property called “life.” All annihilationist reasoning which we have read assumes this false sense of the words “life” and “death” and cannot proceed without it. 

Yet in some real sense Adam died the day he disobeyed God, according to the sentence, “in the day that thou eatest of it thou shalt certainly die” (Gen. 2: 17), but he did not cease to exist that day. So, by a powerful antithesis, it is said, “she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth,” which cannot be read, ceases to exist while she exists (1 Tim. 5: 6). In much the same way we speak of a living death. 

Equally arresting is our Lord’s argument against the annihilationists of His day (Lk. 20: 37, 38). 

He first admits that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are dead, saying, “But that the dead are raised,” and at once adds that “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for [page 50 – DEATH, ITS DURATION] all live unto Him.” So dead in one sense, they are yet alive in another, showing that both terms describe only relative conditions of existence. Similarly the Lord makes the father of the prodigal say: “This my son was dead, and is alive again” (Lk. 15: 24), though in another sense he had been as much alive in the far country as after his return. Further, it is clear that the first death does not cause the annihilation of the sinner or there could be no second death for him. Thus the word death does not of itself mean ceasing to be, and such as say that the second death means annihilation are bound to show that the Scripture adds to the word this sense which does not belong to it. The second death is the “lake of fire” (Rev. 20: 14). The beast and the false prophet are cast thereinto before the thousand years reign of Christ (Rev. 19: 20); they are still there at the close of that period when Satan is cast there (Rev. 20: 10); so that a thousand years in the second death has not destroyed their existence, and the sentence upon all three is that “they shall

be tormented day and night for the ages of the ages.” It would be impossible to torment that which had ceased to be. 

It is consistent with the holiness and the love of God – for it is fact – that angels that abused His favour shall be confined in that place of misery, Tartarus, for already thousands of years (2 Pet. 2: 4); that Dives (Lk. 16), who abused His goodness on earth, shall be tormented in a flame in Hades for a period unknown to us, for it is not yet ended; that the Beast and the false prophet, who blasphemed His holy name, shall be in the lake of fire for more than a thousand years at least. As this is consistent with the love and justice of God why should it not be so for 10,000 years, for 100,000, for a billion years, or for ever, and especially in the case of those who rejected His amazing love in Christ, trampled under foot the Son of God, and definitely resisted the Spirit of truth? We are not competent to form our own opinion as to what God may or may not, do consistently with His character and because of it. We can only bow to what He has revealed, assured that He will ever act consistently with what He is, for He is not able to do otherwise. We can best estimate what sentence a judge may pass by considering what sentences he has before passed, as well as what statements he may have made as to future sentences. [page 51 – DEATH, ITS NATURE

3. WHAT TAKES PLACE AT DEATH? 

The passage before cited tells us that “the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns unto God who gave it” (Eccl. 12: 7). But what becomes of the soul? 

An actual case is better than much speculation, an ounce of fact being worth a ton of theory. Of the Man Christ Jesus we ate told distinctly what took place at His death. 

1. His dead body was laid in the tomb. 

2. His last words on the cross were, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Lk. 23. 46), the human spirit thus returning unto God who gave it. That the human spirit is not the divine Spirit is seen clearly in the case of our Lord, for His entire holy humanity was a created thing conceived by an operation of the Holy Spirit in Mary (Lk. 1: 35); years later it was anointed with power by the Spirit of God coming upon it; and at last on the cross, He surrendered His human spirit to the Father: an act impossible in relation to the Spirit of God with Whom He as God was in indissoluble union. The distinction – necessary and unavoidable ‑ between the human and the divine

is thus ever maintained. It was the human spirit which vitalized His body that Jesus gave up that He might die. 

3. But the Spirit of prophecy in David (Ps. 16: 10) had put into Messiah’s mouth these other words: “Thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol,” which words were later, on the day of Pentecost, applied by Peter to Christ. “Thou wilt not leave my soul unto Hades” (Acts 2: 27). 

The error of Apollinaris (cent. 4), that the person of Christ consisted of a human body and soul only, with the divine Spirit (or Logos) taking the place in Him of a human spirit, must be steadfastly resisted. His humanity, as ours, consisted of body, soul, and spirit. 

Sheol and Hades are equivalent words in Hebrew and Greek respectively. Of this region there is abundant information in Scripture. It is very far from the fact, as spiritualists assert, that no certain information as to the state after death is available save what they think they receive from spirits through mediums. But most unfortunately the reader of the Authorized Version is completely stopped from this study by the variety of the terms employed. Sheol and Hades are [page 52 – SPIRIT NOT THE PERSON] rendered “grave,” “pit,” and “hell.” The last in its older English meaning was not inaccurate, but it has come now to mean only the final place of the lost, the lake of fire, which never is the sense of Sheol or Hades. However, any diligent reader can pursue the subject in the Revised 

Version, for these original terms are given in either text or margin where ever they occur. This is one example, and an important one, of the superiority of the R.V. over the A.V. 

4. WHERE IS HADES? 

So the soul of our Lord was in Hades between His death and His resurrection on the third day. And Eph. 4: 9, 10 shows beyond question (1) that the “soul” was the Lord Himself, the personality, and (2) where Hades is situate. It says: “Having ascended up on high he has led captivity captive, and has given gifts unto men. Now this, having ascended, what is it but that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same who has also ascended far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.” 

1. The Person that ascended is the same Person that had descended, and from His own express words to Mary directly after His resurrection it is certain that He himself did not go to the Father at the hour of

death, for He said to her: “I have (perf. ind., anabebeeko) not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say unto them, I ascend to my Father” (Jo. 20: 17). As His ascent to the Father had yet to take place it is clear that His human spirit, which He had commended to His Father as He died, was not Himself. Nor would the words admit the thought; for a man cannot send his personality, his self, away from himself, but we read of Jesus that “he gave up the spirit,” or, breathed out the spirit, expired, as we say, the exact reversal of the act of creation when God breathes in the spirit. 

The spirit therefore was not Himself, but a part of His composite humanity that He could dismiss by an act of the will. Man does not possess the power to do this; he must use violence to terminate his life: but Christ had received this power specially from His Father, according to His statement [page 53 – HADES, ITS LOCATION] that the Father had given Him authority to lay down His life by His own act (Jo. 10: 17, 18)

2. The realm to which Christ descended, elsewhere, as we have seen, named Hades, is in this place in Ephesians stated plainly to be in “the lower parts of the earth.” Scripture always locates it there and nowhere else. So Jacob of old said: “I will go down to Sheol to my son” (Gen. 37: 35); and so the great prophet Samuel, when permitted by God to come from the world of the dead to announce the doom of Saul (an exceptional permission and event) said: “Why hast thou disquieted me to bring me up?” (1 Sam. 28: 15). And so Christ said of Capernaum: “Shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shah go down unto Hades” (Matt. 11: 23). As certainly as heaven is above the surface of the earth so certainly is Hades in the opposite direction. 

Readers of the great classics will not need to be reminded that it was the common belief of the ancient world that the place of the dead was within the earth. We are not aware that any other opinion was then in men’s minds. Their details of that place and its conditions are not to be accepted without Scripture confirmation, even as those of mediaeval writers like Dante are not to be; but the general facts of the location of the world of the dead within the earth, and of its having two divided regions, one of pain and one of bliss, are plainly adopted in Holy Scripture (as in Lk. 16), and so are confirmed as facts. And it could be shown that some details also are thus confirmed; as that the poets made visitors to and from that realm go and come through some cave or opening in the earth, and the Revelation similarly represents demon hordes as coming from the abyss through a

shaft or opening therefrom (Rev. 9: 1 ‑11). We take the idea in each case to represent the conception that the realm of the dead is within the earth

5. BUT DO NOT SAINTS AT DEATH “GO TO HEAVEN”? 

The death of Stephen presents the exact features seen at the death of his Lord. We are told that “he called upon the Lord, saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit … and … he fell asleep” (Acts 7: 59, 60). His body did not fall asleep: it was battered to death by brutal ill‑usage, and devout men [page 54 – ON “GOING TO HEAVEN] buried it. It does not say that his spirit fell asleep, but that he surrendered it to his Lord. We shall see later that neither does the soul “sleep” in relation to that other realm to which it goes at death; so that the expression “fell asleep” can only mean as to its relation to this earth‑life which it leaves at death. 

But did not Stephen “go to heaven” when he died? Do not all who die in Christ do so? It has been the almost universal belief of Protestants, but there is no Scripture for it. If Solomon’s words, “the spirit returns to God who gave it,” mean this, then the saints before the time of Christ must have gone there, and, as before remarked, not saints only, but the ungodly also, for the statement applies to all men. 

It has been often asserted that when the Lord rose he released from Hades the godly dead and removed them to Paradise in the presence of God, and that ever since all His people go there at death. The Scripture nowhere declares this, but is wholly against it. 

It should be asked, Where were these multitudes of souls during the forty days before Christ himself ascended? Raised at His resurrection, as the theory asserts, what was their location during that period? 

But it is known definitely that one of the most renowned of Old Testament men of God did not ascend to heaven with the Lord, for at Pentecost, which was after the ascension, Peter distinctly stated that “David has not ascended into the heavens” (Darby, Acts 2: 34). Why was David left behind? There is no reason to think he was: the other godly dead also stayed there, as far as Scripture is concerned. 

Alford translates: “David himself [i.e., in contrast to Christ] is not ascended”: Whitby: “David is not (yet) ascended”: Canon Cook (Speaker’s

Commentary) remarks: “David’s soul was still in the‑ intermediate state.” Had David in fact ascended even but a few weeks before Peter was speaking, the latter could not have made the assertion “David ascended not.” The aorist used (anabee) covered all preceding time, from the death of David to the speech of Peter. Moreover, if at any time David had ascended the point and conclusiveness of Peter’s argument were gone. Its cogency lay in the fact that no one but Jesus Christ had ascended:therefore He and He alone fulfilled the prophecy; for if [page 55 – THE COMMON BELIEF WRONG] any one else had ascended from the grave to the throne of God how should it be certain that he did not fulfil the prediction? 

In his great work on The Creed (Art. 5, He descended into Hell) Bishop Pearson shows how little basis the opinion in question has. He says: “The next consideration, is whether by virtue of His descent, the souls of those who before believed in Him, the Patriarchs, Prophets, and all the people of God, were delivered from that place and state, in which they were before; and whether Christ descended into Hell to that end, that He might translate them into a place and state, far more glorious and happy. This has been, in the later ages of the Church, the vulgar opinion of most men … 

“But even this opinion, as general as it hath been, hath neither the consent of Antiquity, nor such certainty as it pretendeth. Indeed, very few (if any) for above five hundred years after Christ, did so believe that Christ delivered the saints out of Hell, as to leave all the damned there. Many of the Ancients believed not, that they were removed at all, and few acknowledged that they were removed alone.” 

But it is asked, What became of those who came forth from their graves after Christ had risen and who appeared unto many? (Matt. 27: 52, 53). Did they not “go to heaven” with the Lord? Let those say what became of these to whom God may have given private information upon the point; but it cannot be learned from Scripture that they went to heaven. And in return it may be asked, What became of Lazarus and the other persons who were resuscitated, as mentioned in Scripture? Did they go to heaven without dying again or, are they still on earth? or, did they not in due time go back to the death state, from which they had been temporarily recalled to exhibit the power of God? That Christ “led captivity captive” carries no suggestion that He took the godly dead to heaven. The figure itself forbids the idea. It is taken from the ancient practice that a victorious commander dragged many, and the most noble, of his captives to his capital city and exhibited them for his glory at

his triumphal entry. The expression could in no wise apply to the possible recovery of some of his own subjects from captivity by his enemy and their return home with him in liberty. The sense may be seen plainly in the place in [page 56 – PARADISE] Judges 5: 12, from which the phrase is quoted in the later passages. As the conqueror Barak returns from the victory over Sisera Deborah cries: “Arise, Barak, and lead away thy captives.” It is the Lord’s conquest of the hosts of darkness that is celebrated in the New Testament passages (Eph. 4: 8; Col. 2: 15), as it is also the theme in Ps. 68: 18, from which the quotation is actually made. The figure is again military. God is pictured as among a mighty host: “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands,” and then it is said, “Thou hast led away captives,” the phrase formerly used of Barak. 

6. WHEN AND WHERE IS PARADISE? 

Paradise is not the actual dwelling place of God, the house or temple in heaven. The meaning of the word will not allow this, for it describes the pleasure grounds of a great man, say a king. Thus Solomon using the word says, “I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards; I made me gardens and parks (paradises, LXX), and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits” (Eccl. 2: 4, 5). The parks were not the houses. The former, like the vineyards, might be at a distance from the palace. In the Septuagint (LXX) the word is used of the garden of Eden. 

Paul says that he was “caught away into the paradise” (2 Cor. 12: 4), which, in view of the meaning of the word, does not mean the heaven of heavens where God has His own especial dwelling. The word “caught up” is not exact, for the Greek word harpazo does not in itself indicate the direction. Nor is it certain that by “the paradise” he means the “third heaven” to which he had been taken according to the verse preceding, because he had said (ver. 1) that he was about to speak of “visions,” not of only one vision, whereas he did not mention more than one, unless the two are separate events. 

But if the article “the paradise” points to one such region that is pre‑eminently Paradise, and if that is in the upper world, what follows? Nothing, as to our theme; certainly not that all saints go thither at death. Paul is using the experience as proof that he had exceptional tokens that he was an apostle, which requires that the experience itself be [page 57 – THE PARADISE IN HADES] exceptional, not general. Moreover, that an unusual event happened to one Christian during life is no proof that it happens to all Christians at death.

But the article “the paradise” does not require the sense of a region in the heavens, because Christ used it when he said to the thief, “To‑day shalt thou be with me in the paradise” (Lk. 23: 43), and it is beyond question, as we have seen, that Christ did not go to the heavenly regions that day, but to Hades, in “the lower parts of the earth.” Therefore the blissful region of Hades, “Abraham’s bosom” (Lk. 16: 22) was paradise; and ought not we, the followers of the Lord, to feel that a region which was suitable to Him in the death state must be fully suitable for us? 

As far as the meaning of the word goes there may be many paradises, even as Solomon says, “I made me paradises”; and so it may be that “the Paradise of God,” where grows the tree of life of which saints that have conquered in the battles of life shall be privileged to eat, is heavenly in location (Rev. 2: 7; 22: 14); but in any case that is future, not present, as to our enjoyment of it, and does not touch the place and state of the dead. 

The Lord Jesus in His universal presence is not only in heaven; He is also in the midst of two or three living saints gathered to His name on earth. He is in Hades also: “He descended . . . He ascended, that He might fill all things” might occupy the universe (ta panta), might pervade it all with His presence, as the odour of the ointment did the house (John 12: 3), where the same verb is used as in Eph. 4: 10 (pleeroo). Thus, without vacating His place at the right hand of God, He could present Himself personally and repeatedly to His imprisoned and hard‑pressed servant on earth (Acts 23: 11; 2 Tim. 4: 16, 17), and can also communicate with the dead, as we shall see shortly. And the soul, freed from the trammels of this enfeebled, deranged body of our humiliation, can in consequence appreciate that presence more keenly and enjoy it more blessedly, and so Paul could rightly say that to depart and to be with Christ would be very far better than to be chained day and night to a rough pagan soldier, as was at that time his distressing lot (Phil. 1: 23). It is however to be noted that the apostle does not here make any general statement that “to [page 58 – SOULS UNDER THE ALTAR] die is gain”; strictly his assertion is made of himself only. He had just stated his “earnest expectation and hope” that Christ should continue to be “magnified in his body, whether by life or by death.” Not every believer lives with this as his fixed and paramount intention. Not every Christian has so dedicated his body to Christ as to be as willing for death as for life. Then Paul adds: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1: 20, 21). Doubtless this is true of each who lives to magnify Christ; but it is not said of believers

who may not so live, as those, for example, who are cut off prematurely in their sins, as were Ananias and Sapphira and the evil living Christians in the Corinthian church (Acts 5: 1; Cor. 11: 30)

7. THE SOULS UNDER THE ALTAR. 

It is a serious loss to many believers that they regard the book of the Revelation as beyond comprehension, and are afraid to accept its symbols and visions as a revelation. Hence, when appeal is made to it they decline to accept its testimony. But symbols, pictures, figures of speech, being used by the Spirit of truth with divine care, teach with accuracy, and indeed with superior vividness, those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. Hieroglyphs have plain meaning to those who can read them, and this had been just as much the fact during the period when men could not read them, or in the later period when scholars differed as to their meaning. Patient research brought explanation and reconciliation. 

One of the most illuminating portions of Scripture upon our present interesting and necessary themes is in Revelation 6: 9 ‑ 11. John says: “And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O sovereign ruler, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And there was given to them, to each one, a white robe; and it was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellowbondmen also and their brethren, who should be killed even as they were, should have fulfilled their course.” [page 59 – CONSCIOUSNESS IN HADES

At the time here in view the resurrection of the godly has not yet come, for the roll of the martyrs is not complete. These brethren therefore are still without their resurrection bodies. But to John, rapt in spirit into that super‑sensuous world (c. 1: 10: “I became in spirit,” that is, in an ecstatic state), those “souls” were visible. Therefore death does not end the existence of the soul. Moreover, they are conscious: they remember what befell them on earth at the hands of the godless; they know what the future will bring of vengeance; they ponder the situation, and they wonder at the seeming delay of their vindication by God; they appeal to their Lord; they are given answer, counsel, and encouragement; they receive the sign of their Master’s approval, the white robe, at once His recompense for that

they did not defile their garments in this foul world, and His assurance that they shall be His personal and constant associates in His kingdom (Rev. 3: 4, 5). This last item the giving of the white robes – shows further that not all saints await a session of the judgment seat of Christ when at last He shall come from heaven; for His decision and approval are here made known to these in advance of His coming and of their resurrection

The vision contains also something more, and which is completely unseen by most readers. 

When Samuel came from Hades to speak to Saul (1 Sam. 28: 12 ‑ 14) he was seen by the medium. She saw him “coming up out of the earth,” a further plain Intimation that Sheol is within the earth. She described him, saying it was “an old man” who had appeared, and he was “covered with a robe.” The description was so accurate that Saul, who had long known Samuel on earth, recognized him by it and was satisfied that the real Samuel was present, though he had not himself seen the appearance; for it says that “he perceived (Heb., knew),” not that he saw that it was Samuel. Equally does his question to the witch “What seest thou?” tell that he had not himself seen the form. 

This makes evident (a) that the disembodied soul has form and garments, such as can be seen by one endowed with vision therefor, as were the medium then and John later; and (b) that the psychical form and clothing of that state correspond recognizably to the outer material form and clothing of the former earth life. This has bearing upon the –[page 60 – PSYCHICAL FORM AND CLOTHING] question of recognition after death, and upon other interesting points not now to be examined. 

The reality of this psychical form is often assumed or asserted in Scripture. Dives in Hades (Lk. 16) has a body that can feel anguish from a “flame.” There is “water” that could cool his “tongue.” Lazarus has a “finger.” Both Dives and Abraham have eyes and ears and voices; they see and hear and speak. The reality of bliss in that state must be surrendered if the reality of torment there be denied. That those realities are subtle as compared with their grosser counterparts of this world, does not make them or the experiences less real, but rather the more acute. 

Thus also it is as to the souls “under the altar.” John sees them, and sees that to each of them is given a “robe” that is both suitable and significant.

It was for a similar, yet even higher, experience that Paul longed; for, while the disembodied state would indeed be far better than his painful lot as a prisoner, yet in itself it is not the best. And so on another occasion, when he was in freedom and rejoicing in his wondrous and privileged service, he spoke differently (2 Cor. 5: 1 ‑ 10). First he spoke of the present: “We that are in this tent‑dwelling [the body] do groan, being burdened”: then he mentioned the intermediate state after death: “not for that we would be unclothed” (without adequate covering), for this is not to be desired, it is as unpleasant and unseemly for the soul as for the body*; and then he spoke of the future: “we long to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven; if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked,” that is, at the coming of the Lord. 

[* Compare the evident longing of the evil spirit to return into the body he had left. Without a material body he wandered restless, like a thirsty man seeking water in a desert (Matt. 12: 43‑45). Demons also begged to enter the bodies of even swine, when driven from the body of a man. This misery of disembodied beings is recognized by the heathen, who often, by reason of dread and unholy contact with the demon world, have more sense of these matters than the materialized modern westerner. Thus a Chinese driver explained the whirling dust spouts of the Gobi desert as being spirits: “What they want is a body, and for lack of a better one they pick up a shroud of sand” (Misses Cable and French, Something Happened, 191).] [page 61 – SUITABLE CLOTHING DEMANDED

This “if so be” implies the possibility of not having part in the first resurrection, for (1 Cor. 15: 54) that is the hour when “what is mortal shall be swallowed up of life,” by the soul being clothed upon with its “building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens,” a “house” in contrast to this present body, the frail transitory tent. This is the meaning of his earlier prayer above noticed, that “the spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, unblemished,” and so unblamable (amemptbs includes both) when the Lord shall come (1 Thess. 5: 22). No “naked,” that is, unembodied, soul can be presented before the presence of God’s glory, because for that it must be without blemish (amomos), not to be blamed (Jude 24; Eph. 1: 4). Were a man, however perfect his form, and even were he of the royal family, to present himself naked on a court day before the king upon his throne he would be severely blamed. Not only comeliness of person, but clothing, and suitable clothing, is indispensable. Indeed, the officers of the court would prevent anything so utterly unseemly. Shall the King of kings receive less respect? He that hath ears to hear let him hear this, and lay to heart that not death, but resurrection or rapture fits for translation to the realms above and the court of the God of glory. It was thus with Christ himself.

For entrance into the holy places the priest had not only to be one of the redeemed people of God; he had also to be unblemished as to his person (Lev. 21), and he had further to be clothed in garments of glory and beauty (Ex. 28). Both were indispensable for access to the presence of God. Moreover, before the perfect form could be clothed in such garments it had to be washed with water (Lev. 8: 6; 16: 4), which is the work our Moses, Christ, wishes to effect in us in this earthly life by His word (Eph. 5: 25 ‑ 27) and by discipline (Heb. 12: 10), in preparation for that coming day of our being clothed for access to and service in the true sanctuary above. 

If it be asked whether the righteousness imputed to the believer upon first faith in Christ does not include all this that is evidently necessary, the answer is a distinct negative. One consideration settles this. That imputed righteousness is the “righteousness of God,” and this is of necessity indefectible, untarnishable. But, according to the regulations, [page 62 – GARMENTS MAY BE LOST] the priest may possibly be defective in form or defiled in person and clothing: were it not so, what need of the regulations and purifying ceremonies? 

For the forgiveness of sins, and for life as a forgiven man in the camp, neither perfection of form, nor washing at the gate of the tabernacle, nor special clothing, were demanded; but for access to God and for priestly service all these were as indispensable as the atoning blood. Imputed righteousness settles completely and for ever the judicial standing of the believer as justified before the law of God; but practical righteousness must be added in order to secure many of the mighty privileges which become possible to the justified. Let him that hath ears hear this also, for loss and, shame must be his at last who has been content to remain deformed and imperfect in moral state, or is found to have neglected the washing, and so to be unfit to wear the noble clothing required for access to the throne of glory. Such neglect of present grace not only causes the loss of heart access to God, as the careless believer surely knows, but will assure the forfeiture of much that grace would have granted in the future. 

Here lies the weight of the warning which our Lord announces from heaven as to be specially applicable when His coming draws near: “Behold, I come as a thief. [This, message is set in the midst of the gathering of the hosts of Antichrist for the battle of Har Magedon, and so indicates the period when the coming will be]. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame” (Rev. 16: 15). Therefore “garments” may be lost. If the reference is to the imputed righteousness,

then justification may be forfeited, and the once saved be afterwards lost. But let those who rightly reject this, inquire honestly what it does properly mean as to the eternally justified. And let them face what is involved in the loss of one’s garments. 

In the temple of old the guards were placed at nightfall at their posts. The captain of the temple, at any hour he chose, went round with a posse of men unannounced, and if a guard was caught asleep at his post, he was stripped of his clothes, which were burned, and he was left to go forth in his shame. The shame of his nakedness was the outward counterpart of the deeper shame that he had slept when on duty. Not in that dishonoured state dare he enter the house of God [page 63 – MAN NOT A SPIRIT] and sing or serve. And it would be long ere the disgrace of that night would fade from memory, his own or others. My soul, keep awake through this short night of duty while thy Lord is away! Thou knowest not in which watch of the night He will come, and it were dreadful to be left unclothed with that house which is from heaven should He come suddenly and find thee sleeping! 

To return to seal 5. These, then, are “souls” not “spirits.” Man has spirit as part of his composite being, but he is not a spirit, as angels are. In the 397 places where the word “spirit” comes in the New Testament man is never called a spirit, because he himself is not one, but is a soul. Hence, by the way, the “in‑prison spirits” of 1 Pet. 3: 19 are not human beings, but those fallen angels whom Peter again mentions (2 Pet. 2: 4: comp. Gen. 6: 1 ‑ 4 and Jude 6). This is put beyond question by the fact that these are in the underworld, in prison, in Tartarus ‑ a region well known to the ancient world, and by this name that Peter uses, as the deepest and most dreadful part of Hades, a prison of fallen angels; whereas the spirit of man does not go to the underworld, but to “God who gave it.” 

It is therefore the soul which is the person; and ‑ against the annihilationist ‑ the soul has not ceased to exist, or lost its sense of personality, because of being without spirit or body. Yet neither can man in this incomplete condition stand in the all‑holy presence of God in heaven. For entrance into the holy of holies the high priest himself must be arrayed in garments specially pure and glorious. It was only in His resurrection body of glory that the Man Christ Jesus entered into the holy place on high, and so only can the under‑priests, His followers, do so. To stand there the being must be complete in structure and perfect morally, which is the point of Paul’s prayer for fellow‑saints: “The God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, blameless in the parousia [the presence, at His coming] of

our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5: 23). This shows that the phrase “the spirits of just men made perfect” points to the resurrection. It has just before been said of them, that “apart from us they [i.e., Old Testament saints are included, (see verses 4 – 39) in this chapter. – Ed.] could not be made perfect” (Heb. 12: 23; 11. 40). All [page 64 – UNDER THE ALTAR] the other glories to which in this passage we are said, to have come are future, to be realized actually at the coming of the Lord. See my “Firstborn Sons,” 84 ff. 

The use of spirit in this place (Heb. 12: 23) may seem at variance with the statement that man is not called a “spirit!” It is a rare instance, perhaps in the New Testament the only instance, of Cremer’s fourth sense in which the term is used. It “comes to denote an essence without any corporeal garb for its inner reality”; that is, in Heb. 12: 23, which he cites, the man, the soul, without its body, is described as spirit, meaning a spiritual substance destitute of a material covering. This does not cancel the regular distinction in Scripture between soul and spirit, but indicates only the immateriality of the soul, the ego, in itself. The student should by all means study Cremer’s treatment of pneuma and psuche (Lexicon of N.T. Greek), and note his conclusion that “psuche [soul] is the subject or ego of life.” 

Now these souls that John saw are “under the altar.” Not one of the first six seals, of which this is the fifth, pictures events in the presence of God in heaven; all deal with affairs of earth, or as seen from the earth. This altar, then, is not in heaven. There is an altar in heaven pictured in the book, but it is specified as being the “golden altar,” that is, the one for incense (comp. Ex. 30: 3), and as being “before the throne” or “before God” (Rev. 8. 3; 9. 13). In this book “before the throne” always means the upper heavens. But this other altar is one of sacrifice, though not of atoning sacrifice. We Christians have an altar of atoning sacrifice (Heb. 13: 10): it is the cross of Jesus, the Lamb of God. But that is not in view here. 

The picture is really quite simple. The brazen altar of sacrifice in the tabernacle was square and hollow, with a grating upon which rested the wood and the victims. When the fire had done its work the remains of the sacrifice fell through the grating to beneath the altar, whence they could be removed on occasion. Now the place, the “altar,” where these martyrs of Christ sacrificed person and life in His cause is obviously this earth, and thus this vision simply declares what we have seen from other scriptures, that the place of the dead is under the earth: “He descended into the lower [page 65 – IMMORTAL SOUL] parts of the earth”; whence those still there will be removed at resurrection.

Since these pages were written I have learned that this was the explanation of the earliest known Latin commentator on the Apocalypse, Victorihus of Pettau (died 303). Mr. F. F. Bruce summarized this in The Evangelical Quarterly (Oct., 1938) as follows: “The altar (6:9) is the earth: the brazen altar of burnt‑offering and the golden altar of incense in the Tabernacle correspond to earth and heaven respectively. The souls under the altar, therefore, are in Hades, in that department of it which is ‘remote from pains and fires, the rest of the saints’. ” 

This confirms Bishop Pearson cited above as to the view held in the earliest Christian centuries. 

A great deal more concerning Hades can be learned from Scripture, but it would require separate treatment. Here we deal with the matter only as connected with the subject in hand. 

It is true, as above indicated on Heb. 12: 23,that the words soul and spirit take, by much usage, shades of meaning derived from their primary sense. The student will discover these, and will not be confused thereby if only the primary, dominant sense of each has been first grasped firmly. And keeping that sense before him, we believe he will find it to illuminate many obscure scriptures and subjects to see that the soul is the person ‑ a living soul while on earth ‑ a dead soul while in the underworld ‑ and to be made alive in im mortality at the resurrection, with a body of glory incorruptible, indestructible. 

The term “immortal soul” is incorrect and misleading when used of our present state or of the dead. To be immortal is to be incapable of dying. Man is not this as yet. Neither the innocent humanity of Adam, nor even the sinless humanity of Jesus was immortal, for both were capable of dying, and did in fact die. But the saved of men will become immortal in resurrection, as the man Christ Jesus did. The soul, the man, has now endless existence but not immortality, in the proper sense of the word, until resurrection; and then only the saved will be incapable of dying; the lost will exist for ever, but in a state termed “dead,” the “second death.” [page 66 – INDISSOLUBLE LIFE

We rightly describe death as a “dissolution,” for the partnership between man’s spirit and soul and body is dissolved. Of our Lord in resurrection we read the glorious fact that “He liveth in the power of indissoluble life” and “death no more hath dominion over Him” (Heb. 7: 16: Rom. 6: 9, 10). This life His people will share for ever and ever. But for them, as for Him, it

can be reached only by resurrection or rapture, never by death. It will be no small profit from this discussion if it be seen that the opinion that the believer goes at death to glory diminishes the sense of need of resurrection or rapture, and consequently of the return of Christ when these will take place; and also if it thus cause some hearts to feel that these events are utterly indispensable, the proper, the blessed hope of the believer. As Peter exhorts, let us “set our hope perfectly [that is, undividedly] on the favour that is being brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1: 13). [page 67] 

THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST. 

1. God has an inescapable duty to be the “Judge of all the earth” (Gen. 18: 25). Those who submit to Him are subject to this judgment equally with the insubordinate: “The Lord shall judge His people” (Deut. 32: 36; Ps. 135: 14; Heb. 10: 30). The children of the sovereign are amenable to the laws and the courts and liable to penalty for misconduct. 

2. This judgment is ever in process. There is a perpetual overruling of human affairs by higher authorities. Prominent instances are Job (ch. 1 and 2), Ahah (1 Kin. 22), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4). The first case shows the judicial proceedings effecting perfecting, the second death, the third reformation. 

Job was a godly man under discipline for his good: an upright man was made a holy man. Thus still does God chasten His sons that they may become partakers of His holiness (Heb. 12: 10, 11). 

Sinning Christians were disciplined even unto premature death, and it is explained that this operates to save them from liability to condemnation at the time when God will deal with the world at large (1 Cor. 11: 32). 

3. But this continuous judicial administration has its crisis sessions, its special occasions. Instances are: the Flood; the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; the judgments on Egypt at the time of the exodus of Israel; the destruction of the seven nations of Canaan by Israel; the overthrow of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar; and later by Titus. 

Hereafter there will come the destruction of Gentile world dominion and the punishment of Antichrist. Then the judgment at Jerusalem of the living

(Joel 2; Matt. 25), when the Lord has returned to Zion. And after the thousand years the final session of the court of God, the great white throne, whereat will be declared the eternal destiny of those there judged. 

But it is most necessary to keep in mind that all such separate and specific sessions are but part of the ceaselessly operating judicial administration of heaven and earth. [page 68 –THE SUPREME JUDGE

4. It is important to remember that the Son of man is the chief Judge of the universe. It was He who acted at the Flood: “Jehovah sat as king at the Flood” (Ps. 29: 10). It was He who, in holy care that only justice should be done, came down to enquire personally whether Sodom and Gomorrah ought to be destroyed (Gen. 18: 20, 21), and Who again came down to deliver Israel from Egypt (Ex. 3: 7, 8). It was His glory as judge that was seen by Isaiah (ch. 6; John 12. 41), and later by Ezekiel (ch. 1). 

He is the Man appointed to judge the world in righteousness on behalf of God the Father (Acts 17: 31); for the Father has entrusted all judgment unto the Son, in order that He may receive equal honour with the Father (John 5: 19 ‑ 29). 

5. Yet it is particularly needful to note that the last cited passage is in reference to the future sessions of the divine judgment, for the judging in question is there set in direct connection with the raising of men from the dead (John 5: 21, 22, 27 ‑ 29). For when the Son of God became man He ceased for the present to supervise those judgments of heaven. This was among the dignities of which He emptied, that is, divested Himself, for His immediate and blessed purpose in becoming man was their salvation from judgment (John 5: 24). Therefore He said: “God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him” (John 3: 17); nor has He yet resumed the office of supreme Judge, though appointed thereto as man. In relation to the world He is still the Dispenser of the grace of God, not yet the Executor of His holy wrath, as He will one day become. 

This is clear from three chief considerations: (1) That the Father has called Him to sit at His own right hand until the time when His enemies are to be put under His feet (Ps. 110: 1; Heb. 1: 13; 10: 13). That is, He is not yet sitting upon His own throne and asserting His own right and authority, as He will do in a later day (Rev. 2: 26, 27; 3: 21: Matt. 25: 31); but He is waiting expectantly that coming day.

(2) And therefore is it twice pictured that, as Son of man, the Lamb, He is hereafter to be brought before the Father to be invested officially with that authority to judge and to make [page 69 – CHRISTIANS JUDGED NOW] war the title to which is His already but the exercise of which is in abeyance (Dan. 7: 13, 14; Rev. ch. 4 and 5). In both of these scenes it is God the Father who is shown acting from the throne of judgment until the Son has been thus formally installed as Judge. 

(3) And therefore is He now the Advocate of His people before the Father (1 John 2: 1). But the Advocate cannot be at the same time the Judge. 

6. Thus during this interval the especial concern and sphere of the Son of man is the company He is calling out of the world, the church of God. The building of His church is His present work (Matt. 16: 18): the regulating of the affairs of the house of God, over which He as Son is the appointed ruler (Heb. 3: 6), is His immediate and dear concern. 

And this work calls for both grace and judgment. He “can bear gently with the ignorant and the erring, sympathizing with our infirmities” (Heb. 5: 2; 4: 15), but dealing with kind severity with the wilful of His people. “Behold then the goodness and severity of God” (Rom. 11: 22). Nor may we abuse His goodness by making light of His severity; or if we do, it will be unto painful disillusionment. 

7. Judgment upon His own people therefore God exercises now; this is the very period for it; but the general judgment of the world is deferred: “The time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God” (1 Pet. 4: 17). And again: “If we discriminated [sat in strict judgment upon] ourselves, we should not be judged, but when [failing in this holy self-judgment] we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord [here perhaps the Father, comp. Heb. 12: 5, 9, where He who chastens is the Father of spirits] that we may not be condemned with the world” (1 Cor. 11: 30,31). And this chastening may extend to bodily weakness, positive sickness, or even death. So it was in the cases of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5: 1 ‑ 11, and see Jas. 5: 19, 20: 1 John 5, 16, 17; Matt. 5: 21‑26; 18: 28‑35). 

8. The Lord made many most serious statements as to His dealings with “His own” servants at His return. Some of these are: [page 70 – LORD AND SLAVE] (1) Luke 12: 22‑53. From dealing with the crowd He turns and speaks specifically to His own disciples (ver. 22). Only genuine disciples,

regenerated persons, are able to fulfil His precepts here given. To mere professors the task is impossible, and such cannot be in view. They are to live without any anxiety as to the necessities of life, and in this are to be in express contrast to the nations; they are His “little flock,” for whom the Father intends the kingdom, and therefore they are to give away, not to hoard, and so to lay up treasure in heaven (21‑34). It is impossible to include the unregenerate in such a passage; nor would it be attempted save to avoid the application to Christians of part of the succeeding and connected instruction. 

This instruction is that disciples are like the personal household slaves of an absent master, who upon his return will deal with each according to his conduct during the master’s absence. In particular, the steward set over the household will be dealt with the more strictly that his office, opportunities, and example were the higher. The goodness of the master is seen in exalting the faithful (though from one point of view he had done no more than his duty and was an unprofitable servant) to almost unlimited privilege and power: “He will set him over all that he hath” (ver. 44): his severity is shown by “cutting in sunder”* the servant who had abused his trust, and appointing his portion with the unfaithful (35‑53) 

[* Equals “severely scourge,” because the scourge used cut deeply into the flesh ‑ see margin.] 

(2) This is elaborated and enforced in later statements. Luke 19. 11‑27. The picture is the same, namely, the absent master and the faithful or unfaithful servants. The “pound” represents that deposit of truth entrusted to the saints (Jude 3), for their use among men while Christ is away: “Trade ye till I come.” The Nobleman himself held and used it while here, and left it with us when He went to receive the kingdom. If we traffic with knowledge it increases in our hands and we gain more; if we neglect to do so it remains truth, retaining its own intrinsic value (“thou hast thy pound”), but we do not accumulate knowledge, nor benefit others, nor bring to our Lord any return for His confidence in us. In this parable it is not the personal life of the slave that is in [page 71 – THE EVIL SERVANT] question; that may have been good: it is his use of the truth in either spreading it among man, or hiding his light under a bushel of silence, or, as the picture is here, burying the pound in the earth. The unfaithful servant loses opportunity further to serve his lord, the pound is taken from him. Sadder still, his lord has no confidence in him. But he is not an enemy of his lord, nor is treated as such. He does not lose his

life. The contrast is most distinct between him, however unfaithful, and the foes and rebels: “But these mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay them before me” (ver. 27). 

(3) Matt. 24: 42 ‑ 25, 30. Only a few days later the Lord repeated this instruction, with fuller detail. The head slave, set as steward of the house during the absence of the master, will be set over all his lord’s possessions if only he have acted faithfully (45‑47). “But if that evil servant” abuses his position, and becomes self‑indulgent and tyrannical, he will be “severely scourged,” and his portion be allotted with the hypocrites, where he will weep and gnash his teeth over his folly and lot. 

Only a believer who does not consider his own heart will assert that a Christian cannot act the hypocrite, be unfaithful, or arbitrary and unloving. But the pronoun ” that” – “But if that evil servant, etc.,” leaves no option but to regard him as a believer, for it has no antecedent to whom it can refer except the faithful servant just before described, no other person having been mentioned. “That evil servant” what evil servant? and there is no answer but that the faithful steward has become unfaithful*: And such cases are known. Nor will we, for our part, join to consign all such to eternal ruin rather than accept the alternative of the temporary, though severe, punishments intimated by the Lord being possible to a believer. Those who take the latter course, mainly influenced to support certain dispensational theories, have surely never weighed the solemnity of thus easily consigning so many backsliders to endless misery. 

[*Weymouth is definite: “But if that man, being a bad servant” plainly identifies the good and bad servant as one person. And see Alford.] [page 72 – THOU WICKED SERVANT

Since, then, an unbeliever is (a) not set by the Lord over His house, nor (b) could feed the souls of his fellows, nor (c) could be so faithful as to become at last ruler of all the possessions of the Lord, this man must be a true believer. But when such a one may lapse from his fidelity he does not thereby become unregenerate; consequently the unfaithful steward is still called one of the Lord’s “own servants”; and therefore a believer may incur the solemn penalties veiled, under the figures used. 

If it be thought inconceivable that the Lord should describe, one of His blood‑bought and beloved people as a “wicked servant” (Matt. 25: 26), it must be weighed that He had before applied the term to a servant whose 

“debt” had been fully remitted: “thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt” (Matt. 18: 32). Thus one who, as an act of compassion by the Lord,

has been fully forgiven all his failure as a servant may prove a “wicked servant,” his wickedness consisting in this, that though forgiven he would not forgive. To deny that a child of God can be unforgiving is to blind the eyes by denying sad and stem fact. The Lord left no room for doubt that members of the divine family were in His mind by the application of the parable He then and there made: “Even so shall my heavenly Father do unto you [Peter, whose question as to forgiving had drawn forth the parable, and the other disciples, ver. 1, 21], if ye forgive not, each one of you (hekastos), his brother from your hearts” (35). It is the Father and the brothers who are in question, not here those outside the family circle. 

Moreover, if this parable be pressed to include a mere professing but unregenerate person some inevitable implications must be accepted. It is by no means denied that there are such persons, but if they are in view here these consequences follow: ‑ 

(a) An unregenerate person has had “all his debt forgiven.” (b) In spite of this free forgiveness he remains unregenerate

(c) A forgiven sinner can have the free pardon of his sins, revoked, in which case he will thereafter stand in his former lost estate exposed to the eternal wrath of God. He may be saved to‑day yet lose this to‑morrow. 

(d) Though delivered to the “tormentors” he may entertain hope that he may yet himself “pay all that is due” [page 73 – THE TORMENTORS] (ver. 34); that is, the wrath of God against the unregenerate can be somehow, some time satisfied by the sufferings and efforts of the sinner himself. In these cases therefore “Christ died for nought”; they can at last secure their own deliverance. 

In the fact, however, being “delivered to the tormentors” has no reference to the eternal judgment of the lost. In the lake of fire neither lost angels nor lost men are stated to torment one another, but are all alike in the same torment. It is a picture of present and temporal chastisement under that continually proceeding judgment of God above indicated, and which applies to His family as to others. Regarded thus the above confusing implications do not arise, implications which no one divinely illuminated could accept. But it results that the wicked servant is a real servant, not a hypocrite, and were it not for the severity of the punishment no one would be likely to question this.

It is not difficult to see what the punishment is. 

(a) The forgiveness of his great failures as a servant can be revoked, and he be made to feel the sin and bitterness of not having walked by the same spirit as his Lord, nor rendered to Him the due use and return of the benefits grace had bestowed. 

(b) Paul says of some who had once had faith and a good conscience (or they could not have thrust these away), and who had started on the voyage of faith (or they could not have made shipwreck), “whom I delivered to Satan” (the present “tormentor,” as of Job); but not to be afflicted by him in hell, but for their recovery, “that they might be taught not to blaspheme,” which the torments of the damned will not teach them, as far as we see in the Word (1 Tim. 1: 19, 20. See also 1 Cor. 5: 3 ‑ 5). 

(4) We remark upon one other instance of these solemn testimonies by Christ, the parable of the virgins (Matt. 25). It is to the same effect. 

(a) They are all virgins, the foolish equally with the wise, which figure is inappropriate to indicate a worldling in his sins, even though he be a professing Christian. In the only other places where it is used figuratively and spiritually it certainly means true Christians (2 Cor. 11: 2; Rev. 14: 4). [page 74 – THE FOOLISH VIRGINS

(b) They are all equally the invited guests of the bridegroom, not strangers, let alone his enemies. 

(c) They all have oil, or, the foolish could not say “our lamps are going out.” Without some oil the lamps could not even have been lit, for a dry wick will not kindle and certainly could not have burned during the time they had slept. 

(d) But the foolish had no supply to replenish the dimly burning flax and revive their testimony. They had formerly been “light in the Lord,” but had been thoughtless as to grace to continue alight. 

(e) They found means for this renewing for in spite of the darkness they gained the bridegroom’s gate. (f) They did not lose their lives, as enemies, but they did lose the marriage feast, and were left in the darkness outside the house. This is parallel to the “wicked servant,” who also did not lose his life but did lose the entrance into the joy of his master at his return, and was cast into “outer darkness.”

Two observations are vital to grasping the meaning of these judgments. 

(1) A marriage feast is obviously no picture of anything eternal. Plainly it is a temporary matter. Grand, intensely happy, a highly coveted honour, especially when the king’s son, the heir apparent, is the bridegroom, it yet is but the prelude to a life, a reign, not anything long‑extended, let alone permanent. Does not this correspond to the joy of the millennial kingdom as the glorious prelude to the eternal kingdom? For the “marriage of the Lamb” comes at the immediate inception of that millennial kingdom (Rev. 19: 6 9). And are not the invited virgins those of whom verse 9 says, “Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb,” rather than the wife herself? A bride is not usually invited to her wedding feast: it cannot (save, perhaps, among Moslems) be held without her. Does not this give the clue to what the virgins and the unfaithful servant lose? 

(2) “Outer darkness” is no picture of the lake of fire. It is the realm just outside the palace where the feast is held, not the public prison or execution ground. If the strict sense of Scripture pictures be kept, and imagination be not allowed [page 75 – A CONTRAST] to fill in what the Divine Artist did not put in, much confusion will be avoided. 

It has been felt that the words of the bridegroom to the virgins, “Verily I say unto you, I know you not” preclude us from taking these to represent His true people. But again the picture itself will give the real sense. The bridegroom is here pictured as standing within the heavy and thick outer door that secures every eastern house of quality, and the door is shut. He does not open it, or he would see who they are, and that they are some of his own invited guests, but standing the other side of the closed door he says, in idiomatic English, I tell you sincerely, I don’t know who you are (Ameen lego humin, ouk oida humas). Into such a picture it is not permissible to read in divine omniscience; it must be taken simply as it is given. Its force may be gathered more readily by the distinction between what is here said and what the Lord said in Matt. 7: 15 ‑ 23. There He spoke of false prophets, bad trees, men who, like the sons of Sceva in Acts 19: 13, used His holy name without warrant. Picturing Himself as standing face to face with these He protests, I never at any time made your acquaintance! Here the scene is changed; there is no closed door between: the verb to know is different: and the word rendered “never” is most emphatic and

gives force and finality to the assertion (Oudepote egnon humas). He did not speak thus to the virgins. 

9. It is not our present purpose to consider all such testimony of the Word. Enough has been advanced to show how much and how solemn is the teaching of Scripture as to judgment upon careless Christians. We wish only to deal now with the time of the judgment seat of Christ as to His people. 

The most general opinion is that this judgment lies between the moment of the Lord’s descent to the air, when they, dead and living, are caught up to Him there, and that later moment when He is to descend with them to the earth to set up His kingdom. That is, the judging of His saints will take place during the Parousia. 

Observations. 

(1) No passage of Scripture seems distinctly to place this [page 76 – SUPPOSITIONS] judgment in this interval and in the air. It seems to be rather assumed that it must take place then and there since the effects of it are to be seen in the different positions and honours in the kingdom immediately to follow. 

(2) As regards the parabolic instruction Christ gave when here it is to be observed that it speaks only of persons who will be found alive when the “nobleman,” “the master of the house” returns. Strictly, therefore, these parables tell nothing as to the time and circumstances of the judgment of dead believers. It must be allowed that the principles of justice will be the same for dead and living, but the details as to the judgment of the former cannot be learned from these passages. 

(3) Some presuppositions held are: 

(a) That every believer will share in the first resurrection and the millennial kingdom. 

(b) The opposite, that not every believer will do so. 

(c) That the judgment of the Lord will result in some of His people suffering loss of reward because of unfaithfulness, but nothing more than loss. This involves that none of the positive and painful inflictions denounced can affect true believers.

(d) The opposite, that the regenerate may incur positive chastisement as a consequence of the Lord’s judgment at that time. Thus in “Touching the Coming of the Lord” (84, 85. ed. 1), upon Col. 3: 25, “For he that doeth wrong shall receive again the wrong that he hath done (margin): and there is no respect of persons,” Hogg and Vine apply this text to that judgment of Christ at His parousia, and say: “It may be difficult for us to conceive how God will fulfil this word to those who are already in bodies of glory, partakers of the joy of the redeemed in salvation consummated in spirit, soul and body. Yet may we be assured that the operation of this law is not to be suspended even in their case. He that ‘knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous tinder punishment unto the day of judgment ‘ (2 Pet. 2: 9), knows also how to direct and to use the working of His law of sowing and reaping in the case of His children also. The attempt to alleviate the text of some of its weight by suggesting that the law operates only in this life, fails, for there is nothing in the text or [page 77 IMPOSSIBILITIES] context to lead the reader to think other than that while the sowing is here the reaping is hereafter. It is clear that if it were not for this supposed difficulty of referring the words to the Christian in the condition in which, as we know from other Scriptures, he will appear at the Judgment seat of Christ, the question whether that time and place were intended would not be raised.” 

(e) Some (Govett, Pember, and others) who hold that the millennial kingdom may be forfeited by gross sin, suppose that all believers rise in the first resurrection, appear before the judgmentscat of Christ, and being adjudged by Him unworthy of the kingdom they return to the death state to await the second resurrection and the great white throne judgment. Their names being then as believers found in the book of life, they have eternal life in the eternal kingdom, but they will have missed the honour of sharing in and reigning in the millennial age. 

These two last ideas (d) and (e) seem alike utterly impossible. It seems wholly inconceivable that a body heavenly, spiritual, glorified, like indeed to the body of the Son of God himself, can be subjected to chastisement for guilt incurred by misuse of the present sin‑marred body. Not only the manner of the infliction but the fact of it seems to us out of the question. 

It seems equally so that a body that is immortal and incorruptible can admit of its owner passing again into the death state. The ideas and the terms are mutually contradictory and exclusive. Of those who rise in that

first resurrection the Lord said plainly: “neither can they die any more” (Lk. 20: 36). 

What, then, is the solution of these difficulties? 

10. We turn to passages dealing directly with the subject. 

(1) 2 Cor. 5: 10. “We make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well‑pleasing unto Him. For we must all be made manifest before the judgment‑seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” This chief statement leaves unmentioned the time and place of the judgment. 

(2) Heb. 9: 27. “It is laid up for men once to die and after this judgment” (meta de touto krisis, no article). Thus [page 78 – JUDGMENT AFTER DEATH] judgment may take place at any time after death. Luke 16 shows Dives suffering anguish immediately after death, for the scene is Hades, the realm of the dead between death and resurrection, and his brothers are still alive on earth. But again, Rev. 20: 11 ‑ 15, shows another, the final judgment, after resurrection, after the millennial kingdom. Both are “after death” [verse 12]. 

Neither of these passages suggests the parousia in the air as the time or place. 

(3) The statements of the Lord as to His, dealing with His own servants at His return, contemplate that His enemies will be called before Him immediately after He will have dealt with His own household: “But these mine enemies, who would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me” (Lk. 19: 27). “Hither,” that is, to the same spot where He had just been dealing with His servants. This, as to servants then alive on earth at least, excludes the parousia in the air, for His enemies will not be gathered there. 

(4) Luke 16: 19 ‑ 31. Dives and Lazarus are seen directly after death in conditions the exact reverse of those just before known on earth. The passing of the soul to that other world, and the bringing about of so thorough a change of condition, is too striking, too solemn just to happen. Some one must have decided and ordered this reversal; that is, there must have been a judging of their cases and a judicial decision as to what should be their lot in the intermediate state.

This judgment therefore may take place at or immediately after death, as Heb. 9: 27 above. And in the time of Christ thus almost all men believed. See, for example, the judgment of Ani directly after death, before Osiris the god of the underworld, in the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Or, as to the Pharisees, to whom particularly Christ spoke of Dives and Lazarus, see Josephus, Antiquities, 18: 3. 

(5) 2 Tim. 4: 6, 7, 8. “I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith; I have finished the course, henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day: and not only to me, but also to all them that have loved His appearing.” 

Paul was now certain he had won his crown. When [page 79 – THE CROWN WON] writing to the Philippians a few years before (3: 10 ‑ 14) he spoke uncertainly: “not that I have already obtained,” for then he had not yet finished the course; but now he writes with certainty. How could this assurance have become his save by communication from the Righteous Judge? But this implies that the Judge had both formed and communicated His decision upon Paul’s life and service, even though Paul had not yet actually died. In such a case, as it would seem, any session of the judgment seat “in that day” will be only for bestowment of the crown already won and allotted, not for adjudication upon the race or contest, the latter having before taken place as to such a person. 

(6) The expression “I have finished my course” is taken from the athletic world which held so large a place in Greek life and interest and is so often used by Paul as a picture of spiritual effort. In 1 Cor. 9: 24 ‑ 27, it is used as a plain warning that the coveted prize may be lost. Phil. 3: 12 ‑ 14 employs it to urge to intense and unremitting effort to win that prize. The Lord is the righteous Judge, sitting to adjudicate upon each contestant in the race or contest. 

Now of unavoidable necessity the judge of the games automatically formed his decision as to each racer or wrestler as each finished the course or the contest. The giving of the prizes was indeed deferred to the close of the whole series of events: Paul’s crown would be actually given “in that day”; but not till then did the judge defer his decision as to each item or contestant. It could not be, for the most celebrated of the Greek games, the Olympic, lasted five days.

The figure, taken with the case of Paul, and in the light of Dives and Lazarus, suggests a decision of the Lord as to each believer before or at the time of his death. That decision issues in determining the place and experience of the man in the intermediate state, and may extend to assurance that he has won the crown, the prize of the high calling

(7) Rev. 6: 9, 11, The Fifth Seal. As before shown, these martyrs “under the altar” are not yet raised from the dead, for others have yet to be killed for Christ’s sake, and only then will they be all vindicated and avenged. But to each one of them separately a white robe is given. Now ch. 3: 4, 5, shows that the white robe is the visible sign, conferred by the Lord, of their worthiness to be His companions in [page 80 – JUDGMENT BEFORE RESURRECTION] His glory and kingdom. This again makes evident that for these the Lord’s judgment has been formed and announced. No later adjudication upon such is needful or conceivable: only the giving of the crown “in that day.” 

11. From these facts and considerations it seems fairly clear that the judgment of the Lord upon the dead of His people is not deferred to one session but is reached and declared either (a) immediately before death (as Paul), when there is no further risk of the racer failing, or (b) immediately after death (as Lazarus), or (c) at least in tile intermediate state of death (the souls under the altar). 

If this is so, then it will follow that the decision of the Lord as to whether a believer is worthy of the first resurrection and reigning in the kingdom is reached prior to resurrection, in which case the two insoluble problems above stated simply do not arise; that is, there is no question of one raised in a deathless state returning to the death state, nor of bodies of glory being subjected to chastisement. Believers adjudged not worthy of the first resurrection will not rise, but will remain where they are until the second resurrection. 

We agree fully that the judgment seat of Christ will issue in chastisement for unworthy living by Christians, but this will not be inflicted after resurrection. 

(8) Rev. 11: 18 repays exact study. The four and twenty elders worship God because He has put forth His “power, His great power” (teen dunamin sou teen megaleen) and has exercised His sovereignty. In consequence of this asserting of power there are five results. (1) The nations are angry, (2)

God’s wrath replies, (3) there arrives “the season for the dead to be judged,” (4) for the faithful to be rewarded, and (5) for the destruction of the destroyers of the earth. 

Since prophets and saints are to receive their reward at the resurrection of the just (Luke 14: 14), the first resurrection (Rev. 20: 1 ‑ 6), the season for the dead to be judged and rewarded is here found directly before the destruction of the Antichrist and his helpers in the wasting of the lands. 

Concerning this judging of the dead three features are to be noted. 

1. It must be of godly dead, for it is before the thousand years, whereas the judgment of the ungodly dead is thereafter (Rev. 20: 1, 11 ‑ 15). [page 81 – JUDGED WHILE DEAD

2. It is a judgment of persons who are dead at the time they are judged. There is no ground for reading in that they have been raised from the dead before the judgment takes place. They are styled “the dead.” No one would think of styling living persons “the dead.” The term employed (nekros) is nowhere used of persons who are not actually dead, physically or morally. Moreover, resurrection does not of itself assure life. That unique and glorious change to be the portion of such as share the first resurrection (1 Cor. 15) is their special privilege; it does not attach to all resurrection. Dead persons can be raised dead. In John 5: 29 our Lord creates a clear contrast: “They that have done good shall come forth unto resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto resurrection of judgment.” The Lord did not say that they shall come forth out of the tombs alive, but that they shall come forth unto resurrection of life or “unto resurrection of judgment” (eis anastasin). There seems no scripture, indeed, that at the moment they come forth they have even a body, other than that psychical counterpart before noticed and which persists in the death state.Thus in Rev. 20: 12 also it is as dead that they are judged: “I saw the dead standing before the throne . . . and the dead were judged.” It should therefore be supposed that those there present whose names are found in the book of life will thereupon be restored to life, that is, will be given an immortal body, even as the Lord said: “The Father raiseth the dead (egeirei tous nekrous) and makes them live (zoopoiei), thus also the Son makes to live whom He will” (zoopoiei, John 5: 21). Here two operations are distinguished by the “and makes them live.” 3. The verb to be judged, “the season of the dead to be judged,” is the infinitive passive aorist (kritheenai). Being an aorist it has the force of a

completed and final action. But this final judgment, which disposes of the case, may be the conclusion of a process of judgment. This is seen in another place where this aorist is twice used, Acts 25: 9, 10. Festus asked Paul whether he would be willing to go up from Caesarea to Jerusalem 

“there to be judged of these things before me” Paul answered that he already stood before Caesar’s court “where I ought to be judged” (kritheenai). Both Festus and Paul meant that a final verdict should be reached and the [page 82 – HEARINGS AND VERDICT] case be determined; hence the aorist. But the history shows that Paul had been many times before the courts, twice before the Sanhedrin and several times before Felix (Acts 23 and 24). Thus this passage in Rev. 11: 18, does not forbid that believers may have been before judged by Christ, either in this life or after death, or both; what it states is that at the season indicated the decision of the Lord will be given, announcing, as we suggest, whether the person is of the “blessed and holy” who are accounted worthy of the impending resurrection from among the dead and of place and reward in the kingdom then about to be inaugurated. 

This short discussion is no more than suggestive, directed to certain obscurities and perplexities found in our main theme, designed to provoke enquiry so as further to elucidate truth and dispel darkness. May the Lord in grace use it to this end. [page 83] 

VII. APPENDIX TO PAGE 22. 

On the meaning of the genitive “of Christ” (tou Christou) in 1 Cor. 15: 23

(This critical study is submitted with respect to those able to examine it.) 

The force of this genitive may be studied in the following passages. 1. In Acts 16: 33 it is said of the jailer at Philippi that “he was baptized, himself and all those of him (hoi autou),” that is, all those who happened to form his household circle at that particular midnight hour.

2. In the first chapter of the epistle that is before us (1 Cor. 1: 12) the apostle reproves the believers on account of the contentions among them. “Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ (Christou).” It cannot be supposed that these believers were attributing their redemption to Paul, Apollos, or Peter; so that the meaning is, “I am of Paul’s circle; I of Apollos’; I of Peter’s; I of Christ’s circle.” It was sectionalism, schism, denominationalism, sectarianism; although all alike were on the only foundation (ch. 3: 10, 11). 

Family relationship alone did not make the jailer’s relatives to be “of him” at that particular hour. It was those who were actually in his house at that time, which would include servants and slaves (if any). All believers were equally children of God, but some were “of Paul,” others “of Peter,” etc. Thus these two instances show that it is not relationship, natural or spiritual, but open membership in a known visible circle that is the idea in the term “of him.” 

3. Romans 14: 4 reads “Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? (oiketees, household dependent; Lk. 16: 13: Acts 10: 7: 1 Pet. 2: 18: all places). To his own lord he standeth or falleth.” Verses 7, 8 add: “For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s” (we are of the Lord, tou Kuriou esmen. The [page 84 – IDEAL OR ACTUAL] German can express this, as the Greek, by case ending, “wir sind des Herrn,” Elberfeld version). “For to this end Christ died, and lived again, that He might be Lord of [might rule over] both dead and living” (Darby). Christ’s lordship, His proprietorship of and authority over all, is indisputable: in the apostle’s argument all are assumed to be owning it: “he that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord” (ver. 6), but, as we shall see shortly, not all believers do in fact own that lordship, or do not own it continuously and to the end of life. Thus ideally all are “of Him,” but actually some who might be, and ought to be, are not.

[* Herodotus narrates that Astyages, king of the Medes, ordered a courtier, Harpagus, to kill the infant Cyrus, the king's grandson. The courtier says: “But for safety's sake it is necessary for me that this child should die; it is necessary however that one of those of Astyages himself (ton tina Astyageos) should be the slayer and not (one) of mine (ton heemon). This he said and straightway sent a messenger to (one) of the herdsmen of Astyages (ton Astyageos) whom he knew. . .” and left the matter to him (Hdt. I. 109, 110). Here two circles are distinguished, that of the king and that of the courtier, and each, in relation to its head, is described by the genitive. This force of the genitive occasions in English the italicized words in 1 Cor. 1: 11, “them which are of the household of Chloe,” where the original has simply ton Chloees (those of Chloe).]
  1. This same meaning is to be seen in 2 Cor. 10: 7, “Ye look at the things
    that are before your face. [It is something visible that is in question.] If
    anyone has confidence in himself of Christ to be (Christou einai), this let
    him consider with himself, that as he is of Christ (Christou) thus also are
    we”: that is, I Paul am evidently and obviously of Christ’s circle at least as
    much as my critic is: in proof of which he adduces the known public features
    of the measure and power of his ministry of the Word, which were the Lord’s
    open acknowledgment of His faithful servant.
  2. The same thought of a circle of persons that may be contrasted with
    other circles lies in the statement in Gal. 5: 24, “And those of Christ Jesus
    (hoi tou Christou leesou) crucified the flesh with the [its] passions and the
    [its] cravings.” In fallen human nature there works a powerful principle of
    evil, described in christian terms as, “the old man which [page 85 – THE FLESH
    CRUCIFIED] gets more and more corrupt according to the [its] deceitful
    cravings” (Eph. 4: 22). Its cravings deceive man into indulging them,
    because they promise satisfaction though they produce corruption. Through
    partaking of the divine nature the believer in Christ is afforded a way of
    escaping “from the corruption that is in the world through lust [the cravings
    of the old man]” (2 Pet. 1: 4); but it abides a certainty, to the Christian as
    well as to the unbeliever, “that the one sowing to the flesh out of the flesh
    shall reap corruption” (Gal. 6: 8).
    How this corrupting principle in human nature originated perplexed
    philosophers and how to master it baffled moralists. Various schools had
    different methods. The circle of Epicurus proposed the sensually agreeable
    plan of stifling the flesh by satiating it. That of the Stoics advocated a stem
    rigid suppression. Eastern philosophy, as in Buddhism, recommended a
    sustained passive ignoring of all desire.
    The circle which bore the name of Christ Jesus had a method peculiar to
    itself. It was neither satiating, suppressing, nor ignoring, but crucifying:
    “those of Christ Jesus crucified the flesh.” They taught that Christ died on
    account of the old man himself, as well as his corrupt doings. They held
    that, judicially, before God, man’s creator and judge, the death of the
    Substitute was the death of the sinner, that therefore the old man “was
    crucified with Christ” (Rom. 6: 6). The messengers of this faith offered
    a promise from God that whoever would accept from the heart this
    view, with its implications and practical consequences, should
    receive power from His eternal Spirit to live in freedom from the old
    tyranny of sin. The new method worked effectively where all other

attempts had failed. Moral crucifixion with Christ led on to moral
resurrection with Him, and the circle that bore His name became, as
a circle, and by contrast, conspicuous for holiness.
No doubt this crucifixion was more distinctly apprehended and more fully
exhibited by some than by others; we know that in fact some in the circle
were not children of God at all ‐ they seemed to be “of Christ Jesus” in the
sense of publicly belonging to the circle that bore His name, though they
were not “in Christ Jesus” by spiritual union: but the thought in the
statement before us is that a certain known [page 86 – INFANTS OR SONS] circle or school
“those of Christ Jesus” ‐ was characterized by a certain attitude
and doctrine, which its members were presumed to have adopted, and were
expected and exhorted to maintain in practical conduct.

  1. The important argument in Gal. 3: 23‐29, contains the same
    conception. “But if ye are of Christ, then are ye Abraham’s seed, etc.” (ei
    de humeis Christou, ver. 29). Those who fear God are viewed by Him in two
    classes: first, such as in, spiritual growth are yet infants, and therefore
    under control by rules – “thou shalt . . . thou shalt not”; second, those who
    have become of age, grown up sons, who are freed from such restrictions;
    are at liberty. The former are under a tutor, the law (ver. 23‐25), who orders
    their conduct, who restrains and punishes the outworking of their carnal
    nature: the “sons” are “of Christ” (“but if ye are of Christ”), Who enables
    them by the Spirit to walk by the free, holy impulses of the new nature.
    Translation from the one status and association into the other is by faith
    and baptism: that is, by an act of the heart known to God, but also by a
    public act seen by men; for we become “in Christ Jesus by faith” (ver. 26),
    but we “put on Christ” by baptism (ver. 27). Thus here also to be “of Christ”
    means something more than to have exercised faith in Him, even to have
    associated openly by immersion with those who profess to have died out of
    the old circle and to have risen again into a new circle, that of Christ Jesus.
  2. In 2 Tim. 2: 19‐21, the apostle again speaks of things plain and visible;
    such as a foundation stone, and the inscription carved upon it; a house built
    on the foundation; the various utensils of the house, of either valuable or
    common materials, gold and silver or wood and earth.
    The picture is very like Paul’s earlier metaphor in 1 Cor. 3. where also is
    the foundation, the superstructure, the precious or the perishable materials,
    either of which may be built by the believer into the life‐work and character
    which each is erecting on the one foundation. He exhorts the Corinthian

Christians not to use the perishable: in Timothy he exhorts to purge out of
one’s character the common elements, that the gold and silver of the divine
nature, created in us by the Spirit upon the ground of redemption, may
alone remain, and one be thus a vessel fit for the immediate use of the [page
87 – FOUNDATION AND SUPERSTRUCTURE] divine Master, not one relegated to the lower purposes of the great house.
The said inscription on the foundation reads thus: “Knows the Lord those
being of Him (tous ontas autou), and, Let every one naming the name of
the Lord depart from unrighteousness.” That is, the Lord, on His side, knows
distinctly each one who in reality, according to the Lord’s standard, is of His
circle. On our side the sign that warrants any person being accorded by us a
place in that circle is that he forsakes unrighteousness. He who never yet
has forsaken unrighteousness (wrong doing, adikia, as 1 Cor. 6: 8, 9) is not
“of Him,” (that is, not as the Lord judges), even though he may hold
membership in a Christian church. He who having forsaken wrong doing
afterward returns thereto is to be put out of the Christian circle (1 Cor. 5:
13), and thus ceases to be “of Him” for the purposes of this expression.
This does not affect the final salvation of every believer; for one is saved
before he is added to the church, and therefore final salvation does not
depend upon membership in that privileged company who will form “the
church.” * This cuts away the root of the Romish error that one must belong
to the church to be saved. But the wrong doers of the church circle are
plainly warned that they “shall not inherit God’s kingdom” (1 Cor. 6: 9:
etc.). Such will not be “accounted worthy of the kingdom of God” (2 Thess.
1: 5, 11), and hence will not be of the “blessed and holy” who will rise in
that first resurrection which assures reigning in that kingdom.

  1. The expression under review is in Romans 8: 9: “But ye are not in flesh
    but in spirit, if at least spirit of God dwells in you. But if any one has not
    spirit of Christ, this one is not of Him.”
    The omission from verse 1 preceding of the clause “who walk not
    according to flesh but according to spirit” is of first importance, showing that
    the justification of a believer in Christ is not dependent upon his walk as a
    Christian. At the very moment that a repenting sinner rests his salvation
    upon the atoning work that Christ accomplished upon the cross, and
    therefore before he has had opportunity for doing any works, he acquires a
    new standing. By that faith in Christ he obtains access to the standing of
    one who is in [page 88 – FLESH OR SPIRIT] the favour of God (Rom. 5: 1, 2). He is then and there seen by God, his judge, no longer as he is in himself, but as

he now is “in Christ.” He is deemed to have met his doom and to be free
therefrom. The storm of wrath due to him on account of his sins has burst
upon him in the person of his Divine Substitute: he has thus endured its full
fury; that storm has exhausted itself, and “there is therefore now no
condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.”
But this eternally justified believer may henceforth walk either by the
impulses of his old fleshly nature or by the leading of that new spirit nature
which is created in us when we believe on Christ. That a justified person
may walk “according to flesh” is certain from many Scriptures and much sad
experience. “I, brethren,” says Paul, “was not able [formerly] to speak to
you as to spiritual but as fleshly . . . But neither yet now am I able, for yet
fleshly ye are. For whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye
not fleshly, and walk according to men,” that is, not according to God? (1
Cor. 3: 1 ‐ 3. See also Gal. 5: 13 ‐ 26, for a sustained contrast between
“flesh” and “spirit,” the old nature and the new, in the believer).
To the Romans the apostle declared that if they lived according to flesh
they would be unable to please God and were liable to die (8: 7, 8, and
comp. 1 Cor. 10: 1 ‐ 6). Upon this possibility of premature death we have
before spoken. But, he adds, “ye are not in flesh but in spirit, if at least
(eiper) spirit of God dwells in you.” This “if at least” * shows clearly the
possibility of one who is for ever free from condemnation not being indwelt
by “spirit of God.” It is God the Spirit Who creates and energises the new
nature, but it is not the Holy Spirit as a person that is here in view: the
question is whether the believer is ruled still by the mind of the old nature,
which is “flesh,” or by the mind of the new nature, which is “spirit,”
according to the exhortations “be renewed in the spirit of your mind”: “Have
this mind [page 89 – OF CAESAR] in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 4:
23: Phil. 2: 5). And, adds the Scripture (Rom. 8: 9), “If any one has not
spirit of Christ, this one (emphatic) is not of Him (ouk estin autou).”


[* “The Greek particle is more than merely ‘if’ (which often equals ‘since’ or ‘as’), and
suggests just such doubt and enquiry as would amount to self‐examination. See 2 Cor.
13: 5.” Moule, Camb. Bible for Schools, in loco. So Alford: “if so be that (‘provided
that’; not ‘since’ . . . that this is the meaning here is evident by the exception which
immediately follows).”]


In the light of the other places considered this will mean that one not
ruled by the same spirit which animated Christ is not of that company which
He owns as His circle, His household. “He is not His (belongs not to Him, in
the higher and blessed sense of being united to Him as a member of Him)”
Alford, in loco; italics mine.

In his learned critical work Licht vom Osten (Light from the East ‐ ed. iv.
322) Professor Adolph Deissmann has remarked upon the parallel
between this genitive Christou, of Christ, and doulos Christou Christ’s slave,
and the expressions Kaisaros of Caesar, and Caesar’s slave, belonging to
Caesar, his own personal property; that is, his personal retinue and slaves
as distinct from the vast host of his subjects outside of his immediate
household. In illustration he cites several of the passages here examined,
including the one chiefly before us, 1 Cor. 15: 22, “they that are of Christ
in His Parousia.” This usage is found in Phil. 4: 22: “All the saints salute
you, especially they that are of Caesar’s household” (hoi ek tees Kaisaros
oikias). Comp. also Matt. 22: 21 and parallels: “the things that are
Caesar’s” (of Caesar, ta Kaisaros) contrasted with the other circle, “the
things that are God’s” (ta tou Theou). Similarly, Christ also has a vast
number who do acknowledge Him as Saviour but have not learned to be His
slaves, and so are not “of Him” within the force of this term.

Many of the topics of this pamphlet are opened more fully, in

THE REVELATION OF
JESUS CHRIST

Some of the themes of this pamphlet are enlarged in

FIRSTBORN SONS
Their Rights and Risks

Fellowship With Christ

Taken from G.H.Lang’s Ideas and Realities

It is but of the nature of things that a follower must tread the same path as the guide if he would reach the same goal, that a soldier must brave his captain’s conflicts if he would share his triumph, that a maiden must suffer with a rejected lover-prince if she would share his home and throne.

The ground of the glorifying of the Son of man is His fidelity to His God while in the path of trial and the conflicts of the kingdom on earth: Isa. 53:12, “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great because he poured out his soul unto death”: Phil. 2 : 9, “wherefore also God highly exalted him” because “he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death”: Heb. 2 : 9, “we behold Jesus because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour”: Rev. 5 :9, Worthy art thou . . . for thou wast slain.”

To such words every believing heart says adoringly, Amen! But why does not every believer give an equally ready Amen! to such parallel words as these: Matt. 16:25, Whosoever would save his life (for him self) shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for My sake shall find it”: Luke 14.11, “everyone that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted: Rom. 8: 17, “joint-heirs with Messiah if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified with him”: 2 Tim. 2: 11, “if we died with him we shall also live with him; if we endure we shall also reign with him; if we deny him he also will deny us”? This last is as distinctly called a ” faithful saying” as is 1 Tim. 1: 15 ” Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” and it will prove to be so whether the christian faces it or shrinks from it. The love of God imposes no arbitrary conditions, but such only as arise from the nature of the case and are always for our good and possible of fulfilment. Therefore they cannot be waived. And if Jesus on the cross masters the affections, and if Christ on the throne enthralls our gaze, and if His coming kingdom fills the future, then the heart will find joy in sharing His afflictions and will be fortified to endure unto the end.

Thus, but not otherwise, shall be fulfilled, to His joy and to ours, the promise, “He that conquereth, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also conquered, and sat down with my Father in His throne” (Rev. 3:21); thus, but not otherwise, shall His wife make herself ready for the marriage with the Lamb (Rev. 19 : 7, 8); thus – and do thou, my soul, take it personally to thy heart – thus, but not otherwise, shalt thou reach this supreme felicity that:

“He and I in that bright glory
One great joy shall share,
Mine to be for ever with Him,
His that I am there.”

“Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep in the (power of the) blood of the eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus Christ, make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. But I beseech you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for it is but in few words that I have written unto you” (Heb. 13: 20-22).

Ephesus

Before proceeding with this admirable study in the prophetic I think it might be profitable to first give an introduction to the reader of the term Nicolaitan. According to the second century writing of Irenaeus Of Lyons (c.120-202) The Nicolaitans were followers of Nicolas, one of the seven deacons; Acts 6:5 who were indulging in sexual sins. This tradition seemed to continue on through the writings of later fathers. The name was taken and applied literally until the 16th century when men started to understand the prophetic nature of the seven churches of Asia Minor. It was at this time that the transliteration of the Greek word was used to describe the “deed” and later “doctrine” of this sect that our Lord hated. [Note by admin]

An excerpt taken from G.H.Pember’s The Seven Letters of Revelation 2-3: A Continuous Prediction of the Whole Career of the Church between the Two Advents of Christ

Chapter Four:

The believers in Ephesus had, as a Church, enjoyed the greatest privileges; and stirred by the ministry of Paul, Apollos, Aquila and Priscilla, Timothy, Tychicus, and others, they had so far advanced in holiness and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Paul, in his Epistle to them, is able to speak in terms of high commendation. But the letter which we are now to consider was dictated some thirty years later, and then the symptoms of a deadly decay were just beginning to appear. Another generation had arisen, still holding fast the tradition of earnest devotion to Christ, but having lost much of the motive power of that devotion. And so this Church, with its suggestive name of Ephesus, or “relaxation,”[10] could aptly represent the waning of love at the close of apostolic times. 

To the Ephesians, then, the Lord presents Himself as the One Who holds in full control the seven angels of the Churches, and walks continually in the midst of the lamps. For believers who had lost their first love were likely to have forgotten these solemn facts. The result of His ceaseless inspection is that He knows, not merely every word and deed, but even every thought of the Church; and, most graciously, He first mentions what is deserving of praise. 

Their works and labor and patience, in regard to all who were within the pale of the professing body, have not escaped His notice. He has observed their hatred of that which is evil, and their carefulness in testing and detecting the false apostles of whom they had been forewarned.[11]

 He has seen, too, their attitude towards them that are without, their steady patience in endeavoring to lead them to Him, and their willingness to bear persecution for His sake; and He has marked that, spite of all hindrance and opposition, they have not grown weary in well-doing. He has, therefore, no complaint to make in regard to doctrine or work. There is both orthodoxy and energy, and, moreover, a praiseworthy determination to be separate from evil. And yet all this cannot avail. Upon the seemingly perfect Church there is a slowly-spreading plague-spot which causes Him suddenly to change His tone. The praise He has given is deserved, but He adds, “Nevertheless, I have[12] against thee that thou hast left thy first love.” The teaching, labor, and zeal, of Ephesus were blameless; but her love was waxing cold, and, therefore, she was fast becoming as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 

But the Lord would not abandon her to ruin. He calls upon her to remember; to look back upon what she was, that she may mourn for what she is, and cry, “Oh that I were as in months past!” For after all, this Church, which to the eyes of men seemed perfect and wanting in nothing, is found to be “fallen.” 

A threat follows. Unless Ephesus repents, and does the first works—not merely feels the first feelings, but does the works which should spring from them—the High Priest will remove her candlestick. She shall be His witness no longer. This chastisement does not involve everlasting destruction, but only the withdrawal of power to bear effectual testimony. Many an unfaithful and worldly-minded believer is smitten by it, and walks the earth deprived of all power of speaking for his Savior. He may utter words, but they carry no weight. The influence of the Spirit does not accompany them. For the sin of his covetousness, for his selfishness, and because his soul cleaves to the dust of earth, he has been deprived of the gifts which he abused. He is losing the precious seed-time of life; there is no reward laid up in the heavens for him. Such a one can scarcely hope to have boldness in the Day of Judgment, when he stands before the Throne of Christ to give an account of the things done in the body. He must expect to suffer loss, and to be saved only “so as through fire.” 

So searchingly has the Lord used His eyes of flame; and in laying bare the condition of Ephesus, He reveals to us the earliest symptom of decline which appeared in the universal Church, the wane of love. But what depths of His tenderness are disclosed by this Epistle! He first speaks at length of those things which He could commend; and then, after a very few words of censure, again reverts to praise. Yet He does rebuke. He will not overlook our faults for the sake of our virtues. 

The last thing for which Ephesus may be praised is that she hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which Christ also hates. Possibly those to whom reference is made were a sect of the day in Ephesus; yet nothing is known of their history, all notices in early writers being manifest conjectures framed to explain our Lord’s allusion. But, whatever they may have been in the literal Ephesus, it is clear that something more than an unknown party or sect is indicated in a great prediction of the whole Church. And so, in the prophetic interpretation of the Epistle, the name Nicolaitan is doubtless typical—like Jezebel, Sodom, and Egypt, in other parts of the Apocalypse—rather than historical. It signifies “subduers of the laity,” or “people,” and its introduction seems to intimate that the apostolic arrangements for the government of the Churches were beginning to be abused; that some were already striving to act as lords over the charge allotted to them, endeavoring to establish a hierarchy, a clerical caste which should be distinguished from and superior to the great body of believers. No authority for such a scheme could be found in the New Testament, and those who were guided by the word and Spirit of God must have foreseen how disastrous its results would be. For, if successful, it would turn away the eyes of the Church from her great High Priest to human leaders. It would quickly arouse party feelings, cause schisms, and tend to secularize that which should be purely spiritual. And it would thus soften, and finally obliterate, the line of demarcation between the Church and the world, and induce the former to use the tactics, and desire the aid, of the latter.

 Paul anticipated Nicolaitanism in his farewell address to the Ephesian elders, when he said, “For I know this, that after my departing, shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30). And these men, since the Ephesian Church had not yet yielded to them, are probably to be identified with those who said they were apostles, but upon trial were detected and found to be liars.[13]

 Peter also throws out a hint that the evil was spreading in other Churches, when he entreats the elders to whom he is writing not to exercise the oversight of their flocks as if they were lords over the charge allotted to them.[14] And John refers to a particular case, and speaks of one Diotrephes, who loved to have the pre-eminence, and was casting out of the Church those who would not submit to him.[15] 

But all this mischief had been foreseen and reprobated by the Savior Himself in the memorable words, “Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister; and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant” (Matt. 20:25-27). 

The significant manner in which the Lord notes the rejection, for the time, of the Nicolaitans by Ephesus, coupled with the emphatic addition of the words, “which I also hate,” is, perhaps, a hint that, although the Church was still standing in that particular, she had need to take heed lest she should fall. For if any Church is losing its love to Christ, how can it avoid becoming a mere earthly organization under human leaders? 

Some twelve years after the dictation of this letter, Ignatius addressed an epistle to the Ephesians which contains unmistakable evidence that a hierarchy was then being established among them. Ignatius supports it, and gives the most extravagant injunctions respecting obedience to the bishop, which culminate in the words, “It is manifest, therefore, that we ought to look upon the bishop even as we would look upon the Lord Himself.” The subject appears to have been attracting general attention at the time; for Ignatius often alludes to it, and in his Epistle to the Magnesians, allows himself to say, “As, therefore, the Lord does nothing without the Father—’For I can,’ He says, ‘of Mine Own Self do nothing’—so also do ye nothing without the bishop; whether ye be presbyters, or deacons, or laymen.” 

Thus, then, the signs of decadence among professing Christians of the first age were the waning of deep and heartfelt love to the Lord Jesus, and a consequent discontent with Him as the only Head of His body the Church—a feeling similar, perhaps, to that which prompted the Israelites to demand a king who should go before them. And so men began to form human organizations, which, whatever their nominal sovereignty, soon proved by their deeds that they owed allegiance, not to Christ, but to His adversary, the Prince of this World. 

In the last portion of the Epistle, the promise to the overcomer, the Lord addresses those individual members of the Church who are so guided by the Spirit that they are able to discern even the deep things of God. There is a similar promise at the close of each of the other letters, and they are all drawn from the Old Testament, and arranged in historical order. And so, in this first case, the reward offered is the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. 

The allusion is singularly appropriate. The parents of our race were created in innocency, and should have eaten of the Tree of Life; but were commanded by God not to touch the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Then another being, the Tempter, appeared upon the scene, and induced them to break God’s commandment on the ground of expediency. 

Thus they turned from Jehovah and obeyed Satan. They ate of the forbidden fruit, and were, consequently, driven out of the garden, and far away from the Tree which would have made them live forever. 

So, in these early days of the Church, Satan craftily enticed her aside from her Lord; and as her love towards Him began to wax cold, suggested that His spiritual presence was no sufficient connecting bond for the assemblies of His people upon earth, and that believers must, therefore, endeavor to weld themselves into societies by adopting such forms of government as are usual in the world. 

To these seductions she yielded, and despising the wisdom which is from above, chose rather to be led by that which is earthly, soulish, and demon-like. So her early purity became as the morning dew. She was quickly, as a corporate society, thrust out of the Heavenly places into which she had been called to sit with Christ. Her organization began more and more nearly to resemble those of this world; and she was soon fain, by minding earthly things, to seek consolation for the loss of that spiritual power which now remained only with some of her individual members.

Is the Last Trump Last?

No This isn’t about President Trump. Though I do find it interesting that we have a situation, in these last days of our current age, of a leader of the free world with such a resounding name.

I want to speak about another “trump” that is supposedly set in stone. What I am about to do is shake a foundation that is so prevalent in “Churchianity” today.

Is the “Last trump” actually last?

What I am referring to is the “Last trump” of  1Corinthians 15:52.

When is the last trump? The reason this is so important is because it is at this trump that an “end time” event is hinged upon.

1Co_15:52  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.

The companion verse that testifies of this is found in 1 Thessalonians.

1Th_4:16  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:

In both verses there is a “trumpet” and a resurrection. Therefore this is the same event, but it is 1 Cor that expounds on which trump is to be sounded.

Lets take this expounded knowledge and look at the trumpets in Revelation.

The trumpets are first mentioned in Revelation chapter eight.

Rev_8:2  And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

Rev_8:6  And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

It is not until the opening of the 7th seal that the trumpets are prepared to sound. Even the first trumpet is not mentioned until the end of the seals. It is not presumption to say that this is not the beginning of the tribulation, as the six seals, with their judgments, have been opened prior to this point.

The trumpets are sounded in the following order with their particular judgment.

Rev_8:7  The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

Rev_8:8  And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;

Rev_8:10  And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;

Rev_8:12  And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

Rev_9:1  And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

Rev_9:13  And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

When reading about the first six trumpets it is evident that much is taking place. God’s judgments are happening even up to the sounding of the seven trumpet.

So, is our theory that the last trumpet of 1 Corinthians chapter fifteen is the same seventh trumpet of Revelation?

As with any theorem or idea, if true, than we should be able to predict, with confidence, what will happen when applied elsewhere. If the theorem is incorrect that will be evident as well. So our theory is this:

If the last trump, mentioned in 1 Cor 15, is truly the seventh trump of Revelation then we should see, at least two predictions, or events, happening.

 1) a resurrection.

2) a judgment of, at least, believers.

Remember it is the passages in 1 Thessalonians that mentions the coming of Christ along with the departed Saints.

 “..even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him”; 1 Thes 4:14.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout..”; 1 Thes 4:16

1st Corinthians chapter 15 speaks of the dead being raised at the last trump.

 “..at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible..”;15:52.

Rev 10:7  But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. 

Rev 11:15-18

(15)  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

(Note: the kingdoms are taken away from the nations and Christ sets up his kingdom at this juncture in time:

[2Ti_4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;]

)

(16)  And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,

(17)  Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

(18)  And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Revelation, when compared to 1 Corinthians 15, is complimentary to our theory that the last trump is indeed the 7th trumpet.

The rewarding of both dead and alive believers, mentioned in verse 18, can only happen if there has been a resurrection. For how can one receive “..the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. ” without first having received one’s resurrected body? As in a court of law a “body of evidence” is used to present the case before any judgment can be issued. Without evidence you have no case.

I find in scripture no mention of any other trumpets, nor the number being anything other than seven and yet on any given Sunday you will hear “Pre-Millennial” teachers speak on a rapture that happens before the tribulation using both the 1st Cor and 1st Thessalonians verses to justify such a teaching.

Those that believe in a “post trib” rapture will look to such errors to justify that their belief is better suited.

Though our “post trib” brothers are correct in pointing out this error, I believe they also fall into a trap of not being more diligent in their pursuit for truth; missing passages that do teach a “taking away” of faithful believers from the “hour of temptation”.

Though space will not permit me to expound on a “pre-trib”, “mid-trib” or “post-trib” rapture in this article, I will leave you with a final thought concerning them.

Our Lord stated that The end of the world is the harvest; Mat 13:39. The harvest in the old testament is given to us, by the Lord, as a key to unlock prophecy. I leave it to the reader to further study on their own just how the “Jewish” harvest is a type in end time prophecy.

The Book[s] of Life

Mat 19:16  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

This seems like a very important question and one that requires a serious answer. Our lord is approached and given an opportunity to resolve, once and for all, the all-important question that man should be asking. Forget John 3:16 for a moment. Here in Matthew 19 the Lord can put to rest, once and for all, the debate on whether or not eternal life is by faith or by works. Whether the Baptist are right concerning “Faith alone” or whether the Catholics are correct with keeping the commandments. And this opportunity is given by none other than a “rich young ruler”. Oh that many more would ask Jesus the same question! That people would take opportunities in this life to be concerned with their eternal state. Most are just concerned with their present life; on whether or not they should tear down their barns to build bigger.

The man who dared to ask Jesus the most important question.

We call him the Rich Young Ruler, and we do so by comparing both accounts of Matt and Luke. This is an example of comparing scripture with scripture.

  1. He is a young man Matt.19:20
  2. He is a ruler Luke 18:18
  3. He is rich Matt.19:22,23

I will use the same concept of comparing various passages to show that the “Rich Young Ruler” unless he repented, will miss the 1000 yr Kingdom of God and will have his name blotted out of the book of life.

Jesus refers to the 1000 yr kingdom of God as “entering life”

Mat 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

 Whether or not the young man understood that eternal life was freely given to all that “called upon the Lord” makes no difference to us at this point. The Lord’s answer to him gives us the understanding of what God wants us to come away with. The fact that the young man was told; “but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments” suggests that this was not the initial salvation that accompanies belief apart and separate of works. The scripture is so clear on the topic of salvation from God’s eternal wrath. So clear, in fact, that this has to be a different salvation. A salvation that requires keeping commandments. If you don’t slow down and listen carefully to our Lord’s words, you will stumble and get tripped up.

 Jesus does indeed connect “life” with the 1000 year kingdom in verse 23,24. Verse 17 and 23 are parallel verses. You will find many instances, in the scripture, where the Spirit of God will teach a new concept by using two different phrases to state the same. You can exchange the two phrases and the concept is the same. Another example would be the word of God , truth and Jesus. These three titles are given throughout the Gospel of John and yet are the same; John 1:1,14,17;17:17.

Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.  [Or enter life; verse 17]

Mat 19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Here, not only is “entering in life” the same as the “kingdom of heaven”, but “kingdom of God” is referenced with “kingdom of heaven”.

This warning is not just directed at a Jewish man two thousand years ago; but unto New Testament believers as well. Paul warns rich believers against trusting in their riches 1Tim.6:17. (Those who trust in their riches cannot enter the kingdom of God).

Now concerning the “Lambs book of Life” and “The book of Life”[or Kingdom], lets look at a few passages.

We know there is more than 1 book at the final judgment.

Rev 20:12  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.

Here is where you have to rightly divide the word using the context. It is true that in verse 12 the “Book of life” is mentioned instead of the “Lambs book of life”, but the context is referring to final judgment and Lake of Fire. And besides that in the very next Chapter 21, the saved that are written in the “Lamb’s book of life” walk the streets of New Jerusalem. Once again context is important.

Here are some other books that the Scripture mentions:

Psa_69:28  Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

A book where all the living of the earth are written, possibly the moment they are conceived. David talked about his members being written down while God created him in the womb.

Ps 139:16  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

But yet, David talks about the wicked being removed from one book (possibly when they die) and not even written in the same book the righteous are written in.

Ps 69:28  Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Rev_13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Rev_17:8  The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.  

The wicked are not written with the righteous. I believe the moment you believe in Christ as your Saviour, you are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13) and your name is written in the  “Lamb’s Book of Life” as well as the book of kingdom life.

Revelation 17 is the parallel verse to chapter 13 that explains in more detail the absence from the “book of life” from the beginning. This corresponds to Psalms 69:28..”Let them not be written with the righteous”.

Luk_10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

All Christians are written down in at least three books, and possibly more. The three that the scripture makes a point to emphasis are; the “book of the living” which is a book that all people are in;Psa_69:28, Psa_139:16; The Lambs book of life, or just “book of life”; Rev 21:27; and then there is the “book of the First Born” Which I take to be the “book of life[kingdom]” (Remember that the Kingdom of God is called life in Matt 19:17). There is also a “book of remembrance” wherein those that fear God and think upon him are written; Malachi 3:16.

The “First Born” in scripture were those of the household who would receive a double portion of the inheritance from the father. The firstborn can be disinherited if he provoked the father who gave the blessing. Esau is an example of the firstborn losing his blessing because of sin.

Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Php_4:3  And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Paul could either be referring to the “Lambs book of life” or the kingdom “Book of life”. In the context, these people that Paul mentioned were fellow laborers in the ministry.

Rev_3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Eight times Jesus, glorified in heaven, mentions “overcoming” for the Christians and the possibility of not overcoming.

One who overcomes this world’s system by the Spirit of God can only do so by the word of God.

1Jn_2:14  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever

The Rich young ruler didn’t overcome the world with its lust of the eyes. He walked away from the very One who cared for his soul. Therefore he was in danger of missing the kingdom and having his name removed from the list of the Firstborn written in heaven.

The Gospel of the Kingdom reaching the ends of the earth as a sign before the end

Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

For the Saviour specifies very remarkably the tidings then to be borne, as –“This Gospel of the Kingdom”. That is not the Gospel which is now preached. Most of the missionaries do not believe in the millennium, and therefore do not preach Christ’s Kingdom in the Scripture sense. Much less is it the great and prominent feature of their discourses
The Prophecy on Olivet, pg.33
Robert Govett; published 1881

What is this gospel of the Kingdom? Mark’s gospel leaves off the “kingdom” and just states “gospel”.

Our Lord many times used the phrase “Kingdom of heaven is likened ” when giving parables of how it relates to man and how men are to respond to it. Matt 13:24,31,33; In each parable there is an interlude; a time of patiently waiting for the final results. In the parable of the good seed, which represents the “children of the kingdom”, the householder patiently waits until the harvest before uprooting the tares. This is the judgment at the end of the world before the kingdom is ushered in. The parable of the mustard seed refers to the patient farmer who waits until the “least of all seeds” becomes a tree. The sowing and reaping aspect of farming becomes the idea used. The parable of the leaven hidden in the three measures of meal shows a time of waiting until the whole was leavened.

This waiting is the “kingdom in mystery” in the sense that the ultimate fulfillment in its literal entirety is yet future. It is currently known only by faith. Its future citizens are written in heaven while still waiting for its heralded appearance.

In Matt 18:23 our Lord uses the same phase “kingdom of heaven likened” but whereas the former in chapter 13 are explicitly named parables, chapter eighteen is different in that it is not.

In Matthew 18 The Lord speaks of a servant who, though he had been forgiven much debt after asking for leniency, nevertheless did not show the same compassion toward his fellow servants. The result being that his Lord was angry and required his previous debt to be paid by the method of turning over to the tormentors.

The Holy Spirit purposefully does not use a parable to teach the lesson of forgiveness and the seriousness of the charge against unforgiveness. No man, when reading this account, can honestly use the excuse of ignoring the severity of possible judgment the Lord will implement toward his servants at the judgment seat by stating this is only parabolic.

Jesus dismisses any thought that this might just be another parable that really doesn’t apply to the believer by finishing the “lesson” and “dismissing” the class with verse thirty-five.

Mat 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Returning to the question, “what is the gospel of the kingdom?”. The New Testament uses the phrase “kingdom of God” or “kingdom of heaven” 107 times. The first occurrence is found in Matthew chapter three: “And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The witness of John the Baptist was of the coming of the Savior of the world; the Light of the world. The ushering in of the Lord Jesus is in conjunction of the heralding of the kingdom of heaven.

What it is not

   Let me first establish what the “kingdom of God” is NOT. It is not, as so many pastors and teachers claim it to be, eternal life or “going to heaven”. In this Laodicean Church period there is so much confusion, lack of biblical knowledge, and even down right heresy concerning this very important doctrine of the “kingdom of God”. On any given Sunday, in pulpits across the USA, it is not unusual to hear a sermon, that, in passing, the pastor will come to a passage where our Lord will be mentioning the “kingdom of God” or “kingdom of heaven” and the pastor or teacher will take the opportunity to explain that “If you want to go to heaven when you die”. Or they will say something like; “see, the rich man would not give up his riches to go to heaven”. When the pastor realizes that he is stating that it is hard for rich people to “get saved”, and according to his own interpretation, the scripture must be stating the same; Mark 10:25. He then has to right his wrong, and settle the hearts of the “rich” Laodicean Christians, by telling them that God is not against riches and a rich man can go to heaven; or something to that nature. It is a lack of biblical doctrine on this subject of “the kingdom of heaven” that is causing confusion in the church today. The reason pastors find themselves in a contradiction, when it comes to the “kingdom of heaven”, is because whenever you find a New Testament passage regarding it, it is most often surrounded by conditions of behavior of the hearer; Matt 5:20; 7:21; 18:3; Mark 10:15,23-25; 12:34; Luke 9:62; Acts 14:22; 1Cor 6:9,10; Gal 5:21; 2Peter 1:11.

What is it then?

The Kingdom of God is, believe it or not, just what the scripture says it is. It is a literal 1000 year kingdom that God will set up on this earth after his bodily descension to the Mount of Olives outside of Jerusalem. The return of Christ and the ushering in of the kingdom happen together. You cannot separate the two events.

 

Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

 

 

It is a literal place.

Matt 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

 

Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

 

Isa 9:7 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 even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

See also Isa 66:20;

 

 

It was promised in the prophets

Dan_2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

See also the second Psalm.

 

It was anticipated.

Luk_14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

Luk_19:11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

Luk_23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

 

The kingdom shall be established by force.

Contrary to what some of “Christian circles” believe concerning how the kingdom of God is ushered in, it will not come peaceably to the rebellious inhabitants. The world that lieth in wickedness will experience, not peace, but the sword of the Lord Jesus;

Luke 19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

The Lord Jesus isn’t waiting for His Church to help bring in the kingdom by the use of civil authority to enact laws of morality. On the contrary, our Lord gives a grave outlook on the spiritual state of affairs on earth at His appearing; Luke 18:8; 2 Tim 3:13.

The Lord sends forth angels to sever the wicked from the just by force; Matt.13:36-42. Neither the kings nor their antagonistic leader will willfully give up an inch of land to Jesus Christ when he returns; Psalms 2. Though the world’s resistance to the King of kings will be no more than that of what a pot could produce; Psalms 2:9, nevertheless it will be a destruction that the world has never witnessed since the day that Noah entered into the ark.; Rev 6:13-17. The blood of the slain will literally fill the battle field; Rev 14:20

 

It is a kingdom of peace.

It is the long anticipated time of peace and of the earth being at rest. After millennia of wars and deaths by famines and diseases, the earth will finally be given a time of rest. The tempter, deceiver and destroyer will be locked away from the presence of her. The oppressed will be delivered from the oppressor. The captives will be set free. The devil will no longer have free reign. Even the trees will shout for joy at the return of the Prince of Peace.

Psa 96:11-13 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. (12) Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice (13) Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

Isa 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

 

“The Lord should rule the nations; and as the result of His righteous rebukes, peace should be established everywhere. The weapons of war should be forged into the tools of peace, as no longer needed for the destruction of men, or the defense of life and property. Israel should walk in the light of God’s countenance.”

The Kingdom of God future

Robert Govett; published 1870

 

It is a time of rewards for God’s people (both OT and NT)

When the King comes he brings with him his kingdom. For when Christ was on the earth, He confessed that, though the kingdom was near; Matt 3:2, it was not of this earth; John 18:36. The King of this kingdom requires complete devotion to him in order to be his disciple.

Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

 

The disciple of Christ, like their Master, looks for this kingdom, outside of this world’s system, to come. Nay, he even prays for its coming; Matt 6:10. The disciple’s affections toward this future kingdom is kept alive with its promised rewards. The true disciple of Christ does not lay up his treasure in the earthly kingdoms but in the heavenly.

Mat 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The affections of his heart must be in placed in the vault of heaven’s treasures. Looking for the day when it will be revealed from heaven at Christ’s return and His kingdom; Rev 11:18;22:12.

 

Entrance into the kingdom is dependent upon our obedience to the Lord.

This seems to be the most controversial doctrine concerning the kingdom. If one even believes or understands the biblical teaching on the one thousand year “world to come”; Heb 2:5, such belief that God will either allow or deny entrance for His people based on obedience is never brought to light. Yet without this simple understanding, one can inadvertently be deceived into believing “heaps” of doctrines of men and creeds that explain away clear warnings to God’s people concerning entrance.

Based on my studies of the “kingdom”, I will list what I believe are reasons why “kingdom truths” are not understood or taught as of now.

The hearer is not regenerated by the Holy Spirit to begin with

It requires imputed faith, that is, a supernatural result of the indwelling Spirit of God, to see, with the eye of faith, a future kingdom of righteousness.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

1Co_2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

A hardened heart concerning belief in the scriptures

Another reason put forth to explain why men either do not understand or reject the kingdom truths, is their attitude toward the spiritual things of God.

Luke 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

A child-like faith in the millennial kingdom is required for entrance. It is a faith that understands the simple instructions of his or her Father concerning entrance. If one does not believe that he must produce works, that are pleasing to the Father, in order to enter His kingdom, then the person is not exhibiting a “childlike” faith.

The people of Jesus’ day were, for the most part, profane in their desire to receive understanding of spiritual matters; Matt 13:14,15

They were dull of hearing and cared only for the material things to comfort the body. On many occasions Jesus tried to awaken them to this fact. He understood the heart of men.

 

Deception

Men who are held in high esteem are keeping multitudes of “sleeping” Christians from entering in. These men are no different than the Pharisee of Jesus’ day in that they are not allowing men to enter the kingdom. By not teaching the “clear” warnings to the Church concerning the Judgment Seat of Christ, neither exhorting men to provide works for entrance into it, they are barring God’s people from entering in.

 

Mat 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

 

Providential hindrance

God, in his wisdom, has hidden these truths from so many. This is the most profound and mysterious teaching concerning the gospel of the kingdom. In the years since I have learned of the “kingdom doctrine”, I have seen so much ignorance and lack of resolve to know “if these things be true” from Christians. To challenge their understanding of biblical doctrine on this matter is disconcerting to say the least. When one mentions that there is a judgment to come for Christians, by the look on their faces, you would think that you were committing a repugnant act. Why is it that God is hiding this truth, in plain sight, from so many well-meaning pastors, scholars, religious leaders, and their followers? The word of God gives us some insight into it.

Mat 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field

We see that our Lord mentions the “mystery of the kingdom of heaven” as being hid in a field. The field represents the world; Matt 13:38. The Pharisees were told that they had the kingdom of God within them; Luke 17:20,21. The Pharisees were demanding of the manifestation of the kingdom but had no desire to learn from the Master. Nevertheless the Lord took this opportunity to teach us that the knowledge of the “mystery of the kingdom” was within us who have heard, as they had in their day. The Pharisees had heard our Lord’s doctrine concerning the kingdom; for the many parables He had spoken to them. It is quite obvious that the kingdom within them was not the physical manifestation of it, nor had they experienced a spiritual transformation by the indwelling Spirit of God. This was not a “spiritual” translation into this kingdom during this time of God’s patience; Col 1:13. The knowledge of the future manifestation of the kingdom is within those that hear it. This passage can only make biblical sense when interpreted as such.

 

Heb 6:1-6 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (3) And this will we do, if God permit. (4) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

 

Paul had determined that some of the Hebrew Christians were not in a spiritual state to receive greater revelation. It was because they were carnal and complacent in their desire to learn.

Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

 

The Spirit speaks to us through the Apostle of the danger of an apathetic mindset; of having no spiritual desire. Can it be more evident of the dullness in the churches today then by how the word of God is taught from the pulpit? There seems to be no desire to move on from the principles that the apostle mentions; of baptisms, of repentance from dead works, of eternal judgment. These are principles that we should know already as a people of God. In churches across America, on any given Sunday, the message will be one of how to become a Christian; when it is the same people week after week. There is no moving on from the basic principles of the faith. Even our hymns encourage us to continue in this state; “Keep me near the cross” or “There is a Fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins”. Is it any wonder that the truths of the kingdom doctrine are not taught or understood when they are?

 

Much is required when God has committed these truths to us. They should be taken seriously with all humility.

Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

 

Mar 4:22-25 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. (23) If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. (24) And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. (25) For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

 

In both instances of the above verses, there is a warning given against complacency

 

In a way, it can be seen as God’s mercy upon so dull of a people. That is what the apostle speaks of in his letter to the Hebrew Christians. Peter also speaks of the danger of hearing truths and turning from it. There is greater condemnation for those who were enlightened and yet fall away.

2Pe 2:19-22 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (20) For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (21) For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (22) But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

This section of second Peter is speaking about those Christians that have fallen away, after hearing and knowing greater revelation. The modern “Laodicean” teaching that this is speaking about unregenerate people is proven wrong in verse twenty one; “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness..”.

Can this passage of scripture be speaking about an unsaved individual who “heard” the gospel but did not act upon it, therefore he is the worse than someone who had never heard the “gospel”? He is still going to the Lake of fire with the one who never heard the gospel. Somehow we are to believe that the unsaved person who never heard is in a far better position than one who had. No, this passage is in agreement with the warning that Christ in Mark 4; as well as Hebrews 6:1-6

Mar 4:24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

Mar 4:25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

.

 

Two Signs of a World in Apostasy

Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

In His usual fashion our Lord Jesus makes such a profound revelation using few words. Yet volumes of commentaries by men have been written to extrapolate and expound on them.

Like Peter, we are faced with such a dire warning; Matt.26:34. But let us not brush it aside, and deny it, like Peter. Let us dive into the deep end of the water and plumb its depths.

IN, a prefix, L. in, is used in composition as a particle of negation, like the English un, of which it seems to be a dialectical orthography

EQ’UITY, n. [L. oequitas, from oequus, equal, even, level.]

1. Justice; right. In practice, equity is the impartial distribution of justice, or the doing that to another which the laws of God and man, and of reason, give him a right to claim. It is the treating of a person according to justice and reason.

The Lord shall judge the people with equity. Psa 98.

With righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity. Isa 11.

 

Iniquity, therefore, is the sin of not being impartial in distributing justice. At its roots, it is injustice toward some and favoritism toward others.

Two signs of a world in apostasy and total rebellion are: injustice and the loss of natural affections among mankind. The latter being the result of the former. This will usher in the end of the age and the judgment of God. Our Lord is repeating what was issued by the prophet Isaiah seven centuries prior.

Isa 59:14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

Isa 59:15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

Isa 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

Isa 59:17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

Isa 59:18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.

Isa 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

Isa 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

“..Truth is fallen in the street, and there she may lie to be trampled upon by every foot of pride, and she has never a friend that will lend a hand to help her up; yea, truth fails in common conversation, and in dealings between man and man, so that one knows not whom to believe nor whom to trust.” M.Henry

 

The prophet gives us such a bleak picture of the state of mankind leading up to the appearing of the “Son of righteousness”. Truth was being trampled on by “religious” men; 1Samual 8:3, Jeremiah 6:13, Micah 3:9-11. Justice and judgment were only for the rich; while the poor had no one to intercede for them; Isaiah 3:14,15 ; Ezek 22:29. It was the “Me generation” of old. It is true that there is “nothing new under the sun”. It was a generation of entitlement. To put in modern terminology; It was a “dog eat dog” world.

The prophet lays out why the Lord God came down at such an appointed time. In the passages in Isaiah 59 we are given a glimpse of both the first coming of our Lord Jesus, and the consummation of the “age of grace”. It had been the prophetic style of the prophet; Isaiah 11:1-10. At his first coming we read of the people having no shepherd; Mark 6:34. Even the teachers and religious leaders cared for nothing but their own authority and were more concerned with losing that then tending to the needs of his people; John 11:47,48. There was no other solution to the problems facing man. In His concern for this people, he had to come down to defend and deliver those that were oppressed. He came to be the intercessor offering salvation.

1Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

The world at Christ’s first coming was very bleak.

The Jews had no Shepherd

Mat 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Gentiles had no hope .

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Christ would have passed us by if not for his compassion.

The account of our Lord walking upon the water in Mark chapter six and Matthew chapter fourteen is a prophetic revelation of the current state of the world and the Savior’s intercession.

Mar 6:47-51 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

 

  • The toil of rowing is symbolic of man’s struggle in this life. The futility and hopelessness from cradle to grave
    • The disciples had no hope of gaining any distance against such odds: “the wind was contrary unto them” verse 48. Satan is the “prince of the power of the air”; Eph 2:2 
    • We are a lavished generation living in a time when every comfort imagined is available to indulge in. It is hard to imagine the hardship of men and women’s lives prior to our own, let alone at the time of Christ’s advent. Though, from the very beginning, man was destined to work, the hardship and toil of life was not God’s original design for man. This was a result of sin.

Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

The fourth watch of the night is a key to understanding God’s prophetic calendar.

  • We understand that 1000 years are represented by a day.
    • 2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
  • It is also referred to as a watch in the night
    • Psa 90:4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
    • The 12 hours of dark are divided into 4 watches; the fourth ending at sunrise

Mat 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

The darkness shows the spiritual state of the world: both Jew and Gentile.

All of mankind is exemplified in this account. Though the Jew had the Oracles of God, they had apostate from it in part by the religious leaders who had added to it to suit their own end.

Mat 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

Mat 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

Mat 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

[For a more in depth study of the darkness, see the article:
How great is that darkness!]

Our Deliverer, though not affected by our storms, nonetheless, is touched by our infirmities.

“..and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them” verse 48

Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.

He first sees: verse 48. He then comes, assures the disciples, enters in fellowship, and calms the storm.

What the future holds for the world and its multitudes of lost people.

Just as it was at Christ’s first advent, the world will become darker, The winds of change, tribulation, and trials will blow harder, and men will continue to reject the light. Just as the disciples were afraid and thought that their salvation was just a ghost; Mark.6:49, the world will not comprehend nor understand that their salvation is nigh. They will even reject such hope and help; John 1:5. “darkness comprehended it not.”.

What can God’s people expect going forward.

We still have a Savior who is not affected by the storms; He is one who can speak peace to our troubled souls. He can also calm the storms of life. Jesus will do all that while condescending to our low estate.

Is Jesus in your boat? All mankind is on a journey called life in which their boat will one day reach that eternal shore. But for most of the world Jesus won’t be with them.

 

 

When engulfed by the terror of the tempestuous sea,-

Unknown waves before you roll;

At the end of doubt and peril is eternity,-

Though fear and conflict seize your soul:

When surrounded by the blackness of the darkest night,

O how lonely death can be;

At the end of this long tunnel is a shining light,

For death is swallowed up in victory!

But just think of stepping on shore-and finding it Heaven!

Of touching a hand-and finding it God’s!

Of breathing new air and finding it celestial!

Of waking up in glory-and finding it home!

 

Finally Home, By Don Wyrtzen and L. E. Singer

 

End Time Flood

 

Gen 9:11-16
(11) And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
(12) And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
(13) I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
(14) And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:
(15) And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.
(16) And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

Four times the Lord mentions a covenant that He has made with every living creature on earth; that He would not destroy it with a global watery flood. So it is quite evident that because God cannot lie we can rest assured that the earth will continue to stand out of the waters and that they would no longer prevail against the dry land.

The Lord Jesus speaks again of that flood in Matthew chapter twenty four.

Mat 24:36-41
(36) But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
(37) But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
(38) 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,
(39) And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
(40) Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
(41) Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

The Lord speaks of the times leading up to his return as the “days of Noah” which in the past I have inferred to mean of the moral decay of the society; which I believe is still the case but when examining the flood in its type in scripture, I believe, brings deeper understanding of the events the Lord is speaking of.

It could be that the flood of Noah’s day is overwhelming persecution both from Satan and heaven itself. Both for the nation of Israel and the world.

Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

“In the present parable of Noah and the ark, Jesus answers to Noah: the time of His presence [coming], to the days of Noah; and the ark to the wilderness. The flood of Noah’s day was composed of two great divisions; the waters from below, and the waters from above. Concerning the waters from beneath, we read–“All the fountains of the great deep were broken up;” and concerning the waters from above–“The windows of heaven were opened:” Gen. 7:2. Even thus in the day before us, the bottomless pit is opened, and thence come forth Abaddon the destroyer, and his locusts; while Euphrates sends up from beneath its millions of spirit-horsemen: Rev.9. And beside this, heaven pours down from above its vials of consuming wrath. Together these constitute the destroying flood of the day of Great Tribulation.”

Robert Govett; The Prophecy on Olivet. Pg 97

Flood waters are a type of overwhelming persecution or tribulation. The bible speaks of the persecution of ungodly men as a flood.

2Sa 22:4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

2Sa 22:5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;

Of the Jew because of their disobedience and national rejection of the Messiah:

Isa 8:6-8

(6) Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son;

(7) Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:

(8) And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

Isa 28:1-2

(1) Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!

(2) Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.

Isa 28:14-15

(14) Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

(15) Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

Dan 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

Michael the great prince..

The twelfth chapter of Daniel and the twelfth chapter of ‘The Revelation of Jesus Christ’ offer a complete view of the battle that takes place in the heavens and the affect on the inhabitants of the earth.

It is the author’s view that Michael the Arch Angel is the same that is currently holding back the forces of evil from unleashing upon the nation of Israel. Since Israel became a nation the Muslim countries surrounding her have wanted nothing more than to drive her into the sea. War after war, and battle after battle Israel has remained strong. When you see the multitudes of enemies that have outnumbered Israel and see how she has remained undefeated in the midst of such numbers, there has to be a heavenly host protecting her. There can be no humanly logic to explain it. This hast to be what Paul speaks of in his second letter to Timothy.

2Th 2:1-8
(1) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
(2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
(3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
(4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
(5) Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
(6) And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
(7) For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
(8) And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Daniel chapter 12 gives us insight into this time period when Michael is taken out of the way, which allows Satan and his “son of perdition” to wreck havoc upon the nation of Israel.

Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Rev 12:12-16
(12) Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
(13) And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.
(14) And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
(15) And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
(16) And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

Michael will stand up. He will fight and defeat the great dragon, Satan, and will then cast him down to the earth. It is then that Satan will unleash his “flood” upon Israel and the people of earth.

Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Rev.12:12

The first people of the earth to experience the wrath of Satan is the nation of Israel. She is the woman who gives birth to the man child. The man child in my opinion are the 144 thousand from all tribes that have been preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and holding to the word. They are taken up into heaven before the consuming 3 1/2 years of Jacobs trouble. Rev.12:5; 14:1-5.

See also Ezra 3:1, and Nehemiah 8:1 that reveals that a remnant of the nation of Israel can be referred to as “one man”

The Jewish people were the first to experience the blessings of God and therefore they must also be the first to experience tribulation and anguish. They received the oracles of God and were partakers of God’s presence before any other nation. God calls Israel His “first born” Exodus 4:22. They must first be partakers of God’s wrath and judgment. But not until the Devil is cast to the earth and the “man child” has finished their work on the earth and are taken up into heaven, will Israel be thrown into “Jacob’s trouble”.

And because of their rejection of God’s grace during the “times of the gentiles”; Isaiah 24, Psalms 2; the gentiles will also drink of the cup of God’s wrath.

We will continue this at a later date when a much thorough look is made at the division of days in Noah’s flood.

 

 

 

Are you a leaf laden, fruitless Christian?

 

Luke 13:6-9
(6)  He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

(7)  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

(8)  And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

(9)  And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

 

The fig tree is symbolic of Israel throughout the old and new testament.

Hos 9:10  I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.

Joel 1:7  He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.

 

The Lord speaks of the fig tree as being barren and when the Father finds it as such desires to pull it up but  Jesus intercedes for Israel and asks for more time to allow fruit and if not then cut it down.

 

Mat 21:18-20

(18)  Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

(19)  And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

(20)  And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

 

“During the six months thence ensuing, the Savior was more active than ever, according to His promise to the master of the vineyard. But that trial, also, ended in fruitlessness, And that Jesus showed, when on one of the last days of His ministry He went up to the fig tree of the wayside, seeking for figs, and finding nothing but leaves, He cursed it, and it withered.”

Robert Govett; The Prophecy on Olivet. Pg 81

 

Mat 24:32-35

(32)  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

(33)  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

(34)  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

(35)  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

 

“But what is the meaning of “the leaves”? By them, as I judge, are intended the rites and ordinances given by Moses. When Israel repents, it will return to its well-known ordinances. Each tree has a peculiar leaf, which is contained virtually within it, even during the winter. Thus it was foretold that it would be the case with Israel.”

Robert Govett; The Prophecy on Olivet. Pg 83

 

Hos 3:4  For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:

Hos 3:5  Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

 

So the leaves, of the fig tree, represent the law and ordinances. The nation of Israel was certainly not without ordinances and sacrifices during the Lord’s ministry.

 

The Pharisees kept the letter of the law. But missed the spirit of the law.

Luk_11:42  But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Matt 23 refers to the “weightier matters of the law”)

Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

 

Thus the law had the mercy and the love of God scattered throughout that were to be practiced by the nation.

Mat 12:7  But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

Let’s hear the testimony of a “ex” Pharisee:

Php 3:5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Php 3:6  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

The Pharisees were teachers of the law.

Mat 23:2  Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

Mat 23:3  All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

The Pharisees trusted in the law

Joh 5:45-47
(45)  Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
(46)  For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
(47)  But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

The Pharisees added their own commandments and taught men so.

Mat 15:7-9
(7)  Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
(8)  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
(9)  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

The first time that a fig tree is mentioned in scripture it is in the garden of Eden. But is wasn’t the fruit that was spoken of but the leaves.

Gen 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 

They tried to cover their shame and nakedness by their own means. It wasn’t sufficient by God’s standard because He had to make them coats of skins.

Gen 3:21  Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Thus the leaves of the fig tree that were insufficient at the time is a type of man’s own righteousness: whereas the killing of the animal, required to make the coats of skin, is a type of the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice for mankind. It is man’s righteousness vs God’s righteousness that is under consideration.

Man seeks wisdom and knowledge from the source forbidden by God and them endeavors to provide his own righteousness to cover for his sin.The law handed down to Israel through the mediator Moses was to be the people’s righteousness. No other nation on earth could claim this.

Deu 6:

(5)  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

(6)  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

(24)  And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.

(25)  And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

Israel is God’s fig tree whereas the new testament church is a vine.

Joh 15:1-8

(1)  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

(2)  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

(3)  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

(4)  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

(5)  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

(6)  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

(7)  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

(8)  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Both Israel and the church are to bring forth fruit. Though Israel is in a time of winter until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled, the NT Church is to thrive in the Sun of righteousness bringing forth fruit for the husbandman.The Lord does not mention “bad fruit” which would be works of the flesh. Nor does he mention leaves.The Father is looking for fruit and leaves are not sufficient.

A fruitless fig tree represented a nation seeking their own righteousness, which they thought, would come by keeping ordinances and laws.

A fruitless vine is in my opinion no different.”Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away”

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Phil. 3:9

How to be a fruit bearing Christian?

1. Recognize that you are free from the evil works of darkness:

Rom 6:6-14

(6)  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

(7)  For he that is dead is freed from sin.

(8)  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

(9)  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

(10)  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

(11)  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(12)  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

(13)  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

(14)  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

a) The absence of the works of the flesh does not guarantee the presence of the fruits of the Spirit.

It is not enough to just live a moral life. To deny oneself the pleasures of the world does not promote a life that is fruitful unto God. Ordinance and rules and reformation is not the means to an end. It is not enough to “sweep the house” and garnish with rules “taste not touch not”

2. Understand that there is a promise of resurrection and a kingdom coming.

Col 1:3-6

(3)  We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

(4)  Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

(5)  For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

(6)  Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

 

3. Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfil the lusts of the former. Putting love first.

Gal 5:18-26

(18)  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

(19)  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

(20)  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

(21)  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

(22)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

(23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

(24)  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

(25)  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

(26)  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

In Summary:

  1. Love is the first fruit mentioned. Not faith, even though without faith it is impossible to please God
  2. We understand that the greatest commandment is to love God. Matt.22:37-40.
  3. Love must proceed and is a requirement for the other fruit to manifest themselves in our lives.
    1. 1Co 13:4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up (longsuffering,gentleness,meekness)
    2. Eph. 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love
  4. It is not sufficient to just do good works. Love must be the focus and main objective.
    1. Heb. 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
    2. 1Co 13:3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

How can we know if we are fruitful Christians? How can I know that it will go well with me in this present life and at the judgment seat of Christ?

If we put our sights on the first fruit of God’s love everything we do thereafter, we can be assured that:

  1. The rest of the fruits of the Spirit will begin to manifest themselves in our lives.
  2. The manifestation of love fruit in our lives will give great confidence on the day of judgment.

1Jn 4:7-18

(7)  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

(8)  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

(9)  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

(10)  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

(11)  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

(12)  No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

(13)  Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

(14)  And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

(15)  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

(16)  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

(17)  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

(18)  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.