CHAPTER XIX. THE KINGDOM OF THE SON OF MAN. DAN. II. 35.-" AND THE STONE THAT SMOTE THE IMAGE BECAME A GREAT MOUNTAIN, AND FILLED THE WHOLE EARTH." 44, 45.-" AND IN THE DAYS OF THESE KINGS SHALL THE GOD OF HEAVEN SET UP A KINGDOM THAT 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. FORASMUCH AS THOU SAWEST THAT THE STONE WAS CUT OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN WITHOUT HANDS, AND THAT IT BRAKE IN PIECES THE IRON, THE CLAY, THE BRASS, THE SILVER, AND THE GOLD; THE GREAT GOD HATH MADE KNOWN TO THE KING WHAT SHALL COME TO PASS HEREAFTER: AND THE DREAM IS CERTAIN, AND THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF IS SURE." VII. 13, 14.-"I SAW IN THE NIGHT VISIONS, AND BEHOLD, ONE LIKE UNTO THE Holy Spirit, in these words, announces to us the last and most glorious truth of the whole prophecy. The previous history is a dark and gloomy pathway, but here we have the divine temple to which it leads. That truth is the future and eternal dominion of the Son of man. This was the great object of the divine counsels, when the heavens and the earth were framed in the beginning. With a view to this triumphant close, the course of the world has been sustained, for six thousand years, amidst sin and misery and rebellion. All the perplexed and countless changes of past history have only been preparing the way for this blissful consummation. And hence of all subjects which can occupy the thoughts of an immortal being, this is one of the most wonderful and glorious. Herein the travail of the Redeemer's soul will be fulfilled. Herein the truth of God's promises and the depth of His counsels will be manifested for ever; and all His attributes of holiness and majesty, of love and wisdom, will meet in their most sublime display. A dim and feeble sketch only can be offered here: the truth itself is overwhelming and boundless. May He who searcheth all things, even the deep things of God, enable us, in some measure. to understand these mysteries of his word, hidden from ages and from generations; but which it is His gracious purpose to reveal, more and more fully, in these latter days! Let us first endeavour to ascertain by the direct evidence of God's word, the main characters of this future kingdom; and then derive from this hope some of those practical lessons which it supplies, in rich variety, for the whole Church of God. The time of the kingdom here predicted includes the promised millennium, and reaches far beyond into the ages that will follow. That it must include the millennium, results clearly from the many testimonies of Scripture which have been already given. It appears with equal evidence, when we compare the description Daniel vii. 11-18, with the similar prophecy in the book of Revelation. But the kingdom here announced is not limited to one thousand years: five times, in these two visions, it is declared to be everlasting. It reaches therefore far beyond the millennium itself, and comprehends those countless ages in which the Son of God and his ransomed people shall reign for ever. (Rev. xxii.) But here a difficulty may arise. For St. Paul, (1 Cor. xv. 24.) clearly reveals to us a time, when "the kingdom shall be delivered up to God, even the Father." This period the Holy Spirit calls emphatically, THE END. How then shall the Son of man continue to reign, after this end has come? To solve this doubt, we must remember the various attributes and titles which meet in our Divine Saviour. He is perfect God and perfect man, in two distinct natures and in one person for ever. As very God of very God, He is one with the eternal Father; and as man He is one with his redeemed people. But He is also the Mediator between God and a fallen world. In the fulfilment of this office, He vailed for a time his divine glory, and though truly God, "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant." Therefore He will also hereafter, as Mediator, exercise for a season a peculiar dominion, till all enemies shall be subdued under his feet. The era of this peculiar sovereignty will be the millennium, or the day of future judgment. As God, He will share for ever in the supreme worship and dominion rendered to God the Father. The throne which is surrounded with eternal adoration is the throne "of God and of the Lamb." As man, He will also enjoy an everlasting dominion to be shared with his people. But the peculiar dominion which he holds as Mediator will cease. When death, the last enemy shall be destroyed, its purpose will have been completely attained. The God-man will then resign that special dominion which He has held during the time of judgment. Thenceforth, as the Lamb in the midst of the throne, He will share in his Father's glory; and, as the Son of man, He will never cease to exercise visible sovereignty over a ransomed universe. "He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom shall be no end." Such is the holy dominion announced in the vision. Let us now search into some of the main elements which compose its Divine glory. First of all, among the excellences of this kingdom will be the personal manifestation of the Saviour. Thus war. it is revealed in Daniel's prophecy. "I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like unto the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven." The same truth, in reference to the same time, is re-echoed by the beloved disciple. 66 Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him." And still more fully in the vision near the close of the prophecy. There, before this promised kingdom appears, we have the full description. "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 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God." The same presence of the Lord in His kingdom is taught in the message of Gabriel to the Virgin,—" The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom shall be no end.” He is the nobleman who went into a far country, to receive the kingly dominion, and to return. And when He has received the kingdom, He will return, according to his own promise. Then will be fulfilled his words to his ancient people, when his ministry among them was closed. "Ye shall not see me henceforth, until ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." The Church will then be widowed no longer. The cry will have been heard and answered, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him." The restitution of all things will have begun; and the heavens shall no longer detain the Lord Jesus. The Redeemer will have come from Zion, and will have turned away ungodliness from Jacob. All those glorious promises of the elder prophets will be faithfully and exactly accomplished. "When the Lord shall build up Zion, He will appear in his glory." "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for lo, I come, and will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord." "The name of the city from that day shall be, the Lord is there." "The Lord my God shall come, and all His saints. And every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem, shall even go up from year to year, to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts." And then, also, in the exultation of holy joy, the message will be proclaimed to Israel, “Cry out, and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." With the Lord of glory himself, His holy apostles will then be present also. Theirs will be the highest places in glory, and nearest to the Supreme King. Twice has this promise been sealed to them by his own lips. "Ye which have followed me,-in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me: that ye may eat and drink with me at my table in my kingdom, and sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." And the same truth had been announced, though less plainly, by the evangelical prophet; when, after the overthrow of the great oppressor, he proclaims to the Church, "Behold! a King shall reign in righteousness; and princes shall rule in judg ment." A like distinction of pre-eminent glory is implied in the latest vision of God's word. "The walls of the city had twelve foundations; and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." But not the apostles only will share in this dominion: all they that fear God, both small and great, shall then receive their reward. "The kingdom, and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.' So also the prophet Zechariah, in words which refer clearly to the same time, gives the distinct announcement, "the Lord my God shall come and all his saints with thee." All the other statements of Scripture are in harmony with this declaration, and teach us that all "they who are Christ's" shall be |