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lievers changed, as they will be when the Lord comes. We know very little about Hades or the intermediate state of the dead. It is probably true that, since the resurrection of our Lord, the souls of believers, at death, go to a Paradise above, so that Paul could say "absent from the body, present with the Lord." 2 Cor. 5:8. But it would appear, from Rev. 6:9-11,11 that certain of the departed souls yearn for the execution of Judgment, which occurs when the Lord comes.12 Spiritually, the believer is with Christ now, and always,13 but, to be with Christ, bodily,14 is only to be attained by the resurrection, at His coming.15 Therefore, it

(11) Rev. 6:9. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not Judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11. And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

(12) 1 Cor. 4:5. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

2 Tim. 4:1. I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:

Rev. 11:18. 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.

Also Mat. 25:31-40.

(13) John 14:23. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me. he will keep my words and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Mat. 28:20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

(14) John 12:26. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

John 17:24. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

(15) John 14:3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

1 Thes. 4:17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

is entirely unscriptural to instruct the believer to look for death, as being synonymous with, or equivalent to, the Lord's coming.

Dr. David Brown's Testimony.

Rev. David Brown, although a prominent Post-millenialist, recognizes this and he says: "The coming of Christ to individuals at death-however warrantably we may speak so, and whatever profitable considerations it may suggest― is not fitted for taking that place in the view of the believer which Scripture assigns to the Second Advent." And he very properly illustrates by the following passages:

"Let not your heart be troubled (said Jesus to his sorrowing disciples): In my Father's house are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go away' -What then? 'Ye shall soon follow me? Death shall shortly bring us together? Nay; but 'If I go away, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also.' John 14:3.

"And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven, this same Jesus which is taken up, from you into heaven shall'-What? Take you home soon to himself at death? Nay, but shall 'so come in like manner as have seen Him go into heaven.' Acts 1:10-11."

ye

"And," he adds, "how know we that by jostling this event (the Advent) out of its scriptural place in the expectations of the Church, we are not, in a great degree, destroying its character and power as a practical principle? Can we not believe, though unable to trace it, that God's methods are ever best; and that as in nature, so perhaps in revelation, a modification by us of the divine arrangements, apparently slight, and attended even with some seeming advantages, may be followed by a total and unexpected change of results, the opposite of what is anticipated and desired? So we fear it to be here." 99* We would that we had space to quote more, for we admire this frank admis

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SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.

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sion-that death is not the coming of our Lord-from one who labors so hard to support post-millennialism. Again, the substitution of death for the coming of the Lord practically degrades the grand doctrine of the resurrection, from its lofty prominence in Scripture, to almost an unnecessary appendage.

But we believe in the preaching of Jesus and the resurrection,16 and we look forward with joyous anticipation to the resurrection from the dead, as the time when Jesus shall give us the victory over death.1

17

Oh! that Christians might realize "the grace that is to be brought unto" us (not at death but) "at the revelation of Jesus Christ."18

Nowhere in the Savior's teachings are we commanded to watch or prepare for death. But we are commanded to

watch and prepare for Christ's coming.

Therefore, let us not be deceived by the thought that our great enemy, Death, is the precious coming of Jesus. So, beloved, we conclude that this glorious doctrine does concern you.

Search the Scriptures.

Perhaps, you say: can't understand it." If so, God's word is

teach you.

"I don't know much about it, and I But do you want to understand it? open to you. The Holy Spirit will 19 He will show you things to come,20 and these

(16) Acts 4:2. Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Acts 17:18. Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

(17) 1 Cor. 15:54. But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the say

ing that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55. O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?

(18) 1 Pet. 1:13. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

(19) John 14:26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (20) John 16:13. Howbeit

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pages are written with the earnest desire to aid you in the study of this truth.

Will you study it? Will you search for yourself, as did the noble Bereans ?21 not merely to read through this little book, but to use it simply as an index, and go to the Word, search out the passages herein referred to, read them and pray over them, until the Holy Spirit guides you into the truth? If so, we believe that you will see the light, and find comfort to your soul.

Said a Christian, who had long opposed the truth of the pre-millennial coming of Christ: "I have spent the happiest night of my life, for last evening I saw the truth concerning the second coming." It filled him with joy, and he is one who has been greatly used in leading souls to Christ. May God bless and thus use you, dear reader.

when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak and he will shew you things to come.

(21) Acts 17:10. And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto

Berea who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

CHAPTER IV.

The Three Appearings.

The grandest fact in history is that Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, has been in this world.

And the most important fact of the present is that He is now in Heaven making intercession for us.1

And the greatest prophesied event of the future is, that He is coming again.

These three appearings are beautifully set forth in the 9th of Hebrews.2

His appearing upon earth "to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." Verse 26.

His entering "into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." Verse 24.

"And unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time, without sin unto salvation." Verse 28. While He was here upon earth He said: "It is expedient for you that I go away.' "з and He went away. He said, "I go to prepare a place for you." But

(1) 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.

Rom. 8:34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

1 John 2:1. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

(2) Heb. 9:24. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

26. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

28. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

(3) John 16:7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

(4) Acts 1:9. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight..

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