Page images
PDF
EPUB

and his saints.16 No, beloved! for the best idea we mortals can have of infinity or eternity is that of continual meas urement, and this is exactly the idea conveyed by the indefinite expression aions of aions.

It will be noticed in the diagram that the aions are not of the same duration, but each marks a change in God's method of dealing with mankind. Probably the aions of the past, the Hebrew olams of the Old Testament mark the geological periods of the earth and the various eras in the development of the universe. And as the past has been an orderly unfolding of creation and revelation of the Creator, so shall the future be, not a limitless aion called eternity, but a limitless succession of aions measuring infinite duration. Time is the measure of eternity and eternity is the continued measurement of time. Take for instance a yard stick, and it measures only three feet. But turn it over and over and over, and you pass around the world, out to the moon, the sun, the stars, the farthermost nebula, and all the limits of imagination, and still the little measure goes on and on into the unthinkable. In like manner the Scriptural succession of aions measures eternity.

The events at the beginning of this present aion, viz.: the crucifixion and ascension of our Lord and the descent of the Holy Spirit are well understood. The events at its close constitute

"The Time of the End "

and are briefly as follows: The descent of the Lord with a shout, the resurrection of those who sleep in Jesus, the

beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Rev 20:10. And the devil, that deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever (aions of aions).

(16) Rev. 1:6. And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and

ever. Amen.

Rev. 11:15. 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 (aions of aions).

Rev. 22:5. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

change in a moment of those believers who are alive (1 Cor. 15), their rapture, or being caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thes. 4:13-18), to enjoy the marriage feast of the King's Son, the Lamb of God. Mat. 22:2, etc.; 25:10; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25-32; Rev. 19:7, and Song of Solomon.

While this is occurring in the air, Israel gathered to Palestine in unbelief,17 rebuild their temple, establish their ancient sacrifices and plunge from bad to worse until Antichrist arises, and they make a covenant with him,18 which the prophet calls a covenant with death and sheol.19 Terrible persecutions shall follow, called "the time of Jacob's trouble."20

When it would seem that all wast lost,21 then the Lord

for ever and ever (aions of aions).

(17) Zeph. 2:1. Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;

2. Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you.

(18) Dan. 9:27. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

John 5:43. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not; if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

(19) Isa. 28:15. 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.

(20) Jer. 30:5. For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

6. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

7. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble. But he shall be saved out of it.

(21) Zech. 14:1. Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.

2. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

go

3. Then shall the Lord forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

See verses 4 and 5.

Also Jude 14; 2 Thes. 2:8.

shall come with His saints down to the earth and destroy this lawless Antichrist, deliver Israel, who will then look upon "Him they have pierced,"22 and a nation shall be born in a day, or at once.23 He will judge the living nations and establish His millennial kingdom. Psa. 2; Dan. 2:44; Rev. 11:15.

But let it be distinctly remembered that we have no date for the rapture, the coming of our Lord to the trysting place in the air.24 We are to live with our loins girt and our lamps burning like men that wait for their Lord. Luke 12:35-40. And yet, in the unfolding of events we may see the day approaching,25 the beginnings that shall cause us to lift up our heads.2

(22) Zech. 12:9. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

10. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.

11. In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

12. And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;

13. The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;

14. All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

(23) Isa. 66: 8. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be

seen

26

as

born at once? for as soon Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

(24) Mark 13:32. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

33. Take ye heed, watch and pray : for ye know not when the time is.

34. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

35. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

36. Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

37. And what I say unto you i say unto all, Watch.

(25) Heb. 10:25. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.

(26) Luke 21:28. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

CHAPTER XXII.

Signs of Christ's Speedy Coming.

We believe that the coming of our Lord is to be personal and premillennial, also, that it is imminent. Let us remember the admonition that we must distinguish between the Rapture-His coming into the air to receive His saints, 1 Thes. 4, which may occur at any moment--and the Revelation-His coming down to the earth with His saintswhich latter will not occur until after the preaching of the gospel as a witness,1 the gathering of Israel, in unbelief, the manifestation of Antichrist, and other prophesied events. Now we are to consider, what are the evidences for also believing that His coming, the Rapture, is near. Out of many reasons we will give seven, as follows:

I. The Prevalence of Travel and Knowledge.

"Shut up the words and seal the book even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased." Dan. 12:4.

A comparison of recent years with the present shows a most marvelous increase in both travel and knowledge.

An incident is told of a woman in England who, after long consideration had decided on a journey. Friends gathered to assist her departure and walked by the conveyance a mile or more to bid her God-speed, but lo, her entire journey was only fifty miles.

Now, invention has chained the mighty forces of steam and electricity to palatial carriages by land and sea, so that one can go round the world, with comfort and ease, in sixty days.

Railways cover the earth and steamers track the sea like a mighty spider's web.

Our text says, Many shall run to and fro. In the year

(1) Matt. 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.

« PreviousContinue »