The establishment of the kingdom of God is the great central theme of unfulfilled prophecy. This is not to come about, as some have taught, by a gradual process of improvement in the world or by world evangelization. The preaching of the gospel of the kingdom will play its part, but this is different from the preaching that goes on today. “These glad tidings of the kingdom” (Matt. 24:1414And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14) JND) are a resumption of the testimony broken off when the Lord was rejected. It will prepare men’s hearts for earthly blessing during the reign of Christ. The gospel today brings men into the Church and heavenly blessing with Christ.
Many prophecies in the Old and New Testaments assert the great truth that Christ is coming to reign, and in Matthew 24 we have the Lord’s own account of this. The Old Testament prophecies are full of it, but it is also clearly stated in various passages that He will not come alone, nor will He reign alone: He has companions. Who are they? Those who receive Him during this long period of His rejection and absence, for “if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2:1212If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (2 Timothy 2:12); see also Rom. 8:1717And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)). The Lord told His disciples, “When the Son of Man shall sit down upon His throne of glory, ye also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt. 19:2828And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28) JND). This, of course, would be their special and distinctive place.
The Scripture also tells us that “when the Christ is manifested who is our life, then shall ye also be manifested with Him in glory” (Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4) JND). This brings us to the glorious subject of Christ’s appearing. He is to be publicly manifested in glory before the eyes of men, for it says, “Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they which have pierced Him [the Jews]” (Rev. 1:77Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7) JND). The angels on the Mount of Olives said to the wondering disciples, as they gazed heavenward at His ascension, “This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, shall thus come in the manner in which ye have beheld Him going into heaven” (Acts 1:1111Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11) JND). Could anything be clearer? It is stated in language quite unmistakable that the Lord Jesus is to come in the same way as the disciples saw Him go, so that the appearing is the actual, visible, public coming of the Lord Jesus, which will be seen by all.
But it has been shown that those who have shared His rejection—all who have believed on Him during this period from Pentecost to the rapture — are to appear with Him. How does that come about? By their being taken up to heaven before He comes. This is stated with great clarity in the Epistle to the Thessalonians. The Thessalonian Christians, who were eagerly awaiting the Lord’s return, mourned because some of their number had died, feeling that they would miss this blessed moment. The Apostle’s answer to this is so important and so unmistakable that we reproduce it:
“We do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are fallen asleep, to the end that ye be not grieved even as also the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus has died and has risen again, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus” (1 Thess. 4:13-1413But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13‑14) JND).
God will bring the believers who have died with Jesus when He comes. Then the Apostle shows how this comes about:
“For this we say to you in the word of the Lord, that we, the living who remain to the coming of the Lord, are in no way to anticipate those who have fallen asleep; for the Lord Himself, with an assembling shout, with archangel’s voice and with trump of God, shall descend from heaven; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we, the living who remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:15-1715For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For 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: 17Then 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. (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑17) JND).
This is not the appearing of Christ. The object of this revelation was to show how the believers go to be with Christ before He appears, so that when He appears, they appear with Him.
This blessed event, which will be unseen by the world, is often called the “rapture” (the catching away), and it applies to all Christians. None of the Lord’s people will be left behind, as some falsely teach. The “dead in Christ” includes all the believing dead; the “we, the living who remain” includes all true believers alive at that moment. This is the resurrection of life spoken of by the Lord (John 5:2929And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:29)). This is the resurrection so vividly portrayed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15. He says there, “We shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed, in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Cor. 15:51-5251Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In 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. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑52) JND). All does not mean some. All living believers will be changed and transported to heaven at the rapture, together with the raised dead, to appear later with Christ at His appearing. Thus we have clearly distinguished these two parts of the Lord’s coming, the rapture and the appearing: the first, secret; the second, public. The first is for His people; the second will be with His people.
The rapture is the next great event on the divine calendar. Nothing has to be fulfilled before it takes place. There is no sign preceding it. There are signs which precede the appearing. If, therefore, we can perceive, as we can even now, signs that we are approaching the end of the age, how much nearer must be the moment of which the Lord spoke, “I am coming again and shall receive you to Myself” (John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3) JND).
After the Rapture of the Church
When the Church has been translated to heaven, this world will be plunged into awful darkness, for the light of Christianity will have gone and the Holy Spirit, now present with God’s people and operating in and through them, will also have gone. We read:
A mystery in Scripture conveys the idea of what is hidden or secret and only known to those who are initiated. The secret working of lawlessness, behind which is the power of Satan, is operating in Christendom today and has been since the apostles’ time, but the presence of the Holy Spirit has exerted a divine check, and its ultimate manifestation in the lawless one (a man under Satanic power and influence, who will aspire to take God’s place) is thus delayed. On the departure of the Holy Spirit with the Lord’s people at the rapture, this check on evil will be removed, and Satan’s power over men will be greatly increased.
God’s judgment will take the form of giving the world, which has rejected Christianity, over to the powers of darkness which men have themselves chosen instead of the truth. In the passage already cited, we learn that the coming of the lawless one is:
“According to the working of Satan in all power and signs and wonders of falsehood, and in all deceit of unrighteousness to them that perish, because they have not received the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this reason God sends to them a working of error, that they should believe what is false, that all might be judged who have not believed the truth, but have found pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thess. 2:9-129Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9‑12) JND).
Those who refuse the gospel in this present time will, in the government of God, be left to believe the lie.
God, however, will work in the hearts of a remnant of the Jews, so that they will be led to recognize that the Christ they crucified is their long-promised Messiah. Those thus recovered will become missionaries of the truth, but the gospel they will proclaim will not offer, as now, heavenly blessings with Christ, but blessing on the earth. While this is going on, Satan will be busy working in the minds of men, and his operations will be particularly effective in that part of the world now characterized as Christendom. The dissatisfied human heart, now manifesting itself in the rising up of the masses, and the tendency to refuse authority and submit to no rule but their own — all this will provide suitable material on which the enemy can work. These tendencies can be seen at work already; in that day they will ripen quickly.
The Breaking of the Seals
In Revelation 5, we read of a book (that is, a roll) written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. This book relates to God’s purposes of blessing regarding this earth. No one is found worthy to open it, and because of this John weeps. It is not in itself a book of judgment, although its opening involves judgment, for if God is to establish the blessed reign of Christ — and His will is to be done on earth as it is in heaven — every opposing element must be removed. So while the book is one of blessing, the effect of its opening is judgment.
Until all the seals have been broken, the book cannot be unrolled, and the Word of God therein become effective. This is not done all at once. Under the figures of the Lion and the Lamb, Christ is depicted as the only One worthy to open the book. His coming forward in this character gives rise to the wonderful redemption song; then the angels surrounding the throne strike a note of praise which widens out into the vast universe until the whole reverberates with His praise (Rev. 5:6-146And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. 9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. 13And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. (Revelation 5:6‑14)).
As the Lamb proceeds to open the seals, events follow rapidly on the earth. A seal implies that that which is sealed remains unopened until the authorized person acts. God has thus placed a seal upon matters in this world until this moment arrives. It reminds us of what has already been quoted, that He who now hinders the working of evil will continue to do so until He is taken away. God has placed a restraint upon the world and upon Satan until the appointed moment arrives. In the breaking of the seals, we see that restraint removed step by step.
The first four seals result in events on earth which are similar to what has often happened before in the world’s history. First, a great conqueror appears, then peace is taken from the earth, then famine appears, and then there is widespread death. Following this, on the breaking of the fifth seal, the souls of those slain for the Word of God cry out for vengeance. These are not the souls of Christian martyrs, for they have already been raised and taken to be with Christ in glory. This cry is for vengeance, which is not a Christian characteristic, but it is fitting at this time of judgment. These are the souls of persons who have given their lives as martyrs for the truth during the interval that has already elapsed up to the opening of the fifth seal. When the sixth seal is opened, the whole fabric of society is completely wrecked. What men have been fearfully expecting will have come to pass — a world in chaos. (See Revelation 6:12-1712And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:12‑17).)
The effect upon men’s evil consciences is seen in what they say about the wrath of the Lamb. The Lamb is a name of Christ, and the fact that men speak of Him thus shows that they have a knowledge of Christianity — they are not heathen who have never heard of the Lamb. It is, therefore, what happens in the western world — in Christendom, which has had the light of Christianity. Actually, that is not yet the end; the day of His wrath is yet a little way ahead, but God is bringing home to Christendom its wickedness. The worst is yet to come.
An upheaval of society such as depicted here, worse than anything that has ever been known in the world’s history, will pave the way for great changes in the world. The character of these changes is clearly given in passages in Daniel and Revelation.
The seventh seal, the opening of which is recorded in chapter 8, is preceded by a vision of two great companies of saved persons: the first consists of 144,000, sealed out of every tribe in Israel, and the second is an unnumbered host of Gentiles. We are, however, shown in advance these two companies which God will secure out of the world during the judgment then about to fall. We are specifically told that this innumerable host of Gentiles are those who have come out of the great tribulation. This great tribulation is part of the judgment which is introduced by the seventh seal. The seals are thus preparatory and providential judgments, closing with the seventh seal which introduces the trumpets.
The trumpets announce definite and direct judgments and take effect upon the new order of society which emerges after the revolution which follows the opening of the sixth seal.
To recapitulate, after the rapture of believers, certain providential judgments will fall upon the earth, culminating in the complete breakup of human society as we know it. Then a new order of society makes its appearance, which is a revival of the old Roman Empire in a new and final form.
Israel’s Recovery
Prophecy largely centers around the past, present and future of the nation of Israel. It has often been said that if proof were needed of the inspiration of the Bible, it could be given in a word — the Jews. No other race has been so oppressed, so persecuted and so universally dispersed, and yet they remain, to this day, a race apart. Through all the vicissitudes of the centuries, the Jews have, in God’s providence, preserved their identity in a most remarkable way. Now, in spite of every kind of opposition, they are returning to their ancient homeland. They are once again an independent nation — a situation which has not obtained since Nebuchadnezzar took them captive to Babylon twenty-five hundred years ago, for after that they were always under a Gentile yoke.
Their return to the land was necessary if the Scripture was to be fulfilled, and now this remarkable fulfillment of prophecy is in part taking place before our eyes. It is, moreover, evident from Scripture that at the beginning this return would be in unbelief, the temple being rebuilt and the ancient ritual restored, for Daniel speaks of the continual sacrifice being taken away (Dan. 12:1111And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. (Daniel 12:11)). This is at the time when they have acknowledged Antichrist. Other scriptures, however, speak of a fuller recovery which will not take place until after the Church has been taken to heaven. For example, we read,
Moreover, in chapter 37 of Ezekiel the vision of dry bones shows how Israel will be revived as a nation. The same chapter shows that Judah and the other tribes will be united to form again one nation as of old. Ezekiel’s prophecy presents Israel’s recovery from the point of view of God’s sovereign work and does not deal with the unbelieving mass.
There are many other prophecies relating to this wonderful national recovery under divine mercy. Among them is the striking and touching word in Hosea:
“Come and let us return unto Jehovah: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live before His face” (Hos. 6:12 JND).
Chapter 11 of Romans also deals with this great event.
It is clear, however, that there is, at first, a return in unbelief. This is what is already in measure taking place. Many of the Jews will remain in unbelief and receive Antichrist. The Lord said,
When God begins to work, the eyes of many will be opened, and they will realize that the Jesus they crucified is truly their Messiah and that He is about to come again. The truth of Isaiah 53:45 will dawn upon them. What an awakening it will be! With what fervor they will take up again the gospel of the kingdom referred to in Matthew 24:
“These glad tidings of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole habitable earth for a witness to all the nations, and then shall come the end” (ch. 24:14 JND).
This is not the gospel of the grace of God which is preached today, offering forgiveness of sins and a place in the Church, with all the heavenly blessings connected with it. It is the heralding of Christ’s millennial kingdom on earth. The “end” referred to is the end of the age, the time of the Lord’s appearing.
Failure to distinguish between the scriptures which apply to the people of Israel and their earthly blessing when Christ comes and those which apply to the Church and her heavenly blessing has caused much confusion in the understanding of prophecy. It is, indeed, the basis of much heretical teaching.
These Jews who thus receive the light of Christ (often referred to as the “godly remnant”) will pass through much suffering, being opposed by their unbelieving brethren and persecuted by the worldly power to which these latter will give their allegiance. Many of the Psalms express prophetically their feelings. During this period of suffering some will be martyred, while others will be brought through the great tribulation. It is to such that the words apply, “He that has endured to the end, he shall be saved” (Matt. 24:1313But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Matthew 24:13) JND).
Prophecy shows us, then, that there will be an initial return of the Jewish nation in unbelief to Palestine (which is in part being fulfilled) and that God will work in the hearts of many, and a remnant will be secured who will preach the gospel of the kingdom, while those who do not believe will receive Antichrist and will be taken away in judgment at the Lord’s return, as it says:
“As the days of Noe, so also shall be the coming of the Son of Man. For as they were ... before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day on which Noe entered into the ark, and they knew not till the flood came and took all away; thus also shall be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two shall be in the field, one is taken and one is left” (Matt. 24:37-4037But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38For 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, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Matthew 24:37‑40) JND).
That means one is taken away in judgment and the other left for blessing in the millennial kingdom of Christ. This is the reverse of what will happen at the rapture of the Church, when the believer is taken to heaven and the unbeliever is left for judgment.
Finally, God’s work will be completed and the nation of Israel will be united under Christ and enjoy the blessing of Christ’s kingdom for a thousand years on earth — the millennium. The nations, too, will come into blessing, and Israel will have her place as the head of the nations, while Jerusalem will be the earthly metropolis, and all nations will go up to worship God there. (See Zechariah 14:1616And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16).)
As we have previously observed, it is the portion of the heavenly saints to reign with Christ, and all who have part in the first resurrection will reign with Him during this thousand years. (See Revelation 20:66Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6).) Just as Eve was associated with Adam in his headship over the creation, for it says, “Let them have dominion” (Gen. 1:2626And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26)), so the Church, the bride of Christ, shares in His headship in the world to come. She is seen in Revelation 21-22 as “the bride, the Lamb’s wife ... the holy city, Jerusalem” (ch. 21:9-10 JND). The double type of the woman and the city shows both her place of near relationship to Christ and her place in the divine administration of the world to come. In a way which our minds cannot yet picture, the accumulated spiritual wealth of the Church — what God has wrought in the saints during the ages — will be brought into service in the administration of the world to come. Earth will look to heaven for light and guidance and will be illuminated by the Church, which is Christ’s fullness. This is clearly taught in the marvelous symbolic passage describing the heavenly city in the two closing chapters of Revelation, where it says quite distinctly, “The nations shall walk by its light” (Rev. 21:2424And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. (Revelation 21:24) JND). What a contrast to the deceitful diplomacy, international strife and imperfect administration that mark the nations of the world today!
Just as the flood in Noah’s day cleansed the earth and Noah and his family stepped out into a purged world, so the world will start afresh with every evil element swept away in the judgment, and the millennium will begin with the converted nation of Israel and the unnumbered multitude of Gentiles who have received the everlasting gospel. These will all have been born again. But during the progress of the thousand years, millions will be born on earth who have not been through the experiences of their parents. At the close of the millennium, Satan will be loosed, and this becomes a solemn test to those who have grown up in the light that has shone from heaven during that time. The awful result is described in Revelation 20:710. It is the end: This earth has served its purpose. What is provisional must now give place to what is eternal. Evil will be dealt with finally at the “great white throne” (Rev. 20:1111And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:11)). There the dead will be judged according to their works. Believers do not, of course, come into this judgment. Satan himself and all whose names are not written in the book of life will be consigned to the lake of fire. The conflict between good and evil will be over: A new heaven and a new earth, which no stain of evil will ever mar and which sin can never spoil, will then come into view.