BEING QUITE DISTINCT FROM HIS COMING TO THE WORLD.
IN a former paper, headed “The Church hasting the Coming of the Lord," I spoke of the connection between His return and our communion and prayers. I thought it would be desirable further to set forth the scriptural evidence of the separateness of the Lord's coming for the Church. I would at once say therefore that the remaining of the Church on earth, until he comes to the earth, seems to be quite inconsistent with the revealed truths of God.
Let us look to the difference of dispensation between Israel and the Church, which has been to my own mind the great key about it. First then, I would say we find Israel again owned of God, and dealt with nationally before the Lord's return to the earth (more correctly perhaps, I should say, the remnant of Israel), and brought through the judgment into blessing on the earth. (Isa. 65:8, 98Thus saith the Lord, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all. 9And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. (Isaiah 65:8‑9).) "I will bring forth a bud out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains; and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a plain for herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me." So also Luke 13:99And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. (Luke 13:9); compare Isa. 6:1313But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. (Isaiah 6:13). Now I say that is quite inconsistent with the standing of the Church. "There is neither Jew nor Gentile in Christ," but one body, is an essential truth of the Church. It is not at all national, but elective. When God therefore again takes up Israel, to know them as Israel, the Church no longer exists on earth. It is done with, and taken away. And remark, in the Old Testament prophets, which are full of this remnant, they plead with God, as Israel: " We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name." (Isa. 63:1919We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name. (Isaiah 63:19).) So also 64:9, 10.
Secondly, they walk, as Israel does. In Malachi 4:44Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. (Malachi 4:4) we find this. Speaking of that day and of Elias' coming, he says, "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments." It is not in the way of Christ's commandments, as John 15., but in the statutes of Moses they wait for him.
Again, we find the temple service restored, and owned of God. Look at Joel 1. and 2., when the last hour of judgment and distress comes, who are called to stand in the breach; verse 13: "Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests; howl, ye ministers of the altar; come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat-offering and the drink-offering are with holden from the house of your God." Again, 2: 16 "Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children," &c. “Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach. Then will the Lord," &c.
We find then earthly priests and sacrifices owned of God. Surely this is diametrically opposed to the calling of the Church. We protest now that there is no priest on earth (save as all believers are spiritual priests, 1 Peter 2:99But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)); only One in heaven. (Heb. 8:4; 7:144For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: (Hebrews 8:4)
14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. (Hebrews 7:14).) And if we saw an altar on earth, should we not at once say, “That is not of God "?” We have an altar whereof they have no right to eat, which serve the first tabernacle." (Heb. 13:1010We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. (Hebrews 13:10).) Mark also the porch, and the altar, the temple again owned.
Now if we suppose the Church to be on earth, then you find two classes of persons holding testimonies diametrically different. The one affirms what the other entirely rejects. Certainly God cannot be the author of this. He can be but the author of one such testimony at one time. Imagine an enquirer desiring to follow the Lord. He says, To which shall I attach myself; you both say you are of God, and yet you entirely contradict one another: the one owns an earthly altar, &c.; the other entirely rejects it?
I would further remark, in passing, another instance of the remnants acting after the earthly calling. (Zech. 12:6, 76In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. 7The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. (Zechariah 12:6‑7).) So again Rev. 11:5, 65And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. (Revelation 11:5‑6) shows itself, to my mind, to be clearly an earthly testimony. Compare Luke 9:5454And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? (Luke 9:54).
And further, supposing the Church to be on earth, when the Lord comes to the earth, you have one of two things.
First, in the one case, we must suppose the Church taken up, to him; the Israel remnant, not. In that ease you have one party taken up at the same time to the higher resurrection glory with the rest of the Church; Israel left for the lower earthly blessing in flesh. What confusion!
Secondly, supposing you say the Israel remnant is taken up too in resurrection, you have the earth without a single soul in communion with Christ, who was to deliver it and Israel! (though I believe Zech. 14:14; 12:8,14And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. (Zechariah 14:14)
8In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. (Zechariah 12:8) openly contradicts this.) No heart on earth to welcome His triumph and His entry into Jerusalem, that has waited and suffered for Thin in His rejection! To say (as Isa. 25:99And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. (Isaiah 25:9)) this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us! And again Isa. 65:1010And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me. (Isaiah 65:10).
And as to saying that the remnant of Israel hold a testimony for God, and yet are unconverted until Christ comes, it is in my mind contrary even to fundamental principles of truth. Surely how can any hold any testimony for God, except by communion, under the leading of the regenerating Spirit? (Or supposing the Church to be en earth, what neutral ground can be admitted according to that word, " He that hath the Son of God, hath life: he that hath not the Son, hath not life "?
Now their communion is of a very high order. Next to John 17. I do not know if Isa. 26., their language, does not stand.
In what I have spoken, I have spoken of what is realized, and clear to my own mind. I further suggest to help enquiry, when Satan is cast out from heaven, as in Rev. 12., how can the Church be any more on earth, when it has no longer an enemy fit for it to contend with? See Ephes. 6:1212For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12); Satan in the heavenlies as they are. Chap. 1. to 2:6.
The upshot is to my mind this: when God acknowledges and deals with Israel as Israel, the Church is done with. The principle seems entirely clear. I add one word. We may not in one sense attempt to answer the question, “When will the Lord come for us?" In another sense it seems clear to my own mind (according to what was said in the former paper) there is this solution: "When the Church is READY;” or at least the remnant of the Church, for I by no means look for the whole Church to take up its proper position. Most important truth! "Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Como quickly!" G.