1. What Is the Moral Effect Intended by the Consideration of the Solemn Future?
“What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness ... therefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless. Therefore, let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober” (1 Pet. 3:11, 14; 1 Thess. 5:6).
2. What Is Coming?
It is either judgment or glory to you! It must be one or the other. If washed in the blood of the Lamb, eternal glory is your future portion; but if unreconciled to God by the death of Jesus, then eternal judgment is your certain inheritance. What is coming? Judgment and glory.
3. Who Is Coming?
Jesus is coming. He tabernacled among men; loved sinners, and died for them. His work on the cross is finished for sinners; His work on the throne is accomplishing for saints. On the cross He dealt with my sins; on the throne He occupies Himself with my necessities, and He is coming. Then there will be the mingled voice of rejoicing and of wailing. His saints will triumph; sinners will mourn. The wrath of the coming Lamb will fall upon the ungodly; the glory of the coming Lamb will be shared by the blood-washed, blood-redeemed saints of God. Who is coming? Jesus, and every eye shall see Him. Are you ready?
4. What Is the Hope of the Believer?
Our hope as believers is the personal return of the Lord to fetch us to Himself, and afterwards to reign in glory. As He said, “I will come again and receive you unto Myself” (John 14:3). That is it. Jesus Himself coming is our “blessed hope,” and Jesus Himself in the Father’s house and our being like Him morally (1 John 3:2) and bodily (Phil. 3:21), our richest blessings.
John 14:3 3And 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 John 3:2 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Philippians 3:21 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
5. What Is the Hope of the Church?
The Hope of the Church is the personal return of the Lord to claim “His own.” He will come from heaven into the “air,” and with “shout,” “voice,” and “trump” gather His people from every land and every clime, from tomb and sea. Not a single person redeemed through the precious blood of Christ will be left behind, whether alive on the earth or resting in the grave. All will be caught “up” in clouds to meet the Lord in the air — the trysting-place with our adorable Lord and Master (1 Thess. 4:17). Then Christ will present to Himself His Church all glorious and spotless — without sign of age or decay, holy and blameless (See Eph. 5:25-27; Col. 3:4). What is the hope of the Bride but the coming of the Bridegroom (Rev. 22:17)? Now espoused to Christ, what is her hope but to have the relationship of wife established? (See 2 Cor. 11:2, with Rev. 19:7.) What a hope! We wait for Christ coming personally to take the Church to Himself, displaying her in the coming ages in joint-heirship over creation (Eph. 1:10-11), and forming in her everlasting bridal affections and establishing eternal relationship (Rev. 21:2).
1 Thessalonians 4:17 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.
Ephesians 5:25-27 25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Colossians 3:4 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Revelation 22:17 17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
2 Corinthians 11:2 2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
Revelation 19:7 7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Ephesians 1:10-11 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Revelation 21:2 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
6. What Is the Hope of the Servant?
The hope of the servant is to find the fruit of his labor in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at His coming (1 Thess. 2:19). “And now, little children, abide in Him; that when He shall appear, we (the servants) may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28). The crown of glory will, on the appearing of the Chief Shepherd, be set on the brow of the faithful laborer, now toiling among the flock of God (1 Peter 5:1-4). The crown of righteousness will be bestowed as reward of service, and to all who love His appearing (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
There are four crowns held out as reward and encouragement. Every Christian will receive a crown of gold (Rev. 4:4). The faithful witness gains the crown of life (Rev. 2:10). The devoted servant earns the crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8). The crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:4) will be a rich recompense to the faithful pastor.
Heralds of the grace and glory of the risen Jesus, may you be ready when your Lord comes and knocks, to open unto Him “immediately” (Luke 12:36).
1 Thessalonians 2:19 19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
1 John 2:28 28And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
1 Peter 5:1-4 1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Revelation 4:4 4And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Revelation 2:10 10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
2 Timothy 4:8 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
1 Peter 5:4 4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Luke 12:36 36And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
7. What Is the Hope of Israel?
Jehovah-Jesus, the Saviour, is the only Hope of Israel, as the prophet stated, “O the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble” (Jer. 14:7-9). “All Israel shall be saved;” but how? and when? There is no salvation for Israel as a people until they acknowledge their offence (Hosea 5:15), and turn to their long and bitterly rejected Messiah, saying, “Blessed is He that cometh [not that came] in the name of the Lord” (Matt. 23:39); then they shall see Him. Through mercy we have believed in Him whom we have not seen (1 Peter 1:8); Israel, Thomas-like, will believe when they see (John 20:29). The blessing of Israel — effected by looking upon Him whom they have pierced — is yet future, as Zechariah 12 clearly shows. Jerusalem will be besieged — not as before by the Romans, but by the north-eastern powers of the closing days, and the city captured once, and a second time assaulted. At that interesting moment the Lord will interfere by descending from heaven with His heavenly saints (Zech. 14:5) to Mount Olivet, effecting deliverance for His people and destroying their foes. Israel will then mourn in presence of her Messiah as Jacob’s children did in presence of Joseph, of which it is a type. When the kingdom will be restored “again” to Israel (Acts 1:6-7), when the glorious declarations of prophets and the theme of bards will be fulfilled to the very letter. The 72nd Psalm is an actual and true description of these millennial days. Israel’s hope then, whether for conversion as a people, or for glory of millennial times, is the personal return of her Messiah. “The Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgressions in Jacob, saith the Lord.” Then follows a description of Zion’s glory, which for beauty of language is matchless (Isa. 60). Read the prophets as descriptive of what will actually take place. Alas! that Christians should seek to deny or fritter away the plain and obvious meaning of the numerous predictions in the Old Testament, which intimate a glorious future for Israel.
Jeremiah 14:7-9 7O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee. 8O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? 9Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.
Hosea 5:15 15I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
Matthew 23:39 39For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
1 Peter 1:8 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
John 20:29 29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Zechariah 14:5 5And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
Acts 1:6-7 6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
Psalm 72:1-20 1A Psalm for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. 2He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. 3The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. 4He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. 5They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. 6He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. 7In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. 8He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. 9They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. 10The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. 11Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. 12For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. 13He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. 14He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. 15And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. 16There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth. 17His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. 18Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. 19And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. 20The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
Isaiah 60:1-22 1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 5Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. 6The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord. 7All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. 8Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? 9Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. 10And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee. 11Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. 12For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. 13The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 14The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 15Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. 16Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. 17For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. 18Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. 19The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 20Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. 21Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 22A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.
8. What Is the Future of the Gentile World?
The Gentiles, or nations, will not be converted by the well-meant missionary and other evangelistic efforts of Christian men and societies. That is not the Lord’s present purpose, which is instead to “take out” from among the Gentiles a people for His name (Acts 15:14). Then the Lord will “gather the nations” and “assemble the kingdoms,” to “’pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy” (Zeph. 3:8). The Church is being gathered in grace now; the nations will be gathered in judgment then. Look at that assembly of the might, chivalry, and power of Europe, of Christendom. Are they congregated to welcome the “Prince of the kings of the earth”? No; “and I saw the Beast (the resuscitated Roman Empire) and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war against Him (the crowned and victorious rider) that sat on the horse and against His army” (the heavenly saints). What is the result? An angel stands in the sun and invites the fowls of heaven to the supper of the great God. Alas! that Christians with their Bibles in their hands and the 19th chapter of Revelation before their eyes, should dream of a universal period of conversion by the preaching of grace. No, no. One word, one short, emphatic statement dissolves the fancy of ages: “When Thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Isa. 26:9). What we find previous to the Lord’s return is not a converted world, but a sleeping Church. The sounding of the midnight cry is not to effect the evangelization of the world, but to awaken the Church (Matt. 25:6-7). Are the foolish virgins, that is professors but not possessors of life and the Holy Spirit, converted? No; when the Bridegroom comes, true Christians go in with Him to the marriage, while the foolish virgins are shut out. The awakening of the Church and not the conversion of the world is the great work preceding the second advent. Thus instead of the kingdom or millennium before the Lord Jesus Christ comes, instead of the world or mass of it converted, it will be arrayed against Him. The one half of the world, speaking generally, will be gathered against Jerusalem, (Zech. 14:1-4); and the other half against the Lamb Himself (Rev. 19:16-21). Does not our blessed Lord intimate the scarcity of faith on the earth at His coming when He said, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth” (Luke 18:8)? Judgments, therefore, of the most appalling character will fall upon the Gentiles, especially on these highly favored Christian lands, for their abuse of grace and privilege. After the severe judgments which come at the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, then will arrive the blessed era long since foretold by prophets, apostles, and the Lord Himself. The conversion of the Gentiles spared by the Lord and their employment as publishers of His glory amongst the distant heathen (Isa. 66:19), their blessed mission to gather the remnant of Israel then scattered amongst the nations as an offering to Jehovah in Jerusalem (Isa. 66:20), and the grace that will take of them for priests and Levites (Isa. 66:21), these and other blessings of the 1,000 years’ reign over the earth show that there will be a blessed future for the Gentiles. Christ will reign as “King over all the earth,” dispensing the blessings of His glorious rule to the distant isles of the Gentiles (Isa. 51:5), as also to the hitherto unconquered tribes of the great Arabian deserts (Psa. 72:9). In Him, therefore, shall the Gentiles trust (hope) (Rom. 15:12). Again, Rejoice, ye Gentiles with His people (Rom. 15:10-11). Israel, then, will occupy the chief place in the coming days of earthly glory (Deut. 28:12-13); with the Gentiles in a subordinate place of blessing. (See Isa. 60; Psa. 100; Mal. 1:11, etc.) Jehovah will pour of His Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28), and the mass of the people then living will know the Lord, after the judgments have run their course, and wickedness on the earth been punished.
Christ must needs first come, break the will of the nations with a rod of iron, and then call the spared and converted of them into the full enjoyment of His glorious reign. Such seems the plain force of these and numerous other unfailing declarations of God’s blessed Word as to the Gentile future.
Acts 15:14 14Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Zephaniah 3:8 8Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
Isaiah 26:9 9With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Matthew 25:6-7 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Zechariah 14:1-4 1Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. 2For 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. 3Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. 4And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
Revelation 19:16-21 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND Lord OF LordS. 17And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Luke 18:8 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Isa 66:19-21 19And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. 20And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 51:5 5My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
Psalm 72:9 9They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
Romans 15:12 12And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
Romans 15:10-11 10And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
Deut. 28:12-13 12The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
Isaiah 60:1-3 1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. 2For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Psalm 100:1-5 1A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Malachi 1:11 11For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.
Joel 2:28 28And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
9. What Is the Hope of the Creation?
The sin of Adam ruined creation, subjecting it to vanity. It is in bondage to “corruption.” For six thousand years it has been groaning and travailing together in pain until now. What, then, is creation’s hope? When will it emerge from its long millenaries of bondage, into the “glorious liberty [better translated “liberty of the glory] of the children of God”? Our future glory when displayed will liberate the groaning and suffering creation, and for that revelation creation anxiously awaits: “For the earnest expectation of the creature (creation) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” (Rom. 8:19-22); that “manifestation” will be when Christ appears in glory (Col. 3:4). Psalm 115 and Hosea 2:18-22 indicate a blessed future for this earth.
Romans 8:19-22 19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Colossians 3:4 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Psalm 115:1-3,11-18 1Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. 2Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? 3But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.... 11Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. 12The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron. 13He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great. 14The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children. 15Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth. 16The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. 17The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence. 18But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord.
Hosea 2:18-22 18And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. 19And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. 20I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord. 21And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; 22And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.
10. What is meant by “the gospel of the kingdom,” and when, by whom, and to whom will it be preached (Matt. 24)?
The gospel of the Lord’s personal reign over the earth and the establishment of His kingdom thereon will be preached by converted Jews to the Gentiles as a closing testimony, before the Lord comes in judgment, and after the translation of the Church to heaven. There will be a further testimony to the heathen after the Lord’s arrival; for this latter, see Isaiah 66:19.
Matthew 24:14 14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Isaiah 66:19 19And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
11. Is There Any Distinction Between the Kingdom and the Church?
Yes. The Kingdom is the scene of displayed authority and glory (See 1 Cor. 15:24; 2 Peter 1:16-17; Psalm 145:11-13). The Church, on the other hand, is the aggregate of the saved (See Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:23-25). When I speak of the Kingdom, I think of Christ as King (Psa. 2); when I speak of the Church, I think of Christ as its Head (Eph. 5:23). Many are now in the kingdom not truly converted to God (Matt. 13; Matt. 25:1-12); none can be in the Church except those united to Christ by the Holy Ghost (1 Cor. 12:12). The former is profession of life; the latter reality of life; in the former, evil is not presently to be dealt with (Matt. 13:28-30); in the latter, evil is to be purged out (1 Cor. 5).
1 Corinthians 15:24 24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
2 Peter 1:16-17 16For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Psalm 145:11-13 11They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; 12To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. 13Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
Acts 20:28 28Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Psalm 2:6-12 6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. 10Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Ephesians 5:23-25 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Matthew 13:10-15 10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Matthew 25:1-12 1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
1 Corinthians 12:12 12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
Matthew 13:28-30 28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
1 Corinthians 5:6-7 6Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
12. What Is the Difference Between the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God?
The kingdom of heaven is a phrase peculiar to the gospel of Matthew where it is used about 30 times. It is a dispensational term; whereas the kingdom of God is of moral application. The kingdom of heaven was preached as “at hand” (Matt. 3:2), the kingdom of God was at hand as well, but was also preached as among them in moral power (Luke 17:21). The kingdom of God was “come,” because Christ was acting in power in their midst (Matt. 12:28). The kingdom of heaven could not be so spoken about, either in mystery or manifestation, because for the former aspect of the kingdom, Christ must needs die and go to the right hand of God; while for manifestation Christ will come a second time in glory. The kingdom of heaven, therefore, is spoken of as “at hand,” not as “come.” The kingdom of heaven is a thing of “observation;” but the kingdom of God cometh not with “observation” (Luke 17:20), that is, it has a distinctly moral character attached to it, as in Romans 14:17. Thus in all cases the larger expression, “kingdom of God,” covers the phrase “kingdom of heaven.” I could not substitute “the kingdom of heaven” for that of “the kingdom of God,” because the latter is sometimes used in an exclusively moral sense; but I could, generally at least, use “the kingdom of God” where “kingdom of heaven” occurs.
Matthew 3:2 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Luke 17:21 21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Matthew 12:28 28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Luke 17:20 20And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Romans 14:17 17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
13. Do You Distinguish Between Israel and the Church?
Yes; and the prophetic Scriptures will never be understood correctly unless the distinction between Israel, which is Messiah’s kingdom, and the Church, which is Christ’s body, is borne in mind. Israel is the subject generally of the Old Testament, which reveals historically (the past) and prophetically (the future) the earthly government of God, of which Israel is the center. On the other hand, the Church, which began its history at Pentecost, and is composed of believers from among Jews and Gentiles formed into one body and united to Christ as man in glory, is only spoken of in the New Testament, and is not the subject of prophecy at all, but of revelation. Israel, too, is destined to be head of the nations and to occupy the highest places on earth, where the divine presence and glory rests, but the Church will always be heavenly in character, blessing, and position. God’s time counsels are with respect to Israel, while His eternal counsels concern the Church. Israel was set geographically, in relation to mankind, in the center of the world (Ezek. 5:5; Deut. 32:8-9), blest and a blessing to the earth (Psa. 102:13-16; Isa. 27:6; Zech. 2:11); but the Church is sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6), the object of eternal admiration of the spiritual powers on high (Eph. 3:10). Read carefully the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians, Ephesians, and Colossians, where the true nature, constitution, character, and destiny of the Church are unfolded.
Ezekiel 5:5 5Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.
Deuteronomy 32:8-9 8When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. 9For the Lord’S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
Psalm 102:13-16 13Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. 14For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. 15So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. 16When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
Isaiah 27:6 6He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.
Zechariah 2:11 11And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
Ephesians 2:6 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 3:10 10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
14. Are the Seventy Prophetic Weeks of Daniel Weeks of Days or of Years (Dan. 9:24)?
The Hebrew word, hebdomad, signifying seven, or week, “a septenary number,” does not in itself answer this question. There can be no doubt, however, from the context, that the weeks are those of years—490 in all.
Daniel 9:24 24Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
15. How Are the Seventy Prophetic Weeks Divided?
First, 7 weeks, or 49 years, for the rebuilding of Jerusalem — not the Temple — according to and dating from the decree of Artaxerxes in the 20th year of his reign (Neh. 2).
Second, 62 weeks, or 434 years, from the city built to the Messiah’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-11 with Zech. 9:9).
Third, one week, or seven years, yet future (Dan. 9:27). Between the 69th week and the concluding seven years, the present interval — a blessed parenthesis of grace to Gentiles (Rom. 11:12), and one of national degradation to the Jew — transpires (Dan. 9:26).
Nehemiah 2:1 1And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
Matthew 21:1-11 1And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strowed them in the way. 9And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 10And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
Zechariah 9:9 9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Daniel 9:27 27And 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.
Romans 11:12 12Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
Daniel 9:26 26And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
16. Are the Seventy Weeks of Daniel Running Their Course Now?
No. The present period is an interruption in the history of the world and of Israel. After the cutting off of Messiah, at the close of the 69 weeks or 483 years, the Jews were scattered worldwide in the year 70 A.D., “as the four winds of the heaven” (Zech. 2:6), and Jerusalem was trodden under foot of the Gentiles. Therefore there was then no room nor is there still for the last week of Daniel, which is yet future; it awaits the taking up of Jerusalem, and the re-opening of the “Jewish Question.”
Zechariah 2:6 6Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the Lord.
17. Is a “Year for a Day” a True and Scriptural Principle in Prophetic Truth?
No. The only two undoubted references to this principle applies to Israel; first, in the wilderness (Num. 14:34); second, when in the land (Ezek. 4:5-6); but neither instance is strictly prophetic.
Numbers 14:34 34After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.
Ezekiel 4:5-6 5For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. 6And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.
18. Is the Parable of the Ten Virgins Jewish or Christian Teaching?
The teaching in this parable is undoubtedly Christian. The pious God-fearing remnant of Israel will not go “forth” to meet the Bridegroom. “Go ye out to meet Him” (Matt. 25:6) would fittingly express the Christian position, but not the Jewish one. Christ coming to the “air” for us characterizes the heavenly position of the Christian, while Messiah coming to Judea for the earthly blessing of the Jew characterizes the position of the Israelite. Blessing on the earth and in Judea under the peaceful reign of the Messiah is Jewish expectation; there is therefore no going forth, but rather the clinging to the land until the Messiah come. Besides, the slumbering condition out of which the virgins are roused (Matt. 25:5-6) cannot apply to the future remnant of Israel. They will not be found asleep at that desparate crisis in their history. They will sigh and cry through that short but terrible midnight when the murder of their Messiah and the guilt of a broken law will be owned and confessed as their own and the nation’s sin (Psa. 74, Psa. 79; Isa. 63:15-19; Isa. 64; Ezek. 9:4).
Matthew 25:6 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Matthew 25:5-6 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Psalm 79:1-13 1A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps. 2The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. 3Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. 4We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us. 5How long, Lord? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? 6Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. 7For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. 8O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. 9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake. 10Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed. 11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; 12And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. 13So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will show forth thy praise to all generations.
Isaiah 63:15-19 15Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained? 16Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. 17O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. 18The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary. 19We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.
Isaiah 64:1-4 1Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence. 2As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! 3When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence. 4For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
Ezekiel 9:4 4And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
19. How Would You Section off the Lord’s Great Prophetic Discourse (Matt. 24, 25)?
Into four main divisions.
First (Matt. 24:1-14), The general state of things and the position of the disciples down to the middle of Daniel’s seventieth prophetic week. Note, however, that the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70 involved the complete blotting out of Israel’s nationality, and dashed to the ground her hopes of pre-eminent glory over the nations as a matter of then present expectation. These instructions therefore directly applied to God-fearing Jews, while the nation was cherishing these delusive hopes (Matt. 24:5); and they will yet more fully apply in the future Jewish crisis. Christianity comes in between these points.
Second (Matt. 24:15-44), Judah in her last days of special sorrow with the coming of the Son of Man, the gathering of all Israel, and moral instruction founded on the certainty and nearness of these events.
Third (Matt. 24:45–25:30), The relation of the professing Christian body on earth to the Lord’s coming, which is detailed in three parables.
Fourth (Matt. 25:31-46), The relation of the Gentiles then living on earth to the Lord’s coming. Notice that the judgment here recorded is that of living persons on earth, and is distinct in time, character, and persons from the judgment of the dead disclosed in Revelation 20.
Matthew 24:1-14 1And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. 2And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14And 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 24:15-44 15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25Behold, I have told you before. 26Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37But 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. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Matthew 24:45-25:30 45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:1-46 1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:31-46 31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Revelation 20:11-15 11And 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. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
20. Give an Outline of the Lord’s Celebrated Prophetic Discourse in Matthew 24 and 25.
Chapter 24:1-44 is the Lord’s coming in relation to the Jews.
Chapter 24:45 — 25:30 is the Lord’s coming in relation to the professing Church.
Chapter 25:31-46 is the Lord’s coming in relation to the Gentiles or nations.
Chapter 24:15, notes an important event which happens after the translation of the Church to heaven. It is very important in the fixing of dates and in the understanding of the prophetic future. If compared with Daniel 12:11, its future reference is clear. Matthew 24:15 clearly marks the beginning of the awful time of Jacob’s trouble; Matthew 24:16-28 describes the terrible state of things in Palestine during the last half of Daniel’s week of seven years, the period of the tribulation; Matthew 24:29-44, the events which follow the close of the tribulation, the personal coming of the Son of Man in glory, and moral truth addressed to the consciences of the disciples — the representatives of the sufferers under the Beast and Antichrist.
The three parables which follow — the evil servant, the virgins, and talents — show the connection between service in the Church, waiting for Christ, and service in the world. They should be deeply pondered by every saint and servant of God.
The judgment of the nations by the Son of Man is a calm and solemn scene. It only needs careful reading and a little attention to the connection to dispel the idea that it is the last judgment.
Matthew 24:1-51 1And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the temple. 2And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25Behold, I have told you before. 26Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37But 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. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 25:1-46 1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. 14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Daniel 12:11 11And 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.
21. Who Are the “Brethren,” the “Sheep” and the “Goats” of Matthew 25:31-46?
When Jesus, as Son of Man, comes and sits upon the throne of His glory, He will resume Jewish connections; He will have a Jewish bride (Psa. 45) as well as a Christian one (Rev. 19). Those, therefore, whom He here speaks of as my “brethren” are Jews who have been sent out at the close of this age to preach among the nations (after the translation of the Church) “the gospel of the kingdom” (Matt. 24:14). The King will regard how His messengers are received or rejected and their message accepted or spurned as if it were done to Himself. The treatment accorded to the King’s servants and message forms the ground of judgment upon the nations. Those who accepted the message and bowed to it are termed “sheep,” and take their place at the King’s right hand, going into everlasting life; while those who refused and insulted the messengers are called “goats,” and have to take their place at the King’s left hand, going into everlasting punishment; the blessing of the “sheep” and the judgment of the “goats” are definite and final.
A few points of contrast between the judgment of the nations with the judgment of the dead may help to clear away the difficulties of some.
Rev. 20 records the judgment of the dead,
Matt. 25 of the living;
Rev. 20 of individuals,
Matt. 25 of nations;
Rev. 20 has God as Judge,
Matt. 25 the Son of Man;
Rev. 20 is in the eternal state,
Matt. 25 judgment is in time;
Rev. 20 speaks only of one class of persons,
Matt. 25 of three classes of persons;
Rev. 20 has books of works,
Matt. 25 has none;
Rev. 20 has its book of life,
Matt. 25 has not;
Rev. 20 does not speak of a “Coming,”
Matt. 25 does;
Rev. 20 speaks of God and men only,
Matt. 25 of the Son, men, and angels;
Rev. 20 shows the heaven and earth fleeing away,
Matt. 25 shows a continuance of the heaven and the earth;
Rev. 20 speaks of a great white throne,
Matt. 25 of a throne of glory.
Matthew 25:31-46 31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Psalm 45:13-15 13The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. 14She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. 15With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace.
Revelation 19:7-9 7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Matthew 24:14 14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
22. What Is the Difference Between “the Latter Times” and “the Last Days”?
If I were asked to define Popery, I would read 1 Timothy 4:1-3. The characteristic features of the Romish Church are graphically delineated in these verses. The apostle meets this greatest of all religious iniquities by a lofty statement of Christianity, (1 Tim. 3:16). I take it, therefore, that “the latter times” specially refers to the dark or middle ages; of course the principles and workings of these “times” were quickly perceived by the keen and observant eye of the apostle as then existing. “Some shall depart from the faith” is not, however, the same as a general departure from it, as in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
“The last days” (2 Tim. 3:1-5) refers to the closing days of Christendom, which have now set in. All the Second Epistles contemplate more or less the closing period of Christendom’s history. If “the latter times” delineate papal apostasy, “the last days” show a revival of pagan wickedness (compare with the close of Romans 1).
1 Timothy 4:1-3 1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
1 Timothy 3:16 16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Timothy 3:1-5 1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Romans 1:20-32 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. 28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
23. Do the Expressions “the Day of God,” “the Day of the Lord,” and “the Day of Christ” Mean the Same Thing?
“The day of God” (2 Peter 3:12) refers to God as the root and source of that solemn future that is before Christians, men, and the world.
“The day of the Lord” (2 Peter 3:10) is a familiar expression in the writings of the prophets; it is also frequently used in the pages of the New Testament. It means that period of a 1,000 years—regarded as “one day” (2 Peter 3:6-10)—when judgment will be executed upon the wicked on the earth and the world ruled in righteousness.
“The day of Christ” (Phil. 1:10) denotes that Christ as man will have His day. It will be a day of wondrous blessing, when after the judgments introductory to His beneficent rule over the earth have been exhausted, He will reign in the peaceful and glorious character of Solomon. His saints raised and changed will share His glory, and be associated with Him in joint-heirship over creation; that will be “the day of Christ.”
2 Peter 3:12 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2 Peter 3:10 10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2 Peter 3:6-10 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Philippians 1:10 10That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
24. Whom Do the Twenty-Four Elders of Revelation 4 Represent?
That these elders represent saints is evident from their intelligence (Rev. 5:5), their worship (Rev. 5:9), their dignity (Rev 4:4), and their robes (Rev 4:4, compare with Rev. 19:8). It is equally clear that they represent all the worshipping company of the redeemed in heaven, from Adam till the translation of the Church since we hear no more word of churches (save Babylon) after chapter 3, and the Bride and guests are in heaven in chapter 19. The conclusion therefore is evident that these elders, who are representatives of the redeemed, will have been taken to heaven according to the terms of 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. This removal of the saints from earth to heaven, although not mentioned in the book of Revelation, must necessarily take place between the close of the third and the opening of the fourth chapters, as it is the representatives of the heavenly company of the redeemed who are seen seated, crowned, and clothed, in chapter 4. This explanation meets every difficulty, and gives great simplicity in the understanding of the structure of the Revelation.
Revelation 5:5 5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Revelation 5:9 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;
Revelation 4:4 4And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Revelation 19:8 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 15For 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.
25. Where Does the Strictly Prophetic Part of Revelation Begin?
Chapter 6 commences the prophetic part of the book. Chapters 2 and 3 trace the earthly course of the professing Church’s history from the Apostolic era until it is spued out of Christ’s mouth. Its rejection in Laodicea is final and definite (Rev. 3:16). Chapters 4 and 5 show the saints in heaven seated, crowned, and robed. Then follows the strictly prophetic part of the book commencing with seal judgments (chapter 6), and closing with a description of the eternal state in chapter 21:1-8. The Revelation, therefore, from chapter 6 till verse 8 of chapter 21 awaits fulfillment.
Revelation 3:16 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelation 21:1-8 1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
26. What Is Signified by the Expression “the Times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24)?
This expression refers to the lengthened period in which the government of the world is in the hands of the Gentile, and which dates from the destruction of Jerusalem in 588 B.C., when Babylon and not Jerusalem, and the Gentile and not the Jew, became the seat and center of earthly government (Dan. 2:37-38). The close of this period will be marked by the Lord’s personal judgment upon Gentile power (Dan. 2:45), and the transference of the government of the earth to Jerusalem and the Jew; this at the epoch of the Lord’s return from heaven (Dan. 7:18-27).
Luke 21:24 24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Daniel 2:37-38 37Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
Daniel 2:45 45Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, 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 sure.
Daniel 7:18-27 18But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. 19Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; 20And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. 21I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 23Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 25And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 27And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.