By:
T.W.P. Wolston, Editor
FAR and wide, from shore to shore, the “Millennial Dawn” has been circulated. Thousands have read it, and hundreds have been ensnared by its subtle, soul-damning doctrines; but, however, bright the “Millennial Dawn” may shine before the eyes of those who seek to pare down the solemn truths of the Word of God, thereby seeking to falsify its plain and unmistakable statements, casting a blot too upon the character of God, who is a holy and righteous God, “Light” as well as “Love,” and who must punish sin in a way consistent with the claims of His throne, eternal joy, or eternal woe, must be the portion of all when life’s short day has run its course; and for those who falsify the Word of God, and with their “larger hope” theory lend themselves to the devil to alter what God has written, no “Millennial Dawn” shall ever greet their deluded sight. “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Rev. 22:18,1918For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Revelation 22:18‑19)).
The millennial morning will soon dawn in all its brightness and splendor, but before that time Christ will have come, and taken His blood-bought people out from the midst of the lifeless profession existing on every hand to day. No bright “Millennial Dawn” will there be for this world, until the besom of destruction has swept over it, and out of His kingdom the Son of Man shall have gathered “all things that offend, and them that do iniquity.” Men may dream, and with wild fancies indulge in the delusive hope that ere long the millennial morning will dawn, and with it the reign of peace and prosperity; but that reign will be the reign of righteousness, and no unrighteousness, or unrighteous man, shall ever be permitted to mar that fair scene, and escape instant judgment (see Isa. 65:2020There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. (Isaiah 65:20)).
When the “Sun of Righteousness arises with healing in his wings,” all the wicked shall disappear before His brightness; for the day of the Lord, the Scripture saith, “shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be as stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall leave them neither root nor branch” (Mal. 4:1, 21For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Malachi 4:1‑2)). No “day of trial,” as some fondly dream, will mark that day of brightness, man’s trial is over, and he has been found Guilty (Rom. 3:9, 239What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; (Romans 3:9)
23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). Guilty of the rejection of the Son of God, just like the condemned prisoner, all he waits for now is the execution of the sentence! “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:18,1918He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:18‑19)). Into the hands of His Son whom man rejected (and today rejects), God has committed all judgment, that all should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father (John 5:22, 2322For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him. (John 5:22‑23)). He has appointed a day in which “he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:3131Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)). Mark, it will be in righteousness! Not in unrighteousness, as it would be if the judgment of sin be not executed upon every unbeliever, and upon all who live in sin, without Christ.
What will it be if all are judged by the righteous Judge “on their own merit,” as we are told? Nothing but condemnation, under the wrath of God forever! “All have sinned,” and thus to be judged on their own merit cannot bring other than the dread sentence of Him who judgeth righteously, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Then, suddenly as a thief in the night, will He come upon a lost world asleep in false security, dreaming of peace when there is no peace. “For when they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (1 Thess. 5:33For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:3)). Many then, rocked to sleep in the devil’s cradle to the sweet music of the “Millennial Dawn,” will wake up, alas! too late, to find the longed for dawn but a phantom that has disappeared; with nothing before them, but the woes that await the lost, at the millennial end.
Now every morn has an eve, and every day has its night, and what pen can describe, or tongue tell, what must follow the close of that bright day of millennial glory and blessedness?
In graphic and unmistakable language, the scene is depicted in the book of the Revelation. The thousand years having run their course, the dark shadows of the millennial eve begin to appear, like a dark cloud flung across the evening sky. Satan appears on the scene. Gathering the nations of the earth together as the sand of the sea, he marshals his armies against Christ and the beloved city, which for a thousand long years has held up its head, the center and capital of the universe. But whoever fought against God and prospered? Defeat and overthrow is what they reap. It is the last final contest between the powers of evil and of God. “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev. 20:9, 109And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:9‑10)).
Following upon the judgment of Satan is that of the wicked, the great white throne is set up, and before Him, from whose face the heavens and the earth have fled away, the wicked stand. Multitudes who have lain in their graves during the thousand years of Christ’s reign will come forth at the bidding of the Son of God, to apparat heaven’s tribunal for judgment. Upon that throne of unsullied whiteness sits Him, who once trod this earth, “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,” whom man hated and hanged on a cross. Oh! Christ-rejecter, how will you meet Him there? And as the wicked small and great stand there, the books are opened, and yet another is opened which is the book of life. Judgment according to merit there will be, but who can stand before it, when the books are opened, and every man is judged according to his works? They testify against him, for in that unerring record every sin of thought, word, and deed will be found. And in the book of life, the professor’s name, which stands out boldly today in church or chapel register, nowhere will be found: “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” There is no restitution there, no perfection to be arrived at; and what of man’s merits? He has them, he loved sin, and its wages must be his, ―Death and judgment.
Into that scene where “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyed; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain,” no unsaved soul shall enter. “But 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” (Rev. 21:88But 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. (Revelation 21:8)).
Be not deceived, dear friend. Heed not those who by feigned words, and fair speeches seek to delude the simple. Christ is coming! and with His coming the sure judgment of God upon all who are unsaved. Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation. If unsaved, we beseech you to trust Him as your Saviour NOW. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” But mark! there will be no gospel, or hope for you after death, or if Christ comes and finds you unprepared.
“The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe” (2 Thess. 1:7-97And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:7‑9)).
E. E. N.