The Bible is so full of references to the second coming of the Lord Jesus that we shall waste no words in proving it, but rather take it for granted. It can only be denied at the cost of such a treatment of Scripture as would destroy all certainty in regard to every truth of our holy faith.
Our present object is to show the place it holds as ushering in the “day of redemption”; and how thus it completes the great foundations of revelation according to Scripture, and gives consistency and stability to the whole.
The first advent, together with the work of atonement which it involved, has for nineteen centuries been an accomplished fact. Then was brought to pass redemption by blood. Yet throughout all the years, and still today, is there ample scope for those who would speak injuriously of God and His ways. The love of God fully shone forth at the cross and the anointed eye perceives it; nevertheless, the powers of darkness still dominate the earth, and sin still ravages it. Hence the creation groans; the children of God continue in affliction; the mystery of God’s ways in His government of the earth persists; and men are found who blaspheme His holy name.
The Old Testament prophets have much to tell us of the glories of this coming day. They indicate not only its character, both in the way of judgment and blessing, but also that it depends altogether upon the advent of the Messiah. When first they spoke, however, it would have been well-nigh impossible to determine how much of their utterances related to the first advent, and how much to the second. Theirs was a long distance view, and both merged indistinctly one into the other; just as there are many distant stars which to the naked eye shine as a single point of light, and no one suspected them to be anything but one until powerful telescopes were turned upon them. Then at once they were discovered to be twin or double stars.
The New Testament has furnished us with telescopic powers and we can clearly see that Messiah’s advent is like a double star. Astronomers assure us that though these stars are apparently one to the naked eye yet often immense distances lie between them, and for all that they revolve mutually round each other. Even so the two advents are mutually related, pivoted one upon the other, though we now know that at least nearly two thousand years roll between them.
One of the most striking New Testament passages upon this subject is Romans 8:16-2516The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 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. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:16‑25). Give it a careful reading.
The earlier part of this epistle has dwelt exhaustively upon the wonderful results of the work accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ at His first coming. The “redemption that is in Christ Jesus” is expounded in all its bearings upon the individual believer. It has resulted in his complete Spiritual emancipation, so that he stands in the unclouded favor of God as a justified man; he is animated by the brightest hopes of glory; and, further, he is liberated from sin’s dominion though sin itself is still in him. He possesses the Spirit of God, and consequently he not only is a child of God, but he knows that he is. He has the consciousness of the relationship.
At this point the passage we have indicated starts. The Spirit-led children of God, who are also “heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ,” are still in a suffering condition. They are not yet physically emancipated. Their bodies truly are the Lord’s, being even “members of Christ,” and “temples of the Holy Ghost,” because “bought with a price” (see 1 Cor. 6:13-2013Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. 14And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 15Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:13‑20)), still they are not yet redeemed.
Verses 19-22 of our passage show us that the whole earthly creation lies under thralldom. The usurper still holds sway; the ravages of sin and death continue. Its decayed estate did not come upon it by some act of its own, or by some weakness or evil inherent in matter, as some would teach; but by reason of Adam’s will exercised in defiance of God. Adam was its constituted head, its intelligent link with the Creator. Just as the snapping of the first, or top link of a chain involves every link in its fall, so the fall of Adam brought about the fall of all creation. Is the creation, dumb and inanimate as it may appear to us, to groan and travail on forever?
No, indeed! In these verses creation is pictured as peering into the future with “earnest expectation,” or “anxious looking-out,” to a day when it shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption.
But not only does creation groan; we who possess the Spirit groan also. We wait for that which will complete our glorious estate as the sons of God, i.e., “the redemption of our body.”
When and how will this redemption of our bodies take place? Have we any clear light as to it? The answer is supplied by 1 Corinthians 15:51-5451Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑54). Our bodies will be redeemed when the Lord comes, whether it takes the form of a resurrection from amongst the dead into an incorruptible condition, or an instantaneous transformation of the living into a similar condition, when “we shall all be changed.” “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” all will be accomplished. “They that are Christ’s” will rise “at His coming” (v. 23).
In regard to ourselves, then, the Second Advent will witness the full completion of redemption’s work. Our very bodies will be brought under its power. We may note in passing how clearly this negates the idea, so prevalent today, that only a select few of superior faithfulness are to be taken when the Lord comes. He comes to redeem the bodies of His saints, and redemption is never a question of human faithfulness, but of the power and grace of God. We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of God “unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:3030And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)). Every true believer is thus sealed with the great day in view. Our faithfulness, or the reverse, will mightily affect our place in the coming kingdom, but redemption lies on another plane altogether.
Thus far we have dwelt upon what we get, and what creation gets in a subsidiary way, as a result of the Second Advent. Reading the glowing predictions of the Prophets we might wonder if anything could exceed the blessedness of it. When the saints shine in heavenly glory, and quietness and assurance forever fill the world; when such is the exuberant fertility of the emancipated earth that it is no exaggeration for the prophet to say, “The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” (Isa. 55:1212For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12)), we might well imagine that the climax is reached. But it is not so. God has a good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself for the glory of Christ, and this concerns a sphere even wider than that of redeemed saints and a redeemed millennial earth, Christ is the Heir of all things. His glory is the supreme consideration. He is Pre-eminent. It is only when we view things from this angle that we reach the climax.
We get this view presented to us in Ephesians 1:9-149Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 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: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:9‑14). Here, as in chapter 4, we read of the Spirit being given to us as a seal until redemption’s hour is come, but He is also spoken of as “the earnest of our inheritance,” and the redemption is called “the redemption of the purchased possession,” because not only the bodies of the saints are in view, but the whole inheritance in so far as it has been marred by sin.
God has a “will.” As to it the world remains in ignorance and indifference. The “mystery” or secret of it is made known to us, however, as verse 9 states; and we find it to be according to His “pleasure,” which is neither harsh nor arbitrary, but emphatically “good.”
And what is this “mystery of His will according to His good pleasure”? First, it is to have an age or dispensation which is to be the “fullness of times” — the climax and completion of the ages, since it is to be marked by administrative perfection, and every preceding age will be seen to have been but preparatory to it. Second, it is to administer that coming age by Christ, the man of His good pleasure, the One of whom it had been said prophetically “the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand” (Isa. 53:1010Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10)).
When our Lord Jesus comes again in glory with all His saints it will be to take His place as Head over all things. God is going to purify the earth through judgments and then “gather together in one all things in Christ” that is, He will head up all things in Him. Christ will be as the exalted apex of a pyramid— if we may use such a figure. The apex or top stone of a pyramid is itself a perfect pyramid in shape. All the upward lines and faces of the pyramid converge in it. It crowns the whole.
Nor will it be only earth that lies blessed beneath Him, for the “all things” is said to include both those “which are in heaven, and which are on earth.” The “all things” then evidently means all things which exist in every sphere of blessing, whether heavenly or earthly, to the utmost bounds. One sphere is excluded— the sphere of judgment. Yet even this— “the things under the earth” — is to bow at the name of Jesus according to Philippians 2:1010That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (Philippians 2:10). It must acknowledge Him, though severed from Him and under the frown of God. All things, that then shall lie in the sunlight of God’s favor, will find their Head and supreme glory in Christ.
In this way God is going to redeem His purchased possession. For long, sin has lain like a heavy encumbrance or mortgage upon a large part of the fair inheritance, upon every part of it which has in any way been touched or tarnished by evil. All was His by creation, but at the first advent it became a “purchased possession” by the death of Christ; just as in the parable the field was purchased as well as the treasure in it (see Matt. 13:4444Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (Matthew 13:44)). At the second advent the encumbrance will be lifted from the inheritance. The Lord Jesus will put into effect by power those rights which were established by blood when He came in lowliness and humiliation, for it was—
“By weakness and defeat
He won the meed and crown.”
We add one thing: When He thus takes up the inheritance He will do so in His saints. This was indicated in Daniel 7, for when in the vision “One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven... and there was given Him dominion and glory and a kingdom” (vv. 13-14), then “the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom” (v. 22). Just as a king might occupy conquered territory by putting his troops and officials in post session, so will it be then. We shall get our inheritance when Christ gets His. This is what the Apostle means when he prays that we “may know... what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:1818The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18)). It is not that the saints are His inheritance, but that He takes up His inheritance in His saints, by putting His saints in possession.
That we should have any inheritance at all in the day of glory is wonderful. But how greatly will its sweetness be intensified by the fact that what we then shall be possessed of we shall hold as on God’s behalf and as joint-heirs with Christ.
You have made a distinction between purchase and redemption. Can that distinction be clearly found in Scripture?
Yes. Scripture speaks of some who go as far as “even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Peter 2:11But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)). They were “bought,” for the Lord Jesus has acquired universal rights by His death and resurrection, and He is Lord of all. They were not, however, redeemed.
No one can be redeemed without purchase; yet many may be purchased who are not redeemed.
The fourth chapter of Ruth illustrates the point. When Boaz challenged the kinsman nearer than himself as to the redemption of Elimelech’s inheritance, at first the man proposed to act. All that occurred to him for the moment was the question of purchase, and it might have been a profitable transaction. When Boaz reminded him that redemption went further than mere purchase and involved his taking up all the rights and duties connected with the estate, the lifting up of the fallen, the entering into personal relationship with Ruth, and through her with Naomi, then he declined.
This makes the distinction pretty clear.
We read in Scripture of our mortal bodies being quickened. Some say that has already taken place and that therefore no Christian should suffer from sickness. Is that correct?
It is not. The passage in question does not say that our mortal bodies have been quickened. It says, “If the Spirit... dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Rom. 8:1111But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)); and here we have an explanation of how “the redemption of our body,” spoken of in verse 23, is going to be accomplished. God will do it; but as John 5:2828Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, (John 5:28) shows it will be by the voice of the Lord Jesus, and it will also be by the energy of the indwelling Spirit. All three Persons of the Godhead will be active in our final redemption.
The premise thus being false, the conclusion drawn from it, as to sickness, falls to the ground.
Apart from this, however, one wonders why people content themselves with such shallow reasonings. If our bodies were quickened there would be no “should not” nor “ought not” about it; we simply “could not” be sick. We could not even die! After all, sickness is mere child’s play when compared to death. Why do not people come boldly out with the full consequences of their theories? Because to do so would involve their folly being manifest to all men.
Will the whole work of redeeming the purchased possession take place in a moment?
Not in a moment, but in a comparatively short space of time.
Then He “shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people which shall be left” (Isa. 11:1111And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. (Isaiah 11:11)), i.e., the remnant of His people Israel. This will be no peaceful process, but involve terrific judgments upon earth. Isaiah 63:1-61Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 5And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 6And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. (Isaiah 63:1‑6) gives us a description, and the victorious, all-conquering Messiah speaks in verses 3 to 6 by the prophet’s lips. He says, “The day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.” Israel will be redeemed by judgment once more, as of old out of the land of Egypt.
Then, thirdly, “He will destroy... the face of the covering cast over all people and the wail that is spread over all nations” (Isa. 25:77And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. (Isaiah 25:7)). The nations will be first judged and then blessed.
Lastly, when His throne is exalted in Zion the living waters will flow forth (see Ezek. 47:1-121Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. 2Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. 3And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. 4Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. 5Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. 6And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. 7Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. 8Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. 9And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. 10And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many. 11But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt. 12And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. (Ezekiel 47:1‑12)) and bring amazing fertility to the very earth. This passage is doubtless emblematical of spiritual blessing but primarily must be taken in its literal sense. The curse will be lifted from off the face of creation.
It does not. That verse speaks of “the times of restitution of all things,” i.e., the millennial age of which God had spoken by His prophets from the earliest moments. Enoch’s prophecy, for instance, was concerning that day, as recorded in Jude 1414And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (Jude 14), whilst the fifteenth verse describes the judgments that precede the ushering in of the reign of peace. That phrase exactly describes the character of the millennium. Throughout the ages God has brought forth to men many things that are His purpose for this world. He created Adam as head, and he sinned. He established government in Noah, and it was corrupted. He gave His law through Moses, and it was broken. He instituted priesthood in Aaron, and it was perverted. He set up kingly authority in David, and it collapsed.
These things and every other good thing that is in His purpose will be restored in the coming age. And not only restored, but established in much greater fullness and in absolute perfection because all will then be centered in Christ. He will be set as God’s King upon His holy hill of Zion (see Psa. 2). He will be crowned with glory and honor as the Son of Man— the last Adam— and have dominion over the works of Jehovah’s hands (see Psa. 8).
Nothing is said as to the restitution of all persons. Many plain scriptures refute this universalist theory, and to attempt to foist it into this passage is an outrage on Scripture’s language.
How do you reconcile the fact that the second coming of Christ brings about the day of redemption, with the fact that His millennial reign closes with a great rebellion?
No reconciliation is needed. If any one or anything redeemed by Christ at His second advent were in any way again brought under the power of evil, there would of course be grave difficulty. There is, however, no trace of this. Satan, released from the abyss, is the instigator of the great final rebellion (see Rev. 20:7-107And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9And 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 20:7‑10)) and he is not redeemed. Vast multitudes will have been born during the thousand years. They will never have known the blighting effects of sin by sad experience, and if not born again will fall before Satan’s fresh temptations. But such were never redeemed.
Nor will anything be accomplished by their mad rebellion save their own utter destruction and final judgment. They may compass about the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but not a hair of the head of any of the former nor the least stone of the latter will be disturbed by them.
God will seize that occasion, however, to fold up as a worn out vesture the present heaven and earth and perpetuate redemption’s wonderful story in a new heaven and a new earth.
How then would you summarize the distinction between the millennium and the eternal state?
The one is as the vestibule or ante chamber to the other. Both are characterized by righteousness; but in the one it reigns, for sin is not finally dealt with but rather sternly repressed, in the other it dwells for, the last judgment over, it retreats from the judicial throne to the sweet freedom of love and home.
The millennium will be the vindication on this earth of all God’s ways in righteous and holy government. How necessary is this! In this world His authority has been repudiated, and every thought of His has been abused in men’s hands. How appropriate then that here in this world there shall be manifested for the complete cycle of a thousand years the perfection of all His thoughts and arrangements when once taken up and put into execution by Christ.
That demonstration accomplished, Satan is permitted to display once more his implacable hatred, and men their irremediable corruption by nature. This leads to the final great act of judgment. As its consequence sin, whether in the devil and his angels, or in evil men, will forever lie under wrath and penalty in a limited and circumscribed place “the lake of fire.” As an active principle, capable of further mischief, it will cease to be.
In the new heaven and new earth all will be new (see Rev. 21:55And 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. (Revelation 21:5)). That is, everything will then be on the basis of “new creation,” and suitable to the full and unrestrained expression of all God’s nature, the fruition of His eternal purpose. We, thank God, are on that basis now as “in Christ” (see 2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)).
New creation rests, as we know, upon Christ’s death as its basis. By and by the Sitter upon the throne, who is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ, will say, “Behold, I make all things new... It is done” (Rev. 21:55And 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. (Revelation 21:5) and 6). He will say that then because there was a day when on the cross He said, “It is finished.”
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