The prophets with one accord pointed to the first advent of Christ, as the time when the kingdom of God would be established. All the prophecies which related to its establishment reached their fulfillment at that time. We will begin with Daniel's prophecy. In the second chapter we read that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, dreamed a dream. This dream was afterwards made known to him by Daniel the prophet. In the dream he saw a great image. "This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay."-Verses 31-33. He also saw a stone cut out without hands, which smote this image upon his feet, and broke them to pieces, and the stone became a great mountain which filled the whole earth. Verses 34, 35.
This great image represented four great universal monarchies that reigned one after another in ancient times In Daniel's interpretation of the dream, he told King Nebuchadnezzar, "Thou art this head of gold." - verses 37, 38. By this we are to understand that the Babylonian empire is what the head of gold represented. Gold being the most precious metal of the four proves that the Babylonian empire was the richest and greatest of earthly kingdoms History proves this to be true. This kingdom arose 2300 years before Christ. In the time of Nebuchadnezzar it was in the height of its power and glory. But Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar: "After thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee."-Ver. 39. This second kingdom was the Medo-Persian, which during the reign of Belshazzar took the Babylonian kingdom. This occurred 538 B. C This kingdom was what the "breast and arms of silver" represented. The "belly and thighs of brass" was interpreted by Daniel to be a "third kingdom.... which shall bear rule over all the earth."-Ver. 39. This was the Grecian empire, which conquered the Medes and Persians 286 B. C., and fell 146 B. C. The "legs of iron," and "feet part of iron, and part of clay," Daniel interprets to be the "fourth kingdom," in its strong and divided condition. This was the Roman Empire, which fell A. D. 476.
Here then we have four universal kingdoms-Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian, and Roman. (Verses 37-43.) "And in the days of these kings [kingdoms] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."-Ver. 44. This is clear. Daniel said that some time during the reign of these four kings, or kingdoms, the God of heaven would set up his kingdom. When Rome, the fourth of these kingdoms, had reached the summit of its glory and power; when its domain was so large that it was denominated "all the world," (Luke 2:1); and Augustus Caesar was an absolute sovereign ruling over | three hundred millions of people, Jesus Christ appeared , here among men and established the kingdom of God. Little did the Roman emperor think as he sat proudly on his throne, that a little babe, Iying in a manger in the town of Bethlehem of Judea, would establish a kingdom, before which the powers of the Caesars would dwindle into insignificance. But it was so. Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand."-Mark 1:14, 15.
Dear reader, if you will accept the testimony of divine truth, you must admit that Daniel locates the establishing of God's kingdom during the reign of those four universal kingdoms; and that it had its fulfillment in the coming of Christ, during the reign of Rome. When Jesus came the time was "fulfilled," the kingdom of God was "at hand." "Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet.... Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer thrashing-floors; . . . and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth."-Dan. 2 :34, 35. This stone is the kingdom of God. It never came with human hands. It is a divine institution; was established by Christ himself. Matt. 16:18. It began with the preaching of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:2; Luke 16:16), and was fully set up on the day of Pentecost. Mark 9:1; Acts 2:1-4 Rom. 14:17. The heathen kingdoms of darkness were broken to pieces and consumed before its march. Earthly kingdoms have arisen and fallen, but this one stands unshaken upon the rock of eternal truth. It has come down through martyrdom, waded through blood, and has stood the storms of ages. When time will have run its course; when all earthly kingdoms will have crumbled into dust; when the earth will be wrapped in a mighty sheet of flame; yea, when the sun and moon will no longer shine, this kingdom will continue to shine in the glory of the Father. Although it has been largely hid away under the human rubbish of men for centuries past, it is I again mounting up, and shining forth in power and unity. I Yea, that stone has become a "great mountain," which today is filling the whole earth. Glory to God! Jesus Christ is "Prince of the kings of the earth." In the kingdoms of the earth today, kings and rulers bow before him and give him homage.
In Dan. 7:2-7 we read that Daniel saw in a night vision four great beasts. The first was like a lion; the second like a bear; the third like a leopard; and the fourth was dreadful and terrible, diverse from all the rest, having great iron teeth. Verses 2-7. This vision troubled Daniel; so he asked an angel its meaning. The answer was: "These great beasts, which are four, are four kings [kingdoms], which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever."-Verses 17, 18. Here are the same four universal kingdoms that are brought to view in the second chapter; namely, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian, and Roman. Now mark you; immediately after speaking of these four kingdoms, he says, "But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom." By this we are to understand that some time during the reign of these four kingdoms, the kingdom would be given to the saints of the Most High. As we before observed, this was fulfilled during the reign of Rome, by the coming of Christ, and the establishing of his kingdom in the hearts of men.
We will now turn to the prophet Micah. In Micah 4:1-7 we read: "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; | and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their I spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.... For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever. In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; . . . and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even forever." Here is another clear prophecy of the establishment of God's kingdom, and one often referred to by the Millennium- advocates. Reader, observe that all contained in this prophecy was to come to pass "in the last days." Ver. 1. Now if we can locate the last days, then we will have the exact time of its fulfillment. Turn to Heb. 1:1, 2-"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son." "These" then are the days of the fulfillments of that prophecy. Here, again, the word of truth cuts off the millennial theory.
We will now briefly review the prophecy, and prove its fulfillment in this gospel age. The "mountain of the Lord" clearly applies to Mount Zion. See Ver. 7. The Hebrew brethren had "come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem" (Heb. 12:22, 23), which Paul denominates "the general assembly, and church of the first-born." Jesus called his church in this dispensation "a city that is set on a hill."-Matt. 5:14. The "house of the God of Jacob" is "the church of the living God the pillar and ground of the truth."-1 Tim. 3:15. The flowing of many nations into it has been fulfilled from the day of Pentecost on. Under the law the true God was known only to Israel. The Jews were his chosen people, But now salvation is for "all people." Luke 2:8-10. The gospel privileges are extended to "every creature" among "all nations" in "all the world." Matt. 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15, 16. And "in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people" they are now "called the children of the living God."-Rom. 9:24-26. People out of all nations of the earth are today saved in the family or kingdom of God. The "law" that is to govern in these last days is not that which came forth from Sinai, but that which came "out of Zion," "The word of the Lord from Jerusalem." This is a clear prophecy of the fact that "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name | among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."-Luke 24:47. This began on the day of Pentecost. It is further stated that "he shall judge among many people." "Jesus said, for judgment I am come into this world."-John 9:39. "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God."-1 Peter 4:17. The beating of "swords into plowshares," and "spears into pruning-hooks," a time when they should "learn war no more," is a clear prophecy of the glorious unity, peace, and love which exist in God's church. The angel announced to the shepherds in the plain that a Savior was born into the world, who would bring "peace on earth and good will toward man." Through the sanctifying grace of God and obedience to the truth, the saved of all nations are brought into "one fold" (John 10:16); belong to but "one" organized "body," or church, the "church of God" (Rom. 12:4, 5; Eph. 4:4; Col. 1:24; Acts 20:28); are all "of one heart and of one soul" (Acts 4:31-33); "one mind" (2 Cor. 13:11); "all speak the same thing" (1 Cor. 1:10); all have "one faith" (Eph: 4:5); "one spirit" (1 Cor. 6:17); all strive together (Phil. 1:27); rejoice together (1 Cor. 12:26); "assemble together" (Heb. 10:25); and "see eye to eye" (Isa. 52:8). God over all, in all, and through them all knits their hearts together in love. Eph. 4:6; Col. 2:2. Surely the prophet did not overdraw his picture of this. And the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion from henceforth, even forever and ever.
Dear reader, this is a present truth, and one that it is your privilege to enjoy. "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel." "And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth."-Micah 5:2, 4. Here, the birth of Christ, and the glory of his kingdom is foretold. Surely none but such as are blinded by the "god of this world" can fail to see that this prophecy has had its fulfillment in this gospel age. Please turn and read Matt. 2:4- 6 and John 7:42.
A sublime description of the peaceful kingdom of Christ is found in the eleventh chapter of Isaiah. "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots."-Ver. 1. This clearly refers to the first advent of Christ. "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." "With righteousness shall he judge the poor."-Verses 2-4. Was this not true in the personal ministry of Christ? Did not the people say, "Never man spake like this man"?-John 7:46. "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."-Col. 2:3. "And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins."- Ver. 5. Now, continuing the same description of Christ's peaceful kingdom, the prophet says: "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them." "The sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den."-Verses 6, 8. Here, the millennial teacher thinks he has a strong point in his favor. He says: "When Christ comes in his second advent, this earth will be burned over and purified. Then Christ will set up his throne in Jerusalem, and reign a thousand years, etc., during which time all the wild animals will be tame. Also, this fire that shall sweep over the earth will burn up the wicked, root and branch, and the righteous will tramp on their ashes," etc. Oh, what blindness! How Satan has perverted the minds of men!
Mark you, dear reader, nothing is said in the eleventh chapter of Isaiah about Christ's second coming. Each time personal mention is made of Christ; clear reference is made to his first advent. See verses 1 and 10. If you are a believer in that theory, let me ask you a question. While the fire is sweeping over the earth, purifying the same, burning up the wicked (as you say), what will become of the animals? Will they be translated and held in mid heaven until the fires have swept over the earth, and then let down again? Or will they be consumed in the fire, and afterward resurrected? Such doctrines are too ridiculous to receive attention. Yet some men are so thoughtless as to believe in them. Here is the secret.
"The natural man understandeth not the things of the Spirit." The redeemed understand these things. The various animals are used in the word of God to show different characters of men. For example-Jesus said to his disciples, "Be ye harmless as doves;" and to Peter he said, "Feed my lambs." Concerning Herod he said, "Go ye, and tell that fox."-Luke 13:22. False teachers are compared to "ravenous wolves," "grievous wolves."-Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29. Paul said, "Beware of dogs."-Phil. 3:2. Speaking of the characters of the damned, it is said, "With out are dogs," etc.-Rev. 22:15. Hypocritical professors are called "serpents," and "generation of vipers." In Matt. 25 God's people are called "sheep," and the unsaved, "goats." So in Ezek. 34 God's people are compared to "sheep," "fat cattle," etc. This is the sense in which we are to understand Is. 11:6-8. It teaches how the grace of God in this glorious dispensation would destroy the serpent-like, devouring, natures of men, and make the most lion-hearted sinners, the most ferocious characters, docile and harmless, even so meek that a "little child" can teach and "lead them." Hallelujah! It also teaches the glorious love and unity which exists among the redeemed in God's kingdom. No wrangling, backbiting, deceit, or devouring one another: but peace which nothing offends; "helpers of each other's joy;" "workers together." And the prophet adds: "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain"-church of God. Ver. 9. All in this fold are "harmless as doves." In the thirty-fifth chapter of Isaiah, the prophet speaking of the "highway of holiness" upon which the "redeemed" in this gospel dispensation were to walk, says, "No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there."- Verses 8 9. You see that domestic animals were used to represent the beastly natures of men, which are destroyed in holiness; and also, that no ferocious character is on the way to heaven. The devil himself would be ashamed to affirm that literal wild animals could walk on a spiritual way, the road to heaven, which is the highway of holiness.
But we are not yet through with the eleventh chapter of Isaiah. "And in that day [the age when all this would be fulfilled] there shall be a root of Jesse [Christ], which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."-Ver. 10. This is so plain that it needs no comment. It clearly applies to the coming of Christ and the present blessings of his kingdom. In full salvation we experience a more glorious reign of peace and blessedness in this life, than all the vain dreams of millennial glory. The prophet continues: "For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."-Ver. 9. This began with the gospel dispensation. It was fulfilled in the general diffusion of light and truth among all nations in the apostolic days, and still more fully in this glorious evening time. Daniel speaks of it thus: "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."-Dan. 12:4. These texts do not teach, as many suppose, that there will be a time when all the world will be righteous, but the "knowledge of God shall be increased," until the earth shall be full of it. By the aid of modern inventions, such as the power of steam, the printing-press, etc., thousands upon thousands of tons of pure gospel literature are being sent to all nations of the earth; while a holy ministry is "running to and fro," "having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." Thus the earth is rapidly being filled with the knowledge of God. The result was foretold in Dan. 12:10-"Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." "Many must be tested, and thoroughly whitened, and tried with fire, and sanctified."-Septuagint. Let the reader observe that at the very time the knowledge of God was to fill the earth, and many be thoroughly whitened, and sanctified, as a result of the same, the wicked were to "do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand." The same is taught in Habakkuk 2:12-15, 18-20. This fact is utterly fatal to the millennial theory.
The following text is often quoted by Millennium teachers: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a king shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved."-Jer. 23:5, 6. Nothing is here said about Christ's second advent. Clear reference is made to the birth of Christ, who was "the root and offspring of David;" also, to his present reign in this dispensation of grace, and the execution of his righteous judgments against the works of darkness. "In his days Judah shall be saved." And, "Behold, now is the day of salvation." Isaiah clearly locates the establishing of the kingdom at Christ's first advent, in chapter 9, verses 6, 7-"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever."
We will now take up some of the principal texts used by those who believe in a future kingdom where superior means of grace will be offered to mankind, and prove their fulfillment in this gospel age. Thus, one by one, the props of the millennial heresy fall, under the hammer of eternal truth.
PROPHECY
"The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it, Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne."-Ps. 132:11.
FULFILLMENT.
"Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; . . . This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, . . . he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear."-Acts 2:29-33.
"Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness."-Rom. 1:2-4.
The angel said unto Mary, "And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."-Luke 1:31-33.
"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor."-Heb. 2:9.
"Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom."-Heb. 1:8. Read also 2 Tim. 2:8 and Acts 13:22, 23.
PROPHECY
"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make shine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of shine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power."-Ps. 110:1-3.
"Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. . . . Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for shine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." -Ps. 2:6-9.
"In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth."--Ps. 72:7, 8.
"All the ends of the world shall remember, and turn unto the Lord; and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord's; and he is governor among the nations.... All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him.... A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born."-Ps. 22:27-31.
FULFILLMENT
"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."-Acts 2:34-36.
"Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God: angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him."-1 Peter 3:22.
"God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee."-Acts 13:33.
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? . . .When he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he said, And let all the angels of God worship him.... Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom." -Heb. 1:1-8.
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.... And now, O Father, glorify thou me with shine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."-John 17:1, 2, 5.
"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." -Col. 2:10.
"All things are delivered to me of my Father."- Luke 10:22. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." -Matt. 28:18.
"To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."-Jude 25.
"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."-Phil. 2:9-11.
"For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.... Every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."-Rom. 14:10, 11.
"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church."-Eph. 1:20-22.
"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his foot stool."-Heb. 10:12, 13.
"For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies [sinners] under his feet [by their resurrection to damnation]. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For He hath put all things under his feet." "Then cometh the end I when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;" "that God may be all in all."-1 Cor. 15:23-28.
"But," says one, "He shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel. Where has that a present fulfillment! Answer-"And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him, to powder."-Matt. 21:44.
PROPHECY
"All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord."-Ps. 22:27.
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, 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. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, . . because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. Isa. 60 :1-5.
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: . . . lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.... And he shall speak peace unto the heathen; and his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river, even to the ends of the earth."-Zech. 9:9, 10.
FULFILLMENT.
"Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."-Luke 1:78, 79.
Good old Simeon took the infant Jesus in his arms and said, '`Lord, . . . mine eyes have seen thy salvation; . .. a light to lighten the Gentiles."-Luke 2 :25-32.
Paul and Barnabas said to the Jews: "Lo, we turn to re Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou wouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And hen the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified e word of the Lord."-Acts 13 :46-4S.
"On the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost."-Acts 10:45.
"Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."-Acts 11:18.
"Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear "-Acts 28:28.
Read the following texts: Matt. 12:18-21; Acts 26: 18; Rom. 15:9-12.
"And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were me to Bethpage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, d a colt with her. Loose them, and bring them unto me.
All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, and brought the 8, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they put him thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna the son of David: blessed is he that cometh in the name the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."-Matt. 21:1-9.
"The whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice, and praise God with a loud voice, saying, Blessed the King that cometh In the name of the Lord: peace heaven, and glory in the highest."-Luke 19:37, 38.
As we before observed, under the law the true God was known only to Israel-the Jews. They were favored above every nation on the earth. But in this dispensation repentance and remission of sins should be preached in name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth." The domain of Chris reaches to the uttermost parts of the earth. It has spread from hamlet to city, from vale to hill, from the continents to the islands of the sea, yea, from pole to pole, and from the rivers to the ends of the earth. Out of all nations of earth, people have been and are being saved and brought into the kingdom of God. So, instead of the scriptures teaching a more glorious dispensation yet future, the, teach the glorious privileges and blessings of this gospel age. We will now turn to some plain New Testament scriptures on this point. Having already noticed a number of these, they will need but little comment.
"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."-Luke 1:30-33. Read Acts 2 :30-36 "Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."-Mark 1:14, 15. "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."-Matt. 4:17. When Christ sent forth his disciples, he commissioned them, saying, "As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand."-Matt. 10:7 "The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."-Luke 16:16. "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."-Matt. 11:12. "The kingdom of God is come upon you."-Luke 11:20. When Christ entered Jerusalem, the people cried, "Hosanna! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest."-Mark 11:9, 10. "And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God." -Mark 12:34.
In the name of Jesus we ask, how can men in the face of such plain scripture, teach that the establishing of God's kingdom is yet future? When Christ appeared in his first advent the time was "fulfilled," the kingdom of God was "at hand." It even began under the labors of John the Baptist, and during Christ's personal ministry the material for the same was taken out. It is said that men "pressed into it." How could this be, if its establishment is in some future age? Speaking of his disciples, Christ said: "But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God." -Luke 9:27.
"And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power."-Mark 9:1. "Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom."-Matt. 16:28. We would be willing to stake this whole argument on these last three texts. During Christ's personal ministry he taught his disciples to pray, "Thy kingdom come," with the promise: "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." And mark the fact, he said, "I tell you of a truth, ye shall not taste of death, till ye see the kingdom of God come with power." -If Millennialism be true, the disciples are yet living somewhere upon the earth. But the fact that they are all dead proves beyond question that the kingdom of God has already come.
But when were these promises fulfilled? Answer- "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."- Acts 2:1-4. Read verses 29-36. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."-Rom. 14:17. "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."-1 Cor. 4:20. "Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."-Acts 1:8. Amen. This is too clear to need comment; we will notice a few more texts before closing this chapter.
Paul testified to the Colossian brethren that God "hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."- Col. 1:13. "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory."-1 Thess. 2:12, "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."-Heb. 12:28. John testifies that he was "in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ." -Rev. 1:9. Peter denominates the church in this dispensation "a royal priesthood"; i. e., a priesthood of kings. 1 Pet. 2:9. They which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness are said to "reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."-Rom. 5:17. Amen and amen.
Seeming Conflicting Scriptures
There are a few texts of scripture, when taken apart from the rest of the Bible, that would seem to teach that the establishing of God's kingdom is yet future. Yet when taken in their true connection they perfectly harmonize with the many plain scriptures already cited which clearly teach the kingdom already set up and possessed by the saints of God. For the benefit of the reader we will quote them in full.
Speaking of the signs which would precede Christ's second advent, it is said: "When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand." -Luke 21:31. "The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom."- 2 Tim. 4:1. Jesus Christ conquered death and hell and rose triumphant from the tomb. He ascended into heaven clothed with all power in heaven and in earth. He took his seat at the right hand of God, "crowned with glory and honor." (Heb. 1:1-8; 2:9.) He now reigns "King of kings and Lord of lords." Not only King over earth, but over all heaven; "angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." (1 Pet. 3:22; Col. 2:10; Phil. 2: 9-11; Eph. 1:20-22.)
The foregoing scriptures teach that in the "last day" Christ will come in all the glory of the kingdom, which he now possesses, and over which he now reigns. "Then 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."-Matt. 25:34. "So an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."-2 Pet. 1:11. "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?"-Jas. 2:5. While we here possess all the elements of Christ's spiritual kingdom, yet a future reward awaits the faithful. Christ has prepared a place for us. Our citizenship is in heaven. We have "an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven."-1 Pet. 1:4. This future home and reward is called "his heavenly kingdom" (2 Tim. 4:18), which we shall enter when time will be no more. Amen. We will close this chapter with the following beautiful words selected.
"There is not a nation on earth, or an island of the sea, that to a greater or a less degree has not heard the gospel. That angelic paean which sounded in the ears of the Judean shepherds: 'Peace on earth and good will toward men,' has rung out from the peaks of the Himalayas, the Alps, the Andes, the Sierra Nevadas. It has cut its way through the impenetrable jungles of Africa to the great lakes at its core. It has broken through the granite walls of China and entrenched itself in the heart of Peking. It has pierced the heavy veil of Corean shame and kissed with its warming beams every island of the sea and ever nation of the earth.... The printing press, the telegraph and telephone, the marine engine, the locomotive, all these late discoveries are inspired by God and put in motion to bring about the glorious end. War, famine, and pestilence are his plowshares which open furrows for gospel seed. The natural sun, humanly speaking, rises in the east and sets in the west. Jesus is called the Sun of righteousness. He came in Palestine, the extreme east, where he was rejected. Steadily the rays of the Sun of righteousness pierced the western blackness, chasing the darkness of nature's night from the hearts and homes of men, and leaving its eastern rejecters, who 'loved darkness, rather than light,' to the gloom they loved. Onward the; spiritual sun presses until today in this western land we enjoy his last sinking rays, while those in eastern nations are largely in gross darkness. This western nation is largely the missionary force of the world, and embraces all the light, knowledge, and improvement of the age. The globe has been girdled; the sun of hope for this world is fast sinking behind the everlasting hills. Surely, the evening shadows lengthen across the plains of time, the sun of hope is setting in the great eternal sea. Christ will soon leave the mediatorial throne for the judgment seat." Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus.
The Millennium doctrine started in an ungodly heretic by the name of Cerinthus, who lived in the first century. It is true that the Jews generally believed that the Messiah would establish a literal or earthly kingdom. And even some of them believed that Messiah's reign would last a thousand years. We here give an extract from Neander's History of Christian Dogmas, Vol. 1, Page 248.
"The idea of a millennial reign proceeded from Judaism; for among the Jews the representation was current that the Messiah would reign a thousand years upon earth. . . . Such products of Jewish imagination passed over into Christianity."
As before stated, Cerinthus was the first to attempt to introduce this doctrine under Christianity. Let history speak. In EusebiusÕs Ecclesiastical History, Book III, Chapter 28, is preserved a fragment from the writings of Caius, who lived about the close of the second century, which gives us the following account of Cerinthus' heresy: "But Cerinthus, too, through revelations written, as he would have us believe, by a great apostle, brings before us marvelous things, which he pretends were shown him by angels; alleging that after the resurrection the kingdom of Christ is to be on earth, and that the flesh dwelling in Jerusalem is again to be subject to desires and pleasures. And being an enemy to the scriptures of God, wishing to deceive men, he says that there is to be space of a thousand years for marriage festivities." "One of the doctrines he taught was that Christ would have an earthly kingdom." This is the true origin of the Millennium theory. The reader will observe how lightly our author speaks of Cerinthus's idea of the kingdom of Christ being set up on earth after the resurrection. He says this doctrine was "something which he [Cerinthus] pretends was shown to him by angels." Caius must therefore have believed the orthodox teachings of the scriptures, that Christ's kingdom was set up at his first coming. Observe also that Caius calls Cerinthus "an enemy to the scriptures of God," and one who was "wishing to deceive men." This language he uses with special reference to the one thousand years Cerinthus claimed would be spent in sensuality. Notice also that Cerinthus believed in an earthly kingdom.
Cerinthus lived in the days of the apostle John. We will now call your attention to the attitude of the beloved apostle toward this millennial teacher. Irenaeus, who was born about 120 A. D. and was acquainted with Polycarp, the disciple of John, [Eusebius's Eccl. Hist., V. 24], states that while John was at Ephesus, he entered a bath to wash and found that Cerinthus was within, and refused to bathe in the same bath-house, but left the building, and exhorted those with him to do the same, saying, "Let us flee, lest the bath fall in, as long as Cerinthus, that enemy of the truth, is within."-Eusebius's Eccl. Hist., III. 28. Let this be a rebuke to modern millennial advocates. They claim their doctrine is well founded in the Apocalypse of John. But John called the founder of their theory "that enemy of the truth."
"Cerinthus required his followers to worship the supreme God.... He promised them a resurrection of their bodies, which would be succeeded by exquisite delights in the Millenary reign of Christ.... For Cerinthus supposed that Christ would hereafter return . . . and would reign with his followers a thousand years in Palestine."-."- Mosheim's Eccl. Hist., Page 50.
"Cerinthus required his followers to retain part of the Mosaical law, but to regulate their lives by the example of Christ: and taught that after the resurrection Christ would reign upon earth, with his faithful disciples, a thousand years, which would be spent in the highest sensual indulgences. This mixture of Judaism and Oriental philosophy was calculated to make many converts, and this sect soon became very numerous. They admitted a part of St. Matthew's Gospel but rejected the rest, and held the epistles of St. Paul in great abhorrence."-Gregory and Ruter's Church History., Page 30.
"Even though the floods of the nations and the vain superstitions of heretics should revolt against their true faith, they are overcome, and shall be dissolved as the foam, because Christ is the rock by which, and on which, the church is founded. And thus it is overcome by no traces of maddened men. Therefore they are not to be heard who assure themselves that there is to be an earthly reign of a thousand years; who think, that is to say, with the heretic Cerinthus. For the kingdom of Christ is now eternal in his saints."-From a commentary on the Apocalypse, by Victorinus, Ante-Nicene Fathers.
Thank God for the united testimony of history. Observe, dear reader, how closely the modern Millennium teachers cling to the doctrines of their founder. Cerinthus taught that "Christ will have an earthly kingdom." "After the resurrection the kingdom of Christ is to be on earth." "The resurrection would be followed by exquisite delights in the Millenary reign of Christ." "That Christ would hereafter return, and would reign with his followers a thousand years in Palestine." The only difference is that his modern followers have dropped the idea of sensuality. But how did the early church regard the doctrine of Cerinthus? They declare that he was "an enemy to the scriptures of God, wishing to deceive men." They called him a "heretic." They termed his doctrines the "vain superstitions of heretics," and called all who believed and advocated the same "maddened men." The apostle John called Cerinthus "that enemy of the truth." They taught that "they are not to be heard who assure themselves that there is to be an earthly reign of a thousand years."
What was the doctrine of the early church according to history? "Christ is the rock on which, and by which the church is founded." "The kingdom of Christ is now eternal in his saints." "It was the universal feeling among primitive Christians that they were living in the last period of the world's history."-Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. VIII.. Page 534. The reason they believed this was because the New Testament was their faith, and this is the doctrine of the New Testament throughout. No wonder Cerinthus and his followers "rejected part of St. Matthew's gospel, and held the epistles of Paul in great abhorrence." Just so do modern Millennium-teachers dwell very little in the plain gospels and, epistles to prove their doctrines, but speculate in prophecy and revelation.
Having seen that Cerinthus and his false doctrine were rejected by God's church we will now come to its next chief advocate, Papias, who lived in the first half of the second century. Eusebius, under the heading "The Writings of Papias," says of him: "The same historian also gives other accounts, which he says he adds as received by him from unwritten tradition, likewise some strange parables of our Lord, and of his doctrine, and some other matters rather too fabulous. In these he says there would be a certain Millennium after the resurrection, and that there would be a corporeal reign of Christ on this very earth; which things he appears to have imagined, as if they were authorized by the apostolic narrations, not understanding correctly those matters which they propounded mystically in their representations. For he was very limited in his comprehension, as is evident from his discourses."- Eusebius's Eccl. Hist., Book m, Chap. 39, Page 115.
Historians generally tell us that Papias was a very zealous advocate of this imaginary reign of Christ on earth. "The first distinguished opponent of this doctrine was Origen, who attacked it with great earnestness and ingenuity, and seems, in spite of some opposition to have thrown it into general discredit." -Wadington's History, Page 56. "This obscure doctrine was probably known to but very few except the Fathers of the church, and is very sparingly mentioned by them during the first two centuries; and there is reason to believe that it scarcely attained much notoriety even among the learned Christians, until it was made a matter of controversy by Origen, and then rejected by the great majority. In fact we find Origen himself asserting that it was confined to those of the simpler sort."-Wadington's History, Page 56.
Next among the advocates of this doctrine was Nepos, a bishop in Egypt. He advocated the doctrine about A. D. 255. We here insert the following from Eusebius's History, Book VII, Chapter 23, under the heading "Nepos, and His Schism." "He taught that the promises given to holy men in the scriptures should be understood more as the Jews understood them, and supposed that there would be a certain Millennium of sensual luxury on this earth: thinking, therefore, that he could establish his own opinion by the Revelation of John . . . He (Nepos) asserts that there will be an earthly reign of Christ." "Though Millennialism had been suppressed by the early church, it was nevertheless from time to time revived by heretical sects."-Dr. Schaff's Hlstory, Page 299. "Nowhere in the discourses of Jesus is there a hint of a limited duration of the Messianic kingdom. The apostolic epistles are equally free from any trace of Chiliasm." -Encyclopedia Brittanica-Articles on Millennium.
To sum up the uniform voice of history, the theory of a literal kingdom and reign on the earth was gathered from Jewish fabulous "apocalypse," "unwritten tradition," "carnal misapprehensions," "pretended visions," "suppositions," and "superstitious imaginations." Its advocates were said to be "very limited in their understanding," and "of the simple sort." Millennialism had the worst heretic in the first century for its founder, and its chief advocates thereafter were rejected by the early church. From time to time it was revived by "heretical sects." The vain worldly expectation that the Messiah would establish a literal kingdom caused the Jews to reject him, and his spiritual kingdom. They only wanted an earthly kingdom; hence rejected and crucified the Son of God. As soon as the church began to apostatize, and lost the glory of his spiritual kingdom, vain ambitions awakened the old Jewish desire for a literal kingdom. And so it has come to pass that we have at this time of dead formality a multitude of men teaching the same abominable lie and false hope which crucified Christ nearly nineteen hundred years ago; namely, a literal kingdom of Christ.