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READ, IT /FLUENTLY.
DISPENSATION ^THIRD
THE F'JLLNESS OF TIMES
EPH3110.
tHNlAL'AGfc.
"ER10D OF
GN OF CHRISt I
NX HAW ?UT AU
HIS far*
TH0
TABERNACLE
OF THE WILDERNESS
THE HARMONY OF ITS TEACHINGS.
"MOST HOLY
ISRAEL
RESTORED.
5VORLD OFMAKKIKD
LIFTED UP TO
PERFECTION AND LIFE:
.HIS PURPCSB-
/ muss on eMn-vmgB m*
"COURT M V< # ,
liOiyPLAit'j^j
THE TAHKKNACtU
ftt,t<ia<-hi'nM artf in IwiMHtttf NuV/* M* <
a/tfif! agu, MiHfiiny tin w?4- ,
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, /(/ 'i M - /yw/|^|f </' Mf- !
iVi ( 'fart f ,1;;^ 7?^' r YM 'ft'i
STUDIES
IN THE
SCRIPTURES
PATH OF THE JUST IS AS THE SHINIMS LIGHT, WHICH SHIKE1H MOM
AND MORB UNTO THE KBIUmCT DAV."
n of the $$ge8.
3,308,000 Edli/on,
A viNnif &i KIN ftp titr IHVIM' t HAKWIIR AND covrrNMFWT: SWOWING, BY A
UI'CiX.NJHnN AMI IIA^Vrivr/IMi 01* AU llll Sf.RIfTtlRIfS, THAT TUB
t'!'KM4i>IiiN Hi' J.v'It., J'V^t ANP PR I- SP NT, IS EDUCATION-
AL AND VKM'AKAIOKY TO 1 HL USHKRINO
nl' MANKtNO INTO
THB C!Ot,DEN AGE OF PROPHECY
x WHICH M.I, I HI' J AMlUfS OF HIP TAUTIl WILL BF BLESSED WITH A PWIA
KNOWLIi. <>I'f,i<!> AMI Al'Mri OMOnTWITY TOR ATTAINrNO fiVER.
LAMINfi I'M '< ,|K .P/.iT I HI Kl DKI Ml R, WHO TIIHN WILL
i>K'i;iA(ii.i'\ri i' iiouMc *M> i rrit-oivpR.
WATCIt TOWER
BJW.K & TJfcACT
BRUDKl.iN, N. Y.
TO THE KING OFJ^GS AND LORD OF LORDS
IN THB INTEREST OF
HIS CONSECRATED "SAINTS,"
WAITING FOR THB ADOPTION,
AND OF
"ALL THAT IN EVERY PLACE CALL UTON THE LORD/*
" THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH,"
AND OF
THE GROANING CREATION, TRAVAILING AND WAITING FOR TH1
MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD,
THIS WORK IS DEDICATED.
* To make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning
of the world hath been hid in God " " Wherein He hath abounded toward
05 in all wisdom and prudence, having made blown unto us the
mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which
He hath purposed m Himself, that in the dispen.
sationof the fulness of the tunes He might
gather together m one all things,
under Christ"
Epfc 3 % 5, 9 !*:**
COPYRIGHT i"gr
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY,
BROORUN, I,. \ , U S A,
N. B.-This volume can be sunplied m the German and Swedish languages
Stu&iea tn tbe Scriptures*
Christian people are becoming more and more awake
to the fact that a great tidal wave of unbelief is sweep-
ing over Christendom; not the blasphemous atheism
voiced by Thomas Paine and Robert Ingersoll, but the
cultured kind represented in the scholarship of our
day, which ^~-akes the danger all the more insidious.
Not only are !,he great Colleges and Seminaries tin-
dermining the faith of the better educated, but the
Common School books, and especially those used in
the High Schools, are similarly inculcating a distrust
in the Bible, a contradiction of its teachings. For a
college graduate of to-day to declare his faith in the
inspiration of the Scriptures would bring upon him the
scorn of his companions a scorn which few would
court, or could endure. At very best, a few will be
found to claim that they believe that Jesus and his
Apostles were sincere, though they blundered in quoting
from the Old Testament as inspired.
Such a belief in Jesus and his Apostles is no belief
at all; for if present-day "higher critics" are wise enough
to know when and where our Lord and his Apostles
erred in their quotations from the Old Testament,
then these wise men of our day are our proper guides,
more inspired than Jesus and his Apostles.
Our Society, realizing the need, is seeking to do all
in its power to stem the tide and lift up the Lord's
"standard for the people" It has prepared six sets
of Bible Studies (of which this volume is one) for
Christian people of all denominations to use in lending
a helping hand to all perplexed inquirers with whom
they may, by God's providence, come in contact.
These are supplied at bare cost, and can be had direct
from the Society's warerooms or of its colporteurs,
who are gradually reaching forth these helping hand*
far and near. These valuable "studies" are supplied
at little mote than two cents each; 10 ot them we'fi
bound in a cloth case, embossed in silver, for 33 cents.
The thought is this: As a Christian man or woman
yon have children or relatives or neighbors or friends
open to your influence perhaps, indeed, asking your
counsel asking, "How do we know that there is a
God?" or, "What proofs have we that the Bible is
inspired?" It is no longer wise to call these silly ques-
tions, nor to ask, "Are you an infidel?"
However competent you might be to prepare an-
swers to these and a score of other questions, you may
not have the needed time and opportunity to do so.
How convenient then to step to your book-case, take
dowti the proper study on the subject, and to say to
the inquirer, Sit down and read that short study,
and the whole matter of your question will be fully
and satisfactorily settled; and if your doubts ever
again arise come over and read the same afresho
Possibly you may be a member of an Epworth
League or Christian Endeavor Society, or of a Baptist
Young People's Union, and may be called on for an
e^ f on some Scripture topic. How convenient to
selec*" one among these numerous studies (covering
almost every topic) and to find therein the appropriate
Scriptures cited. Ministers use them thus when com-
posing special sermons and addresses.
Ministers who have large libraries touching every
conceivable religious topic many volumes costing $6
to $8 per volume may not feel their need of these
"Bible Studies," but to others they are almost indis-
pensable. Indeed, in addition to the price feature,
wHch brings them within the reach of everybody six
volumes of over 3,000 pages for $2.25 the usual price
of one such volume they are written in pure, but
simple English, whereas the *' scholarly works" are
replete with technical terms and only for the few.
We invite Christian people of all denominations to
join us in our work of extending these "helping hands'*
to the rising generation. A single friend or relative
helped rescued from doubt or unbelief would repay
the cost of these studies a thousand times
CONTENTS;
STUDY I.
EARTH'S NIGHT OF SIN TO TERMINATE IN A
MORNING OF JOY.
A. NIGHT OP WEEPING AND A MOHNING OP JOY, Two METHODS OP SEEKING
TRUTH. THE McrHoo HEREIN PURSUED. SCOPE OP THE WORK. -A DIF-
FERENC3 BETWEEN THE REVERENT STUDY OF THS SCRIPTURES AND THB D&T-
GEROUS HABIT OF SPECULATION.- THE OBJECT OP PROPHECY. THE PRESENT
RELIGIOUS CONDITION- OP THE WORLD VIEWED FROM Two STANDPOINTS *
EGYPTIAN DARKNESS A Bow OP PROMISE. THE PATH OP THE JUST PRO-
GRESSIVK. CAUSE or THIS GREAT APOSTASY. THE REFORMATION. THB SAMS
CAUSE AGAIN HINDERS REAL PROGRESS. PERFECTION OP KNOWLEDGE NOT
A THING OF THE PAST, BUT OF THE FUTURE. .... g
STUDY IL
THE EXISTENCE OF A SUPREME INTELLIGENT
CREATOR ESTABLISHED.
EVIDENCE ASIDE FROM THB BIBLE, EXAMINED xsi THE LIGHT OP REASON. An
UNlBNAdLII TlLEtUY. A RtASONAELjJ TlIHOUY THE CHARACTER OF GOD
STUDY IE.
THE BIBLE AS A DIVINE REVELATION VIEWED
IN THE LIGHT OF REASON.
THE CLAIIWS OP TITK BIBLB AND ITS SURFACE EVIDENCE OP CRHDiBrLrrr. ITS
ANTIQUITY AND PRESERVATION. ITS MORAL INFLUENCE. MOTIVES OP THB
WRITERS. GENHKAL CHARACTER OF THE WRITINGS THE BOOKS OF MOSES.
THR LAW OF Mo'jns. PECULIARITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT iKSTiiurED BY
MOSES. IT WAS NOT A SYSTLM OF PKICSTCIIAFT, INSTRUCTIONS TO CIVIL
RULERS RICH AND POOR ON A COMMON LITTOL BEFORE THE LAW. SAFE-
GUARDS AGAINST TAMWRING WITH THE RIGHTS OF THB PEOPLE. THB
PRIESTHOOD NOT A FAVORED CLASS, How SUP*OKTHD, ETC. OPPRESSION OF
PORRXGMBRS, WlOOWS, Ofcl'HANS AND SERVANTS GUARDED AGAINST. TlIB
PROPIIKTS OP THE BIBLE Is THFHB A. COMMON BOND OF UNION BETWEEN
THK TAW, THE PROPHETS AND THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS? MIRACLES
NOT UNRKASONADLB. THE REA.SOKABLD; CQWCLUSIOK. 37
STUDY IV.
THE EPOCHS AND DISPENSATIONS MARKED IN THB
DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIVINE PLAN.
GOD'S PLAN DEFINITE AND SYSTEMATIC THREE GREAT EPOCHS OP TH*
WORLD'S HISTORY. THEIR DISTINCTIVE FEATURES.-- "THE EARTH ABIDETH
FOREVER/* THE WORLD TO Cows, THE NEW HEAVENS AND EARTH. SUBDI-
VISIONS OP THESE GREAT EPOCHS. THE IMPORTANT FEATURES OP GOD'S PLAN
THUS BROUGHT TO VIEW. ORDER RECOGNIZED DISCLOSES HARMONY,
RIGHTLY DIVIDING THB WORD OF TRUTH. * . . . .65
STUDY V.
THE MYSTERY HID FROM AGES AND FROM GENERA-
TIONS, BUT NOW MADE MANIFEST TO
HIS SAINTS." COL. I : 26.
THF GLIMMERING LIGHT OP THE FIRST PROMISE THE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM.
HOPS DEFERRED. THE MYSTERY BEGINS TO UNRAVEL AT PENTECOST. WHAT
THE MYSTERY Is WHY So LONG KEPT A MYSTERY. STILL A MYSTERY TO
THE WORLD. Iw DUB TEWS TO BE MADE MANIFEST TO ALL. WHEN THB MYS-
TERY WILL BB FINISHED. . . . . , . .77
STUDY VI.
OUR LORD'S RETURN ITS OBJECT, THE RESTITU-
TION OF ALL THINGS.
OUR LORD'S SECOND ADVENT PERSONAL AND PRE-MILLENNIAL. ITS RELATION-
SHIP TO THE FIRST ADVENT. THE SELTCTION OF THE CHURCH AND THE CON-
VERSION OF THE WORLD. ELECTION AND FREE GRACE. PRISONERS OF HOPE,
PROPHETIC TESTIMONY RXGABPING RESTITUTION OUR LORD'S RETURN MAN-
IFESTLY THB HOPE OF THB CHURCH AND THE WORLD. . . . .89
STUDY VIL
THE PERMISSION OF EVIL AND ITS RELATION TO
GOD'S PLAN.
WHY EVIL WAS PBRMITTBD. RIGHT AND WRONG AS PRINCIPLES. THE MORAL
SENSE. GOD PERMITTED EVIL, AND WILL OVERRULE IT FOR GOOD. GOD NOT
THE AUTHOR OF SIN. ADAM'S TRIAL NOT A FARCB. His TEMPTATION SE-
VERE. HE SINNED WILFULLY. THB PENALTY OF SIN NOT UNJUST, NOR Too
SEVERE. THE WISDOM, Leva AND JUSTICE DISPLAYED IN CONDEMNING ALL
IN ADAM. GOD'S LAW UNIVERSAL. . . , . . . ny
STUDY VIII.
THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.
THE GENERAL VIEW OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. Is rr SCRIPTURAL? TH
TERMS, JUDGMENT AND DAY, DEFINED, SEVERAL JUDGMENT DAYS REFPRRHD
TO INTHS SCRIPTURES. THB FIRST JUDGMENT DAY AND ITS RESULTS, A*-
OTHER APPOINTED. THE JUDGE. THS CHARACTER OF TBS COMING JUDG-
MENT SIMILARITY AND DISSIMILARITY OP THE FIRST AND SECOND JUDG-
MENTS. THE WORLD'S PRESENT ACCOUNTABILITY. Two INTERVENING JUDG-
MENTS AND THEIR OBJECTS. WIDELY DIFFERENT ESTIMATES OF THB COMING
JUDGMENT. How PROPHETS AND APOSTLES VIEWED IT. . . . 137
STUDY IX.
RANSOM AND RESTITUTION.
THE RESTITUTION GUARANTEED BY THE RANSOM. NOT EVERLASTING LIFE,
BUT A TRIAL FOR IT, SECURED tfsr THE RANSOM. THE CONDITIONS AND AD-
VANTAGES OF THE TRIAL CHRIST'S SACRIFICE NECESSARY. How THE RACE
COULD BE AND WAS REDEEMED BY THE DEATH OF ONE. FAITH AND WORKS
STILL NECESSARY THE WAGES OF WILFUL SIN CERTAIN. WILL THERE BB
ROOM ON THB EARTH FOR THE RESURRECTED MILLIONS PROSTITUTION VER-
SUS EVOLUIION. ......... 343
STUDY X.
SPIRITUAL AND HUMAN NATURES SEPARATE AND
DISTINCT.
COMMON MISAPPREHENSIONS. EARTHLY OR HUMAN AND HEAVENLY OR SPIR-
ITUAL NATURES EARTHLY GLORY AND HEAVENLY GLOR*. BIBLE TESTI-
MONY REGARDING SPIRIT BEINGS. MORTALITY AND IMMORTALITY. CAN
MORTAL BEINGS HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE? JUSTICE IN THE BESTOWMENT
OF FAVORS. A SUPPOSED PRINCIPLE EXAMINED. VARIETY IN PERFECTION.
COD'S SOVEREIGN RIGHTS. COD'S PROVISION FOR MAN A SATISFYING POR-
TION TUB ELECTION OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.- How THEIR CHANGE OF
NATURE is EFFLCTBD X73
STUDY XI*
THE THREE WAYS THE BROAD WAY, THE NARROW
WAY, THE HIGHWAY.
CHE BROAD ROAD TO DESTRUCTION. THE NARROW WAY TO LIFE. WHAT is
LIFE? THE DIVINE NATURE. THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE DIVINE AND
HUMAN NATURES. THE REWARD AT THE END OF THE NARROW WAY. THE
HIGH CALLING LIMITUD TO THE GOSPEL AGE. DIFFICULTIES AND DANGERS OP
TUB NAUKOW WAY. THB HIGHWAY OP HOLINESS 203
STUDY XII.
EXPLANATION OF CHART REPRESENTING THE PLAN
OF THE AGES.
THE AGES. THB HARVESTS. PLANES OF ACTUAL AND RECKONED STANDING.
Tun COURSE OF OUR LORD JESUS. THH COURSE OF His FOLLOWERS. THREE
CLASSES IK TUB NOMINAL CHURCH. SEPARATION IN THE HARVEST. THS
ANOINTED CLASS GLORIFIED. THE GREAT TRIBULATION CLASS. THB TARES
D. THB WORLD BLBSSBO.THS OUTCOME GLORIOUS. . . 3*9
STUDY XHL
THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD.
TssPttST DOMINION, ^TS FORFEITURE,-- ITS REDEMPTION AND RESTORATION,
i THE TYPICAL KINGDOM OP GOD. THE USURPER. Two PHASES OF THU
PRESENT DOMINION. -THE POWERS THAT BE, ORDAINED OF GOD. NEBUCHAD-
NEZZAR'S VIEW OF THEM. DANIEL'S VIEW AND INTERPRETATION. THE KING-
DOMS OF THIS WORLD VIEWED FROM ANOTHER STANDPOINT. -THE PROPER RE-
LATIONSHIP OF THE CHURCH TO PRESENT GOVERNMENTS. THE DIVINE RIGHT
OF KINGS BrosPLY EXAMINED. CLAIMS OF CHRISTENDOM FALSE. A BETTER
HOPS IN THE FIFTH UNIVERSAL EMPIRE 243
STUDY XIV.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
PROMINENCE OP THE SUBJTCT.- THE CHARACTER OF THS KINGDOM. Tim
KINGDOM DURING THE GOSPEL AGE FALSE VIEWS CORRECTED BY PAUL ~
RESULTS OF* FALSE IDEAS OF THE KINGDOM. Two PHASES OF THE KINGDOM
OP GOD. THE SPIRITUAL PHASE AND ITS WORK. Tun EARTHLY PHASE
AND ITS WORK. THEIR HARMONIOUS OPERATION. THE GLORY OF THE
EARTHLY PHASE. THE GLORY OF THE HEAVENLY PHASE. THE COVENANT
ROOT FROM WHICH THESE BRANCHES GROW. THE EARTHLY PHASE OF THS
KINGDOM, ISRAEUTISH. THE LOST TRIBES. THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM.
ISRAEL A TYPICAL PEOPLE. ISRAEL'S Loss AND RECOVERY. THE ELECT
CLASSES. THE HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM. THE IRON RULE. AN ILLUSTRA-
TION OF THE OBJECT OF THE MILLENNIAL REIGN. THE KINGDOM DELIVERED
TO THE FATHER. GOD'S ORIGINAL DESIGN FULLY ACCOMPLISHED. . . 373
STUDY XV.
THE DAY OF JEHOVAH.
THB " DAY OP JEHOVAH," THE ** DAY OF VENGEANCE," THE " DAY OF WRATH/'
A TIME OF GRFAT TROUBLE. ITS CAUSE THE BIBLE'S TESTIMONY REGARD-
ING IT. ITS FIRE AND STORM, ITS SHAKING AND MELTING, SHOWN TO BE SYM-
BOLIC. DAVID'S TESTIMONY, THE REVELATOR'S TESTIMONY. THE PRESENT
SITUATION AND THE FUTURE OUTLOOK AS VIEWED BY THE OPPOSING PARTIFS,
CAPITALISTS AND WAGE-WORKERS. A REMEDY WHICH WILL NOT SUCCEED.
THE VEIL LIFTED AND LIGHT ADMITTED JUST IN DUE TIMR. THE PROOF OF
THIS Tnn CONDITION OF THE SAINTS DURING TUB TROUBLE, AND THIHR
PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD IT ^
STUDY XVI.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS.
OOK Durv TOWARD THS TBUTH. ITS COST, Its VALUK, ITS PROFIT. 343
SCRIPTURE STUDIES.
STUDY I.
EARTH'S NIGHT OF SIN TO TERMINATE IN A
MORNING OF JOY,
A NIGHT OF WEEPING AND A MORNING OF JOY.- Two METHODS OF
TRUTH. TUB MKIHOD Hr.uuirf i'uubL&n. bcora OF ins YVORK. A UIF-
ShltaNCh liKIWEiiN THE RLVERENl STUDV OF TUB SCRIPTURES A>'D 1H1? DAN
(.CLKOUS HAUIT OF btvcuLAiioN. THE Oiiircr 01- PKOPHHCY* THE PRESENT
RI.X.TOIOUS CONDITION OF THE WORLD ViiiVii-o HKOM Two STANDPOINT-.
Erwi'iiAN DAKKNKSS.- A How ox? 1'Rui.i.isi:. Tnr PATH OF inn JITT t*uo-
orrssivr. CATTSIS oFTHr GREAT ApusT^sv.TjttLREfo^ivtATroN. THC S*^rs
CACTSB AGAIN HTNUKRS DEAS- PROOKTS'I. PE^VFECTION OF KI^OWLEDGF NOT
A THING o& IKE PAST, EOT oy iiitt Fuauun.
HPHE TITLE of this series of Studies ( < The Divine
* Plan of the Ages/ 7 suggests a progression in the Di-
vine arrangement, foreknown to our God and orderly. We
believe the teachings of Divine revelation can be seen to be
both beautiful and harmonious fiorn this standpoint and
from no other. The period in which sin is permitted has
been a dark night to humanity, never to be forgotten ; but
the glorious day of righteousness and divine favor, to be
ushered in by Messiah, who, as the Sun of Righteousness,
shall arise and shine fully and clearly into and upon all,
bringing healing and blessing, will more than countei bal-
ance the dreadful night of weeping, sighing, pain, sick-
ness and death, in which the groaning creation has been so
long. " Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh
in the MORNING.*' Psa. 30:5. (9)
jo The Plan of the Ages.
As though by instinct, the whole creation, while it groans
and travails in pain, waits for, longs for and hopes for the
DAY, calling it the Golden Age; yet men grope blindly,
because not aware of the great Jehovah's gracious purposes.
But their highest conceptions of such an age fall far short
of what the reality will be. The great Creator is preparing
a "feast of fat things/ ' which will astound his creatures,
and be exceedingly, abundantly beyond what they could
reasonably ask or expert. And to his wondering creatures,
looking at the length and breadth, the height and depth oi
the love of God, surpassing all expedition, he explains:
" My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways
my ways, saith the Lord ; for as the heavens are higher than
the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts. 7 ' Isa. 55 : 8, 9.
Though in this work we shall endeavor, and we trust with
success, to set before the interested and unbiased reader the
plan of God as it relates to and explains the past, the pres-
ent and the future of his dealings, in a way more harmonious,
beautiful and reasonable than is generally understood, yet
that this is the result of extraordinary wisdom or ability on
the part of the writer is positively disclaimed. It is ihe
light from the Sun of Righteousness in this dawning of the
Millennial Day that reveals these things as " present truth/'
now due to be appreciated by the sincere the pure in heart.
Since skepticism is rife, the very foundation of true re-
ligion, and the foundation of truth, is questioned often,
even by the sincere. We have endeavored to uncover
enough of the foundation upon which all faith should be
built the Word of God to give confidence and assurance
in its testimony, even to the unbeliever. And we have en-
deavored to do this in a manner that will appeal to and can
be accepted by reason as a foundation. Then we have en-
deavored to build upon that foundation the teachings of
Joy in the Morning* ix
Scripture, in such a manner that, so far as possible, purely
human judgment may try its squares and angles by the most
exacting rules of justice which it can command.
Believing that the Scriptures reveal a consistent and har-
monious plan, which, when seen, must commend itself to
every sanctified conscience, this work is published in the
hope of assisting students of the Word of God, by suggest-
ing lines of thought which harmonize with each other and
with the inspired Word. Those who recognize the Bible
as the revelation of God's plan and such we specially ad-
dress will doubtless agree that, if inspired of God, its teach-
ings must, when taken as a whole, reveal a plan harmonious
and consistent with itself, and with the character of its
Divine Author. Our object as truth-seekers should be to
obtain the complete, harmonious whole of God's revealed
plan ; and this, as God's children, we have reason to expert,
since it is promised that the spirit of truth shall guide us
into all truth. John 16:13.
As inquirers, we have two methods open to us. One is
to seek among all the views suggested by the various sects
of the church, and to take from each that element which
we might consider truth an endless task. A difficulty which
we should meet by this method would be, that if our judg-
ment were warped and twisted, or our prejudices bent in
any direct ion^ and whose are not? these difficulties would
prevent our correct selection, and we might choose the er-
ror and reject the truth. Again, if we should adopt this as
our method we should lose much, because the truth is pro-
gressive, shining more and more unto the perfect day, to
those who search for it and walk in the light of it, while
the various creeds of the various sects are fixed and station-
ary, and were made so centuries ago. And each of them
must contain a large proportion of error, since each in some
important respects contradicts the others. This method
12 The Plan of the
v/ould lead into a labyrinth of bewilderment and confusion*
The other method is to divest our minds of all piejudice,
and to remember that none can know more about the plans
of God than he has revealed in his Word, and that it was
given to the mceli and lowly of heart ; and, as such, earnest-
ly and sincerely seeking its guidance and instruction only,
we shall by its great Author be guided to an understanding
of it, as it becomes due to be understood; by making use
of the various helps divinely r,;ovidcd. See Eph. 4 : n~i6.
As an aid to ibis cl'iss 01 students, this work is specially
designed. It will be noticed ir>j.i its references are to Scrip-
ture only, except where secuLtr history may be called in to
prove the fulfilment of Scripture statements. The testimony
of modern theologians has been ^ivea no weight, and tlict
of the so-called Early Fathers has been omitted. Many of
them have testified in harmony with thoughts herein ex-
pressed, but we believe it to bo a common failing of the
present and all times for insn to believe certain doftrines
because others did so, in whom they had confidence. This
is manifestly a fruitful cauac of error, for many good people
have believed and taught cmr/ in all good conscience. (Ads
26 : 9.) Trudvsecker-o should empty their vessels of tlie
muddy waters of tradition aad fill them at the fountain of
truth God's Word. And no religious teaching should have
weight except as it guides the truth-seeker to thai fountain.
For even a general and hasty examination of the whole
Bible and its teaching, ihis work is too small ; but, recogniz-
ing the haste of our da}-, we have endeavored to be as brief
as the importance of the sufyVels seemed to permit.
To the interested sUu.Vil we would suggest that it will
be useless for h'm merely to skim over thin work, and hope
to obtain the force and harmony of the phn suggested, nnd
the Scripture evidences herein *jd\!seiiiet(. We have endeav-
ored throughout to r>re$eot tNi various fragments of truth,
J'0y m tnt Morning* c^
not only in such language, but also in such order, as would
best enable all classes of readers to grasp the subject and
general plan clearly. While thorough and orderly study is
necessary to the appreciation of any of the sciences, it is
specially so in the science of Divine revelation. And in
this work it is doubly necessary, from the Tact that in addi-
tion to its being a treatise on divinely revealed truths, it is
an examination of the subject from, so far as vre know, cm
altogether different standpoint from that of any other work.
We have no apology to offer for treating many subjects usually
neglected by Christians among others, the coming of our
Lord, and the prophecies and symbolism of the Old and
New Testaments. No system of theology should be pre-
sented, or accepted, which overlooks or o.iiits the most
prominent features of Scripture teaching. We trust, how-
ever, that a wide distinction will be recognised between the
earnest, sober and reverent study o< r prophecy and other
scriptures, in the light of accomplished historic facts, to
obtain conclusions which sanctified common sense can ap-
prove, and a too common practice of general speculation,
which, when applied to divine prophecy, is too apt to give
loose rein to wild theory and vague fancy. Those who
fall into this dangerous habit generally develop into proph-
ets (?) instead of prophetic students.
No work is more noble and ennobling than the reverent
study of the revealed purposes of God " which things the
angels desire to look into." (i Pet. i : 12.) The fact that
God's wisdom provided prophecies of the future, as well as
statements regarding the present and the past, is of itself a
reproof by Jehovah of the foolishness of some of his chil-
dren, Vr'ho have excused their ignorance and neglect of the
study of His Word by saying: "There is enough in the
fifth chapter of Matthew to save any man." Nor should we
suppose that prophecy was given merely to satisfy curiosity
concerning the future. Its objed evidently is to maie the
consecrated child of God acquainted with his Father' s plans,
thus to enlist his interest and sympathy in the same plans,
and to enable him to regard both the present and the future
from God's standpoint. When thus interested in the Lord's
work, he may serve with the spirit and with the understand-
ing also ] not as a servant merely, but as a child and heir.
Revealing to such what shall be, counterafts the influence
of what now is. The effecl of careful study cannot be other-
wise than strengthening to faith and stimulating to holiness.
In ignorance of God's plan for the recovery of the world
from sin and its consequences, and under the false idea that
the nominal church, in its present condition, is the sole
agency for its accomplishment, the condition of the world
to-day, after the Gospel has been preached for nearly nine-
teen centuries, is such as to awaken serious doubt in every
thoughtful mind so misinformed. And such doubts are not
easily surmounted with anything short of the truth. In faQ;,
to every thoughtful observer, one of two things must be ap-
parent : either the church has made a great mistake in sup-
posing that in the present age, and in her present condition,
her office has been to convert the world, or else God's plan
has been a miserable failure. Which horn of the dilemma
shall we accept ? Many have accepted, and many more
doubtless will accept, the latter, and swell the ranks of in-
fidelity, either covertly or openly. To assist such as are
honestly falling thus, is one of the objects of this volume.
On page sixteen we present a diagram, published by the
" London Missionary Society," and afterward in the United
States by the "Women's Presbyterian Board of Missions."
It is termed " A Mute Appeal on Behalf of Foreign Mis-
sions." It tells a sad tale of darkness and ignorance of the
only name given under heaven, or among men, whereby
we must be saved.
Joy in the Morning. 15
The Watchman the " Y. M. C. A." journal of Chicago
published this same diagram, and commenting on it said:
" The ideas of some are very misty and indefinite in re-
gard to the world's spiritual condition. We hear of glorious
revival work at home and abroad, of fresh missionary efforts
in various directions, of one country after another opening
to the gospel, and of large sums being devoted to its spread:
and we get the idea that adequate efforts are being made
for the evangelization of the nations of the earth. It is es-
timated to-day that the world's population is 1,424,000,000,
and by studying the diagram we will see that considerably
more than one-half nearly two-thirds are still totally
heathen, and the remainder are mostly either followers of
Mohammed or members of those great apostate churches
whose religion is practically a Christianized idolatry, and
who can scarcely be said to hold or teach the gospel of
Christ. Even as to the 116 millions of nominal Protest-
ants, we must remember how large a proportion in Ger-
many, England and this country have lapsed into infi-
delity & darkness deeper, if possible, than even that of
heathenism and how many are blinded by superstition, or
buried in extreme ignorance ; so that while eight millions
of Jews still reject Jesus of Nazareth, and while more than
300 millions who bear his name have apostatized from his
faith, 170 millions more bow before Mohammed, and the
vast remainder of mankind are to this day worshipers of
stocks and stones, of their own ancestors, of dead herpes
or of the devil himself; all in one way or other worshiping
and serving the creature instead of the Creator, who is God
over all, blessed forever. Is there not enough here to sad-
den the heart of thoughtful Christians?"
Truly this is a sad picture. And though the diagram
represents shades of difference between Heathens, Moham-
medans and Jews, all are alike* in total ignorance of Christ.
Some might at first suppose that this view with reference to
the proportion of Christians is too dark and rather over-
drawn, but we think the reverse of this. It shows nominal
Christianity in the brightest colors possible. For instance,
DIAGRAM
EXHIBITING THE ACTUAL AHI5 RELATIVE NUMBERS OP MANKIND CLASSIFIES
ACCORDING TO RELIGION.
Mohamme
Haatkesi, dans,
millions,,
iTp
millions.
Jews,
8
millions,
Roman Greek Protest-
Catholics, Catholics, ants,
IQO 84 '116
millions* millions, millions,
the 116,000,000 'put down as Protestant is lar in excess of
the true number. Sixteen millions would, we believe, more
nearly express the number of professing church members of
adult years, and one million would, we fear, be far too lib-
eral an estimate of the "little flock," the "sanaified in
Christ Jesus/ 7 who " walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit." It should be borne in mind that a large propor-
tion of church members, always numbered in the reckoning,
are young children and infants. Specially is this the case
In the countries of Europe. In many of these, children
are reckoned church members from earliest infancy.
But dark as this pi&ure appears, it is not the darkest
pidlure that fallen humanity presents. The above cut rep-
resents only the present living generations. When we con-
sider the fadl that century after century of the six thousand
years past has swept away other vast multitudes, nearly all
of whom were enveloped in the same ignorance and sin,
how dark is the scene ! Viewed from the popular stand-
point, it is truly an awful picture.
The various creeds of to-day teach that all of these bil-
lions of humanity, ignorant of the only name under heaven
by which we must be saved, are on the straight road to
everlasting torment ; and not only so, but that all of those
116,000,000 Protestants, except the very few saints, are sure
bf the same fate. No wonder, then, that those who believe
such awful things of Jehovah's plans and purposes should
be zealous in forwarding missionary enterprises the won-
der is that they are not frenzied by it. Really to believe
thus, and to appreciate such conclusions, would rob life of
every pleasure, and shroud in gloom every bright prospedt
of nature.
To show that we have not misstated " Orthodoxy " on
the subject of the fate of the heathen, we quote from the
pamphlet "A Mute Appeal on Behalf of Foreign Mis-
'2-A
The flan 0f the Ages.
_ the diagram was published. Its conclud-
ing sentence is : ** Evangelize the mighty generations abroad
the one thousand million souls who stre dying in Christ-
less despair at the rate of 100,000 a day."
But though this is the gloomy outlook from the stand-
point of human creeds, the Scriptures present a brighter
view, which it is the purpose of these pages to point out.
Instructed by the Word, we cannot believe that God's great
plan of salvation was ever intended to be, or ever will be,
such a failure. It will be a relief to the perplexed child of
God to notice that the Prophet Isaiah foretells this very
condition of things, and its remedy, saying: "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 [heathen] shall come to thy
light." (Isa. 60: 2, 3.) In this prophecy, the gross dark-
ness is lighted by the bow of promise : " The Gentiles
[the nations of earth in general] shall come to thy light/'
Not only have the continued misery and darkness of the
world, and the slow progress of truth, been a mystery to
the Church, but the world itself has known and felt its
condition. Like that which enveloped Egypt, it has been
a darkness that could be felt. In evidence of this, note the
spirit of the following lines, clipped from a Philadelphia
journal. The doubt and gloom, intensified by the clashing
creeds of the various schools, had not yet been dispelled
from the writer's mind by the rays of divine truth dire<5t
from the Word of God :
Life ! great mystery 1 Who shall say
What need hath God of this poor clay ?
Formed by his hand with potent skill-~
Mind, matter, soul and stubborn will ;
Born but to die : sure destiny death.
Then where, oh I where this fleeting breath.
Not one of all the countless throng,
Joy in vh* Morning* 19
Who lived and died and suffered long,
Returns to tell the great design
That future, which is yours and mine.
We plead, O God ! for some new ray
Of light for guidance on our way;
Based not on faith, but clearer sight,
Dispelling these dark clouds of night ;
This doubt, this dread, this trembling fear;
This thought that mars our blessings here.
This restless mind, with bolder sway,
Rejecls the dogmas of the day
Taught by jarring seels and schools,
To fetter reason with their rules.
We seek to know Thee as thou art
Our place with. Thee and then the part
We play in this stupendous plan,
Creator Infinite, and man.
Lift up this veil obscuring sight;
Command again : ' Let there be light ! *
Reveal this secret of Thy throne;
We search hi darkness the unknown."
To this we reply :
Life's unsealed mystery soon shall say
What joy hath God in this poor clay,
Formed by his hand with potent skill,
Stamped with his image mind and will;
Born not to die no, a second birth
Succeeds the sentence " earth to earth."
For One of all the mighty host,
Who lived and died and suffered most,
Arose, and proved God's great design
That future, therefore, yours and mine.
His Word discloses this new ray
Of light, for guidance on our way ;
Based now on faith, but sure as fight,
Dispelling these dark clouds of night:
The doubt, the dread, the trembling fear,
The thoughts that marred our blessings here.
Now, Lord, these minds, whose bolder sway
ftan of tht Ages.
Reje<5is the dogmas of to-day,
Tanght by janing seels and schools,
Fettering reason with their rules,
May MW& avd know Thee as Thou a-t>
Our place with Thee, and then the psrt
\Ye play in this stupendous plan,
Creator Infinite, and man.
Uplifts the veil, revealing quite
To those who walk in heavtcTs light
The glorious mystery of His throne
Hidden from ages, now made known.
Such a blessing is now coming to the world through the
unfolding of the divine purpose and the opening of the
divine Word, of which blessing and revealing this volume
we trust is a part.
Those who will turn away from the mere speculations of
men, and devote time to searching the Scriptures, not ex-
cluding reason, which God invites us to use (Isa. i : 18),
will find that a blessed bow of promise spans the heavens.
It is a mistake to suppose that those without faith, and
consequent justification, should be able to apprehend clearly
the truth : it is not for such* The Psalmist says, " Light
[truth] is sown for the righteous." (Psa. 97 : n.) For the
child of God a lamp is provided whose light dispels from
his pathway much of the darkness. " Thy word is a lamp
unto my feet, and a light unto rny path." (Psa. 119 : 105.)
But it is only " the path of the just " that " is as the shin-
ing light, that shineth more and more unto the perfeft
day." (Prov. 4:18.) Aftually, there is none just, " none
righteous, no, not one" (Rom. 3 : 10) j the class referred
to is "justified by faith." It is the privilege. only of this
class to walk in the pathway that shines more and more
to see not only the present unfoldings of God's plan, but
also things to come. While it is true that the path of each
individual believer is a shining one, yet the special applica-
Joy in the Morning. li
tion of this statement is to the just ( ji;3tlf;et:} as a class.
Patriarchs, prophets, apostles and saints of the past and
present have walked in its increasing light ; and the light
will continue to increase beyond the present "unto the
perfect day. 1 ' It is one continuous path, and the one con-
tinuous and increasing light is the Divine Record, illumin-
ating as it becomes due.
Therefore, "Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous/' expe&-
ing the fulfilment of this promise. Many have so little
faith that they do not look for more light, and, because of
their unfaithfulness and unconcern, they are permitted to
sit in darkness, when they might have been walking in the
increasing light.
The Spirit of God, given to guide the Church into truth,
will take of the things written and show them unto us; but
beyond what is written we need nothing, for the Holy
Scriptures are able to make wise unto salvation, through
faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. 3 : 15.
While it is still true that " darkness covers the earth and
gross darkness the people," the world is not always to re-
main in this condition. We are assured that " the morning
cometh." (Isa. 21 : 12.) As now God causes the natural
sun to shine upon the just and the unjust, so the Sun of
Righteousness will, in the Millennial day, shine for the bene-
fit of all the world, and " bring to light the hidden things
of darkness." (i Cor. 4:5.) It will dispel the noxious
vapors of evil, and bring life, health, peace and joy.
Looking into the past we find that then the light shone
but feebly. Dim and obscure were the promises of past
ages. The promises made to Abraham and others, and
typically represented in the law and ceremonies of fleshly
Israel, were only shadows and gave but a vague idea of
God's wonderful and gracious designs. As we reach the
days of Jesus the light increases. The height of expedt-
t? The Plan of the Agfs.
ancy, until then, had been that God would bring a deliv-
erer to save Israel from their enemies, and to exalt them as
the chief nation of the earth, in which position of power and
influence God would use them as his agency for blessing all
the families of the earth. The offer given them of heir-
ship in the kingdom of God was so different, in the con-
ditions demanded, from what they had expe&ed, and the
prospers of the class being seletfed ever attaining the
greatness promised were, outwardly and humanly consid-
ered, so improbable, that all but the few were thereby
blinded to the message. And their blindness and hostility
to it were naturally increased when, in the process of God's
plan, the due time came for extending the message, and
making the invitation to share in the promised Kingdom
applicable to every creature under heaven who should by
the exercise of faith be reckoned a child of faithful Abra-
ham and an heir of fche promise made to him*
But when ths gospel which Jesus taught came to be under-
stood after Pentecost, it was seen by the Church that the
blessings for the world were to be of an enduring chara&er,
and that for the accomplishment of this purpose the King-
dom would be spiritual, and composed of Israelites indeed,
a " little flock" seleAed from among both Jews and Gen-
tiles to be exalted to spiritual nature and power. Hence we
read that Jesus brought life and immortality to light through
the gospel. (2 Tim. i : 10.) And since Jesus' day yet more
light shines, as he foretold it would, saying, " I have many
things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now : how-
beit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you
into all truth , , . and he will show you things to come."
John 16: 12, 13.
There came a time, however, after the apostles fell asleep,
when the majority of the Church began to negledi the lamp,
and to look to human teachers for leading ; and the teach-
Joy in the Morning* 23
ers, puffed up with pride, assumed titles and offices, and
began to lord it over God's heritage. Then by degrees
there came into existence a special class called " the clergy,"
who regarded themselves, and were regarded by others, as
the proper guides to faith and practice, aside from the Word
of God. Thus in time the great system of Papacy was de-
veloped by an undue respect for the teachings of fallible
men and a neglect of the Word of the infallible God.
Serious indeed have been the evil results brought about by
this neglect of truth. As all know, both the church and
the civilized world were almost wholly enslaved by that sys-
tem, and led to worship the traditions and creeds of men.
From this slavery a bold and blessed strike for liberty and
the Bible was made, in what is known as The Reformation*
God raised up bold champions for his Word, among whom
were Luther, Zwingli, Melanchthon, WydifFe, Knox and
others. These called attention to the fact that Papacy had
laid aside the Bible and substituted the decrees and dogmas
of the church, and pointed out a few of its erroneous teach-
ings and practices, showing that they were built upon tra-
dition, contrary to truth, and opposed to God's Word.
These reformers and their adherents were called Protestants,
because they protested against Papacy, and claimed the
Word of God as the only correct rule of faith and practice.
Many faithful souls in the days of the Reformation walked
in the light, so far as it was then shining. But since their
day Protestants have made little progress, because, iastead
of walking in the light, they have halted around their favor-
ite leaders, willing to see as much as they saw but nothing
more. They set boundaries to their progress in the way of
truth, hedging in, with the little truth they had, a great
deal of error brought along from the " mother " church.
For the creeds thus formulated many years ago, the majori-
ty of Christians have a superstitious reverence, supposing
tA fhe Pi&n of the Ages*
that no more can be known of God's plans now than was
known by the Reformers.
This mistake has been an expensive one ; for, aside from
the fal that but few great principles of truth were then re-
covered from the rubbish of error, there are special features
of truth constantly becoming due, and of these Christians
have been deprived by their creed fences. To illustrate:
It was a truth in Noah's day, and one which required the
faith of all who would waft in the light then, that a flood
was coming, while Adam and others had known nothing of
it. It would not be preaching truth now to preach a coin-
ing flood, but there are other dispensational truths constant-
ly becoming due, of which, if walking in the light of the
lamp, we shall know ; so, if we have all the light which was
due several hundred years ago, and that only, we are meas-
urably in darkness.
God's Word is a great storehouse of food for hungry
pilgrims on the shining pathway. There is milk for babes,
and strong meat for those more developed (i Pet. 2:2;
Heb. 5:14); and not only so, but it contains food adapted
to the different seasons and conditions \ and Jesus said the
faithful servant should bring forth meat in due season for
the household of faith " things new and old," from the
storehouse. (Luke 12 : 42; Matt. 13 : 52.) It would be
impossible to bring forth such things from any sectarian
creed or storehouse. We might bring forth some things
old and good from each, but nothing new. The truth con-
tained in the creeds of the various seels is so covered and
mixed with error that its inherent beauty and real value are
not discernible. The various creeds continually conflict
and clash ; and as each claims a Bible basis, the confusion
of thought, and evident discord, are charged to God's
Word. This has given rise to the common proverb : ' ' The
Bible isan old fiddle, upon which any tune can be played."
jy in the Morning MI
How expressive is this of the infidelity of om times, oc-
casioned by misrepresentations of God's Word and charac-
ter by human traditions, together with the growth of intel-
ligence which will no longer bow in blind and superstitious
reverence to the opinions of fellow-men, but demands a
reason for the hope that is in us* The faithful student of
the Word should be able always to give a reason for his
hope. The Word of God alone is able to make wise, and
is profitable for do&rine, instruction, etc., "that the man of
God may be perfe&, thoroughly furnished " (i Pet. 3 : 15 ;
2 Tim. 3 : 15-17.) Only this one storehouse contains an
exhaustless supply of things both new and old meat in
due season for the household. Surely no one who believes
the Scripture statement that "the path of the just shineth
more and more unto the perfect day" will claim that the
perfect day came in Luther's time ; and if not, we do well
that we take heed to our lamp as unto " a light that shineth.
in a dark place UNTIL THE DAY DAWN." 2 Pet. i : 19.
Nor is it sufficient that we find ourselves now in the path
of light; we must "walk in the light" continue to make
progress, else the light, which does not stop, will pass on
and leave us in darkness. The difficulty with many is that
they sit down, and do not follow on hi the path of light.
Take a concordance and examine the texts under the words
stf and stand, then compare these with those found under
the words walk and run, and you will find a great contrast:
Men "sit in darkness," and with " the scornful," and stand
among the ungodly, but "walk in the light," and "run
for the prize." Isa, 42 : 7 ; Psa. i : i , Heb. 12 : x.
Perfe&ion of knowledge is not a thing of the past, but
of the future the very neax future, we trust ; and until we
recognize this fadl we are unprepared to appreciate and ex-
pe6t fresh unfoldings of our Father's plan. True, we still
go back to the words of the prophets and apostles for all
26 The Plan of the
knowledge of the present and the future ; not, however, be-
cause they alwaysunderstood God's plans and purposes better
than we, but because God used them as his mouthpieces to
communicate to us, and to all the Church throughout the
Christian Age, truth relative to his plans, as fast as it becomes
due. This fa<fl is abundantly proven by the apostles. Paul
tells us that God has made known to the Christian Church
the mystery (secret) of his will which he had purposed in
himself, and had never before revealed, though he had it
recorded in dark sayings which could not be understood
until due, in order that the eyes of our understanding should
be opened to appreciate the "high calling" designed ex-
clusively for believers of the Christian Age. (Eph. i : 9, 10,
i 7? 18; 3: 4-6.) This shows us clearly that neither the
prophets nor the angels understood the meaning of the
prophecies uttered. Peter says that when they inquired
anxiously to know their meaning, God told them that the
truths covered up in their prophecies were not for them-
selves, but for us of the Christian Age. And he exhorts the
Church to hope for still ^further grace (favor, blessing) in
this dire&ion yet more knowledge of God's plans.
i Pet. i : 10-13.
It is evident that though Jesus promised that the Church
should be guided into all truth, it was to be a gradual unfold-
ing. While the Church, in the days of the apostles, was
free from many of the errors which sprang up under and in
Papacy, yet we cannot suppose that the early church saw as
deeply or as clearly into God's plan as it is possible to see
to-day. It is evident, too, that the different apostles had
different degrees of insight into God's plan, though all their
writings were guided and inspired of God, as truly as were
the words of the prophets. To illustrate differences of
knowledge, we have but to remember the wavering course,
for a time, of Peter and the other apostles, except Paul,
Joy in the doming* if
when the gospel was beginning to go to the Gentiles. (Acts
10 : 28; ii : 1-3 ; Gal. 2 : 11-14.) Peter's uncertainty was
in marked contrast with Paul's assurance, inspired by the
words of the prophets, God's past dealings, and the direct
revelations made to himself.
Paul evidently had more abundant revelations than any
other apostle. These revelations he was not allowed to
make known to the Church, nor fully and plainly even to
the other apostles (2 Cor. 12 : 4; Gal. 2 : 2), yet we can
see a value to the entire church in those visions and revela-
tions given to Paul ; for though he was not permitted to tell
what he saw, nor to particularize all he knew of the myster-
ies of God relating to the "ages to come," yet what he
saw gave a force, shading and depth of meaning to his
words which, in the light of subsequent facts, prophetic
fulfilments and the Spirit's guidance, we are able to appre-
ciate more fully than could the early church.
As corroborative of the foregoing statement, we call to
mind the last book of the Bible Revelation, written about
A. D. 96. The introductory words announce it as a special
revelation of things not previously understood. This proves
conclusively that up to that time, at least, God's plan had
not been fully revealed. Nor has that book ever been, until
now, all that its name implies an unfolding, a REVELATION.
So far as the early church was concerned, probably none
understood any part of the book. Even John, who saw
the visions, was probably ignorant of the significance of
what he saw. He was both a prophet and an apostle ; and
while as an apostle he understood and taught what was then
" meat in due season," as a prophet he uttered things which
would supply "meat" in seasons future for the household.
During the Christian Age, some of the saints sought to
understand the Church's future by examining this symbolic
book, and doubtless all who read and understood even a
a8 Tk* Plan of ike Ages.
part of its teachings were blessed as promised. (Rev. i : $,")
The book kept opening up to such, and in the days of the
Reformation was an important aid to Luther in deciding
that the Papacy, of which he was a conscientious minister,
was indeed the "Antichrist" mentioned by the Apostle,
the history of which we now see fills so large a part of that
prophecy.
Thus gradually God opens up his truth and reveals the
exceeding riches of his grace; and consequently much more
light is due now than at any previous time in the Church's
history.
< And siill new beauties shall we see,
And still increasing light,"
STUDY II.
THE EXISTENCE OF A SUPREME INTELLIGENT
CREATOR ESTABLISHED.
EVIDENCE ASIDE f ROM THB BIBLE, EXAMINUD isr THB LIGHT OF REASOK. AM
UNTSNABLB THEORY. A REASONABLE THEORY. TH CHARACTER o GOD
DEMONSTRATED. REASONABLE DEDUCTION.
UYEN from the standpoint of the skeptic, a reasonable and
^ candid search into the unknown, by the light of what
is known, will guide the unbiased, intelligent reasoner in
the direction of the truth. Yet it is evident that without
a direct revektion of the plans and purposes of God, men
could only approximate the truth, and arrive at indefinite
conclusions. But let us for the moment lay aside the Bible,
and look at things from the standpoint of reason alone.
He who can look into the sky with a telescope, or even
with his natural eye alone, and see there the immensity of
creation, its symmetry, beauty, order, harmony and diver-
sity, and yet doubt that the Creator of these is vastly his
superior both in wisdom and power, or who can suppose for
a moment that such order came by chance, without a Crea-
tor, has so far lost or ignored the faculty of reason as to be
properly considered what the Bible terms him, a fool (one
who ignores or lacks reason): "The fool hath said in his
heart, There is no God." However it happened, at least
that much of the Bible is true, as every reasonable mind
must conclude; for it is a self-evident truth that effects
must be produced by competent causes. Every plant and
every flower, even, speaks volumes of testimony on this
O9)
50 2&e? j*fan 0f the
subjecT:. Intricate in construction, exquisitely beautiful In
form and texture, each speaks of a wisdom and skill above
the human. How short-sighted the absurdity which boasts
of human skill and ingenuity, and attributes to mere chance
the regularity, uniformity and harmony of nature ; which
acknowledges the laws of nature, while denying that nature
has an intelligent Lawgiver.
Some who deny the existence of an intelligent Creator
claim that nature is the only God, and that from nature all
forms'of animal and vegetable developments proceeded with-
out the ordering of intelligence, but governed, they say, by
* <the law of the survival of the fittest* ' in a process of evolution.
This theory lacks proof, for all about us we see that the
various creatures are of fixed natures which do not evolve
to higher natures ; and though those who hold to this theory
have made repeated endeavors, they have never succeeded
either in blending different species or in producing a new
fixed variety. No instance is known where one kind has
changed to another kind.* Though there are fish that can
use their fins for a moment as wings, and fly out of the water,
and frogs that can sing, they have never been known to
change into birds ; and though there are among brutes some
which bear a slight resemblance to men, the evidence is
wholly lacking that man was evolved from such creatures,
On the contrary, investigations prove that though different
varieties of the same species may be produced, it is impos-
sible to blend the various species, or for one to evolve from
another. For the same reason the donkey and the horse,
though resembling each other, cannot be claimed as related,
for it is well known that their offspring is imperfect and
cannot propagate either species.
* For the benefit cf some renders we remark that changes such f
the tr*nsfcnrm*tk>n of caterpillars into butterflies are not changes of BIT
tore: the caterpillar is but the Ur^a ixatchcd from the butterfly 1 * egg.
An Intelligent Creator. 31
Surely if unintelligent nature were the creator or evolver
she would continue the process, and there would be no such
thing as fixed species, since without intelligence nothing
would arrive at fixed conditions. Evolution would be a fact
to-day, and we would see about us fish becoming birds, and
monkeys becoming men. This theory we conclude to be
as contrary to human reason as to the Bible, when it claims
that intelligent beings were created by a power lacking in-
telligence.
One theory regarding the creation (excepting man) by
a process of evolution, to which we see no serious objection,
we briefly state as follows : It assumes that the various spe-
cies of the present are fixed and unchangeable so far as na-
ture or kind is concerned, and though present natures may
be developed to a much higher standard, even to perfection,
these species or natures will forever be the same. This theo-
ry further assumes that none of these fixed species were
originally created so, but that in the remote past they were
developed from the earth, and by gradual processes of evolu-
tion from one form to another. These evolutions, tinder
divinely established laws, in which changes of food and
climate played an important part, may have continued until
the fixed species, as at present seen, were established, be-
yond which change is impossible, the ultimate purpose of
the Creator in this respect, to all appearance, having been
reached. Though each of the various families of plants and
animals is capable of improvement or of degradation, none
of them Js susceptible of change into, nor can they be pro-
duced from, other families or kinds. Though each of these
may attain to the perfection of its own fixed nature, the
Creator's design as to nature having been attained, further
change in this respect is impossible.
It is claimed that the original plants and animals, from
which present fixed varieties came, became extinct before
3 Tht Plan $ mt ,rf^
the creation of man.. Skeletons and fossils of animals and
plants which do not now exist, found deep below the earth's
surface, favor this theory. This view neither ignores nor
reje<fts the Bible teaching that man was a dired and perfcd
creation, made in the mental and moral image of his Maker,
and not a development by a process of evolution, probably
common to the remainder of creation. This view would
in no sense invalidate, but would support, the Jjible's claim,
that nature as it is to-day teaches tint an Intelligent Being 1
ordered it, and was its first cause. Lot human reason do her
best to trace known fa#s to reasonable and competent causes,
giving- due credit to nature's laws in every case \ but back
of all the intricate machinery of nature is the hand of its
great Author, the intelligent, omnipotent God.
We claim, then, that the existence of an Intelligent Crea-
tor is a clearly demonstrated truth, the proof of which lies
all around us : yea, and within us j for we are his workman-
ship, \rhose every power of mind and body speaks of a
marvelous skill beyond ourcomprehension. And ho w also
the Designer and Creator of what we term nature. We
claim that he ordered and established the laws of nature,
the beauty and harmony of whose operation we see and ad-
mire. This one whose wisdom planned and whose power
upholds and guides the universe, whose wisdom and power
so immeasurably transcend our own, we instinctively wor-
ship and adore*
To realize the existence of this mighty God Is but to
dread lib omnipotent strength, unless we can SKV him ptw-
swwttl of benevolence and goodness correspomiintf to his
power. Of this fart we are also fully assured by the same
evidence which proves his existence, power and wisdom.
Not only are we forced to the conclusion that there is a God,
mid that his power and wisdom arc immeasurably licyond
our own, but we arc forced by reason to the conclusion that
the grandest thing ctcuted *s not superior to its Creator;
hence we must conclude tfiat the greatest manifestation of
benevolence and justice among men is inferior in scope to
that of the Creator, even as man's wisdom and power are
inferior to his. And thus we have before our mental vision
the character and attributes of the great Creator. He is
wise, just, loving and powerful ; and the scope of his attri-
butes is, of necessity, immeasurably wider than that of his
grandest creation.
But further : having reached this reasonable conclusion
relative to the existence and character of our Creator, let
us inquire, What should we expect of such a being? The
answer comes, that the possession of such attributes reason-
ably argues their exercise, their use. God's power must be
used, and that in harmony with his own nature \visely,
justly and benevolently. Whatever may be the means to
that end, whatever may be the operation of God's power,
the final outcome must be consistent with his nature and
characler, and every step must be approved of his infinite
wisdom.
What could be more reasonable than such exercise of
power as we see mani festal in the creation of countless
worlds about us, and in the wonderful variety of earth?
What could be more reasonable than the creation of man,
endowed with reason and judgment, capable of appreci-
ating his Creator's works, and judging of his skill of his
wisdom, justice, power and love ? All this is reasonable,
and all in perfert accord with facts known to us.
And now comes our final proposition. Is it not reason-
able to suppose that such an infinitely wise and good being,
having made a creature capable of appreciating himself and
his plan, would be moved by his love and justice to supply
the wants of that creature's nature, by giving him some
JIEVELATTQN? Would it not be a rctBonable supposition,
34 The Plan cf the Ages.
that God would supply to man information concerning the
objecl of his existence, and his plans for his future/ On the
contrary, we ask, would it not be unreasonable to suppose
that such a Creator would make such a creature as man, endow
him with powers of reason reaching out into the future, and
yet make no revelation of his plans to meet those longings ?
Such a course would be unreasonable, because contrary to
the character which we reasonably attribute to God; con-
trary to the proper course of a being controlled by justice
and love.
We may reason that in creating man, had Divine Wisdom
decided it inexpedient to grant him a knowledge of his
future destiny, and his share in his Creator's plans, then
surely Divine Justice, as well as Divine Love, would have
insisted that the being should be so limited in his capacity
that he would not continually be tormented and perplexed
with doubts, and fears, and ignorance; and as a conse-
quence Divine Power would have been used under those
limitations. The fact, then, that man has capacity for ap-
preciating a revelation of the Divine plan, taken in con-
nection with the conceded chara&er of his Creator, is an
abundant reason for expccling that God would grant such
a revelation, in such time and manner as his wisdom ap-
proved. So, then, in view of these considerations, even if
we were ignorant of the Bible, reason would lead us to ex*
peel: and to be on the lookout for some such revelation as
the Bible claims to be. And furthermore, noting the order
and harmony of the general creation, as in grand procession
the spheres and systems keep time and place, we cannot but
conclude that the minor irregularities, such as earthquakes,
cyclones, etc,, arc but indications that the working together
of the various elements in this world is not at present per-
feel:. An assurance that all will ultimately l>e perfect ami
harmonious on earth as in the heavens, with some explana-
An fnttttigent Creator* 35
tion why it is not so a.t present, are requests which are not
unreasonable for reasoning men to ask, nor for the Creator,
whose wisdom, power and benevolence are demonstrated,
to answer. Hence we should expect the revelation sought
to include such an assurance and such an explanation.
Having established the reasonableness of expecting a
revelation of God's will and plan concerning our race, we
will examine in the next chapter the general character of
the Bible which claims to be just such a revelation. And if
it presents the character of God in perfect harmony with
what reason as above considered dictates, we should con-
clude that it thus proves itself to be the needed and reason-
ably expected revelation from God, and should then accept
its testimony as such. If of God, its teachings, when fully
appreciated, will accord with his character, which reason
assures us is perfect in wisdom, justice, love and power.
" Yc curious minds, who roam abroad,
And trace creation's wonders o'er,
Confess the footsteps of your God,
Arid bow before him, and adore.
* The heavens declare thy glory, Lord;
In every star thy -wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold thy Word,
We read thy name in fairer lines."
36 The Plan of the
SUNSHINE OVER ALL.
'What fb!Iy, then," the faithless critic cries,
With sneering lip and wise, wor d-knowing eyes,
"While fort to fort and post to post repeat
The ceaseless challenge of the war-drum's beat,
And round the green earth, to the church-bell "H chime,
The morning drum-roll of the camp keeps time,
To dream of peace amidst a world in arms ;
Of swords to plowshares changed by Scriptural charms;
Of nations, drunken with the wine of blood,
Staggering to take the pledge of brotherhood,
Like tipplers answering Father Mathew's cull. ,
#**##
Check Bau or Kaiser with a barricade
Of 'Olive leaves' and resolutions made;
Spike guns with pointed S'jriptuic texts, and hope
To capsize navies with a windy trope ;
Still shall the glory and the pomp of war
Along their train the shouting millions draw;
Still dusky labor to the parting brave
His cap shall doff and beauty's kerchief wave;
Still shall the bard to valor tune his song;
Still hero-worship kneel before the strong ;
Rosy and sleek, the sable-gowned divine,
O'er his third bottle of suggestive wine,
To plumed und sworded auditors shall prove
Their trade accordant with the law of love ;
And Church for State, and State for Church shall fight,
And both agree that might alone is right."
Despite the sneers like these, faithful few,
Who dare to hold God's Word and witness true,
Whose clear-eyed faith transcends our evil time,
And o'er the present wilderness of crime
Sees the calm future with its robes of green,
Its fleece-flecked mountains, and soft streams between,
Still keep the track which duty bids ye trend,
Though worldly wisdom shake the cautious head.
No truth from heaven descends ujon our sphere
Without the greeting of the skeptic's sneer :
Denied, ami mocked at, till its blessings fail
Common as dew and sunshine over nil
STUDY III.
THE BIBLE AS A DIVINE REVELATION VIEWED
IN THE LIGHT OF REASON.
THE CLAIMS OP Tim BIBLE AND ITS SURFACE EVIDENCE OP CREDIBILITY. ITS
ANTIQUITY AND PRESERVATION.-^ MORAL INFLUENCE. MOTIVES OF THK
WRITSR&. GKNKKAL CHARACTER OP THE WRITINGS. THE Boons OP MOSHS.
THE LAW OP Mosiw,. PECULIARITIES OP TUB GOVERNMENT INSTITUTED BY
MOSHS. IT WAS NOT A SYSTEM OP PRISSTCRAPT. INSTRUCTIONS TO ClVII.
RULERS. RICH ANU POOH ON A COMMON LEVEL BEPORB THE LAW. SAFB-
GUARDS AC.AINST TAMPERING WITH THE RIGHTS OP THE PEOPLE. THE
PRIESTHOOD NOT A FAVORED CLASS, How SUPPORTED, ETC. OPPRESSION OP
FOREIGNERS, WIDOWS, ORPHANS AND SERVANTS GUARDED AGAINST. THB
pROPHnrs ow Tint UIULE. Is THERE A COMMON BOND OP UNION BETWEEN
THE LAW, Tim PRornirrs AND THE NEW TI'HTAMRNT WRITBRS? MIRACLKS
NOT UNREASONABLE. THE REASONABLE CONCLUSION.
HPHE Bible is the torch of civilization and liberty. Its
* influence for good in society has been recognized by
the greatest statesmen, even though they for the most part
have looked at it through the various glasses of conflicting
creeds, which, while upholding the Bible, grievously mis-
represent its teachings. The grand old book is uninten-
tionally but wo fully misrepresented by its friends, many of
whom would lay down life on its behalf; and yet they do
it more vital injury than its foes, by claiming its support to
their long-revered misconceptions of its truth, received
through the traditions of their fathers. Would that such
would awake, re-examine their oracle, and put to confusion
its enemies by disarming them of their weapons 1
Since the light of nature leads us to expecl; a fuller rev-
elation of God than that which nature supplies, the reason-
able* thinking mind will be prepared to examine the claims
of anything purporting to be a divine revelation, which
37
38 The Plan of the Ages,
bears a reasonable surface evidence of the truthfulness of
such claims. The Bible claims to be such a revelation from
God, and it does come to us with sufficient surface evidence
as to the probable corretftness of its claims, and gives us a
reasonable hope that closer investigation will disclose more
complete and positive evidence that it is-indeed the Word
of God.
The Bible is the oldest book in existence; it has outlived
the storms of thirty centuries. Men have endeavored by
every means possible to banish it from the face of the earth:
they have hidden it, buried it, made it a crime punishable
with death to have it in possession, and the most bitter and
relentless persecutions have been waged against those who
had faith in it; but still the book lives. To-day, while
many of its foes slumber in death, and hundreds of volumes
written to discredit it and to overthrow its influence, are
long since forgotten, the Bible has found its way into every
nation and language of earth, over two hundred different
translations of it having been made. The fad that this
book has survived so many centuries, notwithstanding such
unparalleled efforts to banish and destroy it, is at least strong
circumstantial evidence that the great Being whom it claims
as its Author has also been its Preserver.
It is also true that the moral influence of the Bible is
uniformly good- Those who become careful students of its
pages are invariably elevated to a purer life. Other writ-
ings upon religion and the various sciences have clone good
and have ennobled and blessed mankind, to some extent ;
hut all other books combined have failed to brin# the joy,
peace and blessing to the groaning creation that the Bible
has brought to both the rich and the poor, to the learned
and the unlearned* The Bible is not a book to be read
merely: it is a book to be studied with care and thought ;
for God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and his
A Divine Reveiation>
39-
ways than our ways. And if we would comprehend the
plan and thoughts of the infinite God, we must bend all our
energies to that important work. The richest treasures of
truth do not always lie on the surface.
This book throughout constantly points and refers to one
prominent character, Jesus of Nazareth, who, it claims, was
the Son of God. From beginning to end his name, and
office, and work, are made prominent. That a man called
Jesus of Nazareth lived, and was somewhat noted, about
the time indicated by the writers of the Bible, is a fa<Sl of
history outside the Bible, and it is variously and fully cor-
roborated. That this Jesus was crucified because he had ren-
dered himself offensive to the Jews and their priesthood is
a further fadl established by history outside the evidence
furnished by the New Testament writers. The writers of
die New Testament (except Paul and Luke) were the per-
sonal acquaintances and disciples of Jesus of Nazareth,
whose dodrines their writings set forth.
The existence of any book implies motive on the part of
the writer. We therefore inquire, What motives could have
inspired these men to espouse the cause of this person ? He
was condemned to death and crucified as a malefa<Slor by
the Jews, the most religious among them assenting to and
demanding his death, as one unfit to live. And in espous-
ing his cause, and promulgating his do&rines, these men
braved contempt, deprivation and bitter persecution, risked
life itself, and in some cases even suffered martyrdom. Ad-
mitting that while he lived Jesus was a remarkable person,
in both his life and his teaching, what motive could there
have been for any to espouse his cause after he was dead ?
especially when his death was so ignominious? And if we
suppose that these writers invented their narratives, and
that Jesus was their imaginary or ideal hero, how absurd it
would be to suppose that sane men, after claiming that he
4o f/u J tan. tip iftt Xfi^ 1
was the Son of God, that he had been begotten in a super
natural way, had supernatura. powers by which he had
healed lepers, restored sight to those born blind, caused the
deaf to hear, and even raised the dead how very absurd
to suppose that they would wind up the story of such a
character by stating that a little band of his enemies ex-
ecuted him as a felon, while all his friends and disciples,
and among them the writers themselves, forsook him and
fled in the trying moment ?
The fad that profane history does not agree in some re-
spects with these writers should not lead us to regard their
records as untrue. Those who do thus conclude should assign
and prove some motive on the part of these writers for
making false statements. What motives could have prompted
them? Could they reasonably have hoped thereby for
fortune, or fame, or power, or any earthly advantage? The
poverty of Jesus' friends, and the unpopularity of their
hero himself with the great religionists of Judea, contradict
such a thought ; while the facts that he died as a malefactor,
a disturber of the peace, and that he was made of no repu-
tation, held forth no hope of enviable fame or earthly ad-
vantage to those who should attempt to re-establish his
doctrine. On the contrary, if such had been the objeci of
those who preached Jesus, would they not speedily have
given it tip when they found that it brought disgrace, per-
secution, imprisonment, stripes and even death? Reason
plainly teaches that men who sacrificed home, reputation,
honor and life ; who lived not for present gratification j but
whose central aim was to elevate their fellow-men, and who
inculcated morals of the highest type, were not only pos-
sessed of a motive, but further that their motive must have
been pure and their object grandly sublime. Keason further
declares that the testimony of such men, afttuted only ly
pure and good motives, is worthy of ten times the weight
4 Dwin*, Revelation* 41
and consideration of ordinary writers. Nor were these men
fanatics : they were men of sound and reasonable mind,
and furnished in every case a reason for their faith and
hope ; and they were perseveringly faithful to those reason-
able convictions.
And what we have here noticed is likewise applicable to
the various writers of the Old Testament They were, in
the main, men notable for their fidelity to the Lord; and
this history as impartially records and reproves their weak*
nesses and shortcomings as it commends their virtues and
faithfulness. This must astonish those who presume the
Bible to be a manufactured history, designed to awe men
into reverence of a religious system. There is a straight-
forwardness about the Bible that stamps it as truth. Knaves,
desirous of representing a man as great, and especially if
desirous of presenting some of his writings as inspired of
God, would undoubtedly paint such a one's character
blameless and noble to the last degree* The fact that such
a course has not been pursued in the Bible is reasonable
evidence that it was not fraudulently gotten up to deceive*
Having, then, reason to cxptft a revelation of God's
will and plan, and having found that the Bible, which
claims to l>e that revelation, \vas written by men whose
motives we see no reason to impugn, but which, on the
contrary, we see reason to approve, let us examine the char-
acter of the writings claimed as inspired, to see whether
their teachings correspond with the character we have rea-
sonabfy imputed to God, and whether they bear internal
evidence of their truthfulness*
The first five books of the New Testament and several
of the Old Testament are narratives or histories of facts
known to the writers and vouched for by their characters.
It is manifest to all that it did not require a special revela-
tion aunply to tell the truth with reference to matters with
42 The Plan of the Ages.
which they were intimately and fully acquainted. Yet,
since God desired to make a revelation to men, the fact that
these histories of passing events have a bearing on that rev-
elation would be a sufficient ground to make the inference a
reasonable one, that God would supervise, and so arrange,
that the honest writer whom he selected for the work should
be brought in contact with the needful facts. The cred-
ibility of these historic portions of the Bible rests almost
entirely upon the characters and motives of their writers.
Good men will not utter falsehoods. A pure fountain will
not give forth bitter waters. And the united testimony of
these writings silences any suspicion that their authors would
say or do evil, that good might follow.
It in no way invalidates the truthfulness of certain books
of the Bible, such as Kings, Chronicles, Judges, etc., when
we say that they are simply truthful and carefully kept his-
tories of prominent events and persons of their times. When
it is remembered that the Hebrew Scriptures contain his*
tory, as well as the law and the prophecies, and that their
histories, genealogies, etc., were the more explicit in de-
tailing circumstances because of the expectancy that the
promised Messiah would come in a particular line from
Abraham, we see a reason for the recording of certain
facts of history considered indelicate in the light of this
nineteenth century. For instance, a clear record of the
origin of the nations of the Moabites and of the Ammon-
ites, and of their relationship to Abraham and the Israel-
ites, was probably the necessity in the historian's mind for
a full history of their nativity. (Gen. 19: 36-38.) Like-
wise, a very detailed account of Judah's children is given,
of whom came David, the king, through whom the gen*
ealogy of Mary, Jesus' mother, as well as that of Joseph,
her husband (Luke 3:23,31,33,34; Matt. 1:2-16), is
traced back to Abraham* Doubtless the necessity of thor-
A Divine Revelation. 43
oughly establishing the pedigree was the more important,
since of this tribe (Gen, 49 : io) was to come the ruling
King of Israel, as well as the promised Messiah, and hence
the minutiae of detail not given in other instances. Gen. 38.
There may be similar or different reasons for other his-
toric fefts recorded in the Bible, of which by and by we
may see the utility, which, were it not a history, but simply
a treatise on morals, might without detriment be omitted ;
though no one can reasonably say that the Bible anywhere
countenances impurity. It is well, furthermore, to remem-
ber that the same fa<fls may be more or less delicately stated
in any language ; and that while the translators of the Bible
were, rightly, too conscientious to omit any of the record,
yet they lived in a day less particular in the choice of re-
fined expressions than ours ; and the same may be surmised
of the early Bible times and habits of expression. Cer-
tainly the most fastidious can find no objection on this
score to any expression of the New Testament.
THE BOOKS OF MOSES AND THE LAWS THEREIN
PROMULGATED.
The first five books of the Bible are known as the Five
Books of Moses, though they nowhere mention his name
as their author. That they were written by Moses, or under
his supervision, is a reasonable inference ; the account of
his death and burial being properly added by his secretary.
The omission of the positive statement that these books
were written by Moses is no proof against the thought ;
for had another written them to deceive and commit a fraud,
he would surely have ckimed that they were written by the
great leader and statesman of Israel, in order to make good
his imposition, (Sec Deut 31 : 9-37.) Of one thing we
are certain, Moses did lead out of Egypt the Hebrew na-
tion. He did organize them as a nation under the laws set
44 Tkt Plan of the Ages.
forth in these books $ and the Hebrew nation, by common
consent, for over three thousand years, has claimed these
books as a gift to them from Moses, and has held them so
sacred that a jot or tittle must not be altered thus giving
assurance of the purity of the text.
These writings of Moses contain the only credible his-
tory extant, of the epoch which it traverses. Chinese his-
tory affccfts to begin at creation, telling how God went out
on the water in a skiff, and, taking in his hand a lump of
earth, cast it into the water. That lump of earth, it claims,
became this world, etc. But the entire story is so devoid
of reason that the merest child of intelligence would not
be deceived by it. On the contrary, the account given in
Genesis starts with the reasonable assumption that a God,
a Creator, an intelligent First Cause, already existed. It
treats not of God's having a beginning, but of his work
and of its beginning and its systematic orderly progwss
" In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ' *
Then stepping over the origin of the earth without detail or
explanation, the narrative of the six days [epochs] of profit-
ing it for man proceeds. That account is substantially cor-
roborated by the accumulating light of science for four
thousand years ; hence it is far more reasonable to accept
the claim that its author, Moses, was divinely inspired, than
to assume that iho intelligence of one man was superior to
the combined intelligence and research of the rest of the
race in three thousand years since, aided by modern im-
plements and millions of money.
Look next at the system of laws laid down in these writ-,
ingu. They certainly were without an equal, either in their
day or since, until this nineteenth century ; and the laws of
this century arc based upon the principles laid down in the
Mosaic Law, and framed in the main by men who acknowl-
edged the Mosaic Law as of divine origia.
A Dimne Mwefatum* &
The Decalogue is a brief synopsis of the whole law.
Those Ten Commandments enjoin a code of worship and
morals that must strike every student as remarkable ; and if
never before known, and now found among the ruins and
relics of Greece, or Rome, or Babylon (nations which have
risen and fallen again, long since those laws were given),
they would be regarded as marvelous if not supernatural.
But familiarity with them and their claims has begotten
measurable indifference, so that their real greatness is un-
noticed except by the few. True, those commandments do
not teach of Christ ; but they were given, not to Christians,
but to Hebrews ; not to teach faith in a ransom, but to
convince men of their sinful state, and need of a ransom.
And the substance of those commandments was grandly
epitomized by the illustrious founder of Christianity, in the
words: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and
with all thy strength;" and "Thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thyself.' 1 Mark 12 : 30, 31.
The government instituted by Moses differed from all
others, ancient and modern, in that it claimed to be that
of the Creator himself, and the people were held account-
able to him ; their laws and institutions, civil and religious,
claimed to emanate from God, and, as we shall presently
see, were in pcrfe& harmony with what reason teaches us to
be God's charader. The Tabernacle, in the centre of the
camp, had in its "Most Holy" apartment a manifestation
of Jehovah's presence as their King, whence by supernatu-
ral means they received instru<Stion for the proper adminis-
tration of their aifairs as a nation. An order of priests was
established, which had complete charge of the Tabernacle,
And through them alone access and communion with Jeho-
vah was permitted. The first thought of some in this con-
would perhaps be: " AhJ there we have the objed
46 The Plan of the Ages.
of their organization : with them, as with other nations, the
priests ruled the people, imposing upon their credulity and
exciting their fears for their own honor and profit. ' ' But
hold, friend ; let us not too hastily assume anything. Where
there is such good opportunity for testing this matter by the
fats, it would not be reasonable to jump to conclusions
without the fadls. The unanswerable evidences are con-
trary to such suppositions. The rights and the privileges
of the priests were limited ; they were given no civil power
whatever, and wholly lacked opportunity for using their
office to impose upon the rights or consciences of the peo-
ple ; and this arrangement was made by Moses, a member
of the priestly line.
As God's representative in bringing Israel out of Egyp-
tian bondage, the force of circumstances had centrali/ed
the government in his hand, and made the meek Moses an
autocrat in power and authority, though from the meekness
of his disposition he was in fa<5l the overworked servant of
the people, whose very life was being exhausted by the on-
erous cares of his position. At this juncture a civil govern-
ment was established, which was virtually a democracy. Let
us not be misunderstood : Regarded as unbelievers would
esteem it, Israel's government was a democracy, but re-
garded in the light of its own claims, it was a theocracy,
/. *,, a divine government; for the laws given by God,
through Moses, permitted of no amendments : they must
neither add to nor take from their code of laws. Thus seen,
Israel's government was different from any other civil gov-
ernment, either before or since, u The Lord said unto
Moses, gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel,
whom thou knowest to be elders of the people and officer*
over them ; and bring them unto the Tabernacle of the con-
gregation, that they may stand there with thee. And 1 will
come down and talk with thee there, and I will take of the
A Divine Revelation. 47
spirit which is upon thee and will put it upon them, and
they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that
thou bear it not alone. " (Num. n : 16, 17. See also verses
24 to 30 for an example of true and guileless statesmanship
and meekness.) Moses, rehearsing this matter, says : " So I
took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known [of in-
fluence], and made them heads over you: captains over
thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over
fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your
tribes.'* Deat. i : 15 \ Exod. 18 : 13-26.
Thus it appears that this distinguished lawgiver, so far
from seeking to perpetuate or increase his own power by
placing the government of the people under the control of
his dircl relatives, of the priestly tribe, to use their relig-
ious authority to fetter the rights and liberties of the people,
on the contrary introduced to the people a form of govern-
ment calculated to cultivate the spirit of liberty. The his-
tories of other nations and rulers show no parallel to this.
In every case the ruler has sought his own aggrandizement
and greater power. Even in instances where such have
aided in establishing republics, it has appeared from subse-
quent events that they did it through policy, to obtain favor
with the people, and to perpetuate their own power. Cir-
cumstanced as Moses was, any ambitious man, governed by
policy and attempting to perpetuate a fraud upon the people,
would have worked for greater centralization of power in
himself and his family ; especially as this would have seemed
an easy task from the religious authority being already in
that tribe, and from the claim of this nation to be governed
by God, from the Tabernacle, Nor is it supposable that a
man capable of forming such laws, and of ruling such a
people, would be so dull of comprehension as not to see
what the tendency of his course would be. So completely
was the government of the people put into their own hands,
48
that cuougii it was bupuiutcd Miai tiit tfugriuu 1 ussS wlbick
tkose governors could not decide were to be brought ui>to
Moses, yet they themselves were the judges as to what
cases "went before Moses : "The cause which is too hard for
you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it." Detit. 1:17.
Thus seen, Israel vuis a republic whose officers a<5led under
a divine commission. And to the confusion of those who
ignorantly claim that the Bible sanctions an established
empire rule oviir the people, instead of " a government of the
people by the people," be it noted that this republican form
of civil government continued for over four hundred year's.
And it was then changed for that of a kingdom at the re-
quest of " The Elders/' without the Lord's approval, who
said to Samuel, then admg as a sort of informal president,
" Hearken unto the voice of the j>cople in all that they
shall say unto thec, for they have not rejected thee, but
they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.'*
At God's instance Samuel explained to the people how their
rights and liberties would be disregarded, and how they
would become servants by such a change ; yet they had be-
come infatuated with the popular idea, illustrated all around
them in other nations, (i Sam, 8:<J-j.) In consider-
ering this account of thoir dtsire for a. king, who iti not
impressed with the thought that Moses could have firmly
established himself at the hoad of a great empire without
difficulty?
While Israel as a whole constituted one nation, yet the
tribal division was ever recognized after Jacob's death, K&ch
family, or tribe, by common consent, elected or recognised
certain members as its representatives, or chiefs, This
custom was continued even through their long slavery in
Egypt These xverc culled chiefs or ddera, and it was to
these that Moses delivered the honor and power of divfl,
government ; whereas, had he desired to central!** povw
&c Delation. 49
In himself and his own family, these would have been the
last men to honor with power and office.
The instructions given those appointed to civil rulership
as from God are a model of simplicity and purity. Moses
declares to the people, in the hearing of these judges: " I
charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes
between your brethren, and judge righteously between every
man and his brother, and the stranger [foreigner] that is
with him. Ye shall not rcspedl persons in judgment ; but
ye shall hear the small as well as the great ; ye shall not be
afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God's ; and
the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I
will hear it." (Dcut. i : 16, 17.) Such hard cases were,
after Moses 1 death, brought dire&ly to the Lord through
the High Priest, the answer being Yes or No, by the Urzm
and Thummim.
In view of these faffs, what shall we say of the theory
which suggests that these lx>oks were written by knavish
priests to secure to themselves influence and power over the
people ? Would such men for such a purpose forge records
destructive to the very aims they sought to advance rec-
ords which prove conclusively that the great Chief of Israel,
and one of their own tribe, at the instance of God, cut off
the priesthood from civil power by placing that power in
the hands of the people ? Does any one consider such a
conclusion reasonable ?
Again, it is worthy of note that the laws of the most
advanced civilization, in this nineteenth century, do not
more carefully provide that rich and poor shall stand on a
common level in accountability before the civil law. Ab-
solutely no distin&ion was made by Moses' laws. And as
for the protection of the j>eople from the dangers incident
to some becoming very poor and other* excessively wealthy
and powerful, no other national law hie ever been enacted
4~A
50 The Plan of the Ages.
which so carefully guarded this point. Moses' law provided
for a restitution every fiftieth year their Jubilee year. This
law, by preventing the absolute alienation of property,
thereby prevented its accumulation in the hands of a few.
(Lev. 25 : 9, 13-23, 27-30.) In fa<5l, they were taught to
consider themselves brethren, and to a6l accordingly; to
assist each other without compensation, and to take no
usury of one another. See Exod. 22 : 25 ; Lev. 25 ; 36,
37 ; Num. 26 : 52-56.
All the laws were made public, thus preventing designing
men from successfully tampering with the rights of the
people. The laws were exposed in such a manner that any
who chose might copy them ; and, in order that the poor-
est and most unlearned might not be ignorant of them, it
was made the duty of the priests to read them to the people
at their septennial festivals. (Deut. 31 : 10-13.) I s ^ reason-
able to suppose that such laws and arrangements were de-
signed by bad men, or by men scheming to defraud the
people of their liberties and happiness ? Such an assump-
tion would be unreasonable.
In its regard for the rights and interests of foreigners,
and of enemies, the Mosaic law was thirty-two centuries
ahead of its times if indeed the laws of the most civiJi/ed
of to-day equal it in fairness and benevolence. We road :
" Ye shall have one manner of law as well for the stran-
ger [foreigner] as for one of your own country ; for I am
the Lord your God." Exod. 12 : 49 ; Lev. 24 : aa,
" And if a stranger sojourn with tbee in your land, ye
shall not vex him; but the stranger that dwelieth with you
shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shall
love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of
Egypt. " Lev. 19:33,34-
" If thou meet thine fnemf *s ox or his ass going astray,
thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see
A Divine Revelation. gE
the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden,
wouldst thou cease to leave thy business and help him?
Thou shalt surely leave it, to join with [assist] him."
Exod. 23 : 4, 5, margin.
Even the dumb animals were not forgotten. Cruelty to
these as well as to human beings was prohibited stridlly.
An ox must not be muzzled while threshing the grain ; for
the good reason that any laborer is worthy of his food.
Even the ox and the ass must not plow together, because
so unequal in strength and tread: it would be cruelty.
Their rest was also provided for. Deut. 25 : 4; 22 : 10;
Exod. 23 : 12.
The priesthood may be claimed by some to have been a
selfish institution, because the tribe of Levites was supported
by the annual tenth, or tithe, of the individual produce of
their brethren of the other tribes. This fa&, stated thus,
is an unfair presentation too common to skeptics, who,
possibly ignorantly, thereby misrepresent one of the most
remarkable evidences of God's part in the organization of
that system, and that it was not the work of a selfish and
scheming priesthood. Indeed, it is not infrequently mis-
represented by a modern priesthood, which urges a similar
system now, using that as a precedent, without mentioning
the condition of things upon which it was founded, or its
method of payment.
It was, in faft, founded upon the striflest equity. When
Israel came into possession of the land of Canaan, the
Levites certainly had as much right to a share of the land
as the other tribes ; yet, by God's express command, they
got none of it, except certain cities or villages for residence,
scattered among the various tribes, whom they were to serve
in religious things* Nine times is this prohibition given,
before the division of the land. Instead of the land, some
equivalent should surely be provided them, and the tithe
jja The Plan of the Ages.
was therefore this reasonable and just provision. Nor 5s
this all: the tithe, though, as we have seen, a just debt, wau
not enforced as a tax, but was to be paid as a voluntary
contribution. And no threat bound them to make' those
contributions: all depended upon their conscientiousness.
The only exhortations to the people on the subjuct are as
follows :-~-
" Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Invite
as long as thou livcst upon the earth." (Dent, u : i>)
And the Lcvite that is within thy gales, thou shall not
forsake him ; for he hath no part nor inheritance with Ihee "
[in the land]. Dcut. 14 ' 7-
Is it, we ask, reasonable to suppose that this order of
things would have been thus arranged by selfish and ambi-
tious priests 1 an arrangement to disinherit themselves and
to make them dependent for support upon their brethren?
Does not reason teach us to the contrary ?
In harmony with this, and equally inexplicable on any
other grounds than thoBO claimed that Ciotl is the author
of those laws is the fae't that no aerial pro\ isiun wan mode
for honoring the prieKihood. In nothing would iiiipuslcMi be
more careful than to provide reverence and mspcci for
themselves, and severed penalties mid eifwes upon thoHe
who misused them. J*ut nothing of the kind appears : no
special honor, or reverence, or immunity irom violence or
insult, is provided. The common law, whirh mflde no ilis-
tiucthm between clauses, and was no respecter of persons,
wa-* their only protection. This is the mure remarkable
because the treatment of servants, aiul HtranKC'ra, nti the
ftged, was the aubjcft of spcdul legislation. For inHtmicc;
Thou Khali: not vex nor oppress a Afnintftr, or witfow, or
jbtkfrfas MM; f<jr if they cry at all tmto me [to God] I
will surely hvar their cry ; and my wrath hll wax hot, and
I will kill you with the nworj, and your wivo* shall be wid-
A Divine Revelation. 53
ows and your children fatherless. (Exod. 22 : 21-24; 2 3 '
9; Lev. 19 : 33, 34.) "Thou siialt not oppress an hired
servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy breth-
ren, or of strangers that are in thy land, within thy gates.
At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun
go down upon it, for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it ;
lest ho cry against thee unto the Lord and it be sin unto
thee." (Lev. 19 : 13 ; Dout. 24: 14, 15 ; Exod. 21 : 26, 27.)
" Thou slult rise up before the hoary head and honor the
face of the old man. "(Lev. 19 : 32. See also Lev. 19 : 14.)
All this, yet nothing special for Priests, or Levites, or their
tithes.
The sanitary arrangements of the law, so needful to a
poor and long-oppressed people, together with the arrange-
ments aud limitations respecting clean and unclean animals
which might or might not be eaten, are remarkable, and
would, with cither features, be of interest if space permitted
their examination, as showing that law to have been abreast
with, if not in advance of, the latest conclusions of medical
science on the subject. The law of Moses had also a typ-
ical eharu&er, which we must leave for future considera-
tion ; but oven our hasty glance has furnished overwhelming
evidence that this law, which constitutes the very frame-
work of the entire system of revealed religion, which the
remainder of the JJible elaborates, is truly a marvelous dis-
play of wisdom and justice, especially when its date is taken
into consideration.
In the light of reason, all must admit that it bears no
evidence of being the work of wicked, designing men, but
that it corresponds exactly with what nature teaches to be
the chamber of God, It gives evidence of his Wisdom,
Just ice and Jx>ve. And further, the evidently pious and
noble lawgiver, Moses, denies that the laws were his own,
and attributes them to Cod. (Exod. 24 : 12 ; Deut. 9 : 9-
54 The Plan of the Ages.
ii ; Exod. 26 : 30; Lev. i : i.) In view of his general
character, and his commands to the people not to bear false
witness, and to avoid hypocrisy and lying, is it reasonable
to suppose that such a man bore false witness and palmed
off his own views and laws for those of God ? It should
be remembered also that we are examining the pr^ent
copies of the Bible, and that therefore the integrity for
which it is so marked applies equally to the successors of
Moses; for though bad men were among those successors,
who did seek their own and not the people's good, it is
evident that they did not tamper with the Sacred Writings,
which are pure to this day,
THE PROPHETS OF THE B1DLE.
Glance now at the general character of the prophets of
the Bible and their testimonies. A rather remarkable fact
is that the prophets, with few exceptions, were not of the
priestly class ; and that in their day their prophecies were
generally repugnant to the degenerating and time-serving
priesthood, as well as to the idolatrously inclined people.
The burden of their messages from God to the people was
generally reproof for sin, coupled with warnings of coming
punishments, intertwined with which \ve find occasional
promises of future blessings, after they should be cleansed
from sin and should return to favor with the Lord. Their
experiences, for the most part, were far from enviable : they
were generally reviled, many of them being imprisoned
and put to violent deaths. See i Kings 18 : 4, xo, 17* J*
19 : to; Jer. 38 : 6; Heb. 11 : 32-38. In some instance*
it was years after their death before their true character as
God's prophets was recognized. But we speak thus of the
prophetic writers whose utterances claim to Ixs the direft
inspiration of Jehovah. It is well in this connection that
we should remember that in the giving of the law to Israel
there was no priestly intervention : it waa given by God
A Divine Revelation. 55
to the people by the hand of Moses. (Exod. 19 : 17-25 ;
Deut. 5: 1-5.) And, furthermore, it was made the duty
of every man seeing a violation of the law to reprove the
sinner. (Lev. 19 : 17.) Thus all had the authority to teach
and reprove j but since, as in our own day, the majority
were absorbed in the cares of business, and became indiffer-
ent and irreligious, the few comparatively fulfilled this re-
quirement by reproving sin and exhorting to godliness ; and
these preachers are termed "prophets" in both the Old
and New Testaments. The term prophet, as generally used,
signifies public expounder, and the public teachers of idola-
try were also so called ; for instance, " the prophets of
Baal," etc. See i Cor. 14 : r-6 ; 2 Pet. 2:1; Matt. 7 : 15 ;
14' 5 j Neh. 6:7;! Kings 18 : 40 ; Titus 1:12.
Prophesying, in the ordinary sense of teaching, afterward
became popular with a certain class, and degenerated into
Phariseeism teaching, instead of God's commandments,
the traditions of the ancients, thereby opposing the truth and
becoming false prophets, or false teachers. Matt. 15 : 2-9.
Out of the large class called prophets, Jehovah at various
times made choice of some whom he specially commissioned
to deliver messages, relating sometimes to things then at
hand, at other times to future events. It is to the writings
of this class, who spoke and wrote as they were moved by
the Holy Spirit, that we are now giving attention. They
might with propriety be designated
DIVINELY COMMISSIONED PROPHETS OR SEERS.
When it is remembered that these prophets were mainly
laymen, drawing no support from the tithes of the priestly
tribe, and when, added to this, is the &3 that they were
frequently not only the reprovers of kings and judges, but
also of priests (though they reproved not the office, but the
personal sins of the men who filled it), it becomes evident
s 6 The Pl&n of the Ages*
that we could not reasonably decide that these prophets were
parties to any league of priests, or others, to fabricate false-
hood in the name of God. Reason in the light of fads
contradicts such a suspicion,
If, then, we find no reason to impeach the motives of the
various writers of the Bible, but find that the spirit of its
various parts is righteousness and truth; let us next proceed
to inquire whether there exists any link, or bond of union,
between the records of Moses, those of the other prophets,
and those of the New Testament writers* If we shall find one
common line of thought interwoven throughout the Law und
the Prophets and the New Testament writings, which cover
a period of fifteen hundred years, this, taken in conned ion
with the charafter of the writers, will be a good reason for
admitting their claim that they are 'divinely inspired
particularly if the theme common to all of them is a grand
and noble one, comporting well with what sanctified com-
mon sense teaches regarding the chiiwdcr and attributes
of God,
This we do find: One plan, spirit, aim and purpose per-
vades the entire book. Its opening pa^es record the cre-
ation and fall of man ; its closing pages toll of man's recov-
ery from that fall; and its intervening pages show the suc-
cessive stei of the plan of God for the accomplishment of
this purpose. The harmony, yet contrast, of the first tlwe
and the last three chapters of thp .Bible is striking. The
one describes the first creation, the other the rvnewrd or
restored creation, with sin find its pcnal-am-,e removed;
the one shows Satan and evil entering the world to deceive
anil destroy, the other shows his work undone, the destroyed
ones restored, evil extinguished and Satan dbrt roycd ; the
one btnvs the dominion l<wt by Adam, the other shows it
restored ami forever established by Christ, and CJcl'a will
done in earth as iu heaven j the one shows in the producing
A >ivine Revelation* 57
cause ctf degradation, shame and death, the other shows the
reward of righteousness to be glory, honor and life.
Though written by many pens, at various times, under
different circumstances, the Bible is not merely a collection
of moral precepts, wise maxims and words of comfort. It
;s more : it is a reasonable, philosophical and harmonious
statement of the causes of present evil in the world, its only
remedy and the final results as seen by divine wisdom, which
saw the end of the plan from before its beginning, marking
as well the pathway of God's people, and upholding and
strengthening them with exceeding great and precious
piomiscs to be realized in due time.
The teaching of Genesis, that man was tried in a state of
original perfection in one representative, that he failed, and
that the present imperfedion, sickness and death are the
results, but that God has not forsaken him, and will ulti-
mately recover him through a redeemer, born of a woman
(Gen. 3 : 15), is kept up and elaborated all the way through.
The necessity of the death of a redeemer as a sacrifice for sins,
and of his righteousness as a covering for our sin, is pointed
out in the clothing of skins for Adam and Eve ; in the accept-
ance of Abel's offerings ; in Isaac on the altar \ in the death of
the various sacrifices by which the patriarchs had access to
Coil, and of those instituted under the law and perpetuated
throughout the Jewish age. The prophets, though credited
with understanding but slightly the significance of some of
their utterances (t Pet. i : 12), mention the laying of the
sins upon a person instead of a dumb animal, and in pro-
phetic vision they see him who is to redeem and to deliver the
race led "as a lamb to the slaughter," that "the chas-
tisement of our peace was upon him," and that "by his
stripes we are healed.'* They pictured him as "despised
and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with
grifef," and declared that " The Lord hath laid on him the
S 8 The Plan of the Ages.
iniquity of us all." (Isa. 53 : 3-6.) They told where this
deliverer would be bora (Micah 5 : 2), and when he should
die, assuring us that it would be " not for himself, 1 ' (Dan.
9 : 26.) They mention various peculiarities concerning him
that he would be " righteous," and free from " deceit/ 1
" violence, " or any just cause of death (Isa. 53 : 8, 9, 11);
that he would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Zcch.
11:12); that he would be numbered among transgressors in
his death (Isa. 53 : 12) ; that not a bone of him should be
broken (Psa, 34: 20; John 19: 36) ; and that though he
should die and be buried, his flesh would not corrupt, neither
would he remain in the grave. Psa. 16 : 10 ; Afts a : 31.
The New Testament writers clearly and forcibly, yet
simply, record the fulfilment of all these predi<3ions in Je-
sus of Nazareth, and by logical reasonings show that such
a ransom price as he gave was needful, as already prcdi&ed
in the Law and the Prophets, before the sins of the world
could be blotted out. (Isa, i : 18.) They trace the entire
plan in a most logical and forcible manner, appealing neither
to the prejudices nor to the passions of their hearers, but
to their enlightened reason alone, furnishing some of the
most remarkably close and cogent reasoning to be found
anywhere on any subjed. See Rom. 5 \ 17-19, and onward
to the 1 2th chapter.
Moses, in the Law, pointed not alone to a sacriJVv, but
also to a blotting out of sins and a blessing of the people
under this great deliverer, whose power and authority he
declares shall vastly exceed his own, though it tthould be
" like unto " it. (Deut i# : 15, 19.) The promised deliv-
erer is to bless not only Israel, but through Luracl "all the
families of the earth." (Gen. ra : 3 ; 18: 18; 22: 18; 36: 4.)
And notwithstanding the prejudices of the Jewinh people
to the contrary, the prophets continue the same strain, de-
daring that Messiah shall he alito 4 * for a light to lighten the
A Dtwne Revelation* 59
Gentiles" (Isa. 49:6; Luke 2:32); that the Gentiles
should come to him "from the ends of the earth " ( Jer.
1 6 : 19}; that his name ' ' shall be great among the Gentiles ' '
(Mai. i : n) ; and that " the glory of the Lord shall be re-
vealed and all flesh shall see it together." Isa. 40:5.
See also Isa. 42 : 1-7.
The New Testament writers claim a divine anointing
which enabled them to realize the fulfilment of the proph-
ecies concerning the sacrifice of Christ. They, though preju-
diced as Jews to think of every blessing as limited to their
own people (Acts n : 1-18), were enabled to see that while
their nation would be blessed, all the families of the earth
should be blessed also, with and through them. They saw
also that, before the blessing of either Israel or the world,
a selection would be made of a "little flock" from both
Jews and Gentiles, who, being tried, would be found worthy
to be made joint-heirs of the glory and honor of the Great
Deliverer, and sharers with him of the honor of blessing
Israel and all the nations. Rom. 8:17.
These writers point out the harmony of this view with
what is written in the Law and the Prophets ; and the grand-
eur and breadth of the plan they present more than meets
the most exalted conception of what it purports to be
* * Good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people. ' '
The thought of Messiah as a ruler of not only Israel, but
also of the world, suggested in the books of Moss, is the
theme of all the prophets. The thought of the kingdom
was uppermost also in the teaching of the apostles ; and
Jesus taught that we should pray, "Thy Kingdom come/'
and promised those a share in it who would first suffer for
the truth, and thus prove themselves worthy.
This hope of the coming glorious kingdom gave all the
faithful ones courage to endure persecution and to suffer
reproach, deprivation and loss, even unto death. And in
60 r/5r Plan of the Ages.
the grand allegorical prophecy which closes the New Tes-
tament, the worthy " Lamb that was slain " (Rev. 5 : 12),
the worthy " overcomers" whom he will make kings and
priests in his kingdom, and the trials and obstacles \vhich
they must overcome to be worthy to share that kingdom,
are all faithfully portrayed. Then are introduced symbolic
representations of the blessings to accrue to the world under
that Millennial reign, when Satan shall be bound and Ailam-
ic death and sorrow wiped out, and when all the nations ol
earth shall walk in the light of the heavenly kingdom
the new Jerusalem.
The Bible, from first to last, holds out a dodrinc found
nowhere else, and in opposition to the theories of all the
heathen religions that a future life for the dead will come
through a RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. All the inspired
writers expressed their confidence in a redeemer, ami one
declares that " in the morning," when God shall call them
from the tomb, and they shall come forth, the wirkal slinll
no longer hold the rulernhip of earth ; ibr ' * The upright wiuill
have dominion over them, in the morning/' (Psu. 49 : i.j.)
The resurredion of the dead is taught by the prophets;
and the writers of the New Testament base all their IK>|K':->
of future life and blessing upon it. Paul expresses it thus :
" If there be no resurredion of the dead, then is < 'hrist
not risen; and if Christ be not risen, then is our |roa<:lim
vain and your faith is also vain ; , , then the) whic'h are
fallen asleep in Christ are /<//!//;</. Hut now is Christ ris-
en from the dead, and Income the first-fruits of them that
slept ; , , for as in Adam all die, even HO in Christ
shall all be made alive*' 1 i Con 15 : 13-22.
Like a watch, whose many wheels wijfht at first seem Jju
perfluoiu*, but whose slowest moving wht:ds are tstfuntinl,
so the Bible, composed of ui;iny parts, and prepared by many
pens, is one complete and harmonious whole. Not
^ 2JHmikt KweMukwi*. 61
part is superfluous, and though some parts take a mere active
and prominent place than others, all are useful and necessary.
It is becoming popular among the so-called " advanced
thinkers'' and " great theologians" of the present day to
treat lightly, or to ignore if they do not deny, many of the
"miracles" of the Old Testament, calling them "old
wives' fables." Of these are the accounts of Jonah and the
great fish, Noah and the ark, Eve and the serpent, the stand-
ing still of the sun at the command of Joshua, and Ba-
laam's speaking ass. Seemingly these wise men overlook the
fact that the Bible is so interwoven and united in its various
parts that to tear from it those miracles, or to discredit
them, is to destroy or discredit the whole. For if the orig-
inal accounts arc false, those who repeated the^n were either
falsifiers or dupes, and in either case it would be impossible
for us to accept their testimony as divinely inspired. To
eliminate from the Bible the miracles mentioned would in-
validate the testimony of its principal writers, besides that
of our Lord Jesus. The story of the fall is attested by
Paul (Rom. 5 : 17); also Eve's beguilement by the serpent
(2 Cor. 11:3; i Tim. 2 : 14). See also our Lord's refer*-
ence to the latter in Rev. 12:9 and 20 : a. The standing
of the sun at the overthrow of the Amorites, as an evidence
of the Lord's power, was evidently typical of the power to
be displayed in the future, in "the day of the Lord, 11 at
the hand of him whom Joshua typified. This is attested
by three prophets, (Isa. 28 : 21 ? Habak, 2 : 1-3, 13, 14 and
3; 2-n ; Zech. 14: t, 6, 7.) The account of tha speaking
ass is confirmed by Jnde (verse T T), and by Peter (2 Pet
a : 1 6). And the great teacher, Jesus, confirms the narra-
tives of Jonah and the great fish and of Noah and the
flood. (Matt* 12 : 40 j 24 : 38, 39 $ Luke 17 1 26. See also
i Pet, 3 : to.) Really these are no greater miracle?
than those performed by Jesus aad the apostles, such as the
foe Age*.
turning of water into wine, the healing of diseases, etc.;
and as a miracle, the awakening of the dead is most won-
derful of all.
These miracles, not common to our experience, find par-
allels about us every day, which, being more common, are
passed by unnoticed- The reproduction of living organisms,
either animal or vegetable, is beyond our comprehension, as
well as beyond our power hence miraculous. We can see
the exercise of life principle, but can neither understand
nor produce it. We plant two seeds side by side ; the con-
ditions, air, water and soil, are alike; they grow, we cannot
tell how, nor can the wisest philosopher explain this mir-
acle. These seeds develop organisms of opposite tenden-
cies ; one creeps, the other stands erefl; ; form, flower, col-
oring, everything differs, though the conditions were the
same. Such miracles grow common to us, and we cease to
remember them as such as we leave the wonderment of
childhood ; yet they manifest a power as much beyond our
own, and beyond our limited intelligence, as the few mir-
acles recorded in the Bible for special purposes, and asip
tended illustrations of omnipotence, and of the ability of
the great Creator to overcome every obstacle and te accom-
plish all his will, even to our promised resurre&ion from the
dead, the extermination of evil, and the ultimate reign of
everlasting righteousness.
Here we rest the case. Every step has been tested by
reason. We have found that there is a God, a supreme,
intelligent Creator, in whom wisdom, justice, love and power
exist in perfe<ft harmony. We have found it reasonable t*
expe<ft a revelation of his plans to his creatures capable of
appreciating and having an interest in them* We have
found the Bible, claiming to be that revelation, worthy of
consideration. We have examined its writcis, and their
possible obje<5is, in the light of <viiat they taught; we have
A JDimne Revelation. 63
been astonished ; and our reason has told us that such wis-
dom, combined with such purity of motjve, was not the cun-
ning device of crafty men for selfish ends. Reason has urged
that it is far more probable that such righteous and benev-
olent sentiments and laws must be of God and not of men,
and has insisted that they could not be the work of knavish
priests. We have seen the harmony of testimony concern-
ing Jesus, his ransom-sacrifice, and the resurrection and
blessing of all as the outcome, in his glorious kingdom to
come ; and reason lias told us that a scheme so grand and
comprehensive, beyond all we could otherwise have reason
to expect, yet built upon such reasonable deductions, must
be the plan of God for which we seek. It cannot be the mere
device of men, for even when revealed, it is almost too
grand to be believed by men.
When Columbus discovered the Orinoco river, some one
said he had found an island. He replied : *< No such river
as that flows from an island. That mighty torrent must drain
the waters of a continent." So the depth and power and
wisdom and scope of the Bible's testimony convince us
that not man, but the Almighty God, is the author of its
plans and revelations. We have taken but a hasty glance
at the surface claims of the Scriptures to be of divine origin,
and have found them reasonable. Succeeding chapters will
unfold the various parts of the plan of God, and will, we
trust, give ample evidence to every candid mind that the.
Bible is a divinely inspired revelation, and that the length
and breadth and height and depth of the plan it unfolds
gloriously reflect the divine character, hitherto but dimly
comprehended, but now more clearly seen in the light of
the dawning Millennial Day.
64
TRUTH MOST PRECIOUS.
/**"* REAT truths are dearly bought. 1 "he common truth,
\Jf Such as men give and take from day to day,
Comes in the common walk of eat>y life,
Blown by the careless wind across our way.
Great truths are dearly wonj not found by chance,
Nor wafted on the breath of summer drcum;
But gra&pod in the great struggle of the soul,
Hard buffeting with adverse wind and stream.
Sometimes, 'mid confH<5l, turmoil, ftw and grief,
"When the strong hand of God, put forth in might,
Ploughs up the subboil of the stagnant heart,
It brings some buried truth-seeds to the light*
Not in the general mart, 'mid com and winej
Not in the merchandise of gold aivl gems;
3STot in the worWa jjay hall of midnight
Nor *mid the blaze of
Not in the general cln.sh of human creeds,
3SIor in the merchandise 'twixt church and worlc^
Is trutli'a fair tnm.su re found, *mong*l tares and weeds }
Nor her fair banner in their midst unfurled.
Truth springs like harvest from the well-ploughed fields*
Rewardmjr putu'nt toil, ami faith and /{-al.
To those thus .seeking h<r, slie evrr yicltls
Her richeui treasures for their lasting weal,
STUDY IV.
THE EPOCHS AND DISPENSATIONS MARKED IN THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIVINE PLAN.
GOD'S PLAN DEFINITR AND SYSTKMAIIC. THREE GRUAT EPOCHS OP THK
WORLD'S HISTORY. TIIKIR DISTINCTIVK FEATURES. "Tun EARTH AiiiDirrxi
FORFVBU." TUB WORLD TO COME, THE MEW HEAVENS AMD EAIITIT. SUHDI-
VlblONS OH TlIIIM! GltBAT El'OCIIS. TlIB IMPORTANT FltATURCS OP Gou'S PLAN
THUS BROUGHT TO VIIAV. -ORDR& RECOGTNUHD Bit CLOSES HARMONY.
RIGHTLY DIVIDING TUB WORD OF TRUTH.
A S some ignorantly misjudge the skill and wisdom of
* * a great architect and builder by his unfinished work,
so also many in their ignorance now misjudge God by his
unfinished work ; but by and by, when the rough scaffold-
ing of evil, which has been permitted for man's discipline,
and which shall finally l>e overruled for his good, has been
removed, and the rubbish cleared away, God's finished
work will universally declare his infinite wisdom and pow-
er; and his plans will be seen to be in harmony with his
glorious character.
Since God tells us that he has a definitely fixed purpose,
awl that all his purposes shall be accomplished, it behooves
us, as his children, to inquire diligently what those plans
are, that we may be found in harmony with them. Notice
how emphatically Jehovah affirms the fixedness of his pur-
pose: "Jehovah of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as
I have thought, 'so shall it come to pass ; and as I have pur-
posed, so shall it be." "The Lord of hosts hath pur-
posed, and who shall disannul it?*' "I am God, and
there is none else; I am God, and there is none like
me. * . My counsel shall stand, and I will do all wy
5-A %
66 The flan of the Ages.
ure. . . Yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass;
I have purposed it, I will also do it" (Isa. 14 : 24-27 ; 46 :
9 j J0 ) Therefore, however hap-hazard or mysterious God's
dealings with men may appear, those who believe this tes-
timony of his Word must acknowledge that his original
and unalterable plan has been, and still is, progressing sys-
tematically to completion.
While the mass of mankind, groping in the darkness of
ignorance, must await the aftual developments of God's
plan, before they can realize the glorious charafler of the
Divine Architeft, it is the privilege of the child of God
to see by faith and the light of his lamp the foretold glories
of the future, and thereby to appreciate the otherwise
mysterious dealings of the past and the present. There-
fore, as interested sons of God, and heirs of a promised
inheritance, we apply to our Father's Word, that we may
understand his purposes from the plans and specifications
therein given. There we learn that the plan of God, with
reference to man, spans three great periods of time, be-
ginning with man's creation and reaching into the illimit-
able future. Peter and Paul designate these periods "three
worlds," which we represent in the following diagram.
CREAT EPOCHS CALLED "WORLDS/*
These three great epochs represent three distinct man-
ifestations of divine providence. The first, from creation
to the flood, was under the ministration of aagels, and is
Epochs and Dispensations* 67
called by Peter "THE WORLD THAT WAS." 2 Pet. 3: 6.
The second great epoch, from the flood to tiie establish-
ment of the kingdom of God, is under the limited con-
trol of Satan, " the prince of this world," and is therefore
called " THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD." Gal. r: 4; 2 Pet. 3 : 7.
The third is to be a " world without end " (Isa, 45 117)
under divine administration, the kingdom of God, and is
called "THE WORLD TO COME wherein dwelleth righteous-
ness. 1 ' Heb. 2 : 5 ; 2 Pet. 3 : 13.
The first of these periods, or "worlds," under the min-
istration of angels, was a failure ; the second, under the
rule of Satan, the usurper, has been indeed an "evil
world ;" but the third will be an era of righteousness and
of blessing to all the families of the earth.
Thfe last two of these "worlds' 1 are most particularly
mentioned, and the statements relative to them are in
strong contrast. The present, or second period, is called
"the present evil world," not because there is nothing
good in it, but because in it evil is permitted to predomi-
nate. "Now we call the proud happy; yea, they that
work wickedness are set up ; yea, they that tempt God are
even delivered." (Mai. 3 : 15.) The third world or epoch
is mentioned as " THE WORLD TO COME wherein dwdleth
righteousness" Ktfi because there will be no evil in it, but
because evil will not predominate. The blotting out of evil
will be gradual, requiring all of the first thousand years.
Evil will not rule then ; it will not prosper ; it will no
longer be the wicked that will flourish ; but " the righteotis
shall flourish" (Psa. 72:7), the "obedient shall eat the
good of the land " (Isa. i : 19), and " the evil doer shall be
cut off." Psa. 37:9.
Thus seen, the next dispensation is to be so dissimilar as
to be the very reverse of the present one in almost every
particular. Our Lord's words show why there is to be a
68 The Phw of the Ages,
difference between tt e present and the future dispensations.
It is because he will be the prince or ruler of the world
to come, that in it righteousness and truth will prosper;
while, because Satan is the prince (ruler) of the present
evil world, evil prospers and the wicked flourish. It is be-
cause, as Jesus said, the prince of this world f< hath noth-
ing in me " and consequently no interest in his followers
except to oppose, tcinpt, annoy and buffet them (John
14: 30; 2 Cor. 12 : 7) that in this present evil world or
epoch, whosoever will live godly shall suffer persecution,
while the wicked flourish like a green bay tree. 2 Tim.
3:12; Psa. 37:35.
Jesas said, " My kingdom is not of this world/' and un-
til the era or "world to come" does com?* Christ's king-
dom will not control the earth. And for this wo are taught
to hope and pray, " Thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth." Satan is the "ruler of the darkness of this
world," and therefore "darkness covers the e;u*thamlf',ross
darkness the people." He now rules and works in the
hearts of the children of disobedience. Kph. 2 : 2; 0: 12.
There must be some very important part of the gruat
Architect's plan for man's salvation not yet fully developed
else the now prince and the new dispensation would have
Leon long ago introduced. Why it \uts postponed for uu
sipponitwl time, and abo the manner of the change from
the present dominion of evil tmder Scitan to thai of ritfhl-
eouHucstf tinder Christ, arc points of interest which will
be more fully shown hereafter. Suffice it now to way, that
the kin;t<ltims of this world, now subject to Satan, arc at
the projuT tiiiM; to become the* kingdoms of our Lord and
of his Christ. (Kcv. n: 15.) The context shows that the
transfer will be Accomplished by a general time of trouble.
In reference to it Jesus said, "No man can enter into a
JHHISC nnd spoil his ^oodn, except he will
EpocJis and Dispensations- %*$
first bind the strong man, and then he will spoil his house. '
(Mark 3 : 22-27.) Thus we are taught that Satan must first
be bound, restrained and deposed, before Christ's reign of
righteousness and peace can be established. This binding
of Satan is accordingly shown to be the first work of the
new dispensation. Rev. 20 : 2 n
It should be remembered that this earth is the basis of
*11 these "worlds" and dispensations, and that though
ages pass and dispensations change, still the earth con-
tinues " The earth abidcth forever." (Eccl i : 4.) Car-
rying out the same figure, Peter calls each of these periods
a separate heavens and earth. Here the word heavens sym-
bolizes the higher or spiritual controlling powers, and
earth symbolizes human government and social arrange*
mcnts. Thus the first heavens and earth, or the order
and amingcment of things then existing, having served
their purpose, ended at the flood. But the physical heav-
ens (sky and atmosphere), and the physical earth, did
not pass away: they remained. So likewise the present
world (heavens and earth) will pass away with a great noise,
fire and molting confusion, trouble and dissolution. The
strong man (Satan), Ixiing bound, will struggle to retain
his power. The present order or arrangement of govern-
ment and society, not that of the physical sky and earth,
will pass away. The present heavens (powers of spiritual
control) must give place to the " new heavens" Christ's
spiritual control. The present earth (human society as
now organized under Satan's control) must (symbolically)
melt and be dissolved, in the l>eginning of the " Day of
the Lord/' which "shall burn as an oven," (Mai. 4:1.)
It will be succeeded by "a new earth," /. A, society reor-
ganized in harmony with earth's new Prince Christ.
Righteousness, peace and love will rule among men when
present arrangements have given place to the new and bet
yo The Plan of the Ages.
ter kingdom, the basis of which will be the strictest justice
Paul was given a glimpse of the next dispensation, or, as
he calls it, " the world to come." He says he was " caught
away " (physically or mentally, or both, he could not tell,
things were so real to his view) down the stream of time to
the new condition of things, the " new heaven/ 7 hence the
" third heaven." He thus saw things as they will be un-
der the spiritual control of Christ, things which he might
not] disclose. (2 Cor. 12: 2-4.) Doubtless these were the
same things which John afterward saw, and was permitted
to express to the Church in symbols, which may only be
understood as they become due. John, in the revelation
given to him by our Lord on the Isle of Patmos, was in
vision carried down through this Christian Age and its
changing scenes of church and state, to the end of the
present evil world, or epoch, and there in prophetic visions
he saw Satan bound, Christ reigning, and the new heaven
and the new earth established; for the former heaven and
earth were passed away. Rev. 21 : i.
AGES OR DISPENSATIONS.
We now notice the ages into which these great epochs are
subdivided, as illustrated in the diagram below.
The first of these great epochs (" worlds ") was not sub-
divided : God's method of dealing with men dirt not vary
during all that time from Adam'* fall to the flood. God
hadgiven man his law, written in his very nature; but after
he had sinned ho loft him measurably to his own coiinc*
which was downward, "evil, and that continually," that
Epochs and Dispensations. ^j
thus man might realize his folly, and that the wisdom of
God in commanding absolute obedience might be made
manifest. That dispensation ended with a flood, which
took away all but faithful Noah and his family. Thus the
first dispensation not only manifested the disastrous effects
of sin, but showed that the tendency of sin is downward
to greater degradation and misery, and proves the necessity
of Jehovah* s interposition, if the recovery of "that which
was lost" man's first estate is ever to be accomplished.
The second epoch, or "world that now is," includes
three ages, each a step in the plan of God for the overthrow
of evil. Each step is higher than that preceding it, and
carries the plan forward and nearer to completion.
The third great epoch "the world to come" future
from the second advent of Christ, comprises the Millennial
Age, or "times of restitution;" and following it are other
"ages to come," the particulars of which are not revealed.
Present revelations treat of man's recovery from sin, and
not of the eternity of glory to follow.
The first age in the "world that now is" we call the
PATRIARCHAL AGE, or dispensation, because during that
period God's dealings and favors were with a few individuals
only, the remainder of mankind being almost ignored.
Such favored ones were the patriarchs Noah, Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob. Each of these in turn seems to have been
God's favored one. At the death of Jacob, that age or or-
der of dealing ended. At Jacob's death, his descendants
were first called "the twelve tribes of Israel," and were
together recognized of God as his "peculiar people;" and
through typical sacrifices they were typically "a holy na-
tion," separated from other nations for a particular pur-
pose, and therefore to enjoy certain special favors. The
time allotted to this feature of the divine plan, beginning
here and ending at the death of Christ; we designate the
j2 Tkt Plan of the Ages.
JEWISH AGE, or the Law dispensation. During that ag?
God specially blessed that nation. He gave them his law 5
he made a special covenant with them ; he gave them the
Tabernacle, whose shekinah glory in the Most Holy repre-
sented Jehovah's presence with them as their Leader and
King. To them he sent the prophets, and finally his SOIL
Jesus performed his miracles and taught in their midst, and
would neither go to others himself, nor permit his disciples
to go to the surrounding nations. He sent them out., say-
ing, " Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any-
city of the Samaritans enter ye not ; but go rather to the
lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matt, 10 : 5, 6.) And
again he said, " I am not sent but tinlo the lost sheep of
the house of Israel. " (Matt. 15 : 24.) That this national
favor ended with their rejection and crucifixion of Josus
is shown by Jesus' words, when, five days before his cruci-
fixion, he declared, "Your house is left unto you do?o-
late, Malt 23 : 38.
There, at Jesus' death, a new age began the OHMSTIAN
AriE or GospKr, DISPENSATION, wherein should be her-
tided good tidings of justification, not to the Jew only,
but to all nations 5 for Jesus Christ, by the grace of Cod,
fettled death for every man* During this Gospel age also
there is a class called to special favor, to whom social
promises arc made; namely, those who by faith arcept
Christ Jesus OH their Redeemer and Lord, following i his
fuuLstcpij. The gotfijcl proclamation has gone hither and
thither through the earth for nearly nineteen hundred years,
KO that it can iww be said that it has been pmwhinl more
or tat; in <VA>J nation. It has not converted nations- it
\viuj not i!ei5j;ttL'J to do so hi this age; but it has elected
here and there HOUIC, in all a "little flock/' us Jetuu*
lud fori'toM (Luke 12: 32% to whom it is the Kathor's
good pleuiiuri? to yive thr KJn&dom in iu 4tg to ibllow thin.
Epochs and Dispensations* p
With this age the " present evil world" ends; and
mark well that while God has been thus permitting the
predominance and reign of evil, to the seeming detriment
of his cause, nevertheless his deep designs have been
steadily progressing according to a fixed and definite plan,
and in the exact order of the seasons which he has ap-
pointed. In the end of this age, and the dawn of its
successor, the Millennial age, Satan is to be bound and his
power overthrown, preparatory to the establishment of
Christ's kingdom and the beginning of "the world to
come, wherein dwelleth righteousness."
Millennium, signifying a thousand years, is by common
consent used as the name for the period mentioned in Rev.
20:4 the thousand years of Christ's reign, the first age
in the "world to comt k ." During the Millennial age,
there will be a restitution of all things lost by the fall of
Adam (Acts 3:19-21), and before its close all tears shall
have been wiped away. Iteyond its boundary, in the ages
of blessedness to follow, there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow nor crying; neither shall there beany more
pain. The former things will have passed away, (Rev.
21:4.) God's revelations particularize no further, and
there we stop.
We have here only glanced at the mere outline of this
plan of the ages. The more we examine it, the more we will
find in it perfeel harmony, beauty and order. Each age
has its part to accomplish, necessary to the complete de-
velopment of God's plan as a whole. The plan is a pro-
gressive one, gradually unfolding from age to age, upward
and onward to the grand consummation of the original de-
sign of the Divine Architect, " who worketh all things after
the counsel of his own will. 1 ' (Eph. x :ix.) Not one of
these great periods is an hour too long or too short for the
aocomplishmcnt of its object, God is a wise economist ojF
74 The Plan- of the Ages.
both time and means, though his resources are infinite;
and no power, however malicious, for a moment retards or
thwarts his purposes. All things, evil as well as good, un-
der divine supervision and overruling, are working together
for the accomplishment of his will.
To an uninstructed and undisciplined mind, which can
see only a little of the intricate machinery of God's plan,
it appears like anarchy, confusion and failure, just as the
whole, or even a part, of an intricate machine would appear
to a child. To its immature and untutored mind it is in-
comprehensible, and the opposite motions of its wheels
and belts are but confusion. But maturity and investiga-
tion will show that the seeming confusion is beautiful har-
mony, working good results. The machine, however, was
as truly a success before the child understood its operation
as after. So, while God's plan is, and has been for ages, in
successful operation, man has been receiving the nec-
essary discipline, not only to enable him to understand
its intricate workings, but also to experience its blessed re-
sults.
As we pursue our study of the divine plan, it is essential
that we keep in memory these ages and their respective pe-
culiarities and objedls ; for in no one of them can the plan
1)0 seen, but in alt of them, even as a link is not a chain,
but several links united form a chain. We obtain correct
ideas of the whole plan by noting the distinctive features
of each part, and thus we are enabled to divide rightly
the Word of truth.
A statement of the Word which belongs to one epoch, or
dispensation, should not be applied to another, as things
stated of one age are not always true of another* For in-
stance, it would be an untruth to say of the present time
that the knowledge of the Lord fills the whole earth, or
that there is no need to say to your neighbor, Know the
Epochs and Dispensations. 75
Lord. (Isa. 11:9; Jer, 31 : 34.) This is not true in this
age, and it cannot be true until the Lord, having come
again, has established his kingdom; for throughout this
age there have been many seducing deceptions, and we ars
told that even in the very end of the age" In the last days
, . . evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, de-
ceiving and being deceived.'* (2 Tim. 3 : i, :3.) It will be
as the result of Messiah's reign during the Millennial age
that knowledge and righteousness shall cover the earth as
the waters cover the sea.
A similar mistake, and a very common one, is to suppose
that God's kingdom is now established and ruling over the
earth, and that his will is now done among the nations.
This is manifestly far from the truth, for the kingdoms of
this world are supported and enriched through oppression,
injustice and deceit, to as great an extent as the increasing
intelligence of the people will permit. Satan, the present
prince of this world," must yet be displaced, and these
kingdoms, now under his control, must become the king*
doms of our Lord and of his Anointed, when he shall take
unto himself his great power, and reign.
By the light now due to the household of faith, we dis-
cern that system and order which mark the- stately step-
pings of our God through the ages past, and we are forcibly
reminded of the beautiful lines of Cowpcr, inspired by a
living faith, which trusted where it could not trace the Al-
mighty Jehovah:
* God moves in a mysterious way.
His wonders to perform :
He plants bis footsteps in the sea,
Ajod rides upon tlie stonn.
27ie Plan of the Ages*
^Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up his Viht design?
And works bis f,overrign will.
** STe {earful saints, fresh courr.gr> ( 'Ue p
The clouds yr so much <lrc;xl
Arc Kg with mercy, find shall break
In blessings on your head.
** Judge not the Lord by fccHt' sense,
But trust him for his ^racc.
Behind a frowning providence
lie hides a smiling face.
**IIii purposes will lipcn f.ut,
Unfolding every hour.
ITie bud may have n liiit'-i tnsU%
But sweet will IKJ the iW-r.
M Blind unbelief is suro to err,
And stfan his work in vain.
God is hi.s own interj>retcr,
And lie will make it pl.ua,*
"I Imoiv not tlio wo,y that's* bt/orc w<* f
The joys or the griefs it may bJ-:;j ;
Wlmt clouds am o^ihai^iujj tlw ft.tuiv,
\Vhat flowers by the wayqdi* i
Uut tlK'rc'tf One who will j(mnwy I
Nor in weal n<r m wiie will f*>raike {
And this ii my Solaris nnd comfort,
* Ho knoweth the w*ty that I tokc. 1 '*
STUDY V.
"THE MYSTERY HID FROM AGES AND FROM GENERA-
TIONS, BUT NOW MADE MANIFEST TO
HIS SAINTS." COL. I : 26.
THIC GLIMMERING LIGHT OF THE FKR&T PROMISE. THE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM
HOPK DKFERRS.D. TUB MYOTURY BEGINS TO UNRAVEL AT PBNTBCOST. WHAT
THE MYSTERY It,. WHV So LONG KEPT A MYSTERY. STILL, A MYSTERY TO
THE WORLD. IN l)u TIMK 10 BE MADB MANIFEST TO ALL. WHBN THE MYS-
TKUY WILL ua FINISHED.
"T1THILE mankind was under the discipline of evil, and
y* unable to understand its necessity, God repeatedly ex-
pressed his purpose to restore and bless them through a
coming deliverer. But who that deliverer should be was
a mystery for four thousand years, and it only began to be
clearly revealed after the resurrection of Christ, in the be-
ginning of the Christian or Gospel age.
Looking back to the time when life and Edenic happiness
were forfeited by our first parents, we see them under the
just penalty of sin filled with sorrow, and without a ray of
hope, except that drawn from the obscure statement that
the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head.
Though in the light of subsequent developments this is
full of significance to us, to them it was but a faint and
glimmering light. Nearly two thousand years rolled by
with no evidence of a fulfilment.
About two thousand years after, God called Abraham,
and promised that his seed should bless all the families of
the earth. This looked as though God still held to his
previously expressed purpose, and was now about to fulfil
}t Time sped on ; the promised land of Canaan was not
77
y8 The Plan of the Ages.
yet in his possession; they had yet no offspring, and Abra-
ham and Sarah were growing old. Abraham reasoned that
he must help God to fulfil his promise ; so Ishmael was born.
But his assistance was not needed, for in due time Isaac, the
child of hope and promise, was born. Then it seemed that
the promised ruler and blesser of nations had come. But
no: years rolled by, and seemingly God's promise had
failed; for Isaac died, and his heir, Jacob, also. But
the faith of a few still held firmly to the promise, and
was sustained by God; for "the covenant which he made
with Abraham" was assured by God's "oath unto Isaac,
and confirmed to Jacob . . . and to Israel for an everlasting
covenant." i Chron. 16: 16, 17.
When at the time of Jacob's death his descendants were
first called the TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL, and recognized of
God as a "chosen nation" (Gen. 49 : 28; Deut 26 : 5), the
expectation that this nation as a whole, as the promised
seed of Abraham, should possess Canaan, and rule and
bless the world, seemed to be on the eve of realization ;
for already, under the favor of Egypt, they were becoming
a strong nation. But hope was almost blasted and the prom-
ise almost forgotten when the Egyptians, having gained
control of them, held them as slaves for a long period.
Truly God's promises were shrouded in mystery, and
his ways seemed past finding out. However, in due time
came Moses, a great deliverer, by whose hand God led
them out of bondage, working mighty miracles on their
behalf. Before entering Canaan this great deliverer died;
but as the Lord's mouthpiece he declared, "A prophet
shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren,
like unto inc." (Deut. 18 : 15 ; A&s 3 ; 22) This gave a
further insight into God's plan, showing that not only
would their nation, as a whole, be associated in some way
with the future work of ruling and blessing, but that one to
The Hidden Mystery. j$
be selected from among them would lead to victory and to
the fulfilment of the promise. Then Joshua, whose name
signifies deliverer, or savior, became their leader, and under
him they won great victories, and a&ually entered the
land promised in the covenant. Surely then it seemed that
the true leader had come, and that the promise was about
to have complete fulfilment.
But Joshua died, and they made no headway as a nation
until David, and then Solomon, were given them as kings.
There they reached the very zenith of their glory; but soon,
instead of seeing the promise accomplished, they were shorn
of their power, and became tributary to other nations. Some
held fast the promise of God, however, and still looked for
the great deliverer of whom Moses, Joshua, David and
Solomon were only types.
About the time when Jesus was born, all men were in
expe&ation of the Messiah, the coming king of Israel and,
through Israel, of the world. But Israel's hope of the glory
and honor of their coming king, inspired as it was by the
types and prophecies of his greatness and power, caused
them to' overlook another set of types and prophecies,
which pointed to a work of suffering and death, as a ran-
som for sinners, necessary before the blessing could come.
This was prefigured in the Passover before they were deliv-
ered from Egypt, in the slaying of the animals at the giving
of the law covenant (Heb. 9 : 11-20; xo : 8-18), and in the
Atonement sacrifices performed year by year continually by
the priesthood. They overlooked, too, the statement of
the prophets, "who testified beforehand the sufferings of
Christ, and the glory that $hould follow" (i Peter i : n.)
Hence, when Jesus came as a sacrifice, they did not recog-
nise him : they knew not the time of their visitation. (Luke
x 9 : 44.) Even his immediate followers were sorely perplexed
when Jesus died; and sadly they said, "We trusted it had
c 'fhe Ptan of the Ages,
been he which should have redeemed Israel * ' (Luke 24^21.)
Apparently, their confidence in him had been misplaced.
They felled to see that the death of their leader was a
ratification of the New Covenant under which the blessings
were to come, a partial fulfilment of the covenant of promise.
However, when they found that he had risen from the
tomb, their withered hopes again began to revive (i Peter
t : 3), and when he was about to leave them, they asked
concerning their long-cherished and oft-deferred hope,
saying, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the
kingdom to Israel?" That their hopes were in the main
correct, though they might not know the time when they
would be fulfilled, is evident from oar Lord's reply: "it is
not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father
hath put in his own power." Ads i : 6, 7.
What turn lias God's plan now taken? must have been
the query of his disciples when Jesus had ascends 1 ; for we
must remember that our Lord's teachings concerning the
Kingdom were principally in parables and dark sayings.
He had said to them, "I have yet | many things to say
unto you, but ye cannot bear them now; hovvbcit, when
he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will tfiiicle you into all
truth/' "He shall teach you all things, ami brhi ail
things to your remembrance, whatsoever 1 have Siiul unto
you. 1 ' (John 16: 12, 135 14: 26.) So they could not un-
derstand before the Pentecostal blessing came.
Even then, it was some time before they got a dear,
full understanding of the work being dune, and its relation
to the original covenant (Acls n : 9 ; (lul. 2 ; 2, xa, 14.)
However, it would scorn that even Ixsfore they fully and
clearly understood, they were used as the mouthpieces of
God, and their inspired words were probably clearer and
deejKjr expressions of truth than they themselves fully
comprehended. For instance, read Jam** 1 diicgurse ift
The Hidden Mystery. Si
which he says: "Simeon hath declared bow God at the
first did visit the Gentiles to take out of them a people for
his name [a bride]. And to this agree the words of the
prophets, as it is written, 'After this [after this people from
the Gentiles has been taken out] I will return, and mil
build again the tabernacle of David [the earthly dominion]
which is fallen down, and I will build again the ruins there-
of, and I will set it up. ' " Acts 15 : 14-16.
James began to read in God's providence, in the sending
of the Gospel through Peter to the first Gentile convert and
through Paul to Gentiles in general, that during this age
believing Jews and Gentiles were to be alike favored. He
then looked up the prophecies and found it so written;
and that after the work of this Gospel age is completed,
then the promises to fleshly Israel will be fulfilled. Gradually
the great mystery, so long hidden, began to be understood
by a few the saints, the special "friends" of God.
Paul declares (Col. i : 27) that this mystery which hath
been hid from ages and from generations, now made man-
ifest to his saints, is
"CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OP GLORY."
This is the great mystery of God which has been hidden
from all previous ages, and is still hidden from all except
a special class the saints, or consecrated believers. But
what is meant by "Christ in you?" We have learned that
Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit (A s 10: 38), and
thus we recognize him to be the Christ the anointed for
the word Christ signifies anointed. And the Apostle John
says that the anointing which we (consecrated believers)
have received abidfth in us. (i John 2 : 27.) Thus the
saints of this Gospel age are an anointed company anoint-
ed to be kings and prtests unto God (2 Cor. 1:21; Peter
0-A,
8a The Plan of the
2 : 9); and together with Jesus, their chief and Lord, they
constitute Jehovah's Anointed the Christ.
In harmony with this teaching of John, that we also are
anoinfed, Paul assures us that this mystery which has been
kept secret in ages past, but which is now made known to
the saints, is that the Christ (the Anointed) is "not
one member, but many," just as the human body is one,
and has many members; but as all the members of the body,
being many, are one body, so also is the Anointed- the
Christ, (i Cor. 12 : 12-28.) Jesus is anointed to be the Head
or Lord over the Church, which is his body (or his bride,
as expressed in another figure Eph. 5 : 25-30), and united-
ly they constitute the promised "Seed" the Great Deliver-
er: "If ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, and Mrs
according to the promise." Gal. 3 : 29.
The Apostle carefully guards the Church against any
presumptive claims, saying of Jesus that "God hath put all
things under his feet, and gave him to l>e the head overall
things to the Church, which is his body/' "that in all things
he might \&xithe prt-ew*enet" (Eph. i : 22 ; Col. i : 18.)
Yet, under the figure of the human body, ho beautifully
and forcibly shows our intimate relationship. This same
oneness Jesus also taught, saying, "I am the vine, ye arc
the branches." John 15 : 5.
Our oneness with the Lord Jesus, ns mcmlxwrs of the
Christ, the anointed company, is well illustrated by the
figure of the pyramid.
The top-stone is a perfect pyramid of itself. Other atones
may be built up under it, and, if in harmony with all the
characteristic lines of the top-stone, the whole nms will he
a perfect pyramid. How beautifully this illustrates our po-
sition as members of "the Seed*' "the Christ," Joined
to and perfectly in harmony with our Head, we, an living
stones, are perfcft \ separated from him, we are nothing.
Hidden My stay* 83
Jesus, the perfe6t one, has been highly exalted, and
now we present ourselves to him that we may be formed
and shaped according to his example, and that we may be
built up as a building of God. In an ordinary building there
is no ^/^corner-stone; but in^our building there is one
chief corner-stone, the "top-stone, " as it is written : ' 'Behold,
I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious 7 ' "to
whom coming as unto a living stone ... ye also as lively
[living] stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priest-
hood, to offer up ^sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ. " (i Pet. 2:4-6.) And very soon, we trust, the
union between Jesus, the "Head/' and "the Church,
which is his body," will be complete.
And, dearly beloved, many blows and much polishing
must we endure much transforming must we undergo, and
much conforming to his example, under the direction of
the great Master-builder \ and in order to have the ability
and ideality of the builder displayed in us, we will need to
seethatwe have no cross-grained willof our own to oppose or
thwart the accomplishment of His will in us ; we must be
very childlike and humble "clothed with humility; for
God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. "
* SioaUic MS. omit* spiritual Wore
Let us humble ourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand
of God, that he may exalt us in due time (i Peters : 5, 6),
as he has exalted our Head and Forerunner. Phil 2 : 8, 9.
This is indeed a wonderful message, and, as we come to the
Word of God to inquire concerning our great high calling,
we find the prophets all eloquent in proclaiming the grace
[favor or blessing] that is come unto us (i 1'etcr i : 10);
while types, and parables, and hitherto dark sayings, ixnv
become luminous, shedding their light on the "narrow
way" in which the anointed [Christ] company is called to
run for the prize now disclosed to view. This was truly o
mystery never before thought of that God intends to raise
up not only a deliverer, but a deliverer composed of
many members. Thisisthc "Afe# catling" to which the con-
secrated believers of the Gospel age are privileged to attain.
Jesus did not attempt to unfold it to the disciples while
natural men, but waited until at Pentecost they were
anointed begotten to the now nature. From Paul's ex-
planation we know that none but "new creatures" can
now appreciate or understand this high calling, lie says:
"We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery * even the hid-
den wisdom [plan] which God ordained before the world
unto our glory ; which none of the princes [chief ones] of
this world knew ; . . , as it Is written, ' Eye hath not swn,
nor car heard, neither have entered into the heart of man,
the things which God hath prepared for them that love
him ; ' but God hath revealed them mito us by bis Spirit,"
i Cor. 2 : 6-14.
In hi.s letter to the Galatians, Paul opens up the entire
mystery, and shows how the Abrahams covenant is to be
fulfilled. Ho shown thAt the Law given to Israel did not
interfere with the original covenant (Gal. 3: 15-18), and
that the srccd of Abraham which is to bless all nations ia
Christ, (Verse j<5>) Th<m, carrying out the i<ka already
The Hidden Myszery. 85
alluded to, that the Christ "includes all anointed of the
Spirit, he says: "For as many of you as have been bap-
tized into Christ have put on Christ ; . \ . and if ye be
Christ's then are YE [together with Jesus] Abraham's seed,
and heirs, according to the promise" made to Abraham.
(Verses 27, 29.) Following up the same Hoe of reasoning,
he shows (Gal. 4) that Abraham was a type of Jehovah,
Sarah a type of the covenant or promise, and Isaac a type
of Christ (head and body); and then adds, "We, brethren,
as Isaac was, are the children of promise." (Verse 28.)
Thus the plan of God was hidden in types until the Gospel
age began the development of the Christ.
There has existed a necessity for keeping this mystery
hidden, else it would not have been so kept. It was nec-
essary, because to have revealed the plan in full to man-
kind would have been to frustrate it. Had men known, they
would not have crucified either the Lord of glory or the
Church which is his body, (i Cor. 2 : 8.) Not only would
the death of Christ, as the price of man's redemption, have
been interfered with, had not the plan been kept a mystery
from the world, but the trial of the faith of the Church, as
sharers in the sufferings of Christ, would thereby have been
prevented also; for "The world knoweth xis not [as his
joint -heirs] because [for the same reason that] it knew him
not" i John 3:1.
Not only is the plan of God, and the Christ which is the
very embodiment of that plan, a great mystery to the
world, but the peculiar course in which this little flock is
called to walk marks its members as "peculiar people." It
was a mystery to the world that a person of so much ability as
Jemis of Nazareth should spend his time and talent as he
did, whereas, if he had turned his attention to politics, law,
merchandise or popular religion, he might have become
great - jid respected* In the opinion of men he foolishly
86 The flan of the Ages.
wasted his life, and they said, "He hath a devil and is mad."
His life and teachings were mysteries to them. They r.ould
not understand him.
The apostles and their companions were likewise myste-
ries in the world, in leaving their business prospects, etc.,
to preach forgiveness of sins through the death of the de-
spised and crucified Jesus. Paul forsook a high station and
social influence to labor with his hands, and to preach
Christ, and the invisible crown for all believers who should
walk in his footsteps. This was so mysterious that some
said, " Paul, thou art beside thyself : much learning doth
make thee mad." And all who so follow in the Master's
footsteps are, like Paul, counted fools for Christ*s sake.
But God's plan will not always be shrouded in mystery:
the dawn of the Millennial Day brings the fuller light of
God to men, and "the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the
whole earth. 7 * The Sun of Righteousness, which shall
arise with healing in his wings, dispelling the darkness of
ignorance, is the Christ in Millennial glory not the Head
alone, but also the members of his body ; for it is written :
If we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified together.
"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we
also appear with htm ingfory;" and "Then shall the
righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. ' ' Rom. 8:1753 Tim. a : 1 1 , 1 2 ; Col. 3:4; Matt.
13:43-
Now, to all except those begotten to a new mind* by
receiving "the mind of Christ," the promises which we
believe, and the hopes which we cherish, seem visionary,
and too improbable to be received or acted upon. In the
age to come, when God shall "pour out his spirit upon all
flesh," as during the present age he pours it upon his "ser-
vants and handmaids,*' then indeed all will understand
and appreciate the promises now being grasped by the
The Hidden Mystery. 87
" little flock ;" and they will rejoice in the obedience and
exaltation of the Church, saying, "Let us be glad, and
rejoice, and give honor to God, for the marriage of the
Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 11
(Rev. 19 :;.) They will rejoice in the glorification of the
Church, through which blessings will then be flowing to
them; and while they will realize that the "exceeding
great and precious promises" inherited by the Anointed
(head and body) are not for them, but are fulfilled upon us,
they will be blessed by the lesson illustrated in the Church;
and while they run for the blessings then heldcut to them,
they will profit by the example of the Church, and glorify
God on her behalf. But this knowledge will not bring
covetousness ; for under the new order of things their call-
ing to perfect human nature will fully satisfy them, and will
seem more desirable to them than a change of nature.
Then the " mystery*' will have ended; for the world
will have come to see that it was the spirit of God in Christ,
and the spirit of Christ in us God manifested in the
flesh which they had hitherto misunderstood. Then
they will see that we were not mad, nor fools ; but that we
chose the better part when we ran for the riches, honors
and crown, unseen by them, but eternal.
In point of time, the mystery of God will be finished
daring the period of the sounding of the seventh [sym-
bolic] trumpet. (Rev. 10: 7.) This applies to the
mystery in both senses in which it is used : the mystery or
secret features of God's plan will then be made known and
will be clearly seen ; and also the "mystery of God/ 1 the
Church, the embodiment of that pkn. Both will then be
finished* The secret, hidden plan will have sought out
the Ml, complete number of the members of the body of
Christ, and hence it, the BODY OP CHRIST, will be finished.
The plan will cease to be a mystery, because there
88 Tkt Plan of the
be no further object in perpetuating its secrecy. The
greatness of the mystery, so long kept secret, and hidden in
promises, types and figures, and the wonderful grace be*
stowed on those called to fellowship in this mystery (Eph.
3 : 9)> suggest to us that the work to follow its completion,
for which for six thousand years Jehovah has kept man-
kind in expectation and hope, must be an immense work,
a grand work, worthy of such great preparations. What
may we not expect in blessings upon the world, when the
veil of mystery is withdrawn and the showers of blessing
descend ! It is this for which the whole creation groans
and travails in pain together until now, wniitwg lor the
completion of this mystery for the manifestation of the
Sons of God, the promised " Seed," in whom they shall
all be blessed, *-Rom, 8 ; 19, at, 22.
A LORD'S DAY OFFERING.
"I offer Thee:
Every heart's throb, they ate Thine j
Every human tie of mine ;
Every joy and every pain;
Every act of mind or bruiu *
My blessed God!
Every hope and every fear j
Every smile ami every tear;
Every song and hymn,
'LaudainusTe**
s< Take them all, my bleftBed Ixml,
Jiind them with thy secret cord ;
Glorify thyself in me.
Adored One !
Multiply them by thy \Vctd ;
Strengthen, bless, increase, my Lord
Of perfect love!
Thou Hrst awl l,*si"
STUDY VI,
OUR LORD'S RETURN ITS OBJECT, THE RESTITU-
TION OF ALL THINGS.
OUR LORD'S SECOND ADVENT PERSONAL AND PRB-MILLENNIAL. ITS RELATION-
SHIP TO THE FIRST ADVENT. THE SELECTION OF THE CHtiRCH AND THE CON-
VERSION OP THE WORLD. ELECTION AND FREE GRACE. PRtsoNBRS OF HOPE.
PROPHETIC TESTIMONY REGARDING RESTITUTION. OUR LORD'S RETURN MAN-
IFESTLY THE HOPE OP THfi CHURCH AND THE WORLD.
44 A ND He shall send Jesus Christ, which [who] before was
** preached unto you; whom the heaven must retain
until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath
spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the
world began." Acts 3:20, 21.
That our Lord intended his disciples to understand that
for some purpose, in some manner, and at some time, he
would come again, is, we presume, admitted and believed
by all familiar with the Scriptures. True, Jesus said, "Lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end of the age"
(Matt. 28:20), and by his spirit and by his Word he has
been with the Church continually, guiding, directing, com-
forting and sustaining his saints, and cheering them in the
midst of all their afflictions. But though the Church has
been blessedly conscious of the Lord's knowledge of all
her ways and of his constant care and love, yet she longs
for his promised personal return; for, when he said, "If I
go, I will come again" (John 14:3)* he certainly referred
to a second personal coming.
Some think he referred to the descent of the Holy Spirit
at Pentecost; others, to the degtrudiion of Jerusalem, etc.;
but these apparently overlook the fad that in the last book
89
90 The Plan of the Ages.
of the Bible, written some sixty years after Pentecost, and
twenty-six years after Jerusalem's destrudion, he that was
dead and is alive speaks of the event as yet future, saying :
" Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me."
And the inspired John replies, "Even so, come, Lord
Jesus. " Rev. 22 : 12, 20.
Quite a number think that when sinners are converted
that forms a part of the coming of Christ, and that so he will
continue coming until all the world is converted. Then,
say they, he will have fully come.
These evidently forget the testimony of the Scriptures
on the subjedt., which declares the reverse of their cxpecHa-
tion : that at the time of our Lord's second coming the
world will be far from converted to God ; that " In the last
days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of
pleasure more than lovers of God" (2 Tim. 3: 1-4); tluit
" Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiv-
ing, and being deceived." (Verse 13.) They forget the
Master's special warning to his little flock: "Take heed
to yourselves lest that day come upon you unawares, for as
a, snare shall it come on all them [not taking hwd] that
dwell on the face of the whole earth." (Luke 21 : 34, 35-)
Again, we may rest assured that when it is said, " All kin-
dreds of the earth shall wail because of him," when they
see him coining (Rev. i : 7), no reference is made to the
conversion of sinners. Do all men wail Ix'causr of the con-
version of sinners? On the contrary, if this passage refers,
as almost all admit, to Christ's presence ou earth, it teaches
that all on earth will not love his appearing, as they cer-
tainly would do if all were converted*
Some expert an acSlual coming and presence of the Lord,
but AV/ tftc time ot the event a long way off, claiming that
through the efforts ot the Church in its present condition
the world must bo converted, and thus the Millennial age
Our LorcFs Return. \
be introduced. They claim that when the world has been
converted, and Satan bound, and the knowledge of the Lord
caused to fill the whole earth, and when the nations learn
war no more, then the work of the Church in her present
condition will be ended ; and that when she has accom-
plished this great and difficult task, the Lord will come to
wind up earthly affairs, reward believers and condemn sinners.
Some scriptures, taken disconnectedly, seem to favor this
view ; but when God's Word and plan are viewed as a whole,
those will all be found to favor the opposite view, viz.: that
Christ comes before the conversion of the world, and reigns
for the purpose of converting the world ; that the Church
is now being tried, and that the reward promised the over-
comers is that after being glorified they shall share with the
Lord Jesus in that reign, which is God's appointed means
of blessing the world and causing the knowledge of the
Lord to come to every creature. Such are the Lord's special
promises: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit
with me in my throne." (Rev. 3: 21.) "And they lived
and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Rev. 20:4.
There are two texts chiefly relied upon by those who claim
that the Lord will not come until after the Millennium, to
which we would here call attention. One is, " This gospel
of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a wit-
ness unto all nations ; and then shall the end come. ' ' (Matt.
24: 14.) They claim this as having reference to the conver-
sion of the world before the end of the Gospel age. But
witnessing to the world does not imply the conversion of
the world. The text says nothing about how the testimony
will be received. This witness has already been given. In
1 86 1 the reports of the Bible Societies showed that the
Gospel had been published in every language of earth,
though not all of earth's millions had received it. No,
not one half of the fourteen hundred millions living have
9 2 The PlM of the Ages.
ever heard the name of Jesus. Yet the condition of the
text is fulfilled : the gospel has been preached in all the
world for a witness to every nation.
The Apostle (A&s 13 : U) tells that the main object tf. ^the
gospel in the present age is " to take out a people f ' for Christ' s
name-the overcoming Church, which, at his second advent,
will be united to him and receive his name. The witness-
ing to the world during this age is a secondary objedt
The other text is, "Sit thou on my right hand, until I make
thine enemies thy footstool." (Psa. 110:1.) The vague, in-
definite idea regarding this text seems to be that Christ sits
on a material throne somewhere in the heavens until the work
of subduing all things is accomplished for him through the
Church, and that then he comes to reign. This is a mis-
conception. The throne of God referred to is not a material
one, but refers to his supreme authority and rulership ; and
the Lord Jesus has been exalted to a share in that rulership.
Paul declares, "God hath highly exalted him [Jesus] and
given him a name above every name. ' ' He hath given him
authority above every other, next to the Father. If Christ
sits upon a material throne until his enemies are made his
footstool [all subdued], then of course he cannot come until
all things are subdued. But if "right hand" in this text
refers, not to a fixed locality and bench, but, as wo claim,
to power, authority, rulership, it follows that the text under
consideration would in no wise conflidl with the other scrip-
ture which teaches that he comes to "subdue all things
unto himself*' (Phil. 3:21), by virtue of the power vested
in him. To illustrate : Emperor William is on the throne of
Germany, we say, yet we do not refer to the royal bench,
and as a matter of fadl he seldom occupies it. When we
say that he is on the throne, we mean that he rules Germany,
Right hand signifies the chief place, position of excellence
or favor, next to the chief ruler. Thus Prince Bismarck
Our Lord's Return.
93
was exalted or seated at the right hand of power, by the
German Emperor ; and Joseph was at the right hand of
Pharaoh in the kingdom of Egypt not literally, but after
the customary figure of speech. Jesus' words to Caiaphas
agree with this thought : " Hereafter shall ye see the Son of
Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the
clouds of heaven." (Matt. 26 : 64.) He will be on the right
hand when coming, and will remain on the right hand
during the Millennial age, and forever.
A further examination of God's revealed plans will give
a broader view of the object of both the first and second
advents ; and we should remember that both events stand
related as parts of one plan. The specific work of the first
advent was to redeem men ; and that of the second is to
restore ', and bless, and liberate the redeemed. Having given
his life a ransom for all, our Savior ascended to present that
sacrifice to the Father, thus making reconciliation for man's
iniquity. He tarries and permits "the prince of this world ' '
to continue the rule of evil, until after the selection of "the
Bride, the Lamb's wife," who, to be accounted worthy of
such honor, must overcome the influences of the present
evil world. Then the work of giving to the world of man-
kind the great blessings secured to them by his sacrifice will
be due to commence, and he will come forth to bless all
the families of the earth.
True, the restoring and blessing could have commenced
at once, when the ransom price was paid by the Redeemer,
and then the coming of Messiah would have been but one
event, the reign and blessing beginning at once, as the
apostles at first expected. (A<5ls i : 6.) But God had pro-
vided "some better thing for us" the Christian Church
(Heb. ii : 40); hence it is in our interest that the reign of
Christ is separated from the sufferings of the Head by these
eighteen centuries,
94 The Plan of the Ages,
This period between the first and second advents, be-
tween the ransom of all and the blessing of all, is for the
trial and selection of the Church, which is the body of
Christ ; otherwise there would have been only the one ad-
vent, and the work which will be done during the period of
his second presence, in the Millennium, would have followed
the resurrection of Jesus. Or, instead of saying that the
work of the second advent would have followed at once the
work of the first, let us say rather that had Jehovah not pur-
posed the selefiion of the "little flock, " "the body of
Christ," the first advent would not have taken place when
it did, but would have occurred at the time of the second
advent, and there would have been but the one. For God
has evidently designed the permission of evil for six thou-
sand years, as well as that the cleansing and restitution of all
shall be accomplished during the seventh thousand.
Thus seen, the coming of Jesus, as the sacrifice and ran-
som for sinners, was just long enough in advance of the
blessing and restoring time to allow for the selection of his
" little flock ' ' of "joint-heirs. " This will account to some
for the apparent delay on God's part in giving the blessings
promised, and provided for, in the ransom. The blessings
will come in due time, as at first planned, though, for a
glorious purpose, the price was paid longer beforehand than
men would have expe<5led.
The Apostle informs us that Jesus has been absent from
earth in the heaven during all the intervening time from
his ascension to the beginning of the times of restitution,
or the Millennial age " whom the heaven must retain until
the times of restitution of all things/ 7 etc. (A<Ss 3 : 21.)
Since the Scriptures thus teach that the obje& of our Lord's
second advent is the restitution of all things, and that at
the time of his appearing the nations are so far from being
converted as to be angry (Rev, 1 1 ; 18) and in opposition,
Our Lord** Return. 95
it must be admitted either that the Church wilbfail to ac-
complish her mission, and that the plan of God will be thus
far frustrated, or else, as we claim and have shown, that the
conversion of the world in the present age was not expected
of the Church, but that her mission has been to preach the
Gospel in all the world for a witness, and to prepare her-
self under divine direction for her great future work. God
has not yet by any means exhausted his power for the world's
conversion. Nay, more : he has not yet even attempted the
world's conversion.
This may seem a strange statement to some, but let such
reflect that if God has attempted such a work he has sig-
nally failed ; for, as we have seen, only a small fraction of
earth's billions have ever intelligently heard of the only name
whereby they must be saved. We have only forcibly stated
the views and teachings of some of the leading sects Bap-
tists, Presbyterians and others viz., that God is electing
or selecting out of the world a " little flock," a Church.
They believe that God will do no more than choose this
Church, while we find the Scriptures teaching a further step
in the divine plan a RESTITUTION for the world, to be ac-
complished through the elect Church, when completed and
glorified. The "little flock," the overcomers, of this Gos-
pel age, are only the body of "The Seed" in or by whom
all the families of the earth are to be blessed.
Those who claim that Jehovah has been trying for six
thousand years to convert the world, and failing all the time,
must find it difficult to reconcile such views with the Bible
assurance that all God's purposes shall be accomplished, and
that his Word shall not return unto him void, but shall pros-
per in the thing whereto it was sent. (Isa. 55:11.) The fact
that the world has not yet been converted, and that the
knowledge of the Lord has not yet filled the earth, is a
jproof that it has not yet been sent on that mission.
Pfan
This brings us to the two lines of thought which have
divided Christians for centuries, namely, Elefiion and Free
Grace, That both of these doflrines, notwithstanding their
apparent oppositeness, have Scriptural support, no Bible
student will deny. This fa& should lead us at once to sur-
mise that in some way both must be true; but in no way
can they be reconciled except by observing heaven's law,
order, and rightly dividing the word of truth" on this
subjed. This order, as represented in the plan of .the ages,
if observed, will clearly show us that while an Election lias
been in progress during the present and past ages, v;hat is
by way of distinflion designated Free Grace is God's
gracious provision for the world in general during the Mil-
lennia} age* If the distinctive features of the epochs and
dispensations outlined in a preceding chapter be kept in
mind, and all the passages relating to Ele<ftion and Free
Grace be examined and located, it will be found that nil
those vhich treat of Eleftion apply to the present and past
ages, while those which teach Free Grace are fully applica-
ble to the next age.
However, Election, as taught in the Bible, is not the arbi-
trary coercion, or fetalism, usually believed and taught by
its advocates, but a sele<Slion according to fitness and adapta-
bility to the end God has in view, during the period ap-
pointed for that purpose.
The do&rine of Free Grace, advocated by Armenians,
is also a much grander display of God's abounding favor
than its most earnest advocates have ever taught. God's
grace or favor in Christ is ever free, in the sense of being
unmerited ; but since the fall of m&n into sin, to the present
time, certain of God's favors have been restricted to spe-
cial individuals, nations and classes, while in the next age
all the world will be invited to share the favors then
offered, on the conditions then made known to #11*
Our Lord^s Return* 97
whosoever will may come and drink at life's fountain
freely* Rev. 22: 17.
Glancing backward, we notice the selection or election
of Abraham and certain of his offspring as the channels
through which the promised Seed, the blesser of ail Ihs
families of the earth, should come. (Gal 3 s 29.) We
note also the selection of Israel from among alt nations,
as the one in whom, typically, God illustrated how the
great work for the world should be accomplished their
deliverance from Egypt, their Canaan, their covenants,
their laws, their sacrifices for sins, for the blotting out of
guilt andfor the sprinkling of the people, and their priesthood
for the accomplishment of all this, being a miniature and
typical representation of the real priesthood and sacrifices
for the purifying of the world of mankind. God, speaking
to the people, said, "You only have I known of all the
families of the earth." (Amos 3:2.) This people alone
was recognized until Christ came; yes, and afterwards, for
his ministry was confined to them, and he would not permit
his disciples to go to others saying, as he sent them out,
"Go not into the v way of the Gentiles, and into any city of
the Samaritans enter ye not." Why so, Lord ? Because,
he explains, " I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the
house of Israel/' (Matt. 10 : 5, 6 ; 15 ; 24.) All his time
was devoted to them until his death, and there was done
his first work for the world, the first display of his free and
all-abounding grace, which in " due time n shall indeed be
a blessing to all
This, God's grandest gift, was not limited to nation or class.
Xtwas not for Israel only, but for all the world ; for Jesus Christ,
by the grace of God, tasted death for every man. Heb. 2 : 9.
Attd now also, ia the Gospel age, a certain sort of
election obtains* Some parts of the world are more favored
7-A
p$ The Plan of the
with ifae gospel (which is free to all who hear) than others.
Glance at & map of the world and see how small is the
portion enlightened or blessed in any appreciable degree by
the gospel of Christ, Contrast yourself, with your privi-
leges and knowledge, with the millions in heathen darkness
to-day, who never heard the call, and who consequently
were not called. When the called-out company (called to
be sons of God, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus
Christ our Lord who have made their calling and elec-
tion sure) is complete, then the plan of God for the world's
salvation will be only beginning.
Not until it is selected, developed, and exalted to power,
will the Seed bruise the serpent's head. "The God of
peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly" (Rom.
16 ; 20 j Gen. 3 : 15.) The Gospel age makes ready 'the
chaste virgin, the faithful Church, for the coming Bride-
groom. And in the end of the age, when she is made
" ready" (Rev. 19: 7), the Bridegroom comes, and they
that are ready go in with him to the marriage the second
Adam and the second Eve become one, and then the glo-
rious work of restitution begins. In the next dispensation,
the new heaven and the new earth, the Church will be no
longer the espoused virgin, but the Bride ; and then shall
" 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-"
Rev. 22 : 17.
The Gospel age, so far from closing the Church's mis-
sion, is only a necessary preparation for the great future
work. For this promised and coming blessing, the whole
creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until
now, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God.
(Rom. 8 : 22, 19.) And it is a blessed &<5t that free grace
in fullest measure, not merely for the living but for thos*
who iixavedied w well, is provided in our Father's plan as
the blessed opportunity of the coming age.
Some who can see something of the blessings due at the
second advent, and who appreciate in some measure the
fadt that the Lord comes to bestow the grand blessing pur-
chased by his death, fail to see this last proposition, viz.;
that those in their graves have as much interest in that
glorious reign of Messi'ahas those who at that time wil] be
less completely under the bondage of corruption death.
But as surely as Jesus died for all, they ail must have the
blessings and opportunities which he purchased with his
own precious blood. Hence we should expect blessings in
the Millennial age upon all those in their graves as well as
upon those not in them ; and of this we will find abundant
proof, as we look further into the Lord's testimony on the
subject. It is because of God's plan for their release that
those in the tomb are called "prisoners of hope*'
It is estimated that about one hundred and forty-three
billions of human beings have lived on the earth in the six
thousand years since Adam's creation. Of these, the very
broadest estimate that could be made with reason would be
that loss than one billion were saints of God,, This broad
estimate would leave the immense aggregate of one hundred
and forty-two billions (142,000,000,000) who went down
into death without faith and hope in the only name given
under heaven or among men whereby we must be saved*
Indeed, the vast majority of these never knew or heard
of Jesus, and could not believe in him of whom they had
not heard.
What, we ask, has become of this vast multitude, of
which figures give a wholly inadequate idea? What is,
and is to be, their condition ? Did God make no provision
for these, whose condition and circumstances he must have
foreseen? Or did he, from the foundation of ita world,.
?w The Plan of the
make a wretched and merciless provision for their hopeless,
eternal torment, as many of his children claim? Or has
he yet in store for them, in the heights and depths and
lengths and breadths of his plan, an opportunity for all to
come to the knowledge of that only name, and, by^ becom-
ing obedient to the conditions, to enjoy everlasting life?
To these questions, which every thinking Christian asks
himself, and yearns to see answered truthfully, and in
harmony with the character of Jehovah, comes a variety of
Atheism answers, They are eternally dead : there is no
hereafter: they will never live again.
Calvinism answers^ They were not elected to be saved.
God foreordained and predestined them to be lost to go
to hell -and they are there now, writhing in agony, where
they will ever remain, without hope,
Armimamstn answers, We believe that God excuses
many of them on account of ignorance. Those who did
the best they knew how will be sure of being a part of the
Church of the First-born/' even though they never
heard of Jesus.
To this last view the majority of Christians of all de-
nominations assent (notwithstanding the creeds of some to
the contrary), from a feeling that any other view would be
irreconcilable with justice on God's part. But do the Scrip-
tures support this last view? Do they teach that ignorance
is a ground of salvation ? No ; the only ground of salva-
tion mentioned in the Scriptures is faith in Christ as our
Redeemer and Lord. "By grace are ye saved, through
faith" (Epb. 2:8.) Justification by faith is the underlying
principle of the whole system of Christianity, When asked,
What must J do to be saved ? the apostles answered, Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ. " There i* none other name
Our Lord*s Return* *oi
(A&s 4: 12); and " Whosoever shall call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved." Rom. 10 : 13.
But Paul reasons that a man must hear the gospel before
he can believe, saying, "How then shall they call on him
in whom they have not believed? and how shall they be-
lieve in him of whom they have not heard ?" Rom. 10:14.
Some claim that Paul teaches that ignorance will save
men, when he says that "The Gentiles, which have not the
law, are a law unto themselves.*' (Roin. 2:14.) They
gather from this that the law which their conscience fur-
nishes is sufficient to justify them. But such persons mis-
understand Paul. His argument is that the whole world
is guilty before God (Rom. 3 1 19); that the Gentiles, who
had not the writjten law, were condemned^ not justified, by
the light of conscience, which, whether it excused them or
accused them, proved that they were short of perfection and
unworthy of life, even as the Jews who had the written lw
were condemned by it ; " For by the law is the knowledge
of sin.** (Rom. 3 : 20.) The law given to the Jew revealed
his weakness, and was intended to show him that he was
unable to justify himself before God j for "By the deeds
of the Law there shall no flesh be justified in his [God's]
sight." The written law condemned the Jew$^ and the
Gentiles had light enough of conscience to condemn them;
and thus every mouth is stopped from claiming the right
of life, and all the world stands guilty before God.
Remembering the statement of James (2 ; io) y that who-
soever shall keep the whole law, except to offend in one
point, is guilty, and cannot claim any blessing promised by
the Law Covenant, we realize that indeed "there is none
righteous; no, not one." (Rom, 3: 10.) And thus the
Scriptures close every dooi of hope save one, showing that
not one of the condemned is able to secure eternal life by
meritorious works, and that it is equally useless to plead
*&$ The Plan of the Ages.
ignorance as a ground of salvation. Ignorance cannot en-
title any one to the reward 'of faith and obedience.
Many Christians, unwilling to believe that so many mil-
lions of ignorant infants and heathen will be eternally lost
(which they have been taught means to be sent to a place
of eternal and hopeless torment), insist, notwithstanding
these Bible statements, that God will not condemn the igno-
rant. We admire their liberality of heart and their appre-
ciation of God's goodness ? but urge them not to be too
hasty about discarding or ignoring Bible statements. God
has a blessing for all, in a better way than through ignorance.
But do these a<$fc in accordance with their stated belief?
No: though they profess to believe that the ignorant will
be saved on account of their ignorance, they continue to
send missionaries to the heathen at the cost of thousands
of valuable lives and millions of money. If they all, or
even half of them, would be saved through ignorance, it is
doing them a positive injury to send missionaries to teach
them of Christ $ for only about one in a thousand believes,
when the missionaries do go to them* If this idea be cor-
rect, it would be much better to let them remain in igno-
rance ; for then a much larger proportion would be saved.
Continuing the same line of argument, might we not reason
that if God had left all men in ignorance, all -would have
been saved ? If so, the coming and death of Jesus were
useless, the preaching and suffering of apostles and saints
were vain, and the so-called gospel, instead of being good
news, is very bad news. The sending of missionaries to the
heathen by those who believe the Calvinistic or fatalistic
view of election, that the eternal destiny of each individual
was unalterably fixed before he had an existence, !s even
more absurd and unreasonable.
But the Bible, which is full of the missionary spirit, does
no*: teach that there are several ways of salvation-*one way
Our Lard's Return. wo*
by faith, another by works, and another by ignorance.
Neither does it teach the God-dishonoring doctrine of fatal-
ism. While it shows every other door of hope closed against
the race, it throws wide open the one, only door, and pro-
claims that whosoever will may enter into life ; and it shows
that all who do not now see or appreciate the blessed priv-
ilege of entering shall in due time be brought to a full
knowledge and appreciation. The only way, by which any
and all of the condemned race may come to God, is not
by meritorious works, neither by ignorance, but by faith in
the precious blood of Christ, which taketh away the sin of
the world, (i Peter i : 19 ; John i : 29.) This is the Gos-
pel, the good tidings of great joy, "which shall be unto
ALL PEOPLE."
Suppose we now look at these things just as God tells us
of them, and leave the clearing of his character to himself.
Let us inquire, What has become of the one hundred and
forty-two billions ?
Whatever may have become of them, we may be sure they
are not now in a condition of suffering ; because, not only
do the Scriptures teach that full and complete reward is not
given to the Church until Christ comes, when he shall re-
ward every man (Matt 16 : 27), but that the unjust are to
receive their punishment then also. Whatever may be their
present condition, it cannot be their full reward ; for Peter
says, "The Lord knoweth how to reserve the unjust unto
the day of judgment to be punished" (2 Peter 2 : 9); and
he will do so.
But the thought that so many of our fellow creatures
should at any time be lost from lack of having had the
knowledge which is necessary to salvation would be sud
indeed to all who have a spark of love or pity. Then, too,
there are numerous scriptures which it seems impossible
to harmonize with all this. Let us see : In the light of the
past and the present as the only opportunities, laying aside
all hope through a restitution in the coming age, how shall
we understand the statements, "God is love," and "God
so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish ? v> (i John
4:8; John 3 : 16.) Would it not seem that if God loved
the world so much he might have made provision, not only
that believers might be saved, but also that all might hear in
order to believe?
Again, when we read, "That was the true light thafr light-
ed every man that cometh into the world " (John i : 9),
our observation says, Not so ; every man has not been en*
lightened ; we cannot see that our Lord has lighted more
than a few of earth's billions. Even in this comparatively
enlightened day, millions of heathen give no evidence of such
enlightenment; neither did the Sodomites, nor multitudes
of others in past ages.
We read that Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted
death "for every man." (Heb. 2:9.) But if he tasted
death for the one hundred and forty-three billions, and
from any cause that sacrifice becomes efficacious to only one
billion, was not the redemption comparatively a failure?
And in that case, is not the Apostle's statement too broad ?
When again we read, " Behold, I bring you good tidings of
great joy, which shall be to ALL PEOPLE " (Luke 2 : 10), and,
looking about us> see that it is only to a "little flock" that
it has been good tidings, and not to all people, we would be
compelled to wonder whether the angels had not overstated
the goodness and breadth of their message, and overrated
the importance of the work to be accomplished by thfc Mes-
siah whom they announced.
Another statement is, " There is one God, and one Medi-
ator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave
himself a ransom for all/ 1 (i Tim, a : 5, 6.) A ransom for
Return, ^
all ? Then why should not all the ransomed have some ben--
efit from Christ's death? Why should not #//come to s
knowledge of the truth, that they may believe?
Without the key, how dark, how inconsistent, these state
ments appear; but when we find the key to God's plan,
these texts all declare with one voice, " God is love- " This
key is found in the latter part of the text last quoted*
" Who gave himself a ransom for all, TO BE TESTIFIED IN
DUE TIME. * * God has a due time for everything. He could
have testified it to these in their past life-time ; but since he
did not, it proves that their due time must be future. For
those who will be of the Church, the bride of Christ, and
share the kingdom honors, the present is the "due time"
to hear ; and whosoever now has an ear to hear, let him heai
and heed, and he will be blessed accordingly. Though Jesus
paid our ransom before we were born, it was not our ^due
time" to hear of it for long years afterward, and only the
appreciation of it brought responsibility 5 and this, only to
the extent of oui ability and appreciation, The same prin-
ciple applies to all s in God's due time it will be testified tc
ally and all will then have opportunity to believe and to be
blessed by it.
The prevailing opinion is that death ends all probation '
but there is no scripture which so teaches ; and all the above
and many more scriptures, would be meaningless, or worse,
if death ends all hope for the ignorant masses of the world.
The one scripture quoted to prove this generally entertained
view is, "Where the tree falleth, there it shall be/ y (EccL
it t 3.) If this has any relation to man's future, it indicate*
that whatever his condition when he enters the tomb, no
change takes place until he is awakened out of it. And thfe
istheuniformteachingof all scriptures bearing on the subjed c
as will be shown in succeeding chapters. Since God docs not
propose to save men on account of ignorance, but - * will hav&
jfo6 Ttit Plan of the Ages,
<tll men, to come unto the knowledge of the truth " (i Tim,
2:4); and since the masses of mankind have died in igno-
rance ; and since " there is no work, nor device, nor knowl-
edge, nor wisdom, in the grave " (Eccl. 9 : 10); therefore God
haspreparalfortheawakeningofthedead, in order to knowl-
edge, faith and salvation. Hence his plan is, that " as all in
Adam die, even so all in Christ shall be made alive, but each
one in his own order "the Gospel Church, the Bride, the
body of Christ, first; afterward, during the Millennial age, all
who shall become his during that thousand years of his/; w-
ence (mistranslated coming), the Lord's due time for all to
know him, from the least to the greatest i Cor. 15:22.
A* death came by the first Adam, so life comes by Christ,
the second Adam. Everything that mankind lost through
being in the first Adam is to be restored to those who believe
into the second Adam. When awakened, with the advan-
tage of experience with evil, which A dam lacked, those who
thankfully accept the redemption as God's gift may con-
tinue to live everlastingly on the original condition of obedi-
ence. Perfe6l obedience will be required, and perfecSt abil-
ity to obey will be given, under the righteous reign of the
Prince of Peace. Here is the salvation offered to the world.
Let us now consider another text which is generally
ignored except by Universalists ; for, although we are not
Universalists, we claim the right to use, and believe, and
rejoice in, every testimony of God's Word. It reads, "We
trust in the living God, who is the Savior of aff men, spo-
ciallyof/faf* thaf believe " (r Tim. 4:10.) God will save
all men, but will not specially ("to the uttermost ") save
any except those who come unto him through Christ.
God's arbitrary salvation of all men is not such as will con-
flict with their freedom of will, or their liberty of choice,
to give them life against their wills : " I have set before you,
this day, life and death; choose life, that ye may live/'
Our Lord's Return. 107
Simeon contrasted these two salvations, saying, " Mine
eyes have seen thy salvation, . . . a light to lighten the na-
tions, and the glory of 'thy people, Israel [it es indeed]." This
is in harmony with the declaration of the Apostle, that the
fact that Jesus Christ, the Mediator, gave himself a ransom
for all is to be testified to all IN DUE TIME. This is that
which shall come to all men, regardless of faith or will on
their part. This good tidings of a Savior shall be to all
people (Luke 2 :io, n), but the special salvation from sin
and death will come only to his people (Matt. 1 121) those
who believe into him for we read that the wrath of God
continues to abide on the unbeliever. John 3 136.
We see, then, that the general salvation, which will come
to every individual, consists of light from the true light, and
an opportunity to choose life ; and, as the great majority of
the race is in the tomb, it will be necessary to bring them
forth from the grave in order to testify to them the good
tidings of a Savior; also that the special salvation which
believers now enjoy in hope (Rom. S ; 24), and the reality
of which will, in the Millennial age, be revealed, also, to
those who " believe in that day,' 7 is a/w// release from the
thraldom of sin, and the corruption of death, into the glori-
ous liberty of children of God. But attainment to all these
blessings will depend upon hearty compliance with the
laws of Christ's Kingdom the rapidity of the attainment
to perfection indicating the degree of love for the King
and for his law of love. If any, enlightened by the Truth,
and brought to a knowledge of the love of God, and restored
(either actually or reckonedly) to human perfection, become
''fearful/' and "draw back" (Heb. 10:38, 39), they, with
the unbelievers (Rev. 21:8), will be destroyed from among
the people, (Acts 3 :23-) This is the second death.
Thus we see that all these hitherto difficult texts are ex-
plained by the statement " to be testified in due time."
In due time, that true light shall lighten every man that
has come into the world. In due time, it shall be " good
tidings of great joy to al! people. " And in no other way
can these scriptures be used without wresting. Paul carries
out this line of argument with emphasis in Rom. 5 :iS, 19.
He reasons that, as all men were condemned to death be-
cause of Adam's transgression, so, also, Christ's righteous-
ness, and obedience even unto death, have become a ground
of justification; and that, as all lost life in the first Adam,
so all, aside from personal demerit, may receive life by ac-
cepting the second Adam.
Peter tells us that this restitution is spoken of by the
mouth of all the holy prophets. (Ads 3:19-21.) They
do all teach it. Ezekiel says of the valley of dry bones,
" These bones are the whole house of Israel." And God
says to Israel, "Behold, O my people, I will open your
graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and
bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that
I am the Lord, when I ... shall put my spirit in you,
and I shall place you in your own land ; then shall ye know-
that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the
Lord." Ezek, 37:11-14.
To this Paul's words agree (Rom. 11:25, 26) "Blind-
ness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the
Gentiles [the elecl: company, the bride of Christ] be come
in j and so all Israel shall be saved/' or brought back from
their cast-off condition ; for " God hath not cast away his
people which he foreknew." (Verse 2.) They were cast off
from his favor while the bride of Christ was being selected,
but will be re-instated when that work is accomplished.
(Verses 28-33. ) The prophets are full of statements of how
God will plant them again, and they shall be no more
plucked up. " Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, , . . I
will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them
Onr
again to this land i and I will build them and not pull them
down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. And
I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord ;
and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, for
they shall return unto me with their whole heart." (Jer.
24 J 5-7 J 31 : 28 ; 32 1 40-42 5 33 : 6-16.) These cannot
merely refer to restorations from former captivities in Baby-
ion, Syria, etc*, for they have since been plucked up.
Furthermore, the Lord says, "In those days, they shall
say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the
children's teeth are set on edge, but every one [who dies]
shall die for his own iniquity.' 1 (Jer. 31 : 29, 30.) This is
not the cose now. Each does not now die for his own sin,
but for Adam's sin " In Adam all die." He ate the sour
grape of sin, and our fathers continued to eat them, entail-
ing further sickness and misery upon their children, thus
hastening the penalty, death. The day in which " every
man [who dies] shall die for his own sin," only, is the Mil-
lennial or Restitution day.
Though many of the prophecies and promises of future
blessing seem to apply to Israel only, it must be remembered
that they were a typical people, and hence the promises
made to them, while sometimes having a special application
to themselves, generally have also a wider application to the
whole world of mankind which that nation typified. While
Israel as a nation was typical of the whole world, its priest-
hood was typical of the eiecl "little flock," the head and
body of Christ, the "Royal Priesthood;' 1 and the sacri-
fices, cleansings and atonements made for Israel typified the
''Getter sacrifices,*' fuller cleansings and real atonement
* for the sins of the whole world," of which they are a part,
And not only so, but God mentions by name other nations
and promises their restoration. As a forcible illustration we
the Sodomites, Surely, if w* ttaU fi&4 the
no Tkt Plan of th*
tution of the Sodomites clearly taught, we may feel sat-
isfied of the truth of this glorious doftrine of Restitution
for all mankind, spoken by the mouth of all the holy proph-
ets. And why should not the Sodomites have an opportu-
nity to reach perfection and everlasting life as well as Israel,
or as any of us ? True, they were not righteous, but neither
was Israel, nor were we who now hear the gospel. " There is
none righteous; no, not one," aside from the imputed
righteousness of Christ, who died for all. Our Lord's own
words tell us that although God rained down fire from
heaven and destroyed them all because of their wickedness,
yet the Sodomites were not so great sinners in his sight as
were the Jews, who had more knowledge. (Gen. 19: 24;
Luke 17 : 29.) Unto the Jews of Capernaum he said, " If the
mighty works which have been done in thee had been done
in Sodom, it would have remained until this day." Matt.
ii : 23*
Thus our Lord teaches that the Sodomites did not have
a full opportunity; and he guarantees them such oppor-
tunity when he adds (verse 24), "But I say unto you, that
it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, in the day
of judgment, than for thee." The chara<5ler of the Day
of Judgment and its work will be shown in succeeding
pages. Here we merely call attention to the fadl that it will
be a tolerable time for Capernaum, and yet more tokratk
for Sodom \ because, though neither had yet had/w// knowl-
edge, nor all the blessings designed to come through the
"Seed," yet Caperuaum had sinned against more light.
And if Capernaum and all Israel are to be remembered
and blessed under the "New Covenant," sealed by the
blood of Jesus, why should not the Sodomites also be blessed
among "alt the families of the earth? They assuredly
will be. And let it be remembered that since God "rained
down fire from heaven ,and destroyed thtnt all" many cex*
Our Lord*$ Return* m
turies before Jesus' day, when their restoration is spoken of,
it implies their awakening, their coming from the tomb.
Let us now examine the prophecy of Ezekiel 16 : 48-63.
Read it carefully. God here speaks of Israel, and compares
her with her neighbor, Samaria, and also with the Sodom-
ites, of whom he says, "I took them away as I saw good"
Neither Jesus nor the Prophet offers any explanation of the
seeming inequality of God's dealings in destroying Sodom
and permitting others more guilty than Sodom to go un-
punished. That will all be made clear when, in " due time, * '
his great designs are made manifest. The Prophet simply
states that God "saw good" to do so, and Jesus adds that
it will be more tolerable for them in the day of judgment
than for others more guilty. But upon the supposition that
death ends all probation, and that thereafter none may have
opportunity to come to a knowledge of the truth and to obey
it, we may well inquire, Why did God see good to take
away these people without giving them a chance of salvation
through the knowledge of the only name whereby they can
be saved ? The answer is, because it was not yet their due
time. In "due time" they will be awakened from death
and brought to a knowledge of the truth, and thus blessed
together with all the families of the earth, by the promised
" Seed. ' ' They will then be on trial for everlasting life.
With this thought, and with no other, can we understand
the dealings of the God of love with those Amalekites and
other nations whom lie not only permitted but commanded
Israel to destroy, saying, "Go, smite Amalek and utterly
destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay
both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep,
camel and ass." (t Sam. 15 : 3.) This apparerjtly reckless
destruction of life seems irreconcilable with the chara&er
of love attributed to God, and with the teaching of Jesus,
" Love your enemies," etc., until we come to recognize the
systematic order of God's plan, the " due time " for the ac-
complishment of every feature of it, and the fefi, that every
member of the human race has a place in it.
We can now see that those Amaiekites, Sodomites and
others were set forth as examples of God's just indignation,
and of his determination to destroy Anally and utterly evil-
doers ; examples which will be of service not only to others,
but also to themselves, when their day of judgment or trial
comes. Those people might just as well die in that way as
horn disease and plague. It mattered little to them, as they
were merely learning to know evil, that when on trial, in due
time, they might learn righteousness, and be able to dis-
criminate and choose the good and have life.
But let us examine theprophecy further. After comparing
Israel with Sodom and Samaria, and pronouncing Israel the
most blameworthy (EzeL id: 48-54), the Lord says, "When
I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom
and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her
daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy cap-
tives in the midst of them. " The captivity referred to con
be no other than their captivity in death j for those men-
tioned werethen dead. In death allare captives; and Christ
comes to open the doors of the grave, and to set at liberty
the captives, (Isa* 61 : i; ZecL ps ir.) In verse 55 this is
called a "return to their former estate" a restitution.
Some, who are willing enough to accept of God's mercy
through Christ in the forgiveness of their own trespasses and
weaknesses under greater light and knowledge, cannot con-
ceive of the same fevor being applicable under the New
Covenant to others; though they seem to admit the Apos-
tle's statement that Jesus Christ, by the favor of God, tasted
death for every man. Some of these suggest that the Lord
must, in this prophecy, be speaking ironically to the Jews,
implying that he would just as willingly bring back the Sod-
Our Lord $ Jtctur^ j. 25
omites as them, but had no intention of restoring either.
But let us see how the succeeding verses agree with this idea,
The Lord says, " Nevertheless, I will remember my cov~
enant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will estab-
lish unto thee an everlasting covenant. TJien, thoit shall
remember thy ways and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive
thy sisters, . . And I will establish my covenant with
thee, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord > that thou
mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy
mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified
toward thee for all that thou hast done, SAITH THE LORD
GOD/' When a promise is thus signed by the Great Je-
hovah, all who have set to their seal that God is true may
rejoice in its certainty with confidence j especially those who
realize that these New Covenant blessings have been con-
firmed of God in Christ, who hath sealed the covenant with
his own precious blood.
To this Paul adds his testimony, saying, "And so all
Israel [living and dead] shall be saved [recovered from blind-
ness], as it is written, * There shall come out of Zion the De-
liverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For
this is my covenant unto them when I shall take away their
sins./ o . . They are beloved for the fathers' sakes ; because
the gracious gifts and callings of God are not things to be
repented of. Rom.n : 26-29,
We need not wonder that Jews, Sodomites, Samaritans,
and all mankind, will be ashamed and cpnfounded when in
his own " due time ' * God shows forth the riches of his lavor.
Yea, many of those who are now God's children will be
confounded and amazed when they see how God so loved
THE WORLD, and how much his thoughts and plans were
above their own.
Christian people generally believe that God's blessings are
all and only for the selected Church, but now TU; be^in to
* 8-A
U4 The Plan df the Ages.
see that God's plan is wider than we had supposed, and that
though he has given the Church " exceeding great and pre-
cious promises," he has also made bountiful provision for
the world which he so loved as to redeem. The Jews made
a very similar mistake in supposing that all the promises of
God were to and for them alone; but when the "due time' *
came and the Gentiles were favored, the remnant of Israel,
whose hearts were large enough to rejoice in this wider evi-
dence of God's grace, shared that increased favor, while the
rest were blinded by prejudice and human tradition. Let
those of the Church who now see the dawning light of the
Millennial age, with its gracious advantages for all the world,
take heed lest they be found in opposition to the advancing
light, and so for a time be blinded to its glory and blessings.
How different is this glorious plan of God for the selec-
tion of a few now, in order to the blessing of the many here-
after, from the distortions of these truths, as represented by
the two opposing views Calvinism and Arminiamsm. The
former both denies the Bible doctrine of Free Grace and
miserably distorts the glorious doflrine of Election ; the
latter denies the do<ftrine of Ele<ftion and fails to compre-
hend the blessed fulness of God's Free Grace.
Calvinism says ; God is all- wise ; he knew the end from
the beginning ; and as all his purposes shall be accomplished,
he never could have intended to save any but a few, the
Church, These he elefied and fore-ordained to be eternally
saved] all others were equally fore-ordained and eleQed to
go to eternal torment; for "Known unto God are all his
works from the beginning of the world.**
This view has its good features. It recognizes God's
omniscience. This would be our ideal of a gre at God, were
it not that two essential qualities of greatness ate lacking,
namely, love and justice, neither of which is exemplified
in bringing into the world one hundred and forty-two bil-
Our Lord*s Return* 115
lions of creatures doomed to eternal torture before they were
born, and mocked with protestations of his love. Since
God is love, and justice is the foundation of his throne,
such cannot be his chara&er.
Arminianism says: Yes, God is love; and in bringing
humanity into the world he meant them no harm only
good. But Satan succeeded in tempting the first pair, and
thus sin entered into the world, and death by sin. And
ever since, God has been doing all he can to deliver man
from his enemy, even to the giving of his Son. And though
now, six thousand years after, the gospel has reached only a
very small proportion of mankind, yet we do hope and trust
that within six thousand years more, through the energy and
liberality of the church, God will so far have remedied the
evil introduced by Satan that all then living may at least
know of his love, and have an opportunity to believe and
be saved.
While this view presents God as a being full of loving and
benevolent designs for his creatures, it implies that he lacks
ability and foreknowledge adequate to the accomplishment
of his benevolent designs : that he is deficient in wisdom and
power. From this view it would appear that while God was
engaged in arranging and devising for the good of his newly-
created children, Satan slipped in and by one master-stroke
upset all God's plans to such an extent that, even by ex-
hausting all his power, God must spend twelve thousand
years to re-instate righteousness, even to such a degree that
the remainder of the race who still live will have an oppor-
tunity to choose good as readily as evil. But the one hun-
dred and forty-two billions of the past six thousand years,
and as many more of the next, are, according to this view,
lost to all eternity, in spite of God's love for them, because
Satan interfered with his plans. Thus Satan would get thou-
sands into eternal torment to one that God saves to glory*
<tf *
This view must exalt men's ideas of the wisdom and power
of Satan, and lower their estimation of these attributes in
God, of whom the Psalmist to the contrary declares that,
" He spake and it was done; he commanded and it stood
fast" But no: God was not surprised nor overtaken "by
the adversary; neither has Satan in any measure thwarted
his plans. God is, and always has been, perfect master of
the situation, and in the end it will be seen that all has been
working together to the accomplishment of his purposes.
While the doclrines of election and free grace, as taught
by Calvinism and Arminianism, could never be harmonized
with each other, with reason, or with the Bible, yet these
two glorious Bible do&rines are perfectly harmonious and
beautiful, seen from the standpoint of the plan of the ages.
Seeing, then, that so many of the great and glorious fea-
tures of God's plan for human salvation from sin and death
lie in the future, and that the second advent of our Lord
Jesus is the designed first step in the accomplishment of
those long promised and long expected blessings, shall we
not even more earnestly long for the time of his second ad-
vent than the less informed Jew looked and longed for his
first advent? Seeing that the time of evil, injustice and
death is to be brought to an end by the dominion of power
which he will then exercise, and that righteousness, truth and
peace are to be universal, who should not rejoice to see his
day? And who that is now suffering with Christ, inspired
by the precious promise that "if we suffer with him we shall
also reign with him/' will not lift up his head and rejoice
at any evidence of the approach of the Master, knowing
thereby that our deliverance and our glorification with him
draw nigh ? Surely all in sympathy with his mission of
blessing and his spirit of love will hail every evidence of his
coming as the approach pf the "gwsrt joy which shall be to
all people."
STUDY VU.
THE PERMISSION OF EVIL AND ITS RELATION TO
GOD'S PLAN.
WHY Evil* WAS PERMITTED. RIGHT AND WRONG AS PRINCIPLES. Tur MOF.AI.
SENSE,- Goo PERMITTED EVIL. AICD TOW, OVERRULE IT FOR GOOD GOD NOT
THE AUTHOR OF SIN. ADAM'S TRIAL NOT A FARCE. His TEMPTATION SB-
VERB HK SINNED WILFULLY. THE PENALTY OF SIN NOT UNJUST, NOR Too
SEVERE THE WISDOM, LOVE AND JUSTICE DISPLAYED IN CONDEMNING ALL.
IN ADAM. GOD'S LAW UNIVERSAL.
EVIL is that which produces uuhappiness ; anything which
either dire&ly or remotely causes suffering of any Kind.
Wcfater. This subject, therefore, not only inquires re-
garding human ailments, sorrows, pains, weaknesses and
death, but goes back of all these to consider their primary
cause $in and its remedy* Since sin is the cause of
evil, its removal is the only method of permanently curing
the malady.
No difficulty, perhaps, more frequently presents itself to
the inquiring mind than the questions, Why did God per-
mit the present reign of evil? Why did he permit Satan
to present the temptation to our first parents, after having
created them perfect and upright? Or why did he allow
the forbidden tree to have a place among the good?
Despite all attempts to turn it aside, the question will ob-
trude itself Could not God have prevented all possibility
of man's fall?
The difficulty undoubtedly arises from a failure to com-
prehend the plan of God. God could have prevented the
entrance of sin, but the fa<ft that he did not should be
sufficient proof to us that its present permission is designed
ultimately to work out some greater good. God's plans, seea
xi? The flan of the Ages.
in their completeness, will prove the wisdom of the course
pursued. Some inquire, Could not God, with whom all
things are possible, have interfered in season to prevent the
full accomplishment of Satan's design ? Doubtless he could ;
but such interference would have prevented the accomplish-
ment of his own purposes. His purpose was to make mani-
fest the perfection, majesty and righteous authority of his
law, and to prove both to men and to angels the evil con-
sequences resulting from its violation. Besides, in their
very nature, some things are impossible even with God, as
the Scriptures state. It is "impossible for God to lie"
(Heb. 6 : 18). " He cannot deny himself " (2 Tim. 2 : 13).
He cannot do wrong, and therefore he could not choose any
but the wisest and best plan for introducing his creatures
into life, even though our short-sighted vision might for a
time fail to discern the hidden springs of infinite wisdom.
The Scriptures declare that all things were created for
the Lord's pleasure (Rev. 4: u) without doubt, for the
pleasure of dispensing his blessings, and of exercising the
attributes of his glorious being. And though, in the work-
ing out of his benevolent designs, he permits evil and evil
doers for a time to play an adtive part, yet it is not for evil's
sake, nor because he is in league with sin j for he declares
that he is "not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness. '*
(Psa. 5 : 4.) Though opposed to evil in every sense, God
permits (t\ ., does not hinder) it for a time, because his wis-
dom sees a way in which it may be made a lasting and val-
uable lesson to his creatures.
It is a self-evident truth that for every right principle
there is a corresponding wrong principle; as, for instance,*
truth and falsity, love and hatred, justice and injustice. We
distinguish these opposite principles as right and wreng, by
their effedls when put in aQion. That principle the result
of which, when active, is beneficial and produ&ive of ulti*
Permission of Evil. 2*9
mate order, harmony and happiness, we call a right princi-
ple ; and the opposite, which is productive of discord, un-
happiness and destruction, we call a wrong principle. The
results of these principles in a&ion we call goodv&A. evil;
and the intelligent being, capable of discerning the right
principle from the wrong, and voluntarily governed by the
one or the other, we call virtuous or sinful.
This faculty of discerning between right and wrong prin-
ciples is called the moral sense, or conscience. It is by this
moral sense which God has given to man that we are able
to judge of God and to recognize that he is good. It is to
this moral sense that God always appeals to prove his right-
eousness or justice ; and by the same moral sense Adam
could discern sin, or unrighteousness, to be evil, even before
he knew all its consequences. The lower orders of God's
creatures are not endowed with this moral sense. A dog
has some intelligence, but not to this degree, though he may
learn that certain a&ions bring the approval and reward of
his master, and certain others his disapproval. He might
steal or take life, but would not be termed a sinner j or he
might protecft property and life, but would not be called
virtuous because he is ignorant of the moral quality of his
a<5tions.
God could have made mankind devoid of ability to dis-
cern between right and wrong, or able only to discern and
to do right ; but to have made him so would have been to
make merely a living machine, and certainly not a mental
image of his Creator. Or he might have made man perfeft
and a free agent, as he did, and have guarded him from
Satan's temptation. In that case, man's experience being
limited to good, he would have been continually liable to
suggestions of evil from without, or to ambitions from with-
in, which would have made the everlasting future uncertain,
a outbreak of disobedience a#4 disprder might al-
1 20 "I'M fiW* #J th
ways have been a possibility ; besides which, good would
never have been so highly appreciated except by its contrast
with evil*
God first made his creatures acquainted with good, sur-
rounding them with it in Eden ; and afterward, as a penalty
for disobedience, he gave them a severe knowledge of
evil. Expelled from Eden and deprived of fellowship with
himself, God let them experience sickness, pain and death,
that they might thus forever know evil and the inexpediency
and exceeding sinfulness of sin.
By a comparison of results they came to an appreciation
and proper estimate of both j " And the Lord said, Behold,
the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil"
(Gen. 3 : 22.) In this their posterity share, except that they
first obtain their knowledge of evil, and cannot fully realize
what good is until they experience it in the Millennium,
as a result of their redemption by him who will then be their
Judge and King.
The moral sense, or judgment of right and wrong, and
the liberty to use it, which Adam possessed, were important
features of his likeness to God. The law of right and wrong
was written in his natural constitution. It was a part of his
nature, just as it is a part of the divine nature. But let us
not forget that this image or likeness of God, this originally
law-inscribed nature of man, has lost much of its clear out-
line through the erasing, degrading influence of sin j hence
it is not now what it was in the first man- Ability to love
implies ability to hate ; hence we may reason that the Creator
could not make man in his own likeness, with power to love
and to do right, without the corresponding ability to hate
and to do wrong. This liberty of choice, termed free moral
agency, or free will, is a part of man's original endowment ,
and this, together with the full measure of his mental and
moral faculties, constituted him an image of his Creator
fey mission of vitl 222
To-day, after six thousand years of degradation, so much of
the original likeness has been erased by sin that we are not
free, being bound, to a greater or less extent, by sin and its
entailments, so that sin is now more easy and therefore more
agreeable to the fallen race than is righteousness.
That God could have given Adam such a vivid impres-
sion of the many evil results of sin as would have de-
terred him from it, we need not question, but we believe
that God foresaw that an a&ual experience of the evil would
be the surest and most lasting lesson to serve man eternally j
and for that reason God did not prevent but permitted man
to take his choice, and to feel the consequences of eviL
Had opportunity to sin never been permitted, man could not
have resisted it, consequently there would have been neither
virtue nor merit in his right-doing. God seeketh such to wor-
ship him as worship in spirit and in truth. He desires intelli-
gent and willing obedience, rather than ignorant, mechan-
ical service. He already had in operation inanimate me-
chanical agencies accomplishing his will, but his design
was to make a nobler thing, an intelligent creature in his
own likeness, a lord for earth, whose loyalty and righteous-
ness would be based upon an appreciation of right and
wrong, of good and evil.
The principles of right and wrong, as principles^ have
always existed, and must always exist j and all perfedt, intel-
ligent creatures in God's likeness must be free to choose
either, though the right principle only will forever continue
to be a<5ttve. The Scriptures inform us that when the ac-
tivity of the evil principle has been permitted long enough
to accomplish God's purpose, it will forever cease to be
aftive, and that all who continue to submit to its control
shall forever cease to exist, (i Cor. 15 : 25, 26$ Heb. 2: 14.)
Right-doing and right-doers, only, shall continue forever.
But the question recurs in another form ; Could not max*.
t22 The Plan of the Ages.
have been made acquainted with evil in some other way
than by experience? There are four ways of knowing
things, namely, by intuition, by observation, by experience,
and by information received through sources accepted as
positively truthful. An intuitive knowledge would be a di-
rect apprehension, without the process of reasoning, or the
necessity for proof. Such knowledge belongs only to the
divine Jehovah, the eternal fountain of all wisdom and truth,
who, of necessity and in the very nature of things, is supe-
rior to all his creatures. Therefore, man's knowledge of
good and evil could not be intuitive. Man's knowledge
might have come by observation, but in that event there
must needs have been some exhibition of evil and its results
for man to observe. This would imply the permission of
evil somewhere, among some beings, and why not as well
among men, and upon the earth, as among others elsewhere 7
Why should not man be the illustration, and get hh
knowledge by practical experience? It is so: man is gairv
ing a practical experience, and is furnishing an illustration
to others as well, being "made a spectacle to angels."
Adam already had a knowledge of evil by information
but that was insufficient to restrain him from trying the ex-
periment. Adam and Eve knew God as their Creator, and
hence as the one who had the right to control and direct
them j and God had said of the forbidden tree, "In the day
thou eatest thereof, dying thou shalt die. ' ' They had, there*
fore, a theoretical knowledge of evil, though they had never
observed or experienced its effects. Consequently, they did
not appreciate their Creator's loving authority and his be-
neficent law, nor the dangers from which he thereby pro-
posed to protect them. They therefore yielded to the
temptation which God wisely permitted, the ultimate utility
of which his wisdom had traced.
Few appreciate the severity of the temptation under which
Permission of EmL 1 23
our first parents fell, nor yet the justice of God in attach-
ing so severe a penalty to what seems to many so slight an
offense; but a little reflection will make all plain. The
Scriptures tell the simple story of how the woman, the
weaker one, was deceived, and thus became a transgressor.
Her experience and acquaintance with God were even more
limited than Adam's, for he was created first, and God had
directly communicated to him before her creation the
knowledge of the penalty of sin, while Eve probably received
her information from Adam. When she had partaken of
the fruit, she, having put confidence in Satan's deceptive
misrepresentation, evidently did not realize the extent of
the transgression, though probably she had misgivings and
slight apprehensions that all was not well. But, although
deceived, Paul says she was a transgressor, though not so
culpable as if she had transgressed against greater light.
Adam, we are told, unlike Eve, was not deceived
(i Tim. 2: 14), hence he must have transgressed with a
fuller realization of the sin, and with the penalty in
view> knowing certainly that he must die. We can
readily see what was the temptation which impelled him
thus recklessly to incur the pronounced penalty. Bearing
in mind that they were perfect beings, in the mental and
moral likeness of their Maker, the godlike element of
love was displayed with marked prominence by the per-
fect man toward his beloved companion, the perfect
woman. , Realizing the sin and fearing Eve's death, and
thus his loss (and that without hope of recovery, for
no such hope had been given), Adam, in despair, reck-
lessly concluded not to live without her. Deeming his
own life unhappy and worthless without her companion-
ship, he wilfully shared her act of disobedience in order
to share the death-penalty which he probably supposed rest-
ed on her. Both were ' 'in the transgression, " as the Apostle
flan of the Ages-,
shows (Rom. 3:14; *Tim. 2:14)* But Adam and Eve were
one and not "twain;" hence Eve shared the sentence which
her conduct helped to bringupon Adam. Rom. 5: 1 2, 1 7-19,
God not only foresaw that, having given man freedom of
choice, he would, through lack of full appreciation of sin
and its results, accept it, but he also saw that, becoming ac
quainted with it, he would still choose it, because that ac
quaintance would so impair his moral nature that evil would
gradually become more agreeable and more desirable to him
than good* Still, God designed to permit evil, because,
having the remedy provided for man's release from itsconse*
quences, he saw that the result would be to lead him, through
experience, to a full appreciation of "the exceeding sinful-
ness of sin" and of the matchless brilliancy of virtue in con-
trast with it thus teaching him the more to love and honor
his Creator, who is the source and fountain of all goodness,
and forever to shun that which brought so much woe and
misery. So the final result will be greater love for God,
and greater hatred of all that is opposed to his will, and con-
sequently the firm establishment in everlasting righteousness
of all such as shall profit by the lessons God is now teach-
ing through the permission of sin and correlative evils. How-
ever, a wide distinction should be observed between the in-
disputable fa<ft that God has permitted sin, and the serious
error of some which charges God with being the author and
instigator of sin* The ktter view is both blasphemous and
contradi&ory to the fafls presented in the Scriptures.
Those who fall into this error generally do so in an attempt
to find another plan of salvation than that which God has
provided through the sacrifice of Christ as our ransom-
price. If they succeed in convincing themselves and others
that God is responsible for all sin and wickedness and crime,*
* Two texts of Scripture (Isa. 45 n 7 and Amos 3s 6) are used tosus.
^n this theory, twj* by ?, mifate7prr,ttipx of *fe word tvtt fa both terti,,
and that man as an innocent tool in his hands was forced
into sin, then they have cleared the way for the theory that
not a sacrifice for our sins, nor mercy in any form, was need-
ed, but simply and only JUSTICE. Thus, too, they lay a
foundation for another part of their false theory, viz., uni-
versalism, claiming that as God caused all the sin and wick-
edness and crime in all, he will also cause the deliverance of
all mankind from sin and death. And reasoning that God
willed and caused the sin, and that none could resist him,
so they claim that when he shall will righteousness all will
Ekewise be powerless to resist him. But in all such reason-
ing, man's noblest quality^ liberty of will or choice^ the most
striking feature of his likeness to his Creator, is entirely set
aside ; and man is theoretically degraded to a mere machine
Sin is always an evil, but an evil is not always a sin* An earthquake,
a conflagration, a flood or a pestilence would be a calamity! an evil;
but none of these would be sins. The word evil in the texts cited sig-
nifies calamities. The same Hebrew word is translated affliction hi
Psa, 34 : 19; 107 : 395 Jer. 48 : 16; Zech. 1 : 15. It is translated
trouble in Psa. 27:5; 41:!; 88:3; 107:26; Jer. 51$ 2* Lam, U2X.
It is translated calamities , adversity and distress in X Sam. IO: 19; Psa,
10:6; 94:13; i4isS> Eccl. 7:14; Neh. 2:17. And the same word
is in very many places rendered ttarm, mischief, sore^ hurt^ misery^
gritf and forrow^
In Isa. 45 s 7 and Amos, 3 : 6 the Lord would remind Israel of his
covenant mode with them as a nation that if they would obey his laws
he would bless them and protect them from the calamities common to
tiie world in general ; but that if they would forsake him he would bring
calamities (evils) upon them as chastisements. See Deut 2811-14;
15-32; Lev. 26:14-16; Josh. 23:6-11, 12-16.
When calamities came upon them, however, they were inclined to
consider them as accidents and not as chastisements. Hence God
sent them word through the prophets, reminding them of their covenant
and telling them that their calamities were from him and by his will far
their correction. It is absurd to use these texts to prgyp G$4 &$ W&Xf,
Of fiin, for they do not at *U refer to &
flan tf the Ages.
wfcida a&s only as it is a<ted upon. If this were the case,,
man, instead of being the lord of earth, would be inferior
even to insects ; for they undoubtedly have a will or power
of choice. Even the little ant has been given a power of
will which man, though by his greater power he may op-
pose and thwart, cannot destroy.
True, God has power to force man into either sin or
righteousness, but his Word declares that he has no such
purpose. He could not consistently force man into sin for
the same reason that "he cannot deny himself." Such a
course would be inconsistent with his righteous chara&er,
and therefore an impossibility. And he seeks the worship
and love of only such as worship him in spirit and in truth.
To this end he has given roan a liberty of will like unto his
own, and desires him to choose righteousness. Permitting
man to choose for himself led to his fall from divine fellow-
ship and favor and blessings, into death. By his experience
in sin and death, man learns practically what God offered to
teach him theoretically, without his experiencing sin and its
results. God's foreknowledge of what man would do is
not used against him, as an excuse for degrading him to a
mere machine-being : on the contrary, it is used in mail's
favor ; for God, foreseeing the course man would take if left
free to choose for himself, did not hinder him from tasting
sin and its bitter results experimentally, but he began at
once to provide a means for his recovery from his first
transgression by providing a Redeemer, a great Savior, able
to save to the uttermost all who would return unto God
through him. To this endthat man might have a free
will and yet be enabled to profit by his first failure in its
misuse, in disobedience to the Lord's will God has pro*
vided not only a ransom for all, but also that a, knowledge of
the opportunity thus offered of reconciliation with himself
shall be testified to all in due time. i Titn. 2 : 3-6,
Permission of Evil. 127
The severity of the penalty was not a display of hatred
and malice on God's part, but the necessary and inevitable,
final result of evil, which God thus allowed man to see and
feel. God can sustain life as long as he sees fit, even against
the destructive power of actual evil; but it would be as im-
possible for God to sustain such a life everlastingly, as it is
for God to lie. That is, it is morally impossible. Such a
life could only become more and more a source of unhap-
piness to itself and others; therefore, God is too good to
sustain an existence so useless and injurious to itself and
others, and, his sustaining power being withdrawn, destruc-
tion, the natural result of evil, would ensue. Life is a fa-
vor, a gift of God, and it will be continued everlastingly
only to the obedient.
No injustice has been done to Adam's posterity in not
affording them each an individual trial. Jehovah was in
no sense bound to bring us into existence; and, having
brought us into being, no law of equity or justice binds him
to perpetuate our being everlastingly, nor even to grant us
a trial under promise of everlasting life if obedient. Mark
this point well. The present life, which from the cradle
to the tornb is but a process of dying, is, notwithstanding
all its evils and disappointments, a boon, a favor, even if
there were no hereafter. The large majority so esteem it,
the exceptions (suicides) being comparatively few; and these
our courts of justice have repeatedly decided to be mentally
unbalanced, as otherwise they would not thus cut them*
selves off from present blessings. Besides, the conduct of
the perfect man, Adam, shows us what the conduct of his
children would have been tinder similar circumstances.
Many have imbibed the erroneous idea that God placed
our race on trial for life with the alternative of eternal tor*
true) whereas nothing of the kind is even hinted at in the
penalty. The favor or blessim* of God to his obedient chik
Plan of the Agt&
dren is life continuous life free from pain, sickness and
every other element of decay and death. Adam was given
this blessing in the full measure, but was warned that he
would be deprived of this "gift" if he failed to render
obedience to God "In the day that thou eatest thereof,
dying, thou shalt die." He knew nothing of a life in tor-
ment, as the penalty of sin. Life everlasting is nowhere
promised to any but the obedient Life is God's gift, and
death, the opposite of life, is the penalty he prescribes.
Eternal torture is nowhere suggested in the Old Testament
Scriptures, and only a few statements in the New Testament
can be so misconstrued as to appear to teach it; and these
are found either among the symbolisms of Revelation, or
among the parables and dark sayings of our Lord, which
were not understood by the people who heard them (Luke
8:10), and which seem to be but little better comprehended
to-day.* "The wages of sin is death/' (Rom. 6:23,)
"Thesoul thatsinneth, it shall die." Ezek. 18:4-
Many have supposed God unjust in allowing Adam's con*
demnation to be shared by his posterity, instead of granting
each one a trial and chance for everlasting life similar to
that which Adam enjoyed. But what will such say if it
now be shown that the world's opportunity and trial for
life will be much more favorable than was Adam's; and that,
too, because God adopted this plan of permitting Adam's
race to share his penalty in a natural way? "We believe this
to be the case, and will endeavor to make it plain.
God assures us that as condemnation passed upon all in
Adam, so he has arranged for a new head, father or life-
giver for the race, into whom all may be transferred by
faith ; and that as all in Adam shared the curse of death, so
all in Christ will share the blessing of life, being justified by
faith in his blood. (Rom. 5:12, 18, 19.) Thus seen, the
* We will supply for ten cents a pamphlet explaining every
ef Scripture in which the word "hell" occurs.
Permission of EmL 129
death of Jesus, the undefiled, the sinless one, was a com-
plete settlement toward God of the sin of Adam. As one
man had sinned, and all in him had shared his curse,
his penalty, so Jesus, having paid the penalty of that
one sinner, bought not only Adam, but all of his posterity,
all men who by heredity shared his weaknesses and sins
and the penalty of these, death. Our Lord, " the man
Christ Jesus," himself unblemished, approved, and with a
perfect seed or race in him, unborn, likewise untainted with
sin, gave his all of human life and title as the full ransom-
price for Adam and the race or seed in him when sentenced.
Having thus fully purchased the lives of Adam and his race,
Christ offers to adopt as his seed, his children, all of Adam's
race who will accept the terms of his New Covena&c and
thus by faith come into his family the family of God
and receive everlasting life. Thus the Redeemer will "see
Ms seed [as many of Adam's seed as will accept adoption,
upon his conditions] and prolong his days [resurrection
to a higher than human plane, being granted him by the
Father as a reward for his obedience],'* and all in the most
unlikely way ; by the sacrifice of life and posterity. And
thus it is written : "As all in Adam die, even so all in Christ
shall be made alive/' Correfted translation > i Cor. 15:22.
The injury we received through Adam's fall (we suffered
/io injustice) is, by God's favor, to be more than offset with
favor through Christ ; and all will sooner or later (in God's
** due time ") have a full opportunity to be restored to the
same standing that Adam enjoyed before he sinned. Those
who do not receive a full knowledge and, by faith, an en-
joyment of this favor of God in the present time (and swcfa
are the great majority, including children and heathen) will
assuredly have these privileges in the next age, or " world
to come," the dispensation or age to follow the present*
T0 this end, " all that are in their glares . sfaali come
9-A
i9 The flan #/ flu Age*,
forth. " As each one (whether in this age or the next) be-
comes fully aware of the ransom-price given by our Lord
Jesus, and of his subsequent privileges, he is considered as
on trial, as Adam was; and obedience brings lasting life,
and disobedience lasting death the "second death. ' * Per-
fe6l obedience, however, without perfeft ability to render
it, is not required of any. Under God's Covenant, the
members of the Church during ihe Gospel age, have had
the righteousness of Christ imputed to them by faith, to
make up their unavoidable deficiencies through the
weaknesses of the flesh. Divine Grace will also operate
toward "whosoever will" of the world during the Millen-
nial age. Not until physical perfection is reached (which
will be the privilege of all before the close of the Millennial
age) will absolute moral perfection be expected. That
new trial, the result of the ransom and the New Cove-
nant, will differ from the trial in Eden, in that in it the
acts of each one will affect only his own future.
But \\ould nut tins DC givug sonie oi tao race a second
chance to gain everlasting life? We answer The first
chance for everlasting life was lost for himself and all of his
race, "yet in his loins," by father Adam's disobedience.
Under that original trial " condemnation passed upon all
men;" and God's plan was that through Christ's redemp-
tion-sacrifice Adam, and all who lost life in his failure,
should, after having tasted of the exceeding sin fulness of sin
and felt the weight of sin's penalty, be given the opportun-
ity to turn unto God through faith in the Redeemer. If
any one chooses to call this a " second chance, 1 ' let him
d-j ao: it must certainly be Adam's second chance, and in a
sense at least it is the same for all of the redeemed race, but
it will be the first individual opportunity of his descendants,
who, when born, were already under condemnation to death.
Call it what we please, the facts are the same; viz., All were
sentenced to death because of Adam's disobedience, and all
wiH 4oy (in this life or the next) ifull opportunity to gain
everlasting life under the favorable terms of the New Covenant,
This, as the angels declared, is "Good tidings of great joy
which shall be unto all people. J ' And, as the Apostle declared,
this grace of God that our Lord Jesus "gave himself a
ransom Jor all? must be "testified 71 to all "in duetime."
(Rom. 5:17-19; i Tim. 2:4-6.) Men, not God, have
limited to the Gospel age this chance or opportunity of at*
taming life. God, on the contrary, tells us that the Gospel
age is merely for the selection of the Church, the royal
priesthood, through whom, during asucceedingage, all others
shall be brought to an accurate knowledge of the truth and
granted full opportunity to secure everlasting life under the
New Covenant.
But what advantage is there in the method pursued?
Why not give all men an individual chance for life now, at
once, without the long process of Adam's trial and condem-
nation, the share by his offspring in his condemnation, the
redemption of all by Christ s sacrifice, and the new offer to
all of everlasting life upon the New Covenant conditions?
If evil must be permitted because of man's free moral
agency, why is its extermination accomplished by such a
peculiar and circuitous method ? Why allow so much misery
to intervene, and to come upon many who will ultimately
receive the gift of life as obedient children of God?
Ahl that is the point on which interest in this subject
centers. Had God ordered differently the propagation of our
species, so that children would not partake of the results of
paren fc.il sins weaknesses, mental, moral and physical and
had the Creator so arranged that all should have a favorable
Edenic condition for their testing, and that transgressors
only should be condemned and " cutoff," how many might
we presume would, under all those favorable conditions, be
found worthy, and how many unworthy of life?
If the one instance of Adam be taken as a criterion (and
he certainly was in every respecft a sample of perfect man-
w $ The J?tan of the
hood), the conclusion would be that none would have been
found perfe&ly obedient and worthy ; because none would
possess that clear knowledge of and experience with God,
which would develop in them full confidence in his laws,
beyond their personal judgment. We are assured that it was
Christ's knowledge of the Father that enabled him to trust
and obey implicitly. (Isa. 53 :ir.) But let us suppose that
one-fourth would gain life ; or even more, suppose that one-
half were found worthy, and that the other half would suffer
the wages of sin, death. Then what? Let us suppose
the other half, the obedient, had neither experienced nor
witnessed sin : might they not forever feel a curiosity to-
ward things forbidden, only restrained through fear of God
and of the penalty? Their service could not be so hearty
as though they knew good and evil ; and hence had a full
appreciation of the benevolent designs of the Creator in
making the laws which govern his own course as well as the
course of his creatures.
Then, too, consider the half that would thus go into
death as the result of their own wilful sin. They would be
lastingly cut off from life, and their only hope would be
that God would in love remember them as his creatures,
the work of his hands, and prorfde another trial for them.
But why do so? The only reason would be a hope that if
they were re-awakened and tried again, some of them, by
reason of their larger experience^ might then choose obedi-
ence and live.
But even if such a plan were as good in its results as the
one God has adopted, there would be serious objeflions to it
How much more like the wisdom of God to confine sin
te certain limits, as his plan does. How much better even
our finite minds can discern it to be, to have but one
perfeA and impartial law, which declares the wages of
wilful sin to be death <iestru<aion cutting off from life.
Permission of
God thus limits the evil which he permits, by providing that
the Millennial reign of Christ shall accomplish the full *
tin&ion of evil and also of wilful evil-doers, and usher in
an eternity of righteousness, based upon full knowledge and
perfect free-will obedience by perfedi beings,
But there are two other objedlions to the plan suggested,
of trying each individual separately at first. One Redeemer
was quite sufficient in the plan which God adopted, because
only one had sinned, and only one had been condemned.
(Others shared his condemnation.) But if the first trial had
been an individual trial, and if one-half of the race had sinned
and been individually condemned, it would have required
the sacrifice of a redeemer for each condemned individuaL
One unforfeited life could redeem one forfeited life, but no
more. The one perfedl man, * the man Christ Jesus," who
redeemed the fallen Adam (and our losses through him),
could not have been "a ransom [a corresponding price] for
ALL** under any other circumstances than those of the plan
which God chose.
If we should suppose the total number of human beings
since Adam to be one hundred billions, and that only one-
half of these had sinned, it would require all of the fifty
billions of obedient, perfedt men to die in order to give a
ransom [a corresponding price] for all the fifty billions of
transgressors ; and so by this plan also death would peas upon
all. And such a plan would involve no less suffering than
is at present experienced.
The other objection to such a plan is that it would seri-
ously disarrange God's plans relative to the geledlion and
exaltation to the divine nature of a " little flock/* the body
of Christ, a company of which Jesus is the Head and Lord.
Cod could not justly command the fifty billions of obedi-
ent sons to give their rights, privileges and lives as ifcnsoms
for the sinners; for under his own law their obedience would
V*
The .Plan of ike Ages.
iiave won the right to lasting life. Hence, if those perfect
men were asked to become ransomers of the fallen ones, it
would be God's plan, as with our Lord Jesus, to set some spe-
cial reward before them, so that they, for the joy set before
them, might endure the penalty of their brethren. And if
the same reward should be given them that was given to our
Lord Jesus, namely, to partake of a new nature, the divine,
and to be highly exalted above angels and principalities and
powers, and every name that is named next to Jehovah
(Eph. i : 20, 21), then there would be an immense number
on the divine plane, which the wisdom of God evidently
did not approve. Furthermore, these fifty billions, under
such circumstances, would all be on an equality, and none
among them chief or head, while the plan God has adopted
calls for but one Redeemer, one highly exalted to the divine
nature, and then a "little flock " of those whom he re-
deemed, and who "walk in his footsteps " of suffering and
self-denial, to share his name, his honor, his glory and his
nature, even as the wife shares with the husband.
Those who can appreciate this feature of God's plan,
which, by condemning all in one representative, opened the
way for the ransom and restitution of all by one Redeemer,
will find in it the solution of many perplexities. They will
see that the condemnation of all in one was the reverse of
aa injury : it was a great favor to all when taken in connec-
tion with God's plan for providing justification for all
through another one's sacrifice. Evil will be forever ex-
tinguished when God's purpose in permitting it shall have
beea accomplished, and when the benefits of the ransom are
made co-extensive with the penalty of sin. It is impossible,
however, to appreciate rightly this feature of the plan of
God without a full recognition of the sinfulness of sin, the
nature of its penalty death, the importance and value of
the ransom which our Lord Jesus gave, and the positive and
Permission ef X&viL 235
complete restoration of the individual to favorable condi-
tions, conditions under which he will have fall and ample
trial, before being adjudged worthy of the reward (lasting
life), or of the penalty (lasting death).
In view of the great plan of redemption, and the conse-
quent "restitution of all things/ 1 through Christ, we can
see that blessings result through the permission of evil which,
probably, could not otherwise have been so fully realized.
Not only are men benefited to all eternity by the experi-
ence gained, and angels by their observation of man's ex-
periences, but all are further advantaged by a fuller acquaint-
ance with God's chara&er as manifested in his plan. When
his plan is fully accomplished, all will be able to read clearly
his wisdom, justice, love and power. They will see the
justice which could not violate the divine decree, nor save
the justly condemned race without a full cancellation of their
penalty by a willing redeemer. They will see the love which
provided this noble sacrifice and which highly exalted the
Redeemer to God's own right hand, giving him power and
authority thereby to restore to life those whom he had pur-
chased with his precious blood. They will also see the
power and wisdom which were able to work out a glorious
destiny for his creatures, and so to overrule every opposing
influence as to make them either the willing or the un-
willing agents for the advancement and final accomplish-
ment of his grand designs. Had evil not been permit-
ted an<i thus overruled by divine providence, we can-
not see how these results could have been attained. The
permission of evil for a time among men thus displays a far-
seeing wisdom, which grasped all the attendant circum-
stances, devised the remedy, and marked the final outcome
through his power and grace.
During the Gospel dispensation sin and its attendant evils
JHve been further made use of for the discipline and yrerara-
tion of the Church. Had sin not been permitted, thr-sacrificc
of our Lord Jesus and of his Church, the reward of which
is the divine nature, would have been impossible.
It seems clear that substantially the same law of God
which is now over mankind, obedience to which has the re-
ward of life, and disobedience the reward of death, must
ultimately govern all of God's intelligent creatures; and
that law, as our Lord defined it, is briefly comprehended in
ike one word, Love. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
strength, and with all thy mind ; and thy neighbor as thy-
self." (Luke 10:2 7,) Ultimately, when the purposes of God
shall have been accomplished, the glory of the divine char-
adler will be manifest to all intelligent creatures, and the
temporary permission of evil will be seen by all to have been
a wise feature in the divine policy. Now, this can be seen
only by the eye of faith, looking onward through God's
Word at the things spoken by the mouth of all the holy
prophets since the world began the restitution of all things.
THE DAY IS AT HAND.
"Poor, feinting pilgrim, still hold on thy "way the dawn is near!
True, thou art weary now ; but yon bright ray becomes more clear.
Bear up a little longer; wait for rest;
Yield not to slumber, though with toil opppressed
"The night of life is mournful, but look on the dawn is near!
Soon will earth's shadowed scenes and forms be gone ; yield not to fear ,'
Tee mountain's summit will, ere long, be gained,
And the bright world of joy and peace attained.
" Jeyful through hope 1 thy motto still must be the dawn is near!
"What glorias will that dawn unfold to thee! be of good chew I
Gird up thy loins; bind sandals on thy feet t
fte way is dark and long; the end is swe**."
STUDY VIII.
THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.
THE GENERAL VIEW p THE DAY OP JUDGMENT. Is IT SCRIPTURAL? Tag
TERMS, JUDGMENT AND DAY, DEFINED. SEVERAL JUDGMENT DAYS REFERRED
TO IN THE SCRIPTURES. THE FIRST JUDGMENT DAY AND ITS RESULTS. AN-
OTHER APPOINTED. THE JUDGE. THE CHARACTER OF THE COMING JUDG-
MENT. SIMILARITY AND DISSIMILARITY OF THE FIRST AND SECOND JUDG-
MENTS. THE WORLD'S PRESENT ACCOUNTABILITY.--TWO INTERVENING JUDG-
MENTS ANSI THEIR OBJECTS. WIDELY DIFFERENT ESTIMATES p THE COMING
JUDGMBWT. HOW PROPHETS AMD ATOSTZ.CS VlEWED ST.
<4 pOD hath appointed a day in the which he will judge
^ the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath
ordained " "Jesus Christ, the righteous. 1 ' "For the
Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment
unto the Son." A6ts 17:31; i John 2:1; John 5 : 22.
A verj r vague and indefinite idea prevails in regard to the
day of judgment. The view generally entertained is that
Christ will come to earth, seated upon a great white throne,
and that he will summon saint and sinner in rank and file
before him to be judged, amidst great convulsions of nature
earthquakes, opening graves, rending rocks and falling
mountains } that the trembling sinners will be brought from
the depths of everlasting woe to hear their sins rehearsed,
only to be again returned to an eternal and merciless doom ;
and that the saints will be brought from heaven to witness the
misery and despair of the condemned, to hear again the de-
cision in their own cases, and to return. According to the
prevailing theory, all receive their sentence and reward at
death ; and this, which by way of distinction is commonly
palled the general judgment, is merely a repetition of that
S3& 'Ike flan of fat Ages.
first judgment, tut for no conceivable purpose, since they
claim that a decision which is final and unalterable is ren-
dered at death.
The entire time supposed to be assigned to this stupen-
dous work of judging billions is a *wenty-four hour day. A
discourse recently delivered in the Brooklyn Tabernacle
voiced the genera! /iew on this subject. It affected to give
a detailed account of the work of the Day of Judgment,
representing it as completed within the limits of a single
literal day.
This is a very crude conception, and is entirely out of
harmony with the inspired Word. It is drawn from a too
literal interpretation of our Lord's parable of the Sheep and
the Goats. (Matt 25 : 31-46.) It illustrates the absurdity of
attempting to force a literal interpretation upon figurative
language. A parable is never an exact statement, but merely
an illustration of a truth by something which is in many
respects like it. If this parable were a literal statement of
the manner in which the judgment will be conducted, it
would apply to literal sheep and goats, just as it reads, and
not to mankind at all. Let us now look at a more scrip-
tural as well as a more reasonable view of the work and the
result of the great Judgment Day which God hath appointed,
with which reasonable and scriptural conclusions all para-
bles and figures should and do agree.
The term judgment signifies more than simply the render-
ing of a verdict. It includes the idea of a trial, as well as
a decision based upon that trial. And this is true not only
of the English word judgment, but also of the Greek word
which it translates.
The term day, both in the Scriptures and in common
usage, though most frequently used to represent a period
of twelve or twenty-four hours, really signifies any definite
or special period of time. Thus, for instance, we speak of
of Judgment* 339
Noah's day, Luther's day, Washington's day \ and thus in
the Bible the entire time of creation is called a day, where
we read of "the day that Jehovah God made the earth and
the heavens " (Gen. 2 : 4) a long, definite period. Then
we read of "the day of temptation in the wilderness"
forty years (Heb. 3 : 8, 9); " the day of salvation " (2 Cor.
6 : 2); also the "day of vengeance," "day of wrath" and
"day of trouble" terms applied to a period of forty years
in the close of the Jewish age, and to a similar period of
trouble in the end of the Gospel age. Then again we read
of the "day of Christ," the "day of judgment," and
"his day" terms applicable to the Millennial age, in
which Messiah will reign over, rule and judge the world in
righteousness, granting trial as well as rendering sentence.
And of that period it is written : He shall judge the world
in righteousness, and in his day shall show who is that
blessed and only potentate, the King of kings and Lord of
lords. (Acls 17 : 31 ; i Tim. 6 : 15.) Why any should sup-
pose this day of judgment to be of but twelve or twenty-
four hours, while recognizing the wider meaning of the word
day in other similar cases, is beyond comprehension, except
upon the supposition that they have been influenced by
tradition, without proper evidence or investigation.
Those who will carefully consult a complete concordance
of the Bible with reference to the Day of Judgment, and
note the kind and amount of work to be accomplished
within that period, will soon see the absurdity of the com
mon view, and the necessity for giving to the term day its
wider significance.
While the Scriptures speak of a great judgment or trial
day yet future, and show that the masses of mankind are to
have their complete trial and final sentence in that day,
they also teach that there have been other judgment days,
during which certain elect classes have been on trial.
Plan of the Ages.
The first great judgment [trial and sentence] was at the
beginning, in Eden, when the whole human race, as repre-
sented in its head, Adam, stood on trial before God. The
result of that trial was the verdict Guilty, disobedient,
unworthy of life; and the penalty inflicted was death
"Dying thou shalt die." (Gen. 2: 17, margin.) And so
"In Adam all die/* That trial time in Eden was the
world's first judgment day, and the decision of the Judge
(Jehovah) has ever since been enforced.
" The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
unrighteousness." It may be seen in every funeral proces-
sion. Every tomb is a witness to it. It is felt in every
ache and pain we experience all of which arc results of
the first trial and sentence the righteous sentence of God,
that we are unworthy of life and the blessings originally
provided for man when obedient and in God's likeness,
But mankind has been redeemed from the sentence of that
first trial by the one sacrifice for all, which the great Re-
deemer gave. All are redeemed from the grave and from
the sentence of death destruction which in view of this
redemption is no longer to be considered death in the full,
everlasting sense of the word, but rather a temporary sleep;
because in the Millennial morning all will be awakened
by the Life-giver who redeemed all. Only the Church of
believers in Christ are yet in any sense released or "es-
caped' 1 from this original sentence and penalty; and their
escape is not yet actual, but only so reckoned by faith. " We
are saved by hope ' ' only. Our a&ual release from this death
penalty (incurred in Adam and escaped from by getting into
Christ) will not be fully experienced until the resurrec-
tion morning, when we shall be satisfied to awake in our
Redeemer's likeness. But the fa<5l that we who have come
to a knowledge of God's gracious plan in Christ "have
escaped the corruption that is [still*] on the world," so far
Day of Judgment* 141
from proving that others will have no future hope of escape,
proves rather the contrary of this ; for we are first-fruits un-
to God of his creatures. Our escape from death in Adam
to life in Christ is but a foretaste of the deliverance of who-
soever wills to be delivered from the bondage of corruption
[death] to the liberty of life proper to all whom God shall rec-
ognize as sons. All who will may be delivered from death.
to life, regardless of the distinctions of nature God has pro-
vided for his sons on different planes of being. The Gospel
age is the trial-day for life or death to those called to the
divine nature.
But God has appointed a day, in which he will judge the
world. How can this be? Has God changed his mind?
Has he concluded that his decision in the trial of the first
man and the general sentence were unjust, too severe, that
he now concludes to judge the world individually? No;
were such the case, we should have no better guarantee of a
just decision in the future trial than in the past. It is not
that God considers his decision in the first judgment unjust,
but that he has provided a redemption from the penalty of
the first judgment, in order that he may grant another judg-
ment (trial) under more favorable conditions to the entire
race all having then had experience with sin and its results;
God has not changed one iota from his original purpose,
which he formed before the world began. He distinfily
informs us that he changes not, and that he will by no means
clear the guilty. He will exadl the full penalty which he
justly pronounced. And that full penalty has been paid by
the Redeemer or substitute whom God himself provided
Jesus Christ, who, " by the grace [favor] of God, tasted death
for every man." Our Lord having bought Adam and his
race, with his own life, can now legally, justly, give a new
offer of life to them all. And this offer to all is called the
NewCovenant,sealed,ratified or made operative by his death.
- Rom. 14:9; John 5:22; Heb. 10:16, 29; 13:20, 21.
t42 Xht Plan of the Ag$>
We are further informed that when God gives the world
thu individual trial, it will be under Christ as Judge, whom
Jehovah will thus honor because of his obedience even, un-
to death for our redemption. God has highly exalted him,
even to the divine nature, that he may be a Prince and a
Savior (Acts 5:31), that he may be able to recover from
death and grant judgment to all ^hom he purchased with
his own precious blood. God has committed all judgment
unto the Son, and has given him all power in heaven and
in earth. John 5 : 22
It is, then, the highly exalted, glorified Christ, who so
loved the world as to give his life as its ransom-price, who
is to be the Judge of the world in its promised future trial.
And it is Jehovah himself who has appointed him to that
office, for that very purpose. Since such are the plain dec-
larations of the Scriptures, there is nothing to dread, but on
the contrary there is great cause for rejoicing on the part
of all, in looking forward to the Judgment Day. The char-
acter of the Judge is a sufficient guarantee that the judgment
will be just and merciful, and with due consideration for the
infirmities of all, until the willing and obedient axe brought
back to the original perfection lost in Eden,
A judge, ia ancient times, was one who executed justice
and relieved the oppressed. Note, for instance, how, when
under oppression by their enemies because of transgression
against the Lord, Israel was time and a^uiu released and
blessed by the raising up of judges. Tims we read, "When
the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised up a
deliverer > . Othmel. And the spirit of Jehovah came upon
him, and he judged Israel, and wentoutto war, and prevailed,
and the land had rest forty years.' 1 (Judges 3 :p-i r.) So,
though the world has long been under the power and oppres-
sion of the adversary, Satan, yet shortly he who paid for
the sins of all with his own precious blood will take his
Day of Judgment* 343
great power and reign. He will deliver and judge those
whom he so loved as to redeem.
With this conclusion #//the prophetic declarations agree.
It is written: "With righteousness shall he judge the
world, and the people with equity." Psa. 98 : 9.
This coming judgment will be on exactly the same prin-
ciples as the first. The same law of obedience will be pre-
sented, with the same reward of life, and the same penalty
of death* And as the first trial had a beginning, progressed,
and culminated with a sentence, so also will the second ;
and the sentence will be life to the righteous, and death to
the unrighteous. The second trial will be more favorable
than the first, because of the experience gained under the
results of the first trial. Unlike the first trial, the second
trial will be one in which every man will stand the test
for himself alone, and not for another. None will then
die because of Adam's sin, or because of inherited imper-
fections. It shall no more be said, " The fathers have eat-
en a sour grape and the children's teeth are set on edge ;
but he that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on
edge." " The soul that sinneth, it shall die. 1 ' (Ezek. 18 :
4 5 Jer. 31 : 29, 30.) And it will be true of the world then,
as it is of the Church now, that a man will not be judged
according to that which he hath not, but according to that
which he hath. (2 Cor. 8:12.) Under the reign of Christ,
mankind will be gradually educated, trained and disciplined
until they reach perfection. And when they have reached
perfection, perfect harmony with God will be required, and
any who then fall short of perfect obedience will be cut off,
being judged unworthy of life. The sin which brought
death to the race through Adam was simply one disobedient
act ; but by that act he fell from his perfection. God had a
right to demand perfect obedience of him, since he was
created perfect ; and be will demand the same of all men
144 P* 16 & an f ^ i
when the great work of restoring them is complete* None
will be permitted to have everlasting life who then in the
slightest degree fall short of perfection. To fall short of
perfedion, then, will be to sin wilfully against full light
and perfect ability.
Any who sin wilfully, against full light and ability, will
perish m the second death. And should any one, during
that age of trial, under its full blaze of light, spurn the offered
favors,and make no progress toward perfection for a hundred
years, he will be reckoned unworthy of life and will be " cut
off," though at a hundred years he would be in the period
of comparative childhood. Thus it is written of that day:
" As a lad shall one die a hundred years old ; and as a sinner
shall be accursed he who dieth at a hundred years old."
(Isa. 65 :so Leeser.} Thus all must have at least one hun-
dred years of trial ; and, if not so obstinate as to refuse to
make progress, their trial will continue throughout the en-
tire day of Christ, reaching a culmination only at its close.
The conclusion of the world's coming judgment is clearly
shown in the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matt.
25:31-46), in Rev. 20:15; 21:8 and in i Cor. 15:25. These
and other scriptures show that at its close the two classes
will have been completely separated the obedient and the
disobedient ; those in harmony with the letter and the spirit
of God's law, and those out of harmony with it. They enter
into everlasting life, and the others are remanded to death,
extinction ("second death"), the same sentence as in the
first judgment, from which they had been reckonedly released
by Christ who secured the right to release them by the pay-
ment of their ransom by his death. This will be their
second death. No ransom will be given for them, and
there will be no release or resurrection for them, their
sin being a wilful, individual sin against full light and op*
jportunily, under a most favorable, individual trial
JDay of Judgment* 4$
We do'not wish to be understood as ignoring the present
responsibility of the world, which every man has, accord-
ing to the measure of light enjoyed, whether it be much or
little, whether it be the light of nature or of revelation.
" The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the
evil and the good/' and " God shall bring every work into
judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or
whether it be evil." (Prov.i5 : 3; Eccl. 12: 14.) The good
and the evil deeds of the present time will receive kjust
irecompense of reward either now or hereafter. "Some
imen's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment,
and some they follow after/' (r Tim, 5 : 24.) No others
than the Lord's favored " little flock" have as yet sufficient
light to incur the final penalty, the second death. We here
merely broach the subjedl of the world's present accounta-
bility, leaving the particulars for subsequent consideration.
A period of about six thousand years intervenes between
the world's first and second judgment days, and during this
long period God has been sele&ing two special classes from
among men, and specially trying, disciplining and training
them to be his honored instruments during the period or
,day of the world's judgment
These two classes are rcspedlively designated by Paul
(Heb. 3 : S 6) as the house of sons and the house of serv-
ants, the former being composed of those overcomers tried
and found faithful during the Christian dispensation, and
the latter being composed of the faithful overcomers who
preceded the Christian dispensation. The two periods dur-
ing which these two distin& companies were being called,
tried and sele&ed were two distinct judgment days \ not for
the world, but for these two special classes. Those who
successfully pass the trial for either of these special classes
will not come into judgment with the world, but will enter
upon their reward when the world is coming into judgment
10-A
24<5 The Plan of the Ages.
They will be God's agents in the blessing of the world-
in giving to men the instruction and training necessary for
their final testing and judgment, " Do ye not know that
the saints shall judge the world ? " i Cor. 6 : 2.
These previously Judged classes, like the rest of mankind,
were once under the Adamic condemnation, but became
sharers by faith in the benefits of Christ's death. After be-
ing first justified by faith in the ransom, and having then
fulfilled the subsequent conditions of their respective call-
ings, they ar -accounted worthy of high exaltation to sta-
tions of honor and authority.
The trial or judgment of both these classes has been
much more severe than the trial of the world will be in its
judgment day ; because these have had to withstand Satan,
the prince of this world, with all his wiles and ensnarements,
while in the world's judgment day Christ will be reigning,
and Satan will be bound, that he may not deceive the na-
tions. (Rev. 20 : 3.) These have suffered persecution for
righteousness' sake, while then men will be rewarded for
righteousness, and punished only for unrighteousness. These
have had great stumbling blocks and snares in the way,
which will be removed when the world is placed on trial.
But though the trial of these two special companies has been
much more severe than the trial of the world will be, the
rewards are correspondingly greater.
Under the sophistries of the great deceiver, Satan, both
the world and the Church nominal have been robbed of the
blessed assurances of the coming time of righteous judg-
ment. They know that the Bible tells of a coming judgment
day, but they regard it with only fear and dread ; and be-
cause of this fear, there is to them no more unwelcome ti-
tings than that the day of the Lord is at hand. They put
it far away from them, and do not wish to hear it even men-
tioned. They have no idea of the blessings in store for tke
world under that glorious reign of him whom God hath ap-
pointed to judge the world in righteousness. Among the
greatest of the blinding influences which Satan has devised
to keep men in ignorance of the truth regarding the judg-
ment day have been the errors which have crept into the
creeds and hymn books of the various religious ses. Many
have come to esteem these errors as of paramount impor-
tance to the Word of God.
How differently did the prophets and apostles regard that
promised day of judgment ! Note the exultant prophetic
utterance of David (i Chron. 16 : 31-34). He says :
" Let the heavens be glad,
And let the earth rejoice;
And let men say among the nations, Jehovah reSgneth,
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof;
Let the fields rejoice, and all that are therein.
Then shall the trees of the wood sing aloud
At the presence of Jehovah,
BECAUSE HE COMETH
TO JUDGE THE EARTH.
give thanks unto Jehovah, for he is good;
For his mercy endureth forever."
To the same day the Apostle also points, assuring us that
it will be a glorious and desirable day, and that for it the
whole creation is groaning and travailing in pain together-
waiting for the great Judge to deliver and to bless the world,
as well as to exalt and glorify the Church. Rom 8: 21, 22.
In John 5:28, 29 a precious promise for the world of a
coming judgment-trial for life everlasting is, by a mistrans-
lation, turned into a fearful imprecation. According to
the Greek, they that have done evil that have failed of
divine approval will come forth unto resurrection [raising
up to perfection] by judgments, "stripes," disciplines.^-
See the Revised Version.
Pie* ej tkt j
AFTERWARD.
* God's ways are equal ; storm or caiffi,
Seasons of peril and of rest,
Ta< hurting dart, the healing balm,
Aie all apportioned as is best
In judgments oft misunderstood,
In ways mysterious and obscure,
He brings from evil lasting good,
And makes the final gladness sure.
"While Justice takes its course with strength,
Love bids our faith and hope increase .
He'll give the chastened world at length
His. afterward of peace,
"When the dread forces of the gale
His sterner purposes perform,
And human skill can naught avail
Against the fury of the storm,
Let loving hearts tiust in him still,
Through all the dark and devious way;
For who would thwart his blessed will,
Which leads through night to joyous day?
Be still beneath his tender care ;
For he will make the tempest cease,
And bring from out the anguish here
An afterward of peace.
"Look up, -Earth ; no storm can last
Beyond the limits God hath set.
When its appointed work is past,
In joy thou shalt thy grief forget.
Where sorrow's plowshare hath swept throogt,
Thy fairest flowers of life shall spring,
For God shall grant thee life anew,
And all thy wastes shall laugh and sing.
Hope thou in him; his plan for thee
Shall end in triumph and release.
Fear not, for thou shalt surely see
His afterward of ceace."
STUDY IX.
RANSOM AND RESTITUTION.
THE RESTITUTION GUARANTEED BY THE RANSOM. NOT EVERLASTING LIFE,
BUT A TRIAL FOR IT, SECURED BY THE RANSOM.- THB CONDITIONS AND AD-
VANTAGES OF THE TRIAL CHRIST'S SACRIFICE NECESSARY. How THE RACB
COULD BE AND WAS REDEEMED BY THE DEATH OP ONE FAITH AND WORKS
STILL NECESSARY THE WAGES OF WILFUL SIN CERTAIN WILL THERE BB
ROOM ON THE EARTH FOR THE RESURRECTED MILLIONS? RESTITUTION VER-
SUS EVOLUTION.
the outline of God's revealed plan, as thus far
sketched, it is evident that his design for mankind is a
restitution or restoration to the perfection and glory lost in
Eden. The strongest, and the conclusive, evidence on this
subject is most clearly seen when the extent and nature of
the ransom are fully appreciated. The restitution foretold
by the apostles and prophets must follow the ransom as the
just and logical sequence. According to God's arrangement
in providing a ransom, all mankind, unless they wilfully
resist the saving power of the Great Deliverer, must be
delivered from the original penalty, " the bondage of cor-
ruption," death, else the ransom does not avail for all.
Paul's reasoning on the subje6l is most clear and em-
phatic. He says (Rom. 14:9)," For to this end Christ died
and lived again, that he might be Lord [ruler, controller]
of both the dead and the living. ' ' That is to say, the objedl of
our Lord's death and resurredlion was not merely to bless and
rule over and restore the living of mankind, but to give him
authority over, or full control oi, the dead as well as the
living, insuring the benefits of hi*J ransom as much to the
S Tht jFian of tn
one as to the other,* He "gave himself a ransom [a cor-
responding price] for all," in order that he might bless aU,
and give to every man an individual trial for life. To claim
that he gave "ransom for all" and yet to claim that only
a mere handful of the ransomed ones will ever receive any
benefit from it, is absurd; for it would imply either that
God accepted the ransom-price and then unjustly refused to
grant the release of the redeemed, or else that the Lord,
after redeeming all, was either unable or unwilling to carry
out the original benevolent design. The unchangeableness
of the divine plans, no less than the perfection of the divine
justice and love, repels and contradicts such a thought, and
gives us assurance that the original and benevolent plan, of
which the "ransom for all" was the basis, will be fully carried
out in God's "due time," and will bring to faithful be-
lievers the blessing of release from the Adamic condemna-
tion and an opportunity to return to the rights and liberties
of sons of God, as enjoyed before sin and the curse.
Let the actual benefits and results of the ransom be clearly
seen, and all objections to its being of universal application
must vanish. The "ransom for all" given by "the man
Christ Jesus" does not give or guarantee everlasting life or
blessing to any man ; but it does guarantee to every man an-
other opportunity or trial for life everlasting. The first trial
of man, which resulted in the loss of the blessings at first con-
ferred, is really turned into a blessing of experience to the loyal-
hearted, by reason of the ransom which God has provided.
But the fa<ll that men are ransomed from the first penalty
does not guarantee that they may not, when individually
tried for everlasting life, fail to render the obedience
without which none will be permitted to live everlast-
ingly. Man, by reason of present experience with sin
and its bitter penalty, will be fully forewarned; and
when, as a result of the ransom, he is granted another,
* While ire still maintain the truth of tiie statement herein made,
that our Lord's death constituted him the Lord, Master or ruler of the
entire human family, we now recognize a still broader meaning in the
Apostle's words ; namely, that the entire human family was included in
the expression " the dead ," From God's standp< >int the entire race, un
der sentence of death, is treated as though already dead (Mutt Si 22) ;
tence the expression "the living" would apply beyond the .human
family to some whose lives had not been forfeited the Angels.
Ransom and Restitution. 151
an individual trial, tinder the eye and control of him who
so loved him as to give his life for him, and who would not
that any should perish, but that all should turn to God and
live, we may be sure that only the wilfully disobedient will
receive the penalty of the second trial. That penalty will
be the second death, from which there will be no ransom,
no release, because there would be no objedl for another ran-
som or a further trial. All will have fully seen and tasted
both good and evil ; all will have witnessed and experienced
the goodness and love of God-; all will have hdd a full, fair,
individual trial for life, under most favorable conditions.
More could not be asked, and more will not be given.
That trial will decide forever who would be righteous and
holy under a thousand trials ; and it will determine also
who would be unjust, and unholy and filthy still, under a
thousand trials.
It would be useless to grant another trial for life under
exactly the same circumstances ; but though the circum-
stances of the tried ones will be different, more favorable,
the terms or conditions of their individual trial for life will be
the same as in the Adamic trial. The law of God will remain
the same it changes not. It will still say, " The soul that
sinneth, it shall die ;" and the condition of man will be no
more favorable, so far as surroundings are concerned, than
the conditions and surroundings in Eden ; but the great
difference will be the increased knowledge. The experience
with evil, contrasted with the experience with good, which
will accrue to each during the trial of the coming age, will
constitute the advantage by reason of which the results of
the second trial will differ so widely from the results of the
first, and on account of which divine Wisdom and Love
provided the " ransom for all, 7 ' and thus guaranteed to all
the blessing of a new trial. No more favorable trial, no
mord favorable law, no more favorable conditions or cir-
cumstances, can in any way be conceived of as reasons for
another ransom or a further trial for any beyond the Mil-
lennial age.
The ransom given does not excuse sin in any; it does not
propose to count sinners as saints, and usher them thus into
everlasting bliss. It merely releases the accepting sinner
from the first condemnation and its results, both diredl and
indirect, and places him again on trial for life, in which trial
his own wilful obedience or wilful disobedience will decide
whether he may or may not have life everlasting.
Nor should it be assumed, as so many seem disposed to as-
sume, that all those who live in a state of civilization, and
see or possess a Bible, have thus a full opportunity or trial for
life. It must be remembered that the fall has not injured
all of Adam's children alike. Some have come into the
world so weak and depraved as to be easily blinded by the
god of this world, Satan, and led captive by besetting and
surrounding sin ; and all are more or less under this influ-
ence, so that, even when they would do good, evil is pres-
ent and more powerful through surroundings, etc., and the
good which they would do is almost impossible, while the
evil which they would not do is almost unavoidable.
Small indeed is the number of those who in the present
time truly and experimentally learn of the liberty where-
with Christ makes free those who accept of his ransom, and
put themselves under his control for future guidance. Yet
only these few, the Church, called out and tried beforehand
for the special purpose of being co-workers with God in
blessing the world witnessing now, and ruling, blessing
and judging the world in its age of trial yet enjoy to any
extent the benefits of the ransom, or are now on trial foi
life. These few have reckoned to them (and they receive
tyfaftX) all the blessings of restitution which will be pro-
vided for the world during the coming age. These, though
Ransom and Restitution. ^ 153
not perfect, not restored to Adam's condition actually, are
treated in such a manner as to compensate for the differ-
ence. Through faith in Christ they are reckoned perfect,
and hence are restored to perfection and to divine favor, as
though no longer sinners. Their imperfections and una-
voidable weaknesses, being offset by the ransom, are not
imputed to them, but are covered by the Redeemer's perfec-
tion. Hence the Church's trial, because of her reckoned
standing in Christ, is as fair as that which the world will have
in its time of trial. The world will all be brought to a full
knowledge of the truth, and each one, as he accepts of its
provisions and conditions, will be treated no longer as a
sinner, but as a son, for whom all the blessings of restitu-
tion are intended.
One difference between the experiences of the world
under trial and the experiences of the Church during her
trial will be that the obedient of the world will begin at
once to receive the blessings of restitution by a gradual re-
moval of their weaknesses mental and physical; whereas
the Gospel Church, consecrated to the Lord's service even
unto death, goes down into death and gets her perfection
instantaneously in the first resurrection. Another differ-
ence between the two trials is in the more favorable sur-
roundings of the next age as compared with this, in that
then society, government, etc., will be favorable to right-
eousness, rewarding faith and obedience, and punishing sin ;
whereas now, under the prince of this world, the Church's
trial is under circumstances unfavorable to righteousness,
faith, etc. But this, we have seen, is to be compensated
for in the prize of the glory and honor of the divine nature
offered to the Church, in addition to the gift of everlast-
ing life.
Adam's death was sure, though it was reached by nine
hundred and thirty years of dyin^. Sinc he was himself
154 The Plan cf the Ages.
dying, all his children were born in the same dying cond'-
tion and without right to life ; and, like their parents, they
all die after a more or less lingering process. It should be
remembered, however, that it is not the pain and suffering
in dying, but death the extin<5tion of life in which the
dying culminates, that is the penalty of sin. The suffering
is only incidental to it, and the penalty falls on many with
but little or no suffering. It should further be remembered
that when Adam forfeited life, he forfeited it forever ; and
not one of his posterity has ever been able to expiate his
guilt or to regain the lost inheritance. All the race are
either dead or 'dying. And if they could not expiate their
guilt before death, they certainly could not do it when dead
when not in existence. The penalty of sin was not simply
to die, with the privilege and right thereafter of returning to
life. In the penalty pronounced there was no intimation
of release. (Gen. 2: 17.) The restitution, therefore, is an
a& of free grace or favor on God's part. And as soon as
the penalty had been incurred, even while it was being pro-
nounced, the free favor of God was intimated, which, when
realized, will so fully declare his love.
Had it not been for the gleam of hope, afforded by the state-
ment that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's
head, the race would have been in utter despair ; but this
promise indicated that God had some plan for their benefit.
When to Abraham God sware that in his seed all the fami-
lies of the earth should be blessed, it implied a resurreftion
or restitution of all ; for many were then dead, and others
have since died, unblessed. Nevertheless, the promise is
still sure : all shall be blessed when the times of restitution
or refreshing shall come. (A<5ls3:i9.) Moreover, since
blessing indicates favor, and since God's favor was with-
drawn and his curse came instead because of sin, this prom-
ise of a future blessing implied the removal of the curse,
Ransom and Restitution. 155
and consequently a return of his favor. It also implied
either that God would relent, change his decree and clear
the guilty race, or else that he had some plan by which it
could be redeemed, by having man's penalty paid by another.
God did not leave Abraham in doubt as to which was
his plan, but showed, by various typical sacrifices which all
who approached him had to bring, that he could not and
did not relent, nor excuse the sin ; and that the only way
to blot it out and abolish its penalty would be by a suffici-
ency of sacrifice to meet that penalty. This was shown to
Abraham in a very significant type: Abraham's son, in
whom the promised blessing centered, had first to be a sac-
rifice before he could bless, and Abraham received him from
the dead in a figure. (Heb. 11:19.) I* 1 that figure Isaac
typified the true seed, Christ Jesus, who died to redeem
men, in order that the redeemed might all receive the prom-
ised blessing. Had Abraham thought that the Lord would
excuse arid clear the guilty, he would have felt that God
was changeable, and therefore could not have had full con-
fidence in the promise made to him. He might have rea-
soned, If God has changed his mind once, why may he not
change it again? If he relents concerning the curse of
death, may he not again relent concerning the promised
favor and blessing? But God leaves us in no such uncer-
tainty. He gives us ample assurance of both his justice and
his unchangeableness. He could not clear the guilty, even
though he loved them so much that "he spared not his
own Son, but delivered him up [to death] for us all."
As the entire race was in Adam when he was condemned,
and lost life through him, so when Adam's life was redeemed
by the man Christ Jesus, a possible race in his loins died
also, and a full satisfaction, or corresponding price, was
rendered to justice for all men ; and he who thus bought all
has full authority to restore all who come unto God by him.
156 The Plan of the Ages.
"As by the offence of one, judgment came upon alt men
to condemnation, even so by righteousness of one, the free
gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as
by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by
the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. "
(Rom. 5 : 18, 19.) The proposition is a plain one : As many
as have shared death on account of Adam's sin will have
life-privileges offered to them by our Lord Jesus, who paid
their penalty to Justice, who became Adam's substitute
before the broken law, and thus "gave himself a ransom
for all. " He died, " the just for the unjust, that he might
bring us to God." (i Peter 3: 18,) It should never be
overlooked, however, that all of God's provisions for our
race recognize the human will as a factor in the securing of
the divine favors so abundantly provided. Some have over-
looked this feature in examining the text just quoted Rom.
5:18, 19. The Apostle's statement, however, is that, as
the sentence of condemnation extended to all the seed
of Adam, even so, through the obedience of our Lord
Jesus Christ to the Father's plan, by the sacrifice of him-
self on our behalf, a free gift is extended to all a gift of
forgiveness, which, if accepted, will constitute a justifica-
tion or basis for life everlasting. And "as by one man's
disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience
of one many shall be [not were\ made righteous. ' ' If the
ransom alone, without our acceptance of it, made us right-
eous, then it would have read, by the obedience of one many
were made righteous. But though the ransom has been given
by the Redeemer and has been accepted by Jehovah, only
a few during the Gospel age have been, though many dur-
ing the Millennial age will be, made righteous justified
" through faith in his blood." Since Christ is the propitia-
tion (satisfaction) for the sins of the whole world, all men
may on this account be absolved and released from the
Ransom and Restitution. 157
penalty of Adam's sin by him, under the New Covenant.
There is no unrighteousness with God; hence "If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (i John 1:9.)
As he would have been unjust to have allowed us to escape the
pronounced penalty before satisfaction was rendered, so also
he here gives us to understand that it would be unjust were
he to forbid our restitution, since by his own arrangement
our penalty has been paid for us. The same unswerving jus-
tice that once condemned man to death now stands pledged
for the release of all who, confessing their sins, apply for
life through Christ. "It is God that justifieth who is he
that condemneth? It is Christ that died; yea, rather, that is
risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who
also maketh intercession for us," Rom, 8:33, 34.
The completeness of the ransom is the very strongest
possible argument for the restitution of all mankind who
will accept it on the proffered terms. (Rev, 22: 17.) The
very character of God for justice and honor stands pledged
to it; every promise which he has made implies it; and
every typical sacrifice pointed to the great and sufficient
sacrifice "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the SIN
OF THE WORLD" who is "the propitiation [satisfaction]
for our sins [the Church's], and not for ours only, but
also for the sins of the whole world." (John 1:29; i John
2:2.) Since death is the penalty or wages of sin, when the
sin is canceled the wages must in due time cease. Any
other view would be both unreasonable and unjust The
fact that no recovery from the Adamic loss is yet accom-
plished, though nearly two thousand years have elapsed since
our Lord died, is no more an argument against restitution
than is the fact that four thousand years elapsed before his
death a proof that God had not planned the redemption be-
fore the foundation of the world. Both the two thousand
156 'j
years since and the four thousand years before the death of
Christ were appointed times for other parts of the work,
preparatory to "the times of restitution of all things."
Let no one hastily suppose that there is in this view any-
thing in conflict with the teaching of the Scriptures that
faith toward God, repentance for sin and reformation of
character are indispensable to salvation. This feature will
be treated more at length hereafter, but we now suggest that
only the few have ever had a sufficiency of light to produce
full faith, repentance and reformation. Some have been
blinded in part, and some completely, by the god of this
world, and they must be recovered from blindness as well
as from death, that they, each for himself , may have a full
chance to prove, by obedience or disobedience, their worthi-
ness or unworthiness of life everlasting. Then those who
prove themselves unworthy of life will die again the second
death from which there will be no redemption, and con-
sequently no resurrection. The death which comes on ac-
count of Adam's sin, and all the imperfections which fol-
low in its wake, will be removed because of the redemption
which is in Christ Jesus ; but the death which comes as a
result of individual, wilful apostasy is final. This sin hath
never forgiveness, and ils penalty, the second death, will
be everlasting not everlasting dying, but everlasting death
a death unbroken by a resurrection.
The philosophy of the plan of redemption will be treated
in a succeeding volume. Here we merely establish the
fact that the redemption through Christ Jesus is to be as
far-reaching in its blessed results and opportunities as was
the sin of Adam in its blight and ruin that all who were
condemned and who suffered on account of the ore may
as surely, "in due time,'* be set free from all those ills on
account of the other, However, none can appreciate this
Scriptural argument who do not admit the Scriptural state*
Ransom and Restitution. 1.59
ment that death extinction of being is the wages of sin.
Those who think of death as life in torment not only dis-
regard the meaning of the words death and life, which are
opposites, but involve themselves in two absurdities. It is
absurd to suppose that God would perpetuate Adam's ex-
istence forever in torment for any kind of a sin which he
could commit, but especially for the comparatively small
offence of eating forbidden fruit. Then, again, if our
Lord Jesus redeemed mankind, died in our stead, became
our ransom, went into death that we might be set free from
it, is it not evident that the death which he suffered for the
unjust was of exactly the same kind as that to which all
mankind were condemned ? Is he, then, suffering eternal
torture for our sins ? If not, then so surely as he died for
our sins, the punishment for cur sins was death, and not life
in any sense or condition.
But, strange to say, finding that the theory of eternal tor-
ture is inconsistent with the statements that "the Lord hath
laid upon him the iniquity of us all," and that Christ "died
for our sins," and seeing that one or the other must be
dropped as inconsistent, some are so wedded to the idea of
eternal torture, and so prize it as a sweet morsel, that they
hold to it regardless of the Scriptures, and deliberately deny
that Jesus paid the world's ransom price, though this truth
is taught on every leaf of the Bible.
IS RESTITUTION PRACTICABLE?
Some have supposed that if tne biuious of the dead were
resurrected, there would not be room for them on the earth ;
and that if there should be room for them, the earth would
uot be capable of sustaining so large a population. It is
even claimed by some that the earth is one vast graveyard,
and that if all the dead were awakened they would trample
one upon another for want of room*
i6o The Plan of the Ages.
This is an important point. How strange it would be If
we should find that while the Bible declares a resurre&ion
for all men, yet, by a6lual measurement, they could not find
a footing on the earth I Now let us see: figure it out and
you will find this an unfounded fear. You will find that
there is an abundance of room for the *' restitution of all,"
as "God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets."
Let us assume that it is six thousand years since the crea-
tion of man, and that there are fourteen hundred mill-
ions of people now living on the earth* Our race began
with one pair, but let us make a very liberal estimate and
suppose that there were as many at the beginning as there
are now; and, further, that there never were fewer than
that number at any time, though actually the flood reduced
the population to eight persons. Again, let us be liberal,
and estimate three generations to a century, or thirty-
three years to a generation, though, according to Gen. 5,
there were but eleven generations from Adam to the flood,
a period of one thousand six hundred and fifty-six years,
or about one hundred and fifty years to each generation.
Now let us see: six thousand years are sixty centuries;
three generations to each century would give us one hun-
dred and eighty generations since Adam; and fourteen
hundred millions to a generation would give two hundred
and fifty-two billions (252,000,000,000) as the total num-
ber of our race from creation to the present time, accord-
ing to this liberal estimate, which is probably more than
twice the a&ual number.
Where shall we find room enough for this great multi-
tude? Let us measure the land, andsre* The State -of
Texas, United States, contains two hundred and thirty-seven
thousand square miles. There are twenty-seven million eight
hundred and seventy-eight thousand four hundred squar*
feat in a mile, and, therefore, six trillion six hundred and
Ransom and Restitution. 161
seven billion one hundred and eighty million eight hun-
dred thousand (6,607,180,800,000) square feet in Texas.
Allowing ten square feet as the surface covered by each dead
body, we find that Texas, as a cemetery, would at this rate
hold six hundred and sixty billion seven hundred and eigh-
teen million and eighty thousand (660,718,080,000) bodies,
or nearly three times as many as our exaggerated estimate
of the numbers of our race who have lived on the earth.
A person standing occupies about one and two-thirds
square feet of space. At this rate the present population
of the earth (one billion four hundred million persons) could
stand on an area of eighty-six square miles an area much
less than that of the city of London or of Philadelphia.
And the island of Ireland (area, thirty-two thousand square
miles) would furnish standing-room for more than twice
the number of people who have ever lived on the earth,
even at our exaggerated estimate.
There is not much difficulty, then, in settling this objec-
tion. And when we call to mind the prophecy of Isaiah
(35 1 1-6), that the earth shall yield her increase; that the
desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose ; that in the
wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert,
we see that God indicates that he has foreseen all the neces-
sities of his plan, and will make ample provision for the needs
of his creatures in what will seem a very natural way-
RESTITUTION VERSUS EVOLUTION.
It may be objected by some that the testimony of the
Scriptures concerning human restitution to a former estate
is out of harmony with the teachings of science and
philosophy, which, with apparent reason, point us to the
superior intelligence of this nineteenth century, and claim
this as conclusive evidence that primeval man must have
been, in comparison, very lacking in intelligence, which
11-A
16$ The Plan of the Ages*
they claim is the result of development. From this stand-
point, a restitution to a former estate would be far from
desirable, and certainly the reverse of a blessing.
At first sight such reasoning appears plausible, and many
seem inclined to accept it as truth without careful examina-
tion, saying, with a celebrated Brooklyn preacher, If Adam
fell at all his fall was upward, and the more and faster we
fall from his original state the better for us and for all con-
cerned.
Thus philosophy, even in the pulpit, would make the
Word of God of no effect, and if possible convince us
that the apostles were fools when they declared that death
and every trouble came by the first man's disobedience,
and that these could be removed and man restored to di-
vine favor and life only by means of a ransom. (Rom. 5 :
10, 12, 17-19, 21 ; 8: 19-22; A&S3: 19-21; Rev. 21:3-5.)
But let us not hastily conclude that this philosophy is im-
pregnable; for should we be obliged to discard the doctrines
of the apostles relative to the origin of sin and death, and
of restitution to an original perfection, we should, in hon-
esty, be obliged to reject their testimony entirely and on
every subject, as uninspired and consequently without spe-
cial weight or authority. Let us, then, in the light of facts,
briefly examine this growingly popular view and see how
deep is its philosophy.
Says an advocate and representative of this theory :
"Man was first in a stage of existence in which his animal
nature predominated, and the almost purely physical ruled
him; then he slowly grew from one state to another until
now, when the average man has attained to a condition in
which, it might be said, he is coming under the rule of the
brain. Hence this age may be regarded and designated as
the Brain Age. Brain pushes the great enterprises of Ufee
day. Brain takes the reins of government ; and the le-
meate of the earth, air and water are being brought tinder
Ransom and Institution. 163
subjection. Man is putting his hand on all physical forces,
and slowly but surely attaining such power over the domain
of nature as gives evidence that ultimately he may exclaim,
in the language of Alexander Selkirk, * I am monarch of
all I survey. '"
The faci that at first glance a theory appears reasonable
should not lead us hastily to accept it, and to attempt to twist
the Bible into harmony with it. In a thousand ways we
have proved the Bible, and know beyond peradventure that
it contains a superhuman wisdom which makes its statements
unerring. We should remember, too, that while scientific
research is to be commended, and its suggestions consid-
ered, yet its conclusions are by no means infallible. And
what wonder that it has proven its own theories false a thou-
sand times, when we remember that the true scientist is
merely a student attempting, under many unfavorable cir-
cumstances, and struggling against almost insurmountable
difficulties, to learn from the great Book of Nature the his-
tory and destiny of man and his home.
We would not, then, either oppose or hinder scientific
investigation ; but in hearing suggestions from students of
the Book of Nature, let us carefully compare their deduc-
tions, which have so often proved in part or wholly erro-
neous, with the Book of Divine Revelation, and prove or
disprove the teachings of scientists by " the law and the
testimony. If they speak not according to this word, it is
because there is no light in them." (Isa. 8 : 20.) An accu-
rate knowledge of both books will prove them to be harmo-
nious ; but until we have such knowledge, God's Revelation
must take precedence, and must be the standard among the
children of God, by which the supposed findings of fallible
fellow-men shall be judged.
But while holding to this principle, let us see whether
there is not some other reasonable solution of the increased
164
knowledge and skill and power of man than the theory of
Evolution that though originally developed from a very
low order of being, man has now reached the superior or
" Brain Age." Perhaps after all we shall find that the in-
ventions and conveniences, the general education and wider
diffusion and increase of knowledge, are not attributable to a
greater brain capacity, but to more favorable circumstances
for the use of brains. That the brain capacity to-day is
greater than in by-gone ages, we deny ; while we freely admit
that, owing to advantageous circumstances, the use of what
brain capacity men hav" to-day is more general than at any
former period, and hence makes a much larger showing.
In the study of painting and sculpture, do not the students
of this " Brain Age " go back to the great masters of the
past ? Do they not by so doing acknowledge a brain power
and originality of design as well as a skill of workman-
ship worthy of imitation? Does not the present "Brain
Age" draw largely upon the original designs of the past
ages for its architecture ? Do not the orators and logicians
of this " Brain Age " study and copy the methods and syl-
logysms of Plato, Aristotle, Demosthenes and others of the
past? Might not many of the public speakers of to-day
well covet the tongue of a Demosthenes or an Apollo, and
much more the clear reasoning power of the Apostle Paul?
To go still further back : while we might well refer to the
rhetorical powers of several of the prophets, and to the sub-
lime poetic paintings interspersed throughout the Psalms,
we refer these "Brain Age" philosophers to the wisdom
and logic, no less than to the fine moral sensibilities, of Job
and his comforters. And what shall we say of Moses,
" learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians?" The laws
given through him have been the foundation for the laws
of all civilized nations, and are still recognized as the em*
bodinaent of marvelous wisdom*
Ransom and Restitution. 165
The exhuming of ancient buried cities reveals a knowledge
of the arts and sciences in ages past which is surprising
some of the philosophers of this so-called "Brain Age." The
ancient methods of embalming the dead, of tempering cop-
per, of making elastic glass and Damascus steel, are among
the achievements of the remote past which the brain of the
present age, with all its advantages, is unable either to com-
prehend or to duplicate.
Going back four thousand years to about Abraham's time,
we find the Great Pyramid of Egypt an object of wonder
and amazement to the most learned scientists of to-day.
Its construction is in exact accord with the most advanced
attainments of this " Brain Age " in the sciences of Mathe-
matics and Astronomy. It teaches, positively, truths which
can to-day be only approximated by the use of modern
instruments. So striking and clear are its teachings that
some of the foremost astronomers of the world have unhesi-
tatingly pronounced it to be of divine origin. And even
if our " Brain Age M evolutionists should admit that it is of
divine arrangement, and that its wisdom is superhuman, they
must still admit that it is of human construction. And the
fact that in that remote day any set of men had the men-
tal capacity to work out such a divine arrangement as very
few men to-day would be capable of doing with a model
before them, and with all modern scientific appliances at
hand, proves that our " Brain Age" develops more self-
conceit than circumstances and facts warrant.
If, then, we have proven that the mental capacity of to-
day is not greater than that of past ages, but probably less,
how shall we account for the increase of general knowledge,
modern inventions, etc. ? We trust we shall be able to show
this reasonably and in harmony with Scripture. The inven-
tions and discoveries which are now proving so valuable,
and which are, considered proof that this is the "Brain
166 The Plan of the Ages.
Age," are really very modern nearly all having eome with-
in the past century, and among the most important are
those of the last threescore years \ for instance, the applica-
tion of steam and electricity in telegraphy, railroading and
steamboating, and to the machinery of the various me-
chanical industries. If, then, these be evidences of in-
creased brain power, the "Brain Age" must be only be-
ginning, and the logical deduction is that another century
will witness every form of miracle as an every-day occur-
rence; and at the same ratio of increase, where would it
eventuate ?
But let us look again : Are all men inventors ? How very
few there are whose inventions are really useful and prac-
tical, compared with the number who appreciate and use an
invention when put into their hand ! Nor do we speak
disparagingly of that very useful and highly-esteemed class
of public servants when we say that the smaller number of
them are men of great brain-power. Some of the most brainy
men in the world, and the deepest rcasoners, are not me-
chanical inventors. And some inventors are intellectually
so sluggish that all wonder how they ever stumbled into
the discoveries they made. The great principles (eleclric-
ity, steam power, ^tc.), which many men in many years
work out, apply and improve upon, time and again, were
generally discovered apparently by the merest accident, with-
out the exercise of great brain power, and comparatively
unsought.
From a human standpoint we can account for modern
inventions thus: The invention of printing, in A. D. 1440,
may be considered the starting point. With the printing
of books came records of the thoughts and discoveries of
thinkers and observers, which, without this invention,
would never have been known to their successors. With
books came a more general eduction and, finally, common
Ransom and Restitution. 167
schools. Schools and colleges do not increase human capac-
ity, but they do make mental exercise more general, and
hence help to develop the capacity already possessed. As
knowledge becomes more general and books more common,
the generations possessing these have a decided advantage
over previous generations ; not only in that there are now
a thousand thinkers to one formerly, to sharpen and stim-
ulate each other with suggestions, but also in that each of
the later generations has, through books, the combined ex-
perience of the past in addition to its own. Education and
the laudable ambition which accompanies it, enterprise, and
a desire to achieve distinction and a competency, aided by
the record and descriptions of inventions in the daily press,
have stimulated and brightened man's perceptive powers,
and put each upon the alert to discover or to invent, if pos-
sible, something for the good and convenience of society.
Hence we suggest that modern invention, looked at from a
purely human standpoint, teaches, not an increase of brain
capacity, but a sharpened perception from natural causes.
And now we come to the Scriptures to see what they
teach on the subjedl; for while we believe, as suggested
above, that invention and the increase of knowledge, etc.,
among men are the results of natural causes, yet we believe
that these natural causes were all pknned and ordered by
Jehovah God long ago, and that in due time they have come
to pass by his overruling providence, whereby he "work-
eth all things after the counsel of his own will." (Eph,
i : n.) According to the plan revealed in his Word, God
purposed to permit sin and misery to misrule and oppress
the world for six thousand years, and then in the seventh
millennium to restore all things, and to extirpate evil
destroying it and its consequences by Jesus Christ, whom he
hath afore ordained to do this work. Hence, as the six
thousand years of the reign of evil began to draw to a close.
i6S The Plan of the Ages.
God permitted circumstances to favor discoveries, in the
study of both his Book of Revelation and his Book of Na-
ture, as well as in the preparation of mechanical and chemical
appliances useful in the blessing and uplifting of mankind
during the Millennial age, now about to be introduced. That
this was God's plan is clearly indicated by the prophetic state-
ment : " Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even
to the time of the end; [then] many shall run to and fro, and
KNOWLEDGE [not capacity] shall be increased/' "and none
of the wicked shall understand [God's plan and way], but
the wise shall understand ;" "and there shall be a time of
trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to
that same time." Dan. 12 : i, 4, 10.
To some it may appear strange that God did not so ar-
range that the present inventions and blessings should soon-
er have come to man to alleviate the curse. It should be
remembered, however, that God's plan Jias been to give
mankind a full appreciation of the curse, in order that when
the blessing comes upon all they may forever have decided
upon the unprofitableness of sin. Furthermore, pod fore-
saw and has foretold what the world does not yet realize,
namely, that his choicest blessings would lead to and be
productive of greater evils if bestowed iipon those whose
hearts are not in accord with the righteous laws of the uni-
verse. Ultimately it will be seen that God's present per-
mission of increased blessings is a practical lesson on this
subject, which may serve as an example of this principle to
all eternity to angels as well as to restored men. How
this can be, we merely suggest : ^
First : So long a$ mankind is in the present fallen or de-
praved condition, without stringent laws and penalties and
a government strong enough to enforce them, the selfish
propensities will hold more or less sway over all And with
the unequal individual capacities of men considered^ it can*
Ransom and Restitution. 169
not possibly happen otherwise than that the result of the
invention of labor-saving machinery must, after the flurry
and stimulus occasioned by the manufa&ure of machinery,
tend to make the rich richer, and the poor poorer. The
manifest tendency is toward monopoly and self-aggrandize-
ment, which places the advantage dire<5lly in the hands of
.those whose capacity and natural advantages are already
the most favorable.
Secondly : If it were possible to legislate so as to divide the
present wealth and its daily increase evenly among all classes,
which is not possible, still, without human perfe&ion or a
supernatural government to regulate human affairs, the re*
suits would be even more injurious than the present condition.
If the advantages of labor-saving machinery and all modern
appliances were evenly divided, the result would, ere long,
be a great decrease of hours of labor and a great increase
of leisure. Idleness is a most injurious thing to fallen be-
ings. Had it not been for the necessity of labor and sweat
of face, the deterioration of our race would have been much
more rapid than it has been. Idleness is the mother of vice ;
and mental, moral and physical degradation are sure to
follow. Hence the wisdom and goodness of God in with-
holding these blessings until it was due time for their in-
troduction as a [preparation for the Millennial reign of
blessing. Under the control of the supernatural govern-
ment of the Kingdom of God, not only will all blessings
be equitably divided among men, but the leisure will be
so ordered and directed by the same supernatural govern-
ment that its results will produce virtue and tend up-
ward toward perfection, mental, moral and physical. The
present multiplication of inventions and other blessings of in-
creasing knowledge is permitted in this " day of prepara-
tion" to come about in so natural a way that men flatter
themselves that it is because this is the "Brain Aje ;" but
170 The Plan of the Ages.
it will be permitted in great measure to work out in a
manner very much to the disappointment, no doubt, of
these wise philosophers. It is the very increase of these
blessings that is already beginning to bring upon the world
the time of trouble, which will be such as never has been
since there was a nation.
The prophet Daniel, as quoted above, links together the
increase of knowledge and the time of trouble. The
knowledge causes the trouble, because of the depravity of
the race. The increase of knowledge has not only given the
world wonderful labor-saving machinery and conveniences,
but it has also led to an increase of medical skill whereby thou-
sands of lives are prolonged, and it has so enlightened man-
kind that human butchery, war, is becoming less popular,
and thus, too, other thousands are spared to multiply still
further the race, which is increasing more rapidly to-day,
perhaps, than at any other period of history. Thus, while
mankind is multiplying rapidly, the necessity for his labor
is decreasing correspondingly; and the "Brain Age 71 phi-
losophers have a problem before them to provide for the
employment and sustenance of this large and rapidly in-
creasing class whose services, for the most part supplanted
by machinery, can be dispensed with, but whose necessities
and wants know no bounds. The solution of this problem,
these philosophers must ultimately admit, is beyond their
brain capacity.
Selfishness will continue to control the wealthy, who hold
the power and advantage, and will blind them to common
sense as well as to justice; while a similar selfishness, com-
bined with the instin<5l of self-preservation and an increased
knowledge of their rights, will nerve some and inflame oth-
ers of the poorer classes, and the result of these blessings
will, for a time, prove terrible a time of trouble, truly,
such as was not since there was a nation and this, because
Ransom and Destitution, 171
mai* in a depraved condition cannot properly use these bless-
ings unguided and uncontrolled. Not until the Millennial
Seign shall have re-written the law of God in the restored
fcuman heart will men be capable of using full liberty with-
out injury or danger.
The day of trouble will end in due time, when he who
spake to the raging Sea of Galilee will likewise, with
authority, command the raging sea of human passion, say-
ing, "Peace ! Be still I" When the Prince of Peace shall
"stand up* 1 in authority, a great calm will be the result
Then the raging and clashing elements shall recognize the
authority of " Jehovah's Anointed, ' ' " the glory of the Lord
shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together;" and in
the reign of the Christ thus begun " shall all the families of
the earth be blessed."
Then men will see that what they attributed to evolution
or natural development and the smartness of the " Brain
Age" was, instead, the flashings of Jehovah's lightnings
(Psa. 77 : 18) in " the day of his preparation ' * for the bless-
ing of mankind. But as yet only the saints can see, and
only the wise in heavenly wisdom can understand this ; for
"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him ; and
he will show them his covenant." (Psa. 25 : 14.) Thanks
be to God, that while general knowledge has been increased,
he has also arranged that his children need "not be unfruit-
ful in the knowledge of the Lord" and in the appreciation
of his plans. And by this appreciation of his Word and
plans we are enabled to discern and to withstand the % vain
philosophies and foolish traditions of men which contradift
the Word of God.
The Bible account of man's creation is that God cre-
ated him pcrfedt and upright, an earthly image of himself;
that man sought out various inventions and defiled himself
(Gen. i : 27 ' 9 Rom, 5:12; Ecd 7 s 29); that, all being
1 73 The Plan of the Agf$*
sinners, the race was unable to help itself, and none could
by any means redeem his brother or give to God a ransom
for him (Psa. 49 : 7, 15); that God in compassion and love
had made provision for this ; that, accordingly, the Son of
God became a man, and paid man's ransom-price; that, as
a reward for this sacrifice, and in order to the completion
of the great work of atonement, he was highly exalted, even
to the divine nature ; and that in due time he will bring to
pass a restitution of the race to the original perfedlion and
to every blessing then possessed. These things are clearly
taught in the Scriptures, from beginning to end, and are in
direft opposition to the Evolution theory; or, rather, such
"babblings of science, falsely so called/* are in violent and
irreconcilable conflict with the Word of God-
* * #
"Still o'er earth's sky the clouds of anger roll,
And God's revenge hangs heavy on her soul;
Yet shall she rise though first by God chastised*
In glory and in beauty then baptized.
Yes, Earth, thou shalt arise; thy Father's aid
Shall heal the wound his chastening hand hath ciade$
Shall judge the proud oppressor's ruthless sway,
And burst his bonds, and cast his cords away.
"Then on your soil shall deathless verdure spring;
Break forth, ye mountains, and ye valleys, sing 1
No more your thirsty rocks shall frown forlorn,
The unbeliever's jest, the heathen's scorn.
*The sultry sands shall tenfold harvests yield,
And a new Eden deck the thorny field.
E'en now we see, wide-waving o'er the land,
The mighty angel lifts his golden wand*
* Courts the bright vision of descending power,
Tells every gate and measures every tower 5
And chides the tardy seals that yet detain
Thy Lion, Judah, from his destined reign," _ Htber.
STUDY X.
SPIRITUAL AND HUMAN NATURES SEPARATE AND
DISTINCT.
COMMON MISAPPREHENSIONS. EARTHLY oa HUMAN AND HEAVENLY OR SPIR-
ITUAL NATURES. EARTHLY GLORY AND HEAVENLY GLORY. BIBLE TESTI-
MONY REGARDING SPIRIT BEINGS. MORTALITY AND IMMORTALTTY^-CAK
MORTAL BEINGS HAXTS EVERLASTING LirE? JUSTICE IN THE BESTOWKENT
OF FAVORS. A SUPPOSED PRINCIPLE EXAMINED. VARIETY n* PERFECTION'.
GOD'S SOVEREIGN RIGHTS. GOD'S PROVISION FOR MAN A SATISFYING POR-
TION. THE ELECTION OP TKB BODY OF CHRIST. How THEIR CHANGE o>
NATURE xs EFFECTED.
TRAILING to see that the plan of God for mankind in
* general contemplates a restitution to their former estate
~ theliuman perfedtion lost in Eden and that the Chris-
tian Chtorch, as an exception to this general plan, is to have
a change of nature from human to spiritual, Christian peo-
ple generally have supposed that none will be saved except
those who reach the spiritual nature. The Scriptures, how-
ever, while holding out promises of life and blessing and
restitution to all the families of the earth, offer and promise
the change to spiritual nature only to the Church selected
during the Gospel age ; and not a single passage can be
found which sustains such hopes for any others.
If the masses of mankind are saved from all the degrada-
tion, weakness, pain, misery and death which result from
sin, and are restored to the condition of human perfeion
enjoyed before the fall, they are as really and completely
saved from that fall as those who, under the special "high-
calling" of the Gospel age, become "partakers of the di-
vine nature."
< 7 4 fjta Plan of tie
The failure to understand rightly what constitutes a per-
fed man, the misapprehension of the terms mortal and im-
mortal, and wrong ideas of justice, have together tended
to this error, and mystified many scriptures otherwise easily
understood. It is a common view, though unsupported by
a single text of Scripture, that a perfeft man has never been
on earth ; that all that is seen of man on earth is only the
partially developed man, and that to reach perfe&ion he
must become spiritual. This view makes confusion of the
Scriptuies instead of developing that harmony and beauty
which result from "rightly dividing the word of truth."
The Scriptures teach that there have been two, and only
two, perfel men Adam and Jesus. Adam was created in
the image of God: that is, with the similar mental powers of
reason, memory, judgment and will, and the moral qualities
of justice, benevolence, love etc. " Of the eaxth, earthy,"
he was an earthly image of a spiritual being, possessing
qualities of the same kind, though differing widely in de-
gree, range and scope. To such an extent is man an image
of God that God can say even to tne fallen man, "Come,
let us reason together."
As Jehovah is ruler over all things, so man was made a
ruler over all earthly things After our likeness, let him
have dominion over the beasts, fowl, fish, etc. (Gen. i : 26.)
Moses tells us (Gen. 1:31) that God recognized the man
whom he had made not merely commenced to make, but
completed and God considered his creature "very good"
that is, perfedl ; for in God's sight nothing short of per-
fection is very good, in his intelligent creatures*
The perfection of man, as created, is expressed in Psa.
8 : 5-8 : " Thou hast made him a little lower than the an-
gels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou
madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands;
thou hast put all things under his feet : all sheep and
Natures Distinct If3
yea, tbe beasts of the field, the fowl of the air and the fish
of the sea." It has been suggested by some who would
make the Bible conform to a theory of evolution, that th
statement, "a little," in Heb. 2: 7, might be understood
to mean a little while lower, and not a little degree lower
than the angels. There is, however, neither authority nor
reason for such an interpretation. This is a quotation from
Psa 8 : 5, and a critical comparison of the Hebrew and
Greek texts can leave no doubt as to the import. The
idea, clearly expressed, is a little lower in degree than angels.
David, in the psalm, refers to man in his original estate,
and prophetically intimates that God has not abandoned
his original plan to have man in his own image and the
king of earth, and that he will remember him, redeem him
and restore him to the same again. The Apostle (Heb.
2 : 7) calls attention to the same facSt that God's original
purpose has not been abandoned; that man, originally
grand and perfect, the king of earth, is to be remem-
bered, and visited, and restored. He then adds, We see
not this promised restitution yet, but we do see the first step
God is taking toward its accomplishment. We see Jesus
crowned with this glory and honor of perfect maahood,
that he, as a fitting ransom or substitute might by God's
favor taste death for every man, and thus prepare the way
for the restitution of man to all that was lost. Rotherham,
one of the most scrupulous translators, renders this passage
as follows :
" What is an, that thou rememberest Hm;
Or man's son, ftat thou visitest him?
Thou modest him Zor some little than messengers :
Wi& glory and honor thou crcrmadst him,
And didst appoint him over the works of thy hands."
Nor should it be inferred tfcat a Kttle tower in degree
means a Kttte less perfect, A creature may be perfe<3;, yet
ij6 The Plan of the Ages.
on a lower plane of being than another ; thus, a perfect
horse would be lower than a perfect man, etc. There are
various natures, animate and inanimate. To illustrate, we
arrange the following table :
Grades of
Grades of
Grades
Grades
Heavenly or
Spiritual Being.
Earthly or
Animal Being.
in the Veg-
etable Domain.
in the Min-
eral Domain.
Divine.
Human.
Trees.
Cold.
Brute.
Shrubs.
Silver.
-
Fowl
Grasses.
Copper.
Angelic.
Fish.
Mosses.
Iron.
Each of the minerals mentioned may be pure, yet gold
ranks the highest. Though eachof the ordersof plants should
be brought to perfection, they would still differ in nature
and rank. Likewise with animals : if each species should
be brought to perfection, there would still be variety; foi
perfe&ing a nature does not change a nature,* The grades
of spiritual being, also, though perfect, stand related to
each other as higher and lower in nature or kind. The di-
vine nature is the highest and the superior of all spiritual
natures. Christ at his resurrection was made "so much
better" than perfect angels as the divine is superior to the
angelic nature. Heb. i : 3-5.
Note carefully that while the classes named in the above
table are distinct and separate, yet a comparison between
them may be instituted, thus : The highest grade of min-
eral is inferior to, or a little lower than, the lowest grade of
vegetable, because in vegetation there is life. So the high*
* The word nature is sometimes used in an accommodated sense, as, for
instance, when it is said that a dog has a savage nature, or that a horse
has a gentle nature^ or is bad Matured. But in using the word thus It
signifies merely the disposition of the one described as compared with
others, and does not, strictly speaking, relate to nature.
Natures Distinct. 177
est grade of vegetable is a little lower than the lowest grade
of animal life, because animal life, even in its lowest forms,
has intelligence enough to be conscious of existence. Like-
wise man, though the highest of animal or earthly beings,
is " a little lower than the angels," because angels are spir-
itual or heavenly beings.
There is a wonderful contrast between man as we now
see him, degraded by sin, and the perfect man that God
made in his image. Sin has gradually changed his features,
as well as his character. Multiplied generations, by igno-
rance, licentiousness and general depravity, have so blurred
and marred humanity that in the large majority of the race
the likeness of God is almost obliterated. The moral and
intellectual qualities are dwarfed ; and the animal instincts,
unduly developed, are no longer balanced by the higher,
Man has lost physical strength to such an extent that, with
all the aid of medical science, his average length of life is
now about thirty years, whereas at first he survived nine
hundred and thirty years under the same penalty* But though
thus defiled and degraded by sin and its penalty, death,
working in him, man is to be restored to his original per-
fection of mind and body, and to glory, honor and domin-
ion, during and by the Millennial reign of Christ. The
things to be restored by and through Christ are those things
which were lost through Adam's transgression. (Rom.
5 : 1 8, 19.) Man did not lose a heavenly but an earthly par-
adise. Under the death penalty, he did not lose a spiritual
but a human existence ; and all that was lost was purchased
back by his Redeemer, who declared that he came to seek
and to save that which was lost. Luke 19 : 10.
In addition to the above, we have proof that the perfect
man is not a spiritual bdng. *We are told that out Lord,
before he left his glory to become a man, was "in, a
fcrm of God" a spiritual form, a spirit being; but since
13-A,
tyg The Plan of the Agts.
to be a ransom for mankind he had to be a man, of
the same nature as the sinner whose substitute in death he
was to become, it was necessary that his nature be changed,
tod Paul tells us that he took not the nature of angels, one
rtep lower than his own, but that he came down two steps
and took the nature of men he became a man ; he was
"made flesh." Heb. 2:16] Phil. 2 : 7, 3 j John * : 14.
Notice that this teaches not only that angelic nature is
not the only order of spirit being, but that it is a lower
nature than that of our Lord before he became a man ; and'
he was not then so high as he is now, for " God hath highly
exalted him," because of his obedience in becoming man's
willing ransom. (Phil. 2 : S, 9.) He is now of the highest
order of spirit being, a partaker of the div;*e 0ehavah's)
nature.
But not only do we tires find proof that tfee divine, an-
gelic and human natures are separate and distiacT:, but this
proves that to be a perfect maa is not to be aa aagel, any
more than the perfeSioa of angelic nature implies that angels
are divine and equal with Jehovah ; for Jesus took n*t the na-
ture of angels, bat a different nature thft na&tre of men ; not
die ifflperfecT; humaa nature as we now possess it, but the
p&ftcttea&s& nature. He became a man; not a depraved
aad nearly dead being such as men are now, but a man in
the full vigor of perfection.
Again, Jesos must have been a perfect man eke he coaid
not have kept a perfect law, which is the full measure of a
perfecf man's afttity. And he naust have been a perfecl:
man else he could not have given a ransom (a correspond-
ing price i Tim. 2:6) for the forfeited life of the per-
fecT: man Adam ; "For since by man came death^ by man
came also the resurre&ion of the dead-" (i Cor. 15 : 21.)
Had he been in the least degree imperfect, it would have
proved that he was under condemnation, and therefore he
Matures Distinct. 179
could not have been an acceptable sacrifice \ neither could
he have kept perfe&ly the law of God. A perfed man was
tried, and failed, and was condemned ; and only a perfedt
man could pay the corresponding price as the Redeemer.
Now we have the question fairly before us in another
form, viz.: If Jesus in the flesh was a perfedl man, as the
Scriptures thus show, does it not prove that a perfe& man
is a human, fleshly beingnot an angel, but a little lower
than the angels? The logical conclusion is unmistakable;
and in addition we have the inspired statement of thePsalm-
ist (Psa. 8 : 5-8) and Paul's reference to it in Heb. 2 : 7-9.
Neither was Jesus a combination of the two natures, hu-
man and spiritual. The blending of two natures produces
neither the one nor the other, but an imperfe<Sl, hybrid
thing, which is obnoxious to the divine arrangement.
When Jesus was in the flesh he was a perfedt human being ;
previous to that time he was a perfect spiritual being ; and
since his resurre&ion he is a perfedl spiritual being of the
highest or divine order. It was not until the time of his
consecration even unto death, as typified in his baptism
at thirty years of age (manhood, according to the Law, and
therefore the right time to consecrate himself as a man)
that he received the earnest of his inheritance of the divine
nature. (Matt. 3 : 16, 17.) The human nature had to be con-
secrated to death before he could receive even the pledge of
the divine nature. And not until that consecration was
a&ually carried out and he had a&ually sacrificed the human
nature, even unto death, did our Lord Jesus become a full
partaker of the divine nature. After becoming a man he
became obedient tmto death ; wherefore, God hath highly
exalted him to the divine nature. (Phil. 2 : 8, 9.) If this
Scripture is true, it follows that he was not exalted to the
divine nature until the human nature wag a&wally sacrificed
dead.
i8o Tfie Pfon of tke Age*.
Thus we see that in Jesus there was no mixture 6f na
tures, but that twice he experienced ?. change of nature) 1
first, from spiritual to human ; afterward, from human to
the highest order of spiritual nature, the divine; and in
each case the one was given up for the other.
In this grand example of perfect humanity, which stood
unblemished before the world until sacrificed for the world's
redemption, we see the perfection from whiri our race fell
in Adam, and to which it is to be restored. In becoming
man's ransom, our Lord Jesus gave the equivalent for that
which man lost; and therefore all mankind may receive
again, through faith in Christ, and obedience to his require-
ments, not a spiritual; but a glorious, perfect human nature
"that which was lost."
The perfect faculties and powers of the perfect human
being may be exercised indefinitely, and upon new and
varied objects of interest, and knowledge and skill may be
vastly increased; but no such increase of knowledge or
power will effect a change of nature, or make it more than
perfect. It will be only the expanding and developing of
the perfect human" powers. Increase of knowledge and
skill will doubtless be man's blessed privilege to all eter-
nity; yet he will still be man, and will be merely learning
to use more fully the powers of human nature already pos-
sessed. Beyond its wide limits he cannot hope, nor will he
desire, to advance, his desires being limited to the scope of
his powers.
While Jesus as a man was an illustration of perfect
human nature, to which the mass of mankind will be
restored, yet since his resurrection he is the illustration of
the glorious divine nature which the overcoming Church
will, at resurrection, share with him.
Because the present age is devoted mainly to the develop-
ment of this class which is offered a changttf nature, and be*
Natures Distinct *8s
cause the apostolic epistles are devoted to the instru&ion of
this " little flock," it should not be inferred that God's
plans end with the completion of this chosen company.
Nor, on the other hand, should we go to the opposite ex-
treme, and suppose that the special promises of the divine
nature, spiritual bodies, etc., made to these, are God's de-
sign for all mankind. To these are the " exceeding great
and precious promises," over and above the other precious
promises made to all mankind. To rightly divide the word
of truth, we should observe that the Scriptures recognize
the perfection of the divine nature in the "little flock,"
and the perfection of the human nature in the restored
world, as two separate things.
Let us now inquire more particularly, What are spirit be-
ings? what powers are theirs? and by what laws are they
governed? Many seem to think, because they do not un-
derstand the nature of a spirit being, that it must be a mere
myth, and on this subje& much superstition prevails. But
Paul does not appear to have such an idea. Though he
intimates that a human being is incapable of understanding
the higher, spiritual nature (r Cor. 2-1 14), yet he plainly
states, as if to guard against any mythical or superstitious
notions, that there is a spiritual body* as well as a natural
(human) body, a celestial as well as a terrestrial, and a glory
of the earthly as well as of the heavenly. The glory of
the earthly, as we have seen, was lost by the first Adam's
sin, and is to be restored to the race by the Lord Jesus and
his Bride (the Christ, Head and body) during the Millen-
nial reign. The glory of the heavenly is as yet unseen ex-
cept as revealed to the eye of faith by the Spirit through
the Word. These glories are distind and separate, (i Cor,
I S : 38*490 ^ e k now * some extent what the natural,
earthly, terrestrial body is, for we now have such, though
we can only approximately estimate the glory of its perfec-
i82 The Plan of the Ages.
tioiL It is flesh, blood and bones; for "that which is
born of the flesh is flesh. ' ' And since they are two distinct
kinds of bodies, we know that the spiritual, whatever it
maybe, is not composed of flesh, blood and bones: it is
heavenly, celestial, spiritual" That which is born of the
Spirit is spirit." But what a spirit body is, we know not,
for "It doth not yet appear what we shall be ; but ... we
shall be like him" like our Lord Jesus, JoHn 3 : 6;
i John 3:2.
We have no record of any being, either spiritual or hu-
man, ever having been changed from one nature to another,
except the Son of God ; and this was an exceptional case,
for an exceptional purpose. When God made angels he
doubtless intended them to remain angels forever, and so
with men, each being perfect on his own plane. At least
the Scriptures give no intimation of any different purpose.
As in the inanimate creation there is a pleasing and almost
endless variety, so in the living and intelligent creation
the same variety in perfection is possible* Every creature
in its perfection is glorious; but, as Paul says, the glory of
the celestial (heavenly) is one kind of glory, and the glory
of the terrestrial (earthly) is another and a different glory.
By examining the fecis recorded of our Lord Jesus after
his resurre&ion, and of angels, who are also spirit beings,
thus "comparing spiritual things with spiritual " (i Cor.
2 : 13), we may gain some general information with regard
to spirit beings* First, then, angels can be and frequently
are present, yet invisible. "The angel of the Lord en-
campeth round about them that fear him;" and "Are they
not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them
who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Psa. 34: 7; Heb. i : 14.)
Have they ministered visibly or invisibly? Undoubtedly
the latter. Elisha was surrounded by a host of Assyrians ;
his servant was fearful ; Elisha prayed to the Lord, and the
Natures Distinct. 183
young man's eyes were opsaed, and he saw the mountains
round about them full of chariots of fire and horsemen
of fire (or like fire). Again, while to Balaam the angel was
invisible, the ass, his eyes being opened, saw him.
Secondly, angels can assume human bodies and appear as
men. The Lord and two angels so appeared to Abraham,
who had a supper prepared for them, of which they ate. At
first Abraham supposed them to be three men, and it was no*
until they were about to go that he discovered one of them
to be the Lord, and the other two, angels, who afterward
went down to Sodom and delivered Lot. (Gen. 18 : i, 2.)
An angel appeared to Gideon as a man, but afterward made
himself known. An angel appeared to the father and
mother of Samson, and they thought him a man until he
ascended up to heaven in the flame of the altar. Judges
6: 11-22 ; 13: 20.
Thirdly, spirit beings are glorious in their normal con-
dition, and are frequently referred to as glorious and bright.
The countenance of the angel who rolled away the stone
from the door of the sepulchre was "as the lightning. *'
Daniel caught a glimpse of a spiritual body, which he de-
scribed, saying, His eyes were as lamps of fire, his counte-
nance as the lightning, his arms and feet like in color to
polished brass, and his voice as the voice of a multitude.
Before him Daniel fell as a dead man. (Dan. 10 : 6, 10, 15,
17.) Saul of Tarsus caught a similar glimpse of Christ's
glorious body shining above the brightness of the sun at
noonday. Saul lost his sight and fell to the ground.
Thus far we have found spirit beings truly glorious]
yet, except by the opening of men's eyes to see them, or
by their appearing in flesh as men, they are invisible to men.
This conclusion is further confirmed when we examine the
particular details of these manifestations. The Lord was
seen of Saul alone, the men traveling with him hearing the
i84 The Plan of tHe Ages,
voice, but seeing no one. (Acts 9 : 7.) The men that were
with Daniel did not see the glorious being he describes, but
a great fear fell on them, and they ran and hid themselves.
Again, this glorious being declared, "The prince of the
kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days.**
(Dan. 10 : 13.) Did Daniel, the man greatly beloved of the
Lord, fall as dead before this one whom Persia's prince with-
stood one and twenty days ? How is this ? Surely he did
not appear in glory to the prince ! No ; either he was in-
visibly present with him, or else he appeared as a man.
Our Lord, since his resurrection, is a spirit being ; conse-
quently the same powers which we find illustrated in angels
(spiritual beings) should also be possessed by him. And
such is the case, as we shall see more fully in a succeeding
chapter.
Thus we find that the Scriptures regard the spiritual and
the human natures as separate and distinct, and furnish no
evidence that the one will evolve or develop into the others
but, on the contrary, they do show that only a few will ever
be changed from the human to the divine nature, to which
Jesus, their head, has already been exalted. And this re-
markable and special feature in Jehovah's plan is for the
remarkable and special purpose of preparing these as God's
agents for the great future work of restoring all things.
Let us now examine the terms
MORTALITY AND IMMORTALITY.
"We shall find their true significance in exact harmony
with what we have learned from our comparison of Bible
statements concerning human and spiritual beings, and
earthly and heavenly promises. These words are usually
given very uncertain meanings, and wrong ideas of their
meanings produce erroneous views of subjects with which
tfiey stand connected, in general and in Scripture usage.
Matures Distinct* 185
*' Mortality^ signifies a state or condition of liability to
death ; not a condition of death, but a condition in which
death is a' possibility.
"Immortality" signifies a state or condition not liable to
death; not merely a condition of freedom from death, but
a. condition in which death is an impossibility*
The common but erroneous idea of mortality is, a state
or condition in which death is unavoidable, while the com-
mon idea of the significance of immortality is more nearly
correct.
The word immortal signifies not mortal; hence the very
construction of the words indicates their true definitions.
It is because of the prevalence of a wrong idea of the word
mortal that so many are confused when trying to deter-
mine whether Adam was mortal or immortal before his trans-
gression. They reason that if he had been immortal God
would not have said, "In the day that thou eatest thereof
thou shalt surely die;" because it is impossible for an
immortal being to die. This is a logical conclusion. On
the other hand, say they, Had he been mortal, wherein
could have consisted the threat or penalty of the statement,
4i Thou shalt surely die ;" since if mortal (according to their
erroneous definition) he could not have avoided death any-
how?
The difficulty, it will be perceived, is in the false mean-
ing given to the word mortality. Apply the correct defini-
tion, and all is clear. Adam was mortal that is, in a con-
dition in which death was a possibility. He had life in full
and perfect measure, yet not inherent life. His was a life
sustained^ "every tree of the garden " save the one tree
forbidden ; and so long as he continued in obedience to
and in harmony with his Maker, his life was secure the
sustaining elements would not be denied. Thus seen, Adam
had life; and death was entirely avoidable, yet he was in
i86 The Plan of the Ages.
such a condition that death was possible he was
The question arises, then, If Adam was mortal and on
trial, was he on trial for immortality ? The general answer
would be, Yes. We answer, No* His trial was to see whether
he was worthy or unworthy of a continuance of the life and
blessings already possessed. Since it was nowhere prom-
ised that if obedient he would become immortal, we are
bound to leave all such speculations out of the question.
He was promised a fontiwuance of the blessings then enjoyed
so long as obedient, and threatened with the loss of all
death if disobedient. It is the false idea of the meaning
of the word mortal that leads people in general to con-
clude that all beings who do not die are immortal. In
this class they therefore include our heavenly Father, our
Lord Jesus, the aaigels and all mankind* This, however,
is an error : the great mass of mankind saved from the
fell, as well as the angels of heaven, will always be
mortal; though in a condition of perfe6lion and bliss,
they will always be of that mortal nature which could
suffer death, the wages of sin, if they would commit sin.
The security of their existence will be conditioned, as it
was with Adam, upon obedience to the all-wise God, whose
justice, love and wisdom, and whose power to cause all
things to work together for good to those who love and serve
him, will have been fully demonstrated by his dealings with
sin in the present time.
Nowhere in the Scriptures is it stated that angels are im*
mortal, nor that mankind restored will be immortal. On
the contrary, immortality is ascribed only to the divine na-
ture originally to Jehovah only \ subsequently to our Lord
Jesus in his present highly exalted condition j and finally
by promise to the Church, the body of Christ, when glori-
fied with him. i Tim. 6 : 16 ; John 5 : 26 ; 2 "Pet. 1:4;
i Cor. 15 ; 53, 54,
Natures Distind. 187
Not only have we evidence that immortality pertains only
to the divine nature, but we have proof that angels are mor-
tal, in the fact that Satan, who was once a chief of their
number, is to be destroyed. (Heb, 2 : 14.) The fa<5l that he
can be destroyed proves that angels as a class are mortal.
Thus considered, we see that when incorrigible sinners are
blotted out, both immortal and mortal beings will live for-
ever in joy and happiness and love the first class possess-
ing a nature incapable of death, having inherent life life
in themselves (John 5 : 26); and the latter having a nature
susceptible to death, yet, because of perfection of being
and knowledge of the evil and sinfulness of sin, giving no
cause for death. They, being approved of God's law, shall
be everlastingly supplied with those elements necessary to
sustain them in perfection, and shall never die.
The proper recognition of the meaning of the terms
mortal 'and immortal, and of their use in the Scriptures, de-
stroys the very foundation of the doclrine of eternal tor-
ment. It is based upon the unscriptural theory that God
created man immortal, that he cannot cease to exist, and that
God cannot destroy him; hence the argument is that the
incorrigible must live on somewhere and somehow, and the
conclusion is that since they are out of harmony with God
their eternity must be one of misery. But God's Word as-
sures us that he has provided against such a perpetuation of
sin and sinners : that man is mortal, and that the full pen-
alty of wilful sin against full light and knowledge will not
be a life in torment, but a second death. "The soul that
sinneth, it shall die."
"WHO ART THOU THAT REPLIEST AGAINST GOD?"
ROM. 9 : 2O.
It is the mistaken idea of some that justice requires that
God should make no difference in the bestowment of his
j88 The Plan of the Ages,
favors among his creatures , that if he exalts one to a high
position, injustice he must do the same for all, unless it
can be shown that some have forfeited their rights, in which
case such might justly be assigned to a lower position.
If this principle be a correct one, it would show that God
had no right to create Jesus higher than the angels, and then
further to exalt him to the divine nature, unless he intended
to do the same for all the angels and for all men. And to
carry the principle still further, if some men are to be highly
exalted and made partakers of the divine nature, all men must
eventually be elevated to the same position. And why not
carry the principle to its extreme limit, and apply the same
law of progression to the brute and insed creation, and say
that since they are all God's creatures they must all event-
ually attain to the very highest pkne of existence the di-
vine nature? This is a manifest absurdity, but as reasona-
ble as any other dedu&ion from this assumed principle.
Perhaps none would be inclined to carry the erroneous
assumption so far. Yet if it were a principle founded in
simple justice, where could it stop short and still be just?
And if such were indeed the plan of God, where would be
the pleasing variety in all his works? But such is not
God's plan. All nature, both animate and inanimate, ex-
hibits the glory and diversity of divine power and wisdom.
And as "the heavens declare the glory of God, and the
firmament showeth his handiwork" in wonderful variety
and beauty, much more shall his intelligent creation exhibit
in variety the superior glory of his power. We so con-
clude from the express teaching of the Word of God, from
reason and from the analogies of nature.
It is very important that we have right ideas of justice.
A favor should never be esteemed as a justly merited recom-
pense. An a<5l of simple justice is no occasion for special
gratitude, nor is it any proof of love \ but God commend*
Natures Distinct *ftg
eth his great love to his creatures, in an endless train of
unmerited favors, which should call forth their love and
praise in return.
God had a right, if he chose, to make us merely the crea-
tures of a brief space of time, even if we had never sinned.
Thus he has made some of his lower creatures. He might
have permitted us to enjoy his blessings for a season, and
then, without injustice, might have blotted us all out of exist-
ence. In fact, even so brief an existence would be a favor.
It is only of his favor that we have an existence at all. How
much greater favor is the redemption of the existence once
forfeited by sin I And further, it is of God's favor that we
are men and not beasts 5 it is purely of God's favor that
angels are by nature a little higher than men ; and it is also of
God's favor that the Lord Jesus and his bride become partak-
ers of the divine nature. It becomes all his intelligent crea-
tures, therefore, to receive with gratitude whatever God be-
stows. Any other spirit justly merits condemnation, and,
if indulged, will end in abasement and destruction. A
man has no right to aspire to be an angel, never having been
invited to that position ; nor has an angel any right to aspire
to the divine nature, that never having been offered to him.
It was the aspiration of Satan's pride which brought his
abasement, and will end in his destruction. (Isa. 14 : 14.)
" Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased 5 and he that
humbleth himself shall be exalted " (Luke 14: u), but not
necessarily to the highest position.
Partly from false ideas of justice, and partly from other
causes, the subject of eleftion as taught in the Scriptures
has been the occasion of much dispute and misunderstand*
ing. That the Scriptures teach election few would deny,
bu* .ya just what principle the election or selection is based
is jt matter of considerable difference of opinion, otn claim-
ing that it is an arbitrary, unconditional election, and others
190 Tht Plan of the Ages.
that it is conditional. There is a measure of truth, we be-
lieve, in both of these views. An ele<5lion on God's part
is the expression of his choice for a certain purpose, office
or condition. God has elected or chosen that some of his
creatures should be angels, that some should be men, that
some should be beasts, birds, insects, etc., and that some
should be of his own divine nature. And though God se-
lects according to certain conditions all who will be admit-
ted to the divine nature, yet it cannot be said that these
more than others merit it ; for it is purely of favor that any
creature has existence on any plane.
" So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that
runneth, but of God that showeth mercy" kindness or
favor. (Rom. 9: 16.) It is not because the chosen ones
were better than others, that God gave them the invi-
tation to the divine nature, for he passed by the angels
who had not sinned and called some of the redeemed sin-
ners to divine honors. God has a right to do as he pleases
with his own j and he chooses to exercise this right for the
accomplishment of his plans. Since, then, all we have is
of divine favor, " Who art thou, O man, that repliest against
God ? Shall the thing formed say unto him who formed it,
Why hast thou made me thus ? Hath not the potter power
over the clay, to make one vessel unto honor and another
unto dishonor" or less honor? (Rom. 9 : 20, 21.) All
were treated by the same divine power some to have higher
nature and greater honor, and some to have lower nature
and less honor.
" Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, his [man's]
maker : Ask me of things to come. Concerning my chil-
dren, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye
me? I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I,
even nrp feandc, have stretched out the heavens, and all
iheir ha* feave I commanded. " " Thus saith the Lord that
Natures Distinct. 191
created the heavens, God himself that formed the earth and
made it ; he hath established it, he created it not in vain,
he formed it to be inhabited : I am the Lord, and there is
none else." (Isa. 45 : n, 12, 18.) None have a right t*
dictate to God. If he established the earth, and if he
formed it not in vain, but made it to be inhabited by re-
stored, perfect men, who are we that we should reply against
God, and say that it is unjust not to change their nature
and make them all partakers of a spiritual nature either like
unto the angels, or like unto his own divine nature? How
much more becoming to come humbly to God's Word and
to "Ask " concerning things to come, than to "command"
or to assert that he must carry out our ideas ? Lord, keep
back thy servants from presumptuous sins : let them not have
dominion over us. None of God's children, we believe,
would knowingly dictate to the Lord j yet how easily and
almost unconsciously many fall into this error.
The human race are God's children by creation the
work of his hands and his plan with reference to them
is clearly revealed in his Word. Paul says that the first
roan (who was a sample of what the race will be when per-
fect) was of the earth, earthy j and his posterity, with the
exception of the Gospel Church, will in the resurrection
still be earthy, human, adapted to the earth, (i Cor. 15 :
38, 44.) David declares that man was made only a littk
lower than the angels, and crowned with glory, honor,
dominion, etc. (Psa, 8 : 4-8.) And Peter, our Lord, and
all the prophets since the world began, declare tbat the hu-
man race is to be restored to that glorious perfection, and
is again to have dominion over earth, as its representative,
Adam, had. Acts 3 : 19-21.
It is this portion that God has dte&ed to give to the human
race. And what a glorious portion ! Close your eyes for a
moment to the scenes of misery and woe, degradation and
9 i The Plan of the Ages.
sorrow that yet prevail on account of sin, and pidnre before
your mental vision the glory of the perfect earth. Not a
stain of sia mars the harmony and peace of a perfect soci-
ety; not a bitter thought, not an unkind look or word;
love, welling up from every heart, meets a kindred response
m every other heart, and benevolence marks every act*
There sickness shall be no more j not an ache nor a pain,
nor any evidence of decay not even the fear of such things*
Think of all the piflures of comparative health and beauty
of human form and feature that you have ever seen, and
know that perfefi humanity will be of still surpassing love-
liness. The inward purity and mental and moral perfection
will stamp and glorify every radiant countenance. Such
will earth's society be j and weeping bereaved ones will have
their tears all wiped away, when thus they realize the resur*
re<5lioa work complete. Rev. 21:4.
And this is the change in human society only. We call
to mind also that the earth, which was "made to be inhab-
ited" by such a race of beings, is to be a fit and pleasing
abode for them, as represented in the Edenic paradise, in
which the representative man was at first placed. Paradise
shall be restored. The earth shall no mote bring forth
thorns and briers, and require the sweat of man's face to
yield his bread, but "the earth shall [easily and naturally]
yield her increase." "The desert shall blossom as the
rose;" the lower animal creation will be perfed, willing
and obedient servants; nature with all its pleasing variety
will call to man from every direction to seek and know
the glory and power and love of God ; and mind and heart
will rejoice in him. The restless desire for something new,
that now prevails, is not a natural but an abnormal condi-
tion, due to our imperfection, and to our present unsatis*
factory surroundings. It is not God*like restlessly to crave
something new. Most things are old to God , and he re-
Itatent Distha 193
joices most in those things which are old and perfect. So
will it be with man when restored to the image of God.
The perfeft man will not know or appreciate fully, and
hence will not prefer, the glory of spiritual being, because
of a different nature, just as fishes and birds, for the same
reason, prefer and enjoy each their own nature and element
most. Man will be so absorbed and enraptured with the
glory that surrounds him on the human plane that he will
have no aspiration to, nor preference for, another nature or
other conditions than those possessed. A glance at the
present experience of the Church will illustrate this. " How
hardly," with what difficulty, shall those who are rich in
this world's goods enter into the kingdom of God. The
few good things possessed, even under the present reign of
evil and death, so captivate the human nature that we need
special help from God to keep our eye and purpose fixed on
the spiritual promises,
That the Christian Church, the body of Christ, is an ex-
ception to God's general plan for mankind, is evident from
the statement that its selection was determined in the divine
plan before the foundation of the world (Eph. i : 4, 5), at
which time God not only foresaw the fall of the race into
sin, but also predetermined the justification, the san6lifica-
tion and the glorification of this class, which, during the
Gospel age, he has been calling out of the world to be con-
formed to the image of his Son, to be partakers of the
divine nature and to be fellow-heirs with Christ Jesus of the
Millennial Kingdom for the establishment of universal
righteousness and peace. Rom. 8 : 28-31.
This shows that the ele<3ion or choice of the Church was
a predetermined thing on God's part; but mark, it is not
an unconditional election of the individual 'memiers of the
Church. Before the foundation of the world God deter-
miBed that such a company should be selefted for such a par-
13-A
194 The Plan of the
pose within a specific time the Gospel age. While we can-
not doubt that God could have foreseen the a&ion of each
individual member of the Church, and could have fore-
known just who would be worthy and therefore constitute
members of that "little flock," yet this is not the way in
which God's Word presents the doctrine of election. It
was not the thought of an individual predestination which
the apostles sought to inculcate, but that a class was prede-
termined in God's purpose to fill the honorable position,
the selection of which would be upon conditions of severe
trials of faith and obedience and the sacrifice of earthly
privileges, etc., even unto death. Thus by an individual
trial, and by individually "overcoming," the individual
members of the predetermined class are being chosen or ac-
cepted into all the blessings and benefits predetermined of
God for this class.
The word "glorified" in Rom. 8s 30, from the Greek
dox&zO) signifies honored. The position to which the Church
is ele&ed is one of great honor. No man could think of
aspiring to so great an honor. Even our Lord Jesus was first
invited before he aspired to it, as we read : " So also Christ
glorified \doxaso honored] not himself to be made an
High Priest, but he that said unto him, 'Thou art my Son,
to-day have I begotten thee.' " The heavenly Father thus
honored our Lord Jesus ; and all of the elect body who are
to be joint-heirs with him will be thus honored by Jeho-
vah's favor. The Church, like its Head, experiences a be-
ginning of the "honor" when tegottenolt God to spirit-
ual nature through the word of truth (James i : 18), and
will be fully ushered into the honor when born of the Spirit,
spiritual beings in the image of the glorified Head, Those
whom God would thus honor must be perfect and pure 5
and since we were by inheritance sinners, he not only called
or invited us to the honor, but also provided justification
from sin through the death of his Son, to enable us to re-
ceive the honor to which he calls us.
In sele&ing the little nock, God makes a very general
call " many are called." All are not called. The call
was confined at first, during our Lord's ministry, to Israel
after the flesh; but now, as many as the servants of God
meet (Luke 14 : 23) are to be urged or constrained (not
compelled) to come to this special feast of favor. But even
of those who hear and come, all are not worthy. Wedding
garments (the imputed righteousness of Christ) are pro-
vided, but some will not wear them, and must be reje&ed ;
and of those who do put on the robes of justification, and
who receive the honor of being begotten to a new nature,
some fail to make their calling and election sure by faith-
fulness to their covenant. Of those worthy to appear with
the Lamb in glory, it is deckred, "They are called and
chosen and faithful" Rev. 14: i and 17 : 14.
The call is true; the determination of God to selecSl and
exalt a Church is unchangeable ; but who will be of this
chosen class is conditional. All who would share the pre-
destined honors must fulfil the conditions of the call.
" Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of enter-
ing into his rest, any of, you should seem to come short of
it." (Heb. 4:1.) While the great favor is not of him that
willeth, nor of him that runneth, it is to him that willeth
and to him that runneth, when called.
Having thus, we trust, clearly vindicated God's absolute
right and purpose to do what he will with his own, we call
attention to the fa<St that the principle which charader-
izes the bestowment of all God's favors is the general good
of all.
While, then, on the authority of the Scriptures, we reckon
it an established fad that the human and spiritual natures
are separate and distindl that the blending of the two na-
f9 6 The Pteu of *fa Jg&.
tures is no part of God's design, but would be an imperfec-
tion, and that the change from one nature to another is
not the rule, but the exception, in the single instance of
the Christ it becomes a matter of deep interest to learn
how the change is to be accomplished, upon what condi-
tions it may be attained and in what manner it will be
effected.
The conditions on which the Church may be exalted with
her Lord to the divine nature (2 Pet. i ; 4) are precisely the
same as the conditions on which he received it ; even by
following in his footprints (i Pet. 2: *r), presenting her-
self a living sacrifice, as he did, and then faithfully carry-
ing out that consecration vow until the sacrifice terminates
in death. This change of nature from human to divine is
given as a reward to those who, within the Gospel age, sac-
rifice the human nature, as did our Lord, with all its inter-
ests, hopes and aims, present and future even unto death.
In the resurrection such will awake, not to share with the
rest of mankind in the blessed restitution to human perfec-
tion and all its accompanying blessings, but to share the
likeness and glory and joy of the Lord, as partakers with
him of the divine nature. Rom 8 : 17 ; 2 Tim. 2:12*
The beginning and development of the new nature is
likened to the beginning and development of human life.
As in the one case there is a begetting and then a birth, so
also in the other. The saints are said to be begotten of God
through the word of truth, (i Pet. 1:3;! John 5 : 18;
James i ; 18.) That is, they receive the first impulse in the
divine life from God through his Word. When, having
been justified freely by faith in the ransom, they hear the call,
"Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, [ransomed,
justified and therefore] acceptable unto God, which is
your reasonable service" (Rom. 12:1); and when, in obedi-
dicnce to that call, they fully consecrate their justified huraan*
Natures Distinct. 197
ity to God, a living sacrifice, side by side with that of Jesus,
it is accepted of God ; and in that very act the spiritual life
is begun. Such find themselves at once thinking and a&ing
as the new [transformed] mind prompts, even to the cruci-
fixion of the human desires. From the moment of conse-
cration these are reckoned of God as "new creatures."
Thus to these embryo " new creatures ' ' old things [human
desires, hopes, plans, etc.] pass away, and all things become
new. The embryo "new creature " continues to grow and
develop, as the old human nature, with its hopes, aims, de-
sires, etc., is crucified. These two processes progress simul-
taneously, from the time consecration begins until the death
of the human and the birth of the spiritual result. As the
Spirit of God continues to unfold, through his Word, more
and more of his plans, he thus quickens even our mortal
bodies (Rom. 8 : n), enabling these mortal bodies to ren-
der him service ; but in due time we will have new bodies
spiritual, heavenly, adapted in all respe&s to the new,
divine mind.
The Urth of the "new creature" is in the resurrection
(Col. i : 1 8); and the resurre&ion of this class is designated
the first (or choice) resurre&ion. (Rev 20 : 6.) It should
be remembered that we are not actually spirit beings until
the resurre&ion, though from the time we receive the spirit
of adoption we are reckoned as such. (Rom. 8 : 33-25 ;
Eph. i : 13, 14; Rom. 6: 10, n.) When we become spirit
beings adtually, that is, when we are born of the Spirit, we
will no longer be fleshly beings ; for " that which is born
of the Spirit is spirit"
This birth to the spiritual nature in the resurre&ion must
be preceded by a begetting of the Spirit at consecration,
just as surely as the birth of the flesh is preceded by a be-
getting of the flesh. All that are born of the flesh in the
likeness of the first Adam, the earthly, were first begotten
igS The Plan of the Ages.
of the flesh j and some have been begotten again, by the
Spirit of God through the word of truth, that in due time
they may be born of 'the Spirit into the heavenly likeness,
in the first resurredion : "As we have borne the image of
the earthly, we [the Church] shall also bear the image of
the heavenly" unless there be a falling away. i Cor.
15 : 49 ; Heb. 6 ; 6.
Though the acceptance of the heavenly call and our con-
secration in obedience to it be decided at one particular
moment, the bringing of every thought into harmony with
the mind of God is a gradual work; it is a gradual bend-
ing heavenward of that which naturally bends earthward.
The Apostle terms this process a transforming work, saying,
"Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed
[to the heavenly nature] by the renewing of your minds, that
ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfeft
will of God." Rom. 12:2.
It should be noticed that these words of the Apostle are
not addressed to the unbelieving world, but to those whom
he recognizes as brethren, as shown by the preceding verse
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, . . . that ye pre-
sent your bodies living sacrifices, holy and acceptable
unto God.'*
It is commonly believed that when a man is converted
or turned from sin to righteousness, and from unbelief and
opposition to God to reliance upon him, that is the trans-
forming which Paul meant. Truly that is a great change a
transformation, but not the transformation that Paul here
refers to. That is a transformation of character ; but Paul
refers to a transformation of nature promised to believers
during the Gospel age, on certain conditions, and he was
urging believers to fulfil those conditions, Had not such a
transformation of character already taken place in those
whom he addressed, he could not have termed them breth-
Natures Distinct. *99
ren brethren, too, who had something " holy and accept-
able unto God" to offer in sacrifice ; for only those who
are justified by faith in the ransom are reckoned of God as
holy and acceptable. Transformation of nature results to
those who, during the Gospel age, present their justified
humanity a living sacrifice, as Jesus presented his perfect
humanity a sacrifice, laying down all right and claim to
future human existence, as well as ignoring present human
gratification, privileges, rights, etc. The first thing sacri*
ficed is the human will ; and thenceforth we may not be
guided either by our own or by any other human will, but
only by the divine will. The divine will becomes our will,
and we reckon the human will as not ours, but as the will
of another, to be ignored and sacrificed. The divine will
having become our will, we begin to think, to reason and
to judge from the divine standpoint : God's plan becomes
our plan, and God's ways become our ways. None can
fully understand this transformation who have not in good
faith presented themselves as sacrifices, and in consequence
come to experience it. Previously we might enjoy any-
thing that was not actually sinful ; for the world and all its
good things were made for man's enjoyment, the only diffi-
culty being to subdue the sinful propensities. But the con-
secrated, the transformed, in addition to the effort to sub-
due sin, must sacrifice the present good things and devote
all their energies to the service of God, And those faith-
ful in service and sacrifice will indeed realize daily that this
world is not their resting place, and that here they have no
continuing city. But their hearts and hopes will be turned
to that "rest that remaineth for the people of God." And
that blessed hope in turn will quicken and inspire to con-
tinued sacrifice.
Thus, through consecration, the mind is renewed or
transformed, and the desires, hopes and aims begin to rise
toward the spiritual and unseen things promised, while the.
human hopes, etc., die. Those thus transformed, or in
process of change, are reckoned "new creatures," begotten
of God, and partakers to that extent of the divine nature
Mark well the difference between these "new creatures "
and those believers and "brethren " who are only justified.
Those of the fetter class are still of the earth, earthy, and,
aside from sinful desires, their hopes, ambitions and aims
are such as will be fully gratified in the promised restitution
of all things. But those of the former class are not of this
world, even as Christ is not of this world, and their hopes cen-
ter in the things unseen, where Christ sittethat die right hand
of God. The prospe<Sl of earthly glory, so enchanting to
the natural man, would no longer be a satisfying portion to
those begotten of this heavenly hope, to those who see the
glories of the heavenly promises, and who appreciate the
part assigned them in the divine plan. This new, divine
mind is the earnest of our inheritance of the complete di-
vine nature mind and body. Some may be a little start-
led by this expression, a divine body; but we are told that
Jesus is now the express image of his Father's person, and
that the overcomers will *<be //&?him and see him as he is."
(i John 3 1 2.) "There is a natural [human] body, and there
is a spiritual body.'* (i Cor. 15 : 44.) We could not im-
agine either our divine Father or our Lord Jesus as merely
great minds without bodies. Theirs are glorious spiritual
bodies, though it doth not yet appear how great is the
glory, and it shall not, until we also shall shais the divine
nature.
While this transforming of the mind from human to spir-
itual is a gradual work, the change from a human to a spir-
iual body will not be gradual, but instantaneous, (i Cor.
15:52.) Now, as Paul says, we have this treasure (the di-
vine mind) in earthen vessels, but in due time the treasure
fcttures
will be in a glorious vessel appropriate f> it the spirit-
ual body.
We have seen that the human nature 5s a likeness of the
spiritual. (Gen. 3 J *) For instance, God has a will, so have
men and angels ; God has reason and memory, so have his
intelligent creatures angels and men. The charadler of
the mental operations of each is the same. With the same
data for reasoning, and under similar conditions, these dif-
ferent natures are able to arrive at the same conclusions.
Though the mental faculties of the divine, the angelic and
the human natures are similar, yet we know that the spir-
itual natures have powers beyond and above the human-
powers which result, we think, not from different faculties,
but from the wider range of the same faculties and the dif-
ferent circumstances under which they operate. The hu*
man nature is a perfect earthly image of the spiritual nature,
having the same faculties, but confined to the earthly sphere,
and with ability and disposition to discern only so much
beyond it as God sees fit to reveal for man's benefit and
happiness.
The divine is the highest order of the spiritual nature \
and how immeasurable is the distance between God and his
creatures ! We are able to catch only glimpses of the
glory of the divine wisdom, power and goodness as in pan-
oramic view he causes some of his mighty works to pass
before us. But we may measure and comprehend the glory
of perfect humanity.
With these thoughts clearly in mind, we are able to ap-
preciate how the change from the human to the spiritual
nature is effected, viz., by carrying the same mental powers
over to higher conditions. When clothed with the heaven-
ly body, we shall have the heavenly powers which belong
to that glorious body; and we shall have the range O r
thought and scope of power which belong to it,
203 The
The change or transformation of mind, from earthly to
heavenly, which the consecrated experience here, is the be-
ginning of that change of nature. It is not a change of
brain, nor a miracle in its changed operation, but it is the
will and the bent of mind that are changed. Our will and
sentiments represent our individuality; hence we are trans-
formed, and reckoned as actually belonging to the heavenly
nature, when our wills and sentiments are thus changed.
True, this is but a very small beginning; but a begetting, as
this is termed, is always but a small beginning; yet it is the
earnest or assurance of the finished work. Eph. i : 13, 14.
Some have asked, How shall we know ourselves when
changed? How shall we then know that we are the same
beings that lived and suffered and sacrificed that we might
be partakers of this glory? Will we be the same conscious
beings? Most assuredly, yes. If we be dead with Christ,
we shall also live with him. (Rom. 6 : 8.) Changes which
daily occur to our human bodies do not cause us to forget
the past, or to lose our identity.*
These thoughts may help us to understand also ho\v the
Son, when changed from spiritual to human conditions
to human nature and earthly limitations was a man ; and
though it was the same being in both cases, under the first
conditions he was spiritual and under the second conditions
* Our human bodies are constantly changing. Science declares that
each, seven years witnesses a complete change in our component atoms.
So the promised change from human to spiritual bodies will not destroy
either memory or identity, but will increase their power and range.
The same divine mind that now is ours, with the tame memory, the
same reasoning poweis* etc., will then find its powers expanded to im-
measurable heights and depths, in harmony with its new spiritual body,
and memory will trace all our career from earliest human infancy- and
we will be able, by contrast, fully to realize the glorious reward of out
sacrifice. But this could not Ixs the case if the human were not an
image of the spiritual
203
lie was human. Because the two natures are separate and
distinct, and yet the one a likeness of the other, therefore,
the same mental faculties (memory, etc.) being common
to both, Jesus could remember his former glory which he
had before becoming a man, but which he had not when
he had become a man, as his words prove "Father, glo-
rify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I
had with thee before the world was" (John 17: 5) the
glory of the spiritual nature. And that prayer is more
than answered in his present exaltation to the highest
form of spirit being, the divine nature.
Referring again to Paul's words, we notice that he does
not say, Do not conform yourselves to this world, but trans-
form yourselves into the divine likeness ; but he says, "B*.
not conformed, . . . but be ye transformed." This is well
expressed; for we do not either conform or transform our-
selves ; but we do either submit ourselves to be conformed
to the world by the worldly influences, the spirit of the,
world around us, or submit ourselves to the will of God,
the holy will or Spirit, to be transfortned by heavenly
influences exercised through the Word of God. You that
are consecrated, to which influences are you submitting?
The transforming influences lead to present sacrifice and
suffering, but the end is glorious. If you are develop-
ing under these transforming influences, you are proving dai-
ly what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Let such as have laid their all upon the altar of sacrifice
continually bear in mind that, while the Word of God con-
tains both earthly and heavenly promises, only the latter
belong to us. Our treasure is in heaven : let our hearts
continually be there. Our calling is not only to the spir-
itual nature, but to the highest order of the spiritual, the
divine nature "so much better than the angels." (2 Pet
x s 4 ; Heb. i : 4,) This heaveniy calling is confined to th&
*04 The Plan of the Ages.
Gospel age : it was never made before it, and it will ceas*
with its close. An earthly calling was made, though im-
perfectly understood, fc:fore the heavenly calling, and we
aretoldthatitwillbecontinuedaftertheGospelage. Life[for
those restored as human beings] and immortality [the prize
for which the body of Christ is running] have both been
brought to light during this age. (2 Tim. i : 10.) Both the
human and spiritual natures will be glorious in their per-
fection, yet distinct and separate. No insignificant feature
of the glory of God's finished work will be the beautiful
variety, yet wonderful harmony, of all things, animate and
inanimate harmony with each other andhannony with God
THE CHURCH OF GOD.
Son, anse, break forth in songs
Of everlasting joy j
To God eternal praise belongs,
Who doth thy foes destroy.
Thou Church of God, awake J awake i
For light beams from on high;
From earth and dust thy garments shake
Thy glory 4 * drawing nigh*
* To raise thee nigh above the earth ,
God will his power enapky \
He'll turn thy mourning into mirth
Thy senow Into joy.
In shining robes thysdf array,
Put on thy garments pure ;
Thy King shall lead thee in the way
That?* holy, safe and sure,"
STUDY XL
THE THREE WAYS THE BROAD WAY, THE NARROW
WAY, THE HIGHWAY,
THB BROAD ROAD TO DESTRUCTION. TE NARROW WAV TO LIFB WHAT xs
LIFE? THB DIVINB NATURE THE RELATIONSHIP OP THB BIVXNB AND
HUMAN NATURES THB REWARD AT THE END OF THE NARROW WAY. THB
HIGH CALLING LIMITED TO THE GOSPEL ACE. DIFFICULTIES AND DANGERS OP
THB NARROW WAY. THB HIGHWAY OP HOLINESS.
^TITTDE is the gate of destruction, and broad that way leading
VV thither j and many are they who enter through it. How nar-
row is the gate of life! how difficult that way leading thither! and how
few are they who find it!" Matt 7 : 13, 14, Diaglott translation.
"And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall
be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass
over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men,
though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor
any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, nor be found there;
but they that walk there shall be delivered." Isa 35 : 8, 9.
Three ways, the "broad road," the "narrow way" and
the "highway," are thus brought to our attention in the
Scriptures.
THE BROAD ROAD TO DESTRUCTION.
This road is thus named because it is most easy to the
degenerate human race. Six thousand years ago, as a sin-
ner condemned to destruction, Adam (and the race repre-
sented in him) started upon this road, and after nine hun-
dred and thirty years he reached its end destruction.
As years and centuries have rolled on, the downward path
has become more and more smoothly worn, and the race has
sped more and more rapidly to destruction, the way becom-
ing daily more glazed and slimed and slippery with sin,
3*5
And not only does the way grow more slippery, but man-
kind daily loses the power of resistance, so that now the
average length of human life is about thirty years. Men
now reach, the end of the road destruction nine hundred
years quicker than did the first man.
For six thousand years the race has steadily pursued the
broad, downward way. Only a few, comparatively, have
tried to change their course and retrace their steps. In
fact, to retrace all the steps, and reach the original per-
fection, has been impossible, though the effort of some to
do so has been commendable, and not without beneficial
results. For six thousand years sin and death have reigned
relentlessly over mankind, and driven them upon this broad
road to destruction. And not until the Gospel age was a
way of escape brought to light. Though in previous ages
rays of hope were dimly seen in types and shadows, which
were joyfully hailed and a<5ted upon by a few, yet life and
immortality were not brought to light until the appearing
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the proclama-
tion by the apostles of the good tidings of redemption and
remission of slxis and a consequent resurrection from the
destruction. (2 Tim. i : 10,) The teachings of Jesus and
the apostles bring to light life a restitution or restoration
to life, for all mankind, as based upon the merit and sacrifice
of the Redeemer j and they show this to be the significance
of many Old Testament types. They also bring to light
immortality, the prize of the high calling of the Gospel
Church.
Although a way of escape from the broad road to de-
struction has been brought to light through the gospel, the
great mass of mankind heeds not the good tidings, because
depraved by sin and blinded by the adversary. Those
who now gratefully accept the promise of life, restoration
to human, existence, through Christ, have pointed out to
The Three Ways. 20*?
them a new way which has been opened up, by which con-
secrated believers may go beyond the human nature and
be changed to a higher nature the spiritual. This new
way "consecrated for &r" the royal priesthood (Hebu
10 : 20) our Lord called
"THE NARROW WAV TO LIFE."
Our Master tells us that it is because of the narrowness
of this way that the many prefer to remain on the broad
road to destruftion. "Strait [difficult] is the gate and
narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be
that find it."
Before considering this way and its dangers and difficul-
ties, let us notice the end to which it leads life. As al-
ready seen, life may be enjoyed on various planes of being,
higher as well as lower than human. Life is a broad and
comprehensive term, but here our Lord uses it in reference
to that highest form of life, pertaining to the divine nature
immortality the prize for which he invited us to run.
What is life? We not only realize it in ourselves, but we
see its operation in lower animals, and even in vegetation,
and we are told of its existence in higher forms, angelic
and divine. How shall we define a term so comprehensive?
While we may not be able to discover the secret springs
of life in all, we may safely assume that the Divine Being,
Jehovah, is the great fountain of all life, from which all
these springs are supplied. All living things result from
and depend on him for life. All life, whether hi God of
in his creatures, is the same: it is an energizing principle,
not a substance. It is a principle which inheres in God,
but which in his creatures results from certain causes which
God has ordained, and of it he is therefore the cause,
the author or fountain. Hence the creature is in no sense
a part or an, offspring of the Creator's essence or nature,
*oS The Plan of the Ages.
assome imagine, but he is God's handiwork infused with life
Recognizing the faft that only in the divine nature is
life independent, unlimited, exhausdess, ever continuous
and neither produced nor controlled by circumstances, we
see that of necessity Jehovah is superior to those physical
laws and supplies which he ordained for the sustenance of
his creatures. It is this quality, which pertains only to
the divine nature, that is described by the term immor-
tality. As shown in the preceding chapter, immortal
signifies death-proof, consequently disease and pain-proof.
In fa& immortality may be used as a synonym for divinity
From the divine, immortal fountain proceed all life and
blessing, every good and perfect gift, as from the sun the
earth receives her light and vigor.
The sun is the great fountain of light to the earth, illumi-
nating all things, producing many varieties of color and
shades of light, according to the nature of the object upon
which it shines. The same sunlight shining upon a dia-
mond upon a brick, and upon various kinds of glass, produces
strikingly different effefls. The light is the same, but the
objefis upon which it shines differ in their capacity to
receive and to transmit it. So with life : it all flows from the
one exhaustless fountain. The oyster has life, but its or*
gnnism is such that it cannot make use of much life, just
as the brick cannot reflect much of the light of the sun*
So with each of the higher manifestations of life, in beast*
fish and fowl. Like the various kinds of glass under sun*
light, so these various creatures show forth differently the
various organic powers they possess, when life animates
their organisms.
The polished diamond is so adapted to the light that it
appears as though it possessed it within itself, and were itself
a miniature sun. So with, man, nc of the master-pieces
of God's creation, made only " a little' lower than the an-
The Ttir<* Ways. 209
gels." He was so grandly formed as to be able to receive
and retain life by the use of the means which God supplied,
and never grow dim. Thus was Adam before he fell grander
than any other earthly creature, not by reason of any differ-
ence in the life principle implanted, but because of a grander
organism. Yet, let us remember that as the diamond can
reflect no light except when shone upon by the sun, so man
can possess and enjoy life only as the supply of life is
continued. Man has not inherent life: he is no more a
fountain of life than a diamond is a fountain of light. And
one of the very strongest evidences that we have not an
exhaustless supply of life in ourselves, or, in other words,
that we are not immortal, is that since sin entered, death
has passed upon all our race.
God had arranged that man in Eden should have access
to life sustaining trees, and the paradise in which he was
placed was abundantly supplied with numbers of "every
[kind of] tree" good for food or for adornment. (Gen. 2 : 9,
16, 17.) Among the trees of life good for food was one
forbidden. While for a time forbidden to eat of the tree of
knowledge, he was permitted to eat freely of trees which
sustained life perfectly; and he was separated from them
only after transgression, that thereby the death-penalty
might go into effect. Gen. 3 : 22.
Thus the glory and beauty of humanity are seen to be de-
pendent on the continued supply of life, just as the beauty
of the diamond is dependent on the continued supply of
sunlight. When sin deprived humanity of the right to
life, and the supply was withheld, immediately the jewel
began to lose its brilliancy and beauty, and finally it is
deprived of its last vestige in the tomb. His beauty con-
sumes away like a moth. (Psa. 39: n.) As the diamond
loses its beauty and brilliancy when the light is withdrawn,
so man loses life when God withholds the supplies from him.
14-A
210 The Plan of the Ages.
" Yea, man giveth up the ghost [life] and where is he?*'
(Job 14:10.) "His sons come to honor, and he knoweth
it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not
of them.' 7 (Verse 21.) "For there is no work, nor device,
nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou
goest." (Eccl. 9:10.) But since a ransom has been found,
since the death penalty has been paid by the Redeemer,
the jewel is to have its beauty restored, and is again to re-
flet perfectly the Creator's image when the Sun of Right-
eousness shall arise with healing in his wings. (Mai. 4:2.)
It is because of the sin-offering, the sacrifice of Christ, that
'All that are in their graves shall come forth." There
shall be a restitution of all things; first an opportunity or
offer of restitution to all, and ultimately the attainment
of human perfection by all who will obey the Redeemer.
This, however, is not the reward to which Jesus refers
as the end of the narrow way. From other Scriptures we
learn that the reward promised to those who walk the nar-
row way is the " divine nature " life inherent, life in that
superlative degree which only the divine nature can possess
immortality. What a hope ! Dare we aspire to such a
height of glory? Surely not without positive and explicit
invitation could any rightfully thus aspire.
From i Tim. 6:14-16 we learn that the immortal or
divine nature was originally the possession of divinity only.
We read: "He [Jesus] in his time [the Millennial age]
will show who is the blessed and only potentate the King
of kings and Lord of lords, who only hath immortality,
dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto,
whom no man hath seen nor can see." All other beings,
angels, men, beasts, birds, fish, etc., are but vessels, holding
each its measure of life, and all differing in character,
capacity and quality according to the organism which it
has Dleased the Creator to provide for each.
The Three Ways. asx
Further, we learn that Jehovah, who alone possessed im-
mortality originally, has highly exalted his Son, our Lord
Jesus, to the same divine, immortal nature; hence he is
now the express image of the Father's person. (Heb. i : 3.)
So we read, "As the Father hath LIFE IN HIMSELF [God's
definition of " immortality ' ' life in himself not drawn
from other sources, nor dependent on circumstances, but
independent, inherent life], so hath he given to the Son
to have LIFE IN HIMSELF." (John 5 : 26.) Since the resur-
rection of the Lord Jesus, then, two beings are immortal ;
and, amazing grace ! the same offer is made to the Bride
of the Lamb, being selected during the Gospel age. Yet
not all of the great company who are nominally of the
Church will receive this great prize, but only that "little
flock" of overcomers whoso run as to obtain it; who fol-
low closely in the Master's footsteps; who, like him, walk
the narrow way of sacrifice, even unto death. These, when
born from the dead in the resurrection, will have the divine
nature and form. This immortality, the independent, self-
existent, divine nature, is the life to which the narrow
way leads.
This class is not to be raised from the tomb human beings ;
for we are assured by ths/ Apostle that, though sown in the
tomb natural bodies, they will be raised spiritual bodies.
These all shall be "changed," and even as they once bore
the image of the earthly, human nature, they shall bear
the image of the heavenly. But " it doth not yet appear
what we shall be' ' what a spiritual body is ; but " we know
that when he shall appear, we shall be Kke him" and share
in "the glory to be revealed." i John 3:2; Col. i : 27 ;
2 Cor. 4: 17; John 17: 22; i Pet. 5: 10; 2 Thes. 2: 14.
Not only is this high calling to a change of nature con-
fined exclusively to the Gospel age, but it is the only offer
of this age. Hence our Lord's words quoted at the begin-
212 Th* Plan of the Ages.
ning of this chapter include on the broad road to destrac
tion all who are not on the way to the only prize now
offered. All others are still on the broad roadthese only
have as yet escaped the condemnation that is on the world.
This, the only way of life now open, because of its diffi-
culty, finds few who care to walk in it. The masses of man-
kind in their weakness prefer the broad, easy way of self-
gratification.
The narrow way, while it ends in life, in immortality,
might be called a way of death, since its prize is gained
through the sacrifice of the human nature even unto death.
It is the narrow way of death to life. Being reckoned free
from the Adamic guilt and the death penalty, the consecrated
voluntarily surrender or sacrifice those human rights, reck-
oned theirs, which in due time they, with the world in
general, would have actually received. As " the man Christ
Jesus " laid down or sacrificed his life for the world, so
these become joint-sacrificers with him. Not that his sacri-
fice was insufficient and that others were needed; but while
his is all-sufficient, these are permitted to serve and to suf-
fer with him in order to become his bride and joint-heir.
So, then, while the world is under condemnation to death,
and is dying with Adam, this "little flock," through the
process of faith reckonings and sacrifice, already described,
are said to die with Christ. They sacrifice and die with
him as human beings, in order to become partakers of the
divine nature and glories with him; for we believe that if
we be dead with him, we shall also live with him. If we
suffer with him, we shall also be glorified together. Rom.
8 : 17 and a Tim. 2 : n, 12.
In the beginning of the Millennial age, those who now
walk the narrow way will have gained the great prize for
which they ran, immortality; and being thus clothed with
the divine nature and power, they will be prepared for
The Three Ways. 213
tlie great work of restoring and blessing the world during
that age. With the end of the Gospel age, the narrow
way to immortality will close, because the select "little
flock " that it was designed to test and prove will have been
completed. "Now is the accepted [Greek, dekto$> accept-
able or receivable] time ' ' the time in which sacrifices, com-
ing in the merit of Jesus and becoming dead with him,
are acceptable to God & sacrifice of sweet odor. Death,
as the Adamic penalty, will not be permitted forever ; it
will be abolished during the Millennial age; as a sacrifice
it will be acceptable and rewarded only during the Gospel age.
It is only as "new creatures" that the saints of this
age are on the way to life; and only as human beings are
we consecrated to destruction, as sacrifices. If, as human
creatures, we be dead with Christ, as new, spiritual beings,
we shall live with him. (Rom. 6:8.) The mind of God
in us, the transformed mind, is the germ of the new nature.
The new life would be easily choked; and Paul assures
us that when begotten of the spirit through the truth, if
we live after the flesh, we shall die (lose our life), but if
we, through the spirit, do mortify (put to death) the deeds
of the body (the disposition of the human nature), we (as
new creatures) shall live; for the sons of God are those led
by the spirit of God. (Rom. 8 : 13, 14.) This is a thought
of utmost importance to all the consecrated; for if we
have covenanted with God to sacrifice the human nature,
and if that sacrifice was accepted by him, it is useless to
attempt to take it back. The human is reckoned of God
as dead now, and must actually die, never again to be
restored. All that can be gained, then, by turning back
to live after the flesh, is a little human gratification at the
expense of the new spiritual nature.
There are, however, many consecrated ones desirous of
<?, and who have been begotten of the spirit, who
2X4 The Plan of the Age*.
are partially overcome by the allurements of the world,
the desires of the flesh, or the arts of the devil. They
partially lose sight of the prize set before us, and try to
walk upon a middle road to keep the favor of God
and the favor of the world, forgetting that " the friendship
of the world is enmity with God" (James 4: 4), and that
the instructions to those running the race for the prize are,
Love not the world, and, Seek not honor one of another,
but that honor which cometh from God only. i John
2: 15 j John 5:44.
These, who love the present world, but who have not
wholly forsaken the Lord and despised their covenant,
receive a scourging and purifying by the fire of affiidlion.
As the Apostle expresses it, they are delivered over to Satan
for the destru&ion of the flesh, that the spirit (the newly
begotten nature) may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
(i Cor. 5 : 5.) And if rightly exercised by the discipline,
they will finally be received into the spiritual condition.
They will have everlasting, spiritual life as angels have it, but
will lose the prize of immortality. They will serve God
in his temple, and stand before the throne, having palms in
their hands (Rev. 7 : 9-17); but though that will be glori-
ous, it will not be so glorious as the position of the "little
flock" of overcomers, who will be kings and priests unto
God, seated with Jesus in the throne as his bride and joint-
heir, and with him crowned with immortality.
Ours is a rugged, steep, narrow way, and were it not that
strength is furnished for each successive step of the jour-
ney, we could never reach the goal. But our Captain's
word is encouraging: Be of good cheer; I have overcome;
my grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made per-
fect in weakness. (John 16 : 33 ; 2 Cor. 12 : 9.) The diffi-
culties of this way are to adl as a separating principle to
san&ify and refine a " peculiar people " to be "heirs of God
The Three Ways. 215
and Joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. ' ' In view of these things,
let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may ol>
tain mercy and find grace to help in time of need, while we
fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on "the crown of
glory ' ' immortality, the divine nature. 2 Tim. 4:8;
i Peter 5 : 4.
THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS.
While the special hope of the Gospel age is so surpass-
ingly glorious, and the way to it is correspondingly difficult
narrow, hedged in by hardships and dangers at every
step so that few find it, and obtain the great prize at its
end, the new order of things in the age to come is to be
entirely different. As a different hope is held out, so also
a different way leads to it. The way to immortality has
been a way which required the sacrifice of the otherwise
lawful and proper hopes, ambitions and desires the sacri-
fice forever of the human nature. But the way to human
perfection, lo restitution, the hope of the world, requires
only the putting away of sin : not the sacrifice of human
rights and privileges, but their proper enjoyment. It will
lead to personal purification and restoration to the image of
God as enjoyed by Adam before sin entered the world.
The way back to actual human perfection is to be made
very plain and easy ; so plain that none may mistake the
way; so plain that "the wayfaring man, and those unac-
quainted therewith, shall not go astray " (Isa. 35:8.
Leeser)\ so plain that none will need to teach his neighbor,
saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know the Lord from
the least unto the greatest. (Jer. 31 : 34.) Instead of be-
ing a narrow way that few can find, it is termed "a high-
way/' a public roadway not a narrow, steep, rugged, diffi-
cult, hedged by-way, but a way specially prepared for easy
travel specially arranged for the convenience and comfort
2 i6 2 he Plan of the Ages.
of the travelers. Verses 8 and 9 show that it is a public
road, opea to all the redeemed every man. Every man
for whom Christ died, who will recognize and avail himself
of the opportunities and blessings purchased by the pre-
cious blood, may go up on this Highway of Holiness to the
grand goal of perfect restitution to human perfeaion and
everlasting life.
Nor will these be reckoned justified and granted a reck-
oned standing of holiness and perfection in the sight of
God; when started upon this highway of holiness they
may go up thereon to aftml perfection, as a result of
endeavor and obedience, to which all things will be made
favorable by their Redeemer, then reigning in power.
Each individual will, according to his necessities, be aided
by the wise and perfect administration of the new kingdom.
This, as will occur to some, is the legitimate result of the
ransom. Since our Lord, the man Christ Jesus, gave him-
self a ransom for all, and desires all to come to a knowledge of
the truth, and thereby to aclual perfection, why does he not
at once make a good and broad highway for all? Why does
he not remove the obstructions, the stumbling-stones, the
pitfalls and snares? Why not help the sinner back to full-
harmony with God, instead of making the way narrow,
rugged, thorny, hard to find, and still harder to walk in?
A failure rightly to divide the Word of truth, and to see
that the present narrow way leads to the special prize, and
is for the trial and selection of a little flock of joint-heirs,
the body of Christ, which, when selected and exalted with
their Head, shall bless all nations, has led some to very con-
fused ideas on the subject. Palling to see God's plan, many
try to preach a highway of holiness, an easy way to life,
in the present age, when no such way exists, and they con-
fuse and compromise the matter to fit the facls and the
Scriptures with their mistaken theories. On the highway
The Three Ways. *i*i
soon to be opened, only sinful things will be prohibited,
while those who travel the narrow way must deny themselves
and sacrifice many things not sinful, as well as war contin-
ually against besetting sins. This is a pathway of sacrifice,
as that of the coming age is to be a highway of righteousness.
Of that highway it is significantly stated in symbolic
language that "No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous
beast shall go up thereon; it shall not be found there."
(Isa. 35 : 9.) How many frightful lions are now in the way of
those who would be glad to forsake sinful ways, and to pursue
righteousness ! There is the lion of a degenerate publicsenti-
ment, which deters many from venturing to obey the dic-
tates of conscience in matters of every-day life dress, home
and business arrangements, etc. The lion of temptation
to strong drink hinders thousands who would be glad to
see it removed. Prohibitionists and temperance workers
now find a herculean task on their hands, which only the
authority and power of the next age can remove; and the
same may be said of other worthy efforts at moral reform.
"Nor shall any ravenous beast go up thereon." No giant
corporations, organized to advance selfish, individual inter-
ests at the expense of the general good, will be tolerated.
* They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain ' *
(kingdom) saith the Lord. (Isa. 11:9.) Though there will
be difficulties to labor against in overcoming propensities
to evil, etc., yet, in comparison with the narrow way of this
age, that will be an easy way. The stones (stumbling-
stones) shall all be gathered out, and the standard of truth
shall be lifted up for the people. (Isa, 62 : 10.) Ignorance
and superstition will be things of the past, and righteous-
ness will receive its due reward, while to evil will be meted
out its just deserts. (MaL 3:15,18.) By wholesome chas-
tisements, fitting encouragements and plain instructions,
as returned prodigals, mankind will be trained and disci-
2i8 The Plan of the Ages.
plined up to the grand perfection from which father Adam
fell. Thus "the ransomed of the Lord shah return
[from destruction, by the grand highway of holiness]
. . with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they
shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall
flee away.*' (Isa. 35 : 10.) Our Lord referred to but two of
these ways, because the third was not yet due to be opened
up just as when announcing the good tidings he said,
** This Scripture is fulfilled in your ears/ ' but omitted men-
tioning the "day of vengeance," because it was not then
due. (Compare Luke 4:19 and Isa. 61 : 2.) .Now, however,
as the narrow way draws to a close, the grand highway of
righteousness begins to be seen more and more distinctly,
in the light of the dawning day*
Thus we have found a " Broad Road/* on which at pres-
ent the masses of mankind travel, deluded by the "prince
of this world, * ' and led by perverted taste&. TV e have found
that it was opened up and that our race was started in its head-
long course upon it by "one man's disobedience. * ' We have
found that the "Highway of Holiness" is to be opened up
by our Lord, who gave himself a ransom for all and re-
deemed all from the destruction to which the "Broad
Road" leads, and that it will, in due time, be accessible
and easy for all the redeemed ones whom he bought with his
own precious blood. We have found, furthermore, that the
present "Narrow Way," opened up by the merit of the
same precious blood, is a special way leading to a special
prize, and is made specially narrow and difficult as a to/ and
discipline for those now being selected to be made partak-
ers of the divine nature and joint-heirs with our Lord Jesus
in the Kingdom of glory soon to be revealed for the bless-
ing of all. Such as have this hope^ see this prize
may count all other hopes as but loss and dross in com-
parison. Phil. 3:8-15.
STUDY XII.
EXPLANATION OF CHART REPRESENTING THE PLAN
OF THE AGES.
THE AGES. THE HARVESTS. PLANES OF ACTUAL AND RECKONED STANDING.
THE COURSE OF OUR LORD JESUS. THB COURSE OF His FOLLOWERS THREE
CLASSES IN THE NOMINAL CHURCH. SEPARATION IN THE HARVEST. THE
ANOINTED CLASS GLORIFIED. THE GREAT TRIBULATION CLASS. THE TARES
BURNED. THB WORLD BLESSED. THE OUTCOME GLORIOUS.
A S the frontispiece of this volume we give a chart repre-
*"*- senting the plan of God for the world's salvation. By
it we have sought to aid the mind, through the eve, in
understanding something of the progressive character of
God's plan, and the progressive steps which must be taken
by all who ever attain the complete " change " from the
human to the divine nature.
First, we have an outline of the three great dispensa-
tions, A 9 B 9 C the first of these, A, lasting from man's crea-
tion to the flood; the second, B, from the flood to the com-
mencement of the Millennial reign of Christ, at his sec-
ond advent ; and the third, or " Dispensation of the Ful-
ness of Times/' C 9 lasting from the beginning of Christ's
reign for "ages to come." (Eph. i : 10; 2:7.) These
three great dispensations are frequently referred to in the
Scriptures: A is called "the world that was;" B by our
Lord Jesus is called "this world," by Paul "the present
evil world," by Peter " the world that now is." Cis called
"the world to come, wherein dwelleth righteousness," in
contrast with the present evil world. Now evil rules and the
righteous suffer, while in the world to come this order is
to be reversed : righteousness will rule* and evil-doers will
suffer, and finally all evil will be destroyed.
219
Plan of the Agts.
In each of these three great dispensations, epochs or
"worlds " God's plan with reference to men has a distinct
and separate outline; yet each is but a part of the one
great plan which, when complete, will exhibit the divine
wisdom though these parts considered separately fail to
show their deep design. Since the first "world" ("heav-
ens and earth/* or that order of things) passed away at
the time of the flood, it follows that it must hare been a
different order from "this present evil world" of which
our Lord said Satan is the prince; hence the prince of
this present evil world was not the prince of the world
that was before the flood, although he was not without in-
fluence then. Several scriptures throw light on God's deal-
ings during that time, and thus give a clear insight into
his plan as a whole. The thought suggested by these is
that the frst "world," or the dispensation before the flood,
was under the supervision and special ministration of an-
gels, who were permitted to try what they could do to
recover the fallen and degenerate race. Doubtless, with.
God's permission, they were anxious to try it; for their
interest was manifested in the singing and shouting for
joy over the works of creation, (Job. 38 : 7.) That angels
were the permitted though unsuccessful rulers of that first
epoch is not only indicated by all references to that pe-
riod, but it may reasonably be inferred from the Apostle's
remark when, contrasting the present dispensation with
the past and the future, he says (Heb. 6:5), "Unto the
angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come,**
No; that world is to be under the control of the Lord Je*
BUS and his joint-heirs j and hence it will not only be &
more righteous administration than that of "the present
evil world/* but it will also be more successful than that
of the first world or dispensation under the "ministration
of angels," whose inability to reclaim the race is manifest
Ptan of mt
from the fact that man's wickedness became so great that
God in his wrath and righteous indignation destroyed with
a flood the whole of the race then living with the excep-
tion of eight persons. Gen. 7 : 13.
During the " present evil world/* man is permitted to
try governing himself; but by reason of the fall he is
tinder the control of Satan, the "prince of this world,'*
against whose secret machinations and intrigues he has vain*
ly striven in his efforts at self-government during the long
period from the flood to the present time. This attempted
reign of man under Satan is to end in the greatest time of
trouble the world has ever known. And thus will have
been proven the futility, not only of angelic power to save
the race, but also of man's own efforts to reach satisfactory
conditions.
The second of these great dispensations, B, is composed
of three distinct ages, each of which, as a progressive step,
leads upward and onward in God's plan.
Age D was the one during which God's special dealings
were with such patriarchs as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Age E is the Jewish Age, or the period following the
death of Jacob, during which all of his posterity were treat-
ed by God as his special charge "his people/' To these
he showed special favors, and declared, " You only have I
known (recognized with favor) of all the families of the
earth." (Amos 3 : 2.) These, as a nation, were typical of
the Christian Church, the "holy nation, the peculiar peo-
ple." The promises made to them were typical of the "bet-
ter promises" made to us. Their journey through the
wilderness to the land of promise was typical of our jour ^
ney through the wilderness of sin to the heavenly Canaan.
Their sacrifices justified them typically, not really; for the
blood of bulls and goats can never take away sin. (Heb.
in * 4j But in the Gospel Age, f> we have the "better
22* The Plan of Tit /(giM.
sacrifices,*' which do make atonement for the sins of the
whole world. We have the " royal priesthood," composed
of all those who offer themselves to God "living sacrifices/'
holy and acceptable, through Jesus Christ, who is the Chief
or te High Priest of our profession. ' ' (Heb. 3:1.) In the
Gospel age we find the realities of which the Jewish age
and its services and ordinances were shadows. Heb. 10 : i.
The Gospel age, F> is the period during which the body
of Christ is called out of the world, and shown by faith
the crown of life, and the exceeding great and precious
promises whereby (by obedience to the call and its require-
ments) they may become partakers of the divine nature.
(2 Pet. i : 4.) Evil is still permitted to reign over or rule
the world, in order that by contact with it these may be
tried to see whether they are willing to give up the human
nature with its privileges and blessings, a living sacrifice,
being made conformable to Jesus' death, that they may be
accounted worthy to be in his likeness in the resurrection.
Psa. 17: 15.
The third great dispensation, C, is to be composed of
many ages " The Ages to Come." The first of these, the
Millennial age, G, is the only one concerning which we
have any definite information. It is the thousand years
during which Christ will reign over and thereby bless
all the families of the earth, accomplishing the "restitu-
tion of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy
prophets." (Acts 3:19-21.) During that age, sin and
death shall be forever blotted out j for "Christ must reign
till he hath put all enemies under his feet. . . . The last
enemy that shall be destroyed is death' 7 Adamic death.
(i Cor. 15 : 25, 26.) That will be the great reconstruction
period. Associated with Christ Jesus in that reign will be
the Church, his bride, his body, even as he promised, say-
ing, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with
Plan of the Ages. 223
me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set
down with my Father in his throne." Rev. 3:21.
The "Ages to Come," H, following the great reconstruo
tion period, are to be ages of perfe&ion, blessedness and
happiness, regarding the work of which, the Scriptures are
silent. It is enough to know, at this distance, that they
will be ages of glory and blessing under divine favor.
-Each of these dispensations has its distind: seasons for
the beginning and development of its work, and each ends
with a harvest manifesting its fruits. The harvest at the
close of the Jewish age was a period of forty years, lasting
from the beginning of Jesus' ministry, when he was anoint-
ed of God by the Spirit (Acts 10 : 37, 38), A. D. 29, until
the destruction of Jerusalem, A. D. 70. In this harvest
the Jewish age ended and the Gospel age began. There
was a lapping of these dispensations, as represented in the
diagram.
The Jewish age ended in a measure when, at the end of
his three and one-half years' ministry, the Lord rejected that
nation, saying, "Your house is left unto you desolate."
(Matt. 23 : 38.) Yet there was favor shown them for three
and one-half years after this, by the confining to them of
the Gospel call, in harmony with the prophet's declaration
(Dan. 9 : 24-27) regarding seventy weeks (of years) of fa-
vor toward them, in the midst of the last of which, Mes-
siah should be cut off [die], but not for himself. "Christ
died [not for himself, but] for our sins," and thus caused
the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, in the midst of the
week three and one-half years before the expiration of the
seventy covenant weeks of Jewish favor. When the true
sacrifice had been made, of course the typical ernes could
no longer be recognized by Jehovah.
There was, then, a fuller sense in which that Jewish age
closed with the end of the seventieth week, or three ano
224 Tlie Plan of the Ages.
one-half year* after the cross after which the gospel was
preached to the Gentiles also, beginning with Cornelius.
(Acls 10 : 45.) This ended their age so far as God's favor
toward and recognition of the Jewish church was con-
cerned; their national existence terminated in the great
time of trouble which followed.
In that period of the Jewish harvest the Gospel age had
its beginning. The design of this age is the call, devel-
opment and trial of "the Christ of God " Head and body.
This is the Spirit dispensation ; hence, it is proper to say
that the Gospel age began with the anointing of Jesus " with
the Holy Spirit and with power" (Acls 10 38 ; Luke 3:22;
4: i, 18) at the time of his baptism. In relation to the
Church, his body, it commenced three and a half years later.
A "harvest" constitutes the closing period of the Gos-
pel age also, during which there is again a lapping of two
ages the Gospel age ending, and the Restitution or Mil-
lennial age beginning. The Gospel age closes by stages,
as did its pattern or "shadow," the Jewish age. As there
the first seven years of the harvest were devoted in a special
sense to a work in and for Israel after the flesh, and were
years of favor, so here we find a similar seven years indicated
as having the same bearing upon the Gospel Church, to be
followed by a period of trouble ("fire") upon the world,
as a punishment for wickedness, and as a preparation for the
reign of righteousness of which more again.
THE PATH TO GLORY.
JT, Z, M, N, P, , each represents a different plane. N
te the plane of perfect human nature. Adam was on this
plane before he sinned; but from the moment of disobedi-
ence he fell to the depraved or sinful plane, , on which
ill his posterity are born. This corresponds to the "Broad
Way " which leads to destruction. P represents the plane
<rf typical justification, reckoned as effected by the sacri-
Flan of the Ages* ft*j
fices of the Law. It was not a&ual perfection, for "the
Law made nothing perfect." Heb. 7:19.
N represents not only the plane of human perfection, as
once occupied by the perfect man, Adam, but also the
standing of all justified persons. " Christ died for our sins ;
according to the Scriptures/* and in consequence all be-
lievers in Christ all who accept of his perfect and finished
work as their justifier are, through faith, reckoned of God
as justified, as though perfect men, as though they had never
been sinners. In God's sight, then, all who accept of Christ
as their Redeemer are reckonedly on the plane of human
perfection, N. This is the only standpoint from which man
may approach God, or have any communion with him. All
on this plane God calls sons human sons. Adam was thus
a son (Luke 3 : 38), and had communion before he became
disobedient. All who accept of our Ix>rd Jesus* finished
ransom work are counted or reckoned^ restored to primitive
purity; and in consequence they have fellowship or com-
munion with God.
During the Gospel age God has made a special offer to
justified human beings, telling them that on certain con-
ditions they may experience a change of nature, that they
may cease to be earthly, human beings, and becomehcavenly,
spiritual beings, like Christ, their Redeemer. Some be-
lievers justified persons are satisfied with what joy and
peace they have through believing in the forgiveness of
their sins, and so do not heed the voice which calls them
to come up higher. Others, moved by the love of God as
shown in their ransom from sin, and feeling that they are
not their own, having been bought with a price, say, " Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do?" Such have the Lord's
answer through Paul, who says, "I beseech you, brethren*
by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
$&&$*> holy, acceptable to God, your reasonable service.*
15-A
32b The Plan of the Ages.
(Rom. 12 : i.) What does the Apostle jnean by thus urging
the presentation of ourselves as living sacrifices ? He means
that we should consecrate to God's service every power and
talent we possess, that henceforth we may live not for self,
nor for friends, nor for family, nor for the world, nor for
anything else but for, and in the obedient service of, him who
bought us" with his own precious blood.
But since God would not accept of blemished or iraper-
feft typical sacrifices, and since wr all became sinners
through Adam, can we be acceptable sacrifices ? Paul shows
that it is only because we are holy that we are acceptable sac-
rifices. We are not holy like Jesus, who knew no sin, for
we are of the condemned race ; nor yet because we have
entirely succeeded in reaching perfection of conduct, for
we reckon not to have attained that perfection to which we
are called; but we have this treasure in (fragile and leaky)
earthen vessels, that the glory of our ultimate perfedlion
may be seen to be of God's favor, and not of our own
ability. But our holiness, and our acceptableness to God
as sacrifices, come from the facft that God has justified us
freely from all sin, through our faith in Christ's sacrifice on
our behalf.
As many as appreciate and obey this call rejoice to be
accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Christ,
and look not at the things that are seen, but at the things
that are not seen at the "crown "of life" "the prize
of our high-calling in Christ Jesus" and "the glory that
shall be revealed in us." These, from the moment of
consecration to God, are no longer reckoned as men, but
as having been begotten of God through the word of
truth no longer human, but thenceforth spiritual chil-
dren. They are now one step nearer the prtee than when
they first believed. But their spiritual being is yet imper-
fe& : they are only fagottm> not yet born of the spirit.
Flan )f ik
They are embryo spiritual children, on plane M the plane
of spirit begetting. Because begotten of the Spirit, they
are no longer reckoned as human, but as spiritual ; for the
human nature, once theirs, once justified, they have now-
given up or reckoned dead a living sacrifice, holy, ac-
ceptable to and accepted of God. They are now new crea-
tures in Christ Jesus: old things (human hopes, will and am-
bitions) have passed away, and all things have become new;
for " ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that
the Spirit of God dwell in you." (2 Cor, 5:17; Rom. 8 : 9.)
If you have been begotten of the Spirit, " ye (as human
beings) are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."
Plane L represents the condition of perfect spiritually-
ing \ but before plane L can be reached, the conditions of
our covenant must be carried out. It is one thing to cov-
enant with God that we will be dead to all human things, and
a further thing to perform that covenant throughout our earth-
ly career keeping the "body under" (dead), keeping our
own will out of sight, and performing only the Lord's will.
The entrance upon planeZ is called birth, or the full entrance
into life as a spirit being. The entire Church will enter on
this plane when gathered out (selected) from the world
in the "harvest" or end of the Gospel age. The "dead
in Christ shall rise first. " Then we, who are alive and
remain, shall be changed in a moment made perfect spirit-
ual beings with bodies like unto Christ's glorious body (for
"this mortal must put on immortality"). Then, that which
is perfect having come, that which is in part (the begotten
condition with the various hindrances of the flesh to which
we are now subject) shall be done away.
But there is a still further step to be taken beyond a per-
fection of spiritual being, viz., to "the glory that shall fol-
low" plane K. We do not here refer to a glory of per-
son, but to a glory of power or office. The reaching of
Plan of the
plane L brings full personal glory; /, e.> glorious being,
like unto Christ. But after we are thus perfe&ed, and made
entirely like our Lord and Head, we are to be associated
with him in the "glory" of power and office to sit with
him in his throne, even as he, after being perfected at his
resurredlion, was exalted to the right hand of the Majesty
on high. Thus shall we enter everlasting glory, plane J.
Let us now carefully study the chart and note its illustra-
tions of the various features of the plan of God. In these
illustrations we use the pyramid figure to represent perfec-
tion, because of its fitness and because of evident reference
to it in the Scriptures.
Adam was a perfe<5i being, pyramid a. Notice its posi-
tion on plane N, which represents human perfection. On
plane J?, the plane of sin and imperfeftion or the de-
praved plane, the topless pyramid, , an imperfect figure,
represents fallen Adam and his posterity depraved, sinful
and condemned.
Abraham and others of that day, justified (/. <?., reckoned
perfedt) on account of faith, are represented by a pyramid
(t) on plane N. Abraham was a member of the depraved
human family and by nature belonged with the rest on plane
R; but Paul tells us that Abraham was justified by faith;
that is, he was reckoned of God a sinless and pcrfe<5l man
because of his faith. This, in God's estimation, lifted him
up above the world of depraved sinful men to plane N;
and though a&ually still imperfedl, he was received into the
favor that Adam had lost, viz,, communion with God as a
friend." (James 2 : 23.) All on the perfeft (sinless) plane
N are friends of God, and he is a friend of theirs; but
sinners (on plane R) are at enmity against God " enemies
through wicked works."
The world of mankind after the flood, represented by
figure ^, was still on plane R still at enmity, where it
Plan of the Ages. 229
continues until the Gospel Church is selected and the Mil*
lennial age begins.
" Israel after the flesh," during the Jewish age, when the
typical sacrifices of bulls and goats cleansed them (not
really, but typically, " for the Law made nothing perfe& "
Heb. 7:19), were typically justified, hence they are
(<?) on plane P 9 the plane of typical justification, which
lasted from the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai until
Jesus made an end of the Law, nailing it to his cross.
There the typical justification ended by the institution of
the ** better sacrifices" than the Jewish types, those which
actually "take away the sin of the world" and "make the
comers thereunto [adlually] perfedl." Heb. 10 : i,
The fire of trial and trouble through which fleshly Israel
passed, when Jesus was present, sifting them and taking out
of their nominal church the wheat, the " Israelites indeed,"
and especially when, after the separation of the wheat, he
" burned up the chaff [the refuse part of that sy$tem\ with
unquenchable fire, ' * is illustrated by figure /. It was a time
of trouble which they were powerless to avert. See Luke
3 : 17, 21, 22 ; i Thess. 2 : 16.
Jesus, at the age of thirty years, was a perfect, mature
man (#), having loft the glory of the spiritual condition
and become a man in order that he (by the grace of God)
should taste death for every man. The justice of God's
law is absolute : an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth and
a life for a life* It was necessary that a perfect man should
die for mankind, because the claims of justice could be met
in no other way* The death of an angel could no more
pay the penalty and 4 release man than could the death of
' bulls and of goats, which can never take away sin. " There-
fore, he who is termed " the Beginning of the creation of
God" became a man, was "made flesh," that he might give
that ransom (corresponding price) which would redeem
230 The Plan of the Ages.
mankind. He must have been a perfect man else he could
have done no more than any member of the fallen race
to pay the price. He was "holy, harmless, undefiled, and
separate from sinners." He took the same form or like-
ness which sinners have "the likeness of sinful flesh"
the human likeness. But he took that likeness in its per-
fection: he did not partake of its sin nor did he share its
imperfection, except as he voluntarily shared the sorrows
and pains of some during his ministry, taking their pains
and infirmities as he imparted to them his vitality and health
and strength. It is written that " Himself took our infirmi-
ties and bare our sicknesses ' ' (Isa. 53 : 4), and " virtue [life,
vitality, vigor] went out of him and healed them all."
Mark 5 : 30 ; Luke 6 : 19 ; Matt. 8 : 16, 17.
Being found in fashion as a (perfect) man, he humbled
himself and became obedient unto death. He presented
himself to God, saying, "Lo, I come (in the volume of the
book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God ' ' and sym-
bolized this consecration by a baptism in water. When he
thus presented himself, consecrated his being, his offering
-was holy (pure) and acceptable to God, who showed his
acceptance by filling him with his Spirit and power when,
the Holy Spirit came upon him, thus anointing him.
This filling with the Spirit was the begetting to a new-
nature the divine which should be fully developed or
born when he had fully accomplished the offering the sac-
rifice of the human nature. This begetting was a step up
from human conditions, and is shown by pyramid h, on plane
M 9 the plane of spirit begetting. On this plane Jesus spent
three and one-half years of his life until his human exist-
ence ended on the cross. Then, after being dead three
days, he was raised to life to the perfection of spirit be-
ing (/, plane .) born of the Spirit u the first born from
the dead/' "That which is torn of the Spirit is
Pfan of the Ages. 331
Jesus, therefore, at and after his resurrection, was a spirit
a spirit being, and no longer a human being in any sense.
True, after his resurrection he had power to appear, and
did appear, as a man, in order that he might teach his dis-
ciples and prove to them that he was no longer dead ; but
he was not a man, and was no longer controlled by human
conditions, but could go and come as the wind (even when
the doors were shut), and none could tell whence he came
or whither he went. "So is every one that is born of the
Spirit." John 3 : 8. Compare 20 : 19, 26.
From the moment of his consecration to sacrifice, at the
time of his baptism, the human had been reckoned dead
and there the new nature was reckoned begun, which was
completed at the resurrection, when he reached the perfect
spirit plane, L was raised a spiritual body.
Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascended to the
majesty on high the plane of divine glory, K (pyramid /&).
During the Gospel age he has been in glory (/), "set down
with the Father on his throne," and Head over his Church
on earth her director and guide. During this entire Gospel
age the Church has been in process of development, dis-
cipline and trial, to the intent that in the end or harvest of
the age she may become his bride and joint-heir. Hence
she has fellowship in his sufferings, that she may be also
glorified together with him (plane ."), when the proper time
comes.
The steps of the Church to glory are the same as those
of her Leader and Lord, who "hath set us an example that
we should walk in his footsteps" except that the Church
starts from a lower plane. Our Lord, we have seen, came
into the world on the plane of human perfection, N, while
all we of the Adamic race are on a lower plane, R the
plane of sin, imperfection and enmity against God. The
first thing necessary for us, then, is to be justified, and thus
23* The Plan of ihc Ages.
to reach plane JV. How is this accomplished? Is it by
good works? No; sinners can do no good works. We
coald not commend ourselves to God, so " God commend-
ed his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us." (Rom. 5 : S.) Then the condition upon
which we come to the justified or perfedt human plane is
that Christ died for our sins, redeemed us and lifted us up,
"through faith in his blood/' to the perfedt plane, from
which, in Adam, A7e fell. " We axe justified [lifted to plane
.#] by feith." And "being justified by faith, we have
peace with God " (Rom. 5 : i), and are no longer esteemed
by God as enemies, but as justified human sons, on the
same plane as Adam and our Lord Jesus, except that they
were a&ually perfed, while we are merely reckoned so by
God. This reckoned justification we realize through faith
in God's Word, which says, Yeare "bought/' "redeemed/*
justified freely from all things/' We stand in God's
sight blameless, spotless and holy in the robes of Christ's
righteousness imputed to us by faith. Our sins he consent-
ed to have imputed 'to him, that he might bear our penalty
for us i and te died on our behalf, as though he were the
sinner. His righteousness is consequently imputed to all
who accept of his redemption, and brings with it all the
rights and blessings originally possessed before sin entered*
It restores us to life and to fellowship with God. This fel-
lowship we may have at once by the exercise of faith, and
the life and fuller fellowship and joy are assured in God's
"due time/'
But remember that while justification fo a blessed thing, it
does not change our nature*: we are still human beings.
#The word nature Is used in an accommodated sense wnen it Is said
of A man that He is i8natur8& Stri&Iy speaking, no Burn & evil by
nature. Human nature is ** very good,** an eartkfy imag* of the divine
nature. So every man is of a good nature, the difficulty being that tbia
<f the Agt* #33
We are saved from the wretched state ot sin and alienation
from God, and instead of being human sinners we are hu-
man sons y and now, because we are sons, God speaks to
us as such. During the Gospel age he has been calling for
the "little flock" of "joint-heirs," saying, "My son, give
me thine heart" that is, give yourself, all your earthly
powers, your will, your talents, your all, to me, even as Jesus
hath set you an example ; and I will make you a son on a
higher plane than the human. I will make you a spiritual
son, with a spirit body like the risen Jesus " the ex-
press image of the Father's person. M If you will give up all
of the earthly hopes, ambitions, aims, etc., consecrate the
human nature entirely, and use it up in my service, I will
give you a higher nature than the rest of your race j I will
make you a "partaker of the divine nature "-an "heir of
God and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ, if so le that you
suffer with Aim, that you may be also glorified together."
Those who rightly value this prize set before them in the
gospel gladly lay aside every weight and run with patience
the appointed race, that they may win it* Our works were
not called for to secure our justification : our Lord Jesus
did all the work that could be done to that end, and when,
by faith, we accepted of his finished work, we were justified,
lifted to plane N* But now, if we would go further, we
cannot go without works. True, we must not lose our faith,
else we will thereby lose our justification \ but being justi-
fied, and continuing in faith, we are able (through tb* grace
given unto us by our begetting of the Spirit) to do works,
to bring forth fruit acceptable to God. And God requires
good nature has become depraved. It is then unnatural for a man to be
evil, brutal, etc., and natural for him to be God-like. It Is in this, its
primary sense, that we use the word nature^ above. We are Justified by
Christ to a full return to all the privileges and blessings of our human
nature the earthly image of God.
234 n f &*
this 5 for it is the sacrifice we covenanted to mate. God
requires that we show our appreciation of the great prize
by giving all that we have and are for it ; not to men, hut
to God a sacrifice holy and, through Christ, acceptable to
him -our reasonable service.
When we present all these things, we say : Lord, how
wouldst thou have me deliver this, my sacrifice, my time,
talent, influence, etc., to thee? Then, examining God's
Word for an answer, we hear his voice instrudting us to de-
liver our all to him as our Lord Jesus did, by doing good
unto all men as we have opportunity, especially to the house-
hold of faith serving them with spiritual or with natural food,
clothing them in Christ's righteousness or with the earthly
raiment, as we may have ability, or as they may need.
Having consecrated all, we are begotten of the Spirit, we
Lave reached plane M; and now, through the power given
unto us, if we use it, we will be able to perform all of our
covenant, and to come off conquerors, and more than con-
querors, through (the power or Spirit of) him who loved us
and bought us with, his own precious blood. But, thus walk*
ing in the footsteps of Jesus 3
* Ke'er think the victory won,
Nor once at ease sit down.
Thine arduous work will not be done
Till thou hast gained thy crown,"
The crown will be won when we, like our faithful Brother
Paul, have fought a good fight and finished the course, but
not sooner. Until then, the flame and incense of our sac*
ritfce of labor and service must ascend daily a sacrifice
of sweet odor unto God, acceptable through Jesus Christ,
our Lord.
Those of this overcoming class who " sleep'* will be
raised spirit beings, plane Z, and those of the same class
who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord will
/tow cf the Ages, 35
be "changed" tc the same plane of spirit being, and will
not "sleep" for a moment, though the "change" will ne
oessitate the dissolution of the earthen vessel. No longer
weak, earthly, mortal, corruptible beings, these will then be
fully born of the Spirit heavenly, spiritual, incorruptible,
immortal beings. i Cor. 15 : 44, 52.
We know not how long it will be after their "change,"
or perfecting as spirit beings (plane Z), before they, as a
foil and complete company, will be glorified (plane X) with
the Lord, united with him in power and great glory. This
unifying and full glorification of the entire body of Christ
with the Head we understand to be the "marriage of the
Lamb" to his Bride, when she shall fully enter into the
joys of her Lord,
Look again at the chart n, m, /, q are four distinct
Jasses which unitedly represent the nominal Gospel
Church as a whole, claiming to be the body of Christ.
Both the n and m classes are on the spirit-begotten plane,
M. These two classes have existed together throughout the
Gospel age; both covenanted with God to become living
sacrifices ; both were " accepted in the beloved ' ' and begot-
ten by the Spirit as "new creatures" The difference be-
tween them is this: n represents those who' are fulfilling
their covenant and are dead with Christ to earthly will, aims
and ambitions, while m represents the larger company of
the spirit-begotten children who have covenanted, but who,
alas 1 shrink back from the performance of their covenant.
The n class consists of the overcomers who will be the Bride
of Christ, who will sit with the Lord in his throne in glory
plane K. This is the "little flock" to whom it is the
Father's good pleasure to give the Kingdom. (Luke 12 : 32.)
Those of the m class shrink from the death of the human
will, but God still loves them, and therefore will bring them
by the way of adversity and trouble to plane Z y the perfect
336 The Pton of the Ages-
spiritual plane. But they will have lost the right to plane
AT 3 the throne of glory, because they were not overcomes
If we prize our Father's love, if we desire our Lord's ap-
proval, if we aspire to be members of his body, his Bride,
and to sit in his throne, we must fulfil our covenant of sac-
rifice iaithfully and willingly,
The majority of the nominal Church is represented by
seaion f. Notice that they are not on plane M, but on
plane M They are justified but not sandified. They are
not fully consecrated to God, and not begotten, therefore,
as spirit beings. They are higher than the world, however,
because they accept of Jesus as their ransom from sin; but
they have not accepted the high-calling of this age to be-
come part of the spiritual family of God. If they contin-
ue in faith and fully submit to the righteous laws of Christ's
Kingdom, in the Times of Restitution, they will finally
attain the likeness of the perfe<ft earthly man, Adam. They
will completely recover all that was lost through him. They
will attain the same human perfe<Sion, mental, moral and
physical, and will again be in th image of God, as Adam
was 5 for to all this they were redeemed. And their position of
justification, plane N> as those who have heard and believed
in the salvation through Christ, is a special blessing which
they by faith enjoy sooner than the general world (for all
shall be brought to an accurate knowledge of the Truth, in
the Millennial age). These, however, will have had the
advantage of an earlier start and some progress in the right
direflion. But class / fails to improve the real benefit of
this reckoned justification in the present time. It is granted
now for the special purpose of enabling some to make the
acceptable sacrifice, and to become the n dass as membeis
of "the body of Christ/' Those of class / receive the
favor of God [justification] **tn vain" (2 Cor. 6 : i) : they
fail to use it to go on and present themselves acceptable
ef the Ages. *31
sacrifices, dtaingthis time in which sacrifices are acceptable
to God. Those of this class, though not "saints/' not
members of the consecrated "body/* are called "breth-
ren" by the Apostle. (Rom. 12 : *.) In the same sense the
entire race, when restored, will forever be brethren oi the
Christ, and children of God, though of a different nature.
God is the Father of att in harmony with him, on every
plane and of every nature.
Another class connected with the nominal Church, which
never did believe in Jesus as the sacrifice for its sins, and
which consequently is not justified not on plane N is
represented below plane N, by section q. These are " wolves
in sheep's clothing;'* yet they call themselves Christians,
and are recognized as members of the nominal Church.
They are not truly believers in Christ as their Redeemer \
they belong to plane R; they are part of the world, and
are out of place in the Church and a great injury to it* In
this mixed condition, with these various classes, , ?/;,/and
q, mingling together and all calling themselves Christians,
the Church has existed throughout the Gospel age. As our
Lord foretold, the nominal kingdom of heaven (the nomi-
nal Church) is like a field sown with wheat and tares. And
he said he would " let both grow together until the harvest "
in the end of the age. In the time of harvest he will say
unto the reapers ("the angels" messengers), Gather to-
gether the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them,
but gather the wheat into my barn. Matt. 13 : 38, 41, 49-
These words of our Lord show us that while he purposed
that both should grow together during the age, and be
recognized as members of the nominal Church, he also pur-
posed that there should come a time of separation between
these different elements, when those who are truly the
Church, his saints (), approved and owned of God, should
be made manifest. Matt, 13 : 39.
*z% n
During tlie Gospel age the good seed has been growing,
and tares or counterfeits also. * : The good seed is the chil-
dren of the kingdom, 15 the spiritual children, classes n and
m> while "the tares are the children of the wicked one."
All of class ^, and many of class /, are therefore "tares;"
for "no man can serve two masters," and " his servants you
are to whom you render service. ' ' As those in class / do not
consecrate their service and talents to the Lord that bought
them -a reasonable service doubtless they give much of
their time and talent really in opposition to God, and hence
in the service of the enemy.
Now notice on the chart the harvest or end of the Gos-
pel age: notice the two parts into which it is divided *
seven years and thirty-three years, the exa<5l parallel of the
harvest of the Jewish age. This harvest, like the Jewish
one, is to be first a time of trial and sifting upon the Church,
and afterward a time of wrath or pouring out of the "seven
last plagues " upon the world, including the nominal Church,
The Jewish Church was the "shadow" or pattern on the
fleshly plane of all that the Gospel Church enjoys on the
spiritual plane. That which tried fleshly Israel in the har-
vest of their age was THE TRUTH then presented to them.
The truth then due was the sickle, and it separated the
" Israelites indeed" from the nominal Jewish Church; and
of the true wheat there was but a fragment compared to the
professors. So also is the harvest of this age. The har-
vest of the Gospel age, like that of the Jewish age, is under
the supervision of the chief reaper, our Lord Jesus, who
must then be present (Rev. 14: J4-) The first work of our
Lord in the harvest of this age will be to separate the true
from the false. The nominal Church, because of her mixed
condition, the Lord calls "Babylon" confusion; and the
harvest is the time for separating the different classes in
the nominal Church, and for ripening and perfecting the
Ptav of the Ages, 239
class. Wheat will be separated from tares, ripe wheat
from unripe, etc. Those in class n are a "first fruits" of
the wheat, and after being separated they will, in due time,
become Christ's bride, and be forever with and like her Lord.
The separation of this little flock from Babylon is shown
by figure s. She is on the way to become one with the
Lord, and to bear his name and share his glory. The glo-
rified Christ, Head and body, is shown by figure w+ Fig-
ures /, u and v represent Babylon the nominal Church
falling, going to pieces during "the time of trouble" in
the "day of our Lord." Though this may seem to be a
dreadful thing, yet it will adlually be of great advantage to
all the true wheat. Babylon falls because she is not what
she claims to be. The Church nominal contains many hyp-
ocrites, who have associated themselves with her because
of her honorable standing in the eyes of the world, and
who, by their condud are making Babylon a stench in the
nostrils of the world. The Lord always knew their real
chara&er, but according to his purpose he lets them alone
until the harvest, when he will "gather out of [or from]
his kingdom [true Church, and bind in bundles] all things
that offend, and them which do iniquity, and cast them into
a furnace of fire [trouble, destructive to their nominal sys-
tem and false profession]. . . . Then shall the righteous
[the n class] shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. (Matt. 13: 41-43.) The trouble coming upon the
Church will be occasioned in great measure by the growth
of Infidelity and Spiritism, of various kinds, which will be
severe trials because Babylon holds so many doctrines con-
trary to God's Word. As in the harvest of the Jewish
age the cross of Christ was to the Jew, expeding glory and
power, a stumbling block, and to the worldly-wise Greek,
foolishness, so in the harvest of the Gospel age it will again
be the stone of stumbling and rock of offense.
240 The Plan qf the Ages,
Every one who has built upon Christ anything else than
the gold, silver and precious stones of truth, and a character
consistent therewith, will find himself sorely beset during
the time of wrath (" fire ") ; for all the wood, hay and stub-
ble of do&rine and practice will be consumed. Those who
have built properly, and who consequently possess the ap-
proved character, are represented by figure s 9 while t rep-
resents the "great company/' begotten of the Spirit, but
who have built with wood, hay and stubble wheat, but not
fully ripened at the time of the gathering of the first
fruits 0). They (V) lose the prize of the throne and the
divine nature, but will finally reach birth as spirit beings of
an order lower than the divine nature. Though these are
truly consecrated, they are overcome by the worldly spirit
to such an extent that they fail to render their lives in sac-
rifice. Even in "the harvest," while the living members
of the Bride are being separated from others by the truth,
the ears of others, including class /, will be dull of hear-
ing. They will be slow to believe and slow to aft in that
time of separation. They will, no doubt, be greatly dis-
mayed when they afterward realize that the Bride has been
completed and united to the Lord, and that they, because
so listless and overcharged, have lost that great prwe; but
the beauty of God's plan, which they will then begin to
discern as one of love, both for them and for all the world
of mankind, will quite overcome their grief, and they will
shout "Alleluia ! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Let us be glad, and rejoice, and give honor to him, for the
marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made
herself ready." (Rev. 19:6, 7.) Notice, too, the abundant
provision of the Lord : the message is sent to them Though
you are not the Bride of the Lamb, you may be present at
the marriage supper "Blessed are they which are called
anto the marriage supper of the Lamb/' (Ve&se 9,) Tbfa
Plan of the Ages* 241
fiompany will, in due time, through the Lord's chastise-
ments, come fully into harmony with him and his plan, and
will wash their robes, that they may ultimately reach a posi-
tion next to the Bride -y, on the spiritual plane, L.
Rev. 7 s 14, 15.
The time of trouble, as it will affe<3 the world, will be
after Babylon has begun to fall and disintegrate. It will
be an overturning of all human society and governments,
preparing the world for the reign of righteousness. During
the time of trouble, fleshly Israel (V), which was cast off until
the fulness of the Gentiles be come in, will be restored to
God's favor, and the Gospel Church, or spiritual Israel, will
be completed and glorified. During the Millennial age
Israel will be the chief nation of earth, at the head of all
on the earthly plane of being, into oneness and harmony
with which all the obedient will be gradually drawn.
Their restoration to perfe<5l human nature, as well as that of
ihe world in general, will be a gradual work, requiring all of
the Millennial age for its full accomplishment. During that
thousand years' reign of Christ, the results of Adamic death
will be gradually swallowed up or destroyed. Its various stages
sickness, pain and weakness, as well as the tomb will
yield obedience to the Great Restorer's power, until at the
end of that age the great pyramid of our chart will be
complete. The Christ (JP) will be the head of all things
of the great company, of angels, and of men next
to the Father; next in order or rank will be the great
company, spirit beings (y ), and next, angels; then Israel
after the flesh (s), including only Israelites indeed, at the
head of earthly nations ; then the world of men (s^) ; re-
stored to perfe<5lion of being, like the head of the human
race, Adam, before he sinned* This restoration will be ac-
complished gradually during the Millennial age the "times
of restitution." (Adts 3; ax,) Some, however, will be
16-A
342 The Plan of the Ages.
destroyed from among the people: first, all who, under full
light and opportunity, for one hundred years refuse to make
progress toward righteousness and perfe&ion (Isa. 65 : 20);
and second, those who, having progressed to perfection, in
a final testing at the close of the Millennium prove unfaith-
ful (Rev. 20 : 9.) Such die the second death, from which
there is no resurrection or restitution promised. But one
full individual trial is provided. But one ransom will ever
be given. Christ dieth no more.
When we look at our Father's great plan for the exalta-
tion of the Church and the blessing through it of Israel
and all the families of the earth by a restitution of all things,
it reminds us of the song of the angels : ' ' Glory to God in the
highest ; on earth, peace, good will toward men !" That
will be the consummation of God's plan "the gathering
together of all things in Christ." Who will then say that
God's plan has been a failure? Who will then say that he
has not overruled evil for good, and made the wrath of both
men and devils to praise him ?
The figure of a pyramid not only serves well the purpose
of illustrating perfect beings, but it continues to answer the
purpose of illustration in representing the oneness of the
whole creation, as in the fulfilment of God's plan it will be
one, when the harmony and perfeclion of all things will
be attained under the headship of Christ, the Head, not
only of the Church which is his body, but also of all things
in heaven and in earth. Eph. i : 10.
Christ Jesus was the "beginning," "the head," "the
top-stone," the "chief (upper) corner-stone" of this grand
structure, which as yet is only commenced; and into har-
mony with the lines and angles of the top-stone must every
under-stone be built. No matter how many kinds of stones
may be in this stru&ure, no matter how many distinct na-
tures there may be among God's sons, earthly and heavenly.
rtan of ate Agta* $4$
they all, to be everlastingly acceptable to him, must be con*
formed to the image of his Son. All who will be of this
building must partake of the spirit of obedience to God, and
of love toward him and all his creatures (so amply illustrated
in Jesus), the fulfilment of the law Thou shalt love the Lord
with all thy heart, mind, soul and strength, and thy neigh-
bor as thyself.
In the process (as God's Word outlines this gathering to-
gether in one of all things, both heavenly and earthly, under
one head), Christ Jesus, the head, was first selected ; sec-
ondly, the Church, which is his body. Angels and other
spirit classes will rank next ; then the worthies of Israel
and the world. Beginning with the highest, the ordering
shall proceed until all who will shall have been brought
into harmony and oneness.
One peculiarity is that this tried, chief, corner top-stone
is laid first tnd called a foundation stone. Thus is illus-
trated the fact that the foundation of all hope toward God
and righteousness is laid, not on the earth, but in the heavens.
And those built under it and united to this heavenly foun-
dation are held to it by heavenly attractions and laws.
And though this order is the very opposite of an earthly
building, how appropriate that the stone in whose likeness
the entire structure is to be found should be laid first. And
how appropriate also to find that our foundation is laid
upward, not downward; and that we, as living stones, are
"built up into him in all things." Thus the work will
progress during the Millennial age, until every creature, of
every nature, in heaven and in earth, will be praising and
serving God in conformity with the lines of perfect obedi-
ence. The universe will then be clean ; for in that day
" It shall come to pass that the soul that will not hear that
Prophet shall be cut off from among the people " in the
second death. Afts 3 : 22, 23.
Pfa* $ the
THE TABERNACLE OF THE WILDERNESS,
The same lesson shown in the Chart of the Ages is here
taught in this divinely arranged type, the lessons of which
will be more fully examined subsequently. We place it
alongside, that the different planes or steps to the Holy of
Holies may be duly noted or appreciated, as teaching the
same steps already examined in detail. Ouiside the court
of the tabernacle lies the whole world in sin, on the de-
praved plane, R. Entering through the "gate" into the
" court," we become believers or justified persons, on plane
JV. Those who go forward in consecration press to the
door of the Tabernacle, and, entering in (plane M ), become
priests. They are strengthened by the "shew bread," en-
lightened by the "candlestick" and enabled to offer ac-
ceptable incense to God by Jesus Christ at the "Golden
Altar." Finally, in the first resurreflion, they enter the
perfeft spiritual condition, or "Most Holy" (plane Z),
and are then associated with Jesus in the glory of the king-
dom, plane JT.
THE BLESSED HOPE.
W A little while, earth's fightings will be over*
A little while, her tears be wiped away;
A little while, the power of Jehovah
Shall turn thfe darkness to Millennial Day*
<A little while, the ills that now o'erwhelm men
Shall to the memories of the past belong ;
A little while, the love that once redeemed them
Shall change their weeping into grateful song.
* A little while I >Tis ever drawing nearer
The brighter dawning of that glorious day*
Raise God, the light is hourly growing clearer,
Shining more and more unto the perfect da/* 11
STUDY XIH.
THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD.
THE FIRST DOMINION. ITS FORFEITURE. ITS REDEMPTION AND RESTORATION.
THE TYPICAL KINGDOM OP GOD. THB USURPER. Two PHASES OP THE
PRESENT DOMINION. THE POWERS THAT BE, OHDAINED OF GOD. NEBUCHAD-
NEZZAR'S VIEW OP THEM DANIEL'S VIEW AND INTERPRETATION. THB KING-
DOMS OF THIS WORLD VIEWED FROM ANOTHER STANDPOINT. THB PROPER RE-
LATIONSHIP OP THB CHURCH TO PRESENT GOVERNMENTS. THE DIVINE RIGHT
OF KINGS BRIEFLY EXAMINED. CLAIMS OF CHRISTENDOM FALSE. A BETTER
HOPE IN THE FIFTH UNIVERSAL EMPIRE.
TN the first chapter of the Divine Revelation, God declares
* his purpose concerning his earthly creation and its
government: "And God said, Let us make man in our im-
age, after our likeness, and* let them have dominion over
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over
the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping
thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man
in his own image ; in the image of God created he him :
male and female created he them. And God blessed them.
And God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill
the earth, and subdue it ; and have dominion over the fish
of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every
living thing that moveth upon the earth."
Thus the dominion of earth was placed in the hands of
the human race as represented in the first man Adam, who
was perfe6l, and therefore fully qualified to be the lord, ruler
or king of earth. This commission to multiply, and fill,
and subdue, and have dominion over the earth was not to
Adam alone, but to all mankind: "Let them have domin-
ion, " etc. Had the human race r rained perfect and sin*
less, this dominion would nevei have passed out of its
hands*
246 The Plan of the Age<
It will be noticed that in this commission no man is
given dominion or authority over fellow-men, but the whole
race is given dominion over the earth, to cultivate and to
make use of its products for the common good. Not only
its vegetable and mineral wealth is thus placed at man's
command, but also all its varieties of animal life are at his
disposal and for his service. Had the race remained per-
fect and carried out this original design of the Creator, as
it grew in numbers it would have been necessary for men
to consult together, and to systematize their efforts, and to
devise ways and means for the just and wise distribution of
the common blessings. And as, in the course of time, it
would have been impossible, because of their vast numbers,
to meet and consult together, it would have been necessary
for various classes of men to elect certain of their number
to represent them, to voice their common sentiments, and
to aft for them. And if ail men were perfect, mentally,
physically, and morally; if every man loved God and his
regulations supremely, and his neighbor as himself, there
would have been no friction in such an arrangement.
Thus seen, the original design of the Creator for earth's
government was a Republic in form, a government in winch
each individual would share ; in which every man would be a
sovereign, amply qualified in every particular to exercise the
duties of his office for both his own and the general good.
This dominion of earth conferred upon man had but
one contingency upon which its everlasting continuance
depended; and that was that this divinely-conferred ruler-
ship be always exercised in harmony with the Supreme
Ruler of the universe, whose one law, briefly stated, is
Love. "Love is the fulfilling of the law." "Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind; . . . and thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself." Rom. 13 : 10,; Matt, 22 : 37-40.
Kingdoms of this World. 247
Concerning this great favor conferred upon man, David,
praising God, says: "Thou madest him a little lower than
the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor;
thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy
hands." (Psa. 8:3,6.) This dominion given to man-
kind in the person of Adam was the first establishment of
the Kingdom of God on the earth. Man thus exercised
dominion as God's representative. But man's disobedi-
ence to the Supreme Ruler forfeited not only his life, but
also all his rights and privileges as God's representative ruler
of earth. He was thenceforth a rebel, dethroned and con-
demned to death. Then speedily the kingdom of God on
earth ceased, and has not since been established, except for
a short time, in a typical manner, in Israel. Although in
Eden man lost his right to life and dominion, neither was
taken from him suddenly ; and while the condemned life lasts
man is permitted to exercise the dominion of earth according
to his own ideas and ability, until God's due time for him
whose right it is to take the dominion which he purchased.
Our Lord's death redeemed or purchased not only man, but
also all his original inheritance, including the dominion of
earth. Having purchased it, the title is now in him : he
is now the rightful heir, and in due time, and shortly, he
will take possession of his purchase. (Eph. i : 14.) But as
he bought man not for the sake of holding him as his
slave, but that he might restore him to his former estate,
so with the dominion of earth: he purchased it and all
of man's original blessings for the purpose of restoring them
when man is again made capable of exercising them in har-
mony with the will of God. Hence the reign of Messiah
on earth will not be everlasting. It will continue only until,
by his strong iron rule, he will have put down all rebellion
and insubordination, and restored the fallen race to the orig-
inal perfection, -when they will be fully capable of rightly
248
exercising the dominion of earth as originally designed.
When thus restored, it will again be the Kingdom of God
on earth, under man, God's appointed representative.
During the Jewish age God organized the people of Israel
as his kingdom, under Moses and the Judges a sort of Re-
publio-but it was typical only, And the more despotic rule
afterward established, especially under David and Solomon,
was in some respecfts typical of the kingdom promised,
when Messiah should reign. Unlike the surrounding nations,
Israel had Jehovah for their King, and their rulers nominally
served under him, as we leam from Psa. 78 : 70, 71. This
is quite definitely staled in 2 Chron. 13 : 8 and i Chron.
29 : 23, where Israel is called "the Kingdom of the Lord/'
and where it is said that Solomon "sat on the THRONE OF
THE LORD, instead of David his father/ 1 who sat upon or
exercised the rule of the same throne for the forty years
previous, following Saul, the first king.
When the people of Israel transgressed against the Lord, he
chastised them repeatedly, until finally he took away their
kingdom entirely. In the days of Zedekiah, the last who
reigned of the line of David, the scepter of royal power was re-
moved. There the typical kingdom of God was overthrown.
God's decision relative to the matter is expressed in the
words, "Thou profane, wicked prince of Israel, whose day
is come, when iniquity shall have an end, Thus saith the
Lord God: Remove the diadem, and take off the crown:
this shall not be the same. ... I will overturn, overturn,
overturn it; and it shall be NO MORE, until he come, whose
right it is; and I will give it him." (Ezek. 21 : as-**?-)
In fulfilment of this prophecy the king of Babylon came
against Israel, look the people captive and removed their
king. Though afterward restored to national existence by
Cyrus the Mede, they were subjects and tribute payers to
the successive empires of Mcdo^Persia, Greece and Rome,
down to the final destruction of their nationality, A. D. 70,
since which time they have been scattered among all nations*
The kingdom of Israel is the only one, since the fall,
which God ever recognized as in any way representing his
government, laws, etc. There had heen many nations be-
fore theirs, but no other could rightfully claim God as its
founder, or that its rulers were God'r representatives.
When the diadem was taken from Zedekiah and the king-
dom of Israel was overturned, it was decreed that it should
remain overturned until Christ, the rightful heir of the
world, should come to claim it. Thus, inferential!}*, all
other kingdoms in power until the re-establishment of God's
kingdom are branded "kingdoms of this world," under
the " prince of this world;'* and hence any claims put
forth by any of them to being kingdoms of God are spuri-
ous. Nor was this Kingdom of God "SET UP" at the
first advent of Christ, (Luke 19 : 12.) Then and since then
God has been selecting from the world those who shall be
accounted worthy tu reiga with Christ as joint-heirs of
that throne. Not until his second advent will Christ take
the kingdom, the power and the glory, and reign Lord of all.
All other kingdoms than that of Israel are Scripturally
called heathen or Gentile kingdoms "the kingdoms of
this world," tinder the "prince of this world "~~ Satan,
The removal of God's kingdom In the days of Zedekiah
left the world without any government of which God could
approve, or whose laws or affairs he specially supervised.
The Gentile governments God recognized indireftly, in
that he publicly declares his decree (Luke 21 : 24) that dur
ing the interregnum the control of Jerusalem and the
world should be exercised by Gentile governments.
This interregnum, or intervening period of time between
the removal of God' scepter and gbvernment and the
restoration of the same in greater ,-power and glory in
350 The Plan of the Ages.
Christ, is Scripturally termed " The Times of the Gentiles. ' '
And these "times" or years, during which the " king-
doms of this world" are permitted to rule, are fixed and
limited, and the time for the re-establishment of God's
Kingdom under Messiah is equally fixed and marked in
Scripture.
Evil as these Gentile governments have been, they were
permitted or " ordained of God " for a wise purpose. (Rom.
13 : i.) Their imperfection and misrule form a part of
the general lesson on the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and
prove the inability of fallen man to govern himself, even
to his own satisfaction. God permits them, in the main,
to carry out their own purposes as they may be able, over-
ruling them only when they would interfere with his plans.
He designs that eventually ail shall work for good, and that
finally even the " wrath of man shall praise him." The
remainder, that would work no good, serve no purpose or
teach no lesson, he restrains. Psa. 76 : 10.
Man's inability to establish a perfect government is at-
tributable to his own weaknesses, in his fallen, depraved
condition. These weaknesses, which of themselves would
thwart human efforts to produce a perfect government, have
also been taken advantage of by Satan, who first tempted
man to disloyalty to the Supreme Ruler. Satan has con-
tinually taken advantage of man's weaknesses, made good
to appear evil, and evil to appear good ; and he has mis-
represented God's character and plans and blinded men
to the truth. Thus working in the hearts of the children
of disobedience (Eph. 2 : 2), he has led them captive at his
will and made himself what our Lord and the apostles call
him the prince or ruler of this world. (John 14 130;
12:31.) He is not the prince of this world by right, but
by usurpation; through fraud and deception and control
of fallen men. It is because he is a usurper that ho will be
Kingdoms of this World. 25*
summarily deposed. Had he a real title as prince of this
world, he would not thus be dealt with.
Thus it will be seen that the dominion of earth, as at
present exercised, has both an invisible and a visible phase.
The former is the spiritual, the latter the human phase
the visible earthly kingdoms measurably under the control of
a spiritual prince, Satan. It was because Satan possessed
such control that he could offer to make our Lord the
supreme visible sovereign of the earth under his direction.
(Matt. 4 : 9.) When the Times of the Gentiles expire, both
phases of the present dominion will terminate : Satan will be
bound and the kingdoms of this world will be overthrown.
The fallen, blinded, groaning creation has for centuries
plodded along its weary way, defeated at every step, even
its best endeavors proving fruitless, yet ever hoping that
the golden age dreamed of by its philosophers was at hand.
It knows not that a still greater deliverance than that
for which it hopes and groans is to come through the de-
spised Nazarene and his followers, who as the Sons of God
will shortly be manifested in kingdom power for its de-
liverance. Rom. S: 22, 19.
In order that his children should not be ID darkness
relative to his permission of present evil governments and
concerning his ultimate design to bring in a better govern-
ment when these kingdoms, under his overruling provi-
dence, shall have served the purpose for which they were
permitted, God has given us, through his prophets, several
grand panoramic views of the "kingdoms of this world,"
each time showing, for our encouragement, their overthrow
by the establishment of his own righteous and everlasting
kingdom under the Messiah, the Prince of Peace.
That man's present effort to exercise dominion is not
in successful defiance of Jehovah's will and power, but by
bis permission, is shown by God's message to Nebuchad-
252 7*h.e Pfox of she Ages*
nezzar, wherein God gives permission tc rule, until the time
for the setting up of Christ's kingdom, tc the four great em
pires, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. (Dan. 2:
37-43.) This shows where this lease of the dominion will end.
As we now glance at these prophetic views, let us remem-
ber that they begin with Babylon at the time of the over-
throw of the kingdom of Israel, the typical kingdom of
the Lord.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S VISION OF EARTH'S GOVERNMENTS.
Among those things "written aforetime for our edifica-
tion,* * that we, who are commanded to be subject to the
powers that be, might through patience and comfort of the
Scriptures have hope (Rom. 15 ; 4; 13 : i), is the dream of
Nebuchadnezzar and its divine interpretation through the
prophet Dan. 2 s 31-45.
Daniel explained the dream, saying = "Thou, O King,
sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose
brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form
thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold,
his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of
brass, his leg? of iron, his feet part of iron and part of
clay, Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without
hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of
iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
"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 threshing-floors 5 and the wind carried them
away, that no place was found for them ; and the stone
that smote the image became a great mountain and filled
the whole earth-
"This is the dream, and we will tell the interpretation
thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings:
for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power.
kingdoms oj- this World* 253
and strength, and glory. [There the Gentile kingdoms,
or powers that be, were ordained of God.] And whereso-
ever 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.
"And after thee shall arise another kingd"bm inferior to
thee [silver], and another third kingdom of brass, which
shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth king-
dom shall be strong as iron : forasmuch as iron breaketh
in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that break-
eth all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And
whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter's clay
and part of iron, the kingdom shall be mixed ; but there
shall be in it of the strength of the iron: forasmuch as
thou sawest the iron mixed with the miry clay. And as
the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of clay, so
the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle.*'
The student of history can readily trace, among the many
smaller empires of earth which have arisen, the four above
described by Daniel. These are termed UNIVERSAL EM-
PIRES Babylon, first, the head of gold (verse 38); Medo-
Persia, conqueror of Babylon, second, the breast of silver;
Greece, conqueror of Medo-Persia, third, the belly of
brass ; and Rome, fourth, the strong kingdom, the iron
legs and clay-mixed feet. Three of these empires had
passed away, and the fourth, the Roman, held universal
sway, at the time of our Lord's birth, as we read, "There
went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world
should be taxed." Luke 2:1,
The iron empire, Rome, was by far the stronge$t, and
endured longer than its predecessors. In facl, the Roman
Empire still continues, as represented in the nations of Eu-
rope* This division is represented in the ten toes of the
254 2%* -Wfe* of the Ages.
image. The clay element "blended with the iion in the
feet represents the mixture of church and state. Thfe
mixture is in the Scriptures termed "Babylon" confusion.
As we shall presently see, stone is the symbol of the true
Kingdom of God, and Babylon substituted an imitation
of stone clay which it has united with the fragmentary
remains of the [iron] Roman empire. And this mixed sys-
tem church and state the Church Nominal wedded to the
kingdoms of this world, which the Lord calls Babylon, con-
fusion, presumes to call itself Christendom Christ's King-
dom. Daniel explains : "Whereas thou sawest iron mixed
with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed
of men [church and world blend Babylon],but they shall not
cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay."
They cannot thoroughly amalgamate. "And in the days
of these kings [the kingdoms represented by the toes, the
so-called "Christian kingdoms" or "Christendom,"] 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." Dan. 2:43, 44.
Daniel does not here state the time for the end of these
Gentile governments: that we find elsewhere; but evory
foretold circumstance indicates that to-day the end is nigh,
even at the doors. The Papal system has long claimed that
it is the kingdom which the God of heaven here promised to
set up, and that, in fulfilment of this prophecy, it did break
in pieces and consume all other kingdoms. The truth,
however, is that the nominal Church merely united with
earthly empires as the clay with the iron, and that Papacy
never was the true Kingdom of God, but merely a counterfeit
of it. One of the best evidences that Papacy did not destroy
and consume these earthly kingdoms is that they still exist
And now that the miry clay has become dry and " brittle/*
Kingdoms of this World. 255
it is losing its adhesive power, and the iron and clay show
signs of dissolution, dnd will quickly crumble when smit-
ten by the " stone," the true Kingdom.
Continuing his interpretation, Daniel states: "Foras-
much as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the moun-
tain 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 here-
after; and the dream is certain and the interpretation
thereof sure." Verse 45.
The stone cut out of the mountain without hands, which
smites and scatters the Gentile powers, represents the true
Church, the Kingdom of God. During the Gospel age
this "stone" kingdom is being formed, "cutout," carved
and shaped for its future position and greatness not by
human hands, but by the power or spirit of the truth, the
invisible power of Jehovah. When complete, when entire-
ly cut out, it will smite and destroy the kingdoms of this
world. Not the people, but the governments, are sym-
bolized by the image, and these are to be destroyed that
the people may be delivered. Our Lord Jesus came not
to destroy men's lives, but to save them. John 3:17.
The stone, during its preparation, while being cut out,
might be called an embryo mountain, in view of its future
destiny; so, too, the Church could be, and sometimes is,
called the Kingdom of God. In fa<St, however, the stone
does no.t become the mountain until it has smitten the im-
age; and' so the Church, in the full sense, will become the
Kingdom to fill the whole earth when " the day of the
Lord," the "day of wrath upon the nations" or "time of
trouble," will be over, and when it will be established and
all other dominions have become subservient to it.
Call to mind now the promise made by our Lord to the
;,vercomers of the Christian Church: "To him that over-
236 The Plan of tfa Ages,
cometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne " " and
he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end,
to him will I give power over the nations ; and he shall
rule them with a rod of iron \ as the vessels of a potter shall
they be broken to shivers, even as I received of my Father/*
(Rev. 3:21 j 2:26, 27; Psa. 2:8-12.) When the iron rod
has accomplished the work of destruction, then will the
hand that smote be turned to heal, and the people will re-
turn to the Lord, and he shall heal them (Isa, 19 122 ; Jer.
3:22, 23; Hos. 6:1; 14:4; Isa. 2:3), giving them beauty
for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning and the garment of
praise for the spirit of heaviness.
DANIEL'S VISION OF EARTHLY GOVERNMENTS.
Tn Nebuchadnezzar's vision we see the empires of earth,
as viewed from the world's standpoint, to be an exhibition
of human glory, grandeur and power ; though in it we also
see an intimation of their decay and final destruction, as
expressed in the deterioration from gold to iron and clay.
The stone class, the true Church, during its selection or
taking out of the mountain, has been esteemed by the
world as of no value. It has been despised and rejected
of men. They see no beauty in it that they should desire
it. The world loves, admires, praises and defends the rulers
and governments represented in this great image, though
it has been continually disappointed, deceived, wounded
and oppressed by them. The world extols, in prose and
verse, the great and successful agents of this image, its
Alexanders, Caesars, Bonapartes and others, whose greatness
showed itself in the slaughter of their fellow men, and
who, in their lust for power, made millions of widows and
orphans. And such is still the spirit which exists in the
" ten toes "of tlae image, as we see it exhibited to-day in their
marshaled hosts of more than twelve millions of men armed
Kingdoms of this World. 257
with every fiendish device of modern ingenuity, to slaugh-
ter one another at the command of "the powers that be."
The proud are now called happy; yea, they that work
wickedness are set up in power. (Mai. 3:15.) Can we not
see, then, that the destruction of this great image by the smit-
ing of the stone, and the establishment of God's kingdom,
mean the liberating of the oppressed and the blessing of all ?
Though for a time the change will cause disaster and trouble,
it will finally yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness.
But now, calling to mind the difference of standpoint,
let us look at the same four universal empires of earth from
the standpoint of God and those in harmony with him,
as portrayed in vision to the beloved prophet Daniel.
As to us these kingdoms appear inglorious and beastly, so
to him these four universal empires were shown as four great
and ravenous wild beasts. And to his view the commg
Kingdom of God (the stone) was proportionally grander than
as seen by Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel says : " I saw in my
vision by night, and behold the four winds of heaven strove
upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from
the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a
lion and had eagle's wings; . . . and behold another beast,
a second, like a bear; , . . and lo another, like a leopard.
. . . After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a
fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly;
and it had great iron teeth. It devoured and brake in
pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it; and
it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it, and
it had ten horns." Dan. 7 r 2-7,
The details relative to the first three beasts (Babylon the
lion, Medo-Persia the bear, and Greece the leopard), with
their heads, feet, wings, etc., all of which are symbolic, we
pass by, as of less importance in our present examination
thaax the details of the fourth beast! Rome.
17-A
358 The Plan of the Ages.
Of the fourth beast, Rome, Daniel says : "After this I
saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dread-
ful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; . . . and it had
ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there
came up among them another little horn, before whom
there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots;
and, behold, in this horn were eyes, like the eyes of man,
and a.mouth speaking great things." Dan. 7:7, 8.
Here the Roman Empire is shown ; and the divisions of
its power are shown in the ten horns, a horn being a symbol
of power. The little horn which arose among these, and
which appropriated the power of three of them to itself,
and ruled among the others, represents the small beginning
and gradual rise to power of the Church of Rome, the
Papal power or horn. As it rose in influence, three of the
divisions, horns or powers of the Roman Empire (the
Heruli, the Eastern Exarchate and the Ostrogoths) were
plucked out of the way to make room for its establishment
as a civil power or horn. This last specially notable horn,
Papacy, is remarkable for its eyes, representing intelligence,
and for its mouth its utterances, its claims, etc.
To this fourth beast, representing Rome, Daniel gives no
descriptive name. While the others are described as lion-
like, bear-like and leopard-like, the fourth was so ferocious
and hideous that none of the beasts of earth could be com-
pared with it. John the Revelator, seeing in vision the
same symbolic beast (government), was also at a loss for a
name by which to describe it, and finally gives it several.
Among others, he called it "the Devil." (Rev. 12:9.)
He certainly chose an appropriate name ; for Rome, when
viewed in the light of its bloody persecutions, certainly has
been the most devilish of all earthly governments. Even
in its change from Rome Pagan to Rome Papal it illustrated
one of Satan's chief characteristics ; for he also transforms
Kingdoms of this Wwld* 2g
himself to appear as an angel of light (2 Cor. n r i4)> as
Home transformed itself from heathenism and claimed to
be Christian the Kingdom of Christ*
After giving some details regarding this last or Roman
beast, and especially of its peculiar or Papal horn, the
Prophet states that judgment against this horn would be
rendered, and it would begin to lose its dominion, which
would be consumed by gradual process until the beast should
be destroyed.
This beast or Roman Empire in its horns or divisions still
exists, and will be slain by the rising of the masses of the
people, and the overthrow of governments, in the "Day
of the Lord," preparatory to the recognition of the heav-
enly rulership. This is clearly shown from other Scrip-
tures yet to be examined. However, the consuming of the
Papal horn comes first. Its power and influence began to
consume when Napoleon took the Pope prisoner to France.
Then, when neither the curses of the Popes nor their prayers
delivered them from Bonaparte's power, it became evident
to the nations that the divine authority and power claimed
by the Papacy were without foundation. After that, the
temporal power of the Papacy waned rapidly until, in Sep-
tember, 1870, it lost the last vestige of its temporal power at
the hands of Vidor Emmanuel.
Nevertheless, during all that time in which it was being
"consumed," it kept uttering its great swelling words of
blasphemy, its last great utterance being in 1870, when, but
a few months before its overthrow, it made the declaration
of the infallibility of the Popes. All this is noted in the
*The fact that Rome is called *<the Devil" by no means disproves a
personal devil : rather the reverse. It is because there are such beasts
ae lions, bears and leopards, with known characteristics, that govern-
ments were likened to them; and so, it is because there is a Devil, with
known characteristics, that the fourth empire is likened to him-
2 6o The Plan of the Ages.
prophecy: "Ibehelditofc .,<rft*r the decree against this
' horn, ' after its consumption had begun] because of the voice
of the GREAT WORDS which the horn spake." Dan. 7 ? n.
Thus we are brought down in history to our own day, and
made to see that the thing to "be expedted, so far as the
empires of the earth are concerned, is their utter destruc-
tion. The next thing in order is described by the words,
" I beheld even till the beast was skin and his body destroyed
and given to the burning flame." The slaying and burn-
ing are symbols, as well as the beast itself, and signify the
utter and hopeless destruction of present organized govern-
ment. In verse 12 the prophet notes a difference between
the end of this fourth beast and its predecessors. They
three successively (Babylon, Persia and Greece) had their
dominion taken from them; they ceased to hold the ruling
power of earth ; but their lives as nations did not cease
immediately. Greece and Persia still have some li fe, though
it is long centuries since universal dominion passed from
their grasp. Not so, however, with the Roman Empire, the
fourth and last of these beasts. It will lose dominion and
life at once, and go into titter destruction ; and with it the
others will pass away also. Daniel 2 : 35.
No matter what may be the means or instrumentality
used, the causa of this fall will be the establishment of the
Fifth Universal Empire of earth, the Kingdom of God,
under Christ, whose right it is to take the dominion. The
transfer of the kingdom from the fourth beast, which for
its appointed time was * ordained of God," to the fifth
kingdom, under the Messiah, when its appointed season has
come, is described by the Prophet in these words : "And
behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of
heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought
him near before him. And there was given unto him [the
Christ head and body complete] dominion, and glory,
Kingdoms of this World. 261
and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages
should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting domin-
ion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which
shall not be destroyed. ' ' This the angel interpreted to mean
that "the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the
kingdom tinder 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." Dan. 7 : 13, 27.
Thus seen, the dominion of earth is to be placed in the
hands of Christ by Jehovah ("the Ancient of days "), who
shall "put all things under his feet." (i Cor. 15 : 27.)
Thus enthroned over God's kingdom, he must reign until
he shall have put down all authority and power in conflicT:
with the will and law of Jehovah. To the accomplishment
of this great mission, the overthrow of these Gentile gov-
ernments is first necessary; for the "kingdoms of this
world," like the "prince of this world," will not surren-
der peaceably, but must be bound and restrained by force.
And thus it is written, "To bind their kings with chains
and their nobles with fetters of iron ; to execute upon them
the judgment written : this honor have all his saints. "
Psa. 149 : 8, 9.
As we thus view present governments from the standpoint
of our Lord and of the Prophet Daniel, and realize their
ferocious, destructive, beastly and selfish character, our
hearts long for the end of Gentile governments and joyfully
look forward to that blessed time when the overcomers of
the present age will be enthroned with their Head, to rule,
bless and restore the groaning creation. Surely all of God's
children can heartily pray with their Lord -" THY &ING-
IHDM COME, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
Each of these governments represented in the image and
by the beasts existed before it came into power as the uni*
262 The Plan of the
versal empire. So, too, with the true Kingdom of God: it
has long existed separate from the world, not attempting
nilership, but awaiting its timethe time appointed by the
Ancient of days. And, like the others, it must receive its
appointment and must come into authority or be "set up"
before it can exercise its power in the smiting ajid slaying
of the beast or kingdom preceding it. Hence the ap-
propriateness of the statement, "In the days of these
kings [while they still have power] shall the God of
heaven set up [establish in power and authority] a king-
dom. ' ' And after it is set up, * ' it shall break in pieces and
consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever/ 7
(Dan. 2 : 44.) Hence, however we may look for it, we must
expect God's Kingdom to be inaugurated before the fall of
the kingdoms of this world, and that its power and smiting
will bring their overthrow.
PRESENT GOVERNMENTS FROM ANOTHER STANDPOINT.
Supreme right and authority to rule the world are and ever
will be vested in the Creator, Jehovah, no matter whom he
may permit or authorize to have subordinate control. Un-
der the imperfections and weaknesses resulting from his
disloyalty to the King of kings, Adam soon grew weak and
helpless. As arnonarch he began to lose the power by which,
at first, he commanded and held the obedience of the lower
animals by the strength of his will. He lost control of
himself also, so that when he would do good his weaknesses
interfered and evil was present with him ; and the good he
even would do lie did not do, and the evil which he would
not, he did.
Hence, while making no attempt to excuse our rebel race,
we can sympathize with its vain efforts to govern itself and
to arrange for its own well-being. And something can be
said of the success of the world in this direction ; for, while
recognizing the real character of these beastly governments,
Kingdoms of this World. 263
corrupt though they have been, they have been vastly
superior to none much better than lawlessness and anarchy.
Though anarchy would probably have been quite acceptable
to the " prince of this world," it was not so to his subjects,
and his power is not absolute: it is limited to the extent
of his ability to operate through mankind; and his policy
must conform in great measure to the ideas, passions and
prejudices of men. Man's idea was self-government inde-
pendent of God ; and when God permitted him to try the
experiment, Satan embraced the opportunity to extend his
influence and dominion. Thus it was by wishing to forget
God (Rom. i : 28) that man exposed himself to the influ-
ence of this wily and powerful though unseen foe ; and
therefore he has ever since been obliged to work against Sa-
tan's machinations, as well as his own personal weaknesses.
This being the case, let us again glance at the kingdoms
of this world, viewing them now as the effort of fallen
humanity to govern itself independent of God. Though
individual corruption and selfishness have turned aside the
course of justice, so that full justice has seldom been meted
out to any under the kingdoms of this world, yet the
ostensible object "of all governments ever organized among
men has been to promote justice and the well-being of all
the people.
To what extent that object has been attained is another
question ; but such has been the claim of all governments,
and such the object of the people governed in submitting
to and supporting them. And where the ends of justice
have been greatly ignored, either the masses have been
blinded and deceived with reference to them ; or wars, com-
motions and revolutions have been the result.
The dark deeds of base tyrants, who gained positions of
power in the governments of the world, did not represent
the laws and institutions of those governments, buc in usurp-
264 Tke Plan of the Ages.
ing authority and turning it to base ends they gay* fr- those
governments their beastly character. Every governmcn
has had a majority of wise, just and good laws laws for
the protection of life and property, for the protection of
domestic and commercial interests, for the punishment of
crime, etc. They have also had courts if appeal in mat-
ters of dispute, where justice is meted out tc some extent,
at least; and however imperfe<5t those in office maybe, the
advantage and necessity for such institutions is apparent.
Poor as these governments have been, without them the
baser element of society would, by force of numbers, have
overcome the juster, better element.
While, therefore, we recognize the beastly character of
these governments, as rendered so by the exaltation to
power of a majority of unrighteous rulers, through the in-
trigues and deceptions of Satan, operating through man's
weaknesses and depraved tastes and ideas, yet we recognize
them as the best efforts of poor, fallen humanity at
governing itself. Century after century God has allowed
them to make the effort, and to see the results. But after
centuries of experiment, the results are as far from satisfac-
tory to-day as at any period of the world's history.* In
fa<5t, the dissatisfaction is more general and widespread than
ever before ; not because there is more oppression and in-
justice than ever, but because, under God's arrangement,
men's eyes are being opened by the increase of knowledge.
The various governments which have been established
from time to time have exhibited the average ability of the
people represented by them to govern themselves. Even
where despotic governments have existed, the fsu5t that they
have been tolerated by the masses proved that as a people
they were not capable of establishing and supporting a bet-
ter government, though many individuals were always,
doubtless, far in advance of the average standing.
Kingdoms of this World. 265
As we compare the condition of the world to-day with
its condition at any former period, we find a marked differ-
ence in the sentiments of the masses. The spirit of inde-
pendence is now abroad, and men are not so easily blind-
folded, deceived and led by rulers and politicians, and
therefore they will not submit to the yokes of former days.
This change of public sentiment has not been a gradual
one from the very beginning of man's effort to govern L t pi-
self, but clearly marked only as far back as the sixteenth
century ; and its progress has been most rapid within the
last fifty years. This change, therefore, is not the result
of the experience of past ages, but is the natural result of
the recent increase and general diffusion of knowledge
among the masses of mankind. The preparation for this
general diffusion of knowledge began with the invention of
printing, about 1440 A. D., and the consequent multiplica-
tion of books and news periodicals. The influence of this
invention in the general public enlightenment began to be
felt about the sixteenth century ; and the progressive steps
since that time all are acquainted with. The general edu-
cation of the masses has become popular, and inventions
and discoveries are becoming every-day occurrences. This
increase of knowledge among men, which is of God's ap-
pointment, and comes to pass in his own due time, is one
of the mighty influences which are now at work binding
Satan curtailing his influence and circumscribing his power
in this " Day of Preparation" for the setting up of God's
kingdom in the earth.
The increase of knowledge in every direction awakens a
feeling of self-respect among men, and a realization of their
natural and inalienable rights, which they will not long per-
mit to be ignored or despised j rather, they will go to an op-
posite extreme. Glance back along the centuries and sec how
the nations have written the history of their discontent ia
266 The Plan of the Ages,
blood. And the prophets declare that because of the increase
of knowledge a still more general and wide-spread dissatis-
faction will finally express itself in a world-wide revolution,
in the overthrow of all law and order ; that anarchy and dis-
tress upon all classes will be the result ; but that in the midst
of this confusion the God of heaven will SET UP his King-
dom, which will satisfy the desires of all nations. Wearied
and disheartened with their own failures, and finding their
last and greatest eiforts resulting in anarchy, men will gladly
welcome and bow before the heavenly authority, and recog-
nize its strong and just government. Thus man's extrem-
ity will become God's opportunity, and "the desire of all
nations shall come" the Kingdom of God, in power and
great glory. Hag. 2 : 7.
Knowing this to be the purpose of God, neither Jesus
nor the apostles interfered with earthly rulers in any way.
On the contrary, they taught the Church to submit
to these powers, even though they often suffered under
their abuse of power. They taught the Church to obey the
laws, and to respecSl those in authority because of their
office, even if they were not personally worthy of esteem ;
to pay their appointed taxes, and, except where they con-
flicted with God's laws (A6ls 4:19;$: 29), to offer no re-
sistance to any established law. (Rom. 13:1-7; Matt.
22: 21.) The Lord Jesus and the apostles and the early
Church were all law-abiding, though they were separate from,
and took no share in, the governments of this world.
Though the powers that be, the governments of this
world, were ordained or arranged for by God, that mankind
might gain a needed experience under them, yet the Church,
the consecrated ones who aspire to office in the coming
Kingdom of God, should neither covet the honors and the
emoluments of office in the kingdoms of this world, nor should
they oppose these powers. They are fellow citizens and heirs
Kingdoms of this Worte. 267
of the heavenly kingdom (Eph. 2:19), and as such should
claim only such rights and privileges under the kingdoms
of this world as are accorded to aliens. Their mission is
not to help the world to improve its present condition, nor
to have anything to do with its affairs at present. To at-
tempt to do so would be but a waste of effort ; for the
world's course and its termination are both clearly defined
in the Scriptures and are fully under the control of him
who in his own time will give us the kingdom. The influ-
ence of the true Church is now and always has been small
so small as to count practically nothing politically ; but
however great it might appear, we should follow the exam-
ple and teaching of our Lord and the apostles. Knowing
that the purpose of God is to let the world fully test its own
ability to govern itself, the true Church should not, while
in it, be of the world. The saints may influence the
world only by their separateness from it, by letting their
light shine ; and thus through their lives the spirit of truth
REPROVES the world. Thus as peaceable, orderly obeyers
and commenders of every righteous law, reprovers of law-
lessness and sin, and pointers forward to the promised King-
dom of God*and the blessings to be expected under it, and
not by the method commonly adopted of mingling in pol-
itics and scheming with the world for power, and thus being
drawn into wars and sins and the general degradation
in glorious chastity should the prospective Bride of the
Prince of Peace be a power for good, as her Lord's repre-
sentative in the world.
The Church of God should give its entire attention and
effort to preaching the Kingdom of God, and to the ad-
vancement of the interests of that Kingdom according to
the plan laid down in the Scriptures. If this is faithfully
done, there will' be no time nor disposition to dabble in the
politics of present governments. The Lord had no time for
2 68 The Plan of the Ages.
it; the apostles had no time for it; nor have any of the
saints who are following their example.
The early Church, shortly after the death of the apostles,
fell a prey to this very temptation. The preaching of the
coming Kingdom of God, which would displace all earthly
kingdoms, and of the crucified Christ as the heir of that
Kingdom, was unpopular, and brought with it persecution,
scorn and contempt. But some thought to improve on
God's plan, and, instead of suffering, to get the Church
into a position of favor with the world. By a combination
with earthly powers they succeeded. As a result Papacy
was developed, and in time became the mistress and queen
of nations. Rev. 17 : 3-5 ; 18 : 7.
By this policy everything was changed : instead of suf-
fering, came honor ; instead of humility, came pride \ in-
stead of truth, came error ; and instead of being perse-
cuted, she became the persecutor of all who condemned her
new and illegal honors. Soon she began to invent new
theories and sophistries to justify her course, first deceiving
herself, and then the nations, into the belief that the prom-
ised millennial reign of Christ HAD COME, and that Christ
the King was represented by her popes, who reigned over
the kings of the earth as his vicegerents. Her claims were
successful in deceiving the whole world. " She made all
nations drunk" with her erroneous doctrines (Rev, 17:3),
intimidating them by teaching that eternal torment awaited
all who resisted her claims. Soon the kings of Europe were
crowned or deposed by her edicl, and under her supposed
authority.
Thus it comes that the kingdoms of Europe to-day claim
to be Christian kingdoms, and announce that their sover-
eigns reign "by the grace of God," /. <?., through appoint-
ment of either Papacy or some of the Protestant seels.
For though the Reformers abandoned many of Papacy's
oj tkts W&i& 269
claims to ecclesiastical jurisdiction, etc., they held to this
honor which the kings of earth had come to attach to
Christianity. And thus the Reformers fell into the same
error, and exercised the authority of rnonarchs in appoint-
ing and sanctioning governments and kings, and denomi-
nating such "Christian kingdoms, 1 ' or kingdoms of Christ.
So we hear much to-day of that strange enigma, t( 27te
Christian World" ~ an enigma indeed, when viewed in the
light of the true principles of the Gospel. Our Lord said
of his disciples, "They are not of the world, even as I am
not of the world," And Paul exhorts us, saying, "Be not
conformed to 'this world." -John 17:16; Rom. 12:2,
God never approved of calling these kingdoms by the
name of Christ. Deceived by the Church nominal, these
nations are sailing under false colors, claiming to be what
they are not. Their only title, aside from the vote of the
people, is in God's limited grant, spoken to Nebuchadnez-
zar until he come whose right the dominion is.'
The claim that these imperfe<5l kingdoms, with their im-
perfect laws and often selfish and vicious rulers, are the
"kingdoms of our Lord and his Anointed " is a gross libel
upon the true Kingdom of Christ, before which they must
shortly fall, and upon its "Prince of Peace" and righteous
rulers* Jsa. 33: i-
Another serious injury resulting from that error is that the
attention of the children of God has thereby been attra<Sled
away from the promised heavenly kingdom; and they have
been led to an improper recognition of and intimacy with
earthly kingdoms, and; to almost fruitless attempts to en-
graft upon these wild, worldly stocks the graces and morals
Of Christianity, to the megle& of the gospel concerning
the true Kingdom and the hopes centering in it. - Under
this deception, some are at present very solicitous that the
ncwae of God should be incorporated into the Constitution
of the United States, that thercty this *nay become a
Christian nation. The Reformed Presbyterians have for
years refused to vote or hold office under this government,
because it is not Christ's Kingdom, Thus they recognize
the impropriety of Christians sharing in any other. We
have great sympathy with this sentiment, but not with the
conclusion, that if God's name-were mentioned in the Con-
stitution, that fa<ft would transform this government from
a kingdom of this world to a kingdom of Christ, and give
them liberty to vote and to hold office under it. 0, how
foolish I How great the deception by which the Mother
of harlots" has made all nations drunk (Rev. 17:2); for
in a similar manner it is claimed that the kingdoms of
Europe were transferred from Satan to Christ, and became
" Christian nations."
Let it be seen that the best and the worst of earth's na-
tions are but "kingdoms of this world," whose lease of
power from God is now about expired, that they may give
place to their ordained successor, the Kingdom of Messiah,
the Fifth Universal Empire of earth (Dan. 2 : 44; 7: 14,
I7> 27 ) an d it will do much to establish truth and to over-
throw error.
But as it is, the adions of Papacy in this regard, sanc-
tioned by the Protestant Reformers, go unquestioned among
Christian people. And since they should uphold the King-
dom of Christ, they feel themselves bound to champion the
present falling kingdoms of so-called Christendom, whose
time is fast expiring ; and thus their sympathies are often
forced to the side of oppression, rather than to the side 3f
right and freedom to the side of the kingdoms of this world,
and the prince of this world, rather than to the side of the
coming true Kingdom of Christ. Rev. 17: 14; 19: 11-19.
The world is fast coming to realize that the "kingdoms
of this world" are not Christlike, and that their claim to
Kingdoms of tfus World. 271
be of Christ's appointment is not unquestionable. Men
are beginning to use their* reasoning powers on this and
similar questions ; and they will act out their convi&ions
so much more violently, as they come to realize that a de-
ception has been practiced upon them in the name of the
God of Justice and the Prince of Peace. In fact, the tend-
ency with many is to conclude that Christianity itself is
an imposition without foundation, and that, leagued with
civil rulers, its aim is merely to hold in check the liberties of
the masses.
O that men were wise, that they would apply their hearts
to understand the work and plan of the Lord ! Then
would the present kingdoms melt down gradually reform
would swiftly follow reform, and liberty follow liberty, and
justice and truth would prevail until righteousness would
be established in the earth. But they will not do this, nor
can they in their present fallen state; and so, armed with
selfishness, each will strive for mastery, and the kingdoms
of this world will pass away with a great time" of trouble,
such as was not since there was a nation. Of those who
will be vainly trying to hold to a dominion which has passed
away, when the dominion is given to him whose right it is,
the Lord speaks, urging that they are fighting against him
a conflict in which they are sure to fail. He says:
" Why do the nations tumultuously assemble, and the
people meditate a vain thing? The kings of the earth set
themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the
Lord, and against his Anointed, saying, Let us break their
bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He
that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh : the Lord shall have
them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his
wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure [saying], / have
anointed my king upon my holy hill of Zion, ... Be wise
now, therefore, ye kings : be instructed, ye judges of the
a/a Tht flan #f the Agts,
earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trem-
bling. Kiss [make friends with] the Son [God's Anointed]
lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way ; for his wrath
may soon be kindled. Blessed are all they that take ref
age in him." Psa. 2 : 1-6, 10-12.
THE KINGDOM NEAR,
-- Watchman, tell us of the night
What its signs, of promise are.
Traveler* o'er yon mountain's height,
See that glory-beaming star!
Watchman, does its beauteous ray
Aught of hope or joy foretell?
Traveler, yes, it brings the day
Promised day of Israel.
* Watchman, tell us of the night
Higher yet that star ascends.
Traveler, blessedness and light,
Peace and truth its course portends.
Watchman, will its beams alone
Gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveler, ages arc its own;
See, its glory fills the earth.
4 -Watchman, tell us, does the morning
Of fair Zion's glory dawn ?
Have the signs that mark its coming
Yet upon thy pathway shone ?
Traveler, yes: arise I look round theel
Light is breaking in the skies !
Gird thy bridal robes around theej
Morning dawns I arise! arise!"
STUDY XIV.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
OF THF SUBJECT. THE CHARACTER OP THE KINGDOM. THE
KINGDOM DURING THE GOSPEL AGE FALSE VIEWS COKRBCTED BY PAUL.
RESULTS OP FALSE IDEAS OP THE KINGDOM. Two PHASITS OP THE KINGDOM
OF GOD. THE SPIRITUAL PHASE AND ITS WORK THE EARTHLY PHASE
AND ITS WORK THEIR HARMONIOUS OPERATION THE GLORY OP THB
EARTHLY PHASE THE GLORY OF THE HEAVENLY PHASE. THE COVENANT
ROOT PROM WHICH THESK BRANCHES GROW THE EARTHLY PHASE OP THE
KINGDOM, ISRAELITISH. THE LO&T TRIBES. THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM.
ISRAEL A TYPICAL PEOPLE. ISRAEL'S Loss AND RECOVERY THE ELECT
CLASSES. THE HEIRS OP TII& KINGDOM THE IRON RULE. AN ILLUSTRA-.
TION OF THE OujrCT OF THE MILLENNIAL RfilGN. THE KINGDOM DELIVERED
TO THE FATHER. GOD'S ORIGINAL DESIGN FULLY ACCOMPLISHED.
A NY who have not carefully examined this subject, with
** concordance and Bible in hand, will be surprised, on
doing so, to find its prominence in the Scriptures. The
Old Testament abounds with promises and prophecies in
which the Kingdom of God and its King, Messiah, figure
as the very centre. It was the hope of every Israelite
(Luke 3:15) that as a people God would exalt their nation
under Messiah ; and when the Lord came to them, it was as
their King, to establish the long promised Kingdom of God
upon the earth.
John, the forerunner and herald of our Lord Jesus, opened
his mission with the announcement, " Repent ye; for the
Kingdom of Heaven 5s at hand." (Matt. 3 : 2.) The Lord
commenced his ministry with the same ani^ouncenient ex-
acftly (Matt. 4: 17); and the apostles were sent forth to
preach the same message. (Matt. 10: 7; Luke 9: 2.) Not only
was the kingdom the topic with which the Lord began his
public ministry, but it was really the main topic of all hia
18-A 3
274 The Pl an f tf i
preaching (Luke 8 : i ; 4* 43 > *9 ; = ") other subjeAs be-
ing mentioned merely in connexion with or in explana-
tion of this one subject. The majority of his parables were
either illustrations of the kingdom from various standpoints,
and in different features, or else served to point out entire
consecration to God as essential to a share in the kingdom,
and to correct the Jewish misapprehension that they were
sure of the kingdom because natural children of Abraham,
and hence natural heirs to the promises.
Our Lord Jesus in his talks with his followers strengthened
and encouraged their expectations of a coming kingdom,
saying to them, " I appoint unto you a kingdom as my Fath-
er hath appointed unto me, that ye may eat and drink at my
table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging [ruling]
the twelve tribes of Israel." (Luke 22: 29,30.) And, again,
"Fear not, little flock; it is your Father's good pleasure to
give you the kingdom.*' (Luke 12 : 32.) And when, instead
of being crowned and enthroned, their recognized king was
crucified, his disciples were sorely disappointed. As two
of them expressed it to the supposed stranger on their way
to Emmaus after his resurrection, they had " trusted t\\o&
it had been he which should have redeemed Israel" de-
livering them from the Roman yoke, and making of Israel
the Kingdom of God in power and glory. But they were
sadly disappointed by the changes of the few days previous.
Then Jesus opened their understanding by showing them
from the Scriptures that his sacrifice was needful first of all
before the kingdom could be established. Luke 24 : 21,
25-27.
God could have given to Jesus the dominion of earth with*
out redeeming man; for "The Most High ruleth over the
kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he pleaseth, "
(Dan. 4 : 32.) But God had a grander design than could
have been accomplished by such a plan. Such a kingdom
The Kingdom vf Go& 975
coufd have brought blessings which, however good, could
have been of only a temporary character, since all of man-
kind were under condemnation to death. To make the
blessings of his kingdom everlasting and complete, the race
had first to be ransomed from death and thus legally released
from the condemnation which passed upon all in Adam.
That in explaining the prophecies Jesus revived the dis-
ciples* hope of a coming kingdom is evident from the fact
that afterward, as he was leaving them, they inquired, "Lord,
wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" His
answer, though not explicit, did not contradict their hopes.
He said, " It is not for you to know the times and seasons
which the Father hath put in his own power. ' ' Acts i : 6, 7.
True, the disciples at first, in common with the entire
Jewish nation, had an imperfect conception of the King-
dom of God in supposing it to be exclusively an earthly
kingdom, even as many to-day err in an opposite direction
in supposing it to be exclusively a heavenly kingdom. And
many of the parables and dark sayings of our Lord Jesus were
intended in due time to correct these misconceptions. But
he always held forth the idea of a kingdom, a government,
to be established in the earth and to rule among men. And
he not only inspired in them a hope for a share in the king-
dom, but he also taught them to pray for its establishment
" Thy kingdom come; thy will be done ON EARTH as it
is in heaven."
To the worldly-wise among the Jews, our Lord seemed
an impostor and fanatic; and they considered his disciples
mere dupes. His wisdom and tact, and his miracles, they
could not well gainsay, nor reasonably account for; yet, from
their standpoint of unbelief, his claim that he was the heir
of the world, and would establish the promised kingdom
which should rule the world, and that his followers, all of
them from the humbler walks of life, would be joint-rulers
276
with him in that kingdom, seemed too absurd for consider-
ation Rome, with its disciplined warriors, its abl gener-
als and immense wealth, was the master of the world, and
was daily growing more powerful. Who, then, was this
Nazarene? and who were these fishermen, without money
or influence, and with but a meager following among the
common people? Who were these that they should talk
about establishing the kingdom long promised to be the
grandest and mightiest earth had ever known?
The Pharisees, hoping to expose the supposed weakness
of our Lord claims, and thereby to undeceive his followers,
demanded of him When will this kingdom which you
preach begin to make its appearance? when will your sol-
diers arrive? when will this Kingdom of God appear? (Luke
17 : 20-30.) Our Lord's answer would have given them
a new thought had they not been prejudiced against him
and blinded by their own supposed wisdom. He altered
that his kingdom would never appear in the manner in
which they expected it. The kingdom which he preached,
and in which he invited his followers to joint-heirship, was
an invisible kingdom, and they must not expeft to see it.
"He answered them, and said, The Kingdom of God com-
eth not with observation [outward manifestation ]; neither
shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for the Kingdom of
God is [to be] in your midst."* In a word, he showed
that when his kingdom should come, it would be every-
where present and everywhere powerful, yet nowhere visible.
*The Diaglott and Rotherham's translation render this ** among you,"
which is synonymous with. **in your midst." It certainly would agree
with no theory to insist that the kingdom which Ji-sus claimed to be
about to establish would be within the hearts of the Pharisees, whom
lie styled hypocrites and whited sepulchres. But this kingdom, when
established, will be "* the midst of* or " among" all classes, ruling
and judging all.
The Kingdom of God. 277
Thus he gave them an idea of the spiritual kingdom which
he preached | but they were unprepared and received it
not. There was a measure of truth in the Jewish expecta-
tion concerning the promised kingdom, which will in due
time be realized, as will be shown ; but our Lord's refer-
ence here is to that spiritual phase of the kingdom, which
will be invisible. And as this phase of the kingdom will
be first set up, its presence will be unseen, and for a time
unrecognized. The privilege of heirship in this spiritual
phase of the Kingdom of God was the only offer then be-
ing made, and has been the one hope of our high calling
during the entire Gospel age, which then began. Hence Je
sus referred to it exclusively. (Luke 16 : 16.) This will be
more clearly seen as we proceed.
It was probably because oi this adverse public sentiment,
especially among the Pharisees, that Nicodemus came to
Jesus by night, being anxious to solve the mystery, yet ap-
parently ashamed to acknowledge publicly that such claims
had any weight upon his mind. The conversation between
the Lord and Nicodemus (John 3), though but partially re-
corded, gives a somewhat further insight into the character
of the Kingdom of God. Evidently the main points of the
conversation are mentioned that from these we may readi-
ly gather the drift of the whole, which we may reasonably
paraphrase as follows :
Nicodemus." Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher
come from God ; for no man can do these miracles that
thou doest, except God be with him." Yet some of your
statements seem very inconsistent to me, and I come to
ask an explanation. For instance, you and your disciples
go about proclaiming, "The kingdom of heaven is at
hand ; " but you have neither an army, nor wealth, nor influ-
ence, and to all appearance this claim is untrue; and in
this you seem to be deceiving tbe people, The Pharisees
2 yg The Plan of the Ages,
generally regard you as an impostor, but I am sure there
must be some truth in your teachings, "for no man can do
these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him."
The objeft of my visit is to inquire of what sort, when and
whence is this kingdom you proclaim? and when and
how is it to be established?
Jesus, Your request to have a full understanding con-
cerning the kingdom of heaven cannot now be answered to
your satisfaction; not that I do not know about it fully,
but that in your present condition you could not under-
stand or appreciate it, if I would fully explain. 'Except a
man be begotten* from above, he cannot see [Greek, eidon, f
know, or be acquainted with] the kingdom of God."
Even my disciples have as yet very indistindl ideas of the
chara&er of the kingdom they are proclaiming. I cannot
* The Greek word gennao and its derivatives, sometimes translated
begotten and sometimes born> really contains both ideas, and should be
translated by either one of these two English words, according to the
sense of the passage in which it occurs. The two ideas, begetting and
birth, are always in the word, so that if the one is stated, the other is
always implied, as birth is the natural consequence of begetting, and be-
getting the natural antecedent to birth. When the active agent with
which gennao is associated is a male, it should be translated begotten;
when a female, bom. Thus in I John2:29; 3:9; 4 : 7 5 ;I l8 >
gennao should be begotten, because God (masculine) is the active agent.
Sometimes, however, the translation is dependent on the nature of the
ac% whether masculine or feminine. Thus used in conjuncTaon with ,
signifying from or cut oj \ it should be translated born. So in John
3 : 5, 6, gennao should be translated 6om, as indicated by the word ek
"out of water," out of flesh," "out <?/ spirit."
( This same Greek word is translated consider in Acts 15:6. " The
apostles and elders came together for to consider [know or understand]
this matter. 7 * The same word is rendered behold in Rom, 11:22. *' Be*
hold [consider, understand], therefore, the goodness and severity of God;"
also in I John 3 : i "Behold [consider, know, understand] what man-
tier of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,' 1
The Kingdom of God. 279
tell them, for the same reason that I cannot tell youj and
they could not understand, for the same reason. But, Nico-
demus, one peculiarity of God's dealings is that he requires
obedience to the light already possessed before more light
is given; and in the selection of those who shall be ac-
counted worthy to share the kingdom, a manifestation of
faith is required. They must be such as axe willing to fol-
low God's leading, step by step, often seeing only the one
advance step clearly. They walk by faith and not by sight.
Nicodemus. But I do not understand you. What do
you mean ? " How can a man be begotten when he is old?
can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be
born?" Or do you mean that Jthe repentance preached
by "John the Immerser," and signified by baptism in
water, is somehow a symbolic birth? I notice that your
disciples preach and baptize similarly. Is this the new
birth necessary to those who would see or enter your
Kingdom?
Jesuf Our nation is a consecrated nation, a covenant
people. They were all baptized into Moses in the sea and
in the cloud when they left Egypt. God accepted them
in Moses, the mediator of their covenant, at Sinai; but they
have forgotten their covenant, some are openly living as
publicans and sinners, and many others are self-righteous
hypocrites; hence John's preaching and that of my disciples
is repentance a return to God and to a recognition of the
covenant made; and the baptism of John signifies this re-
pentance and reformation of heart and life, and not the new
birth. But unless you have more than this you will never
see the Kingdom. Except in addition to the reformation
symbolized by John's baptism you receive a begetting and
birth of the spirit, you cannot see my Kingdom, Repent
ance will bring you back to a justified condition ; in thai
condition you will be able readily to recognize me as Mes*
280 ffiie Plan of the Ages,
siah, the antitype of Moses; and thus consecrating to me
you will be begotten of the Father to a new Mfe and the di-
vine nature, which, if it develop and become quickened,
will insure your being born a new creature, a spirit being,
in the first resurrection, and as such you shall not only see
but share the Kingdom-,
The change to be wrought by this new birth of the Spirit
is truly great, Nicodemusj for that which is born of the
flesh is flesh, but that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Wonder not, then, at my first statement, that you must be
begotten from above ere you can understand, know and ap-
preciate the things of which you inquire. " Marvel not
that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 1 * The
difference between your present condition, born of the
flesh, and the condition of those born of the Spirit, who
shall enter into or constitute the Kingdom I am preaching,
is very great. Let me give you an illustration by which
you will gain some idea of the beings who, when born of
the Spirit, will constitute this Kingdom: "The wind
bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound there*
of, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it go-
eth so is every one that is born of the Spirit." As the
wind blows here and there, you cannot see it, though it ex*
erts an influence all about you. You know not whence it
comes nor where it goes. This is as good an illustration
as I can give you of those born of the Spirit in the resur-
redlion, those who will "enter into*' or constitute the
Kingdom which J am now preaching. They will all be as
invisible as the wind, and men, not born of the Spirit, will
neither know whence they come nor whither they go.
Nicodemus. How can this be? invisible beings!
Jesus. " Art thou a master in Israel, and knowcst not
these things?" that spirit beings can be present, yet invis-
ible? Have you, who attempt to teach others, never read
The Kingdom of &od. 281
about Elisha and his servant, or about Balaam's ass? and
the many instances in the Scriptures which illustrate this
principle, that spirit beings can be present among men, yet
invisible ? Furthermore, you are of the Pharisees, who pro-
fessedly believe in angels as spirit beings. But this illus-
trates what I told you at first : Except a man be begotten
from above, he cannot see [know, become acquainted with,
or understand as reasonable] the Kingdom of God and the
various things connected with it.
If you would enter into and become a joint-heir with me
of that kingdom which I am announcing, you must follow
the light, step by step. As you do so, more light will come,
and this as rapidly as you will be prepared for it. I have
been preaching these things now due which you can under-
stand, and performing miracles, and you acknowledge me
to be a teacher come from God, but you have not acted out
your faith and openly become my disciple and follower.
You must not expect to see more, until you live up to all
you do see ; then God will give you more light and evi-
dence for the next step. <c Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
we speak that we do know^ and testify that we have seen,
and ye [Pharisees] receive not our witness. If I have told
you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe
if I tell you of heavenly things?" It would be useless for
me to attempt to tell you of heavenly things, for you would
not be convinced and my preaching would seem the more
foolish to you. If what I have taught, which has been of
an earthly character, or illustrated by earthly things, which
you could and do understand, has not brought conviction
enough to your mind to lead you openly to become my dis-
ciple and follower, it would be no more convincing to you
if I were to tell you of heavenly things, of which you know
nothing ; for no man has ever ascended into heaven, hence
none could corroborate my testimony* I, who descended
282 The Plan of the Ages.
from heaven, alone understand heavenly things. "No
man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down
from heaven, even the Son of man."* A knowledge of
the heavenly things can be received only after the begetting
of the Spirit ; and the heavenly things themselves, when
born of the spirit, spirit beings.
Thus it required patience on the Lord's part, in declar-
ing the nature of the kingdom to those whose prejudices
and education hindered their seeing anything except dis-
torted views of the earthly phase of it. Nevertheless the
selection of a proper class to share Messiah's kingdom pro-
ceeded, though but a few were selected, from Israel, to whom
exclusively it was offered for seven years. As God had
foreseen, through their unreadiness for it, and their failure
to grasp and comply with the conditions presented, the
privilege of sharing in Messiah's kingdom passed from them
as a people, only a remnant of whom received it, and came
to the Gentiles to take out of them also "a people for his
name." And among these also only a remnant, a " little
flock," appreciate the privilege and are counted worthy
of joint-heirship in his kingdom and glory.
Serious has been the error introduced into the nominal
Christian Church, which misinterprets this promised king-
dom to mean merely the Church nominal in its present con-
dition, and its work merely a work of grace in the hearts
of believers ; and to such an extreme has this error been
carried that the present unholy alliance and reign of the
Church nominal with the world is believed by many to be
the reign of the Kingdom of God on the earth. True,
there is a sense in which the Church is now the Kingdom
of God, and a work of grace is now going on in the hearts
of believers ; but to consider this all, and to deny a veritable
*The words "which is in heaven" (vcrbe 13) are not found in the
most ancient and reliable MSS.
The Kingdom &f God. 283
future Kingdom of God yet to be established under the
whole heavens, in which the will of God will be done as it
is in heaven, is to make void and meaningless the strongest
smd most pointed promises recorded by our Lord and the
apostles and prophets, for our encouragement and help in
overcoming the world.
In the parables of our Lord, the Church is frequently
called the kingdom; and the Apostle speaks of it as the king-
dom over which Christ now reigns, saying that God hath
translated us out of the kingdom of darkness into the king-
dom of his dear Son. We who accept of Christ now rec-
ognize his purchased right of dominion, and render him
grateful and voluntary obedience before he forcibly estab-
lishes it in the world. We recognize the difference between
the laws of righteousness, which he will enforce, and the
kingdom of darkness supported by the usurper, at present
the prince of this world. Faith in God's promises thus
changes our allegiance, and we reckon ourselves subjects of
the new prince, and, by his favor, joint-heirs with him in
that kingdom yet to be set up in power and great glory.
But this fad by no means disannuls the promises that
ultimately Christ's kingdom shall be " from sea to sea, and
from the river to the ends of the earth" (Psa. 72 : 8); that
all nations shall serve and obey him ; and that unto him
every knee shall bow, of things both in heaven and on earth.
(Dan. 7:27; Phil. 2 : 10.) Rather, on the contrary, the se-
lection now of the " little flock ' ' confirms those promises.
When the parables of our Lord are carefully examined,
it will be found that they clearly teach that the coming or
setting up of the Kingdom of God in power is future ; and,
as a matter of course, not until the King comes. Thus the
parable of the young nobleman going into a far country to
receive a kingdom and to return, etc. (Luke 19: :2-is),
clearly locates the establishment of the Kingdom at tht re-
284 The Plan of the Ages.
turn of Christ. And the message sent by the Lord to the
Church long years afterward was, "Be thou faithful unto
death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (Rev. 2 : 10.)
From this it is evident that the kings who will reign with
him will not be crowned nor reign as kings in this life.
The Church at present, therefore, is not the Kingdom of
God set up in power and glory, but in its incipient, em-
bryo condition And so, indeed, all the expressions of the
New Testament with reference to it teach. The kingdom
of heaven now suffers violence at the hands of the world \
the King was maltreated and crucified ; and whosoever will
follow in his footsteps shall suffer persecution and violence
in some form. This, it will be observed, is true only of
the real Church, and not of the nominal one. But the
promise is held out that if now we (the Church, the em-
bryo kingdom) suffer with Christ, we also, in due time,
when he takes to himself his great power and reigns, shall
be glorified and shall reign with him.
James (2 : 5), in harmony with our Lord's teaching, tells
us that God has chosen the poor and despised according
to this world's standards, not to reign now, but as "heirs
of the kingdom which he hath promised" The Lord says,
" How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the
Kingdom of God." (Mark 10:23.) It is evident that he
does not mean the nominal Church, which is now reigning
with the world ; for the rich are pressed into it. Peter ex-*
horts the heirs of the kingdom to patience, perseverance,
virtue and faith, saying : " Brethren, give diligence to make
your calling and elelion sure ; for if ye do these things
ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered
unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ" 2 Peter i : lojxt.
Paul's statement in Rom. 14: 17 is supposed by some
to refer to a ^figurative kingdom ; but when examined in the
The Kingdom of Go$. 285
light of the content, it is evident that the passage means
simply this : We, brethren, translated now into the king-
dom of God'e dear Son, have certain liberties as to our
food, etc. , which we had not as Jews under the law (verse
14); yet let us rather not use this liberty if it cause breth-
ren who do not yet realize it to stumble and* violate their
consciences. Let us not, by our liberty as to our food, ruin
our brother for whom Christ died ; but let us remember that
the privileges of the kingdom, both now and in the future,
consist of much greater blessings than liberty as to food ;
namely, in our liberty as to right-doing, our peace toward
God through Christ, and our joy in participating in the
Holy Spirit of God. These liberties of the kingdom (now
and ever) are so great that the minor liberty as to food may
well be sacrificed, for the present, for our brother's good.
Thus, no matter from what Scripture standpoint we look,
the idea that the kingdom promises are mythical decep-
tions, or that our present conditions fulfil these promises,
is contradicted.
With the early Church, the promises of kingdom honor
and joint-heirship with the Master were strong incentives
to faithfulness under present trials and persecutions, which
they had been forewarned to expe<t ; and in all the words
of comfort and encouragement in the Apocalypse, given to
the seven churches, none shine out more clearly and forcibly
than those which declare, " To him that overcometh will I
grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame
and am set down with my Father in his throne j" and, " To
him that overcometh will I give power over the nations,"
These are promises which could not reasonably be mis-
construed to apply to a present work of grace in the heart,
nor yet to a reign over the nations in the present life ; since
they who would overcome must do so by death in the ser-
vice, and thus gain the kingdom honors. Rev. 20 : 6.
But human nature seeks to avoid suffering and is ever
ready to grasp honor and power ; hence we find that even
in the apostles' day some in the Church were disposed to
appropriate the promises of future honor and power to the
present life, and were beginning to act as though they
thought the time had already come for the world to honor
and even to obey the Church. The Apostle Paul writes,
correcting this error, knowing that such ideas would have
an injurious effect upon the Church by cultivating pride
and leading away from sacrifice. He says to them, iron-
ically, "Now ye are full, now ye are rich ; ye have reigned
as kings without us." And then he adds, earnestly, "I
would to God ye did reign, that we [persecuted apostles]
also might reign with you." (i Cor. 4 : 8.) They were en-
joying their Christianity by trying to get out of it and with
it as much honor as possible ; and the Apostle well knew
that if they were faithful 'as followers of the Lord they would
be in no such condition. Hence he reminds them that if
indeed the long-looked-for reign had begun, he also would
be reigning no less than they, and of the fact that he by
faithfulness was a sufferer for the truth's sake, which was
a proof that their reign was premature, and a snare rather
than a glory. Then, with a touch of irony, he adds, " We
[apostles and faithful servants] are fools for Christ's sake,
but ye are wise in Christ ; we are weak, but ye are strong;
ye are honorable, but we are despised/' I do not write
these things merely to shame you : I have a better and a
nobler object: TO WARN YOU ; for the path of present honor
leads not to the glory and honor to fa revealed ; but present
suffering and self-denial are the narrow path to glory, honor,
immortality and joint-heirship in the kingdom. Where-
fore, I beseech you, be ye followers of me. Suffer and be
reviled and persecuted now, that you may share with me
the* crown of life, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will
The Kingdom of God. 287
give me at that day ; and not to me only, but unto all those
that love his appearing. i Cor. 4 : 10-1 7 ; 2 Tim. 4 : 8.
But, after a great deal of persecution had been faithfully
endured by the early Church, theories began to spread to
the effect that the mission of the Church was to conquer
the world, establish the kingdom of heaven on earth and
reign over the nations before the Lord's second advent. This
laid the foundation for worldly intrigue, pomp and pride,
ostentatious show and ceremony in the Church, which was
designed to impress, captivate and overawe the world, and
which led step by step to the great claims of Papacy that as
God's kingdom on earth it had a right to command the re-
spect and obedience to its laws and officers of every kindred,
nation and people. Under this false claim (and they seem-
ingly deceived themselves as well as others) Papacy for a
time crowned and uncrowned the kings of Europe, and still
claims the authority which it is now unable to enforce.
The same idea through Papacy has come down to Protest-
antism, which also claims, though more vaguely, that some-
how the reign of the Church is in progress ; and like the
Corinthians its adherents are "full" and "rich, "and reign
"as kings," as graphically described by our Lord. (Rev.
3:17, 18.) Thus it has come to pass that the merely nom-
inal members of the Church those not really converted,
not really wheat, but tares, mere imitations of the wheat
far outnumber the true disciples of Christ. And these are
much opposed to every real sacrifice and self-denial, do not
suffer persecution for righteousness' [truth's] sake, and at
most hold to only a form of fastings, etc. , instead. They are
really reigning with the world and are not in the line of
preparation for sharing in the real kingdom which is to be
set up by our Lord at his second presence.
To any careful observer, there is a manifest incongruity
between this view and the teaching of Jesus and the apostl
les.
288 The Ptan oj Me
They taught that there can be no kingdom until the King
comes. (Rev. 20 : 6 ; 3:21; 2 Tim. 2 : 12.) Consequently
the kingdom of heaven must suffer violence until that time,
when, it shall be set up in glory and power,
TWO PHASES OP THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
While it is true, as stated by our Lord, that the Kingdom
of God cometh #<tf does not make its first appearance
with outward show, in due time it is to be made manifest
to all by outward, visible and unmistakable signs. Whea
fully set up, the Kingdom of God will be of two parts, a
spiritual or heavenly phase and an earthly or human phase.
The spiritual will always be invisible to men, as those com-
posing it will be of the divine, spiritual nature, which no
man hath, seen nor can see (i Tim. 6 : 16 j John i : 18);
yet its presence and power will be mightily manifested,
chiefly through its human representatives, who will consti-
tute the earthly phase of the Kingdom of God.
Those who will constitute the spiritual phase of the king-
dom are the overcoming saints of the Gospel age the
Christ, head and body glorified. Their resurrection and
exaltation to power precedes that of all others, because
through this class all others are to be blessed. (Heb. 11:39,
40.) Theirs is fas jirsf resurrection. (Rev. 20; 5*.) The
great work before this glorious anointed company the
* In this verbe the words " uf the rest uj the dead liwd not again
until the thousand years were finished" are spurious. They are not
found in the oldest and most reliable Greek MSS., the Sinaitie, Vatican
Nos. 1209 and 1160, nor the Syriac MS. We must remember that many
passages found in the modem copies are additions which do not prop-
erly belong to the Bible. Since commanded not to add to the Word of
Cod, ft is our duty to repudiate such, additions as soon as their spurious
character is established. The vords indicated probably crept into the
text by accident, in the fifth century; for no MS. of earlier date (either
Greek or Syriac) contains this clause. It was probably at first merely a
Wfgiiutiwnwent made fay a reader, expressive of his thought upon tha
Ttu
Christ- necessitates their exaltation *o the divine nature ,
no other than divine power could accomplish it. Theirs
*b a work pertaining not only to this world, but to all things
in heaven and in earth among spiritual as well as among
human beings. Matt. 28^18^ Col, sssoj Epb, xsio,,
Phil. 21 10) i Cor, 6s 3,
The work of the earthly phase of the Kingdom of God
will be confined to this world and to humanity, And those
so highly honored as to have a share jn it will be the most
text, and copied into the body of the text by some subsequent transcribes
who failed to distinguish between the texs: ana tfie comment
However, the repudiation oft this clause is not Essential to the "Plan**
as herein set forth j ioi the test of the dead- the world at large will
not live again in the full sense, in the perfect sense that Adam &Vj?be
fore he sinned and came lander the sentence ^ dying thou shalt die.'*
Perfect life without weakness or dying is the jnly sense in which God
recognizes the word life. From his standpoint alK the world has al
ready lost liie is <3ying v and might now be more properly described as
dead than as alive. 2 Cor. 5 s 14 j Matt, 8: 22.
The word resurrection (Greek, anasfasis) signifies raising up* As re-
lated to man, It signifies raising up man to that condition from which
he fell, tc full perfection of manhood the thing lost through Adam,
The perfection from which our race fell is the perfection to which they
will gradually rise* during the Millennial age of restitution or resurrec-
tion (raising up) The Millennial age is not snly the age of trial, but
also the- age oi blessing, and through resurrection ox restitution to life
all that was tost is to be restored to all who, when they know and have
(Opportunity, gladly obey r The process of resurrection will be a gradual
one, requiring the entire age foi its full accomplishment* though the
mere awakening to a measure of life and consciousness; as at present en-
joyed, will erf course be a momentary work Consequently it will not
be until the thousand years are finished that the race will have fully
attained the complete measure of life lost in Adam,' And since any-
thing short <o* perfect life is a condfraon of partia* death, it follows that
although the above words re no part ot the inspired record, it would
oe strictly true to say that the *est cA the tteaa will not live again <wih
nx* regain the fulness ot iitte tost) smtil die thousand years oi restitutioi.
*ud blessing are complete,,
19-A
exalted and honored of God among men. These are the
class referred to in Chapter VIIL (page 145), whose judg-
ment day was previous to the Gospel age. Having been
tried and found faithful, in the awakening they will not be
brought forth to judgment again, but will at once receive
the reward of their faithfulness an instantaneous resurrec-
tion to perfeflion as men. (Others than these and the spir
itual class will \& gradually raised to perfection during that
Millennial age.) Thus this class will be ready at once
for the great work before it as the human agents of the
Christ in restoring and blessing the remainder of mankind.
As the spiritual nature is necessary to the accomplishment
of the work of Christ, so perfect human nature is appro-
priate for the future accomplishment of the work to be clone
among men. These will minister among and be seen of
men, while the glory of their perfection will IKS a constant
example and an incentive to other men to strive to attain
the same perfection. And that these ancient worthies will
be in the human phase of the kingdom and seen of man-
kind is fully attested by Jesus' words to the unbelieving
Jews who were rejecting him. He said, "Ye shall see
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and all the prophets, in the
Kingdom of God/ ; It should be noticed also, that the
Master docs not mention that he or the apostles will l>c vis-
ible with Abraham. As a matter of fafl, men will see and
mingle with the earthly phase of the kingdom, but not with
the spiritual ; and some will, no doubt, be surely vexed to
find that they rejected so great an honon
We are not given explicit information as to the exaft
manner in which these two phases of the heavenly kingdom
will harmoniously operate:; but we have an illustration of
the manner in which they may operate, in God's dealings
with Israel through their representatives, Hosts, Aaron,
Joshua, the prophets, etc. though the coming manifesto
of divine powev will tfk* nareieed lAosc 1 ' of thai typical
age 3 for the work of the coming age comprises the awaken-
ing of all the dead and the restoration of the obediettf to
perfe&ion* Thin work will necessitate the establishment of
a pcrfe<Sl government among men, with perfecfl men in posi-
tions of control,, thai they may tightly order the affairs of
stale It will necessitate the appointment of proper edu-
cational facilities of t?very chara&er, as well as philan-
thropic measures of various kiudSu And this noble work
oi thus elevating the race by sure and steady steps (under
the ditedion of the unseen spiritual members oi the same
kingdom'* te the high honor to which the anaent worthies
are appointed, and for which they will come ibrth prepared
soon after the final wreck of the kingdoms of this world
and the binding of Satan, their prince, A.nd as the divinely
honored representatives of the heavenly kingdom, they will
soon receive the honor and co-operation ol all men.
To gain a place in the earthly phase of the kingdom of
God will be to find the gratification of every desire and
ambition of the perfect human heart. It will be a glorious
and satisfying portion from the first entrance into it, and
yet the glory will accumulate as time advances and the
blessed work progresses, And when, at the end of a thou-
sand years, the great work of restitution m accomplished by
the Christ (in great measure through the agency ol these
noble human co-workers); when the whole human race (ex*
cept the incorrigible Ma't. 25:46; Rev 20:9) stands
approved, without spot, or wrinkle* or any such thinjf, in
the presence of Jeho\ah, these who were instrumental in
the work will shine among their fellow-men and txtfore
God and Christ and the angels, as "the stars forever and
<dver. M (Uar. s:3.) Their work and labor of love
never l>e forgotten by their grateful fellow-men. They
*** held b everlasting remembrance. Fsa. r jta : 6
39*
But great as will be the accumulating glory of those per-
fect men who will constitute the eartniy phase of the king-
dom, the glory of the heavenly will be the glory that ex-
celleth. While the former will shine as the stars for-
ever, the lattei w& shine as the brightness of the firma-
ment as the sun, (Dan. t* 3.) The honors of heaven as
well as of earth shall be laid at the fee: of the Christ The
human mind can approximate, but cannot clearly conceive ;
the glory to he revealed in the Christ through the countless
ages of eternity. Rom 8 *8 r Eph. rf , 7~xa n
It is through these two phases of the kingdom that the
promise to Abraham is to be verified "In thee and in thy
seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." "Thy
seed shall be as the sand of the sea, ana as the stars of
heaven" an earthly and a heavenly seedy both God's in-'
struments of blessing to the world* Both phases of the
promises were clearly seen and intended by God from the
beginning; but only the earthly was seen by. Abraham,
And though God seleded from the natural seed the chief
of the spiritual class (the apostles and others), and proffered
the chief blessing, the spiritual, to all of that nation living
in the due time for that heavenly call, this was just so much
beyond what Abraham ever saw in the covenant favor
upon favor,
Paul (Rom, n : 17) speaks of the Abrahamic covenant
as a root out of which fleshly Israel grew naturally, but into
which the Gentile believers were grafted when the natural
branches were cut off because of unbelief. This proves
the double fulfilment of the promise in the development of
the two seeds* earthly (human; and heavenly (spiritual),
which will constitute the two phases of the kingdom. This
root-covenant bears these two distinct kinds of branches,
each of which in the resurrection will bear its own distind
kind of perfect fruitage the human and spiritual classes in,
The Kingdom of God. 293
kingdom power. In order of development it was first the
natural (earthly), afterward the heavenly rulers ; but in order
of grandeur of position and time of instalment, it will be
first the spiritual, afterward the natural ; and so there are
last which shall be first, and first which shall be last. Matt
19: 30; Luke 16: 16.
The promise made to Abraham, to which Stephen refers
(A6ls 7 : 5), and in which Israel trusted, was earthly : it
related to the land. God "promised that he would give
it to him for a possession," said Stephen. And God said
to Abraham, "Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the
place where thou art, northward and southward and east-
ward and westward ; for all the land which thou seest, to
thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever. And I will
make thy seed as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can
number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed be num-
bered. Arise, walk through the land, in the length of it
and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee."
(Gen. 13:14-17.) Stephen shows that this promise must
yet be fulfilled ; for he declares that God gave Abraham
"non^ inheritance in it [in the land], no> not so much as
<x>set his foot on."
The Apostle, writing of this same class of ancient wor-
thies Abraham among others agrees with Stephen's state-
ment that the promise to Abraham has not yet been fulfilled ;
and he goes further and shows that those earthly promises
cannot and will not be fulfilled until the still higher heav-
enly promises concerning the Christ (Head and body) are
fulfilled. He says of them : These all died in faith, not
[/. *., without] having received [the fulfilment of] the
promise, God having provided some better thing for us [the
Christ], 1 aat they without us should not be made perfect.
(Hcb. ir : 13, 39, 40.) Thus is shown again that the Re-
deemer ana Restorer is spiritual, having given up the humaa
a ransom for all, and that from this highly exalted spiritual
class all blessings must proceed, whoevei may be honored
as its instruments or agents.
The earthly phase of the kingdom is thus seen to be
Israelitish ; and around this faft cluster those many proph-
ecies which relate to the prominence of that nation in God's
plan for the future blessing of the world, when their taber-
nacle, fallen in the dust, shall be restored, and Jerusalem
shall be a praise in the whole earth. We nd statements
by both prophets and apostles which clearly indicate that
in the times of restitution Israel as a nation will be the first
among the nations to come into harmony with the new order
of things; that the earthly Jerusalem will be rebuilt upon
her old heaps ; and that their polity will be restored as in
the beginning under princes or judges. (Isa. i : 26 ; Psa.
45 : 1 6 ; Jer. 30 : 18.) And what could be more reasonably
expedled than that Israel should first of all rejoice to recog-
nize the prophets and patriarchs ? and that their acquaint-
ance with and long discipline under the law should have
prepared them for tra&ability and obedience under the
authority of the kingdom ? And while Israel will be the
first of the nations to be recognized and blessed, it is writ-
ten also of Israel that "The Lord shall save the tents of
Judah first."
We do not deem it of importance to enter into a discus-
sion as to where the " lost tribes ' ' of Israel are to be sought.
It may or may not be true, as some claim, that those "lost
tribes" are traceable to certain civilized nations of the
present day. But though some of the suggested proofs are
not unreasonable, yet, as a whole, it is largely inference
and guess-work. But should it yet be clearly demonstrated
that some of the civilized nations are descendants of the
lost tribes, it would prove no advantage to them under the
"heavenly" "high calling/' which, since their national re-
TJie Kingdom of God. 295
jeclion, knows no difference between Jew and Greek, bond
and free. Should such evidence ever become clear (which
as yet it is not), it would be in perfect harmony with the
prophecies and promises relating to that nation yet await-
ing fulfilment in and under the earthly phase of the kingdom.
Natural attachment, as well as a still surviving measure of
trust in the long unfulfilled promises, and all their natural
prejudices, will be favorable to Israel's general and speedy
acceptance of the new rulers ; while their habits of measur-
able obedience to the law will also be favorable to their
speedy harmony with the principles of the new government.
As Jerusalem was the scat of empire under the typical
Kingdom of God, it will again occupy the same position,
and be "the city of the Great King." (Psa, 48: 2; Matt
5 : 35 .) A city is a symbol of a kingdom or dominion, and
so God's Kingdom is symbolized by the New Jerusalem, the
new dominion coming from heaven to earth. At first it
will consist of only the spiritual class, the Bride of Christ,
which, as seen by John, will gradually come down to earth ;
that is, it will gradually come into power as the present em-
pires break in pieces, during the Day of the Lord. In due
time, however, the earthly phase of this city or government
will be established, parts or members of which will be the
ancient worthies. There will not be two cities (govern-
ments), but one city, one heavenly government, the one for
which Abraham looked, "a city which hath foundations"
a government established in righteousness, being founded
upon the sure rock foundation of the righteousness of Christ
the Redeemer, the value of man's ransom which he gave,
and the firmness of divine justice, which can no more con-
demn the redeemed than it could previously excuse the
guilty. Rom. 8: 31-34; i Cor. 3: IT.
Glorious City of Peace ! whose walls signify salvation,
proleclioj and blessing to all who enter it, whose founda-
296 f tb* PM* *f &t Ages.
tions laid in justice can never be moved, and whose builder
and designer is God 1 It is in the light which will shine
from this glorious city (kingdom) of God that the nations
(people) will walk on the highway of holiness, up to per-
feaioa'and to full harmony with God. Rev. 21 : 24. *
When mankind reaches perfection at the close of the
Millennial age, as already shown, they will be admitted into
membership in the Kingdom of God and given the entire
control of earth as at first designed each man a sovereign,
a king. This is clearly shown in the symbolic proph-
ecy of John (Rev. 21:24-26); form vision he not only
saw the people walk in the light of it, but he saw the kings
enter it in glory; yet none could enter who would defile it
None can become identified with that city (kingdom) who
has not first been thoroughly tested ; none who would work,
or love to work, deceit and unrighteousness; only those
whom the Lamb will write as worthy of life everlasting,
and to whom he will say, " Come, ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you."
It should be remembered, then, that though undoubtedly
the literal city of Jerusalem will be rebuilt, and though
probably it will become the capital of the world, yet many
prophecies which mention Jerusalem and its future glories
refer, tinder that as a symbol, to the Kingdom of God to be
established in great splendor.
Concerning the future glory of the earthly phase of the
kingdom as represented in Jerusalem, the prophets speak
in glowing terms, saying : " Break forth into joy, sing to-
gether, ye waste places of Jerusalem ; for the Lord hath
comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. ' ' " Be-
hold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy."
* The following words are omitted from this verse by the most authen-
tic ancient manuscripts, viz., " of them which are saved" also ** and hon-
or? Tfce latter wpr4s $re also lacking from verse 3$
Tliv Kingdom of Go& 29?
" Rejoice ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her, . . * that
ye may be delighted with the abundance of her glory; for
saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a
river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.**
"At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the
Lord, and all nations shall be gathered unto it." " And
many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up
to the mountain [kingdom] of the Lord, to the house of
the God of Jacob ; and he will teach us of his ways, and
we will walk in his paths ; for out of Zion [the spiritual
phase] shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem " the earthly phase. Isa. 52:9$ 65:18; 66:
10-12; Jer. 3: 17; Isa. 2:3.
When considering the many precious promises of future
blessing made to Israel, and expecting an accurate fulfil-
ment of them to that people, it is proper that we should
remember that as a people they are typical, as well as actual.
In one aspect they are typical of the whole world of man-
kind ; and their Law Covenant, of obedience and life, was
typical of the New Covenant to be established with the
world during the Millennial and future ages.
The blood of atonement under their typical covenant,
and the priesthood which applied it to that nation, typified
the blood of the New Covenant and the Royal Priesthood
which will, during the Millennium, apply its clcansings
and blessings to the whole world. Thus their priesthood
typified the Christ, and that nation typified all for whom
?;he rea'' sacrifice was made, and to whom the real blessings
will come "every man/* "the whole world/'
Then let us remember that though the future blessings,
like the past, will be to the Jew first, and also to the Gen-
tile, i? will be in the matter of time only that the Jews will
taavt* the precedence to divine favor j and this we have shown
would be a natural consequence of their training under the
298 The flan of the Ages*
Law, which in due time will serve its purpose to bring them
to Christ. Though it brought only a remnant of them at
the first advent, it will bring them as a people at the second
advent, and as a people they will be a first-fruit among the
nations. Ultimately every blessing promised to Israel, ex-
cept those pertaining to the elected classes, will have, not
only its aftual fulfilment in that people, but also its anti-
typical fulfilment in all the families of the earth. Under
that government "God will render to every man according
to his deeds glory, honor, and peace to every man that
worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile ; for
there is no respeft of persons with God. ' ' Rom. 2 : 6, i o, 1 1 .
The Apostle Paul calls our attention specially to the sure-
ness of God's promises to Israel in the future, and shows
what favors they lost by unbelief, and what favors are still
sure. He says that it was because of pride, hardness of
heart and unbelief that Israel as a people had not obtained
that for which they sought the chief place in divine favor
and service. Paul's reference here is not to all the genera-
tions of Israel, from Abraham down, but to those genera-
tions living at the time of the first advent ; and his words
would apply to all their generations which have lived during
the Gospel age, the age wherein the chief favor has been
offered the high calling to the divine nature and joint-
heirship with Jesus. This favor Israel as a people has failed
to recognize and lay hold of. And though God visited the
Gentiles and called many of them through the gospel, they,
like fleshly Israel, will fail to obtain the heavenly prize.
Nevertheless, a class, a remnant, a little flock from among
all the called ones, heeds the call, and, by obedience and self-
sacrifice, makes its calling and ele6Uon sure. Thus what
Israel as a people failed to obtain, and what the nominal
Christian Church also fails to obtain, is given to the ele<5t
or selected dass, the faithful "body of Christ" ele& or
The Kingdom of God,
chosen (according to the fore-knowledge of God) through
san&ification of the spirit and belief of the truth. 2 Thes.
2: 13; i Pet. i: 2.
But though, through the rejection of Messiah, Israel did
lose all this special favor, yet Paul shows that this did not
prove them entirely cut off from favor ; for they still had the
same privilege of being grafted into Christ and the spirit-
ual favors which the rest of mankind enjoyed, if, during
the time that call was being made, they accepted in faith j
for, argues Paul, God is as able to graft them in again as to
graft in wild branches, and as willing, if they continue not
in unbelief. Rom. n : 23, 24.
Moreover, Paul argues that though Israel lost the chief
blessing, "which heseeketh for," the chief place in God's
kingdom, yet it remains that great promises are still due
to be fulfilled toward that people ; for, he reasons, God's
gifts, callings, covenants and promises are not to be turned
aside unfulfilled. God knew the end from the beginning;
he knew that Israel would rejedl Messiah ; and his unequiv-
ocal promises to them in view of this knowledge give us
assurance that Israel is yet to be used of the Lord in service,
as his agency in blessing the world, though " Israel hath not
obtained that which he seeketh for ' ' the chief favor. Paul
then proceeds to show that God's covenant promises to
Israel were of such a nature as to leave it open and indefi-
nite whether as a people they would be the heavenly or the
earthly seed whether they would inherit and fulfil the
higher or the lower service mentioned in the promises.
God kept secret the higher spiritual favor until due time, and
the promises made to them mentioned the earthly favor only,
though he favored them by the first offer of the spiritual
favors also, and so offered them more than he had ever prom-
ised. In a word, the heavenly promises were hidden in the
earthly. These promises, says Paul, cannot fail, and the
2** Plan of the AgM.
offering of the hidden favor first, and Israel's blind rejec *
lion of it, in no way invalidates or disannuls the other
feature of the promise. Hence he declares that rtiough
Israel as a nation is cast off from favor during the time the
Bride of Christ is being selected from both Jews and Gen-
tiles, yet the time will come when, the Deliverer (Christ,
Head and body) being complete, divine favor will return
to fleshly Israel, and the glorious Deliverer will turn away
ungodliness from Jacob,* and so all Israel will be saved
[recovered to favor], as it is written by the prophet. The
Apostle's words are :
"Brethren, that you may not be conceited with your-
selves, I wish you not to be ignorant of this secret, that
hardness in some measure has happened to Israel until 'the
fulness of the Gentiles may come in [until the full number
selected from the Gentiles has been .completed]. .And then
all Israel will be saved, as' it has been written, 5 The Deliv-
erer [Christ, Head and body] shall come out of Zion and
shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. ' And < This is the
covenant with them from me, when I shall take away their
sins.' In relation to the GLAD TIDINGS, indeed, they are
enemies on your account ; but in regard to the election they
are [still] beloved on account of the fathers, because the
gracious gifts and calling of God are not things to be re-
pented of. Besides, as you [Gentiles] were once disobedient
to God, but have now obtained mercy by their disobedi-
ence ; so also, now, these have disobeyed so that they may
obtain mercy through your mercy [at the hands of the glori-
fied Church]. For God shut up together all, for disobedi-
ence, that he might have mercy on all. [Compare Rom.
5: 17-19.] O the depth of the riches and wisdom and
knowledge of God." Rom. n : 25-33.
^Spiritual Israel is
The Kingdom of God. 302
HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM.
"Who shall ascend into the hill [literally mountain, sym-
bol of kingdom] of Jehovah? or who shall stand in his holy
place [temple]? He that hath clean hands and a pure
heart." Psa. 24: 3, 4.
The city of Jerusalem was built upon a mountain top
a double top ; for it was separated by the valley Tyropceon
into two parts. Still it was one city, surrounded by one wall,
with bridges connecting the two divisions. On one of these
mountain tops the Temple was built. This might be under-
stood to symbolize the union of the kingly and the priestly
qualities in the glorified Church; or, the one Kingdom of
God with its two phases the spiritual temple, not of earthly
origin, but of a new, heavenly or spiritual nature (Heb.
9:11), separate from, yet united with, the earthly phase.
David appears to refer to the two places. It was an
honor to be of the city at all, and a still greater honor to
ascend into the holy temple, into the sacred precincts of
which only the priests were permitted to enter. And David
shows that purity of life and honesty of heart are necessary
to any who would attain either honor. They that would be
of the Royal Priesthood are exhorted to purity, even as the
high priest of our profession is pure, if they would be ac-
counted worthy of joint-heirshlp with him. And he that
hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
This, as already shown, is a purity of intent, reckoned to us
as absolute or actual purity, Christ's imputed purity sup-
plying our unavoidable deficiency, and compensating for
our unavoidable weaknesses, while we walk after the spirit
and not after the flesh.
But let it not be forgotten that purity, sincerity and en-
tire consecration to God are essential to all those who would
enter the Kingdom of God in either phase. It was thus
with those ancient worthies who will inherit the earthly
Pfa* of iht Ages,
phase of the Hngdom under Christ. They loved righteous-
ness and hated iniquity, and were deeply grieved and peni-
tent when overtaken by a fault, or stumbled by a weakness
or besetmeut. So, too, it has been with the faithful of the
Gospel age; and so it will be with all in the Millennial age,
when the spirit of God, the spirit of truth, is poured upon
all flesh. The overcomers of that age will also need to
strive for purity of heart and life, if they would have a right
under God's arrangement to enter into the city the king-
dom prepared for them from the foundation of the world
the original dominion restored.
THE IRON RULE.
Many erroneously suppose that when Christ's Millennial
Kingdom is inaugurated every one will be pleased with its
ruling. But not so, Its regulations will be far more exact-
ing than those of any previous government, and the liber-
ties of the people will be restricted to a degree that will be
galling indeed to many now clamoring for an increase of
liberty. Liberty to deceive, to misrepresent, to overreach
and to defraud others, will be entirely cut off. Liberty to
abuse themselves or others in food or in drink, or in any way
to corrupt good manners, will be totally denied to all.
Liberty or license to do wrong of any sort will not be
granted to any. The only liberty that will be granted to
any will be the true and glorious liberty of the sons of God
liberty to do good to themselves and others in any and
in every way; but nothing will be allowed to injure 01
destroy in all that Holy Kingdom. (Isa. 11:9; Rom.
8: 21.) That rule will consequently be felt by many to be
a severe one, breaking up all their former habits and cus-
toms, as well as breaking up present institutions founded
upon these false habits and false ideas of liberty. Because
of its firmness and vigor, it is symbolically called an iron
TJie Kingdom flf God. 30^
rule " He shall rule them with a rod of iron.*' (Compare
Rev. 2:26,27; Psa. 2 : 8-1 2 and 49 : 1 4- ) Thus will be ful-
filled the statement, " Judgment will I lay to the line and
righteousness to the plummet. And the hail [righteous judg-
ment] shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters
[truth] shall overflow the hiding place," and every hidden
thing shall be revealed. Isa. 28 : 17 j Matt. 10 : 26.
Many will feel rebellious against that perfect and equita-
ble rule because accustomed in the past, under the rule of
the present prince, to lord it over their fellow mortals, and
to live wholly at the expense of others without rendering
compensating service. And many and severe will be the
stripes which a present life of self-indulgence and gratifica-
tion will naturally demand and receive under that reign,
before such will learn the lessons of that kingdom equity,
justice, righteousness. (Psa. 89 : 32 ; Luke 1 2 : 47, 48.) The
lesson on this subject comes first to the living generation,
and is near at hand. James 5.
But, blessed thought ! when the Prince of Life has put in
force the laws of righteousness and equity with an iron
rule, the masses of mankind will learn that " Righteousness
exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people,"
They will learn that God's plan and laws are best in the
end for all concerned, and ultimately they will learn to love
righteousness and hate iniquity. (Psa. 45 : 1> ^\>. i : 9.)
All who under that reign have not learned to love the
right will be counted unworthy of lasting life and will be
cut off from among the people. A<5ls 3:23; Rev. 20 : 9 ;
Psa. 11:5-7-
THE KINGDOM EVERLASTING.
" Jehovah shall be King over all the earth in that day."
(Zech. 14: 9.) The kingdom which Jehovah will estab-
lish in the hands of Christ during the Millennium will be
Jehovah's kingdom, but it wiU be under the direct control
304 Th Pl an f the
of Christ, as his vicegerent, in much the same manner as the
Southern States were dealt with after the Rebellion by the
United States government. The Southern States for a while
v ere not permitted to govern themselves by elefting their own
officers, lest they should not conform to the Constitutional
laws of the Union; but governors, with full power to adt,
were placed in control for the purpose of reconstru<5ling
those state governments and bringing them back into full
Larinony with the central government. Thus the special
xeign of Christ over the affairs of earth is for a limited time
and for a particular purpose, and it will terminate with the
accomplishment of that purpose. Man, through rebellion,
forfeited his God-given rights among others, self-govern-
ment in harmony with Jehovah's laws. God, through
Christ, redeemed all those rights, and secured the right for
tpqn not only to return personally to his former estate, but
also to return to his former office as king of earth. But
to bring man back, as God designs, in the way best suited
to impress the lesson of present experience namely, by re-
quiring him to put forth effort toward his own recovery
will require a strong, a perfeft government. And this
honor of completing man's recovery, the right to which he
died to secure, is conferred upon Christ; and "he must
reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet" until
none exist who do not recognize, honor and obey him.
Then, having accomplished his mission as regards the re-
construdlion or restitution of mankind, he will deliver up
the kingdom to God, even the Father, and mankind will
deal dire<5lly, as at first, with Jehovah the mediation of
the man Christ Jesus having accomplished fully and com-
pletely the grand work of reconciliation. i Cor. 15 : 25-28.
The kingdom, when delivered up to the Father, will still
be the Kingdom of God, and the laws will always be the
same. All mankind, then perfe<5tly restored, will be capa*
The Kingdom of God. 305
ble of rendering perfect obedience, in letter as well as in
spirit ; while now, the spirit of obedience or endeavor to
observe God's law is all of which men are capable. The
full letter of that per feel: law would condemn them at once
to death. (2 Cor. 3:6.) Our acceptableness now is only
through Christ's ransom.
Until actually perfect, " It is a fearful thing to fall into
the hands of the living God." (Heb. 10: 31.) Now, and
until actually perfect, none could stand before the law of
exact justice; all need the mercy provided freely under
Christ's merit and sacrifice. But when Christ delivers
tip the kingdom to the Father, he will present them fault-
less before him, fit and able to enjoy everlasting blessed-
ness under Jehovah's perfect law. All fearfulness will then
be gone, and Jehovah and his restored creatures will be in
perfect harmony, as at first.
When, in the end of the Millennial age, Christ delivers
up the dominion of earth to the Father, he does so by de-
livering it to mankind as the Father's representatives, who
were designed from the first to have this honor, (i Cor.
15 : 24; Matt. 25 : 34.) Thus the Kingdom of God lasts
forever. And so v/e re:id in our Lord's words: Then shall
the King say to them on his right hand [those who, during
the Millennial reign, will have attained the position of favor
by harmony and obedience], Come, ye blessed of my Fa-
ther [you whom my Father designs thus to bless], inherit
the kingdom prepared FOR YOU from the foundation of the
world.
This kingdom and honor prepared for man should not
be confounded with that still higher kingdom and honor
prepared for the Christ, which were "ordained before the
world unto our glory" (i Cor. 2 : 7), and to which we were
chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. And
though the special intervention and reign of the Christ over
20-A
306 The Plan of the Ages.
earth will close, as foreshown, we must not conclude that
Christ's glory and dominion and power will then cease.
Nay, Christ is associated forever with all the divine glory
and power at the right hand of Jehovah's favor; and his
Bride and joint-heir will forever share his increasing glory.
What wondrous works in other worlds await the power
of this highly exalted agent of Jehovah, we will not here
surmise, further than to suggest the infinitude and activity
of divine power, and the boundlessness of the universe.
Truly, then, in whatever phase of the kingdom our inter-
est centers, it is "the desire of all nations;" for tinder it
all will be blessed. Hence, all may earnestly long for that
time; and all may well pray, "Thy Kingdom come, thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven. " It is for this that
ignorantly the whole creation has long been groaning and
waiting waiting for the manifestation of the Sons of God,
the kingdom which will crush out evil and bless and heal
all nations. Rom. 8: 19; 16: 20.
STUDY
THE BAY OF JEHOVAH.
THE " DAY OF JEHOVAH," THE " DAY OF VENGEANCE," THE " DAY OF WRATH *"
A TIME OF GREAT TROUBLE, ITS CAUSE. THE BIBLE'S TESTIMONY REGARD-
ING IT. ITS FIRE AND STORM, ITS SHAKING AND MELTING, SHOWN TO BE SYM-
BOLIC. DAVID'S TESTIMONY. THE REVELATOR'S TESTIMONY. THE PRESENT
SITUATION AND THE FUTURE OUTLOOK AS VIEWED BY THE OPPOSING PARTIES,
CAPITALISTS AND WAGE-WORKERS A REMEDY WHICH WILL NOT SUCCEED.
THE VEIL LIFTED AND LIGHT ADMITTED JUST IN DUB TIME. THE PROOF OF
THIS. THE CONDITION OF THE SAINTS DURING THE TROUBLE, AHD THEIR
PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD IT.
'THE " Day of Jehovah' ' is the name of that period of time
* in which God's kingdom, under Christ, is to be gradu-
ally " set up " in the earth, while the kingdoms of this world
are passing away and Satan's power and influence over men
are being bound. It is everywhere described as a dark day
of intense trouble and distress and perplexity upon man-
kind. And what wonder that a revolution of such propor-
tions, and necessitating such great changes, should cause
trouble. Small revolutions have caused trouble in every
age ; and this, so much greater than any previous revolu-
tion, is to be a time of trouble such as never was since
there was a nation no, nor ever shall be. Dan. 12:1;
Matt. 24: 21, 22.
It is called the " Day of Jehovah ' ' because, though Christ,
with royal title and power, will be present as Jehovah's
representative, taking charge of all the affairs during this
day of trouble, it is more as the General of Jehovah, subdu-
ing all things, than as the Prince of Peace, blessing all.
Meantime, as false and imperfect views and systems fall,
the standard of the new King will rise, and eventually he
307
3 o The Plan of tht Ages*
shall be recognized and owned by all as King of kings.
Thus it is presented by the prophets as Jehovah's work
to set of Christ's dominion : "I will give thee the Gentiles
for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth
for thy possession." (Psa. 2:8.) "In the days of these
kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom." (Dan.
2 : 44.) The Ancient of days did sit, and there was brought
before him one like unto a son of man, and there was given
him a dominion, that all kingdoms should serve and obey
him. (Dan. 7:9, 13, 14, **, *7-) Added to these is Paul's
statement that, when Christ shall accomplish the object of
his reign, "then shall the Soa also himself be subject
unto him [the Father] that PUT ALL THINGS TJNDER HIM/*
i Cor. 15 : 28.
This period is called the "Day of Vengeance of our
God," anda "Dayof Wrath." (Isa. 61 : 2; 63 : 1-45 Psa.
no : 5.) And yet the mind that grasps only the idea of
anger, or supposes divine malice, seriously errs. God has
established certain laws, in harmony with which he operates,
and those who from any cause come into conflict with these
reap the penalty or wrath of their own course. God's coun-
sel to mankind has been continually rejected, except by
the few; and, as we have shown, he permitted them to have
their own way and to drop him and his counsels from their
hearts. (Rom. i : 28.) He then confined his special care
to Abraham and his seed, who professed to desire his way
and fa's service. Their hardness of heart as a people, and
the insincerity of their hearts toward God, not only natur-
ally prevented them from receiving Messiah, but just as
naturally prepared them for and led them into the trouble
which terminated their national existence.
And so the light borne in the world during the Gospel
age by the true Church of Christ (the class whose names are
mitten in heaven) has borne witness to the civilized world
TJie Day of Jehovah 309
of the difference between right and wrong, good and evil,
and of a coming time in which the one will be rewarded
and the other punished. (John 16: 8-ir \ Acts 24: 25.)
This would have had a wide influence upon men had they
heeded the Lord's instruction, but, wilful as ever, they have
profited little by the advice of the Scriptures, and the
trouble of the Day of the Lord will come as a consequence
of the neglect. Again, it may be said to be the wrath of
God inasmuch as it comes through disregard of his coun-
sels, and as a reward of unrighteousness. Nevertheless,
viewed in another light, the trouble coming upon the world
Is the natural or legitimate result of sin, which God fore-
saw, and against which his counsels would have protected
them, had they been followed.
While God's message to the Church has been, "Present
your bodies a living sacrifice" (Rom. 12: i), his message
to the world has been, ** Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy
lips from speaking guile ; depart from evil and do good ;
seek peace and pursue it." (Psa, 34:13,14.) Few have
heeded either message. Only a little flock sacrificed ; and
as for the world, though it nailed up the motto, "Honesty
is the best policy," it has neglected in general to practice
it. It heeded rather the voice of avarice Get all you can
of riches and honor and power in this world, no matter what
the method by which you obtain it, and no matter who loses
by your gain. In a word, the trouble of this Day of the
Lord would not come, could not come, if the principles of
God's law wero observed to any considerable extent. That
law briefly summed up is Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with all thy heart, and thy neighbor as thyself. (Matt*
22 : 37-39.) It is because the depraved or carnal mind is
opposed to this law of God, and 13 not subject to it, that,
as a natural consequence, the trouble will conie, as reaping
after sowmg,
The Plan of &*
The carnal or depraved mind, so far from loving its
neighbor as itself, has always been selfish and grasping
often leading even te violence and murder to get for self
the things possessed by others. However exercised, the
selfish principle is always the same, except as governed by
circumstances of birth, education and surroundings. It
has been the same in every age of the world, and will be,
until, by the force of the iron rule of Messiah, not might
nor greed, but love, will decide what is RIGHT, and enforce
it, until all may have opportunity to learn the superior bene-
fits of the rule of righteousness and love as compared with
that of selfishness and might ; until, under the influence of
the sunlight of truth and righteousness, the selfish, stony
heart of man will become once more as when God pro-
nounced it "very good" a heart of flesh. Ezek. 36 : 26.
Looking back, we can see without difficulty how the
change from Godlike love and kindness to hard selfishness
came about. The circumstances tending to promote selfish-
ness were encountered as soon as man, through disobedi-
ence, lost the divine favor and was exiled from his Eden
home, where his every want had been bountifully supplied.
As our condemned parents went forth and began the battle
of life, seeking to prolong existence to its farthest limit,
they were met at once with thorns and briers and thistles
and sterile ground 5 and the contending with these pro-
duced weariness and the sweat of face which the Lord had
declared. Gradually the mental and moral qualities began
to dwarf from lack of exercise, while the lower qualities
retained fuller scope* from constant exercise. Sustenance
became the principal aim and interest of life ; and its cost
in kbor became the standard by which all other interests
were estimated, and Mammon became master of men.
Can we wonder that under such circumstances mankind be-
came selfish, greedy and grasping, each striving for most
The Day of Jehovah. 3x1
first of the necessities, and secondly of the honors and luxu-
ries bestowed by Mammon ? It is but the natural tendency
of which Satan has taken great advantage.
During past ages, under various influences (among others,
Ignorance, race prejudices, and national pride), the great
wealth of the world has generally been in the hands of the
f ew _the rulers to whom the masses rendered slavish obe-
dience as to their national representatives, in whose wealth
they felt a pride and an interest as their own representa-
tively. But as the time drew near in which Jehovah de-
signed to bless the world through a Restitution at the hands
of Messiah, he began to lift up the vail of ignorance and
superstition, through modern facilities and inventions ; and
with these came the general elevation of the people and
the decreasing power of earthly rulers* No longer is the
wealth of the world in the hands of its kings, but chiefly
among the people.
Though wealth brings many evils, it also brings some bless-
ings: the wealthy obtain better educations but thus tfyey
are lifted intellectually above the poorer people and become
more or less associated with royalty. Hence an aristocracy
exists which has both money and education to back it, and
to assist in it$ avaricious struggle to get all it can and to
keep self in the front rank at any cost.
But, as intelligence spreads, as the people take advantage
of educational facilities, now so abundant, they begin to
think for themselves; and with the self-esteem and selfish-
ness in them led on by a little learning sometimes a dan-
gerous thing they fancy that they see ways and means by
which the interests and circumstances of all men, and espe-
cially their own, can be promoted at the cost of the fewer
numbers in whose hands the wealth now lies. Many of
these, doubtless, honestly believe that the conflicting inter-
ests of Mammon's worshipers (themselves on one side, and
3 r* The Plan <f the Ages.
the wealthy on the other) could be easily and fairly adjusted j
and no doubt they feel that were they wealthy they would
be very benevolent, and quite willing to love their neighbors
as themselves. But they evidently deceive themselves \ for
in their present condition very few indeed manifest such a
spirit, and he that would not be faithful in the use of a little
of this world's goods would not be faithful if he had greater
riches. In fa<S, circumstances prove this; for some of the
hardest hearted and most selfish among the wealthy are
those who have risen suddenly from the humble walks of life.
Oft the contrary, while by no means excusing but re-
proving covetousness and grasping selfishness on the part of
all classes, it is but proper to notice that the provision made
for the sick and helpless and poor, in the way of asylums,
hospitals, poor-houses, public libraries, schools and various
other enterprises for the good and comfort of the masses,
rather than of the wealthy, is maintained mainly by taxes
and donations from the rich. These institutions almost
always owe their existence to the kind hearted and benevo-
lent among the rich, and are matters which the poorer classes
have neither the time, nor generally the necessary education
or interest, to bring into successful operation.
Nevertheless, to-day sees a growing opposition between
the wealthy and laboring classes a growing bitterness
on the part of labor, and a growing feeling among the
wealthy that nothing but the strong arm of the law will
prote6i what they believe to be their rights* Hence, the
wealthy are drawn closer to the governments ; and the wage-
working masses, beginning to think that laws and govern-
ments were designed to aid the wealthy and to restrain the
poor, are drawn toward Communism and Anarchy, think-
ing that their interests would best be served thereby, and
not realizing that the worst government, and the most tk-
pensive, is vastly better than no government at all
Many scriptures clearly show that -this will be the char-
acter of the trouble undet which present civil, social and
religious systems will pass away y that this is the way in
which increase of knowledge and liberty will result, be-
cause of man's imperfedhon^ mental, morall and physical*
These scriptures will be referred to in due course; but here
we can only call attention to H few of the many, advising
our readers meanwhile that in many of the prophecies of
the Old Testament in which Egypt- Babylon and Israel
figure so largely, not only was there a literal fulfilment in-
tended,, but also * secondary anci larger one, Thus, for
instance* the predidion* x^gardiug the faHS of Babylon, etc.,
must be considered fcxtzav&gant beyond measure, did we not
recognize ft symbolic auod &&tiiyyi& as well as a literal
Babylon- The ibook 6t Revelation contains predi<5Uons
recorded long alter Uterak Babylon was in ruins, and fcence
evidently applicable only to symbolic Babylon 5 yet the
close resemblance of the words of the prophets, apparently
dire&ly addressed to literal Babylon, are thus shown to be-
long in an especial sense to symbolic Babylon. In this
krget fulfilment,, Egypt itepxesents the world; Babylon
represents the nominal ChunA, called Chiiatendom ; while,
as aheady showit v feiael oiter- tepresemts ftto whote world
in its ptotifitd amditiun> as it will beits ginrionfl "Royal
.Priesthood, its huly Levites and its bdtitvmg and worship-
ing people v justified by the sacrifice of the Atonement, and
brought into a condition of reconciliation with God* To
Israeli the blessings art- promised, to Egypt the plagues, and
to strong Babylon a wonderful, compieteandt everlasting over-
throw, "twagreat millstone cast mtcithcsea" (Rev. i8s 21),
never to be recovered, but to be held in everlasting odium,
The Apostle James points out this day of trouble, and
tells of its being the result of differences between capital
and labor. He says; "Come now, ye wealthy! wail ye,
3 i4 The Plan of the Ages.
howling at your hardships that are coming upon you. Your
wealth has rotted [lost its value], and your garments have
become moth-eaten : your gold and silver have become rusted
out, and their rust for a witness to you shall be, and shall
eat your flesh as fire. Ye treasured it up in the last days.
Behold ! the wages of the workers who cut down your
fieldsthat which has been kept back by reason of you
[of your hoarding] is crying out ; and the outcries of those
who reaped, into the ears of the Lord of the whole people
have entered." (Jas. 5 : 1-4.) He adds that the class com-
ing into trouble has been used to luxury, obtained largely
at the cost of others, among whom were some of the right-
eous, and out of them, because they resisted not, the very
life had been crushed. The Apostle urges the "brethren "
to bear patiently whatever their part may be, looking be-
yond, and expecting deliverance through the Lord. This
very condition of things can now be seen approaching;
and in the world, among those who are awake, "men's
hearts are failing them for looking after the things that are
coming on the earth." All know that the constant ten*
dency of our times is toward lower wages for labor, unless
where the prices are artificially sustained or advanced by
labor combinations, strikes, etc.; and with the present senti-
ment of the masses, all can see that it is but a question of
time when the lowest point of endurance will be reached,
and a revolt will surely result. This will alarm capital,
which will be withdrawn from business and manufacturing
channels and hoarded in vaults and treasuries, to eat itself
up with charges for its protection in idleness, to the great
annoyance of its owners. This in turn will certainly pro-
duce bankruptcy, financial panic and business prostration,
because all business of magnitude is now conducted largel) 1
on credit. The natural result of all this will be to throvk
out of employment tens of thousands who are dependent
The Day of Jehovah. 315
on their wages for daily bread, and to fill the world with
tramps and persons whose necessities will defy all law,
Then it will be as described by the prophet (Ezek. 7 : 10-
19), when the buyer need not rejoice, nor the seller mourn ;
for trouble will be upon the entire multitude and there will
be no security of property. Then all hands will be feeble
and helpless to turn aside the trouble. They will cast
their silver in the streets, and their gold will be removed.
Their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them
in the day of the Lord's wrath.
It should not be forgotten that though the last forty years
of the existence of Israel as a nation was a day of trouble,
a "day of vengeance' 1 upon that people, ending in the
complete overthrow of their nation, yet their day of wrath
was but a shadow or type of a still greater and more exten-
sive trouble upon nominal Christendom, even as their past
history as a people during their age of favor was typical of
the Gospel age, as will be conclusively shown hereafter.
All then will see why these prophecies concerning the Day
of the Lord should be, and are, addressed to Israel and
Jerusalem more or less directly, though the connections
show clearly that all mankind is included in the complete
fulfilments.
Take another prophetic testimony (Zeph. i : 7-9, 14-18),
"The Lord hath prepared a slaughter, he hath bid his
guests. [Compare Rev. 19 : 17.] And it shall come to pass
in the day of the Lord's slaughter that I will punish the
princes and the king's children, and all such as are clothed
in imported clothing. And I will inflict punishment [also]
on all those [marauders] who leap over the threshold on that
day, who fill their masters* houses with violence and deceit.
[This shows not only that there will be a great overthrow
of wealth and power in this time of trouble, but that those
who will for the time be the instruments of heaven in break-
Plan of the
ing down present systems will also be punished for their
equally tinjust and unrighteous course; for the coming
trouble will involve all classes* and bring distress upon all
the multitude.]
Nigh is the great Day of the Lord : it is nigh. Nearer
and louder comes the uproar of the Day of the Lord.
There the mighty shall shriek bitterly I That day is a day
of wrath, a day of distress and anxiety, a day of wasting
and desolation, a day of darkness and obscurity (uncertainty
and foreboding, as well as present distress], a day of clouds
[trouble] and tempestuous gloom, a day of the trumpet [the
seventh symbolic trumpet, which sounds throughout this day
of trouble also called the trump of God, because conne&ed
with the event* of this Day of the Lord] and shouting
against the fenced cities and the high battlements [clamor-
ous and conflicting denunciations of strong and well-in-
trenched governments], And I will bring distress upon
men, and they shall walk about as blind men [groping in
uncertainty, not knowing what course to pursue], because
they have sinned against Jehovah. Their blood shall be
poured out as the dust, and their flesh shall be as dung.
Neither theiur silver *ior then gold shall be able to deliver
them in the day <;>* '-be Lord's wrath [though previously
wealth could furnish sase and every luxury), but the whole
land shall be devoured by the FIRE of his zeal} for destruc-
tion,, yea, quite sudden, will he prepare for all them [the
wealthy] tha* dwett in the land,'" This destruction will
destroy marxy ,trf the wealthy in the sense that they will
cease to be wealthy, though doubtless tf, will also involve th*
loss of many bves nf *\l classes.
We shaU not attempt to follow the prophets in their de-
tails, from various standpoints, of the trouble of that day,
but shall follow briefly the thought last suggested by the
The Day of Jehovah.
with the FIRE of God's zeal. This prophet refers to the
same fire, etc., again (Zeph. 3:8, 9), saying: "Wait ye
upon me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the preys
for my decision is to gather the nations [peoples], to draw
together the kingdoms, to pour upon them [the kingdoms]
my indignation, even all my fierce anger. [The gathering
of the peoples of all nations in common interest in opposi-
tion to present governments is growing; and the result will
be a uniting of the kingdoms for common safety, so that
the trouble will be upon all kingdoms, and all will fall.]
For all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my
zeal. Yea \then, after this destruction of kingdoms, after
this destruction of the present social order in the fire of
trouble], then will I turn unto the people a pure language
[the pure Word uncontaminated by human tradition], that
they may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him
with one accord. "
This fire of God's zeal is a symbol, and a forcible one,
representing the intensity of the trouble and the destruc-
tion which will envelop the whole earth. That it is not a
literal fire, as some suppose, is evident from the fact that
the people remain after it, and are blessed. That the peo-
ple who remain are not saints, as some would suggest, is
evident from the facl: that they are then turned 'to serve the
Lord, whereas the snints are turned (converted) already.*
*\Ve mention this as an offset to the argument of some who regard
the fire as literal, and who claim that the literal earth is to be melted,
etc. These, to fit their theory, claim that ** the people" here mentioned,
are the saints, who, after the earth hns melted and cooled off, will re-
turn to earth and build houses and inhabit them, plant vineyards and
eat the fruit of them, and long enjoy the work of their hands. They
consider the present few years as a training or preparation for inherit-
ing, and forget that it would be completely lost in the aerial experiences
of the thousand or more years of waiting for the earth to cool off- ac-
cording to their theory. This is * serious mistake, and results from too
Throughoui: the Scriptures, lortft, when used symbol*
ically, represents society i mountains represent kingdoms;
heavens, the powers of spiritual control , sea$> the restless,
turbulent, dissatisfied masses of the world. Fire repre-
sents the destruction of whatever is burned tares, dross,
earth (social organization), or whatever it may be. And
when brimstone is added to fire in the symbol, it intensifies
the thought of destruction ; for nothing is more deadly to
all forms of life than the fumes of sulphur.
With this thought in mind, if we turn to Peter's sym-
bolic prophecy of the Day of Wrath, we find it in perfe&
accord with tne above testimony of the prophets. He says :
" The world that was, being overflowed with water, perished.
[Not the literal earth and literal heavens ceased there, but
that dispensation or arrangement of things, existing before
the flood, passed away.] But the heavens and the earth
which are now [the present dispensation] by the same word
[of divine authority] are kept in store, reserved unto fire."
The fadl that the water was literal leads some to believe that
the fire also must be literal, but this by no means follows.
The temple of God once was of literal stones, but that
does not set aside the fa<S that the Church, which is the true
temple, is built up a spiritual building, a holy temple, not
of earthly material. Noah's ark was literal, too y but it
typified Christ and the power in him which will replenish
and reorganize society.
"The Day of the Lord will come as a thief m the night
[unobservedly], in the which the heavens [present powers
of the air, of which Satan is the chief or prince] shall paag
away with a great [hissing] noise, and the elements shall
literal an interpretation of the figures, parables, symbols and dark say-
ings of eur Lord and the apostles and prophets. Following up the saate
error, these claim that there will be no Mountains and' seas after this
tare, failing to see that all these, as well as the fire, are symbols.
The Day of Jehovah. 319
meit with fervent heat ; the earth [social organization] also,
and the works that are therein [pride, rank, aristocracy,
royalty], shall be burned up. The heavens being on fire
shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for
new heavens [the new spiritual power Christ's kingdom]
and a new earth" [earthly society organized on a new basis
on the basis of love and justice, rather than of might and
oppression]. 2 Peter 3 : 6, 7, 10-13.
It should be remembered that some of the apostles were
prophets as well- notably Peter, John and Paul. And
while as apostles they were God's mouthpieces to expound
the utterances of preceding prophets for the benefit of the
Church, they were also used of God as prophets to predict
things to come, which, as they become due to be fulfilled,
become meat in due season for the household of faith, to
dispense which, God in his own time raises up suitable ser-
vants or expounders, (See our Lord's statement of this
fa<a Matt. 24:45,46). The apostles as prophets were
moved upon to write things which, not being due in their
day, they could but imperfectly appreciate, even as it was
with the Old Testament prophets (i Pet. 1:12, 13), though,
like them, their words were specially guided and directed
so that they have a depth of meaning of which they were
not aware when using them. Thus emphatically the Church
is erer guided and fed by God himself, whoever may be his
mouthpieces or channels of communication. A realization
of this must lead to greater confidence and trust in God's
Word, notwithstanding the imperfedlions of some of his
mouthpieces.
The Prophet MalacM (4: i) tells of this Day of the
L0rd tiader the sanae symbol* He says : " The day conaeth
that shaft burn as an oven ; and aH the freud, yea, and all
i hat do wickedly, sha& be stubfrle ,; and the day that Cometh
shall burn them up .. * that it shall leave them neithes
root nor branch ' ' Pride, and every other cause irom which
haughtiness and oppression could agaia spring forth, will be
entirely consumed by the great trouble of the T>ay of the
Lord and by the ate disciplines of the Millennial age,
the last of which is described in Rev, ao : 9.
But, while pride (in all its forms sinful and detestible) is
to be utterly rooted out, and all the proud and wicked are
tQ be utterly destroyed* it does not follow thar there is no
hope for a reformation in this class. No, sbaak God s while
thic fire of God's just indignation will be burning, the Judge
*rili giant opportunity for fufb'ng $<mt 0uf &f fat consuming
$rt ( Jude as) 5 and those only who refuse tiw, aid will
perish with their pride $ because they have made it part of
their chara<3er v and refuse to reform.
The same prophet gives another description of this day
(Mai. 3 a *-3)jia which again,under the figure of fire, he shows
how tk lord** children wiii be purified and blessed and
brought nigh to him by having the dross of error destroyed:
" The Messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in s
behold, be shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may
abide the day of his coming ? and who shall stand [the test]
when he appeareth ? for he is as a refiner's fire \ . . * and he
shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver : and he shall purify
the sons of Levi [typical of believers, of whom the chief ane
the Royal Priesthood] and purge them as gold and ailver,that
they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness/*
Paul refers to this same fire,, and this refining process
affefling believers iu the Day of the Lord (i Cor. 3 : 12-15),
and in such a manner as to leave it beyond all question
that the symbolic fire will destovy every error, and thus
effect purification of feith* After declaring that he refers
only to those building their faith upon the only recognized
Cterat Jesm* fituMgd work of red'mptioEi 9 bo
Tkc Day of Jekovak* 321
says i ** Now if any man build [charadler] upon this founda-
tion, gold, silver, precious stones [divine truths and cor-
responding character, or] wood, hay, stubble [traditional
errors and corresponding unstable characters], every man's
work shall be made manifest; for THE DAY shall declare
it, because it shall be revealed by FIRE ; and so every one's
work [2 Pet. i : 51 1], whatever it is, the same fire will prove. ' '
Surely even the most prejudiced will concede that the fire
which tries a spiritual work is not literal fire ; fire is an ap-
propriate symbol to represent the utter destruction of condi-
tions represented here by wood, hay and stubble. This fire
will be powerless to destroy the failh-and-character structure
built with the gold, silver and precious stones of divine truth,
and founded upon the rock of Christ's ransom-sacrifice.
The Apostle shows this, saying : " If any man's work
afr'de which he hath built thereupon [upon Christ] he shall
receive a reward. [His reward will be in proportion to
his faithfulness in building, making use of the truth in the
development of true character putting on the whole armor
of God.] If any man's work shall be consumed, he shall
suffer toss [loss of the reward, because of unfaithfulness], but
he himself shall be preserved so as through afire" singed,
scorched and alarmed. All who build on the rock founda-
tion of Christ's ransom are sure : none that trust in his
righteousness as their covering will ever be utterly con-
founded. But those who wilfully reject him and his work,
after coming to a clear, full knowledge thereof, are in dan-
ger of the second death. Heb. 6:4-8 ; 10:26-31.
In yet another way is this trouble of the Day of the Lord
symbolically described. The Apostle shows ( Heb. 1 2 : 26-
29) that the inauguration of the Law Covenant at Sinai
was typical of the introduction of the New Covenant to
the world at the opening of the Millennial age, or reign
of Christ's kingdom* He says that in the type @od's
21-A
3 22 The Pton *f the Ages.
voice shook the literal earth, but now he hath promised, say-
ing, "Yet once for all [finally], I will shake not only the
earth, but the heaven also." Concerning this the Apostle
explains, saying, "Now this [statement], Yet once for all,
denotes the removal of the things shaken, because they are
fabricated [false, made up, not the true], so that the un-
shaken things [true, righteous things, only] may remain.
Wherefore, seeing that we are to receive a kingdom which
cannot be shaken, let us hold fast the favor through which
we may serve God acceptably with reverence and piety;
for [as it is written], Our God is a consuming fire." Thus
we see this apostle uses a storm to symbolize the trouble of
this Day of the Lord, which he and others elsewhere refer
to under the symbol of fire. The same events are here noted
that are described under the fire symbol, namely, the sweep-
ing away of all falsities, both from believers and from the
world errors regarding God's plan and character and Word,
and also errors as to social and civil affairs in the world.
It will be good indeed for all to be rid of these fabrications,
which came to man largely through his own depraved de-
sires, as well as by the cunning craftiness of Satan, the wily
foe of righteousness ; but it will be at great cost to all con-
cerned that they will be swept away. It will be a terribly
hot fire, a fearful storm, a dark night of trouble, which will
precede the glorious brightness of that Kingdom of Right-
eousness which can never be shaken, that Millennial day in
which the Sun of Righteousness will shine forth in splendor
and power, blessing and healing the sick and dying but re-
deemed world. Compare Mai. 4 : 2 and Matt. 13 : 43.
David, the prophet through whose Psalms God was pleased
to foretell so much concerning our Lord at his first ad-
vent, gives some vivid descriptions of this Day of Trouble
by widch his glorious reign will be introduced ; and he
uses these various symbols fire, storm and darfe&ess
The Day ofjehwak. 3*3
alternately and interchangeably, in his descriptions. Thus,
for instance, he says (Psa. 50:3) : " Our God shall come,
and shall not keep silence : a fire shall devour before him,
and it shall be very tempestuous round about him." In
Psa. 97 : 2-6 : " Clouds and darkness are round about him :
righteousness and justice are the support of his throne. A
fire goeth before him and burneth up his enemies round
about. His lightnings give light to the world; the earth
seeth it and trembleth. The mountains melt away like wax
at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord
of the whole earth. The [new] heavens [then] tell of his
righteousness, and all the people see his glory." Psa. 46 : 6 :
*' The peoples raged, the kingdoms were moved : he uttered
his voice, the earth melted. 1 ' Again (Psa. 110:2-6), "Rule
thou in the midst of thine enemies. . . . The Lord at thy
right hand shall crush kings in the day of his wrath. He
will judge among the nations there shall be a fulness of
corpses. He crusheth the heads [rulers] over many coun-
tries." Again (46 : 1-5), " God is our protection; . . .
therefore we will not fear when the earth [society] is trans-
formed, and when the mountains [kingdoms] are swept
into the midst of the sea [swallowed up by the turbulent
masses], when the waters thereof roar and are troubled [in-
furiated], when the mountains shake with the swellings there-
of. ... God will help her [the Bride, the faithful "little
flock' '] at the dawning of the morning. J ' And in the same
Psalm, verses 6-10, the same story is re-stated in other sym-
bols : " The peoples rage, kingdoms are displaced : he let-
teth his voice be heard, the earth [society] melteth. Jehovah
of hosts is with us 9 a Tower for us is the God of Jacob."
Then, viewing the results of that time of trouble from be-
yond it, he adds : " Come ye, behold the deeds of the Lord
what desolations he hath made in the earth. . . . Daaist
[from your former ways, O people] and know [come to the
324 ?he Plan of the Ages.
knowledge] that I am God. I will be exalted among the
peoples, I will be exalted in the earth." The " new earth"
or new order and arrangement of society will exalt God
and his law, as over and controlling all.
Another testimony in proof of the feft that the Day of
the Lord will be a great day of trouble and of destrudtion
to every form of evil (yet not a time of literal burning of
the earth) is furnished in the last symbolic prophecy of the
Bible. Referring to this time when the Lord will take his
great power to reign, the storm and fire are thus described
"And the nations were enraged and thy wrath came/*
(Rev. ii : 17, 1 8.) And again, "And out of his mouth
proceeded a two-edged broadsword, that with it he should
smite the nations : and he shall rule them with a rod of iron :
and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath
of Almighty God. . . . And I saw the beast [symbolic],
and the kings of the earth and their armies, gathered to-
gether to make war against him that sat on the horse, and
against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him
the false prophet. . . . These were cast alive into a lake of
fire burning with brimstone." Rev. 19 : 15, 19.
We cannot here digress to examine these symbols
"beast," "false prophet/' "image/' "lake of fire/'
"horse/' etc., etc. For this the reader is referred to a
succeeding volume. Now we would have you notice that
the great symbolic BATTLE, and the harvesting of the vine
of the earth here described as dosing the present age
and opening up the Millennial age (Rev. 20: 1-3), are
but other symbols covering the same great and troublous
events elsewhere symbolically called fire, storm, shaking,
etc. In connexion with the battle and winepress figures of
Revelation, note the striking harmony of Joel 2 : 9-16 and
Isflu 13 : i~i r, in describing the same events by similar fig-
ures. The variety of symbolic figures used helps us to ap*
The Day of Jehovah. 325
predate more fully all the features of that great and nota-
ble Day of the Lord.
THE PRESENT SITUATION.
We here leave the prophetic statements regarding that
day, to mark more particularly the present aspect of affairs
in the world, as we now see them shaping themselves for
the rapidly approaching conflict a conflict which, when
its terrible climax is reached, must necessarily be a short
one, else the race would be exterminated. The two rival
parties to this battle are already visible. Wealth, arrogance
and pride are on one side, and widely-prevailing poverty,
ignorance, bigotry and a keen sense of injustice are on the
other. Both, impelled by selfish motives, are now organ-
izing their forces all over the civilized world. With our
eyes anointed with truth, wherever we look we can see that
the sea and the waves are already roaring and lashing and
foaming out against the mountains, as represented in the
threats and attempts of anarchists and discontents whose
numbers are constantly increasing. We can see, too, that
the friction between the various factions or elements of
society is rapidly getting to the point described by the
prophets, when the earth (society) will be on fire, and the
elements will melt and disintegrate with the mutually gen-
erated heat.
It is of course difficult for people, on whichever side of
this controversy they may be, to see contrary to their own
interests, habits and education. The wealthy feel that they
have a right to more than their proportional share of this
world's goods; aright to purchase labor and every com-
modity as low as they can ; a right to the fruit of their
efforts ; and a right to use their intelligence so to run their
business as to make profit for themselves and to increase
their hoarded wealth, no matter who else may be compelled
by force of circumstances to drag through life with few of
js6 The Plan of the Ages.
its comforts, even if with all of its necessities. They reason
thus : It is the inevitable ; the law of supply and demand
must govern ; rich and poor have always been in the world j
and if the wealth were evenly divided in the morning, some
would, through dissipation or improvidence, be poor before
night, while others, more careful and prudent, would be
rich, Besides, they will argue with effect, Can it be
expected that men of greater brain power will undertake
vast enterprises, employing thousands of men, with the
risks of large losses, unless there be hopes of gain and
some advantage ?
The artisan and the laborer, on the contrary, will say :
We see that while labor enjoys many advantages to-day
above any other day, while it is better paid, and can there-
fore procure greater comforts, yet it is in this enjoying only
its right, from which it has long been debarred to some
extent; and it is thus properly deriving a share of the ad-
vantages of the inventions, discoveries, increasing knowl-
edge, etc., of our time. We recognize labor as honorable,
and that, when accompanied with good sense, education,
honesty and principle, it is as honorable, and has as many
rights, as any profession. And, on the contrary, we esteem
idleness a discredit and disgrace to all men, whatever their
talent or occupation in life. All, to be valued and appreci-
ated, should be useful to others in some respect. But though
realizing our present improvement and advancement, in-
tellectually, socially and financially, we realize this to be
more the result of circumstances than of human design on
the part of either ourselves or our employers. We see our
improved condition, and that of all men, to be the result
of the great increase of intelligence, invention, etc., of the
past fifty years particularly. These came up so rapidly that
labor as well as capital got a lift from the tidal wave, and
was carried to a higher level j and if we could see a pros-
The Day of Jehovah. 327
pe& that the flood tide would continue to rise, and to ben-
efit all, we would feel satisfied; but we are anxious and
restless now because we see that this is not the case. We
see that the flood tide is beginning to turn, and that where-
as many have been lifted high in wealth by it, and are
firmly and securely fixed upon the shore of ease, luxury and
opulence, yet the masses are not thus settled and secured,
but are in danger of being carried as low as ever, or lower,
by the under current of the now ebbing tide. Hence it is
that we are disposed to grasp hold of something to insure
our present state and our further advancement before it is
too late.
To state the matter in other words, we (artisans and la-
borers) see that while all mankind has largely shared the
blessings of the day, yet those who by reason of greater
talent for business, or by inheritance, or by fraud and
dishonesty, have become possessors of tens of thousands
and millions of dollars, have not only this advantage over
all others, but, aided by the mechanical inventions, etc.,
they are in a position to continue the ratio of their increase
in wealth, in proportion to the decrease in tht wage-workers*
salaries. We see that unless we take some steps toward the
protection of the increasing number of artisans against the
increasing power of monopoly, combined with labor-saving
machinery, etc., the cold-blooded law of supply and de-
mand will swallow us up completely. It is against this
impending disaster, rather than against present conditions,
that we organize and seek protective arrangements. Each
day adds largely to our numbers by natural increase and by
immigration ; and each day adds to the labor-saving ma-
chinery. Each day, therefore, increases the number seek-
ing employment and decreases the demand for their service.
The natural law of supply and demand, therefore, if per-
mitted to go on uninterruptedly, will soon bring labor
328 The Plan of the Ages.
back where it was a century ago, and leave all the advan-
tages of our day in the hands of capital It is this that we
seek to avert.
This ultimate tendency of many real blessings to work
injury, unless restrained by wise and equitable laws, was
long since seen ; but the rapidity with which one invention
has followed another, and the consequent increased demand
for labor in providing this labor-saving machinery, has been
so great that the ultimate result has been delayed, and in-
stead, the world has had a "boom "an inflation of values,
wages, wealth, credits (debts) and ideas from which the
reaction is now commencing gradually to take place.
In the last few years there have been produced in vast
quantities agricultural implements of every description which
enable one man to accomplish as much as five could formerly.
This has a two-fold effect : first, three times as many acres are
worked, giving employment to three out of the five laborers,
thus setting two adrift to compete for other labor ; secondly,
the three who remain can, by the use of the machinery, pro-
duce as great a crop as fifteen would have done without it.
The same or greater changes are wrought in other depart-
ments by similar agencies; for instance, in iron and steel
making. Its growth has been so enormous that the number
of employes has greatly increased, notwithstanding the fadl
that machinery has enabled one man at present to accom-
plish about as much as twelve did formerly. One of the
results will be that very shortly the capacity of these ex-
tensive works will more than meet the present enormous
demands, and the demands, instead of continuing to in-
crease, will probably decrease ; for the world is fast being
supplied with railroads beyond present needs, and the
yearly repairs on these could probably be supplied "by
less than one-half the present number of establishments.
Thus we are brought in contact with the peculiar condi-
77ie J>ay of Jehovah. 329
tion in which there is an over-produ6lion, causing idleness
occasionally to both capital and kbor, while at the same
time some lack the employment which would enable them
to procure necessities and luxuries and thus in a measure
cure the over-produ<5lion. And the tendency toward
both over-produdtion and lack of employment is on the in-
crease, and calls for a remedy of some kind which society's
physicians are seeking, but of which the patient will not
make use.
While, therefore (continues the wage-worker), we realize
that as the supply begins to exceed the demand, compe-
tition is greatly reducing the profits of capital and ma-
chinery, and throughout the world is distressing the rich
by curtailing their profits, and in some cases causing them
a6lual loss instead of profit, yet we believe that the class
which benefited most by the "boom'* and inflation should
suffer most in the reaction, rather than that the masses
should suffer from it. To this end, and for these reasons,
wage- workers are moving to obtain the following results by
legislation if possible, or by force and lawlessness in coun-
tries where, for any cause, the voice of the masses is not
heard, and the interests of the masses are not conserved :
It is proposed that the hours of labor be shortened in
proportion to the skill or severity of the labor, without a
reduction of wages, in order thus to employ a greater num-
ber of persons without increasing the products, and thus
to equalize the coming over-produftion by providing a
larger number with the means of purchasing. It is pro-
posed to fix and limit the rate of interest on money at
much less than the present rates, and thus compel a leniency
of the lenders toward the borrowers or poorer class, or
else an idleness or rusting of their capital. It is proposed
that railroads shall either be the property of the people, op-
erated by their servants, government officials, or that legisla-
330 The Plan of the Ages.
tion shall restrict their liberties, charges, etc., and compel
their operation in such a manner as to serve the public bet-
ter. As it is, railroads built during a period of inflated val-
ues, instead of curtailing their capital to conform to the gener-
al shrinkage of values experienced in every other department
of trade, have multiplied their originally large capital stocks
two or three times (commonly called watering their stocks),
without real value being added. Thus it comes that great
railroad systems are endeavoring to pay interest and divi-
dends upon stocks and bonded debts which on an average
are four times as great as these railroads would aclually
cost to-day new. As a consequence the public suffers.
Fanners are charged heavily for freights, and sometimes
find it profitable to burn their grain for fuel; and thus the cost
of food to the people is greater without being to the far-
mer's advantage. It is proposed to remedy this matter, so
that railroads shall pay to their stockholders about four per
cent, on their present actual value, and not four to eight
per cent, on three or four times their present value, as many
of them now do, by preventing competition through pool-
ing arrangements.
We well know, says the artisan, that in the eyes of those
who hold watered railroad stocks, and other stocks, this re-
duction of profits on their invested capital will seem terri-
ble, and will come like drawing teeth, and that they will
feel that their rights (?) to use their franchises granted by
the people, to squeeze from them immense profits, based upon
fictitious valuations, are being grievously outraged, and that
they will resist it all they know how. But we feel that they
should be thankful that the public is so lenient, and that
they are not required to make restitution of millions of
dollars already thus obtained. We feel that the time has come
for the masses of the people to share more evenly the blessings
of this day of blessings, and to do this it is necessary so
The Day of Jehovah. 33*
to legislate that all greedy corporations, fat with money and
power derived from the public, shall be restrained, and
compelled by law to serve the public at reasonable rates.
In no other way can these blessings of Providence be se-
cured to the masses. Hence, while great corporations,
representing capital, are to a large extent a blessing and a
benefit, we are seeing daily that they have passed the point
of benefit and are becoming masters of the people, and if
unchecked will soon reduce wage-workers to penury and
slavery. Corporations, composed of numbers of people
all more or less wealthy, are rapidly coming to ocupy the
same relation to the general public of America that the Lords
of Great Britain and all Europe occupy toward the masses
there, only that the corporations are more powerful.
To accomplish our ends, continue the wage-workers, we
need organization. We must have the co-operation of
the masses or we can never accomplish anything against
such immense power and influence. And though we are
organized into unions, etc., it must not be understood that
our aim is anarchy or injustice toward any class. We, the
masses of the people, simply desire to protect our own
rights, and those of our children, by putting reasonable
bounds upon those whose wealth and power might other-
wise crush us which wealth and power, properly used and
limited, may be a more general blessing to all. In a word,
they conclude, we would enforce the golden rule "Do
unto others as you would that they should do to you."
Happy would it be for all concerned if such moderate
and reasonable means would succeed; if the rich would rest
with their present acquirements and co-operate with the
great mass of the people in the general and permanent im-
provement of the condition of all classes; if the wage-
workers would content themselves with reasonable demands ;
if the golden rule of love and justice could thus be put in
332 The Plan of the Ages.
practice. But men in their present condition will not ob-
serve this rule without compulsion. Though there be some
among the artisans of the world who would be thus mod-
erate and just in their ideas, the majority are not so, but
will be extreme, unjust and arrogant in their ideas and de-
mands, beyond all reason. Each concession on the part
of capitalists will but add to such demands and ideas ; and
all having experience know that the arrogance and rule of
the ignorant poor are doubly severe. And so among those
of wealth some are fully in sympathy with the laboring
classes, and would be glad to acT: out their sympathy by
making such arrangements as would gradually effect the
needed reforms; but they are greatly in the minority and
wholly powerless in the operating of corporations and to
a great extent in their private business. If they be mer-
chants or manufacturers, they cannot shorten the hours of
labor or increase the wages of their employes; for compet-
itors would then undersell them, and financial disaster to
themselves, their creditors and their employes would follow.
Thus we see the natural cause of the great trouble of this
"Day of Jehovah/' Selfishness, and blindness to all ex-
cept their own interests, will control the majority on both
sides of the question. Wage-workers will organize and
unify their interests, but selfishness will destroy the union ;
and each, being actuated mainly by that principle, will
scheme and conspire in that direction. The majority, igno-
rant and arrogant, will gain control, and the better class
will be powerless to hold in check that which their intelli-
gence organized. Capitalists will become convinced that
the more they yield the more will be demanded, and will
soon determine to resist all demands. Insurrection will
result \ and in the general alarm and distrust capital will be
withdrawn from public and private enterprises, and business
depression and financial panic will follow. Thousands of
The Day of Jehovah* 333
men thrown out of employment in this way will finally be-
come desperate. Then law and order will be swept away
the mountains will be swallowed up in that stormy sea.
Thus the social earth will melt, and the governmental heav-
ens (church and state) will pass away ; and all the proud,
and all who do wickedly, will be as stubble. Then the
mighty men will weep bitterly, the rich will howl, and
fear and distress will be upon all the multitude. Even
now, wise, far-seeing men find their hearts failing them as
they look forward to those things coming upon the world,
even as our Lord predicted. (Luke 21 : 26.) The Scriptures
show us that in this general rupture the nominal church
(including all denominations) will be gradually drawn more
and more to the side of the governments and the wealthy,
will lose much of its influence over the people, and will
finally fall with the governments. Thus the heavens [eccle-
siastical rule] , being on fire, will pass away with a great hissing.
All this trouble will but prepare the world to realize that
though men may plan and arrange ever so well and wisely,
all their plans will prove futile as long as ignorance and
selfishness are in the majority and have the control. It
will convince all that the only feasible way of correcting
the difficulty is by the setting up of a strong and righteous
government, which will subdue all classes, and enforce prin-
ciples of righteousness, until gradually the stony-hearted-
ness of men will, under favorable influences, give place to
the original image of God. And this is just what God has
promised to accomplish for all, by and through the Millen-
nial Reign of Christ, which Jehovah introduces by the chas-
tisements and lessons of this day of trouble, Ezek, 11:195
3<5 : 25, 36 5 Jer. 31 : 29-34 ; Zeph. 3:9; Psa. 46 : 8~io.
Though this day of trouble comes as a natural and una-
voidable result of man's fallen, selfish condition, and was
fully foreseen and declared by the Lord, who foresaw that
334 The Plan of the Ages.
his laws and instructions would be disregarded by all but
the few until experience and compulsion force obedience,
yet all who realize the state of things coming should
set themselves and their affairs in order accordingly. Thus
we say to all the meek the humble of the world, as well
as the body of Christ : Seek ye the Lord, ye meek of the
earth which have wrought his judgment [his will] ; seek
righteousness ; seek meekness, that ye may be partially hid-
den in the day of the Lord's anger. (Zeph. 2 : 3.) None
will entirely escape the trouble, but those seeking righteous-
ness and rejoicing in meekness will have many advantages
over others. Their manner of life, their habits of thought
and action, as well as their sympathies for the right, which
will enable them to grasp the situation of affairs, and also
to appreciate the Bible account of this trouble and its out-
come, will all conspire to make them suffer less than others
especially from harassing fears and forebodings.
The trend of events in this Day of the Lord will be very
deceptive to those not Scripturally informed. It will come
suddenly, as fire consuming chaff (Zeph. 2 : 2), in compari-
son to the long ages past and their slow operation ; but not
suddenly as a flash of lightning from a clear sky, as some
erroneously expecl: who anticipate that all things written
concerning the Day of the Lord will be fulfilled in a twenty-
four hour day. It will come as "a thief in the night," in
the sense that its approach will be stealthy and unobserved
by the world in general. The trouble of this day will be
in spasms. It will be a series of convulsions more frequent
and severe as the day draws on, until the final one. The
Apostle so indicates when he says "as travail upon a
woman.' 1 (i Thes. 5 : 2, 3.) The relief will come only
with the birth of the NEW ORDER of things a new heavens
[the spiritual control of Christ] and a new earth [re-organ-
ized society] wherein dwelleth righteousness (2 Pet. 3 ; 10,
The Day of Jehovah. 335
13) in which justice and love, instead of power and self-
ishness, will be the law.
Each time these labor pangs of the new era come upon
the present body politic, her strength and courage will be
found less, and the pains severer. All that society's physi-
cians (political economists) can do for her relief will be to
help, and wisely direct the course of the inevitable birth
to prepare gradually the way for the event. They cannot
avert it if they would ; for God has decreed that it shall
come to pass. Many of society's physicians will, however,
be totally ignorant of the real ailment and of the necessities
and urgency of the case. These will undertake repressive
measures; and as each paroxysm of trouble passes away,
they will take advantage of it to fortify the resistive appli-
ances, and will thereby increase the anguish ; and while they
will not long delay the birth, their malpractice will hasten
the death of their patient \ for the old order of things will
die in the labor of bringing forth the new.
To lay aside the forcible figure suggested by the Apostle,
and speak plainly : The efforts of the masses for deliver-
ance from the grasp of Capital and machinery will be im-
mature; plans and arrangements will be incomplete and
insutocient, as time after time they attempt to force their
way and burst the bands and limits of " supply and de-
mand" which are growing too small for them. Each un-
successful attempt will increase the confidence of Capital in
its ability to keep the new order of things within its pres-
ent limits, until at length the present restraining power of
organizations and governments will reach its extreme limit,
the cord of social organism will snap asunder, law and order
will be gone, and wide-spread anarchy will bring all that
the prophets have foretold of the trouble "such as was not
since there was a nation' 1 and, thank God for the assur-
ance added "nor ever shall be " afterward.
The partial lifting of the veil now prepares thousands of
conveniences for mankind, and thus furnishes, from the
outstart of the age of restitution, time for education and
moral and physical development, as well as for preparation
for the feeding and clothing of the companies who will from
time to time be awakened from the tomb. And further-
more, it locates the time of trouble just where it will be of
benefit to mankind, in that it will give them the lesson of
their own inability to govern themselves, just at the Millen-
nial dawn, when, by the Lord's appointment, he who re-
deemed all is to begin to bless them with the strong rule of
the iron rod, and with foil knowledge and assistance
whereby they may be restored to original perfection and
everlasting life. -
DUTY ANP PRIVILEGE OF THE SAINTS.
An important question arises regarding the duty of the
saints during this trouble, and their proper attitude toward
the two opposing classes now coming into prominence.
That some of the saints will still be in the flesh during at
least a part of this burning time seems possible. Their po-
sition in it, however, mil differ from that of others, not so
much in that they will be miraculously preserved (though
it is distinctly promised that their bread and water shall be
sure), but in the facl: that, being instructed from God's
Word, they will not feel the same anxiety and hopeless dread
that will overspread the world. They will recognize the
trouble as the preparation, according to God's plan, for
blessing the whole world, and they will be cheered and
comforted through it all. This is forcibly stated in Psa.
91; Isa. 33: 2-14, i5-*4-
Thus comforted and blessed by the divine assurance, the
first duty of the saints is to let the world see that in the
midst of all the prevailing trouble and discontent, and even
while they share the trouble and suffer under it, they are
hopeful, cheerful and always rejoicing in view of the glori-
ous outcome foretold in God's Word.
The Apostle has written that " Godliness with contentment
is great gain; 7 ' and though this has always been true, it
will have double force in this Day of the Lord, when discon-
tent is the chief ailment among all worldly classes. To these
the saints should be a notable exception. There never was
a time when dissatisfaction was so wide-spread ; and -yet
there never was a time when men enjoyed so many favors
and blessings. Wherever we look, whether into the palaces
of the rich, replete with conveniences and splendors of
which Solomon in all his glory knew almost nothing, or
whether we look into the comfortable home of the thrifty
and temperate wage-worker, with its evidences of taste,
comfort, art and luxury, we see that in every way the pres-
ent exceeds in bountiful supply every other period since the
creation, many-fold ; and yet the people are unhappy and
discontented. The fa& is that the desires of a selfish, de-
praved heart know no bounds. Selfishness has so taken
possession of all, that, as we look out, we see the whole world
madly pushing and driving and clutching after wealth. A
few only being successful, the remainder are envious and
soured because they are not the fortunate ones, and all
are discontented and miserable more so than in any for-
mer time.
But the saint should take no part in that struggle. His
consecration vow was that he would strive and grasp and
run for a higher, a heavenly prize, and hence hf* is weaned
from earthly ambitions, and labors not for earthly things,
except to provide things decent and needful; for he is
giving heed to the course and example of the Master and
the apostles.
Therefore they have contentment with their godliness,
not because they have no ambition, but because their am-
34 o Tkt Pfan of the Ages.
bition is turned heavenward and absorbed in the effort to
lay up treasure in heaven and to be rich toward God; in
view of which, and of their knowledge of God's plans
revealed in his Word, they are content with whatever of
an earthly sort God may provide. These can joyfully
sing :
u Content, whatever lot I see,
Since 'tis God's hand that leadeth. me."
But alas ! not all of God's children occupy this position.
Many have fallen into the discontent prevalent in the world,
and are robbing themselves of the enjoyments of life be-
cause they have left the Lord's footsteps and are casting
their lot and taking their portion with the world- seeking
earthly things whether attaining them or not, sharing the
world's discontent, and failing to realize the . content-
ment and peace which the world can neither give nor
take away.
We urge the saints, therefore, to abandon the strife of
greed and vainglory and its discontent, and to strive for the
higher riches and the peace they do afford. We would re-
mind them of the Apostle's words :
"Godliness with contentment is great gain; for we
brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can
carry nothing out. And having \needfut\ food and raiment,
let us therewith be content* But they that will [toj be
rich [whether they succeed or not] fall into temptation and
a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which
drown [sink] men in ruin and destruction. For a root of
all vices is the love of money [whether in rich or poor],
which some being eager for were led away from the faith
and pierced themselves through with many pangs. But
thou, O man of God, flee from these, and be pursuing right-
eousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, meekness j be
contesting in the noble wntestof the faith, lay hold on ever*
The Day of Jehovafi. 341
lasting life, unto which thou wast called and didst make a
noble covenant." i Tim. 6 : 6-12.
If the example of the saints is thus one of contentment
and joyful anticipation, and a cheerful submission to present
trials in sure hope of the good time coming, such living
examples alone are valuable lessons for the world. And in
addition to the example, the counsel of the saints to those
about them should be in harmony with their faith. It
should be of the nature of ointment and healing balm. Ad-
vantage should be taken of circumstances to point the world
to the good time coming, to preach to them the coming
Kingdom of God, and to show the real cause of present
troubles, and the only remedy. Luke 3 : 14; Heb, 13:5;
Phil. 4: n.
The poor world groans, not only under its real, but also
under its fancied ills, and especially under the discontent of
selfishness, pride and ambitions which fret and worry men
because they cannot fully satisfy them. Hence, while we
can see both sides of the question, let us counsel those wil-
ling to hear to contentment with what they have, and to
patient waiting until God in his due time and way brings
to them the many blessings which his love and wisdom
have provided.
By probing and inflaming either real or fancied wounds
and wrongs, we would do injury to those we should be
helping and blessing, thus spreading their discontent,
and hence their trouble. But by fulfilling our mission,
preaching the good tidings of the ransom given for ALL,
and the consequent blessings to come to ALL, we shall be
true heralds of the kingdom its ambassadors of peace.
Thus it is written, "How beautiful upon the mountains
[kingdoms] are the feet of him [the last members of the
body of Christ] that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth
peace, that bringeth good tidings of good." Isa. 52:7.
j42 The Plan of tte Ages-
The troubles of this "Day of Jehovah " will give oppor-
tunity for preaching the good tidings of coming good, such
as is seldom afforded, and blessed are they who will follow
the footsteps of the Master, and be the good Samaritans
binding up the wounds and pouring in the oil and wine of
comfort and cheer. The assurance given such is that their
labor is not in vain \ for when the judgments of the Lord
axe in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn
righteousness. Isa* 26; 9.
The sympathy of the Lord's children, like that of their
heavenly Father, must be largely in harmony with the groan-
ing creation, striving for any deliverance from bondage \
although they should, like him, remember and sympathize
with those of the opposing classes whose desires are to be just
and generous, but whose efforts are beset and hindered, not
only by the weaknesses of their fallen nature, but also by
their surroundings in life, and their association with and
dependence upon others. But the Lord's children should
have no sympathy with the arrogant, insatiate desires and
endeavors of any class. Their utterances should be calm
and moderate, and always for peace where principle is not
at stake. They should remember that this is the Lord's
battle, and that so far as politics or social questions are con-
cerned, they have no real solution other than that predicted
in the Word of God. The duty of the consecrated, there-
fore, is first of all to see that they are not in the way of
Jehovah's chariot, and then to "stand still and see the sal-
vation of God," in the sense of realizing that it is no part
of their work to share in the struggle, but that it is the
Lord's doing, through other agencies. Regardless of all
such things, they should press along the line of their own
mission, proclaiming the heavenly kingdom at hand as the
only remedy for all classes, and their only hope.
STUDY XVI.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS.
OUR DUTY TOWARD THE TRUTH. ITS COST, ITS VALUE, ITS PROFIT. m
TN the preceding chapters we have seen that both the light
-* of nature and that of revelation clearly demonstrate the
facl: that an intelligent, wise, almighty and righteous God
is the Creator of all things, and that he is the supreme and
rightful Lord of all ; that all things animate and inanimate
are subject to his control ; and that the Bible is the revela-
tion of his character and plans so far as he is pleased to
disclose them to men. From it we have learned that though
evil now predominates among some of his creatures, it exists
for only a limited time and to a limited extent, and by his
permission, for wise ends which he has in view. We have
also learned that though darkness now covers the earth, and
gross darkness the people, yet God's light will in due time
dispel all the darkness, and the whole earth will be filled
with his glory.
We have seen that his great plan is one that has required
ages for its accomplishment thus far, and that yet another
age will be required to complete it ; and that during all the
dark ages* of the past, when God seemed to have almost for-
gotten his creatures, his plan for their future blessing has
been silently but grandly working out, though during all
those ages the mysteries of his plan have been wisely hidden
from men. We have also seen that the day or age which
is now about to dawn upon the world is to be the day of
the world's judgment or trial, and that all previous prepara-
343
tion has been for the purpose of giving mankind in general
as favorable an opportunity as possible, when, as individtials,
they will be placed on trial for eternal life. The long
period of six thousand years has greatly multiplied the race,
and their bufferings and sufferings under the dominion of
evil have given them an experience which will be greatly
to their advantage when they are brought to judgment.
And though the race as a whole has been permitted thus to
suffer for six thousand years, yet as individuals they have
run their course in a few brief years.
We have seen that while the race was undergoing this
necessary discipline, in due time God sent his Son to re-
deem them ; and that while the mass of mankind did not
recognize the Redeemer in his humiliation, and would not
believe that the Lord's Anointed would thus come to their
rescue, yet from among those whose hearts were toward
God, and who believed his promises, God has been, during
these ages past, selecting two companies to receive the hon-
ors of his kingdom the honors of sharing in the execution
of the divine plan. These two select companies, we have
seen, are to constitute the two phases of the Kingdom of
God. And from the prophets we learn that this kingdom
is soon to be established in the earth ; that under its wise
and just administration all the families of the earth will be
blessed with a most favorable opportunity to prove them-
selves worthy of everlasting life ; that as the result of their
redemption by the precious blood of Christ, a grand high-
way of holiness will be cast up ; that the ransomed of the
Lord (all mankind Heb. 2 r 9) may walk in it ; that it will
be a public thoroughfare made comparatively easy for all
who earnestly desire to become pure, holy ; and that all the
stumbling-stones will be gathered out, and all the snares,
allurements and pitfalls removed, and blessed will all those
be who go up thereon to perfection and everlasting life.
Concluding Tlioughfs* 345
It is manifest that this judgment, or rulership, cannot
begin until Christ, whom Jehovah hath appointed to be the
Judge or Ruler of the world, has come again not again in
humiliation, but in power and great glory : not again to re-
deem the world, but to judge [rule] the world in righteous-
ness. A trial can in no case proceed until the judge is on
the bench and the court in session at the appointed time,
though before that time there may be a great preparatory
work. Then shall the King sit upon the throne of his
glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations, and he
shall judge them during that age by their works, opening
to them the books of the Scriptures and filling the earth
with the knowledge of the Lord. And by their condu<5l
under all that favor and assistance, he shall decide who of
them are worthy of life everlasting in the ages of glory and
joy to follow. Matt. 25 : 31 ; Rev. 20 11-13.
Thus we have seen that the second advent of Messiah,
to set up his kingdom in the earth, is an event in which
all classes of men may have hope, an event which, when
folly understood, will bring joy and gladness to all hearts.
It is the day when the Lord's " little flock " of consecrated
saints has the greatest cause for rejoicing. It is the glad
day when the espoused virgin Church with joy becomes the
Bride, the Lamb's wife ; when she comes up out of the wil-
derness leaning upon the arm of her Beloved, and enters
into his glorious inheritance. It is the day when the true
Church, glorified with its Head, will be endued with divine
authority and power, and will begin the great work for the
world, the result of which will be the complete restitution
of all things. And it will be a glad day for the world when
the great adversary is bound, when the fetters that have held
the race for six thousand years are broken, and when the
knowledge of the Lord fills the whole earth as the waters
cover the sea.
34*5 The Plan of the Ages.
A knowledge of these things, and the evidences that they
are nigh, even at the door, should have a powerful influence
upon all, but especially upon the consecrated children of
God, who are seeking the prize of the divine nature. We
urge such, while they lift up their heads and rejoice, know-
ing that their redemption dravveth nigh, to lay aside every
weight and hindrance, and to run patiently the race in
which they have started. Look away from self and its un-
avoidable weaknesses and imperfections, knowing that all
such weaknesses are covered fully by the merits of the ran-
som given by Christ Jesus our Lord, and that your sacrifices
and self-denials are acceptable to God through our Re-
deemer and Lord and thus only. Let us remember that
the strength sufficient which God has promised us, and by
use of which we can be "overcomers," is provided in his
Word. It is a strength derived from a knowledge of his
character and plans, and of the conditions upon which we
may share in them. Thus Peter expresses it, saying, " Grace
and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of
God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord, according as his divine
power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life
and godliness, through the knowledge oi him who hath called
us to glory and virtue ; whereby are given unto us exceed-
ing great and precious promises, that BY THESE ye might be
partakers of the divine nature." 2 Pet. i : 2-4.
But to obtain this knowledge and this strength, which
God thus proposes to supply to each runner for the heav-
enly prize, will surely test the sincerity of your consecra-
tion vows. You have consecrated all your time, all your
talents, to the Lord ; now the question is^ How much of it
are you giving? Are you still willing, according to your
covenant of consecration, to give up all? to give up your
own plans and methods, and the theories of yourselves and
others, to accept of God's plan and way and time of doing
Concluding Thoughts. 347
his great work? Are }on willing to do this at the cost of
earthly friendships and social ties ? And are you willing to
give up time from other things for the investigation of these
glorious themes so heart-cheering to the truly consecrated,
with the certain knowledge that it will cost you this self-
denial? If all is not consecrated, or if you only half
meant it when you gave all to the Lord, then you will be-
grudge the time and effort needful to search his Word as
for hid treasure, to obtain thus the strength needful for all
the trials of faith incident to the present (the dawn of the
Millennium) above other times.
But think not that the giving will end with the giving of
the needful time and energy to this study : it will not. The
sincerity of your sacrifice of self will be tested in full, and
will prove you either worthy or unworthy of membership
in that "little flock/ 1 the overcoming Church, which will
receive the honors of the kingdom. If you give diligence
to the Word of God, and receive its truths into a good,
honest, consecrated heart, it will beget in you such a love
for God and his plan, and such a desire to tell the good
tidings, to preach the gospel, that it will become the all-
absorbing theme of life thereafter; and this will not only
separate you from the world and from many nominal
Christians, in spirit, but it will lead to separation from such
entirely. They will think you peculiar and separate you
from their company, and you will be despised and counted
a fool for Christ's sake; because they know us not, even as
they knew not the Lord. 2 Cor. 4:8-10; Luke 6: 22;
i John 3:1;! Cor. 3 : iS.
Are you willing to follow on to know the Lord through
evil and through good report ? Are you willing to forsake
all, to follow as he may lead you by his Word ? to ignore
the wishes of friends, as well as your own desires? It is
hoped that many of the consecrated who read this volume
348 The Plan of the Ages.
may by it be so quickened to fresh zeal and fervency of
spirit, through a clearer apprehension of the divine plan,
that they will be able to say, "By the grace of God, I
will follow on to know and to serve the Lord, what-
ever may be the sacrifice involved." Like the noble Be-
reans (A&s 17: n), let such studiously set themselves to
prove what has been presented in the foregoing pages.
Prove it, not by the conflicting traditions and creeds of men,
but by the only correct and divinely authorized standard
God's own Word. It is to facilitate such investigation that
we have cited so many scriptures.
It will be useless to attempt to harmonize the divine plan
herein set forth with many of the ideas previously held and
supposed to be Scriptural, yet not proved so. It will be
observed that the divine plan is complete and harmonious with
itself in every part, and that it is in perfect harmony with the
chara&er which the Scriptures ascribe to its great Author.
It is a marvelous display of wisdom, justice, love and power.
It carries with it its own evidence of superhuman design, be-
ing beyond the power of human invention, and almost be-
yond the power of human comprehension.
Doubtless questions will arise on various points inquir-
ing for solution according to the plan herein presented.
Careful, thoughtful Bible study will settle many of these
at once ; and to all we can confidently say, No question
which you can raise need go without a sufficient answer,
fully in harmony with the views herein presented. Succeed-
ing volumes will elaborate the various branches of this one
plan, disclosing at every step that matchless harmony of
which the truth alone can boast. And be it known that no
other system of theology even claims, or has ever attempted,
to harmonize in itself every statement of the Bible ; yet
nothing short of this can we claim for these views. This
harmony not only with the Bible, but with the divine char-
Concluding Thoughts. 349
after and with sandlified common sense, must have arrested
the attention of the conscientious reader already, and filled
him with awe, as well as with hope and confidence. It is
marvelous indeed, yet just what we should expedl of the
TRUTH, and of God's infinitely wise and beneficent plan.
And while the Bible is thus opening up from this stand-
point, and disclosing wondrous things (Psa. 119: 18), the
light of the present day upon the various creeds and tradi>
tions of men is affedling them in an opposite manner.
They are being recognized even by their worshipers as im*
perfedl and deformed, and hence they are being measurably
ignored ; and though still subscribed to, they are seldom
elaborated, for very shame. And the shame attaching to
these human creeds and traditions is spreading to the Bible,
which is supposed to uphold these deformities of thought
as of divine origin. Hence the freedom with which the
various advanced thinkers, so-called, are beginning to deny
various parts of the Bible not congenial to their views.
How striking, then, the providence of God, which at this
very time opens before his children this truly glorious and
harmonious plan a plan that rejeds not one, but harmo-
nizes every part and item of his Word. Truth, when due,
becomes meat for the household of faith, that they may
grow thereby. (Matt. 24: 45.) Whoever comes in contact
with truth, realizing its character, has thereby a responsi-
bility with reference to it. It must be either received and
a&ed upon, or rejedled and despised. To ignore it does
not release from responsibility. If we accept it ourselves,
we have a responsibility TOWARD IT also, because it is for ALL
the household of faith; and each one receiving it becomes
its debtor, and, if a faithful steward, must dispense it to the
other members of the family of God. Let your light shine !
If it again becomes darkness, how great will be the darkness.
Lift up the light 1 Lift up a standard for the people !
350 TJie Plan of the Ages.
THE DIVINE WEAVING.
See the mystic Weaver sitting
High in heaven His loom below.
Up and down the treadles go.
Takes, for web, the world's dark ages,
Takes, for woof, the kings and sages.
Takes the nobles and their pages,
Takes all stations and all stages.
Thrones are bobbins in His shuttle.
Armies make them scud and scuttle
\Veb into the woof must flow :
Up and down the nations go I
At the Weaver's will they go !
"Calmly see the mystic Weaver
Throw His shuttle to and fro ;
'Mid the noise and wild confusion,
Well the Weaver seems to know
What each motion, and commotion,
What each fusion, and confusion,
In the grand result will show !
" Glorious wonder ! Wliat a weaving i
To the dull) beyond believing.
Such no fabled ages know.
Only faith can see the mystery,
How, along the aisles of history,
Where the feet of sages go,
Loveliest to the fairest eyes,
Grand the mystic tapet lies 1
Soft and smooth, and ever spreading^
As if made for angels' treading-
Tufted circles touching ever:
Every figure has its plaidings,
Brighter forms and softer shadings,
Each, illumined what a riddle 1
From a cross that gems the middle.
"'Tis a saying some reject it
That its light is all reflected;
That the tapet's lines are given
By a Sun that shines hi heaven !
'Tis believed by all believing
That great God, Himself, is weaving,
Bringing out the world's dark mystery,
In the light of faith and history ;
And, as web and woof diminish,
Comes the grand and glorious finish,
When begin the Golden Ages,
Long foretold by seers and sages."
INDEX
TO
C IT ATI GETS
SCRIPTURE STUDIES, SERIES I.
GENESIS
19: 17 55
I. KINGS
1:26, 31
174
^9:32 53
18:4,10,17, 18
>4
1:27
171
9:33 34.-.. 50, 53
18:40
55
2:4
139
24:22 50
19 : LO
54
2:9,16,17....
2:17 140,
3:i5 57
3:22 120,
5
209
154
',98
209
160
25:9 I 3' 2 3,27-30 50
25 : 36, 37 50
26 : 14-16 125
NUMBERS.
I. CHRON.
16: 16 17
16:31-34
29:23
78
147
248
5:i
201
221
11:16,17,24-30 47
26:52-56 50
II, CHRON.
13:8
248
12:3
58
DEUTERONOMY.
13: 14-17
293
1:15 47
NEHBMIAH.
1:16,17 49
125
18:18
58
1:17 48
6:7
55
19 : 24
HO
5:i-5 55
JOB.
19:36-38
42
9:9-" 53
14:10,21
2IO
22:18
58
12:19 52
38:7
220
26 : 4
58
14:27 52
38
43
18 : 15 78
PSALMS.
49*10
49 = 28
43
78
18:15,19 58
22:10 51
I :l
2:1-6,10-12 ..
25
272
EXODUS.
12:30-33
336
336
r>f\
24:14,15 53
25:4 5i
26:5 78
28 : 1-14 125
2:8
2:S-I2 256,
8:4-8
308
303
118
191
18 : 13-26
19:17-25
21 : 26, 27
5
47
55
53
28 : 15-32 125
31 : 9-27 43
31 : 10-13 50
8:5-* 174,
10 : 6
175
247
179
125
22 : 21-24
53
JOSHUA.
jj : C-7
3O7
22:25
23:6-II,I2"l6. 125
16: 10
O W O
C8
23:4,5
51
jy . i*
222
23:9
23 ; 12
24: 12
26 : 30
53
53
54
JUDGES.
3:9-11 142
6:11-22 183
13:20 183
24:34
27:5
30:5
301
125
9
LEVITICUS.
I* SAMUEL.
34:7
182
I: I
54
8 : 6-22 48
34:I3I4
309
;3*:::::::
53
53
10:19 125
15:3 Ill
34:19
34:20
If
351
35*
Index of Texts.
37:9
37'35
2Q * 1 1
67
68
209
1 : 26 , . .
2:3
8 : 20 ....
..256,
294
297
163
30:18
31:28
31:29, 30.. 109,
294
109
41 : I
I2S
II: 9-. 75, 217,
302
31:20-34
333
45:7
45-16
303
294
3 2 3
14 : 14
I 4 : 24-27
324
187
66
31:34 75,215
32:40-42... - 109
33:6-16 109
46:6
46 : 6-10
323
32-?
19 : 22 ...
256
21
48:16
W
125
46 : 8-ro
333
26 : 9 ...
342
5i:2
125
48:2
295
28:17 ...
303
LAMENTATIONS.
49:7-15 ......
49*14 60,
50 : 3
172
303
,W
28:21 ...
3 2:l ....
33 : 2-14,
15-24
61
269
338
1121
EZEKIEL.
125
72 : 7
67
35 ' !-6 .
161
3ii
72:8
76 : 10
77: 18
283
250
35'8....
35:8,9..
35=9
..205,
215
2IO
217
II: 19
16:48-54, 55..
16:48-63
333
1X2
III
248
40:5
218
59
18:4 128,
21 : 25-27
3
89:32
gi
3<>3
338
42 : 1-7 . .
42:7 ....
59
36:25,36
36 : 26
333
310
94:13
125
45:7 ....
..124
125
37:11-14
108
97'-2-6
323
45:","
, 18..
igi
DANIEL.
97:"
98:9
20
243
45 : 17 ...
46:9-11 .
67
66
2:31-45
2:35
252
260
107 : 26
125
49:6
59
2:37-43
252
107:39
125
52:7..-
341
2: 44-. 262, 270,
308
110: 1
92
52:9....
297
2:43,44,45..-
254
1 10 : 2-6
323
53:4 y ..
230
4:32
274
110:5
308
53 ' 3-6 . .
58
257
H2:6
291
53 : 8 9 3
ci. ...
58
7:7,8
258
119: 18
349
132
7:9,13,14,22,27
119: 105
20
58
308
14* = 5
125
55 : 8, 9 . ,
10
7:1*
260
261
55 : 1 1 ...
95
261
PROVERBS,
60:2,3..
18
7:14,17,27...
270
4:18
15:3
2O
6l : I .
6l:2...,
,..218,
112
308
9:24-27
283
223
62 : IO . y ,
217
o * 26
ECCLESIASTES.
1*4 69
7 14 T<>tf
63:1-4.
65 : 18 . . .
3 ofe
297
10:6,10,15,17.
10:13
184
7:29
9:10 106,
171
210
& 20 -'
66 : 10-12
*44i
242
297
I2II
12:1,4,10
307.
1 68
11:3
105 JEREMIAH,
12:3 291,
292
12: 14
145
3:17.. .-
297
12:4, i
337
ISAIAH.
3:22, 23
2 5 6
HOSEA.
I:l8 20, 58
2 : 19 67
16 : 19 .
24:5-7.
59
109
6:1
14:4
256
256
Index of Texts.
353
JOEL,
12 : 40 61
8:10 128
2:9-16 324
13:43 86,322
13:38,3941,49- 2 37
9:2 273
10:27... 136
AMOS.
3:2 97, 22 i
3:6 124, 1 2 5
13:41-43 239
13:5^ 24
14:5 55
12: 32.. 72, 235, 274
12:42 24
12:47-48 303
MICAH.
IS s *-9 55
13:30 293
5:2 58
15:24 73,97
14:" 187
HABAKUK.
3:2-11 61
16 : 27 103
19:30 293
22 : 21 266
22 : 37-39 3oq
14:23 194
16:16 277
17:20-30 276
ZEPHANIAH.
22! 37-/JO 246
1 : 7-9, 14-18 . . 315
23:38 72,223
19:^0 177
2:2, 3 334
24 : 14 91
19: ii 274
3:8,9 3I7333
24:21, 22 307
19: "-IS .*< 283
24 : 38, 39 6l
HAGGAI.
24145 349
19:44 79
24:45.46 3^9
ZErHARIAH,
j: 15 125
25:31. ....... 345
25: 31-46.. 138, 144
21:26 333
21:34,35 90
9: II 112
25:34 305
22 : 29, 30 274
11:12 58
14:1,6,7 61
25:46 291
26:64 93
24: 21 8O
24:21,25-27.. 274
14:9 303
28: 18 289
28 : 20 89
JOHN.
I* S\ Ttf\A
MALACHI.
MARK.
I: 14 178
3 : 22-27 69
I:l8 288
3:*5 67, 257
3:15, is 217
5:30 230
10:23 284
1:29 103, 157
3 277
4:1 69,319
12:30,31 45
3:5,6 278
3* ft J%9
4:2 210,322
LUKE.
3:8. . . 231
MATTHEW.
2:1 253
1 : 2-16 42
2:10 104
3:l6 104
1921 107
2 : 10, II 107
3:17 255
3* 2 73
2:32 59
3:36 107
3416,17 179
4:9 2 5i
3:H 341
3:15 2 73
5^2 137,141
5 : 26. . 186, 187, 211
4*17 2 73
3.-I7, 21, 22.. 229
5 = 44 214
5*35 295
3:22 224
12:31 250
7:13*14 205
7:i5 55
8 : 16, 17 230
3:23,31,3334 42
3:38 225
4:I,l8 224
14:26* 80
14:30 68, 250
8:22 150,289
4:19 . 218
15*5 82
10:5,6 72,97
10*7 * 2 73
4543 274
6:19 230
16:8-11 309
16:12,13.., 22,80
10126 , 303
6 : 22 347
16:13 IX
11:23,24 no
*:i 274
16:33 214
23-A
354
Index of Texts.
'7'5-
17 : 16 ..
203
269
5: 17-19.. 58^31,300
5:18,19.108,156,177
35"
295
320
17: 22
211
6:8
.202, 213
3= *8
347
58
6:10,11 ..
.... 197
4:5
21
20:19, 26
231
6:23
..., 128
4'*
286
8:9
.... 227
4 : 8~IO
347
ACTS.
.... 197
4:10-17
287
1:6
93
8:13,14..
.... 213
5:5
214
1:6,7 80,
2:31
3
8: 17.. 59,86,196,21 2
8:l8 292
b:2
6:3
146
289
3 : 19
154
8:19
.... 306
12: 12-28
82
8: 19-22...
..88,162
14:1-6
55
73 108,162,191
,222
8:21
.... 302
15 : 13-22
Co
3 : 20, 21
89
8:21,22 ..
.... 147
15 : 21
178
3:21 94,241
8 : 22, 19 . .
. 98, 251
15:22 106
129
3:22 78,
243
8 : 23-25 . .
.... 197
15 : 24
305
3: 23.. 107, 243,
303
8:24
.... 107
144
IOI
266
8:28-31 ,.
8:30
.... 193
.... 194
15:25, 26.. 121,
15:25-28
222
304
266
8:31-34..
.... 295
15:27
26l
142
8:33>34..
.... 157
15:28
308
7:5
203
9: 16 .. . .
190
15:38,44
191
184
9 : 20, 21 . .
190
15:38-49
181
10 : 28
27
9 : 20
.... 187
15:44, 52.. 200,
235
lo:37.38
2-23
10:13,14.
IOI
15:49
10:38 8l,
2^4
II : 2
.... 108
15:53,54
1 86
10:45
224
11:17....
.... 292
II COR
II: 1-3
27
11:22
.... 278
II :9
g
11:23,24.
1 1 : 25, 26 .
3:6
305
15:6
278
"125-33..
.... 300
4 : *7
211
I5:i4
92
1 1 : 26-29 . .
113
5 : J 4
289
15: 14-16
81
11:28-33..
.... 108
5 : *7
227
17:11
349
12: I
236
17:31 *37
139
196, 226,
2 37 39
6:2
139
24 : 25
309
12:2
. 198, 269
8: 12 ,. .
*43
26 : 9
12
250, 252
II :3
61
13 : 1-7 ...
.... 266
II : 14
259
ROMANS.
1:28 .'283,
2:6, 10, II
308
298
13 : 10 . .
14:9
.... 246
.141,149
. 284.
12 : 2-4
12:4
12:7
70
27
68
2:14
IOI
15:4-. -
.... 252
12:6
214
3: 10, 19,20,..
IOI
16 : 20
..98,306
GALATIANS.
15: 1, 8
232
I. COR. 1:4
67
5 : 10, 12, 17-10, 21
2 : 6-14 . . .
.... 84
2,12
27
. . . 124, 128,
162
2:7
.... 305
2:2, 12, 14....
80
5:12
171
2:8
.... 85
21 1114
27
L24
2:13
182
3 : 15-18
84
61
.... 181
3:16. ........
*4
Index of Texts.
355
3*27,29 85
3:28 85
2:6 178
2: IX, 12 212
10:8-18 79
10: 16,29 141
3:29 82, 97
2:l4...6i, 123, 124
10 I 20 207
4 85
4 : 10 106
10:26-31 321
EPH.1SIANS.
5:24 145
10:31 305
1-4,5 193
19,10, 17, 18.. 26
6:6-12 341
6 : 14-16 210
10 : 38 39 107
11:13,39,40.. 293
: 10... 219, 242, 289
: II 73, 167
6:15 139
6:16 186,288
11:19... 155
11:32-38 54
: 13, 14 . . . 197, 202
II. TIMOTHY.
II :39i 40 288
:I4 247
120,21 134
: 22 82
2:2 68,250
2:7 219
I : 10 ... 22, 204, 206
2: II, 12 86
2: 12 196, 288
2:13 H8
3 : 1-4 90
12 : 1 25
12 : 26-29 321
*3--5 341
13 : 20, 21 141
2 : 7-12 292
3M,i3 75
JAMES.
2:8 100
2 : 19 267
3:4-6 26
3:12 68
3:13 90
3 :I 5 21
*:*8 194,196
2:5... , 284
2: 10 101
3:9 88
3 : 15-17 25
2:23 228
5 : 25-30 82
4 = 8 215,^87
4:4 214
6:12 68
TITUS.
1 : 12 515
5r*r*r*
' ' " 33
PHILIPPIANS.
2:7,8 178
HEBREWS.
I. PETER.
2: 8, 9.. 84, 178, 179
: 3 . . .. , 311
1:2 299
2:10 .,,..283, 289
:3~5 176
1:3 80
3:8-15 218
:4 203
:IO 84
3:21 92
= 9 303
: 10-13 26
4:" 341
: 14 182
: 1 1 79
COLOSSIANS.
2:5 67, 220
112 13,57
1 : 18 82, 197
1 : 20 289
1 : 26 77
I '27 81,211
3:4. ,. .. 86
2:7 *75
2:7-9 179
2:9 97, i<>4, 344
2:14 121,187
2: 16 178
: 12, 13 319
: 19 103
s 2 3 196
2:2 24
2:4-6 83
3:1 222
2:9 82
, I. THES.
3 : 5. 6 US
2 : 21 196
2:16 229
5:2,3 334
3:8,9 *39
4?i 195
3:15*.' 25
II. TKES.
2H3 299
2 : 14 211
5:14 24
6 : 4-8 321
6:6 198
6:l8 118
3 : 20 6i
5 = 4 215
5:5,6 84
5: 10 2IS
I. TIMOTHY.
7:19 225, 229
2:3-6 -126
9:11 301
II. PETER.
2:4 106
9 : 1 1-20 79
1:2-4 346
2:4-6 131
10 : I 222, 229
1:4186,196,203,222
2:5,6 104
10 i 4 221
I :5~II 321
Index ef Texts.
1 : 10, ii .
284.
JUDE.
178*4 195*270
I * IQ
25
II 61
18:7 .. 268
2:1
55
23 320
18:21 313
2:9
103
REVELATION.
2: 16
61
I3 28
19:7 87,98
3.6 ........
67
19: 11-19 270
3:67
319
2 : 10 284
19 : 15, 19 . 324
3:7
67
2 : 26, 27 ... 256 303
19:17 -- 315
3:10-13
319
3 17, 18 287
20 : 1-3 324
3:13
3
3:21
91, 223, 256, 288
20: 2 .61,69
20:3 1^6
I. JOHN.
4: ii 118
20 : 4 73, 91
I * Q
157
5:12 60
20 : 5 288
2:1
137
7:9-17 214
20 : 6 . . 197, 285, 288
2*2
157
7 : 14, 15 , . * 241
2: 15
214
10:7 87
242,291,303,320
2 : 27
Si
ii : 15 68
20:11-13 345
2: 29
278
ii : I7 18 324
20:15 J44
3.-I....85, 278, 347
3:2 182,200,211
H:l8 94
12:9 61,258
21 : I 70
21 : 3-5 162
3:9
278
14: I 195
21 :4 72, 192
4:7
278
14:14 238
21:8 107,144
104
X6: 17-20 336
21 : 2426 296
5:i,l8
278
17:2 268,270
22 : 12, 20 90
5:i8
I 9 6
17 s 3-5 268
22: 17... 97, 98, 157
A Criticism of Millennial Hopes
Examined.
"This Millennial doctrine encounters a very serious
difficulty. If the world's population had doubled each,
century for the past sixty which seems a very reasonable
estimate the present population of the earth would be two
and one-third quintillions of people. That would cover over
the fifty millions of square miles- of land surface on this
globe with people as thickly as they could stand, four thous-
and feet deep. If each were five feet high they would
reach up into the sky nearly four miles. No doubt people
enough have been bom to make tliat number" ,
The above remarks were addressed by Reverend E. L.
Eaton, D.D., to the M. E. ministers of Pittsburg at a meet-
ing held April 27, 1903, The address was favorably received
by the learned gentlemen present and thought so highly of
that it was printed for circulation.
Six months later, on Oct. 29, 1903, the same Reverend E. L.
Eaton, D. D., in debate with Pastor C, T. Russell, the author
of this volume, repeated so much of the above as applied
to his method of calculation, but revised his figures as to the
total of humanity for the past six thousand years. As illus-
trating the large concession, we place his figures side by side:
First statement 2,333,333,333,333,3
Second statement 98,098,300,000,000
Shrinkage in six months 2,333,235,235,033,333,333
Lot us hope that a man of so liberal a mind and RO easy
fa, pencil may yet get to see the question he was discussing in
2 A Criticism of Millennial Hopes Exwninca..
its true and reasonable light. Let us hope that the intelli-
gent, thoughtful, educated clergymen who so innocently
shallowed the first exaggeration will be as ready to receive
the truth on the subject as they were to accept the error.
It is not our thought to speak slightingly of any one's honest
endeavor to ascertain truth, however egregiously he may
err in his attempts; neither is it our wish to make personal
criticisms ; but extravagantly erroneous statements have
been so freely made by men of large reputation and deficient
comprehension, that it is necessary in defence of the truth,
and for the assistance of the unlearned and non-professional,
that this matter be critically examined. Our statements,
therefore, are not to be considered personal, but a general
criticism of all the learned men who have talked so foolishly
upon this subject. Dr. Eaton and his figures merely come
an conveniently at the present time. Our criticisms apply
equally to the thousands of other great heads which Have
similarly misapprehended the truth on this subject.
Before showing the reasonable figures for the total of
humanity who have ever lived on this earth, let us give a
simple illustration of the inaccuracy of Dr. Eaton's compu*
tations that will be proof positive of the grossness of his error,
even in his revised figures, to every one possessing a sufficiency
of "gray matter" to be able to reason on any subject. Any
one can demonstrate this matter, for the Doctor has told us
Hs metnod of computation, namely, the doubling the popu-
lation each century. Accordingly, the last century of the
sixty would be the one-half of the entire sum, The demon-
stration follows:
According to Dr. Eaton's largest
figures the total population of
the world at the present time
would be 1,100,666,666,666,666,666
According to his second state-
ment 49,049,150,000,000
According to the census taken
the figures should be , . 1,600,000,000
^t CrUidsm of Millennial Hopes ExamfadL &
We cannot suppose that Brother Eaton questions the
accuracy of our last census returns, for he surely knows that
at the present time the "50,000,000 sq. miles of land surface
on this globe* * are not covered "with people as thick as they
could stand" two thousand deep reaching up in the sky
nearly two miles. Yet, above, he tells us that to him all
this "seems a very reasonable estimate" and adds that he
has "no doubt" on the subject. Evidently the Brother's
desire to make the doctrine of the Millennium * look like thirty
cents" as he expressed it "to strike that doctrine a blow
between the eyes from which it would never recover"
blinded him to the antics of his pencil. But, alas, Dr. Eaton,
and many of those who applauded his ludicrous statements,
are as far from the truth in their general understanding of
the divine plan as they are in error on this simple mundane
proposition. The secret of this unwisdom lies in rejecting
the clear testimony of the Bible and opposing it claiming
that the Apostles and early Church in looking for a Millen-
nium were misled by their ignorance of matters now well
known (?) by modern theologians of the higher criticism
school. Well says the Apostle that to these the teaching
of the cross is foolishness they have no use for the doctrine
of the ransom, that we are bought back from destruction by
the ransom price, even the precious blood of Christ. The
words of the Prophet quoted by the Apostle are still applic-
able to such, and still explain why it is that worldly wisdom
is so liable to err unguided by the letter and the spirit of
revelation. The quotation is "I will destroy the wisdom,
of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of
the prudent. Where is the wise ? Where is the scribe ?
Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made
foolish the wisdom of this world?"! Cor. I: 19, 20,
A CAREFUL ESTIMATE BASED ON PACTS.
We should reason of unknown 1&iags from the basis of
that which is kaown. We know that the world's population
today is approximately 1,600,000,000. We know that the
present rate of increase is eight per cent, for the past ten
4 A Criticism of Milkmitl ffo&s Ex*m*w&
years; this would give **t#y 115 per cent, increase for a
ceatury. However, that the increase has not been so great
an the past we are certain. This is easily demonstrated, for
i we should reckon backward at this ratio of increase we
would get back to the first pair (Adam and Eve) in about
three thousand years, and we have Scriptural grounds for
believing that it is fully six thousand years since the creation
of our first parents*
We believe that every careful, thoughtful calculator, who
with us will take Bible history and secular history, will come
to close agreement with our conclusions on this subject.
Our figures for the whole number of people who have
ever been born on this earth are 28,441,126,838 to date-
including the present population. It is our conviction that
these figures are probably double the actual number, bufc
we desire to make them so generous that even opponents
can find no fault with them. We arrive at these figures as
follows: (See also "ANOTHER CALCULATION/* p. 13.) ^
During the first sixteen hundred and fifty-six years, down
to the fiood, the Scriptures show us that humanity lived
longer and reached development more slowly than now,
many of the children not being born until the parents were
more than a htindred years old. Thus Seth, the son of Adam,
was one hundred and five years old when Enos, his son,
was born; Enos was ninety years old at the birth of his
first son, Cainan; Caaaan was seventy years old when he
begat Mahalaleel; the latter was sixty-five when he begat
Jared, who was one hundred and sixty-two when he begat
Enoch, The latter when sixty-five begat Methuselah, who
when one hundred and eighty-seven begat Lamech, the
father of Noah. We are inclined to believe that the whole
population in that time may not have exceeded one hundred
thousand, but to be liberal we have placed it in the fore-
going estimate at one million.
After the fiood humanity began again with eight persons,
and for a time evidently the increase in population was
much more rapid than before the flood. In our liberal
estimate we reckon the population to have multiplied five
A Criticism of Millennial Hopes Mxavtined. $
times in each century for the first five centuries, which would
bring us down to about the time of Abraham, and show a
population in Abraham's day of under fifty-eight thousand,
although it is our opinion that these figures are double the
actual facts, "Higher critics" are so in the habit of using
wild unreason in respect to matters of ancient times, that
we make this concession. They will declare, for instance,
that Assyria was a great nation at this time, and that evi-
dences have been unearthed mentioning the great King
Chedorlaomer, whom they estimate as probably the ruler of
millions taking no thought of the flood and the impossi-
bility of having more than fifty thousand in the world at
that time.
The Scripture narrative, however, will save the Lord*s
people from such errors of judgment, for this great King
Chedorlaomer is distinctly mentioned in Genesis xiv. in con-
nection with three associated kings, who, joining their com-
bined forces, attacked five other kings in the vale of Siddim.
The great Chedorlaomer and his valiants conquered, and
carried away the spoil, including Lot, Abraham's nephew,
and his goods. The narrative shows that these kings, though
great for their time, when there were few people in the world,
had very small armies, for they did not venture to attack
(King) Abraham, who was "very rich" in flocks, herds, etc.
On the contrary, when (King) Abraham heard that his
nephew Lot was taken prisoner, he armed his three hundred
and eighteen servants and pursued after the four great
kings and their armies, smote them hip and thigh, and
brought back Lot and all his goods. To the Bible student,
therefore, the biggest thing about King Chedorlaomer was
his name, and such will not be confused by the exaggerated
estimates of the higher critics respecting the millions of
those days; for their figures are just as reliable as Dr
Eaton's given above.
Continuing our liberal allowances, we have estimated that
during the next five centuries the world'spopulationmultiplied
three times each century. This would give us as the world's
population at the time of the exodus 14,241 J
*See NOTE, page 14.
6 A Critidsw, of Millennial Hopes Examined.
We now reach the time of wars and must reckon the
increase of population more slowly than during the pastoral
period. Proceeding, we group the nest sis centuries to-
gether and remember that the Israelites in Canaan were
some eighteen times in bondage to their enemies during this
period, and that a census taken near the close of David's reign
by Joab showed the numbers competent to serve ia the army
to be 1,300,000; the entire population of Palestine, therefore,
at that time cannot have been much, if any, above 5,000,000.
The same warfaring spirit affected other nations and similarly
hindered rapid propagation; hence our estimate is that the
race doubled during those six centuries, which would show
a population in Solomon's time of over 37,000,000 throughout
the world again, a very liberal estimate according to all
reliable information at our command, probably double the
actual number.
We group the next twelve centuries together, concluding
that the race doubled during those twelve centuries. To
some this may appear too slow a ratio of increase, but we
should consider the immense wars of that period, during
which Assyria went down and Babylon rose and conquered
the whole world, destroying many nations entirely; and that
it subsequently fell before the Hedes and Persians, who also
shed blood in a wholesale manner, and who in turn fell before
the Greeks; and that the latter, under Alexander the Great,
conquered and dominated the world, but in turn fell before
the Romans; and that these, at a cost of thousands upon
thousands in the prime of life, did their share also in staying
the rapid propagation of the race. These figures would give
a world population of 82,000,000 in the time of Nebuchad-
nezzar, of 100,000,000 in the time of Christ, and of 113,000,000
at the time when the Roman Empire was at its zenith its
boundaries extending over Europe, Africa and a considerable
portion of Asia. The historian estimates the population of
the Roman world then at 50,000,000, and our estimate dhows
a surplus therefore of 63,000,000 for the known and unknown
portions of the earth at that time again, evidently, a very
liberal reckoning. {Rwnd numbers are given as estimates. EvtnU
wtmtd $at not occur at exact cksing *f centuries. )
, A Criticism of Millennial Hopes Examined. 7
We estimate the next four centuries as increasing the popu-
lation twenty-five per cent, each centttry; for the decrease
of war res-tilting from the firm establishment of the Roman
power must have had such an effect. This gives us at the
time of Charlemagne, at the closing of the eighth centtury,
a world population of over 227,000,000.
Following came the centuries of the Crusades, etc., in
which millions of the youth of the world perished. Our
reckoning is that the world's population doubled during these
six centuries from the year 800 to 1399, A. D. This gives
us as the population of the world for the year 1400 the
sum of 455,733,808.
The next four centuries were more favorable to the multi-
plying of the race, great battles and desolating plagues being
fewer. The religious reformation belongs to this period.
We reckon the population to have doubled during these four
centuries, and this would give us the world population for
the year 1700 of 911,467,616. These figures, so far as we
know, are very greatly in excess of any reliable statistics.
We reckon the period from 1700 to 1800, A. D., at a
twenty per cent, rate of increase, giving the population in
the year 1800 at 1,093,759,939.
For the century just closed, from the year 1800 to the
year 1900, we have estimated an increase of forty per cent.,
which shows the population for the year 1900, 1,531,163,915.
Although, as already stated, the ratio of increase in popula-
tion for the ten years of the last census was eight per cent.,
representing an increase of 115 per cent, for the century,
it is manifest that the increase during the earlier portion
of the nineteenth century was at a much slower rate. Present
conditions are increasingly favorable to the propagation of
the race, as well as to its longevity; and it would not sur-
prise us if the increase would show much greater in the near
future.
The following tables of estimates of the world's population,
made during the nineteenth century show clearly that the
estimates we have given are exceedingly liberal; besides, in
reckoning the total we have counted the entire century at
the figures of its dose.
8 A Criticism of Millennial Hcpcs ^Aai.iincd.
Volney in 1S04 estimated the population of the
worlds 437,000,000
Pinkerton in 1805 estimated the population of the
W orld at 700,000,000
Malto-Brun in 1810 estimated the population, of
the world at 640,000,000
Horse in 1812 estimated the population of the
world at 766,000,000
Graberg v. Hemso in 1S13 estimated the popula-
tion of the world at 686,000,000
Balbi in 1816 estimated the population of the
world at 704,000,000
Balbi in 1S43 estimated the population of the
world at 739,000,000
We believe that the liberality o our figures will be con-
ceded by all careful, thoughtful people, and in our opinion
they are as a whole double tho truth.
Qttr next step was to approximate the number that died
each century. We have estimated that twice the number
of the whole population died every century down to the
time of Solomon; and that since then to the present time
three times the number of the whole poptdation have died
each century. It is on the basis of this calculation that we
have already stated the number 28,441,126,838. Be it
remembered also that in this calculation wo have -nearly
doubled the actual facfcs. Take, for instance, the last cen-
tury, which began with 1,093,759,939 and closed with
1,531,103,915. In estimating this we did nob multiply by
three the supposed number living in the middle of the cen-
tury, 1S50, but multiplied by three the total number living
at the close of the century.
Now with this large allowance and liberal estimate every-
where of probably double, what can we say respecting the
ability of the earth to furnish these habitation and food?
Remembering the Lord's promise that in that millennial
period "the earth shall yield her titcreose" and that the
desert and wilderness places of the earth shall become as a
garden of Eden, we may safely estimate upon oH the land
A Criticism of Millennial Hopes Examined. 9
-which we find, according to recent estimates, to be
57,000,000 square miles, or over 36,000,000,000 acres.
What would this mean as to space for each individual
-who has ever lived in the world according to this very large,
liberal estimate? It means that there would be twelve
hundred and seventy-five acres for each little village of
two hundred families (one thousand persons). Quite a
sufficiency of room, all will agree, under the new conditions
promised; but if more space be necessary, let us have a
little of the faith which father Abraham exercised when he
counted that God, to keep his promise, was able to raise
Isaac from the dead. With this faith we will see readily
that it will be quite within the divine power to raise vast
continents from the depths of the oceans, or indeed to give
a literal as well as a symbolical fulfilment to the declaration,
"There shall be no more sea."
Our conclusion then must be that those who hold to the
teachings of the Lord and the faith of the Apostles and
primitive Church have not been put to shame in any degree
by the wisdom of this world.
Now let us look on the other side of the question, and see
if it be not true respecting the worldly wise as was written
nearly three thousand years ago, "The wise are taken in
their own craftiness*' "They hanged Haman on the gallows
that he had prepared for Mordecai." Esther 7:10.
THB OTHER, SIDE OF THE QUESTION* OPPOSERS OP THB
MILLENNIUM SILENCED AND SHAMED,
"OUT o# THINE OWN MOUTH WILL I JUDGE TKBEI.
Those who stand loyally in support of the teachings of
our Lord and Hs Apostles in * espect to the coming Kingdom
"under the whole heavens" have generally been content to
be on the defensive. Those wlao trust fully in the proztdse
of God to Abraham, "la thy seed shall all the families of
the earth be blessed," have too long endured the sneers of
the worldly wise and refrained from pricking their bubbles
of self-complacency, piide, sarcasm and folly set afloat by
10 A Crttitism of Miltenmal Hopes Examined*
tliose who think themselves to be somebody, and discredit
the inspired revelation and those who stick closely to the
Book.
The time is come to forever silence these opposers of the
divine Word, and we shall now proceed to do so. Again
we must -use Brother Eaton's words, but we again disclaim
any personality and recognize that he is merely one of a
class a large class, an influential class, a D. D. class whose
minds and expressions on the subject are the same as
Brother Eaton's. We take his words rather than those of
some one else because they were uttered recently and in
public contention with tins very subject of the MiUennium,
were heard by hundreds and read by thousands. We must
have some positive statement to deal with, and his is the
nearest and most suitable one; therefore, and not for any
personal reasons, his words are criticised. Dr. Eaton's words
in his argument against the reasonableness of expecting a
Millennium not only were as above quoted, and criticised, but
additionally he said that he did not expect the second coming
of our Lord until the conversion of the world and the end
of this dispensation, which would not be for probably
"FIFTY THOUSAND YEARS YBT."
Brother Eaton by this time has gotten used to the treachery
of his pencil, and we trust will conclude that while it may
be safe to use the pencil ad Mb. on the subject of astronomy,
where a few hundred thousand solar systems will not be
noticed by the credulous public, it is nevertheless a very
uncertain pencil to use in respect to earthly things.
Now let us weigh carefully this statement, made not only
by Rev. E. L. Eaton, D. D., but by hundreds of other equally
titled gentlemen, whose position before God's people aid
before the world as teachers has been trusted too confidingiy
by their flocks. We hope that on the subject under dis-
cussion and on all subjects they will revise their met&ods
of "foolish talking/' and remember that those who pos* as
ounistoss of the gospel of Christ should, according to Ifce
exhortation of the Apostle Paul, "Speak as the oracles of
A Criticism of Millennial Mopes Examined. 21
God" truthfully, accurately in a manner to be depended
upon. Meantime we hope their followers will give them no
anore credit for accuracy in other features of their religious
teaching than in the one under consideration.
Let us do a little figuring; let us do it in a manner that
any schoolboy can follow. We want to inquire how many
people will be living on the earth at the end of fifty thousand
years about the time Dr. Eaton estimates that Christ will
come. We will take as the basis of our calculation the present
population of the world as 1 ,600,000,000. "We will take as the
basis of our reckoning for increase the census returns for
the, last decade, namely, eight per cent., which would mean
115 per cent, increase for the century. If the favorable
conditions of the present continue, no doubt the increase will
be far in excess of eighty per cent., but let us confine our-
selves to present conditions. A little figuring shows us that
at the end of the first of these fifty thousand years the living
population of the world would be over 580,000,000,000, and
at the same ratio of increase the close of the second thousand
years would find a living population on this earth of over
210,500,000,000,000, and by the close of the third of these
pfty thousand years the living population on earth would be
over 76,328,500,000,000,000.
What do these figures mean? They mean that if God's
Word is not true, if the great change of dispensation which
we preach is aaot soon inaugurated, the whole world of man-
kind will be an great distress, not only for food to eat, but
for standing room. We have only counted three of Dr.
Eaton's fifty thousand years! What would the figures be
if we were to run them up further?
ANTI-MILLENNIALTSTS PUT TO CONFUSION.
Those who deny the teaching of a Millennium must o course
ignore the promises which declare that "the wilderness will
blossom as the rose and the solitary places be glad," and con-
sequently any reckoning from their standpoint must exclude
all the at present useless portions of the earth's surface. Ap-
proximately estxniating the habitable and tillable portion of the
earth at 25,000,000 square miles, we find that this would give
us 16,000,000,000 acres or 696,960,000,000,000 square feet
12 A Criticism of Millennial Hopes Examine**.
Comparing these figures with the above reckoning as to
population we find that at the close, of the first thousand
years there would be two hundred and eighteen people for
each acre of the habitable earth. At the close of the second
thousand there would be *o per $q. foot, and for the third 10,400
for each square foot of the habitable earth, or in other words
they would be standing on each other's heads about twenty
thousand persons high; or, if we include the polar regions
and waste portions of the earth, they would be about ten
thousand persons high on each other's heads ; or, if we include
the water surface as well as all the land surface, there would
be seventeen hundred persons for each square foot. Allow-
ing two square feet for each individual, the population would
need to stand in piles thirty-four hundred deep, closely
packed together all over the surface of land and sea.
What would the figures be at the end of fifty thousand
years if each of the succeeding forty-eight were estimated
on the reasonable basis of the two already calculated?
THE MILLENNIUM INDISPENSABLE SOOF,
Is it not time that those who do not believe in a coining
Millennium should begin to pray that God would arrange
for one? Is it not evident that if Christ's Kingdom were
delayed even three hundred years the world would be in
terrible straits. The population at the present rate of
increase would then be over 16,OOQ,000,CK)0~-with less than
one habitable acre apiece, and only by very "intensive
fanning'* could they subsist at all.
Ah! says some one, You are neglecting to count that death
will keep things balanced, about as they now are, always.
No, we are not over-looking death, but averaging it as at
present. We are merely reckoning the increase of popula-
tion on the basis of the last census reports.
Very evidently the facts, as we look backward and forward,
all indicate that we are Just at the right time for the estab-
lishment of "the Kingdom of God's dear Son." The declara-
tion of the Lord at the beginning was, that the earth should
be filled, and according to our eoaaptttations we have now
A Criticism of Millennia If opes Examined* l
reached a place where a sufficient number of people have
been born into the world to about reasonably and properly
fill it, if they were recovered from the tomb. On the con-
trary, looking into the future, we see not only an impossibility
of long continuance under present conditions, but we see
likewise that even three centuries more at the present
rate of increase would add to the numbers of the dead
69,000,000,000, or over double the number of our above
Eberal estimate of all the past dead making the total num-
ber 87,000,000,000. Add to this number of the dead, at the
dose of three centuries future, the number then living at
present rate of increase, viz. 16,000,000,000, the total would
be over one hundred and three thousand millions. There
would then be room for an argument on the possibility of
God's promise of "restitution of all things spoken." (Acts 3:
1&-21.) The awakening of such a host would furnish only
one acre of at present useable land for six persons. Three
centuries are not far ahead either!
The more we investigate this question upon a proper basis,
the more strong our faith must become in the promises of
the divine Word respecting the ''times of restitution of all
things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all the holy
prophets since the world began,'* and which are to commence,
with the second coming of our Lord. (Acts 3: 19-21 .) They
are. surely nigh at hand: these facts agreeing well with the
Bible testimonies. See Millennial Dawn, Vol. II.
In the %fct of the foregoing we find all of Brother Eaton's figures
quite erroneous. His revised figures are more than three thousand
times too large ; while those first presented were more than seventy
millions of times too large t Let us all the more closely stick to the
$aok to God's Word. < The Word of the Lord is sure, making wise
the simple." Psalm 19:7.
* * *
ANOTHER CALCULATION PROVING OUR FIGURES.
Another calculation would be to take the known beginning after
the Flood eight persons and the known population in A.D. 1900
1,600,000,000 ad viewing the whole as a wedge, reckon a grad-
ual percentage of increase from the one number to the other. Reckon-
ing thus, and counting three generations to die each century, the total of
24-A
14 A Criticism of Millennial Hopes Examined.
humanity that ever lived would count less than (10,000,000,000) ten
thousand millions.
\Ve still stick to the figures based upon our previous estimate
(28,000,000,000) twenty-eight thousand millions; but we merely give
these figures based on the "wedge" as corroborative evidence that
our first calculations are in every way liberal.
ISRAEL'S INCREASE A MIRACLE.
Some may be disposed to question our figures of the Exodus, and
cite the fact that at that time Israel bad 603 550 men capable of hear-
ing arms and burdens, besides women and children. (Num. 1:45,4-6.)
\T e accept those figuies with the statement that there were none infirm
amongst the Israelites. Accordingly we would reckon that this in-
cluded all the males from twenty years old and upward, that there were
as many females and as many young children, and estimate the whole
at 2,000,000. The increase of the Israelites was phenomenal, miracu-
lous. In no other way could we possibly understand how Jacob and
his twelve sons and their families could in the short^space of 198 years
increase from seventy persons to 2,000,000; nor did the miracle con-
tinue, for we find that forty years later, when entering Canaan, their
male forces numbered less than when they left Egjrpt (Num. 26.)
Several centuries later, King Saul numbered the entire army prepara-
tory to a -war with the Amalekites, and the total was 210,000 fighting
men little more than one-third of the number that left Egypt , ( I Sam.
15:4.) Kor are such decreases of population exceptions. "Where are
the formerpeoples of Palestine and Egypt? In more modem times
note the disappearance of the Aztecs and Montezumas of Central Amer-
ica and the rapid fading away of the North American Indian.
Evidently the fertile country and temperate climate in the "vicinity
of the Mediterranean Sea made that region the cradle of the race after
tic flood. From thence the people spread abroad, Palestine itself
was the home of seven of the great nations of that time, enumerated as
greater and mightier than Israel. (Deut 7 :r -) But this must mean
that combinedly they "were greater and mightier, or else it signified
tliat these people were larger-bodiedgiants. This latter thought is in
accord with the report of the spies (Num. 13:22, 28, 33), and agrees
with the words of Moses. (Deut 9:2.) Certainly the entire seven
great nations of that time cannot have numbered much over a million
souls, else how could that little land have supported them? Its entire
area is only 6,040 square miles less than one-seventh that of the State
of Pennsylvania,- less than one-fortieth that of the State of Texas.
"We repeat that at that time Israel -was a great nation that "the
nations under the whole heaven'* feared them, (Deut 2:25*) V a "
questionably Egypt was the principal nation of that time, and the King
of Egypt freely conceded that the Israelites were -"more and rphysical-
ly] mightier" than the Egyptians. Ex. 1:9; Deut. isio; fsa. 105;
i 37-
"GO YE ALSO nSTO THE VlIffiYARD; ' J
u fft that reapeth recciveth wages, and gathereth frute"Jolm
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strained to become servants of the truth, and to bear the "things new
and old" to yet others of the "household of faith." Your measure of
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To this end we wish you to know that special provision has been
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THINGS YOU OUGHT TO KNOW
CHRISTIAN BIBLE STUDENTS
<& THE SATISFACTORY PROOFS THAT-
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gf leveahng a systematic plan full of Justice, "Wisdom and Love.
<gjfr "The Key of Knowledge" of the Scriptures, long lost (Luke
jSia, 1x152), k iound, and gives God' s faithful people access to the
^ Hidden Mystery."-Col. 1:26.
eg* The Lord Jesus and his feithful are to be not only priests
<5gt but kings.
g^ This Kingdom is to come and God's will be done at the
<gjp Second Advent.
^ God's plan is to select and save the Church in the Gospel age,
* and to use this Church in blessing the world in the Millennium.
c#f A ransom for all implies an opportunity for restitution to all. .
t The Day of Judgment is 1 ,000 years long the world's trial day,
Spiritual and human natures are distinci and separate. "
"The narrow way" of self-saciifice will cease with this age. .
-"The highway" of righteousness without suffenng will be
open to all the redeemed race in the Millennium, Isa. 35: 8, 9. ^
-"The kingdoms of tnis world" are but for an ordained period
and must then give place to the "Kingdom of Heaven"-
"Thy Kingdom Come."
Especially You QugJit to JKnow
Why God has permitted evil for six thousand years, and
>f The relationship of God's people to this ' Reign of Sin and
f Death " and to the results.
Tfiese sudjgtfs and many others oftfety interest to all of God* $
t geopfe are discussedfully and in language easy of comprehension in
"Trje <>lan of the Ageg*'
(In English, German, Swedish, Dane N'orwegiein, Italian, and French.)
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<g THINGS YOU WANT TO KNOW
& ~
!* CHRISTIAN BIBLE STUDENTS
<*
^t
" THERE ARE EVIDENCES THAT
jjj; Six thousand Years from Adam ended in A. D. 1872.
^ The Date of our Lord's Birth was October, B. c. 2.
<* The Date of Annunciation to Mary, Dec. 2$th, B. c. 3,
J&, The Date of our Lord's Baptism was O&ober, A. D, 29.
J& The Date of our Lord's Crucifixion, April, A. D. 33.
JT The "Seventy Weeks'* of Israel's favor ended A. r>. 36.
^ The Jewish Age "Harvest," was 40 years, A. D. 30 to 70%
^ The Christian Age "Harvest," 40 years, A. 3>. 1874-1914,
t The Jewish Jubilees were Typical of the "Time of Restita-
tion of all Things." Acts 3 : 19-21.
t The Typical Jubilees Mark the Date of their Antitype.
The "Times of the Gentiles" will end with A. D. 1914.
The Jewish Age, in itS'LengUi, its Ceremonies, etc., Typified
*oT the Realities of the Christian Age and its Length.
<* Elias or "Elijah the Prophet" was a Type. How fulfilled.
<& The Antichrist Has Come! What? When? Where?
These subjefis and many others deeply interesting 1 to "the
Household of Faith J* and " Aleat in due season 9 * to all who
love and study God*s Word> can be had in ,
"Trje Tinge is at p&nd"
(In English, German, Swedish, Dano-Norwegian and French,)
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^ THINGS YOU OUGHT TO KNOW
<|i. ^
T CHRISTIAN BIBLE STUDENTS
*
DO YOU KNOW THAT
Weare now living in "the Time of the End" of this Gospel age?
' Our epoch is "the Day of God's Preparation" for the MiiJen- '
. nial age ? ,
The "Days of Waiting" are ended and the "Qeansing of the
Sanctuary" the Church, the separating of its Wheat and
Tares, is now m progress? ;
This is the reason for the beginning of the Return ot Divine
Favor to Fleshly Israel blinded for centuries to permit the ^
gathering of an elect class from among the Gentiles? ^
This favor is gradually taking shape and known as Zionism?
' ImmanuePs Kingdom is now in process of establishment? ^
4 The Great Pyramid in Egypt is a Witness to all these events 4
\ of the ages and of our day testifying in symbols ?
* The Pyramid's downward passage under "A Draconis" sym- *
if bolizes the course of Sin? Its First Ascending Passage sym- 4
' bolizes the Jewish age? Its Grand Gallery symbolizes the
* Gospel age? Its Upper Step symbolizes the approaching per- *
i$. iod of tribulation and anarchy,"Judgments,"upon Christendom? $
\ Its King's Chamber the Divine Nature, etc., of the Overcom- i
* ing Church ^the Christ, Head and Body? Its Ante-Chamber *i
If the CorrecTion in Righteousness of the "Great Company" #
' etc.? Its Queen's Chamber those of Israel and the world who ',
* attain Restitution ? t
All thtst interesting topics with ten. Pyramid illustrations
cenbe kadw
\
,, "'Phy f<ingdorrj Cong "
. (In English, German and Swedish)
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THINGS ALL NEED TO KNOW
"NONE OF THE WICKED WILL J
UNDERSTAND " 2[
*$
DAN. 13 : 10. ,rj
THE WISE SHALL UNDERSTAND/* THAT *!&
The Gospel age is to close with a " Day of Vengeance." ^
It will affe& the whole world but specially " Christendom." *&
All Political, Social, Financial and Religious systems will fall. $>
These judgments must begin with the House of God and ex- <>
tend to all. ;
This period is noted by the Prophets as "the Day of Jehovah." &>
It is symbolically styled u a Dark Day," a "Day of clouds," etc. >
Its trouble is symbolically likened to a Hurricane, to a Flood, g
to a Fire, etc., these strong figures being used to give an ap- *p
preciation, yet to hide the real nature, of that^Time of Trouble g>
such asNever Has Been since there was a Nation.' ' Dan. 1 2: 1 . ;g
<g* Preparations for this symbolic "Fire" and "Tempest" are now &g>
<&g well under way and shortly will rage furiously. *2L
j* it will be a contest between the Masses and the Classes. jg*
^ Many see it coming and trust to various schemes to avert it. *g
JL But all worldly Schemes and Panaceas will fail utterly. i$L
jx God's Kingdom, the only hope for Church and World, is sure. j<r
^ Man s extremity will prove to be God's opportunity in the ^
JL establishment of God s Kingdom Christ's Millennial King- JSL
jg[ dom which will establish righteousness by force. Rev. 2 : 26, jg;
<g* 27 ; Dan.2 : 34, 35, 44, 45. *g>
$* &
^* All these su&je&s are simply yet forcefully treated, and Matthew *5[
^ Sjtb Chapter elucidated^ in *&
Afc "'The )ay of Vcrjgeanee" ^
o*. (la English and German.) XL
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THE AT-ONE-MENT IS BELIEVED IN
*
ALL CHRISTIAN BIBLE STUDENTS
J Nevertheless, but few even of the best informed could explain
if either the fact or the philosophy of the At-One-Ment *
<8j&- between God and man.
< ALL SHOULD KNOW
<g What the Scriptures declare respecting the great Author of *
JL The At-one-ment, Jehovah God^
g] And concerning the great Mediator of the At-one-ment, our "
^ Lord Jesus Christ
Jk Respecting the necessity for the At-one-ment
jf And the necessity that the "Only Begotten" must be "made *
^ flesh," and then die, and then rise from the dead ia order to
J&, effect the At-one-ment.
Jg* Respeclang the office and work of the holy Spirit in connection *
^ with the At-one-ment
A And the important part of the At-one-ment not yet finished
JS* which awaits the Second Coming of our Lord in his Kingdom *
J& Respecting the central doctrine of At-one-ment, namely, the ,j
jg* Ransom ^what it was ; why it was and is the center or * * hub' ' *
<g around which and into hich all Bible doctrines fit.
^ How this doctrine is the test of the truth or falsity of all doc- ^
T trines; so that once understood clearly it is a guard against
^ error in every form.
J& Respecting man, the subject of the great At-one-ment, his
j* nature ; his sin ; his penalty ; his deliverance through Christ ;
^ his future possibilities through acceptance of the At-one-ment. *
<8* *
g^ AU these interesting and very important themes are luddly dis-
<g& cussed in simple language, and corroborated by four- -j
Of, teen hundred Scripture citations, in
arjd
(English and
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ENTITLED XL
T
"THE NEW CREATION." ^>
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It throws new and helpful light on the Creative Week of Gen- J^
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Recognizing the true Church of Christ, begotten of the Spirit *3r
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. steps of Grace Divine Justification, Sanctification, andDelfr- ^>
* erance in the First Resurrection. j5>
"*~
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j, -^Baptism is the topic of an enthe chaptet. The tnany mis- ^
? takes of nearly all denominations are pointed out in kindly -o
spirit, and then the true Baptism is set forth in convincing **
* style, indisputable, incontrovertible,
The foes and besetments of the New Creation are
* considered, and the Scriptural method of overcoming them ;
also the present and the future inheritance of the saints.
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YOUNG'S ANALYTICAL CONCORDANCE.
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This work is at once a Greek and Hebrew Lexicon,giving the meaning
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WHAT SAY
THE SCRIPTURES
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PROOFS THAT IT IS
"THE SPIRITS IN PRISON" AND WHY ARE THEY THERE?
THE necessity for this little brochure lies in the facft that
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WHAT SAY THE SCRIPURES
ABOUT HELL?
s^
AN EXAMINATION OF EVERY TEXT OF SCRIPTURE IN WHICH THE
WORD "HELL" IS FOUND.
A CORRECT understanding of the subject of this booklet is almost
/\ a necessity to Christian steadfastness. For centuries it has been the
teaching of "orthodoxy," of all shades, that God, before creating man,
had created a great abyss of fire and terrors, capable of containing all
the billions of the human, family which he purposed to bring into being;
that this abyss he had named "hell;" and that all of the promises
and threatenings of the Bible were designed to deter as many as possible
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KO. 37. HOW RBADEST THOU f
NO. 38. HOPE OF IMMORTALITY.
HO. 40. WHAT IS THE SOUL ?
MO. 44. GATHERING THE LORD*S JEWELS.
HO. 49. WHICH IS THE TRUE GOSPEL?
NO. 53. OUR LORD'S RETURN.
NO. 53. THtB WAGES OF SIK.
NO. 54. A DARK CLOUD AND ITS SILVER ZJMZK.
NO. 58. PURGATORY.
HO. 59. TBK WORLD'S HOPE.
HO. 60. BRINGING BACK THE KING.
NO. 6l. PROTRSTA NTS, AWAKE !
NO. 63. CHRIST'S DEATH : ONE OPPORTUNITY FOR EVE** KAN.
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NO. 69. STUDY TO BE APPROVED. CHRISTENDOM IN GRAVE DANGER. RKFRAIH
FROM WEEPING. HOPE FOR THE NON-ELECT.
NO. TO. CHEERFUL CHRISTIANS. DIVINE PREDESTINATION.
HO. 73 TO HELL AND BACK. THE GREAT PRISON-HOUSE TO BE DESTROYED
THE OATH-BOUND COVENANT. SELLING THE BIRTHRIGHT.
NO. 73. CALAMITIESWHY GOD PERMITS THEM.
NO. 74 IBB DIVINE PLAN.
NO. 75* INCREASING INFLUENCE OF SPIRITISM.
NO. 76. EARTHQUAKES IN PROPHECY. TONGUES OP FIRE. IN THE EVIL DAY.
CLEANSING OF FLESH AND SPIRIT.
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