In recent issues of the Signs of the Times we have shown from the Scriptures that when the judgment day is imminent, the nations of earth will be angry. And the great day of God is to be immediately preceded by the gathering of the whole world in battle array. The Word of God is very explicit in telling us of this war spirit that will pervade the world in the last days. “The spirits of devils, working miracles, . . . go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16:14. Then it is clear from this scripture that the “whole world” will be gathered to the battle of “that great day.” And it is just as clear also that it is the “spirits of devils” that stir up this fighting host in the closing days of time.
The Protected Cruiser Charleston.—Displacement, 3,730 tons; speed, 8.2 knots. Her protective deck has 2-inch armor on the flat and 3 inches on the slopes. Main battery has two 8-inch and six 6-inch guns; secondary rapid-fire battery consists of four 6-pounders, two 3-pounders, two 1-pounders, four 37-mm. Hotchkiss, two Colts and one field gun. Of this class* of vessels Great Britain has 123, France 47, Germany 13, Italy 23, Austria 8, Russia 3, Spain 12, Denmark 5, Netherlands 10, Turkey 6, Portugal 4, Sweden and Norway 2, and the United States 16.
The Monitor Amphitrite.—Displacement, 3,990 tons; speed, 10.5 knots; deck armor, 1¾ inches; side armor, 5 to 9 inches; barbettes, 1½ inches; turrets, 7½ inches. Main battery consists of four 10-inch and two rapid-fire 4-inch guns; secondary rapid-fire battery has two 6-pounders, two 3-pounders, two 37-mm. Hotchkiss, and two 1-pounders. Of this Monitor class the United States has five.
Some have thought that it was possible to buckle on the soldiers’ carnal weapons in the cause of Christ. But the Master has plainly stated the principles that are to govern His followers. He says to them: “Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Matt. 26:52. Every one can understand this language. It says unequivocally that “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” The sword, then, is a thing that is destined to perish. And at the same time when the sword perishes, “all they that take the sword” shall perish with it.
With such plain utterances before us from the Author of Christianity Himself, none should fail to understand that it is no part of a Christian’s work to draw the sword and kill people. And every one should know that in the last days the “spirits of devils” will be especially active in leading men into the carnage of war.
Then we should not make the mistake of following Satan when it is our intention to follow Christ. And if we desire to be perfectly sure that we are following Christ, we should be particular to study His Word, and then do what it says. When that Word tells us that “all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword,” we should heed it. To do anything else is to join with the “spirits of devils” in the preparation for the “battle of that great day.”
The preparation for war in these times is something that is simply terrible. We are living in a most wonderfully ingenious and inventive age. And in recent years a large part of this genius has been expended in devising instruments and weapons for the navy and army. Says Mr. Park Benjamin in a recent Independent:—
The advance in means of naval warfare has been greater since 1860 to the present day than from the invasion of Xerxes to the first-named date.
The old wooden vessels and muzzle-loading, short-range guns of fifty years ago would stand no chance whatever in a combat with the armor-clad and heavily-armed war ships of to-day. Even one of the smaller modern gunboats like the Marietta, shown in our cut, with only her small guns, would have been a very serious menace to a whole fleet half a century ago; for she could, with these modern cannon of only the smallest type, have fought at a greater range than the best of war ships fifty years ago; and then the rapidity of her fire would have enabled her to belch out a regular torrent of steel.
An unprotected cruiser like the Detroit, with her heavier guns of the rapid-fire type and her high rate of speed, could have worked a severe hardship on the best navy afloat in 1850; and, perhaps, if skilfully maneuvered, she would have wholly destroyed it; while a protected cruiser like the Charleston, with her 8-inch guns supplemented by her rapid-fire battery, could have amused herself as a child at play, while she destroyed whole navies and placed the coast cities at her entire mercy. An armored cruiser like the New York, or a5great monitor like the Amphitrite, would have been needless in the fifties of the present century. One or two vessels of the smaller and weaker class of what is found in the navies to-day would have been the terror of the seas in those times; while a great battle-ship such as has been built during the last three decades, with a good base of supplies, could have safely contracted to have destroyed every ship in the world, and laid every seaport city in ruins; and all this without very much risk to any of her officers or crew.
The Unprotected Cruiser Detroit.—Displacement, 2,098 tons; speed, 18.7 knots; armor, ⅜-inch water-tight deck; main battery consists of ten 5-inch rapid-fire guns. Secondary rapid-fire battery has six 6-pounders, two 1-pounders, two Colts, and one field gun. She has two torpedo tubes. Of this class* of vessels England has 3, France 14, Germany 6, Austria 2, Russia 20, Spain 4, Denmark 1, Netherlands 2, Turkey 2, Portugal 3, Sweden and Norway 4, the United States 5, Japan 22, China 17, Argentine Republic 4, Brazil 9, Chile 3, Peru 1.
One can scarcely realize the wonderful strides that have been made within a single lifetime in this awful work of devising instruments of war. Can there be any doubt, as we contemplate these things, that we are actually in that time when the “spirits of devils” are doing their terrible work of preparing the whole world for that last great battle. Reader, think of these things. More on the subject next week.
T.
The Armored Cruiser New York.—Displacement, 8,200 tons. Speed, 21 knots.
Armor: Belt, 4 in; deck, 3 to 6 inches; barbettes, 10 inches; turrets, 5½ inches;
main battery consists of six 8-inch and twelve 4-inch rapid-fire guns. Her secondary
rapid-fire battery is eight 6-pounders, two 1-pounders, four Gatlings, and two
field guns. She has two torpedo tubes. Of this class* of vessels Great Britain has
18, France 13, Germany 7, Italy 8, Austria 2, Russia 14, Spain 8, the United States
2, Japan 4, Argentine Republic 1, Chile 2.
The Gunboat Marietta.—Displacement, 1,000 tons; speed, 13.03 knots. Main battery consists of six 4-inch rapid-fire guns; secondary battery, four 6-pounders, two 1-pounders, one Colt, and one field gun. Of the gunboat class,* England has 62, France 49, Germany 3, Italy 2, Austria 8, Russia 14, Spain 24, Denmark 9, Netherlands 51, Turkey 12, Portugal 2, Sweden and Norway 21, United States 18, Japan 9, China 16, Argentine Republic 7, Brazil 27, Chile 10.
The Cross Displaces Selfishness
By H. P. Dewey
The gods of human selfishness in our hearts take a silent departure when the cross is enshrined there.—Rev. H. P. Dewey.
PROVIDENCES
By W. H. B. Miller
Some years ago it was arranged to hold a large missionary meeting in one of the great cities of America. A committee had been appointed to consider plans and arrange a program for the gathering. The work was almost accomplished when one of the enthusiastic gentlemen present remarked: “What a pity we can not obtain a real appropriate hymn! What an interest a good missionary hymn would create!” There were not so many hymns to select from then as there are now. This large missionary meeting was for the purpose of obtaining missionaries to engage in Gospel work in distant lands.
As soon as the wish was expressed, a young man present said, “I will write you a hymn that will be appropriate.” He left the room, and in a very short time indeed returned and read the first three stanzas of—
“From Greenland’s icy mountains,
From India’s coral strand.”
Those who listened were delighted, and thought the sentiment perfect. But the young man was not satisfied. “No,” he said, “it lacks something.” He left the room again, and in a few moments returned with the thrilling lines:—
“Waft, waft, ye winds, His story,
And you, ye waters, roll,
Till like a sea of glory
It spreads from pole to pole;
Till o’er our ransomed nature
The Lamb for sinners slain,
Redeemer, King, Creator,
In bliss returns to reign.”
A tune was selected, and at the great meeting the hymn was sung by hundreds of voices, and the meeting was powerfully enthused, and earnest, consecrated men and women gave their hearts and lives to the great missionary work. The young man who wrote the hymn afterwards became the well-known Bishop Heber.
The beautiful words soon became very popular, and were published in many of the religious papers throughout the land. Some time after the meeting above referred to, a New York lady read the hymn in one of her papers, and she was struck with the beauty of the words and sentiment. She at once sat down, cut out the words, and wrote a note to a young gentleman friend who was at that time a bank clerk in the great city. He was a musician, and the lady told him how she admired the words, and begged of him to compose a suitable tune. Calling her little girl, she instructed her to take the note down to the bank where the young gentleman was engaged. The little daughter handed the note as directed, and waited till the bank clerk had perused it. He then asked her to wait for a few minutes, and in an exceedingly short time handed her the music which is now inseparably connected with the grand missionary hymn. Not a note has been since changed. Both hymn and tune stand as they left their composers’ hands. Lowell Mason was the name of the young clerk. When we think how many thousands have been thrilled and energized and inspired by this masterpiece among sacred songs, who will say that God did not inspire the thoughts and the music? How many souls have been turned from darkness to light through its influence will only be known in eternity. Thus God will ever inspire those who stand ready to glorify His name. Circumstances seemingly trivial to us may be the keystones of glorious designs, which the Master Architect is working out for our eternal happiness and the glory of His kingdom. Truly, “there is no little and there is no great” in the providences of God, and truly every circumstance must be a providence if we are God’s children, fully devoted to His service.
W. H. B. MILLER.
Melbourne, Aus.
GOD’S GUIDANCE.
There is nothing more plainly revealed than that our heavenly Father orders “the steps of a good man.” If this fact were communicated to us in the original way—that is, by miraculous voices, as in the olden time—the information could not come with more directness and power than we now have it from day to day.
Surely every one who lives wholly to please God has a right to claim His protection, His direction, and His help, not every hour only, but every moment of his life. He may not—indeed, can not—be always thinking of this great favor. Life has its imperative and absorbing duties. His energies are often taxed to their utmost in the struggle. It is more than a mere sentiment to live. It is a serious reality, in which the hand, the head, and the heart are enlisted. The only way, therefore, for the Christian is to “commit” himself habitually, sincerely, unhesitatingly, and with godly trust, into the hands of Him who has warranted us in believing that all things have worked, do now work, and will work in the coming days, for our good.—The Christian.
Strength for Christian Work
By Rev. C. S. Lawrence
STRENGTH to do Christian work must come from God. Nothing can take the place of the divine anointing. The strength of the church is of God. Forms and ceremonies are too often invited to the place once occupied by the Holy Spirit. Enough is found in God for every need when He is recognized in His presence and power.—Rev. C. S. Lawrence.
Treatment of Women
“THERE is nothing which marks more decidedly the character of men and of nations than the manner in which they treat women.”
“HOW FAR MAY I GO?”
By T.
“How far may I go in worldly amusements?” is often asked by young professors of Christ. And older persons, desirous of keeping the younger ones in the church, frequently ask: “How much shall we encourage our young folks in seeking worldly pleasure?” “Shall we have the dance, and throw around it the sanction and watchcare of the church, so as to keep it elevated in tone?” “Shall we have card parties, etc., etc., under the direction and supervision of the church?”
Any one who will seriously raise such questions as the foregoing is really saying in his heart that he regards “Christianity as something necessary to have when we come to die. But in order to have a good time as we go along, we desire to indulge in pleasures that, without doubt, are contrary to Christianity.” In other words, it is literally saying that Satan provides better enjoyment for us than does the Lord Jesus Christ.
What a fatal delusion! The amusements and follies of this world seem desirable because humanity is resting under the darkness of sin, and consequently that which is in harmony with his sinful desires seems to him to be the only thing that can give real pleasure. And if Satan can succeed in keeping mankind deceived, he cheats him out of the only real and perfect joys—joys that are found nowhere except in the true Christian life.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Gal. 6:22, 23. And again, “Thou wilt show me the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Ps. 16:11. These scriptures present the exact truth in regard to real joy and pleasure. “The fruit of the Spirit” is not only “joy” but it is “peace” as well. And in our Lord’s presence we have “fulness of joy,” and there, too, do we find “pleasures forevermore.”
The Lord does not give us joy that is incomplete. “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.” Prov.710:22. This can not be said of earthly joy. Earth can give no pleasure but it has its pain. Indeed, earth gives no real pleasure at all; for what seems to be pleasure here is only a delusion of Satan, to hide from us the true joys that are so abundantly found in the happy service of God.
So, then, do not ask how far we may go in seeking the so-called pleasures of this world; but rather let us show to all that there is nothing in the service of God but the deepest and most abiding pleasure. Teach the young people who would try to enjoy the world while they also want to profess Christ, that the Word of God is full of rich promises. And if they will feed on that Word, instead of merely reading it as an occasional irksome duty, they will find the well-spring of abiding joy. God’s Word is truth. And when it tells us that the “fruit of the Spirit is joy,” we will experience that joy just as surely as we believe the Word. “O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.”
T.
THE SAVING POWER OF THE WORD.
WE read in the Scriptures of Truth, “The Lord is a sun.” Ps. 84:11. The sun gives light. Jesus said: “I am the Light of the World; he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12. “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:9. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Ps. 119:105. “The commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” Prov. 5:23. “The entrance of Thy words giveth light.” Ps. 119:130. “The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead.” Rom. 1:20. “The heavens declare the glory of God. . . . Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.” Ps. 19:1–4; compare with Rom. 10:16–18. “Ye are the light of the world,” “the epistle of Christ,” “known and read of all men.” Matt. 5:14; 2 Cor. 3:3, 2.
Read the above carefully. God is the great central, self-existent luminary, from which all other suns, stars, lamps, or torches are lighted. His light shone out in blessed fulness in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word; it shines in “the enmity” against sin implanted in every man from the beginning; it illuminates the darkness through all of His written Word; it shines through His creation-formed Word in the heavenly bodies, in the plants and flowers; it is manifest in regenerated men and women. In all these is the shining of the light of God in rays of truth, written in different forms. All are the revelations of Jesus Christ, through various media, dim in some, yet truly light, and bright and clear in others.
Every ray of that light reaches back to the great central Sun. Every word of that truth roots in the throne of God.
Therefore, he that receives one single ray of light through any medium as from God, the Creator and Redeemer, and permits that ray to guide him, finds in it salvation. He who takes one word of that truth as from God, let it come through what medium it will—let him read it in the lily pad on the slimy pool, in the beautiful star in the blue vault of heaven, in the written Word, or in the child of God—and permits that word to dominate his life, control his being, and mold his character, receives in that word salvation. That living word, that living ray of light, becomes a part of his life, connecting him with the throne of the Infinite.
He may be a heathen, and worship idols; he may not know the word “Jesus;” but if he receives the ray of light with all his heart, he is in that very thing made a child of God. And by that word which connects him with God, the entrance of which illuminated his soul, he is led to greater truth and clearer light.
O, the wondrous breadth and depth and length and height and power of God’s eternal, unchangeable truth! Who would not receive it and live?
THE SPIRIT OF LIFE.
God is the source of all life. “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.” “He is thy life.”
He is the one life, His own life, given to all His creatures, and designed to be developed in each according to the law of each, in rock, and tree, and fish, and bird, and beast, and man. Each and all constantly receive life from the great Fountain, whose life-currents flow to all parts of the created universe.
God’s life is eternal life, even as He is “the eternal God.” We could not conceive of His having any other kind of life. He did not design that His creatures should die; “an enemy hath done this.” To give a life which is not eternal, is to give death; for the end of a life which is not eternal is death; and death, the “enemy,” does not come from the great Fountain.
“But God is a person; how can His life be everywhere present?” God is everywhere present by His Spirit. “Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith Jehovah.” And the psalmist, in speaking of God, by inspiration asks: “Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I go from Thy presence. If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.”
The presence of God is therefore His Holy Spirit; and the Holy Spirit is therefore the life of God. And so we read of “the Spirit of life” (Rom. 8:2), that “the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (verse 10); that “the Spirit giveth life” (2 Cor. 3:6).
We have common illustrations in life which may help us to comprehend the all-pervasiveness of God’s Spirit, or life. It is known by every thinking person that each individual is surrounded by a sphere of influence, called by some “aura,” in which the individuality, the personality, the force, of that person, is felt. With some this is most marked, according to strength of character and power of will. With some this influence is used for good; with many it is an agent of evil.
Sometimes it is manifest to us seemingly outside of our senses. How many of our readers have been in a room of total darkness, seeing or hearing no one, and yet have felt, tho not by physical touch, that another person was present, which subsequent light or sound demonstrated? How did we know it?—Our aura, or sphere of force, and personality came in contact with that of the person present.
It is by the perversion and subversion of these facts and powers that men and women fall victims to mesmerism or hypnotism. God designed that every person should be free, and he who wholly submits to the will or force of another endangers his eternal liberty.
Well, the force of the illustration is this: As finite man is surrounded by an aura, or sphere of force and influence, reaching far out beyond himself, capable at times of controlling many, and as this sphere is filled with his own personality or individuality, so the infinite God is surrounded by a limitless sphere, to every part of which flows, from the great central Fountain, the life-force of God, carrying with it the power and personality of God. There are two things which oftentimes make us conscious of the personality of another, namely, harmony and antagonism. There may be others present in a promiscuous assembly whose aura, or influence, is as potent, but we do not become conscious of it, through indifference on their part or ours, or both. But the influence is there, tho not felt. So God’s life-force may not be consciously felt, but its currents flow everywhere, carrying with them the power of the Infinite. It is the all-pervading Spirit of God shed forth as life around, upon, and within the universe.
The law of God’s life will be the subject of our next study.
SUNDAY AND THE DECALOGUE.
It makes one sad to read such utterances as the following, which comes in a clipping from the Epworth Herald (without date). The author is Mr. Edwin K. Hart, of the editorial staff of the Philadelphia Evening Telegraph, and the words were spoken before the Ministerial Union of that city. The Herald calls these sentences “strong and timely.” To us they seem wofully inconsistent, a mixture of fact and fancy, of truth and error. Before we quote them we wish to state a few Bible facts, and then ask our readers to read these “strong and timely sentences” in the light of these facts.
1. It is true, as stated, that “you can not pinch holes in the Decalogue. These ‘Ten Words’ stand or fall together as they came from Sinai.”
2. The fourth commandment of the Decalogue enjoins the observance of one day and only one, namely, “THE seventh day” of the seven, the day on which the Creator rested, which He blessed and sanctified. Gen. 2:2, 3; Ex. 20:8–11.
3. This seventh day, this “Sabbath day according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56), is the day just before “the first day of the week” (Luke 24:1; Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1, 2); hence it is the seventh day of the week.
4. But Sunday is known everywhere to be “the first day of the week,” the day which came just following “the Sabbath day according to the commandment.” Therefore Sunday is not the Sabbath of the “Ten Words as they came from Sinai.”
5. Sunday has no basis of authority as a holy day in the Scriptures either in divine precept or example. It has therefore no more connection with the fourth commandment than has Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday, or Thursday.
6. Therefore the world, through apostate and corrupt religions, has, in substituting Sunday for God’s Sabbath, attempted to “alter or amend” the Ten Words. It has presumed to do what God has not done,—change the unchangeable law. It has attempted to “take the fourth commandment out and leave the rest.” Here is the quotation:—
The preservation of Sunday as a day of rest is the one guarantee to the American workman of freedom. Its preservation as a day of worship, undisturbed by the godless recklessness and folly and wickedness of those who refuse to recognize the claims of their Creator, is the one guarantee of the church and is essential to the preservation and maintenance of Christianity. When the Christian Sunday goes, everything goes. You can not break into it without breaking it altogether. If the “continental Sunday” is to succeed the American Sunday, then continental methods, morals, and vices will come as the night follows the day. The fathers laid the foundations broad and deep. We can not tear them up without imperiling the superstructure. The Christian Sunday is at once the corner-stone, the keystone, and the capstone in the temple of American liberty and self-government. You can not punch holes in the Decalogue. These “Ten Words” stand or fall together as they came from Sinai. The world has never yet dared attempt to alter or amend them; it either obeys them or defies them. Even the “higher critics” have not been equal to this. You can not take the fourth commandment out and leave the rest, without striking a fatal blow at the true, religious faith.
Certainly the Decalogue does not enjoin both the first and seventh days. The Creator did not rest on both the first and seventh days. He did not bless and sanctify both the first and seventh days. To claim Sunday as the Sabbath of the Decalogue is therefore grossly misleading, altho doubtless the result of ignorance.
No true worship day can be truly preserved apart from the truth. Sunday sacredness rests only in falsehood. It can be preserved only by falsehood and force, which are effectual only till God’s presence sweeps away “the refuge of lies” with which Satan by cunning craft has invested the Sunday idol.
The only original, religious Sunday is a continental Sunday. Inevitably it is that or the Sabbath of the Lord. Men have their choice between God and tradition, between truth and error.
When the government comes to that place that Sunday is recognized as the corner-stone, the keystone, and the capstone, then will this government fall forever; for that which is based on falsehood can not stand.
O Christian brethren and friends, why not face the matter now in the light of the facts of God’s Word? Why cling to the counterfeit coin when God offers the genuine?
Question Corner
“Enquire and make search and ask diligently.”
784. Soul and Spirit.
(1) Please explain Matt. 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul.” (2) Define soul and spirit. (3) Explain 1 Kings 17:21, 22 and Acts 20:10. C. D. M.
1. The life rests with God. Man may kill the body, may destroy the present life, but he can not take away the life to come. Only God can do this. This does not imply that the soul is a conscious entity when the body is dead; it means that men can not destroy man’s hope of existence. See Luke 12:4.
2. It is impossible to give a definition of soul and spirit which will everywhere apply. It depends on the use of these terms. See 777. They are used with a wide latitude of meaning, sometimes meaning life, sometimes a whole person, etc.
3. In 1 Kings 17:21, 22 Elijah prays that the soul, or breath of life (verse 17), of the child may be restored, and it was afterward done. In Acts 20:10 we are told that Paul first embraced the boy, praying, doubtless, as he did it, and the Lord answered his prayer, and restored the life. Paul’s statement does not imply that the boy’s life was in him all the time, but was then in him, when he (Paul) made the statement.
Please explain the above scriptures with reference to the voice. M.
Acts 9:7 says that while the men with Saul saw no one, they heard the voice, or sound. See margin of R.V. Acts 22:9 simply means that they heard not the voice in the sense of understanding it. See John 12:28, 29.
786. Heb. 12:23. “Spirits of Just Men Made Perfect.”
The expression does not refer to disembodied spirits of the dead, but to men cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Ye are not come in Christ to the mount that might not be touched, nor to blackness, or darkness, and condemnation, but to all the new-covenant blessings, among which is the cleansing power of God in making perfect men. Read Heb. 12:18-24; 8:6-12; 2 Cor. 3:1-6.
787. Tribulation and Trouble.
Will you please explain Matt. 24:21 and Dan. 12:1? It is said that the former has been fulfilled, and Dan. 12:1 not. J. M. C.
The tribulation, the threshing of the grain, the pressing of the grapes, comes upon God’s people. The time of trouble of Dan. 12:1 comes upon the wicked. Tribulation need not necessarily be trouble; for “tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed.” The trouble of Dan. 12:1 is indicated in Zeph. 1:14-18, and other scriptures.
Does Matt. 5:19 mean that those who teach that the commandments may be broken with impunity will be saved, but have a lower place than others in the kingdom? J. E. G.
“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.” “The Living Oracles,” Campbell’s translation, rendered, “in no esteem in the reign of heaven.” Our translation does not say that he shall get into the kingdom at all. It can scarcely be conceivable that those would be admitted to the kingdom of God who taught that His law might be broken with impunity. On Matt. 5:19 Dr. Albert Barnes well says: “We learn, hence: (1) That all the law of God is binding upon Christians; (2) that all the commands of God should be preached in their proper place, by Christian ministers; (3) that they who pretend that there are any laws of God so small that they need not obey them, are unworthy of His kingdom; and (4) that true purity has respect to all the commands of God, and keeps them.” How much men may do ignorantly, and not be condemned, we know not.
Please explain: “Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” Mark 9:1. G. R.
Our Lord is here speaking of His transfiguration, which immediately followed, and which was a miniature representation and type of His second coming. Compare Mark 9:2-9 with 2 Peter 1:16-18. See also Matt. 16:28; 17:1-9. Jesus glorified on the mount represented His second coming. Moses represented those who will be raised from the dead; and Elijah, those who will be translated without seeing death. 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.
790. Will Christ Be Seen When He Comes?
Will not Christ at His second coming appear in a spirit form, seeing that He now is a spirit? and will the natural man then be able to see Him?
Jesus Christ is a spiritual being; but He is no less a real being. He is not a phantom. How will He come?—“This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” See Acts 1:9-11. “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him.” Rev. 1:7. “And then shall they [men of the world] see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” See Luke 21:25-27.
