dispensation.* The majority of the Jewish people, which would not receive Christ, will accept a covenant with Antichrist, and the Lord will close the dread times of tribulation by appearing, with His redeemed Church, in glory to take the Kingdom. During the Millennial Age, the seventh and last trial of the human race, Christ will reign in the heavenly places, the region now in the possession of the fallen angels, and will make His people Israel the kings of the earth upon the earth. Then will the promises to Abraham and the glorious predictions of the Old Testament prophets be at length fulfilled. The Tempter and his hosts of wickedness will be cast into the abyss, and their evil influences will no longer impregnate the air with incitements to sin; the curse will be removed from the earth, and the visible glory of the Lord will be present at the temple in Jerusalem; while the carcases of the rebels slain in the valley of Jehoshaphat will be ever exposed to view.† But not even this age of marvels, blessings, and warnings, with its total immunity from spiritual temptation, will bring about the recovery of fallen man. The Israelitish people will indeed be perfect, yet only through the power of the Spirit of God, Who, in accordance with the promised new covenant, will then have written His law upon their hearts. other nations, though awed into acquiescence, will yield but a feigned submission; and when at last the Tempter is let loose, as a final test of obedience, they *The reader will find a proof of this assertion in Part II. But will gladly listen to his suggestions, and gather themselves together in open rebellion against God. The forbearance of the Almighty will then, however, have become exhausted. Fire will be hurled from heaven to destroy the rebel host, and the general judgment and eternal state will follow. Thus, by seven distinct and altogether diverse tests, it will have been proved that no possible circumstances can give man the power of recovering himself from sin; that he must either cry out for the help of the Lord, or perish from His presence for ever. THE THREE LINES OF PROPHECY. This In his First Epistle to the Corinthians, Paul divides the inhabitants of the world into three classes-the Jews, the Gentiles, and the Church of God.* division obtains throughout the prophetic Scriptures, and, unless it be recognized, a correct interpretation is impossible. For each of the three peoples has its own peculiar destiny; and they will all remain distinctly separated, at least until the end of the Millennium. We propose, therefore, to consider separately what has been revealed concerning their past and future, beginning, for the sake of clearer arrangement, with the Gentiles. 1 Cor. x. 32. |