William Miller Evidence for Second Coming

From: Subject: William Miller Evidence for Second Coming Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2006 11:48:02 +1000 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_01C2_01C6F506.C36E6A40" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2962 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_01C2_01C6F506.C36E6A40 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.earlysda.com/miller/evidence1.html William Miller Evidence for Second Coming EVIDENCE FROM SCRIPTURE AND = HISTORY OF=20 THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, ABOUT THE YEAR 1843; EXHIBITED IN A COURSE = OF=20 LECTURES. BY WILLIAM MILLER.

Foreword: (this Foreword written = February, 2003 by=20 Daniel Winters. Any comments or questions will be glady answered: = earlysda @=20 hotmail.com)
        This = book is a=20 collection of lectures William Miller gave in the years before 1843. It = is more=20 of a transcript of oral lectures, rather than a book written for a = reader. It's=20 hard to believe today in 2003, that nearly all "Christians" in the early = 1800s=20 were dead-set against the idea that Jesus would literally come back to = this=20 earth and reward the faithful and punish the wicked. A man led of God, = Mr.=20 Miller, gives in natural sequence the results of his studies of the = Bible=20 regarding the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. He spends quite a bit of time = on=20 explaining the various symbols used in prophecy, comparing scripture = with=20 scripture. Some of his main points are that, the 2nd coming will be = literal; the=20 prophecies have a historical fulfillment, and pagan and papal Rome are = the main=20 beasts spoken of in Revelation. As a result of applying the prophecies=20 historically, he was required by his own rules of interpretation to = interpret=20 prophecy as all finishing by 1843 when he believed Jesus would return. = He closes=20 nearly every lecture with an appeal to sinners to get ready for the soon = coming=20 of the Lord, which is the overriding theme of all his=20 lectures.

        This = particular=20 book was typed in letter by letter (623,627!) from a photo-copy of the = original,=20 and i neither added nor deleted anything to this work other than this = Foreword=20 and what is noted in this paragraph. Spellings were left as found. I = spent=20 around 100 hours typing this in, and tried to make this format for the = computer=20 look as much like the original as possible, but if i made any errors, = someone=20 please let me know. There were 5 mistakes noted, but left as in the=20 original:
p. 97: "It it" should be "It is"
p. 130: ")if" should be = "(if"
p. 162: "saints," should be "saints."
p. 208: "sanhedrim" = should be=20 "sanhedrin"
p. 219: "least" should be "last"
One mistake was = changed as it=20 affects the meaning intended:
In the Supplement section, there is a=20 mathematical mistake. In the original it shows 475 being added to 4190 = resulting=20 in 4695. I changed this to 4665. Also, 30 added to 508 is shown as 508, = so i=20 changed this to = 538.

        The=20 notes (*), were originally placed at the bottom of the page, but with no = pages=20 here, i put them at the end of each chapter where they are referenced. = There is=20 a Chronological chart of the world in a fold-out at the end of the book = that i=20 scanned in and is available separately as a jpg file. To download the = chart, or=20 this whole book, along with other of William Miller's works, please go = to:=20 www.earlysda.com

        F= or this=20 HTML format, i split the book into 5 physical pages for easier loading. = All=20 sections can be accessed easily from the INDEX section further down on = the page=20 you are on now.

        A = few=20 notes on this book: Roman numbers are used for Bible and book chapter = numbers. A=20 short refresher course:

i =3D 1	vi =3D 6	xv =3D 15	l =3D 50
ii =3D 2	vii =3D 7	xix =3D 19	lx =3D 60
iii =3D 3	viii =3D 8	xx =3D 20	xc =3D 90
iv =3D 4	ix =3D 9	xxx =3D 30	c =3D 100
v =3D 5	x =3D 10	xl =3D 40	ci =3D 101

and "&c."=20 (etc.).

        Yes, = having=20 greater light now in 2003, we may smile at some of his interpretations; = for=20 example - he would probably be shocked more than anyone to see the = resurgence of=20 the Papal power - but in looking at the overall effect of his message, = and=20 seeing how God led him in the whole (read chapter 22 of = the 1858=20 Great Controversy titled "William Miller") we should be even more = thankful=20 to God for leading his people in a mighty way, out into the truth=20 (^-^).

EVIDENCE

FROM

SCRIPTURE AND HISTORY

OF=20 THE

SECOND = COMING OF=20 CHRIST,

ABOUT

THE YEAR=20 1843;

EXHIBITED

IN A COURSE OF=20 LECTURES.

_________

BY WILLIAM=20 MILLER.
_________

BOSTON:

PUBLISHED BY JOSHUA V. HIMES,
14 Devonshire=20 Street.

1842.

INTRODUCTION.
_________

&nbs= p;      IN presenting these Lectures to the public, the writer = is only=20 complying with the solicitations of some of his friends, who have = requested that=20 his views on the Prophecies of Daniel and John might be made public. The = reader=20 is therefore requested to give the subject a careful and candid perusal, = and=20 compare every part with the standard of Divine Truth; for if the = explanation the=20 writer has given to the scriptures under consideration should prove = correct, the=20 reader will readily perceive that it concerns us all, and becomes doubly = important to us, because we live on the eve of one of the most important = events=20 ever revealed to man by the wisdom of God--the judgment of the great=20 day.

        In order = that the=20 reader may have an understanding of my manner of studying the = Prophecies, by=20 which I have come to the following result, I have thought proper to give = some of=20 the rules of interpretation which I have adopted to understand=20 prophecy.

        Propheti= cal=20 scripture is very much of it communicated to us by figures and highly = and richly=20 adorned metaphors; by which I mean that figures such as beasts, = birds,=20 air or wind, water, fire, candlesticks, lamps, mountains, = islands,=20 &c., are used to represent things prophesied of--such as kingdoms, = warriors,=20 principles, people, judgments, churches, word of God, large and smaller=20 governments. It is metaphorical also, showing some peculiar quality of = the thing=20 prophesied of, by the most prominent feature or quality of the figure = used, as=20 beasts--if a lion, power and rule; if a leopard, = celerity;=20 if a bear, voracious; an ox, submissive; a man, = proud and=20 independent. Fire denotes justice and judgment in its figure; in = the=20 metaphor, denotes the purifying or consuming up the dross or wickedness; = as=20 fire has a cleansing quality, so will the justice or judgments of = God.=20 "For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world = will=20 learn righteousness." Therefore almost all the figures used in prophecy = have=20 their literal and metaphorical meaning; as beasts denote, = literally, a=20 kingdom, so metaphorically good or bad, as the case may be, to be = understood by=20 the subject in=20 connection.

        To = understand=20 the literal meaning of figures used in prophecy, I have pursued the = following=20 method:--I find the word "beast" used in a figurative sense; I = take my=20 concordance, trace the word, and in Daniel vii. 17, it is explained to = mean=20 "kings or kingdoms." Again, I come across the words "bird or = fowl," and=20 in Isa. xlvi. 11, it is used meaning a conqueror or warrior,--Cyrus. = Also, in=20 Ezekiel xxxix. 4-9, denotes armies or conquerors. Again, the words = "air or=20 wind," as used in Rev. ix. 2, and 16, 17, to understand which I turn = to Eph.=20 ii. 2, and 4-14, and there learn that it is used as a figure to denote = the=20 theories of worldly men or vain philosophy. Again, "water or = rivers" are=20 used as figures in Rev. xvii. 15, it is explained to mean "people or = nations."=20 "Rivers" of course mean the nation or people living on the river=20 mentioned, as in Rev., xvi. 12. "Fire" is often used in a = figurative=20 sense; explained in Num. xxi. 27-28, Deut. xxxii. 22, Psal. lxxviii. 21, = Heb.=20 xii. 29, to mean justice and=20 judgment.

        As = prophecy is=20 a language somewhat different from other parts of Scripture, owing to = its having=20 been revealed in vision, and that highly figurative, yet God in his = wisdom has=20 so interwoven the several prophecies, that the events foretold are not = all told=20 by one prophet, and although they lived and prophesied in different ages = of the=20 world, yet they tell us the same things; so you take away one, and a = link will=20 be wanting. There is a general connection through the whole; like a=20 well-regulated community they all move in unison, speaking the same = things,=20 observing the same rules, so that a Bible reader may almost with = propriety=20 suppose, let him read in what prophecy he may, that he is reading the = same=20 prophet, the same author. This will appear evident to any one who will = compare=20 scripture with scripture. For example, see Dan. xii. 1, Matt. xxiv. 21. = Isa.=20 xlvii. 8. Zeph. ii. 15, Rev. xviii. 7. There never was a book written = that has a=20 better connection and harmony than the Bible, and yet it has the = appearance of a=20 great store-house full of all the precious commodities heart could = desire,=20 thrown in promiscuously; therefore, the biblical student must select and = bring=20 together every part of the subject he wishes to investigate, from every = part of=20 the Bible; then let every word have its own Scripture meaning, every = sentence=20 its proper bearing, and have no contradiction, and your theory will and = must of=20 necessity be correct. Truth is one undeviating path, that grows brighter = and=20 brighter the more it is trodden; it needs no plausible arguments nor = pompous=20 dress to make it more bright, for the more naked and simple the fact, = the=20 stronger the truth=20 appears.

        Let it = be=20 noticed that God has revealed to his prophets the same events in divers = figures=20 and at different times, as he has to Daniel in the second, seventh, and = eighth=20 chapters concerning the four kingdoms; or to Peter, (see Acts x. 16;) = also=20 Isaiah and John. Then, to get the whole truth, all those visions or = prophecies=20 must be concentrated and brought together, that have reference to the = subject=20 which we wish to investigate; and when combined, let every word and = sentence=20 have its proper bearing and force in the grand whole, and the theory or = system,=20 as I have before shown, must be correct. I have likewise noticed that in = those=20 events, visions, and prophecies which have had their fulfilment, every = word and=20 every particular has had an exact and literal accomplishment, and that = no two=20 events have ever happened, that I can learn, which will exactly apply or = fulfil=20 the same prophecy. Take, for instance, the prophecies concerning the = birth,=20 life, and crucifixion of our Savior, and in his history we find a = literal=20 fulfilment; yet in the birth, life, or death of any other individual it = would be=20 in vain to find a parallel. Again, take the prophecies which have been = admitted,=20 by Protestants at least, to apply to Cyrus, Alexander, Julius C=E6sar, = destruction=20 of Jerusalem, and the church of Rome, and I have never been able to = trace even a=20 resemblance to the prophecies in question in any historical events = except the=20 true ones. If this is true, may we not suppose that the unfulfilled = prophecies=20 in their accomplishments will be equally as evident and=20 literal?

        There = are two=20 important points to which all prophecy seems to centre, like a cluster = of grapes=20 upon its stem--the first and second coming of Christ; the first coming = to=20 proclaim the gospel, set up his kingdom, suffer for sinners, and bring = in an=20 everlasting righteousness. His second coming, to which the ardent faith = and=20 pious hope of the tried and tempted child of God centres, is for = complete=20 redemption from sin, for the justification and glorification promised to = all=20 those who look for his appearing, the destruction of the wicked and = mystical=20 Babylon, the abomination of the whole=20 earth.

        His first = coming=20 was as a man, his human nature being only visible. He comes first, like = the=20 "first man of the earth, earthy;" his second coming is "the Lord from = heaven."=20 His first coming was literally according to the prophecies. And so we = may safely=20 infer will be his second appearance, according to the Scriptures. At his = advent,=20 his forerunner was spoken of--"one crying in the wilderness;" the manner = of his=20 birth--"a child born of a virgin;" the place where--"Bethlehem of = Judea;" the=20 time of his death--"when seventy weeks should be fulfilled;" for what he = should=20 suffer--"to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, = and to=20 bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and prophecy, = and to=20 anoint the Most Holy." The star that appeared, the stripes = he=20 received, the miracles he performed, the tauntings of his=20 foes--all were literally fulfilled. Then, why not suppose that all the=20 prophecies concerning his second coming will be as literally = accomplished as the=20 former! Can any man show a single reason why it will not? If this be = true, we=20 can obtain much light by reading the Scriptures. We are there informed = of the=20 manner of his second coming--"suddenly, in the clouds, in like manner as = he=20 ascended;" the majesty of his coming--"on a great white throne, with = power and=20 great glory, and all his saints with him;" the object of his coming--"as = the=20 Ancient of Days, to send his angels into the four winds of heaven gather = his=20 elect, raise the righteous dead, change the righteous living, chain = Satan,=20 destroy anti-Christ, the wicked, and all those who destroy the earth, = judge,=20 justify and glorify his people, cleanse his church, present her to his = Father,=20 live and reign with her on the new heavens and new earth," the form of = the old=20 having passed = away.

        The=20 time when these things shall take place is also specified, by some of = the=20 prophets, unto 2300 days, (meaning years;) then shall the sanctuary be = cleansed,=20 after the anti-Christian beast has reigned her "time, times, and a = half;" after=20 the two witnesses have prophesied "a thousand two hundred and threescore = days,=20 clothed in sackcloth;" after the church captivity in the wilderness, = "forty-two=20 months," after the "gospel should be preached in all the world for a = witness,=20 then shall the end come." The signs of the times are also given, when we = may=20 know, he is near, even at the door. When there are many "lo here's and = lo=20 there's;" when the way of truth is evil spoken of; when many seducers = are abroad=20 in the land; when scoffers disbelieve in his coming, and say, "Where is = the=20 promise of his coming;" when the wise and foolish virgins are called to = trim=20 their lamps, and the voice of the friend of the bridegroom is, "Behold, = he=20 cometh;" when the city of the nations is divided into three parts; when = the=20 power of the holy people is scattered, and the kings of the east come up = to=20 battle; when there is a time of trouble, such as never was before, and = the=20 church in her Laodicean state; when the seventh seal opens, the seventh = vial is=20 poured out, the last woe pronounced by the angel flying through the = midst of=20 heaven, and the seventh and last trumpet sounds;--then will the mystery = of God=20 be finished, and the door of mercy be closed forever; then shall we be = brought=20 to the last point, his second=20 coming.

        Again, = prophecy=20 is sometimes typical; that is, partly fulfilled in the type, but = completely only=20 in the antitype. Such was the prophecy concerning Isaac, partly = fulfilled in=20 him, wholly so in Christ; likewise concerning Israel, partly fulfilled = in them=20 as a nation, but never fully accomplished until the final redemption of=20 spiritual Israel. Likewise the prophecies concerning the Jewish = captivity in=20 Babylon, and their return, are only partly accomplished in the history = of past=20 events. The description of those things in the prophets is so august and = magnificent, that if only applicable to the literal captivity of the = Jews and=20 their return, the exposition would be weak and barren; therefore I = humbly=20 believe that the exact fulfilment can only be looked for in the = captivity of the=20 church in the wilderness, under the anti-Christian beast, destruction of = mystical Babylon, and glorification of the saints in the New Jerusalem=20 state.

        There are = also in=20 the 24th chapter of Matthew many things prophesied of, which were not = fulfilled=20 at the destruction of Jerusalem; such as the coming of the Son of Man in = the=20 clouds, the gathering his elect from the four winds of heaven, his = taking one=20 and leaving another. This shows a typical meaning in this prophecy, and = that it=20 will not all be fulfilled until the end of the world. Also, the = transfiguration=20 of Christ on the mount, prophesied of by himself eight days before, is = noticed=20 by Peter, 2d Epistle, i. 16-18, as being a type or figure of his second=20 coming.

        Who, that = has=20 read the prophecies with any degree of attention, will not acknowledge = the great=20 agreement between the Old Testament prophecies and the New? Almost every = prophecy given by Christ and his apostles may be found, in the Old = Testament=20 prophets, represented by figures, which were familiar to the writers and = readers=20 of those times. The foregoing rules are some of the principal ones which = I have=20 observed in attempting to explain the prophecies of Daniel and John, and = to give=20 the time when the mystery of God will be finished, as I humbly believe = it is=20 revealed to the=20 prophets.

        If I = have erred=20 in my exposition of the prophecies, the time, being so near at hand, = will soon=20 expose my folly; but if I have the truth on the subjects treated on in = these=20 pages, how important the era in which we live! What vast and important = events=20 must soon be realized! and how necessary that every individual be = prepared that=20 that day may not come upon them unawares, while they are surfeited with = the=20 cares and riches of this life, and the day overtake them as a thief! = "But ye,=20 brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a = thief," 1=20 Thess. v. 4. In studying these prophecies, I have endeavored to divest = myself of=20 all prepossessed opinions, not warranted by the word of God, and to = weigh well=20 all the objections that might be raised from the Scriptures; and after = fourteen=20 years' study of the prophecies and other parts of the Bible, I have come = to the=20 following conclusions, and do now commit myself into the hands of God as = my=20 Judge, in giving publicity to the sentiments herein contained, = conscientiously=20 desiring that this little book may be the means to incite others to = study the=20 Scriptures, and to see whether these things be so, and that some minds = may be=20 led to believe in the word of God, and find an interest in the offering = and=20 sacrifice of the Lamb of God, that their sins might be forgiven them = through the=20 blood of the atonement, "when the refreshing shall come from the = presence of the=20 Lord, and from the glory of his power," "when he comes to be admired in = all them=20 that believe in that=20 day."

        And now, my = dear=20 readers, I beg of you to lay aside prejudice; examine this subject = candidly and=20 carefully for yourselves. Your belief or unbelief will not affect the = truth. If=20 it is so, whatever you may think or do will not alter the revealed = purposes of=20 God. "Not one jot or tittle of his word will fail;" but you may, by your = obedience in the faith, secure you an interest in the first = resurrection, and a=20 glorious admittance into the New Jerusalem, and an inheritance among the = justified in glory, and you may sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob = in the=20 kingdom of God. May this be your lot--is the prayer of your=20 servant,
         &nbs= p;            = ;            =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;            = ;  WM.=20 MILLER.
        HAMPTON,=20 Washington County, N. Y.

**INDEX.** =20 =
_________
	Page.
INTRODUCTION	3

LECTURE=20 I.
THE SECOND APPEARING OF CHRIST. Titus ii. 13.--Looking for that=20 blessed hope, and glorious appearing of the great God, and our = Savior=20 Jesus Christ.	11

LECTURE=20 II.
THE FIRST RESURRECTION. Rev. xx. 6.--Blessed and holy is he that = hath=20 part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no=20 power--shall reign with him a thousand years.	28

LECTURE=20 III.
THE TWO THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED DAYS. Dan. vii. 13, 14.--And he = said=20 unto me, Unto two thousand three hundred days: then shall the = sanctuary be=20 cleansed.	39

LECTURE=20 IV.
Daniel ix. 24.--Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, = and upon=20 thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of = sins,=20 and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in = everlasting=20 righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to = anoint the=20 Most Holy.	59

LECTURE=20 V.
PAGAN ROME NUMBERED Rev. xiii. 18.--And his number is six = hundred=20 threescore and six.	76

LECTURE=20 VI.
DANIEL'S VISION OF THE LATTER DAYS; OR, AN EXPOSITION OF THE = ELEVENTH=20 CHAPTER OF DANIEL. Dan. x. 14.--Now I am come to make thee = understand what=20 shall befall thy people in the latter days.	86

LECTURE=20 VII.
DANIEL'S 1260, 1290, AND 1335 DAYS EXPLAINED. Daniel xii. = 8.--And I=20 heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be = the end=20 of these things?	100

LECTURE=20 VIII.
THE THREE WOE TRUMPETS. Rev. viii. 13.--Woe, woe, woe, to the=20 inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other voices of the = trumpet of=20 the three angels which are yet to sound.	115

LECTURE=20 IX. and=20 X.
THE EPISTLES TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA, CONSIDERED AS = APPLYING TO=20 SEVEN PERIODS OF THE GOSPEL CHURCH. Rev. i. 20.	127, 145

LECTURE=20 XI.
THE NEW SONG. Rev. v. 9.--And they sung a new song, saying, Thou = art=20 worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou = wast=20 slain, and hast redeemed us to God, &c.	161

LECTURE=20 XII.
THE SEVEN SEALS, AS REPRESENTING EVENTS TO THE END OF TIME. Rev. = v. 5.=20 --Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah hath prevailed to open = the book,=20 and to loose the seven seals thereof.	176

LECTURE=20 XIII.
THE TWO WITNESSES, AS HAVING BEEN SLAIN IN THE FRENCH = REVOLUTION. Rev.=20 xi. 3.--And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they = shall=20 prophesy 1260 days, clothed in sackcloth.	190

LECTURE=20 XIV.
THE WOMAN IN THE WILDERNESS. Rev. xii. 6.--And the woman fled = into the=20 wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they = should feed=20 her there 1260 days.	204

LECTURE=20 XV.
THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES, OR SEVEN VIALS. Rev. xvi. 17.--And the = seventh=20 angel poured out his vial into the air, and there came a great = voice out=20 of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. =	219

LECTURE=20 XVI.
THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS. Matt. xxv. 1.--Then shall the = kingdom=20 of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and = went=20 forth to meet the bridegroom.	233

LECTURE=20 XVII.
ON THE PUNISHMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD SEVEN TIMES FOR THEIR = SINS.=20 Lev. xxvi. 23, 24.	250

LECTURE=20 XVIII.
Solomon's Song, viii. 5.--Who is this that cometh up from the=20 wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?	264

LECTURE=20 XIX.
SIGNS OF THE PRESENT TIMES. Matt. xxvi. 3.--But can ye not = discern the=20 signs of the times?	283

Supplement=20 Chronological Chart of the World (236KB)

LECTURE I.

_________

TITUS ii. 13.
Looking for that blessed hope, and glorious = appearing of=20 the great God, and our Savior Jesus=20 Christ.

        = WHEN we take a view of the trials, pains, afflictions,=20 persecutions, poverty, and distress, which the people of God suffer in = this=20 world, we are almost led to exclaim with the apostle, "If in this life = only we=20 have hope, we are of all men most miserable." But no; we will not = complain; for=20 to suffer the short period of threescore years and ten, at most, will = only give=20 a greater zest to the glory which shall follow at the appearing of our = Lord and=20 Savior the great God and Jesus Christ. I know the world are taunting us = with the=20 inquiry, "Where is the promise of his coming? for, since the fathers = fell=20 asleep, all things remain as they were, even from the creation of the = world;"=20 for they will pretend to be ignorant (as the apostle Peter expresses = himself of=20 the deluge) that the world that then was, being overflowed with water, = perished;=20 and still more do they pretend to be ignorant, that the same earth is in = like=20 manner to be destroyed by fire, "reserved unto fire against the day of = judgment=20 and perdition of ungodly men." 2Peter iii. 7. Also, my brethren, there = are some=20 even among us, who "are spots in your feasts of charity, feeding = themselves=20 without fear; clouds without water, carried about of winds; trees whose = fruit=20 withereth; twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, = foaming=20 out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness = of=20 darkness forever. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of = these,=20 saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to = execute=20 judgment upon all; and to convince all that are ungodly among them of = all their=20 ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard=20 speeches which they have spoken against him. These are murmurers, = complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaking = great=20 swelling words, having men's persons in admiration, because of = advantage. But,=20 beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles = of our=20 Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the = last=20 time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who = separate=20 themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up = yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep = yourselves=20 in the love of God, looking for the mercy (or glorious appearing) of our = Lord=20 Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Jude 12-21. Or, as Peter says, 2Pet. = iii. 12,=20 "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God." And again, = Paul=20 says, in Heb. ix. 28, "And unto them that look for him shall he appear = the=20 second time without sin unto salvation." And Paul further saith, to his=20 Philippian brethren, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence = also we=20 look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile = body, that=20 it may be fashioned like unto his glorious=20 body."

        Having = thus proved=20 that the apostles directed our hope to the coming of Christ for the = fulfilment=20 of all our trials and persecution, and the completion of our faith, I = shall now=20 take up our subject in the following order:--I. I shall endeavor to = prove that=20 it is yet future; viz., the coming of Christ, spoken of in the text. II. = The=20 certainty of his coming. III. The object of his=20 coming.

        I. We = are,=20 according to our design, to show that the appearing of the Lord Jesus = Christ,=20 spoken of in the text, is yet=20 future.

        Some = teach us=20 that he came at the destruction of Jerusalem, and quote to the 24th = chapter of=20 Matthew as proof. Let us examine their evidence. As Jesus went out of = the=20 temple, his disciples came to him for to show him the buildings of the = temple,=20 where Christ delivered his memorable prophecy, which was exactly = fulfilled in=20 little more than thirty-six years afterwards, "There shall not be left = here one=20 stone upon another that shall not be thrown=20 down."

        And it = appears=20 that, afterwards, as Jesus sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples = came to=20 him privately, having, as may reasonably be supposed, been ruminating in = their=20 minds, or conversing among themselves, on the prophecy, and had, = perhaps,=20 supposed that no power on earth could destroy those strong buildings, = and=20 concluded that, when this was accomplished, it would be the = judgment-day. They=20 therefore inquire of him, "saying, Tell us, when shall these things be?" = that=20 is, what he had prophesied of; "and what shall be the sign of thy = coming, and of=20 the end of the world?" They might not have intended to ask more than one = question; yet they did ask three, and Christ answered them accordingly. = He had=20 before told them of the destruction of Jerusalem, 4th, 5th, and 6th = verses; he=20 cautions them against being deceived with false Christs, and not to be = troubled=20 at wars and rumors of wars,--and yet Jerusalem was destroyed in the = first war of=20 any note after this prophecy,--and then says plainly, "The end is = not=20 yet." Now, if this end was the destruction of Jerusalem, then = where are=20 those wars, spoken of by Christ? This cannot mean any thing less than = the end of=20 the world. From the 7th to the 14th verse, inclusive, he gives a = prophetic=20 history of the trials, afflictions, and persecutions of his people, and = also of=20 the success of the gospel immediately previous to the end, and says, = "Then shall=20 the end = come."

        Now, it=20 must be evident that this cannot mean the end of Jerusalem, because, if = so, he=20 that endured unto the end was to be saved from all the troubles which = Christ had=20 been speaking of; and it was not true that the disciples of Christ did = not=20 suffer afterwards the same things which Christ said they would. From the = 15th to=20 the 28th verse, Christ instructs his disciples into their duty during = the siege=20 of Jerusalem, and also down to the coming of the Son of Man. This, you = will see,=20 must mean Christ in person; because neither the Holy Spirit nor Father = is any=20 where called Son of Man. He likewise speaks of the signs which = should=20 follow the destruction of Jerusalem. From the 29th to the 35th verse, = inclusive,=20 Christ explains the signs in the heavens and on the earth immediately = after the=20 tribulation of the people of God, which had been spoken of as the common = lot of=20 all his followers, and which he had promised to shorten for the elect's = sake,=20 and of his coming in the clouds with power and great glory; the = gathering of his=20 elect from the four winds of heaven; gives his disciples the parable of = the fig=20 tree, as an illustration of the end; and then says to his = disciples,=20 "Verily, I say unto you, This generation shall not pass till all these = things be=20 fulfilled; heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass = away."

        Here is = the great=20 stumbling-block to many. Christ is talking about his elect, his = children, and=20 his generation; and not, as some will have it, about the generations = that then=20 lived on the earth; for they did undoubtedly pass off, a large share of = them;=20 for it was about thirty-six years before the destruction of Jerusalem. = But his=20 kingdom has never been taken from the earth. Although they have been = hunted from=20 one part of the earth to another; although they have been driven into = caves and=20 dens of mountains; have been slain, burnt, sawn asunder; have wandered = as=20 pilgrims and strangers on the earth;--yet the "blood of the martyrs has = been the=20 seed of the church;" and Christ has had, and will have, a people on the = earth,=20 until his second coming. 1 Peter ii. 9: "But ye are a chosen generation, = a royal=20 priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people," &c. The Psalmist = says, "A=20 seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a = generation." Psalm=20 xxii. 30. I humbly believe that Christ has quoted the sentiment = contained in the=20 102d Psalm, 25th to last verse: "Of old hast thou laid the foundation of = the=20 earth; and the heavens are the work of thine hands. They shall perish, = but thou=20 shalt endure; yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a = vesture shalt=20 thou change them, and they shall be changed; but thou art the same, and = thy=20 years shall have no end. The children of thy servants shall continue, = and their=20 seed shall be established before=20 thee."

        Here we = see the=20 Psalmist has expressed the same sentiment that I understand Christ to = have given=20 in these two verses, which I conclude is the proper explanation. And = then the=20 parables which follow in the remainder of the 24th and 25th chapters, = are easily=20 understood as having reference to the end of the world; and in that way = will=20 exactly compare. See the 31st verse of the 25th chapter: "When the Son = of Man=20 shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he = sit=20 upon the throne of his glory; and before him shall be gathered all = nations,"=20 &c. This verse was not fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem, = for the=20 "Son of Man" was not seen in the clouds with power and great glory; and = yet the=20 words are, "every eye shall see him;" and as sudden and as visible "as = the=20 lightning, that shineth from the east even unto the west, so shall the = coming of=20 the Son of Man be." Can this have passed, and the history of the world = have been=20 silent? No. Could all nations be gathered before him, and there be = divided, the=20 righteous from the wicked, and the one part sent to everlasting = punishment,=20 while the other is received to life eternal, and none know it? No. Were = the=20 elect gathered from the four winds of heaven at the destruction of = Jerusalem?=20 No; they were commanded to flee to the mountains; and history says they = did=20 leave that devoted city when the Romans encompassed it with their = armies. Then,=20 could the prophecies contained in these chapters have been fulfilled, = and the=20 world remain ignorant of some of the most important events? I answer, = No. Then=20 the "Son of Man" did not come to the destruction of Jerusalem. If he = did, where=20 is the evidence? None, none, not a particle. But if he did come to the=20 destruction of Jerusalem, then it must have been his second coming; for = Paul=20 says, Heb. ix. 28, "And unto them that look for him shall he appear the = second=20 time without sin unto salvation." Can this be true if he came to = Jerusalem? The=20 passage certainly implies that his people would have no more sin, or = afterwards=20 would be "without sin." Experience teaches us to the contrary. Again it = is said,=20 1 Thes. iv. 16, 17, "For the Lord himself shall descend from = heaven with=20 a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and = the=20 dead in Christ shall arise first; then we, which are alive and remain, = shall be=20 caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; = and so=20 shall we ever be with the Lord." Who saw this great transaction at = Jerusalem?=20 Were there no witnesses? Yes, the apostle John lived many years after = this, and=20 wrote his Gospel, his Epistles, and his Revelation, long after the = destruction=20 of Jerusalem. And what does he testify? In his Gospel, 14th chapter, 3d = verse,=20 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come and receive you to = myself,=20 that where I am there ye may be also." Again, 28th and 29th verses, "Ye = have=20 heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If = ye=20 loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father; for my = Father=20 is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that = when it=20 is come to pass, ye might believe." Again, 1 John ii. 28, "And now, = little=20 children, abide in him, that, when he shall appear, we may have = confidence, and=20 not be ashamed before him at his coming." And iii. 2, "Beloved, now are = we the=20 sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know = that when=20 he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." = And,=20 again, in Rev. i. 7, "Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall = see=20 him; and they also which pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth, = shall wail=20 because of him." Many more places might be mentioned in John's = testimony, but=20 not one word that he had already come again, as some supposed. = Let this,=20 then, suffice to prove, that the "glorious appearing," spoken of = in our=20 text, is still=20 future.

        And now = we will=20 examine some of the evidence of the certainty of his coming, which is = our second=20 proposition.

        II. = The=20 certainty of = it:

        1st.=20 Because the ancient prophets all spake of it. Jude tells us that Enoch, = the=20 seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold the Lord cometh, with ten=20 thousands of his saints, &c. Balaam was constrained to admit, "Out = of Jacob=20 shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that = remaineth of=20 the city," plainly referring to the judgment-day; for he says, "Alas! = who shall=20 live when God doth this?" See Numbers xxiv. 17-23. And Moses as plainly = refers=20 to this day in Deut. xxxii. 43, "Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people, = for he=20 will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his=20 adversaries, and will be merciful to his land and to his people." David = says,=20 Psalm l. 3, 4, "Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire = shall=20 devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him; he = shall=20 call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, (that he may judge his = people.") And Isa. xl. 5, "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, = and all=20 flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." = In the=20 39th chapter of Ezekiel, you will see the same day of judgment = prophesied of in=20 a clear and plain manner. In Dan. vii. 9, 10, "I beheld till the thrones = were=20 cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as = snow, and=20 the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery = flame,=20 and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth = before him:=20 thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten = thousand=20 stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." Joel = iii.=20 14, "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision, for the day of = the Lord=20 is near in the valley of decision." Zeph. i. 14, "The great day of the = Lord is=20 near; it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the = Lord;=20 the mighty men shall cry there bitterly." Zech. xiv. 5, "And the Lord = thy God=20 shall come, and all the saints with thee." Mal. iv. 2, "But unto you = that fear=20 my name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings, = and ye=20 shall go forth, and grow up as calves in the stall." And Christ himself = says, in=20 Matt. xvi. 27, "For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his = Father, with=20 his angels; and then shall he reward every man according to his works." = The=20 angels that stood by the disciples at the time Jesus ascended up, and a = cloud=20 received him out of their sight, said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye = gazing=20 up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into = heaven,=20 shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." = Let us=20 take particular notice of the phrase this same Jesus, and compare = with=20 other parallel passages, as, our God shall come, and it will = prove to our=20 satisfaction that Jesus Christ is God, as well as man, and we may have = strong=20 consolation for our hope in his appearing, for his promises can never = fail.=20 "Heaven and earth may pass away, but not one jot or tittle of his word = shall=20 fail." Also take notice of the words "like manner," which agree = with the=20 often expressed sentence, "He shall come in the clouds of = heaven." We=20 shall be led to admire the general harmony of the Scriptures, and the = agreement=20 of the prophets in their descriptions of future events. Again, Christ = says to=20 the church of Philadelphia, Rev. iii. 11, "Behold, I come quickly: hold = that=20 fast thou hast, that no man take thy crown." "For yet a little while and = he that=20 shall come will come, and will not tarry," Heb. x. 37. And will not the = evidence=20 I have brought from the word of God be sufficient to prove the certainty = of his=20 future coming? And if I should argue the tradition of nations that never = saw the=20 word of God, the conviction on the mind of men generally, that there = must be a=20 day of retribution; could I open the breast of the reader, and show the=20 thundering of your conscience; yes, could I see and expose the = tremblings and=20 failings of heart, which you have had, while you have been looking with = fear for=20 those things that are coming on the earth--of what use would it be? = Would you=20 believe it if I could raise a dead friend who would tell you to prepare = to meet=20 your God? No. If they believe not Moses and the prophets, neither would = they=20 though one rose from the dead. How foolish, then, would it be for me to = try to=20 prove in any other manner what God has revealed or promised, than by the = means=20 which God has appointed. By his word you will be judged; and if this = condemns=20 you now, (unless you become reconciled,) it will condemn you=20 hereafter.

        III. = The=20 object of his=20 coming.

        1st. He = comes to=20 raise and gather his saints to him in the air. "As in Adam all die, so = in Christ=20 shall all be made alive; but every man in his own order--Christ the = first fruit,=20 afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming," 1 Cor. xv. 22, 23. = Again, "For=20 if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which = sleep in=20 Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of = the Lord,=20 that we which are alive, and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall = not=20 prevent them that are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from = heaven=20 with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of = God, and=20 the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we, which are alive and = remain, shall=20 be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the = air; and=20 so shall we ever be with the Lord," 1 Thess. iv. 14-17. "Now we beseech = you,=20 brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering = together=20 unto him," 2 Thess. ii. 1. "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the = first=20 resurrection: on such the second death shall have no power," Rev. xx. 6. = In=20 Psalms we have the same account of the gathering of his people. "Gather = my=20 saints together unto me, those who have made a covenant with me by = sacrifice,"=20 Psalm l. 5. Again, see Isaiah lxvi. 18, "It shall come that I will = gather all=20 nations and tongues; and they shall come and see my glory." "For thus = saith the=20 Lord God, Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep and seek them = out. As a=20 shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep = that are=20 scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all = places=20 where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day," Ezekiel = xxxiv. 11,=20 12.

        And now I = refer you=20 to one more passage, and then pass on. "Behold, I show you a mystery; we = shall=20 not all sleep, (that is, die,) but we shall all be changed, in a moment, = in the=20 twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and = the=20 dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this=20 corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on = immortality.=20 So when this mortal shall put on immortality, then shall be brought to = pass the=20 saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." These texts, = to which=20 I have called your attention, will apply only to the people of God, or = those who=20 are in Christ Jesus. I have, therefore, only been proving to you the = object of=20 Christ's coming, as it respects his people. And I think I have plainly = proved=20 that when Christ shall appear in the clouds of heaven with power and = great=20 glory, he will raise the righteous dead, change the righteous living, = gather=20 them from among all nations, where they have been scattered during the = ages of=20 persecution and trial. "in the dark and cloudy day," and receive them = unto=20 himself in the air, when they will ever be with the Lord.--I=20 will,

        2dly, Show = that the=20 wicked will be destroyed from the earth by fire, and the world cleansed = from the=20 curse of sin by the same means, and prepared for the reception of the = New=20 Jerusalem state, or the glorious reign of Christ with his people. That = the=20 wicked will be destroyed by fire, at his appearing, we prove by the = following=20 texts: Deut. xxxii. 22, "For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall = burn=20 unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth, with her increase, = and set on=20 fire the foundations of the mountains." 2 Samuel xxii. 9, 10, 13, "There = went up=20 a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals = were=20 kindled by it. He bowed the heavens and came down, and darkness was = under his=20 feet. Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled." = Psalm=20 xcvii. 2, 3, "Clouds and darkness are round about him, righteousness and = judgment are the habitation of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and = burneth=20 up his enemies round about." Isa. lxvi. 15, 16, "For, behold, the Lord = will come=20 with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger = with=20 fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword = will the=20 Lord plead with all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many." = Dan. vii.=20 11, "I beheld then, because of the voice of the great words which the = horn=20 spake; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, = and given=20 to the burning flame." Again, Nahum i. 5, "The mountains quake at him, = and the=20 hills melt, and the earth is burnt at his presence; yea, the world and = all that=20 dwell therein." Habakkuk iii. 3-5, "God came from Teman, (south) = and the=20 Holy One from Mount Paran, (from glory.) Selah. His glory covered = the=20 heavens, and the earth was full of his praise: and his brightness was as = the=20 light; he had horns coming out of his hand; and there was the hiding of = his=20 power. Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at = his feet.=20 He stood and measured the earth; he beheld and drove asunder the = nations, and=20 the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: = his ways=20 are everlasting." Also, Malachi iv. 1, "For, behold, the day cometh that = shall=20 burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall = be=20 stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of = Hosts,=20 that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." Matt. iii. 12, "Whose = fan is=20 in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his = wheat into=20 the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Matt. = xiii.=20 30, "Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to = burn them;=20 but gather the wheat into my barn." 40, "As therefore the tares are = gathered and=20 burnt, so shall it be in the end of the world." 49th verse, "So shall it = be in=20 the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked = from=20 among the just." Again, Paul to the church of the Thessalonians writes, = "And to=20 you who are troubled, rest with us; when the Lord Jesus shall be = revealed from=20 heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them = that=20 know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who = shall=20 be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, = and from=20 the glory of his power." 2 Peter iii. 10, "But the day of the Lord will = come as=20 a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a = great=20 noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, = and the=20 works that are therein, shall be burned up." Rev. xviii. 8, "Therefore = shall her=20 plagues come in one day--death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall = be=20 utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her." = These=20 passages are but a part of the word of God which prove the destruction = of the=20 wicked--of the anti-Christian beast--and the cleansing of the world by = fire. Yet=20 if Scripture proof can be sufficient, surely I have brought enough; and = where=20 that can have no bearing on the mind of men, how vain should I be to = search the=20 archives of natural philosophy to give you more evidence! for He who = hath all=20 wisdom in heaven and in earth, and who knows what is in the mind of man, = hath=20 used the best arguments, the most persuasive means (I had like to have = said) in=20 the power of a God to use; and indeed he says, "What could I have done = more than=20 I have done for my vineyard." He has taught us by his own word, by the = mouth of=20 his prophets, and by examples: witness his word on Mount Sinai, where = the people=20 heard his voice and saw the fire; witness all the declarations of the = prophets=20 which I have read; witness Jesus Christ himself, in the parable of the = tares and=20 wheat, and the harvest; witness, also, the destruction of the old world = by=20 water, and Sodom and Gomorrah by fire; Jerusalem by famine, sword, and = fire.=20 These are all set forth as samples to warn us of the approaching = judgment. And=20 yet who believes the report? Who is willing to examine the evidences--to = reason=20 candidly and to reflect seriously on these things? Who among us puts = implicit=20 confidence in the word of God, especially in that which is unfulfilled? = Any may=20 believe in so much as has been accomplished; but where is the virtue in = such=20 faith? Where is the blessedness of our hope in the glorious appearing of = Jesus=20 Christ? If we are "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious = appearing of=20 the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ," we shall examine the word of = God=20 faithfully; we shall compare scripture with scripture; we shall take = notice of=20 the signs which Christ has given us of his coming. That the day may not = overtake=20 us as a thief, we should live with a steady reference to that day, and = rejoice=20 more and more as we see the day=20 approaching.

        3d. = I will=20 now give some of the evidences concerning the glorious reign which must = follow=20 his coming. The earth, being cleansed by fire, will, like the ph=9Cnix, = be revived=20 from its own ashes. The destruction of the wicked, the end of death, sin = banished, it will lighten the world of a load of crime which has made it = reel to=20 and fro like a drunkard; the internal fires will have spent their force = on all=20 combustible matter, and have gone out; volcanoes will cease; = earthquakes,=20 tornadoes, and whirlwinds can no more be experienced or needed, for the = cause is=20 gone; the earth or the heavens can no more be shaken, "that those things = that=20 cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which = cannot be=20 moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with = reverence=20 and godly fear; for our God is a consuming fire," Heb.=20 xii.27-29.

         Then, = when=20 this earth shall become new, by being cleansed and purified, the New = Jerusalem=20 will "come down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for = her=20 husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the = tabernacle=20 of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his = people,=20 and God himself shall be with them and be their God," Rev. xxi. 2, 3. = "And he=20 carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed = me that=20 great city, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, = having the=20 glory of God," 10th verse. "And the city had no need of the sun, neither = of the=20 moon, to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb = is the=20 light thereof." "And I saw thrones and they that sat upon them, and = judgment was=20 given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the = witness=20 of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the = beast,=20 neither his image, neither had received his mark in their foreheads, or = in their=20 hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years; but the = rest of=20 the dead lived not again until the thousand years were=20 finished."

        Much = more=20 evidence might be brought to prove the personal reign of Jesus Christ = with his=20 people; but this is enough to prove the glorious and personal reign = after the=20 resurrection; but few dispute it. But, say some, do you not believe in a = spiritual reign of a thousand years before the resurrection? I answer, I = believe=20 in a reign of grace, by the influence of the divine Spirit, for more = than 1800=20 years past; but when you speak of a thousand years, I suppose you mean = the same=20 time that I call the glorious reign after the resurrection of the = righteous, and=20 before the resurrection of the wicked. I know of no spiritual reign, = mentioned=20 in the word of God, and especially of that duration. We argue that there = cannot=20 be a reign of peace and glory until the world is cleansed from all = wickedness,=20 Satan is chained, and righteousness fill our world; nor until "the = glorious=20 appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ," even the = anti-Christian=20 beast will not be destroyed, (according to the texts we have already = quoted,)=20 until they are destroyed by "the brightness of his appearing." All those = passages which speak of this happy period of rest to the people of God, = or which=20 in any manner allude to it, describe it as being after the resurrection = of the=20 saints, or after righteousness fills the earth, and after the = anti-Christian=20 beast is destroyed. And even our text more than implies that we shall = not=20 realize any great or glorious results from our hope, or collectively in = a body=20 the church will not receive any important deliverance until the = "glorious=20 appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ." Is this true? I = say the=20 passages of Scripture already named fix it beyond a doubt. And any one = who will=20 examine the scripture for himself, will find that the second coming of = Christ is=20 the point to which Jesus Christ, the prophets, and the apostles directed = their=20 disciples, as the termination of their trials, persecutions, and = afflictions;=20 and Jesus Christ says, "In the world ye shall have tribulation." I say, = I can=20 find nothing in the word of God to warrant me to believe that we ought = to look=20 for or expect a happier period than we now enjoy, until he who has = promised to=20 come shall come the second time without sin unto salvation, and cleanse = us, the=20 world, and make all things new. These things are abundantly proved in = the=20 unerring word of God. And now, Christians, if these things are so, what = manner=20 of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness, = looking for=20 and hasting unto the day of God, "looking for that blessed hope and the = glorious=20 appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ"? Then let our=20 conversation be in heaven, from whence we expect our Savior, and stir up = each=20 other's pure minds by way of remembrance of these things; for the time = of the=20 promise draweth nigh, when he will come and receive us to himself, that = we may=20 be with him. How necessary, my brethren, we should examine the word of = God=20 diligently; see if it does not give some indications, some signs, by = which we=20 may know the "Son of Man is near, even at the door," and our "blessed = hope" is=20 about to be realized in the "glorious appearing of the great God and our = Savior=20 the Lord Jesus Christ." If he comes and finds us, or some of us, in this = lukewarm state, hardly having looked into his word, and, making our want = of=20 talents an excuse, have neglected to trim our lamps, and have been very = spare in=20 holy conversation, and are crying peace and safety when sudden = destruction=20 cometh, and perhaps have sneeringly mocked and laughingly ridiculed the = idea of=20 Christ being near at the door, and perhaps have joined the infidel and=20 unbeliever in their unholy remarks on this subject, and although we have = heard=20 the midnight cry, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh," yet we treat it with = neglect=20 or disdain, or some of us, perhaps, with reproach,--I ask, if the Lord = of such=20 servants come and find us so doing, what will he do with us? He will = come in an=20 hour that we think not, and cut us off, and appoint our portion among = hypocrites=20 and unbelievers, where shall be weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. = But we=20 will suppose that he will not come in so short a time as your speaker = believes;=20 still what do I ask of you, my brethren? Nothing but what Jesus Christ = and the=20 apostles required 1800 years ago. I ask you to compare these views with = the=20 Bible. Is this wrong? No. I ask you for holy conversation. Is = this wrong?=20 No. I ask you for heavenly-mindedness. Is this wrong? No, no. I = ask you=20 to stir up each other's pure minds, to make improvement on your one = talent if no=20 more; to come out of this cold and lukewarm state; to trim your lamps = and be=20 ready. Are these requirements wrong? Certainly not; no, no. I ask you = again to=20 compare scripture with scripture; to read the prophets; to stop your = revilings;=20 to take warning by the old world; to flee from sin and the wrath which = is to=20 come; to hide yourselves in Christ, until the indignation be over and = past; to=20 look "for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God = and our=20 Savior Jesus Christ." Is this wrong? Then be the wrong on my=20 head.

        And now, my = impenitent friends, what say you? "We say, 'You know nothing about it.'" = Do you=20 believe the old world was deluged? "Why, yes." What makes you believe = it?=20 "Because our philosophers tell us there are a great many signs remaining = of the=20 flood, and we can believe them." And are there no signs of the near = approach of=20 the Judgment Day? What say the prophets, apostles, and Jesus Christ? Are = they=20 not equal to your philosophers? Examine your Bibles, and see; weigh well = the=20 evidence; your eternal happiness, the salvation of your immortal souls, = may=20 depend on your decision. But what say you more? "We say, 'You were very = unwise=20 to fix on the year 1843, or sooner, for this day to come; for it will = not come;=20 and then you will be ashamed." And I hope I may be able, by the grace of = God, to=20 repent. But what if it does come? You cannot with any propriety say = positively=20 it will not come, for you make no pretence to divination. But I say, = What if it=20 does come? Where will you be? No space then for repentance. No, no--too = late,=20 too late; the harvest is over and past, the summer is gone, the door is = shut,=20 and your soul is not saved. Therefore it can do you no harm to hear, and = believe, and do those things which God requires of you, and which you = think you=20 would do, if you knew he would appear. First, I ask you to repent of = your sins.=20 Would this be right? Yes. Next, I ask you to believe in God. Is this = right? Yes.=20 And I ask you to be reconciled to his will, love his law, forsake sin, = love=20 holiness, practise his precepts, obey his commands. Would these things = be right?=20 Yes, yes. And last of all, and not least, I ask you to "look for that = blessed=20 hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus = Christ."=20 Amen.

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LECTURE II.

_________

REV. xx. 6.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the = first=20 resurrection; on such the second death hath no power; but they shall be = priests=20 of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand=20 years.

        T= HE term "blessed and holy" is often used in scripture, = and in=20 many places is applied to man; but in no place without giving some=20 characteristic mark of his being born of God, or inheriting the fruits = of the=20 divine Spirit; and very often the word blessed is used standing = in=20 immediate connection with the resurrection and coming of Christ, either=20 expressed or implied, as in Isa. lxii. 11, 12, "Behold, the Lord hath = proclaimed=20 unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, they=20 salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before = him. And=20 they shall call them The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord; = and thou=20 shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken." Isa. xxx. 18, "And = therefore=20 will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will = he be=20 exalted, that he may have mercy upon you; for the Lord is a God of = judgment.=20 Blessed are all they that wait for him." Daniel says, xii. 12,=20 "Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the 1335 days." John = says,=20 Rev. xiv. 13, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." = "Write,=20 Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the = Lamb."=20 "Behold, I come quickly; blessed is he that keepeth the sayings = of the=20 prophecy of this book." "Blessed are they that do his = commandments, that=20 they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the = gates into=20 the city." By these passages I show you that all the children of God are = included in this blessing, and not the martyrs only, as some will have = it. The=20 next thing which will claim our attention will be to explain the = resurrection=20 spoken of in our text, called the first resurrection. The word=20 resurrection signifies to revive, or resuscitate, or bring to = life=20 again, one now dead, who was once alive. It nowhere in the word = of God=20 conveys an idea of a new creation, and the word is nowhere used in the = Bible=20 expressing any thing less or more than a union of soul and body, and = deliverance=20 from natural death. The word resurrection is nowhere used in a = figurative=20 sense; it in all places has its own simple meaning, unless our text is = an=20 exception. And without the objector can show some rule of interpretation = by=20 which we shall be warranted to understand the word in a different sense, = we must=20 beg leave to attach to it the simple meaning, coming to life from the = grave. I know some have supposed that regeneration is resurrection; = but I=20 cannot believe this unless they show some rule. I know some pretend to = show us,=20 in John v. 25, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and = now is,=20 when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear = shall=20 live," as a rule; but in order to make this a rule, they must prove that = Christ=20 meant regeneration; until this is shown, we cannot admit it as any=20 proof.

        We shall,=20 therefore, consider the word resurrection as coming up out of = the=20 grave, and pass to the word first. "The first resurrection." = The=20 resurrection of the saints is first as it respects order and time. = Wherever the=20 word resurrection is used in connection with life or=20 damnation, the one unto life always comes first; as in Daniel = xii. 2,=20 "Some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt;" = John v.=20 29, "They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they = that have=20 done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." Here are two samples as = it=20 respects order. One or two as it respects time: 1 Cor. xv. 23, "Christ = the first=20 fruits, then afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh = the=20 end." And again, 1 Thess. iv. 16, "For the Lord himself shall descend = from=20 heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of = God; and=20 the dead in Christ shall rise first." And then our context and text = shows that=20 the blessed and holy are raised a thousand years before the rest of the = dead. If=20 we are correct, then, Christ will come before the millennium instead of=20 afterwards, as some believe; and the millennium is a state of personal, = and=20 glorious, and immortal reign on the new earth, or this earth cleansed by = fire,=20 as it was once by water; and it will be a new dispensation, new heavens, = and new=20 earth. This will be our next proposition to prove. And, first, we will = examine=20 the 20th chapter of Revelation, 1st verse: "And I saw an angel come = down from=20 heaven;"--this angel I consider no less a being than the Lord Jesus = Christ;=20 for it only can be said of him;--"having the key of the bottomless = pit and a=20 great chain in his hand." See Rev. i. 18: "I am he that liveth and = was dead;=20 and behold, I am alive for evermore, amen, and have the keys of hell and = of=20 death." And Christ only has power to bind Satan. "That he might destroy = him that=20 had the power of death, that is, the devil." Heb. ii. 14. 2d verse: = "And he=20 laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and = Satan, and=20 bound him a thousand years." I suppose this verse needs no = explanation. It=20 can only be understood in a literal sense, for it explains itself in the = figures=20 used; as dragon and serpent, often used as figures, are = explained=20 to mean the devil and Satan. If the thousand years had = been used,=20 in this chapter, or any where else in the word of God, in a mystical or=20 figurative sense, it would have been somewhere explained; but, as it is = not, I=20 consider we are to place upon it the most simple construction, and I = shall=20 therefore understand it literally. 3d verse: "And cast him into the=20 bottomless pit;"--by bottomless pit, I have shown, by the proof on = our first=20 verse, that it is hell; see Rev. i. 18;--"and shut him up and set a = seal upon=20 him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years = should=20 be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season." = This=20 passage must be understood in its simple, plain meaning; no mystery in = this. 4th=20 verse: "And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was = given unto=20 them;"--here we have a prophecy of the fulfilment of a promise that = Christ=20 made to his disciples, in Matt. xix. 28: "And Jesus said unto them, = Verily, I=20 say unto you, that ye which have followed me in the regeneration, when = the Son=20 of Man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon = twelve=20 thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel;"--"and I saw the souls = of them=20 that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, = and which=20 had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received = his mark=20 upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with = Christ=20 a thousand years." In this description we have the whole family of = the=20 redeemed; for all that had not worshipped the beast or his image, or = received a=20 mark, and, in one word, all that were not the servants of Satan or sin, = lived=20 and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5th verse: "But the rest of = the=20 dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the = first=20 resurrection." The rest of the dead means the wicked dead, = who do not=20 have part in the first resurrection; lived not again, showing=20 conclusively that it is a natural life and death spoken of. The first = resurrection is the resurrection of the saints at his coming. Then = comes in=20 our text, which has and will be explained in the lecture. 7th verse: = "And=20 when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his=20 prison." We may reasonably expect that, when Satan is let loose, all = the=20 damned spirits are let loose with him; and it has been strongly implied = they=20 were to live again in the body, at the end of the thousand years. 8th = verse:=20 "And shall go out"--that is, Satan--"to deceive the nations = which are=20 in the four quarters of the earth"--"ashes under the feet of the = saints," as=20 Malachi tells us: "And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be = ashes=20 under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the = Lord of=20 hosts"--"Gog and Magog"--the armies of the wicked that were slain = at the=20 commencing of the thousand years, or coming of Christ, at the supper of = the=20 great God, and battle of Armageddon; see Ezekiel xxxviii., = xxxix.--"to gather=20 them together to battle;"--this is their design, but there is no = battle, for=20 God himself is with his people to defend them; and he destroys the = wicked host,=20 "the number of whom is as the sand of the sea;" evidently = including the=20 whole number of the wicked; for the figure, sand of the sea, is = never=20 used, only to express the whole class of the people named; as, the = children of=20 Israel, the whole host of Jacob. 9th verse: "And they went up on the = breadth=20 of the earth;"--that is, this army of Gog and Magog were raised up = out of=20 the surface of the earth, that only being the breadth of a globular=20 body;--"and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved=20 city;"--plainly showing that the New Jerusalem, the beloved city, is = on the=20 earth during the thousand years, or how could this wicked host encompass = it=20 about? they have not climbed the celestial walls of heaven--no; for it = says,=20 "and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them." = This is=20 the second death, represented under the figure of fire coming down from = God out=20 of heaven; not the conflagration of the world,--for that was in the = commencing=20 of the thousand years, when Christ came and cleansed the world from all = the=20 wicked, and the works of wicked men,--but the justice of God, under the = figure=20 of fire; "for our God is a consuming fire." Heb. xii. 29. 10th verse: = "And=20 the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and = brimstone, where=20 the beast and false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night = forever=20 and ever." In this verse, the final condemnation of the wicked, soul = and=20 body, is given; and the last that God has seen fit to reveal concerning = them to=20 us is, that they are cast into everlasting torment. In the next verse, = John has=20 another vision of the same things which he had before told us, only in a = different point of view, or some circumstance not before clearly = described.=20 And I saw always implies a new view, or another vision. 11th = verse:=20 "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose = face the=20 heavens and earth fled away; and there was no place found for them." = This is=20 the same throne that Daniel saw, vii. 9-14: "I beheld till the thrones = were cast=20 down and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, = and the=20 hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery = flame, and=20 his wheels as burning fire." 12th verse: "And I saw the dead, small = and=20 great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was = opened,=20 which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things = which=20 were written in the books, according to their works." This is the = same as=20 Daniel saw, vii. 10: "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before = him;=20 thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten = thousand=20 stood before him. The judgment was set, and the books were opened." It = is very=20 evident that this is the beginning of the judgment, when Christ comes in = the=20 clouds of heaven, with power and great glory, to raise and judge his = saints, and=20 to reward every man as his work shall be. 1st, because it is when the = judgment=20 first sets; 2d, because the book of life is there, and open; and, 3d, = because it=20 was at the time or before antichrist was destroyed; and no one can = believe that=20 the antichristian beast can be on the earth during or in the millennium. = 13th=20 verse: "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and = hell=20 delivered up the dead which were in them." I conclude the apostle, = after he=20 had seen the righteous dead raised, small and great, and stand before = God, and=20 saw the book of life open to justify them, and saw them judged and = rewarded, he=20 then glides down to the end of the thousand years, and beheld the wicked = dead=20 given up by those elements and places wherein they had been confined = during the=20 millennial period, to be judged in the flesh, every man according to his = works.

        This only = can=20 reconcile some of those conflicting passages (or seemingly so to us) = concerning=20 the resurrection; and I cannot see any impropriety in thus understanding = these=20 prophecies; for it is the common manner of the prophets, a little here = and a=20 little there. In all the descriptions of the resurrection of the = righteous dead,=20 they are represented as being gathered by the angels of God, from the = four winds=20 of heaven, when the seventh or last trump shall sound; and it is equally = as=20 evident that their works are brought into judgment. Although they may = not be=20 justified by their works, but out of the book of life, yet the apostle = Paul=20 says, speaking of his brethren, "We must all stand before the judgment = seat of=20 Christ." Rom. xiv. 10. And again, 2 Cor. v. 10, "For we must all stand = before=20 the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done = in his=20 body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." And, 1 = Cor.=20 iii. 13-15, "Every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall = declare=20 it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every = man's=20 work, of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built = thereupon,=20 he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall = suffer=20 loss: yet he himself shall be saved, so as by fire." We see, by these = texts,=20 that the books of every man's works will be open, as well as the book of = life,=20 in the first resurrection; but, in the second resurrection, there is no = book of=20 life open in that part of the judgment, neither are they gathered by the = angels=20 of God; but the sea, death, and hell, delivered up the dead which were = in them,=20 and they were judged every man according to their works; and Satan is = the means=20 of gathering them around the beloved city, where they are judged in the = flesh.=20 By the sea, death, and hell, I understand the sea, grave, = and=20 place of punishment. The sea and the grave would give up the dissolved = particles=20 of the body, and hell (or Hades) would give up their departed spirits; = this=20 would constitute the second resurrection. "And they were judged every = man=20 according to their works." They had chosen, in this life, to stand = on their=20 works; they had refused to believe in a Mediator; they had not followed = his=20 commands, neither had they professed his name before men, or suffered=20 persecution for the sake of his testimony. They had treated his word = with total=20 neglect, or called his grace tyranny. They had said he was a hard = master, and=20 buried their talent in the earth. They had placed their supreme = affections on=20 the world, and made fine gold their trust. They had persecuted the = children of=20 God in this world, and showed that they were the children of that wicked = one who=20 slew his brother. They had prostituted their bodies to whoredom, and = sacrificed=20 to Bacchus and Venus their first-fruits. They had professed damnable = heresies,=20 and filled the world with their delusive schemes and sects. They had = worshipped=20 the creature, and neglected prayer to the Creator. They had filled the = world=20 with their lies and abominations, and gloried in their shame. 14th = verse:=20 "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the = second=20 death." By death and hell I understand the body and = spirit.=20 15th verse: "And whosoever was not found written in the Lamb's book = of life,=20 was cast into the lake of fire." "But the fearful and unbelieving, = and the=20 abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and = idolaters, and=20 all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and = brimstone, which is the second death." Rev. xxi. 8. "Blessed are they = that do=20 his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may = enter in=20 through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, = and=20 whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and = maketh a=20 lie," Rev. xxii. 14, 15. Then our text says, "Blessed and holy is he = that=20 hath part in the first resurrection." This we have proved is the=20 resurrection of the righteous dead, who died in faith in Jesus Christ, = and who=20 should live with him at his coming; on them the second death should have = no=20 power, "but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall = reign with=20 him a thousand=20 years."

        To be = priests=20 unto God and unto Christ, is to be holy; to be a kingdom of priests of a = peculiar people, that should show forth his praises by declaring to the = universe=20 that out of nature's darkness they had been redeemed by his blood, = called by his=20 grace unto his glorious, happy, and holy kingdom, and that they should = dwell on=20 the earth. See Rev. v. 9, 10, "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou = art worthy=20 to take the book and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and = hast=20 redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and = people,=20 and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we = shall reign=20 on the earth." See, also, Rev. i. 6, "And hath made us kings and priests = unto=20 God, and his Father." Again, 1 Pet. ii. 5, 9, "Ye also, as lively = stones, are=20 built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood." "But ye are a chosen = generation,=20 a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people." The passages to = which I=20 have cited your minds, prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the = thousand years=20 spoken of in the text is between the two resurrections in a state of = happiness,=20 of glory, of holiness, and that it shall be on the earth. It is a state = of=20 immortality, as abundant scriptures evidently prove. Where, then, you = may=20 inquire, is the spiritual millennium which our theorists, in the present = age,=20 are teaching us to expect? I answer, There is not a thousand years = spoken of in=20 Scripture, except in 2 Pet., 3d chapter, and in which the judgment day = is the=20 subject of discussion, and in the chapter of which our text is a part; = and in=20 neither of these places is any thing said about spiritual reign; neither = can we=20 find any thing in the word of God by which we could fairly draw the = conclusion=20 of such a reign; and as it is not proper for me to show the negative, I = call on=20 all of you to show where we may find the evidence, that is, all of you = who=20 believe in a spiritual reign. If there is such a reign, it must be = before the=20 second coming of Christ; for when he comes, he will receive us to = himself, that=20 where he is there we may be also; no more away from his people, for he = says he=20 will be with them, and make his abode with them, and he will be their = light, and=20 will dwell with them, and make his abode with them, and they shall dwell = on the=20 earth. Where, when, or how the idea of a spiritual reign of a = thousand=20 years should or could obtain a place in our faith, having the word of = God as our=20 evidence, I cannot tell. Some say that the prophets speak often of times = or=20 things which have not been fulfilled in our day, or under the present=20 dispensation, and which would be too gross to be admitted into a state = of=20 immortality. There may be such--yet I find no difficulty in = understanding all=20 those passages which have been presented, or come under my = consideration, to=20 refer to the gospel day. But how long do the prophets say that time = shall be? Do=20 they designate any time? No; neither one, ten, one hundred, or one = thousand=20 years are mentioned in any of those passages. Why then call it a = millennium?=20 Because Peter and John have mentioned a thousand years. This cannot be = admitted=20 to mean any state this side of the state of immortality; for Peter says = plainly,=20 "Yet, nevertheless, we look for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein = dwelleth=20 righteousness." This would be a new state, surely--nothing gross or vile = in this=20 kingdom, whoever may be king; and John expressly says, "They lived and = reigned=20 with Christ a thousand years," and says, "This is the first = resurrection." Now,=20 admit there is such a time, how or by what rule shall we call it a = thousand=20 years?

        Again, = where, in=20 all the prophecies, can any one show me that the church will be blessed = and=20 holy, or happy and righteous, as it may be rendered, until he comes, = that is, at=20 Christ's second appearance? And where in the word are we to learn that = the=20 kingdoms of this world are to be destroyed before the coming of the = Ancient of=20 days? Do we believe that the anti-Christian beast, or mystical Babylon, = will be=20 on the earth during this millennial reign? No, it cannot be; yet all = must=20 acknowledge that she is only destroyed by the brightness of his coming. = Who can=20 read the 19th chapter of Revelation, without being convinced that the = marriage=20 supper of the Lamb, the treading of the wine-press of the fierceness and = wrath=20 of Almighty God, and the supper of the great God, are events which must = take=20 place before the millennium? And if so, who can believe that after the = marriage=20 of the Lamb to the bride; after she is arrayed in linen clean and white, = which=20 is the righteousness of the saints; after they have received a crown of=20 righteousness, which the righteous Judge shall give to all them who love = his=20 appearing in that day,--Christ will not be with her in person? None. But = our=20 text tells us he will live and reign with them, and they shall be = priests to=20 God.

        Again: while = in this=20 state of mortality and trial, we are called the servants and ministers = of=20 Christ; but then, in the millennial blessedness, we shall be called = priests of=20 God and of Christ. You may ask, "Why this distinction in the language?" = I=20 answer, There is a great difference between the kingdom of Christ, as it = was=20 established when Christ was here on earth, and the kingdom given up to = God, even=20 the Father. The subjects of Christ's kingdom, in this state of things, = may be,=20 and in fact are, imperfect. Hypocrites and false professors may and do = obtain an=20 entrance into it; for an enemy hath sown tares. But the kingdom of God, = no man,=20 says Christ, can see, or enter, without being born of God. Here they may = deceive=20 the sentinels which guard the kingdom of Christ; but in the kingdom of = God=20 "there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither=20 whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie; but they which are = written in=20 the Lamb's book of life." Here the children of the kingdom are = persecuted,=20 tormented, perplexed, cast down; but in the kingdom of God their enemies = are all=20 slain; they are comforted, glorified, justified, exalted; and not a dog = to move=20 his tongue. Here they weep, but there will rejoice: here they sin and = repent;=20 they there will be holy without fault before his throne. "Blessed and = holy is he=20 that hath part in the first resurrection." Amen.

On=20 to LECTURE III. "The Two Thousand Three Hundred Days"
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LECTURE I.

TITUS ii. 13.Looking for that blessed hope, and glorious = appearing of=20 the great God, and our Savior Jesus=20 Christ.

LECTURE II.

REV. xx. 6.Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the = first=20 resurrection; on such the second death hath no power; but they shall be = priests=20 of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand=20 years.

TITUS ii. 13.
Looking for that blessed hope, and glorious = appearing of=20 the great God, and our Savior Jesus=20 Christ.

REV. xx. 6.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the = first=20 resurrection; on such the second death hath no power; but they shall be = priests=20 of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand=20 years.