The Saints' Inheritance.
By J. N. Loughborough
PERHAPS a query has already been raised in the minds of our readers concerning the thousand years' reign of the saints, and the condition of the earth during that thousand years. We take the position that the saints will not inherit the earth until it is made new, and that the earth is not made new until the wicked are destroyed, it would be justly inferred from this that the saints do not inherit the earth until after the thousand years. It is demanded here that something should be said concerning the position of the saints during the thousand years, also concerning the condition of the earth. Various opinions are extant concerning the one thousand years, and it cannot be expected that in this brief article we shall go into a detailed examination of all those views, but we wish to throw out some ideas, which if received, will in themselves meet these various positions concerning the thousand years. Perhaps we are safe in making the assertion that all are agreed that this thousand years when Satan is bound, is at the end of six thousand years from creation (which are now nearly expired *), for there are so few exceptions that they are of no note. The great difference of opinion is in regard to the work of that period, rather than the period itself. One class claim that this thousand years is prior to Christ's second advent, during which all the world is to enjoy a peaceful reign, having been converted at the commencement of that period. We have said sufficient in these articles to refute the idea of the world's ever being converted, or of a millennium prior to the second advent of Christ. Another class have taken the position that the thousand years' reign is on the earth, after the second advent of Christ, before the earth is renewed. This position to us seems the wildest of fancies, especially as the idea has been connected with it, that during that period probation is still to continue, and that in that thousand years the saints will reign over, and teach, mortal nations, who are to increase during that period; and the devil is to be let loose at the end of that period and deceive that company who have never known his wiles, and those deceived, according to the record are all devoured by fire from God. Some of the principal reasons urged for the faith of this thousand years' reign on earth we shall briefly notice. 1. Two texts are collated together and made to read as though they were one: "They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Rev. 20:4. And, "We shall reign on the earth." Chap. 5:10. Now we believe the testimony of both these texts, but they do not say that the saints will reign on earth a thousand years. They will reign on earth forever and ever, but that will be in the "new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness," or, wherein the righteous shall dwell. The text does not represent that Christ will reign on earth a thousand years; but "they shall reign with Christ a thousand years!" 2. The claim is, if the saints reign a thousand years, they must have somebody to reign over, and so it is claimed that they must reign over mortals. But if they cannot reign a thousand years unless they have mortals to reign over, how can they reign forever and ever without the same? Christ's promise to the twelve was, "Ye shall also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Matt. 19:28. Then the saints are, at some point, to reign with Christ, and in that reign accomplish a work of judgment. This is to be "when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory." Paul inquires (1 Cor. 6:2, 3), "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? . . . know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?" This judgment is contrasted with judgment concerning things pertaining to this life, and therefore it must refer to a future judgment. We read also in Ps. 149:5, 6: "Let the saints be joyful in glory. . . . Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, . . . to execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints." From the above texts we learn that there is a work to occupy the thousand years' reign, although there may be no mortal nations for saints to reign over during that period. The saints are to participate with Christ in passing sentence on the wicked nations of earth. When the saints sing, "We shall reign on the earth," they are already kings and priests, and are prostrating themselves before the throne in Heaven. They sing of Christ, "Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every tongue, and kindred, and people, and nation." Although this language quoted is the language of the four beasts and four and twenty elders, it is what all the saints will sing after their final deliverance. Then the saints will, at some time, go to Heaven, and thus prostrate themselves in adoration before the throne. Those who claim that the thousand years' reign will be on earth, generally claim that the saints will never go to Heaven; and therefore, if they reign a thousand years, it must be on earth. Our reply is, The word says, "They shall reign WITH Christ a thousand years" and we shall proceed to show that at the commencement of the thousand years, at least, they are with Christ in Heaven. There is no direct evidence to show that the thousand years' reign is upon earth, or that the saints will be on the earth again after their ascension, till the end of the thousand years; we have hence concluded that the thousand years' reign is in Heaven. But we will produce some additional evidence that the saints will go to Heaven. Paul's testimony in 1 Thess. 4:16, 17, is, "The Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord." But, says one, they immediately come down again, and possess the earth. Our reply is, That is all assumption; for there is no evidence to prove that they are on earth again till the end of the thousand years, when the wicked are said to "come around the camp of the saints and the beloved city." But there is evidence to show that after they are redeemed they go to Heaven and sing the song of redemption. We read, "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image; and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb." † Here is a company that are to stand (after they are delivered) "on the sea of glass." Where is the sea of glass? John tells us in Rev. 4:1, 6. "After this I looked, and behold a door was opened in Heaven." We read of many things which he saw, but in verse 6, he says, "And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal." There can be no dispute as to the locality of the sea of glass. It is immediately before the throne of God in Heaven. Here, then, is direct evidence that the saints will go to Heaven, for they are to sing the song of their deliverance on the sea of glass, which we find is before the throne of God in Heaven. Again, Christ's teaching to his disciples, as recorded in John 13 and 14, is proof that the saints will go to Heaven at the second advent. In chapter 13:33, we read, "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me; and, as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. . . . Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not91follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterward." Christ had told the Jews, "I go unto him that sent me."‡. Then Christ's testimony to Peter is: Thou canst not follow me to Heaven, or to him that sent me; but thou shalt follow me to him that sent me after I have been there. In the beginning of chapter 14, Christ shows them just how this promise to Peter shall be verified: "Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." Here, again, is direct evidence that the saints will go to Heaven with Christ after his second coming. The first verses of John 14 are an explanation of what Christ had told Peter, namely, "Thou canst not follow me now;" for that testimony was the very thing that had troubled the hearts of the disciples. Inasmuch as there is no testimony to show that the saints do not go to Heaven with Christ after his second advent, we claim that the opposite is fully sustained by the testimony we have noticed. The saints are to reign with Christ a thousand years. We have found already that they commence that thousand years before the throne IN HEAVEN. Who will venture to claim that the thousand years' reign is on earth, with no evidence that there is a man on earth from the time the thousand years commence, till they end? But, says one, there are certain promises which have been made to certain nations that have never been fulfilled; and they cannot be fulfilled in the new-earth state; and so we have concluded they will be fulfilled during the thousand years, when the saints will reign over mortal nations. We have not space here to notice, one by one, those peculiar promises that are spoken of, but we shall object to the conclusion that has been drawn from them. To claim that men can find pardon for their sins after the second advent of Christ, is to strike against the plainest declarations of Holy Writ. Says Christ, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly."|| Here we learn that just previous to Christ's coming, the solemn decree goes forth, showing that each class must still occupy the position in which they then stand. But, says one, the class who are to have probation are neither just nor unjust. We reply, There is no such class recognized in the word of God. Says Christ, "He that is not with me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad." J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
(Continued.)