Second Coming of Christ.
By J. H. W.
The exposition of Rev. 13: 11-17, by Uriah Smith contains much of interest to every student of the Bible. That the United States have no part to act in the fulfillment of prophecy, we are not prepared to say, but we cannot see the indications of the second coming of Christ as being near at hand—in our day and generation. Prophecy foretells the restoration of the Jews in their conversion to Christ and the habitation of their own land. Soon after the (first) coming of Christ, the Jews were driven from their own land, and have never regained possession of it, but they are scattered over the wide world, without a king, prince, or sacrifice. Can the millennium come upon the earth before the Jews are restored? If so, what is the interpretation of the following scripture? viz., Hosea 3: 4, 5; Eze. 37: 21, 25, 27, and 39: 29; Rom. 11: 25, 27, and 11: 2. READER. That “the millennium” cannot be before the second coming of Christ is, we think, clearly shown by the Scriptures. “Reader” is referred to a tract published at this Office with that title; also to chapter one of the pamphlet on the Age to Come. For remarks on Hosea 3: 4, 5, see Review, March 25, 1873. A correct exposition of Eze. 37 affords an answer to all the rest; and this is fulfilled at the resurrection. See verses 11–14: “Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost; we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.” We fully believe that “the whole house of Israel,” will be “brought into their own land” at the time and by the means here specified. Also verses 24, 25 must refer to the reign of Christ, who is represented by David; the same as Hosea 3: 4, 5.