p. 9 | GEO. B. THOMPSON by GEO. B. THOMPSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 17, 1907

GEO. B. THOMPSON

By GEO. B. THOMPSON

Millennial Dawn—No. 5

GEO. B. THOMPSON

THE doctrine of a second probation appeals to the unregenerate heart. It makes entirely unnecessary any present repentance or any missionary operations in home or foreign fields. According to that teaching, the great missionary campaign of all time is to occur in the “succeeding age,” when the church, the “royal priesthood,” will bring all to an “accurate knowledge of the truth.”

In Matthew 24 the signs which are to precede the coming of the Lord, and herald the end of the world, are given by our Saviour in response to the question of the disciples, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” In chapter 25 is given the experience of the church near the end of time, the period immediately preceding the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven. The professed church is here represented by ten virgins, five of whom were wise and five foolish. “And while they [the foolish virgins] went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Verse 10. This is the time spoken of in Rev. 19:7: “For the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” Here Christ is represented as taking to himself a bride. The church is not the bride (Rev. 21:9, 10), but the invited guests present at the marriage supper. Rev. 19:7-9.

His going in before the Father to receive the bride, is thus described by the prophet: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Dan. 7:13, 14. The “coming” here spoken of is not the coming of Jesus to this earth to receive his people, but his coming “to the Ancient of days,” the Father, to receive from him the kingdoms of this world. That this is before his second coming is very clearly stated. “He said therefore, A certain nobleman [Christ] went into a far country [heaven] to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.”

No Second Probation

This is very clear; but note that at this time, before he comes, the door of mercy is shut. Matt. 25:10. Probation for man is ended, and some are shut out, and lost. “When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are.” Luke 13:25. Here is a time when the door of mercy will be shut, and the reply to those on the outside from the One who has shut the door, holds out no hope of “a second probation.” “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.” Verse 28.

But why should they weep and gnash their teeth if they are to have another chance to enter in? It is clear that they have no such chance, and fully understand that they are “thrust out” forever. We nowhere read that the “door” which is once “shut” is ever to be opened, and another “chance” offered to all the lost. It logically follows that if the Lord should do this for sinners, he would needs do the same for the devil and all the fallen angels. Why not give them another chance as well as man?

The great lines of prophecy in the book of Daniel throw much light upon this question. In the second chapter, under the symbol of a great metallic image, the history of the world from the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar till the final destruction of all the kingdoms of this world is given. Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome were to bear sway successively as universal monarchies. The fourth kingdom, Rome, symbolized by the legs of iron, was to lose its iron stability and become divided, as indicated by the mixture of iron and clay. Between the years A. D. 356 and 483 the Roman empire was divided into ten kingdoms; namely, the Alemanni, Franks, Vandals, Burgundians, Visigoths, Lombards, Ostrogoths, Suevi, Heruli, Anglo-Saxons. The territory of these ten kingdoms is to-day occupied by the nations of the Old World. The Lord further declares, “And in the days of these [ten] kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” Dan. 2:44.

This is not a description of the work of the gospel, and the conversion of the world. Earthly kingdoms are to be broken in pieces and consumed. They are to be utterly wiped out of existence, and the fifth universal kingdom, symbolized by the stone which is cut out without hands, is to be eternally established in the territory now occupied by earthly kingdoms, when the earth is to be made new. “Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer thrashing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” Verses 34, 35.

This stone represents the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, which is to be established in the earth. When Jesus comes the second time with power and great glory, the wicked nations of earth will wail and lament because of him. Matt. 24:30. They are not converted, but are as the worthless chaff blown from the thrashing-floor after the wheat has all been gathered out for the garner. They are not to have another probation in a glorious millennial age. O, no; they are carried away, and “no place” is found for them in the entire universe. Nothing, it would seem, could be more conclusive on this point. See also Ps. 37: 9, 10.

God's Disposition of the Nations

This destruction of sinful nations is described also in the Psalms: “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Ps. 2:8. Here the heathen, or nations, who, we are told, have not had “a full opportunity,” are mentioned. Are they to have another probation in an age to come? Listen: “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Verse 9. This language is so clear that comment would but weaken its force. Having forgotten the Lord, they must needs perish. The wicked nations of the world are only chaff in the Lord’s sight, and instead of having a second probation, will be “turned back unto Sheol.” Ps. 9:17, A. R. V.

In Daniel 7 the testimony upon this point is equally clear. Here the same four universal kingdoms are brought to view. Also the ten kingdoms, symbolized by the ten horns on the head of the “dreadful and terrible” fourth beast. The rise of the little horn, or papal power, is then brought to view, and the wicked and blasphemous work which it was to perform during the long dreary years of the papal millennium, is clearly outlined. “And he shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Dan. 7:25. This brings us down the stream of time to the beginning of that period known as “the time of the end,” which began A. D. 1798, or down the historic stream near the time when the kingdom of Christ is to be set up.

But what is done with this power symbolized by the “little horn”? Is it to be converted?—No. Is a “second probation” in the “age to come” promised?—No. “I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.” Dan. 7:11, last part. “But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.” Verse 26.

This same beast power is brought to view in Revelation. When Jesus comes crowned “King of kings and Lord of lords,” this antichristian power and all the armies of the earth are “gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.” Rev. 19:19. And what is the conclusion of this terrible contest? Are they given another “opportunity” in the millennial age, under more “favorable” circumstances, to accept of the King against whom they are now making war? Indeed, they are not. “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.” Verse 20. There is no hint in all this of a second probation. It is utter destruction from the presence of God. 2 Thess. 1:7-9. Instead of a “second probation” they go alive into the lake of fire. They are destroyed in the “burning flame.”

A Conclusive Example

Through all the ages the Lord has had his witnesses. The fact that some from every kindred, tongue, and people have chosen to know God and be saved in the kingdom (Rev. 7:9) is conclusive evidence that all might have chosen life and been saved. The fact that they chose not to know God is no argument that they must be given another opportunity to see if they will change their minds. Notice what is said concerning the antediluvians: “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Heb. 11:7. Noah chose to follow God. All the antediluvians could have done the same. The Lord here says that the antediluvians are condemned because they did not repent. They made their choice, and, having decided they would not have Christ rule over them, the condemnation of God rests upon them. Are these sinful giants all to have another chance in which most of them are to repent and have their condemnation changed into approbation? God has never so stated. Having gone down into the tomb under condemnation because they rejected light, they must remain under it forever. “In the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.” Eccl. 11:3.