GEO. B. THOMPSON by George B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Dec 27, 1906

GEO. B. THOMPSON

By George B. Thompson

Millennial Dawn—No. 2

GEO. B. THOMPSON

As before stated, the central idea of the “Millennial Dawn” belief is that of a second probation. The following quotations state their position on this matter:—

“During the millennial age, there will be a restitution of all things lost by the fall of Adam (Acts 3:19-21), and before its close all tears shall have been wiped away.”—“Plan of the Ages, Vol. I, page 73.”

“Those who do not receive a full knowledge and, by faith, an enjoyment of this favor of God in the present time (and such are the great majority, including children and heathen) will assuredly have these privileges in the next age, or ‘world to come,’ the dispensation or age to follow the present.”—Id., page 129.

“And why should not the Sodomites have an opportunity to reach perfection and everlasting life as well as Israel, or as any of us? . . . Thus our Lord teaches (Gen. 19:24; Luke 17:29; Matt. 11:23) that the Sodomites did not have a full opportunity; and he guarantees them such an opportunity when he adds (verse 24), ‘But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.’”—Id., page 110.

These quotations are sufficient to show their positive teaching in reference to a second probation. At the risk of being thought harsh, we must say that Satan never invented a doctrine better calculated to ensnare souls than that of a “second chance,” another “probation” in the millennial age. Here we are told that the besotted inhabitants of the city of Sodom, whose deeds were so revolting and wicked that the long-suffering God could no longer permit them to curse the earth, are to have another probation. What teaching is better calculated to confirm men in sin than this? It says to all who hate God, to the profane and wicked of every class, whoremongers, harlots, thieves, murderers, thugs, and sinners of every description which now defile the earth, Live on in the haunts of sin, and debauch yourselves amid the gilded halls of shame and infamy. Do despite to the Spirit of God as much as you please. Take your fill of iniquity; drink the cup of sin to its very dregs. Reject every overture of mercy. Mock at the pleadings of Jehovah, and despise his loving counsel to repent and turn from your infamous revelings. ‘You will have another chance. I will give you another trial when circumstances are more favorable!’ Such a heresy is well pleasing to the unregenerate heart, and is calculated, as nothing else ever can be, to lull sinners to sleep in carnal security, and land them in gehenna at last.

Temptation Removed, and Righteousness Compulsory

In the millennial age, we are told that sinners will be placed under “favorable opportunities” for attaining perfection. The literal description of the

new earth in Isaiah 35 is given a symbolic explanation, and made to teach how men will be enabled to live a righteous life in the millennial age.

“Of that highway it is significantly stated in symbolic language that ‘no lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there.’ Isa. 35:9. How many frightful lions are now in the way of those who would be glad to forsake sinful ways, and to pursue righteousness! There is the lion of a degenerate public sentiment, which deters many from venturing to obey the dictates of conscience in matters of every-day life—dress, home, and business arrangements, etc. The lion of temptation to strong drink hinders thousands who would be glad to see it removed. Prohibitionists and temperance workers now find a herculean task on their hands, which only the authority and power of the next age can remove; and the same may be said of other worthy efforts at moral reform. ‘Nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon.’ No giant corporations, organized to advance selfish, individual interests at the expense of the general good, will be tolerated. ‘They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain’ (kingdom), saith the Lord. Isa. 11:9. Though there will be difficulties to labor against in overcoming propensities to evil, etc., yet, in comparison with the narrow way of this age, that will be an easy way. The stones (stumbling-stones) shall all be gathered out, and the standard of truth shall be lifted up for the people. Isa. 62:10. Ignorance and superstition will be things of the past, and righteousness will receive its due reward, while to evil will be meted out its just deserts. Mal. 3:15, 18. By wholesome chastisements, fitting encouragements, and plain instructions, as returned prodigals, mankind will be trained and disciplined up to the grand perfection from which father Adam fell.”—Plan of the Ages, Vol. I, page 217.

We will give one more quotation on this point:—“Many erroneously suppose that when Christ’s millennial kingdom is inaugurated, every one will be pleased with its ruling. But not so. Its regulations will be far more exacting than those of any previous government, and the liberties of the people will be restricted to a degree that will be galling indeed to many now clamoring for an increase of liberty. Liberty to deceive, to misrepresent, to overreach and to defraud others, will be entirely cut off. Liberty to abuse themselves or others in food or drink, or in any way to corrupt good manners, will be totally denied to all. Liberty or license to do wrong of any sort will not be granted to any. The only liberty that will be granted to any will be the true and glorious liberty of the sons of God—liberty to do good to themselves and others in any and in every way; but nothing will be allowed to injure or destroy in all that holy kingdom. Isa. 11:9; Rom. 8:21. That rule will consequently be felt by many to be a severe one, breaking up all their former habits and customs, as well as breaking up present institutions founded upon these false habits and false ideas of liberty.”—Id., page 302.

With all the strong temptations of this life taken away, with no liberty to deceive, with all opportunity to misrepresent “entirely cut off,” many would no doubt cease to do wrong. The devil himself could be a Christian under such circumstances as these. The Lord gave to man the power of choice in the beginning, and will never take from him the opportunity to sin if he chooses to do so. Such teaching utterly ignores the power of the gospel of our Lord and Saviour. The gospel of Christ is able to give a man the victory over sin, and enable him to live a pure and upright life in the midst of all the wickedness of this earth. It changes the corrupt passions of the heart. Noah was a righteous man even in the degenerate time in which he lived. Lot also walked with God in the midst of Sodom, and perfected a righteous life. This will ever stand as a proof that the inhabitants of Sodom had the opportunity to be saved. Only when men have lost sight of the power of the gospel, will they claim that in order to attain unto holiness it is necessary to remove temptation. Those who enjoy the bliss of the eternal ages will be those who have come up out of great tribulation, and perfected holiness in the midst of temptation.

A Delusive Hope

We are told that in the millennial age opportunities will be “favorable” for holy living. But read this:—

“When men come to life in the next age, they will come with the same characters and tastes and desires they had in this life. ‘In the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.’ Eccl. 11:3. That means that no change will have taken place in men while they are dead. And when they come to life, they will attempt to live as they did before; liars and thieves will still be inclined to lie and steal, but they will find a new power in control; no policemen, no magistrates, no judges as we have them at present, no jails, and yet they will be punished by an invisible power, which they will strive in vain to resist.”—Millennial Hope and Prospects, page 6.

“Favorable opportunity” indeed! The wicked, we are told (and this is doubtless true) will come forth from the tomb with the same wicked desires which controlled them when living. Picture this terrible scene if you are able. The long-lived giants who defiled the earth so dreadfully before the flood are all to live here again. Then the Sodomites, whose evil deeds have been a synonym for sin from their time till the present, are all to live again on the earth; the Amalekites, Canaanites, Jezebel and all the prophets of Baal, with the entire heathen population who have lived since the fall of man; the crucifiers of Jesus, and all the persecutors of the church who have lived since Calvary; all the murderers, harlots, and drunkards, and those monsters of cruelty whose inhuman deeds, perpetrated during the Dark Ages in the name of Christianity, made savages shudder,—all these multiplied millions of rebels against the government of heaven are to live here during the millennial age, and to have the same ‘desires’ as before. And this is to constitute the ‘favorable opportunity’ for sinners to repent! What folly!

But we are told that there is to be a “new power in control,” which this wicked host will “strive in vain to resist.” What “new power” is this that is to be in control? There is no power in the universe stronger than the power of the gospel. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Rom. 1:16. What agency is there then which is more potent than this to save souls? To men now the Lord says, “Behold, I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19. To souls now, who are struggling to overcome the dark passions of sin, our Lord says, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24. Thank the Lord, there is a power now before which the powers of sin must yield. The believer allies himself to a power which the hosts of darkness can not overcome. We do not have to look forward to some “millennial age” for a power to overcome sin. That power is here. The Holy Spirit has come, and through this agency the Lord is able to save to the uttermost, and those who disregard its powerful entreaties in this life will have no opportunity to be saved in a future age.

The fact that all are not saved is no evidence that the gospel is not able to save all. It is an omnipotent power, but the Lord does not force any. He has given to all the power of choice. To angels was given this power. Some of them chose to rebel, and fell from their first estate. Adam was left free to choose. And there will never come a time when some power will seize hold of men, which they will “strive in vain to resist.” This is no part of the plan of God. He draws all, but compels none. The Spirit strives with all now, and those who resist it shut themselves away from life. They can yield and be saved, or resist and be lost.