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A Millennial Text Examined

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 13, 1872

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 40, No. 9.

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A Millennial Text Examined.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Perhaps one of the texts most frequently quoted as proving the millennium is Rev. 11:15. “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.” How often do we hear this quoted in prayer, about like this: “O Lord, hasten the glad time when the nations shall learn war no more, when the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdoms of the Lord, and peace and good will shall prevail among men.” This is a fair sample of the application that is made of this text, Sunday after Sunday, in all the churches. But if we now read the connection, we shall see that almost exactly the reverse of this is what really happens when the kingdoms of this world do become the kingdoms of the Lord.
Here is what follows this passage, as above quoted. “And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God, saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” Vs. 16–18. Mark what occurs when the kingdoms of the world become the Lord’s, and God takes his great power, and reigns. Instead of this peace, good will, no more war, &c., John says, “The nations were angry and thy wrath is come,” &c. This is the state of things that will immediately follow upon Christ’s receiving the kingdoms of the world. How the Lord’s explanation of this thing differs from that of those who are deluding the people with the cry of peace and safety. When the kingdoms of the world are given to Christ, it is that he may “dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Ps. 2:7–9. For this the world is fast preparing.
D. M. CANRIGHT.
Glencoe, Minn.