The Advent Near by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 15, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 15.

The Advent Near.

By Editor

THE fact has been noticed that the nations, the heathen, are not given to Christ for their conversion. We go further, and now say that when they are given to him the time for the conversion of sinners will be past.

They are given to him that they may be broken with a rod of iron, and dashed in pieces like a potter's vessel. Ps. 2:8, 9. They are given to him as heathen—as heathen they are destroyed. Ps. 110:1 refers to the same event, and locates it definitely. "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Paul speaks of this in Heb. 10:12, 13, saying of Christ: "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." While he is a priest, at his Father's right hand, he is looking forward to the time, in expectation, that his Father will give him the heathen, even the uttermost parts of the earth; they will be put under his feet, and he will break them and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. This will not be accomplished during his priesthood, but after its close. And thus again Paul says: "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God [the heathen], and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess. 1:7, 8.

There is no text in all the prophecies which is more used or more relied upon to prove the conversion of the nations than Ps. 2. And yet it teaches directly the opposite of that view. And so also the prophecy of Daniel. In chapter 7:13, 14 we read: "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of Heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, 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."

Now the important point of inquiry is this: How does the giving of the nations and dominions to Christ stand related to his dashing them to pieces, or breaking them with a rod of iron? As we read the Scriptures, the nations or kingdoms of the earth will be given to him at the close of his priesthood; they will be given to him as his enemies, put under his feet; given to him that he may destroy them. But some have an opinion that they will be given to him for their benefit; that he will rule over them to bring them into harmony with himself; that he will exercise toward them the twofold offices of ruler and Saviour; and that the conversions after they are given to him will be many more than at the present time. But this opinion we think is highly erroneous, and the error contained in it is very dangerous and fatal. To this point our remarks will now be directed.

The first point in our argument will be that of the priesthood,—what is its nature, and what will follow its close. Than this there is no subject of greater importance. We invite the careful attention of every reader to the proofs which we shall offer:—

1. The Scriptures plainly reveal the fact that Christ is, at different times, to possess two different thrones. See Rev. 3:21, which reads as follows:

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." That Jesus is now sitting with his Father on his Father's throne, no one will question. Says Paul: "We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens." Heb. 8:1. And again: "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God." Chapter 10:12; and others. This is called in truth his Father's throne—the throne of his Father in Heaven.

But there is a promise made in Luke 1:32, 33 concerning the gift of a throne, which has never yet been fulfilled. "The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." This will not apply in any particular to the throne which he now occupies—the throne of his Father in Heaven. The throne which he now occupies is not the throne of his father David; the throne of David is Christ's own throne; because he was born David's son and heir.

2. Israel had a priest and a king. Aaron stood at the head of the priesthood, and David at the head of the kingship. Aaron had no kingship, and David had no priesthood. Now some have inferred that Christ unites the priesthood of Aaron and the kingship of David in his kingly priesthood on his Father's throne. But this is not, it cannot be true. For,

3. Christ is not a priest after the order of Aaron. Heb. 7:11. Indeed he could not be, inasmuch as Aaron was of the tribe of Levi; and, as Paul says: "Our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood." Verse 14. And again, speaking of his priesthood on his Father's throne, Paul says: "For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law." Chapter 8:4. Aaron had no kingly priesthood, as our Lord has; no king sprang from Levi.

4. Christ is not a king of the line of David, on the throne of his Father in Heaven. David could not discharge the duties of priest. One of his descendants, Uzziah, king of Judah, essayed to act as priest, and went into the temple to burn incense; but the Lord smote him for his presumption. 2 Chron. 26:16-21. The throne upon which Christ now sits is not the throne of David.

5. But Christ is a priest after the order of Melchisedec. This Melchisedec was a king; but his kingship had no relation to the kingdom and throne of David. He was also a priest; but his priesthood had no relation to that of Aaron. Christ has a kingly priesthood; he is priest on a throne, but not on the throne of David. The throne of David is his throne by right of birth. His priesthood will sometime cease; he will sometime leave his Father's throne and take the throne of David; and his reign upon that throne will never cease—it will have "no end."

We have been thus particular, because it is necessary that these facts be clearly understood, and remembered. Very many of the errors of current theology grow out of confusion on this point. Those prophecies which speak of Christ's kingly priesthood are often applied to his work on the throne of David. Such an application cannot fail to lead to erroneous conclusions.

Now we think the reader will be prepared to appreciate the following statement: The heathen, the nations, the kingdoms, are not given to Christ during his priesthood—during his occupancy of his Father's throne. To this fact we have referred in our saying that they are not given to him until he ceases to be a Saviour of sinners—an advocate or intercessor. He sits on the right hand of the Father until the time comes that his enemies will be put under him, and no longer. We have quoted Dan. 7:13, 14, which says that the people and nations are given to the Son of man; and chapter 2:44 says the kingdom which the God of Heaven shall set up, of which Christ will be the head, "shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." The setting up of this kingdom which shall stand forever, is identical with giving to Jesus the throne of his Father David, on which he shall rule forever. But this is not given to him during his priesthood—during his occupancy of his Father's throne.

It is necessary here to again call attention to the relation of events presented in Rev. 11:14-19. The last three of the seven trumpets are called woe trumpets. The text reads: "The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. 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. 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."

On this we notice that it is said that the kingdoms of this world are become—not Christ's alone, but—our Lord's and his Christ's. We see but one sense in which they become the kingdoms of the Father, in which the great God takes to himself power, and that is, that the dominion which was given to Adam, and which Adam transferred to Satan (Luke 4:6), God never takes back to himself until the seventh angel sounds. Then he dispossesses the great usurper, takes back the dominion, and gives it to "his Christ"—the second Adam. As to the position of the kingdoms when they are given to Christ, the text further says:—

"And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them that corrupt the earth."

And thus is shown, again, that the nations are angry, warring, rebellious, the enemies of Christ when they are given to him; and as his enemies, are to be dashed in pieces, broken, destroyed.

From the first declaration of our Saviour, that the way of life is narrow, and few find it, and the way to destruction is broad, and many walk therein; and of Paul, that in the last days perilous times shall come, to the prophecy of the final overthrow of all the nations and kingdoms of the earth, the testimony of the Scriptures is clear and harmonious. The harvest, the end of the world, comes when their wickedness is great. The dispensation closes in anger and war of men, and the wrath of God upon the wicked people. Clear as this testimony is, the evidence is by no means exhausted. And these things are hastening greatly; they are now impending. God in mercy is staying the vengeance until his servants are sealed in their foreheads, and then destruction will go forth from nation to nation.

"Yet does one short, preparing hour— One precious hour—remain; Rouse, then, my soul, with all thy power, Nor let it pass in vain."