NOTES OF THE DISCUSSION IN KANSAS.-THE KINGDOM by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 1, 1877

NOTES OF THE DISCUSSION IN KANSAS.—THE KINGDOM.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

THIRTEENTH SESSION.

Eld. Shick affirmed that the kingdom spoken of in Dan. 2:44, and Luke 1:31–33, has already been set up in the past. To prove this, he read those texts stating that there was to be a kingdom of Christ, that Christ was to be a glorious king, that this kingdom was to fill the whole earth, that all things were to be subject to Christ, &c. Then he argued that this kingdom was established at Pentecost, and that Christ is now king, sitting upon the throne of David and ruling over the house of Jacob. A part of these propositions, of course, were very readily proved, but on others he of necessity made a total failure. In answer to him I took the following positions:—

1. That Christ has a kingdom now, and did have in the days of the apostles. Scores of scripture could be quoted in proof of this.

2. Christians are now in that kingdom. Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:9, &c. These scriptures state very positively that the saints were in the kingdom of Christ then.

3. But this kingdom is the kingdom of grace, or the preparatory kingdom, in which subjects are fitted up for the eternal kingdom. Paul says there is a throne of grace. Heb. 4:16. A throne supposes a kingdom; hence there must be a kingdom of grace.

4. This kingdom of grace has existed ever since the fall. Abel was in that kingdom. In the days of Moses, God said that his people should be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Ex. 19:6. So Paul says that Christians are now priests and kings. Rev. 1:6, 9. The gospel was preached to Abraham. Gal. 3:8. The church existed in the days of Moses (Acts 7:38); and they partook of the grace of Christ. 1 Cor. 10:1–4. Christians are built upon the same foundation that the prophets were. Eph. 2:14–22.

5. That this kingdom existed before Pentecost is very plainly shown by the following scriptures: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matt. 11:12. Then the kingdom of God existed in the days of John the Baptist, who was beheaded long before the day of Pentecost. “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.” Matt. 12:28. The kingdom of God, then, had come at that time. “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” Matt. 21:43. Then the Jews had the kingdom of God previous to Christ’s coming, or else it could not have been taken from them. “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you,” or rather, among you. Luke 17:21. Then the kingdom of God was there at that time. These, and many more scriptures, speak just as plainly of the kingdom of God as existing and being possessed by saints before, as it did after, the day of Pentecost. My opponent was not able to make any satisfactory explanation of this fact in harmony with his theory. In fact, the moment I took the position that there was a kingdom of God already in existence, it took the strength all out of his argument. He did not seem to expect me to admit so much.

6. At the first advent, there was only a more full development of that kingdom of grace, the same as there was of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Notice this fact particularly. The Spirit of God had always been in the world to strive with sinners, to enlighten saints, to confer miraculous powers upon the prophets, etc. Gen. 6:3; Neh. 9:20; 1 Sam. 10:10; Ps. 51:10; 2 Pet. 1:21; Luke 2:25, 26. Yet, notwithstanding this, Christ directly says that the Spirit was not yet given at the time of his ministry. “But this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive, for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:39.

Again: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:7–13.

Now these scriptures, taken alone, might lead one to suppose that the Spirit of God never was given to his people till the day of Pentecost; and yet we know that it was, because it is many times so stated. The fact is that Christ only spoke of a more full and copious outpouring of the Holy Ghost; and the same is true of all that is said about the kingdom of God as being at hand, coming at that time, &c.

7. Christ is now a priest and king like Melchisedec, upon his Father’s throne. Heb. 6:20; 7:1; Ps. 110:1, 4; Zech. 6:12, 13; Rev. 3:21; Heb. 8:1.

8. At the second advent, Jesus will deliver up this kingdom which he now holds, and will then take his kingdom. 1 Cor. 15:23–28; Acts 2:34, 35; Rev. 3:21. These texts bothered the Elder very much. They were not at all in harmony with his theory. How to have the kingdom of Christ eternal, and still have it delivered up, how to have it endless, and still come to an end, was something he could not reconcile.

9. Christ in the flesh is to have the throne of David without end. Acts 2:29, 30; Isa. 9:6, 7; Luke 1:32–34; Ps. 89:19–36. These scriptures are very positive and very plain. In his flesh Christ must sit upon the throne of David; his reign is to be without end, to continue as long as the sun and moon in heaven.

D. M. Canright.

(Concluded next number.)