NATIONAL REFORM—A NEW HYPOTHESIS.
By Rev. J. B. Galloway
NEW to many who neglect future history as revealed in the prophetic word, and who make no proper distinction between the church, the world, and the kingdom. There is a class of scriptures which seems to be entirely and studiously overlooked by those who are at the front in the discussion of this subject; and hence they are continually setting before the church and the world a false hope. If these scriptures were received in the fullness of their teaching, a new face would be given to the whole subject, and these apostles of reform would then go forth in the spirit and power of Jonah and John the Baptist to the rebel nations of to-day. The controversy seems to bring on the question: "What is Christ's present relation to the kingdoms of the world? Is he now de facto King of nations, or is what he said true, 'My kingdom is not of this world'—i. e., not of the present order of things—which, in another place, is called 'the present evil world'?" Now, there are many Christians just simple enough to believe this particular scripture, and, consequently, that this world will be evil as long as it lasts, or until "the dispensation of the fullness of times." "Earth's foundations are all gone out, of course;" and so they will remain until government shall revert to Him whose right it is. This evidently has not taken place. But this is just the point in the controversy. Does Christ not say, "All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth"? Yes; but this does not prove that he has entered upon this all-power. David was anointed king long before he took the throne, and he is a very vivid type of the Christ. From eternity Christ was Prophet, Priest, and King, yet he did not literally exercise the office of a prophet until he was made flesh and dwelt among us; and later still he exercised literally the office of priest when he entered into Heaven itself with his own blood, where he ever liveth to make intercession for us. But never yet has he literally exercised the kingly office, although born to this end. We meet still another objection: "Does he not rule and defend the church, restrain and conquer all his and her enemies?" Yes; but this does not necessarily imply kingship. The father of a family does all this, according to his measure, and yet he is not king in any correct sense. But this is the very way in which Christ exercises authority over the church. "He is the head of the body, the church." "We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." It is a far closer relationship Christ sustains to the church than that of king; he is absolutely one with it. The church is part of the government; so that when he judges and reigns, she shall judge and reign with him. Now, his present relation to the state or Gentile supremacy must also be settled by the infallible word. 1. It is absolutely certain that he will reign. All the kingdoms of the world are to become one kingdom in his hand; and this, when it takes place, will be a literal fulfillment of ancient prophecies. Daniel, in vision, saw one like the Son of man come to the Ancient of Days and receive the dominion. He also saw him begin the exercise of his authority over Gentile powers, under the figure of the little stone. Isaiah (9:6) sings of him as though the first and only child ever born to Israel, and he says "the government shall be upon his shoulder;" not a government, as Britain or America, but the government—all government—shall be upon his shoulder. Just as surely as God hath spoken, and as Christ hath literally exercised the offices of prophet and priest, so surely will he, without a rival, exercise the office of king. 2. Both Scripture and the present state of the world agree in declaring that Christ has not yet entered upon his kingly office. Nothing can be plainer than that his kingly prerogatives over the nations are held in abeyance.724 (1) As to Scripture teaching: "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Ps. 110:1. This is the position which Christ now occupies and will occupy until he receives the kingdom. I am aware that National Reformers will claim that the work of subduing enemies is gradual—has been and is now going on by means of the gospel. We do not deny that the gospel is a subduing and restraining power in the world; but Scripture reveals another method God has of reaching enemies, viz., the judicial or punitive; and, clearly, this is the method referred to here, and also in the second psalm; and many other places. To speak of those who are brought under the saving power of the gospel as being made the footstool of Christ, or being broken with a rod of iron, is utterly repugnant to all Scripture and to those who have known the manner of the Father's love. The gospel does not make men bite the dust, but "lifts the beggar from the dunghill and sets him among princes." With this agrees also Rev. 3:21: "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." Not till he takes his own throne will he exercise the kingly office. And we are not left in doubt as to what and where his own throne is: "And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David." Luke 1:32. This of course is yet future, and agrees well with 1 Tim. 6:15: "Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords." When man's day of shameful failure has come to an end, then the Lord's day of glorious triumph will begin. It will require no argument then to convince men that Jesus reigns. He will show it, for it will be the time of his manifestation. For this time of his glorious appearing every believer ought to be waiting, even as also "the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God." Rom. 8:19, Revised Version. There can, therefore, be no complete or permanent national reform until his times. The only hope for distressed nations is the dethronement of Satan by the Lord from Heaven in flaming fire. When he who has gone into the far country receives the kingdom the proclamation will follow, as thunder follows lightning: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ." (2) The state of the world in the past and present gives an emphatic denial to the idea that Jesus is reigning. He is waiting and we are waiting with him, and this is "the patience of Christ." Saul is still on the throne, although our David has been anointed. There is not a Government on earth that believes or acknowledges that Jesus is King; there exists no such thing as a Christian nation. The most that can be said of the best of them is, Christianized civilization. What would be thought of the Czar, the Queen, or the President whose subjects neither acknowledged nor obeyed them? Such an one would be branded as an imbecile, and the reins snatched from his hand. It is irreverent to think of Christ, whose name is "Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace," as the present executive in such maladministration as blackens the world to-day. Satan is the ruler of the darkness of this world (and will be until he is chained and sealed in the pit); and Gentile government always has been, and is to-day, part of this darkness because Christ is not in it. Now if Christ, as is claimed, has really entered upon his kingly office, why find fault with his constitutions and his administration of them? Only infidels find fault with his work as Prophet and as Priest; and, on the same principle, only infidels can find fault with his kingly work, for all must be alike holy, just, and good. The truth is that God hath ordained the powers that be, and is dealing with them in grace because of the presence of the church, and until it is fully gathered. Rom. 11: 25; Acts 15:14. We are, therefore, forced to the conclusion that Christ has not yet taken the reins into his own mighty hands, but is still the Prince of the kings of the earth, awaiting his own times.—Rev. J. B. Galloway.