OUR COMING KING by L. Boyd

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 19, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 54.

OUR COMING KING.

By L. Boyd

BY L. BOYD.

CHRIST is the nobleman who has gone into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and return. Luke 19: 12-14. This is also plainly predicted by the prophet: "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." Dan. 7:13, 14.

Now the question is, Where will the people, nations, and languages dwell? —Certainly on this earth. And the king will be Jesus, the Son of Man. "Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously." Isa. 24:23. Now if this is not a visible, personal reign, we are at a loss to know what language is designed to convey to our mind. Again we read, in Rev. 5:10, that the redeemed are made kings and priests unto God, and "they shall reign on the earth." Had the Spirit told us that the saints should reign in some other planet, we would not feel like disputing it; should we not believe the statement made in such plain language that "they shall reign on the earth"?

The Lord said (Matt. 5:35), "Neither shalt thou swear by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King." Did he mean in that declaration Cæsar, the then reigning king?—No, he meant no other person but himself. The same declaration is found in Ps. 48:2: "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." This prediction will be fulfilled in the future, when Christ shall reign on earth, and is still farther confirmed by Isa. 40:9, 10.

When the Lord dwelt here on the earth "he went about doing good," and all persons that came to him and requested to be healed of disease were cured; those that came hungry were fed; the dead were raised; the lame walked, and the poor had the gospel preached to them. In view of all this, what Christian can object to having this same blessed person come and rule this world. What did Paul say? "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him." 2 Thess. 2:1. Those who were converted to Christ were commended for turning from dumb idols "to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead." 1 Thess. 1:9, 10. And the apostle James, when he wished to inculcate patience in his brethren, does he tell them there is a great strike at hand that will relieve them, or a fine bank dividend to be distributed?—No, but he writes, "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:8. Again we are told, "When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory." Matt. 25:31. Then "the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Dan. 7:27. The kingdom will be upon this earth; for these predictions are for this planet and no other. When the apostle wishes to show his hope, he writes: "What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" 1 Thess. 2:19.

Springfield, Ohio.