Man's Sin and Saviour by E. J. Hibbard

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 4, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 39.

Man's Sin and Saviour

By E. J. Hibbard

XIII. Christ's Coming and Kingdom

FOLLOWING the judgment scene, as described by Daniel in the seventh chapter, and the destruction of that power which has opposed Christ and His people, which has made war with the saints and prevailed against them, there comes another and brighter scene. Daniel described it thus: "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. This kingdom of Christ will not be set up in heaven, for at the end of the reign of antichrist, it is stated (in Dan. 7: 27) that "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."

It is further evident that the judgment takes place before the end of the reign of antichrist, for in verse twenty-six Daniel declares that "the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end." The judgment in heaven began in 1844, when God inspired the searching of Scripture on the part of many, and brought out the truth of the Gospel as contained in the sanctuary, thus revealing God's law, which antichrist had thought to change, and leading to the acceptance on the part of many of that part of the Ten Commandments which had been perverted by the power of the Papacy. It also established, upon the firm Protestant foundation of "the Bible and the Bible only," a class of people who have grown and multiplied, and extended the Gospel, which recognizes God's Word as a standard, to every nation and kindred and tongue and people which inhabits this globe.

This is exactly what one would expect from the prophecies we have briefly considered. But opposed to this law stands the dragon mentioned in Rev. 12: 17, and the beast, or antichrist, mentioned in Dan. 7: 25, the agent through which God's law was changed. Revelation 13 and 14 reveal earthly powers which will combine against the people and commandments of God in the final issue; and contrasted with these powers John announces, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14: 12.

This conflict will continue until Christ's work in the heavenly sanctuary is finished; and when it is finished, John says, "The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled." Rev. 15: 8.

The temple service concluded, we must know that probation is ended; and that probation will end before Christ returns we are sure from the following words: "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22: 11, 12. By this we know that the time will come when no person will change his condition. The righteous will be righteous still, and the unjust will be unjust still. And after that, "behold, I come quickly." Revelation 16 describes the plagues which take place during that time in which no one may enter the temple of God in service for guilty man; and the seventh of these plagues brings the Son of God to earth, for by comparing Rev. 16: 17-20 with Rev. 6: 14-17 it will be seen that the events connected with the seventh plague are events which occur at the visible, personal appearing of the Son of God the second time to this earth. Rev. 19: 19-21 declares that at His coming every opponent of God will be destroyed. Revelation 20 speaks of a thousand years in which Satan will be bound. The risen saints are translated, and will reign with Christ a thousand years, and the rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years are finished. And when the thousand years are finished, Satan with the resurrected hosts of evil will make their last stand against Christ and His redeemed, ending in the destruction of sin and Satan, the melting of earth and germ-polluted atmosphere in one vast sea of fire and brimstone. Rev. 20: 7-13. Then, after that, John adds, in Rev. 21: 1-5: "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

The lake of fire and brimstone, with Satan and the wicked, were found on the old earth, the present world. This was burned until it "passed away," and out of its elements God calls into being a new earth with the atmospheric heavens surrounding it as in the beginning; but on this new earth there is no lake of fire, no devil, no sin, no sickness, no death, and no crime; for "the former things are passed away."

In the beginning God pronounced His creation good. But sin entered, and with sin the curse. About six thousand years have rolled their weary course around, and the time is at hand for God to destroy that which has caused all this misery and havoc. And when it is destroyed, as we have just read, then shall come the new earth. "And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show unto His servants the things which must shortly be done." "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22: 3-6, 20.