APPROPRIATED BY THE DEVIL
By L. E. F.
The Popular Millennial View as Far from the Truth as Heaven Is from Earth
A N interesting editorial appeared in the August number of the King’s Business, under the heading, “The Devil’s Monopoly.” It follows: “For a generation, we have been boasting of our great inventions. We have looked with supercilious contempt upon past generations, that have not discovered or invented the telephone, the telegraph, the automobile, the aëroplane, wireless telegraph, etc. These certainly were great discoveries and inventions, and capable of immeasurable usefulness; but to-day, across the water, they are almost entirely monopolized in the service of the destruction of men, women, and children. They were taken, two or three years ago, as sure signs that the world was getting better, and that the millennium was just at hand; but now even the ambassador of our nation cannot have an automobile for his own use in Berlin, because all the gasoline is monopolized for war automobiles and the destruction of human life attendant upon war. Telegraphic communication by cable and by wireless is largely monopolized in the interests of the military in the various lands at war. The most notable use of the telephone is in communication between trenches dug for the destruction of the men on the other side. The aëroplane and the dirigible are used almost exclusively for war purposes, and are reaping an awful toll of women, children, and noncombatants murdered. These are indeed ‘grievous times.’ If we are in the millennium, it is the devil’s millennium, not Christ’s.” Earnest, thoughtful men everywhere are beginning to sense the “grievousness” of the times. Many of the former self-appointed heralds of the approaching millennium have become silent. And true it is that the twentieth century entrance upon the golden age is not very impressive when stated in plain prose and cold facts. Inexcusable for Their Failure
YET Bible students and teachers were inexcusable for their failure to discern the truth. In clear and unmistakable language was it written that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived”; that “in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be . . . fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” 2 Tim. 3: 13, 1-5. The popular belief that the saints will be on this earth during the millennium is as far from the truth as heaven is from earth; for the saints will be in heaven, and not upon earth, during that thousand years. The popular view is based upon the fallacy of the world’s conversion. But according to the Bible, this fond hope, however desirable, will never be realized. There will be two and only two classes when Christ comes — the righteous and the wicked. Resurrected a Thousand Years Apart
THE Bible unquestionably teaches that there will be two resurrections, one of the righteous dead, and the other of the wicked. These two resurrections are separated by an interval of one thousand years. The millennium opens with the resurrection of the “blessed and holy.” It closes with the resurrection of “the rest of the dead” — the wicked. Rev. 20: 6, 5. At the second coming of Christ, the holy of all ages will be resurrected, and the living saints will be translated. “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4: 15-17. Thus the millennium opens with every righteous person removed from the earth. From 2 Thess. 1: 7-10, we learn that all the wicked who are living when Christ returns will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming. “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” Earth Utterly Depopulated
As the wicked dead “live not again until the thousand years are finished,” it must be apparent to all that the earth is utterly depopulated during the millennium. Let no one be deceived by the false hope of another chance during the millennium. It is the devil’s death lullaby. The millennium will close with the destruction of all who refuse to obey God in the present age. Rev. 20: 7-10; 21: 8. Then from the wreck and ruin of this old world shall appear the “new heavens” and the “new earth” all glorious, and which will be the eternal home of the righteous. Rev. 21: 1-5. Have you placed your trust in Jesus, or are you trusting in some mistaken and fanciful scheme of future opportunity? If we are not safe now, we are not safe at all. If we do not accept Jesus before He comes the second time, we will be utterly lost. Life is short, and the end important. We cannot afford to be mistaken.