Signs of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 30. (8/4/1914)

Signs of the Times

Aug 4, 1914

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 4, 1914

Our Earth Yet to Be as Eden

By Arthur G. Daniells

To Be Eternally the Home of the Redeemed — When Do They Get It?—First Depopulated and Desolated for a Millennium — Triumphant on Thrones of Judgment

By ARTHUR G. DANIELLS

THIS is the second of three articles by Elder Daniells on the general subject of what the future of our earth is to be. Last week he presented some of the Bible promises that tell of this earth's being redeemed from the curse of sin and made the eternal abode of the saved in Christ. This week his article leaves us with the earth in ruins and desolation at the second coming of Christ. Next week he will present the scriptures that tell of the thousand years this earth will lie desolate, what the redeemed will do in that time, and what will take place after the thousand years are past.

It was shown last week that our earth is to be restored to its Eden beauty and become the home of the saints. The promises of God on this point were very dear to Abraham. Paul says he "embraced them." According to these promises, Abraham knew that the time would come when Satan, sin, and sinners would be banished from the earth. He knew that the earth would be molded over, that its face would be renewed, and that it would then appear in all the beauty and loveliness that it possessed at the close of creation. And more, he knew it would then be his home, and not only his, but the home of all the saved, from righteous Abel to those who shall be living when Jesus comes.

HEIRS OF THE EARTH MADE NEW

It is not at all strange that Abraham, with all this before him, "embraced" the promises. The only wonder is that we, to whom these promises apply as well as to Abraham, can be so indifferent to them. That the promises to Abraham respecting the earth are equally applicable to all the followers of Christ, is clearly stated in Gal. 3: 29: "If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Whoever is a true follower of Christ is a child of Abraham, and an heir of the earth in its renewed state.

We now turn our attention to the time and manner of the fulfilment of these promises. When and how will they be carried into effect? It is certain that they will not be fulfilled until after the close of probation. We showed, in a previous article, that all who will be saved are to receive their reward at the same time. To confirm this we quote the following: "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." Rev. 22: 11. This certainly marks the close of Christ's mediatorial work. It marks the point where the destiny of the human race is sealed.

The next event to take place is stated thus: "And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Thus we see that the reward of the saints is not bestowed until the coming of Christ, which immediately succeeds the close of the gospel work. As the inheritance of this earth by the saints is a part of the reward to be bestowed by the Saviour, the fulfilment of these promises can not take place until after the close of probation and the second advent.

All this will appear still more evident as we notice the events that occur in connection with the return of Christ to this earth.

RESURRECTED AND IMMORTALIZED

At His coming, the righteous dead are called from their graves and made immortal. "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." 1 Thess. 4: 16. At the same time, the people of God who are alive are changed to immortality. "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1 Cor. 15: 51, 52.

OUR EARTH IS TO BE RESTORED TO ITS EDEN BEAUTY.

Then will be fulfilled the promises of Christ to His disciples, that they should at some future time go with Him to heaven, the dwelling-place of the Father. In John 13: 36 we read: "Simon Peter said unto Him, Lord, whither goest Thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; but thou shalt follow Me

afterwards." Jesus here plainly promises that at some time His followers shall accompany Him to the place where He was then to go.

In Heb. 8: 1 Paul tells us Jesus went to the Father. In John 14: 1-3 the Saviour not only confirms this, but declares that He will come again and receive His people to Himself and take them to those mansions above.

TRIUMPHANT ON THE SEA OF GLASS

For further proof that the saints are to go to heaven, we refer to the statements of the apostle John in Rev. 15: 2: "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God." This company, after they are redeemed, are to "stand on the sea of glass." When it is remembered that the sea of glass is immediately before the throne of God in heaven (Rev. 4: 1-6), none can deny that at the second coming of Christ all who have overcome, and washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, will be taken to heaven.

WOULD LEAVE THE DEVIL IN POSSESSION

This would leave the devil and his followers in possession of this earth, if no other event took place in connection with the return of Christ. But by reference to other portions of Scripture, we find that Christ's coming has a terrible effect on the wicked. In Rev. 6: 15-17 they are said to be filled with terror at the presence of Christ, and they call for the rocks and the mountains to fall on them, and hide them "from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"

Speaking of this event and this class, Paul says: "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." 2 Thess. 1: 7, 8. Thus we see that at the second advent the wicked are destroyed.

# THE EARTH MADE EMPTY AND WASTE Of the extent and severity of God's judgments on the earth at this time, we have ample testimony. The prophet Isaiah says: "Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof." "The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word." "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left." Isa. 24: 1, 3, 5, 6. This testimony shows that at the presence of the Lord the earth will be "utterly emptied." How? — The wicked will be destroyed and the righteous translated.

Jeremiah also speaks very plainly on this point: "I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by His fierce anger. For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end." Jer. 4: 23-27.

According to this, the coming of Christ depopulates the earth. He says: "I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled." "The whole land shall be desolate." "I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light." It seems the destruction will be so thorough that the earth will appear very much as it did at the first day of creation, before God gave it form and light and beauty.

BOUND IN THE BOTTOMLESS PIT

It is thus that Satan is cast into the "bottomless pit" and bound for one thousand years. If the reader will turn to the nineteenth chapter of Revelation, and read from the sixteenth verse, he will see that the coming of Christ as "King of kings and Lord of lords" is brought to view. We have already seen that at this time He takes all His saints to heaven and destroys all the wicked nations. The destruction of the wicked is graphically portrayed in the closing verses of this chapter. The subject is continued in the next chapter, the first verses of which speak of the binding of Satan. In the fourth verse the saints are brought to view in heaven, sitting with Christ on thrones of judgment. This is in fulfilment of His promise recorded in Matt. 19: 28. The binding of Satan, then, appears to be accomplished by removing from his presence and power every human being. The purpose for which he is bound is that he should "deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled."

"O man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand," are the assuring words of Christ in reference to His trusting people. It is comforting to know that we are in His hand, that He has hold upon us. We are not saved by the feeble hold we have on God, but by the mighty grip of His eternal hand upon us.

G. B. T.

BOUND FOR A THOUSAND YEARS

By Asa T. Robinson

The Millennium Defined — Time When Satan Is to Be Bound — What Is the "Bottomless Pit"? — The City Descends — Satan's Last Work of Deception

By ASA T. ROBINSON

THIS article of Elder Robinson's presents the subject of the binding of Satan and the millennial period in a little different manner from the usual, and will be found a very interesting supplemental study to the article by Elder Daniells beginning on the first page. EDITOR.

THE word "millennium" comes from two Latin terms, mille, a thousand, and annus, year, and means a period of one thousand years. Any period of one thousand years is therefore a millennium.

There is one and only one period of one thousand years mentioned in the Bible, in which certain events are to occur. This period is brought to view in the twentieth chapter of Revelation. A correct understanding of the subject of the millennium, as a Bible doctrine, therefore depends upon the right interpretation of this remarkable chapter, the first nine verses of which deal with this subject.

Verses 1 and 2 read as follows: "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years."

A TIME WHEN SATAN IS BOUND

This one thousand years is a time during which Satan will be bound. We are not to suppose that he will be literally bound, with a literal chain. We must therefore look for a set of circumstances through which the efforts of Satan will be so completely circumscribed that he can be said to be bound, and such circumstances must prevail during a period of one thousand years.

How does the Bible speak of the work of Satan? — "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8.

WHAT CONSTITUTES HIS BINDING

If we find that there ever will be a time, a thousand-year period, when Satan will be left in this world, with no people whom he can seek to destroy, that will certainly constitute his binding.

What will happen to all the wicked who shall be living on the earth at the second coming of Christ? — "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." 2 Thess. 1: 7-10.

RIGHTEOUS TAKEN AWAY

What will become of the righteous people who shall be living on the earth at the second coming of Christ? — "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. 4:17.

What part of the resurrection will take place at the second coming of Christ? — "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." Verse 16.

LIVED NOT TILL END OF THOUSAND YEARS

How long will it be before the rest of the dead — the wicked — will be raised? — "The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." Rev. 20:5.

How long will the righteous be in heaven? — "They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Verse 4. "They shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." Verse 6.

With the wicked all slain at the second coming of Christ, not to live again for a thousand years; and with the righteous reigning with Christ in heaven during that same time; with all, both righteous and wicked, beyond the reach of Satan's tempting and destroying power,— surely he will be bound.

WHERE IS SATAN BOUND?

Where is Satan to be cast at the time of his binding? — "Cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled." Verse 3.

WHAT CONSTITUTES THE BOTTOMLESS PIT?

Let us, by a few simple questions and Bible answers, see if we can learn what will constitute this "bottomless pit," which is to be the prison abode of Satan during the one thousand years of his captivity.

What will happen to all the cities in the world at the second coming of Christ? — "I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by His fierce anger." Jer. 4:26.

How many men will then be living on the earth? — "I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled." Verse 25.

What will be said of Satan at that time? — "They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?" Isa. 14:16, 17.

"LOOSED FOR A LITTLE SEASON"

After being bound a thousand years, is Satan again to be loosed? — "And after that he must be loosed a little season." Rev. 20:3.

If the wicked's remaining dead during the one thousand years, and the saints' reigning with Christ in heaven during that period, constitutes the binding of Satan, would not the bringing of both the righteous and the wicked back upon the earth, be the loosing of Satan?

In Rev. 20:5, already quoted, it is clearly stated that the wicked will all be raised at the close of the one thousand years.

THE CITY DESCENDS

What else did John behold taking place at that time? — "I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." Rev. 21:2. "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God." Verse 10.

What place will be prepared for the holy city when it comes down upon the earth? — "His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south." Zech. 14:4.

Who will be the occupants of the city? — "The nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it." Rev. 21:24.

WITHOUT FORM AND VOID

In what condition was the earth in the beginning, before it was fitted up as the abode of man? — "The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep." Gen. 1:2.

Into what condition will the earth again be brought, when it becomes the prison abode of Satan for one thousand years? — "I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light." The Hebrew term rendered "face of the deep" in Gen. 1:2, and the Greek term rendered "bottomless pit" in Rev. 20:3, have exactly the same meaning. This shows that the prison home of Satan during the one thousand years will be this earth reduced to its chaotic state, as it was in the beginning, when "darkness was upon the face of the deep."

SATAN'S LAST WORK OF DECEPTION

With the saints of God dwelling in the holy city here on the earth, and the unnumbered millions of the wicked all raised from the dead, what will be Satan's last great work of deception? — "When the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." Rev. 20:7-9.

How does the prophet Ezekiel describe the coming of this innumerable army against the city of God? — "Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee." Eze. 38:9.

SHALL THINK AN EVIL THOUGHT

What will come into the mind of the great rebel leader? — "Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought." Verse 10.

Who is this one who shall "think an evil thought"? — "There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the Lord, a wicked counselor." Nahum 1:11. What action will follow this wicked counsel? — "Thou shalt think an evil thought: and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates." Eze. 38:10, 11.

Why will the wicked hosts be deceived into the idea that the city of God has neither walls nor gates? — "The building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. . . . And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass." Rev. 21:18, 21.

WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH

What awful reality will dawn upon the deceived hosts of the wicked, as they look through those transparent walls and gates? — "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." Luke 13:28.

Who only will have a right to an entrance into that city? — "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Rev. 22:14.

HOW THE SABBATH WAS INSTITUTED

By George I. Butler

It Was Made for All Mankind — Christ Was the Active Agent — The Creator's Rest on That Day Fixed It for All Time

By GEORGE I. BUTLER

"THE Sabbath was made for man." Mark 2:27. These were Christ's words. He Himself was the agent of the Father in making all worlds. "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." John 1:3. Certainly He was competent authority to give information concerning the origin of the Sabbath, and the object in view in the making of it. When He says it was made "for man," He means it was made for the race of men. We say, "Man is mortal." The term "man" is often used in the broadest sense, meaning mankind. That must be

Christ's meaning when He says, "The Sabbath was made for man." It was made for his benefit, for his best interests, for his spiritual and eternal good.

HOW BROUGHT INTO EXISTENCE

In order to learn the facts relating to the making of the Sabbath for man, we shall need to go back to the time when the Sabbath and man were brought into existence. We shall find them intimately associated from their very creation, Genesis 1. This grandest account of the creation of our world, and of the race of man, to be found anywhere, is worthy of most careful study.

That God had a distinct purpose in view in dividing the period of His labor in creating our world, into six portions, constituting the six days of creation week, preparatory to His cessation from labor on the seventh day of that week, can not be questioned. He was laying the foundation of the Sabbatic institution. He was, indeed, making the Sabbath for mankind, as Christ declared.

THE ACTIVE AGENT IN MAKING THE SABBATH

Christ Himself was the active agent in making the Sabbath. And so, indeed, He was the Lord, or Maker, of the Sabbath, God the Father and Christ the Son being one in all things made.

Let it be noted that the last act of creative power was the making of man, and the appointing of his sustenance and work. The first part of the sixth day was allotted to the creation of the beasts of the field and creeping things. But the creation of man was evidently considered, by the Deity, as the most important act of all. "God said, Let Us [that is, God the Father and God the Son] make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." Gen. 1:26, 27. The last work in the creation, on the latter part of the sixth day, was the creation of man.

The next step, at the beginning of the seventh day, was the first act in making the Sabbatic institution. There can be no denial that the first event in the making of the Sabbath was God's resting upon the whole of the seventh day of the creation week.

There are just three facts connected with the Sabbath institution: First, God rested upon the seventh day of creation week. No other day did or could become God's rest-day. Second, He blessed it. Third, He sanctified it, "because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made." Gen. 2:2, 3. The blessing and sanctifying of the day is declared to be because He had first rested upon it. "Sabbath" is a Hebrew term meaning simply "rest."

Evidently the blessing and sanctifying of the seventh day must have taken place after the seventh day had passed. The language used, "because that in it He had rested"—past tense—makes this conclusion absolutely certain.

FOUNDATION TO STAND FOREVER

The cessation of the Creator's work for a period of twenty-four hours was a wonderful thing, a marvelous thing. On a certain occasion, when Christ had performed a miracle on the Sabbath, the Jews sought to kill Him for breaking their traditions concerning the Sabbath. Christ said to them, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." John 5:17. God's works are seen throughout the universe. They are constant. But He rested on the seventh day of creation week, for so His word declares. He did thus because He was laying the foundation of the Sabbatic institution, which was to last during the existence of this world—yea, through eternal ages, or while mankind exists. Isa. 66:23.

This rest of the Creator was a monumental event, and He blessed and sanctified that day as soon as His rest was completed. He blessed it. That which Jehovah blesses is blessed. The seventh day was made a better day than the other six days of the week. A higher honor was placed upon it. The blessing was not placed upon that particular twenty-four hours on which He had rested, for that day was in the past, and would never exist again. But the blessing and exaltation was for all the future seventh days, which should recur in all the weeks of future time. When men trample on and show despite to the sacred day of Jehovah's rest, they dishonor the day that the Creator honored.

AN EXALTED MEMORIAL

He sanctified the day of His rest. To sanctify is to set apart to a sacred or holy use. The Sabbath was made for mankind. To set apart that day for man, is, in short, to inform man of its sacred character, and teach him to use it differently from the other working-days. It is God's sacred day. It is emphatically a religious day, the one specific day devoted to religious duties and privileges. Man's nature requires such a day. It is an exalted memorial, set up for all time, to keep in memory God's work in creation. He ceased from His labors on that seventh day of creation week. He directs that we do the same on the return of each seventh day.

In the creation of the Sabbath institution, God made the weekly divisions of time. The twenty-four hour day marks a revolution of the earth on its axis. The month is derived from the moon's phases. The year is the period occupied by the earth in making its revolution around the sun. But the week has its origin in the Sabbatic institution. No other origin can reasonably be assigned to it.

Christ declares, "The Sabbath was made for man." We thus comprehend, step by step, how it was made.

“Thou Shalt Call His Name Jesus”

By Francis M. Burg

“THOU shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21.

The disposition to forgive an offender is the most beautiful trait that can be exhibited in human life. He who possesses this crowning grace in the greatest degree, is the nearest like Jesus. When He comes, we shall be “like Him.” 1 John 3:2. So let us learn this beautiful lesson as it was taught and exemplified by the One who, before His birth, was called Jesus.

“He will abundantly pardon.” Isa. 55:7. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isa. 1:18.

“He delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18, 19.

“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” Rom. 3:25.

O that we may know Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, and who “washed us from our sins in His own blood”! Gal. 2:20; Rev. 1:5.

FRANCIS M. BURG.

Five Words With Understanding

By Paul

I THANK my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.—Paul.

Hail to the Sacred Day

By Henry F. Lyte

With joy we hail the sacred day Which God has called His own. With joy the summons we obey, To worship at His throne.

Thy chosen temple, Lord, how fair, Where willing votaries throng To breathe the humble, fervent prayer, And pour the choral song!

Spirit of grace, O, deign to dwell Within Thy church below! Make her in holiness excel, With pure devotion glow.

Let peace within her walls be found. Let all her sons unite To spread with grateful zeal around, Her clear and shining light.

Then hail, thou sacred, blessed day, The best of all the seven, When hearts unite their vows to pay Of gratitude to heaven! —HENRY F. LYTE.

The Restored Demoniacs and Their Work

By MRS. E. G. WHITE

Freed from the Power of the Demons — Their Reason Restored — Destruction of the Swine — Some Who Regarded Swine above Men — The Rescued Men Make a Successful Missionary Journey

By MRS. E. G. WHITE

IT is morning on the sea of Galilee. Jesus and His disciples have come to shore after a tempestuous night on the water, and the light of the rising sun touches sea and land as with the benediction of peace.

But as they step upon the beach, they are greeted with a sight more terrible than the storm-tossed sea. From some hiding-place among the tombs, two madmen rush upon them, as if to tear them in pieces. Hanging about these men are parts of chains which they have broken in escaping from confinement. Their flesh is torn and bleeding, their eyes glare out from their long and matted hair, the very likeness of humanity seems to have been blotted out. They look more like wild beasts than like men.

RAGING BUT HELPLESS

The disciples and their companions flee in terror; but presently they notice that Jesus is not with them, and they turn to look for Him. He is standing where they left Him. He who stilled the tempest, who has before met Satan and conquered him, does not flee before these demons. When the men, gnashing their teeth, and foaming at the mouth, approach Him, Jesus raises that hand which has beckoned the waves to rest, and the men can come no nearer. They stand before Him, raging but helpless.

THE DEMONS SPEAK THROUGH THEM

With authority He bids the unclean spirits come out of them. The unfortunate men realize that One is near who can save them from tormenting demons. They fall at the Saviour's feet to entreat His mercy; but when their lips are opened, the demons speak through them, crying: "What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God? art Thou come hither to torment us?"

The evil spirits are forced to release their victims, and a wonderful change comes over the demoniacs. Light shines into their minds. Their eyes beam with intelligence. The countenances so long deformed into the image of Satan become suddenly mild, the blood-stained hands are quiet, and the men lift their voices in praise to God.

Meanwhile the demons, cast out from their human habitation, have entered into the swine, and driven them to destruction. The keepers of the swine hurry away to publish the news, and the whole population flock to meet Jesus.

HAD BEEN THE TERROR OF THE COUNTRY

The two demoniacs have been the terror of the country. Now these men are clothed and in their right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His words, and glorifying the name of Him who has made them whole.

But those who behold this wonderful scene do not rejoice. The loss of the swine seems to them of greater moment than the deliverance of these captives of Satan. In terror they throng about Jesus, beseeching Him to depart from them, and He complies, taking ship at once for the opposite shore.

Far different is the feeling of the restored demoniacs. They desire the companionship of their Deliverer. In His presence they feel secure from the demons that have tormented their lives and wasted their manhood. As Jesus is about to enter the boat, they keep close to His side, kneel at His feet, and beg to remain near Him, where they may listen to His words. But Jesus bids them go home, and tell what great things the Lord has done for them.

Meanwhile the demons, cast out from their human habitation, have entered into the swine, and driven them to destruction.

Here is a work for them to do,—to go to a heathen home, and tell of the blessings they have received from Jesus. It is hard for them to be separated from the Saviour. Great difficulties will beset them in association with their heathen countrymen. And their long isolation from society seems to have disqualified them for this work. But as soon as He points out their duty, they are ready to obey.

Not only did they tell their own households and neighbors about Jesus, but they went throughout Decapolis, everywhere declaring His power to save, and describing how He had freed them from the demons.

Though the people of Gergesa had not received Jesus, He did not leave them to the darkness they had chosen. When they bade Him depart from them, they had not heard His words. They were ignorant of that which they were rejecting. Therefore He sent the light to them, and by those to whom they would not refuse to listen.

DESTRUCTION OF SWINE AROUSED THE COUNTRY

In causing the destruction of the swine, it was Satan's purpose to turn the people away from the Saviour, and prevent the preaching of the gospel in that region. But this very occurrence roused the country as nothing else could have done, and directed attention to Christ. Though the Saviour Himself departed, the men whom He had healed remained as witnesses to His power. Those who had been mediums of the prince of darkness became channels of light, messengers of the Son of God. When Jesus returned to Decapolis, the people flocked about Him, and for three days thousands from all the surrounding country heard the message of salvation.

RESTORED DEMONIACS AS MISSIONARIES

The two restored demoniacs were the first missionaries whom Christ sent to teach the gospel in the region of Decapolis. For a short time only, these men had listened to His words. Not one sermon from His lips had ever fallen upon their ears. They could not instruct the people as the disciples who had been daily with Christ were able to do. But they could tell what they knew; what they themselves had seen, and heard, and felt of the Saviour's power. This is what every one can do whose heart has been touched by the grace of God. This is the witness for which our Lord calls, and for want of which the world is perishing.

A LIVING FORCE TO CHANGE THE LIFE

The gospel is to be presented, not as a lifeless theory, but as a living force to change the life. God would have His servants bear testimony to the fact that through His grace men may possess Christlikeness of character, and may rejoice in the assurance of His great love. He would have us bear testimony to the fact that He can not be satisfied until all who will accept salvation are reclaimed, and reinstated in their holy privileges as His sons and daughters.

Even those whose course has been most offensive to Him He freely accepts. When they repent, He imparts to them His divine Spirit, and sends them forth into the camp of the disloyal to proclaim His mercy. Souls that have been degraded into instruments of Satan are still, through the power of Christ, transformed into messengers of righteousness, and are sent forth to tell how great things the Lord hath done for them, and hath had compassion on them.

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