banner

Last Updated on :
Saturday, November 22, 2014

 

sp spacer


Contents|| Preface || 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 || 9 || 10 || 11 ||12 ||13 || 14 ||

spacer

Christ on Earth Again


spacer
spacer

CHAPTER III
THE REMEDY AT CHRIST'S RETURN


spacer
spacer


THE work of establishing the new order of things is the work of Christ, and, therefore, of those who belong to him, for he shares his work with them. "The isles shall wait for his law" (Isa. 42 : 4). " Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem", for there shall be his throne, as will be proved. None but the immortal, unerring Son of God could promulgate such a law. Mortal erring man is excluded from all participation, except in so far as he may be subordinately employed as servants are employed in a great house, to deliver messages, to fetch and carry and perform; for, of
10
course, it is never to be lost sight of that the mortal population of the earth, after subjugation and purification, is the basis of the whole operation.
And how could such a law be promulgated and administered successfully among a mortal population except in the hands of divine instruments? A mortal judge can only judge" by the sight of the eye, and the hearing of the ear". Therefore, mistakes are inevitable in such hands in the application of the best law that could be framed: the evidence upon which such a judge must depend may be false, and he himself may be dim of discernment. It is necessary that a law that is to bless all mankind should be administered by those who cannot err, and cannot be deceived. That this is to be so is testified: "He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears, but with righteousness shall he judge the poor" (Isa. 11 : 3). If this is the case with" the Branch" from Jesse's roots, on whom" the Spirit of the Lord shall rest, and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord", will it not be so with his brethren who are to "reign with him"? It is so testified: "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?" (1 Cor. 6 : 2). "Now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known ,. (1 Cor. 13 : 12).
It must be evident to ordinary reflection, based upon the common experience of everyday life among men, that the accomplishment of these things requires that the agency accomplishing them should be a visible, practically working agency: for herein lies its power, that it should be visible, immediate, and effective. God's justice and judgment exist as really now as they ever will: but because they are not brought to bear-because men for a time are allowed to do as they please, subject to each other's coercions only, the wickedness of man is great upon
11
the earth. But let man be daily in the presence of a divine power administered through living agents, that avenges injustice and punishes the guilty with swift and unerring stroke, it is easy to realize that a great change must soon be brought about.
It is not only in matters of judgment, but in other directions that the presence of such a visible living agency is required. A thousand doubts and contradictions arise among men in the present state of things on questions most vitally affecting their ways. There is no one to settle them. "One man's opinion is as good as another's ", as the saying is. It is not quite true, but the principle is acted on; and so the human race staggers along in confusion. But let there be leaders whose word is law, and all this chaos will end, and human life will flow in peaceful harmony.
This is promised. Immortal kings and priests reigning upon the earth supply the need exactly. But if they did not show themselves, and did not interfere, their existence would be of no use. They might as well be in the moon. But they will show themselves, and will interfere, and that most effectually. For this is promised to Israel, in whose benefits all nations will share. "I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding" (Jer. 3: 15). It Thine eyes shall see thy teachers; and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way; walk ye in it" (Isa. 30: 20, 21). Who these teachers are, the apostolic writings reveal; the twelve apostles over the twelve tribes: all the prophets and all the saints in the kingdom, kings and priests unto God.
The recompense of the saints in glory consists in part, of the honour and supreme satisfaction of having the power to bless placed in their hands, and in having their part openly recognized. This is their
12
"reward". The idea of reward may be foreign to some sublime philosophies; but it is an element in the economy of salvation, and it is in harmony with the constitution of human nature. Even supposing it could be successfully maintained that "virtue is its own reward", there could be no {)bjection to the addition of other rewards. The men do not live who would refuse them at the hand of divine munificence, however strongly they might prate under the influence of half-sighted views. " My reward is with me ", says Jesus, " to give every man according as his work shall be." That this " according as " means " in the degree of ", is shown by the other statement, that "he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully". The
nature of the Kingdom of God admits of these degrees. " Have thou authority over ten cities": "have thou authority over five cities". This is the fulfilment {)f the more general promise: "To him that over.cometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne ... tq him will I give power over the nations"; also that other promise: "the trial of your faith . . . might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Christ ".
Sentimental literature has obscured these robust and glorious truths. The Kingdom will be a reality. Salvation is not a dream or a state of idle sensuous bliss. It is an affair of strong immortal men inheriting the earth and ruling mankind. The head of them is Christ. In the carrying out of this affair, there must be details, and one of them is the revelation by Ezekiel: that Christ, the prince, has an estate of his own, of immense extent, embracing thousands of square miles in the best of the land, when it is " like Eden, like the garden of the Lord ", and that in this royal domain--in the very presence and under the wing of the Holiness and Majesty of the whole earth, it shall be his happiness, when he chooses, to confer the
13
happiness and high honour of a special residence and possession upon such as enjoy his special approbation. When such are his sons (that is, his immortal brethren), the inheritance is for ever. When they are mortal servants, it is a revocable gift, and reverts to the owner in the year of jubilee.
It may seem a " gross" conception to those who spiritualize the meaning, but it is scriptural, and it is reasonable and beautiful, and is such an arrangement as none of the most refined and sublimated spirituals of our day despise in actual life. If a well-appointed mansion, in rural seclusion, is a desirable attainment in these mortal days, why should it be a thing despised when righteousness reigns, and when there is immortal strength in the possessors to enjoy the gift without drawback? Whatever sentimental objection there may be, it is a matter of divine promise that the friends of God shall inherit the earth and reign therein with Christ; and Ezekiel's vision is a glimpse of what this means in practical fact. The thing seen is nothing but beautiful and altogether lovely.

 


spacer