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he can get his new scheme brought into working order, a thousand years have run their rounds: which shews us the difficulty he will have with all his cunning and unabated zeal, to get up another such scheme of mischief; for even Satan, with all his gigantic powers. is yet but a created and limited being, and must, in the end, perish in his own corruption, that others "may know the heavens do rule."

The binding of Satan thus disposed of, we approach the resurrection of the martyrs, chap. xx. 4—“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them; and judgment was given to them; even the souls of them who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshipped the beast, nor his image, and had not received his mark in their foreheads, and on their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years; but the rest of the dead revived not till the thousand years were accomplished; this is the first resurrection, on such the second death shall have no power: but they shall be the priests of God and of Christ; and they shall reign | with him a thousand years." Premising our observations with this remark, that the events foretold in this book, at least as far back as we have gone, viz: to the overthrow of Babylon, all seem to be connected with, and rise out of each other. Thus the overthrow of Babylon resulted in the unity and return of the congregation to her rightful husband. The re-union of the congregation with herself and with her Lord results in victory over all enemies, symbolized by the beast, the kings of the earth, and the false prophet. This victory results in the binding of Satan, the prime counter-worker of the Christian king; and from the binding of Satan results a resurrection of saints, who reign in peace and joy with Christ a thousand years. From this concatenation of causes and consequences, it will be seen that the fulfilment of the prophetic

word requires no miracle, for no agent operates, no event occurs, but in harmony with the established laws under which the whole are placed : consequently we are in a good measure prepared, by understanding any one of the preceding events, to know and understand what will naturally follow. Well, what may be expected as naturally to come to pass, after the congregation becomes united, the mystery of iniquity obviated and removed, impediments and obstructions of unrighteous governments all out of the way, and a fair field given for the loyal and true hearted followers of Jesus to occupy with the ancient and uncorrupted gospel in their hearts, and made manifest in all the purity, loveliness, and power of its native tendencies in their dispositions and actions? What a renovation of the moral wilderness of this world—a return of spring after the chilling damps and killing frosts of a long and dreary winter- "when the flowers appear on the earth, and the time of the singing of birds is come”—and the whole face of nature is renewed? What, but the restoration and extension of primitive Christianity, fitly expressed by a "resurrection" from the dead, an increase of converts innumerable as crystaline drops (" from the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth.") And these all brought into newness of life in Christ Jesus, under circumstances to give them the very best type of character, even after such as were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, who bowed not the knee to worship the beast, or his image, and received not his mark on either their heads or their foreheads?

What has thus been stated as likely naturally to result from causes which will then be in effective operation, carries in it, we think, a strong presentiment that this is what is meant by the first resurrection.

To have a concentrated view of the whole of what is annunciated in the

context, we shall shall state it thus:
1st, a resurrection of saints at the
commencement of the millennium
2nd, a resurrection of sinners called
"the rest of the dead," at the end of
it. "Happy and holy is he who has
part in the first."
But not so he who
has part in the second. The death
of anti-christianism, and the imprison-
ment of Satan, its prime mover, are
the life and expansion of true Chrris-
tianity. The liberation and success of
Satan, are the resurrection and multi-
plication of sinners; or these events
synchronize with each other, and
make it apparent what is intended by
the Spirit to be shewn forth.

But, besides the argument of harmony with the scope of the place and

"I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face earth and heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works." John xii. 48, "He who despises me, and rejects my instructions, has that which condemns him. The doctrine which I have taught will | condemn him at the last day.”

2nd. Because, if literal, it proves too much. If a literal resurrection is to take place at the commencement of the millennium, a literal resurrection of sinners must take place at the end of it; for the rest of the dead were to

be accomplished. This must just be as true as the first-both are affirmed by the same authority. Not only so, but if the resurrection of the saints is to be attributed to Christ, the resurrection of the rest of the dead must be attributed to Satan, as it evidently takes place by his liberation. And who ever heard that Satan could raise the dead?

natural cause, we shall proceed to ad-revive when the thousand years should duce others both of a negative and positive character, to prove that a literal resurrection from the dead is not here intended. And 1st, because the time here referred to is not the last day, which, by other scriptures, is affirmed to be the time when the dead shall be raised literally. John vi. 30,"Now this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose none of all he has given me, but raise the whole 3rd. The resurrection in question again at the last day." Verse 40, cannot be literal, because, if literal, "This is the will of him who sent me, it would involve an incongruity, by that whoever recognizes the Son, and mingling resurrected saints with imbelieves on him, should obtain eternal mortal, heavenly, glorious, and spilife, and that I should raise him again ritual bodies, in society with men at the last day." Verse 44," Jesus having bodies of flesh and blood, answered, murmur not among your-mortal, weak, and animal-of the selves no man can come to me, un-earth earthy, and subsisting on earthy less the Father, who has sent me draw him; and him I will raise again at the last day." 1 Cor. xv. 52, "At the last trumpet, for it shall sound, and then the dead shall be raised incorruptible." Now the last day, when the last trumpet shall sound, does not fall due at the beginning of the millennium, nor at the end of it; but at a period remote from both, after Satan has been loosed from his confinement, and gone forth to deceive the nations a second time. Then, after that day, says John, Rev. xx. 11,

products. Paul says, "Flesh and
blood cannot inherit the kingdom of
God; neither can corruption inherit
incorruption." Congruity, adapta-
tion, and order characterize all God's
works. Our present constitution is
wisely adapted to external nature,
and external nature to our constitu-
tion and organs of sense.
He sur-
rounds us with an atmosphere in which
we live and breathe, and has given us
lungs to separate and absorb their ap-
propriate element. He sheds on us
the light of the sun, and has adapted

the eye to behold objects with pleasure in the light of his modified brilliancy. But with our present eyes we could not bear the glory of the heavenly state, or be at all fit companions for angels and glorified saints. Were any of the inhabitants of heaven to appear amongst us in their native splendour,

“Those heavenly shapes

Would dazzle now this earthly with their blaze Insufferably bright,"

and render us as dead men. And hence, in anticipation of this, provision is made in the divine economy against such an incongruity. "When Christ, our life, shall appear, then you shall also appear with him in glory." "It is sown in dishonor-it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness-it is raised in power." And those who are alive on the earth when the Lord comes, we are informed "shall be changed. For, as we have borne the image of the earthy (Adam) | we shall also bear the image of the heavenly," and so fitted" to be for ever with the Lord." But in the passage under consideration no incongruity of the kind is referred to, nor any provision made to meet it. So we conclude that it is not a literal resurrection of the bodies of saints that is here to be understood.

4th. Well, what is it? It is a recovery from that state of depression and death, in which the congregation is held during the reign of the beast. We are informed, Rev. xiii. 7, " And there was given to it to make war with the saints, and to overcome them; and there was given to it power over every tribe, and tongue, and nation." Agreeing with Dan. vii. 21, "I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them." But now the beast itself is a captive, and they are at liberty. From being beneath, they are raised above; from being oppressed by unrighteous governments, they are advanced to "thrones," and have the dominion." "Know you not that the saints are to

judge the world." Dan. vii. 18, “But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever."

5th. Fitly called a resurrection, because of the many who at that time will be converted from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, from death in trespasses and sins to newness of life in Christ Jesus. Doubtless this must be the time, too, of Israel's restoration, "who, because of unbelief, are broken off," but are to be grafted in again. However, this cannot be expected so long as the congregation of Christ is in such a divided state as at present. But when united, as it will be when this vision is fulfilled, the truth will be presented with such overwhelming power of evidence, as to break down their prejudices, and turn them to the Lord. And when brought in, “what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead," and Ezekiel's vision of the dry bones realized? Then, though a literal resurrection be not here, glorious things are spoken of that shall befall the congregation of God, the followers of the Lamb, ere all is finished in this world, and day and night come to an end. And this is told us by the spirit of wisdom and revelation, to incite those who have understanding to co-operate with Providence in carrying forward the gracious intentions of "Him who is Head over all things to the congregation," whom, and for whom, all things were made." So we shall conclude as we began, by a quotation from Isaiah, who gives us a strikingly interesting picture of the church in her latter day glory, coincident with this in Rev. xx. as we think. Isaiah liv. 11, “O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted! Behold I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. And all thy children shall be taught of the

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Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression, for thou shalt not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near thee. Behold they shall surely gather together, but not by me; whosoever shall gather together against thee, shall fall for thy sake. Behold I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord; and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."

Then, though a literal resurrection may not take place till the last day, glorious things are certainly in reserve for the congregation; and as all the evil of which the Spirit gave notice has come upon her, so certainly shall all the good. "The word of the Lord endureth for ever." In the meantime, let no one despairingly insinuate that the plan put in operation when Jesus sent forth the twelve to disciple all nations, has proved a fail"Heaven and earth may pass away, but my word (said Jesus) shall never pass away."

ure.

J. D.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.

WILL the second coming of Christ be personal or spiritual? The affirmative is assumed of the coming as personal. In that assumption, the scriptures, as a whole, and given by inspiration of God, are regarded as our rule of judgment. "To the law, and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." The Old and the New Testament were indited by the Holy Spirit, as it were, upon the minds of the prophets and

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the apostles, and by them committed to writing, for our instruction and salvation. It is the privilege and the duty of every teacher, therefore, to 'preach the word," according as the Apostle Paul gave instruction to Timothy; and to preach that word in opposition to those who " prophecy out of their own hearts," without qualification, commission, or sanction from the Great Head of the Church.

A second rule to be observed is, that to preach the word truthfully, it must be preached in harmony with itself. This is the apostolic method. By this they demonstrated the mind of the Spirit with power and efficiency. They spake the truth, or preached the gospel, "not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

A third rule to be observed and faithfully considered is, that the New Testament is the key of inspiration, whereby the door of the Old Testament predictions, and promises, and threatenings-at least such as apply to the present and the future age, or the latter days-is to be opened, and its treasures unfolded, understood, applied. As a proof of this, we need but to mention the frequency with which Christ and the apostles appealed to those scriptures, in the vindication of certain alleged truths or facts, or the teaching of some important doctrine and the testimony of Peter, in his address to the church "throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia," that " the prophets did minister UNTO US the things reported," concerning the sufferings and the glory of Christ.

Every preacher, indeed, professes to preach the word; but few are careful about the apostolic rule of so comparing spiritual things with spiritual, as to secure an infallible conclusion on the harmony of its testimony, and many neither use nor know the New Testament as a key to the Old. By this means the Scriptures are made

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to contradict themselves- -they cease proportionately to be "the power of God unto salvation to Jew and Gentile"-error is diffused for truth-the shades of darkness gather around professed teachers of the gospel are convicted of false testimony-and the judgment of God consequently hovers and approaches, though still it lingers. These two latter rules of judgment show how the first, or the Scriptures as a whole, is to be understood, and rendered "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect." They are each necessary as regards the whole truth; and taken together, as they must be, they will surely detect and expose error, and all such as teach falsely.

only important as a revealed truth, but, according to the sense thereof assumed, it is vitally so; it is, therefore, needful to discuss, and defend, and earnestly contend for it, as an article of faith delivered to, and received and propagated by, the Christ himself and his apostles.

It is not a truth which we can take for granted. There are many whose notions are extremely vague upon the matter-many have no such expectation as that our Lord will ever come again in person to this earth— many misunderstand and misconstrue it-others misplace it, and nullify its practical utility—whilst others deny in toto that the Lord will ever come again to the earth in person. To each of these ideas there is a class of persons. But, on the other hand, there are many whose judgment is fixed, and formed upon certain evidences, which enables and induces them to

Lord will verily come again in person; and these are ready to give to every man who asks, their reasons for the hope which they entertain, with meekness and reverence.

It would seem as if the Lord had made especial provision for the carrying out of this second rule, and through it the understanding of the entire word, in the conception and arrange-affirm without hesitation, that our ment of the various Concordances, especially Cruden's, whereby we may so readily compare every part of the divine testimony on any given topic, and ascertain also whether any new notion started has its foundation therein at all. Herein possibly we have an advantage superior to what was possessed by the apostles themselves. These things premised, we pass on to the proposition before us, that

The second coming of Jesus Christ will be personal.

Before we can proceed to the direct proofs of this declaration, we should note its importance. Let no man presume to regard it as a mere specuÎation, as uninteresting and unimportant, as out of time and place, now to be discussed. It is either a matter of revelation, according to the obvious sense of the proposition, or it is not. If it be not, it can be ascertained and rejected. If it be, the Lord has revealed it, and "all scripture given by him is profitable," and, because profitable, important to be known and understood. Indeed, the subject is not

We shall, if the Lord permit, present some of those reasons or proofs in our next. MINIMUM.

[NOTE. We are not aware of any contributors to the pages of the Harbinger, who do not believe in the literal, personal coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, to judge the world in righteousness. This is not the controverted point; the question is, will the Lord descend from the Father's right hand in heaven, to reign in literal Jerusalem, and sit on David's literal throne, for one thousand years prior to the termination of this guilty and perishing state? The Saviour is already in the world by his Holy Spirit or he spiritually dwells in his truth and institutions, and in the hearts of his disciples. Nor do we expect, nor are we taught to pray, for any further outpouring of that heavenly and divine agent, prior to the

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