“BLESSED THE DEAD WHO DIE.” Furthermore, we note a beautiful analogy here; for, thus considered, our Lord’s resurrection a few days after his taking of office as King in typical Israel, corresponds to, or parallels the resurrection of the Church, “the body of Christ” a few days after his taking to himself honor and glory and power as the King of nations, in the Spring of 1878. Not only so, but the Book of Revelation, in a scene which belongs…
THEY KNEW NOT THE TIME OF THEIR VISITATION. – LUKE 19:44. – Our Lord reproved the teachers of Israel because they did not discern the signs of the times; because they “knew not the TIME of their visitation.” His words imply that their ignorance was a mark of carelessness and unworthiness, and of divine disfavor. He said: “Ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” There was a reason, and the realization of…
Continuing our previous thought: The change of nature which our Lord experienced in his resurrection was no less a step upward from the earthly to the heavenly condition, than was the change of nature which he experienced at his birth a step downward from the heavenly to the earthly condition, called “humbling himself,” laying aside his glory. As he laid aside the glory of his spirit being to become a man, so he, in turn, laid aside his humanity in death in…
“THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT.” We call to mind also our Lord’s explanation of spiritual things to Nicodemus, in which he declared plainly that only those who are born again can either enter into, or SEE the Kingdom of God (because as we had previously seen this is a spiritual kingdom, invisible to men. Note likewise here that the Lord never said that those not born again would not enter into the earthly phase of the…
PRESENCE GRADUALLY REVEALED. Foregoing we drew the line of distinction between the parousia and the epiphania or apokalupsis of our Lord, quite sharply, to assist the reader in noting their difference of signification. As a matter of fact, however, the bright shining of the present One is due to begin shortly after the parousia begins; and again, as at the first advent it will be true that “the Light shineth in the darkness, and the darkness comprehends it not.” The revealing of the Lord’s presence begins with the faithful of the Church speedily,…
PAROUSIA IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. The word parousia occurs in the following texts of the New Testament in each of which it should be properly translated “presence:” – “What shall be the sign of thy presence?” – Matt 24:3 “So shall also the presence of the Son of Man be.” – Matt 24:27,37,39 “They that are Christ’s at his presence.” – 1 Cor 15:23 “What is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye, presented before our Lord Jesus Christ at his presence?” – 1 Thess 2:19 That “he may establish…
THE DAYS OF WAITING ARE FULFILLED. (4) Take another line of prophecy: we find that the 1260 days, and the 1290 days, and the 1335 days, so particularly set forth in Daniel’s prophecy, and corroborated in Revelation, have had fulfilments; – The *1260 days ending in A.D. 1799. The *1290 days ending in A.D. 1829. The *1335 days ending in A.D. 1874. *As for more on the particular point in which these dates had their start, please click here and see,…
THE JUBILEE PROPHECY. (3) Note another prophecy, similarly hidden in type in the Mosaic law, – Israel’s Jubilee Year. No one is prepared to understand this line of prophecy who has not first learned that the second coming of our Lord is not for the purpose of destroying the world, but for the purpose of blessing it according to the promise made to Abraham, “in thy Seed shall ALL the families of the earth be blessed,” – with the favors lost in Adam….
TYPICAL ISRAEL’S EXPERIENCES WERE PROPHETIC. (2) Take another line of prophecy, concealed, and yet very simple and easy of appreciation when once the mind grasps it. The Scriptures show us that the fleshly house of Israel and all of its institutions and affairs were typical fore-shadowing’s of the spiritual house of Israel and its higher institutions, better sacrifices, etc. It need not, therefore, surprise us to find that the length of the Jewish age – the length of the divine favor…
“IN THE DAYS OF THESE KINGS.” (1) We have a number of general prophecies, indicating that we are living in the time of the Master’s second presence. We have already referred to Daniel’s testimony respecting “the time of the end,” in which many will run to and fro, and knowledge will be increased, and the wise understand; and later, and as a result, will follow the great time of trouble foretold. Then we have the inspired dream of Nebuchadnezzar, and its…