preserved in pagan temples by pagan priesthoods through long generarations, was adopted by the nominal Church when she apostatised from the faith of the apostles; and now, simultaneously with the raising up of witnesses to apostolic truth, Satan's emissaries are affirming through "Spiritualism" that he spoke the truth in Eden, and that God did not! Multitudes in many lands are "giving heed" to these "seducing spirits," as the Apostle Paul said they would. The immortality of the soul is consequently held to be put beyond controversy. Do not these communications from the "spirit world" convince those who receive them that domestic matters, and even household secrets, are known there? Of course they do. "Seducing spirits" know their work and obey their master; but it is mournful to think of the havock wrought in churches and families by this abominable delusion. It is, however, a clear and unmistakable sign that we are in "the latter times," just at the end of the age; and it is therefore the duty of all who know the truth to make it known to others, by every means in their power. The resurrection of the dead in CHRIST, which is unquestionably one of the most prominent doctrines of Scripture, and which was repeatedly affirmed by the LORD himself, is likewise ignored by the notion that, between death and resurrection, existence is continued. If at deaththat is, "the death of the body," as it is theologically defined-" the souls of the righteous do immediately pass into glory," and share the full fruition of the beatific vision, then resurrection is at once unmeaning and unnecessary. If the moment Christian men close their eyes in death they open them amidst the splendours of heaven, and enjoy association with prophets, apostles, martyrs, and holy angels,-nay, bask in the glorious light of the Redeemer's presence,-what need is there for resurrection? If the fulness of bliss is attained by the soul of the departed whilst the tears of his kindred are falling around his lifeless body, does it not seem a descent, in every sense of the word, to come back to the world for a body, however pure and noble such a body may be? Retrogression is not in harmony with God's moral processes. Whatever he does tends onward. Every step is a step in the direct line of a glorious consummation, the ideal of which was in his mind before the world was. If the "heaven" of conscious souls, therefore, be a reality, and not a baseless dream, the "resurrection" preached by the LORD and his apostles is not only superfluous, but an unaccountable anomaly in the programme of redemption. Both doctrines cannot be true; which shall we surrender-the popular heaven or the apostolic resurrection? In surrendering the former, which of course we do without a moment's hesitation, we lose nothing but dreams, fancies, the creations of imagination; for all that is really true about the glory, honour, and immortality are post-resurrection facts, torn from their proper place in the all-wise arrangements of GOD. The "glory, honour, and immortality" of the LORD's people are certain, and the heaven which the LORD intends for them is certain too; but these things are all future, and will remain so until the joyful morning of the promised resurrection. The resurrection of the LORD JESUS is the great fact of revelation. It is the crowning proof of his Messiahship and divinity, the grand evidence of the acceptance of his sacrifice, and the solid basis of our hope of resurrection and enjoyment of the age to come. For he did not rise from the dead for himself alone, but for all whom the Father hath given to him, whom he hath repeatedly promised to raise up at "the last day." Who has not admired that piece of wonderful writing in the first letter to the Corinthians ? "If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of GOD; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ, whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised; and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." Such are some of the disastrous consequences most logically deduced from the supposition that Christ has not risen. "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." Here is the declaration of a fact established by the testimony of many competent and most truthful witnesses, to which is added the consoling and blessed revelation that he rose not for himself alone, but as the "firstfruits" of those that sleep in him. "Christ the firstfruits," he repeats, for Paul was full of this magnificent doctrine of everlasting victory over death-" afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming." Listen also to Peter's words of exulting gratitude, and see how in the minds of the Lord's apostles the future life is associated with resurrection: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time." These are only specimens of apostolic utterances on this great theme. The doctrine of these servants and apostles of the Lord was "Jesus and the resurrection." They taught that Christ was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification, and that when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then we also shall appear with him in glory. In a word, their teaching shuts us up to this conclusion-that if there be no resurrection of them that sleep in JESUS, there will be no future life whatever! These and kindred matters of great moment have been minutely examined and largely discussed in this magazine. Eschatology-or the doctrine of the last things--has been its prominent characteristic, just because we were convinced many years ago that there was no way of shaking off the manifold errors of the present but by a careful examination of the revealed future. The theological chaos amidst which the Church is groping is the result of several causes, some of which have been named in this paper. Among other causes there is one which has proved most hurtful to her religious intelligence, we mean the adoption of the unwise counsel of some of her leaders-"Do not meddle with prophecy." The inspiring Spirit asks us to "take heed to it, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place;" but many preachers have ventured to give contrary advice. They have said, "Let prophecy alone; have nothing to do with it; it was not intended to be understood until after the event." This accounts for the very limited acquaintance with Biblical truths which characterises many Christians. To them the future of GOD's dealings with mankind is a blank, although the outline of those dealings is clearly made known for comfort to the loyal and warning to rebels. Of the position and work of the Church when she shall be glorified, how much do they know? Of Antichrist, his deeds and doom, how much? Of the future place of Israel and Judah, how much? Of the arrangements of the nations during the millennium, how much? Alas! it is blank, all. The advice of the pulpit is taken, and the people know not the contents of the wonderful volume which God has placed in their hands. It is sad, it is mournful, it is true! From all these considerations it is obvious that our work is exceedingly important. Under the LORD's blessing much light may yet be shed upon subjects of the highest interest to believers in Christ; and we have unwavering confidence that this will be the case. The blessed Book discloses its priceless treasures to the prayerful searcher, who is led by the Holy Ghost. We have yet much to learn, and as we learn we will teach. Light is given that light may be reflected. The wealth of revelation is the common property of all saints, and no one has a right to keep to himself the gems he finds in the King's treasury. Perhaps we have erred a little in allowing too much discussion, as thereby some readers have been at a loss so to balance arguments as to adopt the view which had the preponderance on its side; but the generosity of our motive will surely be taken into account. This difficulty, however, can be avoided in future. Questions once settled need not be re-opened; that respecting the so-called intermediate state, for example. It appears to us that Mr. Constable's paper in the present issue is exhaustive and conclusive on that subject. And letters on small side issues, by which the heart of a subject is not affected, need not occupy space that could be filled with more important matter. Many readers have asked the editor to state his views on certain matters which have occupied a large place in the RAINBOW. He has done so in the present paper, and means to do so largely in the coming year, the LORD permitting; and now he prays that all his readers may live in the peace and love of our adorable LORD, and HEAD, and LIFE. Amen! THE 66 THE FATHER'S KINGDOM. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." HE Lord Jesus, on being asked by his disciples, taught them to pray as above to the FATHER in heaven. I believe that many Christians consider these words to refer to the millennium. I do not, for I understand them to look beyond the end. of that one thousand years' reign on earth, for the following reasons:Jesus is to reign in his own kingdom on earth, until he has put down all authority and power. "To him every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that he is Lord;" but we nowhere read of every heart being his; for, during that reign, there will be rebellion, and swift punishment accordingly. And in corroboration of this, we find that when Satan is loosed a multitude like the sand of the sea will rise up against the Lord's people and his beloved city, to destroy and persecute;' and fire shall come down from GoD out of heaven, and consume them.† How fallacious, in the face of all this, is the hope, entertained by thousands of Christ's people, that they will be the means of converting the world before the Lord comes (as they think) to the judgment of the great white throne. Strange, indeed, that such an idea should prevail, when the Scripture teaches that the conversion of the world will never take place at all; no, not even during the thousand years' reign of the Lord himself. The last act of man, recorded in the Bible, is rebellion on a scale of gigantic magnitude. Peace, and blessing, and abundance there will be during the millennium; but the quiet and submission of many will be caused by the presence of the Mighty One, and the binding of Satan. The first act of man, as recorded in Genesis, is rebellion, manifested by disbelief of God's truth, and belief of the devil's lie. But this was followed by an act of stupendous grace. Adam and Eve, like Cain afterwards, hiding themselves, and going out from the presence of the Lord, the Lord seeking them, and, in the midst of pronounced judgment, remembering mercy, and giving the precious promise, "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head." The last recorded act of mant will be open rebellion, even in the * Zech. xiv. 16-19; Isa. lxv. 20. + Rev. xx. 9. Rev. xx. presence of the Lord, being as easily persuaded to this by Satan, let loose, as Eve was at the first to eat of the forbidden fruit; but the difference between God's dealings at first and at last will be in proportion to the advantages and knowledge under which the sin is committed. In the latter case, it will be judgment without mercy; for "fire shall come down from God out of heaven and devour them." Man will have been given a fair trial, under every possible advantageous circumstance. In innocence, left to himself; then so wicked as to be cut off by the judgment of a flood; after which, a fresh start; in a few years relapsing into idolatry. Then the call of Abraham, and through him, the Israelites, under law, without law, prophets, wise men, and scribes sent to them, whom they killed, crucified, scourged in synagogues, and "persecuted from city to city; " and last of all, God's own dear Son (who gave grace and truth instead of law): he was used worse than any before him; but he yet left his glorious gospel, which brought life and immortality to light. This Gospel he commanded to be proclaimed to every creature, which was done, in the first place, to Jews, then to Gentiles; and with what effect? Are there any signs, after eighteen hundred years of preaching, of the conversion of the world being any nearer than it was in the Apostles' days? True it is that God is graciously carrying on the work which he said he would, viz. taking out of the nations a people for his name. But, with the enormous increase of the population, can any one say there is a corresponding increase in the Church? Alas! no. And when we look at the state of the professing Church, what do we see ?-the mark by which men should know the Lord's disciplest being almost obliterated, and the great aim of Christians, instead of being that the Lord should “add daily to the Church such as shall be saved," appears to be that they should add daily to their own party numbers who should increase their importance, and constitute them the leading sect on earth! whilst the heathen, who are like the sand on the seashore innumerable, are only being added (as it were) a few grains-easily counted-one here, one there to the Lord's side. All honour to those devoted men and women who go forth to distant lands with this object, and may the Good Lord bless their efforts abundantly; but it is a pity that they see so little fruit, as they think it, because they are expecting to convert nations instead of individuals, which is quite unscriptural in this dispensation, i.e., till the Lord comes. Oh that men would consider the full meaning of James v. 20, "Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." |