SDA

Christ's Second Coming

CHRIST FORETELLS RETURN

What promise did Christ make concerning His coming?

"Let not your heart be troubled; ye believed in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that wher I am, there ye may be also," John 14:1-3.

What follows the signs of Christ's coming?

"And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." Luke 21:27.

ANGELS AND APOSTLES PROCLAIM IT

At His ascension, how was Christ's return promised?

"And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:10, 11.

How does Paul give expression to this hope?

"Looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13.

What is Peter's testimony regarding it?

"We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty." 2 Peter 1:16.

THE UNPREPARED

Will the inhabitants of the earth as a whole be prepared to meet Him?

"Them shall appear the sign of he Son of man is heavens and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Matthew 24:30. "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindred's of the earth shall wail because of him." Revelation 1:7.

Why will many not be prepared for this event?

"But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of the servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 24:48-51.

What will the world be doing when Christ comes?

"But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be, For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knw not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" Verses 37-39. "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all, Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17:28 -30.

What will the world be doing when Christ comes?

Note.---These text do not teach that it is wrong in itself to eat, drink, marry, buy, sell, plant, or build, but that men's minds will be so taken up with these things that they will give little or no thought to the future life, and make no plans or preparation to meet Jesus when He comes.

Who is it that blinds men to the gospel of Christ?

"In whom the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." Corinthians 4:4.

Note.---"To my mind this precious doctrine --- for such I must call it --- of the return of the Lord to this earth is taught in the New Testament as clearly as any other doctrine in it; yet I was in the Church fifteen or sixteen years before I ever heard a sermon on it. There is hardly any church that doesn't make a great deal of baptism, but in all of Paul's epistles I believe baptism is only spoken of thirteen times, while it speaks about the return of our Lord fifty times, and yet the Church has had very little to say about it. Now, I can see a reason for this, the devil does not want us to see this truth, for nothing would wake up the Church so much. The moment a man takes hold of the truth that Jesus Christ is coming back again to receive His flowers to himself, this world loses its hold upon him. Gas stocks and water stocks and stocks in banks and railroads are of very much less consequence to him then. His heart is free, and he looks for the blessed appearing of his Lord, who, at His coming, will take him into His blessed Kingdom." D. L. MOODY, The Second Coming of Christ (Revell), pp.6. 7.

"This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven,' is the parting promise of Jesus to his disciples, communicated through the two men in white apparel, as a cloud revived him out of their sight. When after more that fifty years in glory he breaks the silence and speaks once more in the Revelation which he gave to his servant John, the post -ascension Gospel which he sends opens with, 'Behold, he cometh with cloud,' and closes with 'Surely I come quickly.' Considering the solemn emphasis thus laid upon this doctrine, and considering the great prominence given to it throughout the teaching of our Lord and of his apostles, how was it that for the first five years of my pastoral life it had absolutely no place in my parching? Undoubtedly the reason lay in the lack of early instruction. Of all the sermons heard from childhood on, I do not remember listening to a single one upon this subject," -- A. J. GORDON, How Christ Came to Church, pp. 44. 45.

PREPARED FOR HIS COMING

When are the saved to be like Jesus?

"Behold, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shal appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2.

What Christ's coming be a time of reward?

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he shall reward every man according to his works,: Matthew 16:27. "And, behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. "Revelation 22:12.

To whom is salvation promised at Christ's appearing?

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation," Hebrews 9:28.

What influence has this hope upon the life?

"We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.." 1 John 3:2, 3.

To whom is a crown of righteousness promised?

"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Timothy 4: 6 - 8.

What will the waiting ones say when Jesus comes?

"And it shall be said in the day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation," Isaiah 25:9.

Has the exact time of Christ's coming been revealed?

"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not angels of heaven, but my Father only." Matthew 24:36.

In view of this fact, what does Christ tell us to do?

"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Verse 42.

Note.---To the secure and careless He will come as a thief in the night: to his own, as their Lord." HENRY ALFORD, The New Testament of English Headers, Vol. 1, p. 170.

"The proper attitude of a Christian is to be always looking of his Lord's return"--- D. L. MOODY, The Second Coming of Christ (Revell), p.9.

What warning has Christ given that we might not be taken by surprise by this great event?

"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharge with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pry always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son o man." Luke 21: 34-36.

What Christian grace are we exhorted to exercise in our expectant longing for this event?

"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:7,8.

What has been the general attitude of Christian toward second coming of Christ?

"The belief of he Christian church in the second coming of Christ appears in Christian literature from the origin of he so-called Apostles' Creed down thought to very recent times.

Note.---These creeds can be found in the classic work The Creeds of Christendom (Harper) by the great church historian Philip Schaff. From that work we quote but two examples:

"The Nicene Creed is the first which abstained universal authority. It rests on older forms used in different churches of the East, and has undergone again some charges.... The original Nicene Creed date from the first cecumenical Council, which was held a Nicaea, A.D. 235." -- Vol. 1.pp 24, 25. The text from which we quote is the original Nicaea, A.D 235:

"We believe in ....one Lord Jesus Christ,... who... suffered, and he third day he rose again, ascended into heaven; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead." Ibid, pp.28, 29.

"The New Hampshire Baptist Confession (1833), which is "widely accepted by Baptists, especially in the Northern and Western States" (Ibid,. Vol. 3 p 742). says:

"We believe that the end of he world is approaching; that at the last day Christ will descend from heaven, and raise the dead from the grace to find retribution; that a solemn separation will then take place; that the wicked will be adjudged to endless punishment, and the righteous o endless joy; and that this judgment will fix forever the final state of men in heaven or hell, on principles of righteousness." --- Ibid,. p 748.

Manner of Christ's Coming

DOES CHRIST COME AT TIME OF DEATH?

Is Christ coming again?

"I will come again." John 14:3.

How does Paul speak of this coming?

"Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Hebrews 9:28.

Did the early disciples think that death would be he second coming of Christ?

"Peter seeing him [John] saith of Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thour me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that disciples should not die: yet Jesus saith not unto him, He shall not die." John 21:21- 23.

Note.--- From this it is evident that the early disciples regarded death and the coming of Christ as two separate events.

"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.' Some people say that means death; but the Word of God does not say it means death. Death is our enemy, but our Lord hath the keys of Death; He has conquered death, hell and the grave... Christ is the Prince of Life, there is no death where He is; death flees at His coming; dead bodies sprang to life when He touched them or spoke to them. His coming is not death; He is the resurrection and the life," --- D. L. MOODY, The Second Coming of Christ (Revell), pp 10, 11.

CHRIST AND ANGELS TESTIFY

At His ascension, how did the angels say Christ would come again?

"When he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come like manner as ye have seen him go into heave." Acts 1:9-11.

How did Christ Himself say He would come?

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels." Matthew 16:27. "Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Matthew 24:30.

APOSTLES JOHN AND PAUL SPEAK

How many will see Him when He comes?

"Behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him." Revelation 1:7.

Note.---Christ's second coming will be as real as was His first, and as visible as His ascension, and far more glorious. To spiritualize our Lord's return is to pervert the obvious meaning of His promise, "I will come again." and nullify the whole plan of redemption; for the reward for the reward of the faithful of all ages is to be given at this most glorious of all events.

What demonstration will accompany His coming?

"The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first." 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

JESUS WARNS OF DECEPTION

What warning has Christ given concerning false views?

"Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it no. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shrew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth; behold, he is the secret chambers; believe it not." Matthew 24:23-26.

How visible is His coming to be?

"For as the lighting cometh out of the east, and shiment even into the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Verse 27.

Object of Christ's Coming

CHRIST COMES FOR HIS PEOPLE

For what purpose did Christ say He would come again?

"I go to prepare place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto my self; that where I am, thre ye may be also. John 14:31.

What part will the angels have in this event?

"And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect form the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matthew 24:31.

THE DEAD AND THE LIVING

What takes place at the sounding of the trumpet?

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and and the dead in Christ shall rise first." 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

What will be done with the righteous living?

"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." Verse 17.

What change will then take place in both the living and the sleeping saits?

"We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moments 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality/" 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.

When are the saints to be like Jesus?

"But we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2.

THE TIME OF REWARD

How many will revieve a reward when Christ comes?

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward man according to his work." Matthew 16;27.

What promise is made to those who look for Him?

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto then that look for him shall he appear the second time wtihout sin unto salvation." Hebrew 9:28.

When did Christ say the good would be recompensed?

"For thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." Luke 14:14.

Have the worthies of old gone to their reward?

"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thig for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." Hebrews 11:39, 40.

When did Paul expect to receive his crown?

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:8.

A TIME JUDGMENT

Will this be a time of judgment?

"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the the Lord cometh with ten thousands of hi saints, to execute judgment upon all." Jude 14, 15.

How did David express himself on this point?

"For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth". Psalm 96:13.

When Paul say Christ would judge the living and the dead?

"I charge three therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom." 2 Timothy 4:1.

What great separation will then take place?

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of this glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate then one from another, as a shepherded divedeth his sheep form the goats." Matthew 25:31, 32.

What will He say to those on His right hand?

"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Verse 34.

What will He say to those on the left?

"Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everalsting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Verse 41.

The Resurrection of the Just

THE ANCIENT HOPE OF RESURRECTION

What question does Job ask and answer?

"If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will anser thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands." Job 4:14. 15.

Why did Job wish that his words were written in a book, graven with an iron pen in the rock forever?

"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the eath: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in flesh shall I see God." Job 19:25, 26.

What did David say he would be satisfied?

"As for me, I will behold they face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with the likeness." Psalm 17:15.

What comforting promise has God made concerning the sleeping saints?

"I will ransom then from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be they destruction." Hosea 13:14.

CHRIST AND THE RESURRECTION HOPE

What does Christ proclaim Himself to be?

"I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, through he were dead, et shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." John 11:25, 26. "I am he thatliveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Revelation 1:18.

Note.--- Christ looked upon death as a sleep. Absolute death knows no waking; but through Christ all who have fallen under the power of death will be raised, some to life unending, some o everlasting death.

Concerning what did Christ tell us not to marvel?

"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are the graves hall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:28, 29.

Upon what one fact does Paul base the Christian hope?

"Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be not no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and 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 on God that rise not. For if the dead rise not, then ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 1 Corinthians 15: 12 -19.

What positive declaration does the apostle them make?

"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of he dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Verse 20 - 22.

Note.---The resurrection of Christ is in many respects the most significant fact in history. It is the great and impregnable foundation and hope of the Christian church. Every fundamental truth of Christianity is involved in the resurrection of Christ. If this could be overthrown, every essential doctrine of Christianity would be invalidated. The resurrection of Christ is the pledge of our resurrection and future life.

FACTS ABOUT THE FIRST RESURRECTION

Concerning what should we not be ignorant?

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." 1 Thessalonians 4: 13.

What is set forth as the basis for hope and comfort?

"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." Verse 14.

What is said of those embraced in the first resurrection?

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hat no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." Revelation 20:6

When will this resurrection of the saints take place?

"For this we say unto you by the world of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. 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 Thessalonians 4:15, 16.

What will them take place?

"Them 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." Verse 17.

How does Paul say the saints will be raised?

"Behold, I shew 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." 1 Corinthians 15: 51, 52.

What great change will then take place in their bodies?

"So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown incorruption; it is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonour; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body." Verse 42 - 44.

What else has He promised to do?

"And God shall wipe away all tears form their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:4.

The Millennium

THE MILLENNIUM AND JUDGMENT

What text definitely brings the millennium to view?

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:...and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Revelation 20:4.

Note.---The Greek may also be rendered, "they came to life and reigned."

Whom does Paul say the saints are to judge?

"Dare any of you, having a matte against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? ...Know ye not that we shall judge angels? 1 Corinthians 6: 1 -3.

Note.---From this and the preceding text of Scripture it is plain that the saints of all ages are to be engaged with Christ in a work of "judgment" during the millennium, or the period of one thousand year.

THE MILLENNIUM BEGINS

How many resurrections are there to be?

"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graces shall hear his voices, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5: 28, 29.

What class only have part in the firs resurrection?

"Blessed" and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power." Revelation 20:6.

What will Christ do with the saints when He comes?

"I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3.

Note.---In other words, Christ will take then to heaven, there to live and reign with Him during the one thousand years.

Where did John, in vision, see the saints?

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred's, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." Revelation 7:9.

Note.---This scripture shows plainly that the righteous are all taken to heaven immediately after the first resurrection. See also 1 Thessalonians 4:16 -18. This accords with the words of Christ in John 14: 1-3, where He says, "I go to prepare a place for you, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Peter desired to accompany Christ to those mansions; but Jesus answered, "Thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me after wards/" John 13:3. This makes it clear that when Christ returns to earth to receive His people, He takes them to the Father's house in heaven.

What becomes of the living wicked when Christ comes?

"As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot;... the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone fro heaven, and destroyed them all Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17:26-30.

What does the Apostle Paul say concerning this?

"When they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them,...and they shall not escape." 1 Thessalonians 5:3.

What long is Satan to be imprisoned on this earth?

"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, and 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 Revelation 20:1-3.

Note.---The words rendered "bottomless pit" in this text is abussos, the Greek term employed by the Septuagint in Genesis 1:2, as the equivalent of the Hebrew word rendered "deep" in our English versions. A more literal waste, chaotic, dark, uninhabited condition. In this condition it will remain during the one thousand years. It will be the dreary prison house of Satan during this period. Here, in the midst of the moldering bones of wicked dead, slain at Christ's coming, the broken -down cities, and the wreck and ruin of all the pomp and power of this world, Satan will have opportunity to reflect upon the results of his rebellion against God.

CLOSE OF THE MILLENNIUM

The righteous dead are raised at Christ's second coming. When will the rest of the dead, the wicked, be raised?

"The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." Revelation 20:5.

Note.---From this we see that the beginning and the close of the millenium, or one thousand years, are marked by the tow resurrections. The Word millennium is from tow Latin words, mille, meaning "thousand", and annus, "year" ---- a thousand years. It covers the time during which Satan is to be bound and wicked men and angels are to be judged. This period is bounded by distinct events. Its beginning is marked by the close of probation, the pouring out of the seven last plagues, the second coming of Christ, and the resurrection of the righteous dead. It closes with the resurrection of the wicked, and their final destruction in the lake of fire. See Revelation 20:15.

What change is made in Satan's condition at the close of the one thousand years?

"After that he must be loosed a little season." Verse 3.

Note.---At the close of the one thousand years, Christ, accompanied by the saints, comes to the earth again, to execute judgment upon the wicked, and to prepare the earth, by a re-creation, for the eternal abode of the righteous. At this time, in answer to the summons of Christ, the wicked dead of all ages awake to life. This is the second resurrection, the resurrection unto damnation. The wicked come forth with the same rebellious spirit which possessed them in this life. Then Satan is loosed from his long period of captivity and inactivity.

As soon as the wicked are raised, what does Satan at once proceed to do?

"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." Verse 7, 8.

Against whom do the wicked go to make war, and what is the outcome?

"They went up on the breadth of the earth, and composed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city,: and fire came down form God out of heaven, and devoured them." Verse 9.

Note.---This is the last act in the great controversy between Christ and Satan. The whole human race meet here for the first and last time The eternal separation of the righteous from the wicked here takes place. At this time the judgment of God is executed upon the wicked in the lake of fire. This is the second death. This ends the great rebellion against God and His government. Now is heard the voice of God as He sits upon His throne, speaking to the saints, and saying, "Behold, I make all thins new"; and out of the burning ruins of the old earth there springs forth before the admiring gaze of the millions of the redeemed" a new heaven and a new earth." is which they shall find an everlasting inheritance and dwelling place.

CONDITIONS DURING THE MILLENNIUM

What description does the prophet Jeremiah give of he earth during this time?

"I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the havens, and they had no light, I behold, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heaven 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." Jeremiah 4"23-23.

Note.---At the coming of Christ the earth is reduced to a chaotic state--- to a mass of ruins. The heavens depart as a scroll when it is rolled together, mountains are moved out of their places; and the earth is left a dark, dreary desolate waste. (See Isaiah 24:1-3; Revelation 6:14-17.)

How does Isaiah speak of the wicked at this time?

"It shall come to pass in the day, that the Lord shall punish the host often high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. " Isaiah 24:21, 2.

Note.---The millennium is a great Sabbath of rest, both for he earth and for God's people. For sex thousand years the earth is inhabitants have been groaning under the curse of sin. The millennium, the seven thousand, will be a Sabbath of rest and release; for, says the prophet concerning the land, "as long as she lay desolate she kept Sabbath." 2 Chronicles 36:21. "There remaineth therefore a rest [margin, "keeping of a sabbath:] to the people of God." Hebrew 4:9. This precedes the new -earth state.

The millennium is the closing period of God's great week of time--- a great sabbath of rest to the earth and to the people of God. I follows the close of the gospel age, and precedes the setting up of the everlasting kingdom of God on earth.

It comprehends what in the Scriptures is frequently spoken of as "the day of the Lord." It is bounded at each end by a resurrection.

Its beginning is marked by the pouring out of the seven last plagues, the second coming of Christ, the resurrection of he righteous dead, the binding of Satan, and the translation of the saints to heaven; and its close, by the decent of the New Jerusalem, with Christ and the saints, from heaven, the resurrection of the wicked dead, the loosing of Satan, and the final destruction of the wicked.

During the one thousand years the earth leis desolate; Satan and his angels are confined here; and the saints, with Christ, sit in judgment on the wicked, preparatory of their final punishment.

The wicked dead are then raised; Satan is loosed for a little season, and he and the host of the wicked encompass the camp of the saints and the Holy City, when fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours them. The earth is cleansed by the same fire that destroys the wicked, and, renewed, becomes the eternal abode of he saints.

The millennium is one of "the ages to come." Its close will mark the beginning of the new -earth state.