No. 765
“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11:9)
All mankind having been accustomed to misrule and misgovernment, it was necessary that Israel be given assurances about the Kingdom of Messiah which God would one day set up on earth. Thus the Prophet Isaiah points out that the Kingdom will not only have good motives and intentions, but it will also possess superior knowledge and judgment. The new King will not need to rely upon the common channels of information in the giving of His blessings and in the administering of His reproofs and chastisements, but will have a superhuman endowment of power by which He will know the very thoughts and intents of the heart. He will not need to judge after the hearing of the ear or by the sight of the eye, as must all earthly rulers, however well intentioned.
It was also proper for Israel and all others to know that the Kingdom of God will be absolutely just and impartial, because all their past experiences demonstrated that even the wisest and best rulers, lawmakers, judges, etc., have been largely governed by selfishness. The powerful of the world have amassed wealth and privileges for themselves and their special friends, often at the expense of the poor, the helpless, and the despised. Hence the Lord assures us through the Prophet that earth’s new King will administer equity toward all. The meek and unassuming, who are indisposed to press their claims and to assert their rights, will have His particular assistance. The poor, who have few to sympathize, encourage or help them, will find a friend in the new King.
NOT AN EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS
Those who expect the Millennial Kingdom to come as a result of the efforts of the present social order, believing that the world is gradually approaching the Millennium by an evolutionary process, should carefully consider the Word of the Lord through the Prophet. The Prophet declares that when Messiah takes the reins of government, His first step will be to judge the poor and to equitably reprove the rich in the interests of the meek of the earth. (Isa. 11:3-4) If equity had already prevailed by a gradual process, there would be no poor or rich to judge or reprove.
Other Scriptures in harmony with this testimony of the Prophet Isaiah show that the very work which our Lord is to do at the beginning of His reign will be to correct the wrongs then prevailing. Our Lord Himself implied that the earth will be far from being in a blessed condition at His Second Advent when He asked: “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)
The book of Revelation also gives certain testimony on this subject: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. . . . And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” (Rev. 11:15, 18)
BIBLE HARMONIOUS AND CONSISTENT
The position of the Bible is harmonious and consistent throughout. It describes the “the present evil world” (Gal. 1:4) as the time when Satan, “the prince of this world” (John 14:30), rules and the Lord’s true people suffer. It shows that those rightly exercised by the suffering will work out characters approved by the Lord. (2 Cor. 4:17)
The Scriptures point out that God’s faithful saints who suffer now will be granted this glorious new Kingdom in joint-heirship with Messiah. They will be given the dominion “under the whole heaven,” as declared by the angel to Daniel the Prophet. (Dan. 7:27) God will take dominion by force from Satan, and give it to His Son, and His Bride will share His Kingdom. This transfer will be accomplished in a great time of trouble which will end this present world – the present social order.
The Prophet Isaiah says, “But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” (Isa. 11:4) When the Kingdom is first established, not only will there still be the poor who need assistance, there will also still be the wicked. The “rod of his mouth” signifies Messiah’s judgments which He has already expressed, and which have very largely gone unheeded by Christendom.
Remember our Lord’s declaration: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48) This refers to the Day of Judgment, which has been present since 1874. Although Christendom in general has admitted the righteousness of the Lord’s Word, those who attempt to live in harmony with that Word are remarkably few. But the judgment time will come: “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.” (Isa. 28:17) When judgment begins at the nominal House of God, the nominal systems will fall – condemned by that Word. Only the faithful few will be found “worthy to escape” the things coming upon the world. (Luke 21:36) These things are elsewhere described in the Scriptures:
“Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.” (Psa. 2:5)
“I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.” (Deut. 32:41)
“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Rom. 12:19)
“Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.” (Zeph. 3:8-9)
“And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” (Isa. 11:5) The girdle represents diligence and service; the proclamation here is that Messiah will be a faithful, diligent servant of God, accomplishing all the work entrusted to His care.
GREAT CHANGES IN ANIMAL CREATION
The Prophet Isaiah refers to changes in the animal kingdom, stating that the wolf and the lamb, the leopard and the kid, the calf and the lion, will dwell in harmony. (Isa. 11:6-8) This is in full agreement with the general scriptural teachings about “the times of restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:21) Not only is mankind to be restored to its original condition of human perfection and harmony with God, but the lower animals will also share in the blessing and the restoration of order to be accomplished by the Reign of Christ, which we now believe to be very near at hand.
The Genesis account gives no intimation that the animals under Adam’s control were wild, vicious, or at enmity with man. On the contrary, the implication is that they were in complete subjection to their perfect master. We may reasonably conclude that while the human race, under the disintegrating influence of man’s death sentence, gradually lost more and more of the likeness of God in which the first man was created, they at the same time lost the power of control over the lower animals.
We can still see glimpses of this power in the control that some humans are able to exercise over wild animals. Adam was declared by the Lord to be the king of earth, and the lower orders of creation recognized him as such. After mankind lost its original mental power to control the lower animals, a warfare sprang up between them, in which man has been compelled to pit force against force, as he has lost his hold upon the animal creation. The restoration of mankind to that exalted position lost by sin implies naturally, therefore, a restoration of the brute creation to its original conditions, as is suggested in Isaiah’s prophecy. This thought is conveyed in the statement that “a little child shall lead them,” showing that the wild beasts will be brought back into their proper relationship with mankind.
Later in Isaiah’s prophecy, this view of Millennial conditions is repeated: “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.” (Isa. 65:25) The reference here may be to men who were formerly of wolf-like and lamb-like dispositions or character, or it may refer to animals, or to both. The expression in either case signifies a blessed reign of peace. If the reference is to literal lions, it would imply that they will lose their carnivorous dispositions, and that they will undergo some change which will make them herbivorous, as animals were originally created. (Gen. 1:30) It would seem to imply that animals will not then prey upon one another.
That the dust will be the “serpent’s meat” is similar to another statement regarding Messiah’s coming dominion: “They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.” (Psa. 72:9) It signifies the destruction of the serpent, or rather, of the great adversary, Satan, whom the serpent symbolizes.
RESTITUTION IS NOT A CHANGE OF NATURE
The entire testimony of Scripture shows that the blessings to come to the world in the Millennial Age are to be entirely earthly. The declaration that even the brute creation will be changed is a promise that in that blessed day there will no more be a condition of antagonism and enmity between mankind and the lower orders of God’s creatures, but all will be peace and harmony. It would be wholly unnecessary to change the disposition of the animals to bring them into subjection to man, if the entire race were to be changed into spirit beings and become like the angels.
Many prophecies speak of mankind in the Times of Restitution as human beings, adapted to the earth and enjoying the blessings of the earth: “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid.” (Mic. 4:4) “And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.” (Isa. 65:21)
These promises for the world in general do not refer to the class chosen out of the world during this Gospel Age. The promises to those of that class are all spiritual. They are to be made like Christ, and “see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) They are promised a share in Christ’s resurrection – the First Resurrection – and will reign as kings and priests in a Kingdom which earthly beings cannot inherit. As the Apostle said, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.” (1 Cor. 15:50) They have been called with a heavenly calling. They are not of the world, even as their Lord and Head is not of the world. (John 17:16)
The failure of many in understanding these distinctions is a failure in “rightly dividing” the Scriptures, as St. Paul counseled Timothy to do. (2 Tim. 2:15) This process would enable them to understand that the spiritual Kingdom of God consists only of our Lord Jesus and His “little flock” of overcomers, who are to constitute the reigning class. (Luke 12:32)
At first the world of mankind will be subjects of this spiritual Kingdom, and afterwards become citizens, or members, if they come into harmony with its laws and regulations and into a condition of reconciliation with God. They will become the children of Christ, who will be the age-lasting Father of the world during the Mediatorial Age. It will be He who will bring the entire race of Adam – both those who still have a measure of life and those who have gone down into the tomb – back from the condition of death into full perfection of life, if they then prove willing and obedient. Otherwise they will be cut off in the second death – everlasting destruction. (Acts 3:19-23)
THE BIRTH OF THE TRUE ZION
For all who truly love righteousness, the birth of the true Zion, the Church of Christ, will be cause for rejoicing. Although it will at first dash in pieces all the long-cherished hopes of the world, it will be the dawn of real hope for all the world. It will humble their pride and completely wreck the present social order, yet it will become “the desire of all nations” once they recognize its vast superiority to the old order. (Hag. 2:7)
In describing the birth of the “man child,” the Christ, whose Head was born more than nineteen hundred years ago, and the Body of whom is now soon to be born, the Prophet Isaiah exclaims: “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord. Shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.” (Isa. 66:7-9) The particularly marvelous thing recorded here is that a “man child” is to be born out of Zion before Zion travails. This is a striking reference to the fact, elsewhere clearly taught, that the ripe “wheat” of the Gospel Church are to be separated from the unripe wheat and the “tares” at the end of the Gospel Age; they are to be exalted and glorified before the burning, consuming, trouble comes.
This “man child” is the Little Flock, the Body of Christ, the true Zion. This first-fruits class will come out of nominal Zion before the nominal system is overthrown. The great composite Christ will come forth with not one member lacking – and before Zion’s travail has begun. After the man child is delivered, the travail pains of the mother system will begin and she will give birth to a Great Company of children. This Great Company is described as coming up out of “great tribulation” and washing their spotted and soiled robes, making them “white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:14)
The birth or awakening of the Jewish nation will follow the birth of these two classes of the Lord’s people in the early dawn of the Day of Christ. As a nation, Israel has been in the figurative sleep of Hades for over nineteen centuries. Fleshly Zion and Spiritual Zion will rejoice together and then the poor, chastened world will soon begin to join in the songs of praise to the God of all Grace.
What wonderful times are just before us! Though clouds and darkness for a brief time obscure the bright beams of the blessed Millennial dawning, soon the glorious “Sun of righteousness” will rise in splendor, and its beams will rapidly spread over all the earth, scattering the darkness of sin, dispelling the fogs of error and superstition, and bringing the world into the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. (Mal. 4:2)
KINGDOM EVIDENTLY NOT YET COME
In explaining Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the Prophet Daniel shows that when the Kingdom of God is first set up it will be a “stone . . . cut out without hands,” but it will then become a “great mountain,” filling the whole earth. (Dan. 2:31-45) This stone Kingdom, quarried out of the “earth” by the Lord, is at first insignificant in size and seemingly powerless, but as soon as it assumes power, this Kingdom will strike the “great image” representing earthly governments. It will grind it to powder (in the coming time of trouble), and the wind will carry it away. This stone Kingdom is the “holy mountain” referred to in our opening text. (Isa. 11:9) In Scripture, a mountain symbolizes a kingdom, while hills seem to be symbolic of the smaller governments of earth. (Isa. 2:2; Isa. 40:4; Psa. 46:2-3; Psa. 97:5)
Nothing will be permitted to do violence or injury in all God’s holy Kingdom after it has been established. The divine law of love will be enforced by divine power and all who do not conform to it will be “destroyed from among the people,” as the Lord declared through the Apostle Peter. (Acts 3:23) Today selfishness rules both individuals and nations, and there are many influences of evil which hurt and destroy. How evident it is that this Kingdom has not yet come! So we continue to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is heaven.” (Matt. 6:10) We believe this petition, offered by the Lord’s saints for so long, will soon be answered.
After crushing the power of evil and overthrowing the great systems of error and vice, Messiah will accomplish the blessing of humanity by spreading the knowledge of the Father’s character. The Apostle Paul assures us that it is God’s will that all men come to a knowledge of the Truth in order to be saved. He assures us that there can be no salvation without knowledge and none will ever be saved by ignorance. (1 Tim. 2:4; Rom. 10:13-15) As yet only a very few of earth’s billions have come to such a knowledge of God as to be able to exercise faith in Him and in the great sacrifice which He has provided for the whole world.
A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF SALVATION
The fact that few in the present life come to this saving knowledge will in no way thwart the great divine plan, nor make the death of Christ on behalf of the entire race of Adam of no avail. The Lord assures us of this in His Word: “That [Jesus Christ] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9) This includes all who could not in this life grasp the Truth because of mental incapacity or blinding superstition, as well as children who have died before reaching the age where they could know of God and His Truth in Christ. It includes the dead, as well as the living. God has thus made ample provision for all. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Up to the present time, the Lord’s people have received sprinklings of grace and Truth, but the provision for the next age will be abundant and universal: “He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.” (Psa. 72:6) When grass has been freshly cut it responds quickly to refreshing showers and rapidly springs up in renewed vigor. So it will be with mankind, after they have been shorn of all that has encumbered them and prevented the showers of grace from reaching their hearts. How quickly they will respond to the refreshing rains and showers of blessing so copiously bestowed upon them. They will spring up into life and beauty as they drink in the rich supplies of grace! “There shall be showers of blessing!” (Ezek. 34:26)
(Based on Reprint 5573.)
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TWO REIGNS CONTRASTED
In order to grasp the scriptural teachings concerning the coming reign of Christ and the present reign of Satan, it may be helpful to contrast them as below.
God placed man in dominion of earth; Satan beguiled him and made him his willing slave, and thus Satan became the ruler of earth – “the prince of this world.” (John 12:31) His power and dominion is to cease in due time, but as long as it continues he seeks to oppose the will and law of God on earth. Yet, under the guidance of our all-wise God, even the rule of evil is made to work out an ultimate blessing.
SATAN’S REIGN
These are among the Scriptures showing the effects of Satan’s reign on sinners:
“And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.” (Mal. 3:15)
“And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” (Isa. 59:14)
“I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.” (Psa. 37:35)
“But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (Psa. 73:2-3)
“They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.” (Psa. 73:5-7)
“Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.” (Psa. 73:12)
The effects of Satan’s reign on the righteous are shown in these Scriptures:
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matt. 5:11-12)
“Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey.” (Isa. 59:15)
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Tim. 3:12)
“But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another . . . The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.” (Matt. 10:23-24)
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. . . . If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:18-20)
“In the world ye shall have tribulation.” (John 16:33)
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Rom. 8:17)
“Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.” (Col. 1:24)
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Cor. 15:19)
Would that all of God’s children appreciated the teaching of His Word relative to what constitutes marks of His friendship and favor during this present age. They might then realize that earthly prosperity and wealth are not marks of divine approval and favor: “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” (Heb. 12:6) The wealth of the Lord’s people in the Gospel Age has consisted of their abundance of grace and knowledge of God.
THE REIGN OF CHRIST
But now contrast the treatment of evil-doers and right-doers under Satan’s reign with their treatment under the incoming reign of the Prince of Peace.
The effects of Christ’s reign on evil-doers is shown in these Scriptures:
“In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.” (Jer. 31:29-30)
“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezek. 18:4)
“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. . . . For evildoers shall be cut off: but those who wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.” (Psa. 37:1-2, 9)
“For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be.” (Psa. 37:10)
“The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.” (Psa. 145:20)
The Adamic sin and curse having been cancelled by the Redeemer, men will be freed from that condemnation. Everyone who dies the second death will die because of his own sin.
The effects of Christ’s reign on right-doers is shown in these Scriptures:
“Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” (Mal. 3:18)
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.” (Mal. 4:2)
“In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.” (Psa. 72:7)
“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” (Psa. 92:12)
“But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” (Psa. 37:11)
There will be a point when the world of mankind will turn around and see things from the divine standpoint. There will be a great reversal of the present order of affairs:
“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and he is the governor among the nations.” (Psa. 22:27-28)
“And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen!” (Psa. 72:19)
(Based on Reprint 492.)
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