308
The Fundamentals of the blessed prophecies which declare the saints are to reign with Christ. “Know ye not that the saints shall judge the earth . . . Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” “If we endure we shall also reign with Him.” “I appoint unto you a kingdom . . . and ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (1 Cor. 6 :2 , 3; 2 Tim. 2 :12 ; Luke 22: 30.) Whatever may be denoted by promises so full of wonder and mystery, they do not mean that “the saints are to rule on earth in the flesh.” Believers will previously have been “raised in glory,” transfigured, translated. As co-regents with their Lord they may be privileged to perform blessed ministries for the world, but they nevertheless will belong to His immortal and heavenly kingdom. “They are like the angels of God . . . being the children of the resurrec tion” (Luke 20: 35, 36). Such a rule of Christ and His people must secure unparal leled blessedness for the world. “The end of the world” does not mean, in prophecy, the end of the earth and the destruction of its inhabitants; but the end of “the present age,” which is to be followed by an age of glory. The “present evil age” is predicted to close amid scenes of fiery judgment upon the enemies of God, and with portents and convulsions which will affect the very earth itself; but the results will be what is figuratively described as the “new heavens and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Nature itself will become more beautiful and joyous. “The whole creation which is groaning and travailing in pain together until now will be delivered from the bondage of corruption unto the liberty of the glory of the children of God” (Rom. 8 :21 ). In spite of the sin and failures of man, we are not to look for the destruc tion of this globe, but for an era when the true full life of humanity will be realized, when all shall know the Lord from the least unto the greatest, when all art and science and social institutions shall be Christian, when “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more”
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker