THE MILLENNIUM (cont.) the Scriptures hold out to the nations of earth. The Bible predicts for the weary, worn, struggling nations of the earth a glorious time of rest, peace, justice, and prosperity. Are they enjoying this now? Only in the kingdom of Christ can Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:10; Haggai 2:7; and Zechariah 8:22 be fulfilled. Fourthly, Christ must return to reign for the complete putting down of sin. The Bible predicts that sin will have a hideous culmination in the man of sin, confederate with a godless political head of the revived Roman Empire, and with Satan him self. It also foretells that these will be brought to nought, that Christ will consign the devil to the pit for a thousand years. Are these things true today? Is the devil bound or more rampant, seemingly, then ever? Sin is still rife and its ravages in crease daily all about us. In the mil lennium sin of every character will be brought into subjection. A fifth reason why there must be a millennium relates to God’s prom ise of glory for creation—see Romans 8:19-23. In that day the desert will blossom as the rose; animals of prey will lie down with those who are normally their victims. Read the beautiful words of promise in Isaiah 11:6-9. The deliverance of creation will be realized. In the sixth place, Christ must rule on David’s throne because of God’s promises to Israel for her glory. Nu merous passages like Deut. 30:3; Zech. 2:10-12; Rom. 11:25-27 guaran tee Israel a time of settlement in the land of promise, a time of peace, con version, and glory in the earth. Is this her condition today? Has it ever been her condition? Does it seem likely that it will soon be her condition through men’s plans? These pledges, solemn and true, will be redeemed by God in the millennium. Lastly* there is the most compelling reason of all for the millennium, and it is the exaltation of Christ. It was
no small thing for the Second Person of the Trinity to come to earth and bear shame, reproach, ridicule, and blasphemy. As far as conditions ap pear now, Christ never fulfilled all He proimsed; there remained so much yet to be realized at the time He died. In speaking to the disciples on the way to Emmaus, He said: “O foolish men, and slow of heart to be lieve in all that the prophets have spoken! Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?” (Lk. 24;25, 26). Passages could be multiplied where the Lord Jesus Christ and others (Mt. 19:28; Zech. 9:10; Psa. 72; Phil. 2:5-11) con fidently spoke of the exaltation of the Christ who had suffered, died, and rose from the dead. Li Hung-Chang, the famous Chi nese statesman, and Colonel Dyer were speaking of the authority of Jesus Christ. Said Li Hung-Chang: “Men ought always to admire suc cess. I cannot understand why clever men like some of you Europeans, should actually worship Jesus Christ. Why, that man’s life was a failure and he was actually crucified at the end of it. Now crucifixion is a very painful death, besides being a very degrading form of punishment. How can you call yourselves followers of such a man as that!” Colonel Dyer said: “Well, Your Excellency, I don’t know what you call failure. When a man’s words and the story of his life have influenced many of the best and noblest of men for nearly 2,000 years, I don’t call that failure.” But, ah, there is more to it than that. On this very scene of earth where He was humiliated so, He shall be exalted and recognized and acclaimed! And there must be and will be a millen nium for that! For the agony there will be the acclaim; for-the bane, the blessing; for the cross, the crown; for the gore, the glory; for the thorns, the throne; for the sufferings, the satis faction; and for the ridicule, the reign.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker