14
T H e K i n g ’ s
January 1931
B USI NESS
Premillennialism and Practical Christianity B y P . W. P h ilpott * (Los Angeles, California)
“Looking for that blessed, hope, and the glorious ap pearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2 :13). f TWOFOLD charge is made by postmillenarians : First, that premillennial teachers are, for the most part, “star gazers” or “day dreamers” ; and sec ond, that premillennial teaching paralyzes Chris tian effort. This indictment would be very ser ious if it were true. But, with out the slightest hesitation, we eel we must say that it is not true. In addition to being a falsehood, it is a slander upon thousands of Christ’s most loyal, unselfish, and devout servants. Whenever there is. doubt as to
Second, what kind of fruit does this teaching bear? For answer, let us trace the history of the doctrine. T h e T estimony of t h e A postolic C hurch At the beginning of the Christian era, belief in the second coming of Christ was generally accepted. Speaking of the first two centuries, Giesler says: “In all the works of this period, millenniumism is so prominent that we cannot hesitate to consid er it as universal.” Bishop Newton declares: “This
doctrine was generally believed iri the first three and purest ages.” Gibbon, the historian, states: “The ancient and popular doctrine, of the millennium was carefully in culcated by a succession of fathers from Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, who conversed with the immediate disciples of the apostles down to Lactantius, who was the preceptor of the son of Constantine. It ap pears to have been the reigning sentiment of orthodox believers . . . and it was productive of the most salutary effects on the faith and practice of Christians.” Thus reliable history adds its testimony to that of the inspired Book and makes it clear that dur- ing the apostolic period, and for at least two hundred years follow ing, all disciples of the Lord Jesus were premillenarians. T h e T estimony OS'' th e M ore R ecent C hurch L eaders Not only did the apostles and their followers believe and teach the doctrine of the second coming of Christ, but the foremost leaders of the church in all ages have held this view. For example, Martin Luther writes: “Some say that be fore the latter day, the whole world shall become Christian. This is a falsehood forged by Satan, that he might darken sound doc
The Happy Dawn
Light of the better morning, Shine down on me! Sun of the brighter heaven, Bid darkness flee!
the Scriptural authority of a teach er or of his methods, there are two tests which should be applied. First, is the teaching Scriptural? “To the law and the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isa. 8:20). Second, what kind of fruit does the teach ing produce? “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:20). Let us apply these tests to the question of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. First, is it Scriptural? No one
Thy warmth impart To this dull heart; Pour in Thy light, And let this night Be turned to day By Thy mild ray! Lord, Jesus, come;
Thou Daystar, shine;
Enlighten now
This soul of mine!
Streaks of the better dawning, Break on my sight! Fringing with silver edges' These clouds of night! Gems on morn’s brow, Glow, brightly glow, Foretelling soon The ascending noon, Wakening this earth To second birth, When He shall come To earth again, Who comes to judge, Who comes to reign.
who has given careful study to the Bible can question the fact that the premillennial position is upheld by the Word of God. Even among liberals, this point is generally con ceded. A few years ago, an out standing modernist made a state ment to the effect that being a fundamentalist was equivalent to being a premillenarian. The pro fessor who made that assertion rid icules the very thought of the ver bal inspiration of the Scriptures ; in fact, he is one of the most de structive of all the critics. But he frankly admits that if one does be lieve in the inspiration of the Bible, he must, to be logical, be a premillenarian.
—H. Bonar.
trine. Beware, therefore, of this delusion. . . . I believe that the gospel will become despised in the last days. God’s Word will again wax less arid fall off, and great darkness will come for want of true and faithful ministers of the Word. Then will the whole world run wild, sensual, and live' in all security without reflecting. Then shall the voice come and sound, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh,’ for God will not be able longer to endure it.” Richard Baxter is just as clear and emphatic: “For my part, I must confess to you that death, as death, ap- (Continued on page 16)
The scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments abound in clear and positive teaching of the doctrine of Christ’s second advent. This truth is repeatedly stated, implied, assumed, and symbolized. In the New Testa ment alone there are over three hundred direct references to the Lord’s second coming. Therefore, if we accept the Bible as God’s inspired revelation, we should, like the Berean Christians, “Search the scriptures to see whether these things be true.”
* Pastor, Church of the Open Door.
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