THE MILLENNIUM. Ir is now a generally received opinion that the time is approaching when we may look for some wondrous and mighty change, which shall greatly affect both the spiritual and temporal affairs of this world; but there is a great diversity of opinion, both as to the nature of the change, and the way also in which it will be effected. That there is a happy, blessed, and glorious day in store for those that shall then be alive to witness and enjoy it, the Scriptures clearly and amply testify; the prophecies especially are filled with descriptions of it; while it is spoken of more or less from the commencement to the close of the Word of God, as the ultimate happiness of man while in a mortal state. The following passages of the Sacred Record may be quoted in illustration :- 1. The woman's seed shall bruise the serpent's head. (Gen. iii. 15.) "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." (Gen. xii. 3. See also Acts iii. 25.) "And the Lord said . . . . As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord." (Numb. xiv. 21.) "Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." (Ps. ii. 8.) 66 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord, and ́all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee." (Ps. xxii. 27.) "Yea all kings shall fall down before him, all nations shall serve him." (Ps. lxxii. 11. See also Ps. cxxxviii. 4.) 66 'Arise, O God, judge the earth, for thou shalt inherit all nations." (Ps. lxxxii. 8.) 66 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." (Is. xi. 9.) And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." (Is. xl. 5.) 66 66 The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." lxvi. 18.) 66 (Is. lii. 10. See also And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of thy children." 13.) 66 (Is. liv. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, and nations, and languages should serve him his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. . . . And the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." (Dan. vii. 14. 27.) "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. iii. 9.) For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering; for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts." (Mal. i. 11.) "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come." (Matt. xxiv. 14. See also Rev. xiv. 6.) 66 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." (Rom. xiv. 11.) "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!" (Rev. xi. 15.) "Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy; for all the nations shall come and worship before thee, for thy judgments are made manifest!" (Rev. xv. 4.) From these passages of Scripture, and many others of like import which might be quoted, it appears that, in the Lord's good time and way, every individual upon the earth shall be brought to the knowledge of God; in other words, shall be converted to him. Nor need this be matter of surprise to any, when it is considered that the same power which opened the heart of Lydia to believe the gospel, can with equal facility open the hearts of all men to believe it also, and thus render the spiritual blessedness of all mankind as complete as is compatible with their state while in the flesh. 2. In like manner, the following texts illustrate the extent to which even temporal blessings shall be enjoyed : . They "Behold I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble, for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear." (Is. lxv. 17-19. 23, 24.) "And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off. And they shall beat their swords into plough shares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it." (Mic. iv. 3, 4.) "Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed, and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt." (Amos ix. 13.) |