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This is but one of the many signs by which we are given to know that we are in the vicinity of that second advent. Another is the state of affairs in connection with Russia. All the nations seem to be doing their own will, acting as forced by natural circumstances, and ministering to their own temporal aggrandizement. But as Israel's political affairs were watched over by God, so we must remember that, as Solomon says, "the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water; He turneth it whithersoever He will," in order to work out His purpose. So Russia has a longing to possess the land of Palestine, and is making every move she can to compass that end. The Jews also are being slowly regathered to their own land, in answer to many prophecies, which say that their captivity shall be turned again. The 38th and 39th chapters of Ezekiel's prophecy tell of the designs of Russia upon the Holy Land, just as the Jews are beginning to be at ease there. Under the names of Gog and Magog the prophet says that she is to think an evil thought within her heart and together with other peoples is to say: "I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates; to take a spoil and to take a prey; to turn mine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations." Just as Russia is so doing, another power under the name of Tarshish (identified with none other than the British power) is to withstand her advances. Ezekiel then tells what shall ensue, how that only the sixth part shall be left and turned back; and that the whole power shall be destroyed; Israel, having been before punished for her many sins, now being brought again under the divine favor.

If we look at other prophecies, the 3rd chapter of Joel or the 14th of Zechariah, for example, we read that not only Russia but all nations shall be gathered together when Israel shall be brought again from captivity, and that in the valley of Jehoshaphat, lying between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives, shall be fought that battle of the great day of God Almighty for which the nations are preparing, during the drying-up of the Turkish power. Is not this present the time spoken of? Were ever such preparations for war being made before? All Europe is in a state of excitement not knowing what shall be next, and men's hearts failing them for fear of what is coming to pass on the

earth. But there are a few who are looking for these things as the fulfilment of long-uttered prophecies and as the preparatory work to that age of supreme blessing which shall be the consummation of the purpose of God throughout all ages. Just picture then the scene in the valley of Jehoshaphat, called also the Valley of Decision on account of God's pleading there for His people; all nations gathered there to battle; Jerusalem the subject of yet another siege, greater than any it has yet undergone; half the city going forth into captivity and the remainder just on the point of despair; when, lo, across the valley, on that sacred Mount of Olives, He whose feet have long ago trodden its sides in the silence of the night, again appears as the Savior of the city. The war-engines, the guns, and the cannon of the assembled hosts shall all be then of no avail; for then shall the Lord go forth and fight for His people. His all-powerful arm shall be extended for their deliverance, and He whom once their fathers rejected and whom they have spurned shall be admitted to be the only source of help-the Messiah' indeed, as He proclaimed Himself before. Then shall be a scene which reminds us of the meeting of Joseph and his brethren when he revealed himself to them. Joseph's brethren wept, and the Jews, says Zechariah, shall look on Him whom they have pierced, and mourn for Him as for an only son. There will be no room for saying He is a blasphemer then. If they would not believe His works when on earth before, they will then have seen a more powerful manifestation of His supernatural might and title-one which none can gainsay. It follows also that if all nations are gathered to this great and mighty destruction, all their power will be broken, and nationally they shall exist no more. No! they will have to bow to Him who shall then have proved His power by delivering Israel's children. The monarchs all shall lay their crowns at His feet, and as Zechariah again says: "In that day the Lord shall be King over all the earth, and His name shall be one."

When that universal dominion shall be established at Jerusalem; when all existing human governments shall have been overthrown; when Christ Jesus shall have asserted His rights by that wonderful manifestation of power; then shall those who are His chosen faithful ones, live and reign with Him. “Behold," says Isaiah, "a King shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall execute judgment in the earth. And a man shall be

as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, and the shadow of a great rock in a weary land" (Isaiah 32:1, 2). Glorious tidings these are! No king or queen, however good, can justly be said to reign in righteousness now. And as for the princes, the same is true of them. But as King, Christ is to reign in righteousness, and the chosen saints, His brethren, are to be of the same character. Christ shall reign in Mount Zion and over the other portions of the earth; these righteous princes shall be stationed to execute the will of the supreme King in all parts. They shall be made equal to the angels and shall become partakers of the divine nature. Then no iniquity can flourish, no vice can rear its head above virtue. Those evils shall be gradually wiped out. This age will be the realization of the promises made to the fathers. Israel will be reconstituted as a nation, as the people of God, and over their twelve tribes the twelve apostles shall be rulers. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be there. David will be there also to witness and to enjoy to all eternity the fulfilment of the covenant God made with him.

This will be the salvation he longed for, and truly it will supersede the grandeur of the time of Solomon. That sinks into insignificance before this marvelous scene of glory.

Christ and his brethren, all immortal, sharers of the divine nature will be rulers of the whole world and teachers of righteousness to the people.

During that period all are to know the Lord from the least even to the greatest, and they will require to be taught His ways. They shall seek to know God, and the saints shall be to them as rivers of water in a dry place, and the shadow of a great rock in the weary land. At that time sin and death shall still exist, though in a very mild form. A child shall die a hundred years old. Death and sin will not be abolished till after the millennium of this righteous rule. During that time, the nations shall be instructed in righteousness and fitted for immortality as well, and after that all evil shall cease, death itself shall die, and the state of things brought about will be reflective of that glory which is the Creator's due. The other part of the Eden promise shall then be fulfilled; the serpent's seed shall be bruised in the head. One other part of the covenant remains to be noticed. He shall build a house for My name. Solomon built a temple for the Lord, and so will Christ. The future temple will be far the

grander, and a description of it is given in the last nine chapters of Ezekiel's prophecy. It is to be a house of prayer for all nations, the place in which Jehovah shall manifest His glory. It will be built in the form of a square, each side of which will be more than a mile in length. It will stand in a tract of country at least forty miles square, set apart for the priests and the temple and the King. Truly it will be a worthy fulfilment of that part of the covenant.

And when all these things shall be fulfilled, the whole earth shall be beautified; people and rulers shall be blessed; and all shall minister to the welfare of man. Then shall be brought to pass the song which the angels sang on Bethlehem's plains: "Glory to God in the highest; peace on earth and goodwill among men."

THE BAPTIST CONFESSION OF FAITH, 1660

The following confession of faith, signed by John Bunyan and forty other "elders, deacons, and brethren," and approved by more than twenty thousand others, was presented to Charles II in London, in 1660. In presenting this confession of their faith, these Baptists declared: "We are not only resolved to suffer persecution to the loss of our goods, but also life itself, rather than decline from the same."

"Art. 22. We believe that the same Lord Jesus who showed Himself alive after His passion, by many infallible proofs (Acts 1:3), which was taken up into heaven (Luke 24:51), shall so come in like manner as He was seen go into heaven (Acts 1: 9-11); and when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we also shall appear with him in glory (Col. 3:4). For the kingdom is his, and he is the governor among the nations (Ps. 22:28), and king over all the earth (Zech. 14:9), and we shall reign with Him on the earth (Rev. 5:10). The kingdom of this world, which men so mightily strive after here to enjoy, shall become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ (Rev. 11:15). For all things are yours (ye that overcome this world), for ye are Christ's and Christ is God's (I Cor. 3:21-23). For unto the saints shall be given the kingdom, and the greatness of the dominion, under the whole heaven (Dan. 7:27). Though, alas! how many men be scarce content that the saints should have so much as a being among them; but when Christ shall appear, then

shall be given unto them power over the nations, to rule them with a rod of iron (Rev. 2:26-29). Then shall they receive a crown of life, which no man shall take from them, nor they by any means be turned or overturned from; for the oppressor shall be broken in pieces (Ps. 72:4), and their vain rejoicings be turned into mourning and lamentations, as it is written (Job 20:5, 7).

"We believe that there will be an order in the resurrection. Christ is the first fruits, and then next, or after, they that are Christ's at His coming; then, or afterwards, cometh the end. Concerning the kingdom and reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we do believe that He is now in heaven at His Father's right hand, so do we believe that, at the time appointed of the Father, He shall come again in power and great glory; and that at or after His coming the second time, He will not only raise the dead, and judge and restore the world, but will also take to Himself His kingdom, and will, according to the Scriptures, reign on the throne of His father David, on Mount Zion, in Jerusalem, for

ever.

"We believe that the kingdom of our Lord will be a universal kingdom, and that in this kingdom the Lord Jesus Christ himself will be alone, visible, supreme king of the whole earth.

"We believe that, as this kingdom will be universal, so will it also be an everlasting kingdom, that shall have no end, and cannot be shaken; in which kingdom the saints and faithful in Christ Jesus shall receive the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls: where the Lord is they shall be also."

EPITOME OF THE ONE FAITH

One God, the Eternal Father, dwelling in heaven, in light of glory inconceivable.

One universal irradiant Spirit, by which the Father fills all and knows all, and when He wills, performs all.

One Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, begotten by the Spirit, of the virgin Mary, put to death for sin, raised from the dead for righteousness, and exalted to the heavens as a Mediator between God and Man.

Man, a creature of the ground, under sentence of death because of sin, which is his great enemy-the devil.

Deliverance from death by resurrection and bodily glorifica

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