Memoirs of William Miller

CHAPTER 26

EXTRACTS FROM MR. MILLER’S WRITINGS - THE TIMES AND ITS DUTIES - THE KINGDOM OF GOD - A SCENE OF THE LAST DAY, ETC

MR. MILLER’S published writings comprise his Sixteen Lectures on the Prophecies, his Life and Views, of about three hundred pages each, and a number of pamphlets, tracts, etc., comprising reviews of his reviewers, expositions of Scripture, etc. MWM 384.1

Dr. Jarvis remarked that he had “often been edified by his excellent and pious observations on the necessity of being in readiness to meet our Judge.” - Sermons, p. 58. He instanced the lecture “on the Times and its Duties,” and that “on the Parable of The Ten Virgins.” A portion of the latter has already been given; the remainder of the book is devoted to the former, and a few other selections. MWM 384.2

“THE TIMES AND ITS DUTIES. MWM 384.3

“‘The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.’ - Romans 13:12. MWM 384.4

“THE apostle in the context exhorts his Roman brethren to good works, to a holy life in conformity with the law, - the royal law, which teaches us to love God with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves. He then gives the text as one of the most prominent reasons why we should conform to the requisitions of the law: because the night is far spent, and the day is at hand. MWM 384.5

“I shall, therefore, in explaining the text, MWM 384.6

“I. SHOW WHAT THE APOSTLE MEANS BY ‘NIGHT AND DAY.’ MWM 384.7

“II. SHOW THE PROPRIETY OF HIS ADMONITION, ‘CAST OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS.’ MWM 384.8

“III. ATTEND TO HIS EXHORTATION, ‘LET US PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT.’ MWM 384.9

“I. EXPLAIN THE TERMS NIGHT AND DAY. MWM 384.10

“Night and day are used in this passage to illustrate a moral or spiritual idea, which the apostle wished to communicate to his brethren at Rome, and through them to us. 1. Night, in the natural world, is that portion of time in which the face of the natural sun is hid from us, or that part of our earth on which we dwell, in accordance with certain infallible laws of nature, such as light and the vivifying influence of the sun, or the revolution of our earth upon its axis. 2. Night in the moral world is like night in the natural. God is the fountain of all light, life, and holiness, and without his vivifying influence we are left to grope our way in moral darkness. We cannot see things clearly, but we stumble upon the dark mountains of infidelity and doubt. This great Sun of light, life, and holiness, is governed by as immutable laws as the natural sun, yes, and ten thousand times stronger, and more stable; because natural laws may change; ‘heaven and earth may pass away,’ but not one jot or tittle of his word or law shall ever fail. One of these unchangeable laws is, that God cannot look upon sin with the least allowance. Witness the withdrawal of his countenance from Adam in the garden when he sinned, and the beginning of the night spoken of in our text. Adam, like the natural world, turned from God, and all was darkness. He broke the holy law, - ‘thou shalt not sin,’ - and he and all his posterity became involved in a moral night, with only now and then some glimmering star, - some Abel, Enoch, Noah, some patriarchs and prophets, - or a changing moon, - the church, - to shed a glimmer upon this moral night, that may haply lead us to a blessed hope of the glorious appearing of the Son of Man. The ancient prophets and apostles all prophesied of the glory that should follow; these were stars in the night of moral darkness. The church, which Christ in his flesh set up in the world, has sometimes, like the moon at its stated seasons, shown her full round face, and has given strong evidence that there was a sun, although hid from the immediate view of the world, and that she looked, by faith at least, upon the glorious Sun of Righteousness. At other times she has been veiled in a cloud of smoke, or error, which rose from the bottomless pit. Sometimes she has been made gory by the persecutions which have assailed her; for the faithful have waded through trials, changes, afflictions, and death. Yet one thing have they all shown by these things, that this is not their continuing city; but that they seek one to come, whose builder and maker is God. But the apostle says in our text that this night (of moral darkness) is far spent, and the day is at hand; which brings us to consider, MWM 384.11

“Second, what we may understand the apostle as meaning by Day. Natural day flows immediately from light, or the great luminary of the heavens, the sun. Just so the moral day. Wherever God by his immediate presence dwells, and light, life and righteousness are enjoyed, there is day. The gospel is sometimes compared to the sun and light, and where and when that is enjoyed, it is sometimes called day, as in Zechariah 14:7, 8; Psalm 95:7. ‘To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.’ - Hebrews 3:7. MWM 386.1

“But that the apostle did not mean this gospel day, is evident from the text immediately preceding: ’For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.’ ‘For the night is far spent,’ etc.; strongly expressing it to be future. Now if it meant the gospel day, why did the apostle call the time in which he wrote night? Surely, if ever the gospel shone in our world, it was in the apostles’ days. Then, before the antichristian beast, and the smoke out of the bottomless pit, arose on the earth, and darkened the sun, and filled the world with corrupt sentiments, and the minds of men with heretical principles, - before the obnoxious vapors of the doctrine of devils filled the moral air, and the moon was turned to blood, and the stars fell to the earth, - this day must have been, or we must look for it in the future. MWM 386.2

“That the apostle does not mean the gospel day, is evident, also, from the fact that he gives instructions to the Roman Christians how to obtain the gospel armor, which was to be as light to them during this night of moral darkness; for if it had been day their armor of light would be of no more use than a candle at noon. MWM 386.3

“Again. The day spoken of cannot mean death; for death is nowhere in Scripture called day, but the reverse. ‘The night cometh, when no man can work.’ - John 9:4. Then I know not what day the apostle alludes to, unless he has reference to the great day when ‘Christ shall come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.’ That this day is what the apostle meant, is evident, - 1. Because it is a day of salvation, as he says in the context - ‘For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed,’ and ‘he comes the second time without sin unto salvation.’ Again, ‘I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ ‘To the end he may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.’ It is evident that he means this day, also, because the Sun of Righteousness will then live and dwell on the earth, and he shall be the light thereof. See Malachi 4:2: ‘But unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings, and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves in the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet, in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.’ Again, in Psalm 68:18: ‘Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.’ Zechariah 2:10: ‘Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord, and many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of thee.’ Again, Revelation 21:3: ‘And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.’ This is the day, my brethren, which the apostle Paul alludes to in our text; and if he could say, eighteen hundred years ago, ‘The night is far spent, the day is at hand,’ surely, my brethren, we may say now he standeth at the door. And I do most solemnly believe that the day of the Lord is near, yes, very near. ‘Let us, therefore, cast off the works of darkness.’ This brings us to our second head, - to show, MWM 386.4

“II. THE PROPRIETY OF THE ADMONITION, ‘CAST OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS.’ MWM 387.1

“What, then, is meant by works of darkness? In the first place, it is an abhorrence of light, for fear our sins will be brought to light, or made manifest. ‘We love darkness rather than light, because our deeds are evil.’ These characters may be known by their anxiety to destroy the main principles of the word of God. Sin, in their view, is nothing more than a misfortune; salvation is only the good deeds of man; Christ is only a man that set good examples; atonement is only the forgiveness of our Adamic sin; and punishment is only the evils of life! They always are very uneasy, and often angry, if future punishment is mentioned. And we may know they are wrong; ‘for anger rests only in the bosom of fools.’ MWM 387.2

“Again, there is another class who work the works of darkness. These are those who are ignorant of the righteousness of God, and go about (as the apostle says) to establish their own righteousness. These may be known by their complainings. Nobody is right but themselves; they are always justifying their own ways and condemning others; they will ever be framing some plausible excuse for neglect of any duty, and condemning others for the merest trifle. They are strange characters. You may preach to them of their crimes, and they will give it to their neighbor; you may admonish them, and they regard it not. They are so completely shrouded in their mantle of selfishness that nothing makes any impression upon them. Preach law, they have kept it; preach gospel, they need it not; preach duty, they will throw in your face a host of excuses. Their coat of mail is like the hide of Leviathan, - no arrow can pierce it; and I have thought that nothing but the trump of God will ever awake them. Well did Christ say to such characters, ‘O generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?’ MWM 388.1

“There is another class, whom the apostle calls ‘worldly-minded sinners,’ who ‘work the works of darkness.’ These may be known by their anxiety for the world, and their disregard for all the means of salvation. Visit them, and their whole mind is on the world; they can talk freely and flippantly of their farms, their silver, their cattle, and sheep; but not one word about salvation. They can go into a long detail of their plans to gain property; but talk to them of the plan of salvation, and it will be very insipid and dry. The week is spent in hoarding up treasures, and the Sabbath in counting their silver and casting their accounts. They never visit the house of God without some worldly motive in view. They search their accounts oftener than their Bibles; they study more how to obtain the world than eternal life. MWM 388.2

In one word, they are glued to the present evil world; and, when the day shall come, they will, with the rich man, lift up their eyes, being in torment. MWM 389.1

“There is still another class, and they are those who seek for the honors of this world more than to honor God, having men’s persons in admiration. In their works of darkness you may discover them; they are deceitful; their words are smooth as oil, and with their lips they use deceit. They flatter but to destroy; they deceive but to betray; they pretend to be friendly to all, yet are friends only to themselves. They never talk plainly or open-heartedly, brutal ways wound in private. There is no meanness which they will not stoop to do, to obtain their end. Solomon says, ‘He that knoweth and dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him, when he speaketh fair believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation.’ ‘But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.’ - Revelation 21:8. If these things are so, then surely the apostle has done well to admonish us to ‘put off these works of darkness;’ and O! my hearers, we should do well, yes, we should be wise, and that, too, for ourselves, to obey the injunction of the apostle; ‘for the night is far spent, the day is at hand, when every man’s works will be tried so as by fire.’ MWM 389.2

“III. WE WILL NOW EXAMINE THE APOSTLE’S EXHORTATION, ‘LET US PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT.’ MWM 389.3

“The Christian, in this night of darkness and error, is compared to a soldier on guard in the night, and in time of war; and how apt and instructing is the allusion! In the night, on guard, a soldier must have his armor all on; he must not lie down; he must keep awake, not sleep, stand at his post; he must watch the approach of the enemy, hail the approach of a friend, understand the use of his armor, have in readiness the watchwords of the camp; and he will watch for the dawn of the morning with as much anxiety as a bride for the return of the bridegroom. Just so with a Christian in this night of moral darkness. He is called to watch, and to have on the armor of light. He must stand up, and, having done all, must stand. He, too, must keep awake, as says the prophet Isaiah 51:17: ‘Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem.’ He must not sleep, as Paul says, 1 Thessalonians 5:6: ‘Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.’ He must watch his enemies both outward and inward; he must hail and rejoice over one sinner that repenteth; he must learn and understand the use of his spiritual armor; he must be ready with the word at all times, so that he may give the reason of his hope with meekness and fear. And, if he is a good soldier of Christ, he will watch for the dawn of the morning when the Captain of his salvation shall come the second time without sin unto salvation; when his enemies will all be slain, and the shout of victory be heard by all the righteous dead, and the last loud blast of the trump of God shall proclaim universal peace in the kingdom of Christ. MWM 389.4

“Then how happy will that soldier of the cross be whom, when his Lord comes, he shall find with his whole armor of light on! So doing, ‘stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.’ The truth will make you free. It will strengthen you to combat error; it is all-powerful, for God is truth, and He hath all power in heaven and earth. You will never be afraid that your cause will not prevail; for truth is mighty and will prevail. You will never want to use carnal weapons, for the holiness of truth will forbid the thought; and that man who resorts to carnal weapons to support his cause, may depend upon it he is not on truth. MWM 390.1

“‘And having on the breastplate of righteousness.’ This, too, is the armor of God, prepared for us by Christ himself. This righteousness will give us confidence, that we shall not be afraid to front all enemies, even death itself, knowing that in him and by his robe we shall be justified from all things wherein the law could not justify; for we, being weak in the flesh, could not justify ourselves by the works of the law; but Christ becoming the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth, we, therefore, may have confidence, who have fled for refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before us; and such need not be ashamed before him at his coming. MWM 390.2

“‘And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.’ This teaches us that we must walk after the example of John, who prepared a people made ready for the Lord, and Christ, who fulfilled all righteousness. How necessary, my brethren, that our walk be found according to the examples of Christ and the apostles, that our feet may be shod with the gospel of peace, that we may be ready to enter in through the gate into the city! MWM 390.3

“‘Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked.’ This is an important part of the armor. Faith is able to carry us through all the trials of life. By faith we receive and enjoy all the rich promises of God. By faith we live upon his Word, as the children of Israel lived on manna in the wilderness. By faith we please God; by faith we believe in the day spoken of in our text; and through faith we shall be able to subdue kingdoms, work righteousness, obtain promises, stop the mouths of lions, quench the violence of fire; in one word, come off conquerors through Him who hath loved us. MWM 391.1

“‘And take the helmet of salvation.’ This is our hope, and the evidence of this can be obtained only by our diligence in the calling, and by our love for the Author of our salvation. How do we know that we are in a state of salvation? Answer. By our hope. And how do we know our hope is a good one? By its being founded on the grace of God, and not on our works. Then the speaker, say you, has contradicted himself, for he has just told us that hope was obtained by our diligence, and that part suited his belief exactly. You have mistaken me; I did not say our hope was obtained by our diligence, but the evidence of its being a good one. Will not smoke ascend, and will not water run down? If you have a good hope, you have a good heart, and from that heart will proceed good fruits. MWM 391.2

“Again: ‘The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.’ This, being our only rule of life, and the only means of trying the spirits, may be truly compared to a sword, for it cuts off all false rules, doctrines, spirits, and leaves nothing but ‘thus saith the Lord.’ And here, again, we may try ourselves. In every trial do we fly to the Word of God for direction? Do we square our lives by its rules? Is this Word our law-book, our directory? And, like David, can we say, ‘How love I thy law?’ MWM 391.3

“‘Praying always with all prayer, and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.’ These constitute the whole armor of light, or of God, as the apostle calls it in Ephesians 6:13. Here, again, is another rule to try ourselves by. Is prayer a solemn, an interesting, and soul-reviving duty? Do we, in trials, in afflictions, in joy and sorrow, in light and darkness, in coldness and warmth, find peace, comfort, consolation, and reconciliation, in this duty? Or do we pray to be seen of men, or to stop the gnawings of a guilty conscience? Or do we neglect this weapon altogether? Let God and our own consciences decide, and let us decide quickly and justly, for the ‘day is at hand which will try every man’s work, whether it be good or evil.’ - ‘Let us, then, put on the whole armor of light.’ MWM 392.1

“IMPROVEMENT. MWM 392.2

“1. By our subject we learn that the night of sin, error, darkness, and every evil work, is almost spent. MWM 392.3

“2. The day is near when all these things will be brought to light, and every evil work will receive a just recompense of reward. MWM 392.4

“3. We are admonished to cast off the works of darkness. And, MWM 392.5

“4. We are exhorted to put on the armor of light.” MWM 392.6

“THE KINGDOM OF GOD. MWM 392.7

“‘And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.’ - Daniel 2:44. MWM 392.8

“MUCH has been said and written on this by different commentators. Different sects and partisans have seized this text, and applied it to their sect, and proved, as they verily believe, that their sect is the true kingdom of God, which will stand forever. MWM 392.9

“The Catholics say it was set up in the days of the Roman Caesars, and thus claim for the Pope St. Peter’s chair and the kingdom: that to the Bishop of Rome were the keys of this kingdom given at the demise of St. Peter, and that the popes have been the successor and earthly head of this kingdom ever since. The Baptist writers, many of them, say the same, and claim a descent from the apostles for the Baptist church, - making the church what the Catholics do the Pope, - and try to show a regular succession of the church, as the Catholics do their popes. They also claim believers’ baptism (immersion) as an initiatory rite into the kingdom, and that none are citizens of this kingdom until they comply with this requisition. The Episcopalians, or some of them, claim this same kingdom to have been set up in the days of the kings of England; and, therefore, the kings or queens of England are the accredited head of the episcopacy, and rulers over the visible church. The Presbyterians say it was set up in the days of Luther, among the German kings; the Quakers, in the days of Fox; the Methodists, in the days of Wesley; the Shakers, in the days of Ann Lee; and the Mormons, by Joseph Smith. MWM 392.10

“All writers seem determined to have an earthly kingdom, and an earthly head to that kingdom. 1 Corinthians 3:3, 4: ‘For ye are yet carnal; for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?’ Or, as is properly said by James (James 3:14-16): ‘But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not; and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion, and every evil work.’ MWM 393.1

“And now permit me to show that this kingdom is neither ‘earthly, sensual, nor devilish;’ but I shall show - MWM 393.2

“I. WHAT IT IS; “II. WHOSE IT IS; “III. WHEN IT IS; and, “IV. WHERE IT IS. MWM 393.3

“I. WHAT IT IS. It is heavenly; for the God of heaven sets it up, that is, exalts it. It is evidently a holy kingdom, for the will of God is to be done in it as in heaven. Luke 11:2: ‘And he said unto them, when ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.’ MWM 393.4

“It is a righteous kingdom. See Romans 14:17: ‘For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy, in the Holy Ghost.’ MWM 394.1

“It is an everlasting kingdom, - ‘shall stand forever,’ says our text. Psalm 145:12, 13: ‘To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.’ Daniel 7:14, 27: ‘And there was given him dominion and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, 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.’ Hebrews 12:28: ‘Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.’ 2 Peter 1:11: ‘For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.’ Revelation 11:15: ‘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 forever and ever.’ Revelation 22:5: ‘And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.’ MWM 394.2

“As there cannot be two kingdoms, and both stand forever, we must naturally suppose, by the texts which I have quoted, that it must be a glorified kingdom; and, indeed, the last text quoted proves it to be in the New Jerusalem state. See, also, Psalm 24:7-10: ‘Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle...Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.’ Psalm 145:10, 11: ‘All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power.’ Isaiah 2:10, 19, 21: ‘Enter into the rock and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the rugged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.’ Isaiah 4:2-5: ‘In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem; when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory shall be a defence.’ Isaiah 24:23: ‘Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.’ 1 Thessalonians 2:12: ‘That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.’ MWM 394.3

“If it is a glorified and an eternal kingdom, it cannot be an earthly or mortal kingdom. It is an immortal one. Christ says, John 18:36: ‘My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my kingdom not from hence.’ It cannot be an earthly kingdom. And again, 1 Corinthians 15:50: ‘Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.’ If this be true, it cannot be in a mortal state. But I will prove it immortal. Matthew 8:11, 12: ‘And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Luke 13:28, 29: ‘There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.’ MWM 395.1

“This can never be in a mortal state; for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, together with all the prophets, have passed from the mortal state. Then we may well conclude that the kingdom spoken of in our text is a heavenly kingdom, holy, righteous, and everlasting; an eternal kingdom, where the subjects of the kingdom will shine as the sun, and all the heirs be glorified, and corruption be changed into incorruption, and the mortal to immortal. Then death will be swallowed up in victory. MWM 396.1

“How foolish and ridiculous is the idea that ‘it shall not be left to other people,’ if the subjects are not immortal! If deaths and births continue as now, in one hundred years death would conquer the whole kingdom, and in process of time would change every subject from those who received it at the beginning, to their descendants; and in the fulness of time, according to the temporal millennial doctrine, the devil will be let loose, and conquer a large number of children, which have been literally born in the kingdom, the number of whom is as the sand of the sea-shore, and transplant them out of the eternal and everlasting kingdom of God into the kingdom of the devil, and there excite them to make war against their sires in the beloved city. ¹ If our learned men can reason no better than this, I would advise them to go where they can get a little common sense, before they undertake to teach people who know their right hand from the left. And were it not for the influence they obtain by newspaper puffs, for which the editors make them pay well, they would obtain no more influence than their writings deserve. But let us now inquire concerning this kingdom. MWM 396.2

“II. WHOSE IT IS. MWM 397.1

“1. I answer, it is God’s kingdom. Acts 14:22: ‘Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.’ 2 Thessalonians 1:5: ‘Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer.’ Both of these show that the kingdom of God was not then come; but believers were exhorted to be faithful, and endure sufferings and tribulation, that they might be counted worthy to obtain the kingdom of God when it should come. Therefore, none will pretend that a temporal millennium is here alluded to, or that the gospel church is here meant; for these brethren were already counted worthy to belong to the church. MWM 397.2

“Again, Luke 14:15: ‘And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.’ Now, I ask, is every one blessed who eats bread in the church, or in the gospel day? If so, what can the text mean (Luke 13:26): ‘Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets?’ Every unbiased mind must see at once that the kingdom of God, of which our text speaks, is not temporal, but eternal; not earthly, but heavenly. MWM 397.3

“2. It is a kingdom given unto Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, when he leaves the mediatorial seat, gives up the redeemed church to God the Father, and the mediatorship becomes subject to God. Christ having performed all the work which the Father gave him to do as Mediator, the mediatorial kingdom, or kingdom of grace, is given up, and the kingdom of God set up; and Christ then sits on the throne of his father David, having put down all enemies, and all authority and power, against his rightful reign on earth; having dashed the kingdoms to pieces like a potter’s vessel, burned up the wicked, cleansed the earth, and raised the saints. Then the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. Then Jesus will be God blessed for evermore; and his kingdom will fill the whole earth and his tabernacle will be with men, and he will dwell with them, and be their God, and they shall be his people. MWM 397.4

“Now you will ask for my proof. This is right; and in my soul I wish you would be as particular with all who preach the gospel, and demand their evidences. We should have less error in our world, and more truth. MWM 398.1

“First: see Daniel 7:13, 14: ‘I saw in the night visions; and behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, 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.’ This proves the kingdom to be given to the Son of Man. MWM 398.2

“Second: see 1 Corinthians 15:23-28: ‘But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.’ Also, Psalm 2:9: ‘Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ Psalm 5:3, 6: ‘My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing; the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.’ 2 Peter 3:10: ‘But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth, also, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up.’ Also, verse 13: ‘Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.’ Revelation 11:15: ‘And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.’ Psalm 47:2, 9: ‘For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.’ ‘For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.’ Zechariah 14:9: ‘And the Lord shall be King over all the earth; in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.’ Romans 9:5: ‘Whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.’ Revelation 21:3: ‘And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.’ These texts prove the remainder of what I have stated above. We may further inquire, To whom is the kingdom given? MWM 398.3

“Third: I answer, it is given to the saints. See Daniel 7:21, 22, 27: ‘I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.’ ‘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.’ Luke 12:32: ‘Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’ Matthew 25:34: ‘Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ James 2:5: ‘Hearken, my beloved brethren; hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?’ 2 Peter 1:11: ‘For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.’ These texts prove abundantly that the saints are to possess and inherit the kingdom; and that it is the everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ. MWM 399.1

“III. I will now show WHEN IT IS they will enter this kingdom and inherit it forever. Not in this present world; for in this world they are to suffer persecution; also, they are strangers and pilgrims in this world. 2 Timothy 3:12: ‘Yea, and all that will live godly in Jesus Christ shall suffer persecution.’ 1 Peter 2:11: ‘Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.’ Hebrews 11:13, 14: ‘These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things, declare plainly that they seek a country.’ Also, verse 16: ‘But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city.’ MWM 399.2

“But it is at the coming of Christ with power and great glory, when he shall come in the clouds and in his kingdom. See Daniel 7:13, 14: ‘I saw in the night visions; and, behold, one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, 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.’ Matthew 25:31-34: ‘When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from the other, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ 1 Thessalonians 2:12: ‘That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.’ 1 Thessalonians 3:13: ‘To the end he may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.’ 2 Timothy 4:1: ‘I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.’ MWM 400.1

Also, verse 8: ‘Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.’ MWM 401.1

“It will be after the resurrection; for when Christ comes he will reward his saints with his kingdom, as we have proved. Matthew 16:27: ‘For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.’ Then the kingdom of God is not yet set up? No. But our text tells us it will be set up in the days of those kings. What kings? I answer: the ten toes, of which he had just been speaking, are a representation of ten kingdoms, into which the iron, or fourth kingdom, should be divided. Compare Daniel 2:41, 42, with Daniel 7:23, 24: ‘And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter’s clay and part iron, the kingdom shall be divided, but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.’ ‘Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall arise after them: and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.’ MWM 401.2

“Then our text more than implies that these ten kings are to be in existence until Christ shall come and dash them to pieces, and they be destroyed by the brightness of his coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8: ‘And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.’ Also, Daniel 2:45: ‘Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain and the interpretation thereof sure.’ These passages are as simple and as plain as words can make them. And I am bold to say, that no one will, or can, consistently with common sense, deny that these ten toes do denote ten kings; and I have never yet seen any but scoffers, sceptics or infidels, who would deny it. If these ten toes do represent ten kings or kingdoms, as all good expositors do admit, there can hardly be a shadow of a doubt but we are on the very close of the kingdoms; for they have now existed more than 1300 years, and this is a greater proportion than other parts of the image have borne with reference to time. And had we no other rule, we ought to be near our watch-tower night and day, lest he, Christ, come and find us sleeping. MWM 401.3

“IV. I will now show WHERE THIS KINGDOM IS TO BE. And, 1. It is to be under the whole heaven. See Daniel 7:27. Philippians 2:9, 10: ‘Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.’ 2. It is to be on the earth. Psalm 2:8: ‘Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.’ Also, 25:13: ‘His soul shall dwell at ease, and his seed shall inherit the earth.’ 37:9: ‘For evil-doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.’ Verse 11: ‘But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.’ Also, verse 22: ‘For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.’ Isaiah 60:21: ‘Thy people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.’ Revelation 5:10: ‘And hast made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth.’ 3. It will be called a new earth. Isaiah 65:17: ‘For behold, I create new heavens, and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.’ Isaiah 66:22: ‘For, as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.’ 2 Peter 3:13: ‘Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.’ Revelation 21:1: ‘And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea.’ Also, verse 5: ‘And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write; for these words are true and faithful.’ MWM 402.1

“By the proof thus adduced we see that the kingdom spoken of in our text is not earthly; for the kingdoms of the earth are broken to pieces and carried away, and no place found for them. It is not sensual, - man ruling over man, or tyrannizing over his fellow; but each will do as he would have others do unto him, and each will love his neighbor as himself. It is not to be wondered at, then, that a rich man cannot easily enter this kingdom, nor one who lords it over his fellow; for the meek only can inherit it. This, too, shows why kings, captains, and mighty men are destroyed in the great battle of God Almighty; for those spirits and principles cannot exist in the kingdom of God. We learn, too, by this view, why the earth is cleansed by fire; for the proud and all that do wickedly must be consumed out of it. See Matthew 13:41, 42: ‘The Son of Man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’ This, too, accounts for the scoffers in these last days; for they well know, if the kingdom is to be a righteous one, they themselves can have no part in it. We also learn by this why some of our doctors of divinity and professors, some of our reverends and clergy, some of our editors and Christian teachers, as they wish to be called, are so strongly opposed to this doctrine. They know, if Christ should come, he would not regard their high-sounding titles nor their dogmatical teachings; they know that the great aim of some has been to seek honors of men and worldly profits, and their trade is in danger. The spiritual reign and conversion of the world has been their hobby, and they hug to the foolish idea of converting the world to their dogmas and faith by means of money and sectarian missionaries. As well may they undertake to dip the ocean dry with a fireman’s bucket as to convert the world with their sectarian motives and party creeds. How can men be so ignorant as not to see that every convert only makes the rent worse, and every year divisions and subdivisions increase? Can a kingdom thus torn and divided stand for ‘millions of years,’ - as one of the sectarian editors lately proclaimed, - and our dear Saviour be correct, Matthew 12:25: ‘And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand’? We know they cannot be true. MWM 403.1

“Every discerning mind knows that, at the present time, the Roman church are making two proselytes to the Protestants’ one; and all must agree that, of those converted by Protestants, one-half, or nearly so, are mere nominal professors. Well may we say, ‘millions of years’ must pass away before our world could be converted. But I ask, what man of common sense, who has read and believes his Bible, can for a moment believe that ‘millions of years’ must intervene before Christ will come? How different did the apostle Peter preach from this! 1 Peter 4:7: ‘But the end of all things is at hand; be ye, therefore, sober, and watch unto prayer.’ Also Christ, Revelation 22:12: ‘And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.’ And 20: ‘He which testifieth these things saith, ‘Surely I come, quickly; Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.’ Likewise James 5:8, 9: ‘Be ye also patient; establish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned; behold, the Judge standeth before the door.’ MWM 404.1

“Much more Scripture might be produced to show we are on the end of the world. Yet the Scripture is fulfilling to the very letter by those scoffers of the present day, who say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming?’ and, also, who ‘say in their hearts, My Lord delayeth his coming.’ And some of them are so awfully daring as to publish openly and boldly to the world that he will not come this ‘million of years yet.’ Strange infatuation! It is time for all who sincerely love our Lord to awake from their slumbers, trim their lamps, and be ready; for the Bridegroom is at the door. Why will you be so backward in believing God’s word? Can you not discern the signs of the times? MWM 404.2

“I beseech you, O sinner! do not hear to those who will deceive you. Look for yourselves; read, study, and consider for yourselves. You may depend upon it, every important movement of the nations, of the church, of sects, and societies, of the world, denotes the end of all things at hand. A few more days to be numbered, and time will be no more. Regard not those teachers, who are crying peace and safety, when sudden destruction cometh; that say, ‘My Lord delayeth his coming.’ Be warned by one who feels for your souls. I ask not for your honors, nor for your money; let them perish with the world. I ask you to escape for your life, your eternal life. O save, save your soul! Think of that world which will never end, of that state which will never be changed. Think, my dear friend, of your own good; buy the truth, buy oil, buy wine and milk, without money and without price. Come, ye poor, take hold of the riches which can never perish; eat, O! eat and drink of that food which can never cloy, which, if a man eat of, he shall live forever. Come, ye sick, here is health for you; ye lame, you will find strength; yes, weary ones may find rest, and captives go free. The bars of the prison-house will be broken, and the shackles of the slaves will be unloosed. Captain Jesus is knocking at the door; King Immanuel will soon come in.” MWM 404.3