Prophetic Expositions, vol. 1

IX. THE TIME AND CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD WILL BE SET UP

1. It will be when the times of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled. The governments of the Gentiles, shadowed forth in the great image, (Daniel 2.) have certain predicted changes to pass through, and cannot pass away until they have fulfilled the prediction. When they have done that, the stone, Jesus Christ, will demolish them, and the God of heaven set up [or cause to stand] his kingdom. PREX1 26.1

2. It will be when one like the Son of man shall come with the clouds of heaven. “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,” etc. Daniel 7:13. This kingdom is not to be given to the Son of man until he comes in the clouds of heaven. He cannot set up his kingdom until it is given him. But he has not yet come with the clouds of heaven. Hence, his kingdom is not yet setup. But it will be when he so comes. PREX1 26.2

3. It will be when the seventh trumpet sounds. The seventh is the last trumpet; and at it the dead are to awake. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15. Thus also the Revelator, chap 11:15: “The seventh trumpet sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” “Saying, we give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty,” “because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned; for the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great, and shouldest destroy them that destroy the earth.” Until that time comes, Christ is not to receive the kingdom. PREX1 27.1

4. It will be when the Nobleman (Christ) who is gone into a far country to receive a kingdom, returns. The object of the parable, (Luke 19:11-27), was to correct the false notions of those who “thought the kingdom of God should immediately appear.” The parable taught them that Christ, the nobleman, would first go away and receive his kingdom, and in the meantime leave his servants in possession of his property to occupy till his return; that at his return, he would reckon with and reward his servants if faithful, and cast them off if unfaithful: and then bring forth and slay his enemies. Such a return of the nobleman has not yet taken place, nor have the servants of Christ yet received their reward in his kingdom. Nor have his enemies yet been destroyed. Then he has not yet received his kingdom or set it up. PREX1 27.2

5. It will be at the end of this world (or age.) The parable of the tares of the field, (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43,) is designed to teach us the same great doctrine, “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” Both the tares and wheat sprang up, and the servants came and inquired, “Sir, didst not thou sow good, seed?”—“from whence then hath it tares?” “An enemy hath done this.” “Shall we go and gather up the tares?” “Nay, let both grow together until the harvest,” etc. “Declare to us the parable of the tares of the field.” “He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world;” (kosmos) the globe and its creatures. “The good seed are the children of the kingdom,” its heirs. “The tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be at the end of this world. 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 weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Now the tares grow together with the wheat in the world, or what is promised to Christ for his kingdom; then the tares will be cast out, and the righteous be glorified in the kingdom of God. It cannot take place until the end of the world, or age, which began with the preaching of John the Baptist, until which time the law and the prophets continued. But since then the kingdom of heaven is preached. That was the last age, or dispensation, of probationary time. When it ends, the tares and wheat will be separated, and the one be burned up, and the other glorified. Until that takes place, there can be no such state on earth as that wherein all shall know the Lord, from the least to the greatest. Then it will be thus; for they shall see, not through a glass darkly, as now, but face to face. PREX1 28.1