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STUDY X
THE TIME IS AT HAND
Nothing Intervenes--The Establishment of Christ's Kingdom, the Work
now in Progress--The Testimony of Prophecy Concurs--The Worldly-wise
See Much--The Watching Saints See More Distinctly--The Importance
to All, of Open Eyes in the Right Direction.
THE Time is at Hand for the establishment of the Redeemer's
Kingdom. This is the concurrent testimony of the
foregoing chapters. Nothing intervenes. We are already living
in the seventh millennium--since Oct. 1872. The lease
of power to the Gentile kingdoms must terminate with the
year 1914. The great antitypical Jubilee, the Times of Restitution
of all things, had its beginning in the year 1874,
when the presence of the great Restorer was also due. The
manner of his return and the character of his work up to the
present time are in exact correspondence with the details of
prophecy thus far. The closing features of this dispensation,
now observed, are in perfect accord with those of its Jewish
type. The Elias has come, and is received as foretold; and
the predicted curse--the great time of trouble--is already
impending. The Man of Sin has been revealed in all his
hateful deformity, and has almost run his predicted course.
The establishment of the long promised Kingdom of Messiah
is therefore the great event just before us. Not only so,
but its establishment is now in progress. The necessary undermining
and overturning of the kingdoms of this world
under the prince of darkness--"the prince of this world"--
are now visible to some extent even to the natural eye of the
children of this world, but are much more clearly seen, as
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they should be, by those who look upon transpiring events
through the field glass of God's Word, which at proper
focus brings distant matters and results close to view, and
enables God's children to recognize the minutiae which the
natural eye cannot discern, as well as the leading features
which the world's statesmen and philosophers see in but
dim outline. Even the worldly-wise can discern the social
trouble fomenting, as the dominance of ignorance gives
place to greater general knowledge and personal independence.
And though they vainly hope for some unknown and
unexpected favorable turn of affairs to occur, yet, as described
in the Scriptures, their hearts are failing them for
fear and for looking after the things coming upon the
earth--because they see the shaking of the symbolic heavens
now in progress, and perceive that with such a shaking and
removal of the power of error, superstitions and religious restraints
from the masses of the people, violence and anarchy
must result.
But, from God's standpoint, from which the waking ones
of the household of faith are privileged to look, not only the
severity of the trouble is more distinct, but also the blessed
results, which under God's providence it shall subserve by
ushering in the Millennial Kingdom. And this is a comfort,
and more than an offset for all the tribulation, even though
we or our dearest ones may share it.
That we might now have the comfort of this knowledge,
and not be in doubt and perplexity, was but part of the object
in the giving of the time prophecies. Another object
was, that, as the representatives of that kingdom among
men, we should be aware of the great dispensational
changes now in progress, and able to bear testimony before
the world, regarding God's plan, etc., which, though unheeded
now, will greatly benefit them by and by, and help
them the sooner to recognize the Lord's presence in the
great day of wrath, drawing on. Another object is, that the
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faithful, thus armed and strengthened by God's Word, may
be enabled to stand firm, when so many will be falling into
infidelity and various other deceptive errors, which will
soon sweep over "Christendom." Another object is, to give
force and point to the entire Plan of the Ages: for it is a general
experience that, while the first glimpse of God's
gracious plan for blessing the whole world through the
Church, during the Millennial age, fills the hearts and enlists
the zeal of his faithful children to the utmost, yet as
their efforts to enlighten others are coldly received, and
they find that only a very few, comparatively, have "an ear
to hear," the tendency is to settle down to the quiet enjoyment
of the precious knowledge, in such a manner as will
bring the least reproach and opposition.
Seeing this, our natural weakness, the Lord has provided
time prophecies as a spur, to quicken and awaken us fully,
and keep us active in his service. Being already in the "harvest"
time, harvest work should engage the time, service
and thoughts of the Lord's servants, who now, like the disciples
at the first advent, are to do the reaping work. (John 4:35-38)
Let us each seek to do what our hands find to do, in
obedience to the instructions of the great Chief Reaper.
But, with reference more particularly to the time and order
of events in this "harvest," we must refer the reader to the
succeeding volume of this series, wherein the conclusions of
the foregoing and other time prophecies are brought to a
focus, and the various foretold signs and corroborative testimonies
of the Master's presence and the progress of his
work are marked, proving--that the "Time of the End" has
come; that the Days of Waiting for the Kingdom are fulfilled;
that the Cleansing of the Sanctuary is accomplished;
that the great Harvest Work is in progress; that the Regathering
of Israel is apparent; that the Battle of the Great
Day of God Almighty is impending; and that the complete
establishment of the glorious Kingdom of God at the time
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appointed, the end of the Times of the Gentiles, is an unquestionable
certainty; and showing, further, the work of
the saints during the harvest; marking the close of the "high
calling," and the "change" of those saints who "are alive
and remain"; and showing, also, that the Great Pyramid of
Egypt is one of God's Witnesses (Isa. 19:19,20), whose wonderful
message is a full and complete corroboration of
God's plan of the ages, together with its times and seasons.
Millennial Dawn
"All things are onward moving! Let the blessed time begin!
The Old is swiftly passing, and the New is coming in!
The golden bells are ringing, and the pageant sweeps along
Like an army that is speeding to the measure of a song.
"Dark theories now are waning: they are weak to build upon;
The light is on the hill-tops, and Truth is marching on:
Many landmarks are but shadows, which now fade and flee away
Before the mighty forces that are coming in today.
"O brother, why this waiting? And sister, why so mute?
Up with the early sunshine! Watch for the golden fruit!
O poet, why this sorrow? O minstrel, why this hush?
And painter, why so long delay the heavenly tint and blush?
"Up with the larks of morning! Up with the rising sun!
Waiting not for noon-day, nor halting when begun!
For everything is moving; let the blessed time begin!
The Old is swiftly passing, and the New is coming in!
"The heavenly light is spreading, spreading at the King's command!
It is spreading in its glory, speeding onward through the land.
Human creeds are downward tending; let them droop and fade away.
Following in the dawning sunlight, we can see a better way.
"Oh, let us all be ready for the work we have to do,
Toiling late and early, for the laborers are few!
Reaping, as instructed, in the morning light;
Reaping in the harvest field, toiling for the RIGHT!
"All things are onward moving! Let earth's Jubilee begin!
The Old is swiftly passing, and the New is coming in!
It is coming! Oh 'tis coming! My raptured eyes behold!
The light is on the hill-tops, the Shepherd with his Fold."
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