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"The hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth . . . . .
these were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb."
These are exclusive and exceptional, but they are the only ones "redeemed" so far as
this book is concerned. Redemption in the Evangelical sense, as deliverance from sin
and issuing in forgiveness does not enter into the record. We come then once again to
Rev. 20: 6. These "priests of God and of Christ" who "reign with Him" are not an
earthly priesthood, they are heavenly, and minister and reign from their exalted position
in the Heavenly Jerusalem. Heaven has its "Temple" (Rev. 11: 19; 15: 5, 6, 8), its
"Ark" (Rev. 11: 19), its "Altar" (Rev. 8: 3), its "Incense" (Rev. 8: 3, 4) and
consequently has a heavenly priesthood. The "overcomer" his suffering, his endurance,
his deliverance and his reign as a priest with Christ in the heavenly Jerusalem, is the
theme of the Apocalypse, and limits the use of the word The Millennium so much that
every passage from either the Old or New Testament, which is labeled "Millennial" by
countless commentators, must be challenged lest by a zeal without knowledge we rob the
Millennium of its distinctive character and are found entertaining instead a vision of our
own hearts. The "nations", the "camp" and the "beloved city" are of necessity on the
earth during the Millennial reign, but have no such distinct place in it as do these
overcomers. We must consider their place in another article. Meanwhile to any who
may be disturbed or even angry, we still commend the Berean spirit "search and see", for
you may never "see" if you avoid the "search".
No.3.
The Nations and The Camp of the Saints.
pp. 64 - 68
We have postponed an examination of the terms "the nations", the "camp of the
saints" and "the beloved city" which are mentioned in the Millennial chapter (Rev. 20:)
until the present article. Psa. 72: is the prayer (1) of David for his son Solomon, and
(2) in a fuller prophetic sense for His greater Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Other features
that David foresaw concerning this kingdom refer to the nations, as distinct from his own
people Israel; His dominion is to be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the
earth. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents, the kings of Sheba and
Seba shall offer gifts, yea all kings shall fall down before Him; ALL NATIONS shall
serve Him, ALL NATIONS shall call Him blessed.
As we have said already, we can only include such a prophetic foreview in the
Millennium by inference, but as it is directly connected with the kingdom of David's Son,
the inference appears to be justified. At some time God is to inherit ALL NATIONS
(Psa. 82: 8), and at some time ALL NATIONS shall come and worship before the
Lord (Psa. 86: 9). ALL NATIONS will one day "flow unto" the house of the Lord,
and He shall judge among the nations, so that nation shall not lift up sword against
nation, nor learn war any more (Isa. 2: 1-4). In the day when the "lion shall eat straw like
the ox" an ensign shall be set up for the nations (Isa. 11: 7-12). When the Lord of hosts
shall REIGN in mount Zion, the moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed, for He