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When Israel wanted to be like the nations they demanded a king. When God
transferred earthly rule to Nebuchadnezzar, he transferred it to a king. When at last the
Saviour returns, He returns "to reign", and the words of Psa. 2: are definite. "Yet have I
set my King upon my holy hill of Zion." What conspiracy is this then that has seduced
the Lord's believing people to trifle with the crown rights of Him Who comes "to reign"
and to sit upon a "throne"? However much kingly rule has failed, God's conception of
rule is still as it always has been, a KINGDOM. The Saviour died with the title over His
Head, and that sacred Head was crowned, even in derision. When He comes, He is seen
wearing many crowns. He will be King of kings, and the kingdom of this world will
cease, while the kingdom of the Lord shall be established by God Himself.
If we have entertained the idea that there will be a pre-millennial kingdom WITHOUT
THE PERSONAL PRESENCE OF THE KING we may be disposed to look with favour
on the substituted word "government" but we may be after all but acting in the spirit
condemned by the Lord in no uncertain terms in Mark 7: 9. How many of those who
have rendered lip-service to the doctrine of inspiration, even to its individual words and
echoed that they were "convinced", have taken trouble to verify their references? What
must be the attitude of mind when faced with the overwhelming evidence just tabulated,
which desires the truth of God uncoloured by theories of the best of men? To quote the
words of the writer whose views we have contested, we too say with all our hearts, with
just one necessary personal alteration:
"Real conviction concerning great truths can come only when we have made our own
personal studies and come to our own independent conclusion. My own convictions that
basileia means kingdom (`government', in our friend's statement) are the result of my
own studies in the Word. I believe the reader will come to the same conclusion if he
makes his own study of the subject."
There speaks the true Berean--may the truth prevail.
Returning to our introductory notes on Prophecy, we continue to assemble our key
passages.
"When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory" (Psa. 102: 16).
A great crisis is awaiting the world, but it is a Jewish crisis wherein the Holy One of
Israel is to be placed in exaltation with His people.
"There are three great eras of visitation, wherein God has as many times appointed a
term to His controversy with mankind. The first was the deluge . . . . . the second is to be
at the coming of the Lord Jesus in the power of His dominion, when the Antichrist and
those with him will be destroyed . . . . . the last controversy is at the end of the
millennium, when sentence is carried out upon the revel nations of that period"
(T. 50: Strange).
To observe and record these converging crises, will form a part of our immediate
inquiry.