Christ’s Second Coming: Will It be Premillennial?
James Dodson
BY THE
REV. DAVID BROWN, D.D.,
ST JAMES’ FREE CHURCH, GLASGOW
“Qua propter, qui dicit Dominum citius esse venturum optabilius loquitur, sed periculosius fallitur. Utinam ergo sit verum; quia erit molestum si non verum. Qui autem dicit Dominum tardius esse venturum, et tamen credit, sperat, amat ejus adventum, profecto de tarditate ejus etiamsi fallitur, feliciter fallitur. Habebit enim majorem patientiam, si hoc ita erit; majorem lætitiam si non erit. Ac per hoc, ab eis qui diligunt manifestationem Domini ille auditur suavius, isti creditur tutius.” [“Consequently, the one who says that the Lord will come soon speaks of what is more desirable, but he is wrong at his peril. Would that it were true, because it will be a cause of trouble if it is not true! But the one who says that the Lord’s coming will be delayed, and who nevertheless believes in, hopes for, and loves His coming, is happily in error if he is wrong about His delay.”]—AUGUSTIN, Epist. cxcix.
FOURTH EDITION
EDINBURGH:
JOHNSTONE & HUNTER 104 HIGH STREET
LONDON: GROOMBRIDGE & SONS
M.DCCC.LVI.
PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION
IN this edition the text, without undergoing any important change, has been, it is hoped, considerably improved throughout. The additions—chiefly in the notes, but partly also in the text—which the replies to the second edition have rendered necessary, are more than counterbalanced, in point of extent, by the retrenchments which it has been found practicable to make; so that the bulk of the work is rather diminished than increased.
The courtesy and candour with which Mr Elliott has adverted to my arguments, in the fourth edition of his “Horæ Apocalypticæ,” I have endeavoured to reciprocate. My only regret is, that he has not seen it consistent with his plan to do more than touch, in the most cursory manner, upon some points which seem to me to be the hinges of this whole controversy. This, however, cannot be said of Mr Wood’s recent work, “The Last Things,” in which the whole contents, not only of the second edition of my book, but of the first too—which contained a large quantity of matter not in the second—are subjected to a minute and laborious examination. To the arguments of this work I have endeavoured to do all justice, passing by only such as seemed to call for no special notice, or to be sufficiently answered by the simple repetition of the statements which called them forth.*
In conclusion, I would here devoutly acknowledge the blessing vouchsafed to this book, in the establishment of so many minds unsettled on the subject of which it treats. The way in which the New York reprint of it has been received, encourages the hope that on that side of the Atlantic, as on this, scriptural views of the prospects of the Church may continue to prevail. May the Lord keep the eye of the Church—amid all the indications, whether of a dark, of a bright, or of a mingled Future, which the events of our time may be thought to present—upon “that Day” when He shall be “revealed from heaven in flaming fire,” to the terror of his enemies, and the joy of his waiting people. If this be our habitual attitude, it will matter comparatively little “whether He shall come in the second watch,” as one class think, “or come in the third or fourth watch,” as others think; for in either case, when He cometh we shall open to him immediately.
GLASGOW, November 1852.
PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION
I HAVE to apologise for the great length of time during which this volume has been allowed to go out of print, owing to other engagements and frequent interruptions.
In this edition the changes are chiefly in the notes. The reader will find in the foot-notes frequent references to Mr Birks’ “Outlines of Unfulfilled Prophecy” (1854), commencing at p. 80. I hope I have overlooked nothing of any consequence in that acute and excellent author’s treatise, though it was impossible to take up his arguments at length in the text without re-writing some portions of the work altogether, and certainly not with advantage. This remark is still more applicable to “Plain Papers on Prophetic and other Subjects” (1854), to which I have made but an occasional reference. The school of prophetic interpretation to which its gentle and respected anonymous author belongs, is one whose principles would require separate investigation. I have had occasion to touch upon them more than once in the course of this volume, but could not do more than indicate my views of such a mode of interpretation. I have made some use, both in the text and in the notes, of Mr Molyneux’s two volumes, entitled, “Israel’s Future” (fourth thousand, 1853), and “The World to Come” (1853). The extreme opinions of this advocate of premillennialism throw an instructive light on that mode of Old Testament interpretation which seems to make it the key to the New Testament. The revision of this edition was too far advanced ere Mr Waldegrave issued his Bampton Lecture (1855), for me to make any use of it, which I greatly regret. Differing from him as I do in his view of the events symbolised by the millennial resurrection, I could still have wished to give some passages of his work in full, as they put certain points in the argument very happily, and some of its criticisms on Mr Birks’ work, in particular, are, in my judgment, conclusive and forcible. The work displays a thorough knowledge of the subject and its literature, and breathes a fine evangelical tone throughout.
Since the revision of pp. 185–187 was completed, I have received the following criticism from a clerical brother of another denomination, which I have his permission to insert here, along with his name. It is on the question, whether the expression ἐκ νεκρῶν, when used of the Resurrection, necessarily means a resurrection “from amongst dead persons,” and implies, that after one class is raised another class remain dead behind them. The accuracy of the criticism must, I think, be admitted, as well as the ingenuity of the reference:—
“The main question is, Does ἐκ τῶν νεκ. or ἐκ νεκρῶν, necessarily mean ‘from among dead persons’? Is it true, as stated by Mr Wood, that it cannot mean ‘the state of the dead’? The following passage, I imagine, settles the point conclusively: Heb. 11:19, Λογισάμενος, ὅτι καὶ ἐκ νεκρῶν ἐγείρειν δυνατὸς ὁ Θεός ὅθεν, ‘out of the dead whence,’ &c. Here it is undoubtedly the dead state, for to that only can ὅθεν, ‘whence,’ be applied.
“Ἐκ νεκρῶν being thus in one case, ‘dead state,’ wherever else it is employed we must employ it in the same meaning, or show a reason why it must have a different meaning. Now, I am not aware of any passage in which the phrase occurs in reference to Christ or John the Baptist,—where any argument or peculiarity of thought depends on its being rendered ‘from among dead persons,’ rather than from the dead state; and in most cases, if not in all, the prominent idea is that they were dead but are now alive.
“It follows that the two or three passages in which ἐκ occurs in connection with a future resurrection cannot be depended on, philologically, in support of the theory of two resurrections, seeing that, even when it is applied to a resurrection in which we know as a fact that others remained unraised, there is no proof that it was used to indicate that fact.
“JAMES INGLIS.
“JOHNSTONE, 4th October 1855.”
I cannot but here advert to the removal, since the last edition of this volume was issued, of that Christian nobleman, the Duke of Manchester, from this scene of darkness. May those who still sojourn in it remember that here “we know in part.” So forcibly do I feel this, that though, when revising the text a good while ago, I thought it my duty to let one or two notes remain, which I should most gladly have expunged had the criticism to which they refer been withdrawn (e.g., p. 47), I think it probable, that had the sheets not been printed off, I should now have withdrawn them notwithstanding, in order that, if we cannot quite see “eye to eye,” we may do our best to feel heart to heart, as brethren in the common hope of the Lord’s appearing.
GLASGOW, May 1856.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Diversities not taken into account
Prejudices in favour of the Premillennial Advent
CHAPTER I
CHRIST’S SECOND APPEARING THE CHURCH’S BLESSED HOPE
Not his Coming to Individuals at Death
CHAPTER II
THE HOPE OF THE ADVENT IN RELATION TO THE QUESTION OF TIME
Plausibility of this Objection, and necessity of examining it
The Objection tested by Facts—ROLLOCK—RUTHERFORD
Christ’s Commission to his Disciples
Parables of the Tares and Wheat, the Net, the Mustard Seed, the Leaven
Transfer of Kingdom of God from Jews to Gentiles
Degeneracy to characterise the Maturer Periods of the Church, or Christianised society
Christ in Heaven till Restitution of all Things
Parables which intimate that He will be away a long time—that He will tarry
That He will wear out the patience of all but “God’s Elect,” and try even them to the uttermost
The Thessalonian Excitement on the subject of Christ’s Coming
Import of the Apostolic Warning
Distinction between Events and Periods unavailing
Excitement in regard to Christ’s Coming—its Evils
Difference between Feverish Expectation and the Patience of Hope
CHAPTER III
THE CHURCH, OR MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST, COMPLETE AT HIS COMING
The Scripture Evidence against this Theory to be arranged under a series of Propositions
PROPOSITION FIRST: THE CHURCH WILL BE ABSOLUTELY COMPLETE AT CHRIST’S COMING
The Opposite View destitute of support
What do the Premillennialists say to this? It divides them into two classes:
First Class—admit that the Church is complete when Christ comes. Examples—HOMES,
Supplementary Remarks—In reply to Mr Bickersteth, the Duke of Manchester, and Mr A. Bonar,
CHAPTER IV
ALL THE MEANS OF GRACE, AND AGENCIES OF SALVATION, TERMINATE AT THE SECOND ADVENT
PROPOSITION SECOND: CHRIST’S SECOND COMING WILL EXHAUST THE OBJECT OF THE SCRIPTURES
Object of the Scriptures as regards Saints
Object of the Scriptures as regards Sinners
PROPOSITION THIRD: THE SEALING ORDINANCES WILL DISAPPEAR AT CHRIST’S SECOND COMING
The foregoing Conclusions admitted by Mr Brooks
CHAPTER V
THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED
Both terminate at Second Advent
Extracts from Premillennialists in confirmation of this
CHAPTER VI
THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST—ALREADY IN BEING—ITS MILLENNIAL ESSENTIALLY THE SAME WITH ITS PRESENT CHARACTER
Premillennial Theory of Christ’s Kingdom, 119
PROPOSITION FIFTH: CHRIST’S PROPER KINGDOM IS ALREADY IN BEING; COMMENCING FORMALLY ON HIS ASCENSION TO THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, AND CONTINUING UNCHANGED, BOTH IN CHARACTER AND FORM, TILL THE FINAL JUDGMENT
Explanations, 124
Apostolic Views of Christ’s Kingdom
Same Ground taken by Premillennialists and Unbelieving Jews, 127
Lord and Christ, 129
Throne of David, 130
The Priest upon his Throne, 132
The Lamb in the Midst of the Throne, 133
The Key, and Throne, and House of David, 133
The Prince of Life, 136
The Times of Restitution, 137
The Disciples’ View of the Second Psalm, 140
The Prince and Saviour, 141
Apostolic Commentaries on the Hundred and Tenth Psalm, 142
The Kingdom to be delivered up—What it is, 144
The Last Enemy destroyed, 147
Delivering up of the Kingdom—What it is, 149
Delivering up of the Kingdom—What it is not, 151
CHAPTER VII
THE ENTIRE CHURCH “MADE ALIVE”—EITHER BY RESURRECTION OR TRANSFORMATION—AT CHRIST’S COMING
Alleged everlasting continuance of the Fleshly State, 156
Mr Bickersteth, 156
Mr Birks, 158
Mr Brock—Mr Lord, 159
Remarks on this view, 160
PROPOSITION SIXTH: WHEN CHRIST COMES, THE WHOLE CHURCH OF GOD WILL BE MADE ALIVE AT ONCE—THE DEAD BY RESURRECTION, AND THE LIVING, IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, BY TRANSFORMATION; THEIR “MORTALITY BEING SWALLOWED UP OF LIFE,”
Proof of this, 164
Objection, 167
Reply, 167
Supplementary Remarks—in reply to Dr H. Bonar,
CHAPTER VIII
RESURRECTION OF ALL THE WICKED AT THE COMING OF CHRIST
PROPOSITION SEVENTH: ALL THE WICKED WILL RISE FROM THE DEAD, OR BE “MADE ALIVE,” AT THE COMING OF CHRIST
A prior Resurrection of the Righteous—but one direct passage alleged for it, 178
Presumptive Arguments in favour of it examined, 179
Resurrection of Believers peculiar to themselves, 180
Dutch Remonstrants, 181
Attaining to the Resurrection from the Dead, 182
Resurrection of, and from, the Dead, 185
Righteous and Wicked “awake” together, 187
The Sleepers in the Dust awaking, some to Life, and some to Contempt, 188
All in the Graves come forth together, 189
The view which Premillennialists take of this not tenable, 190
The Righteous, while the Tares are burning, shine forth as the sun in their Father’s Kingdom, 194
The Great White Throne, 194
The Book of Life—Mr Dallas, 195
Mr Lord—Mr Birks, 196
Mr Hill, 197
The Dead, small and great, 198
The “other Book,” 201
Summary, 203
CHAPTER IX
SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED: THE MILLENNIAL RESURRECTION—LITERAL OR FIGURATIVE?
Presumptions against the Literal Sense
Untenable Arguments for the Figurative Sense, 215
Nine Internal Evidences that the Millennial Resurrection is not Literal but Figurative:—
First Argument
Second Argument
Third Argument
Fourth Argument
Fifth Argument
Sixth Argument
Seventh Argument
Eighth Argument
Ninth Argument
Summary, 241
CHAPTER X
JUDGMENT OF RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED TOGETHER—AT CHRIST’S COMING
Premillennialists spread the Judgment over the whole Thousand Years, 243
Mr Brooks’ View, and Remarks on it, 244
Messrs Elliott, Bonars, and Wood, 246
Olshausen and Mr Dallas, 249
Mede, Bickersteth, Birks, 250
Remarks on this last View, 251
PROPOSITION EIGHTH: THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED WILL BE JUDGED TOGETHER, AND BOTH AT THE COMING OF CHRIST
Scriptural Proof of this, 254
Summary, 269
CHAPTER XI
THE CONFLAGRATION, AND THE NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH, AT THE COMING OF CHRIST
Final Conflagration as described in Scripture, 273
Mr Burgh’s, Mr Tyso’s, and Mr Ogilvy’s View of it, 275
Mr Elliott’s and Mr A. Bonar’s View of it, 277
Universality of it, 279
All-involving, all-reducing, 282
New Heavens and New Earth—Peopled by whom? 285
No Sinners in the New Heavens and New Earth, 286
PROPOSITION NINTH: AT CHRIST’S SECOND APPEARING “THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH THAT ARE NOW,” BEING DISSOLVED BY FIRE, SHALL GIVE PLACE TO “NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, WHEREIN DWELLETH RIGHTEOUSNESS” WITHOUT ANY MIXTURE OF SIN—GOOD UNALLOYED BY THE LEAST EVIL
Summary of whole preceding Argument, 289
PART II
THE MILLENNIUM
CHAPTER I
THE MILLENNIUM—HOW BROUGHT ABOUT
Dr M‘Neile, 293
Mr Brooks, 294
Mr Tyso, Mr Ogilvy—Remarks on their Views, 295
Messrs Bonar, 296
Their Views tried by the Redeemer’s Words, 297
All Nations brought in before Christ comes, 298
Dr H. Bonar and Dr Bogue, 299
Missionary Effort paralysed, 299
Judgments—Effusion of the Spirit, 301
Christ’s Personal Appearing—Miracles, 302
Church’s present Resources all-sufficient, 303
CHAPTER II
NATURE OF THE MILLENNIUM—NOT A STATE OF UNMIXED RIGHTEOUSNESS
A Millennium without Sin pictured by Premillennialists, 305
But not Believed in, 308
Tares in the Field during the Millennium, 310
Not gathered out till end of Millennium, 311
Parables illustrating Christ’s Kingdom, 312
Why the Millennium is not in them, 313
Millennium belongs to the mixed state of the Church, 313
CHAPTER III
NATURE OF THE MILLENNIUM—JUST THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF GRACE IN ITS EARTHLY STATE
Nebuchadnezzar’s Vision
Mede on this Vision, 316
The Stone becoming a Mountain, 317
Same View given in our Lord’s Parables regarding the Kingdom, 318
The Kingdom wins the victory, 319
The Victory—its Nature, 320
Daniel’s Vision, 321
The two Visions compared, 323
Judgment of Antichrist—What, 325
Wherein different from Last Judgment, 326
Universal Dominion given to Christ, 328
Kingdom given to the Saints, 330
Substance of the Visions, 331
Destruction of Antichrist gradual, 332
The Warfare not Carnal, 333
The Victory—slow but sure, 334
The eventual Triumph, 336
Note—in reply to Dr H. Bonar, 337
CHAPTER IV
NO MILLENNIAL REVIVAL OF JEWISH PECULIARITIES
Jewish Literalism—its Christian Advocates, 338
Mr Fry, 339
Mr Freemantle, 340
Mr Brock, 341
Mr Pym—Remarks, 342
Literalism at a stand, 343
Handle given to the Jew, 344
Literalism self-contradictory, 345
Literalism contradicts the New Testament, 347
Jewish Peculiarities for ever gone, 348
Jewish Ceremonies still expected, 349
Increase Mather on the Ceremonies, 349
Ezekiel’s Temple, 351
The Beggarly Elements, 352
Antiquated Shadows, 353
Admirable views of the Duke of Manchester, 353
Summary, 357
CHAPTER V
NO MILLENNIAL MIXTURE OF FAITH AND SIGHT
This as set forth by Mr Brooks, 359
Mr Elliott, Mr Lord, Mr Birks, 360
Dr M‘Neile, Mr Maitland, Mr Wood, 361
Faith and Sight—Grace and Glory—thus coincident, 362
Incongruity of this, as expressed by Perry, 363
Dr H. Bonar—The Pavilion-Cloud, 364
Either way—whether Christ visible or invisible to mortal men—alike objectionable, 365
CHAPTER VI
WAY OF SALVATION NO LESS NARROW DURING THE MILLENNIUM THAN NOW
Dr M‘Neile, 366
Mr Maitland, Mr Wood, Mr Brooks, 367
Remarks on their Views—Millennial Rest, 368
Strait Gate—Narrow Way, 369
Millennial Warfare—Lust of Flesh and Eye, and Pride of Life, will need resistance then even as now, 371
Summary, 373
CHAPTER VII
MILLENNIAL BINDING OF SATAN—WHAT IT IS NOT, AND WHAT IT IS
He that committeth Sin is of the Devil, 375
Satan stripped of the power of Death over, and bruised under, none but Believers, 376
Bearing of these Truths, 377
Binding of Satan—What it is, 378
Apocalyptic Language illustrative of this—“Satan’s Seat” or “Throne,” 379
Satan “cast out—His place not found”—Fall of Paganism denoted, 379
This Victory—How obtained, 381
Symbolic Language of the Apocalypse, 383
Satan’s Defeat in Antichrist’s Destruction, 384
Meaning is, No party for Satan during the Millennium, 385
How effected, 386
Supplementary Remarks—in reply to Dr H. Bonar, Mr Wood, &c.
1. Extent of Satanic Restraint—Durham, 387
Vitringa, 388
Hengstenberg, 389
2. How Satan will be Restrained, 390
Apocalyptic Phraseology on this point, 391
Human Instrumentality, 392
This View sustained by Christ himself, 393
Confirmatory Extracts—Andreas, Paræus, Marckius, 394
Edwards, Faber, 395
Yet not urged confidently, 396
CHAPTER VIII
LEADING FEATURES OF LATTER DAY—ITS CLOSE, AND THE “LITTLE SEASON” TO SUCCEED IT, UP TO THE LORD’S PERSONAL APPEARING
In what sense the latter day is to be viewed as in the Prophecies, 397
Leading Features of the Latter Day: 398
Universal Diffusion of Revealed Truth, 398
Universal Reception of true Religion, and unlimited subjection to the Sceptre of Christ, 399
Universal Peace, 401
Much spiritual Power and Glory, 403
Inbringing of all Israel, 406
Ascendency of Truth and Righteousness in human affairs, 409
Great Temporal Prosperity, 411
Setting of the Millennium Sun—The Decline gradual, 413
Satan at length let Loose, 415
The “Little Season,” 416
Nature and Extent of the “Deception,” 417
The Assault—its Object, 418
Vastness and Confidence of the Enemy, 419
The Last Crisis, 420
Christ at length comes to Judgment, 421
PART III
OBJECTIONS
Objection First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh
Other Objections—General Reply, 452
Principle of these Objections—Exaggerated Views of Difference between the Present and the Millennial Era, 453
Grand Distinctions held forth in New Testament—NATURE and GRACE—GRACE and GLORY; and corresponding to these, the FIRST and SECOND Comings of THE CHURCH’S LORD, 453
Why the Millennium is in the Apocalypse only, 453
Uncertainty of Commencement and Close of Latter Day [also of “Little Season” to follow it], and, consequently, of the Period of Christ’s Coming, 453
The “Soons” and “Quicklies” of Scripture, 454
CONCLUSION
NOTE:
*The insinuation, once and again, of unworthy motives for the difference between the first and second editions of my book, after my own explicit statement in the preface to the second edition, is a blemish in this work which should have been avoided. At page 187, I have restored in full a reference which I had not thought it necessary to reprint in the second edition, in consequence of the sweeping denial of its accuracy by Mr Wood (Last Things, p. 43); prefixing to it another not likely to be disputed. In the preceding page I have rectified two notes consisting of Scripture references, in which, by some unobserved typographical mistake in the second edition, four out of six references were printed in the latter of the two notes which should have been placed in the former. In ascribing this to “unpardonable carelessness of quotation in one who undertakes a critical discussion”—a fault which I humbly think is not observable in my book—Mr Wood has scarcely done himself justice.