His Glorious Appearing: An Exposition of Matthew Twenty-FourWhite, James
Religion
His Glorious Appearing: An Exposition of Matthew Twenty-Four
White, James
Bible. Matthew, XXIV -- Commentaries; Second Advent
But it is robbed of its distinct power by that interpretation, sometimes
given, by which it is assumed that all men will receive the gospel and be
converted, and that then instead of the end, there will ensue a thousand
years in which all shall know the Lord. After this long period of peace
and safety, the end will come. How much is assumed on this text will
appear when we consider that the text does not say that every individual
will even hear this gospel of the kingdom. It does not state that any one
will be converted and made holy by it. And we find it far from intimating
that the world will be converted and remain so one thousand years. We have
no reason to conclude that greater measure of success is implied in this
text than that which has always attended the preaching of the gospel.
While a few have believed and received it, the great mass of men have
passed it by unheedingly. The text simply states: First, “And this gospel
of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world;” second, “For a witness
unto all nations;” third, “And _then_ [not one thousand years later, but
THEN] shall the end come.”
But to what does the term “gospel of the kingdom” refer? The query
sometimes rises as to whether the gospel in the common acceptation of the
word, or a gospel peculiarly related to the second coming of Christ is
here meant. No such distinction is to be drawn. There neither is, has
been, nor will be more than one gospel. “But though we, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached
unto you, let him be accursed.” Gal. 1:8.
The gospel, then, in this instance, is the same as Paul preached, which
was the “power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” But in
Rev. 14:6 and 7 we read:—
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth,
and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying
with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour
of his judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven, and
earth, and the sea, and the fountain of waters.”
The gospel is here called the “everlasting gospel,” and must necessarily
be referred to the gospel of Christ. In connection with the preaching of
that gospel, was the proclamation that the judgment hour had come. Not
that this message was appended to the gospel, but the angel who had the
everlasting gospel to preach said, “Fear God ... for the hour of his
judgment is come.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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