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HE spending of Millennium has
been a matter of endless specula
tion. Some holding it to be a
time of peace, and some of war and
desolation, saying that in no place
in the Bible are we told of a thou
sand years of peace. That is true.
But where does it say war and
trouble? Nowhere in Scripture is
T
such expressly declared. This starts the in
quiry, what is said there on the subject. Let’s
investigate, and not rest our judgment on any
one or two uncertain testimonials, but upon the
evidence of the many prophets testifying there
to directly. Refer to Rev. 20:4, 5. John here
saw in vision, thrones and those who sat upon
them, and told you they were the ones who
had suffered in the cause of Christ, and that
“they lived and reigned with him a thousand
years. But the rest of the dead lived not
again until the thousand years were finished.”
As to their occupation in the meantime nothing
is said. But we have two markers as to its be
ginning. Following the fall of the “beast and
false prophet” before Christ, and just after the
chaining of old Satan for a “thousand years.”
And the purpose of the chaining is stated,
“That he should deceive the nations no more,
until the thousand years should be fulfilled.”
A fair inference, then, is, since Satan is the
mischief-maker and is now rendered powerless,
that the world shall be at rest. But let’s make
certain. We have ascertained the certainty of
the time, and that Satan shall the while be
harmless, but we have not learned yet what
follows Christ’s arrival, nor where He shall
take up His abode during these years.
Turn to Isa. 52:7, “How beautiful upon the
mountains are the feet of him that bringeth
good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bring
eth good tidings of God, that publisheth salva
tion; that sayeth unto Zion, ‘Thy God Reign
eth.’ ” Christ conies publishing peace, and not
war. But what time is that? Maybe it has
reference to His first appearance. No, we are
left in doubt. He came then, He himself said,
to send the sword. And verse two of this
chapter says, “The bands on Judah’s neck
shall then be loosed,” which is not even yet
an accomplished fact. Note, too, the proclama
tion, “Thy God reigneth,” and recall the quo
tation just recited from Rev., about the reign
ing of the saints together with Him. By re
ferring to Neh. 1:13-15, we discover identical
ly the same thing, that with the breaking of
Judah’s yoke, the bringer of glad tidings ap
pears on the mountains. On the mountains!
Surely some importance attaches to this ex
pression. And there does. Consult*Zech. 14:4,
“And his feet shall stand in that day upon
the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem
on the east.” So also in Rev. 14:1, “And, 10,
a lamb stood on Mount Zion.” We are told
thereby of His descent at Jerusalem, but where
is His reign said to be set up? At the Holy
City. Read Isa. 24:23, “Then the moon shall
be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the
Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and
in Jerusalem, and before His ancients glorious
ly.?’
This should be sufficient to determine the
matter, but we wish to show you that the Bible
throughout harmonizes with this view. Note,
now, in the quotation just cited, as to the sun
and moon, and compare it with the Saviour’s'
own declaration as to darkness at this time
Matt. 24:29, 30; there these luminaries are seen
darkened, when He comes in the clouds of
heaven. Here again many are wrong, taking
the dark day of New England as a fulfilment
of this prophecy. Read the words here closely.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those
days shall the sun be darkened.” Then pray
tell us, what tribulation so great —so great that
“were those days not shortened, there should
no flesh be saved,” convulsed mankind and
HOW IS MILLENNIUM TO BE SPENT
The Golden Age for December 12, 1912
By WM. IVERSON VARNER
shook the world just prior to that darkness in
Massachusetts? This superficial reading of the
Bible accounts for many of our erroneous
views.
We have found out, then, that Christ comes
to set up His reign at Jerusalem, to publish
peace, and to reign here on earth for a thous
and years, with old Satan lying the meanwhile
in chains. Which would seem to say a thous
and years of peace. Still let’s see, if the fact
can be established, that is that the state of
things during these years is peace and not war.
For we learn in Isaiah 63:4, that the ‘ ‘ day of
vengeance” is also the “Year of my redeemed.”
Both come together, then which gives place to
the other. The same state we find pictured by
Paul in II Thes. 1:7, 8, “When the Lord shall
be revealed from heaven in flaming fire tak
ing vengeance on them that know not God.”
Then contrary conditions appear in I Thes.
4:16, 17, “For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
an archangel and with the trump of God, and
the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we
which are alive and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the clouds, to meet
the Lord in the air. And so shall we be ever
with Him.” The vengeance then falls on the
wicked, and “flaming fire,” instead of the
sword is the weapon. Whereas the righteous
rise from the grave, and join Him. He comes
to reign at Jerusalem and they with Him for a
“thousand years.” But what state prevails,
peace or war, happiness or a continuing bitter
struggle against the wicked? Surely the Bible
does not teach anywhere in it, that after the
grave we are yet to be confronted with trials
and sorrows. But let’s see.
Now in Isa. 13:9, we are told positively, that
He “shall destroy the sinners out of it (the
earth).” That the occasion shall be the day
of wrath, marked by the darkening of sun and
moon. Still we must find that this terrible
visitation is brought to a close, and is suc
ceeded by peace and righteousness. Not after
the “thousand years” but shortly after Christ’s
arrival. Otherwise it does not appear that the
Millennium is signalized by blessedness. Very
good. Now there is a passage in Joel, 3:10,
calling for the plowshares to be beaten into
swords. Darkness also characterizes this man
ifestation. Then another in Isa 2:4, which says
just to the contrary, that swords shall be beat
en into plowshares, and that “nation shall not
lift up sword against nation, neither shall they
learn war any more.” Since these expressions
are diametrically opposed, the time of each
must be perfectly ascertained, for two opposite
conditions cannot prevail at once.
To begin with, we designate each to avoid
confusion. One we term the day of tribulation,
and the other the day of wrath and the year
of the redeemed. One is given to war and deso
lation, and the other to God’s vengeance on
the wicked and His redemption of the right
eousness dead. The tribulation precedes the
wrath, and ends when the wrath begins. Both
are marked by the appearance of Christ, only
He appears to put end to the tribulation and
to inaugurate the wrath. See Matt. 24:29, “Im
mediately after the tribulation” the Son of
Man cometh. And Rev. 6:17, “And the great
day of His wrath is come.” Said as Christ ap
pears at the breaking of the sixth seal, where
as war, famine and pestilence have been rag
ing while the previous five seals were being
broken. Darkness here, too, is one of the ac
companying features.
Now, what shall indicate the beginning of
the tribulation? The return of the Jews. At
which time the nations shall be called together
to battle in the valley of Jehoshaphat. See
Joel 3:1, “Behold in those days 4nd at that
time, when I shall bring again the captivity of
Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations
and bring them down into the valley of Jehosh
aphat, and will plead with them there for my
people.” Then it is that the proclamation goes
forth in the ninth verse, “Prepare war, wake
up the mighty men, beat your plowshares into
swords.” And follows below saying, “Multi
tudes —multitudes in the valley of decision.”
So we need be no further confused as to the
time, nor to think this has reference to a con
tinuance of war during millennium.
This time is further marked by the rise of
the abomination, the sign given us by Christ
himself when to expect this fearful tribulation
to visit the earth, more grievous than mankind
has or ever shall experience. And said it would
antedate His return. But the career of this
character is terminated according to Paul in
Il Thess. 2:8, “by the spirit of Christ’s mouth
and the brightness of His coming.” And with
His fall ends the tribulation, over which He
presides. And what is the purpose of the abo
mination? To desolate the earth, and to op
pose Christ. Well, we see in Rev. 19:20, that
the “beast and false prophet” which stand up
against the Saviour, fall before Him and are
cast into the lake of fire. And we have before
identified the abomination with the “false
prophet.” Then, immediately following this
comes the announcement of the devil’s chain
ing and the reign of Christ on earth for a thou
sand years.
But the day of wrath begins with the end of
the tribulation, and consists mainly in pour
ing out vials of wrath and sending woes upon
the wicked. To these the holy people are not
subject, nor does it take place until the serv
ants of God have been sealed. Rev. 7:2. The
same is also signified in Isa. 26:20, 21, “Come,
my people, enter thou into thy chambers, shut
the doors about thee: hide thyself as it were
for a little moment, until the indignation be
overpast. For behold the Lord cometh out of
His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth;
the earth shall disclose her blood and shall no
more cover her slain.”
Here we learn also, that the indignation is
as it were for a “little moment,” which coin
cides with Paul in Rom. 9:28, “For He (God)
will finish His work, and cut it short in right
eousness: because a short work will He make
upon all the earth.” And both harmonize with
Christ’s observation in Matt. 24:22, “And ex
cept those days should be shortened, etc.”
Here is the point, to show that neither the
day of wrath, nor yet the day of tribulation,
continues long. The strife just before and
after our Lord’s coming is short-lived. And.
that righteousness follows, and with righteous
ness, peace. Just as is said in Psa. 85:10,
speaking of the return of Israel, “Righteous
ness and peace have kissed.” Then in Isa.
32:17, “And the work of righteousness shall
be peace.”
It being clear, then, that the “tribulation”
is of a short duration, and that the “wrath”
is cut short, we are prepared to investigate this
other period, when “swords are to be beaten
into plowshares.” We find the prophecy in
both Isa. 2 :4, and also in Micah 4 :l-4. In one
it says, “many people shall say,” in the other,
“ ‘many nations shall say,’ let’s go up to the
mountain of the Lord.” And both agree that
it shall be in the “last days.” It comes about
with the gathering of Israel and the es
tablishing of the Lord’s reign at Jeru
salem according to Micah. But in Isaiah
it is more specifically marked by these
expressions, when the people “shall go into
holes and rocks” and “when He ariseth to
shake terribly the earth.” Which very thing
we discover in Rev. 6 :16, takes place with the
breaking of the sixth seal and the announce
ment of Christ’s arrival, that is that the cap
tains and mighty men hide themselves in
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