The author, therefore, after many years of careful reflection on this subject, offers to the public the results of these labors, and presents that picture of the future which he has constructed from those scattered parts which he has gathered out of the prophets, from Moses to St. John the divine. As there have been many authors and many works on this difficult branch of divine study, he does not ask that those still seeking information will reject such views as to them have heretofore appeared plausible, if not satisfactory, but only requests them just "to look on this picture, then on that," and judge which is truest to the original; and if the results of his labors in this department of sacred study shall be of any assistance to others desiring to prosecute it, or shall stir up any who have heretofore neglected it, to give the more earnest heed to the revelation of God's word concerning the future, he will not regret that he has committed his work to the press, although it may expose him to the unfriendly criticism of those who distrust or condemn all treatises on this subject, and consider it presumptuous in any one to attempt to read the future from God's word, notwithstanding He has said, "Come hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter." It is quite natural that those who justify their neglect to explain that large portion of the word of God which relates to those events yet to be accomplished on the earth, by the assumption, that the only interpreter of unfulfilled Prophecy is the fulfillment itself, should look with DISAPPROBATION, or at least distrust, upon all attempts to draw aside that (to them) impenetrable vail, and to see any thing beyond it. But if the great Prophet of the Church has said, "These things have I told you before it come to pass, that when it is come to pass ye may believe;" we certainly can not go far astray if we give earnest heed to the things He has spoken, and endeavor to under stand WHAT HE HAS SAID, that we may know what to believe. For unless unfulfilled Prophecy can be to some extent understood, it will be impossible to know WHAT IS TO BE FULFILLED; and then Prophecy, instead of being a "light shining in a dark place, to which we do well to take heed until the day dawn," would be a system of hieroglyphics in which would be buried whatever the "Spirit hath said unto the Churches" of the future purposes of God. We can not think that such is the character of the prophetic word of God; but feel a deep conviction that our Lord intended us both to hear and understand the things which He declared should come to pass, when, having pointed out to His disciples a number of those things which were still in the future, He added, Matthew xxiv. 25, "BEHOLD, I HAVE TOLD YOU BEFORE." CONTENTS. PAGE The Distinguishing Features of the Millennial Dispensation, which are, 1. Fertility of the Earth; 2. Longevity of its Inhabitants; 3. Peace and Quietness of all Nations; 4. Universal Prevalence of Knowl- LECTURE I. INTRODUCTORY. "Seek ye out of the book of the Lord and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate, for my mouth it hath commanded, and his Spirit it hath gathered them."—ISAIAH, xxxiv. 16. KNOWN unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations. These declarations of inspired writers agree with what the Lord spake by the mouth of the Prophet Isaiah to His ancient people. Remember the former things of old, for I am God and there is none else. I am God and there is none like me-declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, my counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure. When we look at the history of God's Providence we find it to be one of the most lucid interpreters of His word. Many portions of holy Scripture would be for ever sealed to us were Divine Providence not acknowledged and admitted as an expounder of them. In fact a large portion of holy Scripture always has treated of things in the future, and was dependent for its verification upon the coming to pass of those predicted events, so that when the events did happen, they became the world-wide and manifest explanations of them. |