INTRODUCTORY SYNOPSIS
3. What the fire will be, which shall come down from heaven, and destroy the Gog and Magog army? The wrath and indignation of God
He thus writes on <660320>
Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock,” etc. The phrase “standing at the door” may be expressive of the near approach of Christ to judgment; and his knocking may signify the notice that will be given of it by some of the immediate forerunners and signs of his coming; which yet will be observed by a few, such a general sleepiness will have seized all professors of religion; and particularly may intend the midnight cry; which will, in its issue, rouse [awaken the attention] of them all. ‘If any man hear my voice,’ in the appearances of things, and providences in the world, ‘and open the door,’ or show a readiness for the coming of Christ, look and wait for it and be like such that will receive him with a welcome, ‘I will come in and sup with him, and he with me.’ To and among these will Christ appear when he comes in person, and these being likewise virgins, ready, having his grace in their hearts, and his righteousness upon them, he will take them at once into the marriage chamber, and shut the door upon the rest, when they shall enjoy a thousand years’ communion with him in person here on earth, when the Lamb on the throne shall feed them with the fruit of the tree of life, and lead them to fountains of living waters, and his tabernacle shall be among them.” fb182 Dr. Gill died in 1771.
BENGEL, A. D. 1720.
John Albert Bengel, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1687. He is celebrated as a prophetical writer, Dr. Clarke affirming that “in him were united two rare qualification — the deepest piety and the most extensive
learning.” His Millennial views were singular, he arguing from Revelation 20th a double Millennimn, viz., a thousand years reign on earth, followed by a thousand years reign in heaven; the first the seventh, the second the eighth thousand years from the creation. The first thousand years
beginning, as he thought, in 1836, would be preceded by rapid changes and great judgments. Wesley took Bengel for his master in interpreting the Apocalypse. We extract but briefly.
“Apart from all the details of chronological computation, we cannot but think ourselves approaching very near to the termination of a great period; neither can we get rid of the idea, that troublous times will soon supersede the repose we have so long enjoyed. At the approaching termination of any great and remarkable period, many striking events have been found to take place simultaneously, and many others in quick succession; and this after a course of
intermediate ages in which nothing unusual has occurred.” fb183
“As long as nothing extraordinary befalls Rome or Jerusalem, things in general will proceed pretty smoothly; but while they continue much as they are, the news in the journals will be
alternating and fluctuating every quarter of a year. One novel scene of things and then another, will be perpetually engaging public notice, till the children of men become ripe at length for a visitation from Him who is higher than the high ones. When events have arrived just at the finishing of the mystery of God, we shall hear the striking of that clock which has so long been silent. I mean that partly before, and partly at this period, many events of a terrible, yes, also of a joyful kind will rapidly succeed one another. * * The aspect of the present season in the church indicates the approach of winter; for ours is a poor, frigid, slumbering age, which needs an Awakener; and surely an Awakener is coming.”
“Men are now but novices to those who will appear in the last age of general profligacy, when fleshly security and scoffing at religion shall have gained completely the upper hand; when it will not be so much as dreamed that the end is so near, when the dream will be that all things shall continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. But even that season will have a few who shall continue in the faith, and in patient waiting for Christ; though their numbers
will be small indeed, compared with the multitudes then wholly given to infidelity.”
“Surely we cannot feel at home in such a world as we now find it;
at best it is but an inn upon the road; and the summons ‘Arise, and depart, for this is not your rest, because it is polluted,’ surely cannot be unwelcomed when it comes. For folly is practiced
exceedingly in our own days, because it is taken for granted that we can know nothing about futurity.”
“A period is coming when the pure Millennial doctrine will be duly regarded as an article of the true faith, and then teachers will be so well acquainted with the whole detail of the Apocalypse, as to make it the subject of common juvenile instruction.” fb184
DODDRIDGE, A. D. 1740.
Philip Doddridge, D. D. He had his birth at London, in 1702, and became pastor at Northampton, and director of an academy. He was the author of valuable writings. In his “Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul,” we see exhibited an abiding love for the Lord’s advent, worthy of emulation.
He says: —
“Nor is it long before the Judge who standeth at the door, will appear also for universal judgment; and though, perhaps, not only scores but hundreds of years will lie between that period and the present moment, yet it is but a very small point of time to Him who views at once all the immeasurable ages of a past and future
eternity. A thousand years are with him but as one day, and one day as a·thousand years. He comes quickly; and I trust you can answer with a glad Amen that the warning is not troublesome or unpleasant to your ears, but rather that his coming, his certain, his speedy coming, is the object of your delightful hope, and of your longing expectation.
For with regard to his final appearance to judgment, our Lord says
— ‘Surely I come quickly:’ and will you not here also sing your part in the joyful anthem — Amen, even so come, Lord Jesus?
“Let this illustrious day come, even with all its horrors. We shall go from the ruins of a dissolving world, to the new heavens and new earth, wherein righteousness forever dwells.” fb185
Doddridge was a dissenter, and died 1751.
JOHN WESLEY, A. D. 1750.
John Wesley, A. M., was born at Epworth, England, in 1703. He was the distinguished founder of Methodism, and our readers are doubtless familiar with his name and superior excellencies. In 1754 he published his “Notes on the New Testament,” from which we make extracts bearing on the advent and kingdom. On <402436>
Matthew 24:36, he says: “But of that day — the day of judgment — knoweth no man; not while our Lord was on earth.
Yet it might afterwards be revealed to St. John, consistently with this.” On
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2 Peter 3:12, he thus comments: “Hastening on, as it were, by your earnest desires and fervent prayers, the coming of the day of God.” In interpreting Revelation, his views nearly coincide with those of Bengel.
“Yet,” he observes, “I by no means pretend to understand or explain all that is contained in this mysterious book. I only offer what help I can to the serious inquirer, and shall rejoice if any be moved thereby more carefully to read, and more deeply to consider the words of this prophecy. Blessed is he that does this with a single eye: his labor shall not be in vain.” He remarks that this revelation “reaches from the old Jerusalem to the New,”
and also that the seven trumpets extend “nearly from the time of St. John to the end of the world.” Applying as others the sixth trumpet to
Mohammedanism, he observes that the dominion of Christ “appears in an entirely new manner, as soon as the seventh angel sounds,” and that “this trumpet contains the most important and joyful events, and perhaps shall once be heard on earth” — Christ now having “actually come.” On the importance of the study of the Apocalypse, he says: “Some have miserably handled this book: hence, others are afraid to touch it; and while they desire to know all things else, reject only the knowledge of those which God hath shown. They inquire after anything rather than this, as if it were written, Happy is he who doth not read this prophecy. Nay, but happy is he that readeth, and they that hear and keep the words thereof, especially at this time when so considerable a part of them is on the point of being fulfilled. * * * It behoves every Christian at all opportunities to read what is written in the oracles of God, and to read this precious book in
particular, frequently, reverently and attentively; for the time of its beginning to be accomplished is near — even when St. John wrote. How much nearer to us is even the full accomplishment of this weighty
prophecy!” On <430504>
John 5:4, he comments: “And I wept much: the
Revelation was not written without tears, neither without tears will it be understood. How far are they from the temper of St. John, who inquire after anything rather than the contents of this book; yea, who applaud their own clemency if they excuse those that do inquire into them!” The message of the first angel of chap. 14, he says, is not the gospel proper, but a
specific joyful message to all, that the hour of God’s judgment is come. He says: “We are very shortly to expect, one after another, the calamities occasioned by the second beast, the harvest and the vintage; the pouring out of the vials, the judgment of Babylon, the last raging of the beast and his destruction, the imprisonment of Satan. How great things these! And how short the time!” Like Bengel; he singularly gathers two Millenniums from Revelation 20th — the one ending when the other begins: the first “a flourishing state of the Church on earth,” the second “a reign of the saints with Christ in heaven,” allowing verse 6th to teach a literal resurrection of the martyrs and saints. Wesley looked for the Millennium in 1836,
remarking that, “In a short time those who assert that they (the thousand years) are now at hand, will appear to have spoken the truth.” Of Satan’s binding, he says: “This fulfillment approaches nearer and nearer, and
contains things of the utmost importance, the knowledge of which becomes every day more distinct and easy.” On <662217>
Revelation 22:17, — “The Spirit of adoption in the Bride, in the heart of every true believer says with earnest desire and expectation, Come and accomplish all the words of this prophecy, etc. He that adds (to this book) all the plagues shall be added to him; he that takes from it, all the blessings shall be taken from him. And doubtless this guilt is incurred by all those who lay hindrances in the way of the faithful, which prevent them from hearing their Lord’s I come! and answering, Come, Lord Jesus!” fb186 John Wesley taught the doctrine of Hades being the receptacle of the soul during the intermediate state, observing of the idea entertained by many, that soul at death departed immediately to glory and the presence of Christ, that “This opinion has no foundation in the Scriptures.” He evidently follows the early Fathers and reformers, postponing the full reward until Christ’s appearing.
We invite attention to his excellent “Sermon on the New Earth,” and warmly commend the spirit of his hymns, beginning, —
“Away with our sorrow and fear,”
“How happy are the little flock,”
“The church in her militant state,” etc.
He fell asleep in Jesus in 1788.