Reformed Chiliasm (Part 13)

Before launching into those details concerning the "First Resurrection," it remains for us to discuss one important element of the time-period we are considering, and which is connected in a special manner with the salvation of God's elect. We speak of the long-awaited national conversion of the Jewish people. As we've written, Antichrist will arise and, through his false signs and specious promises, be hailed as the Messiah. However, it is evident from certain Scriptures that he will fail to bring deliverance. On the contrary, woe unto them who are delivered into his hand!

For, as well as persecuting the saints, he will be an especial hater of the Jews, notwithstanding he'll derive his lineage from the tribe of Dan. Of course, few will doubt but that he'll keep this genealogy a secret. For no one will willingly accept a savior who comes from that tribe which drew Israel into idolatry. The genealogy will probably be known to a select group of "insiders." It will surely be known to his armor-bearer and associate, the False Prophet. But there is little more we can say concerning the matter, as we are unable to peer into the future.

Nevertheless, we have Scriptures which speak of Antichrist as a leader and gatherer of the Jews. As Christ was ordained to gather an elect people, so Antichrist, in imitation of the true savior, shall also gather a people of unbelievers from among all nations. Hippolytus writes: "He will call together all the people to himself, out of every country of the dispersion, making them his own, as though they were his own children, and promising to restore their country, and establish again their kingdom and nation, in order that he may be worshipped by them as God." (Treatise on Christ and Antichrist, liv). Thus Antichrist, relying entirely upon false promises and lies, will lure away many before they realize his true nature. It is likely that, upon stepping into office, he shall be given carte blanche to execute his designs. It is not impossible that he will even be given dictatorial powers. But therein will be the beginning of his madness. He is that "idle shepherd" prophesied by Zechariah.

(Zech. 11: 15-17) "And the Lord said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. For lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. Woe to the idle shepherd that leaveth the flock! The sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened."

Now, I suppose that while his persecutions are being waged, many will come to a realization that this is that same man foretold by Isaiah: "He who smote the people with wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger," &c. (Isaiah 14: 6). But few will be able to resist his tyranny, as his power shall be beyond human strength to withstand. Wherefore the Lord has given those who live within Judea a solemn warning, that when the abomination of desolation appears (that is, when Antichrist stands forth in his true colors): "Let them flee into the mountains," He says; "Let him which is on the house-top not come down to take any thing out of his house: neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes" (Matt. 24: 16-18). Luke also implies that there shall be a leading away into captivity of those under Antichrist's jurisdiction (Luke 21: 24). However, when Christ returns He shall free Jews and Gentiles alike from the fury of the oppressor.

We spoke in our last article concerning the battle of Armageddon. Our conception of this great end-time battle is something like the following: When Antichrist knows that his time running out, and when he sees the signs in heaven that presage Jesus Christ's advent, he will dispatch ambassadors to all the nations, to gather an immense army. The military forces will be mobilized to the City of Jerusalem, along with all the weapons of mass destruction that technology has ever been able to devise. Not all men will know exactly what is about to occur. Some, not knowing the Scriptures, will fear an invasion from extra-terrestrial powers. Thus, armies will be gathered together to do battle against this coming menace. It would appear that during this time there will be tyranny and violence within the city of Jerusalem itself. Some of the troops, lacking morale, may rifle the houses of the inhabitants.

The prophet Zechariah paints a general outline of those days. "For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city" (Zech. 14: 2). What does this signify? The prophet says that "all nations," that is (as we understand it), 'the combined military forces of all nations,' will be gathered against Jerusalem; in other words, to prevent the Lord's return, who comes to establish the New Jerusalem in glory.

The prophet Joel likewise hinted at the battle of Armageddon, when he wrote: "For behold, in those days, and at that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people, and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and have parted my land" (Joel 3: 1-2). It is obvious that Joel is speaking of the times of Antichrist, for he alludes to the same "captivity" predicted by Luke. But if anyone should suspect that these prophecies were fulfilled in the Jewish War (A.D. 66-70), a simple reading of the text itself will disabuse them of their views. If "the nations" be interpreted as meaning the armies under Vespasian, then the prophecy falls to the ground. For Zechariah says: "Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle" (Zech. 14: 3).

Now, it is a known fact that the Roman armies were never "destroyed" when they gathered against Jerusalem. So that event cannot in any wise be claimed as the fulfillment of these prophecies. Zechariah clearly states that the Lord will fight against those very nations that surround Jerusalem. This plainly has reference to the times of Antichrist, and not to any past period in the history of the Holy City. Hence these events are future. And really, if we simply read these Scriptures, harmonizing them with those parallel passages in the Apocalypse, our eyes will be enlightened, and we'll understand that they speak of nothing else than the Battle of Armageddon, which precedes the Millennium.

Our interpretation, then, of these final events runs thus: When Antichrist mobilizes the world's military forces to the City of Jerusalem, in an attempt to prevent Jesus Christ's coming, the sky will become darkened gradually, until night spreads across the entire land. Then, a luminous Cross shall suddenly appear in the sky, heralding the army of Christ and His saints. This is the "sign of the Son of Man" (Matt. 24: 30) foretold by the Savior. Cyril of Jerusalem writes: "Now Christ's own true sign is the Cross; a sign of a luminous cross shall go before the King, plainly declaring Him who was formerly crucified. [...] The sign of the Cross shall be a terror to His foes; but joy to His friends who have believed in Him, or preached Him, or suffered for His sake. Who then is the happy man, who shall then be found a friend of Christ?" (Catechetical Lectures, XV. xxii).

It is important that this sign of the Cross be clearly seen, in order that those who have not yet repented may accept Jesus Christ and be saved before the Final Battle begins. It has been thought by many students of prophecy that the national conversion of the Jewish people will occur immediately prior to this battle; that is, during the siege of Jerusalem, but before the Lord wreaks vengeance upon the adversaries. Joel once again makes reference to this time, when he writes: "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and terrible day of the Lord shall come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call" (Joel 2: 31-32). The "remnant" is clearly the same of which Paul speaks: "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace" (Rom. 11: 5). That is, there is a large number of natural Jews who shall be grafted back into their own olive tree (Rom. 11: 24) before Christ returns.

Truly, this is one of the most wonderful events which will ever occur in the world's history. And anyone who begrudges the Jews the blessings of Christ's salvation is clearly one of envious disposition. But we, along with countless others, look forward to this event. For when the Jews, when they see what great terrors Antichrist has brought upon the world, and perceive that it is Christ alone who is their Messiah, will repent and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and shall be saved. Zechariah also foretold the wholesale conversion of the remnant of Israel. He, too, depicts it as occurring during the times of Armageddon: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born" (Zech. 12: 9-10).

As well, Ezekiel seems to have regard to this conversion, when, in predicting the day of the Lord, he says: "But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity" (Ezek. 7: 16). It would appear that Ezekiel refers to those who follow Christ's warnings to "flee into the mountains" when they see the abomination of desolation. Hence, there will probably be a "first-fruits" of national conversion among those who believe in Christ before Armageddon actually begins. Those who remain in the city will be converted only when they see the mobilization of the troops, the darkening of the heavens, or the sign of the Cross. But one thing is certain, to which the prophets uniformly testify--namely, that "all Israel shall be saved."

This salvation will be all the more necessary, inasmuch as there seems to be evidence in Scripture that the gathering of the elect will take place before Christ and His saints wage war against the adversaries. We are not at all sure of the actual details, but, judging from Christ's Olivet Discourse, it is quite reasonable to assume that there will be an immediate gathering of all the elect from the four corners of heaven before the Lord fights against Jerusalem. When the tribes of the earth mourn, and see the Lord coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, "He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matt. 24: 30-31). Thus, prior to the battle itself the "First Resurrection" will take place.

Then, immediately after, or concurrent with this resurrection, there shall be earthquakes and thunderings, followed by a parting, or opening, in the heavens. Then, the Lord and His saints will appear to do battle against the powers of iniquity. The blessed evangelist John gives us a few more details, when he prophesies of the "harvest of the earth." He writes: "And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped" (Rev. 14: 14-16 ff.).

I don't suppose anyone would assume that by these Scriptures we are to understand the "harvest of the earth" as implying that of the "whole world," as if all mankind will be collected and destroyed in one massive battle. Frankly, that concept is antagonistic to the idea of the Millennium, which holds that all nations shall come to Jerusalem to worship Jesus Christ (Isaiah 66: 23; Zech. 14: 16). Rather, we believe that Jerusalem will be the main scene of these events. For John writes: "The wine-press was trodden without the city" (Rev. 14: 20), that is, the battle will be waged within the environs of Jerusalem itself.

Once again, Joel gives us the local coloring. "Let the heathen be wakened, and come to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord shall be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel" (Joel 3: 12-16).

Our personal understanding, then, of the Battle of Armageddon, is that those nations and armies which come against Jerusalem will be destroyed at Jesus Christ's coming. Since these troops will be those very persons who shall take Antichrist's mark their forehead and willingly serve him, it is only fitting that they should "drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation" (Rev. 14: 9-10). But as inferred from Joel's prophecy and other Scriptures, there will be a great quaking of the whole earth, and the heavens as well, insomuch that all areas of the world will feel and know what is going on in the Holy City. Of course, we have many other opinions we could give involving Armageddon and the things which will occur at that time. But we have already digressed too far from our immediate subject, which involves the Lord's Second advent in glory, the gathering of His saints, and the Resurrection of the Just.

To be continued...

Reformed Chiliasm (Part 11)

Naturally, the rise of Antichrist will precipitate a state of things that results in hostility to the people of God. We've already seen how wars and devastations must continue until the world is divided into ten nations. Lactantius, alluding to these times, writes: "First, the kingdom will be enlarged, and the chief power, dispersed among many and divided, will be diminished. Then civil discords will be perpetually sown; nor will there be any rest from deadly wars, until ten kings arise at the same time, who will divide the world, not to govern, but to consume it. These, having increased their armies to an immense extent, and having deserted the cultivation of the fields, which is the beginning of overthrow and disaster, will lay waste and break in pieces and consume all things." (Divine Institutes, VII. xvi).

Thus will the world will be brought into bondage by the powers of wickedness, and evil will prevail among all classes of men. During or after this preliminary division of nations, Antichrist will arise and defeat three of the world-powers, after which he will be constituted the head of the entire confederacy--not to mention, he will be hailed as the Messiah. He will likely come forward as a humanitarian leader, professing his wish to inaugurate a new era of peace throughout the world. But his words will be only a pretext to gaining office.

Once he has wheedled his way into the government, and obtained the power he desires, he will wage a wicked persecution against mankind, but especially against the saints. It is he, in fact, who will cut off the two witnesses. Here it should be noted that both Lactantius and Commodian speak of two Antichrists, the first one being that prince who shall be denominated head of the ten-nation confederacy, and under whose rule laws will be changed, and the world's peoples subjected to continual harassment and vexation. Then, after he has reigned a short time, he shall be defeated by the true Antichrist, who shall demand divine honors. As the mechanics of this "dual-Antichrist" theory are somewhat obscure, being as they are fetched from epitomes and fragments, we are unable to give details. However, it would appear that this school of prophecy identifies these individuals as "the beast" and the "false prophet" of Rev. 13. But regardless of whether you believe in one Antichrist or two, you'll have to admit that fulfillment will come in the midst of catastrophic worldwide events. It will not be a very good time to be living upon the earth.

As implied in certain passages of John's Apocalypse, the battle-ground for many of these events will probably be the City of Jerusalem. And this is corroborated by our Lord's Olivet Discourse. However, lest any should think that other areas of the world will be unaffected, please think again. For as Antichrist will have power over all the nations, his machinery shall extend throughout the whole earth. John, writing to the church in Philadelphia, speaks of an "hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth" (Rev. 3: 10). This, of course, can only signify a worldwide tribulation, and the idea is opposed to any excessive localization of the prophecy.

Let us go back to Christ's Olivet Discourse and see if we can follow the course of this tribulation-period. I am aware that theories exist which place the Tribulation as a past event. However, these theories will not be discussed in the present course of articles. The language itself, which speaks of significant signs in the heavens (Matt. 24: 29 ff.) should tell us that the whole period of which are Lord is speaking, although it may have been foreshadowed by previous events, is to take place at the end of the world (aeon), when Christ comes to gather His saints and bear rule on the earth. It is entirely sufficient that we read these passages with a believing heart, knowing that they are addressed to the church of God.

We made mention in our last two articles of those "wars and rumors of wars" (Matt. 24: 6) which must occur prior to the rise of Antichrist. Attendant upon these wars will be an increase of persecution and betrayal, which bespeaks a great intolerance for Christianity in general. But during the whole of this time, the Gospel shall be preached unto all nations. "And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matt. 24: 14). From these Scriptures, and from what we've already said, we learn that the days preluding the advent of Antichrist will be characterized by certain general tendencies: 1): By a 'falling away' or apostasy; 2): By numerous wars and upheavals; 3): By persecutions and betrayals; 4): By a fervent preaching of the pure Gospel. Not to mention, there will be "famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places" (Matt. 24: 7). But when the Gospel shall have been preached to all nations, then will the end come.

What will be the sign of the commencement of the Tribulation itself? Christ tells us: "When ye, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand,) then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the house-top not come down to take any thing out of his house: neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor shall ever be" (Matt. 24: 15-21).

Thus, the Lord tells us that the Tribulation will be heralded by the "abomination of desolation." This evidently refers to Antichrist himself. Referring to Daniel's prophecy of the Seventy Weeks (Dan. 9: 24-27), Hippolytus writes: "For when the threescore and two weeks are fulfilled, and Christ is come, and the Gospel is preached in every place, the times being then accomplished, there will remain only one week, the last, in which Elias will appear, and Enoch, and in the midst of it the abomination of desolation will be manifested, viz., Antichrist, announcing desolation to the world. And when he comes, the sacrifice and oblation will be removed, which are now offered to God in every place by the nations." (Fragments from Commentaries; Daniel, II. xxii). Of course, we can probably learn the true nature of Antichrist's sacrilege by going back to the times of Antiochus Epiphanes, to whose abominations Daniel's prophecy seems to have a principal reference. For as Antiochus persecuted the Jews and defiled their sanctuary, so shall Antichrist persecute the church in a like manner.

And as Christ relates, the "abomination of desolation" will precipitate the events of the Great Tribulation. But lest we should seem to dip our pen too much in earthquake and thunder, let us have a few words of comfort. Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem during the fourth century, writes: "For this cause the Lord knowing the greatness of the adversary grants indulgence to the godly, saying, Then let them which be in Judea flee to the mountains. But if any man is conscious that he is very stout-hearted, to encounter Satan, let him stand (for I do not despair of the Church's nerves), and let him say, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ and the rest? But, let those of us who are fearful provide for our own safety; and those who are of good courage, stand fast. But thanks be to God who hath confined the greatness of that Tribulation to a few days; for He says, But for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened; and Antichrist shall reign for three years and a half only." (Catechetical Lectures, XV. xvi). There is thus an appointed time for the prevalence of wickedness, after which it shall be vanquished and overthrown.

At this juncture, the hopes of the godly shall run high. And it appears from Christ's words that wicked and impious men will spread false knowledge of the Lord's coming in all places. "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christ, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore, if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matt. 24: 23-27).

Here the Lord gives us a solemn warning to beware of any Gnostic/ subjective interpretations of His coming. For during this period false teachers will be zealously active in lulling to sleep the Christian conscience, and fooling unwary disciples. They will promise that "everything is under control;" and that "Christ is reigning on earth now." Notwithstanding the oppressions and robberies, the accusations and persecutions, the devastations and conflagrations, they will succeed even in luring away many to their views, and in almost deceiving the very elect. But Christ tells us not to listen to such heretics; for His coming will be visible and glorious. And thus Christ gives encouragement and counsel to all believers who shall live to see those times.

Thus, in a somewhat imperfect fashion, owing to the fact that "we see through a glass darkly" (1 Cor. 13: 12), we have given a brief sketch of the Great Tribulation. And we must here pause to thank heaven that we have not yet arrived at such a pass. And we pray the Lord that He will continue to keep His church safe from the persecutions of anti-Christian powers. However that may be, we know that "through much tribulation" alone may we enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14: 22). Let it be enough for us that we abstain from evil, and "resist unto blood, striving against sin" (Hebrews 12: 4).

Fighting against the old man is tribulation enough. And those who keep His word and do not deny His name, may be given that "open door" to escape from real Tribulation (Rev. 3: 8). Notwithstanding, even if we be accounted worthy to suffer for Jesus Christ's name, we must remember the persecutions endured by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (Daniel 3: 13 ff.). Their being cast into the fiery oven by Nebuchadnezzar was a type of the Tribulation which shall be waged by Antichrist. As Christ was with them in the furnace (Dan. 3: 25), so we know that they who endure persecutions for Jesus Christ's sake will have His presence, and be ensured the safety of their souls. "He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matt. 24: 13).

But why must there be a future Tribulation? Anyone who seriously considers the topic from a Christian perspective will see the necessity of some such event taking place. In order for good to prevail, there must first be a displacement of evil. In order for Christ to reign, there must first be a subjugation of all hostile powers. When Satan sees that his time is short, he will re-double his persecutions. And the warfare he will wage during the last half-week of the present age shall end with his binding in the bottomless pit, that he may no longer be permitted to deceive mankind. Then will Daniel's prophecy of Christ's kingdom (Dan. 7: 14, 22, 27) be fulfilled.

Although we admit that it is not pleasant to consider the possibilities of Tribulation and persecution, we must concede that it shall issue in a more glorious dispensation than the world has ever seen. However you regard these events, whether reluctantly, or with acknowledgement of the greater hope, know that Satan's hourglass is getting low; his time is running out. As we await his period of defeat, let us keep our candles burning brightly as worthy stewards of the grace of God, ever crying, Maranatha! The Lord cometh!

To be continued...