The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1861-10-04
Bible Prophecies Again.


From the Montgomery Post]
Mn. Editor: In commenting upon my
article published in your paper, on the
prophecies Of the Bible, you agree with
Inc in the main, that such prophecies
principally related to the .tews, and have
been generally fulfilled. Still you con-
tend that "theyalso refer TO the second
advent of Christ, and the finnl winding
up of the affairs OF time" But suppose
| were to tell you that Christ had already
made his second sppearance? You
would probably be slow to believe it, for
the truth is always slow III Its march, and
often trampled upon and dcspisel. Never
.thelass, though slow, it assure, nfor great.
is the truth and II must prevail."'- is', Z
' Truth crushed to earth shall riss again, o. ,
F7 The eternal years Of tiod are hers,
Il While error, wounded, writhcs In pain,
"a And dies amid her worshippers. dom
Why mankind are commonly 70 slow
to receive the truth, I will not pause to
inquire. We know the fact, and that is
sufficient. The Jews were slow, very
slow, indeed, to be made to believe that
Christ had appeal ed the first time. SO
slow were they, and are they still, to be
convinced Of this precious fact, this great
and important truth, that, though eigh-
teen hundred years have rolled over their
heads since 1t was first announced, and
the proof has been piled mountains high,
they will not believe word of it, but still
look for the Messiah TO make his long.
promised and hoped-for appearance. SO
also with the Gentiles in regard to his
second appearance. Equally slow are
they to believe the truth that he has
made his second advent, though support
ed oy tho strongest kind of testimony
lie himself distinctly tells us that he
would make his second appearance dur
ing that generation to which he made
his first. See Matthew, 24th chapter, also
2Sth verse of 10th, where he INSERTS that
there were some standing in his presence,
as he spoke, who should not depart this
life until they should see the Son of Man
coming in his kingdom.
Christ first came in person. His second
appearance was not in person, but by u
signal display Of the power of God in his
favor, in causing the triumph OF Christi
anity over Judaism, when Jerusalem was
destroyed and the Jews dispersed, in
consequence of their rejection Of the
gospel. Ever since then he has been
reigning in his kingdom through the
power of the gospel, where he sits en-
throned, judging the nations of the earth
which rise or fall, aecorai6sp@as they
obey or disobey that gospel. And so with
individuals, as well as nations.
AS to the final winding up OF the affairs
of time, of which you speak, do not
think, after careful examination of the
scriptures for forty years, that they reveal
any such an event. If the phrase forever
means, as many contend, world without
end" this world will never lie destroyed
for we read that "the earth abideth for
ever" can preceive no good sense OIL
reason in God acting in such way as ia
make world merely to demolish it, II
ever one such world as ours was to be
literally annihilated, or stricken out o.
existence, it Would throw everything Out
! of gear and destroy the harmony of the
i. universe. God is not such fsckIe, pas
! sionate being as to ge. angry with his owl,
, work, and dash it to destruction. The
: belief that he would one day or other dc
it, and thus destroy this fair fabric OF
which we five, has been productive O
: much mischief and no good whatever. !,
. has caused false prophets to arise, pre-
tending to foretell by the prophecies o
=, bible when (the precise day and hour
! the world would be destroyed. Thus
? deceiving the people and frightening
/ them to death, saying God had spoken
when he had not said Word on thu
: subject. It was thus Miller hoaxed ant
ruined thousands. ,uls, u,.n.I
The phrases lend of the World" ''las
days. .'latter times" &C.. all relate Il
: the same event, the winding up of til,
= Jewish ceremony When there was to b,
: a new heaven and new earth, WI.
: a new order of things, when the Christi
1 an dispensation was to be introduced.
e . wETUMPKA.