The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-19
MILLENNIUM AT HAND.
SYMPOSIUM OF RELIGIOUS LEAD
Frs UPON ITS COMING.

II 10 Not Far OG-The signs Of ITS APP
pr~sch and Their Misrepresentation
Great Variety Of Views In zach Denom-
ssation.
There Is at hand apparently another
revival OF interest in the question which
for two thousand years has periodically
aroused the Christian world, Gays the
New York Sun. Is the millennium up
on us? Men who are recognized lead
ers in religious thought, who are nei'
Their fanatics nor sentimentalists. have
recently given it as their deliberate
opinion that the next century will wit
pess the fulfilment of the Scripture
prophecies in this regard. Bishop A..
Cleveland Coke and Brother Moody,
the evangelist. are among the nearly
premillennialites OF prominence. 10
che Baptist denomination there is a
movement on foot TO bring together IN
to closer relations such as bold similar
views OF the subject. Moreover, as the
century draws nearer its last days
there sre signs that belief in a rapidly
approaching change in the condition oil
man will become more widespread.
The prominence which the subject ID
beginning TO assume before the people
suggests the inquiry: What Is the
latest attitude of the Christian Church
i'm this one of the principal matters OF
its faith and beliefY Which Of the great
denominations which base their creeds
upon the Bible hold that the millennium
is upon usY Which of them believe
that the second coming of Christ 10 TO
to be looked for in the near futureI D.
they believe the Millennium will prece9e
the advent Of the Saviour, or that IT Will
be coincident with ity Or, 10 put II ID
strictly secular form, What is the
Church s conception of the evolution OF
the race during the next century,
In Daniel and Revelation are the
principal prophecies or visions which
for ages have been supposed TO hold
hidden the mighty secret of the fate OF
the world. The most prevalent idea OF
the millennium is that suggested by
these words in Revelation:
Aud saw an angel come down from
Heaven, having the key of the bottom
less pit aud great chain in bis hand.
And he laid hold on the dragon, that
old serpent, which is the devil. and Sa
tan, and bound him thousand years.
And cast him into the bottomless phi
and shut him up, and set seal upon
him. that he should deceive the nations
no more, till the thousand years should
f..t hn he
loosed little season.
And saw thrones, and they sat upon
them, and judgment was given unto
them; and / saw the souls of them thai
were beheaded for the witness of Jesus
and for the word of God. and which
had not worshipped the beast, neither
his image, neither had received hi
mark upon their foreheads, or in theil
hands; and they lived and reign ed witt
Christ thousand years,
But the rest of the dead lived moi
again until the thousand years wer,
finished. This is the first resurrection
Blessed and holy is he that hath parl
in the first resurrection; ON such the
second death hath no power, but they
shall be priests OF God and of Christ
anu nndli reign WIN hiih HOuhdhu
years.
And when the thousand years are ex-
pired Satan shall be loosed out of his
prison, ana shall go out TO deceive the
nations which are in the four quarters
of the earth, Cog and Magos, to gather
them together to battle; the number OF
whom Is as the sand of the sea.
And they went up on the breadth OF
the earth, and comprised the camp OF
the saints about and the beloved city
and fire came down out of Heaven from
God, and devoured them. And the
devil that deceived them was cast into
the lake Of fire and birthstone, where
the beastand the false prophet are, and
shall he tormented day and night for
ever and ever.-Rev. XIX, 10.
Among the New Testament signs OF
His second coming, which were named
by Christ, are these: And then if any
man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ
or, 10, lie is there; believe him not, for
false Christs and false prophets shall
rise and shall show signs aud wonders
20 seduce, il IL were possible, even the
elect. But in those days, after that
tribulation, the sun shall be darkened
and the moon shall not give her light.
and the stars Of Heaven shall fall, aud
the powers that are IN Heaven shall be
shaken. And then shall they see the
Son of man coming in the clouds with
great power and glory. And then shall
He send His angels and shall gather
together His elect from the four winds.
from the uttermost part of the earth to
the uttermost part of Heaven" And
there shall be signs in the sun and in
the moon and in the stars; and upon
the earth distress of nations with per-
ple1ity; the sea and the waves roaring
mems hearts failing them for fear and
for looking after those things which
are coming on the earth.
In the Old Testament Daniel prOphe
cies of the great change:
And at that time shall Michael stand
up, the great prince which standeth for
the children of thy people; and there
shall be a time OF trouble such as never
was since there was nation even TO
that same time; and at that time thy
people shall be delivered, every one
that shall be found written in the book.
And many of them that sleep in the
dust of the earth shall awake. some to
everlasting lite and some to shame and
everlasting contempt.
Then i, Daniel, looked, and, behold.
there stood other two. the one on this
side of the bank of the river and the
other on that side OF the bank of the
river.
And one said to the man clothed in
linen. which was upon the waters of
the river How long shall it be to the
end Of these wonders?
And / heard the man clothed in
linen, which was upon the waters of
the river, when he held up his right
baud and his left hand unto Heaven and
swore by Him that liveth forever that
it snail be for time, times, and half,
and when he shall have accomplished
to scatter the power of the holy people
all these things shall be finished.
And heard, but l understood not;
then said l, o my Lord, what shall be
the end of these thingsy
And he said, Go thy way, Daniel;
for the words are closed up and sealed