Smyrna times., 1890-10-29


nOminGtiOn-Lymda Abbott Believes 1t
WiL take the Form Of Spiritual A,Oak-
ening Like the Sudden Bursting of
Buds on Spring Day-Other Relig-
iouS Leaders Look for a Great Cata-
cLy8mic Ctange-Ihe Millennium of
Natural Evolution.
From the New York sun.
There is at hand apparently another
revival of interest in the question
which for two thousand years has per-
iodically aroused the Christian world ::
Is the Millennium upon us? Men who
are recognized leaders in religious
thought, who are neither fanatics nor
sentimentalists, have recently given it
as their deliberate opinion that the
next century will witness the fulfil
ment of the Scripture prophecies in
this regard. Bishop A. Cleveland Coke,
and Brother Moody, the evangelist, are
among the nearly premillennialites of
prominence. In the Baptis5 denomin-
alton there is a movement on foot to
bring together into closer relations
such as hold similar views of the sub
ject. Moreover, as the century draws
nearer its last days, there are signs
that belief in a rapidly approaching
change in the condition of man will
become more widespread.
The prominence which the subject is
beginning to assume before the people
suggests the inquiry What is the lat
est attitude of the Christian Church in
this one of the principal matters of its
faith and belief? Which of the great
denominations which base their creeds
upon the Bible hold that the millen-
MUM is upon us? Which of them be-
lleve that the second coming of Christ
is to be looked for in the near future ?
Do they believe the millennium will
precede the advent of the Saviour, or
that it will be coincident with it? Or
to put it in strictly secular form, what
is the Church's conception Of the
evolution of the race during the next
century?
An attempt to gather from denomin-
ational leaders opinions upon these
points which should be representative
of the views Of the respective Churches
or religious associates has developed a
situation both surprising and signif.
cant. The views of Christian people
within any one denomination are as
various as are any that may be con
trasted in the creeds of Churches which
do not affiliate. Millennium concep-
tons are as many as those of heaven
and as impossible of comparison. No
mans views represent those of anv-
body else when it comes to a descrip-
tiOn of what life on earth according to
his idea will be when that delectable
era is ushered in. Church creeds to-
day almost ignore the whole subject.
Members of the same church believe.
some of them, that far away future
generations will enjoy blissful time
of peace and plenty and happiness be-
fore the coming of Christ and the res
direction; while others are strong in
the opinion that the final judgement
day is liable to come at any moment
and without warning. In general
terms the two forms of belief most
common in the Church to-day are
those just stated, but wide variety Of
other conceptions obtain in anv gath
ering of religious people however
much in sympathy they may be upon
other disputed points in creed or
Scripture. This wide divergence of
opinion exists as much among Presby-
terians as among Baptists; among
MethOdists and Coneregationalists
alike, and throughout the Protestant
Episcopal and all evangelical denomin-
atiOns. Some good Christians believe
the millennium has passed some that
people now living will see it's dawn.
1t may be said that there has been
one important modification in the con-
ception which many hold who believe
the millennium has not yet been reach
ed. Until comparatively recent years
it was the almost universal Christian
belief that the advent of the millen-
MUM would be cataclysmic. Now re.
ligiOus thought believes it will be evo-
lutiOnal. This is change highly sig
nificant of the times. As applied to
Biblical study it means more and more
the abandonment of the literal inter
probation of the Scriptures. 1t is the
view of men who no longer believe
that the language of st. John, in Rev
elation is an enormous riddle to be
solved only after ages of study.
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 tn at suggested by
these words in Revelation:
And 1 saw an angel come down
from heaven, having the key of the
bOttomless pit and great chain in his
/ hand.
And he laid hold on the dragon.
that old serpent, which Is the devil,
and Satan, and bound him a thousand
years.
And cast him into the bottomless
pit and shut him up, and set a seal
upon him, that he should deceive the
nations no more, till the thousand
years should be fulfilled: and after
that he must be lOOsed a little season.
And saw thrones, and they sat
upon them, and judgment was given
unto them that 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 his mark upon their fore
heads, or in their hands; and they
lived and reigned with Christ a thous-
and years
But the rest of the dead lived not
again until the thousand years were
finished. This is the first resurrec-
tiOn.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part
In the first resurrection; on such the
second death hath no power, but they
shall be priests of God and of Christ,
/ NaaNaa.