Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-18

lived and reigned with Christ a thou
sand years. The rest. of the dead lived
not till the Thousand years wefc
finished"
AT casual glance this passage seems
10 establish the view which 1t is cited
10 support; Yet there are difficulties.
II belongs to an obscure and symbolical
book. The advocates of a visible reign
OF Christ interpret the Thousand two
hundred and three score DAYS of chan
Ter Twelve TO mean so many years:
mere they make years" mean years.
Iheir theory includes the Subtraction
OIL al Things to Christ; but this passage
makes no provision for the increase of
the kings subjects. They drift back
into the old Jewish notion of a tempo
raj Kingdom, and many of them advo-
cate a return to the Jewish Sabbath:
put Jesus says. MY Kingdom is not
OF this world" When he was demand
ed OF the Pharisees when the kingdom
should come, he said. 1.-THE kingdom
cometh not with observation; neither
shall they say, Lo. here! or, Lo. there!
For. behold, the Kingdom of God is
within YOU
This passage, SO full OF gorgeous i'm
agery, naturally suggests n symbolic
meaning. To his ancient people, back
SHdden and cold, Jehovah says, Be
nold, y my people. 1 will open your
graves and cause you to come up out
or your graves, and will bring you in
to the land OF Israel Ye shall know
that | am the Lord, when 1 have
opened your graves. and put my Spirit
IN YOU. Paul speaks of the gathering
OF lsraels remnant as life from the
dead. and of regeneration in general as
resurrection from death to life: "If
We then be risen with Christ, seek those
things which are above," And no
principle of Interpretation is violated
by understanding the passage in Rev
XX: In the same way; indeed this Is the
only method by which it can be har-
monized with other scriptures.
In this view OF the passage. 1t be-
comes pledge of success rather than
failure. 1t promises a period of pros
perity. wherein the courage of the
martyrs shall pervadc the church, and
the members of Christ's kingdom
quickened from past lethargy. shall
push the conquest of the world as never
before. 1t foretellS a millennial age
when under the quickening power Of
the Holy Ghost. men dead in trespasses
and sins shall be raised to newneSs OF
life In Christ. ,and the Lord shall be-
gin to claim the heather for his inheri-
lance. and the utmost part of the earth
for his possession. This is the first and
spiritual resurrection, and blessed is
he that hath part therein!
Then shall they sec the Son OF Man
coming in the clouds with power and
great glory. To the disciples on Olivet
there appeared two men in white who
said. This same Jesus that is taken
up from you shall so come in like man
ner as We have seen Him go into
heaven. His coming will be heralded
by no sacristan's bell, but by the shout
of the archangel and the trump OF
God; and as the lightning shineth QUE
of one part under heaven even to an
other part. SO shall his coming be.
They that repose in the tomb shall hear
his voice and come forth, some to ever
lasting shame. and some to everlasting
life. His coming will not bring a bet
ter disclosure Of gospel grace; but 1t
will end the day of probation. and fix
the fate of every soul. The King has
gone into n far country to receive for
Himself a Kingdom and to return and
the woe shall be to His enemies. He
shall be revealed in flaming fire taking
vengeance. He shall sit on the throne
OF His glory, and shall separate sheep
from goats. Whether to-day or to-
morrow, or thousand years hence,
Christ is coming; let creation
Bid her groans and travail cease;
Let the glorious proclamation
Hope restore and faith increase.
Maranatha!
Come. thou blessed Prince Of Peace!"