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rlly R E C /V EO rH ~W O R DW IT H A LL READI--NESS OF MIND ANDSE A R C H ED T H E SCRIP '"

- rURS O AILYWHET fIE Rl7I0SE TH INCS WRESOrllEREFORE MANYOF TIIEN BUVD_vv "._ ,AcT .w-

EDITED BY OYRUS E. BROOKS.

c c The Wages of Sin is Death; but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

No. 7. Vol. V. APRI L, 1882. ONE PENNY.

LONDONAGENT: F. SOUTHWELL, 19, Pater-94 noster Row, E.C., of whom it may be obtainedthrough any Bookseller or Newsagent in town or94 country. ISCOTCHAGENT: W. LOVE, 226, Argyll-street,Glasgow.NEW ZEALAND AGENT: G. A .. BROWN,Lindum House, Vincent-street, Auckland.SOUTH AUS'l'RALIANAGENT: G. H. GLOVER,Jamestown, Belalie.QUEENSLANDAGEN1':' J. WRIGHT, Bundaberg.

POST-FREE THREE-HALFPENCE;ANNU~I.

Is. 6d. PER TO the few whose minds are thoroughly arousedto the brevity of the remnant of these

"last times," and who are therefore under aprofound impression of the nearness of joy forthe true Christian, and of sorrow for the falseand worldly: of reward and life for th~ former,and punishment and death for the latter, it ismatter of astonishment that Christendom, as awhole, should be so blind and dull of sense tomark its danger. Yet, that it is both blind anddeaf to the multiplied warnings of the DivineWord, and to the fulfi\ment in our present-dayphenomena of its prophetic signs, who candoubt? That its Romish and Greek portionsshould join with the world in crying "Peace,peace," when there is no peace, causes us lesssurprise, but that the Protestant section thereofshould so act is indeed matter for wonder, andthat of an intensely painful kind, and showshow wide and complete is the foretold neglect othe "foolish virgins," and their ignorance ounbelief of this Divine truth.In the hope of arousing some of these, the

Lord's professing servants, we pen a few briefreasons why the Church may expect her Lord'sreturn this year or any year in the immediatefuture.

\(1) The general, yea, universal, agreement

amongst prophetic students-for however widely

TABLE OF CONTENTS.The End Near ...Preaching the Gospel to the DeadThe Creation of Man and its LessonsThe Second Death and how to Es-

cape itConditional Immortality. Part VI.Thoughts in Verse-Give up; The

memory of thejust is blessed; Thysaints shall bless Thee

Question Column-Is man mortal?Do believers.die?

The Resurrection and the Life.Part IV ....

PAGE. ONE PENNY; THE END NEAR.858788 PUBLISHED for the Conditional Immortality

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Notes, News and ReviewsWork and Witness ...Correspondence-A genm'ous ojler;

-A wellfounded-complaint ..Special Notes ...

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THE ""RAINBO-VV~~~A Sixpenny Monthly Magazine, devoted to theExposition of Revealed Truth. Edited by theRev. W. LEASK, D.D. Post-free from the Pub-lisher of this Paper for 6s., 8s., 9s. respectively(see above) PER ANNUM.

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86 THE BIBLE STANDARD.such may differ on minor points, they areagreed on this major-that

CHRISTIS NIGHATHAND.Many fix on A.D. 1885 as the latest probablelimit of this (the Gospel) dispensation or age,whilst none exceed A.D. 1923. Not, observe, ineither case, as the year in which Christ will, actually come, hut as being the furthest probabledelay of Christ's coming: i,e. that we may lookfor our Lord at any portion of any year betweenthis and then. Look for Him to remove Hissaints, as preparatory to those judgments uponApOSTATECHRISTENDOM,which will culminate inthe crisis of His PUIlLICAPPEARANCEr PERSONALPRESENCEto rule the guilty nations" with a rod ofiron," and to "dash them in pieces [as far asimpenitent] like a potter's vessel."(2) The close of the

CHRONOLOGICALATES

dominion and territory, and were to last for 1260years (year-day period), the end of which was tobe set forth by a rapid decay of authority andpower, followed by their complete destruction atthe manifested presence of Christ. The periodof the" woman" (the Papacy) commenced A,D.606, when, by the edict of Phocas, the Bishop ofRome became the head of Christendom; that ofthe "river" (Islam) A.D. 622, from the newmoon (July 16) of which the Mohammedancalendar has been dated. Add 1260 to 606, theperiod of the Papacy (in solar years) ended A.D.1866; add 1260 to 622, that of Islam ended(in luna?'years) A.D. 1844. (We are using solarand lunar years respectively, according to ac-knowledged authori ties.)The present condition of these powers is a

striking proof of the accuracy of these figures.The Papacy of the 13th century ruled the wholewestern. half of the old Roman earth, success-fully claiming Divine authority to make andunmake kings and order human events. Nowshe is stripped of her temporal dominion-whichceased in 1870, the very year of her daring im-piety in proclaiming Papal Infallibility,-whilsther spiritual thunders fall unheeded on the ear.Islam of the 16th century was a terrible powerwhich threatened to overrun and master Europe.Now it is the" sick man" of Turkey, its head,the Sultan;reigning simply by the grace of theGreat Powers, because of their jealousy of oneanother, lest, by the division of Turkey, oneshould be unduly enriched to the loss of theother. Since 1828 Turkey has been stripped ofher fairest provinces in Europe, has lost a goodportion of her Armenian territory in Asia, and,with the exception of Tripoli, has practicallylost the whole of her African dependencies,which once fringed the Mediterranean fromSyria to the Atlantic Ocean.(5) Turning to the banks of the Nile, we have

another eloquent sign in the

furnished by Daniel and John, for the instruc-tion of the Lord's people in these" latter days."These dates (year-day periods) having actuallyreceived their fulfilment, as far as they apply to" the times of the Gentiles." And this, in boththe Eastern and Western hemispheres of theRoman Earth. Thus we are now well advancedin that closing part of the age called "thelatter days."(3) The almost universal opinion of Chris-

tians, notwi thstanding their multiplied sectariandifferences,-though the conclusion is reachedby vastly different routes-that after 6,000 yearsof toil and trouble, the world's secular historywould close, and its sacred history begin: its

GOLDENAGE,Millennium, or SAIlIlATHOFREST (compare Gen.ii. 2, 3, with 2 Pet. Iii, 7, 8)_ This faith hasindeed been the common property of the Church,both to such as were looking for their Lordbefore, and after this period; yea, also, of manythoughtful personeoutside the professing Church,and there are traces of it even amongst heathenidolaters.Taking Hebrew chronology, as stated by its

chief expounder, Clinton, it gives a period of4130 years from the Fall to the Incarnation,from the first to the second Adam. Add to thisthe Christian dispensation, and we have a totalof 6012 years, showing the six secular days(thousands) to have already expired.(4) The decay of the

HISTORICANTICHRISTin the Eastern and Western hemispheres of theancient Roman Empire, seated respectively atthe two ancient capitals thereof-Constantinopleand Rome. The former, or Turkish power,being symbolized in Rev. xvi. 12, by a "river" ;the latter, or Romish power (the Papacy), beingsymbolised in Rev. xvii, 3, 5, 15, 16, by awoman." Both systems, by almost generalconsent, were inheritors of the old Roman

GREATPYRAMID.From the laborious researches of Prof. PiazziSmyth, it is difficult to avoid the conclusionthat we have here a veritable witness unto theLord, recorded in stone, and revealed only inthese "last days." Bounding the Nile on theone hand, and the Lybian desert on the other,stands this marvellous monument of skill andpower. Its five millions tons of huge squaredstone cover thirteen acres of ground, and rise toa height of 486 feet, it being the largest andoldest of the 38 structures which dot thewestern reach of the Nile valley, dating back toB,C. 2170. Omitting all other features of interesttherein, we call attention to one distinctly bear-ing on our present subject, viz.: the teaching ofthe measurements of the passages leading tothe central room called the" King's Chamber."Entering at the north side. some little distance

above the base of the pyramid, we descerapidly-declining passage until we reachascending passage, which rises from it.first portion measures 985 inches (British) gon the scale of an inch to a year, 985 years, operiod of time from the dispersion at BabMoses the Law-giver. Following the ascenpassage to its point of j unction with the "gallery," we get a further measurement ofinches, or the period from Moses to our L1,542 years. At the point of junction wea space 33! inches in length, or the periour Lord's life from Bethlehem to Calvaryyears and six months. His death andis shown in a shaft, leading from this spacechamber below the foundations of the pyramas if to indicate His sojourn in Hades,-tshaft was originally covered with a stone,has since been rolled back, by some mightyfrom its mouth, as if to indicate the glofact of His resurrection from the dead.tinuing this latter measurement along"grand gallery" to the "ante-room" o"king's chamber," we find a recorded to1,882 inches-giving 1,882 years as thelength of the Gospel or Christian dispensaThis is truly significant, seeing we are nA.D.1882.(6) The foretold corruption of doctrine

gether with the wealth and wordliness orAPOS'UCYOF THE CHURCH

(1Tim. iv. 1, 2; 2 1'im. iii. 1-5; iv, 3, 4; 2 P3,4; Jude 18, 19; Rev. iii.14-18.) Thisglaringly painful fulfilment in our day. Atrine we have-purgatory, mariolatry,worship, papal infallibility, natural immorteternal sin and suffering, an eternal devil-the denial of the Personal Advent anKingdom of God upon earth; and prdenial (by silence or dwarfishness ) of thetruth of the Resurrection, of which it istaught that (practically) it is past aThe wealth of the Church is amazing, whworldliness is glaring. Paul teaches thfinal manifestation of Antichrist, as afollows the apostacy of the Church (2 Th3,4.) -(7) Daniel supplies us with an index fi

THE INTENSE AC1'IVITYof the latter-days, "Many shall run to aand knowledge shall be increased" (Dan.We accept the teaching of prophetic sthat the former part of this passage refacilities for locomotion, and the latter to ffor acquiring knowledge-both secular, reand prophetic. He would be a boldignorant man who would deny that thesehave a special fitness to our own day-sunever before. Railways and steamshipsfarthest continents and islands together;ing St. Petersburg within three days of

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THE BIBLE STANDARD. 87and Australia or New Zealand within six weeks.Then, too, by the aid of the telegraph andtelephone, pole can speak to pole, and theopposing parts of the equator are brought withinthirty minutes distance of each other. In learn-ing, wonderful facilities are offered, from thepenny press to the Word of God; whilst it hasbeen truly said, " discovery is out of breath withrunning," such has been its speed.(8) Our Saviour supplies an important sign,

(~[ark xiii. 10) in the latter-day,UNIVERSALTEACHINGOF THE GOSPEL.

"And this Gospel must first be publishedamong all nations." Trustworthy authoritiesdeclare that this has been at length realized,with the single exception of the peninsula ofCorea, on the coast of China. The Word havingbeen translated into several hundred languages,and being taught by a missionary staff girdlingthe world. Even Corea is now being attacked:a Corean translation of the New Testamentbeing in course of preparation, and the firstCorean tract and catechism having been printedand stealthily sent into the country. There canbe little doubt therefore, that Corea's eight toten millions of people will shortly be added tothe number of nations' having the Word of Godand its teachers in their midst, and thus a com-plete fulfilment of the Saviour's words berealized.

(9 ) "Coming events cast their shadows before."JUdging by present-day signs we see the shadowof the glorious event of the

RETURNOF THE JEWSTOPALESTINE,thrown very clearly on our immediate way.Isaiah says (xliii. 6.) " I will say to the north,give up: and to the south, keep not back: bringmy sons from far and my daughters from theends of the earth." The recent outrages uponthe Jewish residents of Germany, Austria, andRussia-but chiefly the latter-together withthe anxious desire of the people, thus oppressed,to leave countries where their life and propertyis no longer safe, is surely supplying us with afirst and partial fulfilment of this propheticword: it being so generally conceded by pro-phetic writers, tha;t there will be a restorationof Judah and Benjamin to their own land-though, ~t first, in unbelief; this to be followedby the union of the two nations of Judah andIsrael, after that, the former has believed untosalvation, saying, "Lo, this is our God: we havewaited for Him, and He will save us: this isthe Lord: we have waited for Him, we will beglad and rejoice in His salvation" (Isaiah xxv.9.) The first-named restoration precedes theAdvent, the latter follows as a result of themanifested presence of the" Son of man." Beit rememberedjthat Russia alone contains halfthe knownjmembers of the Jewish race, or some3,000,000; that these are steadily leaving that

Editor.

country as fast as means and the permission ofthe authorities allow; that in London an Inter-national Relief Fund has been organised ontheir behalf, to which about 50,000 was sub-scribed soon after its opening; that many ofthe migrating Jews desire to settle in Palestine;that it has been chosen by the Committee of theFund as one of the places in which arrangementsare to be made for their reception; that there isalready a considerable Jewish population in thatland; that Jews are now permitted by the Sultanto acquire land, and encouraged to settle there;that our foremost philanthropists are favour-able to the re-nationalization of the Jewish racein Palestine, under a prince of Jewish blood, andprotected by one or more of the Great Powers; andthat private enterprise is rapidly mapping outthe land for railways, for which Concessions arebeing sought. from the Sultan, it is difficult toavoid belief that the "set time to favour Zion "has indeed come, and that we .are just upon thethreshold of the MiIlennial Age.In the foregoing remarks we have simply

sought to bring together recognised latter-dayphenomena-which have been exhaustivelyproved, during this present century, to be such-to show that we have solid reason for believingTHE ENn ~EARof the present dispensation.What are its lessons? Comfort and en-

couragement to the Christian. Joy and gladnessbecause the Bridegroom is so near His returnfor His long waiting Bride-the True Church.Warning for the mere professor, and for thoseengrossed in the concerns of this life, to thepractical exclusion of the next; warning of dangernigh, lest He, coming, smite such with a curse."Surely I come quickly." Let us each withrenewed hearts, right lives, strong faith, truelove, and earnest watching-say, "Even so,come, Lord Jesus."Malvern.

have made.to extort an apposite meaning out ofthese words. Their number, and the ex-travagance of some of them, clearly show thatthis passage is 'hard to be understood.' "The latter writer merely gives what appears

to him the probable meaning of the passage inthe following paraphrase: "For this end wasthe gospel preached to you when spirituallydead, that, believing it, ye should abandon sinand follow holiness; and, having gained itsobject, the result has been thatye are persecutedin your external circumstances, your body, yourreputation, your outward condition, by men; butyou are happy in your mind, in all your spiritualrelations and circumstances, in God" (Ex-pository Discourses, First Peter, Vol. ii., p. 466).The context, however, doesnot seem to us to

favour the idea that the apostle's reference wasto those who had been" spiritually dead," butto believers of the gospel who were bodily deadat the time he was writing. Such is the viewgiven of the apostle's meaning by John PantonHam, in his Generations Gathered and Gather-ing, p. 127: "The gospel was preached in thelifetime of those who are now dead; and to themfor this cause, namely, that although they mustbe judged in the flesh after the manner of men-that is, although they must experience thecommon lot of man, which is to die-yet thatthey might live according to God in the spirit-that is, that they might, notwithstanding, bemade .alive again in a spiritual existencenamely, resurrection-when Christ shall beready to judge the quick and the dead."To the same effect writes the Rev. J. C.

M'Causland, M.A. (On the Intermediate State,pp. 69,70): "There is not in these words theslightest ground for the notion which has beentoo rashly built upon them, that the 'dead'here spoken of were preached to in the inter-mediate state. They were called ' dead' by theapostle, because they were so at the time of hisTO inditing .this epistle, but they were alive whenthe gospel was preached to them. There is, atleast, nothing in the language inconsistent with

By W. LUNG. this position, while the supposing them to have"For this cause was the gospel preached to them that been dead, when preached to, contradicts the

are dead,that theymight be judged according to men inthe rlesh, but liveaccording to God in the spirit."-l Pet. uniform testimony of the Word respecting theIv.B. disembodied state, and therefore cannot beTHIS passage has been declared by the most maintained. There is no difficulty connected

learned expositors to be very hard to be with the explanation here proposed, as it agreesunderstood. Maclmight says it is " one of the with the testimony of Scripture which the otherdarkest passages in the New Testament;" views oppose, and has thus a fair claim on ourDoddridge, that it "must be confessed to be assent. The meaning of the latter part of theextremely difficult;" Bloomfield, tbat "the passage seems to be, that they were, according"sense is here obscure;" Dr. Adam Clarke, to the penalty denounced against sin, subjectedthat" there are as many different translations to death' in the flesh,' but should yet, accord-of this verse and comments upon it, as there are ing to the provision of God, in Christ, ' live intranslators and commentaries;" and Dr. John the spirit,' i.e., in the spiritual body, just men-Brown, that "it would serve little purpose to tioned, in the former of which the believer isstate the various attempts which interpreters 'judged' to temporal death, while in the latter

I

GOSPELDEAD.

PREACHING THETHE

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88 ,THE BIBLE STANDARD.