In the present dispensation we
are the subjects of TIME. With gigantic footsteps he bears us
to our future. There is no escape from his course. Few are the
human hearts so hardened but at some time or other they are
melted into pity; but were the whole universe in tears over
the rapid sweep of Time, his silent course would not be
stayed, nor his iron heart be moved. On, still on, he presses;
but not forever. The period comes on apace when his own death
knell shall ring. Swallowed up in eternity his iron heart
shall yet be melted to pity; yea, shall feel the sting of
death. "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and
upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him
that liveth forever and ever, . . . that there should be time
no longer."—Rev. 10:5, 6. The iron barriers of the
tombs which he has built shall be broken asunder, and the
numberless dead shall gather the scattered fragments to build
an eternal sepulcher to him who has laid so many in their last
repose, but who shall then be wrapped in the unending sleep of
eternity.
The uniform voice of the Bible is that
the current dispensation is the last age of time. All through
the Old Testament the present age is prophesied of as the
"last days" (Gen. 49:1, 8-10; Mic. 4:1, 2; Isa.
2:1-3), the "latter days" (Num. 24 :14-19, Jer. 23
:19, 20, Jer. 30 :24; Deut. 4:29-34; Dan. 2:28), the
"time of the end" (Dan. 12), etc. What can these
expressions mean, if not that the prophets understood the
present dispensation to be the last? In Jer. 23 we have a
clear prediction of Christ's first advent, the establishing of
his kingdom, and his great salvation work in this age. Verses
5, 6. Also of the great apostasy and reign of false prophets
during the Christian era. Verses 9-18. In verses 19 and 20 we
have a description of the present holiness reformation when
God is pouring out the awful judgments of his truth upon all
false religion. The prophet further says that all these things
would be considered by the people of God in "latter
days."—Ver. 20. This last expression is rendered as
follows in the Septuagint Version: "At the end of the
days they shall understand it." That is, during the time
these predictions would be fulfilled God's people would
understand. But mark the fact that all this was to be in the
"end of days." This gospel age is frequently in the
scriptures called a day. The prophets speaking of things that
would transpire in this age, said, "It shall come to pass
in that day." Paul applies the term "day" to
this age in Rom. 13:12 and 2 Cor. 6:2. If, therefore, Jeremiah
was inspired of God, we are now living in the "end of the
days"—the last day of time.
The beloved apostle John knew this. He
says "Little children, it is the last time.... We know
that it [the present age] is the last time."—1 John
2:18. Jude teIls us that the great multitude of mockers and
scoffers who have opposed Christianity during this gospel age
were to come "in the last time."—Jude 16-19. Peter
plainly states that Jesus was manifested in "these last
times for you." —1 Peter 1:20. "Last of the
times"—is the direct from the Greek. Paul says that God
hath "in these last days spoken unto us by his
Son."—Heb. 1:1, 2. Again, in Eph. 1:10 Paul denominates
the present age "the dispensation of the fullness of
times." In 1 Cor. 10:11 we read that the lusting after
evil things, idolatries, murmurings, etc. of the children of
Israel "are written for our admonition, upon whom the
ends of the world are come." "Are written for our
learning, who live in the end of the ages."— Conybeare
and Howson. In Heb. 9:26 it is clearly stated that Jesus
appeared "in the end of the world to put away sin by the
sacrifice of himself." "At the full end of the
ages."—Young. "Completion of the
ages."—Emphatic Diaglott. Again says Peter, "The
end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch
unto prayer."— 1 Peter 4:7. Jesus taught that when this
gospel of the kingdom shall have been preached in all the
world for a witness unto all nations, "then shall the end
come."—Matt. 24:14. Paul, speaking of the resurrection
of the dead "at Christ's coming," says, "Then
cometh the end."—1 Cor. 15 :20-24. "Cometh"
is not in the text. "Then the end" is the correct
rendering. When the seventh trumpet (elsewhere called the
"trump of God," "last trumpet," etc.,
which shall call forth the dead.—1 Cor. 15:51, 52; 1 Thess.
4:16.) shall sound, then there shall be "time no
longer."—Rev. 10 :4-7.
How solemn these declarations! God has
meted out this planet's end. One long age has followed another
until we "now" have entered the "last
days" of this world's career. Just a small step before us
is the "end of all things;" namely, the end of time,
the end of probation, the end of the world, the end of the
redemption reign of Christ. If God's word be true, we are
living in the "full end of the ages," in "the
last time." This age will end with the coming of Christ,
the resurrection of the dead, and the general judgment; at
which time the righteous will be rewarded and the wicked
punished. This being true, it follows conclusively that the
gospel of Christ in this age offers the last hope of mercy to
Adam's fallen race. In Isa. 49:8 we read of an
"acceptable time," a special "day of
salvation," the most propitious age of God's grace to
mankind. Paul, after quoting this text, clearly applies it,
saying, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is
the day of salvation."—2 Cor. 6:1, 2. Hear this, ye who
now presume upon God's mercy, with the vain hope of being
saved in an age to come. Now is the accepted time; now is the
day of salvation. "Today if ye will hear his voice,
harden not your hearts."—Heb. 3:7, 8; Heb. 4:7.
"Seek the Lord while he may be found."—Isa. 55:6.
Through Christ's death on the cross a present, perfect
salvation was purchased for the whole world. He 'tasted death
for every man." He was "raised again for our
justification."—Rom. 4:25. After his ascension he sent
the Holy Spirit to convict men of sin, to quicken them to
life, and to sanctify; and thus execute the perfect salvation
he had purchased upon the cross. He commissioned perpetual
ministry to publish the gospel to "every creature,"
in all nations to the end of the world: and the gospel is the
"power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth" it. The invitations of the gospel are to all
the ends of the earth" to come "without money and
without rice." "Whosoever will, let him take of the
water of life freely." The promises are: "Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."
"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost
that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make
intercession for them."—Heb. 7:25. "From all your
filthiness, and from all Your idols, will I cleanse
you."—Ezek. 36 :25. "Having therefore, brethren,
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of
Jesus."—Heb. 10:19. "And the very God of peace
sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul
and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will
do it."—1 Thess. 5:23, 24. "Now the God of peace,
. . . through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you
perfect."—Heb. 13:20, 21. "And God is able to make
all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all
sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good
work."—2 Cor. 9:8. "My grace is sufficient for
thee." "Now being made free from sin, and become
servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end
everlasting life."—Rom. 6:22. "The Lord is
faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from
evil." —2 Thess. 3:3. "Now unto him that is able
to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before
the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise
God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power,
both now and ever. Amen."—Jude 24, 25.
In the name of Jesus we ask: What more
could God do in a future age for the salvation of the world,
than he has done, and now promises to do for all who will meet
the conditions of his word? How can men expect to escape the
wrath of God, who presume upon such mercies, and reject such
offers? Yea, "how shall we escape, if we neglect so great
salvation?"—Heb. 2:3. Answer: "For yourselves know
perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the
night. For when they shall say Peace and safety, then sudden
destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with
child; and they shall not escape."—1 Thess. 5 :2, 3.
"When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with
his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them
that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory
of his power." —2 Thess. 1:7-9. "If the righteous
scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner
appear?"—1 Pet. 4:18. "He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be
damned."—Matt. 16:16. God now commandeth "all men
everywhere to repent."— Acts 17:30. And "except ye
repent, ye shall all likewise perish."—Luke 13:1-5. But
why multiply texts of scripture? Such are the solemn warnings
of the gospel to men who would dare to neglect the salvation
of their souls. "Now," today, "today" is
held out by the divine hand of love and mercy the only hope of
this lost world, the last offer of salvation.
No opportunity of salvation will ever
be offered to Adam's race beyond the present gospel of Christ.
Salvation can only be obtained this side the coming of the
Lord. The door of the kingdom is now open. All may enter. Hear
it, poor, Christless sinner. God says to you, "Behold, I
have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut
it."—Rev. 3:8. Christ now reigns upon a mediatorial
throne: but the instant he leaves that throne, the world will
be without an advocate, without a Savior, or further
opportunity of salvation. "When once the Master of the
house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to
stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord,
open unto us; and he. shall answer and say unto you, I know ye
not whence ye are . . . Depart from me, all ye workers of
iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when
ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the
prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you thrust
out."—Luke 13 :25-28.
