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The
Gospel Day Foretold
With prophetic eye the seers of old
foresaw a better day—a day of salvation. That which they
enjoyed in type and shadow was to reach the substance in
Christ, who would usher in the most propitious age of
grace and glory the world would ever see. Thus Isaiah
foretold it: "In an acceptable time have I heard
thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee."
Isa. 49: 8. Paul, after quoting this language of the
prophet, makes the application. "Behold, now is the
accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."
2 Cor. 6: 2. This great day of salvation was ushered in by
the coming of Messiah to save the world; and its end will
be when Christ is revealed from heaven to judge the world.
Since the beginning of time one
long age has followed another, in which God " at
sundry times and in divers manners in time past spake unto
the fathers by the prophets," but in "these last
days" hath "spoken to us by his Son" (Heb.
1:1, 2). These days, then, which go to make up the gospel
age or day are the "last." This is why Paul
denominates the gospel age "the dispensation of the
fullness of times" (Eph. 1:1()); that is, the
dispensation when time is full. "Little children it
is the last time.... We know that it [the present age] is
the last time." 1 John 2: 18. Time is a measured
portion of duration.
The gospel age is frequently in
Scripture termed a day. The prophets in speaking of things
that were to occur in the current dispensation said,
"It shall come to pass in that day." they
foretold the coming of Christ, the setting up of his
everlasting kingdom, his glorious reign of peace, and the
beauties of his great salvation. Even Abraham foresaw
these things. As Jesus expressed it, "your father
Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was
Glad. " John 8: 56.
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