The Course of This Age.
It is necessary to distinguish between rightly dividing the word of truth, and a critical att.i.tude toward that word; the former being an important duty in the believer"s life, according to II Tim. 2:15, while the latter may easily become a wicked and misleading display of unbelief and the wisdom of this world (I Cor. 1:19).
Personal interest in the Word of G.o.d usually begins with the first understanding of its real divisions; and no one is prepared to understand the providence of G.o.d who does not first come to know something of the purpose of G.o.d as marked off by these great divisions.
Especially is this necessary, as has been stated, for any clear understanding of the present age.
Again, the power and force of the whole body of Scripture must depend, in a large measure, upon a belief in unfulfilled prophecy. Such a belief is not general, even among Christians. They believe that Christ camp in the flesh, suffered, died, and rose again, because that is all now a matter of history; but that belief is not greatly influenced by the fact that this was all exactly foretold by the prophets. Let those who are free to condemn the pious Jew for not recognizing the fulfillment of prophecy in the first advent of Christ, beware lest they fail to rightly interpret the signs of these times, or look with positive unbelief upon the stupendous events that, according to prophecy, are imminent to-day.
It seems a sore test of faith to believe that which is predicted for the present age, though those predictions are being fulfilled in every particular. This prevailing att.i.tude of unbelief usually arises from one of two errors; either Satan has been so estimated that it seems impossible for him to be the promoter of anything that is moral or good (of this error more will be said in the following chapters): or the exact meaning and purpose of this age has been disbelieved or misunderstood; and because of these conditions many enthusiastic Christians are found to be, not only working toward unscriptural and hopeless ends, but are actually contributing to the confusion and darkness that is prevalent to-day.
The purpose and course of this age are not matters of prediction alone.
Almost two thousand years of history may be considered in the light of these predictions; and while the age is not yet complete, and much that is reserved for the last days is still future, enough of prophecy has now been fulfilled to indicate the certain fulfillment of all.
Since there has been no universal conversion of men in even the most favored locality, it is evident that, thus far, there has been a separating and calling out of a few from the many; and the Divine purpose, as revealed in Scripture, which is to gather out a people from the Gentiles for His own name, has been verified. The blessing of G.o.d has been upon world-wide evangelism: rather than upon any fruitless attempts at world-wide conversion; for the individual or church that has become self-centered has, to that degree, sacrificed the power and blessing of the presence of Christ which was promised in Matt. 28:20: "Go ye therefore, and disciple all nations"--"Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the age."
Again, the formation of the Kingdom has not been discernible in the present age. The Jews, to whom alone the promises of an earthly kingdom belong, have continued a separate people under the unseen hand of G.o.d, without a country, or a vestige of national life. Certainly none of the predicted and necessary events accompanying the establishment of their kingdom have been experienced, nor is there any trace of its promised blessings. The fact that some Jews are now organizing and looking toward their native land, argues nothing for this age, more than that its end is very near, and that the way for their coming Messiah and national glory is being prepared. Just so, the conspicuous fact that all the marvelous present development of the resources of the earth has been limited to about the last eightieth of the present history of the age is evidence that the earth"s return to her former glory is already in preparation.
Belief in the revealed course of this age is, therefore, based upon history as well as the predictions of Scripture.
The present age is different from all others by reason of the admixture of opposing cla.s.ses of people; there being two distinct divisions (not including the Jew as a nation) living and acting together, who are, nevertheless, removed from each other by a degree that is immeasurable.
This fact necessitates many careful distinctions and special injunctions which are peculiar to the age.
The fact that these two widely differing cla.s.ses are present together, and are to continue so to the end of the age, is the teaching of the seven parables in the thirteenth chapter of Matthew. Very much, therefore, depends upon the correct interpretation of these parables.
Their meaning has been somewhat hidden by the use of the word "world"
where reference is made to this period of time; and the fact that the conditions described are true of this age only, has not been generally realized.
These seven parables are but a description of the unfolding and development of these mixed elements to be found in Christendom throughout this age. The same program is again proclaimed by Christ, from the Glory, in the messages to the seven churches of Asia (Rev. 2 and 3). Here are seven letters to organized existing churches; yet these messages also reveal an exact outline of the history of Christendom for this entire age; and there is perfect agreement in order and detail between the parables of Matthew 13 and the letters of Revelation 2 and 3. The first two parables are interpreted by Christ Himself, and the interpretation of these sheds light on all that remains.
Christ is the sower in both the first and second of these parables, and the sowing is continued by His messengers throughout this age. The field is the world of men, which reveals a marked change from the responsibility of the Jewish age that was then closing; and the results of the sowing are most definite: not all the good seed sown comes to fruitage; and the wheat and the tares grow _together_ until the end of the age. This interpretation is not fanciful, for it is given by Christ Himself; and the following parables must necessarily agree with these.
The third and fourth are of the mustard seed and the measure of meal.
Though commonly interpreted to mean the world-wide development of the Church and the permeating influence of the Gospel, in the light of the interpretation of the previous parables they can mean only the mixture of evil with that which began as small as a mustard seed and as pure as meal. The fifth parable is of a treasure hid in a field, which pictures the earthly people in the world; while their real relation to Christ is covered until the accomplishment of that which is revealed in the sixth.
Here the same man, the Lord Jesus Christ, sells all that He hath to purchase the Church, the pearl of great price, for He "loved the Church, and gave Himself for it" (Eph. 5:25); the pearl, by its formation and its power to reflect the light, being a wonderful type of the Church in her present formation and future place in glory. Both the treasure and the pearl are found in the world, but do not include all of the world.
The last parable but restates the truth that the mixture of the good and the evil is to continue to the end of the age.
The highest ambition of the great missionary, Paul, was to be all things to all men that he might save _some_, not _all_. He found that his preaching was a savor of "death unto death" as well as of "life unto life" (II Cor. 2:15, 16), and he clearly states in II Tim. 3:13, "And evil men shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived."
Christ also predicted that the end of this age should be marked by such sin as provoked the judgment of the flood: "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matt. 24:37-39).
This truth is often rejected as being pessimistic and disloyal to the progress of the world: yet has not the history of the age verified the teaching? And is not the coming glory nearer and more certain when depending upon His promised return in resistless power and splendor, than when depending upon any human progress the world has ever known?
One is the majestic movement of the Divine program in fulfillment of every covenant: while the other is the vain dream of the world in its ignorance and disregard of the testimony of G.o.d.
Because of the presence of these two cla.s.ses in the world in this age, there are two very distinct lines of Scripture descriptive of them. One body of Scripture directly applies to and governs the "wheat" or heavenly people, and one applies to the "tares," the "children of the evil one." The marvelous revelation of the believer"s relation to Christ and the heavenlies, and his deliverance from any actual identification with this age, though in it, will be the subject of another chapter.
Only the relation of the unregenerate to this world and to Satan will be continued here.
As it has pleased Satan to hide himself and all his projects from the unbelieving world, that which G.o.d has revealed in all faithfulness will be received only by those who have unquestioning confidence in His Word.
According to Scripture, the relation of the unbelieving to Satan is far more vital than a mere pleasure-seeking allegiance. On two occasions Jesus spoke of the unsaved as the "children of Satan" (Matt. 13:38; Jno.
8:44), and Paul so addressed Elymas, the sorcerer, according to Acts 13:10. The same cla.s.s is also twice called the "children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2; Col. 3:6), and once it is called the "children of wrath" (Eph. 2:3).
It is evident that these are descriptions of the same cla.s.s of people, since both terms are employed together in Eph. 5:6: "Let no man deceive you: for because of these things cometh the wrath of G.o.d upon the children of disobedience." The exact cause of that wrath is stated in Rom. 1:18 (R.V.): "For the wrath of G.o.d is revealed from heaven against all unG.o.dliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness;" the word "hinder" being the same as is used in II Thes. 2:7, where the Holy Spirit is said to be restraining the working of lawlessness in this age. Therefore, the willing neglect and disregard for the testimony of G.o.d by the world, has allied them with Satan, and placed them under the wrath of G.o.d, which must find its righteous execution in due time if grace is not accepted.
Again, Satan is revealed as directing and empowering the children of disobedience: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespa.s.ses and sins; wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this age, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:1, 2). The real force of this pa.s.sage, also, is dependent upon the meaning of one word; the word "worketh" being the same as is used in Phil. 2:13, where G.o.d is said to impart His wisdom and strength to the believer: "For it is G.o.d that _worketh_ in you both to will and to _do_ of his good pleasure." Additional light may be had as to the reality of this relationship from the following pa.s.sages in which the same original word is used: "And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same G.o.d that _worketh_ all in all" (I Cor. 12:6); "But all these (gifts) _worketh_ that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will" (I Cor. 12:11); "And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He _wrought_ in Christ when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenlies"
(Eph. 1:19-20); "For He that _wrought effectually_ in Peter to the apostleship of the circ.u.mcision, the same was _mighty_ in me toward the Gentiles" (Gal. 2:8); "Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which _worketh_ in me mightily" (Col. 1:29); "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to his power that _worketh_ in us" (Eph. 3:20). It is also said in regard to the energizing power of Satan, using the same original word: "For the mystery of iniquity doth already _work_" (II Thes. 2:7); "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did _work_ in our members to bring forth fruit unto death" (Rom.
7:5). In the last two pa.s.sages quoted, the meaning is, like the preceding pa.s.sages, of an imparted energy, and is, therefore, most suggestive.
It may then be concluded from the testimony of Scripture that Satan imparts his wisdom and strength to the unbelieving in the same manner as the power of G.o.d is imparted to the believer by the Holy Spirit. There is, however, no revelation as to the comparative degree of strength imparted by each. It should be further noted in this connection that this impartation of energizing power from Satan is not toward a limited few who might be said, because of some strange conduct, to be possessed of a demon; but is the common condition of all who are yet unsaved, and are, therefore, still in the "power of darkness."
The relation between the unregenerate and Satan is still more vital, according to the original from which I Jno. 5:19 is translated. The Revised Version renders it, with marginal note, as follows: "We know that we are of G.o.d, and the whole world lieth in the evil one." In this pa.s.sage there are two startling revelations in regard to this relationship. First: the word "in" is the same as is used everywhere of the believer when he is said to be _in_ Christ, and in the case of the believer it signifies an organic union to Christ--as a branch is _in_ the vine, so the believer is _in_ Christ. Though the word, when used of the unregenerate, probably cannot mean the same degree of organic life-relationship as exists between Christ and the believer, yet it does denote a deep relationship; and Satan is the light, inspiration, and power, of all those whom he energizes.
The second revelation in the pa.s.sage is found in the word "lieth"--"The whole world lieth in the evil one." It might as well be translated "lieth asleep;" for its condition is not only a fixed position _in_ the evil one, but is also a condition of unconsciousness. The saved ones are said to be in the Father"s hand where no created thing can pluck them out (Jno. 10:29), and underneath are the everlasting arms: so the great ma.s.s of unsaved humanity is in the arms of Satan; and by his subtlety they are all unconscious of their position and relation. This is not at all strange. Even the believer has no present power to discern his glorious position and security in the Father"s hand, apart from the a.s.surance of the written Word. Much less, then, can the unbeliever come to realize his own position in the arms of Satan, when, under the direction of Satan, he gives no heed to the testimony of G.o.d.
Still another pa.s.sage should be noted in this connection. In II Cor.
4:3, 4, Satan is described as the G.o.d of this world, blinding the minds of the unbelieving. The whole pa.s.sage is as follows: "And if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: in whom the G.o.d of this age hath blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of G.o.d should not dawn upon them" (R.V. with margin). In this pa.s.sage the unconscious condition is said to be the direct result of the power of Satan, and the blindness of their thoughts, it is stated, is along one particular line. To them the _gospel_ is veiled; and the gospel here referred to is not the whole life story of Jesus, nor is it the "Gospel of the Kingdom;" but the message of good news or favor; the exact terms of Salvation by grace alone. This Paul here calls "our gospel," for to him it was first unfolded in its completeness.
The unregenerate are, then, unconscious of their position in the arms of Satan, and blind in their thoughts toward the gospel of mercy and favor,--their only hope for time or eternity. Satan, like a fond mother, is bending over those in his arms, breathing into their minds the quieting balm of a "universal fatherhood of G.o.d" and a "universal brotherhood of man;" suggesting their worthiness before G.o.d on the ground of their own moral character and physical generation; feeding their tendency to imitate the true faith by great humanitarian undertakings and schemes for the reformation of individuals and the betterment of the social order. G.o.d"s necessary requirements of regeneration are carefully set aside, and the blinded souls go on without hope, "having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of G.o.d through the ignorance that is in there, because of the blindness of their heart" (Eph. 5:18). How important, as a preparation for salvation, is the illuminating work of the Spirit in conviction, by which He lifts the veil and opens the mind to a new vision of the redemption and glory that is in Christ! Without this G.o.d-given vision there can be no understanding of the way of life, nor any intelligent decision for Christ.
Chapter IV.
This Age and the Satanic System.
It may also be concluded from the study of the ages that G.o.d has not been pleased to meet the presumptuous claims of Satan or of man by a simple denial of those claims; He has chosen, rather, to bring everything to an experimental test. One advantage of this method is obvious: every mouth will be stopped, and the entire universe of beings will see clearly the utter folly of that which might have been arbitrarily denied. Man can no longer claim that his conscience is sufficient to guide him to his highest destiny; since the whole race, when standing on that basis before G.o.d, so utterly failed that their destruction, by a flood, was necessary: in like manner, by the history of a most favored people in the age preceding the first advent of Christ, man has demonstrated his own inability to do right or to keep the law. In the present age, man proves his separation from his Creator by his spirit of self-sufficiency and positive rejection of G.o.d. The present issue between G.o.d and man is one of whether man will accept G.o.d"s estimate of him, abandon his hopeless self-struggle, and cast himself only on G.o.d who alone is sufficient to accomplish his needed transformation. All Divine love, wisdom, and power have wrought to make these conditions open to man; and when this last and supreme effort of G.o.d has been rejected, the final pleading with man must be forever past, and the long delayed judgment upon sin be executed in righteousness.
It has already been pointed out that Satan purposed in his heart to attempt all the functions of G.o.d; and, according to Scripture, that which he purposed is being permitted, to the extent of his ability, throughout the course of this age. Though his failure and defeat have been predicted from the beginning, yet it has pleased G.o.d to permit the Satanic ambition to come to its own destruction, and to demonstrate its own weakness and wicked folly. No other solution is given of the present power of Satan and the terrible manifestations of his increasing authority yet to be experienced in the closing scenes of this age.
His present authority is by no means complete. In II Thes. 2:7 it is stated: "The mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way." This is a description of the work of the Holy Spirit as He restrains and hinders the development of the power of evil. Nor can Satan direct the affairs of that part of humanity who have been delivered from the power of darkness and are now united to Christ (unless they yield to his wishes); though they are in the world and their earth lives are mingled in much of its history. These saved ones are the antiseptic salt, hindering, like the Spirit who indwells them, the untimely dissolution of humanity.
Again, Satan"s dominion is limited in that "there is no power but of G.o.d: and the powers that be are ordained of G.o.d" (Rom. 13:1). In this Scripture it is revealed that Satan, though in authority, is not wholly free from his Creator, and that any direction of the governments of the world which he exercises is by permission from G.o.d. Therefore, the efforts of Satan and man are not supreme, but must come to their predicted end when the eternal purpose of G.o.d has had its realization in the gathering out from the Gentiles of the heavenly people for His own name.
A few tremble in the face of the social and industrial problems of the day; while the vast majority are confident that the sagacity of man is not only controlling iniquity, but is gradually developing an improved social order. Thus, man, in his vanity, a.s.signs to himself that which is of G.o.d alone, for all the elements of corruption and tribulation are latent in the world to-day, and the mighty effort of G.o.d is required to stay its bursting into flame until the appointed time. Tribulation will, therefore, instantly begin when the hand of G.o.d is removed from the unregenerate and Satan-ruled humanity.
Though under the restraining hand of G.o.d, Satan, according to Scripture, is now in authority over the unregenerate world, and the unsaved are unconsciously organized and federated under his leading. The fact that there is such a federation, although stated in Scripture, is obscured in translation. In at least thirty important pa.s.sages the English word "world" is again used without qualification. In these pa.s.sages reference is made to a great evil system or order over which Satan is in authority, the word "world" referring to the world of men, their evil undertakings, ideals and federation. This federation includes all of the unsaved and fallen humanity; it has the co-operation of the fallen spirits, and is but the union of all who are living and acting in independence of G.o.d. This Satanic system has its own ideals and principles which are in sharp contrast to the ideals and principles given the redeemed: yet these two cla.s.ses must mingle together as closely as the ties of human life can come.
The whole truth concerning this federation is contained in those pa.s.sages wherein the Satanic system is mentioned.
First, Satan is its governing head. Three times Jesus referred to Satan as the prince of the Satanic system: "Now is the judgment of this world: Now shall the prince of this world (_Satanic system_) be cast out" (Jno.
12:31). "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world (_Satanic system_) cometh, and hath nothing in me" (Jno. 14:30).
"Of judgment, because the prince of this world (_Satanic system_) is judged" (Jno. 16:11). Paul also refers to Satan as the "prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2), and again as the "G.o.d of this age" (II Cor. 4:4). In the latter pa.s.sage, mention is made of the age or period of time only, as in Eph. 6:12: "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the princ.i.p.alities, against the powers, against the age rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenlies" (R.V.).
From these Scriptures it must be conceded that the offer, which Satan made to Christ, of the then inhabited earth, was very real. The Scripture is as follows: "And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, showed Him the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine" (Lu. 4:5-7).
It has sometimes been held that the claim of possession of the earth was a lie, this being a.s.serted on the ground that Satan is exposed in Scripture as a liar. Such a conclusion is impossible for at least two reasons. It would have been no temptation had he not possessed the kingdoms he offered; and any such false claim would have been immediately branded as a lie by the Son of G.o.d. He is still further revealed as the recognized head of this world system in two additional pa.s.sages: "Because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world (_Satanic system_)" (I Jno. 4:4). "And we know that we are of G.o.d, and the whole world (_Satanic system_) lieth in the wicked one" (I Jno.
5:19).
Returning to Isaiah 14:12-19, wherein Satan is described as "Lucifer, the son of the morning," and where the prophet in vision sees the whole career of Satan in retrospect, it will be seen that Satan holds a mighty grip upon the world. Here it is said of him that he was the one who "didst weaken the nations" and who "made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms, that made the world as a wilderness and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners." Every phrase in this remarkable pa.s.sage is a revelation. Undoubtedly there is reference here both to the fall of man and to the authority of Satan in the earth, as well as to his att.i.tude of resistance toward salvation which is by the grace of G.o.d, since it is said of Satan that he "made the world as a wilderness; he opened not the house of his, prisoners."
Second, the Satanic system, according to Scripture, is wholly evil. This is a hard saying; and is usually denied by those who do not realize that all Scripture estimates are made from the standard of the holiness of G.o.d; and that the Satanic system, of itself and apart from the influence of G.o.d and His people, has never improved their own moral condition, but that they are individually under condemnation before G.o.d (Jno. 3:18); their borrowed interest in morality and charity being a poor commendation, in view of their fallen and Christ-rejecting att.i.tude before G.o.d. They are also incapable of comprehending the standards of G.o.d, whose thoughts and ways are above their thoughts and ways as the heavens are higher than the earth (Isa. 55:8,9). The quality and incapacity of the fallen race is accurately described in Rom. 3:10-18; this description of them being as they appear before the holiness of G.o.d, stripped of all externals: "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after G.o.d. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of G.o.d before their eyes." So, fallen humanity, federated under Satan, will appear and act when the restraining hand of G.o.d is removed. Though the unsaved are moral, educated, refined, or religious, they are not _righteous_ in G.o.d"s sight; for the charge here brought against them is that "there is none righteous, no, not one;" and "_all_ have sinned and come short of the glory of G.o.d." The following Scriptures which directly refer to the character of the Satanic system are, therefore, the estimate of G.o.d upon those conditions which the world holds to be ideal: "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world (Satanic system)" (II Pet. I:4). "For if after they have escaped the pollution of the world (_Satanic system_) through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning" (II Pet. 2:20). "Pure religion and undefiled before G.o.d and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world (_Satanic system_)" (Jas. 1:27). "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world (Satanic system) is enmity with G.o.d?
Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world (_Satanic system_) is the enemy of G.o.d" (Jas. 4:4). "For whosoever is born of G.o.d overcometh the world (_Satanic system_)" (I Jno. 5:4). "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world (_Satanic system_) cometh, and hath nothing in me" (Jno. 14:30). "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of G.o.d: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world (_Satanic system_)" (I Jno.
4:3). In like manner the believer is said to have been "delivered from the present evil age" (Gal. 114) and "delivered from the power of darkness" (Col. 1:13) and is not to be conformed to this age (Rom.