ESCHATOLOGY -VISIBLE RETURN

I am not given to prophesying, and I fear that the fixing of dates and periods has been exceedingly injurious to the whole system of premillenial teaching; but I think I clearly see in Scripture that the Lord Jesus will come—so far I go, and take my stand—that he will come personally to reign upon this earth. At his coming it appears clear to me that he will gather together the Jewish people, that Jerusalem shall become the metropolis of the new empire which shall then extend from pole to pole, from the river even to the ends of the earth. 604.694 Many persons say that Christ is certainly coming again, but that he is coming spiritually. This way of putting the matter seems to me to be a subterfuge. A man, who is here already, cannot be said to be expected to come; and it is certain that Christ is, at this moment, spiritually present with his people. 2872.98