June 16

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. John 18:36.

The chiliasts claim that Christ will reign a thousand years in a visible kingdom here on earth. Our people are being importuned by chiliasts of every kind. The prophecies of the sacred writings are made to yield promises of a glorious millennium. And these claims are set forth with such assurance that many Christians are in danger of being addled. There is danger that the entire Christian world will be burned over by the fires of chiliastic fanaticism.

Now, what is the truth? The Scriptures directly teach that the kingdom of Christ is a spiritual, invisible, and not an earthly and visible kingdom. "My kingdom is not of this world," said He to Pilate, and the apostle declares: "The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." The kingdom of Christ is of a spiritual nature with spiritual joys. And because its joys are spiritual and not earthly, it must be a Kingdom of the Cross while it remains on this earth. Thus He said: "If a man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me"; and the apostle declared that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." Being a Kingdom of Grace and the Cross, Christ's kingdom can never become a kingdom of earthly and visible glory. If it is Christ's kingdom, it must remain a Kingdom of Grace and Salvation for the soul and a Kingdom of the Cross until the end of the world. How often had Christ told His disciples that the king-

dom of God is something which is within them, that the kingdom which He came to bring is not a worldly, but a spiritual kingdom!

What, then, are we to expect after Christ's ascension into heaven? We are to expect His return from heaven to judge the quick and the dead. Then, but not until then, shall we see our perfect deliverance from all evil and live and reign with Christ.

Prayer.

Grant, O Lord Jesus, we beseech Thee, that we may look forward with comfort and joy to the resurrection of our deceased bodies, which on the Last Day shall come forth again by virtue of Thy resurrection. And may we then with body and soul enter Thy kingdom of heavenly glory and grandeur! Let us not be deceived by false prophets, who promise such glory here on earth. Let us never forget that this earth is but a vale of tears, and that we are but pilgrims and strangers here below who must through much tribulation enter into Thy heavenly kingdom. Lead us, O Lord, through the cross to the crown. Amen.

Would'st thou inherit life with Christ on high? Then count the cost and know That here on earth below Thou needs must suffer with thy Lord and die. We reach that gain to which all else is loss, But through the cross.