The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Seite 253

The European Union in Prophecy
other scriptures, and when thus explained, were to be literally understood. "I was
thus satisfied," he says, "that the Bible is a system of revealed truths, so clearly and
simply given that the wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein."--Bliss, page
70. Link after link of the chain of truth rewarded his efforts, as step by step he traced
down the great lines of prophecy. Angels of heaven were guiding his mind and opening
the Scriptures to his understanding.
Taking the manner in which the prophecies had been fulfilled in the past as a
criterion by which to judge of the fulfillment of those which were still future, he
became satisfied that the popular view of the spiritual reign of Christ--a temporal
millennium before the end of the world--was not sustained by the word of God. This
doctrine, pointing to a thousand years of righteousness and peace before the personal
coming of the Lord, put far off the terrors of the day of God. But, pleasing though it
may be, it is contrary to the teachings of Christ and His apostles, who declared that
the wheat and the tares and to grow together until the harvest, the end of the world;
that "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse;" that "in the last days perilous
times shall come;" and that the kingdom of darkness shall continue until the advent
of the Lord and shall be consumed with the spirit of His mouth and be destroyed with
the brightness of His coming. Matthew 13:30, 38-41; 2 Timothy 3:13, 1; 2
Thessalonians 2:8.
The doctrine of the world's conversion and the spiritual reign of Christ was not
held by the apostolic church. It was not generally accepted by Christians until about
the beginning of the eighteenth century. Like every other error, its results were evil.
It taught men to look far in the future for the coming of the Lord and prevented them
from giving heed to the signs heralding His approach. It induced a feeling of
confidence and security that was not well founded and led many to neglect the
preparation necessary in order to meet their Lord.
Miller found the literal, personal coming of Christ to be plainly taught in the
Scriptures. Says Paul: "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God." 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
And the Saviour declares: "They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of
heaven with power and great glory." "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and
shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew
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