Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/289

 future Kingdom of God yet to be established under the whole heavens, in which the will of God will be done as it is in heaven, is to make void and meaningless the strongest smd most pointed promises recorded by our Lord and the apostles and prophets, for our encouragement and help in overcoming the world.

In the parables of our Lord, the Church is frequently called the kingdom; and the Apostle speaks of it as the king- dom over which Christ now reigns, saying that God hath translated us out of the kingdom of darkness into the king- dom of his dear Son. We who accept of Christ now rec- ognize his purchased right of dominion, and render him grateful and voluntary obedience before he forcibly estab- lishes it in the world. We recognize the difference between the laws of righteousness, which he will enforce, and the kingdom of darkness supported by the usurper, at present the prince of this world. Faith in God's promises thus changes our allegiance, and we reckon ourselves subjects of the new prince, and, by his favor, joint-heirs with him in that kingdom yet to be set up in power and great glory.

But this fad by no means disannuls the promises that ultimately Christ's kingdom shall be " from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth" (Psa. 72 : 8); that all nations shall serve and obey him ; and that unto him every knee shall bow, of things both in heaven and on earth. (Dan. 7:27; Phil. 2 : 10.) Rather, on the contrary, the se- lection now of the " little flock ' ' confirms those promises.

When the parables of our Lord are carefully examined, it will be found that they clearly teach that the coming or setting up of the Kingdom of God in power is future ; and, as a matter of course, not until the King comes. Thus the parable of the young nobleman going into a far country to receive a kingdom and to return, etc. (Luke 19: :2-is), clearly locates the establishment of the Kingdom at tht re-

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