Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/98

 9 2 The PlM of the Ages.

ever heard the name of Jesus. Yet the condition of the text is fulfilled : the gospel has been preached in all the world for a witness to every nation.

The Apostle (A&s 13 : U) tells that the main object tf. ^the gospel in the present age is " to take out a people f ' for Christ' s name-the overcoming Church, which, at his second advent, will be united to him and receive his name. The witness- ing to the world during this age is a secondary objedt

The other text is, "Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Psa. 110:1.) The vague, in- definite idea regarding this text seems to be that Christ sits on a material throne somewhere in the heavens until the work of subduing all things is accomplished for him through the Church, and that then he comes to reign. This is a mis- conception. The throne of God referred to is not a material one, but refers to his supreme authority and rulership ; and the Lord Jesus has been exalted to a share in that rulership. Paul declares, "God hath highly exalted him [Jesus] and given him a name above every name. ' ' He hath given him authority above every other, next to the Father. If Christ sits upon a material throne until his enemies are made his footstool [all subdued], then of course he cannot come until all things are subdued. But if "right hand" in this text refers, not to a fixed locality and bench, but, as wo claim, to power, authority, rulership, it follows that the text under consideration would in no wise conflidl with the other scrip- ture which teaches that he comes to "subdue all things unto himself*' (Phil. 3:21), by virtue of the power vested in him. To illustrate : Emperor William is on the throne of Germany, we say, yet we do not refer to the royal bench, and as a matter of fadl he seldom occupies it. When we say that he is on the throne, we mean that he rules Germany, Right hand signifies the chief place, position of excellence or favor, next to the chief ruler. Thus Prince Bismarck

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