Dispensational Truth

Chapter 7 - The Dispensational Work of the Lord Jesus Christ
The study of the "Life and Work of Christ" is confined by most students to His "Earthly Life, " that is to the "DAYS OF HIS FLESH." But we must not forget that Jesus was-

"THE ETERNAL CHRIST."

The reason therefore why so many have a defective view of Christ's "Life and Work" is because they have but a partial view of Him. His work of Atonement on the Cross was but one phase of His work, which began in the Creation of the Universe, and will continue as long as God exists. The "Greater Life and Work of Christ" is a circle of which the circumference is "Eternity, " and the centre is CALVARY.

In tracing the lineage of Jesus Matthew traces Him back to Abraham, (Matt. 1:1-3), Luke to Adam, (Luke 3:23-25), and John to God. (John 1:1-2.) Jesus said of Himself "I am 'Alpha' and 'Omega.' the 'BEGINNING' and the 'ENDING, ' the 'FIRST' and the 'LAST, ' which IS, and which WAS, and which is TO COME, the ALMIGHTY." Rev. 1:8, Rev. 1:11. Jesus thus identifies Himself with God, and confirms His earthly statement-"I and my Father are ONE." John 10:30. John tells us (John 1:14) that-"THE WORD was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His GLORY (on the Mount of Transfiguration), the GLORY as of the ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER." And in His prayer in the "upper room" before going out to Gethsemane Jesus prayed, "And now, 0 Father, glorify thou me with Thine own self with the GLORY which I had with Thee BEFORE THE WORLD WAS." John 17:5. Thus we see that Jesus existed before the World was and is the ETERNAL CHRIST.

In studying the Dispensational or Greater Life and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall for simplicity divide it into three parts, His Past, Present and Future Life and Work.

I. Christ� s Past Life And Work

The "Office Work" of Christ is "Threefold, " that of "PROPHET, " "PRIEST" and "KING." But He does not hold these offices conjointly but successively. His "Prophetic Work" extended from Creation to His Ascension; His "Priestly Work" extends from His Ascension to the Rapture of the Church; and His "Kingly Work" from His Revelation at the close of the Tribulation Period, until He surrenders the Kingdom to the Father, that "God may be All and in All. 19 1Cor. 15:28. His Past Life and Work we may divide into Three Periods.

1. CHRIST'S WORK IN CREATION.

The Scriptures begin with the sublime statement, "In the beginning GOD." Gen. 1:1. The finite mind cannot grasp the thought that there was a time when there was absolutely nothing but God. Whether the Father existed at first alone, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit proceeded from Him, thus making the Divine Three, is not clear. If the expression "The Only Begotten of the Father" (John 1:14) as applied to Jesus, refers to His Eternal origin, then He was not coexistent with the Father, if it refers to His Earthly origin, to His birth of the Virgin Mary, then He was the "Only Begotten of the Father" in the sense of being begotten by the Father through the agency of the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:30-32. But there is another passage that is confusing. In writing to the Colossians in regard to Christ Paul says-

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins; who is the 'Image of the Invisible God, ' the FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE." Col. 1:14-15.

What are we to understand by this? Is Jesus only a "Creature" and therefore not a part of God from the beginning? It can hardly mean that, for in the next verse He is described as the Creator of all things. The probable explanation is that as Jesus became by His human birth-"God manifest in the FLESH, " (1Tim. 3:16), thus becoming to men the "IMAGE of the Invisible God, " that He thus became the "Firstborn" of the "NEW CREATION" of God, of which race the "Second" or "Last Adam" (Christ) is the HEAD. 1 Cor. 15:45, 2Cor. 5:17. However this may be it is the clear teaching of Scripture that the "Divine Three" existed in a co-ordinate relation to each other before anything else existed.

In His "Creative Work" Jesus is spoken of in the Scripture as

"THE WORD."

"In the Beginning was the 'WORD' and the 'WORD' was with God, and the 'WORD' WAS GOD. The same was in the Beginning with God. ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; and without Him was not anything made that was made." John 1:1-3. This is corroborated by Paul in Col. 1:16-17:

"For BY HIM were all things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; ALL THINGS were created BY HIM, and FOR HIM; and He is BEFORE ALL THINGS, and BY HIM all things consist."

While all things were made by Christ, He was aided by the Father and the Holy Spirit. This is clearly revealed in Gen. 1:26, where it says-"And God (the Divine Three) said, Let US make man in OUR IMAGE, after OUR likeness." The work of the Father was the creation of matter, that of the Son, the formation of matter into all its various forms, and that of the Holy Spirit to give LIFE to such forms as have life. Christ's work in Creation is beautifully described in Isa. 40:12: "Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance."

Job, the oldest book in the Bible, is particularly rich in its account Of the Creative Work of Christ. See the 38th and 39th chapters of job.

We have a beautiful illustration of Christ's Creative Power in the miracle of making wine out of water. John 2:1-3. In that miracle He produced from water without the natural process of the vine, WINE, and thus manifested His Creative Glory.

2. CHRIST'S WORK FROM CREATION TO HIS INCARNATION.

With the Creation of Man the "Creative Work" of Christ ceased, for we read in Gen. 2:2, that-"On the Seventh Day God ended His Work which He had made; and, He rested on the Seventh Day." From that time His work has been that of "Supervision" and "Redemption." In Gen. 2:4 we find the word God changed to "LORD God." Why is this? The Hebrew name for God as "Creator" is ELOHIM, as "Revealer" it is JEHOVAH, translated "LORD." The name "God" is used over 6000 times in the Old Testament, and when in the Authorized Version we find the word "God" or "Lord" printed in small capitals, the original is JEHOVAH.

In the first part of the Book of Genesis four names are given, each of which reveals some distinct attribute of God. They are God (Elohim), LORD (Jehovah), God Almighty (El Shaddai), and Most High (El Elyon). They are all used in Psa. 91:1-2. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I trust." JEHOVAH has seven compound names that reveal Him as meeting every need of man.

1. JEHOVAH-JIREH-"The Lord will provide." Gen. 22:13-14. That is, provide a sacrifice.
2. JEHOVAH-RAPHA-"The Lord that healeth." Ex. 15:26.
3. JEHOVAH-NISSI-"The Lord our Banner." Ex. 17:8-10.
4. JEHOVAH-SHALOM-"The Lord our peace." Judg. 6:23-24.
5. JFHOVAH-RA-AH-"The Lord my Shepherd." Psa. 23.
6. JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU-"The Lord our righteousness." Jer. 23: 6.
7. JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH-"The Lord is present." Ez. 48:35.

It is therefore only as we know the meaning of the different titles of God that we can understand their significance. The word for Christ as "Creator" is "ELOHIM, " for Christ as "Revealer and Redeemer" is Jehovah (translated LORD). As "Creator" (Elohim) Christ is revealed in His Covenant Relationship to man, as "Revealer and Redeemer" (Jehovah). He is revealed not only as a God of Love, but righteous and just, and who will punish evil. The use of the words separately or together will reveal their significance. In the Old Testament Dispensations Christ is called either "Elohim, " or "Jehovah, " or "Jehovah-Elohim" (LORD God), according to whether He is referred to as "Creator" or "Preserver, " that is Revealer or Redeemer. With this in mind let us now trace Christ's work from Creation to His Incarnation. It was the "LORD God" or Christ that planted the Garden eastward in Eden, and placed Adam and Eve in it, and instructed them what, and what not to do. It was Christ who came to them in the cool of the evening charging them with disobedience, and gave them the promise that the Seed of Woman should bruise the Serpent's head, and it was Christ who drove the m from the Garden.

Gen. 3:8-10. It was Christ who charged Cain with killing his brother Abel. Gen. 4:9.It was Christ who warned Noah of the Flood, and told him to build the ark. Gen. 6:1-3. It was christ who called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees and directed him to Canaan. Gen. 12:1-3. It was Christ who appeared with two angels at Abraham's tent door and foretold the birth of Isaac, and the destruction of the Cities of the Plain, Sodom and Gomorrah Gen. 18:1-3. It was Christ who wrestled with Jacob at the ford Jabbok. Gen. 32:24-26. It was Christ who appeared to Moses at the Burning Bush in the Wilderness. When Moses asked the "Angel of the LORD" His name, lie replied-"I AM THAT I AM" and added-"Say unto the Children of Israel 'I AM' hath sent me to you. 11 Ex. 3:13-14. The "I AM " of the Burning Bush is the "I AM" of the New Testament, who said-"I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life." It was Christ who sent the Plagues on the Egyptians, who commanded the slaying of the Passover Lamb, a type of Himself, Ex. 12:1-3, and who opened the Red Sea for the Children of Israel to cross over. It was Christ who fed Israel in the Wilderness with manna and quails. Ex. 16:1-3. It was Christ who gave the "Ten Commandments" from Mt. Sinai, (Ex. 20:1-3), and who appeared in the Shekinah glory of the Tabernacle and Temple of Solomon, and who in the "Pillar of Cloud and Fire, " led the Children of Israel throughout their Wilderness Wandering. Ex. 13:21-22.

It was Christ, who as "Captain of the Lord's Host" (Josh. 5:13-15), opened the River Jordan that Israel might cross over, and helped them in the siege of Jericho and the conquest of the land. It was Christ who called for the judges in the Days following Joshua, and commissioned them to fight for Israel. He was with Gideon, Samson and Samuel. It was Christ who chose Saul the first king of Israel, (1Sam. 9:15-17), and blessed him until his disobedience compelled Christ to choose David in his place. 1Sam. 16:1-3. It was Christ who called the prophets and fitted them for their work. It was a vision of Christ that Isaiah saw in the Temple in the year that King Uzziah died, and before whose glory Isaiah saw himself to be a man of unclean lips. Isa. 6:1-3. It was Christ who, in answer to Daniel's prayer as to the expiration of the "Seventy Years of Captivity, " sent the Angel Gabriel, and revealed to Daniel the exact date of His (Christ's) death on the Cross, in the Vision of the "SEVENTY WEEKS." Dan. 9:1-3. From all these references we see how active Christ was from Creation until His Incarnation in supervising the affairs of men, particularly those of His own chosen people Israel.

While Moses asked the LORD to show him "HIS GLORY, " and the LORD said-"Thou canst not see my face, for there shall no man see ME, and LIVE, (Ex. 33:17-19), we are told in Verse 11, "And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." The only way we can reconcile these two statements is on the supposition that the "LORD God" when He personally appeared to men, as to Abraham at his tent door, did so in disguise, or, as some have supposed, in a "form" that He provided Himself with before the Creation of man, in anticipation of the need of personally appearing to men, and that "form was the form of a man, for we know that in the creation of man, God said-"Let US make man IN OUR IMAGE, after OUR likeness." But that "Image" does not necessarily imply "flesh and blood." As these appearances were but occasional, and comparatively few, there was no need for Christ to incarnate Himself in the Flesh in Old Testament times, but when that became necessary for the purpose of Redemption, then He "took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the LIKENESS OF MEN." Phil. 2:5-7 This was a physical likeness that required a human bodily form of, flesh.

3. CHRIST'S WORK FROM HIS INCARNATION TO HIS ASCENSION.

While Christ as a Prophet foretold many things before His Incarnation, it was not until after His Incarnation that He entered fully on His Prophetic Office. He was the Prophet foretold by Moses, "'The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shalt hearken." Deut. 18:15. And Peter in his sermon in the Temple declared that Christ was that Prophet. Acts 3:19-21. As a Prophet Christ foretold His Death and Resurrection. His Parabolic Teaching was full of prophetic statements, and in His "Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24:1, Matt. 25:46) He outlined events that should come to past from the time of His Ascension until His Return. But the main purpose of His Incarnation was to make an Atonement for the sin of the human race. This He only could do by becoming a MAN, only as the "SINLESS MAN" could He atone for the sin of sinful men. This He did by His death on the Cross. To understand the need of the Atonement we must understand what sin is. Sin is

"THE WORLD'S BLOOD POISON."

It takes no Bible, or standard of morals, to make a man realize that when he would do good, evil is present with him. And we recognize that there is a conflict between our conscience and our conduct, between our better judgment and our carnal appetites. Men may call this "Moral Inharmony" or what they will, the Bible calls SIN. And the sins we commit only reveal the "PRINCIPLE OF SIN" that is within us, as the boils, carbuncles, etc., reveal the bad state of the blood in a human body. This "Principle of Sin" we inherit. King David said-"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me." Psa. 51:5. He did not mean by that, that he was born out of wedlock, or was the son of an adulteress he meant that he was born with a sinful nature. By "Original Sin" or "Natural Depravity" is not meant that there is nothing good in man but that the natural tendency of the human heart is toward evil. Sin is not the result of environment or temptation, but is the outcome of a SINFUL INCLINATION. James 1:13-14. Christ pictures the human. heart as the source of all kinds of specific sins. Mark 7:20-22 We must distinguish between "SIN" and "SINS." "SIN" is the natural disposition that we inherit from Adam, "SINS" are the specific, acts of sin that we commit because of the disposition to sin in us. Sin is to the natural man what the tendency to rot is to the apple. Adam was born innocent, there was but a step between his innocence and righteousness, and but a step between his innocence and sin. He chose to take the latter step and became a sinner. If he had taken the former step he would have become righteous and would have been permitted to eat of the "Tree of Life" and live forever in a state of holiness. Adam and Eve had no children before the Fall. If they had had they would have been born innocent. The children Adam begat after the Fall were born sinners, so the human race became sinners by inheritance. "Wherefore, as by one man (ADAM) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. 5:12. The fact that all men die is therefore proof that all men are sinners. Now the penalty of Adam's sin was both spiritual and physical death, and the only way the human race can be saved from spiritual and physical death is by some one paying that penalty for them. This Christ came into the world to do. To this end it was necessary that He should become a MAN. This required that he should be born of a woman. But He must be a SINLESS MAN, that is He must have no inherited taint of SIN in His nature, therefore He could not have a human father. Wherefore the "HOLY THING" that was born of Mary (Luke 1:35) was generated in her womb by the Holy Ghost, and was sinless because Mary only imparted to it its physical body. Being sinless Jesus was qualified to make an atonement for sin.

Now it is a "Principle of Law" THAT THE PENALTY OF A BROKEN LAW MUST FALL ON THE BREAKER OF THE LAW OR ON A SUBSTITUTE, OTHERWISE THE LAW IS OF NO EFFECT.

An "ATONEMENT" then is any "Provision" that may be introduced into the Administration of a Government, whereby that Government may on JUST, SAFE, and HONORABLE GROUNDS grant a PARDON to the Offender.

Now Adam broke the Law, the penalty for breaking the Law was DEATH. Spiritual and physical death. God could have set aside the Law, but that would have defrauded the Law of its rights, and been unjust, more, it would have been an impeachment of the integrity of God's word. The Penalty therefore must be paid by Adam or by a substitute. But as Adam was unable to provide a substitute, God, in his love and justice, at once took steps to provide one, and at once notified Adam and Eve to that effect. The substitute was to be Himself in the person of His Son Jesus. Gen. 3:15. This substitute however was not provided at once. It was not until 4000 years later that Jesus bore the penalty of Adam's sin, and the sin of the race, on the Cross. But during those 4000 years, by the shedding of the blood of bullocks, goats, and innocent lambs, whose bodies were laid smoking and quivering on Hebrew altars, God, in one great "Object Lesson, " kept before the people the fact that without the SHEDDING OF BLOOD there could be no remission for sin. The sprinkling of the blood of every Passover Lamb was a reminder of Him who was to be the "Lamb of God" who should take away the sin of the world. John 1:29. And when the hour had come for the offering up of THE SACRIFICE, we see justice and Mercy standing on the Hill Calvary, and hear Justice say to Mercy-"Where is He who, over 4000 years ago, in the Garden of Eden, offered Himself a SUBSTITUTE for the sin of the world? " "Behold Him, " said Mercy, "coming up the Hill bearing His Cross." When He reached the top of the Hill justice presented the "Bond, " executed centuries before, and demanded its payment. The Son of God replied-"I will this day cancel it., " Soon all the preparations for the sacrifice were complete, and the "Lamb of God" was laid on the ALTAR OF THE CROSS. As Jesus laid His hand upon the crossbar of the Cross, He held in it, invisible to human eyes, the "Bond" to be canceled, and when the Roman soldier drove the nail through that hand, there was fulfilled the words of the Apostle-

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses; BLOTTING OUT THE HANDWRITING OF ORDINANCES that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took IT out of the way, NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS." Col. 2:13-14.

By the cancellation of the "Bond" the Law and justice of God were satisfied, and it was possible for God to-"Be JUST and the JUSTIFIER of them who BELIEVE IN JESUS." Rom. 3:26. The penalty of "Spiritual Death" was paid when Jesus cried-".My God, My God why hast Thou forsaken Me? " and the penalty of "Physical Death" when He cried "It is Finished, " and yielded up the Ghost.

The efficacy and "Substitutionary" character of the Atonement of Christ on the Cross is beautifully illustrated in the story of Barabbas. Barabbas was a robber, who had been arrested, tried, found guilty of insurrection and murder, and had been condemned to die. John 18:39-40. Matt. 27:15-17. Mark 15:6-8. It was the "Feast of Passover, " at which time it was customary to liberate some notable criminal, and when the multitude demanded the death of Jesus, Pilate gave them the choice between Jesus or Barabbas. They chose Barabhas, and Jesus was turned over to the Officers of the Law for death by crucifixion; and by His death, as a SUBSTITUTE for Barabbas, Jesus, who was innocent, satisfied the "Law" and Barabbas was freed. The "Barabbas" or "Substitutionary View" of the Atonement is the Scriptural view of the Atonement. If Barabbas, after his liberation, had gone out to Calvary to witness the Crucifixion, and had informed himself as to who it was that had taken his place on the central cross, he would have known five things.

1. That he was a JUSTLY CONDEMNED SINNER.
2. That Jesus was an INNOCENT SUFFERER.
3. That that "Innocent Sufferer" had taken HIS PLACE.
4. That he HAD DONE NOTHING TO MERIT THAT SUBSTITUTION.
5. That Christ's substitution in his place SATISFIED THE LAW.

If Barabbas had thus gone out to Calvary to witness the Crucifixion and had been recognized and some one had threatened to point him out to the Centurion as an escaped convict, Barabbas could have said-"Oh, the Centurion cannot arrest me. It was he who set me free this morning and told me that Jesus of Nazareth was to take MY place on the Cross, and his death SATISFIES THE LAW FOR ME, and I am free." Barabbas was the first man to have a practical experience of the Atonement. If Jesus had not hung on that central cross Barabbas would have had to. There was at least one man in Jerusalem that day who understood the meaning of Jesus' death, and experienced its saving power, and that man was Barabbas. As believers our position is that of Barabbas, free from the Law.

As sinners we were under the "Curse of the Law, " but as believers "Christ hath redeemed us from the CURSE OF THE LAW, being MADE A CURSE FOR US; for it is written CURSED IS EVERY ONE THAT HANGETH ON A TREE." Gal. 3:13. The "Tree" that Christ hung on was the "CROSS." As we inherited our sinful state from Adam, we now by faith in Christ, the second Adam, inherit all that He did for us on the Cross, and our position now is that of having been crucified, dead, buried, risen and ascended with Christ, so we can say with the Apostle Paul-

"I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME; and the Life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Gal. 2:20.

In the preceding verse (Gal. 2:19) Paul says-"For I through the Law am DEAD TO THE LAW, that I might live unto God." Now Paul does not mean that he was physically dead, but that he was JUDICIALLY dead. That is, that the penalty of the Law, which was death, was paid for us by Christ when He died on the Cross, and cannot be required of us, for "He was wounded for OUR transgressions, He was bruised for OUR iniquities; the chastisement of OUR peace was UPON HIM; and with HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED." Isa. 53:5. It follows therefore that if our iniquities are UPON HIM, they are not UPON US.

But some one may say, how could an innocent person assume the guilt of another? This can only be done by the innocent person entering into "Corporate Oneness" with the guilty person, and thus becoming IDENTIFIED WITH HIM. For illustration the debts of a poor widow could not be justly charged up to a millionaire neighbor, but if he entered into "Corporate Oneness" with her by marrying her, and thus assuming all her obligations, then he could justly and legally be held responsible for her debts. Now this is just what the Apostle says-

"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become DEAD TO THE LAW (our first husband) by the body of Christ (that is by Christ's death); that ye should be MARRIED TO ANOTHER, even to Him (Christ) who is RAISED FROM THE DEAD." Rom. 7:4.

This union with Christ results in a "LEGAL ANSWERABLENESS" by Him for all our debts to the Law, and Jesus recognized the justice of all His sufferings on the Cross, when He said to the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus-"O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: OUGHT NOT CHRIST TO HAVE SUFFERED THESE THINGS, and to enter into His Glory? " Luke 24:25-26. We see then that the Atonement of Christ means more than mere "Substitution, " it means a "CORPORATE ONENESS, " a union in which it was perfectly just for God to exact from His Son the penalty of "Spiritual" and -"Physical" death in satisfaction of the broken Law. We are therefore as believers to "RECKON OURSELVES DEAD TO THE LAW." Rom. 6:1 I. That is, we are to believe and act as those who have been freed from the Law, for "there is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them who are in Christ Jesus, " (Rom. 8:1), for we were judged for sin in Christ on the Cross, and our judgment for "Sin" IS PAST.

We see then that Christ's work from the Incarnation to His Ascension was to make an Atonement for Sin.

II. CHRIST'S PRESENT LIFE AND WORK

Christ's present work is that of a High Priest. He is now "TARRYING WITHIN THEVAIL." As the High Priest entered through the "veil" into the "Most Holy Place" once a year , on the "Day of Atonement, " to present the blood of the sacrifice and make a intercession for the SINS of the people, so Jesus entered into the "Holy of Holies" of the Heavenly Tabernacle when He ascended and passed through the "Veil of the Cloud" and disappeared from earthly view. Acts 1:9. Heb. 4:14. "For Christ is not entered into the Holy Places made with hands (such as the Tabernacle or Temple), which are the figures of the true; but INTO HEAVEN ITSELF now to appear in the presence of God for us." Heb. 9:24. Heaven, not earth, is the sphere of Christ's PRIESTLY Ministry. He never appeared as a Priest in the Temple at Jerusalem. He went there to teach, but never to offer sacrifices or burn incense.

The sacrifices and ceremonies of the Tabernacle and Temple services did not make the offerers perfect, or they would not have ceased to be offered. They were but SHADOWS or Types of things to come. Heb. 10:1-3. Among them was the "Day of Atonement." On that day the High Priest entered alone into the Holy Place, and having divested himself of his garments of "Glory and Beauty, " he washed himself, and arrayed himself in linen clothes with a linen Mitre upon his head. He then filled a Censer with burning coals from off the Incense Altar and entered through the "Veil" into the "Most Holy Place, " and putting incense upon the coals of the Censer, so that the smoke would cover the "Mercy Seat" on the "Ark of the Covenant" and hide it from view lest he die, he withdrew from the "Most Holy Place" and passed out into the Court of the Tabernacle, where he slew a bullock for a "Sin Offering" for himself and his house, and taking of its blood he re-entered the Tabernacle and passing through the "Veil" he sprinkled with his finger of the blood seven times eastward before the "Mercy Seat, " thus making Atonement for himself and his household. He then returned to the Court of the Tabernacle and slew the goat that had been selected by lot for the "Sin Offering, " and took of its blood and re-entered for the third time the "Most Holy Place, " and did with its blood as he had done with the blood of his bullock, thus making Atonement for the sins of the Congregation. He then returned to the Court, and going to the "Brazen Altar" he made Atonement for it by sprinkling of the mixed blood of the bullock and goat upon it with his finger seven times, after he bad first anointed the Horns of the Altar with the blood. He then took the live goat, called the "Scapegoat, " and laying both of his hands upon its head, he confessed the sins of the Children of Israel, thus placing them upon the head of the "Scapegoat, " and then he sent it by a "fit man" into the wilderness, into a land uninhabited, where it was left, thus carrying away the iniquities of the people.

Aaron then returned to the Holy Place of the Tabernacle and took off his linen garments, washed himself, and robed himself again in his garments of "Glory and Beauty, " and then returned to the Court of the Tabernacle. Until he thus appeared the people were in doubt as to whether God had accepted the "Sin Offering" or not. If his stay was unduly prolonged they would fear that the offering had been rejected and the High Priest smitten with death. They listened then for the tinkling of the bells upon the bottom of the High Priest's robe, and when they heard them they were assured that the sacrifice had been accepted.

When the High Priest came out in his garments of "Glory and Beauty" he went to the "Brazen Altar" and offered a "Burnt Offering" for himself, and one for the people, as a token of their revived consecration to God.

Let us take the work of the High Priest on the "Day of Atonement" and apply it to our High Priest, Jesus Christ. When Jesus "emptied Himself" of His Heavenly Glory (Phil. 2:5-7), He laid aside His garments of "Glory and Beauty, " and put on the "Linen Garment" of humanity in which to minister. He had no occasion to offer incense in the "Most Holy Place, " or to offer a bullock as a "Sin Offering" for Himself, for He was sinless, but He had to offer a Sin Offering for the world. It is here that we see that no single offering could typify the work of Christ, for Christ's work is twofold. First He died as a "Sin Offering" for SIN, and then rose from the dead and ascended through the "Veil of the Cloud" into the "Holy of Holies" of the "Heavenly Tabernacle" and offered HIS OWN BLOOD as an Atonement for the sin of the world. This could only be foreshadowed by the use of two goats. The first was made a ':Sin Offering" and as such had to die, the second was called the 'Scapegoat" and bore away the sins of the people into the- wilderness. Lev. 16:8-10, Lev. 16:20-22. So in connection with the cleansing of the leper, two birds were necessary. One was killed in an earthen vessel over running water, and the living bird was to be dipped in the blood of the slain bird, and let fly in the open field, after the blood of the slain bird had been sprinkled seven times upon him who was to cleansed of hjs leprosy. Lev. 14:1-3

The High Priest entered into the "Most Holy Place" once a year with the blood of others, but Jesus Christ our High Priest entered once for all with His OWN BLOOD into the "Holy of Holies" of the "Heavenly Tabernacle, " otherwise He must have suffered yearly since the foundation of the world (Ages), "but now once in the END OF THE AGE (the Old Testament Age) hath He appeared to Put away in by the sacrifice of Himself." Heb. 9:24-26.

Having, as our High Priest, taken His own blood within the "Veil, " Jesus still tarries engaged in His High Priestly work, and will continue to tarry throughout this

"GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT."

and at its close he will lay aside His High Priestly robes and come forth in His Kingly dress of "Glory and Beauty" to rule and reign in Kingly splendor.

There was no provision made for sitting down in the Tabernacle or Temple, for there was no time for sitting down, as sacrifices were continuously being offered; but Jesus our High Priest offered the sacrifice of Himself "ONCE FOR ALL", and then "SAT DOWN" at the right hand of God, on God's Throne (Heb. 12:2), which is in this Dispensation the "Throne of Grace." Heb. 4:16. In Acts 7:55-56, we read that Stephen saw Jesus STANDING at the right hand of God. This may mean either of two things. Either Jesus rose to receive Stephen or that He had not yet sat down, for we must not forget that Jesus really did not begin His Priestly work until after His final rejection by the Jews, that culminated in the stoning of Stephen, who charged them with being "stiffnecked" and resisting the Holy Ghost. Acts 7:51. It is worthy of note that the "Divine Three" were rejected in succession by the Jewish nation. They rejected "God the Father" in the days of Samuel (1Sam. 8:6-7) ; "God the Son" in the "Days of His Flesh, " saying-"We will not have this man to rule over us" (Matt. 21:37-39) ; and God the Holy Ghost when they resisted the Holy Ghost who spoke through Stephen. Acts 7:51.

1. MEDIATOR.

Paul writing to Timothy said that the will of God was that all men might be saved, and that he had appointed to that end a "MEDIATOR" between God and man, the MAN CHRIST JESUS. 1Tim. 2:3-5. He is a "Mediator" for both believers and unbelievers, but He had to become a MAN to "Mediate" between God and man. A man can mediate between two men,

but he cannot mediate between a man and a horse, because he has not the nature of both a man and a horse. So the Son of God could not mediate between God and man until He became the "Divine MAN, " that is, had the nature of both God and man. It was necessary then for the Son of God to become a MAN that He might mediate between God and man, and when He ascended He took up His MANHOOD with Him, and He is now in Heaven the MAN CHRIST JESUS. 1Tim. 2:5.

2. ADVOCATE.

In 1John 2:1 we read-"My little children, these things write J unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." From this we see that Jesus is the Advocate of the righteous only, for the Epistle is addressed to "My Little Children, " and to those who were entitled to call God FATHER. The sinner does not need an Advocate; he needs a SAVIOUR. What is the use of an Advocate when the trial is over, the jury has rendered its decision, the judge pronounced sentence and the day of execution set? What a condemned man needs then is not an Advocate, but a PARDON. The Bible distinctly states that, "he that believeth not IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, " and, "that the WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM." John 3:18, John 3:36. What the sinner needs to do is not to ask Jesus to intercede for him, but to accept the, FINISHED WORK of Christ on the Cross in his behalf.

There are some who claim that Jesus is the Advocate for everyone, because the next verse says-"And He is the 'Propitiation' for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD." The word "Propitiation" does not mean that the Atonement of Christ saves the whole world, but that it makes possible the salvation of the whole world. There are three views of the Atonement.

1. Some hold that the Atonement was in the nature of a COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION. In a commercial transaction there must be a "buyer" and a "seller, " a "thing to be sold, " and a "price to be paid, " and if the thing sold was l 00 horses, the "buyer would want to be sure that he not only got the right number, but the right ONES. On this view of the Atonement Jesus paid with His blood only for a certain number, and they the ones He had chosen, the ELECT. The advocates of this view hold to the theory of a LIMITED ATONEMENT.

2. Others claim that as the Bible represents the Atonement as made for ALL men, therefore all men will be saved. These persons are consistently UNIVERSALISTS.

3. The third class holds the view that the nature of Christ's Atonement was not the mere payment of the debt of a few, the elect; neither does it save all men, but it was such an assumption of the penalty of the Law, that God can now honorably and justly forgive any man his sin who repents and accepts Christ as his Saviour. This latter view must be the correct view, for it is the only view that corresponds with the facts. For the Scriptures distinctly teach in such passages as-"WHOSOEVER cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37), that salvation is not limited to any special class; and the demand for repentance and faith shows that if men are to be saved, they are to be saved on certain conditions, and not merely because Jesus died on the Cross. Jesus then is the "Advocate" of only those who are saved.

If Jesus is our Advocate then, what is He our Advocate for? Not for SIN, for that was Atoned for on the Cross. He is our Advocate for the "sins" we commit since we became a Christian. "My Little Children, these things write I unto you, that ye SIN NOT. And if any man SIN, we have an Advocate." 1John 2:1. Our Advocate then is to intercede for us because we SIN, that is His business, that is why He remains constantly beside the Father. If a man break the law, or is accused of breaking it, the first thing he needs is a lawyer, or advocate, one who will plead his cause and see that he gets justice. So the believer when he sins needs an Advocate.

Many Christians are disheartened and discouraged because they sin and feel that it is a sign that they were never converted. But the Scriptures teach that they will sin.- The Apostle says-"If we say that we have NO SIN, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in US." 1John 1:8. We must learn to distinguish between our

STANDING AND STATE.

Our "Standing" is that of a SON. John 1:12-13. 1John 3:1-2. And we are a "Son" NOW. 1John 3:2. And this "Sonship" makes us "HEIRS." Rom. 8:17. And this "Heirship" guarantees our PRESERVATION. 1Pet. 1:4-5. John 3:16. John 6:39. And no man shall be able to pluck us out of our Father's hand (John 10:27-29), for we are "Sealed" unto the Day of Redemption. Eph. 4:30, and our "life" is HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD. Col. 3:3.

But while our "Standing" is SETTLED and SURE, our "State" is VARIABLE. This is owing to the fact that after our "New Birth" we have "TWO NATURES, " where before we had but one. We do not lose the "Old Adam, " or "Flesh Nature, " when we receive the "New Adam" or "Spiritual Nature." For that which was born of the "Flesh" is STILL FLESH, and only that which is born of the "Holy Spirit" is SPIRIT. John 3:6. This explains the "SPIRITUAL WARFARE" so vividly portrayed by the Apostle Paul in Rom. 7:14-16. This was the Apostle's own experience after his conversion, and reveals the fact that the believer has a DUAL NATURE, and he is sinful or sinless according to which nature is uppermost, for that which is "born of God' in him, his "Spiritual Nature, " cannot sin. 1John 3:9. As to "Experience, " the believer may be in any one of three places. (1) He may be in EGYPT, the "Type of the World." The Children of Israel were SAFE in Egypt the moment they sprinkled the "Blood" of the "Passover Lamb" on their doorposts. So the believer is SAFE, or SAVED, the moment he applies the Blood of Christ by faith to his soul, though he may in experience be still living in Egypt a type of the world. (2) He may be in the WILDERNESS, the "Type of the Flesh." But as to experience living on the Egyptian side of the Wilderness, longing for the leeks, onions and garlic of his old Egyptian life, and murmuring, restless and unfruitful, fearing to return to Egypt, and yet not happy in his Christian life.(3) He may be in CANAAN, a "Type of the Rest of Faith, " but fighting for the possession of the land against the Canaanites, Hittites, " Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites of his soul. Josh. 3:10.

The Scriptures mention three ways in which the believer mayovercome the Flesh. (1) By AMPUTATION. Matt. 18:8-9. (2) By MORTIFICATION. Rom. 8:13. Col. 3:5-7. (3) by LIMITATION. Heb. 12:1. From what has been said we see that our "Fellowship" with the Father may be broken, but our RELATIONS never. 1John 1:3, 1John 1:7.

There is a vast difference between a "SINNER'S SINS" and a "BELIEVER'S SINS." Not that God does not hate both alike the Believers it may be the most because he sins with greater light, but the difference is not in the sin, but in the WAY GOD TREATS IT. Here is a father who sends his son and his hired servant to do a piece of work. They are lazy and inefficient, and do not do the work. He bears with them, and tries them again, but it is no use. His son and, his servant are good for nothing, his son perhaps the worse of the two Now what does he do? He discharges the servant. He puts him out of the house. He will have nothing more to do with him. But does he discharge his son? Does he send him away from the house? Does he disinherit him? Nothing of the kind. He may rebuke him cut off his allowance, punish him worse than he punished the servant but he will not send him away because he is his son. We see the that "Sonship" is a REAL THING. Is "Sonship" then a shield from the punishment of sin? Does my "Sonship" make it safer for me I sin? Oh, no! It simply gives me the blessed privilege of having a Advocate, and since it is inevitable that I will sin, it is better to sin as a SON than as an unbeliever.

III. CHRIST'S FUTURE LIFE AND WORK

Christ's future work is that of KING. When Christ has finished His High Priestly work He will leave His Father's Throne and descend into the atmosphere of this earth to meet His espoused Bride- THE CHURCH. 1Thes. 4:15-17. He will then accompany His Bride back to Heaven, and taking His place upon the "Judgment Seat of Christ" (Rom. 14:10) will judge the saints and reward them according to their works, after which He will present the Church to Himself, "a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." . Eph. 5:27. Then follows the Marriage of the Lamb. Rev. 19:6-8. Then, having received the Kingdom from the Father, Christ, accompanied by the armies of Heaven, will descend to the earth, and the Battle of Armageddon will be fought (Rev. 19:11-13), following which He will sit upon the "Throne of His Glory" and judge the nations (Matt. 25:31-33), after which the Millennial Kingdom will be set up. At its close Satan will be loosed from the Bottomless Pit, there will be a great Apostasy, and fire will descend from heaven and destroy the wicked. The heaven and the earth will then be renovated by Fire, and the New Heaven and Earth will appear, upon which shall be placed righteous nations taken from the old earth, over which Christ shall reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, until such a time as He shall see fit to surrender the Kingdom to the Father, that GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL. 1Cor. 15:28.

Dispensational Truth

Chapter 8 - The Dispensational Work of the Holy Spirit
As the Holy Spirit, the THIRD PERSON in the Godhead, has existed from all eternity (Heb. 9:14), it stands to reason that if we would pursue the same course of speaking and writing about Him, as we do about the person and work of Christ, much of the mystery and misunderstanding as to His person and work would disappear.

Let us therefore take up His work in each Dispensation.

1. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CREATION

We read in job 26:13, "By His SPIRIT He hath garnished the heavens." That is, made them beautiful with stars and suns. The work of the Trinity in Creation has been described thus: God the FATHER created the matter, God the SON moulded it into shape, as seen in the heavens, and earth, and every visible object, and God the HOLY SPIRIT breathed into all animate creation life. This seems confirmed by the account of the creation of man in Gen. 2:7, "And the LORD GOD (the Triune God) formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the BREATH OF LIFE: and man became a LIVING SOUL." Here we see the threefold work of God. The Father made the "dust of the ground, " the Son, like a sculptor molds the clay into a statue, formed the dust into the shape of a man, and the Holy Spirit breathed into its nostrils the "BREATH OF LIFE."

In Gen. 1:2, we read that-"The Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the SPIRIT OF GOD (Holy Spirit) moved upon the face of the waters." Here we have the work of the HOLY SPIRIT in the restoration of the Earth to its Primeval State. This reveals to us that the work of the Holy Spirit in Creation was to impart and restore life.

2. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE DISPENSATION FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD.

This was the "Dispensation of CONSCIENCE, " and the work of the Holy Spirit during that Dispensation seems to have been to "strive" with men through their conscience to live better lives, for we read in Gen. 6:3, "And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always STRIVE with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years." That is He would bear with them for 120 years longer, and if they did not repent and turn to Him, He would send the Flood.

3. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE DISPENSATION FROM THE FLOOD TO THE BIRTH OF JESUS.

This Period included Three Dispensations, the "Post-Diluvian, " the "Patriarchal" and the "Legal." The work of the Holy Spirit in these Dispensations seems to have been about the same, and was neither constant nor specific. He came upon individual men and women and filled them for some special service or specific work without reference to their character, such as Balaam (Num. 24:2-4), Samson (Judg. 13:24-25), and King Saul. 1Sam. 10:6-8. The Holy Spirit came upon these men not because they were good men, but on account of their official position, and was given for a special service. With few exceptions, such as Joseph (Gen. 41:38-39), Joshua (Num. 27:18), and Daniel (Dan. 4:8, Dan. 4:9, Dan. 4:18; Dan. 5:11-13), the Holy Spirit did not abide on men for any length of time during this Dispensation, but came and went, as, in the case of Samson, His presence was necessary. When the time came to construct the Tabernacle and its furnishings, God specially endowed Bezaleel for the work by filling him with the Holy Spirit. Ex. 31:1-3. Thus the whole of the work of the Tabernacle in its exquisite perfection and glorious beauty, was the work of the HOLY SPIRIT through Bezaleel. So the people could not praise Bezaleel, and say-"Bezaleel, what a wonderful and skillful workman you are", but were compelled to say-"See how wondrously the SPIRIT OF GOD has wrought through Bezaleel." So it was with the Old Testament prophets-"the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the HOLY GHOST." 2Pet. 1:21. The work of the Holy Spirit in this Dispensation was mainly to fit men for some special work.

4. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE "PARENTHETICAL DISPENSATION" BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT DISPENSATIONS.

The work of the Holy Spirit during this "Parenthetical Dispensation" has to do mainly with the earthly life of Jesus, and throws additional light on the relation of the three persons of the Godhead to each other, and shows that even God the SON, could not take on our human nature and do the work He did for the redemption of the race without the aid and co-operation of the "HOLY SPIRIT." The work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus is very clearly outlined in the New Testament.

1. He was CONCEIVED by the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:30-31, Luke 1:34-35. Matt. 1:18-20.
2. He was BAPTIZED by the Holy Spirit. Matt. 3:16. Luke 4:1.
3. He was led by the Holy Spirit into the Wilderness to be TEMPTED (Tested). Matt. 4:1. Luke 4:1-2.
4. He performed all His MIGHTY WORKS by the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:38.
5. He was ANOINTED TO PREACH by the Holy Spirit. Luke 4:18.
6. He DIED ON THE CROSS through the Holy Spirit. Heb. 9:14.
7. He was RAISED FROM THE DEAD by the Holy Spirit. 1Pet. 3:18.
8. He gave His POST RESURRECTION DIRECTIONS to the Apostles through the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:1-2.

5. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE DISPENSATION FROMPENTECOST TO THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.

This is preeminently the "DISPENSATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT." The Old Testament Dispensation was that of the FATHER, the Millennial Dispensation will be that of the SON, and this is that of the HOLY SPIRIT. Jesus said to His Disciples"It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away the COMFORTER (Holy Spirit) WILL NOT COME UNTO YOU; but if I depart , I will send him unto you." John 16:7. This clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit is a PERSON, and that He and Jesus cannot both reside at the same time on the earth. The Holy Spirit has a specific work in this Dispensation. It is the formation of the "BODY OF CHRIST"-THE CHURCH, into which we are baptized by the Holy Spirit. 1Cor. 12:13, 1Cor. 12:27. The Holy Spirit took up His residence on the earth at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-3), and will remain on the earth until the Church is complete and then He will escort it to meet the Lord in the air at the Rapture.

But you ask-"If the Holy Spirit is now residing on the earth, where may He be seen? Is He in the Holy Land or in some other part of the world? " The Holy Spirit at Pentecost did not assume a bodily form, but took up His residence in the Church. The Apostle Paul, writing to the saints at Corinth, said-"What! Know ye not that your BODY is the TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST? " 1Cor. 6:19. And in 1Cor. 3:16, he speaks of them as being collectively the "TEMPLE OF GOD, " and that the "SPIRIT OF GOD" (Holy Spirit) dwelt in them, that is, had his residence among them. And in Eph. 2:21-22 he speaks of the Church as a Building, "fitly framed together" for a "HOLY TEMPLE, " into which the saints are being built, as building stone is built into a building, and that the purpose of the building was to make a "HABITATION FOR GOD" in which He could dwell on the earth in the Person of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:22-23, in anticipation of His going away, and in answer to Judas Iscariot's question as to how He would manifest Himself to His disciples after His departure, and not to the world, Jesus said-"If a man love me he will keep my words: and my Father will love him and WE (the Triune God) will come unto him, and make our ABODE with him." And in the "appendix" to the "Great Commission" (Matt. 28:20) Jesus said-"Lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE AGE." that is, the end of this Church Dispensation. Now the idea is, not that Jesus Himself IN PERSON will be with us in this Dispensation, for He cannot leave His High Priestly duties at the Right Hand of God, but that He will be with us in the Person of the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit is now the REPRESENTATIVE of the Godhead on the earth, for when Jesus said "I will be with you, " He meant by "I" the Godhead, and the Godhead is represented on the earth whenever one of its members is resident on the earth, as it was represented in Jesus when He was on the earth (John 1:14. 1Tim. 3:16), and is now represented by the Holy Spirit.

It follows therefore, as every true believer is a "Temple of the Holy Spirit, " if we would see the Holy Spirit during His residence on the earth we must see Him in the glowing face and Christlike behavior of the sanctified child of God.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH

The Holy Spirit, by virtue of His residence in the Church, is the

PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE CHURCH.

Says Dr. A. J. Gordon, in his work on the "Ministry of the Spirit"-"The Holy Spirit has rightly been called the 'VICAR OF JESUS CHRIST.' To him has been committer the administration of the affairs of the Church. There is but one 'Holy See' upon earth, ' and that is the 'Seat' of the Holy Spirit in the Church. There is but one 'Infallible POPE, ' and He is the Holy Spirit. He alone can speak 'Ex Cathedra'."

This is clearly brought out in Acts 15:13-15 in the account of the First Church Council, where the record states (Vs. 28), "For it seemed good to the HOLY GHOST and to us, " implying that the Holy Ghost was present in the Council, and acted in an official capacity.

When Ananias and Sapphira were arraigned for conspiracy and falsehood in the sale of a certain piece of property, Peter said to Ananias-"Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the HOLY GHOST? " (Acts 5:3), thus implying that the invisible presiding officer at that trial was the Holy 5pirit Himself.

As Jesus chose and sent forth His Apostles, so the Holy Spirit chooses and sends forth His Apostles; for we read in Acts 13:2-4-

"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, (He must have been personally present)-'Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, BEING SENT FORTH BY THE HOLY GHOST, departed to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus."

Paul's last words to the Ephesian Elders were-'Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over which the HOLY GHOST HATH MADE YOU OVERSEERS, to feed the 'Church of God, ' which He hath purchased with His own blood." Acts 20:28. Clearly the pastors or bishops of the Apostolic Church were chosen by the Holy Spirit, and not by the suffrage of the people.

As an illustration of the mistake that may be made in filling an official position in the Church without consulting the Holy Spirit, we have the case of Matthias. A vacancy had occurred in the "Apostolate" by the suicide of Judas. Standing in the upper-room, surrounded by the 120, Peter boldly affirmed that the vacancy must be filled, and of the men who had companied with them during the Lord's earthly ministry-"One must be ordained to be a witness with us of HIS RESURRECTION." Acts 1:22. But the Apostles had hitherto had no voice in choosing Apostles. The Lord had done this of His own sovereign will-"Have I not chosen you twelve." John 6:70, John 13:18. Now the Lord had gone back to heaven having commanded His disciples to do NOTHING until His 4 4 Vicar" the "Holy Spirit" should come (Luke 24:49), and as he had not yet arrived no business that they might transact would be LEGAL. But in spite of the Lord's command a nomination was made, and an election held but there is no indication that their choice was ratified by the Holy Spirit when He came. On the contrary, Matthias, who was chosen from that time, passed into obscurity, and his name is never again mentioned. A few years later, on the road to Damascus, the Lord Himself chose Saul of Tarsus to be an Apostle in Judas' place, certifying to the choice by filling him with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:15-17), so that the Apostle could say of himself-"Paul, an APOSTLE, NOT OF MEN, NEITHER BY MAN, BUT BY JESUS CHRIST, AND GOD THE FATHER.' Gal. 1:1.

While the Apostolic Office ceased with the death of the Apostle John, for its qualification was that the holder should be a witness of the Lord's resurrection, and Paul was a witness of that (1Cor. 15:3-5), it is still the Divine plan that the office of the successors of the Apostles, the pastors, elders, bishops, and teachers of the flock should be filled by Holy Spirit chosen men. Acts 20:28. There is no certainty when an Archbishop, or Bishop, or some other church Functionary, appoints a pastor over a flock, whether the appointment is of the holy Spirit or not. We see therefore that while it is easier to get-"the sense of the meeting by a show of hands" in the choice of a pastor, that it is not the Apostolic way, and accounts for the mistakes and misfits that occur in filling the pastoral office. It also accounts for the decline and death of many church organizations. It is far. better by prayer and fasting to wait upon God until the "MIND OF THE SPIRIT" is made manifest, and the right man sent.

And not only should a church consult the Holy Spirit in the choice of a pastor, but the pastor should consult the Holy Ghost as to a field of service. Of Paul and Timotheus we read--"Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, and were FORBIDDEN OF THE HOLY GHOST to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed (attempted) to go unto Bithynia; 'BUT THE SPIRIT SUFFERED THEM NOT'." Acts 16:6-7. We naturally ask-"Why not? " And we do not have far to go for an answer, for in the next three verses we read-"And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas, and-a vision appeared to Paul in the night: there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, COME OVER INTO MACEDONIA AND HELP US. And after he had seen the vision, IMMEDIATELY WE ENDEAVORED TO GO INTO MACEDONIA ' ASSUREDLY GATHERING THAT THE LORD HAD CALLED US FOR TO PREACH THE GOSPEL UNTO THEM." Acts 16:8-10. And into Macedonia they went and were blessed in their work. We see then that the pastor, and missionary, and every Christian worker, should follow the Holy Spirit's guidance in the choice of a sphere of work. The Holy Spirit makes no "Misfits." This is beautifully illustrated in the experiences of Adoniram Judson, William Carey, and David Livingstone. Judson purposed going to India, the Holy Spirit sent him to Burmah Carey purposed going to Tahiti, the Ho 1y Spirit landed him in India. Livingstone purposed going to China, but the Holy Spirit led him to Africa.

When Jesus was on the earth the Father spoke and said-"This is my beloved Son HEAR YE HIM." The night before His Crucifixion Jesus said to His Disciples-"I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the 'Spirit of Truth' (H. S.), is come, He will guide you into ALL TRUTH: He will show you things TO COME." John 16:12-13. The reason was that the teachings of Jesus required to be illumined by the light of the Cross and of the Resurrection, and the further light that He would be able to furnish after His Ascension. There were certain limitations to Christ's knowledge while on the earth. When asked as to the time of His Second Advent, He replied-"Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither (not yet) the Son, but the Father." Mark 13:32. But as soon as Jesus was "Glorified" He knew all about it, and 66 years after His Ascension He revealed it to the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos. The Book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which GOD GAVE UNTO HIM, to show unto His servants THINGS WHICH MUST SHORTLY COME TO PASS" 'Rev. 1:1), and in the Messages to the Seven Churches of Asia, which are typical churches (Rev. 2:1, Rev. 3:22), we find, SEVEN TIMES REPEATED, the command "He that hath an ear, let him HEAR what 'THE SPIRIT' SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES."

The Holy Spirit's Teachings and communications are not His own, but CHRIST'S. "Howbeit when He, the 'Spirit of Truth, ' is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but WHATSOEVER HE SHALL HEAR, that shall He speak; and He will show you things to come. He shall GLORIFY ME: for He shall RECEIVE OF MINE AND SHALL SHOW IT UNTO YOU". John 16:13-14. The office-work then of the Holy Spirit in this Dispensation is to reveal the things of the Glorified Christ to the Church.

To this end the preacher and teacher of the "Word" should be a Holy Spirit filled person. Peter said-"We have preached the Gospel unto you WITH THE HOLY GHOST SENT DOWN FROM HEAVEN." 1Pet. 1:12. And Paul said-"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in DEMONSTRATION OF THE SPIRIT AND OF POWER." 1Cor. 2:4. Education is not enough. The Disciples were in training with Jesus for three years, but He forbade them to preach until they were ENDUED WITH POWER FROM ON HIGH. Luke 24:49. Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-3. Peter, the fisherman, could never have preached the sermon he did on the Day of Pentecost without the help of the Holy Spirit. The preacher is to "Rightly Divide the Word" (2Tim. 2:15), and Peter could not have done so in his apt quotations from the Scriptures if the Holy Spirit had not aided him. The "Instrument" that the Holy Spirit uses to convict and convert men is the "WORD OF GOD." "The 'Seed' is the WORD OF GOD." Luke 8:11. But -as in the Natural World the seed must be alive to germinate, and there can be no life without-"PRE-EXISTING LIFE, " for there is no such thing as "SPONTANEOUS GENERATION OF LIFE, " so in the Spiritual World the "Seed" (the Word of God) must be vitalized by the Holy Spirit, otherwise it is BARREN. This explains why sceptics and scientists and philosophers and others may know the Scriptures and be able to quote them glibly and yet not be converted by them. To use another figure the Scriptures are "Burglar Proof" to those who have not the "Spiritual Combination, " for "the NATURAL man receiveth not (cannot understand) the things of the 'Spirit of God': for they are foolishness unto him; neither -can he know them, because they are SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED." 1Cor. 2:14. A spiritual revelation cannot be comprehended by the natural understanding. Says Dr. R. A. Torrey, "I would as soon think of setting a man to teach art merely because he understood paints, as to set him to teach the Bible merely because he understood Greek or Hebrew."

In the Natural World there can be no offspring without the union of the two sexes. There must be a father and a mother. How was the "Son of God" born? The Holy Spirit was his Father, and the Virgin Mary his mother. Luke 1:30-32. As the womb of the Virgin was the place of conception of the Son of God, so the HUMAN HEART is the place of conception of the "Children of God." Similarly "Sin" is generated in the human heart by Satan the "Father of Lies." Peter said-"Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou CONCEIVED this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." Acts 5:3-4.

The "New Birth" then is the COMMUNICATION of a "New Life", the IMPLANTATION of a "New Nature" by the SPIRIT OF GOD. When as he sat under a Numidian Fig-Tree there fell into the heart of Augustine, who was living a profligate life, the "Seed" of Rom. 13:13-14, "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but PUT YE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAKE NOT PROVISION FOR THE FLESH, TO FULFIL THE LUSTS THEREOF, " and Augustine's heart received the words by faith, they being vitalized by the Holy Spirit, caused Augustine to become a "NEW CREATURE, ' and he arose to his feet no longer a child of the Devil, but a SON OF GOD.

What every minister of the Gospel and Bible Teacher should do, is to so familiarize himself with the Scriptures, and saturate his mind with them, that he shall be able skillfully to use the instrument that the Holy Spirit has provided, for the "Sword of the Spirit" is the "WORD OF GOD." And it is only by the proper use of it that men are convicted of sin and regenerated.

But it is just as important that we have the Holy Spirit's help in our PRAYING as in our preaching. Ought we to prepare and write out our prayers and memorize them, or read them from a book? For an answer we turn to the Scriptures. In Eph. 6:18, we read, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication IN THE SPIRIT." Paul says ::"Likewise 'THE SPIRIT' (H. S.) also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but "THE SPIRIT" HIMSELF (R. V.) MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR US with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the 'MIND OF THE SPIRIT, ' because He maketh intercession for the saints ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD." Rom. 8:26-27. There is a promise which Christians love to quote-"lf two of you shall AGREE ON EARTH as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven." Matt. 18:19. This is generally taken to mean that if two persons mutually agree to pray for a certain thing they have God's promise that they shall have it.

The word here translated "AGREE" is the Greek word from which our word "SYMPHONY" comes. In tuning an organ all the notes must be keyed to the standard pitch or harmony is impossible. So in prayer the suppliants must not only agree, they must SYMPHONIZE, and this must be done by the "DIVINE TUNER, " the HOLY SPIRIT, else they will not be in agreement with the "MIND OF THE SPIRIT, " and cannot ask according to the "WILL OF GOD." If two persons find themselves, without previous arrangement, praying for the same individual, they have doubtless been prompted so to do by the Holy Spirit, and their prayer will be answered.

There may be an agreement which is SINFUL. "How is it that ye have AGREED TOGETHER to tempt the 'Spirit of the Lord' (H. S.) ? " (Acts 5:9), asked Peter of Sapphira. Here there was "mutual accord, " but guilty "discord" with the Holy Spirit. It is not enough that two persons agree with each other; they must be in accord with a "THIRD"-the HOLY SPIRIT.

Having thus dwelt at length on the Holy Spirit's work in this Dispensation in the Church, let us now briefly note

HIS WORK IN THE WORLD

His work in the world is outlined in John 16:8-10. "And He, when He is come, will CONVICT THE WORLD IN RESPECT OF SIN, and OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and OF JUDGMENT: of Sin, because they BELIEVE NOT ON ME; of Righteousness, because I GO TO THE FATHER, and ye behold Me no more; of judgment, because the 'Prince of this World' HATH BEEN JUDGED." (R. V.)

The Holy Spirit's work then as to the World is threefold-

1. TO CONVICT THE WORLD OF "SIN."

Some hold that "Conscience" is all-sufficient to convict men of sin, and they quote Rom. 2:15, where, speaking of the Gentiles, Paul says-"Which show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile ACCUSING or else EXCUSING, one another." But there is a vast difference between "LEGAL" conviction, and 'SPIRITUAL" conviction. Conscience only begets "Legal" conviction- while the Holy Spirit begets SPIRITUAL conviction. Conscience may produce fear and remorse, but it will not keep men from doing wrong, for Conscience imparts no "power, " but the Holy Spirit imparts "power" and begets HOPE. Conscience only "Accuses" or "Excuses, " while the Holy Spirit CONDEMNS. Conscience convicts men of sin against the "Law, " for the "Law" says-Thou shalt not steal, or covet, or commit adultery, or kill, and so when men steal, or covet , or commit adultery, or kill, conscience convicts them of those sins. But the "SIN" that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of is none of these, but of the special sin of UNBELIEF. "He will convince the World-, of sin, because they BELIEVE NOT ON ME." The entrance of Jesus into the world rendered possible a sin hitherto unknown, the sin of REJECTING HIM AS THE WORLD'S SAVIOUR. What was the sin that Peter charged his audience with on the Day of Pentecost? Listen! "Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him, in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, YE HAVE TAKEN AND BY WICKED HANDS HAVE CRUCIFIED AND SLAIN." Acts 2:22-23. Their sin then was the REJECTION AND CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF. And we read (Acts 2:37) that they were PRICKED (Convicted) IN THEIR HEART, and cried out- "Men and brethren, what shall we do? " Now what produced that conviction for sin? The presence of the Holy Spirit, who, using", Peter as a mouthpiece, charged His hearers of the awful sin of "UNBELIEF" in rejecting the claims of Jesus.

The sin then that it is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict men of in this Dispensation is the sin of REJECTING JESUS. Conscience may convict men of "legal sins, " such as murder, theft, covetousness, adultery, etc., but only the Holy Spirit can convict of the SIN OF UNBELIEF, the most awful and damning sin of the World today. So it is no longer the "SINS QUESTION, " but the "SON QUESTION"-"What shall we do with JESUS? "

It is only then as we present and press home the "Sin of UNBELIEF IN JESUS." that we may expect the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, and the conviction of sin in the unbeliever.

2. TO CONVICT THE WORLD OF "RIGHTEOUS

What is "Righteousness? " It is to be conformed to the standard of right and justice, to be upright and blameless. I not the "World's Righteousness" that is here meant, for it has none, it is the "Righteousness" of Jesus. When Jesus was on the earth he claimed to be the "Son of God." He claimed to forgive sins, and to be Himself holy and sinless, and that whosoever believed on Him should have "Eternal Life." But He died an ignominious death. He went to the Cross under charges of sedition and blasphemy, even amid His dying agonies the challenge was hurled at Him-"If Thou BE THE SON OF GOD, come down from the Cross." Matt. 27:40-42. He failed to justify His claim by coming down from the Cross. He died as an ordinary mortal dies. The shades of night found Him locked in the Tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea, and a Roman guard keeping watch. Where now are all His claims to Deity? Was that to be the end of all His pretensions? Suppose He had remained in the Tomb and had not risen, what evidence would we have had that He was not an imposter, a false Messiah, like many before Him? None. "If Christ BE NOT RISEN, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain." 1Cor. 15:14.

If Jesus had not risen from the grave that would have been the end of His Righteousness, for three times He had declared that he would, and it was for fear that He would that a guard was placed at the Tomb. Matt. 27:63-64. The fact then that Jesus rose from the dead is proof that His claims were true, and thus His RIGHTEOUSNESS was established, and He was "DECLARED TO BE THE SON OF GOD with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, (Holy Spirit), by the RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD." Rom. 1:4.

The standard miracle of the Old Testament is the opening of the Red Sea, and the standard miracle of the New Testament is the Resurrection and Exaltation of Jesus to the Right Hand of God. Eph. 1:19-20. We read in Phil. 2:8-10, that, because He was "obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, " that God hath HIGHLY EXALTED HIM.

The "Resurrection" and "Exaltation" of Jesus then is indisputable proof of His RIGHTEOUSNESS. But how is the world to know and be convinced of this? That is the work of the Holy Spirit. That is what He is to convince the world of in this Dispensation. How is He to do it? How did He do it at Pentecost? In John l 4:16, Jesus said "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter." That the Father had acceded to Jesus request is clear from Luke 24:49, where, after His Resurrection and just previous to His Ascension, He said to His Disciples-"Behold, I send the 'PROMISE OF MY FATHER' upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power FROM ON HIGH." "And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it FILLED ALL THE HOUSE WHERE THEY WERE SITTING. (That is, the sound filled the house). And there appeared unto them 'CLOVEN TONGUES' like as of fire, and it (a cloven tongue) sat upon each of them. And they were all FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, (that is, the Holy Ghost took up His residence in them, and they became 'Temples of the Holy Ghost'-l Cor. 6:19), and began to speak with other tongues, as the SPIRIT (H. S.) gave them utterance." When this was "voiced abroad" a crowd collected and wanted to know the meaning of the strange proceeding, and Peter stood up, and having charged them with having crucified Jesus, he declared that God has raised Him from the dead, and exalted Him, thus justifying His claims, and-"Therefore, being by the Right Hand of God EXALTED, and having received of the Father THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY GHOST, He (Jesus) hath shed forth this which ye NOW SEE and HEAR." Acts 2:33.

While the disciples of Jesus knew that He had been raised from the dead, they did not know whether He had been "Exalted" and could not unless a "WITNESS" was sent from Heaven, and the "Witness" sent was the "Holy Ghost." If a friend should tell you that He was going to take a trip to the Holy Land, and that when he reached there he would send you a "box of figs, " though you did not hear from him by cable or letter, the receipt of the "box of figs" would be evidence sufficient that he had reached his destination. So the receipt of the "promised gift" of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost was visible and sufficient evidence to the Disciples that Jesus had reached Heaven, that the Father had approved of His work on earth, and accepted the sacrifice of the Cross, and as an acknowledgment of His RIGHTEOUSNESS had EXALTED Him to a seat beside Himself on His Throne.

In Peter's defense before the Council he said-

"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God EXALTED with His Right Hand (that is, drew Him up with His right hand, to a seat at His right hand on His Throne) to be a 'PRINCE' (He is not yet a King) and a SAVIOUR for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we (the Disciples) are His WITNESSES of these things; and so is also the HOLY GHOST." Acts 5:30-32.

The Law required two witnesses. Deut. 17:6. While the Disciples could bear witness to the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus, they could not testify to His "EXALTATION" as that was beyond their human vision, but the Holy Ghost could, for He had witnessed in the presence of Angels, Archangels, and all the Principalities of Heaven the EXALTATION OF JESUS, and had been sent to the earth to bear witness to the fact.

If Jesus had not been what He claimed to be, the Father would never have received Him back and "Exalted" Him, and the Holy Spirit would never have been sent to testify to His EXALTATION. The Holy Spirit then is the only one who can convince the world of Jesus' RIGHTEOUSNESS.

3. TO CONVICT THE WORLD OF "JUDGMENT."

Many in quoting this passage say-"Of a judgment to come." But the words, "to come, " are not there. It was Paul before Felix who "reasoned of Righteousness, Temperance, and judgment to come, " and the result was that Felix trembled. But it was only the conviction of conscience, not Holy Spirit conviction, for though Felix trembled he did not change his course of life, but dismissed Paul with the words � " Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." Acts 24:25.

The judgment that the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of in this Dispensation is not a future judgment, but a judgment that is PAST. Neither is it a judgment of the Righteous or the Wicked; it is a judgment of SATAN, the "Prince of this World." John 16:11. And it does not refer to a future judgment of him, but declares-"IS JUDGED." When was Satan judged? In the first place he was judged in the Garden when God passed the sentence on him-"I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed (Christ) ; it (He) shall bruise thy head and thou shall bruise His heel." Gen. 3:15. In the second place Satan was judged on the Cross. Satan is the author of "Death." To overcome the work of Satan it was necessary for Jesus to die on the Cross, and by rising from the dead to "ABOLISH DEATH." 2Tim. 1:10. The purpose of Christ's death then was"That THROUGH DEATH He might DESTROY HIM THAT HATH THE 'POWER OF DEATH.' That is, THE DEVIL; and DELIVER THEM who through 'fear of Death! were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Heb. 2:14-15.

While the "Prince of this World" (Satan) has been judged, and condemned to the Bottomless Pit for a thousand years, (Rev. 20:1-3), and finally is to be cast forever into the "Lake of Fire, " (Rev. 20:10), his sentence has not yet gone into effect. But he does not want the world to know this lest he lose his influence, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit in this Dispensation to convince the world that Satan has been judged and that his power is on the wane, and that "Death" will soon be swallowed up in the victory that the Resurrection shall have over the grave. For if the "Tomb" could not hold Jesus, neither hall the "Grave" hold us.

But there is one more work the Holy Spirit is engaged in in this Dispensation, and that is to hinder Satan in his efforts to produce His Masterpiece, the "MAN OF SIN." Writing to the Thessalonians Paul said--

"And now ye know what WITHHOLDETH that he (the "Man of Sin"-THE ANTICHRIST, 2Thes. 2:3-4) might be revealed in his time. For the 'Mystery of Iniquity doth already work; only he who now letteth (restraineth, R. V.) will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that WICKED Antichrist be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the 'Spirit of His Mouth, ' and shall destroy with the Brightness of His Coming: even him, whose coming is after the workings of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." 2Thes. 2:6-8.

There has been a great deal of controversy about who or what is meant by the "Restrainer" or "Withholder" in this passage, but the Apostle John clears it up -

"Hereby know ye the 'SPIRIT OF GOD': every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is OF GOD: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is NOT OF GOD: and this is that 'SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST, ' whereof we have heard that it should come: and even now already is it in the World. 1John 4:2-3.

Here we have two opposing Spirits, one the "SPIRIT OF GOD" and the other the "SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST." The "SPIRIT OF GOD, " or the "HOLY SPIRIT, " must therefore be the "RESTRAINER" who keeps Satan from producing his "Man of Sin, " the Antichrist.

A part of the Holy Spirit's work in this Dispensation then is to hold in check the full development of evil until the Church is complete. Then He will be "Taken away" and there will be nothing to prevent the manifestation of the "Mystery of Iniquity."

6. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE PARENTHETICAL DISPENSATION BETWEEN THE RAPTURE AND REVELATION.

As we have seen, the Holy Spirit who came at Pentecost to form the "Body of Christ, " the Church, will, when the Church is complete and caught out, return with the Church to Heaven. This will leave the world without the presence of the Holy Spirit, and as no man can be "Born again" (John 3:3, John 3:5-7), or call Jesus LORD but by the Holy Ghost (1Cor. 12:3), the world will be in a bad plight. And as the "SALT" of "Pure Christianity" will have been removed from the earth, the earth's "Moral Rottenness" will rapidly develop into such a state of "Putrefaction" that only the return of the Lord can stop. But we read that during this period between the "Rapture" and the "Revelation" a "great multitude" shall be saved, out of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues. Rev. 7:9-11. Now how is this "great multitude" to be saved if the Holy Spirit is no longer resident on the earth? They will be saved as the Old Testament Saints were saved, by the Holy Spirit coming to individuals and regenerating them. The work of the Holy Spirit then in the "Parenthetical Dispensation" between the "Rapture" and the "Revelation" will be individualistic only.

7. THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE DISPENSATION FROM THE REVELATION OF CHRIST TO THE RENOVATION OF THE EARTH BY FIRE.

This is the Dispensation commonly spoken of as "The Millennium." The work of the Holy Spirit in this Dispensation is foretold in Joel 2:28-30.

"And it shall come to pass afterward (after Israel shall have returned to their own land, which will be before the Millennium, Joel 2:21-23), that I will pour out MY SPIRIT (H. S.) upon ALL FLESH; and your (Israel's) sons and your daughters shall PROPHESY, your old men shall DREAM DREAMS, your young men shall see VISIONS: and also upon your servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out MY SPIRIT. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, BLOOD and FIRE, and PILLARS OF SMOKE. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible 'Day of the Lord' come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever, shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call."

But you say this was fulfilled at Pentecost. Yes, in part only. That was the "First Fruits" of a future and greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for while Peter quoted all but the last few lines of Joel's prophecy, the physical phenomenon that is to attend this outpouring of the Holy Spirit did not take place at Pentecost. There were no wonders in the heavens and in the earth, such as blood and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun was not darkened, nor the moon turned into blood, and as these things are to occur during the Tribulation Period and just previous to the Millennium, it is clear that the prophecy has reference to the Millennial Dispensation.

Whether this "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" shall be on the Jews only is not clear, but it will overflow on the Gentiles, for in those days a King (the Lord Jesus Christ) shall reign in righteousness (Isa. 32:1), and the work of righteousness shall be peace (Isa. 32:17-18) and upon the bells of the horses shall be inscribed "HOLINESS TO THE LORD." Zech. 14:20-21. All this will be largely possible because Satan will be bound, but the Holy Spirit will doubtless have much to do with the righteousness of those days.