Dispensational Truth

Chapter 6 - The Present Evil World
While this is the "Dispensation of Grace, " and God's purpose during it is to gather out a "People for His Name"-the CHURCH, the world out of which the Church is being gathered is called-

'"THE PRESENT EVIL AGE"
Gal. 1:4. (R.V.).

That this "Age" is EVIL is seen in the character of its civilization. After nearly 1900 years of Gospel preaching the world is in a worse state, in proportion to its light, than it was in the days of Christ, and seems headed toward some great crisis. The spirit of lawlessness is in the air, and despite all efforts to quench it, it is strangely becoming unmanageable and perverse and determined to break away from all authority and law.

How are we to account for this? Has God lost His control over the world, or is He permitting some other agency to have its way?

The answer is that there are

"TWO OPPOSING SPIRITS"

at work in the world in this Dispensation. The "HOLY SPIRIT" who is engaged in gathering out the elect body of the Church, and the "SPIRIT OF EVIL." These are called in 1Cor. 2:12, the "SPIRIT WHICH IS OF GOD, " and the "SPIRIT OF THE WORLD, " and in 1John 4:5-6, the "SPIRIT OF TRUTH" and the "SPIRIT OF ERROR." The Spirit of Error is the source of all the "STRONG DELUSIONS" (2 'I'hess. 2:11) that are in the world today, and as the "End of the Age" draws near they are being rapidly multiplied, and it requires the utmost vigilance not to be caught in their net. just as the Church is indwelt and guided by the "HOLY SPIRIT, it so the World outside the Church -is indwelt and guided by the "SPIRIT OF THE WORLD" (1Cor. 2:12), or "UNHOLY SPIRIT." And as the "HOLY SPIRIT" is a PERSON, so the "SPIRIT OF THE WORLD" is a PERSON.

"And you hath He quickened, (by His Holy Spirit), who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the 'COURSE (AGE) OF THIS WORLD, ' according to the Prince of the 'Power of the Air, ' (Satan) the 'SPIRIT' (Evil Spirit) that now worketh (energizes) in the-

'CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE� "
Eph. 2:1-2.

From this we see that the "SPIRIT OF THE WORLD" is SATAN.

The world refused to accept the rule of God when it crucified His Son, and chose Barabbas instead of Christ, thus exalting Satan to the position of the "GOD OF THIS AGE, " for Satan is not spoken of as the God of any other Age than this. It was Satan's ambition to be like God that caused his fall (Isa. 14:13-14), and he has not as yet given up that ambition, and it is his purpose and plan to exalt himself in the person of Antichrist, whom he will indwell, and sit in the "Temple of God, " (the rebuilt Jewish Temple in Jerusalem), AS GOD, and have the people worship him as such. 2Thes. 2:3-4. Rev. 13:4, Rev. 13:11-12.

MAN� S DAY

This Dispensation is spoken of in the Scriptures as "MAN'S DAY." Writing to the Corinthians Paul says, "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of 'man's judgement."' The margin reads of-"MAN'S DAY." 1Cor. 4:3. This then is the day of the GLORIFICATION OF MAN. The day in' which the works of man are exalted and praised. We cannot explain the great advance in knowledge and the mechanic arts of the past hundred years, apart from God, only on the supposition that there is some superhuman being who imparts this knowledge and who controls the affairs of the mechanical and commercial world. And worthy of note that it was not the descendants of Seth, the people of the Antediluvian Dispensation, but the descendants of the ungodly people of that period, who invented metal working devised musical instruments (doubtless for pleasure), and built cities for commercial and other purposes. Now we know that Satan� s gospel is the-

"GOSPEL OF PROGRESS."

He preached it in the Garden of Eden when he promised that if she would eat of the fruit of the Tree of the "Knowledge of Good and Evil, " her eyes would be opened, and she and Adam would be as "Gods, " knowing good and evil. Gen. 3:5.

It was the promise of KNOWLEDGE that caused the downfall of the human race, and when Adam and Eve followed Satan's advice they committed the race to the acceptance of his LEADERSHIP AND PROGRAM.

It is not likely that the Holy God imparted to the ungodly race of Cain the knowledge to invent things that would lead to the down fall of the race and help to bring on the Flood. Neither is it supposed that a God of Love would impart to men the knowledge that would enable them to invent such hellish instruments of warfare as were used in the great European War. It is clear then that is some "SUPERNATURAL BEING" who is at the head of the "WORLD SYSTEM, " and that that "Being" is-"SATAN." His program is to build up a magnificent Civilization without God. The phrase "Christian Civilization" is an invention of the "God of this Age." There can be no such thing, for Christianity and Civilization have nothing in common. There can be no Christian civilization without Christ, and when He comes back He will bring to an end the boasted civilization of this Age, and set up a NEW CIVILIZATION over which Satan shall have no control, for he will then be a prisoner, ' in the Pit. It is clear that if this world could be made a fit place for men to live in without God, it could not have had a more masterly leader than Satan, and that if he has failed it is not his fault, but is due to the wilfulness of man.

There are but two classes of people spoken of in the New Testament. The "CHILDREN OF GOD, " and the "CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL." "In this the 'CHILDREN OF GOD' are manifest, and the 'CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL:' whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God." 1John 3:10. Here all who "doeth not righteousness" are classed as "CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL, " and in Eph. 2:2 are called the "CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE". There is no possibility of union between them, therefore there cannot be any such thing as the "BROTHERHOOD OF MAN, " which popularly understood is the union of all religious bodies and sects, such as Christians, Jews, Atheists, Unitarians, Mohammedans, Buddhists, Confucianists, etc., in a Federation of Religions.

The word "disobedience" means obstinate rebellion. How futile then is the effort of the "Children of Disobedience" to make the earth a more comfortable habitation for man, and bring in a Millennium by a Federation of all Religious Bodies when the bulk of mankind is in OBSTINATE REBELLION against God, and will not have His Son to reign over them, but are spending every energy to produce a "Godless Civilization" and make way for Satan's "MASTERPIECE" the "MAN OF SIN."

Satan is the "DECEIVER OF THE WORLD." Rev. 12:9. He raises "false hopes, " and deludes by the-"DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES" (Mat-t. 13:22), the "DECEITFULNESS OF SIN" (Heb. 1, 3:13) and the "DECEITFULNESS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS."2Thes. 2:9-11. He causes the "exercise of the imagination, " and by "strong delusions, " and "seducing spirits, " he tries to make men believe that his plans for the world's betterment are right. His advocates point to the great increase in scientific knowledge and invention, the great advance in methods of world-wide communication by land, sea, and air, and the various inventions that lighten labor and add to domestic comfort, and claim that the world is growing better, not only because of these, but because of the great philanthropies of men that have founded colleges, libraries, hospitals and great charitable institutions, forgetting that these things only tend to the physical helpfulness of man and have little to do with his moral character, and overlooking the fact that, in spite of all this advancement of civilization, the world today sits on the mouth of a volcano, whose interior is a "foaming cauldron" of social unrest and commercial rottenness.

When the "God of this Age" discovered that he could not stamp out the Church by PERSECUTION, he changed his tactics and now seeks to neutralize her efforts by SEDUCTION. His method is to divert her efforts for the evangelization of the world, to methods of "Social Betterment, " and thus make the world a better place to live in, forgetting that, as the natural man cannot be spiritually saved by CULTURE, neither can the world, therefore all efforts to save the world by "Social Betterment" are futile. And when the Church lends her aid to such methods she confesses that Christ's method of saving the world IS INSUFFICIENT, and thus discounts the power of the Gospel. Christian men give vast sums of money for the "Social, Intellectual, and Physical Betterment of the world, " rather than for the evangelization of the world. They even go farther and form societies for the investigation of "adverse social conditions, " such as poverty, vice, ignorance, etc., and appoint specialists at high salaries to investigate and see if they can discover the cause of all the sin, misery and wretchedness there is in the world, forgetting that in so doing they are wasting their money, for the Bible told us centuries ago that the cause was SIN. If the proper thing to do is to remedy a thing at its source, let the Church apply the remedy of the Gospel and save the individual, and by thus doing save society.

The common opinion is, that all the "'ills of society" are in men� s surroundings, or environment, whereas they are in MAN HIMSELF. Hence all human schemes for the "Betterment of Society" must begin in the man himself. That is, man must first be REGENERATED by the Holy Spirit. All the schemes of men to make this world a better place to "live in, " seem to be to make the world a better place to "SIN IN, " because they increase the facilities for sin. her

The "God of this Age" knows that if the Church was to give self exclusively to the work of "World Evangelization" he would lose her service in building his great "Civilization Structure, " so he is just as anxious to keep her in his power, and postpone the time of her "Exodus, " (1Thes. 4:15-17), as Pharaoh was to keep Israel in Egypt at work on his stone cities Rameses and Pithom. To this end he keeps her busy "making bricks without straw, " and thus blinds her eyes to the light of the "Glorious Gospel of Christ, " (the doctrine of the Pre-Millennial Coming of the Lord), knowing that once she gets a vision of that she will refuse to any longer work for his "World Betterment" schemes.

The unification of the nations of the earth is a scheme to reverse the judgment of God on Babel, and resume the building of "THE TOWER" that is to exalt the name of man. Gen. 11:1-3.

There are two "Distinct Bodies" in this "Present Evil Age" in the process of formation.

1. The "BODY OF CHRIST"-THE CHURCH.
2. The "BODY OF ANTICHRIST."

The first is being gathered by the "SPIRIT OF GOD" (Holy Spirit, )l Cor. 12:3, Cor. 12:13, and the second by the "SPIRIT OF EVIL, " that now worketh (energizes) in the "Children of Disobedience." Eph. 2:1-2. The difference between the "Body" the Holy Spirit is forming, and the "Body" the "Spirit of Evil" is forming, is, that the former is united to a "LIVING HEAD, " (Christ-Eph. 1:20-22), while the latter has no living head, for it is simply an "Organization, " while the "Body of Christ" is an "ORGANISM." Since the "Fall" and death of Adam the human race has been headless, but when the "Body, " or "Organization, " that the "Spirit of Evil" (Satan) is forming is complete, he (Satan) will produce its "HEAD, " who will be the ANTICHRIST, thus reversing the Divine order of first the "HEAD" (Christ) and then the "BODY"-the Church.

We are told that the Lord at His "Second Coming" will depose and punish two distinct governing bodies. Isa. 24:21.

1. "The 'HIGH ONES' that are on high."

That is Satan and the "Evil Powers of the Air." Eph. 6:12.

2. "The 'KINGS OF THE EARTH' upon the earth."

That is the Anti-Christian World Powers represented by the "Ten Federated Kings" under the control of Antichrist. Rev. 19:17-19.

The heavens will then be cleansed of all the "Powers of Evil, " and their place will be taken and occupied by Christ and the Saints who constitute the Church, and they will reign during the Millennium from the heavens over the earth, as Satan and his hosts do now. Rev.

Dispensational Truth

Chapter 14 - The Spirit World
The Scriptures are full of the "Supernatural." The only cure for the "Materialism" of the present day is to discover what the Scriptures reveal as to the "Spirit World." There is but a step from the "Natural" World to the "Spirit" World. The dividing veil is our "fleshy" bodies. The "Heavenlies" are peopled with Spirit Beings. They are of two classes, good and evil. They are classified as "Seraphim, " "Cherubim...... Angels" (Good and Bad), "Principalities, " "Powers, " "Age Rulers of Darkness, " "Wicked Spirits, " (Eph. 6:12)p "Thrones, " "Dominions, " (Col. 1:16) "Fallen Angels, " (2Pet. 2:4) "Spirits in Prison, " (1Pet. 3:18-20): "Demons, " "Seducing Spirits" 1 Tim. 4:1.

The "Seraphim" have three pair of wings. They are the attendants of the "Lord of Hosts" and call attention to His holiness. Isa. 6:1-3.

The "Cherubim" or "Living Creatures, " as described in Eze. 1:4-6; Eze. 10:1-3, have only two pair of wings, but they have "four faces on their head, the front face that of a "Man, the right side that of a "Lion, " the left side that of an "Ox" (calf), and the back that of an "Eagle." They also have the "hand of a man" under their wings on each of their four sides. They are the Guardians of the Throne of God.

The "Four Beasts" or "Living Creatures" of Rev. 4:6-8. differ from the "Living Creatures" of Ezekiel, in that each Beast instead of having four faces has but one. The first Beast having the face of a lion, the second that of a calf, the third that of a man, and the fourth that of a flying eagle, and each "Beast" has "six wings" and "eyes before and behind." The mention of a "Rainbow" by both Ezekiel and John (Ez. 1:28, Rev. 4:3) identifies the two visions as relating to the Throne of God.

The "Seraphim, " "Cherubim, " "Angels, " and all other "Heavenly Beings" are created beings. They did not exist from all eternity. (Col. 1:16.)

The Angels are "innumerable in number." Heb. 12:22. They are "mighty in power" but not almighty. 2Thes. 1:7. They excel in strength. One angel destroyed 185, 000 of the Assyrian army in a night. An angel rolled away the stone from the Tomb of Christ, and one angel shall bind Satan and cast him into the "Bottomless Pit." They are "Glorious" beings (Luke 9:26) ', and have "great knowledge, but are not Omniscient. They neither marry nor are given in marriage. Matt. 22:30. That does not mean that they are "sexless" and have not the power of procreation. All the angels in the Scriptures are spoken of as men, and were so created in great numbers, and as they do not die (Luke 20:36), there is no need for "procreation, " but that they have such power seems indisputable from Gen. 6:1-3, where we are told that the "Sons of God" (angels), had intercourse with the "daughters of men, " and the result was a race of "Mighty Men." See Chapter two on the cause of the Flood. From this we see that the angels-can sin.

The Angels are "Ministering Spirits" to them who are "heirs of salvation, " (Heb. 1:13, Heb. 1:14), and "Executioners of God's Wrath" on the "wicked." 2Thes. 1:7-8. They will gather the "elect of Israel" from the four corners of the earth, (Matt. 24:31), and are commissioned to supply the physical needs of God's people. Matt. 4. 11; 1Kings 19:4-6.

The Demons are not to be classed as angels. They appear to be "disembodied spirits, " some think of the Pre-Adamite Earth, the inhabitants being disembodied because of the sin that caused the Pre-Adamite Earth to become chaotic. This is plausible, because they seek to re-embody themselves in human beings. They are wicked, unclean, vicious, and have power to derange both mind and body. Matt. 12:22; IS: 22; Luke 4:35; Luke 8:26-28; Luke 9:42. They are the "Familiar Spirits" of the Old Testament, and the "Seducing Spirits" of which Paul warned Timothy. 1Tim. 4:1. There are three prominent Personages spoken of in the Scriptures outside of the Triune God.

1. Michael.

He is mentioned three times in Daniel (Dan. 10:13, Dan. 10:21; Dan. 12:1), where he is called a "Prince" who stands for Daniel's People-the Jews. He is called in Jude 9 the Archangel. In Rev. 12:7 he is seen in command of the Angelic "Army of Heaven." His work seems to be to deliver God's people, particularly the Jews, from the power of Satan, and finally to oust him and his angels from the Heavenlies, and cast them down on to the earth. Rev. 12:7-9. He also has something to do with the resurrection of the dead, for he is associated with the "Resurrection mentioned in Dan. 12:1, Dan. 12:2, and he contested with the Devil the resurrection of Moses, (Jude 9) and the "voice" of the Archangel that will be heard when the "Dead in Christ" shall rise, (1Thes. 4:16), will be the "voice" of Michael, for he is the only Archangel mentioned in the Scriptures.

2. Gabriel.

He is mentioned by name four times. In Daniel twice and in Luke twice. He seems to be associated with the redemptive work of God. He appeared to Daniel (Dan. 8:16; Dan. 9:21-23), to inform him as to the "time" of Christ's "First Coming, " and when the "time had come" he announced to Zacharias the birth of Christ's "Forerunner" -John the Baptist, and later to Mary the birth of Jesus. Luke 1:19, Luke 1:26, Luke 1:27. His position in heaven is lofty, for he said of himself to Zacharias "I am Gabriel that Stand in the Presence of God."

3. Satan.

We speak of Satan last not because he is the least of the three, for in many ways he is the greatest, but because of his evil character. He is the source of all the anarchy and rebellion in the Universe. See the Chart and Chapter on "Satan" for his history.

Let us now consider man's relation to the Spirit World. Man in his physical and spirit makeup, was made for two worlds, the Physical and the Spirit world. Writing to the Thessalonians Paul says,

"I pray God your whole 'Spirit' and 'Soul' and 'Body' be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1Thes. 5:23. Writing to the Hebrews he says

"The Word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of 'Soul' and 'Spirit, ' and of the 'Joints and Marrow' (body), and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4:12.

From these references we see that man is a Trinity, and is composed of a "Body, " "Soul' " and "Spirit." Man was made in the "Image of God" and God is a Trinity. The difference between plant and animal life is, that the plant has not "conscious" life, while the animal has a "living (conscious) soul." The difference between animal life and human life is, that while animals have a "living soul" man has more, he has a "spirit."

While man differs from a beast in having a "spirit, " yet he is as to his "body" only an animal. That is, his body, as to its functions, is like the body of an animal in its vital processes of respiration, digestion, assimilation and general makeup; so when the Apostle speaks of the "Natural" body he refers to the "animal" body of man. And when he speaks of man's "Spiritual" body, he means a "body" not some "ethereal substance, " but a body with form and shape, but controlled and regulated by spiritual rather than natural laws. In other words both our "Natural" and "Spirit bodies" are composed of "matter, " the only difference being that the matter of our "Natural" bodies is adapted to this "Physical" world, while the matter of our "Spirit" bodies is adapted to the "Spirit" world. It makes the subject clearer to speak of a "Spirit" body, rather than a "Spiritual" body, for the word "Spiritual" refers more to the "religious" attribute of a body, than to the material.

The "Threefold Nature of Man" may be illustrated by the Tabernacle. The Tabernacle was a tent surrounded by a court, which court was enclosed by a curtain fence. (See diagram of the Tabernacle.) The tent was divided into two parts, one twice the length of the other, by a "veil" or curtain. The larger part was entered from without by a curtained doorway, and contained the "Table of Shewbread, " the "Altar of Incense, " and the "Seven Branched Candlestick." This part was called the "Holy Place." The smaller part was entered from the "Holy Place" through the "veil" or dividing curtain, and contained the "Ark of the Covenant, " on the lid of which, between the "Cherubims, " God took up His residence in the "Shekinah Glory." This part was called the "Most Holy Place." There were no windows in the Tabernacle, and the only entrance was through the curtained doorway into the "Holy Place."

The Tabernacle and its Courtyard is a type of the "Threefold Nature of Man." The "Courtyard" represents his Body, the "Holy Place" his Soul, and the "Most Holy Place" his Spirit, and as there could be no communication between the "Courtyard" and the "Most Holy Place, " only through the "Holy Place, " so there can be no communication between a man's Body and Spirit only through his Soul.

After the completion of the Tabernacle it remained empty of the "Presence of God" until the "Spirit of God" descended and took up His abode in the "Most Holy Place." So a man may be complete as to body, soul and spirit, but his spiritual nature -Will remain unregenerate until the Holy Spirit enters and takes possession of the "spirit" compartment of his nature. This happens when the "New Birth" takes place.

When a man dies his soul and spirit separate from the body, and the body is laid in the grave, but the "spirit" is not "bodiless, " it has what Paul calls its "Psychical" or "Soulish" body. This may be illustrated by a peach. A peach is a trinity. It is composed of the "flesh of the peach, " the "stone, " and the "kernel." Let the "flesh" correspond to the "body" of man, the "stone" to the "soul, " and the "kernel" to the "spirit." Remove the "flesh" of the peach from the stone, and the "kernel" still has a "body, " the "stone." So when a man's "body" is separated from his "soul" and "spirit" at death, the "spirit" is not "bodiless, " it still has its "Soulish body." As this "Soulish body" can hear, and speak, and think, and feel, it must have some "tangible" form. It is not a "ghostlike" structure. There are doubtless limitations in its use, or there would be no need for it to recover its physical body at the Resurrection.

That there is such a thing as the "Soulish Body" is brought out in the story of the "Rich Man and Lazarus." Luke 16:19-21.

The story is not a Parable, but a description by Christ of something that really happened in the other world to his own personal knowledge. It declares that both Lazarus and the "Rich Man" died and were buried. That is, their bodies were left on the earth. What happened to them in the "Underworld" then, is descriptive of what happened to them in their "disembodied state." In that state they were conscious and the Rich Man recognized Lazarus, which he could not have done if Lazarus had not a body, not his "physical" body, he left that on the earth, but his "Soulish" body. This is proof that the "Soulish" body is not simply a body, but that in its outward form and appearance it conforms to the earthly body of the owner, otherwise he would not be recognizable in the other world. Again the "Rich Man" could see, and feel, and thirst, and talk, and remember, proving that he possessed his senses and had not lost his personality. This proves that there is no break, as "Soul Sleep, " in the Continuity of Existence, or Consciousness, in passing from the "Earth- Life" to the "Spirit-Life." The one life merges into the other' just as the "infant-life" merges into the "boy-life, " and at the Resurrection the "Spirit-Life" will merge into the "Resurrection-Life, " just as the "boy-life" merges into the "man-life." I am just as much myself when I am stripped of my clothing, as when I had it on. So death, though it strips me of my "material" body, only changes my environment but does not destroy my Personality or BODILY FORM.

Sleep in the Scriptures always refers to the "body, " not to the soul, and the expression, "Asleep in Jesus" refers to the Believer only.

The "Threefold Nature of Man" is clearly brought out in the Diagram.

The Threefold Nature Of Man

The outer circle stands for the "body" of man, the middle for the "soul" and the inner for the spirit, or what Paul calls the "Carnal" (1Cor. 3:1-3) ; the "Natural" (1Cor. 2:14) ; and the "Spiritual" (1Cor. 3:1) ; parts of man.

In the outer circle the "body" is shown as touching the Material world through the five senses of "sight, " "smell, " "hearing, " "taste" and "touch." The soul uses the "Five Senses" of the body as its agents in the exploration of the phenomena of matter and historical research, and for its self expression and communion with the outside world. The "Gates" to the soul are "imagination, " "conscience, " "memory, " "reason" and the "affections." The "Gate of Imagination" of the soul corresponds to the "Gate of Sight" of the body, being the "eye" by which the soul sees. The "Gate of Conscience" corresponds to the "Gate of Smell, " by which the soul detects the presence of good and evil.

The "Gate of Memory" corresponds to the "Gate of Hearing, " by which the soul recalls what it heard. The "Gate of Reason" corresponds to the "Gate of Taste, " permitting the soul to compare facts as the taste compares foods. The "Gate of the Affections" corresponds to the "Gate of Touch, " being the hand by which the soul feels the person of the one it loves.

The Spirit receives impressions of outward and material things through the soul and body. The "Sense Faculties" of the spirit are the "Spiritual faculties" of "Faith...... Hope, " "Reverence, " "Prayer, " and "Worship." In his unfallen state the "spirit" of man was illuminated from Heaven, but when the human race fell in Adam, sin closed the window of the spirit, and pulled down the curtain, and the "chamber of the spirit" became a Death Chamber, and remains so in every unregenerate heart, until the "Life" and "Light" giving power of the Holy Spirit floods that chamber with the "Life" and "Light" giving power of the NEW LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS. We see then why the "natural" man cannot understand spiritual things. He cannot understand them until his spiritual nature has been renewed.

But the spirit of the Natural man is not only darkened, his "Will" stands as a "guard" at the door, and prevents the entrance of the Holy Spirit, and it is not until the "Will" surrenders through the power of the "Sword of the Spirit, " the ... Word of God, " that the Holy Spirit can enter and take up his abode in the "spirit" of man.

The battlefield of "Good" and "Evil" is in the "soul" of man. It is not enough that the Holy Spirit should take up His residence in the "spirit" of a man, He must have access to the "soul" and "body, " as shown on the Diagram. Not until then can a man become "Sanctified" for "Holiness" is conditioned on a "Spirit Filled" spirit, soul and body. A healthy soul and spirit need a healthy body, and if the body is given over to carnality and the lusts of the flesh, even to fasting that weakens it, the soul and spirit suffer, and the whole man becomes spiritually sick.

Let us now trace the life of the soul and spirit after they have left the body. In the story of the "Rich Man and Lazarus, " we have a description of the "Underworld." We find that it is made up of two compartments, "Paradise" and "Hell, " with an "Impassable Gulf" between. At the bottom of the Gulf is the "Bottomless Pit" or "Abyss." This is a place of temporary confinement for "Evil Spirits" (Demons). It has a King-"Apollyon, " but is kept locked by God, who commissions an angel to open it when He so desires. Rev. 9:1-3; Rev. 17:8; Rev. 20:1-3. Study in this connection the charts on "The Spirit World" and "The Resurrections and the judgments."

Before the resurrection of Christ the soul and spirit of the righteous dead went to the "Paradise" compartment of the Underworld. There Christ met the "Penitent Thief" after His death on the Cross. On the day of His Resurrection Christ's soul and spirit returned from the Underworld, but He did not return alone, He brought back with Him all the occupants of the Paradise section and locked it up, and now He now has the "Keys of Death and Hades." Rev. 1:18 R. V. Here "Death" stands for the "grave" and "Hades" for the Underworld. Some of those who came back from the Underworld with Christ got their "bodies, " and rose and ascended with Him as the "First-Fruits" of the resurrection "from among the dead." Matt. 27:52, Matt. 27:53. The rest were taken up to the "Third Heaven, " where Paul was caught up, 2Cor. 12:1-3. Paul called it Paradise. There all the Righteous dead that have died since Christ's resurrection go, that they may be "With the LORD." Phil. 1:23. 2Cor. 5:8.

There the souls of the Righteous dead shall remain until the time comes for the resurrection of their bodies, then when Christ comes back to meet His Church in the Air, He will bring back the souls of the Righteous dead from the Paradise of the "Third Heaven, " for we are told that He will bring them who "Sleep in Jesus" WITH Him (1Thes. 4:14), and they shall continue on to the earth and get their "bodies" from the grave, and then ascend again with the "Translated Saints" to meet Christ IN THE AIR.

So far as we know the souls of the "Wicked Dead" are still in the "Hell Compartment" of the Underworld, and will remain there until the Second Resurrection, when they will return to the earth and get their bodies, and then go to the "Great White Throne" judgment. After judgment they will be sentenced to the "Second Death, " which means that they shall die again, in the sense of losing their bodies again, and as "disembodied spirits" be cast into the "Lake of Fire, " (Gehenna, the "Final Hell"), to suffer in flames forever. As soul and spirit are impervious to flames, this explains how the wicked, after being disembodied again by the "Second Death, " can exist forever in literal fire.

When the earth is "Renovated by Fire, " Satan and all the "Evil Powers" of the Heavenlies will be imprisoned, and the heavens will be "cleansed" of all evil and rebellious spirits. In the New Heavens and Earth man will be restored to the condition Adam was in before the Fall, and the "veil" between the Natural and Spirit Worlds will be removed.

Dispensational Truth

Chapter 17 - The Judgments
The common opinion that the Millennium is to be ushered in by the preaching of the Gospel, and that after the Millennium there is to be a "General Resurrection" followed by a "General judgment, " and then the earth is to be destroyed by fire is not scriptural.

There can be no "General" judgment because the Scriptures speak of one judgment as being in the "Air" (1Thes. 4:16, 1Thes. 4:17; 2Cor. 5:6-8) ; another on the "Earth" (Matt. 25:31-33) ; and a third in "Heaven, " the earth and its atmosphere having fled away. Rev. 20:11-13. And to-make sure that these three separate judgments should not be combined into one General judgment scene, three different Thrones are mentioned.

1. The "Judgment Seat of Christ." 2 Cor. 5:10. "In the Air." For "Believers" only.
2. The "Throne of Glory." Matt. 25:31, Matt. 25:32. "On the Earth." For "The Nations."
3.The "Great White Throne." Rev. 20:11, 12. "In Heaven." For the "Wicked Dead."

The Scriptures speak of Five Separate judgments.

They differ in five general aspects. As to "Subjects, " "Time, " "Place, " "Basis of judgment" and "Result."

Judgment No. 1.

1. Subjects-Believers as to "SIN."
2. Time-A.D. 30.
3.Place-Calvary.
4.Basis of judgment. Christ's "FINISHED WORK."
5. Result-

1. Death as to Christ.
2. Justification as to the Believer.
This judgment is PAST. The Bible proofs of the results of this judgment are Rom. 10:4.

"For Christ is the END OF THE LAW for righteousness to every one that Believeth."

"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.

"Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, BEING DEAD TO SINS, should live unto righteousness." 1Pet. 2:24.

"There is therefore NOW no condemnation (judgment) to them which are IN CHRIST JESUS, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the Law of the 'SPIRIT OF LIFE' in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE From the Law of 'Sin and Death."' Rom. 8:1, Rom. 8:2.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, HATH EVERLASTING LIFE and shall not come into condemnation (judgment) but IS PASSED From Death Unto Life."
John 5:24.

The "Believer's" judgment for Sin then is PAST, and was settled at the Cross.

But we must not forget that the judgment of the Believer is threefold.

1. As a "Sinner."
2. As a "Son."
3. As a "Servant."

As we have already seen his judgment as a "Sinner" is Past. Let us look at his judgment

2. As a "Son."

As soon as the sinner accepts Christ as his personal Saviour that settles the "Sin" question for him. For if our iniquities are laid on Him (Jesus), then they are not on Us. Isa. 53:5, Isa. 53:6. But the "Sin" question, and the "Sins" question are two different things. Christ died on the Cross to atone for "sin, " to pay the penalty of Adam's disobedience in the Garden of Eden. "Sin" is that tendency in mankind to do wrong which we call "Natural Depravity." We do not get rid of this "tendency" by the "New Birth, " but we get a "counteracting force" called the "New Nature." We become a "dual personality, " composed of the "Old" and "New Natures, " and which shall predominate depends on which we feed and which we starve. This explains the "warfare" that Paul describes as his experience, after his conversion, in Rom. 7:1-3. This warfare will continue until the "Old" nature is eradicated at death.

"Sins" are the outward acts of wrong-doing that we commit as the result of our tendency to sin. These sins must be put away daily by "confession."

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an 'Advocate' with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1John 2:1.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1John 1:9.

Our judgment as "Sons" is for "unconfessed sins." The punishment is chastisement. This explains much of the chastisement of Christians, and should show them that they are "Sons" and not "Bastards." Heb. 12:5-1 Heb. 12:1. Paul says-

"If we would 'judge ourselves' we should not be judged. But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned (judged) with the world." 1Cor. 11:31, 1Cor. 11:32.

Our duty then as "Sons" is to "self-judge" ourselves daily, "confess our sins, " and so avert the chastisement of our Heavenly Father.

3. As a Servant.

This leads us to-

Judgment No. 2.

1. Subjects-Believers as to "WORKS."
2. Time-After The Church is caught out
3. Place-"Judgment Seat of Christ" (in the Air).
4. Basis of Judgment-Their "WORKS."
5. Result-Reward or Loss.

This judgment is FUTURE.

"We must all appear before the 'Judgment Seat of Christ, ' that every one may receive the things 'done in the body' according to that he hath done, whether it be 'good' or 'bad' (worthless)." 2Cor. 5:10.

The pronoun "We" occurs 26 times in the chapter, and in every instance it means the Believer, and the Epistle is addressed to the "Church" and "Saints" at Corinth, so the judgment here spoken of is for Believers "only." The "Time" of this judgment is when the Lord comes (1Cor. 4:5), and the "Place" is "in the air" (1Thes. 4:17) and before the judgment Seat of Christ.

It will not be a judgment in the sense of a "trial" to see whether the judged are innocent (saved) or guilty (lost), for it is a judgment it of the "saved only." It will be like the judges' stand at a Fair, or Race Track, where rewards are distributed to the successful contestants. Paul describes such a scene in 1Cor. 9:24-26.

It is not a judgment for sin, but for "works." This judgment is described in 1Cor. 3:11-13.

"Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones (valuable building stones, as marble, etc.), wood, hay, stubble; every man's 'Work' shall be made manifest; for the 'Day' (judgment Day) shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by 'fire, ' and the fire shall try every mans work, of what sort it is. If any man's work 'abide' which he hath built there upon he shall receive a 'reward.' If any man's work shall be 'burned' he shall suffer 'loss; ' but 'he himself shall be saved; ' yet so as by fire."

The result of this judgment is "reward" or "loss." All our "bad" and "dead works, " represented by the wood, hay and stubble, will be consumed, and only our "good works" shall remain. There is much which passes for Christian service which is merely human and secular, and does not count in our eternal reward. For those who deserve a "reward" it will be The Crowning Day.

After the Grecian games were all over the runners, wrestlers, and successful contestants assembled before the "Bema, " or Judges' stand, which was an elevated seat on which the Umpire sat, and the winners received a "corruptible crown" of "laurel leaves." Some had no reward, they had lost the "Victor's Crown." But while there was no reward there was no punishment, they were not cast out.

The New Testament speaks of Five Crowns.

1. The Crown of "LIFE."

This is the "Martyr's" crown, and is mentioned twice.

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation (testing), for when he is 'tried' (at the judgment Seat of Christ), he shall receive the 'Crown of Life' which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." James 1:12.

"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer; behold, the Devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried (tested) and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful 'unto death, ' and I will give thee a 'Crown of Life."' Rev. 2:10

Notice it does not say "until" death, but "unto" death. They were not to recant but to remain faithful unto a martyr's death. To recant was to lose the crown. This refers to the martyrs of the Tribulation Period.

2. The Crown of "GLORY."

This is the "Elder's" or "Pastor's" crown, given by the Chief Shepherd when He shall appear. But it is not for those who serve for "filthy lucre" or "lord it over God's heritage." 1Pet. 5:2-4.

3. The Crown of "REJOICING."

This is the "Soul Winner's" crown. 'Those brought to Jesus by us will be our "crown of rejoicing" at His Coming. 1Thes. 2:19, 1Thes. 2:20. Phil. 4:1.

4. The Crown of "RIGHTEOUSNESS"

This is the crown of those who "love His appearing" and will be given in "that day"-the Day of His Appearing. 2Tim. 4:8.

5. The Crown "INCORRUPTIBLE."

This is the "Victor's" crown, and is for those who "keep under their body." 1Cor. 9:25-27. Who do not yield to their fleshly lusts. Who do not permit themselves to be diverted from the Master's work by worldly amusements and pleasure, nor saturate their body with drugs.

If we do not want to be "ashamed at His Coming, " 1John 2:28, let us see to it that we keep our body "under" and so live that we shall secure a crown.

Judgment No. 3.

1. Subjects-The JEWS.
2. Time-"The Great Tribulation."
3. Place-Jerusalem and Vicinity.
4. Basis of Judgment-Rejection of the Godhead.
5. Result-Their Conversion and Reception of Christ as TheirMessiah.

This judgment is FUTURE.

While the Church is being judged at the judgment Seat of Christ in the air, the Jews will be judged under Antichrist on the earth. The Jews are an "earthly" people; and as all the promises to them are "earthly, " it follows that their judgment must be of an "earthly" character. The basis of their judgment is their "rejection of the Godhead." In the days of Samuel they rejected God the Father. 1Sam. 8:7. In the days of Christ they rejected God the Son. Luke 23:18. In the days of Stephen they rejected God the Holy Spirit. Acts 7:51, Acts 7:54-56. For their sin they have been scattered among the nations until the Times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. When the Times of the Gentiles are about to end the Jews will be gathered back to the Holy Land "unconverted, " and caused to "pass under the rod." Ez. 20:34-36. They will be cast into God's "Melting Pot" (Ez. 22:19-21), and pass through an experience spoken of by Jeremiah and Daniel as the "TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE." Jer. 30:4-6. Dan. 12:1.

Christ calls it "The Great Tribulation, " and He and Zechariah the Prophet associate it with the "Return of the Lord." Matt. 24:21-23. Zech. 14:1-3.

The human agent the Lord will use will be Antichrist, the awfulness of whose rule will be supplemented by the pouring out of the "Vials of God's wrath" upon the earth. Rev. 15:1, Rev. 15:5-7; Rev. 16:21. See the chapter on "The Tribulation."

The result of these terrible judgments will be that the Jews will call in their misery upon the Lord. Zech. 12:10. Then Christ will come back to the Mt. of Olives (Zech. 14:3) and the Jews will look upon Him whom they "pierced" (Zech. 12:10), and a nation, the Jewish Nation, shall be "born (converted) in a day." Isa. 66:8. This will complete the judgment of the Jews. See the chapter on the Jews.

Judgment No. 4.

1. Subjects-The Nations (Gentiles).
2. Time-The "Revelation of Christ."
3. Place-The "Throne of His Glory." On the Earth-"Valley of Jehoshaphat."
4. Basis of judgment-Their Treatment of Christ's Brethren-The Jews.
5. Result-Some Nations "SAVED, " Others "DESTROYED."

This judgment is FUTURE.

The account of this judgment is given in Matt. 25:31-33. The description of this judgment, and of the one given in Rev. 20:11-13 are combined by many, and taken to teach the doctrine of a general judgment. But when we compare them, they differ so widely, that it is evident that they do not describe the same event. What God has put asunder let no man join together. The following comparison will show the difference in the two accounts:

Matt. 25:31-33. Rev. 20:11-13.
1. No Resurrection. 1. A Resurrection.
2. Living Nations judged. 2. Dead judged.
3. On the Earth. Joel 3:2. 3. Heaven and Earth Gone.
4. No Books Mentioned. 4. Books Opened.
5. Three Classes Named. "Sheep, ""Goats, " "Brethren." 5. One Class Named. "The Dead."
6. Time-Before the Millennium 6. Time-After the Millennium.

This comparison reveals the fact that one of these judgments is "on the earth, " the other in the "heavens, " and that they are separated by 1000 years.

The Greek word "ethnos" here translated "Nations, " occurs 158 times in the New Testament. It is translated "Gentiles" 92 times, "Nation" or "Nations" 61 times, and "The Heathen" 5 times, but it is never in any instance (unless it be this) applied either to the "dead" or the "resurrected."

As this is a judgment of nations only, the Jews cannot be in it, for they are not reckoned among the nations. Num. 23:9. And as the Church will be associated with Christ in this judgment, for the "Saints" (the Church) shall judge the "World" (the Nations), (1Cor. 6:2), the Church cannot be in this judgment either. As we have seen the Church and the Jews have been already judged, so the "Judgment of the Nations" cannot be a general judgment. Who then, is asked, are meant by the Sheep? Do they not represent the Righteous, and all the Righteous from the beginning of the world to the end of Time? And do not the Goats in like manner represent all the Wicked?

If the Sheep are the Righteous, and the Goats the Wicked, then who are the Brethren? If they are the "followers of Christ, " as some claim, they should be classed with the Sheep. The Scriptures teach that the Righteous are saved by "faith, " and the Wicked are lost because they "reject Christ, " but in this judgment scene the Sheep inherit a "Kingdom" and the Goats are commanded to "depart, " because of their treatment of the Brethren.

All the contusion is caused by trying to make a judgment of "nations" mean a judgment of "individuals." The Sheep represent one class of Nations, and the Goats another class, while the Brethren represent the Jews (Christ's brethren).

We must bear in mind the time and place of this judgment. The time is at the "Revelation of Christ, " when He comes to set up His "Millennial Kingdom" on the earth. The place is the "Valley of Jehoshaphat" in the vicinity of Jerusalem.

"For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather ALL NATIONS, and will bring them down into the 'Valley of Jehoshaphat, ' and will plead with them there for MY PEOPLE and for my heritage ISRAEL, whom they have scattered among the Nations, and parted my land." Joel 3:1, Joel 3:2.

This prophecy clearly states that there is to be a "Judgment of Nations" on the earth in the "Valley of ehoshaphat" at the time of the restoration of the Jews to their own' land, and that the basis of judgment is the treatment by the nations of Christ's brethren-The Jews.

During the "Tribulation Period" the Nations that treat the Jewish People kindly, feeding and clothing them, and visiting them in prison, will be the "Sheep Nations, " while those who neglect to do so will be the "Goat Nations."

At the "Judgment of Nations" the King (Christ) will say to the "Sheep Nations, " inasmuch as ye have been kind to My brethren (the Jews), "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." This Kingdom is the "Millennial Kingdom" that the "Sheep Nations" as Nations will "inherit" and possess during the Millennium. And as they are to be among the "saved nations" of the New Earth (Rev. 21:24) it can be said of them that they, or at least the righteous individuals of them, shall enter into life eternal. Matt. 25:46.

Christ's sentence upon the "Goat Nations" will be-"Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire ' prepared for the Devil and his angels, " and "these shall go away into everlasting punishment." The "Goat Nations" will at once be destroyed as Nations, not one of them shall get into the Millennium, and the wicked individuals that compose them will perish and be eternally lost.

Judgment No. 5.

1. Subjects-The Wicked Dead.
2. Time-During the Renovation of the Earth by Fire.
3. Place-Before "The Great White Throne."
4. Basis of judgment-Their "Works."
5. Result-Cast Into the "Lake of Fire."

This judgment is FUTURE.

The account of it is given in Rev. 20:11-13. It will take place at the close of the Millennium a 1000 years after the judgment of the Nations, and before the "Great White Throne."

The "Great White Throne" will not be on the earth, for the "Great White Throne judgment" will take place during the renovation of the earth by fire, for the "renovation" of this Earth is reserved or kept until the time of that judgment, which Peter calls "The Day of judgment and Perdition of Ungodly Men" (2Pet. 3:7), because the judgment of the "Great White Throne"is the judgment of the wicked dead.

All the Righteous dead will arise at the First Resurrection. If any Righteous die between the First Resurrection and the Resurrection of the "wicked" or Second Resurrection, they will rise with the wicked dead at that Resurrection. The words-"Whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life (vs. 15), implies that there will be "some, " probably very few, Righteous at the Second Resurrection.

At the close of the Millennium and just before the renovation of the earth by fire, the living Righteous will probably be translated, and the living Wicked or Ungodly will be destroyed in the flames that will consume the earth's atmosphere and exterior surface.

The Wicked or Ungodly will not be judged to see whether they are entitled to Eternal Life, but to ascertain the "degree" of their punishment. The sad feature of this judgment will be that there will be many kind and lovable people there who were not saved, and who will be classed among the "ungodly" because they rejected Christ as a Saviour. The "Books" will be opened in which the "Recording Angel" has kept a record of every person's life, and they will be judged every man according to his "works." Some will be sentenced to a more severe punishment than others, but none will escape. The worst of all is, that those who were not so bad must spend eternity with the ungodly, and that in the "Lake of Fire." Their punishment includes the second death, which means that they shall lose their resurrection bodies, in which they were judged, and become "disembodied spirits" again, and so exist in the "Lake of Fire" FOREVER.

The "Fallen Angels" (not the Devil's angels), who are "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness" will be judged at this time, which Jude calls the judgment of the "Great Day." Jude 6. When this judgment is over the Devil and his angels, and all the ungodly, will have been consigned to the "Lake of Fire, " and the Universe purged of all evil, and righteousness shall reign supreme on the New Earth.

Dispensational Truth

Chapter 18 - Satan
There are many who deny the existence of Satan. They claim that what we call Satan is only a "principle of evil." That this "evil" is a sort of "malaria, " an intangible thing like disease germs that floats about in the atmosphere and attacks people's hearts under certain conditions. The existence of Satan cannot be determined by the opinions of men. The only source of information is the Bible. That is the reason why Satan tries to discredit the Word of God. He is not a "principle of evil" he is a-Person.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a 'roaring lion, ' walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1Pet. 5:8.

He "walketh, " he "roareth, " he is to be "chained." Rev. 20:1-3. These could not be said of a "principle of evil." He has many names or aliases-"Satan, " "Devil, " "Beelzebub, " "Belial, " "Adversary, " "Dragon, " "Serpent." He is mentioned by one or the other of these names 174 times in the Bible.

He is a great "Celestial Potentate." He is "The Prince of the Powers of the Air." Eph. 2:2.

"The God of this World" (Age.) 2Cor. 4:4.

He is the "God" not of the earth, for that belongs to its Maker God. "The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof." Satan is the God of the "World Systems" of the habitable earth. These "World Systems" embrace business, society, politics, and religion. Satan is the Ruler of the "Powers of Darkness" of the "Spirit World, " (Eph. 6:11, Eph. 6:12), and his position is so exalted that even Michael the Archangel dare not insult him. Jude 9. So mighty is he that man cannot successfully resist him without Divine help.

I. His Origin.

This is more or less shrouded in mystery. One thing is certain, he is a "created being, " and that of the most exalted type. He was before his fall "The Anointed Cherub That Covereth."

That is, he was the guardian or protector of the "Throne of God." He was perfect in all his ways from the day that he was created, until iniquity was found in him. In him was the "fulness of wisdom, " and the "perfection of beauty, " but it was his "beauty" that caused the pride that was his downfall. He was clothed in a garment that was covered with the most rare and precious gems, the sardius, topaz, diamond, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, emerald, carbuncle, all woven in with gold. He dwelt in Eden, the "Garden of God."

This probably refers not to the earthly Eden, but to the "Paradise of God" on high, for Satan dwelt on the "Holy Mount of God." All this we learn from Eze. 28:11-13, where the Prophet has a "foreview" of the Antichrist under the title of the "King of Tyrus, " and as Antichrist is to be an incarnation of Satan, the Prophet here describes Satan's original glory from which he fell. There never has been as yet such a King of Tyrus as is here described.

The cause of Satan's fall is given in Isa. 14:12-14. He is there called - Lucifer, Son of the Morning.

This was his glorious title when he was created, and this world of ours was made, at which time - "The 'Morning Stars,' (probably other glorious created ruling beings like himself), sang together, and all the 'Sons of God, ' (angels), shouted for joy." Job 38:7.

It is well to note that the one here called "Lucifer, Son of the Morning, " is in verse four, (Isa. 14:4), also called the "King of Babylon." As there never has been a King of Babylon like the one here described, the description must be that of a "future" King of Babylon. And as "Antichrist is to have for his Capital City Babylon rebuilt, " this is probably a "foreview" by the Prophet of Antichrist, as indwelt by "Lucifer, or "Satan, " in that day when he shall be "King of Babylon."

Some think that when this world was created and fit for habitation, Satan was placed in charge of it, and it was then, as Isaiah declares, that Satan said in his heart-

"I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the 'Stars of God' (other ruling powers) ; I will sit also upon the Mount of the Congregation, in the sides of the North. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like The MOST HIGH:" and that it was for this presumptuous act that the "Pre-Adamite World" became a chaos, and "without form and void, " as described in a Gen. 1:2.

This would justify the claim of Satan that this world belongs to him, and that he had the right and power to transfer the "kingdoms of this world" to Christ, if He would only acknowledge Satan's supremacy. (Matt. 4:8, Matt. 4:9.) And it accounts for the persistent war Satan is waging against the Almighty to retain his possession of the earth.

II. His Present Location.

The common notion is that Satan and his angels are imprisoned in Hell. This is not true. The angels described in 2Pet. 2:4, and Jude 6, as having left their "first estate, " and being "reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, " are not Satan's angels. They are a special class of angels whose sin caused the Flood. They are the "Spirits in Prison" of whom Peter speaks in 1Pet. 3:18-20. See the chapter on "Rightly Dividing the Word, " under the cause of the Flood. Satan and his angels are at liberty. We read in the first and second chapters of job that it was the custom in job's day for the "Sons of God" (angels), to appear at stated times in the presence of God to give an account of their stewardship, and that Satan always appeared with them.

When the Lord said to Satan-"Whence comest thou? " he replied, "From going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it." Job 1 :7; 2:2. Satan then was at liberty "on the earth, " and had "access to God, " and was "not cast out of Heaven" in job's day, B.C. 2000. Milton in his book "Paradise Lost" describes Satan as having been cast out of Heaven in the time of Adam and Eve, and bases his description on Rev. 12:7-9. But as the Book of Revelation is a prophecy of "Things to Come, " and that were all "future" in the Apostle john's day, Satan had not been cast out of heaven up to that time, A. D. 96, and as he has not been cast out since, he must still be at liberty in the heavenlies and on the earth.

III. His Kingdom.

Satan is a King, and has a Kingdom.

"If Satan cast out Satan he is divided against himself; how shall then his 'kingdom' stand." Matt. 12:24-26.

"We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against Principalities, against Powers, against the Rulers of the Darkness of this World (Age), against Spiritual Wickedness in High Places, (the Heavenlies)." Eph. 6:12.

From this we see that his Kingdom consists of "Principalities, " "Powers, " "Age Rulers of Darkness, " and "Wicked Spirits it Heavenlies."

These "Principalities" are ruled by "Princes, " who control certain nations of our earth, as in the days of Daniel the Prophet, when a heavenly messenger was sent to Daniel, but was hindered "three weeks" from reaching him by the "Prince of the Kingdom of Persia," Satan's ruling "Prince of Persia, " until Michael the Archangel came to his rescue. Dan. 10:10-12.

The subjects of Satan's Kingdom are-

1. Angels. Not the angels that kept not their first estate who are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the Judgement of the Great Day, (Jude 6), but angels who are at liberty, are now with Satan in the heavenlies (Rev. 12:9), and who, with are to be cast into the "Lake of Fire" prepared for the Devil and angels. Matt. 25:41. Rev. 20:10.

2. Demons. There is but one Devil. Where the word "devils" occurs in the New Testament we should substitute the word "demons." These demons are a race or order of "bodiless spirits, " supposed by many to be the bodiless spirits of the inhabitants of the Pre-Adamite Earth, who seek to re-embody themselves by taking up their abode in human beings. This we know they can do under certain conditions. Demon possession was common in Christ's day.

These demons are wicked, unclean, vicious, and have power to derange both mind and body. Matt. 12:22; Matt. 15:22; Luke 4:35; Luke 8:26-28; Luke 9:42. They are the "Familiar Spirits" and "Wizards" of the Old Testament, and the "Seducing Spirits" of whom Paul warned Timothy. 1Tim. 4:1.

3. Unregenerated Human Beings. All unregenerated human beings are the subjects of Satan. Jesus called the "Tares" the "Children of the Wicked One, " (Matt. 13:38), and He told the Pharisaical Jews that their father was the Devil. John 8:44.

IV. His Methods.

1. He Is the Deceiver of the World.

By the "World" is meant all those who belong to the "Satanic System." All those who are entangled in Satan's mesh.

"And we know that we are of God, and the whole World (the Satanic System). lieth in the Wicked One, (Satan)." 1John 5:19, R. V.

Satan deceives by "blinding" the eyes of the world.

"If our Gospel is hid, it is hid to them that 'are lost'; in whom the 'God of this World' (Satan), hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 2Cor. 4:3, 2Cor. 4:4.

To this end Satan has his preachers who preach "another gospel." Gal. 1:6-8. That gospel is the "doctrine of devils." 1Tim. 4:1.

He is the instigator of "The Great Apostasy."

Peter, speaking of the "latter times" says-

'There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall; bring in 'Damnable Heresies, ' even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their 'Pernicious Way, ' by reason of whom the 'WAY OF TRUTH' shall be evil spoken of." 2Pet. 2:1, 2Pet. 2:2.

These "false teachers" are to be seen on every hand. They are those who deny the "Virgin Birth, " "Deity, " "Bodily Resurrection" and "Personal Premillennial Return" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Satan is very subtle in his methods, and if it were possible he would deceive the very elect. He knows all the great Scripture subjects that are of universal interest to humanity, and he is too wise to attack them openly, so he adulterates them with false doctrine. He has tried to rob the Church of her "Blessed Hope" of the Lord's return, by mixing with it a lot of false teaching and "time setting" as seen in "Millerism, " "Seventh Day Adventism" and "Millennial Dawnism." To prevent mankind from turning to the Lord for healing, he has invented the systems of "Christian Science" and "New Thought."

To satisfy the craving of the human mind to know what is going on in the Spirit World, Satan invented "Spiritualism." And when interest in it began to wane he revived it under the name of "Psychical Research." This system has existed from the earliest ages and has the unqualified condemnation of the Scriptures.

"There shall not be found among you any one that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a Consulter With Familiar Spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord." Deut. 18:10-12.

Spiritualism is only another name for "Demonism, " and all professed impersonations are either counterfeit, or demonic. Christian Science teaches that there is such a thing as "Malicious Animal Magnetism" by which one person may afflict another. It is only another name for "Diabolism." Those who dabble in "Spiritualism" or "Psychical Research are liable to have their "understanding darkened" and come under the power of demons.

Satan seeing that he could not stamp out the Church by violence and persecution, has changed his tactics and is now trying to seduce her into conformity to the world, and to try to better an "Age" that God has doomed to destruction. His present purpose is to build up a "magnificent civilization," and he has deceived the Church into believing that it can bring in the "Millennium, " without Christ, by the Betterment of Society.

His hope is that the "Gospel of Social Service" will take the place of the "Gospel of Grace, " and by diverting the attention of Christian people to "secondary" things, they will neglect the primary work of soul saving, and thus delay the evangelization of the world, and postpone the Return of the Lord, and his own confinement in the Bottomless Pit.

2. He Is the Adversary of God's People.

The warfare between "Good" and "Evil, " as recorded in the Bible from Gen. 3:15 to Rev. 20:10, is most intensely interesting reading. Satan tempts Eve. She -eats, and Adam with her. They are both cast out of the Garden. First victory scored by Satan. Satan enters Cain. The result Abel is murdered. Victory number two for Satan. The "Sons of God" at Satan's instigation marry the "daughters of men." Result the Flood. Victory number three for Satan. Noah delivered from the Flood is tempted to drink, yields, and a curse falls on Ham. Victory number four for Satan. The people multiply and Satan fills their hearts with pride and presumption. The Tower of Babel is built, the result the "Confusion of Tongues, " and the unity of the race broken up. Victory number five for Satan.

Then God calls Abraham through whom the promised "Seed of the Woman, " the Second Adam, should come who was to bruise Satan's head. Now the fight begins in earnest. We have only space to indicate it. First Satan closes Sarah's womb. Then when Isaac is born he seeks to have him slain by his father's hand on Mt. Moriah. He makes enmity between Esau and Jacob, hoping that the tragedy of Cain and Abel would be repeated. Then he causes Potiphar's wife to tempt Joseph, seeking to get him out of the way. When the time came for Moses, the deliverer of the Children of Israel, to be born, he puts it in the heart of Pharaoh to order that all male Hebrew children shall be destroyed at birth.

But the story is too long. The sin of David was Satan's work, and at one time the "seed royal" was narrowed down to one child. 2Chron. 2:4-6; 2Chron. 22:10-12.

When the time came that Christ was born, it was Satan who prompted Herod to destroy all the male children at Bethlehem under two years of age. It was Satan who tried to overcome Christ when weakened by fasting in the Wilderness, and who suggested that Christ throw Himself down from the Pinnacle of the Temple. The attempt of the people to throw Him from the hilltop at Nazareth, and the two storms on Galilee were all attempts of Satan to destroy Christ. And when foiled in these Satan renewed the fight through Priests and Pharisces, and succeeded at last in getting Judas to sell his Master.

Then amid the shades of Gethsemane he sought to kill Christ by physical weakness before He could reach the Cross. When Christ was crucified Satan thought he had conquered, but when Christ rose from the dead Satan's rage knew no bounds. In all probability Satan and his angels contested the Ascension of Christ, and the history of the Christian Church is but one long story of the "Irrepressible Conflict" between Satan and God's people. Paul writing to the Thessalonians said:

"We would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again, but SATAN hindered us." 1 Thess. 2:18.

Even Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was the "Messenger of Satan" to buffet him.

V. His Expulsion From the Heavenlies.

As we have seen Satan still has his abode in the "Heavenlies" and has access to God. But the time is coming when he shall be cast out of the "Heavenlies." It is described in Rev. 12:7-9.

"And there was war in Heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the 'Dragon, ' and the 'Dragon' fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in Heaven. And the 'Great Dragon' was cast out, that old 'Serpent, ' called the 'Devil, ' and 'Satan,' which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out Into the Earth and his angels were cast out with him.

"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come Salvation, and Strength, and the Kingdom of God, and the Power of His Christ; for the Accuser of Our Brethren IS CAST DOWN, which accused them before our God day and Wright."

While Satan has been the "Accuser of the Brethren" in all Ages, the context shows that reference is here made to the "Jewish Remnant, " (the brethren of Christ), who during the first three and one-half years of the "Tribulation Period" (for Satan is cast out in the Middle of the "Last Week, " or Tribulation Period), pass through great persecution, and die as "martyrs." They are referred to in Rev. 6:9-11 as the "souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, " and we are here told (Rev. 12:11) that they overcame by the "Blood of the Lamb, " and the "word of their testimony, " and died as "martyrs, " for they "loved not their lives unto the death."

As they overcame by the "Blood of the Lamb, " then the Time of their overcoming must be subsequent to the shedding of Christ's blood on Calvary, that is, Satan, according to this account, could not have been cast out of the "Heavenlies" prior to the Crucifixion of Christ. When Jesus said-"I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven, " (Luke 10:18), He was not referring to some past fall of Satan, but it was a prophetic utterance, by way of anticipation, of his future fall, when he shall be cast out of Heaven by Michael the Archangel. As further evidence as to the "Time" of Satan's casting out, Daniel the Prophet tells us that it will be at the "Time of Trouble, " (The Great Tribulation), that is to come upon Daniel's people, the Jews, for it is at that time that Michael the Great Prince is to stand up and they shall be delivered. Dan. 12:1.

As still further evidence that the casting out of Satan did not happen "before" the Fall in Eden, we are told that it "follows" the birth and catching out of the "Man Child, " (Christ), (Rev. 12:5), that the earth shall be full of inhabitants, that is, thickly populated, and that Satan shall be full of wrath, because he knoweth that he has but a "short time" (3 1/2 years), in which to finish his devilish work. (Rev. 12:12.)

VI. His Incarnation.

When Satan is cast out of the Heavenlies on to the earth, he is going to "incarnate" himself in the Antichrist. See the Chapter on "The Antichrist."

VII. His Doom.

When Christ shall return to the Mt. of Olives at the close of the "Tribulation Period, " the "Beast" and the "False Prophet" shall be cast "alive" into the "Lake of Fire, " and an angel from Heaven will seize Satan and bind him with a great chain, already forged, and cast him into the "Bottomless Pit, " where he shall remain for 1000 years. Rev. 20:1-3. At the close of which time he shall be loosed for a season, and then with his angels, demons, and the human beings who have fallen under his power, he shall be cast into the "Lake of Fire" prepared for him in the long ago. Rev. 20:7-9; Matt. 25:41.

Dispensational Truth

Chapter 20 - The Satanic Trinity
Satan is the "God of this World." (Age.) 2Cor. 4:4.

As the God of this world (Age), he aims to "ape" God. As God sent His Son (Jesus) into the world, so Satan shall send Antichrist into the world. As God was in Christ, so Satan will incarnate himself in Antichrist.

The "Mystery of Godliness" is God manifest in the "flesh." 1Tim. 3:16. The "Mystery of Iniquity" will be Satan manifest in the "flesh." 2Thes. 2:7. Satan will see to it that Antichrist has all that Christ has.

I. Christ has a Church-the "Ecclesia; " Antichrist will have a church, the "Synagogue of Satan." Rev. 2:9; Rev. 3:9.

II. Christ will have a Bride, the "Church, " Eph. 5:25-27; Antichrist will have a bride, the "Mystic Harlot Church." Rev. 17:1-3.

III. Christ has a Cup, "The Communion Cup, " 1Cor. 10:16; 1Cor. 11:25; Antichrist has a cup, the "Cup of Devils." 1Cor. 10:21.

IV. Christ's earthly ministry lasted for three and a half years, and Satan shall reign in Antichrist for the same length of time.

V. Christ died at the age of thirty-three years, and for ought we know Antichrist shall be smitten at the same age; the age at which Alexander the Great, the "Great Horn" of the He-Goat, died.

VI. The Godhead is a Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and Satan proposes, as the "God of this Age, " to manifest himself as a Trinity. In contradistinction to the Divine Trinity we call this manifestation a SATANIC TRINITY.

The members of it are-

1. "The Dragon"-the Anti-GOD."
2. "The Beast"-the "Anti-CHRIST."
3. "The False Prophet"-the "Anti-SPIRIT."


We have spoken of the first two under the heads of Satan and Antichrist, all that we need to consider in this chapter is- THE FALSE PROPHET.

After the Apostle John had seen and described the "Beast" that came up out of the SEA, he saw another "Beast" come up out of the EARTH. This "Second Beast, " while John does not say it was a lamb, had "Two Horns" "like a lamb, " that is, it was LAMB-LIKE. Because of this resemblance many claim that the "Second Beast" is the Antichrist, for Antichrist is supposed to imitate Christ. While the LAMB (Christ) is mentioned in the Book of Revelation 22 times, the description given of Him in chapter 5:6, is that of a lamb having "SEVEN HORNS" and not "TWO." This differentiates Him from the "lamb-like Beast" that comes up out of the earth, who, though he is "lamb-like in appearance SPEAKS AS A DRAGON."

The "Second Beast" has a name. fie is called the "FALSE PROPHET" three times. First in chapter 16:13, then in chapter 19:20, and again in chapter 20:10. Twice he is associated with the "First Beast" (Antichrist) and once with the "Dragon" (Satan) and the "First Beast, " and as they are PERSONS so must he be. The fact that he is called the "False Prophet" is proof that he is not the "Antichrist." Jesus had a foreview of him when He said-"There shall arise 'FALSE CHRISTS' and 'FALSE PROPHETS, 'and shall show GREAT SIGNS AND WONDERS: insomuch that, if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect." Matt. 24:24. Here Jesus differentiates between "FALSE CHRISTS" and "FALSE PROPHETS." therefore the "ANTICHRIST" and the "FALSE PROPHET" cannot be the same.

That the "Second Beast" comes up out of the EARTH may signify that he will be a resurrected person. If, as was hinted at, "Antichrist" was Judas resurrected, why should not the "False Prophet" also be a resurrected person? There will be two persons, as we have seen, who shall come back from Heaven as the "Two Witnesses, " Moses and Elijah, why not two persons come up from "The Underworld, " brought up by Satan to counteract the work of the "Two Witnesses"? The fact that the "First Beast" (Antichrist) and the "Second Beast" (False Prophet) are cast ALIVE into the "Lake of Fire" (Rev. 19:20) is further proof that they are more than ordinary mortals, and that the "First Beast" is more than the last ruling Emperor of the revived Roman Empire. He is the Antichrist, Satan's SUPERMAN.

In the "Dragon, " the "Beast, " and the "False Prophet, " we have the "SATANIC TRINITY, " Satan's imitation of the "Divine Trinity." In the unseen and invisible "Dragon" we have the FATHER (the ANTI-GOD). In the "Beast" we have the "SON OF PERDITION" (the ANTI-CHRIST), begotten of the Dragon, who appears on the earth, dies, and is resurrected, and to whom is given a throne by his Father the Dragon. In the "False Prophet" we have the "ANTI-SPIRIT" who proceeds from the "Dragon Father" and "Dragon Son, " and whose speech is like the Dragon's. The "Dragon" then will be the "ANTI-GOD, " the "Beast" the "ANTI-CHRIST, " and the "False Prophet" the "ANTI-SPIRIT, " and the fact that all three are cast ALIVE into the "Lake of Fire" (Rev. 20:10) is proof that they together form a "Triumvirate" which we may well call "THE SATANIC TRINITY."

Again the "Antichrist" is to be a KING and rule over a KINGDOM. He will accept the "Kingdoms of this world" that Satan offered Christ, and that Christ refused. Matt. 4:8-10. He will also EXALT himself, and claim to be God. 2Thes. 2:4. But the "False Prophet" is not a King, He does not exalt himself, he exalts the "First Beast" (Antichrist). His relation to the "First Beast" is the same as the Holy Spirit's relation to Christ. He causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the "First Beast." He also has power to give life, and in this he imitates the 14oly Spirit. And as the followers of Christ are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the "Day of Redemption" (Eph. 4:30) ; so, the followers of Antichrist shall be sealed by the False Prophet until the "Day of Perdition." Rev. 13:16-17.

The False Prophet will be a "Miracle Worker." While Jesus was a "miracle worker, " He did all His mighty works in the "power" of the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:38. Among the miracles that the False Prophet will perform he will bring down FIRE FROM HEAVEN. As we have seen under the work of the "Two Witnesses, " Rev. 11:1-3, there will probably be a "FIRE-TEST" between Elijah and the False Prophet, and the test as to who is God of Mount Carmel will be repeated. That Satan, who will then energize the False Prophet, can do this is clear from Job I:16, where Satan, having secured permission from God to touch all that Job had, brought down "fire from heaven" and burned up Job's sheep and servants.

The False Prophet then commands the people to make an "IMAGE OF THE BEAST."

This is further proof that the "First Beast" is the Antichrist. It is a strange weakness of mankind that they must have some VISIBLE God to worship, and when the Children of Israel, who had been delivered from Egypt under Moses' leadership, thought he had forsaken them because he did not come down from the Mount, they called Aaron to make them gods which should go before them, and Aaron made for them the "GOLDEN CALF." Ex. 32:1-3. So the False Prophet will have the people make for the purpose of worship an "IMAGE OF THE BEAST." But the wonderful thing about the "IMAGE" is that the False Prophet will have power to give LIFE to it, and cause it to SPEAK, and to demand that all who will not worship it shall be put to death. In other words the "IMAGE" will be a living, speaking, AUTOMATON.

This "Image" reminds us of the "GOLDEN IMAGE" that Nebuchadnezzar commanded to be made and set up in the "Plain of Dura, " in the Province of Babylon (Dan. 3:1-3), before which, at the sounding of musical instruments, the people were commanded to bow down and worship under penalty, for those who disobeyed, of being cast into a "BURNING FIERY FURNACE." Doubtless there will be many in the "Day of Antichrist" who will refuse to bow down and worship the "Image of the Beast, " and who will not escape as did the "Three Hebrew Children, " though God may interpose in a miraculous way to deliver some. And as if this was not enough the False Prophet shall cause-"ALL, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a 'MARK' in their RIGHT HAND, or in their FOREHEAD; and that no man might BUY or SELL, save he that has the 'MARK' or the 'NAME OF THE BEAST, ' or the 'NUMBER OF HIS NAME'." This "MARK" will be known as the "BRAND OF HELL."

This is what the world is fast coming to. The time is not far distant when the various "Trusts" and "Combinations of Capital" will be merged into a "FEDERATION OF TRUSTS, " at the head of which shall be a "NAPOLEON OF CAPITAL." Ultimately this "Federation of Trusts" will extend to the whole world, at the head of which shall be THE ANTICHRIST, and the producer and consumer will be powerless in the tentacles of this OCTOPUS, and no man shall be able to BUY or SELL who has not the "MARK OF THE BEAST" either upon his "right hand" or on his "forehead." This "Mark" will be BRANDED or burnt on. It will probably be the "NUMBER OF THE BEAST" or "666." The number "666" is the "NUMBER OF MAN, " and stops short of the perfect number SEVEN. Man was created on the SIXTH day. Goliath the opposer of God's people, a type of Satan, was 6 cubits in height, he had 6 pieces of armor, and his spearhead weighed 600 shekels. 1Sam. 17:4-6. Nebuchadnezzar's Image, a type of the "Image of the Beast, " was 60 cubits in height, 6 cubits wide, and 6 instruments of music summoned the worshippers. Dan. 3:1-3.

In that day men will doubtless prefer to have the "MARK" on the back of their right hand so it can be readily seen in the act of signing checks, drafts, and receipts. There will doubtless be public officials in all public places of business to see that no one buys or sells who has not the "MARK." This will apply to women as well as men. No one can shop, or even buy from the huckster at the door, without the "MARK, " under penalty of DEATH. Those will be awful times for those who will not WORSHIP THE BEAST. If they can neither buy nor sell without the "MARK, " they must beg, or starve or be killed. The instrument of death will be the guillotine (Rev. 20:4), and the daily papers will contain a list of the names of those who were beheaded the day before so as to frighten the people into obedience to the law. The doom of the "Satanic Trinity" will be, that at the close of that awful time of Tribulation the Lord Jesus Christ will return, and the "Dragon, " the "Anti-God, " will be cast into the "BOTTOMLESS PIT" for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-3), and the "Beast, " the "Anti-Christ, " and the "False Prophet, " the "Anti-Spirit, " will be cast ALIVE into the "LAKE OF FIRE." Rev. 19:20.

THE COMING OF HIS FEET

In the crimson of the morning, in the whiteness of the noon,
In the amber glory of the day"s retreat,
In the midnight robed in darkness, or the gleaming of the moon,
I listen for the coming of his feet.
I have heard his weary footsteps on the sands of Galilee,
On the Temple's marble pavement on the street,
Worn with weight of sorrow falt'ring up the slopes of Calvary,
The sorrow of the coming of his feet.
Down the minster-aisles of splendor, from betwixt the cherubim,
Thro' the wond'ring throng with motion strong and fleet,
Sounds his victor tread, with a music far and dim,
The music of the coming of his feet.
Sandalled not with shoes of silver, girdled not with woven gold,
Weighted not with shimmering gems and odors sweet,
But white-winged, and shod with glory as in the Tabor light of old,
The glory of the coming of his feet.
He is coming, oh, my spirit! with his everlasting peace;
With his blessedness immortal and complete;
He is coming, oh, my spirit! and his coming brings release!
I am living for the coming of his feet.