Page 140 - Jesus is coming - Class version

OBJECTIONS CONSIDERED. 137
Again, after the day of Pentecost, the disciples continued
to talk of the coming of Christ, which they surely would
not have done if His promise to return was fulfilled on that
day. And after the destruction of Jerusalem (about A. D.
71), St. John wrote the book of Revelation (about A. D.
96), in which he repeatedly speaks of the coming of Christ
as being yet future, clearly showing that it could not have
been fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem.
Again, as we have before shown, the Church is not the
70
kingdom, but the body of Christ, and His bride. Eph. 5.
71
She is not to be reigned over, but to suffer and reign
72
with Christ. She is "to be counted worthy of the King-
73 and therefore Paul
dom of God for which she suffers,"
exhorts the disciples (members of the Church) "that they
must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of
God" (Acts 14:22), and Peter stirs us up, putting us in
remembrance to add the Christian graces and give all dili-
gence to make our calling and election sure, for so an en-
trance shall be ministered unto us "into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." 2 Pet.
1:5-11.
Surely this language plainly distinguishes between the
Church and the kingdom, and as plainly asserts that the
kingdom is yet future. So we see that both the spiritual
and figurative interpretations of the coming of Christ are
without foundation.
Another theory has been advanced, viz.: that the com-
ing of Christ in His Kingdom (Mat. 16:28) was fulfilled
(70) Eph. 1:22. And hath dren, then heirs; heirs of God,
put all things under his feet, and joint heirs with Christ if
;
and gave him to be the head over so be that we suffer with him,
all things to the church, that we may be also glorified to-
23. Which is his body, the ful- gether.
ness of him that filleth all in all. 2 Tim. 2 :12. If we suffer, we
(71) John 15:15. Henceforth shall also reign with him: if we
I call you not servants ; for the
deny him, he also will deny us :
servant knoweth not what his (73) 2 Thes. 1 :5. Which is a
lord doeth : but I have called you manifest token of the righteous
friends for all that I judgment that ye may
; things' of God,
have heard of my Father I have be counted worthy of the king-
made known unto you. dom of God, for vrhich ye also
(72) Rom. 8:17. And if chil- suffer.