Page 23 - Jesus is coming - Class version

CHAPTER II.
Literal Interpretation.
Perhaps you ask, "Are not these prophecies to be inter-
preted 'spiritually'? And does not this 'coming' mean
our acceptance of Him at conversion, and the witness of
the spirit? Or does it not mean His reign over the
Church?" etc.
No! Not at all. Think a moment. Do you condemn
the Jews for rejecting Christ, when He came in such literal
fulfillment of prophecy, and yet reject the same literalness
ahout his second coming? This is not consistent, and while
we believe Luke 1 :31, to be literally true, let us believe
likewise in regard to verses 32" and 33.
Luke 1:31-33.
"31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and
bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus.
"32. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the
Highest : and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne
of His Father, David.
"33. And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for-
ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end/'
The inconsistency of accepting literally verse 31, and
'spiritualizing' 32 and 33, is clearly illustrated by the fol-
lowing account of a conversation between a Christian #"*.
ister and a Jew:
"Taking a New Testament and opening it at Luke 1:32,
the Jew asked: 'Do you believe that what is here written
shall be literally accomplished, The Lord God shall give
unto Him the throne of His Father, David; and He shall
reign over the house of Jacob forever?' 'I do not,' an-
swered the clergyman, 'but rather take it to be figurative
language, descriptive of Christ's spiritual reign over the
Church.'
*'
'Then,' replied the Jew, 'neither do I believe literally the
(20).