Page 91 - Jesus is coming - Class version

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88 JESUS IS COMING.

He sent the Holy Ghost into the world, and under His
power and guidance the apostles went out preaching the
good news of the Kingdom (Acts 2, etc.) to the Jews
18
first, but they rejected it, and the disciples turned to the
19
Gentiles. Thus the Kingdom came nigh unto the Jews,
20
who spurned it, and while it waits* God visits "the Gen-
tiles, to take out of them a people for His name" (Acts
15:14), breaking down the middle wall of partition to
make of twain (all Jews and Gentiles who believe in His
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name) one new man, that is, the Church, or Mystical
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Body of Christ.
*This we believe is the true explanation of this subject.
The Kingdom did come "nigh" when Christ came, and had
they received Him, it would have been manifested, but now
it is in abeyance, or waiting until He comes again.
However the Greek word VY'' U = engizo, which is trans-
lated at hand in Mat. 3:2; 4:17: 10:7, and is come nigh in
Luke 10:9-11, does not necessarily mean immediately near.
For we find the same word used in Rom. 13:12: "The day
is at hand," and in Heb. 10:25, "as ye see the day approach-
ing" and in James 5:8, "The coming of the Lord draweth
nigh," and in 1 Pet., 4: 7, "the end of all things is at hand,"
each of which passages are yet unfulfilled.
So we see that the word engizo (is at hand) covers a
period of more than 1800 years, and reaches unto the second
coming of the Lord.
(18) Acts 3:26. Unto you Also Acts 18:6 and 28:28.
first God, having raised up his (20) Mat. 23:39. For I say
Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, unto you, Ye shall not see me
in turning away every one of henceforth, till ye shall say,
you from his iniquities. Blessed is he that cometh in
Rom. 1:16. For I am not the name of the Lord,
(21) Eph. 2:14. For he is
ashamed of the gospel of Christ :
for it is the power of God unto our peace, who hath made both
salvation to every one that be- one, and hath broken down the
lieveth ; to the Jew first, and middle wall of partition between
also to the Greek. */
Also Mat. 10:6. 15. Having abolished in his
(19) Acts 13 :46. Then Paul flesh the enmity, even the law
and Barnabas waxed bold, and of commandments contained in
It was necessary that the ordinances; for to make in him-
said,
word of God should first have self of twain one new man, so
been spoken to you : but seeing making peace.
ye put it from you, and judge (22) Eph. 4:12. For the per-
yourselves unworthy of everlast- feeling of the saints, for the
ing life, lo, we turn to the Gen- work of the ministry, for the
tiles. edifying oi the body of Christ :