Featured The Sovereign Dispensations of God

Jesus said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: Even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.—Matthew 11:25-26.

The true ministers of Christ are greatly encouraged in their labours, knowing they serve that sovereign Lord, who hath declared, "My word shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please: it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it."—Isaiah 55:11. "To some the gospel is a savour of life unto life; unto others of death unto death." To some Jesus is revealed, to others the gospel is hid. Nevertheless, his ministers "are unto God, a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish."—2 Corinthians 2:15.

What shall we say to these things? shall we dare to cavil against the sovereign dispensations of God, or arraign him at the bar of our weak judgments? shall the potsherds of the earth contend with Jehovah, and say, What dost thou? Shall the pride of our carnal reason, and the rebellion of our corrupt nature, vent itself with, 'I will not allow it at all; I cannot believe it is just and righteous that the Lord should act with sovereignty, give or withhold his special grace as it seemeth good unto him!' Paul sharply reproves such daring speeches. "Nay, but O man, who art thou that repliest against God?"—It is plain that such walk not humbly; they have not the mind of Christ. The Father's will was his joy: Jehovah's purposes his delight: and with sovereign dispensations Jesus most cheerfully acquiesced; "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight." Herein he hath left us an example. This is beyond all other reasons we can assign for God's dealings in grace and providence. Such sentiments shew, that we have been taught of God, are little in our own eyes, passive as babes in our own judgment, and are submissive children to our Father's will.

A spiritual revelation of the hope of the gospel, is by the sovereign grace of the Holy Spirit, "who divideth to every man severally as he will." It ever begets humility of heart. Why me, Lord! creates amazement of soul. What am I! ever excites love and gratitude. Am I called to the faith of Jesus, and the hope of salvation, while others, of the wise and prudent of this world, are left in the darkness, pride and rebellion of their nature? O what shall I render unto the Lord? How fearful to offend, how studious to please, how joyful to glorify the Lord my God ought I to be from day to day? "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."

Thus doth the Lord of heav'n and earth
His great decrees fulfil,
And orders all his works of grace
By his own sov'reign will.

Bow then, my Lord, my proud free-will,
To own thy sov'reign hand;
And humbly to adore thy ways
Which I can't understand.

- William Mason, A Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God, Volume 1, June 3

 

No.

 

There is no 1000 year reign of Christ on this fallen earth. The 1000 years is symbolism for the time from the cross to when Christ returns to replace this present heavens and earth with the new heavens and earth wherein dwells righteousness(2 Peter 3:10-13).

 

Christ is reigning currently on David's throne.

So many people have the same problem that the Jews had when Christ first came to the earth - they were looking for an earthly kingdom. Christ said His kingdom is not of this world(John 18:36).

Yet, there are those who are not satisfied with Christ reigning at the right hand of His Father. No, they want something physical, that they can touch, that they satisfy their fallen flesh with. They are like Thomas in John 20:25: "Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe."

But the blessing Christ pronounced is this(John 20:29): "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

 

Christ is reigning now, as the Scriptures state.

1 Corinthians 15:24-28 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

2 Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

(emphasis mine)

 

The 1000 years, the total of 10x10x10 -- 10 symbolizing completeness, covers the time from the cross of Christ until He suddenly returns and replaces this present heavens and earth with the new heavens and earth wherein dwells righteousness, as described in 2 Peter 3:10-13.

 

The apostle Peter said otherwise, "looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God" (2 Peter 3:12)

 

Van, you can claim that the Bible does not mean what it actually teaches until the Parousia. You do not have the power to change the Word of God.

Those whom God by His sovereign grace and purpose has regenerated accept what His Word teaches and will not listen to false teachers.

John 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Thus, Van, I will follow Christ, not you.

 

Chapter 5 of the book of Amos deals with the ruin that is coming upon the northern 10 tribes of Israel.

Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord,....The day of the Lord's judgments upon them, spoken of by the prophet, and which they were threatened with, but did not believe it would ever come; and therefore in a scoffing jeering manner, expressed their desire of it, to show their disbelief of it, and that they were in no pain or fear about it.

the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light; it will bring on affliction, calamities, miseries, and distress, which are often in Scripture expressed by "darkness", and not prosperity and happiness, which are sometimes signified by "light"; see Isaiah 5:30; and even the day of the coming of Christ were to the unbelieving Jews darkness, and not light; they were blinded in it, and given up to judicial blindness and darkness; they hating and rejecting the light of Christ, and his Gospel, and which issued in great calamities, in the utter ruin and destruction of that people.

- excerpts from John Gill's Bible commentary on Amos 5:18

 

Christ is already reigning on David's throne:

Acts of the Apostles 2:30-36 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself,

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

 

When Christ returns to the second time, this is what will take place:

2 Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.