We are told—“The end of the world cannot come yet, for that which says: “They shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning hooks;” &c.
Some suppose that the words referred to, relate to the new heavens and the new earth; but for the sake of the argument I shall admit they are spoken with reference to this world, prior to its “restitution.”
I take the ground, then, that neither God nor any of His prophets have given us such a prophecy. We will examine those portions of Scripture that are supposed to teach that doctrine; they are Isa. ii and Micah iv.
And first, Isa. ii. The 1st and 2d verses are what the Lord says by the mouth of the prophet. “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.”
“Judah and Jerusalem;” or the nominal “people of God.” “Mountain of the Lord’s house” is a phrase that occurs in no other connection in the Bible; it seems to signify the same as the nominal church, which the prophet here foretells will have a state of great exaltation in the “last days:” not in the “latter days” merely—which last phrase is used in the Scriptures to denote the last, or Gospel Dispensation—but, “in the last days,” or at the end of the world.
This prophecy is the more remarkable if we consider the humble beginning of the gospel dispensation. Let us take a view of Christianity at its commencement. Who is its author? The reputed son of Joseph and Mary—brought up at Nazareth, a place of such disrepute that Nathaniel, an “Israelite in whom” was “no guile,” inquired, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth ?”
Brought up a Carpenter. How unlike the wisdom of this world ! No wonder, “He is despised and rejected of men.” But where did He go to obtain the first preachers of His gospel? Not to the learned Rabbis and Doctors of the Law, where the wisdom of these times would have pointed Him. No, they are passed by as unfit for His work, and He goes to the fishing-boats of Galilee ! From thence He selects, mainly, the propagators of His religion. Did He select a more noble class to constitute the body of His Church? Let an apostle answer, [1 Cor. i, 26—29] “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should glory in His presence.” And again, [Chap. iv, 9-13] “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death; for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ: we are weak, but ye are strong: ye are honorable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; and labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the off-scouring of all things unto this day.”
Such was the primitive church: but the prophets Isaiah and Micah saw, that in the last days the nominal, or the so called, “visible church” would attain to a state of great exaltation. The first thing to which I wish to call attention is, Has that state of exaltation been attained in these days? Let us take a view of the present state of the nominal church, and see how it compares with its primitive condition. Are the leaders in religion, in these days, considered the “off-scouring of all things?” So far from that being the case, they are men of the very highest respectability in community. A man can hardly attain to a higher reputation than to be a minister; especially if he is understood to have a tolerable share of talents; and an homage is paid to ministers that is denied to God himself. In proof of this I need only refer to two facts. 1st. Show from the clear and full testimony of God’s Word any position is true, and your opponents refuse to give it any credit until they know what their minister thinks; and if he thinks differently they are perfectly satisfied without further investigation. 2nd. Let the admirers of these Ministers hear the name of God blasphemed ever so often, and they will be very likely to let it pass unrebuked: but let the same persons be talking against their minister, and they feel themselves most highly insulted, and they cannot hold their peace. Can there be any doubt which they most highly esteem—their Creator or their Minister?
These ministers, also, instead of being satisfied with the plain names of Peter, Paul, John, James, &c. must have title given them, such as “Reverend, “Right Reverend,” Doctor of Divinity,” &c. These titles are not only given to, but sought after by the ministers themselves. To see the contrast then, and the present exalted state of the ministry of this age, above that of the primitive church, we must bring forward the first promulgators of Christianity and attach to them these titles; for example — Rev. Dr. Peter; Rev. Mr. Paul, D.D. and L.L.D.; Right Rev. Dr. John; President James, D.D. and F.R.S.
Now if these persons had lived in this age, and the ministry of this age is the true ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, then it follows they must have received these titles, as none dare openly affirm that any ministers now are more worthy. Then, that the ministry have attained the exaltation indicted in the prophecy is a self-evident truth.
Then the nominal church has attained to the exalted state marked by the prophecy is further evident, from its expensive, costly and highly adorned places of public worship; note the details of which I need not enter. Thousands, and hundred thousands of dollars are lavished on these places, while the poor around them suffer for bread. One of these churches in Providence, R.I., not long since, expended $14,000, simply in repairs. Nor is this done to make the worshipers more spiritual, but to make “our church” more “respectable,” and attract to our assemblies men of respectability and wealth.
This leads me to remark, that the prophecy is fulfilled, that “all nations (or people of all nations) flow unto it.” Or, as Micah has it, “People shall flow unto it.” Denoting that multitudes will unite with the nominal church in the “last days.” This also is now true. Such is the exalted position that the professed church now occupies that hardly any man expects to enjoy respectability unless he unites with some of these churches; or, at least, is a constant attendant on some of them, and helps liberally to sustain their operations. If he wishes success as a politician, he courts the churches—if he desires to succeed as a merchant, a lawyer, or mechanic, he pays his homage to some of the churches. Without this he may toil in vain for eminence in anything; for the nominal church is exalted and “established in the top of the mountains and exalted above the hills.”
It is unnecessary, perhaps, to multiply proofs of the exalted state of the church of the present age. The prophet next proceeds to tell us what “many people” will “say,” when the Church is thus exalted. Verses 3—5. “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the houses of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.”
Many persons have mistaken this language, as I think. It is not a prophecy of what shall be, but of what “many people” will do, and say. When the church in the last days, has attained the exaltation spoken of in the second verse, then—“Many people shall go and say,” &c. This, then, that follows, is what the people will say, and not what God says. And what is it the people will do and say? 1st. “Come,” let us unite with the church. “We have a fine Church—fine singing—a fine organ—a respectable congregation, and a fine man for our minister—Come let us go up to the house of God—he (the minister) will teach us of his (the ministers) ways and we will walk in his (the ministers) paths. That is what they profess they will do. An additional reason why they should unite with the church is “For out of Zion shall go forth the law,” &c. That is, the church is to become so respectable, and powerful, that it will control not only ecclesiastical but civil matters; and such a revolution is to be produced that war will cease, and men will learn war no more. “Come,” therefore, “and let us walk in the light of the Lord”—Let us unite with the church. Micah, who wrote after Isaiah, adds another item that the people say—viz., chapt. iv, 4. “But they shall sit every man under his vine, and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.”
This prophecy, of what the people would say, is exactly fulfilled before our eyes. It is the very language of “many people” in these days; which shows that we are “in the last days.” The prophecy of a “temporal millennium,” or thousand years spiritual, peaceful and universal reign of Christ, or rather of the church on earth, previous to the personal appearing of Christ in the clouds of heaven, exactly agrees with the boasts of an exalted church at this time.
Let us now inquire, Did the many people speak the truth? or, did they prophesy out of their own hearts? I think the latter. And to this state of an exalted church, and to what they would say about peace and security, for a thousand years, I think Paul clearly refers in 1 Thess. v, 3. “When they say peace and safety; [the very thing that Isaiah and Micah tells us the “many people” will “say” in the “last days”] then sudden destruction cometh upon them, and they shall not escape.” An awful warning this: to those who are saying, nations are going to beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning hooks, and not lift up sword against each other any more, but all are to sit under their own vine—having none to molest them or make them afraid.
Part 2
But let us see what God says of these false prophets of Peace and Safety. Because the “last days” church is thus exalted, and the many prophesy of peace and safety, Isaiah says, [ii, 6,] “Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people, the house of Jacob, (the nominal church,) because they be replenished from the east (or, as Lowth translates it, “Because they are filled with diviners from the east”—German Neology, &c., corrupting all the theology of this country) and are soothsayers like the Philistines (promising peace when there is no peace,) and they please themselves with the children of strangers: or, as Lowth translates it, “They multiply a spurious brood of strange children.”
Look at the so called church of the present day. Who is she most pleased with, the humble, self-denying, cross-bearing members, who are crucified to this world, or the rich, the “respectable” in the sight of the world, and those that can make a show? Which do they most regard? Is it not a fact, that the latter are more pleasing to an exalted church than the former? And are not the churches “multiplying a spurious brood of strange children?” Where is their deadness to the world, it praise and its frowns? They dare not speak out against a popular sin, nor defend an unpopular truth. Reputation is at stake, and every other principle must give place to that. Said an old pilgrim, not long since, “When our church was small and poor, we were spiritual, lively in religion, and a happy band; but now we are numerous, fashionable, and like the world, and I do not feel at home.”
The church had multiplied a spurious brood of strange children; and such is the case almost universally. Yet she is saying, like the Laodicean church, “I am rich and increased in goods an have need of nothing.” Yes, she boasts of her schools, her colleges, her theological seminaries, her talented ministry, her richly endowed institution. In her own eyes she sits “as a queen,” and is “no widow and shall see no sorrow.” So has the world fallen in love with the church that even the soldiers, with their guns, cannons, drums and files, will all join with it in celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace(Christmas); and Ministers are to be educated at the Military Academy to be Chaplains in the army and navy! Truly, how much that looks like “learning war no more!
Not only that, but our churches at Christmas and other holidays, can have exhibitions in their meeting-houses that please the children of strangers about as well as the theatre! No wonder the church of this age is talking of conquering the world, when she herself has fairly gone over to the world, and has become like the intoxicated man who thinks the ground rises up to him when he has fallen down to that. No wonder such a church is in convulsions on hearing the dreadful sound, “Behold the Bridegroom cometh, Go YE OUT to meet it.” Does she wish to see him! No, she is pleasing herself with the children of strangers.
But let us inquire, what else does the prophet say of this “peace and safety” crying church? he says, [verse 7,] “Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures.” See the thousands and millions that these churches have laid up in one form or another; either in the hands of individual members, or corporate bodies; if possible to show their contempt of him “who though He was rich, for our sakes became poor;” acting as if their greatest desire was to be independent of God himself, and showing that they have no confidence in Him.
Again, saith the prophet, “Their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end to their chariots.” Never could this prophecy be more strikingly fulfilled than at this moment. Within my own recollection, a pleasure carriage, especially in the country, was exceeding rare, and was used only by some great man; now the prophecy is literally fulfilled.
Again says the prophet, [verses 8, 9,] “Their land is also full of idols, they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: and the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.”
This is also true at the present moment. Anything that a man makes to occupy the place that God should occupy, is his idol, whether it be a minister, a meeting-house, creeds, disciplines, organizations, apparel, or anything whatever. All such trust shows a departure from God. This kind of idolatry is seen in all classes at this time. “Therefore,” saith the prophet, “forgive them not.”
The prophet next proceeds to show what is coming on such an exalted church, at the very time of her cry of “learn war no more,” alias “Peace and Safety.” This he describes in bold and strong language; [verses 10—21;] “Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low. And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up and upon all the oaks of Bashan; and upon all the high mountains and upon all the hills that are lifted up; and upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall; and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he arises to shake terribly the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; [to do what ? To be converted ? No But ] to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord and for the glory of His majesty, when he arisett to shake terribly the earth.”
Thus, at the very time an exalted church is dreaming of great prosperity, God will “arise to shake terribly the earth.” Therefore adds the prophet, [verse 22,] “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to be accounted of? Learn not to trust in man, which is the sin of the present age, in matters of religion. The people trust in ministers instead of trusting in God. “What does our minister think?” is the inquiry: not, what does the Bible teach? The word by which they are to be judged, and not by their minister’s interpretation of it. Our Lord commands all to “search the Scriptures.” This they must do for themselves, or reap the bitter consequences.
By an examination of this subject, we find, if I mistake not, additional evidence that we are in the “last days;” instead of a prophecy “unfulfilled,” it is fulfilling before our eyes, and shows that the Lord is “at the door.” We shall be further satisfied of this, if we turn again to Micah, 4th chapter. At the very time they are preaching this “peace and safety” doctrine, the prophets says [verse 5,] “All the people will walk everyone in the name of his god,” [walking in their sins, while thus professing to believe that “the mouth of the Lord” hath promised them a state of peace unparalleled; but not withstanding this general state of imaginary security, there will be some whose full purpose is] “we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever:” and adds the prophet, [verse 6,] “In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; and I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation; and the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion, from hence forth, even forever.”
In the “halting,” reference is had to Jacob, whose sinew shrank, after he had wrestled with the angel all night, and the angel touched the hollow of his thigh. The real church is considered by an exalted church, and the world, as but a poor lame concern; but God will take care to gather her in “that day” when a proud wording church will be crying “peace and safety.”
The prophet adds, [verse 8,] “And thou O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.” Compare this with Ezekiel xxi, 27. “I will overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more, until he comes whose right it is; and I will give it him.”
At Christ’s coming, then, the first dominion shall be restored, and the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem, the true church; [see Gal.iv, 26, “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all”—all true believers;] and Christ takes possession of that kingdom, which is an everlasting kingdom, and shall never pass away. See Dan. vii, 13, 14. —Geo. Storrs, in Mid. Cry, 1844
The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald May 16, 1854