- Indeed we cannot have a conception of God, if we conceive him not most powerful, as well as most wise; he is not a God that cannot do what he will, and perform all his pleasure. If we imagine him restrained in his power, we imagine him limited in his essence; as he hath an infinite knowledge to know what is possible, he cannot be without an infinite power to do what is possible; as he hath a will to resolve what he sees good, so he cannot want a power to effect what he sees good to decree; as the essence of a creature cannot be conceived without that activity that belongs to his nature; as when you conceive fire, you cannot conceive it without a power of burning and warming; and when you conceive water, you cannot conceive it without a power of moistening and cleansing: so you cannot conceive an infinite essence without an infinite power of activity; and therefore a heathen could say, “If you know God, you know he can do all things;” and therefore, saith Austin, “Give me not only a Christian, but a Jew; not only a Jew, but a heathen, that will deny God to be Almighty.” A Jew, a heathen, may deny Christ to be omnipotent, but no heathen will deny God to be omnipotent, and no devil will deny either to be so: God cannot be conceived without some power, for then he must be conceived without action. Whose, then, are those products and effects of power, which are visible to us in the world? to whom do they belong? who is the Father of them? God cannot be conceived without a power suitable to his nature and essence. If we imagine him to be of an infinite essence, we must imagine him to be of an infinite power and strength. - Stephen Charnock, "DISCOURSE X - ON THE POWER OF GOD", The Existence and Attributes of God, on the Puritan Hard Drive, 78 Free SWRB MP3s, Enhanced Digital Download (Vol. 1), Enhanced Digital Download (Vol. 2), Free In Many Formats, Free PDF.
- It is a contempt of God as the most amiable object. God is infinitely excellent and desirable (Zech. ix. 17): “How great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!” There is nothing in him but what may ravish our affections; none that knows him but finds attractives to keep them with him; He hath nothing in him which can be a proper object of contempt, no defects or shadow of evil; there is infinite excellency to charm us, and infinite goodness to allure us, — the Author of our being, the Benefactor of our lives. Why then should man, which is his image, be so base as to slight the beautiful Original which stamped it on him? He is the most lovely object; therefore to be studied, therefore to be honored, therefore to be followed. In regard of his perfection he hath the highest right to our thoughts. All other beings were eminently contained in his essence, and were produced by his infinite power. The creature hath nothing but what it hath from God. And is it not unworthy to prefer the copy before the original — to fall in love with a picture, instead of the beauty it represents? The creature which we advance to be our rule and end, can no more report to us the true amiableness of God, than a few colors mixed and suited together upon a piece of cloth, can the moral and intellectual loveliness of the soul of man. To contemn God one moment is more base than if all creatures were contemned by us forever; because the excellency of creatures is, to God, like that of a drop to the sea, or a spark to the glory of unconceivable millions of suns. As much as the excellency of God is above our conceptions, so much doth the debasing of him admit of unexpressible aggravations. - Stephen Charnock, The Existence and Attributes of God, on thePuritan Hard Drive, 78 Free SWRB MP3s, Enhanced Digital Download (Vol. 1), Enhanced Digital Download (Vol. 2), Free In Many Formats, Free PDF.
The Infinity of God, and the Beauty and Depth of Reformed Theology, by Stephen Charnock, Dr. R.C. Sproul, Charles Hodge, Joseph Pipa, Arthur Pink, Greg Price, John Gill, Dr. Curt Daniel, and Others (Free MP3s, Books, Etc.) Many More Free Creationist and Christian Resources Follow the Remarkable Reformation Ministry Loan Offer Below! |
The Infinity of God, and the Beauty and Depth of Reformed Theology, by Stephen Charnock, Dr. R.C. Sproul, Charles Hodge, Joseph Pipa, Arthur Pink, Greg Price, John Gill, Dr. Curt Daniel, and Others (Free MP3s, Books, Etc.) The Attributes of God, By A.W. Pink, Stephen Charnock, et al. (Free Online Audio Books [MP3s], iTunes, Text, PDF, Epub, Mobi Files [Kindle], Romania Edition, Paperback Book, etc.) - A sense of the Divine goodness would mount us above the world. It would damp our appetites after meaner things; we should look upon the world not as a God, but a gift from God, and never think the present better than the Donor. We should never lie soaking in muddy puddles were we always filled with a sense of the richness and clearness of this Fountain, wherein we might bathe ourselves; little petty particles of good would give us no content, when we were sensible of such an unbounded ocean. Infinite goodness, rightly apprehended, would dull our desires after other things, and sharpen them with a keener edge after that which is best of all. How earnestly do we long for the presence of a friend, of whose good will towards us we have full experience. ... Here is comfort in afflictions. What can we fear from the conduct of Infinite Goodness? Can his hand be heavy upon those that are humble before him? They are the hands of Infinite Power indeed, but there is not any motion of it upon his people, but is ordered by a goodness as infinite as his power, which will not suffer any affliction to be too sharp or too long. By what ways soever he conveys grace to us here, and prepares us for glory hereafter, they are good, and those are the good things he hath chiefly obliged himself to give (Ps. 84:11): “Grace and glory” will he “give, and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” - Stephen Charnock, The Existence and Attributes of God (on the Puritan Hard Drive)
- The idea of millions of years came from the belief that the fossil record was built up over a long time. As soon as people allow for millions of years, they allow for the fossil record to be millions of years old. This creates an insurmountable problem regarding the gospel. The fossil record consists of the death of billions of creatures. In fact, it is a record of death, disease, suffering, cruelty, and brutality. It is a very ugly record. What does Paul mean in Romans 8 when he says the whole of creation groans in pain because of the Curse? How can all things be restored in the future to no more death and suffering, unless the beginning was also free of death and suffering? The whole message of the gospel falls apart if one allows millions of years for the creation of the world. - The Bible is adamant though, that death, disease, and suffering came into the world as a result of sin. God instituted death and bloodshed because of sin so man could be redeemed. As soon as Christians allow for death, suffering, and disease before sin, then the whole foundations of the message of the Cross and the Atonement have been destroyed. The doctrine of original sin, then, is totally undermined. If there were death, disease, and suffering before Adam rebelled -- then what did sin do to the world? - The Necessity for Believing in Six Literal Days by Ken Ham, emphases added. Also hear Six Day Creation and The Eisegesis Problem by Ken Ham (Free MP3).
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- For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. - Romans 1:20 (KJV)
- DNA errors are scanned electrically. Such ingenious repair machinery must have been present in all life right from the beginning. Our cells have elaborate machinery to repair DNA. But with 3 billion 'letters' worth of information in every cell, there is a lot to scan for errors. However, unbroken DNA conducts electricity, while an error blocks the current. Now Dr Barton has found that some repair enzymes exploit this. One pair of enzymes lock onto different parts of a DNA strand. One of them sends an electron down the strand. If the DNA is unbroken, the electron reaches the other enzyme, and causes it to detach. I.e. this process scans the region of DNA between them, and if it's clean, there is no need for repairs. But if there is a break, the electron doesn't reach the second enzyme. This enzyme then moves along the strand until it reaches the error, and fixes it. This mechanism of repair seems to be present in all living things, from bacteria to man. Such ingenious repair machinery must have been present in all life right from the beginning, otherwise life could not have survived breaks in its DNA. As scientists discover more of the intricate design of life, we can see more how we are 'fearfully and wonderfully made' (Psalm 139:14). - Magnificent DNA Intricacy Points To God (Electric DNA), by Dr. Jonathan Sarfati
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- Age of the Earth, 101 Evidences for a Young Age of the Earth and the Universe (Free MP3 and PDF), by Dr. Don Batten
- Information and the Origin of Life - Did Cells Write Their Own Software?
- Death before sin? What type of death? (Creation Magazine LIVE! Free Video)
- In The Beginning Was Information, A Scientist Explains the Incredible Design in Nature by Dr. Werner Gitt (Free Videos, Free Books, Free MP3s)
- Evolution Demolished By Astonishing DNA Complexity, Evidence for Biblical Creation (Creationism), by Alex Williams, Dr. Jonathan Sarfati, Dr. Jason Lisle, Dr. A.E. Wilder-Smith, Dr. John MacArthur, Mike Riddle & Others (Free Videos, MP3s, etc.)
- DNA: God's Information Technology (Marvelous Messages or Mostly Mess?) by Dr. Jonathan Sarfati (Free Christian Resources)
- 15 Creation Questions Evolutionists Can't Answer (Free Video, MP3 and Online Text)
- Humans with tails? (Creation Magazine LIVE! Free Video)
- Was Darwin a plagiarist? (Creation Magazine LIVE! Free Video)
- How should the Bible be interpreted? (Creation Magazine LIVE! Free Video)
- The Irrational Faith of Evolution (Creation Magazine LIVE! Free Video)
- Making sense of ‘ape-man’ claims. (Creation Magazine LIVE! Free Video)
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- The idea of millions of years came from the belief that the fossil record was built up over a long time. As soon as people allow for millions of years, they allow for the fossil record to be millions of years old. This creates an insurmountable problem regarding the gospel. The fossil record consists of the death of billions of creatures. In fact, it is a record of death, disease, suffering, cruelty, and brutality. It is a very ugly record. The Bible is adamant though, that death, disease, and suffering came into the world as a result of sin. God instituted death and bloodshed because of sin so man could be redeemed. As soon as Christians allow for death, suffering, and disease before sin, then the whole foundations of the message of the Cross and the Atonement have been destroyed. The doctrine of original sin, then, is totally undermined. If there were death, disease, and suffering before Adam rebelled-then what did sin do to the world? What does Paul mean in Romans 8 when he says the whole of creation groans in pain because of the Curse? How can all things be restored in the future to no more death and suffering, unless the beginning was also free of death and suffering? The whole message of the gospel falls apart if one allows millions of years for the creation of the world. - The Necessity for Believing in Six Literal Days by Ken Ham, emphases added. Also hear Six Day Creation & The Eisegesis Problem by Ken Ham (Free MP3).
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An amazing series of messages focusing on the sovereignty of God in the Bible, by the man some consider the Spurgeon of our generation. - "It is no novelty, then, that I am preaching; no new doctrine. I love to proclaim these strong old doctrines that are called by nickname Calvinism, but which are truly and verily the revealed truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus. By this truth I make my pilgrimage into the past, and as I go, I see father after father, confessor after confessor, martyr after martyr, standing up to shake hands with me ... Taking these things to be the standard of my faith, I see the land of the ancients peopled with my brethren; I behold multitudes who confess the same as I do, and acknowledge that this is the religion of God's own church." - Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Sovereign Grace Sermons, Still Waters Revival Books, p. 170
- In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. - Ephesians 1:11 (KJV)
- Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. - Ephesians 1:5 (KJV)
- Summary: The Doctrine of Absolute Predestination was translated by Toplady at the age of nineteen and held from publication for some time. It was later requested by Dr. Gill that it be released to the public. After good circulation in North America and overseas, "John Wesley attempted to circulate a few mutilated extracts from the book, signed with the initials of Toplady's name. This forgery of Mr. Wesley caused Toplady to issue another edition, and this is the edition that we have reprinted," notes Atherton in the introduction. Furthermore, Atherton calls this "one of the best, if not the best book ever issued on Absolute Predestination." He also notes that "in our day so-called Protestants not only deny and reject these truths, but very zealously support the popish theory of free-will. There is one thing all history testifies to, namely, that what the world calls Calvinism is the only doctrine that produces civil and religious liberty, pure and undefiled religion, national independence and prosperity, whilst all other systems produce superstition, worldliness and national decay, only to end in lawlessness, Bolshevism (Communism - ed.) and destruction. It is forgotten that only the pure truth of God can make a nation great or save a sinner. To our Triune Covenant Lord be all the praise and glory."
Calvinism In the Early Church Fathers: Ignatius (Student of the Apostle John), Cyprian, Augustine, et al. (Free MP3s & More, By William Cunningham, Dr. Matthew McMahon, W.G.T. Shedd, Dr. Curt Daniel, John Calvin, Dr. Kenneth Talbot, Jerome Zanchius, et al.
God's Will Vs. Man's Will In Worship, Romanism and Arminianism In Worship Are Heresy (The Plausibility Of Will Worship To Worldly Wisdom, Colossians 2:23, the Regulative Principle Of Worship [RPW], Etc.), By Jim Dodson, John Calvin, Greg Price, Westminster Divines, Dr. Steven Dilday, John Owen, Kevin Reed, John Flavel, Thomas Watson, William Perkins and Others (Free Reformed MP3s, Videos, Books, Etc.)
- "If it be inquired, then, by what things chiefly the Christian religion has a standing existence amongst us, and maintains its truth, it will be found that the following two not only occupy the principal place, but comprehend under them all the other parts, and consequently the whole substance of Christianity: this is, a knowledge, first, of the mode in which God is duly worshipped; and, secondly, of the source from which salvation is to be obtained. When these are kept out of view, though we may glory in the name Christians, our profession is empty and vain. After these come the sacraments and the government of the church." - John Calvin, The Necessity of Reforming the Church, Presbyterian Heritage Publications, 1544, reprinted 1995, p. 15, free online at https://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/NRC_ch00.htm.
- "The idea of millions of years came from the belief that the fossil record was built up over a long time. As soon as people allow for millions of years, they allow for the fossil record to be millions of years old. This creates an insurmountable problem regarding the gospel. The fossil record consists of the death of billions of creatures. In fact, it is a record of death, disease, suffering, cruelty, and brutality. It is a very ugly record. The Bible is adamant though, that death, disease, and suffering came into the world as a result of sin. God instituted death and bloodshed because of sin so man could be redeemed. As soon as Christians allow for death, suffering, and disease before sin, then the whole foundations of the message of the Cross and the Atonement have been destroyed. The doctrine of original sin, then, is totally undermined. If there were death, disease, and suffering before Adam rebelled -- then what did sin do to the world? What does Paul mean in Romans 8 when he says the whole of creation groans in pain because of the Curse? How can all things be restored in the future to no more death and suffering, unless the beginning was also free of death and suffering? The whole message of the gospel falls apart if one allows millions of years for the creation of the world." - The Necessity for Believing in Six Literal Days by Ken Ham. Also hear Six Day Creation and The Eisegesis Problem by Ken Ham (Free MP3) and "The Doctrine Of Original Sin (26 Free MP3s) by Jonathan Edwards.
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I. The future state of the Church as here predicted.
II. The means by which this state will be produced.
III. The circumstances which will precede and usher in this state.
The first will excite our desires for the accomplishment of prophecy; the second will exhibit our duty to engage as workers with God for this accomplishment, and the third directs our faith as to the aspect of present circumstances, and their ultimate issue.
1. Let us first attend to the future state of the Church as here predicted. This is unfolded to us under the figurative expressions of “New heavens and a new earth,” whose creation you find announced in the preceding chapter. [v. 17.] They evidently refer to a great and universal change in the Church, which in its effects, when they are accomplished, will produce a great and universal change in the world; for heaven is the symbol for the Church of Christ, and the earth for the kingdoms of this world. This change commenced with the coming of Christ in the flesh, and the establishment of a new and more spiritual economy. The consummation and perfection of this change, will take place in the Millennial period, or that period when Christ shall reign with his saints upon earth, and Satan shall be bound for the space of one thousand years. [Rev. 20. 2-6.] To this period especially, the text refers our attention, and of the state of the Church then it affords us some important and interesting information. This information will be unfolded in very brief detail, for our improvement. First, the Church will constitute one visible body, united in name, doctrine, and discipline; for then the prophet says, “the glory of the Gentiles shall extend to Jerusalem; brethren shall be brought as an offering unto the LORD out of all nations, to God’s holy mountain Jerusalem; where all flesh shall come to worship before the LORD.” [v. 12, 20, 23.] “The glory of the Gentiles,” is the same with the glory of Jerusalem. As the latter consists in the gracious presence of Jehovah, and his blessings resulting from that presence, so the former unquestionably must be the accession of the Gentiles to Jehovah’s visible Church, the spiritual Jerusalem.
The brethren, of whom mention is made, are called, “your brethren,” that is, the brethren of the Church of whom the prophet speaks, “Zion, whose gates Jehovah of old loved more than all the dwellings of Jacob.” [Ps. 87. 2.]
These brethren are to be brought “out of all nations” to Jerusalem, and there all flesh shall come to worship before the LORD.
From these passages, as well as others of the same import, we are assured that the divisions which now exist in the Church shall be done away. They did not exist in the primitive Church, though extensively diffused over the earth. They originate not in the genius of the Gospel, but in the depravity of human nature, in the corruption of true religion, and in those distinctions which the separations of civil society produce. To these causes, we can satisfactorily trace the various denominations existing in the Christian Church. The real Church of God, the Spiritual Jerusalem, is but one, and never has been more than one. Thus she existed visibly under the law; thus she was actually in the commencement of the Christian æra; and thus she will be throughout the earth in the Millennial period. Then the Jew will belong to her communion as well as the Gentile.
The distinctions of names, of countries, of doctrines, and of government, will be done away. There will be but one fold as there is but one Shepherd; but one body as there is but one Head; but one spiritual community as there is but one Lord. ...
Then the great principles of the Gospel will be received and defended by all within the Church, and that discipline which is best calculated to promote holiness of life, will be universally enforced. Believers will see, eye to eye and face to face, throughout the whole Church. As they will bear but one name, so they will avow but one system of truth, and yield obedience to but one form of government. Then the contest existing at present between the different parts of the Church will be brought to issue; and it will be proved to the satisfaction of all which scheme is correct, or in other words, which accords with the Scriptures. The strife of ages will terminate, and they who have kept apart will unite. It will be delightful to see the descendant of Abraham acknowledging a Gentile as a brother, an Episcopalian taking a Presbyterian by the hand and vowing to walk with him. No liturgy or ceremonies, no clerical dresses or ecclesiastical formalities will be allowed, save those which accord with the simplicity of faith and the character of saved sinners. The distractions of party will not be witnessed, inasmuch as there will be no place for the leaders of party. The pride of system will be unknown; for there will be no diversity of opinion on the subjects which constitute the system.
Believers will speak one language; not that of unfledged Christian Sciolists [i.e., those with little real understanding], but that of experience; not that which the experience of one, two, or three years, but of many, will dictate. Children will then keep their place as children, and novices their places as novices. The visible unity of doctrine and discipline will not be touched by unhallowed hands, or impaired under the shallow pretext of maintaining it, whilst a language is used, which admits of disagreement, or opposition to established principles.
Nor will this unity be affected by the national prejudices of Church members; those prejudices which now so often blind and mislead good men. As all the nations of the earth will be Christian, so all national feeling will be lost in the feelings which the truth produces. The human race will constitute one family, united in principles and in practice. They will regard each other as fellow-members, and as such, walk together in the bond of friendship and of love.
Secondly, The beauty and power of the Gospel will be displayed conspicuously in the conduct of those who are members of the Millennial Church; for we are told, “The hand of the Lord shall be known towards his servants, and his indignation towards his enemies; all nations and tongues shall come and see the LORD’s glory; brethren shall be brought as an offering; unto the LORD, to his holy mountain, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. And of them will the LORD take for priests and for Levites. All flesh shall worship before the LORD.” [v. 14. 18, 20, 21, 23.]
As the hand of man is the chief instrument of his power and operations, so the hand of the LORD denotes his almighty power. The exercise of this power, saith the prophet, shall be known.
The glory of the LORD is his righteousness and grace combined, as manifested in the wonderful work of redemption through our Lord Jesus Christ; a work which illustrates the perfections of Jehovah more than his works of creation and providence. This glory shall be seen by the nations.
The brethren brought to the LORD as an offering from all nations, are converts, “turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God.” [1 Thess. 1. 9.] These in their moral and spiritual state, when presented in the holy mountain, will be acceptable as the oblations under the Mosaic economy, which were offered according to God’s direction.
Of them God will take for teachers, as the priests and Levites were of old, to instruct the people.
The worship which will be offered up to the LORD, will be such as he has commanded and approves.
The different parts of this prediction, show that in the Millennial Church there will be among her members,
1. An universal light in the understanding. The knowledge which will then be enjoyed, will not be confined to a few, but extended to all. “The earth,” saith the prophet, “shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea”; [Isa. 11. 9.] nay, “the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold as the light of seven days.” [Isa. 30. 26.] The Church will then be blessed with teachers abundantly qualified to instruct in all those matters which pertain to God’s glory and human happiness. Men will then be well and thoroughly acquainted with the principles of human conduct. That miserable class, who now are “ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth,” [2 Tim. 3. 7.] will then be extinct. The truth will be known, for “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased;” [Dan. 12. 4.] even knowledge of every thing which pertains to God’s glory and the benefit of sinners. The Spirit of God will, to an extraordinary degree, enlighten the minds of the members of the Millennial Church; so that they will understand their duty and privilege, in all the relations of life, social as well as religious, and civil or political as well as social. In a word, “they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, know the LORD; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD.” [Jer. 31. 34.]
2. Light in the understanding, according to the correct philosophy of the human mind, produces excitement in the affections. The intellectual powers of the soul being called into exercise and directed in a proper channel, the active powers obey. As the sun by his light imparts heat, so the saving knowledge of the truth, is connected with the influence of that truth over the heart. The will following the conclusions of the understanding, that which is spiritually discerned to be right and good, is chosen.
In the Millennial period, this will be especially the case. Then the members of the Church will be universally holy in their desires and in the objects of their love. The power of the Gospel will be felt more generally than at any preceding period. Sin, even all sin will be hated, avoided, and resisted, and its opposite will be loved. The affections of those who have named the name of Christ, will be placed on things above. Their hearts will peculiarly be kept with all diligence. They will constantly be stirring up their graces, cherishing the warmest and liveliest emotions of love to him who loved them and gave himself for them.
3. The holiness of life will be more general and striking, than at any former period. Luxury and excess will then be corrected. Persons of rank and affluence will not abuse their blessings to gratify pride and vanity; nor the abundance of their tables, to promote gluttony, drunkenness, and lust. [Fraser’s Key.] For we are told by the prophet Zechariah, that “in that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness unto the LORD: and the pots in the LORD’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.” [Zech. 14. 20, 21.] The members of the Church will then be emphatically “shining lights.” Their walk and conversation will display the power of religion over their hearts. They will “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things;” [Titus 2. 10.] “be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” [1 Cor. 15. 58.] Those fearful falls, those sad failures in duty, which now so often occur, to the reproach of the gospel, will then be, if not unknown, at least scarcely known. Believers then will visibly walk with God, displaying the fruits of the Spirit in public and private, in all the relations of life.
Thirdly, The spiritual enjoyments of the members of the Church, will then be overflowing; for they will “suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; they will milk out and be delighted with the abundance of her glory; they shall be borne upon her sides, and dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforteth, so the LORD will comfort them. And their hearts shall rejoice, and their bones shall flourish like an herb.” [v. 11, 12, 13, 14.]
This language of the prophet, which needs no explanation, directs our view to the privileges of the Church, and the effects which those privileges will have upon her members. These privileges are her glory, and may be summed up in a sense of pardoning mercy, the enjoyment of covenant mercy, the aid of the Holy Spirit, and the hope of eternal happiness. These impart to the members of the Church solid and permanent pleasure.
In the Millennial period, as spiritual knowledge will be universally diffused, so the privileges of believers will be universally understood; and as the knowledge thus diffused will be thorough and intimate, so the consolations arising; from this knowledge will be abundant, overflowing; yea, more than abundant and overflowing. All that is delightful, tender, joyful, sweet, encouraging, exhilarating, transporting, will then be experienced; not in a small measure, or only now and then, but in full measure, from day to day. Their very bodies will feel the influence of these consolations to an astonishing degree. No wasting sicknesses, nor corroding cares, such as are now experienced, will then harass and diminish the human family. “No more shall there be there an infant short-lived: nor an old man who hath not fulfilled his days; for he that dieth at an hundred years, shall die a boy.” [Isaiah 65. 20. Lowth’s translation.] “The voice of weeping shall no more be heard in Jerusalem, nor the voice of crying:” for “the days of her mourning shall be ended.” [Isaiah 65. 19. and 9. 20.]
Fourthly, There will be in this period universal peace. The LORD “will extend peace to the Church like a river, and the members thereof will go forth and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against the LORD. Their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh.” [v. 12, 24.]
We have already said, that there will be no parties in the Millennial Church; men then will not say, “one, I am of Paul, another, I of Apollos, and another, I of Cephas.” There will, therefore, be peace among her members; for altar will not be erected against altar, throughout her borders. And as her borders shall extend from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth, so the peace she shall enjoy will be universal.
In fact, the nations and kingdoms of this world, will then be the nations and kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ. A complete and thorough change will then take place in the governments of nations. The magistrate will then be, what he ought ever to be, according to the design of his office, a minister of God for good. The kings and judges of the earth will then do, what they now ought to do, “kiss the Son,” that is, acknowledge the mediatorial authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. The State will then be the handmaid of the Church, The officers of the one will co-operate with those of the other, for the promotion of God’s glory, and the happiness of men. Hence, there will be no wars during this period, nor rumours of wars. The nations, with their rulers, being obedient to the faith once delivered to the saints, the influence of that faith will preserve them from variance, jealousies, or wars. The confused noise of the battle will no more be heard, and the garments rolled in blood will not be seen. All the enemies of the Church will be slain, and their memory be an abhorrence to all flesh.
Thus delivered from the hands of those who are her enemies; protected and nursed by the magistracy; united in her members, peace will indeed be extended to her as a river. There will be nothing to hurt or destroy in all God’s holy mountain. The very beasts of the field will be at peace with men, as well as with each other. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den.” [Is. 11. 6-8.] Such is the glowing language in which the peace of the Millennial period is predicted by the prophet.
- John B. Romeyn (The Millennium, A Sermon)
- 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. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house 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 among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. - Isa. 2:2-4, KJV, emphases added
- The anti-Christian leaven, which has been so extensively diffused, shall be purged out of both the churches and the nations. Every usurper of the rights and prerogatives of Sion's King shall be pushed from his seat. Every rival kingdom shall be overthrown. The civil and ecclesiastical constitutions of the earth shall be regulated by the infallible standard of God's word; their office-bearers, of every kind, shall acknowledge the authority of Messiah the Prince; and the greatest kings on earth shall cast their crowns at his feet. All enemies shall be put under his feet; and such as resist the melting influence of his grace, shall be crushed beneath the iron rod of his power. By spiritual conversion or judicial destruction, he shall effect the entire subjugation of the globe. And, at the last, there shall not be a spot on the face of the habitable earth where the true church of Christ shall not have effected a footing, nor a single tribe of the vast family of man which shall not have felt the meliorating and blissful influence of Christian laws and institutions. - William Symington,Messiah the Prince or, The Mediatorial Dominion of Jesus Christ (Still Waters Revival Books, [1884] 1990), pp. 185-86, on the Puritan Hard Drive.
- "Prophecy shows that a time is coming when the Kingdom of Christ shall triumph over all opposition and prevail in all the world. The Romish Antichrist shall be utterly destroyed. The Jews shall be converted to Christianity. The fullness of the Gentiles shall be brought in and all mankind shall possess the knowledge of the Lord. The truth in its illuminating, regenerating and sanctifying efficacy shall be felt everywhere, so that the multitudes of all nations shall serve the Lord. Knowledge, love, holiness, and peace shall reign through the abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Arts, sciences, literature, and property shall be consecrated to the advancement of the kingdom of Christ. The social institutions of men shall be regulated by gospel principles, and the nations as such shall consecrate their strength to the Lord. Oppression and tyranny shall come to an end. The nations, instead of being distracted by wars, shall be united in peace. The inhabitants of the world shall be exceedingly multiplied, and pure and undefiled religion shall exert supreme dominion over their hearts and lives so that happiness shall abound. This blessed period shall be of long duration." - The 1901 Testimony of the Reformed Presbyterian Church
- Now, Christians, the more great and glorious things you expect from God, as the downfall of antichrist, the conversion of the Jews, the conquest of the nations to Christ, the breaking of all yokes, the new Jerusalem's coming down from above, the extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit, and a more general union among all saints, the more holy, yea, the more eminently holy in all your ways and actings it becomes you to be. - Thomas Brooks, The Crown and Glory of Christianity, 1662, CompleteWorks, 1867, p. 444, as cited in Iain Murray's The Puritan Hope: Revival and the Interpretation of Prophecy, p. 84). Thomas Brooks Works are also on the Puritan Hard Drive
Mind Blowing Biblical Prophecy Fulfillments To the Very Hour! God's Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnisapience, Etc., On Display In the Perfect Historical Fulfillments Of Prophecies, In Revelation, Regarding the Rise, Expansion and Fall Of Islam and Much More, By Dr. Steven Dilday, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, W.J. Mencarow, John Owen, Greg Price, John Calvin, George Gillespie (Westminster Divine), J.A. Wylie, Richard Bennett, John Foxe, David Steele and Others (Free Reformed MP3s, Videos and Books) |
- The anti-Christian leaven, which has been so extensively diffused, shall be purged out of both the churches and the nations. Every usurper of the rights and prerogatives of Sion's King shall be pushed from his seat. Every rival kingdom shall be overthrown. The civil and ecclesiastical constitutions of the earth shall be regulated by the infallible standard of God's word; their office-bearers, of every kind, shall acknowledge the authority of Messiah the Prince; and the greatest kings on earth shall cast their crowns at his feet. All enemies shall be put under his feet; and such as resist the melting influence of his grace, shall be crushed beneath the iron rod of his power. By spiritual conversion or judicial destruction, he shall effect the entire subjugation of the globe. And, at the last, there shall not be a spot on the face of the habitable earth where the true church of Christ shall not have effected a footing, nor a single tribe of the vast family of man which shall not have felt the meliorating and blissful influence of Christian laws and institutions. - William Symington,Messiah the Prince or, The Mediatorial Dominion of Jesus Christ (Still Waters Revival Books, [1884] 1990), pp. 185-86, on the Puritan Hard Drive.
To the Very Hour! God's Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnisapience, Etc., On Display In the Perfect Historical Fulfillments Of Prophecies, In Revelation, Regarding the Rise, Expansion and Fall Of Islam and the Papal Antichrist, and Much More, By Dr. Steven Dilday, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, W.J. Mencarow, John Owen, Greg Price, John Calvin, George Gillespie (Westminster Divine), J.A. Wylie, Richard Bennett, John Foxe, David Steele and Others (Free Reformed MP3s, Videos and Books) |
I shall however close this lecture with a summary account of the contents of the book of Revelation, given at one view. The seven distinct periods of the Apocalyptical prophecy are the following, viz. It respects the history of the Pagan Roman empire, as it is connected with the progress of the christian religion. It respects the history of the empire after christianity became in name, but not in spirit and in truth, the established religion; with a view of the manner in which the events of the period affected the actual church of God. It represents the decline and fall of the Antichristian empire. Let us, my brethren, endeavour to secure for ourselves an interest in that religion which will certainly enable us to support with fidelity toward God, the profession of our faith, and also after the toils of this life are ended, to pass into the place of perfect holiness and happiness. AMEN. - Mind Blowing Biblical Prophecy Fulfillments To the Very Hour! God's Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnisapience, Etc., On Display In the Perfect Historical Fulfillments Of Prophecies, In Revelation, Regarding the Rise, Expansion and Fall Of Islam and Much More, By Dr. Steven Dilday, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, W.J. Mencarow, John Owen, Greg Price, John Calvin, George Gillespie (Westminster Divine), J.A. Wylie, Richard Bennett, John Foxe, David Steele and Others (Free Reformed MP3s, Videos and Books)
- "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." (Isa. 2:2, KJV)
This series is a splendid overview of the history of Puritan and Reformed thought on Revelation, referencing many Reformation source documents. A great place to start if you are wondering what the book of Revelation is all about.
If you are looking for a detailed contemporary Reformed audio commentary on Revelation, with much practical application, this is the best you will find. - Now, Christians, the more great and glorious things you expect from God, as the downfall of antichrist, the conversion of the Jews, the conquest of the nations to Christ, the breaking of all yokes, the new Jerusalem's coming down from above, the extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit, and a more general union among all saints, the more holy, yea, the more eminently holy in all your ways and actings it becomes you to be. - Thomas Brooks, The Crown and Glory of Christianity, 1662, Complete Works (on the Puritan Hard Drive), 1867, p. 444
This is the first of 12 free MP3 sermons covering Islam in Revelation in Dr. Dilday's fine audio commentary of the book of Revelation. See the 11 sermons that follow this sermon at "Revelation Audio Commentary by Dr. Steven Dilday" for much more detail about what the book of Revelation teaches about the rise and fall of Islam.
Antichrist Unmistakably Revealed, by Pastor Greg Price, John Calvin, Dr. Steven Dilday, John Owen, W.J. Mencarow, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, J.A. Wylie, Richard Bennett, John Foxe, George Gillespie, David Steele and Others (Free Reformed MP3s, VIdeos and Books)
- "Now, Christians, the more great and glorious things you expect from God, as the downfall of antichrist, the conversion of the Jews, the conquest of the nations to Christ, the breaking of all yokes, the new Jerusalem's coming down from above, the extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit, and a more general union among all saints, the more holy, yea, the more eminently holy in all your ways and actings it becomes you to be." - Thomas Brooks, The Crown and Glory of Christianity, 1662, Complete Works (on the Puritan Hard Drive), 1867, p. 444
- Faith imbued with zeal for the honour of Christ and the glory of God will have no sympathy with the defeatism which is, after all, but disguised fatalism. He who is head over all things is head over all things to his body the Church. He has all authority in heaven and in earth. And he is the Lord of the Spirit. Implicit in the prayer he taught his disciples to pray, 'thy will be done as in heaven so in earth,' is the prayer that the whole earth should be filled with his praise. Nothing less is the measure of the believer's desire. 'And blessed be his glorious name for ever; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory' (Psalm 72:19). - Prof. John Murray, Collected Writings, Vol. 2, p. 350, emphases added
- "Prophecy shows that a time is coming when the Kingdom of Christ shall triumph over all opposition and prevail in all the world. The Romish Antichrist shall be utterly destroyed. The Jews shall be converted to Christianity. The fullness of the Gentiles shall be brought in and all mankind shall possess the knowledge of the Lord. The truth in its illuminating, regenerating and sanctifying efficacy shall be felt everywhere, so that the multitudes of all nations shall serve the Lord. Knowledge, love, holiness, and peace shall reign through the abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Arts, sciences, literature, and property shall be consecrated to the advancement of the kingdom of Christ. The social institutions of men shall be regulated by gospel principles, and the nations as such shall consecrate their strength to the Lord. Oppression and tyranny shall come to an end. The nations, instead of being distracted by wars, shall be united in peace. The inhabitants of the world shall be exceedingly multiplied, and pure and undefiled religion shall exert supreme dominion over their hearts and lives so that happiness shall abound. This blessed period shall be of long duration." - The 1901 Testimony of the Reformed Presbyterian Church
- "Moreover, to kings, princes, rulers, and magistrates, we affirm that chiefly and most principally the conservation and purgation of the religion appertains; so that not only they are appointed for civil policy, but also for maintenance of the true religion, and for suppressing of idolatry and superstition whatsoever: as in David, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah, and others, highly commended for their zeal in that case, may be espied." The Scottish Confession of Faith (written by John Knox and others), Chapter 24, 1560.
Amillennialism and Premillennialism, as defeatist eschatologies that are refuted in the Bible, both stifle true full-orbed Biblical revival and Reformation. Postmillennialism, which is the Biblical eschatology, leads to revival and Reformation, on the largest of scales (by our Lord's marvelous sovereign grace). - Summary: An important and irrefutable refutation of Amillennialism from Scripture. This inspiring and spectacularly scriptural sermon deals with many of the "big picture" issues surrounding biblical eschatological interpretation — including when the binding of Satan takes place. A fascinating section of this message also contains numerous citations and explanations from the Bible related to the time of the future millennium — providing many scriptures demonstrating that God's Word prophesies that the nations, as nations (and "moral persons" to use classic Covenanter terminology), will come to Christ in a future worldwide Covenanted Reformation that will cover the whole Earth (Isa. 2:2-4, Psalm 72, Ezek. 47:1-12, etc.). The "realized millennium" of some Amillennialists is also dealt with, as is the Amillennial interpretation of "Israel," where special attention is given to Romans 11 and the part the future restoration of the Jews will play in the glorious days ahead when "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth" and "all nations shall serve him" (Psalm 72:8, 11 — and remember there are no nations in heaven, so these verses must be referring to a time in history prior to the final judgment!). If you are an Amillennialist this is one of the most important sermons you will ever hear! If you are not an Amillennialist this will be an extraordinarily encouraging message about the great victories of Christ's Kingdom, in history and on Earth, which are still in the future, according to what God has revealed in His Holy Word (Isaiah 2:2-4).
Completely refutes Amillennial from Scripture, while defending Biblical Postmillennialism.
- "Yet civil government has as its appointed end, so long as we live among men, to cherish and protect the outward worship of God, to defend sound doctrine of piety and the position of the church, to adjust our life to the society of men, to form our social behavior to civil righteousness, to reconcile us with one another, and to promote general peace and tranquility." - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 4:20:2
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Completely refutes Amillennial from Scripture, while defending Biblical Postmillennialism.
- Because of their outlook upon the future all Scottish missionary leaders took the long-term view in evangelization, that is to say, they did not regard the number of individual converts in the present as the first consideration, but rather that energy should be deployed in work which would have the maximum influence upon nations in subsequent generations. - Iain Murray, The Puritan Hope: Revival and the Interpretation Of Prophecy
- "Another instance in which posterity is recognized in covenant obligation is found in Joshua 9:15. This covenant was made between the children of Israel and the Gibeonites. Between four and five hundred years after that time, the children of Israel are visited with a very severe famine, in the days of David. 2 Sam. 21:1. And it is expressly declared by the Lord that, 'It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.' And at the same time, v. 2, that very covenant is recognized, and the breach of it is stated, as being the formal reason of the divine displeasure. Now, had it not been for this covenant, the extirpation of the Gibeonites would not have been imputed to Israel as a thing criminal; for they were comprehended in Canaanitish nations, which God had commanded them to root out." - William L. Roberts, The Reformed Presbyterian Catechism (1853, emphases added), pp. 139-140, on the Puritan Hard Drive
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Antichrist Unmistakably Revealed, by Pastor Greg Price, John Calvin, Dr. Steven Dilday, John Owen, W.J. Mencarow, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, J.A. Wylie, Richard Bennett, John Foxe, George Gillespie, David Steele and Others David Steele, in his classic Notes on the Apocalypse includes Mason among his list of "distinguished and approved interpreters of the book of Revelation."
If you are looking for a detailed contemporary Reformed audio commentary on Revelation, with much practical application, this is the best you will find. |
Puritan Postmillennialism, Reformation Eschatology (Historicism), and the Restoration Prophets: Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, by Pastor Jim Dodson (23 Free SWRB MP3s, Defends Classic Reformation Historicism and Postmillennialism, With Many Comments On Classic Reformation Worship, the Millennium, Christ's Witnesses, Martyr-Like Faithfulness, and Much More! )
- "Set no time to the creator of time, for His time is always best." - Samuel Rutherford, most of Rutherford's works are on the Puritan Hard Drive
- "To know that nothing hurts the godly, is a matter of comfort; but to be assured that all things which fall out shall co-operate for their good, that their crosses shall be turned into blessings, that showers of affliction water the withering root of their grace and make it flourish more; this may fill their hearts with joy till they run over." - Thomas Watson, Many of Thomas Watson works are on the Puritan Hard Drive
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- Charles Spurgeon: "What is the heresy of Rome, but the addition of something to the perfect merits of Jesus Christ--the bringing in of the works of the flesh, to assist in our justification? And what is the heresy of Arminianism but the addition of something to the work of the Redeemer? Every heresy, if brought to the touchstone, will discover itself here. I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel, if we do not preach justification by faith, without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel, unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called, and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus. Such a gospel I abhor." (C. H. Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, Vol. 1, 1856)
These four messages make up some of the best teaching you will ever hear on the second commandment, Puritan and Reformed worship, and the regulative principle of worship. - John Calvin: "God here cuts off from men every occasion for making evasions, since he condemns by this one phrase, "I have not commanded them," whatever the Jews devised. There is then no other argument needed to condemn superstitions, than that they are not commanded by God: for when men allow themselves to worship God according to their own fancies, and attend not to his commands, they pervert true religion. And if this principle was adopted by the Papists, all those fictitious modes of worship, in which they absurdly exercise themselves, would fall to the ground. It is indeed a horrible thing for the Papists to seek to discharge their duties towards God by performing their own superstitions. There is an immense number of them, as it is well known, and as it manifestly appears. Were they to admit this principle, that we cannot rightly worship God except by obeying his word, they would be delivered from their deep abyss of error. The Prophet's words then are very important, when he says, that God had commanded no such thing, and that it never came to his mind; as though he had said, that men assume too much wisdom, when they devise what he never required, nay, what he never knew." - John Calvin on the Puritan Hard Drive
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Postmillennialism (Free Reformation MP3s, Puritan Books and Reformed Quotes), by Jonathan Edwards, John Murray, Samuel Rutherford, Dr. Steven Dilday, Iain Murray, Thomas Brooks, Greg Price, Pastor Jim Dodson, Dr. F.N. Lee, David Silversides and Others
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