"THE TIME OF THE END."

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 185, 5 August 1913, Page 7

"THE TIME OF THE END."

(To the Edltor.i fir, —I am deeply obliged In Mr. A. 1C Hobbs for his letter, as published in the "Star" of Ist August, because he lias supplied mc with an opportunity of making an explanation, which is probably necessary to many other readers. My articles were written for secular newspapers, and were intended to expound the secular aspect of the prophecies of the "Time of the Knd." It does not therefore necessarily follow that I deny the spiritual interpretation of many passages, or that I ignore the existence of a spiritual Israel: for these things 1 fully recognise. Possibly I have misapplied some passages, for I lay no claim to infallibility as an interpreter; but if Mr. Hobbs and others? would remember that many prophecies have both a literal and an allegorical meaning, they might see things more clearly. It cannot be gainsaid that many of] the promises of the latter days are to "nations," as distinguished from "redeemed" individuals; that calamities are predicted to "kingdoms" as well as to the wicked: that there is to be a material as well a3 a spiritual reign of righteousness. The "nations"' specially indicated are those of .Tudah and Israe.l, who are to be re-nnited under one King, who is sometimes culled Christ, sometimes Michael, and sometimes "my servant David." There is here some difficulty, and I have attempted to supply a rational explanation. Air. Hobbs says the ruler win be David of Israel resurrected. This does not at all follow. And if Christ has been incarnated once, there is surely nothing un-Scriptural in supposing that He may be incarnated again. ft is no harder thing for Christ to reign in a succession of sons of David than for Dasid himself to be raised from the dead to occupy the throne. The Covenant with David was not that he personally should reigu for ever, but the promise was to him aud his sons. The new Jerusalem is not' to be a spiritual city, but one built in the ordinary way by the labour of men. In support of my speculation that the ruler will be at once Christ and David, or one of David's descendants, I invite attention to Jeremiah xxxiiL, 15-17: "In those days and at that time will I cause the branch of righteousness to grow up unto David, and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. David shal] never want a man to sit upon the throne of thn House of Israel." Now, this refers to the time of restoration, and not to the lir.st coming of the Branch, Who is Christ. Docs it not seem as though Christ, tJie spiritual ruler, is to "grow up unto David," the earthly ruler, in the person of one of his descendants t In other words, that He will at His second coming, as at His first, be incarnated in a member of the family of David, i fix upon the present Prince of Wales, because (1) ho is descended from David of Israel, and (2) because at the time of Christ's next coming tho Prince will be about full age by Jewish computation, that is, thirty years—th« age at which Jesns of Nazareth received the Spirit of Christ and began to preach "the Kingdom ,, which He is soon coming to-reign over.—l am, etc,, J. LIIBJELL.KELEE..