CHAPTER NINE
THE CHRISTIAN AGE:
FROM CHRIST TO ANTI-CHRIST

       In the beginning of the present Age in which we are living the whole scene was changed, and there was an astounding revelation of the most important of all the plans of God in the whole course of His creative activity. Hitherto it had looked as if He were mainly interested in this earth: but in this Age He is seen to have transferred His attention from earth to Heaven. There had been passages in the Old Testament from time to time which revealed the activities of Angels in the affairs of men (Daniel 10), but the hopes of men had been confined to their future upon this earth or the earth to come. In the New Testament, however, it is made plain that God is now concerned not merely with the future of His earth, but also with that of the Heavens, where the two angelic companies are still struggling with each other to dispute the Government of the earth (Daniel 8:9-12, 23-25; 10:13, 18-21; Job 1 and 2; Revelation 12:3-4).

       It is revealed that God has decided to bring forth an entirely new Creation in the Heavens, that had never been thought of before, even His Own Royal Family, the Sons of God and Brethren of Christ, who should take the place originally given to Lucifer and his angels, and guarantee the eternal peace and happiness of the New Earth and Heavens (Revelation 21:1). Out of this majestic company was to come also a Bride for Christ Himself, formed out of those whose love for Him was unalloyed.

       The faithful Jew had a promise of earthly blessing from God cf. Revelation 21. The faithful Christian, on the other hand, is taught to expect great trials to his faith upon this earth, even to martyrdom (John 21:15-19). There is a tendency

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to be too satisfied with the word 'salvation' as a full, or even the main, description of the Christian blessing, and to speak too little of the new Birth into the Royal Family of God. It is the intention of God, having at the end of this Age cast Satan and his angels into Hades, to choose out of His Own Royal Family those who shall succeed where Angels failed. But such lofty positions can only safely be given where it has obviously been deserved in the eyes of all onlookers. It has therefore been laid down by the Lord God that His Family shall in this life prove their merit and ability and trustworthiness in the eyes of all beholders, so that there shall be no thoughts of favouritism, no question of unworthiness, and no fear of another débâcle. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of Life".

       Here then is the explanation of the otherwise inexplicable trials that beset the Christian pathway. The Royal Family can only hold its position when in the eyes of all beholders it forces their confidence and admiration. This is especially true of Angelic Beholders. They too have fought Satan and his angels (Daniel 10:13, 20, 21), but they have come down from the presence of God in the third Heaven to fight those who have already been cast down into the first! They have never known the severity of the conflict which Christians have with Satan, who have never seen the Almighty, as the Angels have, but only heard of Him in His Word! It is because of their triumph that the Royal Family shall be deemed fit to govern the universe and even Angels (1 Corinthians 6:2, 3). It is therefore possible for a member of the Royal Family to be disinherited and be "saved, yet so as by fire" (1 Corinthians 3:10-15 and Matthew 25:14-30). But it is also possible for him to "sit with Me in My Throne" (Revelation 3:21).

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