[576]As further proof that all must have an opportunity, St. John wrote: "He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world". (1 John 2:2) The word "our" as used in this text means the class to which St. John belonged, namely, the church, the Christ; whereas the world includes all the race of mankind. The statement, then, is that the ransom was provided for all. Furthermore, when Jesus was born, it was announced by the angel of heaven: "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people". (Luke 2:10) Furthermore, God's promise to Abraham was that in him and his seed all the families and nations of the earth should be blessed. (Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:8) Hence all must have an opportunity for such blessing.
[577]That those who are to be saved are not confined to the ones who go to heaven Jesus proved when he said: "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice". (John 10:16) "This fold" means the church; and after this class is selected, then all must have an opportunity to come into the fold of Christ. And this is true because he bought them all with his precious blood.
[578]God caused the prophet David to write: "All nations whom thou hast made shall come find worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name". (Psalm 86:9) This is further corroborative proof that all must have an opportunity.
[579]A highway is a means of travel. For instance, we have built across the United States what is known as the Lincoln Highway. A highway is used to illustrate the way that the Lord will provide for the return of the people to him through the terms of the new covenant. The prophet Isaiah thus wrote: "A highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for those; the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein". (Isaiah 35:8) It will be noticed that there is a way to go over this highway, and it shall be called "The way of holiness". In other words, those who pass over it will be made holy. The highway pictures the whole journey from the beginning to the end of the Millennial reign of Christ. The unclean shall not pass over it, because unless a man will be cleaned up before he progresses a great way, he will be permitted to go no further. But as he strives to cleanse himself and be obedient to the Lord, he will be helped. There shall be nothing there to hinder him, because Satan's influence will be restrained. (Revelation 20:1-4) The way shall be so plain and clear that any and all may see it. The Lord, therefore, has graciously provided a way for the oppressed and sin-sick to be led back over the highway of holiness into a condition of perfection and happiness.
[580]Because Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the other faithful prophets described by the apostle Paul in Hebrews 11 are promised a better resurrection; because of the statement of the Prophet that they shall be princes or rulers in all the earth (Psalm 45:16), it is to be expected that they will be the first ones raised under the terms of the new covenant. Therefore it is reasonable to expect them to be back on earth at the beginning of the restoration blessings. Hence these faithful men may be expected on earth within the next few years. They will constitute the legal representatives of the Christ in the earth. They will be the visible representatives of the kingdom of heaven. These are the ones who shall administer the affairs of earth under the direction of the Lord.
[581]We therefore see that there are two phases of God's kingdom: the heavenly, which is invisible; and the earthly, which is visible, the faithful prophets of old, namely, the ancient worthies, representing the Lord in this regard.
[582]The Lord through his prophet Zechariah gives a wonderful picture of the establishment of this kingdom and of the blessings that will come. The prophecy is written in highly symbolic phrase. It reads: "His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah; and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee." (Zechariah 14:4,5) "His feet" in this prophecy represent Jehovah's feet; while mountain symbolizes kingdom. The olive is a symbol of light, peace, and divine blessing; hence the picture is that Jehovah's authority, represented by his feet, will be established upon earth, by a kingdom of light, peace, and blessing. The cleaving of this mountain in the midst, showing a part on the north and a part on the south, pictures the two phases, heavenly and earthly, of the Messianic kingdom; and the valley between represents the valley of blessings. Into this valley the sin-sick, sore, feeble, oppressed, yea all, shall flee and there receive the blessings of the Lord, which will make them rich in health and peace and happiness for ever.
[583]Every one, then, who believes God's Word and who confidently expects the kingdom to bring blessings to mankind and who sees it now being established should watch for the return of Abraham and the other faithful prophets and get into communication with them as soon as possible after their return. And acting under their advice, all such will doubtless find early many opportunities of service, which will bring to them blessings and happiness.
[584]The Psalmist gives us another picture of this kingdom of blessing, saying: "The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof". (Psalm 50:1) The earth here represents the new organized government. The rising of the sun means the beginning of the Messianic reign; while its going down pictures the completion of that reign. Therefore, throughout the whole Millennial reign the Lord will be calling to the peoples of earth to come into this valley of blessing and receive life, peace, and happiness. "He shall call to the heavens [the spiritual, invisible part of the kingdom] from above, and to the earth [the new organized government], that he may judge his people." (Psalm 50:4) To judge means to give opportunity for blessings by means of a trial; and this is in harmony with the other statements of the Scriptures that every one must have a fair trial for life.