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〃searching what； or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in
them did signify。〃 What a lesson to the people of God in the Christian age；
for whose benefit these prophecies were given to His servants！ 〃Unto whom it
was revealed； that not unto themselves； but unto us they did minister。〃
Witness those holy men of God as they 〃inquired and searched diligently〃
concerning revelations given them for generations that were yet unborn。
Contrast their holy zeal with the listless unconcern with which the favored
ones of later ages treat this gift of Heaven。 What a rebuke to the
ease…loving； world…loving indifference which is content to declare that the
prophecies cannot be understood！
Though the finite minds of men are inadequate to enter
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into the counsels of the Infinite One； or to understand fully the working
out of His purposes； yet often it is because of some error or neglect on
their own part that they so dimly comprehend the messages of Heaven。 Not
infrequently the minds of the people； and even of God's servants； are so
blinded by human opinions； the traditions and false teaching of men； that
they are able only partially to grasp the great things which He has revealed
in His word。 Thus it was with the disciples of Christ； even when the Saviour
was with them in person。 Their minds had become imbued with the popular
conception of the Messiah as a temporal prince； who was to exalt Israel to
the throne of the universal empire； and they could not understand the
meaning of His words foretelling His sufferings and death。
Christ Himself had sent them forth with the message： 〃The time is fulfilled；
and the kingdom of God is at hand： repent ye； and believe the gospel。〃 Mark
1：15。 That message was based on the prophecy of Daniel 9。 The sixty…nine
weeks were declared by the angel to extend to 〃the Messiah the Prince；〃 and
with high hopes and joyful anticipations the disciples looked forward to the
establishment of Messiah's kingdom at Jerusalem to rule over the whole
earth。
They preached the message which Christ had committed to them； though they
themselves misapprehended its meaning。 While their announcement was founded
on Daniel 9：25； they did not see； in the next verse of the same chapter；
that Messiah was to be cut off。 From their very birth their hearts had been
set upon the anticipated glory of an earthly empire； and this blinded their
understanding alike to the specifications of the prophecy and to the words
of Christ。
They performed their duty in presenting to the Jewish nation the invitation
of mercy； and then； at the very time when they expected to see their Lord
ascend the throne of David； they beheld Him seized as a malefactor；
scourged； derided； and condemned； and lifted up on the cross of
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Calvary。 What despair and anguish wrung the hearts of those disciples during
the days while their Lord was sleeping in the tomb！
Christ had come at the exact time and in the manner foretold by prophecy。
The testimony of Scripture had been fulfilled in every detail of His
ministry。 He had preached the message of salvation； and 〃His word was with
power。〃 The hearts of His hearers had witnessed that it was of Heaven。 The
word and the Spirit of God attested the divine commission of His Son。
The disciples still clung with undying affection to their beloved Master。
And yet their minds were shrouded in uncertainty and doubt。 In their anguish
they did not then recall the words of Christ pointing forward to His
suffering and death。 If Jesus of Nazareth had been the true Messiah； would
they have been thus plunged in grief and disappointment？ This was the
question that tortured their souls while the Saviour lay in His sepulcher
during the hopeless hours of that Sabbath which intervened between His death
and His resurrection。
Though the night of sorrow gathered dark about these followers of Jesus； yet
were they not forsaken。 Saith the prophet： 〃When I sit in darkness； the Lord
shall be a light unto me。 。 。 。 He will bring me forth to the light； and I
shall behold His righteousness。〃 〃Yea； the darkness hideth not from Thee；
but the night shineth as the day： the darkness and the light are both alike
to Thee。〃 God hath spoken： 〃Unto the upright there ariseth light in the
darkness。〃 〃I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not； I will lead
them in paths that they have not known： I will make darkness light before
them； and crooked things straight。 These things will I do unto them； and not
forsake them。〃 Micah 7：8； 9； Psalms 139：12； 112：4； Isaiah 42：16。
The announcement which had been made by the disciples in the name of the
Lord was in every particular correct； and the events to which it pointed
were even then taking place。 〃The time is fulfilled； the kingdom of God is
at hand；〃 had
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been their message。 At the expiration of 〃the time〃the sixty…nine weeks of
Daniel 9； which were to extend to the Messiah； 〃the Anointed One〃Christ
had received the anointing of the Spirit after His baptism by John in
Jordan。 And the 〃kingdom of God〃 which they had declared to be at hand was
established by the death of Christ。 This kingdom was not； as they had been
taught to believe； an earthly empire。 Nor was it that future； immortal
kingdom which shall be set up when 〃the kingdom and dominion； and the
greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven； shall be given to the
people of the saints of the Most High；〃 that everlasting kingdom； in which
〃all dominions shall serve and obey Him。〃 Daniel 7：27。 As used in the Bible；
the expression 〃kingdom of God〃 is employed to designate both the kingdom of
grace and the kingdom of glory。 The kingdom of grace is brought to view by
Paul in the Epistle to the Hebrews。 After pointing to Christ； the
compassionate intercessor who is 〃touched with the feeling of our
infirmities；〃 the apostle says： 〃Let us therefore come boldly unto the
throne of grace； that we may obtain mercy； and find grace。〃 Hebrews 4：15；
16。 The throne of grace represents the kingdom of grace； for the existence
of a throne implies the existence of a kingdom。 In many of His parables
Christ uses the expression 〃the kingdom of heaven〃 to designate the work of
divine grace upon the hearts of men。
So the throne of glory represents the kingdom of glory； and this kingdom is
referred to in the Saviour's words： 〃When the Son of man shall come in His
glory； and all the holy angels with Him； then shall He sit upon the throne
of His glory： and before Him shall be gathered all nations。〃 Matthew 25：31；
32。 This kingdom is yet future。 It is not to be set up until the second
advent of Christ。
The kingdom of grace was instituted immediately after the fall of man； when
a plan was devised for the redemption of the guilty race。 It then existed in
the purpose and by the promise of God； and through faith； men could become
its subjects。 Yet it was not actually established until the death of
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Christ。 Even after entering upon His earthly mission； the Saviour； wearied
with the stubbornness and ingrat