1. The texts above referred to, do not teach the doctrine of the world’s conversion. The text in the second Psalm teaches almost anything, rather than such a doctrine, as the following verse shows: “And thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Instead of the conversion, the destruction of the heathen is there decreed. And yet this is the strongest text in the Bible by which the event is attempted to be proved. We will turn to the promise of Christ, of the universal publication of the gospel. Matthew 24:14. “This gospel of the kingdom must be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations; then shall the end come.” Not one word is here said of the conversion of the world. But this promise was given in answer to the question, “What shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?” When, therefore, all nations have heard the gospel, before all have embraced it, the end of the world shall come.APEC 22.1

2. The Scriptures do foretell the destruction of the wicked, before, and preparatory to, the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth.APEC 22.2

Psalm 2:9, as above quoted, is a text in point. So also the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, where the great image is to be broken in pieces and reduced to powder, like the chaff of the summer’s threshing-floor, and the wind is to carry it away.APEC 22.3

The parable of the wheat and tares is also in point. Matthew 13. The wheat, or good seed, are there represented to be the children of the kingdom; but the tares, the children of the wicked one. These are both to grow together, until the harvest, or end of the world; when the angels shall sever the wicked from among the just, and cast them into a furnace of fire. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father.APEC 22.4

There is nothing in all this of the conversion of all the world, the confinement of Satan, and a thousand years of peace and happiness, before the end of the world. On the contrary, wickedness is to continue on earth, and even afflict the righteous, until the final separation, at the coming of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2. Paul has also predicted the same thing. “Then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy by the brightness of his coming.”APEC 23.1

Will it be said that that prediction only relates to the papal system, and not to the wicked in general? It is replied, no matter for that: for the strongest advocates of a temporal millennium admit that the papal system must and will be abolished before that happy state begins. But this man of sin, if it means popery, is to be abolished by the brightness of Christ’s coming. But when he comes, (see first chapter,) he will not only destroy the papal system, but will take vengeance on all who know not God and obey not the gospel. So there is no room for a thousand years’ millennium between the destruction of “that wicked,” (popery,) and all the wicked of the earth; for both are to be destroyed at the appearing of the Savior.APEC 23.2

PREVAILING OPINION ON THE MILLENNIUM

THE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AS SHOWN THE APOSTLES