clares to TIMOTHY that the Lord JESUS CHRIST will judge the living and
the dead at his appearing and kingdom, 2 Tim. 4:1.

"Thy kingdom come! Thus, day by day
We lift our hands to God and pray;
But who has ever duly weighed
The meaning of the words he said?"

This kingdom is to be an eternal kingdom: "He will reign for ever and
ever." This is in accordance with the declaration in Daniel, that "the
saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom
forever, even for ever and ever," Dan. 7:18. To its eternity Nathan
testifies when he says to David, "Thy house and thy kingdom shall be
established forever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever,"
2 Sam. 7:16. Though this was spoken to David, it was to be fulfilled in
Christ; for we read in Luke (1:32, 33), "He shall be great, and shall be
called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the
throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob
forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." It is predicted in
Isaiah, that "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the
government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince
of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no
end; upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it and to
establish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth, even
forever," Isa. 9:6, 7. To the Son the Father saith, "Thy throne, O God, is
for ever and ever," (Heb. 1:8); and the blood-washed throng ascribe to him
"glory and dominion for ever and ever," 1:5, 6.

"Thy kingdom come! O day of joy,
When praise shall every tongue employ;
When hate and strife and war shall cease,
And man with man shall be at peace.
Jesus shall reign on Zion's hill,
And all the earth with glory fill;
His word shall Paradise restore,
And sin and death afflict no more.
God's holy will shall then be done
By all who live beneath the sun;
For saints shall then as angels be,
All changed to immortality."

The four-and-twenty elders,--symbolizing those who are redeemed "out of
every kindred and tongue and people and nation," 5:8, 9,--at the
establishment of the kingdom, are to be made "kings and priests," and are
to "reign on the earth," 5:10. They are "saints of the Most High," who are
to "take the kingdom," and possess it "forever." With the announcement of
its e