IPHC Doctrinal Exegesis Page Five

Divine healing, as we teach and believe, is altogether a product of the atoning merit of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses" (Matthew 8:17), and "with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). This healing is wrought solely by the application of the atonement to the body, through faith alone. The Holy Spirit applies the efficacy of the blood of healing to the sick and afflicted body, or parts, which in fact, is the impartation of the resurrected life of the glorified Christ. This is direct divine healing, effected by the divine Being in response to faith alone.

The law of recovery is written in all creation, and also in our bodies, since they are an essential part of creation. This law operates according to its relation to the infinite law of all creation as upheld and directed by the Creator. Healing is a part of the benefits flowing out of this law of recovery, and it may be termed the healing of natural law.

The earth is under the curse of the violation of the Edenic Covenant by the sin of the first man, "As lord over all the works of God's hands." And this curse has caused a thousand disturbances in the movement of natural law. An abnormal condition prevails, largely throughout this mundane sphere. These abnormal disturbances force the law of creation as related to earth, to work destruction in the natural. They interfere with the operation of the law of recovery so that complete restoration is rarely ever fully attained. Physicians depend upon this law of recovery to restore health, and as far as they know this law, they endeavor to have the patient adjusted to its operation. Remedial agencies can be beneficial only insofar as they assist in making this law of recovery normal in its operation.

It may be that the Holy Spirit, at times, elevates and accelerates this law of recovery so that it is made, thereby, a channel of healing. If so, this is an act of divine healing, but not on an equality with the healing of Calvary's sacrifice. Natural means viewed as a product of the law of recovery are not to be despised. Neither are we to look upon their use as sinful on the part of believers in Christ. The healing of Calvary's stream is the "better way," and the way to secure complete and permanent healing of all sickness and diseases.

The word millennium is the name for the Latin numeral 1,000. The Greek is kiliad or chiliad, as it is more frequently spelled in English. Both are used in the discussion of the coming reign of Christ. His coming is premillennial, as we teach. "Pre " means before, and His coming will be before the millennium shall begin. We mean His coming "with all the saints " will be the event that shall inaugurate the millennial (one thousand years) reign of Christ on earth.

That period will be preliminary and preparatory in purpose. It is preliminary to the final and absolute regeneration of all that belongs to this mundane creation. It is preparatory to the reign of Christ as it will subjugate absolutely everything to the will of the Father, by destroying all enmities, animosities, and every possible degree of rebellion against the royal will of God. When this is done, the eternity of the kingdom will be fully inaugurated. Ineffable glories, surpassing all finite conception, will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.

All the saints look for, long for, and pray for the coming of Christ, as that which is "nigh at hand." A thousand signs and events proclaim and signify the immediate end of this present age. The Great Tribulation shadows are visible now on the earth, and the first event of the Second Advent program may occur at any moment. Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus.