The Appearing

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HAVING looked at the first part of the Christian's hope—the Lord's return in the air for His saints—and briefly traced the things coming on the earth, when God shall punish the inhabitants of the world for their iniquity, we now come to the second part, the glorious appearing, or manifestation of Christ. This wonderful event, fruitful with blessing for the believer, will be an hour of woe and judgment for the poor world of that day.
Scripture teems with passages relating to our Lord's second advent, and the attendant circumstances and surroundings; when, accompanied with His heavenly saints, He shall descend to this earth, Himself manifestly and personally dealing with and judging His enemies, gathering " out of His kingdom all things (mar., scandals) that offend and them which do iniquity " (Matt. 13:4141The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; (Matthew 13:41)), and taking the reins of government of the world into His own hand. (Zech. 6:1313Even he shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:13); Isa. 40:1010Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. (Isaiah 40:10).)
The judgment of the quick will be a prominent feature of that day; but how precious for the Christian to know that he has been already judged in the Person of his substitute, Christ Himself. “Verily, verily," saith the Lord,” He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (or judgment); but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).) Here are our Lord's own words telling us of our deliverance. Our judgment is passed; He drank the bitter cup in our stead; His precious blood, poured out on Calvary, has washed all our sins away, and thus we have the comforting testimony of John in the first epistle (1 John 4:16, 1716And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:16‑17)), “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love” (marg., love with us) made " perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world."
But some will reply, “Do you mean to say that the Christian will not be judged at all? I thought we should all stand together before God to know whether heaven would be our portion or no." This arises from accepting the thoughts of men, instead of gathering all from the word of God. The Christian will never be judged for his sins, because they were all borne and suffered for by Jesus on the tree, and put away forever. (Heb. 10:12-1712But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:12‑17).) God now expects the believer to walk in practical holiness, and have nothing more to say to sin at all. He is called to follow Christ, and suffer for His sake. But “if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father," (the Christian is a child), "Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John 2:11My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1).) Again, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).)
If, however, we neglect confession to God, and go on in sin, as He will not condemn us with the world, He will judge us now, by weakness, sickness, or even putting to sleep, cutting off in His governmental ways, though saving in grace. This truth is taught us in Paul's letters to the saints at Corinth, who, though real Christians, were allowing sin unjudged. “For this cause," says the apostle by the Spirit, “many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." (1 Cor. 11)
It is perfectly true that we “must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (2 Cor. 5:1010For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10).) This is a broad statement as to the fact; but other scriptures clearly show that the time and circumstances in which the Christian will appear there, are entirely different from those in which the ungodly will be judged.
The ungodly, whether quick or dead, will be arraigned to be judged according to their works—the former at the commencement, the latter at the close of the reign of Christ—and punished for their iniquity. The saints are already justified from all things, but will be manifested in the Presence of Christ in bodies changed and fashioned like unto His own glorious body. We shall not, then, stand before Him like the wicked, as guilty culprits before a stern and inexorable judge, but as justified persons to give account of ourselves (Rom. 14:1212So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12)), and to have our works thoroughly tested, as the following scripture shows.
“Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon" (i.e., on Jesus Christ, the only foundation), “he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." (1 Cor. 3:10-1710According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3:10‑17).) “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Rom. 14:1212So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12).) This manifestation will probably take place immediately upon our being caught up to meet Him.
Being like Him at that wondrous moment, we shall see all our works in the same light as He sees them. And how blessed at that day for those who have built good material, built according to the word of God, to receive a reward from our gracious Savior and Lord! to hear the " Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!" and to have praise of God. (1 Cor. 4:55Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:5).) As to our sins, of them He has said already, “Thy sins and thine iniquities I will remember no more." "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." (Rom. 4:88Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Romans 4:8).)
During the short interval when the apostasy will ripen, and the beast and the false prophet are in power on the earth, the heavenly saints are viewed in the Revelation as twenty-four elders surrounding the throne of God in heaven. Just at the close of that period, following upon the downfall of Babylon on the earth, we have the description of the marriage of the Lamb in the glory of God. This is the consummation of the joy of the Church of the living God; when; united as the Bride to Christ, the heavenly Bridegroom, she becomes the Lamb's wife, and all heaven will be jubilant with joy. (Rev. 19:6-96And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (Revelation 19:6‑9).) "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white (marg., bright): for the fine linen is the righteousness (or righteousnesses) of saints." (Rev. 19:88And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (Revelation 19:8).) From this we learn that the bridal robe of the Church, on the day of the espousals of the Lamb, is the righteousnesses of the saints, wrought by them in the power of the Holy Ghost, whilst living on the earth, then woven together as one beautiful garment, to adorn her when Christ shall present her to Himself, glorious, " not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." (Eph. 5:2727That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27).)
Then, the heaven being opened, Christ will come forth in power to judge and make war, and take the kingdom. He is seen in the vision on a white horse (symbolic of conquering power), and is variously called, Faithful and True, The Word of God, King of kings and Lord of lords; also having a name written that no man knew but He Himself. His clothing is a vesture dipped in blood-figurative of the blood of His enemies about to be shed for their wickedness in opposing Him. 'Following Him are seen the armies which are in heaven on white horses, like unto their Leader, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. These are the saints here, not angels, as some have thought. For if we turn to Rev. 17:1414These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (Revelation 17:14), we are told that those "that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful;" and angels are never spoken of as called, though it is perfectly true that angels will also accompany Him at His revelation from heaven. (2 Thess. 1:77And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, (2 Thessalonians 1:7).)
An angel standing in the sun cries with a loud voice to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God " (or the great supper of God) to eat the flesh of the mighty of the earth, &c. The how of His judgment is come. The beast and the kings of the earth and their armies are gathered together to make war against the Lord and His army. And the beast is taken, the great leader of Western Europe, and with him the false prophet (antichrist), which wrought miracles before him (comp. 2 Thess. 2:8, 98And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, (2 Thessalonians 2:8‑9); Rev. 13:11-1411And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (Revelation 13:11‑14)), and both are cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone, and the rest are slain. Thus suddenly the Lord will judge the leaders of the apostasy, and the boasted military power of the great nations of the West is destroyed. Europe goes on arming; immense standing armies are the order of the day. Men little think what Satan is leading them on to. Nation fights against nation, until the beast comes to the forefront, when the ten kings, who have one mind, give their power and strength to him. (Rev. 17:1313These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. (Revelation 17:13).) He leads one great league against the Christ of God, when they receive the cup of judgment at His hand, and all the fowls are filled with their flesh.
We have several other descriptions in the Word beside this of the Lord's coming in judgment upon His enemies, not only upon those of the West, but also many others. He doth both judge and make war. (Rev. 19:1111And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:11).) Having come in warrior judgment upon the Western Powers directly opposed to Him, He then summarily deals with those to the north and east of the pleasant land, Palestine. (Rev. 19:19-2119And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:19‑21); Zech. 14:3, 12-153Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. (Zechariah 14:3)
12And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. 13And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor. 14And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. 15And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague. (Zechariah 14:12‑15).) "For," saith the Lord, "my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy." (Zeph. 3:88Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. (Zephaniah 3:8).) “Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth," &c. (Jer. 25:32, 3332Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. 33And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground. (Jeremiah 25:32‑33).)
In Jude 1414And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (Jude 14) we find a prophecy of Enoch, " Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."
“Behold," again saith the Lord, “I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah, and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness; and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness," &c. (Zech. 12:2-42Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 4In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. (Zechariah 12:2‑4).)
In Isa. 2:12-2112For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: 13And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, 14And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up, 15And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, 16And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. 17And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. 18And the idols he shall utterly abolish. 19And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. 20In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; 21To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. (Isaiah 2:12‑21): " For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low.... And the idols He shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they make each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth."
In Isa. 13 “I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of His indignation, to destroy the whole land. Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty," &c ... ." And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity," &c. (Isa. 13:3-113I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. 4The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. 5They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. 6Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: 8And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. 9Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. 11And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. (Isaiah 13:3‑11).)
“Behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many." (Isa. 66:15, 1615For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many. (Isaiah 66:15‑16).)
After the judgment of the Western Powers under the beast, the terrible foe of the Jews, the king of the North, “The Assyrian," will be smitten by the Lord. Used by God as the rod of His wrath to chastise the apostate Jews, when they bow to the idol and the beast, he exalts himself against God, and is then himself judged. (Isa. 10:5-125O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. 6I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. 7Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. 8For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? 9Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? 10As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; 11Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? 12Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks. (Isaiah 10:5‑12).) He comes as a destroying storm upon the land (Isa. 28:22Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. (Isaiah 28:2)), attacks antichrist in Jerusalem, at the head of a powerful army, takes the city, and overthrows many countries. (Dan. 11:40, 4140And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. (Daniel 11:40‑41).) The king of the South (Egypt) pushing at antichrist, the willful king, at the same time (v. 40) is also conquered by him (the Assyrian); but tidings out of the east and out of the north troubling him, he returns with great fury to destroy and utterly make away many of the Jews -plants the tabernacles of his palace between the seas close to Jerusalem, and is then smitten by the Lord. (Dan: 11:41, 45.)
A graphic description of his last march to Jerusalem is given in Isa. 10, where he is seen to shake his hand against the city; but just as he thinks to possess it a second time, "Behold," saith the prophet, “the Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror." A striking type of the Assyrian's fall is seen in the destruction by the angel of the Lord of the mighty army of Sennacherib. (Isa. 37:3636Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (Isaiah 37:36).)
This closes the judgments of God on Israel and the nations; the Deliverer, the Lord, comes out of Zion, and delivers His faithful remnant. (Rom. 11:2626And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:26).) "Therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts,
O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction," (Isa. 10:24, 2524Therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt. 25For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction. (Isaiah 10:24‑25).) “The consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness." (Isa. 10:2222For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. (Isaiah 10:22).) The eleventh and twelfth chapters teem with millennial blessing.
Another very distinct scripture (Mic. 5:5, 65And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. 6And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders. (Micah 5:5‑6)) has reference to this same period. After speaking of One who shall come forth from Bethlehem to be ruler in Israel (Mic. 5:22But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)) the prophet continues, " And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men." (Marg., princes of men.) "And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall He deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders. And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord," &c.
Thus far we have been looking chiefly at judgments connected with the Lord's second advent, and I might cite numerous other passages, for the prophecies, as well as other scriptures, are full of the details of these events. Let us now notice two or three which show how suddenly and unexpectedly, but surely, men will be overtaken in their sins when the Lord comes.
We have already seen that the world is getting worse and worse, and that open apostasy will be the climax, drawing down God's judgment. In Matt. 24 the Lord told His disciples that, "As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together." The Jews are represented by the " carcass," a corrupt people; the nations, like eagles, will gather together to feed upon them, and enrich themselves with the spoil of this people, when suddenly, as a flash of lightning, the Son of man will come in judgment upon them.
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days" (i.e., the last half-week) "shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man, in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man, coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory." (Matt. 24:29, 3029Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:29‑30).)
This same truth is taught in Rev. 1 " Behold, He cometh, with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen."
In Zech. 14:33Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. (Zechariah 14:3) we are further told of the Lord going forth to fight against the nations that have fought against His people and land. “And 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." (Zech. 14:4, 54And 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. 5And 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).)
The remnant of Judah, witnesses for Christ in the midst of the terrible scenes of the last days, holding, as it were, their life in their hand, being hardly pressed, and in great straits, are miraculously delivered by the sudden manifestation of Christ; His feet stand on the mount of Olives, which splits asunder, and a very great valley affords them a means of escape from their enemies.
“And," continues the prophet, “the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with Thee. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: but it shall be one day, which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night; but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light." (Zech. 14:5-75And 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. 6And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: 7But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. (Zechariah 14:5‑7).) Then, after a description of millennial blessing, in Zech. 14:1212And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. (Zechariah 14:12), we get, "This shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor. And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague." (Zech 14:12-15.)
In the Lord's wonderful discourse in Matt. 24 and 25. we have a remarkable description of the state of men at that day from His own lips: "As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left." (Matt. 24:37-4137But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Matthew 24:37‑41).)
As in the days of Noah, men will be living for themselves and their own selfish ends, little thinking of the awful judgment that shall suddenly overtake them. They "knew not until the flood came, and took them all away;" none escaped but Noah and his family, who were left in the ark. When the Son of man comes, one shall be taken away in judgment, and another left in mercy, to be brought into millennial blessing, which is exactly opposite to that which will occur when the Lord comes for His people, for at that moment the saints will be taken (caught up) to heaven, and the world left for judgment.
“Take heed to yourselves," with the Lord to His people, "lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth." (Luke 21:34, 3534And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. (Luke 21:34‑35),)
With this terrible hour before Him, rapidly approaching, God, who is not willing that any should perish, "now commandeth all men everywhere to repent: because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world (the habitable earth) in righteousness, by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead." (Acts 17:30, 3130And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:30‑31).)
But how blessed to know that He is swift in mercy, slow to judgment; that judgment is His strange work. (Isa. 28:2121For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. (Isaiah 28:21).) “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night," &c. (2 Peter 9, 10.)
Were it not for His long-suffering, we who believe, and are now the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:2626For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26)), would never have been brought into this wondrous blessing; but having repented, we are now delivered from the judgment, and are not in darkness that that day should overtake us as a thief, but are all the children of light and the children of the day. (1 Thess. 5:4, 54But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (1 Thessalonians 5:4‑5).) The Christian can look with joy for the coming of His Lord to receive him to Himself, and for the day when he shall be manifested with Him. “Your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him, in glory." (Col. 3:3, 43For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:3‑4).)
“Beloved," says the apostle John, "now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:22Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2).)
Paul could anticipate that glorious moment, and say, " I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." (2 Tim. 4:7, 87I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7‑8).) He encourages too the hearts of the saints at Thessalonica, saying, " And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints." (1 Thess. 3:12, 1312And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:12‑13).)
And again, the Spirit of God brings it before the hearts of His people in a most precious and practical way in the epistle to Titus (Titus 2:11-1411For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11‑14).) I will quote the whole passage: " For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world: looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing" (or the appearing of the glory) " of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
The day of the poor world's judgment will be the day of our manifest exaltation with Christ in glory; instead of our being judged, we shall come with Him to reign and judge. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2:1212If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (2 Timothy 2:12)); and “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?" (1 Cor. 6:22Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (1 Corinthians 6:2).)
We have already noted that angels, as well as saints, will accompany the Lord at His appearing. This is clearly shown in Matt. 25:3131When 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: (Matthew 25:31), a scripture to which we must now refer, as showing the dealings of the Son of man with the nations at His advent.
“When the Sort 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: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats," &c.
This is often taken to be a description of the last judgment; but if you carefully read the whole passage you will find that it is a totally different scene altogether. Many have been misled by the heading of the chapter, or the note at the top of the page in many Bibles, in which it is so termed; but these have only been put in by man, and often very erroneously, especially so here. It is the separation of nations, introductory to the millennial reign of Christ, and a thousand years before the judgment of the dead at the great white throne.
When the Son of man shall come in His glory (or “shall have come " is the full force of the passage), He sits on His throne of glory, and all nations (mark the words, all nations), not the dead, but the living, the quick, shall be gathered before Him, who is Judge both of quick and dead. (2 Tim. 4:11I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2 Timothy 4:1).) Having judged the military power of the West under the beast, and with him the false prophet at His revelation, He next sits upon His throne, and exercises discriminating judgment among the nations, preparatory to the establishment of His kingdom throughout the earth. They are dealt with according to the way that they have treated His brethren (not the Church, who will have already gone from this scene, but the King's brethren, Jews), who will preach the gospel of the kingdom as a witness to all nations during the time of antichrist's power. The righteous, separated on His right hand, are invited into the kingdom; that is, earthly blessing in the millennium. The goats hear the awful sentence, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
Many features in this description most widely differ from that of the judgment of the dead. For instance, the scripture, in speaking of "nations," refers to those who are alive, not to those who are dead. In the scene before us we find distinctly three classes—" the brethren, the sheep, and the goats "—the first not judged at all, the second invited into blessing, the third sentenced; whereas in Rev. 20:1212And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12) we find only one class, "the dead," and all are sentenced to eternal judgment.
In Matthew the Son of man comes with angels, and sits on His throne of glory; in Revelation there is no coming, no mention of angels, but of a great white throne. Here it is a judgment by the King on the earth; there the earth and the heaven flee away before the judgment. Here no books are mentioned; there books are opened, and the book of life. Here the goats are commanded to depart into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels; there the devil is in the lake of fire before the wicked dead are cast there. (Rev. 20:1010And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10).) One is distinctly the Son of man as King dealing with the living nations prior to the establishment of His power and glory in the earth; the other the judgment of the wicked dead after the close of the earth's jubilee.
If we come to the word of God with the preconceived and widely-accepted thought that there is only one resurrection and one general judgment, we must confound things which widely differ, rob Christ of that which is for His glory, and our own souls of rich blessing. God's thoughts are not our thoughts, and our ways are not God's ways; but as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His thoughts higher than our thoughts, and His ways than our ways. (Isa. 55:8, 98For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8‑9).)
Before closing the subject of the Lord's appearing, I would call your attention to one more scripture out of the many that treat of it in the Old Testament. In Joel 3 we have a graphic description of events connected with the manifestation of Christ in power and judgment on the nations, the deliverance of Israel, and the blessing of the kingdom.
“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong." (Notice, this is exactly the reverse of Isa. 2:44And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (Isaiah 2:4), which will be fulfilled after this.) “Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause Thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley Of Jehoshaphat " (which is close to Jerusalem on the northeast): "for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision " (marg., concision, or threshing): " for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The dun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining." (Compare Matt. 24:2929Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: (Matthew 24:29).) "The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake " (compare Heb. 12:26-2926Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:26‑29)); "but the Lord will be the hope" (marg., place of repair, or harbor) "of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel," &c. The close of this remarkable chapter gives particulars of the blessing, &c., of the kingdom, of which we shall speak in our paper on the millennium.
Beloved reader, with this fearful judgment looming nearer and nearer for this ungodly world, I cannot refrain from once more appealing to you, and beseeching you, if still unsaved, to flee from the wrath to come. “The clay of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come" (Joel 1:1515Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. (Joel 1:15)), but the day of grace has not yet passed; soon, very soon, the door of mercy for you will be closed; oh, enter, enter now! God has given His Son, His only Son, His well-beloved; that Blessed One has died and risen again; God is glorified in Him; and now “by Him, all that believe are justified from all things." (Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39).) Do you believe?
Lo! 't is the heavenly army,
The Lord of hosts attending;
'T is He, the Lamb, the great I win,
With all His saints descending.
To you, ye kings and nations,
Ye foes of Christ, assembling;
The hosts of light, prepared for fight,
Come with the cup of trembling.
Joy to His ancient people!
Your bonds He comes to sever—
And now, 't is done! The Lord hath won,
And ye are free forever—
Joy to the ransomed nations!
The foe, the ravening lion,
Is bound in chains while Jesus reigns
King of the earth in Zion.