WHAT a startling statement! Surely that can never be true!
Is it not the boast of Christians, that every book that is written grows old and out of date except the Bible? Does not it keep abreast of the times; and does not Christ Himself say, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Luke 21:3333Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (Luke 21:33)). Also in 1 Peter 1:2525But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:25)― “But the word of the Lord endureth forever.” Yes, those verses are blessedly true, and all the blessings that Christians get through God’s Word will last forever, and the judgments recorded upon the rejecters of the gospel will be carried out, and that for eternity.
Then what do you mean by the Bible being out of date? What I mean is this. There will undoubtedly come a time in the history of this world when the Bible will be out of date. For more than eighteen hundred years pardon has been proclaimed to rebellious man through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.
Before the Lord Jesus Christ left this earth, He promised to return, and take His own to be forever with Himself; and since He has ascended into heaven, He has sent this message to His own. “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly; Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” He may come any moment― “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16, 1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17)). When this happens (and it might possibly, nay probably, be while you read this paper), then
The Great Open-air Meeting
will take place. Every blood-washed one from Adam downwards will form part of that grand open-air gathering. From the graves of countless churchyards―from the battlefields of centuries―from the depths of the ocean-from the catacombs of Rome―from the uttermost parts of the earth they will come; and the Christians (possessors, not professors) living on the earth at the time will also go to take their place in this great gathering in the air.
Then will come true the scripture in Matthew 25:1010And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. (Matthew 25:10)― “They that were ready went in with him to the marriage and the door was shut.” The Lord Jesus Christ will conduct the host of the redeemed with infinite satisfaction into His Father’s house, into heaven itself. Then the gospel invitations of the Bible will be out of date for those who have heard the gospel and rejected it. Awfully solemn! Then will take place the fulfillment of Revelation 6:16-1716And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:16‑17),
The Great Prayer-meeting.
All the empty professors of Christianity will be there—all those who were satisfied with a fair exterior without the inside being right—who preferred a cloak of religion to Christ in the heart.
Wake up, then, ye careless, godless, Christless professors, “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” It is time yet for salvation. Be in earnest. Tomorrow might, nay probably will, be too late. Look well to your foundations far eternity.
What is the yearning cry that will then ascend into the very vault of heaven from the agonized hearts of these now-awakened professors? “Lord, Lord, open to us.” What is the heart-withering, hope-crushing response to their earnest cry?
“I know you not,” and “Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity” (Luke 13:2727But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. (Luke 13:27)). Matthew 7:77Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (Matthew 7:7) says― “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.” Now, that is blessedly true; THEN, it is too late; for, they ask to be refused; seek, not to find; knock, to be denied admittance. Then that verse will be solemnly out of date, “Now is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). Do not in madness put off the salvation of your never-dying soul, dear reader, till a death-bed or some future day, but at once decide for Christ without delay.
The infidel may scoff, and the professor doubt, that the Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven in such a way soon, but, like the scoffers and doubters in Noah’s time, they will be grievously undeceived some day soon―undeceived to their own eternal damnation. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)) “And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)).
Will you form part of the great open-air meeting, or take part in the great prayer-meeting?
A. J. P.