Part 7 (2/2)
It is the great day long foretold by seer and prophet.
Again let us read the description of what it will mean to the unsaved to see Christ coming in glory; for the terror of that day must warn us now to keep within the refuge of the Saviour's loving grace:
”The kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and 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: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”
Rev. 6:15-17.
The same glory that transforms the righteous is a consuming fire to those who have rejected Christ's salvation:
”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.” 2 Thess. 2:8.
”When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not G.o.d, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.” 2 Thess. 1:7-9.
The Climax of Human History
Thus the second coming of Christ brings the resurrection and translation of the righteous, the death of the wicked, and the end of the world. The resurrection of the wicked does not then take place, but only that of the just; save for some of the wicked dead who had a special part in warring against Christ,--”they also which pierced Him” (Rev. 1:7). These are raised to see His coming, necessarily to fall again before the consuming glory of His presence.
The righteous are taken to reign with Christ in the heavenly city for a thousand years, and during the same period the earth lies in desolation and chaos, uninhabited by man, a dark abyss, the dreary prison house of Satan. Of the two resurrections, first of the just and then of the unjust, we are told:
”They [the righteous] lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power.” Rev. 20:4-6.
It is at the end of the thousand years that the resurrection of the wicked takes place. Then the city of G.o.d descends, ”the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from G.o.d out of heaven,” and the wicked come forth to condemnation and the second death, from which there is no waking.
”Now is the Accepted Time”
Now is the day of salvation, when by Christ's grace we may prepare for that great day. To be found among His redeemed ones in that day will be of infinitely greater worth than anything this world can give, of pleasure, or possessions, or honor. Nothing will count then but the blessed hope.
Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, found the personal Saviour in the days of the Methodist revival in England. All her wealth and all her social influence were devoted to Christ, even though t.i.tled friends took umbrage at her close a.s.sociation with the poor and the humble who gave heed to the message of the hour, and pressed into the kingdom. She wrote of her joy in being numbered with the children of G.o.d:
”I love to meet among them now, Before Thy gracious throne to bow, Though weakest of them all; Nor can I bear the piercing thought, To have my worthless name left out, When Thou for them shalt call.
”Prevent, prevent it by Thy grace.
Be Thou, dear Lord, my hiding place In that expected day.
Thy pardoning voice, O let me hear, To still each unbelieving fear, Nor let me fall, I pray.”
One night, at a royal ball, the Prince of Wales asked a t.i.tled lady where the Countess of Huntingdon was. ”Oh, I suppose she is praying with some of her beggars somewhere!” was the flippant answer. ”Ah,” said the crown prince, ”in the last day I think I should be glad to hold the hem of Lady Huntingdon's mantle.” True it is that the greatest gift of grace now, as it will be then, is to be numbered among the obedient children of G.o.d.
”Let me among Thy saints be found, Whene'er the Archangel's trump shall sound, To see Thy smiling face; Then joyfully Thy praise I'll sing, While heaven's resounding mansions ring With shouts of endless grace.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: CHRIST ANSWERING HIS DISCIPLES' QUESTIONS
”When shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Matt. 24:3.]
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE FORETOLD
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