Will The Church Go Through The Tribulation?
Posted on Nov 29, 2011 in David L Cooper | 0 comments
by David L. Cooper
In last month’s study we examined Matthew’s record of the Olivet Discourse which is found in Matthew, chapters 24 and 25. Mark’s account runs in the same groove as that of Matthew, only it is much abbreviated in comparison with the latter’s narrative. Luke, in his record, supplements the information that is given in the accounts of Matthew and Mark. A person must therefore study all three records if he is to have a clear picture of what our Lord spoke in the message known as the Olivet Discourse.
If I am permitted to think of the development of the thought of the discourse found in Luke, chapter 21, and express in it terms of cross-country tours, I would say that our Lord made three trans-dispensational journeys. In my speaking of “trans-dispensational journeys,” I am thinking of course in terms of transcontinental trips exclusively.
I. The Occasion of Our Lord’s Speaking the Prophecy
The Apostle called the Lord’s attention to the large stones and valuable offerings that had been deposited in the Temple by devout people. It is to be remembered that Herod the Great, about 20 B.C., began to remodel the Temple, tearing it down piecemeal and rebuilding it upon a more magnificent scale. Naturally the Jews were very much interested in their central shrine. Even the Apostles had great regard for it and called the Lord’s attention to the very large stones used in its construction.
But our Lord cooled their enthusiasm by prophesying that the Temple would be completely destroyed, even to the extent that one stone should not remain upon another that had not already been thrown down.
As soon as He made this prediction, the disciples asked Him, according to Luke’s account, two questions, namely “When therefore shall these things be? (the destruction of the Temple according to this prediction)”; and, “What shall be the sign when these things are about to come to pass?” The Apostles understood that there would be some sign or some event that would be indicative of the nearness of the time when the prediction would be fulfilled.
By our looking at Matthew’s account, we see that they asked another question: “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (or, the consummation of the age)?”
When we take both accounts and study them together as they should be, we see that the Apostles, as soon as Jesus foretold the demolition of the Temple, thought that He was speaking of its destruction in the day of Jehovah, as I foretold in such passages as Zechariah, chapter 14. Believing that He was talking about the fulfillment of this passage, they naturally asked Him what would be the sign of His return in fulfillment of this prophecy, the conclusion of this age, and the introduction of the next one, the millennial kingdom. As we saw in last month’s study, Matthew devoted all his attention to our Lord’s answer to the second question, the one relating to His coming and the end of the age. But this element is seen reflected even in Luke’s account—although He gave us the two questions regarding when the prediction of our Lord would be fulfilled, and what would be the sign when it was soon to be accomplished
This prediction was uttered in A.D. 30. This is therefore the standpoint from which the sermon must be studied. In the margin of our Bible opposite verses 5-7 we could put the date, A.D. 30.
II. The First Trans-Dispensational Journey
“8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and, the time is at hand: go ye not after them. 9 And when ye shall hear of wars and tumults, be not terrified: for these things must needs come to pass first; but the end is not immediately. 10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 and there shall be great earthquakes, and in divers places famines and pestilences….” (Luke 21:8-11a)
Verses 8 and 9 give us a running survey of the entire Christian Dispensation, beginning with A.D. 30 and going up to the world war, famines, pestilences, and great earthquakes, which constitute the sign—the infallible sign—of the end of the age. Thus in the margin of our Bibles we may write the expression, “The Christian Age,” opposite verses 8 and 9. In verse 8 we see that there would appear false messiahs, from time to time, during our Lord’s absence from the earth. From verse 9 we also learn that wars and tumults would arise; “for these things must needs come to pass first”—before the events mentioned in verses 10 and 11a—“but the end is not immediately.” IF we had Luke’s record alone, we would not understand what was meant by the word end; but when we lay this record beside the account of Matthew or that of Mark, we know that the end of which our Lord was peaking is the end of the age, and about which the Apostles asked Jesus. The “wars and tumults” mentioned in this verse are the same as the “wars and rumors of wars” mentioned in Matthew 24:6. The conditions which produce wars and conflicts between nations continue to exist. So long as the cause of conflicts is here, just so long will there be wars. A glance at the Christian Dispensation shows that there have been throughout this age war after war. Thus in the light of verses 8 and 9 of our passage, we see that Jesus was talking about the wars that would characterize the Christian Age.
Having spoken to the disciples about the end in verse 9, our Lord in a most impressive manner foretold a world war attended by famines, pestilences, and great earthquakes in different parts of the world which, according to Matthew 24:7, is the sign of the end of the age. As we saw in last month’s study, the expression “nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom,” is an idiomatic expression of the Old Testament which indicates a war that begins on a small scale by one nation’s rising up against another and then another one’s coming into the struggle until the conflict takes on proportions affecting all the territory that was before the prophet’s mind when he used this idiom. Since Jesus had a world-outlook in the Olivet Discourse, and since He used this idiom, it can mean nothing but a world war which would be attended by famines, pestilences, and great earthquakes in different places of the world. Such a conflict with these various calamities, declared Jesus, would be the sign of the end of the age. We had just such a conflict as that in the years 1914-1918. Everyone who has given any consideration to this subject whatsoever recognizes that we had just those very things at the time of the great war. Jesus knew that there would be more than one world war. We know that there will be three world wars during the great Tribulation Period. Whether or not there will be any other world wars between now and the beginning of the Tribulation, no one can say. There have thus been two world wars, and there will be three world wars during the Tribulation. Which of these, one may ask, is the one referred to by our Lord in verses 10-11a? Obviously the first one. Such an interpretation is the only one that makes sense. Thus in the margin of our Bibles opposite verses 10 and 11a we might put the date 1914-1918.
In the last part of verse 11 Jesus declared that there would be terrors and great signs from heaven. Did such visible manifestations in the heavens appear in connection with World War I? Or have they occurred since then? The answer is a most emphatic denial: These have never occurred. But, since our Lord said that they would, we may be certain that they will come to pass exactly as He said. But when? No one knows. We are now in the year 1948. Sometime in the future these will occur. Let us therefore express the year when they will occur in an algebraic form: Sometime in the future these will occur. Let us therefore express the year when they will occur in an algebraic form: Thus I would say, in the year 1948 plus x these great signs and terrors will come to pass. The letter x is of course the algebraic symbol indicating the unknown quantity. Las year I said that these signs would take place in the year 1947 plus x. Next year, if the Lord permits me to live and I express myself along this line, I shall say that these will occur in the year 1949 plus x. This is the farthest point that our Lord reached in His first trans-dispensational thought journey.
III. The Second Trans-Dispensational Journey
“12 But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bring you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 It shall turn out unto you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer: 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay. 16 But yet shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. 18 And not a hair of your head shall perish. 19 In your patience ye shall win your souls” (vs. 12-19).
Let us bear in mind that, at the end of verse 11, we are in the year 1948 plus x. But verse 12 begins with these words: “But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you…” The disjunctive conjunction “but” introduces a thought contrary or opposite to the one which He had just expressed. The prepositional phrase, “before all these things,” is temporal in its connotation. By the use of this conjunction and this temporal phrase our Lord turned from the year 1948 plus x and came back to the time when He was speaking, namely, to the year A.D. 30. This fact becomes immediately apparent to one who has read thoughtfully verses 12-19 quoted above. In this quotation our Lord told His disciples the experiences that would comfort them as His representatives. Thus in the margin opposite verses 12-19 I would put the date, “A.D. 30 plus.”
Let us bear in mind that in the statement, “But before all these things they will lay their hands on you . . . “ our Lord made His second trans-dispensational journey, traveling from 1948 plus x back to A.D. 30.
An examination of the Book of Acts shows that persecutions soon began against the early Christians. Peter and John were cast into prison and were beaten and sent forth from the presence of the Sanhedrin, being charged not to preach any more in Christ the resurrection from the dead (Acts chapters 4 and 5). Persecution arose against Stephen (Acts chapter 7). Saul of Tarsus persecuted the church (Acts chapter 9). In Acts, chapter 12, we read of the killing of James and of Herod’s intention to slay the Apostle Peter. From early church history traditions have come down to us concerning the sufferings and the persecutions to which the early disciples were subjected. Thus this particular prediction was literally fulfilled in both Jewish and Roman persecutions of the Christians.
IV. The Third Trans-Dispensational Journey
20 But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand. 21 Then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter therein. 22 For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! For there shall be great distress upon the land and wrath unto this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 25 And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows; 26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (vs. 20-27).
In verses 20-27 our Lord made His third trans-dispensational journey, going from the year A.D. 30 to the year which in algebraic phraseology might be designated as 1948 plus x plus 7. The term, 1948 plus x. brings u to the time immediately before the great Tribulation Period, which is a time of distress of seven years’ duration. Thus when we add seven to the term, 1948 plus x, we are brought to the very last year of the Tribulation—to the time when our Lord Jesus Christ shall rend the heavens and return tot his earth to set up His glorious kingdom in the world.
In verses 20-24b our Lord has left A.D. 30 and has gone out to A.D. 70, the year when Jerusalem fell, the Jewish commonwealth of nations collapsed, and the Jews that survived that terrible ordeal were carried into the slave markets of the world and sold into bondage. All Bible students recognize that this is a prophecy by our Lord concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, which we know occurred in A.D. 70.*
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* The rationalistic critics recognize that these verses foretell the destruction of Jerusalem which occurred at the date mentioned above; but since they do not believe in predictive prophecy, they claim that Luke wrote his record of the Gospel after A.D. 70. Obviously such date-setting is the result of rationalistic prejudice, which discards all sane logical thinking. The Evangelist Luke wrote both the Gospel bearing his name and the Acts of the Apostles. All the evidence shows that Acts we written around the close of A.D. 63. Luke was written before this, as one may see by glancing at the prologues of both Luke and of the Acts. Thus Luke was written before A.D. 70.
The Apostles had asked to know the time when Jerusalem would fall and the sign which would be indicative of the approach of that event. Jesus answered by telling them that, when they should see Jerusalem encompassed by armies, they could know that the time for its desolation was at hand. He gave the disciples specific instructions to leave the city after the armies had encircles it. To the one who does not have faith, these instructions would seem ridiculous. Unbelief would reply that He should have told them how they would know the time was approaching for the armies to surround the city in order that they might get out before that encirclement. Jesus knew that Titus would withdraw his armies after having encompassed the city, and that then would be the proper time for those in the city to leave. For some unknown reason, according to history, Titus withdrew his armies. The Christians in Jerusalem followed the instruction of our Lord, fled down to the Jordan Valley, crossed that river, and went up to a place on the east side called Pella. According to the traditions that have come to us, not one drop of Christian blood was spilled in the final siege and fall of Jerusalem.
Jesus said, according to verse 24a and b, that the Jews in Jerusalem would fall by the edge of the sword and be carried captive into all the nations. Then He made the further prediction that Jerusalem would be trodden down of the Gentiles. It was trodden down of the Gentiles in A.D. 70. The city then was completely destroyed.
In the temporal clause with which verse 24 ends, we have these words. “. . . until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” But we must notice the independent clause to which this temporal one is attached: “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Jerusalem, as we have just seen, was trodden down in A.D. 70. Jesus said that it would remain in this condition until the times of the Gentiles should be fulfilled. The times of the Gentiles are doubtless the centuries during which the Gentiles have right and authority over the city and land and exercise their sovereignty. The usual position that the times of the Gentiles began with the conquest of the Jewish state by Nebuchadnezzar and continues until the land of Palestine goes back into the hands of the Jews, is doubtless the period that is referred to as “the times of the Gentiles.” In round numbers they have been running for approximately 2500 years. From all indications in the Scriptures and in the word around about us today, many devout, sincere Bible students are of the opinion that we are approaching the close of the age. Many are of the profound conviction that we are very much nearer the end of the age than most of us possibly suppose. But we must not speculate or guess in regard to these matters. On the contrary, let us have a “thus said the Lord” for every position which we take.
Verse 25 begins with these words: “And there shall be signs in sun and moon and
stars; . . . .” When we read this statement, instantly our minds go back to the last clause of verse 11 which foretells that there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven, which miraculous occurrences will take place in the year 1948 plus x. Thus immediately we associate the miraculous events of verse 11 with those of verse 25. As we consider this fact, let us remember that, in verse 12, by the expression, “But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you….” Our Lord in His trans-dispensational thought journey left the year 1948 plus x and went back to A.D. 30. Then in verses 20-24b He left A.D. 30 and came out, on His third trans-dispensational journey to the year A.D. 70. Finally, by His use of the expression, “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” He left A.D. 70 and came out to the year 1948 plus x, the year when these miraculous events will occur in the heavens and upon the earth. These facts show us that verses 12-24 are parenthetical. Now for further clarification on this point, dear friend, read verses 10 and 11, omit verses 12-24, and follow verse 11 with verse 25. You will then see that there is no break of thought. In other words, in verses 25 and 26, Jesus takes up the thought which He dropped with the last clause of verse 11.
In the year 1948 plus x “. . . there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars,” great terrors and signs from heaven. There will be a cause for these abnormal conditions. Regardless of what the cause is, of what is lying back behind these heavenly portents, these forces or powers will likewise affect the earth: for we are told immediately that, when these signs occur in sun, moon and stars, there will likewise be “. . .upon the earth distress of nations.” This statement is to be taken literally at what it says. The nations will be in dire need. They will be in perplexity; they will be at their wits end; they will e unable to cope with the situation that has arisen because of these abnormal conditions in the heavens above, and that affect the earth. But special attention is called to the fact that these heavenly phenomena affect the seas until the waves and billows roar. From time to time there have been hurricanes at sea; there have been the monsoons and the typhoons; but those natural phenomena which we see all the time are nothing in comparison with the great tidal waves which will be caused by these abnormal conditions in the heavenly bodies. There can be little doubt that these great billows and tidal waves will sweep inland on different continents and destroy vast areas.
When the reports of these disturbances at sea come in by radio and tell of the destruction of untold shipping, those who are listening over the radio will be terrified. Many who have weak hearts will succumb and will die, fainting for fear and for expectation of the things which are coming to pass on the earth. The beginning of these signs and wonders will start on a small scale, but they will continue to increase until the powers of the heavens will be shaken. When we take this passage in the light of parallel ones, such as II Peter, chapter 3, we know that the shaking of the heavens and the dissolution of the celestial bodies will occur at the very end of the Tribulation—at the time when our Lord is revealed from heaven in flaming fire, coming and taking vengeance upon all who know not God and who obey not the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (II Thess. Chap 1).
Since the shaking of the powers of the heavens occurs in final and complete form at the end of the Tribulation, it will come to pass at the time when Jesus comes, as we see in verse 27: “…then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” When? When the powers of heaven are shaken. But the powers of heaven are shaken only at the very end of the Tribulation. Then Jesus comes to take the world government into His own strong hands. Thus we see, in verse 27, the Lord has left the year 1948 plus x when the signs first occur and has gone to the end of the Tribulation, the year which is properly designated as 1948 plus x plus 7. With this verse He completes His third trans-dispensational journey in this marvelous discourse.
V. The Rapture of the Church
“But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh” (vs. 28). Our Lord declared that, when these things –the terrors and great signs from heaven, signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and upon earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows. . .—begin to come to pass, the disciples are to look up and lift up their heads; because their redemption draws near. IF this passage were the only one which bears upon this subject, we probably would be forced to the conclusion that the redemption of the saints occurs at the end of the Tribulation. In other words, we would be forced to believe that the church will pass through the Tribulation and will be raptured only at the very conclusion—at the time when Jesus rends the heavens and descends from glory to the earth to begin His glorious reign. But we know from related passages that these signs do not begin to come to pass at the very end of the Tribulation. The prophet, in Joel 2:28-30, told us that there will be a revival in Israel starting together with signs in the sun, moon, and stars and other supernatural phenomena “before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh.” The great and terrible day of Jehovah is the Tribulation, when God pours out His judgment upon the world. It lasts seven years. For a description of this day of Jehovah see Isaiah 2:10—4:1; Zephaniah 1:14-18. According to Joel these supernatural occurrences in the heavens upon the earth begin before the day of Jehovah, before the Tribulation. According to the Apostle John, in Revelation 6:12-17, there will be a recurrence of these supernatural phenomena in the heavens and upon the earth. Again, in what might be called the second quarter of the Tribulation, there will be other signs, somewhat different from these just mentioned, that will take place as we see in Revelation 9:12. Again these supernatural phenomena will recur in the latter half of the Tribulation (Rev. 16:8-11). This information we gather from the writings of John the Apostle. But our Lord, in speaking of the conclusion of the Tribulation, declared in Matthew 24:29 that, immediately after the Tribulation of those days, these signs in the sun, moon and stars will recur. At that time will appear the sign of the Son of man in the heavens, coming with power and great glory. Thus from the information which Joel, John, and Jesus give us, we see that these signs in the sun, moon, and stars begin before the Tribulation. Then they seem to clear up only to recur in the first part of the Tribulation upon the breaking of the sixth seal. Again, at the blowing of the fourth trumpet the sun will be affected. Again the earth and men will likewise be affected by the scorching heat from the sun. At that time the kingdom of the Antichrist will be darkened. This occurs about the middle part of the latter half of the Tribulation (Rev. 16:8-11). Then it seems that these phenomena pass by temporarily, only to come back in full force at the very end of the Tribulation.
Jesus knew what Joel had said and what John would say regarding these signs and spoke accordingly. Since, therefore, the Lord told us that our redemption draweth nigh when these signs begin to come to pass, and since they begin to come to pass before the Tribulation, we can know that our redemption draws near before the Tribulation.
But what is meant by our “redemption”? Remember that this language was spoken to the disciples of Jesus and is applicable in a special manner to believers who are living at the time when the signs occur immediately before the Tribulation. At that time we receive our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodies. The souls of those who have been born again have already been redeemed; but their bodies are to be redeemed. How will they be redeemed? When Jesus descends from heaven to the air, raises the dead in Christ, that is, their bodies, and catches up the living saints and immortalizes their bodies. I this manner the saints obtain their redemption. In view of the entire message of Luke, chapter 21, we see that the rapture can occur only at the time when these signs begin to come to pass. But since they begin to come to pass before the Tribulation, then the rapture must occur before the Tribulation.
How long after these signs begin to come to pass will it be until the rapture? No one knows. That glorious event may occur one minute after these signs begin; or an hour; or a day. It is foolish for anyone to speculate on this point. We cannot go beyond a “thus saith the Lord.” Jesus said, “When these things begin to come to pass,” then you, my disciples, “look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.” No Christian has a right to expect the rapture of the church until these events do begin to come to pass. The very moment they begin to come to pass then intelligent, well-taught Christians have a right to expect the rapture momentarily. The one thing that concerns us is that we be living in close fellowship with Him and be found busily engaged in His affairs.
VI. The Nearness of the Kingdom
“29 And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees: 30 When they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh. 31 Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh. 32 Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away” (vs. 29-33).
To all disciples our Lord spoke a parable: “Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh. Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdomof God is nigh.” Matthew, in his account which is parallel to this one, makes mention of the fig tree only. Luke said that Jesus called attention not only to the fig tree, but also to all the trees. By some expositors the fig tree has been understood symbolically as referring to the Jewish nation. According to this interpretation, the disciples are, when they see signs of national life beginning again in Israel, to conclude the coming of the Lord is near at hand. Thus our attention is constantly called to this new national life in Israel as the budding of the fig tree
I admit that, when the fig tree is used symbolically, it does refer to the Jewish nation. See Joel 1:6-7 in its context. But we are never to say that the fig tree is used figuratively, symbolically, in any passage of the Scriptures unless related passages likewise point to a symbolic meaning. There is nothing in the Matthew passage which indicates a departure from the literal meaning. A person is therefore merely speculating if he departs in this passage from the literal import of the fig tree. Whenever the fig tree begins to bud in the spring the one observing that natural phenomenon knows that summer is near at hand.
In a manner analogous to this observation the generation seeing “all these things”—a world war, famines, pestilences, and great earthquakes in different places, which are the infallible sign of the end of the age—may know that the kingdom of God is close at hand. The kingdom of God comes when Jesus returns to earth at the end of the Tribulation (Matt.
VII. Special Promise to those Whose Lives are Pure and Clean
“34 But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare: 35 for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (vs. 34-36)
In these verses our Lord warned His disciples to be very careful lest they should become absorbed with satisfying the flesh, lest some should yield to the appetites of the flesh and become drunkards, and lest some might be engrossed with the care of life and be unable to discern the approach of the day of their redemption and the coming of the Lord to accomplish that redemption. People who do not know God, and many of the born-again people who are not taking their soul’s interest very seriously, will be unaware that the time for those supernatural portents in the heavens above and the earth beneath is at hand. When these great disturbances come upon earth as a result of these supernatural signs in the heavens, there will be great calamities that will engulf many, and that will sweep myriads of people from the face of the globe. There can be little doubt that there will be numbers of Christians in the danger zone when these things begin to come to pass. Those Christians who are not taking their relationship to Christ very seriously but who are simply living for worldly ambitions and the like will be swept off the earth with the ungodly, if they are in the danger zones, that is, they will be killed and will have to pass out of this life—though they are born again people through the portal of death. They will be killed by these terrific upheavals in the natural world resulting from these supernatural signs in the heavens. They will not prevail to escape those things. This statement does not imply that they will be lost. They will not be. If they are once saved, they are saved forever. But they will be just like Christians who are in some danger zone today, when there is, for instance, a terrific explosion, which takes Christian and non-Christian alike.
Our Lord encouraged His people to lives of purity, consecration, and separation and promised that those who are thus heeding His admonition, when these signs begin to come to pass, will not be swept off by these calamities and leave this world through the portal of death. On the contrary, He will protect them so that they are not killed by these catastrophes; but they will remain until the very moment when Jesus descends from heaven to the air. Then He will raise the dead in Christ and catch up those—all Christians—who will be alive at that time. Thus Christians are urged to live a separated life and to pray that they may be protected when these catastrophic events occur at the beginning of these signs from heaven.
My dear brother in Christ, it behooves you and me in these days to study the Scriptures very, very carefully; to lay our all upon the altar; to live for God; and to work for Him as we have never done3 before. WE do not know when these signs may begin to come to pass. So far as you and I know, they may begin to pass the next second; for within five minutes from now; or within an hour, a day, or week. When they do begin, then we can expect the shout from the sky calling us out of this world and this present evil age. What we intend to do for God, let us do it and do it with all of our heart and with all rapidity. “The king’s business requireth haste.”
“Rejoice, all ye believers and let your lights appear!
The evening is advancing, and darker night is near:
The Bridegroom is arising, and soon will He draw nigh.
Up! Pray and watch and wrestle: at
“Our Hope and Expectation, O Jesus now appear;
Arise, Thou Son, so longed for, o’er this benighted sphere!
With hearts and hands uplifted, we plead, O Lord, to see
The day of our redemption, that brings us unto Thee!”
(From the German of Laurentius Laurenti, 1700)
