James White
“Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.”—Luke 21:26–27. In the 36th verse we are exhorted to constant watchfulness and prayer, that we may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man at His appearing.
This makes it sure, that the trouble comes before the second advent; for the saints are to escape it, before they “stand before the Son of man.” At the second appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, the living wicked, who are not swept off by the plagues, are to be destroyed by the “brightness of His coming.”—2 Thess. 2:8. This is positive proof that the plagues come before, and not after the advent; for the wicked will not suffer by the plagues, after they are destroyed by the burning glory of His coming.
The plagues of Egypt, and the deliverance of ancient Israel from bondage, clearly shadow forth the seven last plagues, and the deliverance of the saints.
THE VOICE OF GOD.
“The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”—Joel 3:16.
Second Advent writers and lecturers have usually confounded the voice of God, which is to shake the heavens and the earth, with the “voice of the Son of God,” which will call forth the saints. But I think that we shall clearly see that here are two distinct events. The voice of God, that is to shake the heavens and the earth, comes “out of Zion,” and is uttered “from Jerusalem.”