James White
This view no doubf, will .t once be reje<:led by many who proCeu 10 be looking for Jesus evety day Ind hour; bul I think il wWapjltu very plain, by eomparillg ReI', 16: 17_21, wilh chap. I), 14-17 Arter the heaveus depart "as:l. SCTOU when rolled logelher," lind the mountains and islands nrc moved out of their plaeesr" "Ihe kings of the ('l.I1b, and r;.al men, ClC." "hide in Ihedl.'DJ, aud!n the rocll-s oC Ibe mountains,' from Ibe awful glory of the coming Jesus, fluendcd by "all the hollangc\s j" nnd clIII for the rocks Ilod moulllnin to fnll on them, an hide them from the b,ighllun IIf hil ",ming (which i 10 destroy nlltbe living wicked III hi.! eoming.-2 Thess. 2 : 6.); Illd overwhelmed with anguish, in view oftheirexpt(:led fllle, (wheo Christ and the angels draw near the carib 10 raise Ilod pLher the elecl,) they ery out: "FOf the great day of his wrath is come, and wbo shall be able to s\.:Uld I"-Rev. 6: l7 Here we see Ihat the wicked who are bid, are SliU looking (onnrd to the lime when the saints Idone will "be able IQ stand" before Chmt 11.1 hi appearing. IfCbrist should burst in upon the world fill udden· Iy and unexpectedly as some tCllch, no one would think of hiding in eaves, dens,and rocks: for they are not .... ithin their re:J.Ch. ThlssholQ thaI an enlire eh1nge mUSl tke place in the eanh's sur(nee prinz" lO the second lI.!lvent, by the voi of God, in order (or the wicked to bavo a chance to hide from the expected Lllmb, in caves, dens, and rock or the muntnins. When the Father nllers his voice" from the throne which is to cause" a grelll eanhquah, such lIS was not si.nce mea were wpon the earth:" then there will be a cba\'l f..,r all Ihe It"icked who nre not swept olrby the fanner plllgues, tel hine from the presence of the Lamb. But rocks, caves, and dens., will nQt shelter them from the bllrning glory of that hQly thron l (or wllhe Jiving wicked nre lO be nestroyed "wlth the brightness 0 that eaming." - 2 Thess. 2: 8 God h1s promised to be the" ho)'le of his people," III Ihe tima his voiee shakes the hea\'ens lind the earth. His children !lnve nmhing to fear from the terron of thllt day; for they wi1\ be. sheltered from the falling of cities, mountains, nnd hou:ses. God's promise cannot filiI TIll\! wilt be. It glad day for the s.aint; for the, will then be "deliI ered" frolll e\'er)' ontwlml foc, and be tilled wlIh the Holy Ghost, 10 prepare them to gA.ze on Jesus, and slnnd before him at hi IlppeBring Then the sainls will belll'l" know the renl wonh of the blessed bope i and they wilt re;oue Ihtu they have been ItttOUmed worthy to suUfr re proach for dingu.g close 10 the Inllh, and strictly obe)'ing all the "com mllndmcuts or God." When God pake to Moses in Sinai. his" voice then hook the eafth i" and we arc tnught by St. Paul, in Heb. 12 22-27,lhat be is ycttospeak fronlthe "City of the living God," and shake not only lhe ellnh, but Illsa heuven." When God spake to Moses, the glory rested on him sa Ihnt he had Ie cover his face with a vail!. before his l)rthrcn could stand before him, und hear the word of the LOrd from bis moulh. And mlly "'e not expect the SIlme effect rom the same cause 1 If so, tben wben God speaks from the H0I1 City to 1111 his pcGple, 8.'1 he did to Moses: nil \I'iII have thel!"lory pour cd on Ihem, as nioSes hrut it poured on him. This out-pounng of Ihe Holy Ghosl must !llke place before Ihe second ndvent, to prepare WI {or the glory of that !lCf:ne: for in OUl presenl tate, none of us COiII 6uwd a si.ngle moment bef')\"1! the brightnl'S!l oCIJ.a! comIng, "'hi411 iSI destrDytha "man of sin." At the presence of one ang!"l at the NUll rection of Christ, tha Roman guard feliJike dend men to the ground II ill IhererOf(' IIC(:CS$Ilry, that the saint$ mould lihue mrcely in IlIe digitized by InspiredBooks.de