The Day of the Lord

THE last solemn warning to mankind, revealed beforehand in prophecy, Rev. 14:9-12, contains a threatening of wrath most terrible, even wrath "without mixture," against those who disregard the merciful warning. In the first verse of the following chapter, the seven last plagues are introduced, with the declaration that "in them is filled up [or completed] the wrath of God." These plagues then follow the last message, and are the fulfillment of the threatening contained in it; and, consequently, are all in the future, unless indeed the last warning, before the coming of the Son of man upon the "white cloud," is in the past. This is conclusive proof that the view which supposes a portion of these plagues to be in the past, is erroneous.

That they are in the future is still more evident, from the fact that, the first vial of wrath takes effect upon those who had heard and disregarded the warning of the "third angel." This warning threatens wrath upon those who "worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand." In fulfillment of this threatening, when the first of the seven angels pours out his vial upon the earth, its effect is thus described: "There fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image." Rev. 16:2. The prophetic record of the three messages and the wrath which follows in connection with the coming of the Son of man, and the harvest of the earth, evidently describes events which are to take place in regular consecutive order. The third and last message is immediately succeeded by the wrath which it threatens; and the first vial of that wrath is in fulfillment of the threatening upon those who reject the warning. Hence while probation lasts, these plagues are all in the future, and are properly and emphatically the "seven last plagues." While Jesus pleads before the throne of mercy, probation continues and wrath without mixture cannot come. But with the close of this last message probation closes, and then the wrath denounced will surely follow.

If further proof upon this point were needed, it could be given; and those who have been instructed in the subject of the sanctuary—the "temple of God in Heaven"—would be prepared to appreciate it. The heavenly temple, like that on earth which was a pattern or representation of it, has its two apartments—the holy and the most holy. The "temple of the tabernacle of the testimony," mentioned in Rev. 15:5, is the second apartment, or most holy place; it is so called, because it contains the testimony of God, the ten commandments, within the "ark of the testimony," which, in the "patterns of the things in the heavens," the "figures of the true," (Heb, 9:23, 24,) was located in the most holy place as its appropriate tabernacle. Ex. 25:16; 27:21; 31:18. At the end of the twenty-three hundred days, in 1844, this inner tabernacle was opened, when Jesus our High Priest entered to cleanse the sanctuary, that is, to perform the closing part of his ministry, or work of intercession before the throne of mercy. And those whose faith has followed him there have "seen in his temple the ark of his testament." Rev. 9:19. This discovery has led them to embrace all the commandments contained in that ark. This is the reason why so many are turning to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment—the seventh day. It is no happen-so, but it is in fulfillment of the word of God.

When the work of intercession is ended, the most holy tabernacle is again opened. "And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled." Chap. 15:5-8.

This point of time reached, mercy no longer pleads. The intercessions of Jesus before the throne and his invitations to sinners to come and find pardon, have ceased. He that is filthy must remain filthy still. This temple is filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. No one can enter there to plead for the sinner to be spared a little longer; but wrath without mixture ensues.

O, sinner! O, careless professor! now is the time to prepare for this most solemn and fearful event. Now a compassionate Saviour pleads the merits of his own blood before the mercy-seat. Now he invites you to come and wash in the fountain, so freely opened, and at such a cost! But abused mercy will ere long cease to plead. The time will soon come when that blood that has been slighted and trampled under foot will cease to atone for the guilty. And from that very place where infinite mercy and divine compassion now plead, and whence pardon may be obtained, the messengers of divine vengeance will proceed. The seven angels came out of the temple. Their clothing is pure and white, indicating that though their mission is that of the executors of unmingled wrath, yet the throne of God, from which they proceed is acquitted, the justice of God is unsustained. All his judgments are in righteousness. "Just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."

When six of these vials have been poured out, the nations are gathered by the unclean spirits, and the kings of the earth are set in array for the battle of the great day of God the Almighty. They leave the battle which they have with each other, and go to fight with Him who comes from Heaven. Of these spirits it is said, "They are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." The coming of the Lord is now at hand. In this connection he says, "Behold, I come as a thief." His coming is doubtless in close connection with the pouring out of the seventh and last vial. Indeed, the hail from heaven which accompanies this vial, is doubtless that which the Lord has "reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war." See Rev. 16:12-21; Job 38:22, 23.

A further description of this battle is given in Rev. 19:11-21. Here a mighty One is represented as coming from heaven upon a white horse, followed by the armies of Heaven upon white horses, "clothed in fine linen white and clean." The white horses and clean raiment represent the fact, that "in righteousness he doth judge and make war." This divine personage is so carefully described that we need not mistake him. He is called Faithful and True, The Word of God, King of kings and Lord of lords. His vesture has been dipped in blood, but upon his head are "many crowns." All the kingdoms of the world are his. "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; and he treadeth the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." The beast and the kings of the earth and their armies are "gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army." The result is, the beast and false prophets are taken and cast into the lake of fire, the remnant are slain, and all the fowls are filled with their flesh.

Thus the enemies are slain, and will not be raised till a thousand years are completed. And thus the prophecy is fulfilled recorded in Ps. 2:7-9. The great day of the Lamb's wrath will have come, and no one will be able to stand, but those who have previously made peace with the King "through the blood of the cross," and whose names are written in the book of life. Thus opens the day of the Lord.