The Day of the Lord

IT is objected that the Bible does not mention a third advent of Christ. It is true, the phrase third advent, is not found in Scripture; neither is the second coming thus named in the Old Testament. But did not the ancient prophets foretell it? All must admit they did. And the Jews stumbled over the first advent, and fell, because they had their eyes fixed on the glories of the second. So, now, there is a class that have their eyes fixed on the third advent and the glorious reign on earth, while they reject the only message that can prepare them for the second.

In the Old Testament, the different advents are spoken of in close connection, and not so clearly separated; but the progressive fulfillment of prophecy and the revelations of the New Testament, clear up whatever might be involved in doubt. And here permit me to say, that whatever seems doubtful in respect to unfulfilled prophecy, is interpreted by God himself in the fulfillment. It was so at the first advent; it is so now. Men may differ concerning the meaning of the three messages of Rev. 14, but God is giving his own interpretation of them in their fulfillment; and those who will not accept of it, will remain in the dark, and stumble into perdition.

In Malachi 3:1, 2, the first and second advents are spoken of in close connection. The messenger sent before Him was John the Baptist. (See Matt. 11:10, and parallel passages.) But the second verse, "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth?" clearly refers to his second coming. In like manner the second and third advents are spoken of in different scriptures. As an example, I quote 2 Thess. 1:7-10: "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, 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; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints," etc.

The Lord is revealed from Heaven with his mighty angels, at the second advent. At that time he is taking vengeance on his enemies in the pouring out of the seven last plagues, one of which is flaming fire, or the sun scorching men and the earth with great heat. Rev. 16: 8, 9; Joel 1:19, 20. But though he is then taking vengeance, he is not, at that time, punishing them with everlasting destruction; but he says, "Who shall be punished," at a time then future, "when he shall come to be glorified in his saints," that is, to present his glorified saints in the presence of the resurrected wicked, when they shall be gathered around "the camp of the saints and the beloved city," and "shall see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of Heaven," and they themselves shut out.

This we learn from Rev. 20, is a thousand years after the first resurrection, which takes place at the second advent. The wicked are not punished with everlasting destruction till they are raised from the dead, encompass the "beloved city," which will have descended to the earth, and fire comes down "from God out of Heaven and devours them." There is no resurrection from the "second death;" therefore this is everlasting punishment, a punishment not inflicted at the second, but at the third, advent; for we have before proved that, at the second advent, Christ returns with his saints to Heaven. The day of the Lord includes the taking of vengeance in the seven last plagues, or the wrath without mixture, the second advent, the thousand years, the third advent, and the everlasting destruction of the wicked by fire and brimstone from Heaven. (Compare Rev. 14:10; 20:9; Ps. 11:6; Gen. 19:24; Jude 7.)

This view of the day of the Lord explains Zech. 14, and removes an objection which is raised upon that chapter, by those who confound the second and third coming. Keeping in mind what has been proved, let us look at the events here brought to view: 1. The nations are at war, they are gathered against Jerusalem. 2. The second advent takes place—the Lord goes forth to fight against those nations as when he fought in the day of battle. (Referring to Josh. 10:10, 11, where the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel, and "cast down great stones from Heaven upon them," as a type of the great hail-stones which fall under the pouring out of the seventh vial. Rev. 16:21.) This battle is described in symbol in Rev. 19. 3. In that day, at the close of the thousand years, the Lord makes his third advent, sets his feet upon the Mount of Olives, which cleaves asunder and prepares a place for the city that comes from Heaven. Verse 4. Here is the camp of the saints and the beloved city, on this prepared spot. The revived wicked surround it, and are destroyed; the earth is melted and the new earth appears. 4. Then commences the eternal day, described in verses 6 and 7, the waters of life flow from Jerusalem the new, and the Lord is "king over all the [new] earth," verse 9, and there is "no more utter destruction, but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited." Verse 14. This is not a city built by human hands, to be superseded by the city from Heaven, but it is the heavenly city itself, which is to remain forever. No more utter destruction, it will be eternal. What follows concerning the plagues is not written in its chronological order. It is something fulfilled in the present world; while the Jerusalem described evidently belongs to the eternal world. Thus there are three principal advents, though the Son of God may have passed from Heaven to earth, and from earth to Heaven a thousand times. Gen. 18:17, 22; Acts 7:38; John 30:17.