THROUGH TRIBULATION by H A Baker

THROUGH TRIBULATION

By H. A. B A K E R , M i s s i o n a r y t o C h i n a

CONTENTS

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I . The Gospels, the Book of Acts, the Epistles and the Book of Revelation all Teach that the Return of Christ will be at the End of the Great Tribulation, after the (1) Reign of the -4nti-christ and after (2) Unprecedented Disturbances of Heaven and Earth.

11. Through Tribulation Lo Haven the Unvarying Prjnci- pal of Redemption.

111. The Calamity the Christian Hopes tu Escape i s the Wrath of God upon the Wicked in the Day of Judge. ment after the Great Tribulation.

IV. The Blessed Hope of the Christians is the Joy that will be His in the Day of Resurrection and Rewards.

V. The Returning Christ will be Visibly Manifest to the Whole World of Both Believers and Unbelievers.

Vl. The Translation of the Church, with its Living and Dead Believers, will be after the Great Tribulation,

VII. Jesus will not Return till Be Comes to Destroy all Enemies at the End of the Great Tribulation.

VIII. The Coming of Christ, for Which the Christian is to Watch and Pray Lest it Catch Him Unawares, is after the Great Tribulation.

IX. Christ Jesus wi!l Remain in Heaven as Our High Priest, Mediator and Advocate until after the Great Tribu- lation.

X. The Coming of Christ will be at the End of the Age. when the Wicked and the Righteous will be Harvested and Separated, at the End of Earth's Tribulation.

ST. Seven Definite Things for which the Christian I-Iopes in Connection with the Return of Christ, are Things that Attend His Corning after the Great Tribulation,

XII. Circumstances of the First Resurrection Show it t o Be after the Great Tribulation,

STIZ. Cii.cumstances Attending the Consummation of the Chuwh and the Completion of its Work on Earth, Show that the Church will Remain on Earth till the End of the Great Tribulation.

FOREWORD This is a companion volume to Tribulation to Glory

which has been surprisingly well received the few months it has been in circulation. After reading the message of that book many readers say that i t brought out clearly truths they had before seen in more or less obscurity. This reaction toward the former book encourages the bringing of the present volume into circulation, for it gives tile fuller scriptural support for this theme relating t o the time of tlie return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As in the case of my other h3ks , in sending this one out I have especially in mind our friends who have been faithful prayer supporters of our work for m m y years and have been interested in all we have done or written.

I xish here to assure you that if ycu will carefully read and meditate upon what is contained in this boolr and come to believe in the truths herein set forth, you will find your- self brought more fully into the meaning of the cross as we should expect 50 experience it. You will feel that you are more perfectly in line with the experience ~f Jesus and the saints who have gone before us, You will see that the cross- bearing way, the tribuIation way, is the most glorious way.

What we want is truth. All truth must c11ec.k with scripture. But u7e all, as Paul says, see through a glass darkly as compared wit11 seeing all truth as i t is in its right setting and l~roportions. We must ever remember that in our searching for the truth as revealed in the scriptures it is important to maintain a spirit of love and right consideration towards other seekers for truth. Difference in doctrinal beliefs is not ground for unchrist-like attitude

P

8 T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O N

of mind. Many of our best friends at present believe differ- ently from what they will find in this present book. We love them none the less for believing what they have been taught--erroneously taught, as we now see it. While I believe what they will here read will give such a more consistent and satisfying Christian life, a supreme love for Christ and His children should be paramount.

We are naturally inclined to grab at any straw that will help defend us in our position, while rejecting truth that would be most clearly evident were we wilIing to amept it. It is hard to honestly and fairly consider and weigh every interpretation of scripture on its own merits. More than that, we are naturally cowards. We are afraid t o act on the truth we see because of the physical, mental, or spirituaI pain honest acceptance and execution of truth will involve. Let's be honest in facing truth and facts. Let's be brave and accept without excuse the truth we see and make our actions check in its execution. Otherwise we will surely miss Gd's best. My hope is that readers of this book will honestly consider what is written and compare it all with scripture. If what you flnd is seriptuml, as I believe i t is, 1 will rightly expect you t o accept it and act upon it regwrd- less of what it may involve in the way of pleasure or pain.

It seems to me tha t the reader will not fail to see that the so-called "pre-tribulation theory" that the Church will be caught away from the earth before the time of the reign of the man of sin, or anti-Christ, is false doctrine, not supported by scripture. I believe this present discussion will show, on the other hand, that the coming of the Lord will not be until after the so-cded great tribulation.

Like myself, so far as I know, or anyone who knows, every believer of this popular any-moment-secrebrapture-

T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O N 9

doctrine came to believe in it by first hearing it from a preacher, or a teacher, or a friend, or from reading it in the religious literature of the day. I know of no one at present who came to this belief at first by his etvn personal Bible study, do you?

Books on this theme and much other literature that came to my hand in my first contacts with this subject, with but little exception, taught the commonly accepted errone ous doctrine. I secured a Scofield Bible and practically devoured its contents. I studied every chapter, verse, note, line. At last I came to a "dead end." I saw no through road in its teaching. My first contacts with this doctrine and my first study of i t through other men's eyes, as well as natural inclination bwwds so pleasing a way out of the present confusing and evil world, led me to half believe the doctrine and to half-heartedly preach it. In spite of all my

reading in i ts favor there had, from the first, been underneath it all the thought that this very important, much- embracing doctrine was founded on "inference" rather than definite statements of scripture. I feel certain that i t was the I-Ioly Spirit who, one morning, when I was studying this question, brought clearly t o my mind nearly dl the main considerations found from chapter I. to the end of this present discussion.

Later when the Lord poured out the Holy Spirit upon our orphanage of Chinese children in a most remarkable way, as recorded in my book, V i s i m Beyond the Veil, and as shewn there, many children, even small children, had repeat- ed visions and other revelations of the reign of the anti- Christ, and the persecution of saints as well as revelations of the preaching of the gospel in unusual power a t that time. This carroborated what 1; had seen in the scripture and at the same time made the coming of anti-Christ-

10 T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O K

tribulation so imminent that it had a very practicable and far-reaching effect on my subsequent missionary work. J will now indicate how this belief affected my work.

Shortly after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit just mentioned, the Lord miraculously opened the doors for the rema~kstble work of the Spirit that took place among the tribal people in the mountains cf Yullnan province, China, as recorded in my other book, God in 11a Do I.and. Thoroughly convinced now that the Church would be on earth ti11 the en? of tlie wign of the anti-Christ and that the anti- Christ persecution mas very near, from the time I made my first itinerary among the tribes I always felt the urge to work with t l ~ e thought that it might he my last chance to freely preach. No itinerary was ever free from this thought, Knowing that anti-Chdst persecutions were ahend and that my people must be prepared for the trihulatior~ that would come upon them, I never wanted to plan an)- self ease, OF prepare myself for less than 1 expected was to be our lot in the future. I felt no time mas to be taken out for furlough or for months or weeks or even days of vacation. I even watched the very hours lest time he lost. I allowed nothing to divert me from the work in hand, so that I might prepare as many people as possible m d as well as possible for the day the door would slam in my faze and tribulation ~vould settle down on my sheep in the mountains.

I expected that I and my Christians of various tribes wou'd be caught together in the persecutions of the anti-Christ, whose spirit we often felt about us. From the first I tauglzt my people that they were not to count their lives dear unln themselves, but I taught them what the Bible saicl, that tht. anti-Christ would come first and then Jesus would return. This they plainly saw in reading t.he Bible for tl~emselves. My many co-worl<ers and I every~vhe~e pr~nchecl tl!nt somc,

T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O N I1

or all, of us might have to be martyrs for Jesus. We talked and preached so much about the cross and how Jesus loved (1s and died for us, while the Holy Spirit made these things so real that the thought of suffering even unto death for JIim who had suficred all for us became a joyf111 tlzough't and an inspiration to lives c f deeper devotion to our Lord. I have seen yfiung men and young women and old men and old women -weeping outright inany a time bxanse they re- gretted they had beell unable lo sufler more for Jesus. Since wc would d l have to die some time, unless the Lord c a m in our day, mnny came t n think that of all the foxms of death imaginable there could be no death so satisfactqry and glorious as to be a martyr for Jesus.

To be sure the place I wanted to be buried was not too full of rocks or would not he too hard to dig in the dry season, at the time of the rainy season when the ground was soaked I dug my own grave and filled it up again. T told my men to put me in there in case I died not too far away. In my busy life I did not take the time and did not hax~e opportunity to buy a coffin fo:. myself, as I intended to do. Such preparation for the future need is quite common in tkat land. Although I did not manage to buy my coffin, on more than one occasion I told my people of my purpose and that I wanted them to see it was my fill1 intention t o end m y days among them and die with them, come anti-Chi-ist, or come what might.

Nevertheless, my hope cf ending m y days with my people and shepherding them, several thousands of them, to the last was not the will of the Lord. For two gears ihc Lord had been telling my people tkat the end of things was near and that He was going to take me from t11em. Then t h ~ time came when, as usual, I went t n the capital of the province for the summer months to WOY:; for t h e h ~ r l

12 T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O X

among the Chinese there. When I left the tribal work in the mountains the doors there seemed wider open than ever. My return to that work seemed certain. Slam! The doors shut and lockedl.

The threatenings of anti-foreign propaganda in the com- nlunist conventions among my people in the mountains, and the visit of some of my men to the capital where I was, and other things worked together in such a way that every one of my people knew that I did not run away from them on account of danger. They knew that I could help them no longer. They knew that my presence in their midst would endanger them and myself to no good Thus it was that T was shut out and my people shut in.

Before I left Ka Do land communists had already taken cjver. They had been in complete control for eighteen months. My people well lrnew the threats of communism. They knew its ungwdly aim. Now what happened to my people who had been taught that the anti-Christ would come before Jesus would come ? When the communists came I was to make no public mention of them or to sag anything that might be noised abroad and get my people into trouble with the communists. But without my saying anything definite. the Christians, among themselves, were quietly saying one to another: "This must be the anti-Christ. This must be the tribthtion of the end. The Lord has been telling us that what the Bible said was coming is at hand. Thismust be it."

When they sensed trouble ahead and saw the clouds rollingin did my people run? Yes, they did. I thought they would. They ran to the churches as never before. Back- sliders repented and came running back home. Hundreds who had stood undecidedly in the middle of the stream crossed over to our side-the danger side. The last six months there with my people were the most wonderful


of all my eighteen years in the mountains and of all my thirty-four years experience on the mission field. In that six months I walked over twelve hundred miles, held conventions in forty-four places, preached some four hundred times to thousands of Christians of many tribes, and bap tized over eleven hundred. The Lord worked more gracious- ly and more supernaturally in the conventions than ever before.

The great shock came when I was taken away. I heard that when the Christians met in conventions and went to prayer they cried till they were too weak to pray. No one but God knows how much they were like sheep without the one who had, in a special way, been their over-shepherd. I prayed, "0 Lord, m y h r d , who will take care of my sheep?" The Lord answered miraculously, and to my utter surprise, spoke through my own lips independent of my volition. I had asked, "Who will take care of my sheep?" We answered, "The One who takes care of the sparrow." That sentence, that voice from the hrd, has been my comfort and stay. I knew it, but still, that direct voice made it seem real and so different.

What did my people do? When they had dried their tears they arose, saying, sometimes in words and sometimes in action, "Now thai; the Lard has taken our over-shepherd, we under-shepherds, and all we who love the Lord, must bear the cross and do a double share for Jesus." I got just one letter from my people, the last one they dared write. It said that in two months the churches had been filled to overflow- ing as never at any time before. In the two months the under-shepherds left in charge had already baptized four hundred, and many more were waiting till the workers could get to them to baptize them.

I am relating this Wuse it shows the right outcome of

Ihe teaching of right doctrine. My people we1.e always tang11 t that the anti-Christ would come first and then Jesus wcuid come. They were always taught that the mere we suffer for Christ, the more Christ-like we become. They knew that the nail-pierced hands are a challenge for us to enter restir- rection glory by way of the cross.

Is not this the Ch~istian way? Is ~ o l this the way the Old Testament prophets and the Old Testament saints went ? Is not this the way the Church has come down through the centuries? How about the saints behind the iron and the bamboo curtains today'! For whom is there an easy rocking-chair or a soft hammock way to heaven today? 1s there t o be an exception to the whole principle of Chris- tianity and the experience of the saints ever since the days of Abel ? W h y any exception ? Are d n t s today better than Daniel and all of his train? Or, are present day saints too weak and cowardly to suffer tribulation and hence desire to be taken away lest they fail the Lord in time of trial:' Surely not. If tao weak and too cowardly, what would they do in heaven if they got there? Would they not be so ashamed when they looked upon the nail-pierced hands md looked into the beaming fates of the martyrs that they would plead night and day for the Iard to allow them to return to earth to really suffer a little for Jesus?

In China1 faced grave danger many times. I have faced death more than once. Then at last the Lord spoke to my people these words : (Chinese) "Bei Muh si dy gong dzo wan liao. 0 yao ling ta dao ih go hao di fang." Which means: "Pastor Baker's work is finished. f am going to take lzim to a good pke." I wondered if what I had expected and tried to be prepared for had come. Was I going to die in the midst of my people, or was I going to be killed and go


to that "good place, -heaven? Here I am, out of it all, in this "good placew-America.

How abut my people? When I was anxious about what would happen to them, did the Lord not speak directly to me in words, telling me who would now care for them- "He who cares for the sparrow." Not one of them will fall without my Father's notice. Not a hair of their heads will perish. If killed for Jesus' sake, not a hair will perish. They are dready on the resurrection side. If the Lord wants to keep them alive He will still do what IIe did while I was there: turn enemies into friends and make the communists, who are supposed to destroy the churches, say that the Christians were the best of the people and even tell the upgodly they had better be Christians. It is my opinion that my sheep, right in the midst of the ungodly mess, are not suffering. On the contrary, they may be suffering great tribulation, as have saints in all ages. To be ready to suffer all things for Christ and to count all loss for Him and to leave it with Him when to suffer in prison or when to be delivered by the angels is the right attitude of mind. Should not every follower of the crucified Christ be prepared to go through great tribulatiol~ to glory and then leave it to Jesus to work it all out?

Since many readers of this present volume may not have had opportunity to read Volume I., in the Introduction to the present volume, I summarize much that was in the former volume, showing the errors of the any-moment rap ture, or the escape-tribulation theory. If you have read the first book you may, if you desire, skip the Introduction and begin with chapter I.

INTRODUCTION A New Doctrine

The teaching t;hat the Church in whole, or in part, will be caught up to heaven before the reign of the man of sin, the anti-Christ, did not appear in church history until the early part of the nineteenth century. Neither any of the early church fathers nor later church writers taught this dcctrine. Neither did the early chumh creeds nor the church creeds of modern times before the nineteenth century teach this doctrine. On the contrary, whenever these writers, or creeds, referred to the last days of the Church, in every such instance they said that the Church would continue on earth to the end of the reign of the anti-Christ.

I intended to quote from some of the church fathers and from some of the Church creeds; but I believe that is un- necessary, since no one will deny the ahve statements of facts and since anyone who cares to do so may make pmonal investigation as to their truthfulness.

Of course beliefs of church fathers or beliefs as stated in creeds do not prove a doctrine true. The Bible is the pxoof-standard. However, these evidences from church history do show that this doctrine in question is a new doctrine.

How W e Got the New Doctrine After my study of the scriptures had led me ta believe

this an erroneous doctrine 1 learned about its origin. You may be as surprised as I was to learn how this teaching got into the Church and b e m e so popular. It appear8 that it came about as follows:

In March, 1830, a woman in Richard Baxter's church in 17


London, England, when under supernatural power, prophesied that the Lord Jesus might come any time and that true believers in Him might any day be caught up by translation to heaven. This church and this woman were connected with the Irvingite movement that soon went astray on many false doctrines. The Irvingite movement at that time placed much emphasis on supernatural manifesta- tions such as speaking with other tongues, prophesying under supernatural power, etc.

At the =me time John Darby and a little group of men gathered at Plymouth, England, were engaged in independent Bible study. This was the beginning of the sect later called 'The Plymouth Brethren." Although Richard Baxter himself did not wept as true the prophecy of the Irvingite woman in his church, it seems that many others did, And although Darby and his group of Plymouth Brethren were not a part of the Irvingite movement they, nevertheless, accepted this prophecy as coming from the Lord, and they incorporated it into their teaching.

Since Darby was one of the most influential preachers in England at that time, and since this easy way of escape- tribulation-doctrine was pleasing, and since it is a natural weakness of Christians to be readily attracted by any doctrine that promises to be a "new" revelation, this supposedly new revelation about the rapture of the Church quickly spread throughout the evangelical churches of England.

George Muller of the famous Muller orphanage and Treg- elles, reputed to be the best Bible scholar of that century,and Spurgeon, and many others by public addresses and in writing, opposed this new teaching, declaring i t to be unscriptural and false. However, all this opposition was in vain, as already shown.

Having accepted this "spirit"-inspired new teaching


Darby and his group proceeded by "new" interpretations and inferences to make the sc~iptures support the new "theory." Darby's line of "interpretations" and "inferences" have come down to us today through the Plymouth Brethren sect with little variation from the teachings of Darby. In our day Charles Scofield, one of the Darby line and close- ly associated with the "Brethren," has perhaps done more than any other one man to propagate the escape-tribulation, any-moment, secret-rapture teaching. Another man who helped much in making this teaching widely known was W. E. Blackstone. We summarized the Darby-Scofield teaching on this subject in a kook called, "Jesus Is Coming," and with the help of some men of wealth sent free copies to preachers and missionaries all over the world. That is how I first came in contact with any definite discussion about the return of the Lord. This was doubtless true in the case of thousands of others who had been as ignorant as I about the whole question. I read recently that Black- stone, after further study, reversed his former view and saw the error of his previous belief. However, he did much in his time in promoting the Darby-Scofield view.

Like Blackstone, and Oswald Smith, and Henry Frost, American secretary of the China Inland Mission, and like many, many others, who after more careful study, have reversed their beliefs, you may have to reverse yours, for you will see that the popular belief is "the tradi- tion of the fathers," but not of the true church fathers. A t any rate, the above is a brief outline of the history of this "new" Darby doctrine. Further information on this point, supported by more evidence of its accuracy, is given in my book Tribulation to Glory.

What k b y Taught So far as I know, all familiar with the facts agree that


The Vorth y-bEscapem Passages W o passages of Scripture were favorite texts for Dar-

by. One of these reads: "Watch ye therefare, and pray al- waya, that ye may be amounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36 . Dmby said that the things that were "to come to pass" were the persecutions under the anti- Christ.

Darby said that, but the Bible does not. Darby "in- f e d " that the reign of the man of sin was in question. Does not the Bible "infer" that the destruction af the wicked after the reign of the man of sin is referred to? Read the context. T h e Lord was talking abut the destruction of the heaven and the earth and what would happen to "them," ta people on the earth at that time. Who? The wicked. How would "they," the wicked, be caught? Una- wares. How about us? We would not be aught unawares if we should watch and pray, but would be safe in the day of judgement-"escape."

Now see how the following Scripture fits in with my 'Tnference" that the day of judgment and not the reign of the antiekrist is referred to in the ahve passage in Luke. Read this: "What manner of Tenons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall mdt with fervent heat." 11. Peter 3 :11,12. Peter wrote primarily to Gentile churches, and hence this looking for the day of destruction (post-tribulation) cannot be shifted over to the Jews.

Christians in general are to look for the day the wicked will be destroyed. Although I believe that my "inference" is most scriptural that the passages in Luke and in Peter refer


to the same thing, and that in the following Bible study I can show by much scripture that the day we hope to "escape" is the day of judgment of the wicked, all I insist on here is that this Darby-Scofield "inference" is unprovable in its setting and that this passage can have other interpretations.

A second favorite passage much used to support Darb y's theory was this: "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which s h d come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth," Rw. 3:lO. The "hour of temptation," Dartsy "inferred," was the time of the reign of the anti- Christ, and being '7rept" meant being translated to heaven by a rapture before that reign, began. So much for this new interpretation started by Darby. So much for inference.

Does the Bible say what this hour of temptation is? Does i t say how anyone is to be "kept," or where, or when? The Greek can mean kept through or kept away from. For eighteen months I and my people in the mountains of China were kept safe in the midst of the communists. My people at this present "hour" probably are unharmed in the midst of wolves. I am being kept from "that hour" by being brought home. But none of us have been translated to heaven.

As I will show later, there is plain scripture to show that the "hour" through which the Christian hopes ta be "kept" is the day of judgment of the wicked at the end of the reign of the anti-Christ.

All that I insist on here, however, is that there is plenty of p m f that Darby's "inference" is not "proof" nor provable by any direct statement of scripture anywhere.

The-One-Taken-and-the - Other - Left - Doetrine Another new interpretation of scripture, which no one

seems ever to have heard before the days of Darby, con-


cerned the Lord's statement that at the time of His return two would be grinding at the mill; one would be taken and the other left. Two wouId be in the same bed; one would be taken and the other left, Two would be together in the field; one would be taken and the other left. Darby said these mentioned as being "taken" were saved Christians or believers who would thus be "taken." Taken where? To heaven. How? By a silent translation, or rapture. When ? Any time, tcday, tomorrow--any day, any moment. It would be when the Lord came near the earth to secretly, without any external manifestation, raise the righteous dead and catch the living believers up to meet Rim in the air. But, we ask, what proof did Darby have that these to be "taken" as spoken of by the Lord were to be part of a general rapture of the saints a t the time Darby stated? Darby did not prove this. He said it. Does the Bible say it? No. Darby simply "inferred" this and then somebdy else inferred it and then somebody else until today it still hangs there on "inference."

Now, while Dmby's "inferences" about what was meant by the one "taken" and the other "left" fit into his unproven theory of a secret rapture, these "inferences" do not fit into the plain statements of the Bible. In fact, the Word of God directly contradicts Darby in this connection.

For instance, the Lord Jesus definitely stated that when He comes be will first gather out of His Iringdom that which offended. IIe Himself in explaining the meaning of the parable of the wheat and tares and that of the drag- net said that the tares among the wheat and the bad in the drag-net represented the wicked who would "first" be destroyed before the good were gathered in. Matt. 13 . There i t is: Darby said that the Lord would come and first gather the wheat from among the tares and leave the


tares still in the world. Jesus said that when He comes He will do the very opposite-first gather the tares out of the wheat and not leave the tares but bind them into bundles and burn them. Does not Jesus' definite statement flatly contradict Darby's "inference?*'

What proof is there that the particular moment Jesus had in mind was the time of the resurrection of the dead and the translation of living believers when He was talking about '%he one taken and the other lift?" If He referred to the translation of the Church, and the one '"taken" was to be one of those caught up by secret rapture, then do we not have here still another contradiction of scripture? Paul said that it was he who revealed to the church the "mystery" of living believers being caught up to meet the Lord in the air and that of the resurrection of believers at that time.

Aa every Bible student knows, the idea of "mystelry" as used in the Bible ia that of making known some truth not previously made known. Now, if Jesus was telling His disciples about the translation of living believers when He told about '"the one taken and the other to be left," would not Jesus, rather than Paul, have been the revealer af this rapture-"mystery ?" And if Jesus revealed this mystery, would not such a comforting and inspiring hope have been handed down through disciples to the days of Paul? And if so, how could Paul have been revealing any "mystery" at all when he would have been telling disciples what: they already would have known? Surely Darby here makes Jesus and Paul contradict one another.

In view of the above scriptures and definite statements of Christ, I submit the following "inferences" as being more consisttent than those of Darby : Since the "tares," or the wicked men, are h t to be taken out; from the good, wdd not the "one taken" be the one taken to be burned


and the one not m wicked be ' left?" Could Darby or any one prove that it could not be so? ? Here is further support for this inference : Jesus was talking about the similarity between the day of His coming and that of the destruction of the world in the days of Noah and of the destruction in the days of Lot. Destruction of the wicked is what He was talking about, was it not ?

Then what is inconsistent in "inferringl' that although in the days of Noah and Lot the wicked were all destroyed suddenly and unexpectedly, in like manner not all, but some of the wicked, or unregenerated, would be suddenly destroyed when the Lord comes with His angels to gather the tares? The Mo in the same bed, the two grinding together at the mill, the two working together in the fieId might every one of them be unbelievers. As students of the Bible must know without argument, the Lord will not immediately destroy all of the unbelievers when He appears. Will not the destruction of the wicked, begun then, extend over msidemble time? At any rate, the believers of the Darby- Scofield interpretations agree that there are unbelievem to be left for the millennium, most of whom, they say, will not ever be converted. Thus, consistent with Darby's own theory about the judgment of the wicked, the worst wicked of the two unbelievers could be "taken" and the best of the two 'left." Why not?

Equally consistent could not, in some cases, the "one Ieft" h a true Christian-- grain of wheat left when the tares were taken out? Why not? 3?uthermore, where is there anything in the statement of the Lord to indicate that anyone was to be "taken" away from the earth? They were not "taken" from the earth in the days of Noah or in the days of Lot, were they? These last considerations are not submitted as definite proof; but are they not more consistent


with scripture than those of Darby? In short;, the above should show that Darby's theory of the righteous being first taken from among the wicked is direct contradiction of scripture and the statements of the Lord, and in the second place, when it comes to "inferences," plenty of inferences based on direct scripture shkments directly oppose those of Darby, showing that he had no sufficient ground for trying to support his theory by such unscriptural and scripture opposing "inferences."

The Man - Child Theory When Darby first accepted t h e Irvingite "spirit"-inspired

woman's any-moment, secret rapture teaching he at once grabbed that symbolic twelfth chapter of Revelation and pulled i t in to help suppork his new theory. "Here we have it,"' Darby said, 4't'he man-child is the raptured church," Bible students who ought la know say that so far as students of church history seem to know, this idea of making the man-child of Revelation refer to the rapture of the Church started with John Darby. This new offspring, born of Dmby inference, has surely been prolific-its generation is legion.

This whole twelfth chapter of Revelation is figurative language, as no one will deny. Its interpretation is not given in the Bible, as is dm undeniable. Any interpretation of this chapter must, therefore, be by "inference." Rampant throughout the church today are innumerable false doctrines started by teachers who make the Bible speak by ''inference" where, in fact, it preferred silence.

No man can prove anything by the twelfth chapter of Revelation, but he can give his imagination full liberty here to warpit to fit almost any theory. All we take time to say here is that this is not proof text for Darby'a theory, or any other theory, and to say that whatever the figurative lan-


guage of this chapter may mean, it cannot mean what narby said, in view of the facts stated in the Word of God as quoted in the following studies in this volume.

Enoch, EIijah, Noah The Darby group brought in Enoch, Elijah and Noah

to make them kelp. Enoch and Elijah, they said, were types of the rapture of the Church before the so-called great tlibuIation, while Noah and his family, saved at the time of the flood, were types of the Jews being saved through tfie great tribulation.

Now what are the facts? The Bible does not say that Enoch and EIijah are types of anything. If their experiences are to prove anything or to illustrate anything, they can be said to definitely grove that men can be transformed and translated to heaven without having died. This shows the possibility of the translation of living believers at the time of the Zordk return; but, we may well ask, what is there about the experiences of these two prophets to typify anything about the TIME of the translation of the Church. even if there be any typical connection? Elijah had plenty of persecution while he was dive. No unusual great tribulation or time of persecution followed soon after the translation of Enoch or EFijah; what great tribulation were these Inen caught away to "escape ?"

What about the "inference" that Noall typified the salvation of the Jews through the great tribulation? The BibIe definitely states that the salvation of Noah and his family typifies our salvation by baptism accompanied by right attitude of heart towards G d , I. Peter 3:1&21 . This typifies our being saved from destruction in hell, does it not, according to the Bible? The day Noah entered the ark all of the wicked in all of the world were destroyed.

If we seek similarities, is it not true tha t the Word of


the h r d states that at the time the Lord will return after the great tribulation He will destroy the tares and gather the wheat into His garner? However, there is no hint in the scripture that the case of Noah was intended to teach anything about the rapture of the Church. This interpretation by "inference" was new interpretation never taught before Darby's day, but Introduced by him to help his new doctrine.

The Church and The Emk of Itevelation By the "inference9'-plan started by Darby and his

Plymouth Brethren, the book of Revelation was given new interpretations. In this way the messages to the sewen churches were supposed to be tspes of seven church- "dispensations," although there is nothing in the messages themselves, or other statements of scripture, that indicate such meaning.

From the end of the third chapter to the end of the book nothing applies to the Church, the Darbyites said, for the Church is not specifically ~entioned after the third chapter. The fact that the Church is not mentioned by name after the third chapter of Revelation is no more proof that it had been taken from the earth than that i t was not on earth when some of the epistIes were written, for in some of these the Church is not mentioned.

Darby's New Dispensation However, Darby nor anyone dxe denies that mints and

believers appear all through the book of Revelation. If the Church would not then be on earth, who must these saints in Revelation be? Very evidently there must be a new "inference" to fit the new problem. Here is the new make- up which authorities say never before appeared. The Darby- school decided there must be a new and special and unique


"dispensation" interevene between the time the Lord comes to take His Church by rapture to heaven and the time of the end of the age after the reign of the anti-Christ. This so-called dispensation they called "The Great Tribulation."

Although this period wiII be the greatest time of tribulation the world has ever seen, there appears fa be no proof from church history that the term," the great tribulation," was ever applied to these concluding years alone. Anyway, the important point is that Darby claimed that during these years in question the Lord wouId again deal with Israel in a new way and that a different gospel--called "the gospel of the kingdomw-would be preached during these years and that the result of this would be a different dass of believers whom Darby called "the tribulation saints."

Here it would be easy to write a few whole chapters showing the error of these "inferences." But why the need? Do we not all know there can be no other goapel?? Did not Paul say that if any one preached another gospel, let him be accursed? Surely we dl know that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek. Col. 3:28. We know well enough that Christ broke down the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile, making them one body, Eph. 2:14. We also know that dl true believers become members of the Church, the body of Christ, do we not?

Now, if Darby was right in calling the time of the anti- Christ "The Great Tribulation" excIusively, then this period must be the time of the greatest revival the world has ever known. The Word says: "1 beheId, an8 lo, a great rnulti- tude, which no man could number, of all nations and kindreds and people, and tongue stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes . . . these are they which came out of [the] great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.


Rev, 9,14. (This is the only place the artide "the" occurs in the Greek in this connection).*

If dl of this world-wide multitude came out of the short anti-Christ period Darby-Scofield supposed, do we not have a strange circumstance when, with the Church gone from the earkh and the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit gone as given to the Church, in the midst of the greatest persecutions the world has ever seen, we still will have such a revival and time of turning to the Lord as the Church never experienced? Strange! I do not see how it could be. do you?

Does this not contradict the Darby-Scofield theory that the seventh and last so-called Church "dispensation" is to be the time of the "g~estt tribulation" under the anti-Christ? The greatest revival and the greatest apostasy. How co~ild it be all at the same time?

Darby and The Thesstilonian Letters While Darby and his school tried to support the new

doctrine by many new interpretations of scripture and many new "inferences," it became necessary, at the same time, to find new interpretations for certain passages of scripture which flatly contradicted the new theory. One such contradictory passage was the following.* "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord - Note* We beliwe that "the great tribulation" out af which comes the great multitude which no man can number out of every nation, tribe and tongue, began when .4dam sold out to the devil. The entrance of sin into God's world brought great tribulation to all mankind and especially to the saints of Cod who have always been compelled to live in the midst of the enemies of God. While the earth has alwa~rs been in great tribulation, the end time, under the reign of Satan and t h e anti-Christ, wiIl be a time of such concentrntion of the powere of evil that it will be worse than has ever been before, or shall be, the scripture states.


Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at; hand. Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed above all that is called God, or that is worshipped." II-Thess, 2:1-4.

To the casual reader this passage definitely states that the coming of Christ and the translation of living believers would not be till after the reign of the man of sin. As already stated, the early church fathers and other church writers and the church creeds up till the time of Barby accepted this passage of scripture just as it reads.

Darby attempted to remove this barrier that blocked his new doctrine by saying that the "coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" was not the same as "the day of Christ." The Darby- school went still farther and stated that the "day of Christ" is not the same as "the day of the Lord." These men 'infer" this and dogmatically state it as a fact; but by what scripture do they prove it? A statement without proof is not proof. Let any reader take a concordance and search out d l the references to the "day of the Lord," the day of AZ- mighty," the "Day of Christ," the "Day of Jesus Christ," etc, and compare what the Darby-school "infer" and state with what the Bible says.

Just look at the above passage. Is Paul not going to special pains in writing to these Christians to tell them not to be deceived by a "spirit," or by a letter, or by any claim- ing Paul's authority, or by any other means? Did he not t ry to make them know without any doubt whatever that the coming of the Lord would not be till after the reign of the man of sin? That" the way I read it.

If the Lord was l o come "any moment" to catch these

32 T H R O U G H T R ~ B U L A T I O N

saints up to heaven md they were to have nothing t o do with the man of sin, why bother them about it and get them confused by using confusing language and terms that did not mean what was apparent? Was Paul not very evidently trying to make things very clear to these Christians? If Darby is right, Paul failed, did he not? If this passage cannot be understood as it reads, then Paul failed to write dearly. If Darby is right, then who would naturally read this scripture and even "'guess" what Darby saw unless told about it by someone indoctrinated in the Darby-school? Let me here ask the reader, in all sincerity, whether he ever thought of such sn interpretation of this passage as Darby gave until he heard it given by others or read it some where ?

What Abut Giving It to The Jews? Here is another passage of scripture that, taken as it

reads, stood squarely against the socalled pre-tribulation theory of the Darby group. It reads: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory!' Matt. 24 :29,30.

What did Darby do with this passage that shod directly in his way? Why, he gave it to the Jews! Since his theory claimed there was to be the rapture of the Church before the reign of the man of sin snd since there would be saints when the Lord came "immediately after'yhat reign, here was something to be "explained." Mere is the way Darby "explained" it : He said that; during the perid of the reign of the man of sin, the lawless one, the anti-Christ, the Lord would deal with the Jews in a special way and that during


this period the Jews would lead in the proclamation of the "gospel of the kingdom." Later modifications of this theory dso brought in a mysterious, unique group of Gentiles to witness at this time. The result, it was claimed, would be what they called "the tribulation saints." This Jewish remnant and their converts were the ones to whom the Lord referred in speaking of His coming "immediately after the tribulation of those days," and all this in no way concerned the Church, the Darbyites asserted.

Having started with Darby, this new scheme of giving-it- to-the-Jews, called by critics "the Jewish-wastebasket," has opened the door for "inferenc.es" and "interpretations" and "theuries" galore. The Darby-Scofield teachers by this giveaway plan, made all of the after-tribulation signs concerning the Lord" return apply to the Jews. Some of the Darby line, by this Jewish waste-basket-plan, have given all of the sermon on the mount to the Jews alone. Othera have given the whole gospel of Matthew to the Jews, while still others have sliced out diverse sections of other parts of the New Testament and handed these alI over to the Jews exclusively.

Since all this is about the Jews by "inferenceJ' and every man is free to "infer" as he likes, so long as real proof is not essential in this system, why not just as well make one clean sweep by one big all-inclusive "inference'%d "infef' that we are out of it all, for the whole New Testament, except a small portion, was written by Jews and the New Testament, or New Covenant, according to the Bible, was mr covenant to be made with the Jewa. To whom was the Holy Spirit directly promised ? The Jews. To whom waa directly given the command t;o preach the gospel to the whole world? The Jews. Salvation is from the Jews,

84 THROUGH T l l l B U L A T I O N

Jesus said so. To the Jews were given the covenants and the promisea Paul aaid so.

This Darby-Scofield "inference" of give-it-to-the Jews comes to another self-contradiction in the Scofield Bible in which it is claimed that Jesus came to the Jews as their Messiah and that had they accepted Him, He would then and there have set up is kingdom on earth and there would have been no death on the cross ; but, since the Jews rejected Jesus, He died on the cross and as a result the Church age m e in as a parenthesis in the Lord's dealing with the Jews.

Thus the Lord's plan about His kingdom to give-ibto-the Jews, according to Scofield, having failed, we got in on the present plan of salvation through the cross and have the hope of resumection from the dead. There would be no "second corning" of Christ at all, had the Jews acted as the Lord expected, according to Scdeld.

Does not all this show that we can follow the Jewish wastebasket false "theory" and give the whole Bible to the Jews, or we can reject the whole theory and appropriate a11 of the New Testament promises fo r Jewish and Gentile believers dike ?

Thus can we not, with assurance, say that when Jesus was talking to His disciples about the signs they would see and about I-Iis coming "immediately after the tribulation of those days", He was talking about what Jew and Gentile believers alike would see? If not, why not? If He meant otherwise, would He not have cIearly said sol

S u m m a r y The foregoing discussion should show that the pre-

tribulation-rapture theory started in the days of Darby is founded on "'inference" only and that the inferences drawn are unsupported by definite scripture and in many cases are contradictory t o clear teaching of the Word of God.

THROUGH T R I B U L A T I Q N

We have considered this under the topics: Theworthy-to escape-doctrine. One-taken-md-on~left;. The man-child theory. Enoch, Elijah md Noah. The Church and the book of Revelation. A new dispensation theory. A b u t giving it to the Jew~i. We have now considered the main inference-supported

foundation of the imminent rapture theory, while other still more doubtful "inferences," too numerous to mention, are also brought forth to give support to this new doctrine which lacks even ONE direct statement of the scripture.

I was reluctant to write this chapter that will be so contrary to former beliefs of so many of my friends; but I became convinced that it was necessary to clear up much misunderstanding and to set forth in this way some things the Bible does NOT TEXCW concerning the theme under consideration.

Will the reader now, with as little prejudice as possible, turn to the positive study of the Word of God as set forth in the following chaptern and stick at it to the end in order t o give the subject a fair and complete consideration. Amen ! Then let us proceed,

CHAPTER I.

THE GOSPELS, THE BOOK OF ACTS, THE EPISTLES AND THE BOOK OF REVEMTION ALL TEACH !l!HAT THE RETURN OF CHRIST WILL BE AT THE END OP THE GREAT TRmULATlON AFTER THE (1) REIGN OF THE A N n - CHRIST AND AFTER (2) UNPRECE- DENTED PHYSICAL DISTURBANCES OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.


1.

CHRIST, IN THE GOSPELS, TAUGHT THAT TWO SER- IES OF EVENTS WOULD PRECEDE mIs C O ~ N G *

(I) The reign of the anti-Christ during the concluding years of earth's tribulation must precede the Lord's d u r n . Christ said that wars and rumors of wars must come, '%ut the end is not yet." There must first be the definite signs that conclude the great tribulation, one being the abomination of desolation prophesied by Daniel. Jesus stated that His coming would be after the tribulation of those days, the days of the anti-Christ.

(2) Before Jesus comes there will be alm the second aeries of events, "signs in sun and moon and stars-the roaring of the sea and billows-when the powers of the heavens shall be shaken." Prtnrf Text:

And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall

*The method followed in this study is ax follows: 1. Each main heading i s a PROPOSITION founded on scripture, 2. Immediately beIow the main proposition foIlow other propmltions,

also f ounaed on ~cripture further corroborating the main proposition.

3. Next in order is the scripture proof-text which should show the correctness of the preceding propositions.

4. The scripture text is next followed by "Notes" which consist of persona1 comments relating to the foregoing topic.

5. The black-faced type in the scripture quotations are the special proof-texts of the preceding propositions. This black-faced part of the quotations may be read, if so desired, without taking time to read the attendant context, printed in ordinary type.

6. Scripture quoted is from the American Standard Version of 1901.


lead many astray. And ye shall hear of wars and rumora of wars; see that ye be not troubled: f i r these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not get.

When therefore, ye see the ahmination of desolation, which n a e spoken of throngh Daniel, the prophet, standing in the holly place (let him that readeth understand); then shdl be great tribulation such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now; no, nor ever shall be.

But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon &all not give her light, and the stars shall fall fram heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign ot the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of hearen with power and great glory. Matt. 24:3-6, 16, 21, 29, 38.

And there shall be great earthquakes, and in divers places famines and pestilences: and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven And there shall be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the maring of the sea and the billows; 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. Luke 21:11,26,26.

Note : Jesus disciples asked him a plain question, "What shall be

the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Jesus gave a plain and one hundred per cent dear answer: "There shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world . . . immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shdl be darkened, and the moon shall not give her Light, and the stars shall fan from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken; and then . . . they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with pwer and great glory."

To avoid this clear statement of Jesus to his disciples that His coming would be at the end of the tribulation and after the disturbances in heaven and on earth, Darby by


his system of "inference," and by "inference" alone, saicl that here Jesus was talking to Jewish disciples and all this applied to the Jews alone and has nothing to do with us, or Gentile believers. Was not this group of disciples l;o whom Jesus was

speaking the same group to whom the Lord gave the great corn nission to preach the gospel to all the world? Does that have nothing to do with us? Were only the Jews to preach the gospel? Did not many of these same Jewish disciples write books of the New Testament? Were these revelations to the Jews to be the commands and promises to the Jews alone? !The promise of the Holy Spirit was made to the Jewish disciples, was it for the Jews alone?

Surely any unprejudiced mind must see that here Jesus was talking to Wig disciples as representatives of all the disciples to follow, whether Jew or Gentile, for in Christ there is no distinction.

To whom was this command and promise, to Jew or Gentile disciples: "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations . . . and la, I am with you dway, even unto the end

of the world." Who was to "Go," only the Jews? With whom would the Lord be present in this preaching? Only the Jews? Who was to do this preaching to the nations till the "end of the world," Jews? Gentiles? Was this m t promise of the Lord's blessing to only the Jews? Were not ALL disciples, all true Christians, of the church age to prwh to all the world? Was not Jesus by His Holy Spirit to be with ALL disciples Jew or G e n t i l ~ a l l members of Hia true church wherever they worked till the "end of the world?" In the same way and to the same group repre- sentative of all disciples for all the age as was th'e eommis- sion and promises given, was the information given by Jesus that His coming would be after the great tribulation ended

THROUGH T R I B U L A T I O N 41

and the heavens and earth were ~ihaken and the stars feu. In all fairness, is it not like this: Jesus told His disciples,

without distinguishing Jew or Gentile, to preach to all the world to the end of the world and promised to be with them in this preaching till the end of the world, and when they asked Him when the "end'kould be (that would end all preaching) He unqualifiedly replied that the end would he after the great tribulation, In dl this Jesus very evidently included all disciples in general without race distinction. He did not say or hint that he meant all or any of this for the Jews alone. Dzuby by "inference," without one definite statement, from the scripture to support him, said that what the Lord said here about His return applied to the Jews alone. Here we have it : Jesus definite statement, unqualified ; Darby's contrary "inference." Conelusion :

Since the disciples of Christ were to preach the gospel ti11 "the end of the world,"and since Jesus said that "the end of the world would be after the greatest tribulation and after the physical disturbances of heaven and earth, and since the disciples of Christ, without distinction between Jew and Gentile constitute 13is Church, it follows that the Church will be on earth witnessing till "the end of the world" after the great tribulation.

IT,

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE ACTS AND EPISTLES TEACHES THAT THE COMNG OF JESUS WILL BE PRECEDED BY THESE TWO EVENTS

(1) Here we read, in the first place, that Jesus' coming will not be until after 'theman of sin be revealed, the son of perdition," the anti-Christ, whose reign will be during the concluding years of the great tribulation.


(2) The Holy Spirit says that, in the second place, the coming of Christ will also be preceded by physical disturbances in heaven and upon earth: "wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth beneath-blood and fire and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the day of the Lord comes!' Froof Text :

Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him; t o the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand: let no man beguile you in any wise; for i t will not be, except the falling: away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; he that op-th and exalteth himseIf against all that is called Gad, or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, set tin^ himself forth as God. Re- member ye not that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things ? And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may h revealed in his own seasfin. For the myzltery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way. AIUI then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord J e w shall day with the breath of hi mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation a f his coming. 11. Thcss. 2:l-8.

And I will show wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned into darkness. And the moon into b l d , hfore the day of the Lord come, that great and notable day. Acts 2:19,20. Note :

Here we quote again Paul's definite statement about the time of the Lord's return: "Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lard Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him . . . it will not h, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, he that opposeth and exalteth himself againat all that is called God, or that is worshipped."

Here Paul definitely says that no one is to believe a mntrary teaching about the time of the coming of Christ,


even though it claims to be a special wevelation given by a "spirit." He warns, "Let no man beguile you in any wise, "for," as he goes on to say, "the coming of Christ will not be . . ."except . . . the man of sin be revealed" (the anti-

Christ). Were is clear, definite statement that would appear sufficient to settle the question for any unprejudiced mind.

Was Paul talking about two comings of the Lord, or one coming? He says that "it," that day (singular), will not come, except-etc. What did Darby say? He said that "the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him" was one coming of the Lord before the reign of the man of sin, the anti-Christ, and that "the day of the Lord" mentioned in this connection is another coming of Christ after the man of sin, the anti-Christ, comes. "Inference." Who11 y "inference." Hand the Bible t o any man, woman or child who knows nothing a b u t the question discussed and ask such a one whether the writer of these verses is talking about one coming of Christ, or two. Ask whether or not, after reading these and preceding verses in the chapter above, it is not apparent that the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is the same as the "day of the Lord." Will not ten out of ten such readers answer that Paul is talking about one event and that the day of the Lord and the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ are that same day? Try this on an unprejudiced reader and see. Were Paul talking about two events would he not have taken pains to make it clear,since he was definitely writing this to the Thessalonians to clear up some confusion they had in their minds? If he meant two when apparently he indicated but one coming of Christ, would he not have been adding confusion to confusion, rather than clearing up a question already confused? What say you? I say, yes.


It, ia in place here to refer to another of Darby'cf "inferences" in this connection, Paul said that there was something that hindered the manifestation of the "man of sin" and that until this hindrance was removed, the man of sin would not appear, he who is also called '"he lawless one," at the head of the "mystery of lawlessness."

By pure "inference,'" without even a hint in scripture as to what this hindrance was, Darby declared that this hindrance is the Church. Therefore, Darby said, since this hindrance was the Church and since this hindrance had to be removed before the appearance of the man of sin, the anti-Christ, the Church will be raptured before the so-called great tribulation under the anti-Christ.

But where is there any scripture-statement that this hindrance is the Church? Who can prove by even "inference" that there could be no other than the Church to hinder? Nearly all the world has been heathen to the present day. In the society and Ithe governments of the greater part of the world the church has had very little, if any, noticeable influence. How about China? How about Id ia? How about the tribes of Africa? How about South America? Here is a whole continent shut away from light by the nominal church. Who can show from the Bible, or from history, that it is the Church that has restrained and still hinders lawlessness from running its full course?

Satan is the prince of this world, he would have destroyed it long ago, or at least, have made it all his, had it not been for the restraining hand of God, who over-rules all. God's power and ways of restraining evil and saying, "Thus f a r and no further," are not now, nor ever were confined to the Church of the New Testament. How about pre-churclz days of Old Testament time?

The Bible does definitely make some statements in com-


paring the power of the church and that of the anti-Christ. It says: "And it was given unto him {the beast, the anti- Christ), to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over dl kindreds, and tongues and nations." Rev. f3:7. We missionaries did not keep the lawless, godless com-

munists out of China. They ran us out. The church in China could not "hinder" them. They are hindering the church.

This topic is further discussed in the book, Tribulation to Glory. Additional evidence that the Church will not be caught away before the reign of the anti-Christ wit1 ap pear in the chapters that follow in the present volume.

111.

THE BOOK OF REVELATION ALSO TEACHES THAT THE LORD'S RETURN WILL BE PRECEDED BY THESE TWO SERIES OF EVENTS

(1) Revelation teaches that the first series of events that will take place during the final years of the great tribulation will precede the coming of the Lord, for all the events of the "six seals" must take place before Jesus' return. The things under these seals end the great tribulation.

(2) The second series of eventa-the physical disturbances, in heaven and earth-must also precede the Lord's return, for after the "sixth seal," or ending with the sixth seal, "was a great earthquake and the sun became black ar, sackcloth of hair while the moon became aa blood and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth." These disturbances just precede the great day of "the wmth of the Lamb," the return of Christ.

46 T H R O U G I I T R I B U L A T I O N

And I 8aw when the Lamb o p e d one of the Meen seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come. And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thewon had a bow: and there was given unto him a crown and he came forth cmquering, and to conquer.

And when he opened the ge~011d seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come. And another home came forth, a red horse, and t o him that sat thereon it waa given t;o take peace from the earth, and that they should slag one another, and there was given unto him a great sword

And when he opened the third I heard the third living creature saying, Come. And X saw, and behold, a black horse; and he that sat thereon had a balance in his hand. And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A measure of wheat for a shilling and three measures of barley for a ~hilling; and the oil and the wine hurt thou not.

And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, a black horse, and he that sat upon him, his name was Death; and Hades followed with him. And there was given to them authority over the fonrth part of the earth to kill with sword, and with famine and with death, and by the wild beasta of the earth.

And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the wmd of God, and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our b l o d on them that dwell on the earth? And there was

given then, to each one, a white robe, and it was said unto them that they should reat get for a little time, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, who shonld be killed, even as they were, should have fulfilled their cenrw.

And f saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there w a a great earthquake; and the sun k a m e black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon k a m e as blaod ; and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe Ags when she is shaken of a great wind. And the heaven was removed aB a gcroll when i t is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out o9 their places. And the kinga of the earth and the princes, and the chief

T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O N 47 captairw, and the rich and 6he strong, and every bondman and free man hid t h e m 1 ~ e a in the car- and in the rocks of the mmataina: 4 they say to the mountains and to the mb, Fall on lu3, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the Ereat day of their wrath Is come: and who i a able to stand? Rev. 6:l-17.

Note : Darby and his schml started another line of argument

by "inference*' regarding the book of Revelation. He said that since the Church is not definiwy mentioned after the fourth chapter of Revelation it must, therefore, have been translated by rapture before the events that will take place according to the following chapters of this book.

But the Church is not definitely mentioned in some of the epistles. To be consistent with Darby'a line of "inference," must we believe then, that Paul and Peter and John wrote these epistles to churches that were not on earth? W e know by a better "inference" that there was the Church on earth to whom these epistles were written, for they were writtcn to "believers," and it is "blievers'Who constitute the Church.

Likewise, there are "believers" all through the book of Revelation. Are not all "believers" members of the Church, or M y of Christ, till the day He returns to set up His kingdom? Must not all true believers be born again of the Holy Spirit to see the kingdom of God? When born of the Holy Spirit are they not then in the red Church?

Then again, John was to write the book of Revelation to "the seven chumhes." Rev. 1:3, 4. That is the statement at the beginning of the book. At the end of the book we mad: "I, Jesus, have aent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches." Rev. 22:16. If all the book of Revelation did not concern the whole Church, why write it to the "churches?" That the message of Revelation is


to more than t h e seven churches is proven by the facts that the revelations of the things that "must come to pass" as revealed to them did not come to pass in the days of these seven churches. Who will alkw Darby's "inference" to take from us all of Revelation but the first four chapters ?

This whole book of Revelation harmonizes with the outline of events in the gospels and epistles. The physical disturbances of the heavens and the earth being consided as the k t revealed events just before the Lord's return, this book wiH be seen to present a series of views and partial views of scenes md events preceding and following the great day of the Lord's return in glory to judge and reign over all the world. Thus cansidered, the events of Revelation are not continued successive series but various pictures many of which might be partial views of differing events of the same time, Thus it win be seen that the judg- inents are followed by the seventh seal, the seventh trumpet and seventh vial, all of which usher in the return of Christ and the setting up of His eternal kingdom.

Conc1usion : Since meswges of the book of Revelation were written t o all "the churches'bd must apply to the Church, and since these messages indicate that the reign of the anti- Christ rrnd the signs in the heavens will precede the coming of Jesus, the Church will, therefore, go through the great tribulation.

CHAPTER 11.

THROUGH TRIBUILATION TO HEAV- EN THE UNVARYING PRINCIPLE OF REDEMrnION*


I. THE SAINTS, THE CHURCH, SHOULD NOT EXPECT

TO ESCAPE TRIBULATION BUT TO ENTER THE KINGDOM THROUGH GREAT TRJBULATION

The true saints of the true Church should not expect to escape tribulation. On the other hand, it is only through tribulation that they can enter the blessings of the kingdom. They will be beaten and led to judgment before kings and soundls. Brother will deliver brother to death, and the father his child. Unbelieving children will deliver their Christian parents to death, and the true saints will be hated of all men. Beholding the suffering and patience of the prophets, he who like them endures suffering in patience "until the coming of the Lord," will be blessed.

The world hated Christ and p e r s ~ u t d Him. In the world we, too, will have tribulation. The servant is not above his lord. Except a man bear a cross and be willing to renounce all that he hath-father, mother, sister, brother, children--and willing to suffer and give his life in death, he cannot be Christ's perfect disciple. He will be a joint heir with Christ in glory if he now be a partaker with Him in suffering.

After we have suffered with Him, then will we be perfected, estabIishd, and strengthened to rejoice with Rim at the revelation of His glory. This path of entering the kingdom through suffering is the path that all the saints of old have trod. It is the road over which all the saints of the present must pass. Paul having been persecuted, scourged, stoned, and dragged about; having counted all things but loss and desiring to be crucified as was the Lord, was passing thmugh trials on the way l;o the glories of the resurrection life from among the dead.

Paul said that "through many tribulations we must


enter the kingdom of God!' T h e saints of old, bound for the city whose builder and maker was God, and on the way to the resurrection had trials of mocking and scourgings, bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned and sawn asunder. They were tempted and slain. They were desti- tute, afflicted, ill-treated, nnd were driven out to wander in deserts and mountains and czves and holes of the earth.

Therefore we, their successors, encompassed a b u t by all these witnesses must enter their kingdom and share their glory by passing over the same road of suflering they have gone. By the same process as the Lord used in days of old will we be perfected in following the same Perfeetor who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross and all shame and hath now sat down on the right I>asti?d of t?lr throne of God. I'roof text

Tell us, when shall thcss tbiilgs b:, an3 :!1;1t sh:;ll bc il l? sign when these things axbe all about to be aeeomplishetl? And Jrsu: began t o say to them, Take heed that no man lead you astray.

For they shall deliver you up to councils; and in ssnagoqes ~ r t -

shall be beaten: and befolt governors and kings shall yc stand for my sake, for a testimony unto them. And the goapcl must first b- preached unto all nations. And when they lead you to judgmc;~t, and deliver you up, be not anxious beforehand what ye shall speak: but whatS0ever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye; ~ O Y

it is not ye that speak, but the HoIy Spirit. And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be pat to death. And y e shall be hated of all men far my name's sake: bnl h: that endureth to the end time shall be saved. Mark 13~4, 6, 9-13.

Ee patient therehre, brethren, until the cornii~g of the Lord. Take, brethren, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord. Behold, we call them blessed that endured. Jas. 5:7-10, 11.

These things have I spoken unto you, that in me, ye may hare peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I hare overcome the world. John 16:33.


And some of them that are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end. Dan. 11:35.

Many shall purify t h m l v e s , and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly ; and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are wise shall understand. Dan. 12:IO.

If ye were of the world, the world would Iove its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore, the world hteth yon. Remembe~ the word that I said @to you, A semant is not greater than his lord. If, they persecuted me, they will alw persecute yon. John 15:19,20.

Then said Jesus unto his &sciples, If any man would coiw after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever would save his life shall lme it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. Matt. 16:24,25.

If any man cometh unto me, and kateth not hia own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters; yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my dhiple. Whasoever doth not bear hi OWXI crma, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. So there- iore, whosoever he k of you that renouneeth not all that he habh, he cannot be mp dikple. Luke 14:26,2733.

The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we arc children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we sttffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him. Rom. 8:16,17.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a ~h-a?tRe thing happened unto you: but insomuch as ye are partakers of Chmt's derings, rejoice: that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice Kith e x d i n g jog, I. Peter 4:12,13.

No man h moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed. For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to saffer affliction; even as it came ta pass, and ye know. L Thess. 3:4. Be sober, be watchful; your adver- sary, the devil, as a maring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the mme aafferings are acwmplished in your brethren who are in the worIa. And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory


in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall him1f prfeet, establish and strengthen you. I. Peter 5:8-10.

But there came Jews thither from Aatioeh and Iooniom: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him ant of the city, suppodng that he was dead. But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on tbe morrow he went forth with Barnabas t o Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many discipba, they returned to Lystra, and Iconium, and to Antid, confirming the souIs of the aisciplea, exhorting them to continue in the faith, m d that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of Gdl. Yea, veriIy, and I munt all things to be loss far the cxcel- lency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my h r d : for whom I suffered the losa Of a11 things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Chri~t. A& 14:19-22; Phil. a:$.

!€'hat I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his subierings, becoming conformed unto his death; 2, by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead. Phil. 3:lO-11.

But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpoae, faith, longsuffering, lovc, patience, persecutions, aufferinm; what t h i n ~ s be- fell mt? at Antioch, at Tconium, at Tystra; what perseeutiona I en. dared: and out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that would live g d l y in Christ Jesus shall saffer persecution. But evil men and imposters shalI wax worse and worse, deceiving md being deceived. II. Tim. 3:11-13.

Wamw received their dead by a reaurreetion: and others were tortured, not acceptsng their deliverante: that they might obtain a better resnrrection: and others had trial of m d i n g s and acowgings, yea, morcover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were rsawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the ~ w ~ r d : they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitut~, aftlttted, ill-treated: (of whom thc world was not worthy), wander- ing in deserts and mountain and caves, and the holes of the earth.

Therefore let us aIso, seeing we are compassed about with SO

great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the i i which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patiente the race that is


set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfector of obr faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the c r w , de- spising shame; and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb. 12:1,2.

Note : Saints who have gone before us were kept in times

of tribulation, as great tribulation as ever could come to man. Daniel was kept from the lions, and his friends were kept through the fiery Turnate. So also were the children of Israel kept during the plagues of Egypt. The prophets were kept during great tribulation in Old Testament days until their testimony was complete. In New Testament days the apostles and prophets and saints of God were kept. Paul and Silas in prison and Peter also jn prison were kept and delivered.

Of course, the real mints of God have always suffered in this evil world, that the devil has always made a world of great tribulation; but, the true saints suffer no more and no less than is the will of God, so long as they are yielded to His whole will. They suffer only as much as is best for their own spiritual development and for the advancement of the kingdom of God. Until their work is finished the true saints will continue their witness in spite of any and all tribulation.

When their work is done and their testimony is complete, the Lord will take them home, perhaps by a martyr's death. But, even so, not a hair of their head will perish, for body and spirit are perfectly and eternally saved in Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Thus the saints are kept safe M o r e death, at the time of death, and through the resurrection after death.

A wide-spread theorg that there is to be a final group of saints under the reign of anti-Christ, called "film-


lation saints," is one of the many l inference^" s w e d by Darby and his Plymouth Brethren. As a matter of history the true saints of God have been "tribulation saints'bver since there have been saints on earth. The spirit of the mti-ChriElt: has always been here, too. The last years of earth will be an intensifying of what has already been experienced--not something new, but more of the old.

H. THE SAINTS WILL BE KEPI' THROUGH

THE GREAT TRIBULATION The Lord will keep His saints through all of earth's

great tribulation. Jesus prayed not that the Father should take His disciples out of the world by a rapture fo heaven. On the contrary, He sent them into the world to endure its tribulation, during which they would be kept from Satan and his powers. The saints will be kept in the days of tribulation, for Jesus' prayer is certain of an answer.

With temptations and trials God, who is faithful, will make a way of escape. In times of temptation and tribulation He will deliver Hia people from the snare and pestilence and the m w s that flieth by day and the terror by night. He will give His angels charge over His saints to keep them in all of their ways in any tribulation. Proof t4?xt:

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the ~ o r l d , but that thou shou1d-t keep them from the evil. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to LIA: but Cod is fnithhd, who will not surer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape. John 17:16; 1 Cor. 10:13.

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. I1 mess. 3:8. Re that dwelleth in the secret place of the mast High shall abide

mder the ahadow of the Almighty. Surely he uhall deliver t k

W THROUGH T R I B U L A T I O N

from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisesome pestilence. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night: nor far the arrow that flleth by day, for he shall give hi angels charge over thee, ia keep thee in all thy naps. PB. 91% 6, 11.

For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adtrm- ~ar ies shall not be able to &may nor resitst. And ye shall be be- trayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and Borne of yon ahall they cause to be put to death. And ye aha11 be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not a hair of your head perish. In your patience posa3-s ye your souls. Luke 21 :15-19

Note: That the church should go through dl of earth's age-

long great tribulation is consistent with the unvarying principle of Gcd's dealing with His children. Every son He receiveth He seourgeth. The saints in all past ages have entered the kingdom of God through great l;ribulation and suffering,

From the day A h 1 was murdered to the day of the last Old Testament martyr, what was the experience of the prophets and holy men of God if not a m h to glory over the rough road of great tfibulation? On what road to glory did the apostles and holy men in New Testament days, fmm the murder of Stephen on, travel, if not the great tribulation road that passed through martyrs' graves? If not through great tribuIation, by what road was it the saints from the first to the present century have c m e on dawn? Read "FoxTs Book of Martyrs" and you will know. For thirty years in Russia, and longer in South America, and fight now in China and all red countries are the best of saints being caught away from great tribulation, or are they in the furnace of fire, fire as hol; as saints have ever seen ? Read "rota1 Tewr," by Kahe, and tell me if ever there has


been, or ever can be, worse torture and more intense suffering than that endured in our day by saints as good

ever have lived and as good, many of them, as ever will live. If any of these have been falsely taught that they would be caught away out of great tribulation, they have found their mistaken teaching. They are now caught in it.

On what principle, then, should any present-day Chris- tians be taught that the present Church is to be an exception and "escape" any great tribulation? Looks strange. One-third of the world's population with its Christians already being chewed in the red dragon's mouth and the rest being drawn in, and yet we, who are still free, are to be a unique exception; they say! On what grounds are we to be an exception? Are we more virtuous than others- Daniel, the prophets, the apostles, the saints of all preceding ages? How would the present ease-loving, non-cross- bearing, half-converted Church of our day feel over in glory- land after getting there on flowery beds of ease and then seeing the martyrs marching by? Would they not wish to return to earth and return again to heaven over the blood-saturated road the saints before have gone?

I "infer" that all of Darby's "inferences" about there being for any generation of saints any way to glory but the way of the cross through great tribulation are wrong "inferences!'

Conclusion: Since the Bible, from beginning to end, teaches that suffering tribulation on the way to glory is the way saints of old have gone and saints in the future must go, the Church will go thmugh the great tribulation to its end.

THE CALAMITY THE CHRISTIAN HOPES TO ESCAPE IS THE WRATH OF GOD UPON THE WICKED IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT AFTER THE GREAT TRIBULATION


I. THE CHRISTIAN HOPES TO ESCAPE SOME COMING

TERRIBLE C A L A M W

The saint hopes to escape certain calamities that will come to pass at the conclusion of the age.

Proof text : Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may b aaoounted

worthy to =ape all these things that shall eome to pa= and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36.

II. THE CALAMITY THE SAINT HOPES TO ESCAPE IS

THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT The saint hopes to escape the calamity that will come

upon the unbelieving when Chdst returns to judge the world.

Immediately before His return there will be signs in the heavens and upon the earth. When the mints see these things they will know that Jesus and the day of judgment are at hand. They are to take heed lest their hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of thia life zbnd TIIAT DAY, the day of judgment, come upon them unawares. "For as a snare shall it (the day of judgment) come upon all that dwell on the face of the whole earth." "THAT DAY" is the day for which the saint is to "watch" that he "may be atcounted worthy to escape." "THAT DAY" suddenly cemeth upon the ungodly," and 'Yhey shall not escape," The godly shall "escape!' Proof text :

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearbs be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For, as a snare, shall it come on all them that dweH on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to e%cape all these things that shall eome to pass, and to stand before the Sen of man. Luke 2134-36.


For yourseIves know perfectIy that the day of the Lord 60 cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman wjth child: and they shall not =ape. I. Thess. 5:2,3.

Note: The saint is to "take heed" lest "THAT DAY" come upon

him unexpectedly. The expression, ''that day", is used repeatedly in the Old Testament and frequently in the New Testament, If; uniformly means "the day of Christ," '"he day of judgment," "the day of the Lord,"' "the day of Gods wrath," and other similar terms, all of which refer b the same time. Anyone who will study the expression, "that day," with the help of a good Bible mncordmce will find this to be true.

This Day of Christ, or Day of Judgment, is "THAT DAY," and it is the judgments of 'THAT DAY" that the saint hopes to escape because of what will happen to the ungodly. The saint is to "take heed" that he live holy and separted from the world, prepared to stand before the Son of man. If he is saved by Jesus' blood and has His resumection life in the Holy Spirit, he will "escape" these judgments by being caught up to heaven la meet the Lord in the air as He descends to judge the world.

There is not a hint in this passage of scripture that it refers to any rapture before the reign of the man of sin.

Conclusion. Since the day the living saint hopes to "escape" is the day of find jugment that will come upon the wicked, and since this day of judgment surely comes after the great tribulation, the Church therefore will go through a11 of the great tribulation.

rd T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T L O M

In. THE CHRISTLAN HOPES TO BE KEPT FROM THE

HOUR OF TRIAL

The Christian hopes to be kept from the time of trial that will come upon the whole earth.

Ptmrf-text :

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee From the hour of tempation, which shall come upon a11 the world, to t ~ y them that dwell upon the earth. Rev. 3 9 0

IV. THE "HOUR OF TRIAL" IS THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

"The hour of temptation" that is to 'try them (the un- gadly) that dwell upon the earth" is the day of judgment when Christ will return to judge the world. That day is the day of trouble and distress uyon men when their blood will be poured out. It is "the day of God's wrath."

Before "the day of the Lord's anger" the saints are to seek the Lord, seek righteousness and meekness, that they may be "hid in the day of the Lord's anger." In other words, be kept through this trial-hour.

At that hour the Lord will come as a "refiner's fire. Who d~all stand when He appemth 9" Those who belong to the Lord will be able to stand, for they will be kept through that "hour," the hour of judgment. Not so with the ungodly, for in one "hour is thy judgment come" upon m a t Babylon, the capital city of the kingdom of Satan.

This hour of fire and judgment that will destroy them that dwell upon the earth is the hour from which the saint will be kept, for he will be caught away from the scene of fmal judgment of the world to meet the Lord in the air, Proof text :

The great day of the Lord i s near. That day is the day of wrath.


a day of trouble and distress, a day of wastdness and desolation, a day of cloud and thick darkness, a day of trumpet and alarm, And f will bring distress upon men and they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against. the Lord; and their blood shall be poured out as dust and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jcnlousy: for he shall make a speedy Addance of all them that dwell in the land. Zeph. 1 :14-18.

Before the day of the k d ' s anger come upon yon, seek ye the the Lord, all ye meek of the earth. Seek rightness, seek meekness: it may be ye hih hall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. Zeph. 2:2,3.

But who shall abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he i s like a refiner's fire. He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and judge them as gold and silver. Mal. 9:2,3.

Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment is mme- and there followed another angel saying, Babylon is fallen, that great city. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, mourning and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city: for in one hour is thy judgmrnt come. Rev. 14:7 8; 18:8,10.

Note : The "hour of trial" which the Christian hopes to "escape"

cannct mean the final years of the great tribulation under the reign of the anti-Christ, for that would contradict other plain scripture. It would also be contrary to the universal principle of the scriptures that we are "appointed unto tribulation," and the certainty that "in the world ye have tribulation." God does not keep His people from trid and tribulation.

In "the hour of trial" when Christ comes to set up his kingdom and reign and judge the world, the ungodly will suffer and the saints will be kept by being caught up to reign with the h r d .


Conclusion. Since "the hour of trial" through which the living saints are to be kept is the hour of judgment that is to come upon the wicked, and since this will be after the great tribulation, the Church will, therefore, be in the world till the end of the great tribulation.

I v* I THE DAY OF GOVS WRATH IS THE DAY THE SAINTS I

i HOPE TO ESCAPE

I I

The event the saints hope and expwt to escape is the "day of God's wrath." As in the days of Noah the flood came unexpectedly and swept away unbelievers, and as in the days of Lot the worldly people were busy in their affairs until suddenly destroyed by fire and brimstone from heaven, so in the same manner shall it be when the Son of man is revealed. That day shall come suddenly upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earhh.

But as in the days of the flood Noah entered the ark and was saved, so in the days of Gud's wrath "will God make a way of escape for the righteous. He will that; day sepamte the righteous, whom He will save, from the wicked, whom He will destroy.

When the saint sees the signs in the sun, moon and stars, men's hearts fainting for fear at the disturbances of the earth and the shaking of the wwers of heaven, then will he look up, for he knows his Lord is coming to rescue him and that his "redemption draweth nigh.'"

In order to escape this day he must take heed lest his I heart be blinded by cares and sins of this worldly life and

he be taken unawares and destroyed with the unsuspecting wicked. Me should watch at every season to prevail, b escape "all these things that shall come to pass,'' the things


that shall come suddenly upon "all them that dwell on the face of all the earth." He hopes at that event to be rescued and 'to stand before the Son of man." Because he has kept the word of the Lord's patience the Lord will keep him from destruction in this day of judgment, the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world to try them that dwell upon the earth.

This manifestation of "the patience of the saints" is at the time of worshipers of the beast shall drink of the wrath of God, the day of His vengeance. At this time the patience of the saints will be "blesaed." At this time, when the Son of man shall come on the cloud, having on His head a golden crown and in His hand a sharp sickle, the saint shall escape to "rest" and to "reign" with the King, while the earth will be reaped and trodden in His wrath.

The saint will have boldness in this "day of judgment," for God has not appointed us unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation. Upon us 'that day" will not come as a thief with sudden destruction, as it will come upon them, for we do not belong to the darkness. Unlike the blinded children of the night, we wait and hope for the Son of God from heaven, even Jesus who will deliver us from "the wrath to come" in that day of God's wrath upon all the earth. This day of "the revelation of the Lord Jesus in flaming fire rendering vengeance upon all who know not God" is the day of our hope and expectancy, the day of our escape and rest.

Proof text:

And as it came to pass in the day8 of Noah, even so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man They ate, they drank, they married, they were *en in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the f l d came and destroyed them all. Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they


bought, they mld, they plantea, they lmilded; but h the day that Lot went from Sodom it ralned are and brimaimne from heaven, and destroyed them an : after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed. 1 sap unto you, In that night there 6hdl be two men on one bed, the one shall k taken and the other shall be l& There shall be two women grinding together, the one shall be taken and the other aha11 be left. Luke 17:2650; 54,35.

And there ahdl be & ~ E I in sun and moan and stars, and upon the earth dbtresls of nations, in perplait9 for the roaring of the sea and the bilIom; men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the p w e m of the heaven5 shall ba shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cload with power and great glory. Bnt when these things begin to come ta pass, look up and I i f t up your heads because your redemption draweth nigh

But take h d to yonrselvw lest haply your hearts b overcharged with sacfeiting and druakenn- and cares af this life, and that dap come on yon suddenly as a snare: for sb shaI1 it come upon dl them that dwell on the face of a11 the eartb. Bnt watch ye at every season, mrtking supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all thae tMngs mat shall come to pass, and to stand before the h n of man. Lnke 21 :a-28,34-36.

Because thou didst keep the word of m y patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of Mal, that hour which is to come n p n the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earh. I come quickly: hold fast that which thou bast, that no one take thy crown. Rev. 3:10,11.

If any man mrshippeth the beaat and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand, he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is prepared unmixed in the a p of his anger; and he shaIl be tormented with fire and brimhne in the preae~~ce of the wholly angela, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke o f their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day ana night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name. Here irr the patienee a€ the mint- they that keep the commandments of God, and khe faith of Jesus.

And I head a voice from heawn saying, W*i% bid are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labor; for their works follow with them.


And X saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud f mw m e sitting like unto a ma of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in hia hands harp a ide . Rev. 14:14.

Herein ia love made perfect with us, that we may have boIdnma In the day of judgment; for W appointed us not unto wrath, bnt -to the obtaining of salvation t h g h our Lord Jesua Christ. I. John 4~17; 1 Thess. 5:9

For gourselvea knew perfectly that the day of the Lord so cameth m a thief in the night. When they are aaying, peace and safety, then sadden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise eseepe. But ye, brethren, are not in dsrknese, that that day ~ h o d d oaertdce y w as a tMd. I. Thess. 5 :2-4.

Y e turnsd rmtD God from idola to m e a living and true C;dd, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he r a i d from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to came, I. Thess. 1 :9-10,

And to yoti that are d i e t e d , rest with ua at the rmebKon of the Lard Jesus frum heaven with the angels o f his power in flaming ifre, rendering vengeance to them that know wt God, and to them that obey not the gospel of ottr Lard Jesus. XI . Thesa. 1.7,8.

vr. THE DAY OF GOD'S WRATH IS ' n E DAY OF CHRTST,"

"THE DAY OF JEHOVAH," AND UTHE DAY OF JUDGMENT" A m E R THE GREAT TRIBULATION

"The Day of the Lord" is the day of God's wrath that wilI come with sudden destruction upon the wicked as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. This day will be "after the tribulation of those days" and after the disturbances in the sun, moon, stars and the heavens and earth. Then will this day come upon the earth to destroy the wicked as God destroyed them with the fl& in the days of Noah, and with fire and brimstone in the days of Lot.

This "Day of the h r d Jesus Christ" is "the day of Jehovah" spoken of by the prophets, for there will be

"wonders in the heavens and in the earth-the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood-before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh." This time is identical with the day of the wrath of the Lamb, as it follows the same signs in heaven and on earth.

On this day, "the day of the Lord Jesus Christ," "the day of the wrath of the Lamb," "the day of Jehovah," men will seek ta hide themselves in the caves and rocks to escape the wrath of God and the Lamb, for it is the day of God's wrath and fierce anger to destroy the sinners out of the land. Since this day of God's wrath is the day of His final judgment this day will come at the end of the great tribulation. Proof text:

But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened ,and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shell see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power ana great glory. Matt. 24:29%0.

They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood tame and destoyed them all. Likewise even as it came to pass h Be days of Lot; they ate, they drank. they bought, they sold, they planted, they Mlded: but, in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all: after the same manner ahall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed. Luke 17%-30.

But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. For ~rou~~selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. When they are &aging peace and safety, then sudden detmctian cmneth upon them, as travail upon a woman with child: and they shall in no wise escape. I. Thess 6:l-3.

Alas for the day! fo r the day of Jehovah is at hand, and as de. struction from the Almighty shall it come, And I will show wonders in the heavens and In the earth: blond, and fire, and pillars of smoke.


The gun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh. Joel 2:30,31.

And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, a d there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood; and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she js shaken of a p a t wind. And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it

is rolled up; and every mountain and idand were moved wt of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and free- man hid themselvas in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, f ~ l l on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the sreat day of their wrath is come: and who i s sble to stand. Rev. 8:12-17.

Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty. The lofty look^ of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and Jehovah alone shall be exal t4 in that day.

And men shall go into the caves of the rocks and into the holes of the earth from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty when he ariseth t o shake mightGly the earth. Isa. 2:10,11-19.

Bchold, the day of Jehovah cometh, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation, and to destroy the sinners there- of out of it. For the ,stars of heaven and the constellations thereo: shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in its going forth, and the moon shall not cause its light to shine. And I will punish the wmld for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity: and I will cause the arrogancy of the pwud to cease and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. Isa. 13~9-11.

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the h r d came with ten thousands of his holy ones to exeeute judgment upon all, and to mnvict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrou~ht, and of all the hard things which ungvdlr sinners have spoken again% him. Jude 14:15.

For the day of Jehovah is near upon all the nations; as thou hast done, i t shall be done unto thee; thy dealing shall return upon thine own head. Obadiah. 15.

For behold, the day cameth, it burneth as a furnace; and all that


work wickedneee #ha11 be atubble: and the day tbnt cometh shall btrrn UP, 4 t h Jehovah a€ h e , that it shall leave them neither root

nor bran&. Md. 4:l. Thna saith Jehovah of hosts. Behold, evil shall go forth nation

b nation, and a great tempest shall be raised up from the uttermad parts wf the earth. And the slain of Jehavah shall b~ at that day fram one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they &hall not be lamented, neither gathered nor buried; they shall be dung upon the face of the ground. Jer. 26: 32,33.

For the day is nmr, even the day of Jehovah is near; it shall be a day of clouds, a tima of the naltlons. Ezek. 30:3.

Wae nnto pw that desire the day of Jeharah! Wherefore would re bmve the b y of Jehovah? It isdarkness, and not Iigh Amos b:l%.

Concldon Since the saint hopes to escape the day of W s wrath and since this day is after the great tribulation, the Church mst go through $1 of the great tribulation.

THE BLESSED HOPE OF W E CHRJSTWN IS THE JOY THAT ICISIWI BE HIS IN 'MTJ3 DAY OF RESTJRREC- TIBM AND REWARDS


THE CHRISTIAN LOOKS FOR THE RETURN QF CHRIST AS A BLESSED HOPE

The coming of Christ is, to all Christians, a blessed hope.

Proof k t :

We should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; +-laoking for that blessed bope, and the lori ions appearing af the great God and our Saviour Jeans Christ. Titua 2:12,13.

"THE BLESSED HOPE" IS THE RESURRECl'ION AND REWARDS TO FOLLOW WHEN JESUS RETURNS

The return of Christ is to the saint a "blessed hape" because His coming will end the saints' tribulation and will bring to His children the realization of all their longings. We are to hope for the Lord's return because when He comes He will change our vile bodies into the likeness of His own glorious body. Furthermore, we hope for the coming of the Lord because when Be comes He will give us the crown of righteousness that fadeth not away.

Paul's hope, repeatedly expressed, was centered in the resurrection from the dead, and the blessings to follow. The great day of his hope was the day when this mortal should put on immortality and this corruptible put on incorruption.

Because of the hope far the rewards and blessings we are to rweive at the resurrmtion we are to purify ourselves. Paul gave thanks for the "hope" 4'which ia laid up in heaven for you," not for a hope tio escape the tribulation suffering. We are begotten unto a lively ''hope" by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This bless4 hope is for the "inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fad&


not away, reserved in heaven for you!' It is what we shall "inherit" that we are to hope for. We are to "hope for the grace that is to be brought unto us'kwhen the chief Shep- herd shdl appear, for then we "shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away."

P m f text: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for

the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body that it may be fsshConed like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even t o subdue all things unto himself. Phil. 3:20,21.

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the h r d , the righteous judge, &all give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 11. Tim. 4:8.

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that Gml should r n i ~ e the dead? I am a Pharisee, the 8on of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am in question.

But this r confess unto thee, that after ths say which the\?, eat1 heresy, so worship f the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope towards God, which they themselves also aIlow, that there shan be a rwur- mtim of the dead, both of the just and unjust. Acts 26:6; 23:8; 24:14,16.

If in this life anly we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Chiitrt risen from the dead,and become the first- fruit8 a f them that alept. I. Cor. 15:19,20.

We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we ahall aee him as he is. And every man that hath this hape in him parifieth himself, even as he is pure. I. John 3:2,3.

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord lfesus Christ, for the hope which b laid up for yoa in heaven. Col. 1:3,4.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which, atearding to his abundant mercy, hath begatten us again unto a lively hope by the restlrreetion of Jeans Christ from the dead, to the

74 THROUGH T R I B U L A T I O N

inheritance Incorruptible and nndefilea, and thst fsdeth not away, msemed h heaven for YML I. Peter 1:3,4.

But rejoke, inasmuch a~ ye are pnrtakera of Christ's sufferings: that when hie glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad alm with aceediig joy. And when the chief Shepherd sail sp-. ye shall recei~ea crown d glory that fadeth rot away. L Peter 4:13; 5:4,

Note : Darby and the Plymouth Brethren for the first time put

a new "interpretation" on scripture whereby they said that the '‘blessed hope" was a hope that, by a secret rapture to heaven, the a n t s would escape the years of tribulation under the reign of the anti-Christ. This is, of mume, un- wriptural as we see.

THE RETURNING CHRIST WILL BE VISIBLY MANIFEST TO THE WHOLE WORLD OF BOTR BELIEVERS AND UNBELIEVEFW


I. THE COMING OF CHRIST WILL BE OPEN AND VISIBLE

BEFORE ALL THE WORLD

The coming of Christ will be open and visible to a11 the world. At that time "all the tribes of the earth" will see Him coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. When H e thus comes "every eye shall see him." Beware of any who shall say He comes otherwise. Believe it not. For as the lightning is seen from east to west, "so shall be the coming of the Son of man." Any who claim to come otherwise are false Christs. Any who claim He will come otherwise than visibly must be fake prophets.

Proof text: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven:

and then slur11 aU the tribes af the earth mown, and they ehall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of hearen with m e r and great glory. Matt. 24:30.

With a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven fa the other. Behold, he cometh with the clouds: and every eye shall see him, and, they that pierced him: and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Rev. I:?.

Then if any man shall m y unto you, Lq here is the Christ, or here: believe it not. Behold, I have toId you beforehand. If, therefore, they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the wilderness; go not forth: Be- hold, he is in the inner chambers: believe it not. For, as the lightning wmeth forth from the east and is men even unto the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. Matt. 2493-27.

n. THE CHRISTIAN IS TO LOOK FOR THE PAROUSIS-

COMING, AND THE APOKALUPSIS--COMING, AND THE EPIPHANESIA-COMING, AND THE ERCHO- NA-COMING, AND THE PHATNO-COMING, AND THE PHANERO--COMING, AND THE OPTONAT- COMING OF THE LORD

T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T l O N 17

The saints of God, without exception, Jew and Gentile, are looking for the return of Christ as one undivided event. The Greek words used in connection with the return of the b r d indicate that all of the saved are to look far one and the same event. Therefore, there is no hint in these scriptures that the pawusis-eoming, is some early and unique coming,

Proof text :

Parousia ( I ) Looking fop and hastening unto the (parousia) coming of the

day o f God. 11. Peter 3 9 2 . Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the (parousia) coming of

the Lord. James 5:T. Be ye also patient, shbIish your hearts; for the (pamusia) coming

of the Lord draweth nigh. James 5:8. To the end he may stablish your bea1.t~ in holiness before God,

even our Father, at the (pareueia) coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all hi^ saints. I. Thess 3:13.

Apkdupsis (2) The testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come

M n d in no gift, waiting for the (apokalupsis) coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. I. Cor. 1:7.

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings that, when his glory shall be (apokalupsis) revealed, ye may be glad with exceeding joy. 1. Peter 4:13.

Epiphaneia (3) For the V 8 c e of Gad that bringeth salvation hath appeared to

all men, teaching ns that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should lire soberly, righteously and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope and the glorious (epiphaneia) appearing of the Great. God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11.

And now, little children, abide in him: that, when he shall (cpipha- neia) appear, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming (epiphaneirt). I, John 2~28.


Erchonai (4) Watch therefore; for ye know not wbat hour your Lord doth

(erchonai) come. Matt. 25:18.

Phanio (5) When Chrl~t , who is o m life, ahall (phanio) appear, then shall

ye also (phanio) appear with him in glory. Col. 3:4.

Phmem (6) When the chief Shepherd shall (phanerso) appem, ye ahall

receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. I. Peter 6:4.

optonai (7) Unto them that wait for him shall he (optonai) appear the

mond time without ain unto salvation. Reb. 928.

Note:

Since all of the saints and Christians are without distinction to look for the coming of Christ as indicated by all of the Greek words used in this connection, it is =If- evident that all the saved are to concentrate their hope on one event, not two, as Darby and his school teach.

If, according to Darby, there was to be a coming of Christ for the saints before the reign of the anti-Christ and then another coming at the end of Ria reign when those saved during that period would be gathered, no word would be used to center the hope of the present Christian an the coming at the end of the reign of the anti-Christ. As it is, everyone of the seven Greek words used in mn- nection with the coming of Christ is consistent with Hia return at the end of the reign of the anti-Christ at the end of the great tribulation.


m. ALL OF THE SEVEN GREEK WORDS USED IN CON-

NECITON WITH THE COMING OF CBRIST REFER TO BIS OPEN AND VISIBLE RETURN A m R THE GREAT TRIBULATION

The seven words used in connection with the return of Christ indicate His open rtnd visible return after the great tribulation

(I) The Lord's epiphaneia, "appearing," will be in great glory, ati He oomes at the end of the tribulation. It is at the time of judgment and the estabIishment of E s kingdom, which time follows the tribulation.

(2) The Lord's erchomai, 'kciming," will be in His glory "with all the angels!' Bia coming, thus accompanied, is after the great tribulation. At this coming He will also "sit on the throne of His glory," which is after the great tribulation,

(3) The Lord's pamnsia, corning," will be at "the end of the age, which time ia a f i r the great tribulation. It is then that He wiH come with "all His saints," or holy ones," and will destroy the anti-Christ. This time is at the end of the mat tribulation.

(4) The Lord's apokaIapsis, ''rweIation," will be when He cames "in His glary" and with His "angels." This Ife ~ 1 1 do after the great tribulation. This is also the "day of wrath" when He will come "in flaming fire rendering vengeance on them that know not God!' This time is also at the end of the great tribulation.

( 5 ) The Lord" phanio, "manifestation," will be at the t h e the saints "with Him will be manifested in glory.'" They will be manifested with Him and reign with Him in glory, judging the world and angels after the great tribulation.


( 6 ) The Lord's phanerao, "manifestation," will be when He will reward the saints. This event is after the destruction of Babylon and the beast at the end of the great tribulation.

(7) The h r d ' s optionai, "appearing," will be at the time of the judgment of all men, which is after the ending of the great tribulation.

b f text:

Epiphaneia I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall

judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing md his kinxdom. IT. Tim, 4:l.

And now, my little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at hk coming. I. John 2:28.

Looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great G d and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13.

Henceforth there is laid up fos me the crown o f righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have laved his appearing. ZI.Tim. 4:8.

Erchomai Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.

But know this, that if the master of the house bad known in what wakh the thief wag coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. Thelhefore, be ye also ready for in an hour that ye think not, the Son of man cometh. Matt. 24:42-44.

But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of Itis glory. Matt. 25:31.

Parousia And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him

privately saying: Tell us, when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. Matt. 24:3-27.


As in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made dive. But each in his own order: Christ the first-fmita; then they that are Christ's at hi~l coming. I. Cor. 15:22,23.

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorging? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesw at this coming? I. Thess. 2:19.

To the end he may establish your hearts nn'blamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the boming of oar Lord Jesus with all his saints. 1. Thess. 3:lS.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall riae fir& I. Thess. 4:15,16.

Be patient therefore, brethren, until the eoming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious h i t of the earth, being patient over it until it receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord is at hmd. James 5:7,8.

And then shall be reveaIed the lawless me, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming: even he, whose coming is -ding to the wmking of Satan with all power and signs and lying wondem. II. Thess. 2:8.

Apokalupsis The Revdation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to &OW

unto his mrvants, even the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his sewant John. Rev. 1:l.

And to you that are afflicted, rest with us at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance ta them that h o w nOt God, and to them that obey not the gospeI of our Lord 3esus. II. Thess. I:?, 8.

But inaomuch as ye a m parkkern of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the melation of his glory also ye mag rejoice with exceeding joy. I. Peter4:13.

That ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation ef mr h r d Jeeus Christ. I. Cor. 1:7.

Or despimt thou the riehes of his goodness and forbearm arid

82 T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O S

longsuffering, nut knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasur- est up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the rightmas judgment of Cod. Rom. 2:4,5.

Phaino When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye

also with him be manifested in glory. Col. 5:4.

Phaneroo And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive

the crown of glory that fadeth not away. 1 Peter 5:4.

Optonai And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after

this cometh jubment: so Christ also, having been once offered t o bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from dn, t o them that wait for him unto salvation. Heb. 9:27,28.

Note: The Greek words used in connection with the Lord's

coming primarily mean an open, visible coming. These mean- ings, according to Strong's Concordance of the Bible are:

1. "Epiphania", manifestation, appearing, brightness. 2. "Parousia," coming, presence, being near (return,

especially of Christ b punish Jerusalem, or finally punish the wicked).

3. "Erchomai," auxiliary verb. 4. "Apokrtlupsis," discIosure, appearing, lighten, revela-

tion. 5. "Phaino." 1% lighten (shine), show, appear, be seen,

shine. 6. "Phanemo," to render apparent, manifest, show (self). 7. "Aptomai, to gaze (i. e., with wide open eyes, as at

something remarkable). The above words can be, and are, comistently used in

mnnedion with the open, visible return of Christ, with


lightning and flaming fire, with His angels, in power and great glory, at the end of the great tribulation. The Greek word "pamusia" is also used in connection with the coming of Titus and the coming of the anti-Christ. These are open, visible comings. (11. Cor. 7 :6; 11. Thess. 2 :9). The theory that the L'parousia'y--coming of Christ, will be a secret, noiseless, invisible coming before the reign of the man of sin is a flat contradiction of the scripture which says that the man of sin will be destroyed at the time of the "parousia"- corning of the Lord. This destruction is at the end of the reign of the anti-Christ at the end of the great tribulation. Therefore, the "parousia--corning of Jesus, must be at the end of the great tribulation.

Darby and his followers taught that there would be two comings of the Lord-* "parousia, or corning, "for" His saints prior to the reign of the anti-Christ, and an apokolug sis," or coming., L 4 ~ i t l ~ " His saints at the end of the reign of the anti-Christ, This is contradiction, for the "parousia" --coming, is to be "with" His saints

Are not all the saints who have died now with Christ in heaven? Do they have to be raised from the dead to be with Christ in heaven? When He comes, will not the souls of the saints, who have died, come with Him to receive their bodies that will, at that time, be raised from the graves'!

Surely this must be the interpretation of this passage of scripture, else how is it that this coming of the Lard i s "with all His saints?"

Here we read the passage again : "And the Lord make YOU to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you, to the end he may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ: with all His sainta." Titus 3 :12,13.

$4 T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O N

The Greek word translated "saints" literany means "holy o n e s ' d d could be applied both to saved men or to angels. We know the angels will come with Jesus to gather the elect and to punish the wicked.

Condwion: Since all of the Greek wards use13 in eon- nection with the return of Jesus indicate that thie is the event f ro~n which all saints hope, and since all of these Greek words indicate and some dearly show that this coming of Jesus will be after the great tribulation, the whole Church of true believers will, therefore, go through aH of the great tribulation,

TRANSLATION OF TmE CHURCH WITH ITS LIVING AND DEAD BE- LIEVERS WJLL BE AFTER THE GREAT TRIBIUTION

86 T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O I !

THE TRANSLATION OF THE CHURCH WITH ITS LIV- ING AND ITS DEAD WILL BE AFFER THE GREAT TRIBULATION

The translation of the church, including the resurrection of its dead and the changing and catching away of its living helievers, will be after the great tribulation. This will be when the Lord descends at the sounding of the last trumpet.

According to the Word, the Christian should not need that much be written as to the time of the Lord's corning for 2ke C.11urch. H e should "know perfectly," or with cefiainty, that "That Day" is "'the day of the Lord." That day, which is after the great tribulation, will come as a thief in the night upon the unsaved, and "they" shall in no wise escape.

For this same Day the true Christian will "watch and be sober" that it come not unexpectedly upon him. He is of the day and not of the night. He shoiild be prepared for this time which t o others is the day a€ "wrath," so that to him it may be the day of salvation. Onthis day of wrath, after the tribulation, all the Christians will obtain salvation. Those who are awake, or alive, will be changed. Those who sleep, or have died, will be raised. For all "shall not sleep," or die, but those who do sleep will be translated together with the living believers, who will be changed, and all will bgeth- fir be aught up in the clouds to meet the Lord.

Concerning this question of the coming of our h r d and our being gathered "together" unto Him no one need be mistaken or beguiled in any wise, for it cannot come until after the revelation and reign of "the man of sin," or until the time of his destruction at the end of the great tribulation. At that time they will be judged who believe not the truth, while we will be saved through belief of the truth,


Proof tex t : But W E would not have YOU ignorant, brethren, concerning them

that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope. For if w e believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them am that are fallen asleep in Jerms will God bring with him. For this we m y unto y ~ l by the word of the Urd, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. For the Cord himself shall dleseend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of C;od: and the deadin Christ aha11 rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet t b Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.

Rut concerning the t i m e and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written nnto you. Far your~elv~ know perfectIy that the day of the Lord so mmeth as a thief in the night. When they are saying, peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh npon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they hall in no wise escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overake you as a thief: for ye are all sons of light and sons of the b y : we are not of the night, nor of darkness; so then let us nat sleep as do the rest, but let ns watch and be sober. For they that deep, deep in the night; and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breast- plate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For G d appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining af salvation through our Lord Jeaus Christ, who died for us that whether we wake or aleep, we should live together w i t h him. Wherefore, exhort one another, and build each other up, even as d s o ye do. I. Thess. 4:13-18: 8:l-11.

Behold, T tell you a mystery: We shall not deep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised in- Comptible, and we shall be chanxed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. I. Cor, 16 41-64.

Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Seam Christ, and our gathering together nnto him; t o the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be hobled, either by


gpirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of tbe Lord i9 just at hand; let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, e m p t the falling away come first, and the man of in be revealed, the mn of perdition, he that opposeth and exalteth himself amirt~t dl that is called God or that ia worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God. Remember ye not that when I waa with you I told you these things? And then shall be revealed the lawIess one, whom the Urd Jesna sbalI slay ai#h the breath of hia moath and bring to naught by the manifestation of his coming, even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with dl power and signs and lying wonders, that they &auld believe a lie: that they all might be judged who hebelieved not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give t b k s to God alwag~ for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you tram the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. I1 mess. 2:l-5,8,9,11-13.

N a k : me Scripture says that at the time of the return of

Christ, the resurrect4 and the living believers will together be caught up to meet the h r d in the air. The meaning of this word "meet" as used in the Scriptures and according to the realmeaning of the word has the one thought of going out to meet a person as though going out to meet a corning quest and then returning back with him. The real meaning of this word is shown in the case of the saints coming out to meet Paul when he approached Rome and after meeting him returning to their homes with him. Acts 28 : 15, Accordingly, the use of this word in connection with the coming of Christ means that we will meet him in the air and return back to earth with Him at that particular time. Of course, thia does not imply a permanent return to earth.

11. THE TRANSLATION OF LIVING BELIEVERS WILL BE

AT THE TIME WHEN DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY

The time when death will be swallowed up in victary is


the time when this corruption will put on incorruption and thia mortal will put on immortality. At this time "the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we (the living) shall be changed!' The time of the translation of the living believers and the time when death will be swallowed up in victory is therefore concurrent. Proof text:

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shal all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last tnunp: for the -pet shall soand, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruption must put on immortality. But when this corruptible shall have put on ineor- ruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall wme to pans the aaying that is written, Death is swallowed up En arictorg. I. Cor. 16:51-52.

THE TIME WHEN DEATH WILL BE SWALLOWED UP IN V ~ ~ R Y IS AFTER THE GREAT TRIBULATION

The time death will be swallowed up in victory will be after the great tribulation, for this is when the Lord will destroy "the covering cast over all people," and "the veil that is spread over dl nations." It is also the time when the 'rebuke," the degradation of God's people, Israel, will be taken "away from oE all the earth," which time is after the great tribulation. Proof text:

And in this mountain will Jehovah of hosts make unto a11 peoplea a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the leest, of fat things full af m m w , o f wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the eovering that mvereth all people, and the veil that is spread over all ~lations. He hath swallowad up death for ever; and the Lord Jehwah will wipe away tears from orf all faces: and the reproach of his people will he take away from ol all the earth: for Jehovah hath spoken it. Isa. 25:68.


Nate: The covering over the nations of the earth now is the

power of Satan, the god of this world. It will not be removed until Jesus takes His great power and reigns, which time is after the great tribulation.

This is also the time when the "rebuke", or disgrace, will be removed from God's people, Israel, who will be converted when they see Chrigt come in glory to reign.

Therefore, since the removing of the covering now over the nations of the earth and the removing of the disgrace now upon Israel will take place when "deatlz is swallswed up in victory," as Paul asserts, and since at this time both the dead in Christ will be raised and the living believers changed. this resurrection and translation must come after the great tribulation and forbids a so-called pre-tribulation resurrection and rapture.

Even according to Darby's school of teaching there will be death of saints during the final years of g~eat tribulation, Accordingly, death will not be swallowed up in victory before this time and thus the Lord will not return till then.

Conclusion. Since the time of the living believers will be changed and the dead saints will be raised to all together meet the Lord will be when "death is swallowed up in victory" and since this time will be "after the end of the great tribulation, the Church will, accordingly, go through all of the great tribulation.

CHAlTER VZI.

JESUS WILL NOT RETURN TILL WE COMES TO DESTROY ALL ENEMIES AT THE END OF THE GREAT TRIBIJ- LATION

B2 T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O E ;

I. JESUS WILL NOT RETURN UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE

MADE HIS F'O€)T STOOL

Jesus will not return until His enemies be made His footstool, for God said concerning IIim : "Sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies Thy footstool." In accord with this foreordained purpose, Jesus "sat down on the right h d of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made His footstool,"' From this position Be will not return to earth until His e-tation of making His enemies His footstool Womes an ~ m p ~ i s h e d realization.

PMof text: Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies the footstoot

of thy feet. Heb. 1:12. Jesus Christ, once for aU, sat dawn on the right hand of God;

henceforth expecting till Itis enemies he made the fwtstool of his feet. Heb. 10:lO-13.

II. JESUS' ENEMIES WILL NOT BE MADE HIS FOOT-

STOOL UNTIL THE END OF THE GREAT TRIBU- LATION

The enemies of Christ will not be made the footstool of His feet until after the great tribulation, for i t will be when IIe comes to "reign" that He will "put all enemies under His feet." This reign will begin at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, when the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdoms of our Lord, who thenceforth will reign forever and forever. When the trumpet sounds Christ will takc His great power and reign. The nations will be wroth and so will the Lord also be wroth when He pours out His wrath upon them.


He will begin at this time to "destroy them that destroy the earth," and We will continue His reigning and destroy- ing until the last enemy, death, is destroyed.

Making His enemies His footstool is further seen to be after the great tribulation in that this victory over all enemies amnds the coming of Him who is t;he Faithful and 3 h e when He comes .to "make war" and to rule the nations with a rod of iron, events that will take place after the great tribulation. Christ will, therefore, be in heaven untiI that time.

mmf text:

And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they mid: The kingdom of the world i s become the kingdom of our Lard, and of his Christ: and he shall reign forever and ever.

And the four and twenty elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipped God, saying: We give thee thanks, 0 Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thon hast taken thy great power and d i d ~ t reign. And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and the time h give their reward to thy servants, the propheb, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, the small and the great; and to destroy them that destroy the earth. Rev. 11:15-18.

Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom t o God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign ti11 he hath put all his enemim under hie feet. The last enemy that shall bp abolished is death. I. COT. 15:24-26.

And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. And his eyes are as a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself. And he is arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name i s called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and purr. And out of his mouth pmeedeth a sharp


sword, that with it he a h I d smite the nations: and he -11 ride them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. And he hath on hia garment and on his thigh a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lorda. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voie, saying to all the bird6 that fly in midheaven, Came, and be gathered together unto the great supper of God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the fleah of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, b t h free and bond, and small and great.

And I saw the bemt and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith h~ deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image; they t w o were cast alive into the lake of fim that burneth with brimstone: and the rest were killed with the word of him that sat upon the horse, even the sword which came forth out of his month: and all the birds were filled with their fleah. Rev. 19:11-21.

Note: Since the coming of Christ to rule and to reign over His

enemies will not be until after the great tribulation, and since He will be seated at; the right and of G d until the time Be will come to rule over His enemies, there cannot be a so-called pre-tribulation coming of the Lord.

THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST, FOR WHICH THE CHRISTIAN IS TO WATCH AND PRAY LEST IT CATCH HIM UN- AWARES, IS AFTER THE GREAT TRIBULATION


THE CHRISTIAN TS TO WATCH AND PRAY AL- WAYS LEST THE LORD'S COMING FIND HIM UNPREPARED AND UNEXPECTANT

Jesus will return at a day and at an hour that we know not. Not knowing the exact time the Lord will return, the saint is to wakh and pray that he be prepared always as he sees the day approaching.

Prmf text: Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth tome.

Matt. 24:42.

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning: and ye yourselves l i e unto men that wait for their Lard, when he will return from the wedding; that, when he cometh and hocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Be ye therefore ready also; for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Luke 12:35,36-40.

THE TIME OF THE COMING OF THE LORD FOR WHICH THE SAINT IS TO WATCH IS AFTER THE GREAT TRTBULATION

The time for which the saint is to watch ia "immediately after the tribula1;ion of those days" . . . when "the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light" and the other disturbances in heaven and on earth. This is also shown to be after the great tribulation in that it is at the time of the sounding of t h e trumpet and the gathering together of the el& from d1 the earth.

This time for which the saint is to watch is the time of the destruction of the wicked as they were destroyed in


the days of Noah, which destruction will ke at the end of the great tribulation.

Furthermore, the saint is to watch for the 'Uay of the Lord," the one-thousand-year day that will end in the destruction of the present earth and its heavens. Since this day will be after the great tribulation, the day for which the saint is t o "watch" is after the great tribulation.

Proof text:

For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

Immediately after the tribulation of thooe days &all the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her Hght, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall dl the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and meat glow.

And he shall send his angel8 with a great sound of a trumpet, and they ahall gather tagether hia elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven ta the other.

For as in the daye that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and *ving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

And knew not until the flmd came and took them all away; so shall also the taming of the Son of man be.

men shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Watch therefore; for ye know nat what hour your Lord doth come. Matt. 2428-31; 38:42.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so tometh as a thief in the night,

For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction tometh upon them, as travail upon a wornan with child; and they shall not escape.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should ovex- take you as a thief. Ye are nI1 the children of light, and the children of the day: we


are not of the night, nos of darkness. Therefore, let uti not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and

be sober. I. Thess. 5:2-6. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the

which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with femnt heat, the earth alm, and the works that are t h e i n shall be burned up.

Wherefore, beloved, .seeing that ye I d for such thinffe, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 11. Peter 3 :lo, 14.

Note : Do not the above passages of Scripture make it unmis-

takably clear that the teaching by "inference" that the present saints are to look for no sim, but that the "secret rapture" of the church may be any moment, is a mistaken "inference ?"

What does the Scripture say about the coming of the Lord as a thief in the night? It says that His coming will be thus to the unsaved, BUT it will not be thus with the saved. We are told: "Ye, brethren, are not in darkness that that day shouId overtake you as a thief." And again? "Let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." What does this say if not that the saints are t o watch and be sober and wide-awake to the signs of the Lord's return, while the unsaved will be as asleep or drunken and be caught unawares ins though caught unexpectedly by the thief?

What could be more dear than the Bible statement as to the time for which the saint is to "watch and pray" when the Lord will come "as a thief in the night." Here is the the definite revelation: "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall meIt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works therein shall be burned up."

T H R O U G H T R I B U L S T I O N 49

Does this not say that saints in general to whom this epistle applies, in other respects, are here told to look for the "day of the Lord," (the one-thousand-year day of His reign) that will end the present world and all of its works? Everyone knows this will he after the end of the great tribulation.

From the Scripture just ~ u o t e d i t is dear that the saint is to "watch" fordefinite signs ar,d events. Yet in spite of definite things that will take place prior to the return of the Zord, no one will know the exact "day" or "hour" He will return. However we are told that the coming of the Lord. will not catch us unau7ares if we watch and pray.

When the anti-Christ will come we do not yet know, nor can we be certain as to the exact day and hour the Lord Jesus will return to end the reign of the anti-Christ. That is what the Bible says and we must leave it there.

Condusion. Since the saints are so to watch that, they will know the signs of the Lord's coming and not be caught unawares when He comes to reign and to destroy the present world at the end of the great tribulation, we have dear proof here that the Church will go through the great tribulation.

CHRIST JESUS WILL REMAIN IN HEAVEN AS OUR FEGH PRIEST, MED- IATOR, AND ADVOCATE UNTIL AF- TER THE GREAT TRIBULATION.


I. CHRIST IS IN HEAVEN AS OUR HIGH PRIEST, MEDIA-

TOR AND ADVOCATE

As in Old Testament days the high priest entered into the holy of holies to appear before God and be there to offer blood atonement for the sins of the people, so Jesus, as our high priest, has entered the true Holy of Holies, heaven itself, to aff er the sacrifice of His own blood in our behalf. He, as our high priest, has sat down at the right hand of Gcd in the true tabernacle in heaven, the tabernacle not made with hands.

We are t o hold fast our confession, therefore, because Christ, as our High Priest, is now within the veil in our behalf, enabling us to anchor our hope there. By His work there He makes this hope sure and steadfast.

In Hip, exaltation within the veil as our High Priest, Jesus is our Mediator, our gebetween. He gecures for us the new covenant whereby our sins are forgiven and whereby we are given the Holy Spirit, who coming within us, writes the law of God on and in our hearts.

In His work as High Priest, Christ is also our Advocate in all things. In this capacity He secures our steadfast perseverance in salvation to the end. Since He, as our Advocate, is making intercession for us "b the uttermost," we are

saved "to the uttermost"-a certain and secure ultimate and perfect consummation. We, therefore, can approach the thrnne of grace with assurance because we have this High Priest, Mediator and Advocate, there making our place secure.

Proof text: Now, in the things which we are saying, the chief point is this:

We have such a high priest, who sat down on the fight hand of the


Majasty in the heavena, a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitEhed, not man. Wherefore, it be- hooved him in dl things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to G d , to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Heb. &:I-3; 2:17.

Having then a great Mgh priest who hath passed through the heavens, Jesuhi the Son of God, let os hold fast oar confewion. Heb. P:14.

Which we have as an anchor of the soul, a haps both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil; whither as^

a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high prieat for ever after the ordex of Melehizedek. Heb. 6:19, 20.

But now hath he obtained a ministry the more excellent, by so much as he i s also the mediator of a be%r covenant, which hath been enacted upon bette~ promises. Heb. 8:6.

By so much also hath Jesus b m e the stirety of a better COY-

enant, Reb. 7:22. This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,

saith the Lbrd: I will put my Iaws on their hearts, and upon their mind also will I write them; then said he, a d their- sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Heb. 10:16,17.

But he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchange- able. 'Wherefore aleo, he ig able to a y e to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them, Heb. T:a, 25.

Let US, therefore, draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and may find grace t o help ns in time of need. Heb. 4:lS.

Ir. CHRIST WILL REMAIN IN HEAVEN AS OUR HIGH

PRIEST UNTIL AFTER THE GREAT TRIl3ULA- TION

Christ as High Priest, Mediator and Advocate will remain in heaven until after the great tribulation bemuse men could not otherwise be saved to the end of the great tribulation, as they will be.


Jesus, through His own blood, has entered into the holy place, having thereby obtained eternal redemption for us and as our high priest there has put away our sins from us. Having made this sacrifice for sin once for all and having, ss our high priest, sat down at the right hand of God, He will remain there in this capacity until His enemies be made the footstool of His feet. Since this will not be until after the great tribulation, Christ will continue in heaven until then.

After His work in heaven of offering His own blood as an atonement for sin is finished at the end of the great tribulation, Christ will appear "a second time" "apart from sin-that is, from the atoning work in heaven for sin as Priest, Mediator and Advocate-for He will then have finished His work in this capacity.

Proof text:

But Christ having become a high priest of the good thiuas to comr, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, nor yet through the bIood of goats and calves, but through his awn blood entered In once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption. Heb. 9:11,12.

Now, once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us. Heb. 9:26,24.

But he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; henceforth expecting till his enemies be made the footstool of his feet. Far by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Hcb. 10:12-14.

So Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, awrt Rom sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation. Heb. 9%.

For yet, a very little while, he that cameth shall cnme, and shrill not tarry. Heb. 10:37.


Note: Men will be saved until the end of the great tribulation,

for John saw a multitude that no man could number who m e out of it {Rev. 7:9-14). At last the great tribulation will be cut short for the sake of the "elect," the saved, who will be in i t until this end (Matt. 24:22). At the end of the great tribulation the anti-Christ will still be making wall with the saints of God, showing tha t - the saints are in tribulation until i ts end.

Therefore, since there will be saints in the great tribulation until its end, Christ, as high priest, cannot leave His position in heaven at the right hand of God until after the great tribulation. The salvation and the perseverance of these saints in tribulation depends upon His intercessory and high priestly work there at the right hand of God. There IIe must offer His sacrifice of blood while men are being saved in the present plan of salvation, during a13 the present age to its very end. His work in our behalf as the Mediator of the New Covenant alone makes possible the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that makes perseverance in trial possible.

Men get saved when Christ, as Priest, Mediator, Advo- cate and Intercessor sits in heaven a t the right hand of God. When Re leaves this position the salvation of men in the present age will end.

When the salvation of men in the presenl; age ends, as it will not until the end of the great tribulation, then Jesus will appear "the second time." But this will not be to save men from sin. It will be "apart from sin," apart from the sin question as high priest and mediator of the covenant by which men are saved.

This second appearing will be to men who are already saved out of sin through the sacrifice and blood and work


as mediator and high priest. Such work, being then corn- plete, Christ will appear to 'them that wait for Him," them whom He has already redeemed. Since this appearing from His position as high priest in heaven will not be until the great tribulation ends, Christ will not come for His people for an earlier rapture of believers, for He must still remain in His priestly work in heaven, and the Church must m r d - ingly go through the great tribulation.

CHAPTER X.

THE COMING OF CHRIST WILL BE AT THE END OF THE AGE W E N THE WICKED AND RIGHTEOUS WILL BE HARVESTED AND SEPARATED AT END OF EARTH'S TRIBULATION

108 ' C H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O M

I. ('HRIST WILL RETURN AT THE END OF THE AGE

"The sign" of Christ's coming is the time Ile will return. This will be at "the end of the wo~lld," or age.

His return will be after the coming of all false Christs rind after all wars and r u m s of wars; that is, to end it11 wars at the end of the world.

I'roof text:

And as he sat on the rnourlt o f Olives, the diseiplw c:unc unto him privately, paying: Tell us, when shaIl these thin$$ be, and what shall be the sign of thy cam in^, and of the end of the world? And drsus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray. For many shall conie in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not timubled: for thew fhits must I ~ P ~ S come ta pass: hut the end is not yet. Matt. 24:3-6.

I% "THE END OF THE AGE" IS AmER THE GREAT

TRIBULATION

"The end of the age" is after the great tribulation, for when Jesus' disciples asked Him when would be the sign of His coming and THE END OF THE AGE, He said that it would be "after the tribulation."

And as he sat upon the nlount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying: Tell us, when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? Then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning o f the W D ~ I ~ nntil now; no, nor ever shdl be.

But immediately after the tribula~on of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fa11 from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken; and


then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Natt. 24: 3, 21, 29. 30.

Conclusion. Since there must be "signs" of Jesus' coming, and since these "signs'will not be until after the great tribulation, the ChurcIz will, accordingly, KO through the great tribulation.

111.

THE HARVEST OF THE EARTH IS THE TIME WHEN THE ANGELS WILL COME WITH CHRIST TO REAP THE HARVEST OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND WICKED

"The hawest" of the earth will come when t11e wicked tares of the earth are fully ripe and the righteous wheat me ready to be gathered. Then the angels will come with Christ and reap the righteous and the wicked of the earth.

At this harvest-reaping the wicked will be gathered into the winepress of God's wrath and burned in the furnace of fire, while the righteous will be gathered to shine in the kingdom of the Father.

Proof text: Then he left the multitud~s and went into the house: and his

cliseiples came unto him, sagiry: Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field. And he ansit-ered and said: Wc tha t soweth the good seed is the Son of man; and the field is the warld: and the tares are the sons of the evil one; .and the encmy that sowed them is the devil; and the harvest i5 the end of the werld; and tha reapera are angels. As therefore, the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall m d forth his angels and they shall gather out of hi kingdam all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall casf them into the furnace of Cre: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then shall the ri~htrous shine forth as the sun


in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear. Matt. 13:86-43,

And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw one sitting like unto a Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in hia hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the temple crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle and reap: for the hour t o reap is come; for the bawest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud cast his aickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped.

And another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power over lire; and he called with a. great voiice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying: Send forth thy sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel east his sickIe into the earth, and gathered the vintage oaf the earth, and cast it into the wine-press of the great wine-press of the wrath of God. Rev. 14:14-19.

THE SAINTS AND THE WICKED WILL CONTINUE TOGETHER ON EARTH UNTIL THE END OF "THE HARVEST" AT THE END OF THE AGE AFTER THE GREAT TRIBULATION

The wheat and the ta~es, the sons of the Kingdom and the sons of the devil, or the saints and the wicked, will grow together, continuing side by side in the world until the end of the harvest, and end of the age (world).

Other topics show the "end of the world" will come after the great tribulation.

Another parable eet he before them, saying: The kingdam of heam is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field: tint while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and wemt away. But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares alao. And the s e m t s of the householder

T H R O U G H TRIBULATION 111

came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow g o d seed in thy fidd? Whence then hath it tares? And he said unto them, an enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wlt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he saith, nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them. Let both zrow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest 1 will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my b m .

And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man: and the field is the world, and the g d seed, these are the sons of the kingdom : and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the hameet is the end of the worId; and the reapers are angels.

As therefore, the tares are gathered up and burned with fim, so &a11 it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cam stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall cask them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping a d the gnashing of Wth. Matt. 13:24-30; 37-39.

And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw one sitting like unto a Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the temple crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is dpe. And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth, and the earth was reapr?d. And another angel came out of the temple, which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickIe. And another a g e 1 came out from the altar, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle saying, Send forth thy sharp skkle, and gather the clustera of the vine of the earth; far her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the Pintage af the earth, and caat it into the Kinepreas, the great wine- Press of the wrath of God. Rev. 14:14-19.

Put ye in the sickle; for the h a r v ~ t is ripe: eome, tread ye; for the wine-prws 5s full, the vats overflow; for their wickdnem ihl great,

Multitudes, multitudee in the valley of decision! For the day of Jehovah is near in the vatley of decision. Joel 3:15,14.

1W T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O N

Note : The scriptures under this topic show a direct contra-

diction to the teaching of the Darbg-Scofeld schml. This school says that the Lord Jesus will first come and gather out the wheat before the coming of the anti-Christ and leave the tares until after that reign. The Bible says the exact opposite. It says: "Let both grow together until the harvest," and that "the harvest is the end of the world." The harvest is when the angels reap both the righteous and the wicked for a period of years, as this teaching by 'inference" expects? The two companies are to "grow together till the end of the world, or the end of all the great tribulation," the Lord himself said.

According to Darby, Jesus will first gather out the wheat from among the tares. According to Jesus the angels will "gather up first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them." Darby says, First, the wheat; Jesus says, First the tares. Whom shall we believe?

Conclusion Since the harvest is the end of the world after the great tribulation, and since the saints and the wicked are to continue together until the time of reaping the earth by the angels and harvesting it, the Church will go through the great tribulation.

CHAPTER XI

SEVEN DEFINITE THINGS FOR WHICH THE C H R I S M HOPES IN CONNECTION WITH THE RETURN OF CHRIST ARE THINGS WHICH ATTEND HIS COMING AFTER !EIE GREAT TRIBULATION,


"THE DAY OF CHRIST" IS THE EVENT FOR WHICH THE CHRISTIAN HOPES

The Christian is "waiting for the revelation of our h r d Jesus Christ." He hopes that he "may be unreprovable in the day of our h r d Jesus Christ." This is the time at which he hopes to be "sincere and void of offense,"

He also hopes for this "day of the hrd" because at that time he expects to receive his rewards. Be is being perfected by Christ for that day and then will glory in the souls he has won.

Hence, "THE DAY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST is the day for which the Chrisitan hopes.

Proof -text Ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord

Jesus Ch~ist; who shaEI also confirm you unto the end, that ye be unreprovable in the day of our h r d Jesus Christ. I. Cor, 1: 8.

As also ye did acknowldge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jmus II Cor. 1:14.

And this E pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of C h t ; being wnfident of this very thing, that he who began a g d work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ. mil. 1:6.

Do dl things without murmurings and questionings; that ye ma) b r a e b I a r n e l ~ ~ and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen ap lights in the world, holding forth the word of life; that 1: may have whereof to glory in the day af Christ, that I did not run in vain, neither labor in vain. In the name of our Lord Jesus, ye being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our bLord Jesus, to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Phil. 2:14,16; I Cor. 5:4, 5.

T H R O U G H T R I R U L X T I O X

Note : Rarby said, "the day of Christ" affected only Jews. Authorities on the history of the Churcl~ and its doc-

trines declare that, just as you and 1 naturally suppose and now believe, the promises and admonitions of the New Testament, gospels, epistles, and all were meant for saint and sinner without race distinction. What applied to the sinner was supposed to be for all sinners alike, Jew or Gen- tile. What applied t o saints was supposed to apply to all saints, Jew or Gentile.

Is it not the teaching of the New Testanent that all sinners are outside the Church and that all saints, the saved, are in the Church? And does the Word not definitely say that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile, brit that all are one and all alike members of His body?

This being true, how can there he any distinction till the very end of the age when the Lord will return to cs- hb1ish His kingdom? Where in the scripture is any statement found to contradict the belief he!d uni-r.ersally for eighteen centuries that until the Lord returns to judge the world at the end of the reign of the anti-Christ there is to be no distinction between Jew and Gentile in the family of the redeemed?

Darby started something new. The many promises made to saints applying to tlze end of the age after the reign of the anti-Christ flatly contradict his theory founded on "inference" that the Church would be raptured before the reign of the anti-Christ. Accordingly to save the situa- tion Darby started another theory founded purely on "inference* and not on definite Scripture that there must be a Special class of saints to which the end-time promises ap plied. Many things, he said, in these days applied to the Jews and had nothing to do with us.


Maybe Darby could see this. Apparently no one before his day saw it, and who could see it today, unless he looked at the Scripture through Darby's spectacles ?

It THE DAY OF CHRIST IS AFTER THE GREAT TRIBU-

LATION The "Day of the Lord Jesus Christ'' is after the great

tribulation, for it will not come until after "the man of sin be revealed," as he will be during the tribulation. The signs that follow the great tribulation-wonders in heaven and on earth-will all be before the day of the b r d comes, "that great and notable day."

Proof-text Touching the comi~rg of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathey-

ing together unto him; to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistIe as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand; let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man af sin be revealed, the son of perdition, he that oppseth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped: so that he sitteth in the temple of Ciod, setting himself forth as God. I1 Thess. 2:l-4.

But concelaing the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. When they are saying, Peace aarl safety, then eudden destruction cameth upon them as travaii upon a woman wjth child; and they shall in no wise m p e . I Thess. 5:l-3.

And I will show wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath; Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darknaq and the moon into bl& before the day d the brd come, That great and notable day: Acts 2:19, 20.

Conclusion. Since all the saints in general, without any distinction whatever, are told to hope for the "Day of

T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O N El7

the Lord" and since the "Day of the hrd" will not come until after the great tribulation, the Church as a whole must therefore go through the great tribulation b its very end.

THE "SEPARATION" OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED IS THE EVENT XlYlR WFIICH THE CHRIS- TIAN HOPES

The Christian hopes for the t i m e d the "separation" of the righteous and the wicked, for at that time the righteous will shine as the sun in the Kingdom of the Father. They wait far the Son from heaven, Who at the time IIe destroys the wicked will deliver the saints from this wrath to come. When the angels render vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the gospel, then will those who obey the gospel enter their rest and heaven.

At this time of "separation" when the Lord will destroy &ern who destroy the earth, the saints and the prophets will receive their reward, and hence they hope for this time.

Prmf-text And he answered and said, We that soweth the good seed is the

Son of man: and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom: and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy that sowed them i s the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels. As therefore the

are gathered up and burned wjth fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather ont of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and th@m that do iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shaIl be the weeping and the gnashing of tetth. Then shall & righteons shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Matt. 13 :37-a .

For they themselves report concerning us what manner of enter-


ing we had u n h you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, tn serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven. whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come. I Thess. 1:9, 10.

And to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that knew not G d , and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might. I1 Thess. 1:7.9.

We give thee thanks, 0 Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who waqt: because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign. And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the d@ to k judged, and khe time to give their reward to thy per- vanta the prophets, and to the sainte, and to them that fear thy name, the small and the meat; and to destroy them that destroy the earth. Rev. 11:17, 18.

THE SAVED AND THE UNSAVED, THE SAINTS AND THE WICKED, WILL BE '%SEPARATED" AT THE END OF THE AGE AFTER THE GREAT TRIBULA- TION

The saved and the unsaved will be "separated" after the great tribulation, for it will be "in the time of the harvest" that the tares will he gathered for burning and the wheat will be gathered into the garner of the Lord. It is at the time when those who do iniquity shdl be cast into the furnace of fire that the righteous shdl shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of the Fathey. This event is after the great tribulation, for it is "in the end of the age" that the angels shall come forth t g sever the wicked from among the right- eour, casting the former into the fire and gatllerir!~ the good into vessels.

This day of destruction, corning upon the wicked as un-


expectedly as the flood came upon the ungodly, is dso the day of "separation" and of salvation for the righteous, was the day of Lot.

This "separation" is after the great tribulation, for it is the day the Lord will take His power and reign and also the day of God's wrath when He will destroy them who destroy the earth. At this time God will give their rewards to His servants, His prophets, and His s a i n t s .

proof-text

Let both grow together until the hawest: and in the time of the harvest 1 will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but ath her the wheat into my barn. He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; and the field is the world; ar,d the good seed, these arc the sons of the kingdom; and The tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: As therefore the tare^ are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear. Matt. 1530, 31-43.

Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshrphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about. Put ye in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe: come, tread ye; for the winepress is fult, the vab overflow; for their wickedness i s great. Joel 3:12,13.

h a i n , the kingdom of heaven is like m t o a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when i t was filled, they drew up on t h e beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but the bad they cast away. So shdl it be in the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the righteous, and shall east them into th furnace of fire: thrre hall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Matt. 13:47-50.

And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the So11

120 T H R O U G H TIEIBULATXON

of man. For as in those dam which were kfore the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the a& and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the eoming of the Son af Inah Then shall two men be in the field: one is taken, and one i a left: two women shall be grinding at the mill; one ia taken and ane is left. Matt. 24:57-41.

Remember Lot's wife. Whosower shall seek to gain his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose his life shall presme it. 1 MY unto you, En that night there shall be two men on one bed; the one shdI be taken, and the other shall be Idt . There shall be two women grinding together: the m e shall be taken, and the other #hall be left. Luke 17:32-38.

And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed p a t voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lard, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever. We thee. thanks, 0 Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wsert; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign. And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to bc judged, and the time to give thcir reward to thy ervants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, the small and the great; and to destroy them that destroy the earth. Rev. ll:15, 17,18.

Cenclusion. Since the day of the "~,eparation" of the saints from the evil men is the day for which all saints without distinction hope, and since that day will be after the end of the great tribulation, the whole Church will go through the great tribulation.

THE TIME WHEN THE ANGELS COME WITH CHRIST B THE EVENT FOR WHICH THE CHRISTIAN MOPES

The Christian hopes for the time when "the angels" wilI come with Christ, for at that time the Lord will "reward


every man according to his deeds." He hopes for that time because then the Lord will "send forth the angels" "to s e p arate the evil from the righteous, and the righteous shall shine as the sun in the Kingdom of the Father. At this time of reaping and judging, the Christian will not be ashamed as the wicked will be who are now ashamed of Jesus. Because of his hope for this coming of Jesus, the saint should establish his heart in holiness that he may "rest" with the saved while the angels are rendering vengeance on the ungodly.

When "the angels" come with Christ they will gather the elect; therefore, the saints hope for this coming with the angels to gather them into their eternal home.

Proof text

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds. Matt, 16227.

The hamest is the end of the world; and the reawr.s are angel% Matt. 13:39.

The San of man hall aend forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom a11 things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquitg, and ghat1 cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing o f teeth. Then shall the righteous ~ h i n e forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath earn, let him hear. So shall it be in the end of the world: the angels shall corn= forth, and sever the wicked from among the r i g h t ~ s . Nark 13:41-43, 49.

For whomevet shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in his own glory, and the gIory of the Father, and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26.

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jeans shall be revealed from hearen with hie mighty angels, in darning fire taking venEeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 11 Thess. 1:7, 8.

And then shall they see the Son of man eoming in clouds with Ereat power and rlory. And then shall he send forth the angels,


and sllall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. Marl: 13:26, 27.

"THE ANGELS" WILL COME WITH CHRIST AFl'ER THE GREAT TRIBULATION

After the great tribulation the Son of man will come attended by "the angels." At this time of harvest, the end of the age, Be will send forth His angels to reap the earth.

At this revelation with His "angels" He will "render vengeance" on the disobedient and "sit on the throne of his glory," events wl~ich follow the great tribulation.

But- h those days, after that tribulation, the sun sh:ill be dark. eued, iuid the moon shall not givc her light, and the stars shall be falling from heaven, and t h e powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken, And then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then shall he send forth th? angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four w i ~ ~ d s , from the uttermost part of the earth t o the uttermost part nf heaven. Marlc 13:24-27.

Amd to you that are afflicted, rest with us, at the revelation of thc Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his powcr in flamina fire, rendering vengeance t o them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jeqrra I1 Thess. 1:7, 8.

The harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels, As the~.efo~.e the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of Inan shall send forth his anselq and they shall g'ather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumblin~, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: thrl-r: ahall be the weeping and tkbe ~nashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Fathe).. Matt. 13:39-43.

But whet1 the Son of man shall come iil his xlorp, and all the an-


gels with him, then shall he a;t on the throne of his glory. Matt. 26 :31,

Conclusion. Silice all saints without distinction are to hope for the time when Jesus will come "with the angels" in glory and since this time is when He will come t o judge the wadd after the great tribulation, it follows that the Church will ,rro thro~'gh the great tribulation.

VII

CHRIST'S "COMING ON THE CLOUDS" IS THE EVENT FOR WAIC,H THE C.HRISTIAN HOPES

The coming of Christ "on the clauds" is the time for which the Christian hopes. As Christ went up to heaven in a cloud, so does the Christian expect Him to yeturn. EIe hopes for this coming on the clouds because the dead in Christ will then be raised and the living believers will be translated to be with the Lord forever.

The Christian hopes for this time because then will be given to Christ "dominion, and glory, and a Kingdom" in which the saints will reign with Rim while all the peoples, nations, and tribes will serve Him.

Proof -text And when he bad said these things, as they were looking, he was

taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they were looking stedfasUy into heaven as he wcnt, behold two men stood by thcm in white srppa~el; who also said, Yr men of Gali- lee, why s t ~ n d ye looki11~ into heavcn? This Jesus, u*ho was rc- ceived up from you itit0 heaven, sha!l so come in like manner as yr beheld him goii~g into heaven. Acts I:!?-11.

For the Lord himself sJlall d e s e e ~ ~ d Iron) hcavei:, with a shout, wit11 the voice of the al.changd, and with tho trump of God: and the dead in Cl~rist shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with f h ~ m be caught up in the rlnt~ds, to meet the


Lord in the air: and so shalt we ever be with the Lord. I Thesr 4:16, 17.

I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the c l o u l of heaven one like unto 8 son of man, and he came even to the An- cient of days, and they brought him near before him. And t h e was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages ~hould serve him: his dominion is an everlasting domion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be de.atroped. Dan. !?:IS, 14.

CHRIST WlLL COME "ON THE CLOUDS" AFTER THE GREAT TRIBULATION

After the tribulation and following events "then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds." When We comes "with the clouds" every eye shaU see Him, including the Jews, and all tribes of the earth shall mourn over llim. At this time IIe will also set up His Kingdom that will not be destroyed. These events fallow the great tribulation.

Proof -text Again the high priest asked him, and saith unto him, Art thou

the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see- the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming dith the clouds of heaven. Mark 14:61, 62.

I But in thosc days after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened,

and the moon shall not give her Iight, and the stars shall be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. Mark 13:24-26.

I Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him,

and they that pierced him and all the tribes of the earth shall ! mourn over him. Even so, Amen. Rev. I:?, 8. I And as for the rast of the beasts, their dominion was taken away:

yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. I saw in thc night-visions, and, behoId, there came with the clouds of heaven nonu


like unto a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given unto him dominion, and ghy, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and language^ should serve Him: his dominion is an evcrlaeting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that u-Wih ~haH not, be deatreyed. Dan. 7:12-14.

Conclusion. Since the saints without distinction are to hope for the time Jesus will return on '"the clouds," and since this time is after the great tribulation, it follows, therefore, that the Church will go through the great tribulation.

CHRIST'S COMING WITH "FLAMING FIRE" IS THE EVENT FOR WHICH THE CHRISTIAN HOPES

When Christ will be revealed from heaven "in flaming fire," rendering vengeance on the ungodly, the Christian will enter his "rest." Hence he hopes far this time and c ~ e n t .

At this coming of Jesus with the angels of His power in flaming fire the tares are gathered and h u r n d in the furnace of fire, and the Christian will rejoice, as his hopes will be realized, for then shall the righteous shine forth jn the Kingdom of their Father.

It is at this coming "in flaming fire" that Jesus will be glorified in His saints and marveled at by all who believe. Since this is true, every saved person, all believers. will participate in the glories to be revederl at that time.

Proof -text

Ye also suffer: if so be that it is a righteous thing with God t o recompense affliction t o them that afflict you, an to you that are a i d e d rest with US at the revelation of the Lard J e l l s fmm heaven


with the angela of his power in flaming fire, wndering vengeance to them that know mt Gd, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punibhment, cwn eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the g l o ~ y of his might, whcn he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in alk them that believed.. I1 Thess. 1:&10.

As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fiw; so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them tha t do iniquity, m d shall cast them into the furnace af fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing: of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of f heir Father. He that hath ears, let him hear. Matt. 13~40-43.

CHRIST'S COMING WITH LIGHTENING AND "FLAM- ING FIRE" WILL BE AFI'ER THE GREAT TR3RU- LATION

The coming of Christ with "lightening and flaming fim" will be after the great tribulation. For He will then come in this manner upon the wicked as eagles u p ~ n the carcass, as it was in the days of Lot. This is the day when Jehovah will come "with fire" and His chariots to render anger ir. "flames of fire," which d a y of God's wrath is after the great tribulation.

Then will the wrath be a "devouring fire," At this rev-, elation in flaming fire those who know not God will suffer destruction.

This "is the end of the age," '1112 burning of the tares in the furnace of fire. Since the end of the age is after the great tribulation, this coming with lightning and flaming fire will therefore be after the great tribulation.

P d - t e r t As it came to pass in the drys of Noah, even so sham it be aka-


in the days of the Son of man. They ate, they drank, theg married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the f l o d came, and destroyed them all. Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, theg bought, they sold, theg plankd, they buildd; but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all: after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed. Luke 17:26-30.

For, behold, Jehovah will come with fire, and his chariots rrhall be like the whirl#ind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire will Jehovah execute judgment and by his sword, upon all fleah; and the slain of Jehovah shall be many. And Jehovah wilI cause his glorious voice t o be heard, md will show the lighting down of his arm, with the itdignation of his anger, tlnd the flame of u devouring fire, with a blast, and tempest, and haiIstones. Isa. 66:15,16; 30:30.

For as the lightning eometh forth fiwm the east, and i s seen even unto the w e t ; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. Where- soever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together. But immediatelp after the tribulation of thme days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven. Matt. 24: 27-30.

The halvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels. As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the wdd. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that caue stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them i n b the furnace of fire: there shali be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Matt. 1359-42.

And to you that are afflicted r a t with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angds of his power in flaming lire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and b them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus : who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the of his might, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints 11 Thess. 1:7-10.


Conclusion. Since all Christians without distinction are to hope for the coming of Jesus "in flaming fire," which event is after the great tribulation; the Church will go through to the end of the great tribulation.

CHRIST'S COMING "IN GLORY" fS THE EVENT FOR WHICH THE CHRISTIAN HOPES

The Christian suffers and endures hardship hcause he hopes for the joys to be received at the revelation of Christ's glory. We lives righteously and godly in this present age, looking for "the blessed hope" and appearing of "the glary" of our Saviour Jesus Christ. He hopes not to be ashamed at this coming in the glory of Christ, the angels, and the Father, for at this time the Son shall render unto every man according t o his deeds.

The Christian also hopes for this coming "in glory," because he is a partaker in the glory that will be revealed. Being justified by faith he rejoices "in the hope of the glory of God" to set him before the presence of His glory without blemish in exceeding joy.

Proof Text Beloved, think it not srange concerning the fiery trial among you, I which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing hap-

pened unto you: but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ's suffer- inm rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceding great joy. 1. Peter 4:12,13.

Denying ungodline~ and worldly lust% we should live soberly and rightmusly and godly in this present world looking for the blessd hope and appearance af the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Titus 2:12,13.

For whosoever shall be aahamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in his own glary,


and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26. For the Son of man shall tome in the glory of his Father with his

angels: and then shall he render unto everg man according to his deeds. Matt. 16:27.

Being therefore justified by faith, we haye peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoioe in hope ef the glary of God. Rom. 5:1,2.

The elders, therefore, among you I exhort, who am n fello\v-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that hihall be revealed. I, Peter 6:l.

Now unto him that is abIe l o guard you from stulnhlin::, and to set &fore the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Ch~ist our Lord, be glory majesty, dominion and power, before a11 time, and now, and for ever- mom. Amen. Jude 2495.

CHRIST WILL COME IN "GREAT GLORY' AFTER THE GREAT TRlBULATION

It is after the tribulation and the following heavenly signs and disturbances of the earth that the Sun of man will come with power and "great glory." Then will Baby- lon fall, and then "He will sit on the throne of his glory."

Proof-Text But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall

be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man taming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matt. 24:29,30.

For the powera of the heavens shall ba shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cioud with power and great glory. Luke 21:26,27.

After these things I saw another angel eoming down out of heaven,


creation itself alas &all be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and traraileth in pain together until now, And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits af thc Spirit, even we oumlves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adopion, to-wit, the redemption of our body. For in hope were n*e saved. Rom. 8:18-24.

And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and hc that sat thereon, called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. And his eyes are a R a m of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but himseIf. And he is arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name i s called The Word of God. And the armies ~r.hic11 are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure, And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he ahou1d srrlite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of jron: and he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords.

And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against hie army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of 6re that bnrneth with brimstone: and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, even the sword which came forth out of his mouth: and all the bird3 mere filfed with their flesh. Rev. 19:ll-21.

Note: That the "restoration of all of earth's conditions will

not begin until the end of the present earth's great tribulation is so well known to all who are familiar with the Bible that we need not consider this subject here. All will agree that it is after the end of the present world's tribulation that "the wolf shall dwell with the lamb; and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the


pung lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them."

Conclusion. Since the day for which the Chris'iian "groans" is the same day for which all cwation also "groans," and since this day of simultaneous hope of de- liverance from corruption is the day Christ will return after the tribulation, He will not come before the end of the great tribulation to take His people away by rapture or by resurrection. Therefore all of the Chnrch must go throu~h all of earth's great tribulation.

CIRCUMSTANCES OF ]FIRST RESUR- RECTION SHOW IT BE AFTER THE GREAT TRTBULATION,


CHRIST W L L RETURN AT THE TIME OF THE SOUND- ING OF "THE LAST TRUMPET"

Christ will return with a great sound of the trumpet. This will be at the sounding of "the last trumpet."

They shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send far his angels with a great mund of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matt. 24: So, 31.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with tke mice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, t o meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the h r d . I Thess. 4~16, 17. We a11 shall not sleep, but we shall dl be changed, in a moment,

in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shalI mmd, and the dead hihall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. I. Cor. 16:51,52.

THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD SAINTS AND THE TRANSLATION OF THE CHURCH WILL BE AT THE SOUNDING OF "THE LAST TRUMPET9*

The dead saints will be resurrected and all the living believers will be changed and caught up at the time of the sounding of "the last trumpet,"

Proof -text

M o l d , I tell you a mystery: We all &all not a lep , but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last h m p : for the trumpet shall sauna and the dead shall be raised in-


and me shall be changed. I Cor. 16:61, 52. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them

afar0 that are fallen asleep in Jesus rill God bring with him. For #is we sag unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that a m left unto the coming af the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep For the Lord himseIf shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the tromp of Gd: and the dead in Christ shall riw first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall wc ever be with the Lord. I Th~ss , 4~14-17.

THE SOUNDING OF "THE LAST TRUMPET" WILL BE AWER THE GREAT TRBULATION

It is after the great tribulation that Christ will come with His angels with a great sound of a trumpet. Hence, no trumpet of God before this time could be the lad trumpet. This time will be (1) a time of mourning for the tribes of the earth, and (2) a time of rejoicing for "the elect," who will then be gathered together. This "great sound of a trumpet" is "the last trumpet," for at the sound of thelast trumpet the elect dead and the elect saved will be resurrected, translated and gathered to Christ. This "last trumpet" is after the great tribulation when the seventh angel, the last angel, sounds the seventh trumpet, the last trumpet, and the mystery of God ends. At this event (I) the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of the Lord, and the Lord takes His power and reigns. (2) It is also the day of God's wrath upon the wicked; (3) and the time of God's covenant with Israel ; and also (4) the time of lightning% thunders and earthquakes, all of which events are after the m a t tribulation.

The last trumpet must be after the great tribulation, for


at the gathering of elect Israel Jehovah will blow "a greal; t m p e t , " and they shall come and worship Him in the holy mountain at Jerusalem. In that day, "the day of God's wrath," the "day of the trumpet and alarm," Jehovah will go forth as lightning and fire to devour the land and to save Israel as the flock of His people.

At this day of sounding the trumpet "He will make an end." This must, therefore, be the last trumpet of the age.

But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shaIl not give her light, and the stam shall h l l from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shaH appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then &all all the tribe# of the earth mourn, and they shall m x the Son of man corning on the clrmds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together hia elect from the four winds, from one end of hemen to the other. Matt. 24~29-31.

We all shall not deep, but we shall all be chm~ed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. I Cor. 15:51, 52.

For the Lord himself shall descend from haven, with a shout, Kith the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of G d : and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lod in the air. I 'Xhess. 4:16, 17.

In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to mund, then is finished the mystery of W, according to the good tid- in@ which he declared to his semants, the prophets. Rev. 10:7.

And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and theg said, The kingdom of the world is become the kiigdmm of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for wer and ever. And the four and twenty elders, who sit before Gad on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipp d God, saying, We give thee thanks, 0 Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast;


because thou hant takm thy great power, and didst reign. And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to thy servants fie

and Lo thy sainta, and to them that fear thy name, the small and the great; and to destroy them that destroy the earth. And there was opened the temple of God that is in heaven; and there was seen in his temple the ark of his covenant; and there followed lightnings, and voices, and thnndem, and an earthquake, and great hail. Rev. 11 :IS-19.

!& great day of Jehovah is near and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of Jehovah; the mighty man crieth there bitterly. That b y is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of waststeness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trampet and alarm against the fortified cities, and again* the high battlements. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men because they have sinned againat Jehovah; and their blood shall be pour& out as dust, and their flesh as dung. Neither their silvw nor their gold shdl I1 able to deliver them in the day of Jehovah's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for l a d l 1 make an end, yea, a terrible end, of all them that dwell in the Ian& Zeph. 1:14-18.

And Jehovah shall be seen over them; and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord Jehovah will blow the tmmpet, and wiIl go with whirlwinds of the south. Jehovah of hosts will defend them; and they shall devour, and shall tread down the sling- stones; and they shall drink and make a noise as through wine; and theg shall be filled like bowls, like the corners of the altar. And Je- hovah their &MI will save them in that day as the flock of his peoplc; for they aka11 be as the stones o f a crown, lifted on high over his land. Zach. 994-16.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great trumpet shall be blown; and they ahall come that were ready to perish in the land d b y r i a , and they that were outeasb in the land of Egypt; and they shall wosd~ip Jehovah in the holy mountain at Jerusalem. Isa. 27:13.

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ehalI be a mlemn rest unto you, a memorial of blowins of trumpets*

a holy eonvocatian. Ye s M l do no servile work; and ye shall offr2 an offering made by 6re unto Jehovah. Lev. 23:23-25.

Note: The feast of trumpets was (1) at the conclusion of

the harvest. (2) It was a day of convocation. ( 3 ) An off'er- ing was made by fire. This feast probably typifies (1) tht. t l s l~est of the earth after great tribulation, (2) the time of the huly convocation, the gathering of all the holy and elect, and (2) the Lord's coming in flaming fire to burn thtl wicked in the furnace of fire.

God's ''elect" include:: the saved in the Church and the elect ~'e~nnaat of Israel. At the trumpet sound all will be gathei-ed. The converted dead will be resurrected and with Ihe co~lvei%ed living will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The unconverted remnant of Israel will be at this time converted and gathered from the four corners of the earth in Jerusalem.

Since Jehovah will Mow n great trumpet on the day of His wrath, the day He will save Israel, no trumpet of the fiord before that time could be His last trumpet.

Conclusion--Since the resurrection of the dead and the translation of the living saints, without distinction, will take place at the time of the "last trumpet" and since this time is after the great tribulation. the Church will continue in the worId until its end.

THE RESURRECTION OF ALL OLD AND NEW TESTA- MENT SAINTS AND THE TRANSLATION OF ALL LIVING BELIEVERS WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE SAME TIME, AT "THE FIRST RESURRECFION"

The resurrection of all the Old and New Testament saints.

T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O N 14 1

and the translaticn of all living believers will take place at the same time. When the Lord shall descend from heaven at the sounding of the last trump, all the dead in Christ will be resurrected and all the living believers will, together with them, be caught up. Included in this number are the Old Testament saints, for. these all having faith, and not having received the promised reward, could not receive it and he

perfect "apart from us." All who worship not the beast or his image, nor receive

his mark, will live together and reign with Christ a thousand gears. From the time of reward "onward" nll those who die in the Lord will be blessed.

"The dead in Christ," "those who died in the Lord," include all saints of dl time, a11 servants of God, including the prophets, the saints, the small and the great, "all them that fear His name." When the dead are jndged these will be rewarded and will rejoice together.

At the same time all the victorious ones appear by the sea of glass, having harps of God, and together they sing the song of Moses, the Old Testament servant of God, and they sing the song of the Lamb, the New Testament servant of God. All these Old and New Testament saints have come off victorious from the beast. These are "all they" over whom "the second death hath no power."

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shail not sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a momcnt, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall k ri~isrd ill- corruptible, and we shall be than- I Cor. 16:61, 52.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and a~ dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain ahdl be caught up tagether with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall be ever be with the Lord. T Thess. 4:1G,'17-

142 T H R O U G H T B I R U L A T I O K These all, having had witness borne t o them through their faith,

received not the promise, Gad having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfet. Beb. 1199, 40.

Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that hath made the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man mor- ~hippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand, he also ahall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepaxed unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night. they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of higname. Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard n voice from hcsven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works foIlow with them. And 1 saw, and behold, a white cloud; and an the cloud I saw one sitting like unto n son of man having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. Rev. 14:s-14.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of Gad, and ~ u & as worshipped n d the beast, neither his image, and recdved not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand gears should be finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part irk the first resurrwtion: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall bc priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Rev. 20:4-6.

And E saw ax it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and then1 that come off victorious from the beast, and from hia image, and from the number of his name, standing by the sea of glass, having harps of Gad. And they sing the song uf Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, 0 Lord God Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages. Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for


thou only art holy; for all the nations shall come and worship before thee. R ~ P , 15:2-4.

W e give thee thanks, 0 Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign. AM the nations were moth, and thy wl-ath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to thy servanta the prophets, and to the saint% and to them that fear thy name, the small and the great; and ko destroy them that destroy the earth. Rev, 11: 17, 18.

And a voice came forth from the throne, saying, Give praise to our God, all ye his e r v a n a ye that fear him, the small and the great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigneth Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glary unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And i t was given unto her that she should array herself in fine Linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they that are bidden ta the marriage aupper of the Lamb. Rev. 19:6-9.

Note : All the saints of the Old Testament are in Christ.

They all drank of the same spiritual rock as we drink. I Cor. 10:4.

There is no salvation or resurrection of any saint of any time apart from those "in Christ."

Only one resurrection and only one translation of believers is mentioned for this age.

Only two resurrections are mentioned in the scriptures, as follows : (1) the resurrection of the just and (2) the resurrection of the unjust. This is a "first resurrection" and (2) a "resurrection of the rest of the dead" after a thousand years; or (1) a '?resurrection unto life'"' and (2) a "resurrection unto judgment ;" it is (I) a resurrwtion of those who are "Christ's at His coming" and (2) a resur. rection when "corneth the end."

144 T H R O U G H T R I R U L A T I O N

Paul hoped to "advance to the earlier resurrection, the first resurrection," which is from among the dead." Phil. 3 : 1. Weymouth.

That this "first resurrection"is one event and includes all previous believers is further shown by these considerations:

1. I t takes place at the sounding of "the last trump," one event.

2. In i t are all who lvorshiped not, or served the beast, the devil's kingdom on earth from of old. These are all the saved since the world began.

3. Those included in it sit upon thrones and judge. All Christians are included, for "we" shall judge the world and angels.

4. Those in the first resurrection rein with Christ. The Christians of this age will all reign with Him,

.?. Those in it are tile "holy." All saints are holy. 6. It takes place at the coming of Christ t:, reap and

to judge the earth. This coming is one event. This resurrection is in the twinkling of an eye.

7. Those resurrected become priests unto God, so are all Christians. These scriptures show that there is only one, and that a simultaneous resurrection of the righteous. This is called "the first resurrection," and the article "the" is in the original Greek. The word "the" refers to one and only one," as we all know.

The so-called "my-moment-rapture" theory of Darhy and the Plymouth Brethren made it necessary to start the new theory of more than one resurrection of the just. They had to suppose a resurrection before the reign of the anti-Christ nnd another after this reign in order to make the new theories fit together. Later elaborations of these theories


have supposed as many as seven resurrections of the righteous. All of these are founded upon "inferences." As we see, the Bible teaches only one resurrection of the just and that is THE resurrection of the just, a definite ONE.

THE FIRST RESURRECTION WILL BE AFTER THE GREAT TRIBULATION

The first resurrection will be after the great tribulation, for it will include all such as worshiped not the beast, nor his image, nor received his mark. Since the beast will reign :~ntil the end of the great tribulation, this resurrection of those who will refuse to worship him must, tllerefore, be after the end of the great tribulation.

P w f text

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, md such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that h t h part in the first rcsurreetion: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests af God and of a ~ i ~ t , and shall reign with him a thousand years. Rev. 20:4-6.

Cmtdusion. Since there is only ONE resurrection of saints and since this indudes all saints and since the time of this one and the "first resurrection" is after the end of the great tribulation and could have no resurrection previous to the "first" resurrection, the whole Church must go through the great tribulation to its very end.


The marriage supper of the Lamb will be after the great tribulation, for it will be after the judgment of Babylon, the great harlot.

When her smoke goeth up for ever and ever, and all God's servants praise Him when IIe reigneth, then is come the marriage and the marriage supper of the Lamb. Since the time the Lord "1.eignetI1" i s after the great tribu1al;ion and the time of the marriage supper is simultaneous with this reign, it is, therefore, also after the great tribulation.

Prod text

And a atrong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall @hall Baby- lon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers and minstrels and flute-players and trump- eters shaIl be heard no more a t all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft, shall be found any more a t all in thee; and the voice of a mill shall be heard no more at all in thee; and the light of a lamp aha11 shine no more at J1 in thee; and the voice of the bride- groom and of the bride aha11 be heard no mow at all in thee: for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived. And in her was faund the blood of propl~cts and of saintg and of all that have been slaih upon the earth. Rev. 1831-24.

After these things I heard as it were a great voice of n great multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelnjnb; Salvation, and glory, and power, belong to our God: for true and righteous are his judgments; far he hath judged the great harlot, her that corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he hath aven~ed the hlood of his servants st her hand. And a second time they say, Hallelujah. And her smoke goeth up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God that pitteth on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah. And a voice came from the throne, sayiw, Give praise to our M, all ye his servants, ye that fear him, the small and the great. And I heard aa it were the voice of a p a t multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord our God, the Almighty reigneth. Let us rcjoice and be exceeding glad, and lpt us give t h e

T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O N 149 glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And i t was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the i n e linen is the righteous acb of the saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb. +4nd he saith nnto me, These are true words o f God. Rev. 19:l-9.

IConclusion--Since the New Testament Church is in the bride of Christ, and since she will not have "made kei-self ready" until the time of the marriage supper, and since the marriage supper of the Lamb will not be until after the end of the great tribulation, it follows that the Church will be in the world until after the great tribulation.

CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDING THE CQNSUMMATION OF THE CHURCH AND THE COMPLETION OF ITS WORK ON EAICTH SHOW TWAT THE CHURCH WILL REMAIN ON EARTH TILL THE END OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION.


THE ELECT, THE SAVED, WILL BE GATHERED TO- GETHER BY THE ANGELS WHEN CHRIST RE- TURlVS AmER THE GREAT TRIBULATION

The saved will be gathered together unto Christ after the great tribulation, for as "touching the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him-it will not be, except first the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." "In those days after that tribulation-shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds-and then sl~a!l he send forth the angels an8 shall gather together His elect." Since the saved are all included in "the elect," it follows that the saved will be gathered unto Christ by His angels after the great tribulation.

Proof text Touching the coming of our Lord Jeaus Christ, and our gathering

tbgether unto him: to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand; let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not ba, except the falling away wme first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, ha that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God m that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God I1 Thess. 29-4.

Those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall be filling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall they see the &on of man coming in clouds with great power and gtory. And then shall he send forth the angels, and shall gather together his eleet from the four winds, from the uttermust part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. Mark 13~24-27.

Note : At the coming of Christ all "'the elect," all "the

holy," will be gathered together. This will include:


(1) A11 the elect holy angels, for the elect angels will come with the h r d when He returns.

(2) All the glorified saints, or "holy men," who me redeemed and in heaven, for all the "holy ones" will return with Christ.

(3) A11 of the living saints, or "holy men," then converted and still alive on the earth, for all these will be caught up to meet the Lord.

(4) All elect-Israel, d l the remnant of Israel then left upon the earth, for they will all be converted and gathered when the Lord returns to Jerusalem.

Thus when the Lord returns, there will be "gathered together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermclst part of earth to the uttermost part of heaven."

The angels and the souls of all the redeemed in heaven will descend with the Lord. The elect holy ones will be gathered from the uttermost part of heaven to accompany the Lord on His return.

The living believers will join these in the air. These elect believers will come from the uttermost part of the earth.

The elect remnant of Israel will see the Lord descend, and they will be instantly converted. Although they will still remain upon the earth? they will be gathered unto the Lord at Jerusalem "from the uttermost part of the earth.''

Conclusion--Since the time of the gathering together of Jesus' elect i s dehitely stated to be after the end of the great tribulation and since there is no definite statement in the scripture anywhere that there is to be any previous gathering together of even any part of the Lord's elect, the whole Church of Christ must go through the great tribulation to its end.

T H R O U G H TRIBULATION

11.

THE SAINTS, THE OVERCOMERS, WELL ENTER THE INNER TEMPLE OF GOD IN HEAVEN TO WORSHIP AND SERVE HIM BEFORE HIS THRONE

The throne of God is in His holy temple in heaven. In this inner sanctuary is His glory manifested. The ovelm- comers, all saints of all time, will enter the temple in Izeaven and serve and worship there before the throne of God. He that overcometh will bear the name of the New

Jerusalem and henceforth have access to the temple of God. They that came out of the great tribulation from every

nation, tribe, people and tongue appear before the throne of God and the Lamb in heaven md worship and serve Him day and njght in His temple. At this time also all they who "come off victorious from the beast," all the saints of all time, will stand by the sea of glass before the throne of God, having harps of God; and they will sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. They can then well praise Him, for it is then that aH nations shall come and worship before Him.

Proof-text In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a

throne, high and lifted up: and his train f lled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Iga. 6:l.

Jehovah io in his holy temple; Jehovah, his throne is in heaven. Pa, 11:4.

And there was opened the temple of G d that is in heaven; and there was seen in his temple the ark of his covenant. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and none was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels ~houlrl be finished. Rev. 11:19; 15:8.

And the seventh poured out his bowl upon thc air; and there camp

fofi a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, aaying, It is done. Rev. 16:17.

He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him

the name o f my God, and the name o f the city of my God, the new ~emsalem. Rev. 3:12.

After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and af all tribes and peopres and tongucs, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands; and they c r y with a great voice, saying, Salvation unh our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb. And one of the elders anslvered, saying unto me, These that are arrayed in the white robes, who are they, and whence came they? And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And hc said to me, ThAse are they that come out of the great tribulation, and they washed their r h , and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefom are they before the throne of God: and they servc him day andnight in the temple. Rev, 7:9, 10, 13-15,

And I saw as it were a ma of lass m i n ~ l d with fire; and them that came off victor~ous from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name, standing by the sea of glass, having harps of W. And they sing the song of M o s e ~ the servant of God, and the aong of the Lamb, saying, Great and mamellow are thy works, 0 Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages. Who shall not fear, 0 Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy; for all the nations shall came aml worship before tbee; for thy righteous acts have been made manifest. Rev. 15:24.

Note : The temple in heaven refers td the inner sanctuary

(Str0K-g). me Song of Moses would seem to speak of Old Testament

redemption. The Song of the Lamb seems to speak of the New Testament redemption.

Although the Scriptures teach that the souls of the saved at once return to Christ to enjoy His presence and blessing, the full enjoymerits of redemption will not be until after the


resurrectian and the reunion of soul and body. The time of the r e s u r r ~ t i o n is the time upon which the Bible centers the hope of the saved. At that time they will enter relationships with God not before enjoyed. Hence, the time of the resurrection is when all the saints will have full access to the inner temple of God.

NO ONE CAN ENTER THE TEMPLE OF GOD IN HEAVEN UNTIL AFTER THE GREAT TRIBULATION

No one can enter the temple of God in heaven until the end of the great tribulation, for none can enter until the seven plagues o f God's wrath are finished in the tribulation t h e . This will be finished with the seventh plague at the end of the tribulation. It will be at the end cf the great tribulation, for there will be lightnings, thunders and earthquakes such as never was upon the earth, the event that will take place when Christ comes after the great tribulation. This i s the end of tribulation, for i t is when Babylon the great will drinlc of the cup of "wine of the fierceness of his wrath," and when "the cities of the nations" and the mountains will fall, all events that will tnke place after the great tribulation.

Proof -t ext

And I saw another sign in heaven, grent and marvelous, seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God. And none was able to enter into th5 temple ti11 the seven plagues of the angels &auld be finished. Rev. 15:1, S.

And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth R great voice out of the temple, from tke throne, saying, It is done: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as ww 11at since thsre were meti trpor~

T H R O U G H TRIBULATION zfi3

the earth so great an earthquake, so mighty. And the great city was divided into three part& and the cities of the natiom fell: and Baby- lon the great was remembered in the sight of God, t o give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every Island fled away, and the mountains were not found. Rev. 16~17-20.

Note : The six plagueswill fall within the tribulation time,

Rev. 16 :I-6. Since the twenty-four elders have access to the temple

and the throne of God they cannot be resurrected saints. Who these elders are the Bible does not state. There is like- ly some connection between them and the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles. What this relationship is Ihe BiMe does not make dear, and b go beyond the Bible is to go into theory. The twenty-four elders are real person- alities, acco~*ding to the Bible statement.

Conclusion--Since the saints of God will, in heaven, have access to the throne of God in the temple of God, and since they will not be able to enter the temple of the Lord until the end of the great tribulation, it follows that the Church, as a whole, mus t go through to the end of the great tribulation.

IV.

THE CHURCH, WITH ITS ATTENDANT RELATION- SHIPS IN THIS AGE, IS "THE MYSTERY OF GOD"

"The mystery of God" is the Church in its attendant rehtionships in this age. This mystery was not made known in other generations, but was revealed to Paul especially, and also to other apostles and New Testament ~rophets. This mystery of the "dispensation of grace" was hidden for ages,

158 ' C H R O U G H T R I B U L A T I O N

but is now "made kilown through the church," both to the world and to the "principalities and poweB in the heavenIy places,"

All the features of the Church arid its relationship to sin 2.nd the world, as well as to heavenly powers, are parts of this great mystery of God now being made known and to be fully made known, OY "finished," at the conclusion of the great tribulation, or Chut~h age.

Parts cf this Mystery are

1. That Cl~risl is God and in l i im dwells a11 the fullness of the God-bed. Had the rulers of the world known this they would not havecrucified the Lord of glory.

9. That the Church is the Bride of Christ. 3. That the Church is the Body cf Christ. 4. That Jew and Gentiles are united as fellow-heirs and

f~liow-members of the lody, the Chureh of Christ. 5. That the Holy Spirit indwells the individual members

{,I' the body, "Christ ill them." 6. That salvation, through faith in C ~ I I ist, is "the mystery

of faith." 7. That the pvocess of godliness is brought to tile world

in the incarnation of C.11 t i s t , IIis death, 1.cs11 r.i.2~: ion, gl~riii- lieation, and this .qot~d news wrought out I):,. tlze Holy Spirit it? the lives of the saints. This is. in s!zvrt, the process o f tedernption for this age.

8. That the gos~~el , the "f~~olishness" of snlvation th~uugh t h e pl.eachitlg of the gospei i s a mystery. T te story of i l ~ e gospel with the 1e;:ults of i t s preaching is alike u mystery.

9. That the consummation of the Chm-ch, the living believers being changed and caught up with the resurrected


dead at the last trump, is also a part of God's mystery. 10. That Israel is in part hardened during the Church age, 11. That the mystery of lawlessness, the system of

iniquity already at work in and about the New Testament Church, is finally to become incarnate in "the man of sin," "the son of perdition," near the conclusion of the Church age.

12. That Babylon, the anti-Christian religious system, is the devil's kingdom on earth, the system that sheds the hlocd of martyrs of Jesus.

Hence, the mystery of God is Christ and the calling out, building up and consummating of the Church, together with the systenls of evil that work in it and about it in the world: g,nd also the relationship of the Church to the angels and principalities and powers in the heavens.

Proof-text : For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Chihist Jesus in behalf of

you Gentiles,-if so be that ye have heard o f the dispensation of that brace of God which was given me to you-wawl; how that by re~elation was made known unto me the mystel-y, as I wrote before in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; which in other renetations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now bwn ~.~vpaled unto his holy apm*tles and prophets in the Spirit; to-wit. that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the M y , and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus thmu~h the gnspel, whereof I was m d e a minister, according t o the gift of that grace of God which was given me according t o the working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in Gad who created all things; t o the intent that naw unto the principalities and the pawem in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternaI purpose which he purposed in Christ Yesus our Lard. E P ~ . 3:l-11.


THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blod of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesas. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee of the mystery of the woman, and of th,he beast that ~arrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns. The seven heada are mven mountains on which the woman sjtteth: And the woman whom thou saw& is the great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth Rev. 17% 6-7, 9, 18.

Note : Babylon, the Great Harlot, the woman on the beast,

is evidently apostate, or false religion. From the death of Christ to the destruction of Babylon the blood of the saints has been and will be shed by followers of apostate religion.

The Mystery of God, the Church, and Babylon, "and the dispensation of grace,"' being a related whole, will all end together.

GOD'S MYSTERY WILL NOT BE FINISHED UNTIL AFl'ER W E GREAT TRIBULATION

The "Mystery of God will not be finished until after the great tribulation, for it will be finished at the time of the seventh trumpet when it "begins" to sound ( Weymouth) .

This trumpet will sound after the great tribulation, for when it sounds, it is the time when nations are wroth ; the time when God's wrath will come to destroy them who "destroy the earth;" the time when the Lord talres His great power and reigns; the time when the dead will be judged; the time when the servants of God will be rewarded; the time when the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of the h r d ; the time when the ark of God's covenant with the Jews will again appear; and the time of lightnings,


thunders and an earthquake, all of which events come at the end of the great tribulation.

hurof-text h the dam of the voice of the aeventh angel, when he is abut to

sound, then is finished the mysterg of God, according to the good tid- ings which he declared to his servants the prophets. Rev. 10:T.

And the seventh angel mnded; and there foIlowed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his C h d : and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipped God, saying, We give thee thanks, 0 Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who mast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign. And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and the time to give their reward to thy senants the pmpheta, and to the saint% and to them that fear thy name, the small and the great and to destroy them that destroy tbe earth. And there was opened the temple of God that i s in heaven; and there was seen in his temple the ark of his covenant; and there followed lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail. Rev. 11 : 16-19.

Note : The Mystery of God which will be finished at this time

at the end of the great tribulation, includes: 1. The Mystery of preachin% the gospel. 2. Mystery of salvation through faith in Christ. 3. The Mystery of Jews and Gentiles formed into one

h d y , the Church. 4. The Mystery of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 5. The Mystery of Christ's union with the Church as

His body and His Bride. 6. The Mystery of the resurrection of the dead in Christ

and the translation of living believers, In other words, the "Mystery," that "we all shall not sleep" but "we shall a11


be changed," will become a reality at this time. This resurrection and translation of the Church, the body of Christ, is the finishing of the Church Mystery, the Mystery of God.

Conclusion, Since the mystery of God is the mystery of the Church in its various relationships, and since this mystery will not be finished until the end of t h e great tribulation, it follows that the Church will be in the world until the end of the great tribulation.

THE SAINTS WILL BE JUDGED FOR THEIR WORKS WHEN CHREST COMES

The saints must all stand before the judgement seat of Christ where each one of us shall give account of himself to God. God will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and manifest the counsels of our hearts when Jesus comes.

This judgment will be like a master returning and reckoning with his servants to whom he has committed a trust; during his absence.

Proof-text But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or thou again, whj.

dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall dl stand before thc judgment-seat of God. Rem. 10:19.

For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be g o d or bad. 11 GOT. 5:lO.

So then each one ~f IS shall give account of himself to God. Born. 14:12.

For it is as when a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. Now after a Ionb


time the Iord of those servants cometh, a ~ ~ d maketh a reckoning with them. And he that hath receivd the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou delivcredst unto me five talents: 10, I have gained other five talents. His lord said unto him, We11 done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few thhgs, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. And he also that received the two tslents came and said. Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents. Iijs lord said unto him, Well don-, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many thin=; enter thou into the joy of thy loid. Xatt. 25:16, 19-23.

Wherefore j u d ~ e nothing before the time, until tlrc Lord 33::,:,

who will both b r i n ~ to light the hidden things of darknew, and make manifest the muns;els of the hearts: and then shall each man hnve his praise from God. I Cor. 4:s.

Note: This judgment is a judgment of God's servants, the

saved, as to their faithfulness. It has nothing to do with the question of their salvation, which is by "grace apart from works." This judgment is the basis for "rewards" for service in the kingdom age.

The judgment of all the saints for their works does not presuppose successive judgment of individuals of a consid- erabIe period of time. It could be as instmtanegus as the resurrection, "in the twinkling of an eye." It could be as universal as the Lord's present judgment and rewards given to each and all of His children every moment.

THE SAINTS WILL BE "REWARDED" ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS

The saints, those saved by grace through Jesus' blood, will be rewarded according to their works. To whom much

has been entrusted, of him will much be required. Eacl~ one therefore must look to himself or he may not rmeive a full reward.

Jesus has gone to receive His Kingdom, and He will return. Upon His return I-Te will reward His saints to whom He has committed His work, according to their faithfulness, Those who have been faithful to their trust in very little things will be given authority over large affairs in the kingdom hereafter, when the saints will reign with Christ and judge the world. Some will have authority over ten cities and some over five cities. Similar rewards, according to the works of the saints, will be dispensed to all.

To whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will l h ~ y ask the more. Luke 12:48.

Re not many of yo11 teacheq my brethren, knowing that we shall reeeive heavier jadgmmt. James 3:l.

The Son of man shall come in the g.lory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto evety man according to his deeds. Matt. 16:27.

Now he that plantetb and he that watereth are one: but each one shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. I Cor. 3:s.

With good wilt doing service, a9 unto the Lord, and not unto men: knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shalt he receive again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free, Eph. 6: 7, 8.

Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work i% Rev. 22:12.

For he that doeth wronE shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done. Col. 3:25.

Look to youteelves, that ye lose not the things which we have rt-rought, but that we reeeive a full reward. I1 John 8.

And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he mas nigh to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was immediately t o appear. He said ther~forc,


A d i n nobleman went into a far conntry, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called ten servants of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said unto them, Trade ye herewith till I come. And it came to pass, when he was came back agalin, having received the kingdom, that he mmanded these servants, unto whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading. And the first came before him, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made ten pounds more. And he said unto him, Well done, thou good servant: became thou wast found faithful in a very little, have than authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, pound, Lord, hath made five pounds. And he said unto him also, Be thou also over five cities. Luke 19:ll-13, 15-17.

IT IS AT THE TIME THE LORD JESUS WILL RETURN THAT THE SAINTS WILL RECEIVE THEIR '%E- WARDS"

When Jesus comes He will bring the reward for the saints with Him. At the time of the resurrection of the just the righteous will receive their recompense. Unto this time is their hope to be set for the grace that will be manifested at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

At the time of the return of the Lord the saints will be glorified. It is then that they receive the prize, the incorruptible crown. On that day, all who have "loved his appearing" will be given the crown of righteousness, the crown of life which the L ~ r d promised to them that love Him. On that day they will receive the recompense of the inheritance, the kingdom promised them.

Tt is when the King will return and has gathered, judged, and rewarded His servants, that they will be crowned to reign with Him with a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

168 T H R O U G H T R I B U L A T ~ O N

Behold, the Lord Jehwah Kill come as a mighty one, and his a m wiII rule for him: Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. Isa. 40:lO.

And thou shalt be blessed; because they have not wherewith to lecompense thee: for thou #halt be recompemed in the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:14.

Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me. Rev. 22:12. The eiders therefore among you 1 exhort. Tend the flock of Cod

which is among you. And when the chief Shepherd shall be mani- fwted, ye aball receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away. 1 Peter 6:1, 2, 4.

Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfmtly on the grate that is to be bmght unto you at the revelation of Jeaus Christ. I Peter 1:13.

We are children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we 8uEer with him, that we may be also glarified with him. For I reckon that the suEerings of this present time are not vorthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward Rom. SAT. 18.

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteons judge, shall give to me at that day; and not ta me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing. II Tim. 4:s.

Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom wHich he promised to them that love him? Jamcs 2 :5.

Note : While the saints who die before the resurrection are

present with the Lord in joy and happiness, they do not enter their full inheritance of glory until their hdies are resurrected. The return of the Lord and the xesurrection of the saints are the events upon which the hope of the saints is set.

It is toward this goal the saint presses, where he will receive the things God has prepared for them who love Him,


the things which eye saw not and ear heard not, and which entered not into the heart of man.

VIII

THE SAINTS WILL BE "JUDGED" AND RECEIVE THEIR "REWARIIS" AETER THE GREAT TRIBU- LATION

The saints wiH be "judged" and rweive their "rewards" after the great tribulation. It is at the end of the age that the angels separate the evil from the good. It is at this time that the wicked will be gathered out of the Kingdom and cast into the furnace of fire and the righteous will be rewarded to shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Toward this time and this event the saint looks for his "reward" when Jesus will be revealed from heaven with the angels of His power in flaming fire rendering yen- geanee on the wicked, punishing them with destruction from the face of the Lord; whiIe an the other hand, He is marveled at in all them that believed. At this time af judgment of the wicked, He is glorified in His saints. It is then that they will receive their reward of full glory life.

At this event of God's judgment on the world in power of flaming fie, each man's work will be tried as to what kind it is, and those who are saved will be saved through fire.

This time of recompense for the righteous is at the resurrection of the just. It is after the great tribulation at the beginning of the Kingdom reign of Christ, in the time "of the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory." Then shall those who sacrifice for Christ have their reward. Christ then will take His great


power and reign. At that time He will "destroy them who destroy the earth." This is the time for the dead to be judgea m d the time when God will "give their reward to his servants, the prophets and the saints, both small and great."

The harvest of g:ood and evil will be fully ripe. The angels will reap the earth and render "unto every man x- cording to his deeds." He that planted and he that watered will rejoice together at this harvest ingathering.

After the judgment of the worshipers of the beast "from this time onward" those "who are in the Lord" are blessed (Rev. 14:13, Weymouth). At 1;hat time of double judgment at the end of the great tribulation, the Lord will come quickly, bringing His reward with Him. They that have washed robes may then partake of the tree of life and enter in by t h e gates into the city. The wicked, the filthy, will be turned away to be filthy stilt, for without the city the judgments of the Lord will cast the sorcerem, fornicators, murderers, idolators, and every one that rnaketh a lie.

Proof text The field i s the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of

the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the hameat is the end of the world: and the reapers are angels. As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth, Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast jnta the sea, and gathered of errery kind: which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good into veswls, but the bad they cast away. So shalI it be in the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the right-


eous, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Matt. 13:38-42, 47, 50.

And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw on? sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another awe1 came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth: and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven, he also havinz a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had t h ~ sharp sickle, saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fnlIy ripe. And the angel east his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast i t into the winepress, the great winepress, of the wrath of Crod If any man worshippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on hie forehead, or upon his hand, he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angeIs, and in the presence of thr Lamb: and the smoke of their torment gneth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, theg that worship the beast and his image, and whoso weiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from hence. forth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rmt from their labors: and their works do follow them. Rev. 14:14-19, 9-13.

Now he that planbth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own w a r d according to his own labor. T Cor. 3:8.

And he that is rjghteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still. Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render ta each man according as his work is. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are they that wash their mbes, that theg may have the right to came to the tree of life, and mag enter in by the gates into the city. Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the.idolatolw, and every one

172 T H R O U G H T B f B U L A T I O K

that loveth and maketh a lie. Rev. 22:ll-15. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his

angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds. Matt. 16:27.

You that are afflicted rest with us, at the I-evelation of the L O I ~ Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fith@, rendering vengeance to them that know not God and to them that obey not h e gospel of our r r d Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, u*hen he shall came to be glorified in his saints, and to b* mairdled at in a11 them that believed (because our testimony unto you wag believed) in that day. I1 Thess. 15'-30.

For other foundation can no man lay than that whkh i s laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if any man buildeth on the foundatio~~ gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; each man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, h a u s e Et is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man's work of what snrt it is. If any man's work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffetb loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire. 1 Cor. 3: 11-16.

When thou makest ar dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest hapIg they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not wherewith to recompense thee: for thou shalt be remmpemed in the resurrection of the just. Luke 14:12-14.

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee; what then shall we have? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto yon, that ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall i t on the throne of ~lory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath le£t houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life. Matt. 19:27-29.


tion with the following mentioned events which have h e n shown t o come at that time :

1. The end of the age

2. The harvest

3. The separation of the good and tlze evil

4. The gathering of the elect

5. The judgment on the kingdom and worshipers of the beast

6. The coming of Christ in flaming fire

7. The first resurrection

8. Christ sitting on the throne of His glory

9. Disturbances in l~eaven and on earth, lightening, thunder, and earthquake attending the ];ord's coming to earth to judge and to reign.

10. The appearing of the ark of the covenant with the Jews

Conclusion. Since the saints without distinction will be judged and will be rewarded for their works, and since this judging and rewarding will be when Jesus returns, and s h e this judging a d rewarding will be at the end of the great tribulation; the Church of true believers, as a whole, must go through the great tribulation, and Jesus will not return until the end of the great tribulation.

Note : That the time of the "rewarding" of the righteous is

after the great tribulation is further proven by its associa-

THROUGH TRIBULATION by H A Baker

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