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Last Updated on : November 23, 2014

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The Midnight Hour

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The purpose of this Supplement is to examine current theories of prophecy in the light of Scripture. Two issues of it have appeared (see p.p. 176-184 and 257- 264). They have been mainly concerned with examining the ideas set forth in the book, "The Last Days." In the present Supplement, we turn from this to a consideration of general principles found in the prophetic Scriptures, mainly because the claims of "The Last Days" are examined in another article in this issue. "Logos" believes that it is important, in these closing days of the Gentiles, to have a clear understanding of future events, that we might be forewarned and forearmed as to what to expect; and that we might be in readiness for the Lord's return when it does take place.

 


THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

"Watch!" The Key-word Of Destiny

Midnight was the hour of deliverance from Egypt. When it came, the Lord having acted, His oppressed people moved quickly in answer to the command to go. They were ready, with girded loins, feet shod, and staff in hand (Exod. 12).

What of the future? Again, Midnight is set as the hour of deliverance (Matt. 25:6), and once more there will be activity; but this time, all God's people will not be ready, for some will not have prepared themselves for the journey:

"And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out!" (v.8 - mg).

Time, however, will be against them; adequate preparation not having been made, "the door will be shut" (v.10).

Nothing is quite as humiliating as facing a door that has been shut in your face. Nevertheless, in the parable, the foolish virgins persist in their appeal:

"Lord, Lord, open to us!"

But the reply comes:

"Verily I say unto you, I know you not!"

The foolish virgins represent a class of people who had evidently gone to some trouble to please their Lord, but had not been thorough in their preparations. When the midnight cry came, they hastened to put matters right; but their efforts were unavailing.

Why was that? Why would not the Lord accept them?

The obvious answer is that they had been too easy-going. Apparently they considered themselves safe because they were in the Lord's household. If so, this was their undoing, for they lapsed into spiritual slumber instead of making their calling and election sure.

The point of the parable should be appreciated by present-day virgins, living, as they do, in thrilling days of fulfilling prophecy, for after rejecting the foolish virgins, the Lord warned: "Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

The key word upon which the destiny of all Christ's followers will be decided Is WATCH. The word signifies, "to keep awake!"

The Psalmist declared:

"Because they regard not the works of the Lord, Nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them, And not build them up." (Ps. 28:5).

The midnight hour of Gentile times is close upon us, and our Lord will come suddenly, as a thief, to snatch away his jewels. It will be too late then to redeem the time. If our years in the Truth have been mis-spent on trifles, and we have not added the other virtues to our faith, we shall be shut out from the Wedding Feast.

Meanwhile, the door is still open; we still have opportunity to watch, or we can ignore the signs of the times and become lulled to sleep. It is up to each one to make the decision.

Watchman, What Of The Night?

Jesus commanded all his followers to watch: "What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch!" (Mark 13:37). Essential qualifications of watchmen are:

1. Good eyesight;

2. The ability to keep awake;

3. Concern for the safety of their fellows.

These characteristics have obvious spiritual lessons for true disciples. Each should diligently observe current developments. with enlightened eyes; each should be "awake to righteousness" (1 Cor. 15:34); each should be concerned for the eternal salvation of his fellows.

The Lord Jesus urged believers in Laodicea to "anoint thine eyes with eyesalve that thou mayest see" (Rev. 3:18). Like ecclesias today, the one in Laodicea did not lack material resources, but the members knew not their spiritual blindness. There was a need for the application of the Spirit-word, that they might see clearIy. The same need exists today. Though we dwell on the earth bodily, there is need to extend our mental vision beyond the flesh-veil seeing Him who is invisible, and discerning His directing hand in the political affairs of the age.

Four outstanding events of this 20th century which should thrill the hearts of all Zion's watchmen, are:

1. The State of Israel;

2. The formation of the Common Market;

3. The expansion of Russia;

4. The remarkable activity of the frog-like spirits.

These developments of fulfilling Bible prophecy have been caused through the outpouring of the 6th vial. This began with the drying up of the political Euphrates (the Turkish Empire); an event necessary that the way might be prepared for the manifestation of the Kings of the East (Rev. 16:12). The contents of the vial are still being emptied upon the earth with a twofold object: firstly, to gather the nations for "the war of that great day of God Almighty," and, secondly, to introduce upon the political scene, the "kings" referred to.

Who are those kings? A more literal rendering of the phrase is, "Kings who are out of the sun's risings." If we can appreciate what the "risings" of a sun produce, we shall the more readily understand who the Kings are that proceed therefrom.

The Sun is that "great light" that rules the day (Gen. 1:16), whose warmth causes the earth to bring forth its fruit. In the Revelation, however, the Light of the heaven is used as the Light of the world, and thus identified himself with the one prophetically described as "The Sun of Righteousness" who is to "arise with healing in his beams" (Mal. 4:1-2).

The power of the sun produces both flowers and weeds, and in conformity with the symbol, Christ's appearance again in the earth will be followed by the resurrection of both just and unjust, "'some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Dan. 12:2).

The foolish virgins will not attain to a place of rulership with Christ, but "they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of a firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" (Dan. 12:3). Their destiny is to reign on earth (Rev. 5:9-10), for one thousand years (Rev. 20:4).

These are the Kings who are to arise to rulership over the earth, referred to in Revelation 16:12. They are "out of a sun's rising," because their appearance as such is only made possible through the appearance of the Sun of Righteousness in the earth.

A Day Of Judgment For Believers

It is a Divine principle that judgment must first be meted out to the

house of God. Peter declared that "it must first begin at us" (1 Pet. 4:17). Saints will first stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10), before assisting him in the subjugation of the nations. Where will the judgment seat be set up?

Jerusalem has been suggested, but there is no scriptural evidence of real weight to sustain the suggestion. It is true that Christ will first manifest his power to the nations on Mount Olivet, and reveal his glory in Jerusalem, but these demonstrations to the world should not be confused with the resurrection and gathering of the household.

Psalm 149:7-9 declares that the honor of the saints is to execute the judgments written, which would require their judgment first. Again, numerous passages imply that the march of the saints will commence in the Sinaitic Peninsula (Deut. 33:2; Ps. 68:17; Hab. 3:3; Song 3:6; Isa. 63:1). The evidence in support of this conclusion is summarised in Psalm 68:17 which, according to the Companion Bible should read: "The Lord among them hath come from Sinai into his sanctuary (i.e. Jerusalem).

Sinai is a far more suitable place than Jerusalem for the Judgment Seat of Christ. It seems as though it has been reserved of God for such occasions. It was amidst the awe-inspiring surroundings of Sinai that Israel heard the commandments, and declared: "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do and be obedient." Its solemn precincts witnessed the moral foundation of the Kingdom of God in the past, and will do so again. It is absolutely isolated from the centre of military agitation as depicted in the prophets relating to Armageddon, so as to be ideal for the purpose of personal judgment, and it seems as though it has been reserved of God for special manifestations of his glory.

On the other hand, Jerusalem will not be in a state of tranquility until Israel has been brought through "the time of Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7) which will purge the people. In the days of his flesh, Jesus told the inhabitants of Jerusalem: "Ye shall not see me henceforth. till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (Matt. 23:39).

Israel, therefore, will not see its King until all the rebels are purged out. Elijah will assist in this work (Mal. 4:5), but must first, himself, appear before the Lord to be officially approved.

All these facts show the need of Christ first judging his household before the nations.

We need to beware of new philosophies concerning Christ's coming. Views are being propounded which, in effect, do away with a proper Judgment seat. Added to this, is the idea that Jesus will not take us away until he sits on the throne of his glory in Jerusalem. These theories tend to reduce our sense of urgency that Christ is near, and could cause us to be looking for events to happen in the world before Christ comes, which are not due to occur until he is already here. The Lord warned:

"Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:36).

The Revival Of Israel

The declining influence of the Turkish Empire, left a vacuum in the Middle East, which was promptly filled by Jews and Arabs with rival claims. At present, both nations are political opportunists, trusting in the arm of flesh. The Jews have returned to their land in unbelief of God's appointed son, thereby fulfilling Bible prophecy (e.g. Rom. 11:25-26) which we do well to consider.

Zechariah informs us that Jerusalem is to become "a burdensome stone for all people" (Zech 12:3), and this is one of the main reasons why God is building up Israel's prestige at the present time. It will play a part in the development of Armageddon. The meaning of this apocalyptic term, when expressed in Hebrew as it should be (see Rev. 16:16) is: A Heap of Sheaves in a Valley of Judgment. Armageddon thus relates to Divine judgment poured out upon the nations, and will take place at the close of the sixth and opening of the seventh vials. Today the nations are angry (Rev. 11:18), and this is preliminary to them being drawn into the place that God has designed as His threshing floor of the Powers that be.

Joel prophesied of the nations being gathered into the valley of Jehoshaphat, or the valley of Yah's judgment, and he describes them as a heap of sheaves about to be threshed. "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of threshing," he exclaimed (Joel 3:14 - mg). Zechariah speaks of them being "cut in pieces" which is the action of threshing (Zech. 12:3). Micah, likewise, uses similar express-ions:

"Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion; but they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they His counsel; for He shall gather them as sheaves into the floor" (Micah 4:11-12).

Before our eyes we see the developing status of Israel, and this will consummate in the final phase of the sixth vial (see Joel 3:1-2), and introduce the terrible judgments of the seventh. How grateful to God we should be, that He has permitted us to live in such thrilling days, and watch His hand at work among the nations.

Judgment Of The Household Precedes That Of The Nations

It is the work of "spirits like frogs" to confederate the nations by their unclean influence moving the rulers of the earth (Rev. 16:14), but the final gathering into a place called in the Hebrew tongue, Armageddon, is not the work of these "spirits." John recorded: " And he gathered them together" (Rev. 16:16). Who is the "he" thus referred to? Both the context, and the rules of grammar, point to the speaker of the previous verse, even the one who proclaimed: "Behold I come as a thief." As there is no further reference in this chapter to the coming of Christ. it seems evident that he will be in the earth at the time of the invasion of Palestine.

This agrees with the prophet:

"Behold the name of Yahweh cometh from far, burning with His anger . . . and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err" (Isa. 30:27- 28).

This teaches that the nations are to be led into error and destruction by a bridle in their jaws, and it agrees with the predicted action of the antitypical Son of Man (Christ), who says: "I will put hooks into thy jaws. and I will bring thee forth, and I will bring thee against my land" (Ezek. 38:4).

But, according to Isaiah, this only happens when "the Name of Yahweh cometh from far." This Name applies to both Jesus and his brethren who are "baptised into the Name," and constitute those separated from the nations, for the Name (Acts 15:14).

The startling fact thus is made clear, that the Lord must return and judge his household before the present-day upheavals have gathered momentum towards Jerusalem. It is the unseen hand of God's anointed which draws the final threads together in the controversy of Zion. Revelation 16 is quite specific. The declaration, "Behold I come as a thief" precedes the statement: "He gathered them into a place called Armageddon."

The March Of The Saints

The Jews in the land have yet to be humbled by the severe reverses they shall experience. Zechariah predicts:

"And it shall come to pass in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein, and I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they shall call on my name, and I will hear them; I will say: It is my people; and they shall say: Yahweh is my God" (Zech. 13:8-9).

Such a change of heart from the present-day Jewish outlook will obviously take some time, and necessitate drastic measures. Israel will be completely surrounded by armed enemies with little chance of escape. They will be induced to proclaim: "Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost; we are cut off for our parts" (Ezek. 37:11). The King of the North "shall have power over the treasures of gold, and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Lybians and Ethiopians shall be at his steps" (Dan. 11:43).

Where can Israel turn for deliverance? She will experience the reality of the words: "All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek ye not, for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, and with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity" (Jer. 30:14).

Deliverance will come from an unexpected quarter, as envisaged in Isaiah 63: "'Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?" Israel's perplexity will change to glad relief when the people come to realise that their Messiah is actually in the earth, and is effecting their national salvation.

The Lord is not alone, however, He is "glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength." This Name of the Lord, the cherubim of glory, the one- manbody of the elect, comes to Israel from Edom, and Bozrah, and "of the people there was none with me," so that the brazen feet of "one like unto the Son of man" treads the winepress alone.

That Jesus would do all this single-handed is not fitting, nor in accord with many prophecies to the contrary (Ps. 149:7-9; Zech. 14:5; Rev. 2:26-28). "This honor have all his saints."

The march of the saints first commences by measuring Israel's foes in Edom, Moab and Ammon. These Arab enemies will be forced to submit to divine chastisement:

"Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit; let the inhabitants of the rock (Petra Arabia) sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains, let them give glory unto the Lord and declare His praise in the islands."

What is the cause of this Arab transformation? It appears in the following verse:

"The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man (the one-man-body), He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war, he shall cry, yea roar; he shall prevail over his enemies"' (Isa. 42:11-13).

While this happens, however, Israel will still be deaf and blind to their Messiah (v.16). The fact of his presence will be brought home to them with startling reality as he manifests himself at Jerusalem in power and glory.

The prophet Habakkuk speaks of a later time when Yahweh is enthroned in Zion. His words also support the view of a prior gathering of saints in Sinai. He declared: "But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him" (Hab. 2:20).

Habakkuk proceeds to reveal how that Christ will come to Zion and subdue the earth: "God (Heb. Eloah - the Mighty One) will come in from Teman, and the Holy one from mount Paran . . . and his brightness was as the light, he had horns (bright beams out of his side - mg) coming out of his hand." These rays of light are the kings from the rising of the Sun of Righteousness (Rev. 16:12). The prophet saw them come from the wilderness of Zion, indicating, beyond doubt, that they will be judged and glorified at Sinai and will then move north to Jerusalem, as the people of Israel did when delivered from Egypt under the guidance of their leader, Moses.-G. HOLTON, Eng
Written June 1969


 

 

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