from a mere mechanism to a living force. Protestant Federation realizes that its organization will continue to be futile unless it receives vitalization-unless its clergy directly or indirectly shall be recognized as possessed of apostolic ordination and authority to teach. This, the prophecy indicates, will come from the two-horned Beast, which we believe symbolically represents the Church of England. High-handed activities of Protestantism and Catholicism, operating in conjunction for the suppression of human liberties, await this vivifying of the Image. This may come soon, but Armageddon cannot precede it, but must follow-perhaps a year after, according to our view of the Prophetic Word.

Still another thing intervenes. Although the Jews are gradually flowing into Palestine, gradually obtaining control of the land of Canaan, and although reports say that already nineteen millionaires are there, nevertheless, prophecy requires an evidently larger number of wealthy Hebrews to be there before the Armageddon crisis be reached. Indeed, we understand that "Jacob's trouble" in the Holy Land will come at the very close of Armageddon. Then Messiah's Kingdom will begin to be manifested. Thenceforth Israel in the Land of Promise will gradually rise from the ashes of the past to the grandeur of prophecy. Through its Divinely appointed princes, Messiah's Kingdom, all-powerful, but invisible, will begin to roll away the curse and to lift up mankind, and to give beauty for ashes.

I can see His coming judgments, as they circle all the earth, The signs and groanings promised, to precede a second birth; I read His righteous sentence, in the crumbling thrones of earth; Our King is marching on.

The seventh trump is sounding, and our King knows no defeat,
He will sift out the hearts of men before His judgment seat.
O! be swift, my soul, to welcome Him; be jubilant, my feet;
Our King is marching on

"THE DAY OF VENGEANCE."

STUDY I.

PROPHETIC MENTION OF IT.-THE TIME AT Hand.-Object of THIS VOLUME.GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.

"The day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come." "It is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.”—Isa. 63:4; 34:8.

HUS the Prophet Isaiah refers to that period which

THUS

Daniel (12:1) describes as "a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation;" of which Malachi (4:1) says, "Behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble;" wherein the Apostle James (5:1-6) says the rich men shall weep and howl for the miseries that shall come upon them; the day which Joel (2:2) describes as a day of clouds and thick darkness; which Amos (5:20) says is "darkness and not light, even very dark and no brightness in it;" and to which the Lord refers (Matt. 24:21, 22) as a time of "great tribulation," so ruinous in its character that, if it were not cut short, no flesh would survive its ravages.

That the dark and gloomy day thus described by the prophets is a day of judgment upon mankind socially and nationally—a day of national recompenses-is clear from many scriptures. But while noting these, let the reader

bear in mind the difference between national judgment and individual judgment. While the nation is composed of individuals, and individuals are largely responsible for the courses of nations, and must and do suffer greatly in the calamities which befall them, nevertheless, the judgment of the world as individuals will be distinct from its judgment as nations.

The day of individual judgment for the world will be the Millennial age, as already shown.* Then, under the favorable conditions of the New Covenant, and granted a clear knowledge of the truth, and every possible assistance and incentive to righteousness, all men individually, and not collectively as nations and other social organizations, will be on trial, or judgment, for eternal life. The judgment of nations, now instituted, is a judgment of men in their collective (religious and civil) capacities. The civil institutions of the world have had a long lease of power; and now, as "The Times of the Gentiles" come to a close, they must render up their accounts. And the Lord's judgment, expressed beforehand by the prophets, is that not one of them will be found worthy of a renewal of that lease or a continuance of life. The decree is that the dominion shall be taken from them, and that he whose right it is shall take the Kingdom, and the nations shall be given to him for an inheritance.-Ezek. 21:27; Dan. 7:27; Psa. 2:8; Rev. 2:26, 27.

Hear the word of the Lord to the nations assembled before him for judgment:-" Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people; let the earth hear, and all that is therein: the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies." "The Lord is . . . an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, * VOL. I., Chapter 8.

and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. "A noise shall come, even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations. . . Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind [intense and complicated trouble and commotion] shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall

be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth." "Wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth [the present social order] shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy; and then [afterward] will I turn unto the people a pure language; that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent."-Isa. 34: 1,2; Jer. 10:10; 25:31-33; Zeph. 3:8, 9; Luke 21:25.

We have already shown* that the time is at hand, and that the events of the day of Jehovah are even now crowding closely upon us. A few years more must of necessity ripen the elements now working in the direction of the predicted trouble; and, according to the sure word of prophecy, the present generation will witness the terrible crisis and pass through the decisive conflict.

It is not our purpose, in calling attention to this subject, to arouse a mere sensation, or to seek to gratify idle curiosity. Nor can we hope to produce that penitence in the hearts of men which would work a change in the present social, political and religious order of society, and thus avert the impending calamity. The approaching trouble is inevitable: the powerful causes are all at work, and no human power is able to arrest their operation and progress * VOI.. II.

toward the certain end: the effects must follow as the Lord foresaw and foretold. No hand but the hand of God could stay the progress of the present current of events; and his hand will not do so until the bitter experiences of this conflict shall have sealed their instruction upon the hearts of men.

The main object of this volume is not, therefore, to enlighten the world, which can appreciate only the logic of events and will have no other; but to forewarn, forearm, comfort, encourage and strengthen "the household of faith," so that they may not be dismayed, but may be in full harmony and sympathy with even the severest measures of divine discipline in the chastening of the world, seeing by faith the glorious outcome in the precious fruits of righteousness and enduring peace.

The day of vengeance stands naturally related to the benevolent object of its divine permission, which is the overthrow of the entire present order of things, preparatory to the permanent establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, under Christ, the Prince of Peace.

The Prophet Isaiah (63:1-6), taking his standpoint down at the end of the harvest of the Gospel age, beholds a mighty Conqueror, glorious in his apparel (clothed with authority and power), and riding forth victoriously over all his enemies, with whose blood all his garments are stained. He inquires who the wonderful stranger is, saying, Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?"

Edom, it will be remembered, was the name given to Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, after he sold his birthright. (Gen. 25:30-34.) The name was also subsequently applied both to the people descended from him and to the country in which they settled. (See Gen. 25:30; 36:1;