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Overland Monthly / OV058 - The Divine Program (XII. The Great Day of His Wrath)
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OV58 THE DIVINE PROGRAM XII. The Great Day of His Wrath
BY C. T. RUSSELL Pastor Brooklyn Tabernacle
OVER AND OVER again the Bible tells us of
a great day of wrath impending upon the world—a day of general
settlements of accounts—a "day of fierce anger of the Lord," a "day of
wrath," a "time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation."
Various are the descriptions of this day of trouble. It is also
described as a whirlwind of devastation; as a flood of destruction; and
as a fire consuming everything before it. It is located at the end of
this age, as a dark cloud on the dawning of the new dispensation. In it
will come, first, trials upon the Church, the saintly; and secondly,
the tribulations of the world in general. A description of some of
these judgments and trials has been misunderstood by some to signify
eternal torment, because their symbolical character is not fully
recognized. In evidence that these statements respecting the "fire" are
symbolical, we quote one passage. We read in #Zep 3:8,
"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 shall be devoured with the fire of my
jealousy." We could not find a passage to more distinctly tell of the
trouble and fire of that day: but notice that it is the fire of GodÂ’s
anger and not literal fire. Notice again, that after the fire shall
have burned itself out—after the great conflagration of trouble—mankind
will still be in the earth—and will be blessed. The succeeding verse
says: "Then will I turn to the people a pure message, that they may all
call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent." Thus
briefly are we shown the result of the terrible burning. The day of
wrath will come in a financial, political, social and religious
convulsion, in which the present earth (social order) will pass away
with a great commotion, and the new heavens (spiritual powers), and the
new earth (social arrangement) will come into permanent control under
EmmanuelÂ’s Government. The confusion, jargon, Babel of the present, so
bewildering to humanity, will give place to the pure message of Divine
Truth, emancipating the world from the grievous errors which have
intoxicated and bewildered it. Severe will be the cost in the
destruction of prevalent institutions, but the results will be well
worth it all. So vivid are the descriptions of this day of wrath that
"Second Adventists" have built upon them the theory that the earth will
be burned to a cinder and require a thousand years to cool off, at the
end of which Christ and the Church, they say, will return to earth and
make Paradise out of the ashes. Nor are Adventists alone guilty of this
misinterpretation; nearly all the creeds of Christendom mention this
great day or epoch with which the Gospel Age is to end, and describe it
as a period of literal burning of the earth. The proper interpretation
of the matter is, that these various descriptions are symbolical,
instead of literal. They describe GodÂ’s time of reckoning with the
world, in which Justice in many respects will be squared and
retribution demanded of those who have knowingly transgressed the laws
of righteousness, or who had sympathized with and profited by such
doings on the part of others. This is the "day of vengeance" mentioned
in the Bible, respecting which the Lord says, "Vengeance is mine; I
will repay, saith the Lord." (#Ro 12:19.) Nor will the recompense coming upon the generation then living be merely for its own injustices
OV59 and failure to apply righteous
principles. Evidently the Lord intends to hold the present generation
responsible for the transgressions of preceding times, because, instead
of properly reprobating the past and denouncing the doctrines and
practices of the "dark ages," the present generation has measurably
re-endorsed them and maintained them in their creeds, although, present
advantages considered, there is no excuse for this. Amongst the
injustices and inequities for which the Lord will require an account
are the atrocities of "the dark ages," when for conscience sake men and
women were tortured and many of them burned at the stake. In Scriptural
language the blood of the martyrs still cries for vengeance, and the
present generation will, in the great day of trouble, be required to
make amends. To some this may appear an injustice on the part of the
Divine Government, yet we may be sure that the Judge of all the earth
will do right, and that when we come to see the matter clearly, all
lovers of righteousness will be able to endorse his course. If it be
granted that the persecutions of the dark ages were done in a
considerable measure of blindness, darkness and superstition, it may
also be admitted that in the light of present opportunities the
honest-hearted have no excuse for continuance in those theories and
superstitions, but have every opportunity for coming to the light of
the knowledge of the glorious Gospel, and to an intelligent
understanding of the teachings of GodÂ’s Word. These responsibilities
are being shirked by the majority, while many who do see clearly are
derelict as respects their duty, and unwilling to take their stand for
the Truth and against the error, because of what it would cost them in
the way of honor of men and position and "bread and butter." These
principles operated similarly in the end of the Jewish Age, and we are
in this argument clearly following leadings of the great Teacher, who
said to the Jews in the harvest time of their age that God would
require of that generation all the righteous blood shed upon the earth
from the time of righteous Abel. "That upon you may come all the
righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel
unto the blood of Zacharias, son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the
temple and the altar."—#Mt 23:35.
The generation addressed by our Lord had much advantage every way over
all its predecessors, and failed to profit thereby. As he said to them,
"Ye garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, and say, If we had been in
the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in
the blood of the prophets." (#Mt 23:29,30.)
Nevertheless, our Lord and the apostles
were treated worse by them than were the prophets by their fathers. How
terrible was the visitation of Divine judgment upon the Jewish nation
is well known to all familiar with their history. The record is that
nearly 2,000,000 perished at the siege of Jerusalem after the
internecine war or period of anarchy. Those experiences which befell
Natural Israel and resulted in the utter overthrow of that nation in
A.D. 70 were, perhaps, the most awful experiences which ever came to
any nation. They were a type or foreshadowing of the still more
terrible experiences which are to come upon Christendom—Nominal
Spiritual Israel—in the "harvest" time of this age.
It is not for us to seek to combat with
the world to hinder this impending trouble, this day of wrath. Indeed,
the Scriptures assure us in connection with the announcement of this
day of trouble that "none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise
shall understand."—#Da 12:1,9,10.
The Divine Revelation respecting the time of trouble is only to a
portion of the world—the Church; for her admonition, her instruction,
her guidance, "that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished" and
that "ye, brethren, should not be in darkness," when "that day shall
come as a snare on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."
(#1Th 5:2-6; #Lu 21:35.)
This article, therefore, is not expected to be appreciated by the
general reader, except in the sense that some may be amused with what
they consider to be the folly of giving heed to the predictions of the
Word of God. The Scriptures indicate most distinctly that the trouble
of this "day of wrath" will be anarchy—"every man’s hand against his
neighbor." It is quite true, on the contrary, that the tendency of our
day
OV60 is in the very reverse direction,
away from individualism and in the direction of unions, trusts and
combines. This is manifest in every direction—ecclesiastical,
political, social and financial. And just such a tendency of
confederacy or federation is distinctly brought to our attention, for,
as there were giants in the earth before the flood, so there are to be
giant institutions and systems before the great time of trouble breaks
into cataclysm. The Scriptures say to the LordÂ’s people, "Say ye not, A
confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy;
neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid." —#Isa 8:12  .
No one of observation has failed to note that while unions of capital
and labor are in progress, there is a distinct dividing line on one
side of which are the rich trusts and the kings and their armies,
financial, religious, political; on the other side are the masses. Both
parties are aggressive.
Both are growing in numbers and in
strength daily. Both are becoming more than ever determined that they
are in the right, and both are more than ever realizing that the trial
of their strength in the mighty conflict cannot be far distant. The
Scriptures alone foretold these conditions and the outcome. Neither
party will give in. The conflict will be the most severe of the worldÂ’s
history—the more so because both parties at the beginning of the
struggle will feel confident of the justice of their cause, and of
their strength, and of the sureness of their victory. Hence the
conflict will be to the knife, and the knife to the hilt. Peaceable
means on both sides will be expected to conquer, but both parties being
governed by pure selfishness, judgment will be beclouded and the
results will be awful beyond description. Those committed at first to
peaceable methods in their disappointment and desperation will become
anarchistic. The result will be that the organized system of
civilization which now prevails will work its own destruction at the
very moment when, in many respects, it will appear to be reaching the
climax of prosperity. It will thus furnish an everlasting lesson for
men and angels of the destructive tendency of selfishness, the
outgrowth of sin. And while it is termed "the day of the LordÂ’s wrath,"
it would appear to be the natural outworking of violation of Divine
Law, rather than a direct interference by the Almighty in human
affairs. The Scriptures tell us that God hardened PharaohÂ’s heart by
promptly hearing his prayer and releasing him from one after another of
the various plagues or chastisements which he brought upon himself. In
other words, the goodness of God, which should have guided him aright,
produced the reverse effect, hardening, instead of softening his heart.
So it appears to be in our day. The Lord during the past century has
been lifting from the eyes of mankind a veil of ignorance.
He has been permitting to shine in upon
the human mind great intelligence, previously kept secret. The result
is inventions of every kind, bringing to humanity comforts, luxuries,
conveniences and wealth beyond the fondest dreams of avarice, and
discounting the tale of Arabian Nights, as the arc light discounts the
tallow dip.
What might be reasonably expected of
God’s creatures under such favor, such blessings, from his hands?—what
reverence; what faithfulness; what generosity toward fellow-men; what
contentment; what peace; what inquiring after the will of God; what
endeavor to do his will and to glorify him in body and in spirit! But
have these blessed conditions existed in any considerable measure?
Alas, no! The very contrary conditions have resulted. Discontent,
irreverence, unfaithfulness, selfishness, are more prevalent to-day
than ever before. Instead of inquiring, What shall I render unto the
Lord my God for all his benefits? the scientific world are endeavoring
to get rid of the Almighty entirely, —his personality. These savants
tell us—that all we have received is the result of natural
processes—that nature is our God; that an intelligent Creator was not
even necessary; that the first part of protoplasmic life was generated
from the alkalies of the sea, and that man is merely the highest
development thus far of this evolution of matter—that he needed no God;
had no fall into sin; needed no Redeemer from sin and no Millennial
Kingdom with restitution powers to uplift him. Practically all the
college-bred—professors and graduates, hold to this godless theory—this
theory that we need no intelligent,
OV61 supreme Creator, but a blind force
in operation—that all speculation respecting Divine Wisdom, Justice,
Love and Power are foolishness; that each cranium makes its own God
according to its own development in these qualities. In other words,
man is his own God. "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."
—#Ps 14:1.
It should not surprise us that where the
professors lead the public will follow. Hence, under the guidance of
the colleges and pulpits of the land gradually, inch by inch,
cautiously, faith in God and in the Bible as his Revelation are
gradually being undermined. In this fact centers the horrible
atrocities which will soon envelop Christendom; just as, a century ago,
atheism in France led to the reign of terror there.
And, by the way, the French Revolution is
significantly intimated in the Bible to be a foreshadowing of the
worldwide terror soon to be expected. That God foreknew present
conditions and foretold them more than two thousand years ago is
clearly shown in the statements of #Da 12.
The prophet had received a message for the people of Israel, which was
plainly explained to him, but very interesting details, not pertinent
to his nation, but to the end of this age, were withheld from him. He
prayed earnestly for them and got the answer from the angel, "Go thy
way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of
the end...in the time of the end many shall run to and fro, and
knowledge shall be increased...and the wise shall understand ...and
there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a
nation."
Notice this prophecy carefully. Its
statements are beautiful in their simplicity; yet the present day
cannot be better described in the same number of words. The first item
marks our day of rapid transportation and those traversing sea and land
in every direction—"running to and fro." There never was such a day
before. Less than a century ago there was not a steam engine on
earth—not a railroad train, nor a rail.
Suddenly, as if touched by magic wand,
railroads cover the civilized earth and humanity rushes pell-mell in
every direction, as if solely intent upon the fulfillment of this
prophecy, of which the majority are in total ignorance. Nevertheless
the great Christian astronomer, Newton, studying this passage long
before railroads were thought of, declared his belief in its
fulfillment, surmising that a mode of transportation would be
discovered which would carry people safely at the rate of "fifty miles
an hour." Here we see the wisdom of the man who takes heed to the Word
of God. Correspondingly we see the folly of the man who neglects GodÂ’s
Word; for the great Voltaire, making light of the Bible, called
attention to Sir Isaac NewtonÂ’s comment, and called him a "poor old
dotard," misled by that foolish book, the Bible. The contrast is
accentuated when we remember that Voltaire died only a few years before
the locomotive was invented, while the Christian philosopher was dead
nearly three centuries. Note also that the second feature of this
prophecy has been fulfilled with equal carefulness. A fever of general
education has broken out in the world—public schools have been
established in all parts of Christendom. Not only is education now
supplied free of charge, but as though to assure a fulfillment of this
prophecy, education has been made compulsory by those who know not that
there is such a prophecy. Who will tell us that these matters are
purely of chance? If they be of chance, then, indeed, "truth is
stranger than fiction." We come now to the third feature: "The wise
shall understand"—not the worldly-wise; but those of whom the
Scriptures say, "Not many learned; not many great; not many rich; not
many wise hath God chosen" to be of his elect Church. Most evidently
the intention here is to mark out those of the church who are wise
toward God—"the wise virgins." These, and these only, may fully
understand the present situation, the time in which we are living, the
fulfillment of these prophecies and their culmination in the great time
of trouble, "the day of vengeance," with which this age will end,
giving place to the new dispensation under EmmanuelÂ’s Government. Next
we note the fourth feature of prophecy, "There shall be a time of
trouble such as never was since there was a
OV62 nation." This fits our topic
exactly. We had already portrayed some of the troubles coming and their
cause. Here we simply note their connection with the other parts of
this prophecy. As world-wide education came as a result of the
intermingling of peoples by interchange and traffic and aroused
ambition, so the general education of the world is preparing it for the
cataclysm of trouble. The world’s greatest blessing—knowledge—is
becoming its greatest bane. The education that should be bringing all
mankind more peace, pleasure, joy, appreciation of the Creator and of
each other is producing the reverse effect—discontent, which soon will
reach its more aggravated form. Selfish ambition will soon work its own
destruction. In view of these things, what is the Scripture counsel to
the saintly and to the world in general? To the former it is, Have full
confidence in God, and let patience have her perfect work; wait upon
the Lord. Have confidence that his methods are best in every way. Seek
the heavenly kingdom—seek to make your calling and election sure at the
sacrifice of every earthly interest. To others who have some ear to
hear, the message is, "Seek righteousness, seek meekness. It may be
that ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger."—#Zep 2:3.
During the past year the Overland Monthly
has been running a very instructive series of articles by C. T.
Russell, Pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, New York. These articles have
created widespread attention, calling forth columns of newspaper
criticism in a way which seems most remarkable. As a writer, Mr.
RussellÂ’s books have enjoyed a larger circulation than any English
work. Of his work entitled "Studies in the Scriptures," the average
output is two thousand three hundred copies for each working day. We
regret the records of 1909 are not yet complete, but in 1908 seven
hundred and twenty-eight thousand, four hundred and seventy-four
volumes were sold. Since publication, three million five hundred and
thirty-four thousand volumes have been circulated. Last year, in
addition to these there were three hundred and eight million pages of
his tracts circulated. In all literature the Bible is about the only
book that has had a larger circulation. The Chinese Almanac printed at
the Imperial Press has a circulation of eight million. The Bible is way
ahead of this. One society having circulated over one hundred and
seventy million copies. But in American literature, Mr. Russell stands
first. In the literature of the world, the order would probably be as
follows: The Bible, the Chinese Almanac, the "Studies in the
Scriptures," "Don Quixote," "Uncle TomÂ’s Cabin" and HubbardÂ’s "Message
to Garcia."
TO JESUS ALWAYS
ALWAYS go to Jesus, When troubled or distressed; I always find a refuge When I with Him can rest.
I tell Him all my trials, I tell Him all my grief; And while my lips are speaking He gives my heart relief.
When full of dread forebodings, And flowing oÂ’er with tears, He calms away my sorrows, And hushes all my fears.
He comprehends my weakness, The peril I am in, And He supplies the armor I need to vanquish sin.
When those are cold and faithless, Who
once were fond and true, With careless hearts forsaking The old friends
for the new, I turn to Him whose friendship knows neither change nor
end: I always find in Jesus An ever faithful Friend.
I always go to Jesus; No matter when or where I seek His gracious presence, IÂ’m sure to find Him there.
In time of joy and sorrow, WhateÂ’er my need may be, I always go to Jesus, And Jesus comforts me.
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