The Great Day Of God's Wrath! # 1

 The Great Day Of God's Wrath! # 1

"For the great day of His wrath has come - and who shall be able to stand!" (Revelation 6:17).

Every man's thoughts run now like Nebuchadnezzar's - with a desire to know what shall come to pass hereafter, or what things the future will bring forth, "As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen." (Daniel 2:29).

There is nothing in the womb of time - but what was first in the womb of God. Now, this book of the Revelation shows us these three things:

1. The state and condition of the true church of God upon earth, under the power and reign of antichrist.

2. The rise, the reign, and the rage of antichrist in the world.

3. The quiet, blessed, and glorious state and condition of the true church here below, after the ruin and downfall of antichrist, "whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of His mouth and destroy by the splendor of His coming!" (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

This chapter out of which my text is taken (Revelation 6), shows us seven things:

1, You may see what God's dreadful judgments are, by which He cuts off and destroys the inhabitants of the earth, for their sin and wickedness; they are likened and compared to horses, as you may see from verse 4 to verse 8. Here you have:a white horse, war; a red horse, the sword; a black horse, the famine; a pale horse, the pestilence, or plague, which leads to death.

Horses are creatures which run to and fro - and so do God's judgments from house to house, from street to street, from city to city, from town to town, and from one place to another. "Show no mercy; have no pity!" (Ezekiel 9:5).

Horses are creatures which are very swift in their motion, they run many miles in a little time. Likewise, God's judgments are also very swift, they do much execution in a little time. "So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead." (1 Chron. 21:14).

You may also see a proof of this, by what God has done to London, where more than a thousand died in one day.

2. You may see here where all the holy martyrs and witnesses of Jesus Christ are, who have been slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus; they are under the altar, that is, under the glorious protection of Christ in heaven, "They are before the throne of God, serving Him day and night; and the Lamb leads them to the living fountain, and God wipes away all tears from their eyes." (Revelation 7:15, 17).

3. You may see also the cause for which these blessed saints were slain; it was "for the Word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Chapter 6:9).

4. Here you may see that all the saints' precious blood, which has been spilt from time to time by the whore of Babylon, cries aloud, day and night, to God for vengeance upon Babylon. Chapter 6:10).

5. You have here the answer of God in relation to the saints' cry, "And it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also, and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." (Chapter 6:11)

6. You may here see what dreadful and terrible things followed upon the opening the sixth seal, verse 12, 14. "And lo, there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places." There are the visible judgments of God, which are come upon the anti-christian crew.

And, lastly, this chapter shows us what will be the state and condition of those men at that day, who are found enemies to God and His people, "Then everyone - the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person - all hid themselves in the caves and among the rockes, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!" (Rev. 6:15-16).

Now this brings me to the words of my text, which shows us the reason of this great out-cry, "For the great day of His wrath has come- and who shall be able to stand?" (Revelation 6:17).

~William Dyer~

I Found Him Whom My Soul Loves! # 2

 I Found Him Whom My Soul Loves! # 2

It generates humility, deep and adoring humility. Humility, which makes us lovable, and fires us with love to all about us. Humility which fills us with profound admiration of the conduct and condescension of our Lord, and lays us in the dust at His feet. Humility, which inspires us with lofty expectations, of seeing more of His beauty, enjoying more of His presence, and of being ravished always with His love.

O the blessedness of find that loved One again, and once more enjoying His presence, and the assurance of His love!

Believer, when Jesus is not enjoyed by you - He is not far from you. He only stands behind the wall. "My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There He stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice." (Song of Songs 2:9). He is just beyond the watchmen. We are not far from finding Him when we feel and lament His absence. He will soon turn again, and have compassion upon us. If therefore you are seeking Him, though discouraged for a time, press on, persevere - for you are sure to find Him. "Everyone who seeks - finds."

The lost sinner who have never enjoyed His presence, if he seeks - will find; and the backslider who has sinned away His presence - shall have it restored again. Seek, seek then, for none can seek His face in vain.

When Christ is found after long seeking, and after deep searching of heart, He is more precious, than as if found at once. We value that most - which costs us most. We enjoy that most - which is only gained by much labor and effort. Never does the sun appear so bright, as after the long, cold, dreary night. Never is health so prized, as after a long season of painful sickness. Never is water so sweet, as when the tongue fails for thirst. Just so, never is Jesus so precious, as after the long night of guilt, gloom, and desertion. Never is Jesus so precious, as after we have suffered from broken bones, a wounded spirit, and a troubled conscience. Never is Jesus so precious, as when the fire of God's wrath has seemed to dry up our vital moisture, and the firey law has almost brought us into the dust of death!

The trumpet of Jubilee, was not so sweet to the bankrupt Israelite; the act of emancipation, was never so delightful to the manacled slave; the proclamation of pardon, was never so precious to the doomed criminal, who expected to the executed in the morning; as is Jesus to the soul, when He manifests Himself once more, after a long dreary season of desertion.

Reader! Are you seeking Jesus? Whatever may be your case, circumstances, or discouragements, never give up until you have found Him. Find Him you will, you must - if you seek for Him with all your heart. And when you have found Him, do not fear to own it, or neglect to acknowledge it - but in the language of the delighted spouse, exclaim, "I have found Him whom my soul loves!"

~James Smith~

(The End)

The Rights and Duties of Laymen # 1

 The Rights and Duties of Laymen # 1

"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus - To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons" (Phillipians 1:1).

This opening verse of Paul's Epistle to the Philippians is a very remarkable text of Scripture. I suspect it receives far less attention from Bible readers than it deserves. Like the gold of California, men have walked over it for centuries, and have not observed what was under their feet. In fact, if some Anglican divines had stood at the Apostle's elbow when he wrote this verse, I believe they would have hinted that he had made a mistake.

Now what do I mean by all this? What is the remarkable point to which I refer? The point on which I place my finger is Paul's mention of "the saints" before the "bishops and deacons." He places the laity before the clergy when he addresses the Philippian Church. He puts the body of the baptized in the front rank, and the ministers in the rear.

There is no room for dispute about the various readings of manuscripts in this case. It was unmistakably given by inspiration of God, and written for our learning. As such, I see in it the germ of a great truth, which demands special notice in the present day. In short, it open up the grave subject of the rights and duties of the lay members of a Christian Church.

I approach the whole subject with a deep sense of its delicacy and difficulty. I disclaim the slightest sympathy with those revolutionary counselors who want us to throw overboard Creeds, and turn the Church into a Pantheon, in the vain hope of buying off invaders. I desire nothing but scriptural and reasonable reforms, and I know no reform so likely to strengthen the Church as that of placing her laity in their rightful position. One of the best modes of promoting effective Church defense in this day - is to promote wise Church reform.

What then, was the position of the lay members of Churches in the days of the Apostles? Let us imagine ourselves paying a visit to the baptized communities at Rome, or Corinth, or Ephesus, or Thessalonica, or Jerusalem, and let us see what we would have found, and what Scripture teaches about them. In this, as in many other matters, we have a right to ask, "What light can we get from the New Testament?"

This is an inquiry which deserves special attention, and I am much mistaken if the result does not astonish some people, and make them open their eyes.

I say then, without hesitation, that you will not find a single text in the New Testament in which the ordained ministers alone are ever called "the Church," or ever act for the Church without the laity uniting and co-operating in their action.

Are the deacons appointed? The apostles recommend their proposal, but "the whole multitude" choose (Acts 6:5). Is a council held to consider whether the heathen converts should be circumcised, and keep the ceremonial law? The decision arrived at is said to come from "the apostles, and elders, and brethren," with "the whole Church" (Acts 15:22-23). Are inspired Epistles written by Paul to particular Churches? In eight cases they are addressed to "the Church, the saints, the faithful brethren" - and they are addressed to "the Church, the saints, the faithful brethren" - and in only one case (the Epistle to the Philippians) is there any mention of overseers and deacons" in the opening address. Does Paul send instructions to the Church about the Lord's Supper, and about speaking with tongues? He sends them to "them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus" not to the ministers. Is discipline exercised against an unsound member? I find Paul giving directions to the saints at Corinth, without mentioning the ministry, "Put away from among yourselves that wicked person" (1 Co. 5:13). Is a man "overtaken in a fault" to be restored to communion? Paul tells those who are "spiritual" among the Galatians to do it, and does not refer to their ministers (Gal. 6:1). Is an Epistle written to the Christian Hebrews? Not a word is said about "rulers" until you come to the last chapter. Does James write a General Epistle? He addresses the "twelve tribes," and only names "teachers" in the third chapter. Does Peter write a General Epistle? He writes to the whole body of the elect, and says nothing to the "elders" until he arrives at the last chapter, and even then he is careful to remind them that they are not "lords over God's heritage." As for the Second Epistle of Peter, and the Epistles of John and Jude, they never touch the subject of the ministry at all.

~J. C. Ryle~

I Have Found Him Whom My Soul Loves! # 1

I Have Found Him Whom My Soul Loves! # 1

No healthy Christian can be happy without the presence of Christ. For what the sun is to the day, the moon to the night, or the rain to the soil - that is Jesus to the soul. What a day would be without the sun, or the night without the moon, or the earth without moisture, that would the soul of the believer be without Christ. And yet we often lose a sense of the presence of Jesus, and sin away the enjoyment of His love. As the church of old who retired to bed, when she should have been actively employed for Him, and then complained, "By night on my bed, I sought Him whom my soul loves, I sought Him but I found Him not." Jesus will not indulge idleness, nor sanction sloth. Therefore she had to arise, go about the city, and inquire of the watchmen,k nor could she again enjoy His presence - until she had passed by them all, and then with a glad heart she exclaimed, "I found Him whom my soul loves!" (Song of Solomon 3:4).

Here is a pleasing fact, the lost Saviour may be found; or the forfeited presence of Jesus may be regained. When convinced of our folly, when humbled under a sense of our sin, when sighing, and crying, with ardent longing, we seek Him - then He will giveus a fresh manifestation of His love - His great love. Again will He appear to us, disclosing the glories of His person, the beauty of His character, and the excellency of His salvation. Then we afresh perceive His glory, and beauty, and exact adaptation to us, and our love is drawn out to Him anew.

Glorious as He appeared at first, every new manifestation of His grace seems to enhance His glory, and bring out some fresh and richer beauty. Then, our sense of our interest in Him is sweetly renewed and deepened, and we claim Him with confidence as our beloved, our Saviour, and our friend. The heart glows with the richest enjoyment, the bosom heaves with ecstatic delight, and the soul overflows with the most pleasurable emotions. Oh, how precious is Jesus now! How wonderful His love. How glorious His grace. How tender His mercy. How efficacious His blood. How magnificent His righteousness. Christ, and everything in Christ - Christ, and everything connected with Christ - is unspeakably beautiful and glorious; so that we lack words to express our thoughts, and we lack thoughts to embody our feelings, which are exquisitely delightful. Who can describe the rapture of a soul, which has been walking in darkness, mourning for the Saviour - but can now exclaim, "I have found Him whom my soul loves!"

The delightful EFFECTS of it are many and various.

It gives us satisfaction; the desires find the object they have been seeking, and the soul glides into a calm and delightful repose. We seem to want no more - but only the perpetuation of what we are now enjoying.

It produces tenderness. We become more cautious and careful, and avoid everything likely to grieve Him, or disturb our enjoyment. We become more watchful over ourselves, and against temptations which may lead us astray.

We are more prayerful, spending more time with Him alone, pouring out our hearts before Him. And this tenderness of conscience, watchfulness of spirit, and prayerfulness of soul - will preserve and keep us from innumerable evils.

It awakens gratitude - deep and soul stirring gratitude. Such gratitude as inspires us with the strongest confidence, fills us with the warmest love, animates us with glowing zeal, and makes the soul eloquent in His praise.

~James Smith~

(continued with # 2

Victory! # 7

Victory! # 7

Take the advice I give you, as a friend, this day. Ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come and dwell in your heart by faith, and to "deliver you from this present evil world" (Gal. 1:4). Ask Him to pour out His promised Spirit on you, and to make you willing to bear His easy yoke without further delay, an to resist the world. Strive, in the strength of Christ, to get the victory over the world, whatever it may cost you. Be ashamed of being a slave, however gilded the chains may be. Be ashamed of the mark of the collar. Resolve to play the man and be free. Liberty is the greatest of blessings, and deserves the greatest struggles. Well said the Jewish rabbis in ancient days, "If the sea were ink, and the earth parchment, it would never serve to describe the praises of liberty!" For freedom's sake, Greeks, and Romans, and Germans, and Poles, and Swiss, and Scotchmen, and Englishmen, have often cheerfully fought to the bitter end, and laid down their lives. Surely, if men have made such sacrifices for the freedom of their bodies, it is a disgrace to professing Christians if they will not fight for the liberty of their souls. This day, I repeat, resolve in the strength of Christ, that you will fight the good fight against the world; and not only fight, but overcome. "If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).

(c) Finally, let us all remember that the Christian soldier's best time is yet to come. Here, in this world, we are often injured and hindered in our warfare. There are many hard things to be done and born. There are wounds and bruises; there are watchings and fatigues; there are reverses and disappointments. But the end of all things is at hand. For those who "overcome" there will be a conqueror's crown.

In the warfare of this world, the muster on the morning after a victory is often a sorrowful sight. I pity the man who could look at Miss. Thompson's famous picture of the Roll-call without deep emotion. Even when peace is proclaimed, the return of victorious regiments is an occasion of very mingled feelings. That man must have had a cold heart who could see the Guards march back into london after the Crimean war without a sigh or a tear.

Thanks be to God, the review day of Christ's victorious army will be a very different thing. There will be none missing in that day. It will be a meeting without regret. It will be "a morning without clouds" and tears! It will make rich amends for all we have suffered in resisting and overcoming the world!

He who saw our gracious Queen distributing the Victoria Cross at the Horse Guards during the Russian war might well be stirred and moved at the sight. But he who saw her come down from her seat to meet a wounded officer who could not walk, and, with her own royal hands, pin his decoration on his bosom, will probably remember it as long as he lives.

But, after all, it was nothing compared to the transactions of that great day, when the Captain of our salvation and His victorious soldiers shall at length meet face to face. What gongue can tell the happiness of that time when we shall lay aside our armor, and "say to the sword, Rest, and be still!" What mind can conceive the blessedness of that hour when we shall bee the King in His beauty, and hear these words, "Well done, good and faithful servant and soldier, enter you into the joy of your Lord"? For that glorious day let us wait patiently, for it cannot be far off. In the hope of it let us work, and watch, and pray, and fight on, and resist the world. And let us never forget our Captain's words - "In the world you shall have tribulation - but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33).

~J. C. Ryle~

(The End)

Victory! # 6

Victory! # 6

But time would fail me if I brought forward all the evidence that might be adduced on this subject. Let us look at our own age. Let us consider the men who have made the greatest mark on the world for Christ's cause in the last hundred years. Let us remember how clergymen like Whitefield, and Wesley, and Romane, and Venn stood alone in their day and generation, and revived English religion, in the face of opposition, slander, ridicule, and real persecution from nine-tenths of the professing Christians in our land. Let us remember how men like William Wilberforce, and Havelock, and Henry Lawrence, and Hedley Vicars, and George Moore, the Christian merchant, have witnessed for Christ in the most difficult positions, and displayed Christ's banner even in the House of Commons, in the camp, at the regimental mess table, or in the counting-house in the city. Let us remember how these noble servants of God were neither frightened nor laughed out of their religion, and won the respect even of their adversaries. These all had one principle, "Give me," said that strange dictator who rode rough-shod over England's Church and Crown in the seventeenth century. "Give me men that have a principle." These Christian soldiers of our own day had a principle, and that ruling principle was faith in an unseen God and Saviour. By this faith they lived, and walked, and fought the good fight, and overcame.

Does any one who reads this paper desire to live the life of a true Christian, and overcome the world? Let him begin by seeking to have the principle of victory within. Without this, all outward show of spirituality is utterly worthless! There is many a worldly heart under a monk's cowl. Faith, inward faith, is the one thing needful. Let him begin by praying for FAITH. It is the gift of God, and a gift which those who ask shall never ask in vain. The fountain of faith is not yet dry. The mine is not exhausted. He who is called the "Author of faith" is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and waits to be entreated (Hebrews 12:2). Without faith you will never war a good warfare, never set down your foot firmly, never make progress on the ice of this slippery world. You must believe if you would do. If men do nothing in religion, and sit still like uninterested spectators of a show, it is simply because they do not believe. Faith is the first step towards heaven.

Would any one who reads this paper fight the Christian battle with constantly increasing success and prosperity? Then let him pray daily for a continual growth of faith. Let him abide in Christ, get closer to Christ, tighten his hold on Christ every day that he lives. Let him never forget the prayer of the disciples, "Lord, increase our faith." Let him watch jealously over his faith, and never let its fire burn low. According to the degree of his faith will be the measure of his peace, his strength, and his victory over the world.

(a) And now let us leave the whole subject with the solemn self-inquiry - "What do we know of that great test of religion which this text supplies? What do we know of overcoming the world? Where are we? What are we doing? Whose are we, and whom do we serve? Are we overcoming or being overcome? Alas, it is a sorrow fact, that many know not whether they are Christ's freemen - or the world's slaves! The "fetters of the world" are often invisible. We are dragged downward insensibly, and are like one who sleeps in a boat, and knows not that he is drifting, gently drifting, towards the falls. There is no slavery so bad as that which is unfelt. There are no chains so really heavy as those which are unseen. Wise is that petition in our matchless Litany - "From all the deceits of the world, good Lord, deliver us."

I press this inquiry in all affection on my younger readers. You are just at that generous and unsuspecting age when the world seems least dangerous and most inviting, and it stands to reason you are most likely to be ensnared and overcome. Experience alone can make you see the enemy in his true colors. When you have as many grey hairs on your heads as I have, you will place a very different estimate on the praise or the hatred of this world. But even you, remember my caution - "If you love your souls, hold the world at arm's length. Beware of the world."

(b) Reader, you and I meet over this paper for once in our lives, and are parting in all probability to meet no more. You are perhaps launching forth on the waves of this troublesome world. My heart's desire and prayer to God is, that you may have a prosperous voyage, and be found at length in the safe haven of eternal life.

But, oh, take heed that you are well equipped for the stormy waters you have to cross, and see that you have a compass to steer by, that you can depend on, and a pilot who will not fail! Beware of making shipwreck by conformity to the world. Alas, how many put to sea in gallant trim, with colors flying, and brilliant prospects, and are lost at last with all on board! They seem at first to begin with Moses, and Daniel, and the saints in Nero's household; but they end at last with Balaam, and Demas, and Lot's wife! Oh, remember the pilot and the compass! No compass like the Bible. No pilot like Christ!

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 5)

The Great White Throne Judgment - What Is It? # 2

The Great White Throne Judgment - What Is It? # 2

Kant reasoned that meant there must be a judgment in the next life of all who have ever lived. And, said Kant, that judgment must be perfect.

But for that judgment to be perfect, Kant said there must be a perfect judge, one who knows all the facts or every case, and that means the judge must possess all knowledge so that no fact escapes his awareness.

That, however, still isn't enough to have true justice. Kant remarked that a judge may know all the facts about a case, but he he is corrupt, justice may not be done. Therefore, the judge must also be righteous.

Yet that still isn't enough to have true justice. The all-knowing and righteous judge, Kant said, must also be in a position where there is no force that can oppose his action and ruling. He must have unlimited power and nothing must be able to resist him, so that he can ensure justice is done.

Even though Kant did not believe the Bible to be the revealed Word of God, he described a judgment which takes place after life in this world is over and which has an omnipotent omniscient, righteous, perfect and holy Judge examining every person's life and ensuring that justice is finally done. Without knowing it, Kant perfectly described Revelation's Great White Throne Judgment.

It is important to note that the first doctrine of God to be denied was judgment. When Eve received God's warning about the result of her disobedience, satan denied what God said. satan told her, "You will surely die" (Genesis 3:4). But that lie resulted in the first couple's disobedience, God's judgment being handed down to Adam and Eve, and the introduction of sin into the human race.

Unless a person puts his faith in Christ, he will stand before Jesus at His Great White Throne and be judged unworthy of spending eternity with God. Speaking 2,000 years ago to a group of unbelieving philosophers on Mars Hill in Athens, Paul said, "because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by rising Him from the dead" (Acts 12:31).

If you haven't yet received Christ as your Saviour and Lord, pray to Him now, ask for forgiveness, and escape the certain judgment that is to come.

~Compelling Truth~

(The End)