THE SEVEN PLAGUES PRECEDE THE COMING OF CHRIST.
By John Matteson
It appears that the seven last plagues will all precede the second coming of our Saviour; in proof of which I would offer the following considerations: In Rev. xvi, 12–16, we read of the pouring out of the sixth vial. In connection with this the proclamation is made: “Behold, I come as a thief.” It is certain that up to this time the Saviour has not come; and it is not stated that he does then appear; but, “Behold, I come,” in other words, I am coming, or about to come. It is, evidently, the same announcement which is recorded in Rev. xxii, 12: “And, behold, I come quickly;” for in verse 11, the time of the plagues is introduced, and the fact stated that repentance is past and probation closed. During the seventh plague “there came a great voice out of the temple of Heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.” Chap. xvi, 17. This is the voice of the Father who sits on the throne in Heaven. Rev. iv, 1–3; v, 1. This is the voice which shakes heaven and earth. Heb. xii, 26. It causes the lightning to flash more vividly, and the thunder to roar more terribly, than men have ever seen or heard; and the earth quakes mightily. The towers of proud Babylon fall. The cities become a heap of ruins. The islands flee, and the mountains fall. Rev. xvi, 18–20. Then the kings of the earth, and the rich and poor, free and bond, try to hide themselves from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne. Chap. vi, 14–17. The appearance of the brightness and exceeding glory of the countenance of Jesus is so terrifying to those who are not his people, that they would rather be crushed by the mountains and rocks, which are falling on every side, than endure his presence. This proves that Jesus appears at the closing scenes of the seventh plague. The same is also evident from the order of events in other places. The great hailstones are mentioned in connection with the thunderings and earthquake, in Rev. xi, 19. It is, no doubt, synchronic with the falling of the cities and mountains. “The Lord also shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake.” Joel iii, 16. “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 in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matt. xxiv, 29, 30. During the last plague the atmosphere will be heavily charged with electricity. The thunderclouds will be darker and heavier until the earth be perfectly enveloped and darkened thereby. The lightning glares fearfully in this outer darkness, and every flash reveals scenes of increasing terrors. The earth heaves like surging billows. The sea boils and waves roar. Islands are swallowed up, and cities crumble into ruins. Rocks fall in every direction. Mountains are carried through the air and scattered over the country. The fearful hail falls, tormenting the wretched victims. The brief intervals between the roarings of the thunder are filled up with the frantic shrieks and blaspheming cries of the ungodly. O my soul! who shall be there? The vain laugh has ceased. The silly conversation is past. The sleeping, drowsy time is over. The alluring dreams of Heaven, by those who would not watch, have ceased. No more sleeping now; no more pretended godliness; no hypocrisy; but all reality, dreadful reality! Alas! alas! for the day is at hand. “Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly,” &c. Isa. xxxiii. But you who obey not the gospel, if you do not quickly repent, your lot is cast; your eternal fate is decided; you will be a partaker in that fearful scene. Hark! hear the wailing. Oh! that I had known the day of my visitation. Oh! that I had forsaken every sin. Oh! that I had listened to the counsel of the faithful Witness. But now it is too late. Cursed be the day in which I was born; cursed my folly and sloth. It is too late, too late! The eyes of the unfaithful servants are consuming away in their holes, and their tongues in their mouths. Zech. xiv, 12. In the midst of all this terror and mourning of the tribes of the earth, the glory of the heavenly clouds penetrates the darkness. The scene is changed from one extreme to another. The glory of ten thousand bright angels and the brightness of the appearing Son of God are still more terrible to the doomed sinner than the falling of rocks and mountains. Dear reader, will you now secure a shelter for that day? Will you repent and be zealous? For such only as have the Father's name in their foreheads and no guile in their mouths, can then be redeemed from among men. Rev. xiv. Three heavens are spoken of in the Scriptures; the atmospheric heavens, the sun, moon, and stars, or starry heaven, and the place of God's throne. The two first are visible, the last invisible. The two first will be shaken during the last plague, with the earth; but the third cannot be shaken. This signifies the removing of the things that are shaken, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Heb. xii. The New Jerusalem in the third Heaven, or Paradise of God, has foundations that stand secure. Brethren, come! It is high time for us to stop trusting in the uncertain riches. Let us long with all our heart, and look with both eyes, for the city of God, to secure a mansion in our Father's house. The things which we see, are soon to be removed. “Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”