Before the Decree Bring Forth by John F. Jones

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 8, 1910

Before the Decree Bring Forth

By John F. Jones

JOHN F. JONES

About 630 B. C., the prophet Zephaniah was moved by the Spirit of God to relate views of events that would take place upon the earth immediately preceding the coming of the Lord. He declared: “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.” Zeph. 1:14-18.

In view of this, the prophet is moved to announce a gathering call in the words following: “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired.” Zeph. 2:1. There has not been, neither is there now upon the earth, a nation not desired, aside from the nation of whom it is written: “From the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” Num. 23:9. “For wherein shall it be known that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.” Ex. 33:16. “A righteous nation which keepeth the truth” is truly a nation not desired; and yet to that nation, “before the decree bring forth,” a gathering call is sounded.

The decree has been declared. Here it is: “The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” Ps. 2:7. What the decree will finally bring forth is made plain in the verses following: “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Ps. 2:8, 9. Before this final outcome of the decree, the gathering call of the prophet Zephaniah will be heard throughout the world; yea, even now its trumpet tones are heard: “Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgments; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” Zeph. 2:2, 3.

Seek righteousness. “My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.” Ps. 119:172. Was there ever a time in earth’s history when the attention of the people was more urgently called to the holy commandments of God and their claims upon us? and is not the grace of meekness kept before the minds of the people as a necessary qualification for an inheritance in the earth made new? O “seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger”!

There remains but little time for our gathering together, but little time for seeking the graces that are called for, and that will hide us, “when his wrath is kindled but a little.” Ps. 2:12. Come, brethren, come, sisters, there is no time for trifling with earth’s vain allurements. The Judge standeth at the door. May every heart be open to hear and heed the gathering call, and may it be truly said of us: “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Ford’s Store, Md.