NO PROBATION UNDER THE PLAGUES.
By B. G. Wilkinson
WHENEVER a man knows that he must meet a time of trouble, it is the height of wisdom that he prepare for it. In the book of Revelation, Inspiration speaks of a time when God will pour out upon the earth the vials of his wrath. If that time were past, it would deserve attention only as it teaches lessons for the present or for the future; but since that time is future, it calls for serious study. The description which the Lord gives of these plagues teaches us that they will be immensely more unbearable than were the plagues poured out upon Egypt. And the plagues of Egypt were so severe that David says, of the night when Israel stood in the dark, with sandaled feet, and staff in hand: “Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.” Ps. 105:38. If you will turn to the fifteenth chapter of Revelation, in the first verse you will read the expression, “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels, having the seven last plagues.” The word “another” signifies that there were other previous signs which John saw. But of those other signs, John does not say that they were “great and marvelous.” In fact, in all the Bible there is no other thing spoken of as being great and marvelous except the works of God; in the third verse of this chapter, this is the ascription to God in the song sung by those who had passed through the seven last plagues. It is therefore the truth that the seven last plagues will be one of the greatest marvels man will ever witness. If these plagues were to occur in some distant future time, it would little matter how much we concerned ourselves over them. But if the Bible, which foretells them, also makes known the signs of their approach, we shall stand without excuse if we allow neglect or ignorance to leave us unsheltered. The first thought to which I wish to call attention is that there is no probation in the time of the plagues. After the first vial of God’s wrath begins to fall, no sinner will ever find pardon. This must be clearly set forth before the question of time can be touched. There are many reasons why there is no probation under the plagues, but I will at this time present but three:— First: there is one place in this universe where God has planted a mercy seat. This is the place to which Isaiah came, burdened with his load of sin. One of the seraphim stopped his song, and flew with a live coal taken from off the altar. That coal purged Isaiah’s sin. But in Revelation 8 John saw an angel take the fire from off the altar, and cast it to the earth. In purging Isaiah’s sin, these coals represented God’s pardoning mercy. When they are thrown to the earth, the altar will be left bare. Why were they thrown to earth? Before that mercy seat which God has erected, ministers our high priest, Jesus Christ. Because he ministers there, Paul writes: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” As long as Jesus ministers at that mercy seat, he is our high priest, and so long may we find mercy. But the time will come when Jesus will step away from the mercy seat. Then the high priest becomes king, and vengeance replaces mercy. This event is announced by the angel’s throwing the coals to the earth. Then the plagues swiftly follow, under which there is no mercy. Second: there is no probation under the plagues, because, under them, man can not repent. It is impossible for the flesh to work itself up unto a state of repentance. Repentance is the gift of God. Repentance comes as faith comes. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” If I were to tell you of an amusing incident, you would not work yourself up to laugh at it; and you need not, because the laugh is in the incident. So faith is in the Word; and by simply listening to it, the Word carries faith into the soul. Likewise, when the Holy Spirit finds entrance to the soul, it carries with it conviction and repentance. But under the seven last plagues, when they begin to fall, men have cut themselves off from this priceless gift, and consequently can not repent. That is said in Rev. 16:9, 11: “And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory, . . . and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.” Certainly if they could not produce genuine repentance, at least they would attempt it to escape the plagues, because Pharaoh repented at last to let the children of Israel go, for plagues less severe than these. But, no; under the seven last plagues men can not repent. That repentance should have been secured before. The third thing that shows that mercy is past is found in the word of judgment on Babylon. When Jesus delivered his sermon that beautiful morning, he said, “Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” But Jesus, when he speaks through the mouth of his beloved disciple John, says, in Rev. 18:4-6: “Come out of her, [Babylon], my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Then Babylon receives the plagues. “Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works.” Show her no mercy. Such as she gave return, and add to it a double portion. This is much unlike God. But now God is doing his “strange work;” for the day of his vengeance has come. B. G. WILKINSON.