The Day of His Glorious Appearing
By Tyler E. Bowen
Deceptive Counterfeits—Awe-Inspiring Events Imminent—A Set Time for Every Purpose of God “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Eccl. 3:1. There is a “day of salvation,” a time when sinners may come to the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. That day—time—has an end. In the purpose of God, nations have their day of opportunity—a time to demonstrate principles of justice and equity in their administrative affairs. This opportunity, likewise, has an end. Satan has a time given him to manifest himself—an opportunity to work “with all power and signs and lying wonders,” just prior to the coming of Jesus Christ in all His glory. His time for deception also has an end. And God has reserved to Himself a time, when He will deal with a mighty hand with a rebellious and disobedient world. This time is designated in the Scriptures as “the day of the Lord.” It, too, has an end. “The day of the Lord” is ushered in by an important event in heaven itself—that day when the Father summons His Son to His throne to give to Him His kingdom—the earth. This brings an end on earth to the gospel; for there will then be no intercessor to plead for the guilty sinner. The vials of God’s wrath are then poured out into the earth. During this “day of the Lord,” Jesus comes from heaven to get the subjects of His kingdom. At its close, sinners are destroyed out of the earth. This last event takes place more than a thousand years after the personal appearing of Jesus at His second coming. This is made simple and plain when we understand this “day of the Lord” period includes God’s final dealings with sinners as a punishment for sin. The apostle Peter speaks of this time, and makes clear that the final destruction of sinners is included in God’s purpose to be wrought out during this period of time spoken of as “the day of the Lord.” “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” 2 Peter 3:10. The Second Coming of Jesus
We wish to emphasize the events clustering about the appearance of Jesus in the clouds to gather to Himself the meek of the earth—the subjects of His glorious kingdom. When Jesus was on trial before Caiaphas, the high priest, for blasphemy, because He called Himself the Son of God, the high priest said to Him: “I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou art the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus replied: “Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matt. 26:63, 64. Jesus was indeed an impostor then, as these people, the Jews, were trying to make out, if the time does not come, in the purpose of God, when that same Son of God, as well as “Son of man” (being born of the virgin Mary), shall come on the clouds, as He here foretold to Caiaphas that cold morning before daybreak, when the sinless Lord stood bound as a guilty prisoner before this wicked high priest. And let it be noted that this wicked religious prince is with his own eyes to see this same Jesus sitting there at the right hand of power, in order for these words to become literally true. This highest judge in Israel was looking into Jesus’ face that moment; and as truly as he saw Him then, so surely and literally was he to see Him when this same Jesus was to come as King of Israel in power and great glory. Why Men Count Scripture Untrue
The greatest trouble men have with the words of God, is that they cannot comprehend the tremendous distances which, in the purpose of the Infinite, may span the space between their utterance and their fulfillment. Like systems of worlds on high, the words of God take tremendous sweeps through the lapse of time. But as the planets reach their destinations at the fractional second on time, so the words of God, when the hour arrives, shall as literally and truly be fulfilled. Men forget that God forgets not, and lives to carry out His eternal purposes. The Coming of Jesus Follows Supernatural Manifestations of Satan
Thus the time will finally arrive for Jesus to leave heaven, accompanied by all the holy angels, majestically to visit the earth. He comes just after the wonderful working of Satan, who has tried to personate the personal appearance of the coming of the Lord. Nearly the whole world has been deceived by this heretofore unknown event. “And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of His mouth, and bring to naught by the manifestation of His coming [“presence,” margin]; even he, whose coming [“presence,” margin] is according to the working of Satan [which must also be the manifestation of his personal presence to the people in this world] with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thess. 2:8-10. Another portion of the Word explains one feature of these lying wonders, personally conducted by Satan, just prior to the manifestation of the presence of the King of kings on the clouds: “And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men.” Rev. 13:13. This is done by the deceiver to induce men to disobey God, saying that the Sabbath commandment is of force no more, and that all should reverence the Sunday—his own deceptive substitute. And how does Satan appear in this his last supreme effort to prove to men that he is god and should be worshiped? “And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light.” 2 Cor. 11:14. Events Ushering in the King of Glory
While Armageddon is on—while on the one hand Satan is leading earth’s forces into this last titanic conflict, and on the other hand he is appearing as a glorious being, trying to imitate the work of Jesus in going about healing disease—at a time when arrangements are being made to rid the earth of a few who are still loyal to God and His commandments—then Jehovah Himself sends supernatural signs, which usher in the glorious King. “It is at midnight that God manifests His power for the deliverance of His people. The sun appears, shining in its strength. Signs and wonders follow in quick succession. The wicked look with terror and amazement upon the scene, while the righteous behold with solemn joy the tokens of their deliverance. Everything in nature seems turned out of its course. The streams cease to flow. Dark, heavy clouds come up, and clash against each other. In the midst of the angry heavens is one clear space of indescribable glory, whence comes the voice of God like the sound of many waters, saying ‘It is done.’” “That voice shakes the heavens and the earth. There is a mighty earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.” Rev. 16:17, 18. The firmament appears to open and shut. The glory from the throne of God seems flashing through. The mountains shake like a reed in the wind, and ragged rocks are scattered on every side. There is a roar as of a coming tempest. The sea is lashed into fury. There is heard the shriek of the hurricane, like the voice of demons upon a mission of destruction. The whole earth heaves and swells like the waves of the sea. Its surface is breaking up. Its very foundations seem to be giving way. Mountain chains are sinking. Inhabited islands disappear. The seaports that have become like Sodom for wickedness, are swallowed up by the angry waters. “Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud, about half the size of a man’s hand. It is the cloud that surrounds the Saviour, and which seems in the distance to be shrouded in darkness. The people of God know this to be the sign of the Son of man. In solemn silence they gaze upon it as it draws nearer the earth, becoming lighter and more glorious, until it is a great white cloud, its base a glory like consuming fire, and above it the rainbow of the covenant. Jesus rides forth as a mighty conqueror. Not now a ‘man of sorrows,’ to drink the bitter cup of shame and woe, He comes, victor in heaven and earth, to judge the living and the dead. “With anthems of celestial melody the holy angels, a vast, unnumbered throng, attend Him on His way. The firmament seems215filled with radiant forms—‘ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.’ No human pen can portray the scene; no mortal mind is adequate to conceive its splendor. . . . No crown of thorns now mars that sacred head, but a diadem of glory rests on His holy brow. His countenance outshines the dazzling brightness of the noonday sun.”—“Great Controversy,” pages 636-641. The Loyal Waiting Ones Rewarded
This is the scene upon which Caiaphas, and all the living who are united with the enemy of God in that day, must look. This scene brings the end to all things earthly, and ushers in, for the people of God, a glorious eternity of celestial joy. Well is it now for the little band of faithful ones to have endured the scorn while Satan was doing his utmost to counterfeit the coming King, and to have waited for their deliverance. Here are the words: “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this [as though there had been another posing as God] is our God; we have waited for Him [as though another had shammed a coming previously], and He will save us: this is Jehovah; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isa. 25:9. A glorious Son! A glorious appearing! A glorious deliverance for His waiting, trusting children!