Day of the Lord by Adolphus Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 14, 1872

Day of the Lord.

By Adolphus Smith

ITS CHARACTER.

“A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains.” Joel 2:2. See also Eze. 30:3; Isa. 13:9; 2:11–21; Amos 5:18, 20; Zeph. 1:14–18. A “day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men;” 1 Pet. 3:7; Acts 17:31; Mal. 4:1; Ps. 92:7; Jude 14, 15; 2 Thess. 1:7–10; and of reward to the people of God. Rev. 11:18.

ITS APPROACH.

To the world, as a thief in the night. 2 Pet. 3:10; 1 Thess. 5:2, 3; Rev. 3:3; 16:15. To the people of God, it is heralded by certain unmistakable signs: 1 Thess. 5:4, 5: Darkening of the sun and moon, A. D. 1780; falling of the stars, 1833, &c.; Matt. 24:29, 32, 33; Isa. 13:10; Joel 2:31; 3:15; Rev. 6:13; railroad cars. Nah. 2:3–5; riotous living, Matt. 24:37–39; Luke 17:28; Jude 7, 8; decrease in morality and faith, 2 Tim. 3:1–9; Luke 18:8; anger of the nations, Rev. 11:18.

It will be introduced by the setting up of the fifth universal kingdom, at the conclusion of Christ’s ministration in the sanctuary, and the pouring out of the seven last plagues. Dan. 7:14, 27; 8:14; Rev. 16.

ITS DURATION.

More than one thousand years. 2 Pet. 3:7, 8; Rev. 20:4. During the thousand years, Christ and the saints sit in judgment upon the wicked. Dan. 7:22; 1 Cor. 6:2, 3; 15:24, 25; Rev. 20:4.

The resurrection of the saints is to take place at the beginning of this period, and that of the wicked at the end. Rev. 20:4, 5. The intermediate state of the earth is one of desolation. Isa. 24:1–6; Jer. 4:23–28. During this time, Satan is to be bound. Rev. 20:2. The day is to close with the burning of the earth, the melting of the elements (air and water), and the destruction of the wicked. 2 Pet. 3:7–10; Mal. 4:1.

That the melting of the elements is possible, science fully attests. Water is composed of eighty parts of hydrogen, and twenty parts of oxygen gas. The first part is exceedingly combustible, and the last is an excellent supporter of combustion. When combined and ignited, they detonate with great violence. If a bladder be filled with hydrogen gas, and, by compression, the gas is made to pass through the stem of an attached tobacco pipe dipped into a basin of suds in the usual way of making soap bubbles, it will form bubbles that will quickly ascend like diminutive balloons. If a lighted match or candle be applied to these bubbles, they will explode with a noise as loud as a pistol, and more stunning. If a pail of water, with a few drops adhering to its outer surface, be set upon a hot stove, hydrogen gas will be evolved, and loud explosions result.

If the decomposition of a few drops produce such results, what would not attend the decomposition of the seas?

If this gas be allowed to escape in a body from a vessel containing it, and be ignited, it will ascend in a volume of flame. It is about fourteen times lighter than common air; balloons are sometimes filled with it.

Oxygen gas exists in about the same proportion in both air and water. It is an excellent supporter of combustion; even iron and steel will burn in it with intense heat and corruscations of light too intense for the human eye to endure.

Every believer in divine revelation will concede the point that He who created the elements is able to dissolve them. Before this faith, every difficulty in the way of the fulfillment of the prophetic declaration, “The elements shall melt with fervent heat,” forever disappears.

That such an event is possible, is fully attested both by revelation and chemical analysis.

I cannot close this subject in more fitting language than that used by the apostle in the connection: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?” And lest, in view of the terrors of the day of the Lord, the mind should be left in despair, the apostle addresses to the church the following language of hope, based upon the immutable promise of God: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” ADOLPHUS SMITH.