AS THE antediluvian earth and world met with desolation on account of sin, so must the present age close with a breaking up of all things upon it, that sinners may be removed and the iniquity purged out of it. Says our Saviour:—
"For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." Matt. 24: 38, 39.
"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed." Luke 17 : 28-30.
As truly as destruction and desolation resulted from the visitations of the judgments described above, so must there be seen like things when Jesus comes.
A general righting up will be necessary that the earth may be fitted for the final abode of the righteous. When the prophet looked down through time upon the scenes with which this age shall end, he saw the earth without form and void, and when he looked upon the heavens they had no light. The mountains trembled and the hills were moved. There was no man left upon the earth, and the birds of the heavens had fled. The fruitful place had become a wilderness, and the cities of the earth were broken down. See Jer. 4: 23-26.
The earth was made waste and empty, and then turned upside down, and the land utterly emptied and utterly spoiled. Isa. 24: 1-3.
The scene is one of the most desolate and dreadful that the universe will ever behold. The indignation of the Lord will be upon all nations, and his fury upon their armies. They will be delivered to the slaughter, for the prophet says, "It is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion." Isa. 34: 8.
The hosts of evil will try with all the energy of desperation to keep possession of the earth. But the armory of heaven will destroy every hiding place, and break up all their entrenchments. John in his vision saw the islands flee away, and the mountains were not found. This was the result of a mighty earthquake. See Rev. 16: 18-20. David had a view of the same, and his testimony is that the mountains will be carried into the midst of the sea. Ps. 46: 1-3 (study the whole psalm).
The touch of sin is so vile and its pollutions so detestable that God will not settle his redeemed children upon the earth until it has been thoroughly purged from the foul stains of the devil and all his followers. "He will thoroughly purge his floor, . . . and burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Matt. 3: 12. Sin has entered deep down in its pollutions. The prophet saw the iniquity of the wicked resting upon their bones in their graves. Eze. 32: 27. To reach and cleanse the earth from this defilement a fire will be kindled which shall burn to the lowest hell (sheol, grave). It will even set on fire "the foundations of the mountains." Deut. 32: 22.
The upheavals described in the sacred scriptures quoted in this article will expose to the purifying fires of the judgment day every defilement not purged by the blood of Christ and purified by the glory of God's grace. All the works of sin, together with all who remain with their sins, including Satan himself, must be consumed. This means will be applied in the destruction of sin and the clearing away of its poison.
Would that all sinners might, before it is too late, learn the strength of that kind hand which they now oppose. If they but knew the might and love of Him against whom they war, would not their rebellion cease and loyalty adorn their life?
Be assured that the hand which is so mighty to destroy, is the strength of his people, the Saviour of the meek who trust him. For them he has prepared a city of refuge from the dreadful storm of fire and brimstone, a solid place which cannot be affected by the coming earthquake, an ark that will be as secure against billows of fire as was that which Noah built against the deluge. Secure a place in the ark of safety before the approaching storm cloud compels the keeper to close its doors.