ETERNAL PEACE INSURED

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 18, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 32.

ETERNAL PEACE INSURED

The Blessings of Eternity Secure — The Glorious Day Is Almost Here —

The Final Preparatory Warning Now Going — "Escape for

Thy Life" — The Open Door

THAT assurance have we that the unity and peace and glory of heaven will be eternal? May we not reasonably fear another invasion? And may not all our toil yet be in vain, our sacrifices to obtain the inheritance fruitless, and our period of joy and gladness temporary? Let the apostle Peter answer: "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13. "His promise" is the basis of our confidence. "All the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him amen, unto the glory of God by us." 2 Cor. 1:20. What He has promised, He is able to perform. Rom. 4:21. "There is nothing too hard" for the Lord. Jer. 32:17. In what instance has His word of promise failed?

THE ASSURANCE OF THE PROMISES

He promised to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage, and He delivered them. He promised to raise up Christ as the Saviour of a fallen race, of the seed of Abraham and David, and He raised Him up. He promised to destroy the Amalekites utterly, and to disperse Israel throughout the nations, and His promise failed not. He promised a new heart to every believer under the new covenant, and millions have testified to the verity of His word. He promised to destroy the wicked cities of the plains, and the salt waters of the Dead Sea witness to the fulfilment of His word. He promised to destroy the antediluvians for their wickedness, and save believers in the ark. Unbelievers were destroyed, and believers were rewarded, according to the promise.

By the same word, beyond the Judgment, He has promised the everlasting destruction of all ungodly men, with Satan and all invaders of His kingdom. 2 Peter 3:7; 2 Thess. 1:9; Rev. 20:7-15. And that promise is as secure as the throne of God. Furthermore, He has positively declared that "affliction shall not rise up the second time." Nahum 1:9.

"YE SHALL NEVER FALL"

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:10, 11. We can therefore say, with Joshua of old, as the basis of our confidence: "And ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you: all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof." Joshua 23:14.

Having been "purified, and made white, and tried" (Dan. 12:10), and all perfectly united in the bonds of love and peace through Christ, the Prince of peace and love (Eph. 1:10), the kingdom, originally established with the untried, is now established upon the basis of eternal security in Christ our "surety," who can not fail.

Dear reader, what is your relation to the kingdom of God? If your probation should close to-day, would your place be with Satan, the leader of the invasion of the kingdom of God, and would you share with him a traitor's doom? Or would you be found with Christ, loyal to God, in harmony with the requirements of His kingdom, and a sharer with Him of eternal joys? You can occupy no indifferent ground.

Christ says, "He that is not with Me is against Me." Matt. 12:30. And they who are ashamed to own Him now in the hour of conflict, He will be ashamed to own before His Father and the holy angels in the hour of triumph. His appeal to you is: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." Rev. 3:20, 21. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2. "To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart." Ps. 95:7, 8.

WILL YOU RISK IT?

Is it wise, is it prudent, to risk delay on a question that involves supreme interests for eternity? Is it consistent to spend the time on worldly trifles, when the Judge stands almost ready to render the final verdict upon a world in sin? Are not eternal interests too great to admit of delay, when Christ, our High Priest, is about ready to make the last offering for sin, lay aside His priestly garments, receive His kingly crown, and destroy impenitents who refuse His offered pardon?

In the days of Noah, God warned the world of a coming Flood, saved those who accepted His message, and destroyed those who refused it. In the days of Lot, God warned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah of the speedy judgment awaiting those wicked cities, saved those who received that message, and destroyed the unbelieving.

THE FINAL WARNING

Of the last generation He speaks, saying it shall be as in the days of Noah and Lot. We are therefore now standing where they stood. The final message of warning to a wicked and heedless world is now finishing its work. The proclamation of the "commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" is heralded throughout the world to-day, according to the divine commission.

Have you heard the announcement? What will you do in response to God's last call to sinners? "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Gal. 6:7, 8. "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished." Prov. 22:3.

This is the last hour of mercy's invitation. "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." Hab. 2:3, 4. It only lingers to offer another plea to sinners, before the door of salvation's ark closes forever, when a world in darkness must meet its doom.

"THE MORNING COMETH"

The hour is momentous. Darkness is settling down upon a wicked world like the shadow of death. The watchmen cry, "What of the night?" The answer is, "The morning cometh, and also the night" (Isa. 21:11, 12),—the morning of blessing and unfading glory to the righteous; and the night of starless, hopeless

despair for sinners. The final storm of divine indignation against sin is hanging low over the horizon.

The forces for Armageddon's battle, with which it will break, are making the final preparation for the conflict. Time is short. The Lord is at hand. Worldly pleasure, hoarded worldly treasure, and worldly honor, are but badges of identification of victims of satanic delusion. "What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works." Matt. 16:26, 27.

"ESCAPE FOR THY LIFE"

As the angel said to Lot, "Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed" (Gen. 19:17), so the Lord says to the last generation, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matt. 19:17), through "the faith of Jesus," and escape the wrath to come (Rev. 14:9-12).

Will you not accept the warning and be saved? And to the waiting, watching, struggling church, meeting the climax of satanic wrath while the last message is finishing its mission, He gives this final word of hope, comfort, and assurance of speedy and eternal victory:

THE OPEN DOOR

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works; behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God; and I will write upon him My new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Rev. 3:7-13.