The Lord's Preparation Day
By Llala V. Everett
"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21: 28. "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Matt. 24: 42. WHAT we are living in the last days of this world's history, and that the Lord is soon to return, to complete His work of redemption, no student of prophecy will deny. The "signs" on which our Saviour based His command for His followers to "know" that His coming is "near, even at the door," have been, and are now, coming to pass. The great and terrible "day of the Lord" spoken of in the second chapter of Joel and the first chapter of Zephaniah, is coming as fast as the rapid wheels of time can bring it. "It is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord." And it is with no uncertain sound of voice the Lord has commanded His servants: "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand." The watchman upon the walls of Zion is to fulfil his duty faithfully. First he is commanded to "watch;" and second, as he sees the "signs" coming to pass, and the "day of the Lord" approaching, he is then to "blow" the "trumpet" and "sound an alarm" among His people, proclaiming with a loud voice the coming of the "day of the Lord," that a people may be prepared to "abide" the day of His coming. We are living in an age of great and mighty achievements. The past sixty years are marked as an epoch of great advancement; in the way of inventions and discoveries; an age of most rapid progress and development. Many are asking the question to-day, and well may they ask: "What means this great and rapid progress and development? What mean all these wonderful inventions? Why these mighty achievements?" I answer: It is the "Lord's preparation day." The world is rapidly preparing for the "great and terrible day of the Lord." Surely this is the time of all times that the child of God should be awake and watching; for if we do not "watch and pray," as the Saviour has commanded us, that day will overtake us like a "thief in the night," in an hour we look not for Him. There have been marvelous changes and developments during the last half of the preceding, and the beginning of the present century; and as one writer has said: "The world of to-day would not be recognized at all by the men who lived and died one hundred years ago. Even those who have been dead but fifty or sixty years, if brought to life now, could hardly be convinced that this is the same planet on which they spent their lives." Just imagine their amazement as they would view our "lightning express-trains," our steamships, our electric lights, electric cars, automobiles, telephones, telegraphs, air-ships, mammoth printing-presses, sewing-machines, phonographs, gigantic guns and war preparations, wireless telegraphy, wireless telephony, and all the rest of the endless procession of inventions and discoveries that the rushing activity of this generation has produced. And last, but not least, of the marvelous achievements, the "newest miracle of modern progress," the gyro-car with its monorail. Can you imagine their astonishment as they would view these wonderful things? And have you, dear reader, not sometimes reflected on what these things may signify? These things are very striking illustrations of the "last days," and constantly remind us that some great event is about to take place. They can not help but draw the mind to the fact that the all-wise God has a divine purpose in it all. Long centuries ago, God foretold, through His prophets, what was to come to pass in the "latter days." In vision they saw the rise and fall of kingdoms. Even our own nation, the United States of America, its rise, its work, and its final overthrow, are all foretold in the "sure word of prophecy," of which the apostle Peter says, "Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts." Knowledge Shall Be Increased
Daniel had a vision of the "four universal kingdoms," their rise and fall, together with the vision of the twenty-three hundred days, making a chain of prophecy which spans the history of the world, commencing with the kingdom of Babylon, and reaching to the establishment of the kingdom of God upon the earth. The angel Gabriel, after speaking of the "time of trouble," and the resurrection, said to Daniel: "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." Dan. 12: 4. The year 1798 marks the commencement of the "time of the end" by an event which occurred at that time, and which was foretold in prophecy. That time is particularly marked by the "many" who "shall run to and fro;" and further, by the fact that "knowledge shall be increased." Never in the history of this world has such a restless spirit pervaded the minds of men. Never before was there such a running "to and fro" as at the present time; never before have there been such facilities for running "to and fro" as have been provided in this generation. Who can estimate the millions of people that are at this moment running "to and fro," traveling over rail or by steamship? And never before has "knowledge" been "increased" as in this generation; and this knowledge is not confined to the Scriptures, but reaches every branch of industry, and penetrates deep into the arts and sciences. So wonderfully has this "knowledge increased," that to be placed back in the world as it was one hundred years ago would be like a change of being, the contrast would be so great. And now a brief examination of the Scriptures will throw much light upon the meaning of the unprecedented developments and marvelous inventions of this time. God has promised His people, that He will again, the second time, send His Son to earth, to complete the plan of salvation, redeem His people to Himself (John 14: 1-3; Acts 1: 11), and set up His everlasting kingdom upon the earth. Dan. 7: 13, 14, 27; Matt. 25: 34. And He holds the time—the "day" and the "hour" when He will do this—in His own keeping. Matt. 24: 36; Mark 13: 32. But He has given us "signs" and waymarks all along the pathway of this world's history, and commanded us to "watch" (Mark 13: 33-37), so that we may "know" when "He is near, even at the door." Matt. 24: 33. Our Lord is asked by His disciples, "What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Matt. 24: 3. And among the many "signs" of His coming which He gives them in answer to their question, is that "this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matt. 24: 14. By the above scripture we see the Lord has a very important message to go to "all the world" before the end comes. And before He will send His Son in person to earth again, "this Gospel of the kingdom," the coming kingdom, and the "signs" of His near approach, must be given to "every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." Every soul is to hear this message, and be given an opportunity to accept it. Bear in mind that it is the Gospel of the coming "kingdom," not merely of Jesus' name; it is the "everlasting Gospel," the Gospel sent in Jesus' name, which points forward to the establishment of His kingdom upon the earth. The great threefold message of Revelation 14 is the Gospel in all its fulness, and is the last warning message to go to the world. And so when the time arrives for "this Gospel of the kingdom" to be preached in "all the world for a witness unto all nations," God breaks down every barrier, and fur7nishes the facilities by which this vast work may be done quickly. "This generation" is to witness the coming of the Lord in the clouds of heaven to reap the harvest of the earth. This is the "day of His preparation;" and great and marvelous indeed are the facilities which He in His infinite wisdom has provided as a means by which to carry His Gospel quickly to "all the world" in "this generation." Our mammoth printing-presses are a marvel of ingenuity and perfection. They are doing their work in educating the people in "present truth," proclaiming the Gospel of the coming kingdom. And to distribute the printed page, and convey the missionaries to every part of the world, the "flying express-trains" and the great "ocean greyhounds" have been provided. The telegraph and telephone are also wonderful agencies in this work of carrying the Gospel. Doubtless it was the telegraph "in the day of His preparation" which was before the Lord's eyes when He asked Job the question, "Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?" Job 38: 35. The first telegraphic message ever sent over the wires, was the inspired words, "What hath God wrought!" When all the world has been fully warned, and every soul has heard the joyful news of His soon coming; when all who will, accept this message and heed its warning, "then shall the end come." Already "this Gospel of the kingdom" proclaiming "His glorious appearing," has gone to nearly all the nations of the earth. The Bible is printed and circulated in almost every known language. Soon, ah, very soon, this Gospel of the coming kingdom will be heard in "all the world;" and then will the Saviour's precious promise, "I will come again," be fulfilled. Dear reader, the history of this world is fast closing. Events are taking place in the physical, political, and spiritual world, which show that we are living in a crisis such as never has been since the creation of the world. The "signs" of His coming are thickening all around us. We are living in the time of "distress of nations, with perplexity." Luke 21: 25. The nations are angry (Rev. 11: 18), preparing for war such as never has been known in all the history of the world "since there was a nation." One only needs to read the daily papers to see the fulfilment of the prophecies concerning the "last days." Crime, murder, and suicide are increasing at an alarming rate; the victims of rage, greed, and lust move on by the tens of thousands in mournful procession to the grave. Fearful storms and disasters by land and sea, "earthquakes in divers places" with increasing frequency,—all these make a picture which is truly appalling, and we are admonished by it that the "great and terrible day of the Lord is near, and hasteth greatly." "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." The great nations of earth are preparing for the last great conflict; that great battle called the "battle of Armageddon," which takes place under the sixth plague. Rev. 16: 12-16; Dan. 12: 1. "This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away." Matt. 24: 34, 35. "We hear the long roll sounding, and the greatest armies that the world has ever known are falling into line." The prophet Isaiah, in view of this time, exclaims: "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night!" and the watchman said, "The morning cometh, and also the night,"—the glorious morn of salvation that will bring deliverance to the people of God; and the night of everlasting oblivion of sin and all identified with it. Now it is time to seek God.