Chapter 2
time, when the King comes back, and when for Jerusalem the shadows flee away. Read especially chapters liv and lv; lxvi. In the other Prophets read the following chapters: Jeremiah xxx and xxxi; Ezekiel xxxiv-xlviii; Daniel vii:13-28 and chapter xii; Hosea iii:5, v:15, vi:1-3, xiv; Joel iii; Amos ix:11-15; Obadiah, verses 17-21; Micah iv-v; Habakkuk iii; Zephaniah iii:8-20; Haggai ii:6-9; Zechariah ii:6-13, viii, ix:9-11, xii-xiv. Here we have unfailing predictions of what will be when the day breaks and the shadows flee away from Israel.
+III. The Shadows for All the Nations of the World Will Flee Away+. In Revelation xx:3 we read that Satan, the Devil, that old Serpent is the deceiver of the nations. As we have seen in the lecture on the history of Satan he is the murder and liar from the beginning. He is responsible for every war which has ever been fought; he is the author of all idolatry; he blinds the nations and keeps them away from knowing God. For this reason peace cannot come till this dark shadow is chained, the world cannot be brought to God and do righteousness till this arch-deceiver is robbed of his power. We can rest assured that as long as this being is loose, world conversion and universal peace are unobtainable. And he will be chained by Him who is the strong One and has conquered him already--our Lord Jesus Christ. And therefore when He comes again the shadows will flee away from the nations of the earth. China will no longer be domineered over by demon influences; India, Africa and the islands of the sea will cast their idols away. All swords will become plowshares, all spears pruning hooks. Wars will cease even unto the ends of the earth; nations will learn war no more. The nations will learn righteousness; all oppression will cease; capital and labor has ended its strife; poverty is unknown; wickedness and crime of every description ends, for the King reigns in righteousness, and "in His day shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace.... He shall have dominion also from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the earth.... all kings shall fall down before Him, all nations shall serve Him" (Psalm lxxii). Under His gracious reign of power famines and pestilences can no longer devastate this earth. Sickness and diseases will be banished and those who obey the laws of His kingdom will continue to live on earth, so that death, the common thing now, as the wages of sin, will become uncommon during the coming age. What a glory time there is in store for this earth! But we must not forget that day, when the shadows flee away, will be ushered in by a judgment of nations. Nations now in existence, steeped in unspeakable wickedness, having cast even a skin-deep civilization to the winds and outraged the laws of God and man, will be dealt with in judgment and pass away as nations (Matthew xxv:31).
+IV. The Shadows which are upon Creation Will Also Flee Away+. The Apostle Paul tells us of creation's curse, creation's groans and creation's deliverance: "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now" (Romans viii:19-22). Creation has fallen under the curse through man's sin. As man has continued in sin and has become worse in his deeds of defiance of God, creation has also seen degradation in a like degree. Blights are seen everywhere. Tidal waves and terrific earthquakes have destroyed human lives by the millions. All creation is suffering and groaning under the curse. But it is not to be so forever. The King who comes back is also the Creator, He who called all things into existence out of nothing. He surely will set all things in order and deliver groaning creation. He will put all things back as they were in the beginning and then earth will be once more a paradise. If He would do anything less than that the dark shadow of the one who brought sin and death into the world would have the last word, and could then sneer into the face of God the fact that in spite of the redemption price He could not restore things as they were in the beginning.
We quote but one passage from the Book of Isaiah in which this blessed time is predicted when the shadows flee away for a groaning creation: "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play at the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den" (Isaiah xi:6-8). Do not say this has a spiritual meaning. It has not; it means what it says, and when the King comes back He will do it all in His mighty power.
"O scenes surpassing fables, and yet true, Scenes of accomplish'd bliss! which who can see, Though but in distant prospect, and not feel His soul refreshed with foretaste of the joy? Rivers of gladness water all the earth, And clothe all climes with beauty; the reproach Of barrenness is gone. The fruitful field Laughs with abundance; and the land, once lean, Or fertile only in its own disgrace, Exults to see its thistly curse repeal'd; The various seasons woven into one, And that one season an eternal spring. The garden fears no blight, and needs no fence, For there is none to covet, all are full. The lion, and the leopard and the bear Graze with the fearless flocks; all bask at noon Together, or all gambol in the shade Of the same grove, and drink one common stream. Apathies are none. No foe to man Lurks in the serpent now; the mother sees And smiles to see, her infant's playful hand Stretch'd forth to dally with the crested worm, To stroke his azure neck, or to receive The lambent homage of his arrowy tongue. All creatures worship man, and all mankind One Lord, one Father. Error has no place; That creeping pestilence is driven away; The breath of heaven has chased it. In the heart No passion touches a discordant string, But all is harmony and love. Disease Is not; the pure and uncontaminate blood Holds its due course, nor fears the frost of age. One song employs all nations; and all cry 'Worthy the Lamb, for He was slain for us!'"[2]
"Until the day break and the shadows flee away I will get me to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense." The mountain of myrrh must mean the cross for myrrh means "bitterness" and was used in embalming the dead. As long as He tarries let God's people tent by His Cross and feast on His great love. And frankincense has the meaning of worship and praise. Let us worship and praise Him--"until the day break and the shadows flee away."
[1] William Cowper.
[2] William Cowper.
"FOR SOON SHALL BREAK THE DAY"
Up to the fair myrrh-mountain, The fresh frankincense hill, I'll get me in this midnight, And drink of love my fill. O hills of fragrance, smiling With every flower of love; O slopes of sweetness, breathing Your odors from above! Ye send me silent welcome, I waft you mine again; Give me the wings of morning, Burst this still-binding chain; For soon shall break the day, And shadows flee away.
Amid time's angry uproar, Unmoved, unruffled still, Keep, keep me calmly, truly, Doing the Loved One's will. 'Mid din of stormy voices, The clamor and the war, Keep me with eye full-gazing On the eternal star; Still working, suffering, loving, Still true and self-denied, In the old faith abiding, To the old names allied; For soon shall break the day, And shadows flee away.
From earthly power and weakness Keep me alike apart; From self-will and unmeekness, From pride of lip or heart. Without let tempests gather;-- Let all be calm within, Unfretted and unshaken By human strife and sin. And when these limbs are weary, And throbs this sleepless brain, With breath from yon myrrh-mountain Revive my soul again; For soon shall break the day, And shadows flee away.
There my beloved dwelleth, He calls me up to him; He bids me quit these valleys, These moorlands brown and dim. There my long-parted wait me, The missed and mourned below; Now, eager to rejoin them, I fain would rise and go. Not long below we linger, Not long we here shall sigh; The hour of dew and dawning Is hastening from on high; For soon shall break the day, And shadows flee away.
O streaks of happy day-spring Salute us from above! O never setting sunlight, Earth longeth for thy love; O hymns of unknown gladness, That hail us from these skies, Swell till you gently silence Earth's meaner melodies! O hope all hope surpassing, For evermore to be, O Christ, the Church's Bridegroom, In Paradise with thee; For soon shall break the day, And shadows flee away.
THE COMING REIGN
King of kings! ascend Thy throne; Visit this Thine earth again; Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh; Take Thy mighty power, and reign
King of nations! claim this world With its kingdoms for Thine own. Raze each rebel fortress here, Level every hostile throne.
King of Israel! now arise, And rebuild Thy Salem's walls; Gather Jacob's scattered flock; Hear Thine Israel when he calls.
King of saints! Thy ransomed own, They the members, Thou the head; Speed the great deliverance, First-begotten of the dead.
King of glory! King of heaven! King of earth! arise and reign; All creation sighs for Thee; Visit Thine own earth again.
King eternal! Son of God! Earth and heaven shall Thee obey; Principalities and powers Own Thine everlasting sway.
THESE ARE THE TRUE SAYINGS OF GOD
Sure the record; Christ has come! Rich, for us became He poor. O my soul, then know His love; Love Him, serve Him evermore.
Sure the record; Christ has died, Bearing on the cross our sin; Is not this the gate of life? Son of Adam, enter in!
Sure the record; Christ is risen, He hath broken every chain: Silent stands the empty tomb, Never to be filled again.
Sure the promise; Christ will come, Though the promise lingers still; Heavy seems the wing of time, Weary with the weight of ill.
Signs are mustering everywhere, And the world is growing old; Love is low and faith is dull, Truth and right are bought, and sold!
Then when men are heedless grown, And the virgins slumber all, When iniquity abounds, Then He cometh, Judge of all!
Cometh He to raise His own Wipe the tear from every eye; Cometh He to right the wrong. Trodden truth to lift on high.
To dethrone the lie of lies, Each dark falsehood to destroy; To begin the age of light, Earth's long sighed-for Sabbath-joy.
THE SUPPER AND THE ADVENT
Till He come we own His name, Round His table gathering; One in love and faith and hope, Waiting for an absent King. Blessed table, where the Lord Sets for us His choicest cheer; Angels have no feast like this, Angels wait, but sit not here.
Till He come we eat this bread, Seated round this heaven-spread board; Till He come we meet and feast, In remembrance of the Lord. In the banquet house of love, In the Bridegroom's garden fair; Thus we sit and feast and praise,-- Angels look, but cannot share.
Till He come we take this cup,-- Cup of blessing and of love; Till He come we drink this wine, Emblem of the wine above,-- Emblem of the blood once shed, Blood of Him our sins who bare; Angels look, but do not drink, Angels never taste such fare.
Till He come, beneath the shade Of His love we sit and sing; Over us His banner waves, In His hall of banqueting. Happy chamber, where the Lord Spreads the feast with viands rare; Angels now are looking on, Angels serve, but cannot share.
Till He come, we wear the badge Of the ancient stranger-band; Leaning on our pilgrim-staff, Till we reach the glorious land. Homeless here, like Him we love, Watch we still in faith and prayer; Angels have no watch like ours, Angels have no cross to bear.
Till He come, we fain would keep These our robes of earth unsoiled; Looking for the festal dress, Raiment of the undefiled. Ha! these robes of purest light, Fairest still among the fair! Angels gaze, but cannot claim,-- Angels no such raiment wear.
Till He come we keep this feast, Emblem of the feast above; Marriage-supper of the Lamb, Festival of joy and love. Angels hear the bridal-song, Angels set the festal fare; Angels hear, but cannot join; Angels wait, but cannot share.
End of Project Gutenberg's Studies in Prophecy, by Arno C. Gaebelein