1. The Worlds Consternation at the sudden and secret Removal of the Church.
One can better imagine than describe the
awe-inspiring effect upon the world which will be occasioned by the secret
removal of the Church. We say "secret removal" for we know of nothing in
Scripture which intimates that our Lord's Shout shall be heard by any save His
own people, and judging from the analogies furnished by the cases of the
translation of Enoch and Elijah nothing will be known of the Church's rapture
until after it has occurred. That the world will not witness the
catching up of believers to meet their Saviour in the air seems to be further
borne out by the fact that their translation and transformation will be so
swiftly accomplished that it is all said to occur "in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye." We take it then that the removal of the Church will be
both sudden and secret.
Some day in the near future, how near none can
say, but probably in the lifetime of the present generation, the world will
awaken to find that a most startling phenomenon has occurred. A large number
of their fellow-men and women will have mysteriously disappeared,
leaving no traces behind them! In many a home there will be more than one
vacant chair. In many an office and store there will be vacant stools. From
every walk of life there will be taken those who "Chose rather to suffer
affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a
season: esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of
the world: for they had respect unto the recompense of the reward" (Heb.
11:25,26). Possibly some seats in the Senate and some thrones will be vacant,
for God's children are "scattered abroad" (John 11:52) in many spheres and
callings. The phenomenon of the missing ones will be no local one, but
earthwide in its range. It is highly probable that from every village, town,
and city, in this land, there shall be taken those who are caught up to met the
Lord in the air. Imagine then the amazement, the consternation, the
commiseration of those that are left behind! Imagine the panic which
shall seize their hearts. If they search, their search will be in vain. No
trace of the missing ones will be forth-coming. Imagine again the dismay and
the awe, as the news is received from other lands that his same mysterious
phenomenon has occurred there too! Will it take the left-behind ones
very long to find a solution to the mystery? Will it be very difficult for
them to find an explanation which will account for the disappearance of God's
people from the earth? We believe not. The imminent coming of Christ has been
so widely proclaimed both by voice and pen that there are now comparatively few
people who are in complete ignorance upon this subject. Today the wise of this
world may sneer and scoff at the truth that the coming of the Lord draweth
nigh, but then, when it is too late to profit from the witness that is
now being borne, it shall be seen that those who were looking for that blessed
hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ were
no mere visionaries and fanatics, but sober men and women whose faith was
founded upon the unerring Word of God. O what anguish will fill those who gave
no heed to the faithful warning of their godly friends! And here we would
pause a moment and ask, Reader, How is it with you? Suppose that Christ should
come today - and He may - in which class would you be found? Would you
be among the "wise" virgins who are ready for the Bridegroom's appearing, or
would you be numbered among the "foolish" virgins who had made no adequate
preparation for this great event? Pass not this question lightly by. It is
now the most momentous question which can possibly engage your attention. You
say, you hope you would be among those that are ready. But you cannot
afford to be uncertain upon this matter, the issues are far too serious and
solemn. Stop right here we beseech you and honestly examine yourself and see
whether you be in the faith. Do you know within your heart that you are
un-prepared, that all your efforts have been directed toward the
securing for yourself a comfortable position in this world? Then, let us ask,
"What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his
own soul?" Do you say, I have already faced that question and I know now
how to make the necessary preparation. Are you constrained to ask, "What must
I do to be saved?" Then the answer, God's own answer, is ready at hand
- "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."
Appropriate the provision which Divine grace has made for lost sinners. Flee
to Christ while there is yet time. Turn away from self with all its
resolutions and failures, its doings and its sins and cast yourself on the Lord
Jesus. Heed that pressing word, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold
now is the day of salvation." Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou
knowest not what a day may bring forth. Tomorrow may be too late.
Before tomorrow the Lord may have come, and then the door of mercy will be
closed against you. And this leads us to consider,