its influence, has been as "the salt of the earth,” preserving it to some extent from utter moral corruption. And these, by their godly examples, and by their energy in holding forth the Word of life, have been "the light of the world," showing men the way back to God and righteousness. But only a few in all these favored nations have made proper use of their advantages, which have come to them as an inheritance by reason of their birth in the lands so blessed with the influences of the Word of God, direct and indirect.

Like Esau, the masses of Christendom have sold their birthright of special and peculiar advantage. By the masses, we mean not only the agnostic portion of it, but also the great majority of worldly professors of the religion of Christ, who are Christians only in name, but who lack the life of Christ in them. These have preferred the mean morsels of present earthly advantage to all the blessings of communion and fellowship with God and Christ, and to the glorious inheritance with Christ promised to those who faithfully follow in his footsteps of sacrifice. These, though they are nominally God's people,-the nominal spiritual Israel of the Gospel age, of which “Israel after the flesh” in the Jewish age was a type,-really have little or no respect for the promises of God. These, although they are indeed a mighty host, bearing the name of Christ, and posing before the world as the Church of Christ; although they have built up great organizations representing various schisms in the professed body of Christ; although they have written massive volumes of un-"systematic theology," and founded numerous colleges and seminaries for the teaching of these; and although they have done "many wonderful works" in the name of Christ, which were often, nevertheless, contrary to the teachings of his Word; -these constitute the Edom class who have sold their

and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation." "A noise shall come, even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations. . . . Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind [intense and complicated trouble and commotion] shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall

be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth." "Wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth [the present social order] shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy; and then [afterward] will I turn unto the people a pure language; that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.' -Isa. 34:1,2; Jer. 10:10; 25:31-33; Zeph. 3:8, 9; Luke 21:25.

We have already shown* that the time is at hand, and that the events of the day of Jehovah are even now crowding closely upon us. A few years more must of necessity ripen the elements now working in the direction of the predicted trouble; and, according to the sure word of prophecy, the present generation will witness the terrible crisis and pass through the decisive conflict.

It is not our purpose, in calling attention to this subject, to arouse a mere sensation, or to seek to gratify idle curiosity. Nor can we hope to produce that penitence in the hearts of men which would work a change in the present social, political and religious order of society, and thus avert the impending calamity. The approaching trouble is inevitable: the powerful causes are all at work, and no human power is able to arrest their operation and progress

* VOL. II.

toward the certain end: the effects must follow as the Lord foresaw and foretold. No hand but the hand of God could stay the progress of the present current of events; and his hand will not do so until the bitter experiences of this conflict shall have sealed their instruction upon the hearts of men.

The main object of this volume is not, therefore, to enlighten the world, which can appreciate only the logic of events and will have no other; but to forewarn, forearm, comfort, encourage and strengthen "the household of faith," so that they may not be dismayed, but may be in full harmony and sympathy with even the severest measures of divine discipline in the chastening of the world, seeing by faith the glorious outcome in the precious fruits of righteousness and enduring peace.

The day of vengeance stands naturally related to the benevolent object of its divine permission, which is the overthrow of the entire present order of things, preparatory to the permanent establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, under Christ, the Prince of Peace.

The Prophet Isaiah (63:1-6), taking his standpoint down at the end of the harvest of the Gospel age, beholds a mighty Co queror, glorious in his apparel (clothed with authority and power), and riding forth victoriously over all his enemies, with whose blood all his garments are stained. He inquires who the wonderful stranger is, saying, "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?"

Edom, it will be remembered, was the name given to Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, after he sold his birthright. (Gen. 25:30-34.) The name was also subsequently applied both to the people descended from him and to the country in which they settled. (See Gen. 25:30; 36:1;

birthright. The class includes almost all "Christendom" -all reared in the so-called Christian lands, who have not availed themselves of the privileges and blessings of the gospel of Christ and conformed their lives thereto. The remainder are the few justified, consecrated and faithful individuals who are joined to Christ by a living faith, and who, as "branches," abide in Christ, the True Vine. These constitute the true Israel of God,-Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile.

The symbolic Edom of Isaiah's prophecy corresponds to the symbolic Babylon of Revelation, and of the prophecies of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Thus the Lord designates and describes that great system to which men ascribe the misleading name, Christendom-Christ's Kingdom. As all of the land of Edom symbolizes all of "Christendom," so its capital city, Bozrah, represented Ecclesiasticism, the chief citadel of Christendom. The prophet represents the Lord as a victorious warrior who makes a great slaughter in Edom, and specially in Bozrah. The name Bozrah signifies "sheep-fold." Bozrah is even yet noted for its goats, and the slaughter of this day of vengeance is said to be of the "lambs and goats." (Isa. 34:6.) The goats would correspond to the "tares," while the lambs would represent the tribulation saints (Rev. 7:14; I Cor. 3:1) who neglected to use the opportunities granted them, and did not so run as to obtain the prize of their high calling; and who therefore, although not rejected of the Lord, were not accounted worthy to escape the trouble as matured "sheep"-called, chosen and faithful.

The reply to the Prophet's inquiry-"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?"— is, "I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save." It is the same mighty one described by the Revelator (Rev. 19:11-16), the "King of kings and Lord of lords,"

Jehovah's Anointed, our blessed Redeemer and Lord Jesus.

For our information the Prophet inquires further, saying, "Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winepress ?" Hear the reply;-"I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the nations there was none with me: and I trod them down in mine anger, and I trampled on them in my fury; and their blood was sprinkled on my garments, and all my raiment have I stained; for the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed was come. And I looked, and there was no one to help, and I was astonished; and there was no one to support; and then my own arm [power] aided me; and my fury, this it was that upheld me. And I stamped down nations in my anger, .. brought down to the earth their victorious strength." And the Revelator adds, "He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."-Rev. 19:15.

...

The treading of the winepress is the last feature of harvest work. The reaping and gathering is all done first. So this treading of the winepress of the wrath of God into which "the vine of the earth" (the false vine, which has misappropriated the name Christian and Christ's Kingdom) is cast when its iniquitous clusters are fully ripe (Rev. 14:18-20), represents the last work of this eventful "harvest" period.* It pictures to our minds the last features of the great time of trouble which shall involve all nations, and of which we are so abundantly forewarned in the Scriptures.

The fact that the King of kings is represented as treading the winepress "alone" indicates that the power exerted for the overthrow of the nations will be divine power, and not mere human energy. It will be God's power that will punish the nations, and that will eventually "bring forth judgment [justice, righteousness, truth] unto victory." * VOL. III., Chapter 6.