The Morning Cometh

by G. Prasher | Category: General | Feb 1943

"Watchman, what of the night?

Watchman, what of the night?

The watchman said, The morning cometh."

(Isaiah 21. 11, 12).

This inquiry, long centuries past, by one out of Seir, is again rising in the hearts of myriads today. Man's day, which is really one long, dark night, is striking weariness to many a heart, and creating a longing for the dawn of day, "that day," the day of Christ.

Zion's watchmen are unanimous that the dawn is nearing. That we are nearing the end of the age is indicated in a variety of ways. Dictatorships, amalgamations in so many spheres, wars of world-wide magnitude, and the ever increasing spread of spiritism, with its doctrines of demons and strong delusions, show a convergence which must shortly eventuate in the rise of the beast and the false prophet of Revelation chapter 13.

We know that prior to that dread culmination our Morning Star shall appear. At the voice of the arch-angel and the trump of God the dead in Christ will be raised incorruptible, and the living changed to immortality. Like the two men, Moses and Elijah, we shall be found in glory with the Lord - Moses who died and was buried, Elijah who was translated without death. Then death will be swallowed up in victory, and what is mortal will be swallowed up of life.

"They raised in incorruption, And we from death set free, Shall all be like the Master! Oh mighty mystery!"

"The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light" (Romans 13.12). Parts of this armour of light are mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5.8, "But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation." The breastplate will protect the heart, and the helmet will protect the head two vital parts, either of which, if left vulnerable, may prove fatal in the conflict. Note, please, that here we have faith, hope and love, which the apostle says remain, then prophecies, tongues and knowledge shall be done away, and the greatest of these is love.

Faith and love will prove a protection for the heart. Let us see to it that our faith grows and that it grows exceedingly (2 Thessalonians 1.3). It may be like the mustard seed, which is the smallest of seeds, or it may grow until the Master can say, " Great is thy faith " Love is suited to all occasions it never faileth: it hopes and endures : it bears and believes : in truth it rejoices : it has an eye blind to provocation and evil: self, unseemliness, inflation, vaunting and envyings it knows not, while it suffers long and is kind. It is the oil that ensures the smooth movement of the parts which otherwise would become heated and break. Faith that believes God, and love that endures will prove an effective breastplate-faith unfeigned, and love out of a pure heart.

The hope of salvation is the helmet-salvation in the fullest sense from the very presence of sin; "a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time "(1 Peter 1.5). Without this hope our heads are exposed to the enemy's darts. Let us be awake and fully expecting the return of our Lord Jesus Christ ! Let the hope burn brightly and warmly because the morning cometh! "For God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation thr6ugh our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with Him."

In each of two past periods of from one thousand five hundred to two thousand years something outstanding has occurred in this world's history. The Flood came when the history of man was one thousand six hundred and fifty-six years old, and when it was about four thousand the Christ of God was born. Since then another two thousand years have almost run their course. He who when He heard that Lazarus was sick abode two days in the place where He was has almost completed the two days in another sense (2 Peter 3.8), while His saints have been falling asleep. We expect Him soon who said, "I go that I may wake him out of sleep!" Should He thus come, then the glorious reign of Christ will fittingly run it course in the seventh millennium of the world.

Scripture reveals the correct attitude of the believer in view of the coming of the Lord. We should be

LOOKING

for the blessed (happy) hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2.18). In principle we also should be

WATCHING

"lest coming suddenly He finds you sleeping: And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch" (Mark 13.86, 37). Then we should be

WAITING.

" Christ... shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for Him, unto salvation" (Hebrews 9.28; see also Philippians 3.20). So

SERVING

as bondservants the while we wait up for our Master (1 Thessalonians 1.8, 9) and

WORKING

in view of victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15.58) should be our daily attitude.

REMEMBERING

Him in the breaking of the bread (1 Corinthians 11.24) each Lord's Day, and proclaiming the Lord's death should continue "till He come." And the good deposit we should be

HOLDING.

He says, "Howbeit that which ye have, hold fast till I come" (Revelation 2.25).

ENDURING

patiently since the coming of the Lord is at hand is the burden of James 5.7-11; and the promise of His speedy return is held out as an incentive to the Hebrew saints who had "endured a great conflict of suffering." They took joyfully the spoiling of their possessions, knowing that they had a better possession and an abiding one. Thus they were

REJOICING

greatly in that salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1.8-6).

HOPING

we have already noted as a fitting condition in view of the Lord's advent: "And every one that hath this hope set on Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure" (1 John 3.3).

TRADING or OCCUPYING

"till I come" was the express command to his servants of the nobleman who went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return (Luke 19.18). There is no profit from laying up the pound in a napkin. Lastly we mention the importance of

COMFORTING

one another with these words concerning His coming to the air (1 Thessalonians 4.18).

"Jesus is coming! the dead shall arise,

Loved ones shall meet in a joyful surprise, Caught up together to Him in the skies.

Jesus is coming again!"

G. Prasher | Feb 1943
General