An Alphabetical Analysis
Volume 9 - Prophetic Truth - Page 173 of 223
INDEX
'Then cometh the End
*
*
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That God may be all in all'.
This synopsis is confessedly incomplete.  We have neither the space,
time nor knowledge to attempt an undertaking so vast, even to contemplate it
seems presumption, but we do hope that a few pointers may have been given,
supplementing the outline given on page 240, and the converging lines of
prophecy given on page 66, to enable the reader, under the leading and
illumination of the Spirit, to read with some intelligent understanding these
wondrous prophecies and revelations of 'things to come', giving heed in their
heart to prophecy 'as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the
day dawn, and the day star arise' (2 Pet. 1:19).
SIGNS
THAT
PRECEDE
THE
PASSING
OF
HEAVEN
AND
EARTH
The transition from the Day of the Lord to the Day of God, is
accompanied by dissolving and melting fire that causes the heavens and the
earth to pass away, and make way for a new heaven and a new earth wherein
dwelleth righteousness (2 Pet. 3:10 -13).  This, however, is the climax of a
series of phenomena that are connected with signs and wonders in heaven and
earth, and the result of a survey of them and their associations will reveal
a similar pattern to that which we find in the book of Exodus.  There, the
climax plague, namely, the slaying of the firstborn, is postponed until there
have been a series of lesser plagues sent in the longsuffering of the Lord,
which longsuffering though counted by many as 'slackness' is rather 'that all
should come to repentance'.  We shall find that the overthrow of Genesis 1:2,
the destruction of the world by the flood, the destruction of the cities of
Sodom and Gomorrah by fire, the movements in the heavens that accompany the
overthrow of Babylon, and the signs in heaven that occupy the second coming
of the Lord, are all steps that lead to this great climax so vividly set
forth in 2 Peter 3.
When we read in the Sermon on the Mount:
'Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise
pass from the law, till all be fulfilled' (Matt. 5:18),
the Lord may be referring to a literal fact, or He may be using a strong
figure in argument, as Luke 16:17 puts it:
'It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law
to fail'.
If these were the only Scriptures to which appeal could be made, it would not
be possible to adopt a dogmatic attitude either way.  In Hebrews 1, we meet a
similar argument.  This time it is the Lord Himself Who 'remains' and not
merely 'one jot or tittle of the law', and this time the references to the
passing away of the heavens are positive:
'And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the
earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: they shall perish;
but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and