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The results upon earth that follow this coming are set out in the well-known passage
that speaks of the wolf and the lamb dwelling together, and of this blessing being
intimately connected with the holy mountain of God (Isa. 11: 9). In verse 11 the words
"the second time" are used, and we cannot separate these words from the second coming
of the Lord:--
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set His hand again the
second time to recover the remnant of His people."
This feature was impressed by Stephen upon his hearers, when he spoke of Joseph and
of Moses:--
"And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren" (Acts 7: 13).
"This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the
same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer" (Acts 7: 35).
"His citizens hated Him, and sent a message after Him, saying, We will not have this
man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when He was returned, having received
the kingdom . . . . ." (Luke 19: 14, 15).
"Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto
salvation" (Heb. 9: 28).
Isa. 34: and 35: deal with "The day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year
of recompenses for the controversy of Zion" (Isa. 34: 8). "Behold, your God will
come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; He will come and save you"
(Isa. 35: 4).
Owing to the events that are revealed as accompanying it, there can be but one period
when this day of vengeance takes place:--
"All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a
scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a
falling fig from a fig tree" (Isa. 34: 4).
"The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall
pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also
and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (II Pet. 3: 10).
Not only must Isa. 34: and 35: refer to the day of the Lord yet future, but they
must refer to the period covered by the sixth seal, for Rev. 6: 12-17 reads:--
"And I behold when He had opened the sixth seal; and, lo, there was a great
earthquake: and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as
blood. And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely
figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is
rolled together . . . . . for the great day of His wrath is come."
"Vengeance" and "recompense" are shown equally divided between Isa. 34: and
35: The former chapter speaks of the Lord's sword being filled with blood, streams
being turned into pitch, and the dust into brimstone; the latter of the day when the blind
shall see, the deaf hear, the lame leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing; when