prophets and kings-第127章
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〃O thou afflicted； tossed with tempest； and not comforted； Behold； I will lay thy stones with fair colors； And lay thy foundations with sapphires。
〃And I will make thy windows of agates。 And thy gates of carbuncles； And all thy borders of pleasant stones。
〃And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord； And great shall be the peace of thy children。 In righteousness shalt thou be established：
〃Thou shalt be far from oppression； for thou shalt not fear： And from terror； for it shall not come near thee。 Behold； they shall surely gather together； but not by Me： Whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake。 。 。 。
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〃No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper； And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn。 This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord； And their righteousness is of Me； saith the Lord。〃 Isaiah 25：8； 62：12； 61：3； 52：1； 2； 54：11…17。
Clad in the armor of Christ's righteousness； the church is to enter upon her final conflict。 〃Fair as the moon； clear as the sun； and terrible as an army with banners〃 （Song of Solomon 6：10）； she is to go forth into all the world； conquering and to conquer。
The darkest hour of the church's struggle with the powers of evil is that which immediately precedes the day of her final deliverance。 But none who trust in God need fear； for 〃when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall；〃 God will be to His church 〃a refuge from the storm。〃 Isaiah 25：4。
In that day only the righteous are promised deliverance。 〃The sinners in Zion are afraid； fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites。 Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire？ who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings？ He that walketh righteously； and speaketh uprightly； he that despiseth the gain of oppressions； that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes； that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood； and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil； he shall dwell on high： his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks： bread shall be given him； his waters shall be sure。〃 Isaiah 33：14…16。
The word of the Lord to His faithful ones is： 〃Come； My people； enter thou into thy chambers； and shut thy
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doors about thee： hide thyself as it were for a little moment； until the indignation be overpast。 For； behold； the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity。〃 Isaiah 26：20； 21。
In visions of the great judgment day the inspired messengers of Jehovah were given glimpses of the consternation of those unprepared to meet their Lord in peace。
〃Behold； the Lord maketh the earth empty； and maketh it waste； and turneth it upside down； and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof； 。 。 。 because they have transgressed the laws； changed the ordinance； broken the everlasting covenant。 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth； and they that dwell therein are desolate。 。 。 。 The mirth of tabrets ceaseth； the noise of them that rejoice endeth； the joy of the harp ceaseth。〃 Isaiah 24：1…8。
〃Alas for the day！ for the day of the Lord is at hand； and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come。 。 。 。 The seed is rotten under their clods； the garners are laid desolate； the barns are broken down； for the corn is withered。 How do the beasts groan！ the herds of cattle are perplexed； because they have no pasture； yea； the flocks of sheep are made desolate。〃 〃The vine is dried up； and the fig tree languisheth； the pomegranate tree； the palm tree also； and the apple tree； even all the trees of the field； are withered： because joy is withered away from the sons of men。〃 Joel 1：15…18； 12。
〃I am pained at my very heart；〃 Jeremiah exclaims as he beholds the desolations wrought during the closing scenes of earth's history。 〃I cannot hold my peace； because
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thou hast heard； O my soul； the sound of the trumpet； the alarm of war。 Destruction upon destruction is cried； for the whole land is spoiled。〃 Jeremiah 4：19； 20。
〃The loftiness of man shall be bowed down；〃 declares Isaiah of the day of God's vengeance； 〃and the haughtiness of men shall be made low： and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day。 And the idols He shall utterly abolish。 。 。 。 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver； and his idols of gold； which they made each one for himself to worship； to the moles and to the bats； to go into the clefts of the rocks； and into the tops of the ragged rocks； for fear of the Lord； and for the glory of His majesty； when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth。〃 Isaiah 2：17…21。
Of those times of transition； when the pride of man shall be laid low； Jeremiah testifies： 〃I beheld the earth； and； lo； it was without form； and void； and the heavens； and they had no light。 I beheld the mountains； and； lo； they trembled； and all the hills moved lightly。 I beheld； and； lo； there was no man； and all the birds of the heavens were fled。 I beheld； and； lo； the fruitful place was a wilderness； and all the cities thereof were broken down。〃 〃Alas！ for that day is great； so that none is like it： it is even the time of Jacob's trouble； but he shall be saved out of it。〃 Jeremiah 4：23…26； 30：7。
The day of wrath to the enemies of God is the day of final deliverance to His church。 The prophet declares：
〃Strengthen ye the weak hands； And confirm the feeble knees。
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Say to them that are of a fearful heart； Be strong； fear not： Behold； your God will come with vengeance； Even God with a recompense； He will come and save you。〃
〃He will swallow up death in victory； and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces； and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth： for the Lord hath spoken it。〃 Isaiah 35：3； 4； 25：8。 And as the prophet beholds the Lord of glory descending from heaven with all the holy angels； to gather the remnant church from among the nations of earth； he hears the waiting ones unite in the exultant cry：
〃Lo； this is our God； We have waited for Him； And He will save us： This is the Lord； We have waited for Him； We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation。〃 Isaiah 25：9。
The voice of the Son of God is heard calling forth the sleeping saints； and as the prophet beholds them coming from the prison house of death； he exclaims； 〃Thy dead men shall live； together with my dead body shall they arise。 Awake and sing； ye that dwell in dust： for thy dew is as the dew of herbs； and the earth shall cast out the dead。〃
〃Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened； And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped。 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart； And the tongue of the dumb sing。〃 Isaiah 26：19； 35：5； 6。
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In the visions of the prophet； those who have triumphed over sin and the grave are now seen happy in the presence of their Maker； talking freely with Him as man talked with God in the beginning。 〃Be ye glad；〃 the Lord bids them； 〃and rejoice forever in that which I create： for； behold； I create Jerusalem a rejoicing； and her people a joy。 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem； and joy in My people： and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her； nor the voice of crying。〃 〃The inhabitant shall not say； I am sick： the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity。〃
〃In the wilderness shall waters break out； And streams in the desert。 And the parched ground shall become a pool； And the thirsty land springs of water。〃
〃Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree； And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree。〃
