The Voice of God

“The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:16.AWLF 4.1

Second Advent writers and lecturers, have usually confounded the voice of God, which is to shake the heavens and the earth, with the “voice of the Son of God,” which will call forth the saints. But I think, that we shall clearly see, that here are two distinct events. The voice of God, that is to shake the heavens and the earth, comes “out of Zion,” and is uttered “from Jerusalem;” but before the voice of Jesus calls forth the sleeping saints, he is to leave the heavenly Sanctuary, and “descend from heaven,” with his holy angels. Then, and not till then, will he send his angels to “gather his elect, from the four winds;” while his voice calls them forth to meet him “in the air.” If the voice of God, which is to be uttered “from Jerusalem,” raises the saints, then they will be caught up to meet the Lord in Jerusalem. But I think we shall all agree on this point, that Jesus is first to “descend from heaven” with the angels: then commission the heavenly host, to conduct the saints to meet him “in the air,” while his voice calls them forth. - Matthew 24:30, 31 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. 2 Thessalonians 1:7.AWLF 4.2

At the pouring out of the seventh vial, Revelation 16:17, we read: “and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.” At the same time, there is a great earthquake, produced by the “voice from the throne,” which shakes down the cities of the nations, and removes the islands and mountains. This “voice from the throne,” which causes the earthquakes, must be the same as the voice uttered “from Jerusalem,” which shakes the heavens and the earth. - Joel 3:16, and Jeremiah 25:30, 31. It seems clear that this voice which is to come “out of the temple of heaven, from the throne,” is not the “voice of the Son of God,” that raises the saints; for if the voice that raises the saints, comes out of the heavenly temple, “from the throne:” then Jesus remains in heaven, on the throne, and calls his elect up to meet him in the temple; which is not in harmony with the teachings of St. Paul.AWLF 4.3

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch-angel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first;AWLF 4.4

Then we, which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. Therefore, I think we are safe, in believing that we shall hear the voice of God, which will shake the heavens and the earth, before Jesus descends from heaven, with his angels and trumpet, to awake and gather the elect in the air.AWLF 4.5

Will not the day and hour of Jesus’ appearing, be made known by the voice of the Eternal God?AWLF 4.6

That the day and hour will be known by the true children of God, and no others, appears plain from the fact, that we are exhorted to watch for it; and if we do not watch, Jesus will come on us “as a thief,“ and we shall “not know what hour” he will come upon us. So, that none but those who truly watch, and “hold fast,” will know the true time. - Revelation 3:2, 3. Here I will introduce a quotation from “The True Midnight Cry,” of Aug.22, 1844.AWLF 4.7

“Concerning the time of that (Christ’s) coming, he says, in Mark 13:32, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” It is thought by many, that this passage proves that men are never to know the time. But if it proves this, it likewise proves, that the Son of God, himself, is never to know the time; for the passage declares precisely the same concerning him, that it does concerning angels and men. But can any person believe that our glorious Lord, to whom all power in heaven and earth is given, is, and will remain ignorant of the time until the very moment that he comes to judge the world?AWLF 5.1

If not, then certainly this text can never prove that men may not be made to understand the time. An old English version of the passage, reads, “But that day and hour no man maketh known, neither the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”AWLF 5.2

This is the correct reading according to several of the ablest critics of the age. The word know is used here, in the same sense as it is by Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:2. Paul well understood many other things, besides Christ and him crucified, but he determined to make known nothing else among them. So in the passage first quoted, it is declared that none but God the Father, maketh known the day and hour; that is, the definite time of the second coming of his Son. And this necessarily implies that God makes the time known.”AWLF 5.3

I believe the above, to be a fair and correct view of the subject, and that the Father will make known the true time of the advent, without the agency of men, angels, or the Son. The following prophesy is to the point.AWLF 5.4

“Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?AWLF 5.5

Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.AWLF 5.6

For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.AWLF 5.7

For I am the Lord: I will SPEAK, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged; for in your days, O rebellious house, will I SAY THE WORD, and will perform it, saith the Lord God.” - Ezekiel 12:22-25.AWLF 5.8

The burden of this prophesy is time, concerning which, there has been true, and false visions. The true vision (or light) on time, was written on the Chart, or table. - Habakkuk 2:2. God approved of the proclamation of 1843, and the 10th day of the 7th month 1844: by the pouring out of the Holy Ghost. Since the 7th month 1844, the “rebellious house” of Israel, have been removing the “land-marks,” and writing, and proclaiming false visions; but we all know that it has been the work of man, and not of God. These flattering divinings, have cheered on the “rebellious house” of Israel to some extent; but the work has not had the holy, sanctifying influence, as when God’s hand was in the work on time.AWLF 5.9

The proverb that “every vision faileth,” is, or soon will be complete; and God will make it, and the false visions to cease, by speaking from heaven, and giving his people the true time. “For I am the Lord: I will SPEAK, and the word that I shall speak, shall come to pass; etc.”AWLF 5.10

Now if the burden of this prophecy is time; I think all will admit, that the word that the Lord God is to speak, is the true time. The false visions that have been written, and proclaimed by the “rebellious house” of Israel, have failed: but the word to be spoken by the “Lord God,” will be the true time, and will surely come to pass.AWLF 6.1

Jesus has left us the sure promise, that his Father will make known the day and the hour of his coming. The “Lord God” has promised to speak, and assures us that the word that he will speak, “shall come to pass.” With such testimony as this before us, from the Father and Son, what other conclusion can we come to, than that the “word which the Father is to speak, is the true time, and when he speaks, his voice will make it known to his saints?AWLF 6.2

As the signs in the sun, moon, and stars, have been literal, the shaking of the powers of the heavens, Matthew 24:29, must also be literal.AWLF 6.3

This sign is not in the past, and as it is a sign, it must come prior to the advent itself.AWLF 6.4

Therefore, it is clear, that this last sign will appear when the “Lord roars out of Zion,” and shakes the heavens and the earth. We believe that the signs in Revelation 6:12-14, are the same as in Matthew 24:29, and Mark 13:24, 25. Then the shaking of the powers of the heavens, Matthew 24:29, is the same as the heavens departing “as a scroll, when it is rolled together.” Revelation 6:14: for they both follow the falling of the stars.AWLF 6.5

Now what is this heaven that is to be shaken and rolled together as a scroll? We may not see this event so clearly now, as we shall about the time of its fulfilment; but still, it is our duty to receive, and cherish all the light that we can see on this, or any other future event. As we travel onward toward the Holy City, our burning lamps discover new objects: but we cannot see all at once. If we reject a little light, because we cannot see the whole clearly at once, it will displease our heavenly leader; and we shall be left in the dark. But if we cherish the light, as fast as it is our Lord’s will to open it to us, he will increase the light; and our souls will feast upon the opening truths of the blessed bible.AWLF 6.6

The word heaven, is applied to at least four places or things in the scriptures. 1st, It is applied to Paradise, where St. Paul was taken in vision, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4. 2nd. To the region of the sun, moon, and stars, Genesis 1:8-17. 3rd. To the atmosphere which encompasses this earth, in which the fowls of heaven fly. Revelation 19:17, 18. And 4th, To the church of God on earth. Revelation 14:6, 7. It cannot be Paradise, nor the region of the heavenly lights, neither the church of God on earth, that is to be shaken and rolled together as a scroll: therefore, it must be the air around the earth, in which the fowls of heaven fly.AWLF 6.7

“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the AIR; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven from the throne, saying, It is done.” Revelation 16:17.AWLF 6.8

We may now see that it is the seventh vial, and voice of God, which will shake the powers of the heavens, and cause the great earthquake or the shaking of the earth: and that this event constitutes the last literal sign, just before the sign of the Son of man appears in heaven.AWLF 6.9

It seems clear that all the vials, the voice of God from the throne, the voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and the great earthquake, and the falling of the cities of the nations, and the removing of the mountains and the islands, are to take place before the advent.AWLF 6.10

This view no doubt, will at once be rejected by many who profess to be looking for Jesus every day and hour; but I think it will appear very plain, by comparing Revelation 16:17-21, with chap. 6:14-17.AWLF 7.1

After the heavens depart “as a scroll when rolled together,” and the “mountains and islands are moved out of their places,” “the kings of the earth, and great men, etc.” “hide in the dens, and in the rocks of the mountains,” from the awful glory of the coming Jesus, attended by “all the holy angels;” and call for the rocks and mountains to fall on them, and hide them from the brightness of his coming (which is to destroy all the living wicked at his coming. - 2 Thessalonians 2:8.); and overwhelmed with anguish, in view of their expected fate, (when Christ and the angels draw near the earth to raise and gather the elect,) they cry out: “For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” - Revelation 6:17.AWLF 7.2

Here we see that the wicked who are hid, are still looking forward to the time when the saints alone will “be able to stand” before Christ at his appearing. If Christ should burst in upon the world as suddenly and unexpectedly as some teach, no one would think of hiding in caves, dens, and rocks: for they are not within their reach. This shows that an entire change must take place in the earth’s surface prior to the second advent, by the voice of God, in order for the wicked to have a chance to hide from the expected Lamb, in caves, dens, and rocks of the mountains. When the Father utters his voice “from the throne,” which is to cause “a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth:” then there will be a chance for all the wicked, who are not swept off by the former plagues, to hide from the presence of the Lamb. But rocks, caves, and dens, will not shelter them from the burning glory of that holy throng, for all the living wicked are to be destroyed “with the brightness of that coming.” - 2 Thessalonians 2:8.AWLF 7.3

God has promised to be the “hope of his people,” at the time his voice shakes the heavens and the earth. His children have nothing to fear from the terrors of that day; for they will be sheltered from the falling of cities, mountains, and houses. God’s promise cannot fail.AWLF 7.4

That will be a glad day for the saints; for they will then be “delivered” from every outward foe, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, to prepare them to gaze on Jesus, and stand before him at his appearing. Then the saints will better know the real worth of the blessed hope; and they will rejoice that they have been accounted worthy to suffer reproach for clinging close to the truth, and strictly obeying all the “commandments of God.” When God spake to Moses in Sinai, his “voice then shook the earth;” and we are taught by St. Paul, in Hebrews 12:22-27, that he is yet to speak from the “City of the living God,” and “shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” When God spake to Moses, the glory rested on him so that he had to cover his face with a vail, before his brethren could stand before him, and hear the word of the Lord from his mouth. And may we not expect the same effect, from the same cause? If so, then when God speaks from the Holy City to all his people, as he did to Moses: all will have the glory poured on them, as Moses had it poured on him. This out-pouring of the Holy Ghost must take place before the second advent, to prepare us for the glory of that scene: for in our present state, none of us could stand a single moment before the brightness of that coming, which is to destroy the “man of sin.” At the presence of one angel at the resurrection of Christ, the Roman guard fell like dead men to the ground. It is therefore necessary, that the saints should share largely in the glory of God, to prepare them to stand before the Son of God, when he comes with all the holy angels with him.AWLF 7.5

Our present trying, waiting, watching state, is represented by a dark night; and the coming glory before us, by the morning. There are two parts to the morning: first, the dawn of day, and second, full day light, which is completed by the rising of the sun. So in the glad morning before us; the day of rest will dawn at the voice of God, when his light, and glory, rest upon us; then we shall rise from glory to glory, till Christ appears, to clothe us with immortality, and give us eternal life. O, Glory! Hallelujah!! my poor heart is set on fire for the kingdom, while I dwell on this sweet prospect, before the true believer. If we “hold fast” but a few days more, the dark shades of night will vanish before the glory of the preparatory scenes of the coming of the Son of man.AWLF 8.1