to say that, as “ the fire of God came down from heaven” on previous occasions (see 2 Kings 1:12), so it will at Armageddon when God settles the controversy with the nations regarding the rejected sovereignty of His Son. I am not here attempting any discussion on A-bombs or H-bombs. It is enough to say that atomic power be longs to God. When man harnessed the atom into a bomb and dropped the deadly missile on August 6, 1945, text books in physics and the whole art of war underwent a thorough revision. Man may have discovered how to har ness and use God’s atom, but not until Armageddon will the earth know the full strength of fire from heaven. The Apostle Peter gave to us a prophecy concerning a final conflagration on the earth when the elements shall melt with fervent heat (2 Peter 3:7-14). Other Biblical refer ences speak of a devouring fire which will descend out of heaven (Psalm 50:3, 97:3; Isaiah 66:15, 16, Ezekiel 20:47, 48; Joel 2:3, 30; Zephaniah 1:18; 3:8; Malachi 4:1). Concerning Armageddon we conclude with reference to a few passages of Scripture which should cause every un saved person to pause and consider his need of accepting Jesus Christ. Paul writes: “ . . . The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God. John writes: “ And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues; and they repented not to give him glory” (Revelation 16:8, 9). This is Armaged don. How awful will be the torture! How terrible the pain when God settles His quarrel with the nations re specting obedience to the Gospel of His Son! Christ will be victorious and all the redeemed will share His vic tories. But to you who have rejected Him, hear the Word of the Lord: “ Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth” (Zechariah 14:12). The aftermath of the A-bomb dropped on Hiroshima will have been a light affliction compared with Armageddon. So devastating will that awful scourge be that the islands of the sea will disappear and the mountain peaks will be leveled, because of an earthquake “ such as was not since men were upon the earth” (Revelation 16:18- 20). This earthquake is^foretold in Zechariah 14:4, 5. The description continues: “ And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great” (Revelation 16:21). A professing Christian read that verse and said: “ I doubt that.” Let there be room in no one’s mind for doubt on this or any other descriptive state ment concerning the terrible judgments to come upon the earth when Christ returns in glory. Think of it! Even as God plagued the Egyptians with hail (Exodus 9:18-26) and discomfited and slew Israel’s enemies in the time of Joshua (Joshua 10:10, 11), even so shall He slay the nations with hail stones weighing as much as 100 pounds when Christ returns to establish His rule in the earth. This will mean conquest over Satan and death and the end of man’s rule in the earth. Then shall there be peace, first in Jerusalem and then in all the earth. God’s plan for the Kingdom of the Mes siah on earth will be fulfilled. “ Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). Trust the Saviour now and escape the awful judgment to come. END THE KING'S BUSINESS
all nations. God said: “ I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat . . .” (Joel 3:2). “ For my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them my indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth will be devoured with the fire of my jealousy” (Zephaniah 3:8). “ I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people . . . though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it” (Zechariah 12:3). “ For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle . . . Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle” (Zecha riah 14:2, 3). The nations will gather, not alone for the wealth of Palestine, but with the evil determination to wipe out God’s earthly people. All the nations of the earth will be bitten by the virus of anti-Semitism, and while they will not know it at that time, it is clearly taught in God’s Word that they will only be positioning themselves for the strokes of divine wrath and judgment. It will be the last frantic effort to wipe out Israel, but it will be met by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Lord Is a M an of W a r Many see only one side of the divine nature, namely, God’s love and mercy, and overlooked His holiness and justice. Throughout the Bible and in human experience, clear consistent teaching on the God-given and unaltera ble law of sowing and reaping appears (Galatians 6:7). He that soweth to the flesh must reap the corruption that follows. Sin pays wages. When God miraculously slew the entire Egyptian army in delivering His people from Pharaoh, Moses sang: “ The LORD is a man of War” (Exodus 15:3). God has waged war on numerous occa sions in the past, and He will do it again. He will fight again “ as when he fought in the day of battle” (Zecha riah 14:3). He fought for His people at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:25), at Jericho (Joshua 6:20), at Gibeon (Joshua 10:8-14), at Megiddo (Judges 4:15; 5:20), at Mizpeh (1 Samuel 7:10), and at Jerusalem (2 Kings 19: 35). And at that very site where He smote the Assyrians once, He will do it again. The Nature o f the Battle— F ire, Earthquake- Hail Most naturally the question arises as to how our Lord will wipe out the Gentile armies of the world. Certainly the outcome of the battle will not depend upon the Church, the Bride of Christ who comes with Him, nor upon Israel and its leaders. Vivid prophetic figures de pict the awful devastation to be inflicted upon Israel’s foes, one of these being fire. “ In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people around about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem” (Zech. 12:6). The consuming power of fire is quite well known both to Bible students and to all who have ever had experience with fire. We merely cite here the case of Samson (Judges 15:1-5) and Absalom (2 Samuel 14:28- 30). There are others. No better symbol could be chosen for the presence of Jehovah than fire. It is immaterial, terrible, consuming. God appeared to Moses in a flame of fire (Exodus 3:2). He led Israel at night by a pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21, 22), and sent fire mingled with hail to plague the Egyptians (Exodus 9:23, 24). We are told that the Lord descended in fire (Exodus 19:18), and that the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire (Exodus 24:17). Both the Old and New Testaments teach that “ the LORD thy God is a consuming fire” (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29). There are numerous other passages to be studied about the fire of God, but it will suffice here
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