With each passing day bringing its huge toll of startling major events such as wars assassinations, world conference failures, murders, suicides of eminent persons, kidnappings for ransom, mob outbreaks and financial difficulties everywhere, it becomes apparent that this poor world is reeling to and fro like a drunkard. It is with strange misgivings that one surveys the news of the day. The question which springs spontaneously to mind is:

"What Next?"

Without wishing to be sensational, we wish to state on unfailing authority that an event is yet to occur which will give to the world its greatest shock. The shock will consist in the sudden and complete disappearance of millions of its choicest inhabitants. The disappearance will be of such a mysterious nature that it will seem as though the earth has opened its mouth and swallowed them. However, the very reverse will be the case; Heaven will have opened its door to receive them!

Doubtless all manner of explanations of this mystery will be offered by the great ones of earth. To be sure, it will be regarded as "natural phenomena"; for the world's experts will not tolerate any thought or expression of a supernatural event. However, there will be those on earth, who, having previously heard and read of such a possibility, will be able to show from that lightly esteemed Book, the Holy Bible, exactly what happened.

"Behold, I show you a mystery; We (living believers) shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Cor. 15:51,52).

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:16,17).

A Powerful Dictator Coming

Shortly after this exciting incident, a most powerful dictator will dictate peace to the nations then at war, and being a genius, he will also cause business to prosper. The world will again not only forget God and its soul, but also its troubles. It will become inebriated with the fulness of its prosperity and will cry: "Peace and Safety." Then shall sudden destruction come upon it.

The Lord Himself said: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time" (Matt. 24:21). Wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, signs in the heavens, on earth and in the seas shall characterize that period.

And is that the grand finale of earth's history? By no means! "Immediately after the tribulation of those days . . . shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven" (Matt. 24:29,30). He will return with a rod of iron to put down "all rule and all authority and power" (1 Cor. 15:24). He will deal summarily with His enemies, He will rule in peace, righteousness and joy for one thousand years (Rev. 20:4). At the close of that reign there will be "a little season" of Satanic deception (Rev. 20:7,8), another great conflict, judgment, conflagration, and then new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness! (2 Peter 3:13).

Do You Want to Escape the Tribulation?

Does the reader wish to participate in the Rapture already mentioned? Does he wish to be among those who shall be taken bodily from this scene by the Lord Jesus before the Great Tribulation is ushered in? If so, there must be an acceptance on his part of the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. He died for our sins according to the Scriptures and He was buried and He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3,4). Those who "believe on His name" (John 1:12) become sons of God and to such He says: "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:3).

Receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, and rejoice in His so great salvation, and be ready for His return. He has said: "Surely, I come quickly" (or suddenly) (Rev. 22:7,12,20).

—T.M.O.