April-June
Have you ever wondered what makes the lightning be so powerful and incredible? There is a special science that studies lightning and is called “Fulminology.” The scientists who have studied the lightning phenomena have been astonished to discover that the strike can be three times hotter than the surface of the sun. Lightning can strike in multiple places and can be even up to 90 miles long! Sadly, that this phenomenon is very dangerous for people: in the USA alone, 50 people are killed by lightning on average every year. In 1987, the Atlas Centaur rocket was struck by lightning only after 49 seconds in the air. The body of the rocket immediately fell into the ocean. As a matter of curiosity, a lightning bolt has about 1 billion volts of electricity, which equals with the energy of nearly 80 million car batteries. What amazing power is packed into this short-lived phenomenon! Once again we can reflect upon God’s power controlling the universe.
The Prince of the universe, the Lord Jesus Christ, has told us that one day all around the earth the most impressive event on our visible sky will take place: “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matthew 24:27).
“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people” (Psalm 50:3, 4).
“The King of kings descends upon the cloud, wrapped in flaming fire. The heavens are rolled together as a scroll, the earth trembles before Him, and every mountain and island is moved out of its place.”—The Great Controversy, pp. 641, 642.
Our Lord is returning with great power and glory! What an amazing day it will be! I cannot comprehend how majestic and solemn that day will be. The most awaited moment of the entire history of our little planet will flash all around the world, and all of us will be filled with reverence and deep respect. For all those that have awaited His appearing, that day will be the most joyful day of their life. “And it shall be said in that day, 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).
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:30, 31).
On the other hand, in these lines we can see the contrast. It says that all the tribes of the earth shall mourn; they will feel deep sorrow, regret, and sadness. They are the ones that were not ready for Jesus’ coming. Many of them are also those that persecuted Jesus or His followers. “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7). They mocked Him, they despised Him, they killed Him . . . and many others did the same with His disciples and with His followers throughout the ages.
“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15–17).
Thus, the wicked pray to be buried beneath the rocks of the mountains rather than meet the face of Him whom they have despised and rejected.
“There are those who mocked Christ in His humiliation. With thrilling power come to their minds the Sufferer’s words, when, adjured by the high priest, He solemnly declared: ‘Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven’ (Matthew 26:64). Now they behold Him in His glory, and they are yet to see Him sitting on the right hand of power.
“Those who derided His claim to be the Son of God are speechless now. . . .
“With awful distinctness do priests and rulers recall the events of Calvary. With shuddering horror they remember how, wagging their heads in satanic exultation, they exclaimed: ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him’ (Matthew 27:42, 43). . . .
“In the lives of all who reject truth there are moments when conscience awakens, when memory presents the torturing recollection of a life of hypocrisy and the soul is harassed with vain regrets. . . . Those who would have destroyed Christ and His faithful people now witness the glory which rests upon them. In the midst of their terror they hear the voices of the saints in joyful strains exclaiming: ‘Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us’ (Isaiah 25:9).”—The Great Controversy, pp. 643, 644.
As we have already seen, Jesus is the Lamb on the throne. (Revelation 6:15–17 above.) . . . The same Lamb that was meek, kind, and loving; the same Lamb that is still meek, kind, and loving, is coming back in His glory and majesty! Those who despised Jesus will see in the end that there is glory and victory in being humble, kind, loving, helping others and even being “of no reputation . . . in the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7).
The Lamb is the King! What a sweet and blessed assurance! There is no other character that can represent better the sweetness of Jesus than the lamb. The lamb is typically a sacrificial animal, and may also symbolize gentleness, innocence, and purity. When depicted with the lion, the pair can mean a state of paradise. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11:6). In addition, the lamb symbolizes sweetness, forgiveness, and meekness. The lamb represents Christ as both suffering and triumphant.
When on the island of Patmos, John, the last apostle—even though isolated from his beloved brethren—received the grace of God. He saw that all the other disciples had passed away, being persecuted and executed. He felt alone, but the Lord revealed to him the future. John treasured in his heart all the beautiful memories that he had with the Lord Jesus and all the others. He kept vivid in his memory John the Baptist’s words: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus died for the sins of the entire world! All who receive Him, believe in Him, and abide in Him will be redeemed.
Being saved and part of the redeemed ones will be the best thing that can ever happen to anyone. As a group, or Jesus’ faithful church, we are considered to be the bride. It symbolizes the innocence and purity that the believers accept and receive by trials, tribulations, and tests of faith. The groom of the bride is none other than Jesus. He paid the price for His bride. John, writing the book of Revelation could confess just this: “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write: Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God” (Revelation 19:6–9).
Some people are at constant or partial enmity against Jesus and His followers. Actually, during the history of this earth, there have been more unbelievers than believers. These unbelievers not only refuse to accept Jesus as the Lamb of God, but they “shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14). The Lamb that they were so eager to resist is coming back to receive His faithful ones!
“The living cloud of majesty, and unsurpassed glory, came still nearer, and we could clearly behold the lovely person of Jesus. He did not wear a crown of thorns; but a crown of glory decked His holy brow. Upon His vesture and thigh was a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. His eyes were as a flame of fire, His feet had the appearance of fine brass, and His voice sounded like many musical instruments. His countenance was as bright as the noonday sun.”—Spiritual Gifts, vol. 1, p. 207.
I hope and pray that you and I will rejoice when He comes back! I hope and pray that we will be among those that will say: “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). Amen!