The victorious saints will not be taken by surprise by the Day of the Lord because Christ's Light already is dwelling in their heart.

A fourth reason for believing that the coming of the Lord described in the fourteenth chapter of John will take place before and will lead up to the great earth-wide appearing of Christ, is founded on the visions of the Hebrew prophets. The prophets speak of the Presence of God's Glory coming to the saints during the dark days that will occur just prior to the second coming of Christ to the earth.

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:1)

The Spirit of Christ in Isaiah speaks of a time in which the Light of God will come to God's people. The Glory of the Lord will be revealed through them. In that Day they are to arise from their obscurity and shine as the Day Star that heralds the dawn.

But when will this Divine Light come? When will the Glory of the Lord rise upon His people?

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: . . . . (Isaiah 60:2)

There will come a day when spiritual (and perhaps natural) darkness will blanket the entire earth. Thick, oppressive spiritual darkness originating in the depths of Hell, will blanket the minds and spirits of the peoples of the world.

This is the hour of unprecedented trouble of which the Scripture warns. It is the night during which no man can work. We believe that its shadow has fallen on us already.

It is the midnight hour—the background for the glorious appearing of the Lord Jesus.

But what will take place in the Church of Christ during earth's darkest period?

. . . but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (Isaiah 58:13)

It is possible that Isaiah, Chapter 60 is speaking of the worldwide return of Christ—and no doubt this chapter flows into the thousand-year reign of Christ.

But the wording of the chapter raises some questions. Notice that the emphasis is not on the Lord Jesus or His glorious appearing. The people are not gazing on Him whom they have pierced but on the saints.

When the Lord returns He will descend from Heaven and His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives—perhaps on the very place from which He ascended. He Himself will be the center of interest, the focus of everyone's attention.

Isaiah, Chapter 60 does not portray the majestic Lord descending to the Mount of Olives. Rather, it describes the Glory of Christ arising on His saints.

Notice carefully:

. . . thy light is come, . . .

. . . the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

. . . the Gentiles [nations] shall come to thy light, . . .

. . . kings to the brightness of thy rising.

. . .all they gather themselves together they come to thee: . . . .

The emphasis is not on the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ but on His glory abiding on His saints.

Since the setting of Isaiah, Chapter 60 is the hour when darkness covers the earth and thick darkness the people, we see in this passage a coming of the Glory of the Lord to His people while it is yet spiritually dark, in advance of and leading up to the appearing of Christ in the clouds with His victorious saints and holy angels.

To be continued.