And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament, and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

The events connected with the sounding of the seventh angel, all show, conclusively, that when "the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord," Christ will come to judgment.

The passage is frequently quoted in prayer by many who suppose it relates to the spread of the gospel, or Christ's spiritual reign, as it is so understood. But if such a prayer were answered, what would take place? A scene of the most thrilling character, joyful to the righteous, but awful and solemn to the wicked. Let the connection of the passage decide. Nations angry, time af the dead that they should be judged—reward of the prophets, saints, and those who fear the name of God—small and great—destruction of those who destroy the earth —lightnings and voices—thunderings and earthquakes, and great hail.

When these events occur, there is reason to believe, from other portions of God's word, that a glorious millenium will be ushered in by the personal appearance of Jesus Christ. (See

Dan ii. 44, 45; vii. 13, 14; Rev. x. 5, 6, 7.) We are now prepared to consider,

the events of christ's second coming.

That Christ will come the second time to judge the world in righteousness, is a doctrine clearly taught in the scriptures: John. xiv. 3Acts i. 11—1 Thess. iv. 16—Rev. i. 7. Math. xvi. 27. Mark viii. 38—xiii. 26—Math. xxiv. 30—Dan. vii. 13.

As it was in accordance with the purpose of the Father that Christ should finish his work on earth, and return back to his original glory, so will he come again in like manner as he went into heaven.

When he comes the second time, his special work as a Mediator will be accomplished. His people will be vindicated, and raised to glory. All the righteous dead, and the living saints, will be changed, and together enjoy the millenial state. This world is not their home. It is a state of trial,suffering, and sin. Christ has gone to prepare mansions for all his followers, and his coming will be the signal for their possessing the kingdom. Dan.vii. 14,18,22,27. 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. Matt. xxv. 34.

The bodies of the saints will be changed, and become immortal—Every man in his own order ; Christ the first fruits, afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 1 Cor. xv. 20, 23, 49,— 51, 53. Philip, iii. 20, 21.

The Church, all the redeemed, will be presented to God, blameless, holy, without spot, or wrinkle, as the fruits of Christ's sufferings. Col. i. 22. Eph. v. 27. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish.

Zion will then be delivered from the power and dominion of satan—her warfare accomplished the glory of the Lord shall be revealed—death swallowed up in victory—the last enemy destroyed—the holy and blessed, having part in the first resurrection, shall reign with Christ on the earth that shall be cleansed by fire.

It now remains for us to examine some points in reference to Christ's second advent, in connection with the Destruction of JERUSA

LEM.

A careful attention to the 24th and 25th chapters of Matthew must convince every reasonable mind that the second coming of Christ cannot be refered to the events recorded of Jerusalem.

The question, tell us when shall these things be? is distinct from another, and still more important one, viz. and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? The first seems to have been suggested by previous remarks of the Saviour, concerning the desolation of the temple and city of Jerusalem. (See xxiii 37,38, 39.) Ye shall not see me henceforth till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; i. e. having rejected the of fers of mercy and salvation, your national doom is sealed. The judgements about to come upon you, are inflicted in consequence of your sins. Long, and severe as they will be, they must be borne until you will gladly hail a deliverer, and say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. That the Jews would at this moment gladly hail a deliverer, is a matter of fact. If the Jews give not their hearts to Christ, previous to his last advent, when he shall come to judge the world, they must be compelled to acknowledge him when he shall appear in the clouds of heaven, and that to their utter astonishment, at having so long despised the crucified Redeemer.

The questions of the desciples are fully answered, in the elaborate prediction contained in chapters xxiv and xxv, in which, is a connected chain of events, including those which relate to the desolation of Jerusalem, and reaching down to the end of the world. The predictions, immediately after his leaving them, began to be realised. Those included in this generation, the times in which we live, are being fulfilled before our eyes. When ye see all these things come to pass, know that the end is near. If the coming of Christ is refered to Jerusalem then there are some passages in the chapter which are inexplicable. He did not then come in the clouds of heaven, nor send his angels with the sound of a trumpet, nor gather all nations before him. This is a similar prediction of Daniel vii. 13,14, and will be realized when the "sign of the Son of man shall appear, 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," which did not occur when Jerusalem was laid desolate. Isaiah has described the same event. "Behold the Lord will come with fire and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger in fury and his rebukes with flames of fire. It shall come that I will gather all nations, and tongues, and they shall come and see my glory. Isa.xvi.