The World Trade Center event has been labeled by MSNBC as "The Darkest Day" and a tragic day it was. We at BibleToday send our sincere condolences to the families of the victims. The President of the United States has stated that "Good WILL triumph over Evil". The Bible foretold that events like these are but the birth pains of a dawning age which will ultimately result in good triumphing over evil once and for all! An age of everlasting peace. As dark as the Trade Center event is, the Bible speaks of yet a darker day that will involve all nations.

"The day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come." "It is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion." `Isa. 63:4; 34:8`. THUS the Prophet Isaiah refers to that period which `Daniel (12:1)` describes as "a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation"; of which `Malachi (4:1)` says, "Behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble"; wherein the Apostle `James (5:1-6)` says the rich men shall weep and howl for the miseries that shall come upon them; the day which `Joel (2:2)` describes as a day of clouds and thick darkness; which `Amos (5:20)` says is "darkness and not light, even very dark and no brightness in it"; and to which the Lord refers (`Matt. 24:21,22`) as a time of "great tribulation," so ruinous in its character that, if it were not cut short, no flesh would survive its ravages.

That the dark and gloomy day thus described by the prophets is a day of judgment upon mankind socially and nationally --a day of national recompenses--is clear from many scriptures. But while noting these, let the reader bear in mind the difference between national judgment and individual judgment. While the nation is composed of individuals, and individuals are largely responsible for the courses of nations, and must and do suffer greatly in the calamities which befall them, nevertheless, the judgment of the world as individuals will be distinct from its judgment as nations.

Hear the word of the Lord to the nations assembled before him for judgment: "Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people; let the earth hear, and all that is therein: the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies." "The Lord is...an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation." "A noise shall ---------- *Vol. I., Chapter 8. come, even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations...Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind [intense and complicated trouble and commotion] shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth." "Wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth [the present social order] shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy; and then [afterward] will I turn unto the people a pure language; that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent." `Isa. 34:1,2`; `Jer. 10:10; 25:31-33`; `Zeph. 3:8,9`; `Luke 21:25`

It is not our purpose, in calling attention to this subject, to arouse a mere sensation, or to seek to gratify idle curiosity. Nor can we hope to produce that penitence in the hearts of men which would work a change in the present social, political and religious order of society, and thus avert the impending calamity. The approaching trouble is inevitable: the powerful causes are all at work, and no human power is able to arrest their operation and progress toward the certain end: the effects must follow as the Lord foresaw and foretold. No hand but the hand of God could stay the progress of the present current of events; and his hand will not do so until the bitter experiences of this conflict shall have sealed their instruction upon the hearts of men.

The day of vengeance stands naturally related to the benevolent object of its divine permission, which is the overthrow of the entire present order of things, preparatory to the permanent establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, under Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Thus the Lord will smite the nations and cause them to know his power, and he will deliver his faithful people who go not with the multitudes in the way of evil, but who wholly follow the Lord their God in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. And even this terrible judgment upon the world, as nations, thus dashing them to pieces as a potter's vessel, will prove a valuable lesson to them when they come forth to an individual judgment under the Millennial reign of Christ. Thus, in his wrath, the Lord will remember mercy.