Romans 13:12 says, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.”  I am going to continue with the signs of “the day” as J. C. Ryle explains.  The first two signs were (1) the missions to the heathen and (2) the interest in the Jewish nation.

3. The spread of knowledge and communication between nations: When I first visited Cambodia 25 years ago, not many people owned even landlines. I had to go to a place where phone service was provided and paid the fees calculated by the duration of time I used the phone. Within the next few years, wireless phones were found everywhere, and now smartphone use is common.  Just think about travelling beyond the bounds of people’s own countries a hundred years ago.  Only a few had that privilege of travelling overseas.  Now everyone moves in every direction, and our population is like a swarm of bees disturbed.  Time and space are made nothing of.  Seas, mountains, and rivers are no longer obstacles.  God separated the nations in the days of Babel.  Man is working hard to make them all one again.  Daniel 12:4 says, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” 
4. The wars and shakings of nations: Just think about the worldwide catastrophic wars since 1900. The two world wars, Korean War, Vietnam War, Cambodian War, wars in the Middle East. Russia invaded Ukraine, and recently there was a war between Thailand and Cambodia.  There are countless other wars not mentioned here.  Empires were destroyed, and countries were dissolved and rezoned.  Kings, princes, presidents, and great men and women have been driven from their high positions.  Interestingly, these upheavals have taken place in the face of increased knowledge, civilization, and desire for peace.  Matthew 24:7-8 says, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
5. The drying up of the Mahometan power: Probably, it is an interesting point from Bishop Ryle’s perspective. He was born in 1816 and died in 1900. With the historical background of his era, see how you could view his opinion.  At least 350 years ago, men doubted whether the Turks might not overrun Europe.  No army seemed able to resist them.  Province after province fell into their hands.  When Martin Luther in his sermons wanted an illustration of boundless worldly power, he would choose for his example “the Turkish power.”  But now all has changed.  Without much outward violence the Mahometan strength has gradually dwindled away.  Now no one talks about the power of the Turkish Empire.  Ryle saw that the days of pure and intolerant Mahometanism were already in the past.  Then he quoted Revelation 11:12-15, “And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. ¹³ And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. ¹⁴ The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. ¹⁵ And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”  Well, I am not sure if we could say that the Mahometan’s aggressive power has died out by now.  However, one thing must be right – all opposition to the cross of Jesus will inevitably perish. 
6. The increased attention to unfulfilled prophecy: In a way, not many people paid attention to the book of Revelation one hundred years ago. However, we must be reminded of the Y2K fever. Many Christian churches talked about the return of Christ, and there was a surge of their interest in the book of Revelation and biblical prophecies of future events.  Books on these subjects have been eagerly written and read.  The study of unfulfilled prophecy still holds its ground.  Daniel 12:9 says, “And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” 

I know that we are all poor judges of our own times.  We are apt to exaggerate the importance of events that take place under our own eyes.  Though we have seen many significant events in our lifetime, I am far from saying that no bigger events will happen in the future.  I do not fully know the meaning of the words, “the night is far spent, and the day is at hand.” 

However, from these words, I find that (1) there is a strong motive for diligence in the work of doing good to souls.  We must hasten even more to spread the Gospel over the world.  We must take more pains in endeavouring to sow the truth in him.  The time is short.  The night is far spent, and the day is at hand.  (2) There is also great consolation for the believer in Christ Jesus.  The believers, though they may be sick and weary now, will be finally set free from their infirmities and weariness.  They will each have a glorious body like their Lord’s.  (3) There is an eternal parting with tears.  Every wound in their hearts shall be completely healed.  Every empty place and gap in their affections shall be entirely filled up.  They shall find that those who have died in the Lord were not lost but gone before.  They shall see that infinite wisdom arranged every bereavement, by which one was taken and another left.  They shall magnify the Lord together with those who were once their companions in tribulation and acknowledge that He did all things well and led them by a right way.  (4) There is no more feelings of loneliness.  The believers shall no longer be scattered over the earth.  They shall no longer lament that there are few to speak to as a man speaks with his friends.  They shall be united to the general assembly and church of the first-born.  They shall join the blessed company of all the believers of every name, people, and tongue.  (5) There is a finding that their labours were not in vain.  There are preachers, evangelists, missionaries, Bible study group leaders, or Sunday School teachers who seemed to reap no fruit.  Missionaries have testified to the Gospel, and none seemed to believe.  Teachers poured truth into children’s minds line upon line, and none seemed to attend.  All shall discover that they have not spent their strength for nought.  They shall find that the seed sown can spring up after many days, and that sooner or later in all labour there is profit. 

The Lord shall come and will not tarry as He promised.  Yet a little while, the last sermon shall be preached, and the last congregation shall break up.  The believers will be with the Lord.  The night is far spent, and the day is at hand.

Lovingly,

Pastor Emeritus

More Lively Hope

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