A Word to the Little Flock - James S. White

18; 2 Esdras 15:10-13) I am quite sure that our
Savior referred to the same, when he spake of
"distress of nations, with perplexity;" "Men's hearts
failing them for fear, and for looking after those
things which are coming on the earth." (Luke
21:26-27) In the 36th verse we are exhorted to
constant watchfulness and prayer, that we "may be
accounted worthy to escape all these things that
shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of
man:" at his appearing.
This makes it sure, that the trouble comes
before the second advent; for the saints are to
escape it, before they "stand before the Son of
man." At the second appearing of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the living wicked, who are not swept off by
the plagues, are to be destroyed by the "brightness
of his coming." (2 Thess. 2:8)
This is positive proof that the plagues come
before, and not after the advent; for the wicked will
not suffer by the plagues, after they are destroyed
by the burning glory of his coming.
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