The Banner of Truth Periodical

WHEN SUDDEN DESTRUCTION COMES By Given O. Blakely  God has revealed that the destruction of His enemies will be abrupt. It will occur in a time of apparent tranquility and safety. “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they [the ungodly] shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall NOT escape” (I Thess. 5:2-3). Thus will the final curtain be brought down on the stage of mortal life, wherein God’s eternal purpose shall have been accomplished. The suddenness of the destruction of the wicked will demonstrate the superiority of the heavenly Kingdom. The enemies of the Lord will not see their overthrow coming, and consequently will not be unprepared for it. Their wisdom failed them in preparation, and their power shall fail when they confront the “wrath of the Lamb” (Rev. 16:16). There are those who teach that when Jesus comes the next time the wicked w...

“Salvation is of God, by Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, and by all the means which God has appointed in the Scripture for its obtainment by men.” — Fred O. Blakely

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (II Tim. 2:19).

“The present material universe, yet unrevealed in all its area, in all its tenantries, in all its riches, beauty and grandeur, will be wholly regenerated. Of this fact we have full assurance, since He that now sits upon the throne of the universe has pledged his word for it, saying, ‘Behold I will create all things new!’ consequently, ‘new heavens, new earth;’ consequently, new tenantries, new employments, new pleasures, new joys, new ecstasies. There is a fullness of joy, a fullness of glory and a fullness of blessedness of which no living man, however enlightened, however enlarged, however gifted, ever formed or entertained one adequate conception.” —Alexander Campbell

“He that committeth sin is of the Devil; for the Devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil” (I Jn. 3:8).

  The Hope of the Gospel From the southern end of Africa extends that long cape which for many ages was considered to be a fatal barrier to all navigators. Whoever was caught in its swirling waters went down to a watery grave. It was called the Cape of Storms. But finally a bold explorer sailed around it and opened for Europe and the world a new route to the East Indies. And he changed the name of it to the Cape of Good Hope. And, so also there jutted out into the sea of life the black Cape of Death, and all who sailed beyond it seemed to be forever gone. But the Lord Jesus sailed through this dark and awful Cape and emerged "alive forevermore" on the other side (Rev. 1:18). He thus changed it into the Cape of Good Hope for the saints--"the hope of the gospel" (Col. 1:23). From beyond death comes His triumphant shout, "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore!" And "because I live, ye shall live also," is His certain...