Chariots with Flaming Torches

Still further does the prophet speak of this day of preparation: “The chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken. The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall jostle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings. He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defense shall be prepared.” ^{7Nahum 2:3-5.}GSAM 78.1

What an accurate description of the modern lightning train, with the conductor constantly counting and recounting his passengers, from station to station, and they stumbling as they walk when the train is in motion. Then there is the mighty consumption of fir trees for railway ties, trestle work, snow sheds, etc. It is said that one road over the Sierra Nevada Mountains has forty-seven miles of fir-tree snow sheds. And this the prophet said would be in the “day of his preparation.”GSAM 78.2

This time of the end is also spoken of by the prophet Joel when the command is given to the Lord’s servants, “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” ^{8Joel 2:1.}GSAM 78.3

And again by the prophet Zephaniah it is said, “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” ^{9Zephaniah 2:1-3.}GSAM 78.4

To ascertain more fully what is meant by the expression “time of the end,” and when it begins, we will notice another instance where the same term is used. In the eleventh chapter of Daniel a persecuting power is introduced which was to hold its dominion until the time of the end. The Lord said of that persecuting power, “Some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it [the time of the end] is yet for a time appointed.” ^{10Daniel 11:35.}GSAM 79.1