It was “very early in the morning” (Luke 24:1), “while it was still dark” (John 20:1), that Jesus rose from the dead. Only the morning star, not the sun, shone down upon His tomb as it opened. Jerusalem’s shadows had not yet retreated, and its citizens were still asleep. Yes, it was still night, during the hours of darkness and sleep, when He arose, but His rising did not break the slumbering of the city.

And it will be during the darkness of the early morning, while only the morning star is shining, that Christ’s body—His church—will arise. Like Him, His saints will awake while the children of the night and darkness are still sleeping their slumber of death. Upon rising, the saints will disturb no one, and the world will not hear the voice that summons them. As quietly as Jesus has laid them to rest—each in their own silent grave, like children held in the arms of their mothers—He will just as quietly and gently awake them when the hour arrives. To each will come the life-giving words, “let those who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy” (Isaiah 26:19). Into their graves the earliest ray of glory will find its way. The saints will soak up the first light of morning, while the clouds of the eastern sky will give only the faintest hints of the uprising. The gentle fragrance of the morning, along with its soothing stillness, invigorating freshness, sweet loneliness, and quiet purity—all so solemn and yet so full of hope—will be theirs.

Oh, how great the contrast between these blessings and the dark night through which they have just passed! Oh, how great the contrast between these blessings and the graves from which they have been freed! They will shake off the dirt of earth that once held them, flinging mortality aside, and will rise with glorified bodies “to meet the Lord in the air.” The light of “the bright Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16) will guide them upward along a brand-new path. The beams of that Star of the Morning will, like the star of Bethlehem, direct them to the presence of the King. “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). HORA TIUS BONAR

While the hosts cry Hosanna, from heaven descending, With glorified saints and the angels attending, With grace on His brow, like a halo of glory, Will Jesus receive His own.

“ ‘I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

A soldier once said, “When I die, do not play taps over my grave. Instead, play reveille, the morning call, the summons to arise.”

The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.—He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly; Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.—Abstain from all appearance of evil.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil: whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus.—Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things.—When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe.

The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, . . . groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.—Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.—When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Ye that are the Lord 's remembrancers, keep not silence.

Thou . . . hast made us unto our God kings and priests.—The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.

And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.

I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain.—Their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.—The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.—Pray one for another: the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Come, Lord Jesus.—Make no tarrying, O my God.—Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God.

Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down!—As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?—Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.

Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.—Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.—God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.—Whom having not seen, ye love.

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly; Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.—It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord ; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The coming of the Lord draweth nigh. The judge standeth before the door.

Surely I come quickly.

Seeing . . . that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?

The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.

We ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

That blessed hope . . . the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Our conversation is in heaven.

It is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 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.

Learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

I wait for the Lord , my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Watch, . . . for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.