In the prophetic language of the Scriptures, the condition of the race of mankind throughout its entire history in sin and ignorance, suffering and death, is likened to a dark nighttime. “Darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people” Isaiah 60:2.
Truly it has been a fearful time of darkness in which mankind has been groping for the better things which instinctively all realize do not exist at this time but must come somehow, somewhere. And in this dreadful nighttime how many have dreamed fearful dreams, having the awful nightmare of eternal torment before their minds! But, thank God, the Scriptures represent that a day is approaching, “The Day of the Lord,” in the dawning of which all the shadows of ignorance and prejudice shall roll away.
In the Psalms, David portrays the transition from the darkness of the night to the glorious radiance of the day. “Weeping may endure for a night; but joy cometh in the morning” Psalm 30:5. It will be a joyous time for the world when all shall be enlightened concerning the goodness of the Creator and when sorrow and sighing; suffering and death shall be no more. The “Sun of Righteousness” will be formed of the members of the true church, the faithful followers of Jesus, as the Lord Jesus declared, “The righteous shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43). It shall arise with “healing in its beams” in the sense that the church together with her Lord will be manifested in power and great glory to all the world and will illuminate the whole earth with the knowledge of the glory of the Father which will result in the healing and blessing of all the families, kindred, and nations of the earth. It is no wonder that the “whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now, waiting for the manifestation of the Sons of God” –this glorious Sun of Righteousness (Romans 8:22,19).
