Amen!! The love of Jesus when allowed into the heart will be the guarantee that we shall awake when Jesus calls. We know His voice because we have been listening to it while here on Earth. Unlike the still small voice that speaks today, His call to us then will shake the whole Earth and the heavens.
An earthquake marked the hour when Christ laid down His life, and another earthquake witnessed the moment when He took it up in triumph. He who had vanquished death and the grave came forth from the tomb with the tread of a conqueror, amid the reeling of the earth, the flashing of lightning, and the roaring of thunder. When He shall come to the earth again, He will shake "not the earth only, but also heaven." "The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage." "The heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll;" "the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." But "the Lord will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel." Hebrews 12:26; Isaiah 24:20; 34:4; 2 Peter 3:10; Joel 3:16.
I always smile and think on the reaction of the soldiers who had mistreated Jesus while on the cross. They were part of those that surrounded the tomb. What a scene to witness the power of God and the resurrection of Christ!! Unlike the Jews who had great light and professed to serve God, how what were the feelings of the soldiers once they realized what they had seen and gotten over their fear?
Christ came forth from the tomb glorified, and the Roman guard beheld Him. Their eyes were riveted upon the face of Him whom they had so recently mocked and derided. In this glorified Being they beheld the prisoner whom they had seen in the judgment hall, the one for whom they had plaited a crown of thorns. This was the One who had stood unresisting before Pilate and Herod, His form lacerated by the cruel scourge. This was He who had been nailed to the cross, at whom the priests and rulers, full of self-satisfaction, had wagged their heads, saying, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save." Matthew 27:42. This was He who had been laid in Joseph's new tomb. The decree of heaven had loosed the captive. Mountains piled upon mountains over His sepulcher could not have prevented Him from coming forth.
At sight of the angels and the glorified Saviour the Roman guard had fainted and become as dead men. When the heavenly train was hidden from their view, they arose to their feet, and as quickly as their trembling limbs could carry them, made their way to the gate of the garden. Staggering like drunken men, they hurried on to the city, telling those whom they met the wonderful news.
Apparently, despite their heathen life, they thought the resurrection of Christ to be "wonderful!" What a truth!! That heathen soldiers correctly understood that Christ represented the character of God, and that it was good news even to them who had so mistreated Him. What a thought!!! There is hope for humanity!!
