The Second Advent by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 14, 1882

"The Second Advent."

By R. F. Cottrell

BY ELD. R. F. COTTRELL.

UNDER this title, which is in perfect harmony with numerous expressions of Scripture, a writer in the Buffalo Christian Advocate presents views which are very much at variance with his chosen title. A second implies a first while it does not disprove a third, but there can be but one second in any series of events. The sacred writers would have the Christian church look for a second advent of Christ. Says Paul, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him he shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Christ had once appeared to men, and he is to appear a second time to those who look for him according to the promise, "I will come again, and receive you to myself." Again signifies once more, or a second time.

But this writer, after referring to several instances of the Lord's appearing to his disciples in vision, proceeds to the following expressions: "The 'coming' seems a matter of course, a common occurrence, a stated feature of the dispensation." "He did 'come in the glory of his Father,' and has not ceased to come. His promise is sure, and in the recorded fulfillments we have a revelation of what is yet to come. A notable instance of his advent was to John on the Isle of Patmos." He inquires, "Was this the only coming of the Lord to the beloved disciple"? The whole character of Christ, and the current of the gospel, forces the conviction that it was merely one of many; a representative occurrence, illustrating the certainty and mode of advent, which began soon after the descent of the Spirit, and is to continue to the final catastrophe, at the end; a personal coming to spiritual vision."

What does all this mean? How many second advents are there? What is the final catastrophe of which he speaks? and in what relation to other events is it to come?

Speaking of the disciples when they saw the Lord ascend from the Mount of Olives, our writer says, "Still they hoped to see him again, and stood gazing, when two angels came to say, 'This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven.'" This agreed perfectly with the promise, "Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world." How could he be present with them, if he did not come?"

The promise to the apostles and the church, that he would not leave them, but be with them alway, to the end of the world, is made, by this writer, to agree perfectly with the promise that, though he was about to leave them and go to the Father, he would come again and take them to himself, or the assurance to the disciples by the angels, that "this same Jesus shall so come in like manner." What a good thing it is that we have the Bible, and that the poor have the gospel preached to them! If they depended upon such expositors, they might well be pitied.