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Editorial

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 22, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 38.

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Editorial

By Editor

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb. 9:28.
BLESSED work of looking for him! It means more than waiting. It is a waiting upon the Lord. “And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.” Isa. 8:17. Even though the time of looking and waiting seems long, the hope but grows brighter and stronger; for “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”
IN the old days of 1844, some who formally professed to be looking for Christ found that, after all, they were glad he did not come. They were not disappointed. Rather, they gave evidence that it was the fear that he would come, instead of the hope of his coming, that had moved them up to a certain point; then, when the time passed, they threw aside their fear, and plunged into the world. Had he really come, it would have been to their eternal loss. Their lives were not sanctified by a living hope.
THE merely doctrinal profession of a looking for the coming of Christ is illustrated by the case of the Sunday-school agent who visited an early advent camp-meeting, in Vermont, in Wm. Miller’s day. It was just after the first disappointment, of the spring of 1844. The visitor went away, and misrepresented his interview with Wm. Miller. The Midnight Cry of June 24, 1844, gave an account of his visit as follows:—
In conversation with Mr. Miller, he was disposed to press him somewhat on his disappointment, but stated at the same time that now Mr. Miller occupied the same ground that he did. He was looking for the coming of the Lord as an event that might take place at any time. Mr. Miller, surprised at this, asked if it were really so. To which he replied in the affirmative. “Did you look for Christ yesterday?” “Yes.” “Did he come?” “O, no.” “Well,” said Mr. Miller, “were you disappointed then?” “O, no,” said Mr. Welch, “I did not expect him”!!! The brethren were called to prayer, and our visitor left the ground.