The Coming of the Lord by C. MONROE

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 28, 1866

The Coming of the Lord.

By C. MONROE

MARTIN LUTHER, who died in 1546, said that something strikingly awful would take place to warn the world of its approaching end; and that even then, the last day was at the door. That “something awful” has already occurred in many particulars, especially in the alarming, dark, dismal day of May 19, 1780, which was foretold by our Saviour, as a warning of the last great day. An eye-witness said of that day, “It was very thick and dark before 12 o’clock; and after that it looked frightful!”

“All the world,” says Luther, “will be saying to itself, Peace and safety.” 1 Thess. v, 3. This seems now the general cry, the world wide, even in the midst of alarms,—heralding “sudden destruction.”

“The day shall come as the lightning’s stroke! Help, O Lord! let the final stroke come, and make an end. When we shall see the sun and moon turning away their eyes, then has the time come for the death of nature, when God and angels come to lay her in the tomb!—the funeral of the world!”

About one year before his death, Luther said of passing events, “I do most earnestly hope that these are the blessed signs of the immediate end of all things.” And when drawing still nearer the close, he said, “I persuade myself, verily, that the day of judgment will not be absent full three hundred years more. God will not, can not, suffer this wicked world much longer. May he come at once. Let him cut the whole matter short with the day of judgment; for there is no amendment to be expected. I see no other prayer that is fitting but this, Thy kingdom come. Come when he may, he will find but a small flock of believers.”

“He will delay his coming so long,” says Matthew Henry, “that wicked people will begin to defy it, and to say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming?’ They will challenge him to come, and his delay will harden them in their wickedness. Even his own people will begin to despair of it; and conclude he will never come, because he has passed their reckoning, saying, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.” Isa. xlix, 14.

The Judgment day, embracing the coming of Christ, is said to be that day for which all other days were made, not of twelve, or twenty-four hours merely, but a thousand of our brief years. 2 Pet. iii, 8. This makes it a most awful, tremendous day! Thus God speaks and acts in reference to it. Hence his many seasonable, faithful warnings to the world to prepare for it. This is as it should be; for a failure here on our part is for eternal ages! How then can we spend our days in sin, or vanity, and throw ourselves away!

“God is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that

any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Pet. iii, 9. Hence his long delay of coming as we expected more than twenty years ago. He saw that we were wholly unprepared for such an event; and has given us ample time to regulate our hearts and lives, and get ready. And have we done it? It was in mercy to us, and to all, that he has so long delayed his coming. By this can we fail to perceive that it is no small thing to get ripe and ready for so great an event?—the greatest of all; the turning-point of the world’s destiny for eternity! Hence, he waited to the extreme of mercy and forbearance. But woe, woe, to the scoffer, and all the wicked when he comes!

Again, as to the evidences of Christ’s speedy coming we have abundance in the pervading wickedness of the world, its abounding iniquity, and its likeness to Sodom, and the old world in the days of Noah and Lot, when “all flesh had corrupted its way, and the earth was filled with violence.” Gen. vi, 12, 13, 18, 20; Luke xvii, 26–30. What Bro. Foote says of our country, may we think be said of the world itself: “It is hopelessly in the hands of Satan.” And it will so remain till Christ comes. Lord, hasten the day; for our souls are sick with every day’s report of wrong and outrage, with which the earth is filled! “At Brownville, Texas,” says The Press, “it is a common remark at the breakfast table, ‘Well, who was killed last night?’ Or, ‘Were there any bodies found floating in the river yesterday?’”

Another sign is the general declension of morals and religion in the nominal church. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men (Christians, Wakefield), shall be lovers of their own selves, &c. 2 Tim. iii, 1.

Still another sign is found in the rise and progress of modern Spiritualism, so called, but really Diabolism. 1 Tim. iv, 1. Modern, because it is an old thing new-vamped,—about as old as Satan himself, its author. “Ye shall not surely die,” is its true rendering. It is a remarkable co-incidence that its rise was almost immediately after 1844, the same year Christ passed, as we believe, from the holy to the most holy place, in the heavenly sanctuary.

But he will come in the very midst of these diabolical works of Satan and his numerous adherents; for Paul says, “whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming.” 2 Thess. ii, 8. This coming takes off the mask, dooms Satan, and gives a true version of Spiritualism. Besides, this thing tells where we now are, and what is the next mighty event at the doors.

Finally, as there was in the first advent, a general “expectation, and all men mused in their hearts” upon the subject, Luke iii, 15, so it is now. All seem to be looking for some great and startling event, known only to the “children of light.” They are not in darkness concerning it. 1 Thess. v, 4, 5. Others will remain in darkness, till, as the lightning’s stroke, it flashes upon their astonished view. Matt. xxiv, 27; Luke xxi, 35.

Now, brethren, what shall we say of that delightful, yet dreadful day; the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? What said the good Richard Baxter? “The thoughts of the coming of the Lord are most joyful to me. . . . Oh, that I might see his kingdom come!” That good man, it is said, lived in continued longing, and looking for the appearing of the Lord Jesus. “I am sure,” said he, “it is the work of faith, and character of his saints to love his appearing; and to look for that blessed hope.” Yes, this is the test of character and basis of the promise of the crown of righteousness of which the apostle speaks, which is laid up for him, and for all that love Christ’s appearing. See 2 Tim. iv, 8.

For my part, far as I am from the high position of Baxter, I think I can safely say, I love my blessed Saviour so well that I should rejoice exceedingly to see him coming in the clouds of heaven, “the fairest of all the fair that fill the heavenly train!” Why not long to see my greatest, dearest, best friend, who has done so much for me? He bore for me the shameful cross, and carried all my grief.” The debt of love I owe is great; but I have nothing to pay. Here is my heart, my life, ’tis all that I can give.

C. MONROE.

Waldo, Me.