The Time of Patience by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 1, 1867

The Time of Patience.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

It is manifest that the people of God will, just before the coming of Christ, have a long trial of their patience in waiting for him after they have expected him to come. Thus, Paul says, “for ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” Heb. x, 36, 37. Why do the saints need patience when Jesus is coming in a little while? Because they expected that he would come before, and have been waiting for him. James says, “Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James v, 7, 8.

This shows, first, that the saints will expect Christ to come before he does really come; second, that they will have to wait for his coming; third, that their patience will be severely tried by his long delay; and fourth, that he will, at length, come when their patience has been sufficiently tried. To the next to the last state of the church, Jesus says, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly.” Rev. iii, 10, 11. Here the time of patience is again immediately connected with the coming of the Lord. So it is, also, in chap. xiv, 12-14. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth, yea, saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. And I looked and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man,” &c.

Why the need of patience here more than any where else? The reason is obvious. Years ago the people of God expected Christ to come. They prepared for it, and told the world that he was coming and warned them to get ready for it. But he did not come. Months lengthened into years, and many long years have rolled slowly by and yet he does not come. The careless laugh, the unbelievers mock, and the wicked persecute. Every true heart is forced to cry out, “How long, O Lord?” From Heaven comes the answer, Have patience a little longer, and I will soon come.

Brethren and sisters in this blessed hope, the end will come at last. Jesus will come, and we shall have immortality. Every setting sun makes it one day nearer. A few more winters and summers and it will all be over. Do not faint by the way. “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt. xxiv, 13.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Athens, Me.