It is not unfrequently the case that any attempt to gain information on the subject of the Second Advent, and to learn the period of its approach, seems like striving to search into the hidden things of futurity, and like being wise above what is written. But from this charge we are abundantly vindicated by the Word of God. And the very chapter which is often brought forward to support this charge, contains an express command that we should know when Christ was near even at the doors. See Matt. xxiv, 33; Mark xiii, 29; Luke xxi, 31. Perhaps one of the most precious promises to the weary pilgrim, who would know when “these things shall be, and what shall be the sign of Christ’s coming, and of the end of the world,” is the one given to Daniel; viz., The wise shall understand. None of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. Who are the wise? Are they those who are wise in this world’s wisdom? Says the Apostle, “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” 1 Cor. iii, 18, 19. See also the following scriptures: Job v, 13; Prov. xii, 7; Isa. v, 21; Matt. xi, 25; 1 Cor. i, 17; ii, 4; 2 Cor. i, 12; Jas. iii, 15. Who then are the wise? “The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job xxviii, 28. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments.” Ps. cxi, 10. “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him, and he will shew them his covenant.” Ps. xxv, 14. Those then are “the wise,” who fear God and keep his commandments; his secret shall be with them; them he shall show his covenant; and they shall understand.
The writer of the above article remarks that the Lord seems to rebuke the curiosity of the apostles by saying, “It is not for you to know the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power.” Acts i, 7. What was the question which was here asked? It was this: “Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Verse 6. This question he did not see fit to answer directly; though it is implied by his telling them that they must be witnesses unto him, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. But when the disciples inquired concerning the signs of his coming and the end of the world, [Matt. xxiv,] the case was very different. Mark with what precision he answers their inquiries. There are two questions here asked: 1st, concerning the temple, and 2d, concerning his coming and the end of the world. He first carries them down to the destruction of Jerusalem, then through the 1260 years of Papal persecution, in which there should be tribulation to the church such as never was, and comes finally to the time when the Son of man should come as the lightning shineth from the east to the west, &c. In verse 29, he begins again and gives additional particulars in regard to his coming. He informs us of the signs in the sun, moon and stars; he describes more fully in verses 30, 31, his advent, with the scenes connected with it, and then gives the parable of the figtree and tells us to know when these things are just at hand.
But let us notice the idea that the second coming of Christ took place “in the generation that lived when he came in the flesh.” This seems to be founded on the declaration of Christ that that generation should not pass away till all these things should be fulfilled; among which was his coming “in power and great glory.” Here finding a difficulty in regard to those passages which represent him as coming in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, &c., [2 Thess. i, 8; ii, 8; 1 Thess. iv, 16; &c.,] the writer says that there appears to be another, or third, coming. ’Tis true in Matt. xxiv, the Lord “saith not ‘in flaming fire taking vengeance,’ &c.;” but he does say that “then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven.” Have all the tribes of the earth yet seen the Son of man coming? No. He says that he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Have the angels yet been sent and the elect gathered? No. He says, The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Matt. xvi, 27. Has every man been yet rewarded according to his works? Not yet. But mark the similarity between this coming and what Bro. Phillips is pleased to denominate “another advent or coming.” At the one “all the tribes of the earth shall mourn;” at the other he comes “taking vengeance;” at the one he comes “with a great sound of a trumpet;” at the other he comes with “a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” At the one he sends his angels and gathers his elect from the four winds of heaven; at the other the dead are raised, the living changed and caught up to meet him in the air. If all these passages do not refer to one and the same coming, between the two there must be a wonderful similarity.
The power and wonderful works which attended the apostles are brought up as proof that Christ had then come; and it is said that Stephen saw the Lord. But how did he see him? as one who had come the second time? No; but in heaven, standing on the right hand of God. Acts vii, 55, 56. When Jesus led his disciples out as far as Bethany and was taken up from them, they were promised by the “men in white apparel” that he should “so come in like manner.” Such was to be his second coming. Says Paul in his epistle to the Hebrews, [ix, 28.] Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second (not the third) time without sin unto salvation. This epistle was written about A. D. 64. Christ had not then come, according to Paul, the second time; nevertheless those manifestations which Bro. P. regards as signs that he had come, were fulfilling years before.
Christ, then, did not come in the days of the apostles; and he has not come yet; for those events which were to attend his coming have never taken place. But it may be asked, What will you do with “that generation?” Well, let us see whom Christ was addressing. “When ye shall see all these things, &c.” Who does Christ mean by ye? He could not mean the disciples; for they were not to see all these things; as the signs in the sun, moon and stars have only been fulfilled within the last century. The sun and moon were darkened, May 19th, 1780. The stars fell, Nov. 1833. There would be no propriety in calling it the generation of the saints; for the generation in that sense would never pass, and there would be no force in the language used; but when ye shall see all these things; it must refer to the generation living when these things should be fulfilled; and the generation now on the stage did witness the sign in the stars, 1833. “Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”
It is said there are yet some 800 generations to come; but if the passages referred to, where God promises to keep covenant and mercy with them that love him to a thousand generations, prove anything definite, they would prove that at the end of that time God would no longer keep covenant and mercy, but that is not so; for his mercy endureth forever; [Ps. cxxxvi;] it is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him. Ps. ciii, 17. We are not to take the promise that God would keep his covenant to at least a thousand generations, as a definite prophecy that the world would stand for that length of time; for177heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matt. xxiv, 35. Much are we commanded to watch, lest that day come upon us as a thief, and lest coming suddenly our Lord shall find us sleeping. And Christ says to the church, [Rev. iii, 3.] If therefore thou wilt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. But ye, brethren, says Paul, [1 Thess. v, 4,] are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief. Therefore let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober. And [1 Pet. v, 4] when the chief Shepherd shall appear we shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.