GENERAL ARTICLES by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C.

FromReview and Herald, Harvest Ingathering Number

GENERAL ARTICLES

By F. M. W.

Jesus Is Coming

JESUS is coming again. This blessed truth is plainly taught by the sacred writers. The Lord himself proclaims it. With comforting assurance the promise was given the disciples on the night preceding the betrayal. He told them that he was about to go away, but that he went to prepare a home for them, and that he would come again to take them to the mansions which he would prepare:—

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14: 1-3.

At his first advent Christ came as a sin offering for the world. When he comes the second time, he will come not as an offering for sin, but to bring salvation to his people: “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.

A Personal Coming

The manner in which Christ will return to the earth is clearly taught in the Scriptures. His coming will be a personal coming. He declares: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again.”

A Literal Coming

The second coming of Christ to the earth will be a literal event. In Christian experience the Saviour takes his children into close relationship with himself. At conversion he takes up his dwelling place in their hearts by the presence of his Holy Spirit. In trial, in sickness and sorrow, and in the hour of death he sustains them by his gracious presence. He may even give them visions of the glory land, as he did Stephen before he fell asleep. These are precious assurances of Christ’s love, but they do not constitute his second coming, as foretold in the Scriptures of Truth.

The second coming of Christ is neither at conversion nor at death. It takes place at the end of the world. The Lord himself, personally and literally, will return to this earth: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall

rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4: 16, 17.

A Visible Coming

The coming of Christ will be a visible event. He himself tells us that we are not to believe that he comes in the secret chamber nor in the desert: “Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the

coming of the Son of man be.” Matt. 24: 26, 27. When he comes, he will be attended by the glory of the Father and by the vast hosts of heavenly angels: “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” Matt. 16: 27. When he left the earth, a cloud received him up out of men’s sight. He will return in precisely the same manner. Said the heavenly messengers to the men of Galilee who were gazing after their ascending Lord: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1: 11. The apostle John bears similar testimony

to the manner in which Christ will return to the earth: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” Rev. 1: 7.

The Day and Hour of His Coming Unknown

The day and the hour when Christ will return to the earth have not been revealed. It is foolish indeed to speculate, or to seek to demonstrate by mathematical calculations just when that event will take place. The Lord himself plainly declares: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Matt. 24: 36.

But while the exact time has not been revealed, the Scriptures clearly teach that we may know when his coming is near, even at the doors. After enumerating conditions which would be found in the world immediately preceding his second advent, and the signs which would be seen in the heavens and in the earth, the Lord declares: “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Matt. 24: 32, 33.

We may find by a comparison of the predictions of the sacred writers with the conditions which exist in the world today that the coming of the Lord is now near. We have space here to call attention very briefly to only a part of these indications.

Time Prophecies

In the prophetic writings, particularly in the books of Daniel and the Revelation, are found great lines of prophecies in which are clearly delineated much of the history of this world, and many important events which have taken place. These prophecies all focalize at the second coming of Christ. Comparing these predictions with the history of the human family, and with the conditions which exist today, we find that with one voice they proclaim that we have reached the closing days in earth’s history. Several of these important prophecies may be enumerated as follows:— 1. The dream of the great image, given to Nebuchadnezzar. Dan. 2. 2. The four great beasts representing the four universal monarchies, together with the notable little horn of Daniel 7. 3. The longest definite prophetic period mentioned in the Bible is brought to view

in the eighth and ninth chapters of Daniel, beginning in 457 B. C. and ending in A. D. 1844.

4. The prophecy of Daniel 11 and 12, giving an outline of much of the history of the world from the days of Daniel down to the end of time, graphically describing the breaking up of the Roman Empire, the rise of the Ottoman Kingdom as a great power, and its final destruction just before the coming of the Lord. 5. The messages to the seven churches, as brought to view in the first three chapters of Revelation. 6. The prophecy of the seven seals as found in Revelation 6. 7. The events taking place under the blowing of the seven trumpets. Revelation 8, 9. 8. The prophecy of the two-horned beast of Revelation 13, which many Bible students believe to be a symbol of our own country and the part which it will act in the closing drama of earth’s history.

Sign Prophecies

In addition to this list of long-time prophecies which might be enumerated more at length, the Scriptures of Truth bring to view a number of what might be termed sign prophecies of the coming of the Lord. Of these we present the following partial list:— 1. Signs in the heavens. Matt. 24: 29, 30. 2. Signs in the physical earth. Heb. 1: 10-12. 3. Signs in the social world. Luke 17: 26-30. 4. Signs in the industrial world. James 5: 1-8. 5. Signs in the political world. Joel 3: 9-16. 6. Signs in the religious world. 2 Tim. 3: 1-5. 7. The proclamation of the gospel to all nations of men. Matt. 24: 14.

That these scriptures are meeting their fulfillment today is apparent to many thinking Christian people of different churches and various religious beliefs. The portent and outcome of the thrilling problems now engaging the attention of men in the church, in state, and in society have been made subjects of divine prediction. The world today appears on the verge of a great revolution. The meaning of these things now taking place on the earth is obvious to the student of the prophetic word. And based upon these fast fulfilling signs which he has given, he sends to the world a message proclaiming his coming near. Through his prophet the Lord says to his waiting people: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Joel 2: 1. To the church of God the message is first to be proclaimed, and from Zion the word is to go out to all the inhabitants of the land.

Of this same message the Lord speaks through his apostle John: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14: 6, 7. This message is being proclaimed to all the world today. By tongue and by pen, by the living preacher and through the printed page, the message of the Lord’s coming is going to earth’s remotest bounds. That message is being carried in part by the people represented by this paper. Yes, Jesus is coming again, coming back to this earth to reign, coming to dwell among his people as their Lord and King, as the chiefest among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely. Dear reader, are you prepared for that coming? Will you be enabled to meet your Lord in peace in that great day? Entering into fellowship with him here is the prelude to the fellowship of eternity. Loving him here is the beginning of a love which may last through the endless ages. Let us make peace with him now, and be found of him in peace when he shall come to claim his own. F. M. W.

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