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THE SAVIOUR NIGH!

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Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Jul 25, 1854

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 5, No. 25.

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THE SAVIOUR NIGH!

“So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” Luke xxi, 31.
The Word of God declares that Jesus Christ will come the second time; it also declares that his coming will be personal and visible, and the children of light are to know these things.
It is certainly taught in Matt. xxiv, 29–33; Mark xiii, 24–29; and Luke xxi, 25–31, that just before the second coming of Christ, his followers might and should know it to be “near, even at the door.” What they should know it by was certain signs, which are described the most fully by Luke; namely, “Signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth, distress of nations, with perplexity: the sea and the waves roaring—men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” Now we should not allow our expectations to look for the fulfillment of these in a manner so very glaring as to compel wicked, careless, and spiritually superficial men to receive them as signs; for it is expressly taught, or fully implied, in Matt. xxiv, 37, 39, 48–51; Luke xvii, 26–30; 1 Thess. v, 2–4, that until the very time that Christ is revealed, they will be as were the unholy in the days of Noah and Lot, undisturbed in their common worldly course, their minds taken up with “eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage, buying, selling, planting and building,” and that an “evil servant” will have no signs but what he rejects, so as to even “say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming.” “Peace and safety,” “when (that is at the very moment) the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,” and their “sudden destruction comes upon them.” Such, the Bible declares, will be the state of the wicked when Christ comes the second time. The signs will not be fulfilled in that overwhelming manner some expect; for if they were, the minds of the wicked would be forcibly prevented from indulging in their usual worldly course, and forgetfulness of God. As in the time of the Saviour’s first coming, there will be such signs as the people can choose or refuse to “discern;” so that even the great and popular majority, while not possessed of a disposition to receive truth, may now, after every sign has been given, (as that looked-up-to class did then,) desire a greater sign. See Matt. xvi, 1–3. Considering these things, have we not had as great signs as we have any right to expect from the word of God? “Signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth, distress of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” They have all been given, so that the last one is now upon us. What must we conclude, then? We must see that as we were directed by the Saviour, in Luke xxi, 31, we should now “know” that his coming and the end of the world is now “near even at the door.” Let us be comforted, since the time has arrived at which Christ taught us we should know him to be near even at the door! The end, therefore, is just upon us.
Moreover, in addition to the signs just referred to, the Scriptures give several marks of the very last time; and if those marks now exist, the Scriptures, of course, further teach that we are just at the end of the human drama. 1. The gospel was to be preached as a witness to all nations. Matt. xxiv, 14. This, no one acquainted with the history of missions, will deny is fulfilled. Then, said the Saviour, “shall the end come.” How near, then, we are to it—2. Knowledge was to be increased. Dan. xii, 4. This is accomplished. 3. Riches to be heaped up. James v, 1–3. They are. 4. The time was to come when men would not endure sound doctrine. 2 Tim. iv, 1–4. That time has arrived. 5. In the last days there shall be scoffers. 2 Pet. iii, 1–4. They have come. 6. In the last days there should also be perilous times. 2 Tim. iii, 1–7. We live in just such times as these are described to be. 7. The church, at the time of Christ’s second appearance, was to be comparable to ten virgins, half wise and half foolish. Matt. xxv, 1–13. That is its present state. 8. Evil servants were evidently to be saying, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” Matt. xxiv, 48–50. This they are now saying. 9. The wicked were to be saying, Peace and safety. 1 Thess. v, 3. They are doing so now. All the other marks laid down in the Bible, any careful observer will acknowledge, are also clearly fulfilled. Some may say, these things have existed before. No doubt some of them have at different times, but never have they been all united together—all at one time, as at the present. And if the state of things now existing is exactly what the Scripture teaches shall be in the last days and just at the period of Christ’s coming again, then we know that the kingdom of God is now nigh, and the glorious appearing of the Lord may now be expected.
It is a grievous error to suppose that Christ cannot come till the world is converted to Christianity; for the object of his coming will be to take vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the gospel, [2 Thess. i, 8, 9,]—to destroy the power of iniquity. 2 Thess. ii, 8. The Saviour himself says, the tares and the wheat are to grow together until the harvest, and the harvest is the end of the world. Matt. xiii, 30, 39, 40.
Paul did not believe in the conversion of the world, nor yet in the universal triumph of the gospel, in the last days. Read his own words, 2 Tim. iii, 1–5, 12, 13. Read Peter’s words, 2 Pet. iii. Read James v, 1, 9. Read Jude, 14–18. The Saviour expressed quite the contrary. Read his own words, Luke xviii, 8: “Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”
How can any lover of truth believe or teach the doctrine of the world’s conversion, in the face of such positive declarations of Scripture? Others believe that the Jews as a nation must be restored to Palestine before the coming of Christ. Who are Jews, under this dispensation? Let Paul answer. Rom. ii, 28, 29. “He is not a Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” And none but those who are Jews inwardly, by faith in Jesus Christ, are recognized by Christ and the apostles, as the true seed of Abraham, and heirs to the inheritance, according the promise. Rom. ix, 6–8; Gal. iii, 16, 18, 28, 29.
Under the old dispensation, the Jews were a peculiar people, with peculiar privileges; but under this dispensation those who believe in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, are all one: Christ having broken down the middle wall of partition by his death on the cross. Eph. ii, 14, 16. The kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Gentile nations, and it is to be no more till Christ come, who is the rightful heir to the kingdom. See Eze. xxi, 25, 27.
It is said, by many, that the coming of Christ is to take us all by surprise, and that we are to know nothing about it till Christ comes; for we read, “The day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night.” So it will; but to whom? On those who cry peace and safety, most assuredly; for while they are saying peace and safety, sudden destruction cometh upon them and they shall not escape. But St. Paul saith, “It shall not overtake the righteous as a thief: they are all the children of light;” they are not asleep on this subject, like others. See 1 Thess. v, 2–6. The Lord Jesus said that signs were to precede his coming, and admonished his people that when they shall see these signs, then to know of a certainty that his coming is nigh—even at the door. Matt. xxiv, 32, 33. But careless sinners and lukewarm professors do not regard the signs of the times, and consequently are ignorant of the nearness of this event. Such would do well to read the language of Christ to the Jews, who knew not the time of their visitation. Luke xix, 41–44. God has seen fit always to give notice of events before they have taken place. He revealed the time of the flood to Noah, and through his servant warned the world 120 years. Noah knew the very day that the flood was coming. Gen. vii, 4. Lot also knew before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. Gen. xix. God revealed to Joseph the seven years’ plenty and famine; [Gen. xli;] the forty years that the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness; [Num. xvi, 33;] and of the seventy years’ captivity of Judah in Babylon. Jer. xxv, 12.
Reader, do not reject this warning because your minister is silent on the subject, or is opposed to it. It is not whether he believes it or not, but is it according to the word of God? for the Bible is the only safe rule to be governed by. Should we not obey God rather than man? On which depends our salvation—the word of God, or the opinions of man? “O Earth, Earth, Earth, hear the word of the Lord!” Jer. xxii, 29. Remember, Christ has said it is the evil servant that says, My Lord delayeth his coming. Read the lamentable doom of such in Matt. xxiv, 50, 51.
By examining Scripture testimony, we find this class of men were, in the days of Christ, his most bitter opposers. Mark. xiv, 62, 64; Matt. xxvi, 3, 4, 14, 15, 57, 59, 65, 66; Mark xi, 18; xv, 10; John vii, 45–48; Luke xii, 2–6.
Take all the gospels, and by reading them attentively you will see who opposed Christ. See, also, who most strongly opposed the Apostles. Acts iv; v, 17–42; vi, 8, 14. There is little now said about the Word of the Lord. “Thus saith the Lord” is laid aside; but a great deal is said about ministers, and the beautiful sermons they preach.
Consider, before it be too late, which is of most consequence, the word of God, or the word of man. How little do the deluded multitudes consider that those on whom they are bestowing their vain adulations, for their successful efforts in quieting their consciences, by saying the Judgment is a great way off, are those very evil servants so vividly portrayed by our Lord in his parable. Reader, perceive ye not that “My Lord delayeth his coming” is nowhere found in the faithful servant’s commission? Read Matt. xxiv, 42–48.
To be found scoffing is sudden destruction. To neglect the signs of the times, in the Saviour’s estimation, is no proof of superior wisdom, but is branded with his strongly-marked displeasure. “Ye hypocrites, do ye not discern the signs of the times?” “Watch and pray always, that ye may be counted worthy to escape all those things that are coming on the earth, and to stand before the Son of man.” See Luke xxi, 34, 36.
Now, reader, look well to this matter, lest that they overtake you as a thief. Rev. iii, 3; 2 Pet. iii, 10. Prayerfully study the Word of God in reference to this important subject.
But, reader, let me ask, Are you an impenitent man or woman? Do you scoff at the doctrine of Christ’s Second Coming? What will be your fate and destiny, if you are found among the unbelieving and unwatchful and impenitent multitude, who will be overtaken as a thief? for while they are saying, “Peace and safety,” sudden destruction cometh upon them, and they shall not escape. 1 Thess. v, 3. Now consider your latter end, and be wise. Where will you appear, when the voice of the archangel and the trump of God shall rend the heavens, and the distant realms shall echo back the sound—the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand—when the atmosphere shall be ignited into a universal flame, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up? Unless you repent, believe, and obey the gospel, your doom will be dreadful and awful in the extreme. Remember, God has given you warning of his approaching judgments, and now warns you again in this little paper.
This may possibly fall into the hands of some who may love to read, hear, and contemplate the glorious realities of this event. I would say a word to such. Cast not away your confidence, which has great recompense of reward. Faithful is he that promised, who also will perform that he hath spoken. Yet a little while, and he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry. Now, the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. “Therefore, be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.” Matt. xxiv, 44.
Awake! arise! ye sleepers all, ’Tis mercy’s latest gracious call, Sinners, why will ye die? And ye who have a name to live, But daily do the Spirit grieve, For pardon quickly fly. Ad. Tracts, Vol. I.