The Coming of the King by David J. Burrell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 24, 1913

The Coming of the King

By David J. Burrell

DAVID J. BURRELL, D. D.

“Where is the promise of his coming?” 2 Peter 3:4.

The word here rendered “coming” is parousia, literally “a drawing near” or “being alongside.” It is the technical word which was used by the sacred writers to designate the second coming of Christ. In the early church a deep emphasis was laid upon this doctrine; and there is reason for profound regret that the edge of expectancy has been permitted to wear off.

It will be remembered that soon after the resurrection of Christ he met his disciples by appointment on a mountain in Galilee, where he discoursed with them on the great truths of the kingdom; and then, “while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, 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.” Acts 1:9-11.

Prophecies of His Coming

That was in the year 33 A. D., and it was now the year 66 A. D. A generation had come and gone, and still the promise was unfulfilled. “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.” So it came to pass, not only that the faith of some of the disciples was shaken, but that scoffers arose, saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?”

Now nineteen centuries have passed and the followers of Christ are still waiting, and scoffers are still asking, “Where is the promise?” Are we to conclude that there has been some mistake? Is there really such a promise? and if so, where is it?

First, it was spoken in terms clear and unmistakable by the angels on the mount of ascension: He “shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go.” This promise can not be explained away by referring it to the influential presence of Christ. It is true that he has been the commanding figure in history since those days. The power of all the Cæsars and Alexanders and Napoleons combined is not comparable with that of him who cometh from Bozrah, with garments dyed red in the wine-press of redeeming grace. But this does not answer the demands of the promise that he “shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go.” It will not answer to explain it away as a reference to the miracle of Pentecost. He did, indeed, so pour out his Spirit on that memorable day that his church was baptized with power for the great campaign before it. But this was not the coming here referred to.

Nor was the prophecy fulfilled in the coming of Christ at the destruction of Jerusalem. He came then with his fan of retribution in hand to purge his threshing-floor; but this was with no such benignant glory as when he ascended into the heavens that were opened to receive him. Nor are the conditions of this promise met by the sympathetic coming of Christ referred to in his words, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” Here is a splendid truth, which is realized in the experience of every follower of Christ; but it does not exhaust the matter in hand. The parousia lies deeper yet. Still less can the promise be explained away by referring it to Christ’s sustaining grace in the dying hour. He does meet us at the threshold of the valley of the shadow and offer his rod and staff to comfort us; but this does not cover the case. The promise given on the mount of ascension is that he shall come at a definite time and in a definite way; and this coming is further described in his own words: “They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory . . . with a great sound of a trumpet.” Matt. 24: 30, 31. “Then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth.” Mark 13: 27. Such passages as these obviously refer to a personal coming, at a definite time, in the clouds of heaven, and the holy angels with him.

The “Golden Thread,” in Scripture

Second, the promise in the Scriptures, running all through them like a golden thread. The first prophecy in the Old Testament is the protevangelium at the gate of paradise; in that prophecy there is a distinct reference to the final triumph of the Seed of woman over the power of sin. And thenceforward there is a continuous line of prediction with respect to the parousia. It is traceable in the Levitical system of Messianic rites and ceremonies, as well as in the prophetic books.

You may read the same promise in Daniel’s vision of the image with head of gold, breast of silver, thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome; they come and go. And, behold, a stone hewn out of the mountain without hand smites the image so that iron and brass and silver and gold are reduced to dust and swept away like the chaff of the summer threshing-floor. Let Daniel himself interpret it: “In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: . . . it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”

If the Old Testament speaks with no uncertain sound, the New Testament is clearer still. There are approximately a thousand allusions in the teachings of Christ and his apostles to this return of the King. In the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth chapters of Matthew we have what is familiarly known as the parousia discourse of Jesus; and whatever of uncertainty there may be as to its interpretation in detail and particular, there is no room whatever for any uncertainty as to the promise which it contains of his coming to reign gloriously in this world of ours. The teaching of the apostles is of the same tenor. Paul and Peter, James and John, were all looking for his appearing in the clouds of heaven. The book of the Revelation would be a mere dream-book, a panorama of meaningless visions, if the parousia were left out of it.

The Christians of the early church took Christ and the apostles at their word, and awaited his coming with joyful expectancy. In trying times of persecution the hope of his appearing was their strength and support. Their customary greeting morning and night was Maran atha, “The Lord cometh!”

The Promise Read in History

Third, the promise may be read clearly in the logic of events. If the angels had delivered no message to the disciples on that mountain in Galilee, if the Scriptures had made no prediction of the parousia, it would still be forced upon us by the fact that the centuries have been moving forward in converging lines of increasing light toward one focal point. What is this “one supreme divine event to which the whole creation moves”? Call it the “Golden Age” if you will. It borrows all its luster from the fact that Christ, coming down through the centuries, is flooding the world with light. He is coming to reign! “The tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

The nations that were in darkness are emerging into light. It is less than sixty years since Commodore Perry opened the ports of Japan, and Japan is one of the great powers of the world to-day. It is less than forty years since Livingstone died in middle Africa, and lo, the face of Ethiopia is turned toward the rising sun! It is not a decade since the decree against foreigners was annulled in China, and, behold, “the great wall” is no more. The darkness is lifting; the nations of earth are wheeling into line. For what? It is for wise readers of history to ask, What shall the end be? . . .

In the religious world there are three signs: First, the opening of the doors of the nations for the incoming of the gospel. In the Missionary Concerts of forty years ago there were earnest prayers for the opening of the doors. No such prayer is heard to-day. The hands of all the nations are beckoning, like those of the man of Macedonia, and all people are calling, “Come over and help us!”

Second, the enlistment of volunteers. In my seminary days it was a difficult matter to induce theological students to offer themselves for missionary service; now it is almost impossible to restrain them. The missionary boards are embarrassed. Only the choicest candidates are permitted to go. . . .

Third, the ingathering of souls. William Carey preached seven years in India without a sign of success; then Krishna

Pal was converted. Now who shall count the converts in India? It seems but yesterday that our missionaries were permitted to enter Korea; to-day Korea is a yellow harvest-field. They are coming to Christ, “a nation in a day.”

Signs of Its Near Approach

In the world of unbelief there are three signs: “First, the decay of the false religions. Of all the great religions of the centuries there are only three which survive, namely, Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity; and of these, as Max Mueller said, ‘two are moribund.’ The only religion on earth which lives to carry on a propaganda for light and civilization is the religion of Christ.

Second, the silencing of open and avowed infidelity. At the beginning of the last century the air was rent with the vociferations of Thomas Paine and Voltaire and Jean Jacques Rousseau. There was not a nation in the world which did not have its brave cohort of infidels who stood forth impiously shaking their clenched fists at God. The last of the old guard were Bradlaugh in England and Ingersoll in America; and they have gone their way.

Third, the appearing of false teachers within the church. “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” The disciples were repeatedly and most earnestly warned that in the last days false teachers were to come who would deceive, if it were possible, the very elect. They were admonished that there must first be “a falling away” before Christ could come to his own. . . . That time is now. If infidelity has ceased to fulminate its impieties outside the church, it is largely because the same work has been undertaken by men in canonicals. The Trojan horse has been wheeled within our walls. Shall we lose heart by reason of that fact?—Not at all! If a hundred millions of professing Christians were to be led away by false teachers into the wilderness of unbelief, there would still be four hundred millions on earth professing the name of Jesus and presumably true to their consecration vows. And that would be twice as many Christians as there were a century ago. The great promise holds true. And, what is more, the signs indicate that its fulfilment may not be afar off. In view of these facts, what shall we say?”

The Believer’s Attitude

First, let us believe in the promise. For thus it is written; and thus it must be. “Beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8, 9. Here is the reason for his delay. It is not because he has forgotten, but because he is long-suffering toward the children of men.

Second, let us be ready. “For in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Let us watch, therefore; not as those who stand with folded hands looking out of their windows, but rather as those who, with their sleeves rolled up, are busy in God’s harvest. He looks to us for a helping hand in the work which must needs be done before he shall part the heavens asunder and come down.

Thus let us renew our consecration to Christ. For the highway must be cast up for his coming; the stones of stumbling must be gathered out. There is something for us to do, and when it is done, O happy day! The heavens shall part asunder and his people shall cry, “Maran atha! Behold him!” For we shall see him with these eyes! Meanwhile, blessed are they that love his appearing. Amen; even so come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,—Christian Herald of Oct. 11, 1911.