An Interesting Letter by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 1, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 17.

An Interesting Letter.

By Editor

THE following letter was lately received from Greeley, Colo.:—

MR. EDITOR: I am somewhat interested in your church and doctrine, and should like to ask you a few questions. On what do you base your calculations, what proof have you of the near coming of Christ? The Bible distinctly states that no man shall know the day nor the hour when the Son of man cometh, not even the angels of Heaven, but my Father only. Your paper is called the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, but, so far as I have read, fail to see whereby you go to prove the near second coming of Christ. I have no doubt that any sign of the coming of the Saviour would be hailed with joy by thousands of sorrowing Christians, and many seek in vain for such a sign. If you will kindly explain, it will be deeply interesting to many who are seeking for light. MRS. N. M.

1. Believing all the Scriptures, we accept without any hesitation that which you quote; we do not pretend to know the day nor the hour, nor yet the month or the year. But if you will read a few verses before that which you quote you will find the Saviour using these words: "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 [margin, he] is near, even at the doors." Thus it is made just as clear and sure that we can know when it is near, as that we cannot know the day and the hour. We are right in our conclusions only when we take all the Scriptures and harmonize their declarations.

2. And it is even stronger than our version makes it appear to most readers, for in the original the verb "know" is in the imperative form. It is generally read as implying the possibility of knowing, whereas it declares the duty to know. The Lord intended that we should know it is near; he gave instruction whereby we might know, and then laid upon us the obligation to know by paying heed to his word.

3. The illustration used by the Saviour shows, not only that it may be known, but, that it may be easily and certainly known. Everybody knows that summer is nigh when the leaves put forth on the trees; it requires no argument in proof—it admits of no doubt. Can you wonder that we, who have made this subject a study for years, have great confidence in these words of our Saviour?

4. We are commanded to know, and instruction is given whereby we may know, because it is absolutely necessary for us to know. Jesus said that it would be as it was in the days of Noah; and we know it was necessary for them in that day to know when the flood was coming, and it was fatal to them who did not know it. And God then gave them the means whereby they might know, but they did not know because they refused to believe the warning that God sent through his servant. "So shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."

5. To say, as many do, that it makes no matter whether or not we know when it is near, or know anything about it, is to make light of our Saviour's words. In the example to which he cites us, it was no small matter whether they knew when the flood was coming. That was an extraordinary event, which demanded an extraordinary preparation. And so is the coming of the Son of man. When the flood came it was too late to make preparation; nor could they avail themselves of the preparation which others had made. Before the flood came the Lord called Noah into the ark; and that was the fatal moment for those who had not heeded the warning and had not prepared for the solemn event. "And the Lord shut him in." And when the Lord shut Noah and his family in, he shut all the rest out. Doubtless there were many souls disappointed in that day; many who thought they were as safe in the arms of God's abounding love as was Noah, only they were not "excited" and "fanatical," and thought it quite unnecessary to quit their business, and to sacrifice all they had in the world to build an ark, and thus endanger the support of their families. And perhaps they quoted Scripture to justify their "prudent" course; they may have referred to the commandment to "multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it," and with a wise shake of the head express their sorrow over Noah's neglect of his duty. And no doubt they carefully made known to the world the regret they felt over Noah's ill-advised course, because if the flood did not come, after all, it would make a great many infidels! We think all this, because we understand that human nature is pretty nearly the same in all ages; because the majority have always turned a deaf ear to the warnings sent to them from Heaven; and because the Saviour said that in that day it was as it would be in the day when his coming would be near, and we have heard this kind of talk about the doctrine and the message of the Lord's coming until we have learned the story all by heart. But they are the truly wise and prudent who hear and obey the message of warning sent by the Lord, even though they have to sacrifice every earthly interest, and subject themselves to the scorn and derision of their worldly-minded neighbors.

6. To further show that it will be as it was in the days of Noah, and that a message of warning will be given, and that the decision will be made before the Lord comes, even as it was made when Noah was shut in the ark before the flood came, we will notice a few Scriptures.

Joel 2:1. "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land [Heb., the earth] tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand." This scripture must be fulfilled; it cannot be broken. An alarm will be sounded—the inhabitants of the earth will be called upon to tremble when the day of the Lord is near. The coming of that day will affect all the inhabitants of the earth. To identify that day of the Lord, read 1 Thess. 4:16-18; 5:1, 2; 2 Peter 3:10.

1 Thess. 5:2, 3, 4. "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." At the coming of the flood almost the entire world was in darkness; it came upon them as a thief in the night. But there were a few who were not in darkness; upon them it did not come unawares. So will it be in the last days.

Rev. 22:11, 12. "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Notice on this text: This decision is rendered when the Lord is coming quickly—not after he has come. And every case is decided, whether just or unjust; the line is drawn without any further possibility of change of character, before the Lord comes, even as it was drawn between Noah and the rest of the world when the Lord shut him in the ark. The flood had not come—it was coming quickly; but the warning ceased to be proclaimed; the offer of mercy was withdrawn. Such stirring proofs from the Bible as this, which we might multiply, ought to arouse the formal, world-loving professors of this age, to the importance of the knowledge of the doctrine of the Lord's coming. But, alas, they are the very ones who are proving in their lives that it will be as it was in the days of Noah. Taking refuge in the delusion of their own supposed immortality, they turn from the words of warning, confident that no evil can overtake them.

7. A careful examination of Matt. 24 will entirely remove the prevalent idea that it is not intended that the church shall not know anything of the coming of that day. The main points are as follows: (1) The disciples asked Jesus concerning his coming and the end of the world, and what should be the sign of it. (2) To this question he made reply, both by warning them against the deceptions which would prevail in the last days, in regard to that event, and by giving them signs. (3) He instructed them more fully as to the nature of that event. (4) He illustrated the certainty of the knowledge which might be gained from his words and the signs which he gave, by the parable of the fig-tree, and enforced the obligation to give heed to this instruction. (5) He said the generation to whom the signs are given, shall not pass away till all be fulfilled. We know he referred to that generation, because the instruction will apply to no generation except that which sees the signs. The objection raised on the word this, "this generation," has no force. The same method of expression is used in Luke 17:34, which might likewise be rendered: "I tell you, in this night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken and the other left." The translators, seeing that it referred to the future and not to the then present, as is common in prophecy, rendered it "that night." (6) He showed the danger of not heeding the instruction given by citing the example of those who neglected the warning of the coming of the flood. (7) He further pointed out the danger of this neglect by showing the terrible fate of those servants, doubtless ministers, who oppose the doctrine by saying in their hearts, "My Lord delayeth his coming," who reproach those who are preaching his coming, and who choose worldly associates, or descend to worldly practices. May God give us wisdom and understanding; may we so tremble at his word, and so prepare for the things which are coming on the world, that that day shall not come upon us as a thief.

In our next we will speak further on this subject, giving some evidences that that day is now near, even at the doors.