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Fresh Courage

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 17, 1903

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 7.

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Fresh Courage

By Editor

Editorial

Why?

WHY will Jesus come again? “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.” “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me.” “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.” The purpose of our Lord’s coming is that his redeemed children may join him in the New Jerusalem, and share with him in the glory which he has won for them as the Son of man. Blessed prospect!

When?

WHEN will Jesus come again? “Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; even so ye also, when ye see all these things [definite signs mentioned by our Lord], know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished.” “In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound [the sixth trumpet closed Aug. 11, 1840], then is finished the mystery of God, according to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets.” “And these good tidings of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.” The signs mentioned by our Lord are all in the past. We are in the days of the voice of the seventh angel. As soon as this message of warning has accomplished its work in preparing the way, Jesus will come to take his people to be with him. Blessed prospect!

How?

How will Jesus come? “They shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” “If therefore they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the wilderness; go not forth: Behold, he is in the inner chambers; believe them not. For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.” “This Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven.” “Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him.” The coming of Jesus, when he takes his people to be with him, is not at death. Death is not the friend who introduces us into the presence of our Saviour. Death is an enemy. This coming of Jesus is not hidden from the world. The world will know when Jesus comes; for “there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.” Sinners will know when Jesus comes; for they “shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints.” But at the revelation of his glory the righteous will “rejoice with exceeding joy.” Only a little time remains in which to prepare for the coming of the Lord. “Watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” “Come, Lord Jesus.”

Fresh Courage

THE advent message is taking a new hold upon the hearts of the believers. A new hope is springing up in many hearts. The confidence that Jesus is really soon coming is being revived, and the work of preparing the way is now being pushed with renewed zeal. Fresh courage is filling the souls of many who had begun to faint in their minds. Let us praise the Lord for this, and push forward with earnestness. A great work is before us, but we have a mighty Leader, who “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” The very being of God is pledged that his word shall not fail, and what he has said will surely come to pass. We may remember with profit the experience of the children of Israel: “There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” The same is true of the experience of God’s people in all the centuries, and as the basis of our confidence for the future, “we have the word of prophecy made more sure.”
“Then let my faith and hope grow stronger; My Father’s promise still is sure. Jesus soon is coming; this is my song; Cheers the heart when joys depart, and foes are pressing strong.”