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The Great Truth

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 27, 1870

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 36, No. 15.

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The Great Truth.

[BRO. SMITH: I send the following extracts for the REVIEW, hoping others may be as much benefited as I have been, by contemplating the central thought of these passages, viz., The coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. M. E. P.]
Death is not the point of appeal which the word of God presents; Everywhere it is the second coming of our Lord.
Are ministers exhorted to be faithful in their work? It is, “I charge thee, therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, preach the word,” etc. 2 Tim. 4 : 1. And what an appeal is that! I am to preach, and you to hear; as in view of the Judgment-seat of Christ.
Are careless souls to be aroused? “What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul; or, what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then shall he reward every man according to his works.” Matt. 16 : 26, 27.
“Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” Luke 9 : 26.
“The Lord is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.” 2 Pet. 3 : 9, 10.
Are men commanded to repent? It is, “Because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world, in righteousness.” Act 17 : 31.
Are we cautioned how we build on the true foundation? It is, because “every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it; because . . . . . the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” 1 Cor. 3 : 13.
Are saints exhorted to holiness of life? It is, “That when he shall appear, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 2 : 28.
“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye, also, appear with him in glory. Mortify, therefore, your members” etc. Col. 3 : 4, 5.
“And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself,” etc. 1 John 3 : 3.
What hope? “We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” Verse 2.
And what is the secret of a holy life? “That ye come behind, in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 1 : 7.
Were they to be comforted? “Be patient, stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” Jas. 5 : 8.
And so, brethren, I might multiply instances to almost any extent. Everywhere this is the point of appeal.
The position of this great truth is one of central and commanding importance. It stands forth in the word of God, unequaled in its power to arouse the careless, to comfort the mourner, to incite holiness of life, and to exalt the Saviour and his cross.
And can you substitute death for this glorious hope of the coming of our Lord? Never! Look at the vastness of the contrast between the two. Even to the believer death is a humiliation. Of every one who goes down to the grave, it is said: “It is sown in dishonor.” But the coming of the Lord is a time of blessedness and glory.—Wm. NEWTON, in Lectures on the first two visions of the Book of Daniel.