The Lord Will Come by W. N. Glenn

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 12, 1885

The Lord Will Come.

By W. N. Glenn

THERE is no fact more thoroughly fortified by Bible evidence than that the Lord Jesus will come again, to redeem his people and to punish the disobedient. It has been positively asserted by himself, and by inspired prophets and apostles. Yet it is surprising to see the efforts of even his professed followers to evade the practical recognition of this most important truth. One of the most prolific sources of skepticism on this point is the multitude of mistakes and false theories that have been promulgated regarding the event. Because of these, many refuse to consider the matter at all. But this is a very inefficient way of refuting error.

When the disciples inquired of the Lord concerning his coming, his first warning was, “Take heed that no man deceive you; for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many.” Matt. 24 : 4, 5. Mark, the Saviour did not say that, on account of the many deceptions relative to his advent, therefore they should give no attention to the matter. On the contrary, that was the very reason why they should “take heed.” He is coming, nevertheless. What is it to take heed? Is it to turn a listless ear to the truth upon the subject—the testimony of the word of God? By no means; this is just the way to lay one's self liable to deception. Those who receive not the truth, either through rejection or neglect, are just the ones who will be susceptible to the “strong delusions” of the last days. See 2 Thess. 2 : 7–12. To “take heed” is to study the inspired testimony, that we may be prepared, by correct knowledge, not merely to withstand delusion by a stolid indifference or neutrality, but to discriminate between the false and the true. For just as sure as there are to be false prophets and false Christs in the last days, there will also be true prophets, whom it will not be safe to ignore; and there will come the true Christ.

It should be borne in mind that in the same interview there is another warning given concerning the coming of the Lord, that is equally as important as that above cited. It is the exhortation to “Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matt. 25 : 13. Again: “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21 : 34–36.

The most common excuse for not watching for this momentous occurrence is, “We can tell anything about it, and it is all folly to be troubled about that which we cannot know.” But this is the very reason why the Lord himself exhorts us to watch; and he has left on record, for our instruction, a parable, specially illustrating this lesson. “For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore; for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13 : 34–37.

The surest way to take heed against the vagaries of fanatics and false prophets, whose teachings are but the delusions of the arch-deceiver, is to take heed to the instructions of the word of God. Signs have been given by which we may know that the Lord's coming is “near, even at the doors,” and the manner of his coming has been described (Matt. 24; Acts 1 : 11; 2 Thess. 4 : 15–17), for the express purpose of protecting those who will take heed thereto, from the deceptions of the last days. The individual who turns away from all consideration of the subject of the Redeemer's advent, and loves not the contemplation of his appearing and kingdom, is just the one who, in some way or other, will be deceived concerning the event. He may, by wholesale rejection, evade delusion by the false proclamations of time-setters and those who will say, “I am Christ;” but, on the other hand, he will surely be found “sleeping” when the “Master of the house” really comes, in an hour when he thinks not. It is just as important to be ready when the Lord does come, as to be guarded against false alarm. Being ready is the only safe position.

W. N. GLENN.