p. 4 | The Second Advent by James White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Mar 7, 1878

The Second Advent.

By James White

MANNER, OBJECT, AND NEARNESS OF THE EVENT.

"Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. 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." John 14:1–3.

JESUS was soon to leave his disciples and ascend to the Father when he addressed those words to them. And in his words of instruction and consolation he was preparing their minds for that event which would prove a grief to them. His presence constituted their joy. His absence would be their sorrow. "Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast." Matt. 9:15.

The real friends of our Lord will ever desire his tangible presence. Worldly professors, whose affections are placed upon the things of this life, will enjoy his presence quite as well. And while a worldly church may treat with indifference, or reject, or even scoff at, the Bible doctrine of the soon return of the Lord, those who truly love their divine Master will receive the word relative to his coming with all gladness.

Our Lord was tenderly introducing to his disciples the subject of his ascent to heaven. "Little children, yet a little while I am with you." John 13:33. "Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards." Verse 36. This statement caused distress and consternation in the minds of the disciples, and led Peter to say to his Lord, "Why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake." Verse 37. Then follow the comforting words of the text, assuring the sorrowing disciples that their Lord would come again, and receive them to himself.

And while the church waits in joyous expectation of speedy deliverance, her Lord saith, "Surely, I come quickly," to which the church responds, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:20. The certainty of the second advent of Christ, the manner and object of his coming, and the nearness of the event, are points of thrilling interest to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

He will appear the second time. Paul speaks directly upon this point: "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. And unto them that look for him, shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Heb. 9:28. Again he says, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour JESUS Christ." Titus 2:13. Another apostle testifies to this point thus: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2.

The second advent of Christ will be personal and visible. This proposition is sustained by a large amount of testimony from the highest authority.

1. The Son of God himself, when addressing his disciples upon the subject of his second advent, pointed forward to the generation that should witness the signs of that event in the sun, moon, and stars, and said, "They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Matt. 24:30. See also Mark 13:26; 14:62; Luke 21:27; John 14:3.

2. Holy angels at his ascension made a most definite and decisive declaration relative to his personal and visible second advent. When Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives, his disciples looked steadfastly toward heaven to catch the last glimpse of their Lord as he was taken up from them. And as a cloud was receiving him from their sight, "behold, two men, [angels] 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 into heaven." Acts 1:10, 11. The doctrine of the personal and visible appearing of our divine Lord here rests upon the veracity of the two holy ones in white, who testified that the same Jesus would return again from heaven, in like manner as he ascended up to heaven. And in agreement with these words of assurance are those of the Revelation: "Behold he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him." Rev. 1:7.

3. Paul testifies to the personal and visible second advent of Christ in language not to be misunderstood. 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." 1 Thess. 4:15, 17. See also Titus 2:3; 1 John 3:4.

At the second coming of Christ, the voice of the Archangel will be heard, the righteous dead will be raised, and the living righteous will be changed to immortality. It is then that victory over death and the grave is triumphantly shouted by all who receive the gift of eternal life at the last trump. "Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 1 Cor. 15:51-55.

Again the apostle sets forth the hope and joy of the true church of Jesus Christ in all ages, while passing through persecutions and great tribulation, and while her members have been falling under the power of death and the grave, in these consoling words: "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [God brought Christ from the dead, and will also bring from the dead, with Christ, all the righteous dead.] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [go before] them which are asleep. 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thess. 4:13-18.

When this visible union of the Redeemer and the redeemed shall take place, then the church will be no more separated from her adorable Lord, but, with all the endowments of immortality, will ever be with him. J. W.