THAT DAY by G. V. Kilgore

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 29, 1876

THAT DAY.

By G. V. Kilgore

There is one text of Scripture with which all opposers of the Advent message are acquainted. It is this: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, but my Father only.” Matt. 24:36. This scripture seems to them to imply that we can know nothing about the time when that day will come; that it is not our duty to inquire when it is near; and, what is still worse, that we are prying into the secrets of the Almighty when we try to learn of its approach. But their conclusions are so far from being in harmony with Christ’s teaching that they directly contradict what he commanded. After telling of his coming, and the great signs to precede it; and after illustrating those signs by the parable of the fig-tree, he says, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it [his coming] is near, even at the doors.”

While they oppose this message and fight so bitterly against its attending truths—such as the Sabbath of God’s law, and other important doctrines which are taught in all the Scriptures—they profess to love Jesus and do his commandments. But if they do not “know” when his coming “is near, even at the doors,” they disobey their Lord and do not his commandments. The Bible plainly shows that near the time of the day of the Lord there is to be a special work done in preparation for his coming; and that a people will be looking for that event, so that it will not come upon them unawares. This is evident from the following scriptures, which apply to the time in question:—

“Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you. Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be [yes, it is possible] ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.” “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Zeph. 2:1–3; Joel 2:1. Thus these prophets predicted the second advent message, and the duty of all mankind at the time it should be given. The prophet John, in A. D. 96, prophesied of the same things. Rev. 14:6–16. And Paul declares that there will be a people expecting the coming of Christ, on whom that day will not come as a thief. 1 Thess. 5:4.

Yet with all this evidence, and many other scriptures to confirm our knowledge of the coming day of God, men will say, “We can’t tell anything about it.” Thus they contradict the holy prophets, and disobey the Lord that bought them. And by so doing they fulfill Peter’s prediction: “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Pet. 2:1. He also says, “And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

So be careful, dear friends, you who incline to follow the teachings of men who scorn the idea of knowing when the day of the Lord is near. When Christ said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man,” etc., he did not say men should not know when it is near; for just before that he plainly said, “Know that it is near.”

G. V. KILGORE.