p. 4 | A Neglected Subject by L. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Nov 3, 1904

A Neglected Subject

By L. A. S.

The New York Christian Advocate notes that “several clergymen, some of considerable ability, are predicting at this time that the world will come to an end in the year 1906, and that the new heaven and new earth of which St. John speaks will then come. This,” says the Advocate, “is the extreme of rashness, and only those can be convinced by them who are constitutionally credulous or utterly unacquainted with the history of the world and with the teachings of the New Testament.” In proof the Advocate cites the words of Christ, “Of that day and hour knoweth no man.” It is very true that no man can tell the day nor the hour, nor even the year, of Christ’s coming, and that it is folly, in the face of this express declaration of the Saviour, for any man to presume to do so. But what about Christ’s words pointing out the signs which were to herald the approach of that day, so that it might be known that it was “near, even at the doors”? What about the solemn admonition of Christ to his followers, repeated over and over, to “watch” for his return? The Advocate is always ready to point out the folly of those who set times for Christ’s return, or for events which are to occur in connection with the end of the world, but it never has anything to say about the Saviour’s plain statements which show that the proximity of his coming would be known and must be known to such as would not be overtaken unawares by the day of God. Why is it thus silent on so important a topic?

The attitude of the Christian world toward the subject of the second coming of Christ is such as would suggest that he had simply declared that no one could know the time when he would return, and therefore it is useless to proclaim his coming or to try to know anything about it. They treat it as though it were a mystery to be revealed only by the act of God at some future time, nobody can say when. They act as though the Scripture read, “Of that day and hour knoweth no man,” therefore it is of no use to concern yourselves about it or take any thought concerning it. But Christ said that the fact that no man could know the day nor the hour is the very reason why men are to “watch” for his coming. “Watch

therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matt. 25:13. We could not watch for him if we did know the day and hour of his coming, and such knowledge on our part might lead us to neglect the preparation needful to meet him; nor, on the other hand, could we watch for him unless we knew that the time for his appearing was near, as shown by the appearance of the signs which he described as being the heralds of his approach. Those signs have nearly all been fulfilled, and those who are standing to-day in the full light of the words Christ has spoken on this momentous subject are not in ignorance of the nature of the times our world has reached. The world now needs, above all other things, the proclamation of the message which bids men “watch” for the return of the coming One. L. A. S.