His Coming a Literal Fact
By Roland E. Loasby
Has Always Had His Spiritual Presence with Us—He Will Bodily Return in Clouds of Glory Many people hesitate to study or to inquire on the subject of the coming of Christ, while they do not hesitate, day after day, to repeat the Apostles’ Creed, in which we profess to believe that Jesus shall come to judge the quick and the dead. The duty of searching the Scriptures is incumbent upon all, and this is one of the dearest of our privileges. The certainty of Christ’s coming cannot be denied. The Scriptures leave us in no doubt. Angels themselves taught the apostles, in these words: “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 1:11. Our Lord Himself has said: “I go to prepare a place for you. . . . I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2, 3. Not a Mere Spiritual Coming
The second coming of the Son of man is not a spiritual coming. Christ’s second advent does not mean merely dwelling in the hearts of His people. His coming is future. We all believe that Christ will come, that He is not here now; and yet He says, “Lo, I am with you always.” In other words, the Saviour may be supposed to say, “I am with you spiritually, and will continue with you spiritually; but the Son of man shall come again to gather His children.” Again, the people of God are represented by Paul as looking for the appearing of their Lord. Yet no one can be a child of God who has not the Spirit of God dwelling in him. “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” Rom. 8:9. Thus the Son of man is actually present with us by His Spirit now. Therefore that cannot be the same presence we speak of when we declare that we look for His appearing. But the Scriptures refer to a presence that shall be hereafter. Hence the conclusion is that a personal presence is to be expected. Christ is revealed to us in the character of Prophet, Priest, and King. The two former offices have been literally discharged in the person of the Man Christ Jesus. The third office also will be filled in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, King of kings, and Lord of lords. The apostles asked their Lord, just as He was on the point of leaving them, when He would restore the kingdom to Israel. Acts 1:6. He replied that it was not for them to know the times and the seasons. After He had spoken, He was taken out of their sight. We may readily understand the anxiety that must have been felt by the apostles as they saw their beloved Master gradually ascending from their view. Long were they disposed to loiter upon the spot. Steadfastly did they look up into heaven; and then it was that the angels addressed them: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?314this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” Verse 11. Can anything be stronger? Mark what the apostles were doing. They had seen Jesus in the body,—in that body the hands and side of which doubting Thomas had touched; in that body which, after the resurrection, had partaken of food. John 20:27; Luke 24:42. They had seen Jesus in the body ascend from earth to heaven. They watched Him until a cloud received Him out of their sight. Observe, then, that in the verse we have quoted from Acts 1, it is stated that “so,” in “like manner,” Jesus should return. What can that mean, but that He shall return personally, with a body visible and tangible, and in a cloud? In Matt. 24:30 we read: “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” What is the sign of the Son of man but the cloud of glory? Turning to Matt. 26:64, we find our Lord’s own words. “Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” It seems impossible to read such descriptions as these, abounding in details, and then deny that the Lord will come again personally. And all that has been said will apply equally against the theory held by some, that the coming of Christ is at death. No, Christ Himself descends, accompanied by His angels, and visible to all men. “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” “Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on his throne.” Acts 2:30. How was the word “throne” understood by the Jews? What meaning would it convey to them?—Surely the seat of power and authority; and this must be the meaning in which we are to receive the text. His Kingdom in This World
It is fully known that Jesus did not, at His first advent, sit on the throne; for He was despised and rejected of men. Though Pilate wrote, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” yet so far was He, who was born a King, from being acknowledged as King, that He had not where to lay His head. There is a wide difference between having the title and having come into possession of the reality. Again, some may suppose that because our Lord declared His kingdom not of this world, therefore He cannot be King upon earth. Our Lord, however, never declared that His kingdom was not to be in this world, but merely that His kingdom neither took its rise from men, nor depended upon men. When one reflects that special blessings are promised to those who look for His coming, and that there are special warnings to those who say, “My Lord delayeth His coming,” it is surely subject matter for prayerful reflection.