HIS SECOND COMING by George B. Thompson

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 19, 1915

HIS SECOND COMING

By George B. Thompson

Many Signs to Precede the Event—People in All Ages of the World Have Looked Forward to It—Definite Promises Given—The Signs Are Everywhere That Fulfill the Word

Sermon by ELDER GEORGE B. THOMPSON

Takoma Park, Washington, D. C., November 15, 1916

“JESUS went out, and departed from the temple; and His disciples came to Him for to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Matt. 24: 1-3.

The Saviour treated this question as a proper one; and it seems to me that the question the disciples asked at this time is a very proper one for every disciple of the Lord to ask,—“What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Things are not always going on as they are. The world will come, sometime, to what the scripture calls its end. There will be an event called the second coming of Christ; and if there is any subject, that ought to interest the human family, it is this subject.

We are interested in a great many things. Men are interested in making money, in buying and selling, in politics, and sometimes they get interested in other people's business; but the great question that we all ought to be interested in is brought out in this text: “What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?”

Military mast on a modern battleship, enabling the “spotter” to sight the enemy quickly, and also to observe the accuracy of range and fire.

THE GREATEST OF ALL EVENTS

Now there is no greater event than this. The Saviour was here once as a babe. He came in weakness, born in a manger, died and was buried, and ascended. When He comes the second time, it will be altogether a different event. I want to read a few texts that state something about what will take place when He comes the second time:

“Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.” Luke 9: 26.

The world has never seen such an event as this. When Jesus comes, all the glory of heaven will be revealed. He comes in His own glory. No one has ever seen that in all its fullness. Christ appeared once to a man when he was going into Damascus, and he saw a light that shone above the brightness of the sun.

Christ will come in the glory of the angels. When one angel came down to resurrect the Saviour, the Roman guards were like dead people. What do you think will happen when they all come—when a hundred million, and millions and millions more, of these celestial beings come in all their glory, the glory of the Father, and the glory of the Son? The world has never seen anything that approaches such a great event as this.

THE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING

For what does Christ come? “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.

Christ has gone to prepare a place, to get a home ready for His people. He says, “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.” Any one who believes the text I have just read, is an Adventist. You can not believe what Christ said on this occasion, without being an Adventist. Jesus says, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” He is coming after His people.

I am aware that some people have an idea that we go to heaven immediately when we die, if we are good; if we are not, that we go somewhere else. If that were true, we can readily see there would be no need of the second coming of Christ. But this is not the way the Lord has said we are going to heaven. Jesus is coming after us, that where He is, there we may be also. Your hope and mine as Christians, and the hope of all the Christians that have lived since the fall of man, is in the fulfillment of this promise to come again. Now suppose Jesus did not come. Then there would be no way for us to be with Him.

LOVES HIM, BUT DOES NOT WANT TO SEE HIM

I remember that one time when I was preaching in a town in West Virginia, a woman became interested in many things I was saying. One day she said to me: “I don't like to hear about the second coming of Christ. I hope He won't come in my day.” I said, “Are you a Christian?” “O, yes; I was a Christian before you were born.” “Well, don't you love the Lord?” I asked. “Yes, I love the Lord; but I don't want Him to come in my day.”

I have thought about that many times since. Here is a man

away from home. He has been gone a long time, and writes a letter home, saying, “Wife, I am coming home.” The wife reads the letter, and says: “I love my husband more than anybody else. I love him with all my heart. But I hope he won't come home in my day.” What would you think about that? You would conclude there was something wrong in the family, wouldn't you? Of course you would.

So when we hear a professed Christian saying he hopes Christ isn't coming in his day, there is something wrong in the family. He understands quite well that if Christ did come, he would probably be lost. This doctrine of the coming of Christ is a good thermometer by which to test your religion. If we really love Christ, we want to see Him.

NO CABLEGRAM NEEDED

The coming of Christ is not some spiritual affair that no one knows anything about. I read of a clergyman, some time ago, who made the statement that he would not be surprised any time to get a cablegram that Christ had descended on the Mount of Olives. Well, anybody might get such a cablegram; but you may be sure, if you do, that it is not so. In Rev. 1:7 we read, “Behold, He cometh, . . . and every eye shall see Him.” No cablegram will be necessary to announce the event.

At the ascension, Jesus stood talking to the disciples, and suddenly He began to leave the earth, and went up, clouds receiving Him out of sight. Then we read: “And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men 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.

If you and I had been there, we would have looked up too. The scripture says the same Jesus who was taken up into heaven, will come in like manner as He went away. He went up personally, a real being; and I am glad we have a real Saviour in heaven now. He is a real being, and carries the marks of the crucifixion; and when He comes, He will be the very same Christ that went up, and will come in glory and power beyond what He had when He ascended. This is so clear that anybody can understand it.

THE LORD HIMSELF COMES

One more statement: “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.” 1 Thess. 4: 16.

Occasionally we hear about some fellow going around claiming to be Christ. There have been a number of them, and there may be more of them; but when the real Christ comes, there will be a resurrection of the dead. The devil may try to counterfeit the coming of Christ; but when the real Christ comes, the dead in Christ are coming out of the grave. That is their hope. It is at that time that the dead are raised. All the Christian people who have gone down in the dust are waiting for this great event. It is their hope.

“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: 17. “Meet the Lord in the air”! There have been some wonderful meetings on this old earth. That was a great meeting at the Red Sea. Another great meeting was seen at Mount Sinai when God spoke His law. That was a great meeting on Mount Carmel. Pentecost was a great meeting. But the greatest meeting will be when Christ comes, and His people meet Him in the air. Then all the millions of the dead in Christ, and all the living righteous, are caught up together to meet the Lord in the air. They meet Christ and go to heaven together.

THE HOPE IN ALL THE AGES

As I said, this is the hope of Christians. It has been their hope through all ages. It is the event to which they have all looked forward. You go back to the days of Enoch, the seventh from Adam. He saw man going down in the tomb, and was troubled about his future, and wondered if he ever would come forth again. The Lord showed him the second coming of Christ, and the resurrection.

Take Job. He lived back in ancient times, and went through some dark experiences. His property was swept away, his family was taken from him, his friends deserted him, his wife failed him. He was mocked by the children, he was afflicted; but in the midst of his trouble, he said, “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” Job 19: 25.

Though almost dead, he was glad that his Redeemer lived, and that He would stand at the last day on the earth. Job believed in the second coming of Christ. That was his hope. He expected to come up from the dust and see God. This was Job's hope, and it is your hope and mine in the darkest hour that can ever come to us.

Take Paul, that old hero. He gave up, I suppose, as much for Christ as anybody could. He counted everything that he had ever had as dross. His life was changed by the vision he had when going up to Damascus. He was whipped and stoned and shipwrecked and imprisoned, and went through all manner of suffering. At the close of his life, we find him in his old age in a dungeon, under the sentence of death, expecting to be taken out at any moment and executed. What was his hope? I will read it to you: “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” 2 Tim. 4: 6-8.

WHEN THE REAL JUDGE TAKES HIS THRONE

There will be a good many verdicts reversed when the real Judge takes the throne. The crown here mentioned is worth something. He says, “Not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” If we love the appearing of Jesus Christ, there is a crown waiting for us,—for any individual who loves the appearing of Christ. And this crown, as I said, is worth something.

I was in England when George V was crowned. All the pomp of England was displayed. The great men of her empire were there. Lord Roberts, who recently died, was there, and many others. The king and the queen were there. But I thought: Where are all the kings that have been before George V? What has become of them?—They are gone. What has become of their subjects?—They are dead. And I thought of the millions in London—the greatest crowd probably that was ever gathered in one city. I thought, What will become of all these in a few years?—They will all be dead. The king will die.

I was glad there is a crown that it is possible to attain that can be worn forever. This crown is within reach of every one of us now, and it will be bestowed at the second coming of Christ. This hope is worth something. It will stay with you when the world is on fire and mountain ranges are disappearing.

SIGNS EVERYWHERE

Another point I wish to notice is this: Will there be any signs of this event? or will it come like a clap of thunder from a cloudless sky, and nobody know anything about it, or have any knowledge of the event? Go back and read the history of God's dealings with man through all ages, and you will find that when great events were to happen, like a flood, the destruction of cities, and national calamities, the Lord sent some messages of warning; and it is very reasonable that when the crowning event of all ages is to take place, there will be some warning of the event. Now let me read a few verses:

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21: 25-27.

There are to be signs. Where?—Why, in the sun, moon, and stars. That is all heaven. The Lord has placed a sign everywhere in heaven that He can find any place to hang it. “And upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity.” Where?—Among the nations. There will be distress and perplexity. Do you see any evidence of this now? Have you any idea that the nations of this earth are in distress and perplexity? Can you find one nation that is not? While we as a nation are at peace, yet there is a great deal of perplexity about us. But what must it be for the nations that are engaged in the terrible contest? Before Jesus comes, then, in power and great glory, there are to be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, among the nations, in the sea, and last of all, in every man's heart.

“Men's hearts failing them for fear.” My friends, if the present events do not produce this condition, the time is coming when there will be events that will produce it. Instead of studying politics and reading things that do not amount to much, we should study these great things. We ought to study the heavens, and look at the nations, at the sea, and in society, to see if these signs that the Lord said would appear, have come to pass. When they do, we are to “know that He is near, even at the doors.” Not that we can tell the exact day or the hour. We can not know this; but when we see these things come to pass, we are to know “that He is near, even at the doors.”

I can not talk about many of these signs at this time; but I want you to see that there

will be signs, and that it is the part of wisdom and good sense, if nothing more, to take the Scriptures, find out what these signs are, and then see if we can find the fulfillment. And when we come to look into the question, it is so simple and plain that we do not need to be deceived.

REMARKABLE INCREASE OF KNOWLEDGE

I will read a few scriptures, and ask if you see anything that is a fulfillment. “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Dan. 12: 4.

This refers perhaps particularly to knowledge of the Scriptures, but I think it takes in knowledge in all branches. “Knowledge shall be increased.” When?—At “the time of the end.” Then is there any sign of that fulfillment? You look out in the world to-day, and do you see any increase of knowledge? The world went on for four thousand years. There was no special change. Suddenly, about one hundred years ago, knowledge began to increase. Scientific, religious, and every kind of knowledge has increased in a most marvelous way. What does this say to us?—The time of the end is here. Men are running to and fro. We all see that the very hour in which we live speaks to us, and the things we see about us tell us how unmistakable are the signs of the approaching consummation.

“GO TO, YE RICH MEN”

Take another scripture: “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.” James 5: 1-3.

When is it that men shall pile up money?—In the last days. I do not need to talk long about this to get you to see that this sign is fulfilled. In the last days, the inspired writer says, men are to heap up treasures. There has never been a time, since the world was created, that such fabulous fortunes were accumulated in such a brief space of time, not only in this country, but in other countries as well. What does this say to us?—Why, that we are living in the last days. This great accumulation of wealth is a sign of the end. We are told, in other prophecies,

that when the Lord comes, the rich and great will hide in the rocks from the glory of God and the terribleness of His wrath. Fortunes can not save us.

THE DISTRESS OF WAR

Take another sign. Here is war. The nations are distressed. It is hardly necessary to say much about this. We are facing a situation to-day such as men never faced before. We look out on a troubled sea. There has never been a time like this since Adam went out of Eden, when so many nations were at war, when so many men were marshaled, when there were such terrible instruments of destruction. They are fighting on the sea and under the sea, on the land and in the air; and the most awful carnage, bloodshed, and suffering that human beings can picture, is carried forward. Think of the widows and orphans. Think of the flower of manhood swept away, homes wrecked, and suffering everywhere. What does it all mean? I will tell you: It is a herald of the approaching consummation.

THE NATIONS ARE ANGRY

Men are making peace treaties, many of them. But while they are doing this, the war goes on. One nation after another plunges in, and there is no way of knowing when we shall see the end. Nations will be distressed and perplexed. Here is a text that speaks of the war.

“The nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” Rev. 11: 18.

Men are making the most terrible engines of death. This equipment is intended to kill people. The Word says the nations are angry. Are they not?—Surely they are. Now the next thing is, “Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” The time of reward is just ahead of us, when the Prince of peace will come, and God's people will receive their reward. These things mean that the end of all earthly history is almost here, and it is time to get ready for something beyond this life.

THE DEMONS AT WORK

What is the agency that is stirring up these nations? Is it some righteous cause?—No, indeed. It is the spirit of devils. “I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Rev. 16: 13, 14.

The devil is at the bottom of all this bloodshed and carnage that is so terrible as to stagger the imagination. It looks like civilization committing suicide. Maybe it is, but the spirit of devils is controlling the nations.

THE PEOPLE PROPHESY PEACE

One point more I will notice before I close. Some say, “But isn't there a text somewhere that says we will have peace, that we are coming to a time when they are to beat their swords into plowshares?” Well, the Bible does say something that sounds like this.

“Many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.” Micah 4: 2-4.

Then are we to conclude, from this, that there will be no more war—that swords will be beaten into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks, and nations shall not wage war against nation any more?—No, indeed. Notice who is speaking here. This is a quotation. The Lord is quoting what the people will be saying. This makes a great deal of difference. We must always notice who is talking. “Many nations shall come, and say.” The Lord merely tells what the people will be saying in the last days. They are going to say, The nations will cease war, and settle everything by arbitration.

WHEN SUDDEN DESTRUCTION COMES

But when you hear this, remember this scripture. This is a sign of the end. “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” 1 Thess. 5: 3.

When men shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction is coming. Just before the wrath of the Almighty comes, we shall probably hear the greatest peace and safety cry ever uttered to rock people to sleep in carnal security. Instead of peace, this cry is a sign that the destruction of the world is coming.

THE LORD WARNS OF WAR

Having learned what the people will say, let us read what the Lord says: “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up; beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause Thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord.” Joel 3: 9-11.

The harvest is the end of the world; and when the harvest is ripe, when destruction is coming, the Lord says to prepare—wake up the mighty men, wake up the heathen, and prepare for war. Let them wake up and draw near, for the harvest is ripe. Just at the time when the harvest is ripe, when the great Reaper is about to thrust in the sickle and reap, to gather the saints to the garner of the good, and the wicked into the wine press of God's wrath—just then we are told, by many people, that the nations will beat their swords into plowshares. But God says war will absorb agriculture. There will be no peace till the Lord Himself shall come.

Let us be subjects of the heavenly kingdom. Let us have an inheritance there, that when the King of all kings shall come, we may be His subjects, citizens of His kingdom, and be among the company that will look up and say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isa. 25: 9.