p. 726 | His Words Can Not Fail by H. G. Thurston

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 2, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 46.

His Words Can Not Fail

By H. G. Thurston

His Promise to This Generation—The Power of Righteousness to Shorten the Work

By H. G. Thurston

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” Matt. 24:35.

These words are most remarkable. So important are they that three of the inspired writers record them. This fact is truly significant. A grave condition must here be foretold which would arise to turn men away from believing God’s word; and it would seem that faith itself would be almost baffled. When? Jesus says it is in the days just preceding His return in glory to reap the harvest of the earth. Matt. 24:30-35.

The condition set forth must be such that to all human appearance the teaching of Jesus’ return within the appointed generation would not and could not be accepted; and to all worldly reasoning, the event of all events, even our Lord’s return, could not possibly take place at the time foretold. Evidences given which were to convince men that the great day of God is near seem to be contradicted by circumstances; and to human minds, these circumstances appear weightier than Bible statements and promises.

The supposed evidence of these contradicting voices would take fast hold of the minds of men. Jesus foresaw this, also the fatal danger in not believing and thus not being “ready.” With divine assurance that His words shall be fulfilled, He most solemnly utters the language of the text, and directs that it be recorded three times. What more could He have said! What more, as the Great Shepherd of His people, could He say to establish faith in His words, and comfort the hearts of His children!

COMMANDED TO WATCH

Connected with His solemn words comes the command to “watch.” Matt. 24:42. To “not watch” is to “not know.” Rev. 3:3. He is coming back to this earth again (John 14:1-3), in person (Rev. 1:7), to bring rewards to men as their work shall be (Rev. 22:12).

The return of our Lord is the central picture in each of these texts. It is the event to which many signs foretold in the Bible now clearly point with unerring and living finger. The wonderful prophetic panorama of evidence is now seen spread out upon many pages of the written Word; and who can say that the rapidly moving reel of occurrences in our day is not fast filling in the final details of that panorama! Who can say the great reality is not just before us!

A FEW OF THE SIGNS

With an increase of knowledge hitherto unheard of, causing almost constant revision of authorities and figures among the learned (Dan. 12:4), comes the news of wars and still greater preparations for war among the mightiest and most civilized nations of earth. Joel 3:9. Crime, like a black, blighting scourge, appears in many places, and so dense and awful in the great cities, that it is unexplainable except by the fact that God has said it would be thus when His Spirit’s pleadings are ignored, and men and women choose their own ways. 2 Tim. 3:13. Graft and oppression boldly walk hand in hand, and seem to paralyze the arm that would oppose them; and many men who cry “Graft” are among the most selfish. Violence and injustice and the sins of Sodom are calling down the retribution of Heaven upon the continued despisers of God’s mercy.

Notwithstanding all these things, many great men are now trying so to tune God’s alarm trumpet (Joel 2:1) that it will only sound the notes of peace. Micah 4:1-3. Talent and wealth are devoted to the cry, “All is well,” even upon the very brink of destruction. 1 Thess. 5:1-3. Who has ever beheld a time when men and women found it so easy to transgress as now? Surely there never was but one before, and that in the days of Noah. “Even thus,” the Saviour declares, it will be at the time of His return. The world, with its pride and lust, has well-nigh captured the entire human family, and to-day destruction and death are only waiting to complete the ruin.

THE WHOLE WORLD TO BE WARNED

Awful and benumbing are the conditions all around us. But before He can come for His “little flock” who have loved Him, and for those who “look for Him,” the whole world must hear the note of warning. From our view-point, it does look as though we will never live to behold Him coming. With a work so vast in its extent and so complete in its operation, which must be carried to hundreds of millions now sitting in the heathen’s midnight of gloom, and with the church of Christ so far from its primitive zeal and power, our faith is taxed to its utmost as we accept His promise as literal. But He has already spoken the word about “this generation,” and He whispers assurance that His word will be fulfilled. There must soon come a manifestation of divine power to do a mighty and complete work in an incredibly short time, even in the very face of every opposing power. God must again show His great power triumphant, as at the Red Sea.

RIGHTEOUSNESS SHORTENS THE WORK

The definite message of Christ’s second coming in this generation has been believed and proclaimed for more than seventy years. Faithful men have grown gray preaching this doctrine. Will their faith in the sureness of God’s word be unnoted? Are the thousands living and dead, who have given their lives, their all, in proclaiming “this gospel of the kingdom,” mistaken?

But we earnestly inquire, How can the warning message which is to herald His coming, be sounded everywhere before “this generation” passes away? We find in our great Guide-book this sweet promise: “He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” Rom. 9:28. Let us anchor our hope to His unfailing promise, “Heaven and earth shall pass away; but My words shall not pass away.”

With joy we will labor on, in the full assurance of faith, crying out with the apostle, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”