The Hope of the Ages by A. O. Tait

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 4, 1913

The Hope of the Ages

By A. O. Tait

By A. O. Tait

Before the days of the Flood, even in that remote time, do we find men hoping in and teaching the second coming of Christ; for we read, “Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints.” Jude 14.

Thus were the antediluvians directed to the second coming of Christ by the prophesying of Enoch. The great event of the Lord’s appearing was the hope, in that remote period, of the man Enoch, of whom it is said in another scripture: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Heb. 11:5. This great character of Bible history walked so closely with God that he was finally translated. This close contact with his God elevated Enoch to the place where visions of the future were opened before him; and in those visions he saw clear on to the second coming of Christ. It was one of the pillars of his hope, and he taught it to the antediluvian world.

Following the days of the Flood, Job expressed his hope in seeing Christ, in these words:

“O that my words were now written! O that they were printed in a book! That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and tho after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in My flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; tho my reins be consumed within me.” Job 19:23-27.

Job’s faith, then, grasped the time when his Redeemer would stand in person on the earth. And even tho the worms had destroyed his body, as it crumbled back to the dust, yet he would see his God for himself with his own eyes. This shows that he not only looked forward to the second coming of Christ, but he also believed in the resurrection.

In the beauties and graphic force of Hebrew poetry, the psalmist gave utterance in words that were to be intensified by music, as he set before the people of his time—and of all future ages—his visions of the coming of the Lord. His words are (Ps. 98:4-9):

“Make a joyful noise unto Jehovah, all the earth: Break forth and sing for joy, yea, sing praises. Sing praises unto Jehovah with the harp; With the harp and the voice of melody. With trumpets and sound of cornet Make a joyful noise before the King, Jehovah. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein; Let the floods clap their hands; Let the hills sing for joy together Before Jehovah; for He cometh to judge the earth: He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with equity.”

How sublime are the foregoing poetic as well as prophetic utterances! How intense and how lofty are the measured sentences that would set all creation a flutter with acclamations of joy at the thought of the Lord’s coming to earth!

Isaiah, the “gospel prophet” of ancient Israel, expressed some of his visions of the coming of the Lord in these words:

“It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is Jehovah; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isa. 25:9.

In the preceding passage Isaiah raises the mind to the towering heights of prophetic vision, and bids us look forward to that day when a people will be shouting with notes of triumph, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us;” and “we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

When the Master was here in person, He continued the work of the prophets that He had inspired all through the ages. For we find Him comforting His followers with these words:

“Let not your heart be troubled: 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; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go, ye know the way.”

There is no mistaking the purport of such a promise. It is too plain to be misunderstood. The Lord would have us look forward to and hope in His second coming.

One of the first recorded promises that were given us, after the Lord closed His ministry at His first advent and returned to His Father’s throne, was another reminder of the hope of His second coming. It was given to the disciples by the tongue of an angel, while their gaze was fixed upon the cloud that received the Master, at His ascension, to bear Him away to His Father. That angel said: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye beheld Him going into heaven.” Acts 1:11. “This Jesus,” who was here in person once, is to come in person again. This is the clear promise; and we are invited to look forward with joy to the great event.

The last book of the Bible is a book of prophecy. One of its opening utterances is, “Behold, He cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they that pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over Him.” Rev. 1:7.

Some of the closing utterances of this same book read: “Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to render to each man according as his work is.” “He who testifieth these things saith, Yea; I come quickly. Amen: come, Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:12, 20.

Thus may we see that the scriptures in the foregoing paragraphs unite in teaching that the second coming of Christ has been the hope held before the church of God in all the ages,—from the days before the Flood, even down to the very last utterances of the writers of the inspired Book. And space has been taken for only a part of the many promises that relate to this interesting and consoling subject.

Line after line of prophecy unites to show that the event so long promised is very near. Have you studied the subject? Are you ready for the great day?