The Coming of Our Lord by L. A. Reed

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 7, 1913

The Coming of Our Lord

By L. A. Reed

The First Advent

By L. A. Reed

Promise, Prophecy, Fulfilment

At the time of the first advent, there were comparatively few who were looking for the appearance of Christ. Yet that event had been carefully prepared for through years of teaching, admonition, and warning. That many were not looking for Christ, was due to their failure to heed what God had said.

Let us notice some of the very definite things which had been announced concerning the coming of the Messiah.

The Promised Seed, the Nation, the Tribe

Immediately after the fall of man, as soon as sin had entered and the need of a Saviour had presented itself, a coming of Christ as a Redeemer was announced. This word came to the first man Adam. “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.” Gen. 3:15. In this announcement, taken by faith, lay salvation in that very time for him who believed it. So the world lived in hope and faith, if it would have it, for many years.

Unto Abraham, “the father of the faithful,” came another specification regarding the advent of the Christ. The nation in which He was to appear was definitely announced. “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice.” Gen. 22:18.

A few years later, came still a further specification and an additional announcement. The first announcement had told us that Christ was to appear as a member of the human race; the second had told us the nation in which we would find Him; but the third announcement gave us the tribe, or division in that nation, where He would be found. “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.” Gen. 49:10.

The Family, the City

In the days of Isaiah, however, additional information was given through that prophet. The family now in the tribe was designated. “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears: but with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins.” Isa. 11:1-5.

Following out the truth of that declaration which says that “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets,” to Micah came the announcement of the town in which the Messiah was to be born. “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, tho thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2.

Definite Time

Further in the prophetic time period given to Daniel the prophet (Dan. 9:25), the time of the anointing and death of Christ are pointed out, as to the year, so that a definiteness came in with reference to the time when to expect His appearance.

And as the time drew near as foretold by the prophet Daniel, an announcement was made as to the parentage of the Coming One. Mary was to be His mother. (Luke 1:30.)

And the night of His birth the angel announced to the waiting shepherds: “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11. By this there was no mistaking the very day of His appearance.

The Star

But even more definitely yet, was the Coming One announced, for to the wise men a star appeared, and this star led them over hill and vale, going “before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.” Matt. 2:9. Hence the very spot where the Babe lay, and the very Babe Himself, was thus pointed out to those who were ready to receive Him.

And when the Child was nothing but a Babe, and had been brought into the temple by His parents, according to the custom of the times, Simeon entering in saw and recognized the promised Messiah. “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.” Luke 2:34. But he was not the only one, for Anna, a prophetess, a woman of great age—more than eighty years old—“coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” Luke 2:38.

Thus clearly was the coming of the Messiah announced. Thus plainly might all know that this was Jesus when He appeared. But thousands did not know nor recognize Him. The matter had no personal interest to them. They did not heed the warning, nor the Word of God. And the world has not changed.

As definite as was the announcement of the first advent, just so definite is to be the announcement of the second advent; and as there were those waiting for Christ when He came the first time, so will there be those who will be waiting, and recognize Him when He comes the second time. And, sad to say, there will be also those who will not be looking for Him nor expecting Him.

Are you among those who believe God’s Word, are in touch with all the movements of His providence, and waiting with expectation for His Coming One?