The Coming of Our Lord

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 27, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 42.

The Coming of Our Lord

1. How did our Saviour leave this earth?

“And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Acts 1:9

2. What did the angels say to the disciples regarding His second coming?

“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.

NOTE.—The One who has promised to return is “this same Jesus” whom they knew and with whom they had been associating in person. He was a personal, literal Saviour when He was here at His first advent; and when the foregoing promise is fulfilled, He will return the same personal, literal Jesus that He was then. This is the plain, obvious teaching of the text.

3. What promise had He made to His disciples while He was yet with them in His earthly ministry?

“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.

4. How manifestly plain and visible will His coming be?

“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matt. 24:27.

5. How many upon earth will see Him when He comes?

“Behold, He cometh with clouds; and EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” Rev. 1:7.

6. Who will accompany Him on His return?

“For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.” Matt. 16:27.

NOTE.—“Every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him” shall see Him, showing that the resurrection takes place at His second coming, and those who so cruelly put Him to death on the cross will be required to see the enormity of their awful deed. As the lightnings shine from east to west, illuminating with intense brightness the whole earth and sky, even so shall the coming of our Lord in all His glory, and with all the glory of His Father, and with all the glory of His holy angels, illumine this old earth with a glory that has never before appeared upon it.

7. What warning does the Master give concerning those who would teach that His coming is secret or private?

“Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” Matt. 24:25, 26.

8. What further warning emphasizes the fact that we must not look for the second coming of Christ in some secret or local way?

“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matt. 24:23, 24.

NOTE.—These warnings against false Christs and false prophets are also prophecies that such characters will arise, and will be more abundant and deceptive in the time just preceding the second coming of the true Christ. These deceptions are used by the enemy to lead astray God’s elect or chosen ones. Yet they will not succeed, for His faithful people are studying and heeding the warnings that He has given concerning the work of the arch-deceiver. “If any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of the teaching.” John 7:17.

9. What will be the manner of His coming?

“For the LORD HIMSELF shall descend from heaven WITH A SHOUT, with the VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, and with THE TRUMP OF GOD.” 1 Thess. 4:16.

NOTE.—“The Lord Himself” is the one that is coming. Language could not be made more emphatic. Not only is the Lord Himself coming, but all the holy angels are coming with Him. He is not coming in the Spirit, or by some representative; He is coming Himself. His coming is not in a secret or quiet way, but “with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God,” which shall resound throughout the earth. Surely the above scriptures and a multitude of others teach that His second coming will be personal, visible, literal.