The Coming of Our Lord

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Apr 15, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 15.

The Coming of Our Lord

It Will Be Literal

1. What definite promise did the Master make concerning His coming?

“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.

2. What is one of the numerous references that Paul makes to the coming of the Lord?

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb. 9: 28.

3. Will He be the same personal Jesus when He comes?

“And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly 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: 9-11.

4. Will His coming be so literal and visible that the human eye will see Him?

“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.

5. Will it be the Lord Himself who will come?

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep. 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; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thess. 4: 15-18, A.R.V.

6. What other texts tell of the Master coming in the clouds and the inhabitants seeing Him as He thus literally comes?

“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matt. 24: 30.

“And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” Mark 13: 26.

NOTE.—When He comes, He will be “this same Jesus” that was here on earth before; He will be “the Lord Himself;” and “every eye shall see Him.”