The Second Advent by Dudley Marvin Canright

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 17, 1875

The Second Advent.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Editor of the Advocate: Thinking that it may be of interest to your readers, I herewith give a brief statement of our faith, touching the second advent of Christ, upon which we are now preaching in the tent.

1. The second advent of Christ to this earth will be as literal and as personal as his first advent. It will not be a spiritual, symbolic or mystical event, such as a conversion, the influence of the spirit, death bed scenes, etc. If this was the coming of Christ, he would have to come, not only the second time, but millions of times since his first advent. Our faith is clearly expressed in the following text: "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 : 11. He went up personally and bodily, and just so will he return.

2. No one can tell the definite time, day, month, or year when he will come. We regard as fanatics all those who set a definite day for that event. We believe Christ's words. Matt. 24 : 36.

3. But the righteous may know when it is near, even at the doors. They may know when the last generation has come. Jesus says that "there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, and upon the earth," etc., to indicate when it is near. Then he says, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21 : 25-32. Then we should study the prophecies, watch the signs, and discern the tokens of the end.

4. We believe that there will be a warning given to the world to prepare for that event just as before the flood, before the fall of Sodom, by John before the first advent, and on all similar occasions. For proof of this see Matt. 24 : 37; Rev. 14 : 6-16. This is reasonable and in accordance with God's dealings with men.

5. When Jesus comes the righteous dead will be raised immortal, and all the living saints will be changed to immortality and taken up to heaven with Jesus. See 1 Thess. 4 : 16-18; 1 Cor. 15 : 51-55.

6. All the wicked who are alive will be destroyed and their carcasses scattered over the face of the earth. See 2 Thess. 2 : 8; Rev. 19 : 11-21; Jer. 25 : 31-33.

7. Then the earth will be entirely desolate of inhabitants for one thousand years, at the end of which the wicked will be raised and cast into the lake of fire. Jer. 4 : 23-27; Rev. 20 : 1-15.

8. Then this earth will be purified from the curse, Eden will be restored, and the saints inhabit the new earth forever. Matt. 5 : 5; Rev. 21 : 1-5.

9. The fulfillment of the prophecies, the signs of the times, and the condition of the world generally, clearly show that the end of all things is nigh at hand.

10. In connection with these, for the last thirty years a message of warning concerning the coming of the Lord has been given to the world, though, like Noah's message; it has not been generally heeded. Still about one thousand ministers are now preaching it in all parts of the world; more than a score of papers are published to advocate it; and about one hundred thousand souls are waiting for the immediate coming of Christ, the same as Simeon, Anna, and others were waiting for the first advent.

We feel sure that we have the truth upon this important question to which we earnestly invite the attention of the people.—D. M. CANRIGHT, in the Gilroy Advocate.