THE GENERAL RESULT OF THE LORD’S COMING.
By J. O. Corliss
The importance of the Lord’s second coming to earth is indicated by the frequency of its mention in the Scriptures, and the events said to transpire in conjunction with it. Had it been expedient for God to accomplish His purpose in behalf of men independent of the Lord’s coming, that event would not be necessary, hence would not have become a part of the general plan of salvation. But since this subject is given such prominence in Scripture, we do well to study its features and learn its bearing upon our present and future good. When on earth in the flesh, Jesus said: “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. In this scripture appears one prominent thing, namely, that the object of the Lord’s return from heaven is to receive the saints unto Himself, that He may be personally united to them forever. We should expect all other scriptures to harmonize with this saying of our Lord. In fact all do this, but at the same time they also unite in pointing out the manner and results of that coming. Thus the apostle, in 1 Thess. 4:16, 17, tells that when the Lord returns it will be with a shout from the voice of the archangel, which instantly awakens the righteous dead to immortality, when they, with the living saints, are “caught up” by angel hands, to meet the Lord in mid-heaven. The apostle then adds the words which agree so fully with the statement made by the Master Himself, “So shall we ever be with the Lord.” That is to say, after this manner, and in this condition, we shall dwell with Christ in the great hereafter. See also Matt. 24:31; 1 Cor. 15:51, 52. This presence and voice of the Lord have opposite effects upon the two general classes of men. When the heavens and the earth shake mightily, as they then will, and the earth is being moved out of its place, the Lord will be the hope of His people, but the wicked will tremble, and, before being banished from the Lord’s presence, will cry for rocks and mountains to fall on them, and hide them from the face of Him who comes seated on His throne of glory. Joel 3:16; Heb. 12:25–27; 2 Thess. 1:7–10; Rev. 6:14–17. The joy of the saints is not of an ephemeral nature. At that time their rejoicing will be one of confidence in God’s promises. The integrity of their faith will be such as to maintain in them bold assurance, which will cause them to exclaim in the midst of their surroundings: “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isa. 25:9. It will matter not to them that they see the earth removing, and the mountains being carried into the midst of the swirling, roaring waters of the sea. They will but talk of these things to each other as evidences of the power of God, whom they serve, and who is with them as their refuge and strength in their present surroundings. Ps. 46:1–3, 7–10. While the saints are thus satisfied with the results of their faith, the Lord Himself will be satisfied with all the travail of soul He has maintained for the salvation of His people, and so the entire family of heaven and earth will feel repaid for the part each has acted, and rest in the embrace of eternal pleasure. The lame will then leap as the hart, and the tongue of the dumb will sing. Isa. 35:6. Everlasting songs of joy will swell every throat, because sorrow and sighing have fled away forever. Verse 10. Altho at the coming of the Lord, the earth is moved out of its place, made “empty,” “turned upside down” (Isa. 13:13; 24:1, 3–5), and becomes a desolate waste, as at the “beginning” (Jer. 4:23, 27), yet this does not trouble the saints. The same faith in God’s Word, which gave them confidence at the first sight of His coming, causes them then to look forward to the time when the earth will again be new, and blossom as the rose. Isa. 35:1; 65:16, 17; Matt. 5:5; 2 Peter 3:13. They are far removed from its desolation, having been taken to heaven with their Master, when they were “caught up” by the angels to meet Him in the air. 1 Thess. 4:17. Arriving in heaven, they shout victory over the beast and his image on the sea of glass. Rev. 15:2. From their exalted place in heaven there echo forth the words of praise: “Alleluia. Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God.” Rev. 19:1. This is the time and place of the celebration of the marriage of the Lamb, when all the saints partake of the marriage supper in the presence of the Most High. Rev. 19:7–9; Matt. 26:29.