“EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS.”
By T.
THE apostle John had been banished to Patmos, and, while alone on that little island, the Lord had spread all the future history of both the church and the world before him. In his vision he saw the clashing armies of the great generals; he saw the intrigues and crimes; he saw the apostasy of the church; he saw the persecutions and tortures of the martyrs; and over beyond all this unpleasant scene he beheld the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven. John had seen Jesus in person. He had walked and talked with Him; he had leaned on the Master’s breast; he had been completely won by the love and goodness of the Lamb of God. And when on that barren island the panorama of the world is brought before the apostle and prophet, he eagerly looks beyond the scenes of strife and crime and misery and sorrow, and the intense prayer of his soul is, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Of all the suffering and wo that the whole history of this world presents, the most terrible perils and dangers are in the last days. Abundant testimony in the Word of God records this important fact. Satan concentrates his efforts here for his last desperate struggle against truth and righteousness. Every element of corruption, crime, misery, distressing trouble and anguish that the great adversary has ever been able to use with success in the past, he will use with increased hate and rage in the closing days of time. Every reader of the Bible knows that this is so. The masterful hand of Satan may now be plainly seen everywhere in the outbreaking of his nefarious deeds. What means this constantly-increasing host of drunkards and the ever-increasing drunkenness against which good men and women have worked and crusaded and preached and prayed?—It is the evidence that Satan is driven into his last trenches and is making his final stand against the peace and life of mankind. What means this great array of murders and suicides that is filling our world with horror and wo?—It is the evidence that he who was the murderer from the beginning is making his most supreme effort to destroy. What means all the robbery and embezzlement and licentiousness and anarchy and all the other evils that so darken and imperil this time?—It is the marked fulfilment of the prophecy, “Wo to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Rev. 12:12. Mark the significance of the words: “The devil is come down unto you having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Satan’s wrath is manifested in malicious destruction. He seeks to destroy character, and health, and happiness, and property, and even life itself. And the troubles that every one can see coming on the world are only in their beginning. And in just a little while this whole world of ours will be a scene of horrors and terrors. The inspired description of the times upon which this world has entered is, “There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21:25, 26. Trouble in anticipation is often greater than the reality. Not so with the times just ahead of us. There will be “distress of nations with perplexity,” and “men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” Any one must be convinced that the Lord has faithfully portrayed the conditions that lie before us in this world. And we see all about us the frightful premonitions of what is about to break forth as a scourge of every form of evil that has ever been concocted in the council chamber of demons. And since the Lord has so faithfully given the warning, we are wholly at fault if we do not escape the danger. But what a consoling thought it is that immediately after telling of the perplexing and troublous scenes of these last days, there comes the radiant promise, “Then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27. The “coming of the Son of man” is the one bright hope before us; and, with John, may we ever pray, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” T.