WHEN WILL CHRIST COME? by J. W. Herlinger

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 24, 1901

WHEN WILL CHRIST COME?

By J. W. Herlinger

J. W. HERLINGER.

(Fairmount Springs, Pa.)

In this time of peril and trouble, when the nations are distressed, perplexed, angry, and at war with one another, many who are looking for the end of all things, and “the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ,” are asking the questions, Why does Christ tarry? When will He come and deliver His people?

Surely Christ himself could give the best answer. He says: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24: 14.

What is “this gospel of the kingdom”?—“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him . . . that made heaven and earth, the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen. . . . And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the Beast and his Image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture [of mercy] into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the Beast and his Image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Rev. 14:6-11.

Whom does Christ commission to preach “this gospel of the kingdom”—“the everlasting gospel”—to all the world? Christ says to all His disciples, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth,” and, “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:19, 20.

Then it follows that if we are engaged in giving the gospel to the world, Christ is with us; and He being with us, we have “all power” with which to accomplish the work.

Since Christ has given us the gracious privilege of proclaiming the everlasting gospel to all the world, and has endued us with power to accomplish that work, it lies with us in a measure to decide how soon Christ will come; for the quicker we give the gospel to the world, the sooner the end will be.

Christ has chosen us to do this particular work, and we have been so slow to do the work, that Christ is becoming weary of us, and says that unless we are more faithful in giving the message, He will place the burden upon another people,—them that will do His will.

How only may we be free from the blood of all men?—“I [Paul] take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.” Why?—“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” Acts 20: 26, 27.

“Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” “Let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”

“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”