The Doctrine of the Second Advent of Christ Was Known to the Patriarchs.
By John Nevins Andrews
IN our last number we showed that the prophecy of Enoch concerning the second advent of Christ (Jude 14: 15) was known to the entire ten generations which preceded the deluge. But was the doctrine of the second advent of Christ known also to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the fathers of the Hebrew race? Noah was not born till after the translation of Enoch; but six generations of the ancestors of Noah were able to repeat to him the prophecy of Enoch, and to confirm that prophecy by the history of his godly life, and of his translation to Heaven in a chariot of fire. These six generations of witnesses were Lamech, Methuselah, Jared, Mahalaleel, Cainan, and Enos, the grandson of Adam. Noah lived after the flood during the period of 350 years. Gen. 9:28, 29. His life was continued till he had seen ten generations of his descendants. These were Shem, Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, and Nahor. He died when Nahor was 58 years of age, and two years before the birth of Abraham. Gen. 11:10-27. St. Peter tells us that Noah was a preacher of righteousness. 2 Pet. 2:5. Noah was well instructed concerning the doctrine of the second advent, and concerning the life and the translation of Enoch, and was able to teach these things to ten generations of his descendants. Though Noah died two years before the birth of Abraham, yet the latter had the privilege of conversing with Shem, the son of Noah, 150 years; with Arphaxad, his son, 53 years; with Salah, his son, 88 years; and with Eber, his son, 145 years. These had listened during several centuries to the preaching of Noah. In particular, Abraham had the great privilege of conversing with Shem during 150 years, and Shem had not only been instructed by Noah, his father, during 448 years, but also by Lamech, the father of Noah, and grandson of Enoch, during 93 years, and what was still more interesting, by Methuselah, the father of Lamech, and the son of Enoch, during 98 years. The instruction of Abraham by Shem during 150 years was therefore of the highest value to Abraham, as it gave him all the knowledge of divine truth possessed by Noah and Enoch. Shem was able to converse also during 50 years with Isaac, the son of Abraham. Compare Genesis, chapters 5, 9, 11, and 21.439We know then from these facts that Abraham and Isaac were well instructed concerning the prophecy of Enoch, and concerning his translation. But we have other facts which clearly prove that Abraham understood the second advent of Christ and the resurrection of the just. Christ said to the Jews: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it and was glad.” John 8:56. And on another occasion he showed that his day was the day of his second advent. He said: “For as the lightning that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.” Luke 17:24. We are certain, then, that in vision Abraham beheld the second advent of Christ. According to Paul, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob dwelled together. “By faith he [Abraham] sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.” Heb. 11:9. There was therefore an excellent opportunity for Abraham to instruct his son and grandson concerning the great truths which he had learned respecting the second advent of Christ and the day of Judgment. We know that Abraham was faithful in the performance of this sacred duty, for God says of Abraham: “I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” Gen. 18:19. The apostle also informs us that Abraham looked for the New Jerusalem: “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Heb. 11:10. This city will not come down from God out of Heaven until the day of Judgment arrives. Rev. 20 and 21. We know therefore that Abraham looked forward to the second advent of Christ and to the day of Judgment for the fulfillment of the promise, and that Isaac and Jacob shared this hope with him. Heb. 11:9, 10. Paul said to Agrippa: “I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers.” Acts 26:6. These fathers were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then he defines this hope by saying: “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead?” Verse 8. The promise made to the fathers could only be fulfilled by the resurrection of the dead, and this was well understood by them, for they saw the fulfillment afar off.” Heb. 11:13. This fact is confirmed by Stephen when he says that God did not give to Abraham so much of the land of promise as would suffice for him to set his foot on, yet he promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his heirs also. Acts 7:5. It is certain therefore that Abraham looked forward to the resurrection of the just, at the second advent of Christ, for the fulfillment of the promise made to him by God. And this is confirmed by the declaration of St. Paul, that the resurrection of the dead was not only his hope personally, but also the hope of Israel, and the hope of the promise made of God unto the fathers. Compare Acts 23:6; 24:15, 21; 26:6-8; 28:20. The city of Sodom was destroyed just before the birth of Isaac. Compare Genesis, chapters 18, 19, and 21. Christ said that it should be more tolerable in the day of Judgment for Sodom than for the Jews who rejected him. Matt. 10:15; 11:24. This shows that the men of Sodom will appear at the judgment-seat of Christ. We must therefore conclude that the Sodomites had some knowledge of the day of Judgment. Let us see how this could be. 1. Lot dwelled among them and was called in derision a judge. Gen. 19:9. But Lot had long been associated with Abraham, and was therefore familiar with all that Abraham knew concerning the second advent and the Judgment. It was the unpopular preaching of Lot that caused him to be called a judge. 2. Abraham, to whom God had given so great light on this subject, dwelled but a short distance from Sodom. Gen. 19:27, 28. 3. Melchisedek, who was greater than Abraham (Heb. 7:1-7), and who was the express representative of Christ, also dwelled near Sodom. Gen. 14. 4. Shem, who had witnessed the deluge, and who had conversed many years with Methuselah, the son of Enoch, and with Lamech, his grandson, lived till fifty years after the destruction of Sodom. The men of Sodom had therefore the means of great light concerning the second advent of Christ and the day of Judgment. Certainly Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob well understood these great truths, and when Jacob died in Egypt, not having received the promise, he fell asleep in the confident assurance that the promise would be fulfilled to him in the resurrection of the just. J. N. A.