HE IS COMING | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 6, 1900

HE IS COMING.

The King's Messenger.

THE Bridegroom is coming, surely soon coming. Yes; he is coming.

The Comforter has come! He is here, is operating all over the world; is in the wars and rumors of wars, foretold for the last days; is in the midst of these perilous times,—these seasons of darkness, doubt, and gloom,—these cycles of tribulation through which we are passing. He is doing his preparatory work, arranging all matters for the coming of the King.

An increasing number are looking, are waiting, for the arrival. They may meet with scorn and contumely, may be taunted with non-fulfillment of prophecy, and asked where are the signs of his coming, and yet, led by the Spirit, they delight to avow and to act on their simple belief, and to take their stand, as they live in glorious expectancy, that the glorified form of the Son of God, the Son of man, is soon coming in person, the second time, to visit, to reign, to own and control this globe of his and ours.

This hope, this knowledge, is the hope, the knowledge, that shall not fail; it is the hope of hopes, and when all human hopes fail in utter disappointment, this hope shall end in fruition, in perfect fulfillment. For this coming we are looking. It is the mainspring of power in our lives; it is the consummation of our faith; it is the coming of our Lord. This coming of the King is the gladsome day of days, the most joyous of heaven and earth, the jubilee of the universe.

All creation is groaning for this new birthday, is earnestly expecting and desiring it. He is coming; it is nearing; the rumbling of his chariot wheels will break upon our ears. The world is in tumult, in travail, in tribulation, the end is near. Halleluiah! The Lord, the King, is about to take up his triumphal march. He left heaven’s glories once for earth’s manger—its trials, troubles, tribulations. He was tested here in all points like as we are. He died an ignominious death, entered its precincts, demolished its strongholds, and broke down the walls of its dominions. He arose, he waited, he directed, promised and prayed for his people. He ascended, re-entered heaven, has been engaged in fitting up a home, our mansions, a place. He sent Another Comforter, as his representative, to take his place, to prepare his people for his return.

He promised to come back; the angels told his disciples he would so come in like manner. His apostles and the primitive church, without controversy, anxiously looked for and awaited his coming; the redeemed of the Lord are searching for and reading the signs of the heavens, of the earth, of the times. They are studying the Scriptures, and are unlocking the prophetic page, and under the light and direct care of the Holy Spirit are waiting in sorrow, yet in joyful expectation, for his appearing.

His coming, his soon coming in person to this earth, will untangle all the tangled web of life, will solve all the momentous problems, will give us back our dead, will restore to us our inheritance, and bring us into perfect harmony with him, with one another, with all things. He comes, and may it be, it will be, soon! “Come, Lord Jesus.”

There shall be no more war, no more sin, no more death. The wilderness shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; none shall hurt or destroy in all God’s holy mountain. When he comes, the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. When he comes, his risen and quick elect shall reign with him. “The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: . . . and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

The time of his coming we know not, but of his speedy coming we are assured. He is waiting as the angels are waiting, and we are waiting; for the fulfillment of prophecy. And in this glorious hope and wonderful expectancy we rest and abide.