“Where Is the Promise of His Coming?”
By A. M. Lindsley
THE evident cause of this question by the scoffers of the last days is, there has been preceding it a proclamation of the coming of the Lord. This scripture shows conclusively, if there were no other proof, that in close proximity to the end, the minds of the people would be stirred up to consider the subject of his coming; and while some are gladly heralding the cry, the spirit of hatred against the truth by those who love the world in its present sinful condition will lead them to reject the warning, and also to heap contumely and scorn on those who love the doctrine. Without this class of scoffers, the signs of the last days would be incomplete; for we are to mark this among the first. It plainly points them out as not loving either Him, or his appearing. Say they, “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” What stirs them up to say this? Evidently the dissemination of views just the opposite—the presence of signs that were given to mark the period of the advent. Not to be able to discern these signs shows a condition of unbelief in accordance with the carnal heart at a distance from God, and satisfied with sin. Wherever we hear these queries, whether from professors or worldlings, it points them out as being the scoffers of whom Peter speaks. There may be, it is true, those who manifest a spirit of inquiry, who, like the noble Bereans, search to know whether these things are so, and ask for the evidences; but they are not the ones here spoken of. A heart truly converted to God will be ready at all times to say, What is the truth, that I may walk in it? The world is asleep, like a person who has nearly filled his days, whose faculties are paralyzed by age. The sense of discernment is dulled by surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life—lulled to sleep by the peace-and-safety cry of the good time coming. Now and then some of them are aroused enough to be somewhat disturbed—perhaps it only irritates them, and they are angry because their sleep has been broken—and like a man who is aroused from slumber, they say at first loudly, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were. After awhile, they become satisfied; having repeated it so often, it sounds as though it must be truth or at least as good. Their incoherent mutterings as they pass into a state of sound and final slumber only echo, Where is the promise?—Where? Such will only be awakened to a sense of their danger and then destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming. It is sad to know that there are many who possess a well-defined knowledge of these signs, and consider themselves safe, “rich and increased in goods,” who will not awaken to a sense of their poverty and wretchedness until it is too late. May God help us, dear brethren and sisters, to shake ourselves so thoroughly that this spirit of slumber will not overpower us and rob us of an inheritance among the saints. Were we to ask the student of prophecy, Where are the evidences? he would answer with the prophet, “The morning cometh and also the night”—prophecy has foretold, and history records the fulfillment—earth, sea, and sky, signs in the political and moral horizon, betoken his coming. In whatever direction we turn our eyes, we can read signs there is no mistaking, we feel the token in our hearts, the internal evidence, and sympathize with the groaning creation for the final restitution—we earnestly cry, Come Lord Jesus, and come quickly. A. M. LINDSLEY.