p. 199 | The Coming of Christ by M. R. Phetteplace

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 15, 1874

The Coming of Christ.

By M. R. Phetteplace

THE world is astir with a grand and glorious, yet terrible, proclamation—unconsciously, it may be in many instances, but nevertheless, astir. It is a proclamation of the Coming One. He who was born amid poverty, cradled in a manger, condemned by rulers, rejected by his own nation, blasphemed by sinners, betrayed by his own disciple, condemned by a Roman governor, laughed at by mocking enemies, nailed to Calvary’s cross; whose suffering was, if possible, co-equal with his purity; whose righteousness was commensurate with his worldly infamy; who, seeing his own church subject to death, himself took part in the same, that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and thus ransom his own from the power of the grave; who rose for our justification, and ascended on high, and gave gifts unto men; this same Jesus is coming back to earth as he was seen to go away.

He will come to destroy death. Awake, O sleeper, and sing! Thy Deliverer cometh! He cometh to break the bands of thy captivity, shatter the marble tombs that have held thy dust, unturf the greensward graves of valley and hill, gather his jewels from river and sea, and awaken to life eternal or condemnation all who slumber in earth’s domain.

He will come to destroy sin, to stop it, to clean out of this planet all its terribly abundant mischief-making and putrefaction, and raze it with a purging baptism of fire. Sin has been the curse of earth and an enemy of God. He will end it, and have a pure place for a pure people.

He will come to make the place of his feet glorious. He will girdle earth with robes of splendor, and strew it with carpets of fadeless green. He will touch it with the pulsing thrill of immortal vigor, and fill it forever with song and joy. Amen. We wait thy return. We wait for thy gladsome presence. We will welcome thee back to thy blood-purchased possession.

“How long, dear Saviour, O how long, Shall that bright hour delay? Fly swift around, ye wheels of time, And bring the welcome day.”

That this devoutly wished and longed for consummation is hastening greatly, we think is proclaimed by the abounding wickedness of the world lying in the wicked one (2 Tim. 3); a lukewarm church but half awake to the concerns of salvation (2 Tim. 4: 3, 5), and proclaiming the Lord delayeth his coming (2 Pet. 3: 4,); the chronological prophecies indicating that we are treading the last segments of time; strange signs in heaven and earth (Joel 2: 2); tidal waves sweeping a quarter way round the globe—the terror of the seas (Luke 21: 11); earthquake shocks more frequent than ever before known (Luke 21: 11); the political world trembling on the brink of some mighty revolution, and men’s hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth (Luke 21: 26), infidelity and spiritualism, shaking the very foundation of the religious fabric of society (1 Tim. 4: 2); and above all, the cry of peace and safety indicating the coming of sudden destruction. (1 Thess. 5: 3.)

Awake, O sleeper! The pulse of time beats unsteady and spasmodic with the throes of coming death. The Judge cometh! Thy stewardship he will soon demand of thee. Bestir thee quickly! Lay hold on Christ by a living faith! Seek the shelter of the Rock that has been cleft for thee. Purify thy heart by the washing of his cleansing blood. Obey his voice. Trust his promise. And by a steadfast purpose and life of faith seek the only preparation that will stand the ordeal of coming judgment.

Christian! be strong. Thy warfare is almost ended. Thy struggles will soon be over. Thy tears will soon cease. The crown and harp and song will soon be thine. Be firm in duty. Be watchful unto prayer. Be strong in thy faith. Soon he who is thy life shall appear, and thou shalt appear with him in glory.—M. R. PHETTEPLACE, in Biblical Messenger.