Where Is the Promise of His Coming?
By B. A. Stephens
WE have it from the lips of the Lord Jesus himself, from the mouth of angels, and from the writings of the apostles. The Lord's second coming is not spiritual, at conversion, nor at death; but is personal, literal, and visible. His coming is pre-millennial, at the resurrection of the just, whom he will then take to his Father's house where he now is. Signs and wonders in heaven above and in the earth beneath will foretoken his return, for these are foretold by the sure word of prophecy, unto which we that take heed shall do well. Under the heading of the Second Advent, in the old Methodist hymn book, is the following stanza of a hymn which is not to be found in the revised edition:— "In the sun, and moon, and stars,
Signs and wonders there shall be;
Earth shall groan with inward wars—
Nations with perplexity." It will be a day of wrath, of gloominess, of darkness, and of destruction to the unprepared; but unto them that have preserved their bodies and lives blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus, the "blessed hope" will then be realized, when this mortal shall put on immortality, and the remnant, with the resurrected dead, are caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Now for the proof. The time of our Saviour's crucifixion drew near, when he would leave the world, and go to prepare many mansions in the Father's house for his people. His disciples were sorrowful, but he said, "Let not your heart be troubled. * I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1–3. Yes; he was really here once, and will be really here again. He testifies again: "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." Matt. 16:27. And to the High Priest he said, "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." Matt. 26:64. We see that Jesus said he would come again. What have the angels said? The Jews took Jesus and crucified him. He was buried on the sixth day in Joseph's new tomb. His disciples honored the Lord's Sabbath by keeping it according to the commandment. Luke 23:56. His body was not suffered to see corruption, but was raised the third day, and possessed flesh and bones, Luke 24:39, and is the prototype of the bodies that the righteous will have in the resurrection of the just. Rom. 6:5; 1 Cor. 15:23. On the day of his ascension he led his disciples out to Mount Olivet, and, blessing them, was parted from them, going up bodily into heaven. While they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went out of their sight, two angels stood by them, having the appearance of men, "which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11. "A cloud received him out of their sight." Verse 9. The apostle John, while on the isle of Patmos, was given a vision of the Saviour's return. He says, "And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle" to reap the harvest of the earth (the end of the world, Matt. 13:39), which was ripe. Rev. 14:14–16. Here we see him coming, according to his word, and as declared by his angels, in like manner as he went up; bodily, literally, and visibly. The cloud is composed of all his holy angels, who will come with him to act their part in the resurrection. Matt. 25:31; 24:31; 1 Thess. 4:16. So, then, the Lord Jesus does not come spiritually to our hearts at conversion, upon the white cloud of his love, as I recently heard a Methodist preacher say. No. The bright shining of that cloud, and the visible glory of Jesus with it, will destroy the wicked at his second coming. 2 Thess. 2:8; 1:7–10; Isa. 11:4; Rev. 19:15, 21. Now, what do the apostles say about his return? Hear John: "Behold, he [Jesus Christ] cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." Rev. 1:7. There is nothing spiritual about that; nothing indicating the conversion of the world when he does come. John also positively says that the Lord does not come at death. Read John 21:21–23. Our self-styled orthodox brethren should be careful how they preach from such texts as Matt. 24:42; 25:13; Mark 13:33; Luke 12:40, when delivering funeral discourses. Paul says that "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Heb. 9:28. Yes; Jesus himself has said so, the angels bore a similar testimony, John confirmed it, and Paul concurs. Jesus is coming the second time. We shall behold his pierced hands, his wounded side, his broken feet, from which the flowing blood made red the cross at Calvary. Jesus is coming, the Lord, the righteous Judge; and he will give unto Paul at that day, and not to Paul only, but unto all them that love his appearing, a crown of righteousness. 2 Tim. 4:8. Then Jesus will change these vile bodies, fashioning them like unto his glorious body, Phil. 3:20, 21, clothing them with health and immortality. Rev. 21:4; 1 Cor. 15:51–53. Therefore, let us preserve them blameless. 1 Thess. 5:23; Rom. 12:1. Had Titus quoted an extract from Paul's letter to him in a certain union revival meeting that was held several years ago in San Francisco by the popular churches, he would have been surprised to have seen several professed lovers of Jesus, shepherds of the flock of Christ, jump to their feet and prohibit such doctrine being spoken there. This (to them) obnoxious doctrine is found in Titus 2:11–14. But unto us who are "looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ," it is the most precious of all, for our "redemption draweth nigh," "the Judge standeth before the door," "for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." B. A. STEPHENS.
Paicines, Cal., Aug. 12, 1875.