p. 214 | The Advent Near by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 8, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 14.

The Advent Near.

By Editor

IN opening this subject we called attention to the most prominent objection urged against the faith that the advent of the Lord is near, which is, that the millennium must first come, and the world must first be converted. We offered (1) our reasons for believing that we may know to a certainty respecting the truth of any great doctrine of the Bible; and (2) we presented some of the plain Bible proofs that the modern doctrine of the millennium, or the conversion of the world, is not taught in the Scriptures, but that the contrary is plainly taught therein: The plain, decisive words of Christ and of Paul were quoted, which directly contradict that theory; and a large number of texts were also given corroborating their statements. The most plausible argument in favor of that theory that was ever adduced was examined and disproved. From all this we claim that the conclusion is unavoidable that the doctrine of the millennium, now so popular, does not present any objection to the faith that the coming of the Lord is now near, even at the doors. We now proceed to fulfill our promise to give further evidence to the same effect.

The Saviour gave Scripture examples as illustrations of the truth on this subject, as to the import of which we cannot be mistaken. "And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 17 : 26-30.

In each of the cases here presented by the Saviour a sufficient warning was given that the calamities were impending. Noah preached to many concerning the coming of the flood, and showed his faith in the proclamation which he was required to give, by building an ark. It was this that gave power to his preaching, for it was this that condemned the world. Heb. 11 : 7. Lot also was commanded to warn his kindred of the coming destruction of the city. But to them "he seemed as one that mocked." Gen. 19 : 12-14. Thus it is seen that, although they knew not until the evils came upon them, their ignorance was worthy of all blame, for they might have known. But they did not wish to know; they would not know. Their overthrow was deserved, for they willfully rejected the word which the Lord in kindness sent to save them. "Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."

Paul also says that "the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." For this reason men will be saying, "Peace and safety," even when sudden destruction is impending. That day will indeed come upon them as a snare—as a thief in the night. But the apostle, speaking to the brethren, continues: "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." 1 Thess. 5 : 2-4. And so also Peter, when discoursing of the Lord's coming, and the day of judgment and the perdition of ungodly men, says "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;" and after recounting some of the events connected therewith, speaks to his brethren who will see that day, saying, "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." 2 Peter 3. They will look for him (Heb. 9 : 28); they will know the time (Rom. 13 : 11); they will see the day approaching. Heb. 10 : 25. Compare chap. 9 : 28, and 10 : 36-39. All this is necessary to show a parallel between the days of Noah and of Lot and the day when the Son of man is revealed.

When the Saviour was answering the request of the disciples to tell them what shall be the sign of his coming, and of the end of the world, he used the same language and gave one of the examples that we have quoted from Luke 17. He said: "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt. 24 : 37-39. But to those who will hearken to his words he says: "When ye shall see all these things, know that he is near, even at the doors." Verse 33. This is imperative; they are commanded to know. Now if they may know when it is near, because the Lord sends a message of warning; and if they are commanded to know, because the Lord requires that his word shall be heeded, and yet do not know, who will say that their destruction is not just? And this shows positively that the world will not be converted before his coming.

A word more for those who plead that we will not and cannot know anything about the time of the Lord's coming until he comes. In the days of Noah and of Lot, some knew that the events foretold were immediately impending, and by that knowledge were enabled to make their escape from the calamities of those days. And all who did not know were "taken away," or destroyed. "Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." It has been shown that the world may know, because the warning will be given; and that some will know, for they will not be in darkness; they will heed the warning; they will know the time; they will see the day approaching.

Against the doctrine of the world's conversion, and in favor of the truth that the dispensation will end in a time of great perils and great declension of piety, we present two more points. It must and will be admitted that the seven trumpets of Revelation, chapters 8-11, reach to the end of this age. Events under the seventh trumpet prove this, such as the anger of the nations; the coming of the wrath of God; the time that the dead should be judged, and of giving reward to the saints. But the last trumpet introduces a woe upon the earth, and not a blessing; the anger of the nations, and not peace; and it is easily proved that the seven last plagues, in which "is filled up the wrath of God" (Rev. 15 : 1), are poured out under this trumpet. This point cannot be evaded by allowing a period of apostasy after the millennium; for the man of sin exists from the "falling away" to the Saviour's coming; and the last three trumpets are all woe trumpets, and not the last alone. See Rev. 8 : 13; 9 : 12; 11 : 14.

We have noticed the Saviour's interpretation of the parable of the tares of the field, Matt. 13. In that he says that the children of the kingdom and the children of the wicked one will grow together until the harvest, which is the end of the world, and when the end comes the separation will be made by the angels, who are the reapers. In Joel 3 : 9-13, the last days are brought to view, even unto the harvest. This scripture is exactly parallel with Rev. 14, 15, and 16. There is war and not peace in the last days. There is abounding wickedness, and not prevailing righteousness, in the last days. Joel 3 : 13 says: "Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe; come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great." "The harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels."

Now we return to notice another point in the objection which we have been considering. It is this: "We cannot consent to the doctrine of the advent near, because many eminent men give interpretations to the prophecies which forbid our accepting it." We first reply that no man, however eminent and great in the eyes of the world, has any right to offer his interpretation of prophecies as a sufficient offset to the many positive scriptures which have been presented against their theory of the world's conversion. It savors neither of wisdom nor of reverence for a man to frame a system of theology, or devise interpretations of the prophecies, which contradict the plainest principles and the most positive declarations given by Christ and his apostles. And secondly, we say that their interpretations are not sustained by the very scriptures which they profess to interpret. We have time and space now to notice but a single instance.

It is inferred, and extensively preached, that because the heathen will be given to Christ, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession (Ps. 2 : 7, 8), that therefore he will convert and save them all. Against this we urge (1) that he never yet has converted and saved all the nations of the earth. Myriads of heathen have gone down to death and to darkness unconverted and unsaved. And (2) this psalm does not intimate that he will ever convert them, but it teaches the very opposite. Verses 8 and 9 read as follows: "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." We safely appeal to all that the only idea presented here, consequent upon the gift to the Son of the nations of the earth, is that of their destruction, and not at all of their conversion. Many a fine sermon on verse 8 would be utterly spoiled if the preacher would read verse 9 in connection. But the people love to hear "smooth things;" they love the cry of "peace and safety," and the ministry conform to the popular desire. At another time we will further trace this idea of the destiny of the nations when they shall be given to Christ.