THE COMINGS OF CHRIST by Mrs. H. E. Hadnen

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Feb 3, 1887

THE COMINGS OF CHRIST.

By Mrs. H. E. Hadnen

THERE are different views entertained by the people of God with reference to Christ's second coming. Some think that his second coming has already taken place; that his kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, and is now set up in the hearts of his children. But "he was a Lamb slain from the foundation of the world;" and his spiritual kingdom began among the first inhabitants of our world, instead of being set up during the glory of the Roman Empire, as some suppose.

When Jesus ascended from the top of Mt. Olivet, in the presence of his disciples, two angels came down from Heaven and announced his second coming in these words: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11. He went up in the body; if he comes in like manner, he will come in the body, personally. John, the beloved, in looking forward to his second coming, said: "Behold he 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." Rev. 1:7. He went up in the clouds, he will come in the clouds. I would ask those who believe his coming is spiritual and has already passed, when has this passage been fulfilled? When did he come in the clouds? and when did all the kindreds of the earth wail because of him?

But there are some marked differences between his first and second personal appearing. First he came in poverty. He said of himself, "The Son of man hath not where to lay his head;" now he comes arrayed in all the rich habiliments of Heaven. On the mount of transfiguration a miniature representation of his coming kingdom was seen, and it is written of him, "His face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light." Matt. 17:2. First he came as a servant. He said to his disciples, "I am among you as he that serveth;" now he comes as King of kings and Lord of lords. First he came to be judged and condemned by man at an earthly tribunal; now he comes to sit on the judgment seat himself. It is written in Acts 17:31, "He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained." Paul says, "For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." Rom. 14:10.

First he came to the sinner as a suppliant, beseeching him to be reconciled to God. Will he come as a suppliant the second time? No. He will come "in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess. 1:8. First he came in tears. He wept over Jerusalem, and over a lost world, because they would not turn and live. Now he comes to wipe away tears. Isaiah says, "And the Lord God shall wipe away all tears from off all faces."

Then he came to be despised. It is written, "He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Isa. 53:3. Now he comes to be glorified. Paul says, "When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe." 2 Thess. 1:10. Then he came veiled in humanity, and all the earth did not see him; his second coming shall be like the lightning that "cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west." Then he manifested his divine power by healing these poor bodies of ours; when he comes again will he mend up these bodies so that they can last a little longer? No; he will give us glorious, immortal bodies, like unto his own. Paul says, "For our conversation is in Heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body; that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body." Phil. 3:20, 21.

Then he came to suffer for and redeem his people; now he comes to gather his people that they may reign with him. It is written, "If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him." Again, Paul says, "If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Rom. 8:17, 18. First he came to offer man salvation. On the last great day of one of the Jewish feasts, "Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." John 7:37. Will he come again to press the cup of salvation to the sinner's lips and urge him to drink? No; he will come to shut mercy's door. Christ says in Luke, "When once the Master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without and knock," etc. Paul, in speaking of his second coming, says, "So 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. Now if he came in the person of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost, at the time when the Roman Empire was as strong as iron, as some suppose, would Paul tell the church to still be looking for his appearing?

Who are coming with him? "He shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." Jude says, "Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints." Did he come with the angels on the day of Pentecost?

What kind of a reception will the Lord of glory have when he comes? The righteous will exclaim with joy, "Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him." The wicked will cry for the rocks and mountains to "fall on them and hide them from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb?"—Mrs. H. E. Hadnen, in Christian Cynosure.