CHRIST'S COMING AND THE END.
By Frank Burg
"And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Matt. 24:3. AMONG the very important topics of to-day is that of Christ's coming, and the end of the world. As there are diversities of opinions in regard to this, our only safety is in the Bible. Jesus's answer to the question asked by the disciples respecting this, is, "Take heed that no man deceive you." Verse 4. Our Saviour was aware that his disciples would be exposed to the deceptions of the world, hence he cautions them to "take heed." The question as to the time and manner of this great event demands our most careful attention. The fact that Christ's coming will be visible to all, and not in the "desert" or in the "secret chamber," is supported by many passages of Scripture. As our first resort we shall notice the words of our Saviour in verse 27: "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." What could be more unmistakably visible than the vivid flash of lightning that cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west? Just so will the coming of the Son of man be. When Jesus ascended to heaven from off Mount Olivet, he was seen of the people until a cloud received him out of their sight. "And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 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 1:10, 11. Another very plain text on this subject, is the following: "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him." Rev. 1:7, first part. Language could not state more plainly that his coming will be visible. With these plain scriptural statements no one need be in doubt as to the manner of our Saviour's appearing. But the exact time of this event is not revealed to us, and yet we are not left in utter darkness in regard to it. Jesus has given us signs that we may know when it is near: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken." Matt. 24:29. The signs in the sun, moon, and stars have been fulfilled. May 19, 1780, there was the most remarkable darkening of the sun and moon ever known. And on the night of November 13, 1833, occurred the most wonderful meteoric shower ever witnessed. There are many living witnesses to this scene, whose description of the falling of the stars differs not from that of Rev. 6:13: "As a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." With those in mind who should see the fulfillment of these signs, our Saviour says, "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." Matt. 24:34. Again he says, "Now learn a parable of the fig tree: When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh; so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Matt. 24:32, 33. When we go out and behold the fig tree putting forth leaves, we doubt not that summer is near. Equally certain may we be that the revelation of the Son of man is nigh. We might notice the words of Christ in verse 37: "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Previous to the destruction of the inhabitants of the world by a flood, the earth was filled with violence and corruption. See Gen. 6:11, 12. So it is to-day. We have but to look about us, and we see corruptness on every hand. Even in the professed churches of Christ we see much that is corrupt. The world is fast becoming similar to the days of Noe, and should we wonder that the end is near, and that God is soon to destroy the inhabitants of the earth, as he did the antediluvians? FRANK BURG.