The Sabbath-School by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 17, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 27.

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The Sabbath-School.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

LESSON FOR THE PACIFIC COAST—JULY 26.

On what occasion did Christ deliver the discourse recorded in the fourteenth chapter of John?
What had Jesus said that caused the disciples sorrow? John 13:33.
Where was he going? John 13:1.
Was he going to the Father immediately?
With what words did he comfort his troubled disciples? John 14:1-3.
What idea is conveyed by the use of the word "again"?
What testimony does an inspired apostle bear on this point? Heb. 9:27, 28.
For what purpose does Christ appear unto them that look for him?
In what different ways will his coming affect the righteous and the wicked? Isa. 66:5.
What did Christ say he would do for his disciples at his second coming? John 14:3.
Then since he comes only the "second time," what must we conclude?
When, after Christ's resurrection, Peter asked what John's work would be, what did Jesus reply? John 21:20-22.
What saying immediately went abroad? Verse 23.
Why did they think he would not die?
Does the inspired writer make a distinction between death and the coming of Christ? John 21:23.
Can you find in Christ's promise to his disciples, proof that his coming does not mean the conversion of sinners?
Will Christ come to earth in person? 1 Thess. 4:16.
To what will the manner of his coming be similar? Acts 1:10, 11.
How was he seen to go into Heaven? Acts 1:9.
Is the one who is coming the same one who was crucified and buried here on earth? Eph. 4:8-10.
As Christ went up, what received him? Acts 1:9.
With what will he come? Rev. 1:7.
How many will see him when he returns?
Is it probable that before Christ comes any one will teach that he has actually come in a secret manner? Matt. 24:26.
Should we believe such teaching?
How can we prove it to be false? Matt. 26:27.
Who will attend the Saviour when he returns? Matt. 25:31.
What part will the angels have to act? Matt. 24:31.

LESSON FOR AUGUST 2.

What doctrine occupies a prominent place in the preaching of the apostle? 2 Pet. 1:16.
When had they been eye-witnesses of the glory of Christ's second coming? Verses 17, 18.
To what occasion does Peter refer? Matt 17:1-5.
Did they have any stronger evidence to present than that of their own senses? 2 Pet. 1:19.
How early was Christ's second coming a subject of prophecy? Jude 14.
How long after the creation did Enoch live?
How long before the birth of Christ?
Who are the "saints" referred to in Enoch's prophecy? Jude 14 (Revised Version); Matt. 25:31.
What other patriarch of ancient time prophesied of the Lord's second coming? Job 19:25-27.
What testimony did David bear on this subject? Ps. 50:3-5; 96:11-13.
For what purpose did he say the Lord would come? Ps. 50:5.
With what words of Christ does this agree? John 14:3.
What did the apostle John say at the thought of Christ's soon coming? Rev. 22:20.
Why did he say this?
In the day of the Lord's coming what will be said? Isa. 25:9.
Why will the Lord save these persons?
In what condition must one be in order to wait for another?
Who are the ones that will be rewarded when the Lord comes? 2 Tim. 4:8.
If we do not love to hear of or think about the Lord's coming, of what may we be assured?
Would we not naturally expect some revelation to be made concerning the time of so important an event? Amos 3:7.
What does Paul say to the brethren? 1 Thess. 5:1.
Of what "times and seasons" is he speaking? 1 Thess. 4:15-17.
If there was no need for Paul to write concerning the time, what must we conclude?
Why are the brethren not ignorant of the time? 1 Thess. 5:4, 5.
What makes them children of the light? Ps. 119:105.
Upon whom will the day of the Lord come as a thief? 1 Thess. 4:2, 3; Luke 21:35.
What will cause men to be blind to the near coming of Christ? Luke 21:34, 35.
Can the people of God be called "dwellers" upon this earth? Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 2:11.
Where is their home? Heb. 11:16; Phil. 3:20 (Revised Version).

THE words of Christ in John 14:1-3 are very significant when we consider them carefully, in the light of his previous words. At the last passover supper, Jesus had told his disciples once more that he was about to leave them. He had previously told the unbelieving Jews that they would die in their sins, and that whither he went they could not come (John 8:21). And now to his loved disciples he said: "As I said to the Jews, whither I go ye cannot come; so now I say to you." John 13:30. Peter, ever zealous, declared himself ready to die for his Master, but even that would not give him the desired privilege of being with the one whom he loved. In this time of sadness and gloom the Saviour spoke the comforting words found in John 14:1-3 and onward. He assured them that the separation would not be final, but that he would return to take them to the mansions prepared for them.

What the Saviour promised must be considered in the light of what the disciples wanted. They desired his personal presence with them. Now if Jesus promised them something else, his words could contain no comfort for them. We would therefore expect him to promise a literal return for them. And this is just what he did. "I will come again." This can mean nothing but that he would once more be as really present with them as he was then.

HOW can we know that Christ has not already come? and if he has not come, how can we tell when that event takes place? These questions have been answered in advance. When he comes it is to execute judgment upon all that are ungodly (Jude 15); his people will be taken to be with him forever (1 Thess. 4:16, 17); but they are yet separated from him. Many will teach that Christ has come, but we need not be deceived. "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." Matt. 24:27. He will come in the same manner in which he ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:11), a real, personal being, "this same Jesus," and "every eye shall see him." Rev. 1:7. There will then be no need for one to tell another that the Lord has come, for none can be ignorant of the fact.

WHY do we have so much to say about the coming of the Lord? Simply because we find so much about it in the Bible. There is no other subject which occupies so much space. Peter says (2 Pet. 1:16) that the apostles had made known the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that they had evidence of that which they declared. Besides their personal testimony, we have, as he says, the "more sure word of prophecy," which speaks with no uncertain sound on the subject of Christ's coming. Indeed that is the principal object for which they were given. They all point to the one event. Peter, after speaking in the third chapter of his second epistle with great positiveness concerning the coming of the Lord, says that Paul in all his epistles speaks of these things (verses 15, 16); this statement we can easily verify by an examination of the writings of Paul. In them the coming of the Lord is spoken of familiarly as a thing well understood.

And why should it not be so? What more natural than that the event which is to be the consummation of all things should be often spoken of? Christ had comforted the hearts of his sorrowing disciples with the promise that he would come to receive them to himself. Now if they had never said anything about that promise, we would say that their love for their Lord, and their desire to be with him was not very ardent. We would measure their love for their Master by the earnestness of their longing for his return. They did love the Saviour with intense devotion, and consequently his return was their constant theme. Does any one say that they were too sanguine, or that they were mistaken? Such a statement is nothing less than charging the Lord himself with deception, for they said nothing but what he had taught them. If they were mistaken in this, we have no warrant that they were not mistaken in everything, and in that case what becomes of our Bible? No, they were not deceived, and we can depend upon what the Holy Spirit has preserved for our instruction.

ONLY those who love his appearing will receive the crown when the Lord comes. 2 Tim. 4:8. It is only to those who look for him that he appears unto salvation. The mere fact that we talk about the coming of the Lord does not prove that we love his appearing, but it is certain that we do not love his appearing if we do not love to think and talk about it. If we love the Lord we shall certainly love his appearing. How may we know that we really love him, and are preparing for his coming? He says, "If ye love me keep my commandments." If we are walking in his footsteps, obeying his voice, we show our love for him.