THE RESURRECTION AND THE SECOND ADVENT.
By Ellet Joseph Waggoner
[The manuscript of this article was found among Elder J. H. Waggoner’s papers after his decease, and is probably one of the last articles written by him. We believe that it has never appeared in print. Under the circumstances, the writer’s expressions of firm faith in the blessed hope are particularly touching.] THE doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, and the doctrine of the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ, prove each other. They necessarily go together, and depend upon each other. Paul plainly teaches that if there be no resurrection of the dead, our faith is vain; there can be no salvation—no hope for the future. 1 Cor. 15:12-19. This is a truth lying at the very foundation of the Christian system, and yet how sadly it is neglected at the present day! On this point Dr. Clarke in his Commentary on 1 Cor. 15 remarks:— “One remark I cannot help making: The doctrine of the resurrection appears to have been thought of much more consequence among the primitive Christians than it is now. How is this?—The apostles were continually insisting on it, and inciting the followers of God to diligence, obedience, and cheerfulness through it; and their successors at the present day seldom mention it! So the apostles preached, and so primitive Christians believed; so we preach, and so our hearers believe. There is not a doctrine in the gospel on which more stress is laid; and there is not a doctrine in the present system of preaching which is treated with more neglect.” Dr. Clarke wrote this comment more than half a century ago, and that which he so plainly saw in his day is yet more plainly to be seen now. The departure from the teaching of the Scriptures on this subject is widening continually. The resurrection of the just will take place when the Lord comes. Paul gave comforting words of instruction to his brethren at Thessalonica, and through them to us, concerning them that are asleep, in which he said:— “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [go before] them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thess. 4:15-18. And thus it appears that if the Lord himself should never return to this earth, the dead in Christ would never arise; and then, according to the words of Jesus in Luke 14:14, the righteous would never receive a recompense. We have already seen that everything concerning man’s final salvation is made dependent on the resurrection; and here it is shown that the resurrection itself is made to depend on the second advent of Christ. And here we may say of the second advent exactly what Dr. Clarke said of the resurrection. No truth of the gospel is dwelt upon more constantly, more earnestly, and with more loving desire, than that of the second advent; and at the present time it is not only neglected, but it is treated with contempt, and many professed servants of Christ even manifest hatred towards the doctrine! With them it is the deepest reproach to believe in and to love the appearing of the Lord. But see what the apostle says in 2 Tim. 4:1-8. Jesus said the reward of the just will be given at the resurrection. He also said, “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22:12. His reward is with him at his coming, because he restores the saints to life at that time. See 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 this coming of the Son of man in the glory of the Father, Paul called the blessed hope. Titus 2:13. Peter said, “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” 1 Peter 5:4. And thus again Paul says, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Col. 3:4. We have learned that when the Lord Jesus comes, the trump of God shall sound, and the dead in Christ shall be raised. Again we read that when the last trump shall sound, then this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality. It is when Jesus comes to give life to his people, when this mortal puts on immortality, that that saying is fulfilled which is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” Death is now continually gaining victories over the saints of God. The grave is daily claiming its prey. But when the Lord, our life, shall come, when his voice calls the sleeping saints from their graves, when angels bear them aloft to meet the Lord in the air, then they can raise the glad shout of triumph: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? . . . . But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:52-57. The disciples were sad when the Lord told them that he was going to leave them. But he told them not to let their hearts be troubled; he would come again and receive them unto himself. This, to them, was the blessed hope; earnestly they prayed, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” This promise comforts our hearts to-day, and we, too, thank God for this blessed hope.