THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST.
By Elder F. M. Wilcox
THE second coming of Christ is a Bible subject. The verity of this claim is established by the many scores of texts in God's word, the grand central idea of which is the reign in glory of the Prince of Peace. It is an important subject; first, because it is a Bible subject, and second, because it is the culminating event in the great scheme of redemption, which has occupied the attention of the universe for the last six thousand years. It is an interesting subject, intensely so, because into the account of the second coming of Christ enters the destiny of every man, either for weal or for woe. To the child of God this question should ever be one of absorbing interest. In it he may see redemption from sin and Satan; and redemption implies much; it is an exchange of death for life, of sorrow for joy, of discord for peace, and the darkness and gloom of night for the light of eternal day. It is the grand culmination of all Christian hope, all desire, all anticipation. We lay down, then, as an introductory proposition, that Christ's return to this earth ever has been in the ages of the past, and will be till faith is swallowed up in sight, as set forth in the word of truth, This was the hope set before our first parents as, depressed by sin and sorrow, they saw the fearful results of their transgression. The promise that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head (Gen. 3:15), spoke to them volumes of hope and comfort through the Saviour, whom it foreshadowed. Job could turn from the enumeration of his earthly losses and sorrows to the more enduring substance and lasting joys promised in the world's Redeemer. With confidence could he say: "For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." Job 19:25, 26. Christ's coming was the day of deliverance to Daniel's prophetic gaze. To him, and through him to us, does the angel Gabriel declare that when Michael shall stand up, "the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people, . . . thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." Dan. 12:1. Joel takes up the same prophetic strain: "The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel." Joel 3:16. The marginal rendering of the word "hope" in this scripture strengthens the thought of the perfect safety and security that exist in God. "The Lord shall be the hope, or place of repair, or harbor, for his people." With God as our "hope," our "place of repair," our "harbor" of rest and safety, what need we fear from the tumultuous scenes of this world which will usher in that great day. Truly "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." Those that fear the Lord and think upon his name "shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him." Coming now to the New Testament Scriptures, the second coming of Christ is none the less the hope kept before the church of God. It was the time of reward set before Peter, when he asked, "What shall we have therefore? for all our sacrifices in following thee? When the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Matt. 19:27, 28. The return of Christ to the earth was the comforting hope and consolation administered to the sorrowing hearts of the disciples on the eventful evening preceding the betrayal. "Let not your heart be troubled. . . . I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1-3. Paul, as a prisoner, could witness Rome's mighty hosts in battle array. He could hear the songs of the victors, watch the triumphal march of the victorious legions, and see placed upon the brows of the conquerors a wreath of ivy or laurel. But from this vain display of pomp, and power, and pride, his mind turned to the far more brilliant and glorious triumph of those whom Rome counted as the offscourings of the nations, the oppressed people of God. Of himself, and of all the faithful in Christ Jesus, does he testify by the Spirit's direction: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Tim. 4:7, 8. Peter exhorts the church to "hope to the246end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:13. And what that grace is he reveals in the fifth chapter of the same epistle, fourth verse: "And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." The last book of the Bible opens with the prophetic utterance, "Behold He cometh with clouds." Christ himself declares, "And behold I come quickly;" and John rolls up the inspired scroll with the earnest prayer, "Even so come, Lord Jesus." Who can say, in view of these utterances from representative men in all ages of the church, patriarch, priest, prophet, and apostle alike, that the reign of Christ in glory has not been the hope of the church of God? Truly it is the hope of the ages, and the utterances of these Bible writers that we have quoted above—utterances inspired by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ himself—present that grand and glorious event as the hope of his people, the time of their redemption from the power of sin, and of their glorious inheritance of everlasting joy. Reader, is the appearing of Christ your hope? Do you look for that event with joyful anticipations? Is Christ the one around whom center your fondest hopes, your highest expectations, your most earnest desires? Is he your hope and stay here? If so, he will be your crown of rejoicing, your exceeding great and rich reward in the times of restitution. Seek him to-day. Make peace with him now, that you may meet him in peace when he comes.