Untitled article | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 31, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 38.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. NO. 3.

In past numbers we have shown that there are two events in the closing work of Christ which are mentioned in the Scriptures as his coming. The first of these is when he goes in before the Father, or comes to the Ancient of Days, to receive for himself a kingdom. This took place in 1844. Then Jesus went in to the marriage. The other event is when he closes his work as priest and presents himself before the world in another aspect, as the executor of judgment. This is the time alluded to by the prophet:—

"For the Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act. Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong; for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth." Isa. 28: 21, 22.

By referring to Josh. 10: 10, 11 it will be seen how God visited his wrath upon his enemies by his own supernatural power. Great hailstones were cast upon them, such as will be under the last plague when all the wicked perish. Rev. 16: 21; Job 38: 22, 23. It will be indeed God's strange work and strange act. Heretofore wrath has been restrained; but when that event takes place, and Christ comes forth from the heavenly sanctuary to punish the wicked, it will be doing his strange work. Sin must of necessity be destroyed, and men have so identified themselves with sin that they must perish with it. God's mercy is manifest in their destruction. The garment of the righteousness of God and the shield and buckler of truth alone will save man then. That day will come as a thief, but it will not overtake the faithful as a thief. He who watches not will have his house spoiled by the thief, but he who watches will not be taken unawares. Even so it will be when the day of the Lord comes, and Christ comes forth from his work as priest.

As before stated, the coming or going of the two events above mentioned is indicated by the Greek words erchomai or hēkō, or their derivatives. The above words may also relate to that coming of Christ which is surpassingly glorious and visible; but these words of themselves would not indicate the manner of the event. Other words are also used to show what the manner of the real advent of Christ to this world is; this event is commonly called the second advent or second coming of Christ. It is the