THE SECOND OF THESE COMINGS
of Christ is after this judgment work is over, and he comes to reckon with his servants, or decides forever the cases of all living. Matt. 25:19. At the time this judgment work closes, the following decree goes forth previous to the coming of Christ to this earth:— "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly." Rev. 22:11, 12. This coming to reckon ushers in a time of momentous importance. When that decree goes forth, the day of salvation ends and the day of Jehovah's fierce anger begins. Zeph. 2:1-3. This is evident from the decree itself. That day will be of greater moment to those then living than any other ever known. It will not be ushered in by the sound of a trumpet. Christ will simply lay off his priestly robes, and put on the garments of vengeance. Isa. 59:17, 18; Rev. 15:5-8. This does not mean an arbitrary cutting off of God's mercy toward the wicked; it is the sad announcement of the God of love that men have decided their own cases by willfully closing their ears to his appeals, their hearts to his love. They have so identified themselves with the sin that with the sin they must die. The approach of this time will not be indicated any more than was the approach of the angel of Jehovah, who slew the first born of Egypt; in the language of Scripture, that day "will come as a thief in the night." 2 Peter 3:10. The following passages, quoted last week, refer to the same time:— "For ye know not what hour your Lord doth come [erchomai]. But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come [erchomai], he would have watched. . . . Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh [erchomai]." Matt. 24:42-44. "Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh [hēkō, is come], shall find so doing." Verse 46. "After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh [erchomai], and reckoneth with them." Matt. 25:19. "The bridegroom came [erchomai]." Verse 10. "Ye know not when the master of the house cometh [erchomai], at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning." Mark 13:35. "For the Son of Man cometh [erchomai] at an hour when ye think not." Luke 12:40. Also verses 39, 43. "Will come [hēkō, will have come] in a day when he looketh not for Him." Verse 46. "The day of the Lord so cometh [erchomai] as a thief in the night." "Are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." 1 Thess. 5:2, 4. "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come [hēkō, will have come] on thee as a thief." Rev. 3:3. "Behold, I come [erchomai] as a thief." Rev. 16:15. The fitness of speaking of this event as a coming will be seen if we will consider the change in relation between Christ and mankind. Previous to this time he appears in the presence of God for them as priest, pleading his blood in their behalf; but when that day is reached, he is no longer priest, but appears as judge to execute sentence. But his coming is not to this earth, but a coming forth from the heavenly sanctuary, where he has stayed the vials of wrath from the world, to execute judgment upon the guilty. Rev. 11:15-19; 15:5-8; Dan. 12:1. Those who have accepted of Christ, will not be overtaken as a thief. Like the Israelites in Egypt, the sprinkled blood of the Lamb of God will keep far from them every plague. Psalm 91. There are other passages which relate to the same time, but the reader will have no hesitation in referring them to the proper event. The Greek word used in all these cases is either erchomai or hēkō, or their derivatives. We will consider this further in our next.