Christ's Coming Preceded by a World-Wide Message
By H. W. Cottrell
THE Book of God is radiant with Gospel assurances of Christ's return to this world the second time to receive His people. The eyes of God's children are fixed, and their hopes centered, on that prophetic Gospel epoch as the time of their full realization of the divine promises. The second coming of Christ will therefore be the event of events, and like other moral epochs in the past, must be preceded by a world-wide message. To illustrate: The destruction of the earth by the Flood was preceded by Christ's message of salvation through Noah. The first coming of the Messiah, clothed in human flesh, was preceded by the joyful message heralded by John the Baptist, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." That Christ's second coming brings with it decisions of eternal consequence to each individual, whether living or dead, is verified by the following quotation: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick [living] and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom." 2 Tim. 4:1. This text also evidences the fact that He will appear as King in His kingdom, which kingdom He will finally establish "under the whole heaven." The message of the coming King must go to earth's remotest bounds, that the people may decide, each one for himself, whether he will have the divine Christ and live eternally with Him, or choose death as his portion. "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23. Paul, in admonishing to faithfulness, says: "I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: which in His times He shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords." 1 Tim. 6:13-15. Christ's Definite Statement
Christ speaks very definitely in regard to the world-wide message that should precede His coming, in the following language: "And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matt. 24:14. This "kingdom" Gospel message is the everlasting Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ, which has come down the stream of time to each succeeding generation. But God adapts it to the times, in its detailed application, according to the needs of the people. When John the beloved disciple was banished to the lonely isle of Patmos, the omniscient and ever-present Father was with him as Revelator. He permitted him to see with prophetic eye the peculiar need of earth's last generation of people, the definite threefold setting of the everlasting Gospel adapted to them, the returning Redeemer crowned King, the fruit-gathering of Heaven's effort for the salvation of the fallen race. The last world-wide message which is to precede the advent of our divine Lord will be brought very fully to view as we study John's record of Christ's revelation to him. A series of three angels is the pen picture. One of them John said he saw flying "in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation; and kindred, and tongue, and people." Even the casual reader will readily observe the following facts contained in the verse just quoted: The angel has the Gospel. It is the everlasting Gospel, and is to be preached to the whole world. Then followed another angel with a message. And the third angel followed them. Immediately after the completed work of the third angel, Christ will "appear the second time without sin [sin-offering] unto salvation." These angels represent God's messengers with His last world-wide message. The message of the first angel was, "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Rev. 14:6, 7. The attention of all men is herein directed to God,—Jehovah,—and they are admonished to adore Him, especially in view of the fact that "the hour of His judgment is come." The Lord has given the Gospel a different setting, in one respect, in this our day, from that of the days of Paul, because of the lateness of the day, as we are in the eleventh hour call. Paul preached of a "judgment to come;" but the burden of this angel's message is that it "is come." This is a solemn warning. The second angel followed, "saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen"—a Babylon formed of religionists; every wind of doctrine blowing, some even denying the Lord who bought them, by making themselves equal to the divine Christ. This condition is Babylon. This state of things became so intense to the prophetic eye that John saw Babylon fall morally lower and lower. The third and last angel of the series, with his message embracing the whole series, is described by "the beloved disciple" thus: "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God." Verses 9, 10. For lack of space, we will not endeavor to unfold the great volume of truth contained in this verse, but be content to say that it warns every man against the worship of "the beast and his image" and the reception of his mark. This beast doubtless refers to that great religious system known as the Papacy. An image would be a body of men who would proceed along the same line to enforce worship as did the Papacy; namely, by the strong arm of civil law. This message requires of every individual that he render adoration to God, and to Him only. Verse 7. Hence God requires of every soul that he discountenance, in religious matters, every such system, whether the system be composed of a large body like the papal, or of a smaller body of men, or if it be found in the conduct of one lone man; for conscience and worship are due to be rendered to God only. The tenth and eleventh verses pronounce the fiat of God upon the impenitent who have spurned forever Christ's proffered mercies. To Precede His Second Coming
This message precedes the advent of Christ, and develops a people whose history5 (Continued from page 4) is penned in the language, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Verse 12. I will mention three qualities peculiar to this people: first, they wait patiently upon God in time of trial and trouble; second, they keep God's law, hence observe the seventh-day Sabbath; third, they keep Jesus' faith, by keeping Him spiritually abiding within the heart, and depend upon Christ alone for righteousness, hence they are Christians. In fulfilment of the promise, "I will come again," "I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle." Verse 14. This message, dear reader, is under proclamation; has been sounding since the autumn of 1844, in fulfilment of prophecy; has gone to every nation, and to almost every country. Soon it will have accomplished its work, and then Christ will come. Will you hear and love His message?