THE COMING OF THE LORD by M. E. K.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 29, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 17.

THE COMING OF THE LORD.

By M. E. K.

THE Christian Advocate of April 8 contains quite a lengthy reply to a question raised by a correspondent in regard to William Miller and the nature of his teaching. In reading this reply, I am struck with the thought of how easily a great man's work and a great religious movement may be belittled by one who writes of it from the attitude of an opposer. It has been said of a certain historian that he wrote a history of England at the very time that Methodism was making itself felt as a great power in that country, but that he was too bigoted to mention it in his writing. Something of the same feeling may be discovered in many writers of the present day when the names of those who have, during the last fifty years, taught the doctrine of the near coming of the Lord, are under discussion. The Advocate acknowledges that Mr. Miller "became a very powerful preacher, and a very interesting lecturer, and, being a godly man and an evangelist, he produced tremendous effects." But,

on the whole, he would have it appear that he was rather an uneducated man, not acquainted with church history, and that, while "some very distinguished and able men accepted" his views, "the more intelligent and well educated generally opposed it."

Allowing that the Advocate has told the truth in this matter, the conditions here described are so very similar to the conditions relating to the proclamation of the Gospel by the apostles that one can not fail to notice the similarity. Christ selected humble, and, to the Jewish people and to the world, unknown men to begin the greatest and grandest work the world ever saw. In the language of that time they were called "unlearned and ignorant men." Of course this was from the standpoint of the scholarship of that day. Time has to a great extent reversed this view of the apostles, or made it of little account. It may do the same in reference to the standing and labors of other men. What more can be said for Peter, James, and John than that they were powerful preachers, interesting lecturers, and godly evangelists? Measured by other standards of their day, they were very deficient men. Even to-day those who revere them the most do not look upon them as great scholars. We only know, or care to know, that they had a message of warning, power, and salvation for a lukewarm church and a corrupt world. That they had "been with Jesus and had learned of him" is to our minds a sufficient excuse that they had not acquired much of the learning of that time.

Later, Paul, a learned man for that day, was called into the work, and Apollos, the eloquent man, carried conviction to thousands; but these men did not depend on their scholarship to win souls. Paul says that he did not use enticing words of men's wisdom in preaching, and he explains the paucity of learned men among them and his own simpleness of manner in these words: "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the . . . mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are; that no flesh should glory in his presence." 1 Cor. 1:26-29.

The above principle is given through the ablest scholar of the apostolic period, not by one of the "unlearned and ignorant" apostles. It is therefore approved by the highest scholarship ever in the church, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, that God, for the purpose that "no flesh should glory in his presence," chooses humble and unknown men to accomplish his purposes.

It is also true that the preaching of the near coming of the Lord has been largely done by earnest, devoted, and intelligent men and women, with no great claim to superior culture, and with them a few men of eminent ability. This is in striking harmony with the acknowledged ways of God in his working, as illustrated by the work started out under his personal direction, and supplemented after his departure by the direction of the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.

But what about the doctrine of the near coming of the Lord? Is there any good reason why one should believe it? Referring to those who first preached that Christ's coming is near, the Advocate said: "The simple fact was that they did not understand the Bible; and there are thousands in the Christian churches now as thoroughly deceived as ever Miller

was, some of them very conspicuous. By their Biblical interpretation they love to prove the world is growing worse all the time, and are confident the time is near at hand."

Perhaps it will now be in order to see what the Bible does say about the coming of the Lord. Will Christ come again?—"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself." John 14:3. He will be seen "coming in a cloud with power and great glory." Luke 21:27. That coming will be personal and visible. "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11. "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him." Rev. 1:7.

The wicked will be unprepared for that day; "for as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth." Luke 21:35. "For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matt. 24:38, 39.

The saints will be looking for Christ and believing that his coming is near. "And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him; . . . we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." Isa. 25:9. "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of the light, and the children of the day. . . . Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." 1 Thess. 5:4-6. See also Luke 21:28.

The unbelieving will scoff at the idea of Christ's coming. "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?" 2 Peter 3:3, 4. But some will know when his coming is near. "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it [margin, 'he'] is near, even at the doors." Matt. 24:33. Those who know this will teach it to others. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?" Matt. 24:45. Inasmuch as the "evil servant" says, "My lord delayeth his coming," it is evident that the "faithful and wise servant" says that the lord will not delay his coming; and in saying this, he gives the household "meat in due season." In other words, he gives important truth when it should be given.

These positions might be reinforced by many more texts; the Bible is full of them. Great and scholarly men may see a way to avoid their force, but what God's Word says is more than human learning, more than modern scholarship. Some are willing to believe the Word. The Advocate says that there are "thousands in the Christian churches" who believe this. This is true, not mentioning the large numbers of Christians who are distinctively known as Adventists. The doctrine is permeating the churches. Never were there so many Christians looking for the speedy fulfilment of the promise of Christ's coming as now. Among them are such men as Mr. Moody and Dr. Pierson, who are conspicuous before the world for piety, zeal, faithfulness, and great success in the Master's work. They acknowledge that this faith and hope are the mainspring of their actions.

If the preaching of such men was not so nullified by the scientific doubt of the age, the "higher criticism" and the "peace-and-safety" cry of so many of the clergy, who can tell what the preaching of the Lord's coming might not yet do for the world? We fully believe that it would take many thousands of that class who in that day will vainly cry for the rocks and mountains to fall upon them (Rev. 6:16), and place them among those who, abiding in him, will "not be ashamed before him at his coming" (1 John 2:28).