AN UNCERTAIN SOUND by M. E. K.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 4, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 43.

AN UNCERTAIN SOUND.

By M. E. K.

A CONFERENCE of Presbyterian ministers has lately been held at Toccoa, Ga., to consider the subject of the second coming of Christ. It is referred to in the public prints as a "premillennial conference," because those who have taken part in it believe that Christ will come before the thousand years referred to in Revelation 20, which period of time is popularly known among Biblical writers as the "millennium." At the conclusion of this conference the results of their study and investigation were given to the world by these ministers in the following declarations:—

We declare the Word of God to be our only source of knowledge and our only rule of faith, with reference to the doctrine of our Lord's coming.
As we know that the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the first coming of Christ were fulfilled in their normal or natural sense, so we believe that the prophecies of the Old Testament and of the New Testament concerning his second coming, will be fulfilled in the same way.
We believe that these scriptures clearly teach the personal, visible, and premillennial return of our Lord.
We believe that the present dispensation is not for the conversion of the world, but elective, as clearly stated in the Scriptures.
The duty of the church during the absence of her Lord is to watch and pray, to work and wait, to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, and thus hasten his coming.
We believe that the glorious results, following the coming of Christ in the universal triumph of the Gospel, are to be brought about by the power of the Holy Ghost, even as the Word of God everywhere declares.
We believe that while the fact of our Lord's return is certain, the time thereof is uncertain, according to his own words.

The first five statements are in harmony with the Scriptures; but the last two propositions are very wide of the truth. Nowhere do the Scriptures tell of any "glorious results following the coming of Christ in the universal triumph of the Gospel." When Christ comes that will be the end of the Gospel, except as those who have embraced it will forever enjoy the favor of God. The "triumph" suggested by this conference is an increased salvation of souls after Christ's coming, but we make bold to say that the "Word of God everywhere declares" that there is neither mercy nor salvation offered to the unrepentant after Jesus comes. He comes "in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." Then "all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him." The Holy Ghost will then have finished his work, for in the last days, as well as in the days of Noah, God's "Spirit will not always strive with man."

The idea here advanced by the conference that the coming of Christ is to be the signal for a great and remarkable work of grace is directly contrary to the Scriptures, and is productive of the most mischievous consequences; for it leads many to delay the preparation for the coming of the Lord, and that at a time and mid events so startling and thrilling in their suggestiveness of the near coming of the Lord,

that they should alarm and awaken the most stolid. If this convention of preachers does not say, "My Lord delayeth his coming," it does make that coming so full of hopeful promise to the sinner that all fear of it is removed.

The seventh and last proposition is as faulty as the sixth. Nothing but the "fact" that he will return is "certain," all else is "uncertain." Surely so much study of the subject ought to have brought to the light something more than the fact that Christ would at some time return. Many signs are given by Christ himself that will indicate when that coming is near, and the watchers are forewarned that when they see these things come to pass, they are to "know that he is near, even at the door." They are even to lift up their heads (Luke 21:28), indicating an expectancy of his immediate return. Does not the knowledge and expectancy that the coming of the Lord is near, knowledge based upon his own Word, when these signs are fulfilled, make his coming among the "certain" things that we may soon expect? As no one had a right to proclaim Christ's coming to be near before those signs were given, so, at least, no one has a right to deny their significance, now that they have been given. They were given that we might know the time, not that we are to know the day or the hour, but the time,—that "this generation [that see the signs] shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." And when those living in this age, with all the signs past and present to show that the great day of the Lord is near, meet in convention to discuss this great subject, and then come to the conclusion that we can know nothing of the time, that it is "uncertain," what is this but giving the trumpet an uncertain sound; and "if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?"

The "evil servant," after the signs of Christ's coming have been given, declares, "My Lord delayeth his coming," he is not certain that his coming is near; he does not give "meat in due season"—truth adapted for the times. See Matt. 24:45-48. But the wise servant in that day gives meat in due season; and as the wise servant is exactly the opposite of the evil servant, and the evil servant says, "My Lord delayeth his coming," it is certain, then that the wise servant says that the Lord is coming, and in saying this, he gives meat in due season,—the very truth that the Lord wants given at that time,—at this time, for these signs have been given.

The prophetical command for God's watchmen of to-day is, "Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand." Those who fulfil this prophecy will give the trumpet a certain sound. This warning is the same as that foretold in the great threefold warning of Rev. 14:6-12. It is now sounding, and when it has finished, the decree will go forth, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which 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; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Thus, after Christ's coming, no more changes of character will be made, but an irrevocable decree will make all to remain as they are, and they will then receive their reward according to their works. May we give the trumpet a certain sound, that we may at last hear the Master say, "Well done."