Our Bible Reading by H. W. Cottrell

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 13, 1912

Our Bible Reading

By H. W. Cottrell

A Literal, Visible Coming

1. Did Christ ascend bodily to heaven? And when He had spoken these things, while THEY BEHELD, He was taken up; and a cloud received HIM OUT OF THEIR SIGHT. Acts 1:9.

2. Will His return be literal, visible, personal? Why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 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.

3. Will all men of every nation and clime behold Him come? Behold, He cometh with clouds; AND EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Rev. 1:7.

4. Did the ancients look forward to Christ's second literal coming? For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that HE SHALL STAND at the latter day UPON THE EARTH: and tho after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall SEE FOR MYSELF, AND MINE EYES SHALL BEHOLD, and not another. Job 19:25-27.

5. Will His coming be as visible as the lightning? Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in the desert; go not forth: behold, He is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the LIGHTNING cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the COMING of the SON of Man be. Matt. 24:26, 27.

NOTE.—The spiritual presence of the Lord at the conversion of a sinner, or at the death of a saint, does not meet the specifications He has given of His second coming. Christ's second coming will be as literal as was His departure.

6. Will He be accompanied by a visible cloud? And then shall they see the SON of Man COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory. Luke 21:27.

7. Will those who have died in Christ hear His voice at His coming? For the LORD HIMSELF shall descend from heaven with a SHOUT, with the VOICE of the ARCHANGEL, and with the TRUMP OF GOD: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

H. W. COTTRELL.