CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN. HOW? WHEN?
By George B. Thompson
THERE is no truth of the blessed Gospel which is more clearly taught than that our Redeemer will return the second time. Before this awful event all others pale. It is the sublimest spectacle and most matchless display of transcendent glory connected with the scheme of redemption. When the Lord spoke the eternal principles of His own perfection from the flaming top of Sinai, and traced them in stone with His own finger, the whole earth trembled, and the glory of God was revealed in mighty majesty. But this divine exhibition of heavenly glory will be surpassed when the Redeemer comes to take to Himself the people whom He has saved from the terrible thralldom of sin. At His first advent He came in weakness. He came as a helpless Babe to show the frailties of our frame. As a Lamb He came to bear the burdens of a weak and degenerate race. But how different the scene when He appears the second time to overturn the proud and stately empires of earth and scatter them like the chaff driven by the wind. We may think of the glorious event, and it is well to let the picture linger in the mind, yet we can never take it in. The human mind can never comprehend in its fulness the hour when, crowned King of all kings, the Saviour comes to reap the harvest of the earth. The coming of Christ is a real thing. It is no phantom. It is the advent of a real personal being. Jesus left the earth a real person, bearing in His body the marks of His humiliation. "And while they [the disciples] looked steadfastly toward heaven, as He went up behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, 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 1:10, 11. "An angelic cloud received Him into glory, and when He appears the second time He is seated upon a "white cloud," "having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle." Rev. 14:14. When He comes He will be escorted, like the victorious conqueror which He is, by "all the holy angels." Matt. 25:31. When one angel came to the sealed tomb to call the Redeemer as He lay locked in the fixed embrace of death, the glory which attended the celestial messenger struck to the earth the guard of Roman soldiers who were watching the sepulcher. How much glory, think you, will be revealed when the unnumbered millions of mighty angels come with their Redeemer? They come as reapers to gather the sheaves into the heavenly garner. But this is only a little of the glory which is to be seen. The King comes in the most supernal glory, "the glory of His Father." Matt. 16:27. He will come in "His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels." Luke 9:26. In the past, kings, emperors, and potentates of earth have sought to show the glory of their empires. In triumphant splendor and overweening pride they have exhibited all their regal pomp and glory. But they have perished, and their glory is no more. But the consuming majesty and glory which attends the coming of Jesus overshadows theirs as the sun shining in its zenith power eclipses the rays of a candle, and His glory will endure throughout all ages. Its luster will not be dimmed by passing cycles. And now, as in ages in the past, the Lord will warn the world of the event which is approaching. He warned the antediluvians; He warned Sodom; He warned Nineveh; and when His first advent was impending, He sent His forerunner with a special message for the time. And when we reach the closing days of the world's history, we read that there will be "signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." Luke 21:25-27. Reader, this glorious day draws near; it will soon be ushered in. Prepared or unprepared, its stern realities will soon be upon us. For the righteous it is a day of the greatest joy, when they can look up and rejoice. For sinners it is a day of gloominess, desolation, and destruction. While the Life-giver is still on the mercy-seat, offering pardon to the impenitent, shall we not turn to Him with full repentance, that we may find forgiveness, and be numbered among those who can look up and say, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us!" Isa. 25:9. 1. We ought to be looking for it. "Seeing that all these things [this earth and its works] shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto ["earnestly desiring," A. R. V.] the coming of the day of God." 2 Peter 3:11, 12. "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." Phil. 3:20. 2. We should love His return. "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." 2 Tim. 4:8. 3. We should be waiting for it. "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in everything ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you; so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 1:4-7. Waiting for an event implies being ready for it. 4. We should be watching for His coming. "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh." Matt. 25:13. Watching also implies being ready. "Therefore be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh." Matt. 24:44. 5. His return should be a subject of prayer. "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:20. 6. We should firmly believe in His coming again. "In particular it intimates that He will delay His coming so long that wicked people will begin to defy it, and to say, 'Where is the promise of His coming?' They will challenge Him to come; and His delay will harden them in their wickedness. Even His own people will begin to despair of it, and conclude: He will never come, because He has passed their reckoning." MANY that are looking at me may never die; we are near the end of this dispensation. The coming of the Lord in the clouds to take His church to be with Himself is the Christian's hope. O, to be ready! In the Master's name, I tell you, be ready. I charge you to prepare for His coming.—Henry Varley. SOME people are greatly frightened when the second coming of Christ is mentioned, or when it is deduced from prophecy that the great event is soon to occur. A Christian should be suspicious of himself if he feels afraid of that glorious day.—Rev. Dr. Robinson.