A GREAT LITERAL PROPHECY.
WE were brought in our two last studies to "this generation," the present generation, the people acting their part on the stage of the world's great drama now. For all our Lord's great lesson in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 was written for this generation. It was spoken for His disciples at that time that they might know (1) that Jerusalem should be destroyed, and how; (2) that Christ's coming was not in their day; (3) that its definite time was not to be known; and (4) that the Spirit could use this definite instruction through them for the benefit of those who should come afterward. But the greater part of this instruction, the definite signs given, the fearful dangers, the deceptions, the admonitions, the warnings, the assurances, are for this generation, the people who see "all these things." As stated last week: What is the meaning, then, of Matt. 24:34? This: That some, at least, of the people who see in the light of God's Word these signs included in this discourse which Jesus gave, shall not pass from among earth's living till Christ shall come again. And Jesus affirms what He before has said that "when ye see all these things, know ye that He is nigh, even at the doors," by these words: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away." He anticipated the weariness of waiting. He foresaw the sleepy virgins, and, alas, with some, the lack of oil. He heard the peace-and-safety cry, the sleep-lulling song of the ages. He saw the deceptions to arise; saw the apparent strength of a great numerical, rich, popular church, and knew the mighty force that the arguments of "higher criticism" and of a "converted world" would have upon the little flock who, because of His Word, believed that His coming was near. He bids them to stand fast, "endure unto the end." Heaven might roll together as a scroll, earth might crumble and disintegrate into wandering meteorites, yet His Word would not fail. Be of good courage, faithful pilgrim. Neither the Day nor the Hour.
But He is equally emphatic in guarding the opposite danger. Men must not set times for His coming, must not presume to fix the date, must not open the way for carelessness and indifference, putting far away the Lord's coming, nor giving ground for fanaticism and scoffing by fixing times which terminate in disappointment. Here are our Lord's words: "But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only." It is argued with force, that the sense of this is, no one maketh known the day, etc., and this is doubtless the meaning. See 1 Cor. 2:2. Paul knew many things, but he preached but the one, Christ, and Him crucified. But this explanation leaves man without the information till earth's long roll of sin and sorrow shall reap their climax, her harvest is fully ripe, and then the Ruler of the universe shall speak, heaven and earth shall be shaken, and the Reaper shall come. Heb. 12:26, 27; Rev. 16:17; Joel 3:16; Jer. 25:30; Rev. 14:14. Characteristics of the Watching Time.
The time of this generation is a watching time. Jesus declares that it will be as it was in the days of Noah. Regardless of the world's approaching doom, listening to their worldly wise men, the "men of renown," they laughed at the fears of Noah, made sport of his ark-building, despised his warnings. Wickedness continued to increase. Believing themselves divine (Gen. 3:4), men followed the imagination of their own heart, which ran riot to every extent of evil. Gen. 6:5. The Spirit of Christ entreated, always to be resisted. Verse 3. The earth became "filled with violence," "for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth." Therefore God declared, "The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." Verses 11-13.5 Do we not now see the days of Noah repeated? God is pleading through His Word, but His Word is resisted, rejected. Lust, illegal and legalized, reigns. Men are given up to feasting, to eating and drinking, to marrying and giving in marriage, with no thought but that of selfishness. Violence increases, crime of every sort augments, holy standards are trampled underfoot. God protests, warns, entreats, "but the madding world goes on with jest and song." By and by the last appeal will have been made. Sin becomes unforgiveable because unrepentable, and in the depth of infinite reluctance Jehovah rises up to "do His work, His strange work, and bring to pass His act, His strange act." The decree is spoken, not to cut off one sinner from salvation, but to say that every soul has decided his own case: "He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still; and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still; and he that is holy let him be made holy still. Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to render to each man according as his work is." Rev. 22:11, 12. Before the Flood came, Noah was shut in the ark, and the world—the then scoffing world—shut out. Before Christ comes the seal of God is placed upon His loyal ones, the mark of the beast upon all of the apostasy, men have by decision made character unchangeable. Then Christ rises up from His mediatorial seat, and comes in to judgment to view the guests. Matt. 22:11-13. Thus shall it be in the days preceding the disclosure of Christ's personal presence. When that time comes the long withheld plagues which sin has engendered rush forth upon the wicked world as vultures upon heaps of decaying slain. Revelation 15 and 16. "Then shall two men be in the field; one is taken [by the plagues], and one is left; two women shall be grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left." "And they answering say unto Him, Where, Lord? And He said unto them, Where the body [carcass] is, thither will the eagles [vultures] also be gathered together." Luke 17:31-37; Matt. 24:40, 41, 28. This time of Christ's coming or going (the original has both definitions), is the rising up from the mercy-seat, the closing of probation, the closing of the door of the ark, the announcing of the worthy before the personal coming to reward them. As a thief in the night it will come. With no sound of herald will that moment strike. Hardened hearts will not know it till the plagues seize their legitimate prey. "Watch therefore; for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of Man cometh." A Lesson for God's Preachers.
Jesus then draws a lesson for those who stand as watchmen on the walls of Zion, as pastors or householders to feed the flock. In due season the food should be given. Vegetables and fruits according to the season should appear upon the table. Are strawberries ripe? —The health and best interests of his household demand that they should appear upon his table. And so with other fruits. The winter diet will not do for the year. "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing." God's church needs the food for its supper-time, the present truth for the closing years of probation. Who is giving the food in due season? Alas, many are saying in their heart, "My Lord tarrieth." They are eating and drinking with the drunken, are beating and smiting the faithful ones. To such ones probation will close when they know it not, and they are unsaved. Read Matt. 24:45-51. One passage more on this important subject for this important time: "But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare; for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth. But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:34-36.