The Second Coming of Christ.
By Uriah Smith
IS IT NEAR? THE PROPHETIC PERIODS. No student of the Bible can overlook the fact that there are in various places in the prophetic writings, several periods of time, marked off, with commencement, intermediate events, and termination, all well defined. And all can but admit that between these prophetic periods and the consummation which is to take place in the dispensation of the fullness of times, there must be some connection more or less intimate. The subject of the prophetic periods therefore has a bearing more or less direct upon the question of the time of Christ's coming. Not that any of these numbers bring us to that event, for we shall find that none are given for that purpose. A correct understanding and application of the prophetic periods, therefore, commits no one to the unscriptural position that we are to determine before hand the hour, the day, or even the year, of Christ's second appearing. Yet they are all-important as marking significant events in our mortal journey, and showing us how near we are approximately to the coming of Christ. The fact that God in his word has marked off certain periods of time, is worthy of attention. What could possibly be the design of such prophecies? It could be nothing less than to indicate to the human family where they are in that part of duration that spans the history of this world from its fall to its restitution. This fact conceded, it follows that we must understand the relative situation of other events that precede and follow these periods of time, otherwise they would be to us no source of information whatever. We may continue the inquiry: Why should our position in this world's history be indicated? Only that we may know when we are approaching the end, and prepare for the final consummation. The conclusion is then necessary that the prophetic periods, at least those which extend to the latest point, must bring us down somewhere in close proximity to the end. This must be so, or the foregoing reasoning is based on altogether erroneous premises. Now if we find it to be a fact that all the prophetic periods have expired, that we are down this side the termination of them all, even the longest and latest, this will constitute one of the strongest chains of evidence that the coming of the Lord is at the door. And this we affirm is precisely our situation in this respect. The prophetic periods have all expired. The first one began in 457 B. C., and ended in 1844 A. D. This is the longest one on the page of prophecy spanning a period of 2300 years. Dan. 8:14. Some expositors affect to find an earlier and longer period in the seven times of Lev. 26. But no prophetic period there appears, the expression being simply an adverb denoting degree of punishment, not an adjective and noun denoting duration of time. It is no part of our purpose to enter here into an exposition of the prophetic periods. The arguments establishing their dates will be found in other places. We refer to them here, assuming their correctness, simply to note their bearing upon the question before us respecting the nearness of Christ's second coming. The period we have referred to, dates back to the earliest point of prophetic measurement. Another period commencing B. C. 31, ended A. D. 330, marking the turning point in the fate of the Roman Empire, when the seat of power was moved from Rome to Constantinople. Dan. 11:24. These are the only ones antedating the Christian era. Another commencing in A. D. 508, at the fall of paganism, Dan. 12:11, and another in A. D. 538, at the elevation of the papacy, Dan. 7:25, extend, the first 1290, and the latter 1260, years, to 1798, marking the temporary overthrow of that blood-thirsty antichristian papal power. Another commencing July 27, 1299, extended 150 years to the like point in the year 1449, marking the period of Saracenic supremacy. Rev. 9:10, 11. Another, the most definite of all, commencing where this last-named expired, and continuing 391 years and 15 days, ended Aug. 11, 1840, marking the continuance of the Turkish or Ottoman supremacy. Rev. 9:15. Another, 1335 years in continuance, commenced with the 1290 in A. D. 508, and extended to the "blessing" of the light and truth of the great Advent movement of 1843. The 2300 days (years) we have already mentioned as extending to 1844, ending in the autumn of that year. Of the seven prophetic periods herein mentioned, five we notice are of very marked importance; and of these five, two ended in 1798, and the remaining three within a period of five years including the years 1840 and 1844. In other words, the whole five terminate within a space of forty-six years, 1798-1844, and that period entirely within the lifetime of many now living on the earth. Can any one doubt that this is an important prophetic era in the history of the church and world? Now let us note the events marked by the terminations of these periods. The two terminating in 1798, brought us to the last phase of the papal power as brought to view in the prophecy of Dan. 7, before that power is given to the burning flame, verse 11, or consumed with the spirit of Christ's mouth, and destroyed by the brightness of his coming. 2 Thess. 2:8. These periods also brought us to the commencement of an important era called "the time of the end," for the reason, as we must inevitably conclude that it constitutes a short space of time just preceding, and reaching to, the end; Dan. 11:35, 40; 12:4, 9 : in which time the word should be unsealed, knowledge be increased, and the wise understand. The period ending in 1840, brought us to the end of the second woe, when it is said, behold, the third woe cometh quickly, this third woe being synchronous with the sounding of the seventh angel, which brings the conclusion of all earthly scenes, the last judgment, and full establishment of God's everlasting kingdom. Rev. 9:12, 13; 11:14-18. The period of 1335 days ending in 1843, marked the time when the world was being shaken with the great movement respecting the second coming of Christ, heralding that event, as the mission of John the Baptist heralded that first advent. The period of 2300 days, ending in 1844, brought us to the cleansing of the sanctuary. Dan. 8:14. And this sanctuary we find to be the temple in Heaven, where Christ our great High Priest now ministers for us, Heb., chapters 8, 9, and 10, its cleansing being the concluding work of our Lord for sinners, which terminates the ministration in the sanctuary, and finishes the plan of salvation. This is a period of indefinite duration; but from the very nature of the case, it cannot be long. See works on the sanctuary. Thus intimately are all these periods connected with the end. And when it is shown, as can easily be done, that these periods are all in the past, it is a demonstration, plain and irrefutable, that the end is at our very doors. U. S.