p. 117 | He Will Come Suddenly by H. G. THURSTON

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 3, 1914

He Will Come Suddenly

By H. G. THURSTON

Men Are Looking for Some Great, Decisive Event—The Gospel to Be a Witness in All the World—When the World Is Saying, "Peace and Safety," Sudden Destruction Comes

By H. G. THURSTON

THE prophet Malachi wrote of the coming of our Lord: "Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not Me, saith the Lord of hosts. For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." Mal. 3: 1-6. If this scripture may be applied to Christ's first advent, it must be applied to His second coming, as in it the time of final judgment and the overthrow of sinners is clearly taught. The proclamation of "the day of vengeance of our God" was not the message due nineteen centuries ago.

NO MORE DEFINITE THAN THIS GENERATION

Of the time when the Lord is to appear, the prophet says He will "suddenly come." The very year of Christ's baptism is revealed in Dan. 8: 14 and 9: 24-27, but nothing more definite than "this generation" is found concerning His second coming.

The mighty power of Pentecost sent the gospel everywhere in a few brief years. Yet in the midst of Heaven's blazing light, men, professing Christ's name, taught "perverse things," which gathered a selfish following (Acts 20: 30) and finally developed the "man of sin" (2 Thess. 2: 1-8). "The son of perdition" exalted himself, claiming power over men's bodies and souls. Twelve hundred and sixty dismal years of oppression and death, written in blood, testify to the efforts of "Antichrist" in binding the consciences of men. During this awful reign, the Reformation began to bring light and relief. Just before 1798, when the "deadly wound" would be laid upon the head of this pretentious power, the sun was darkened, and the moon did "not give her light." Matt. 24: 29. The stars were to fall as a fig-tree casts its green figs during a tempest. Rev. 6: 12, 13. These startling signs appeared May 19, 1780, and November 13, 1833.

BROUGHT TO THE PROPHETIC GENERATION

These events bring us to the last generation. Luke 21: 32. Many and most remarkable tokens of the approaching end are now seen and felt everywhere.

The world's great missionary conference of 1910 uttered words almost prophetic regarding an impending change. The most noted religious authority of England used similar language when speaking of the time when our Lord shall be seen coming.

MESSAGE PROCLAIMING THE GREAT DAY

Following the great star shower of 1833, the message of the approaching "day of vengeance of our God" began to be sounded, and rapidly developed in the advent movement of 1844. Amid scorn, poverty, and bitter opposition, a few people have been praying and laboring for the full consolation of Israel in the literal return of the Glorious One who was slain upon Calvary. This same little people have given more than $17,000,000 in less than ten years to extend "this gospel of the kingdom," which must be preached "for a witness unto all nations."

It is neither stated nor implied in the prophecy, that all nations will accept this gospel of the kingdom. Jesus says it shall be preached for a "witness."

HEARD IN MANY TONGUES

Thousands, by voice and pen, are now teaching this message. In nearly one hundred tongues it is heard, and the whole world is being lightened.

We can now hear the "peace and safety" notes in every civilized land. This popular lullaby of security must be accepted among the "people" (Isa. 2: 2-4) and by "many nations" (Micah 4: 1-7) just as "sudden destruction" comes. 1 Thess. 5: 2, 3.

Were the calamity of an ordinary kind, escape might be made; but the "sudden destruction" leaves no room for escape of deceiver or deceived. The world will be caught in the snare, and deluged in ruin.

"LEST COMING SUDDENLY"

When the Lord spoke of the suddenness of His return, He said, "Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping." Mark 13: 36. Taken in the light of the entire chapter, and other scriptures, this becomes a positive assertion that Christ will come "suddenly."

Not one of God's plans can be changed. The arrangement as outlined in the Guidebook will be exactly carried out.

Why this plan to close up the gospel work quickly, it is not for us to say; but it is ours to believe and proclaim the great truths that our Lord will come, that we have reached the last years of "this generation," and that His coming will be "sudden and unexpected." Who can know how soon He will say, "It is finished"?

PLANS NEVER EXECUTED

Without doubt even those who are heralding the message of the rapidly approaching end will have many plans, for the extension of the work, that will never be fully carried out. "The Lord knoweth them that are His," and will "suddenly" bring His sealing work to a surprising but successful close. "Be ye also ready."