p. 7 | Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jul 1, 1908

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 34, No. 27.

Our Bible Reading

Christ's Coming.

What It Is Not.

1. His coming is not death; for at the time of the death of Lazarus He did not go to take the earthly life of Lazarus and give him a heavenly life, but to bring him from the dead.

Proof:

"Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." "He saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead." Verses 11, 14. "I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in Me, tho he were dead, yet shall he live." Verse 25.

Again, when Jesus was about to go away He said of John, "If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" "Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" See John 21: 20-23.

NOTE.—It will be seen by these scriptures that the coming of Jesus means not death but life. His absence means death, and therefore His children die. When He comes the second time as the resurrection and the life, then shall they live.

2. Death is an enemy.

"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." 1 Cor. 15: 26.

3. His coming is not an outpouring of the Spirit.

"It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you." John 16: 7.

4. When Jesus comes He comes to give life to His children.

"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." Col. 3: 3, 4.

5. He comes to give reward to His children, and not until then will they be rewarded.

"For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels: and then He shall reward every man according to his works." Matt. 16: 27. "And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22: 12.

6. At His coming the nations and governments of earth will be destroyed with the wicked.

"And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth." Rev. 11: 18.

7. His coming will begin the reign of eternal righteousness. 2 Tim. 4: 1.

"When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory." Matt. 25: 31.