The Second Coming of Christ
By Editor
THERE is no doctrine held in Christendom which is more abundantly Bible sustained than that of the second coming of Christ. By prophet of Old Testament, by our Lord Himself, by evangelist and apostle, is repeated the thought that He will come again. The Son of God came to this world once. He "was made flesh, and dwelt among us." His first coming was a literal coming: He was the Man Christ Jesus. He lived among men. He ate, drank, walked, slept, talked, as did other men. He preached the Gospel, healed the sick, raised the dead, forgave sins, gave hope and life to the despondent and dying. "This same Jesus," His messengers declared, "shall so come in like manner" as He went away. Acts 1:9-11. Said He to the sorrowing disciples, "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself." John 14:3. That promise, that assurance, is still held at its face value by many. They believe Christ Jesus when He promises He will come again. That coming is important. When it occurs, the earth will be depopulated, the righteous, sleeping in death or waking, will be rewarded; and not till then. Then will be finished His work for the redemption of men. Then men will by their own decisions for eternal weal and wo place themselves where Infinite Justice shall declare: "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: . . . and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still. . . . And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as His work shall be." Rev. 22:11, 12. It would logically be expected by every Bible believer that the devil would do all in his power to blind men not alone as to the event of Christ's coming, but as to the time of His advent also. Consequently we hear it said, and by good men also, that Christ's coming is at death; that it is by the outpouring of His Spirit; that it is in the great enlightenment of the present day; that it is in Modern Spiritualism; that it is in Christian Science; that it is a secret coming. We are told that there are various signs which will precede that coming, chief among which are miraculous manifestations, such as speaking with tongues, the appearance of some literal "Elijah," and the return and conversion of the Jews. In short studies these will be taken up in the future, each one considered, and the Bible teaching set forth in its simplicity so far as we are able. We believe these studies will be profitable.