THIS GENERATION by H. S. Gurney

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 14, 1858

THIS GENERATION.

By H. S. Gurney

The present generation comprises those who are now alive. "This very generation will not pass away till all these things are fulfilled. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." Matt. xxiv, 34, [Whiting.] Some now living shall witness the events foretold.

The second coming of Christ to establish his kingdom, and the preparation of his people to meet him, are the object and aim of Christ's teaching in the above quoted chapter. When the angel commenced his flight through the midst of heaven, proclaiming the hour of God's judgment; [Rev. xiv, 6, 7;] the signs spoken of in Matt. xxiv, were considered one of the pillars of the angel's message. The evil servant was immediately manifested, and declared that no man knoweth anything about it, and began to unite with the profane in order to muzzle those servants of God who proclaimed, according to those signs, that the Lord was coming. Here then the words of our Saviour, "This generation," &c., began to apply. It is easy to understand that the generation becoming interested in those signs as being certain precursors of the coming of the Lord, is the generation that Christ is witnessing before. In answering the questions of his disciples, he leads their minds through the most important events connected with the church, until he reaches the last generation before his second coming; and then, as though present with them, familiarly tells them all things necessary in order to excite his people to an examination of those truths connected with his coming, that they might be found watching and waiting for his coming, in his true character.

A few days since while conversing with Bro. Bates I became convinced that this subject should be more clearly delineated in order to give it force among the remnant. I was glad to hear Bro. B. say when he left that he saw light in the subject as herein presented. To commence the generation with the darkening of the sun and moon, with the view to the events themselves, instead of to the people becoming interested in the events, and viewing them as the signs of the end, cannot, I think, be sustained.

I do not see it necessary to be very precise as to the point of commencing the generation referred to, but if there is one point more probable than another, it is when the two classes of servants spoken of in Matt. xxvi. began to excite public notice.

I believe with all my heart the present generation will witness the close of Gentile history, and the coming of Christ, and that we may know he is near as certainly as we may know that summer is near when the trees put forth leaves in spring.

H. S. GURNEY.

Jackson, Mich., Sept. 26th, 1858.