The Master's Coming by Charles L. Taylor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 15, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 45.

The Master's Coming

By Charles L. Taylor

III. May We Know When His Coming Is Near?

THE Lord Jesus will come again. This is believed by nearly all Christian people. But while all hold that He will sometime appear, few are prepared to acknowledge that we can actually know anything concerning the time. "It may be a thousand years hence," says one; "He may come before another sunrise," says another. And when each has given out his or her vague opinion, the world moves on undisturbed, because no one brings home to it a convincing message of certainty.

It is almost unthinkable that mankind should be left in darkness regarding an event so fraught with eternal consequences. Were it true, as many believe, that the whole matter is enshrouded in gloom, then we should indeed find God going contrary to His own chosen plan of procedure. Did He not through Noah warn the world of the approaching Flood? Did He not give to Sodom and Gomorrah notice of impending doom? Did He not send a message of reproof and counsel to Nineveh? Did He not reveal to Israel the judgments that lay in wait for them because of their sins? And has He not openly and frankly said, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets"? Amos 3:7.

Not Among Uncertainties

Dear reader, it can not be true that Heaven has placed this wonderfully important subject of the second advent in the category of uncertainties. The most casual study of the Sacred Word will reveal abundant evidence; and faithful, heart study, coupled with the purpose to walk in the light, must bring home to the soul absolute knowledge and joyful hope.

We are to know much regarding that great day of all days—"the day of Christ." One thing, however, the good Father has wisely kept secret; namely, the day and the hour when the opening heavens shall reveal Him. Matt. 24:36. Time-setting is no part of the Christian's experience. And we may well view with suspicion everything that savors of speculation regarding this or that year when the Saviour shall come.

But while denying men the right to time-setting, the words of the Master encourage His people to take the greatest interest possible to faith in this very matter of time. He has left to us this explicit instruction: "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." Luke 12:35, 36. He would have the matter of His return so indelibly written upon the mind, and so cherished, that His people, believing His coming to be imminent, shall live in an atmosphere of constant expectation, bright hope, and earnest action.

God designs that His church shall actually be looking for the appearing of Christ. Titus 2:13. He would have them carefully watching. Mark 13:35-37. The divine commendation rests upon intelligent consideration of the trend of last-day events. 1 Thess. 5:1-5.

Not in the Apostle's Day

A very interesting discussion of the time of Christ's coming, and one of much importance to us who now live, is found in Paul's letters to the Thessalonians. In the first epistle (chapter 4:15-17) the apostle seemed to include himself personally, and the church of his day, among those who would live to see the Saviour appear. The Thessalonians so understood him. It became necessary, therefore, in his second letter (2 Thess. 2:1-5) to correct this wrong impression; and this he did by stating plainly that "that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." This "falling away" refers to the Papacy with its long, dark train of mystery, spiritual corruption, persecution, and death, which continued to usurp God's place until the close of the eighteenth century. History shows most lucidly that the papal power triumphed from the time of the decree of Justinian, 533 A.D., down through the 1260 years of prophetic announcement. Rev. 12:6. So, tho Paul seemed to indicate that the Lord would come in his own day, he was, in fact, writing of the last generation.

It is plain, therefore, that God's children were not to expect the day to come, and were not to look for it, until these scenes of papal tyranny were at an end. But, according to every law of logic, they should begin the watch from that time forward.

And now, dear reader, see how wonderfully Jesus teaches His church to do this very thing. And see, too, how He promises to give them, at this appointed time, signs of the approaching day.

Signs Which Will Occur

Referring to the terrible persecutions visited upon the world during the 1260 years already mentioned, Jesus said: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." Matt. 24:21. And then He added, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven." Verse 29. And to be as explicit and emphatic as possible, He gives the disciples to understand that, like as the opening buds of spring proclaim the nearness of summer, just so these signs in the sun, moon, and stars would show His coming near at hand. "So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it [My coming] is near, even at the doors." Verses 32, 33.

"Know," He says, "that it is near." "Know," because of evidence which He gives. Knowledge must always be based upon evidence; and in this instance, upon evidence far removed from the taint of human ingenuity and influence. It must be evidence that intelligent, consecrated faith can safely accept, and which the most blatant, open infidelity can not logically deny. It must be evidence that will give to the soul an infallible assurance, which alone is proportionate to the great interests involved.

But to return. Were the sun and moon darkened as Jesus said and when Jesus said? Look to history, child of God, and there you will find on record the most absolute and accurate fulfilment of every word. He whose words "shall not pass away," caused the heavenly bodies to bow in subjection to His will, and by the covering of their shining faces to proclaim to earth the day of His glory. Thus it was that May 19, 1780, our sun was darkened; and the following night the moon went into hiding, only to appear later as a great ball of blood. See Rev. 6:12. That was indeed a day of awe and terror to men, who thought that the day of judgment had come. But what is most remarkable, no satisfactory cause has been assigned by scientists or historians for this phenomenon.

Yes, the sun and moon were darkened, not only as the Master said they would be, but at the exact time when. "Immediately after the tribulation" is the record of Matthew; but Mark is even more specific, and says, "In those days, after that tribulation." The days ended about 1793; but, through God's interposition, the rulers of Europe brought the persecution to a close twenty years earlier. The darkening of the heavenly bodies occurred, therefore, after the tribulation but before the days ended! Is not this evidence that satisfies faith? May not God's children rest their full weight upon such foundation? Hung in the very heavens, the sign is one that proclaims most mightily, His coming is near.

Now this is only one of many warning voices. The falling stars—the great meteoric shower—of 1833 is another sign after the same order. At that time men and women and children again thought that the great day was really at hand. It had been well indeed if they could have seen what God intended, and seeing, profited by the warning.

Many Signs

Ever since the close of persecution days, signs of the end have rapidly multiplied. Not only have signs appeared in the sun, moon, and stars, but everywhere upon earth. Note the wonderful increase of earthquakes. Luke 21:11. View the perplexity which, like a great cloud, hovers to-day over the nations of earth. Luke 21:25. Hear the cry of "peace and safety" issuing from the great pulpits of Christendom (1 Thess. 5:3), when, at the same time, the great nations, in jealousy and anger, and loaded down with military and naval burdens to the very point of breaking, are ready to spring at one another's throats. Rev. 11:18. Behold the titanic struggle between capital and labor (James 5:1-6), and remember that in connection with those events a voice from heaven bids the child of faith wait patiently the Lord's return. Verses 7, 8. Cast the eye about, and view the unrest and fear among men of business, men of state, men of society. Luke 21:26.

Turning from these conditions, let us ask a few questions about the spiritual life of mankind. Are we growing better? Some say so; but what is the testimony from actual life? The apostle, speaking of the last days, said, "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse." 2 Tim. 3:13. Is it not true that the church of to-day fulfils largely the description of Inspiration,—does not the "form of godliness" cover the grossest of sins, and are not professed Christians almost a unit in the love of pleasure? Yes, truly, the times are perilous; and without question, the last days have come. 2 Tim. 3:1-5. And when the message of the Saviour's advent is proclaimed by His servants, last-day scoffers rise up and seek to bring it into contempt (2 Peter 3:3, 4), thus adding their quota of evidence that the end is near.

View as you will present world conditions, and it must be apparent that politically, socially, morally, and spiritually they all point the index finger toward the unusual and the unknown. The statesman wonders, the business man hesitates, the laborer worries in view of the ever increasing and portentous signs. All are saying, Something is about to happen. But the student of God's Word, with discerning eye, looks through and beyond this vast screen of human events and circumstances, and sees writ large and bright the promise of coming day.

Understanding of the Times

God has always had those who could and would cooperate with Him in times of emergencies. Noahs, Abrahams, Elijahs, and Pauls are still to be found. Men who understand the real meanings of "the times and seasons" are astir, and are warning the great world of what God has caused them to know. Having themselves been taught by the unerring signs of the times, they know without shadow of doubt that time is short; and hence with almost feverish haste they are going to "every nation, kindred, tongue, and people" with their glad message of a soon-appearing Christ. And in

the very work they are doing, at home and abroad, we may find one of the greatest signs of the second advent ever foretold in the Word. Did not Jesus say, "And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world as a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come"? Matt. 24:14. Yes; and now that faithful men have carried and are carrying the glad news into every dark corner of the world, we may know that the end is not far away.

May we know when His coming is near? Ah, he must be blind indeed who can not find in the thousand evidences of these perilous times a positive answer. And foolish, surely, is he who, having the privilege of knowing, will not earnestly seek for all the evidence possible, and, hearing the voice of the Master saying, "Behold, I come quickly," with the apostle of long ago respond, saying, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."