"The So-Called Second Coming of Christ"
A WELL-KNOWN doctor of divinity, occupying one of the most influential pulpits in one of our large American cities, recently announced as the topic for his sermon, "The So-Called Second Coming of Christ and the Imagined End of the World (The Clash of Sober Sense with Frantic Nonsense)." The name of the doctor could be given if that were material, but the fact may better be considered apart from the individual. The very manner in which the doctor announces his subject, shows that he sneers at the second coming of Christ and the end of the world, regarding the literal coming of the Master and the destruction of this wicked world as "frantic nonsense" opposed to "sober sense." When Christ was here in person, His disciples asked Him, "What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Matt. 24: 3. The positive form of this question shows that the disciples understood, from the Master's teaching, that He was to come again, and furthermore, that there was to be an end to this wicked world. In answering these questions, the Lord says, among other things, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matt. 24: 14. This text specifically speaks of a time when the end will come, and the words are those of the Master Himself. The question is not one of theories or a subject for debate. It is simply, Will we accept the sneering statements of the doctor of divinity, or will we take the words of the Divine One Himself, without any doctoring whatever? If we are prepared to accept the Bible as authority, there can be no question in regard to its teaching that Christ will come again the second time. Do we not have the words, "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be?" Matt. 24: 27. Another one of the clear statements upon this topic reads: "In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14: 2, 3. At the ascension of Christ, the angels who came to comfort the disciples when they were gazing at their Lord as He was disappearing in the clouds of heaven, said to them: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Acts 1: 11. That text is plain enough. Any one can understand it. And if the text does not say that Christ will come again, there is no dependence to be placed in language at all. The words are too simple, too clear, and too direct to be misunderstood. Another one of these plain promises reads, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Heb. 9: 28. He will appear "the second time without sin unto salvation." How could language be any plainer? And what could that text possibly mean if it doesn't positively state that Christ will come the second time? "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him." Rev. 1: 7. This text is from the last book that went to make up the sacred canon. He will come "with clouds; and every eye shall see Him"—so this text declares. In the face of such clear statements as this, how can any one arise in the Judgment and say that God did not make plain the message of the second coming of His Son? Doctors of divinity may be a great help to us if they teach the Bible; but when they use the influence of their position to lead us away from the plain statements of the divine Book, we need to be on our guard. And how occurrences of this kind emphasize the importance of each individual's knowing the Bible for himself! We are not told by the Master to follow the minister, be he ever so learned, but we are bidden to follow the divine Book. God's Spirit and the study of His word will place us on a sure foundation, and will guide us into all truth. But let the fact be emphasized that we need to read and to know the Bible for ourselves, so that the teaching of no one can be-wilder us and lead us away from the clear fountain of divine truth.