Signs of Christ’s Coming
By D. Hewitt
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—It is very necessary that the Lord's honest hearted children understand this similitude in this last generation. When the Saviour sat upon the mount of Olives [Matt. xxiv, 3] the disciples came to him privately and asked him three questions: 1st. When shall these things be; (to wit, the throwing down of the Temple;) 2d. The sign of Christ's coming, and, 3d. The end of the world. The Saviour commences with this caution: Take heed that no man deceive you: a good admonition in these last days of peril. He then commences and gives the signs and troubles that would precede and attend the destruction of Jerusalem. Verse 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days, (of Papal persecution,) 1st, the sun shall be darkened, and 2d, the moon shall not give her light, and 3d, the stars (meteors) shall fall from heaven. I now believe that these three great signs are sufficient for a basis for faith to rest on that the Son of man is nigh, even at the doors. I believe that if we include the other five things spoken of by our Lord on that occasion, we get too much; to wit, the shaking of the powers of heaven, and the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and the mourning of the tribes of earth, and the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and the sending of the angels with a great sound of a trumpet to gather his elect from the four winds, (or quarters of the earth,) from one end of heaven to the other. It is very plain that when these things transpire it will be too late to derive any benefit from knowing that he is nigh, even at the doors; for when the voice of God shakes the powers of heaven, Summer, to carry out the parable, is not nigh, but already come; and the wailing of the wicked, and the gathering of the saints, has come; and in fact, the sealing time is passed. But, says one, immediately after the mentioning of the fig-tree, the Son of man says in verse 33, "When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." I will now inquire, How many things? Answer, all things relating to the parable of the fig-tree, and no more. We will now paraphrase verses 33, 34, in order to get the true meaning: So likewise ye, when ye shall see, (or know) all these things (or three great signs, the darkening of the sun and moon, and falling of the stars) then know that I am nigh, even at the doors. Verse 34. Verily I say unto you, this generation (or those that see, or have immediate knowledge of, these three great signs) shall not pass till all these things (mentioned before) be fulfilled. On a thorough examination of the Scriptures, we find the primary signification of generation is from father to son, or the time that class of people would live who were addressed. Admitting this conclusion correct, time is short, for the last sign was the falling stars the 13th of Nov., 1833. Then these things could be seen over 22 years ago. Now, dear reader, I will not set time but let you calculate the average length of a generation, and before this generation pass the Son of man will be revealed from heaven in the glory of the Father with all the holy angels with him. Shall we be ready when he appeareth? If any one supposes the coming of the Lord may be delayed for many years to come, it will be well to hear the Saviour again: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Matt. xxiv, 35. In Luke xxi, 29 we have again the parable of the fig-tree, and all the trees, showing us that we can learn not only from the three great signs, but all the passing signs as they transpire. When the true children of God see these things begin to come to pass, they will look up and lift up their heads; for their redemption draweth nigh. Verse 28. It is very evident when our redemption draws nigh then he is nigh, even at the doors, and this takes place when these things begin to come to pass, or the three great leading signs have been seen, so as to be believed without doubting. When the Saviour speaks in verse 31 of these things coming to pass, and the kingdom of God drawing nigh, it has a comparison to those things relating to the fig-tree and all the trees, and no more. In verse 32, it has reference to all things on this subject; and the generation is not to pass away till all be fulfilled. My dear brethren and sisters are we getting ready for these great events just before us; for he saith, "And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. xxii, 12. Now are we by patient continuance in well-doing seeking for honor, glory, immortality and eternal life? If we want to stand when he appeareth we must do as our Lord has said in Luke xxi, 34. And take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life; and so that day come upon you unawares; for as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Mark that it is on the dwellers but not on the sojourners; for they will be found watching, that that day does not overtake them as a thief; for Jesus says in Rev. iii, "If therefore thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." O, my brethren, let us be sober and watch unto prayer; resist the enemy and overcome at last, and be forever with the Lord in the golden city on the new earth. D. HEWITT.
Battle Creek, Mich.