JESUS' COMING by S. A. Taft

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 19, 1856

JESUS' COMING.

By S. A. Taft

THAT Christ will come again the second time, without sin unto salvation, and in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven, in the clouds with power and great glory, is a truth so fully stated in the word of God, that it seems impossible that any professing to regard that word, should have ever denied it. But such is really the case. Men, professed Christians even, have denied and do still deny the possibility of such an event, saying the second advent is past already. Another class do as effectually deny it, by putting it at such an illimitable distance in the future as to destroy its applicability as a motive power to holiness; and substituting in lieu thereof the vastly inferior circumstance, the day of our death.

All this however is only a confirmation of the words of Dr. Carson, when he says "Not a single institution of the Lord Jesus, as it is recorded in the New Testament, has been left unchanged." "Not a truth is so clear as not to be disputed; nor a sentence so precise as not to be variously interpreted."

And in this connection I cannot withhold the following from Rev. David Brown, A. M. He says, "It is not enough that we believe the doctrines of Scripture numerically so to speak. We must believe them as they are revealed—in their revealed collocations and bearings. Implicit submission to the authority of God's word obviously includes this. If, then, Christ's second appearing, instead of being full in the view of the church, as we find it in the New Testament, is shifted into the background, while other anticipations are advanced into its room, which, though themselves scriptural, do not occupy in Scripture the place which we assign to them, are we trembling at the authority and wisdom of God in his word, or are we not rather leaning to our own understanding?" Certainly we are, leaning to our own understanding, and the tendency is to corruption—to render null and void truths which the Holy Spirit has made most prominent.

The coming of Christ is a prominent truth, as any one may learn from the following testimony which is only a tithe of what might be given:

Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed against him. Jude i, 14, 15.

Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him, and they also who pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Rev. i, 7.

Every man's work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it. 1 Cor. iii, 13.

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he reward every man according to his works. Matt. xvi, 27.

The Lord is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. For the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. 2 Pet. iii, 9, 10.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, . . . but rejoice inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 1 Pet. iv, 12, 13.

Be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord. James v. 7.

Let your loins be girded about, 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. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching. Luke xii, 35-37.

And now, little children, abide in him that when he shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 1 John ii, 28.

When Christ who is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Col. iii, 4, 5.

It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John iii, 2, 3.

Our conversation is in heaven, whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil. iii, 20. Hold fast till I come. Rev. ii, 25. Ye do show the Lord's death till he come. 1 Cor. xi, 26. Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. i, 7, 8.

Nor are these all: Luke xix, 13; 1 Thess. v, 9, 10, 23; Phil. i, 6, 9, 10, all speak the same great truth. Indeed the Bible abounds with testimony to the effect that our Lord shall come again.

Now what are the necessary inferences—for no others are legitimate—from this mass of testimony. They are,

1. That the Lord Jesus Christ at the time appointed in the counsels of heaven, shall so come again in a manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

That at that time, then shall all the truly pious, appear with him in glory, have confidence before him, be like him, seeing him as he is, and be glad with exceeding joy. Then shall they obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, and come into possession of the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give them in that day. Glorious day! Delightful hour. Who would not love the appearing of the Lord. Then shall they be present with the Lord, and he shall lead them beside green pastures, wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things—the day, the time, the state and condition of pain are passed away.

How infinitely to be desired is the day of the Lord to the day of our death. The intermediate at best is vastly inferior to the resurrection state. Death is greatly to be deplored. It is penal; and casts the shadow of its chilling influence over the whole period of man's existence from the cradle to the grave, and from the grave to the glorious resurrection. The soul, unclothed by the forces of death, is necessarily vastly incapacitated, unless it be true, as some affirm, that immediately upon the dissolution of the present body, it takes to itself another, which like the present, shall be to it means and instruments of action and perception. But where is the evidence? That a body of some kind is an essential condition of the soul's activity is certain. But where, and what is the nature of that body which the soul has during the intermediate? And if it be one, in which the capacities of the soul for knowledge and enjoyment are vastly increased, where will be the necessity of the resurrection of the present body. Why compel the soul to a second divorce—for if it have a body the union must be most intimate as now—and throw it back to another body—the old one glorified? "Not that we would be unclothed," says the Apostle, "but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life."

The truth is, in death the soul is unclothed and separated entirely from the material universe. Its instruments of action and perception are entirely demolished. The body, that source of endless intellections of an external origin, is in ruins. To the soul, the material universe is annihilated by the stroke of death; and a most fruitful source of innumerable mathematic sensibilities are forever cut off. Take the following as an illustration. Prof. Upham speaking of the emotions of beauty, says, "In regard to the occasions on which they arise, we remark further, that emotions of beauty are felt, and frequently in a very high degree, in the contemplation of material objects that are addressed to the sense of sight, such as woods, waters, cultivated fields and the visible firmament. We look abroad upon nature, in the infinite variety of her works, as she is exhibited in the depths below, and in the heights above; in shells and minerals; in her plants, and flowers and trees; in her waters, and her stars and suns; and we find the mind kindling at the sight," and lighting up to the highest degree of brilliancy from the inexhaustible fountains of pleasure thus suddenly opened within.

All these are quieted in death. Oh! what a calamity, what a catastrophe! The coming of Christ however, amply compensates for all that has been lost. It re-establishes the connection of the soul with the material universe, by giving it a body in all respects like the present, mortality and corruption excepted. This mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption. Even so, Amen. Come Lord Jesus, come quickly.