"Is the World Ready for His (Christ's) Return?"
By F. M. Wilcox
THIS is the heading of an article in the Christian Herald of August 6. The question is raised by a correspondent of the Herald in its issue of June 11, who makes the following inquiries:— If Jesus were to appear now, for a brief sojourn, to encourage his people, would he find the world better or worse? We know he would find his church, which he left but a little nucleus of believers, a great world-wide organization; but how would he regard its divisions, its antagonisms, its jealousies, its war of creeds? Would he find the true faith and the Holy Spirit in the churches generally? And what of other conditions—the great mass of non-churchgoers, the servitude of the laboring classes, the corruption of politics, the growth of crime, the luxury and extravagance of wealth, the indifference of the multitudes unawakened to spiritual things, the grossness of the theaters, the white slave traffic? Would he find that the gospel of peace and love and brotherhood had taken due root as he hoped and prayed that it would? And would he find that the professing church had done its whole duty in carrying the light to the heathen? A number of the readers of the Herald express their views of the present situation in the world. One correspondent in Oklahoma believes that Christ would find the world slowly but surely being won to himself. Where he left but a few believers two thousand years ago, he would find a great multitude who have accepted his gospel. This writer says:— He would find—and how sad it is to admit it—that the tribe of Judas had increased, and that some still would sell him for the price of the meanest slave. He would also find that the tribe of Paul, of John, of Luke, of Matthew, of Peter, had increased to millions. A great mass of non-churchgoers existed in the time of Jesus. They would pay no heed to him then, as now. All that the church can do is to earnestly strive and preach Christ crucified. Another contributor expresses the conviction that Christ would find the world advancing materially but declining spiritually, and quotes several scriptures which point out conditions which the Word declares will exist in the last days. A gentleman in Massachusetts believes that "the signs of the times indicate that we are nearing a great crisis which even this generation may be privileged to witness." From Colorado a reader of the paper writes that if Christ were to come now, he would find much to cause him rejoicing, and much also to give him grief of heart. Prophetically our Master raised this same question two thousand years ago, "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" He himself has told us in his own words and by the inspiration of his Spirit the conditions which will exist. The Scriptures declare— 1. That the same conditions which prevailed in the world in the days of Noah and Lot will be found in the earth immediately preceding the second coming of Christ. Luke 17:26-30. 2. That in the last days men's hearts will fail them for fear as they contemplate the things that are coming upon the earth in the way of war and strife and general destruction. Luke 21:25, 26. 3. That the last days of earth's history will be marked by strained relations between the rich and the poor; by defrauding labor of its lawful reward; by treasuring up ill-gotten gains. James 5:1-8. 4. That the nations of earth will be engaged in unfriendly rivalry, and that the fruits of industry and commerce will be made to pay tribute to extensive preparations for war. Joel 3:9-16. 5. Finally, that the great professed church of Christ itself, in place of standing as the sentinel of danger and giving the trumpet a certain sound warning men of the impending crisis, will be careless and indifferent, cherishing in its midst sins of an ungodly world, and loving pleasure more than the service of God, having a form of godliness, but in its backslidden state denying the power thereof. 2 Tim. 3:1-5. These are the conditions which the Scriptures declare will exist in the world just preceding the coming of the Lord. We find these conditions existing around us at the present time. Each year they become more intensified. They indicate that we have reached the last period of the world's history, that we are living in that generation which is to witness the dissolution of all things. No, the world is not ready for Christ's return. The world will not be ready for his return when he comes. Upon the great careless throng the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. But some will be found scattered here and there throughout the earth who will be waiting and watching for the Lord's return. They are the children of the light. Regarding the times and seasons, noting the increasing signs of the last great day, they have prepared themselves for the grand consummation. Washing their robes in the blood of the Lamb, standing complete in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus, they own him as their father and their God, and are recognized by him as members of his own family in that great day. Isa. 25:8, 9. F. M. W.9