p. 165 | CHRIST'S SOON COMING by Edward Gould

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 13, 1859

CHRIST'S SOON COMING.

By Edward Gould

[The following is a letter from an aged Elder in the Wesleyan Methodist Connection, to Bro. Byington, and the reply to the same.—Ed.]

DEAR SIR: It is a great consolation to me to know that I am still remembered by those with whom I have held sweet counsel in days past and gone. My health is failing very fast, and has been very poor for some time, though it still allows me the blessed privilege of attending religious service, which I esteem very much.

I received your request by the hand of C—. The first question you wished me to answer is, "Do not the signs of the times tell us that the Saviour is soon coming?"

The doctrine of Christ's second coming I firmly believe. It is one of the fundamental doctrines of the gospel of Christ. If there be any difference between you and me, relative to Christ's second coming, it is in the period of time. You say, "Is soon coming." This term is an indefinite one; it may be longer or shorter. To illustrate: Suppose a man gives me his note, promising soon to pay me ten dollars. What day in the week, what week in the month, what month in the year, is the note collectible?

Bro. Byington, please tell me when soon is, then I can answer that question.

Second question. "Are the church and the world to be warned of it by God's faithful servants, as they were warned of his first coming by John the Baptist?"

The church and the world have been warned of Christ's second coming by God's faithful servants ever since his first advent. Peter said, "The end of all things is at hand." John the Baptist preached the Saviour that had made his first advent, and was then standing among them. John saw him walking, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." John preached repentance, and baptized unto repentance.

Third question. "Will not those who oppose the work be found fighting against God?"

I say, Yes, if there be any found who oppose the doctrine of his second coming, they are fighting against God.

Fourth question. "And when they shall say, Peace and safety, will not sudden destruction come upon them, and they shall not escape?"

Your last question is from the pen of the apostle Paul. My answer is from the lips of Christ: "Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there, believe it not. Behold I have told you before. Wherefore, if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert, go not forth; behold, he is in the secret chambers, believe it not."

Now permit me to ask a few questions.

First. Does not death close our probationary state, and fix our eternal doom?

Second. Do not the signs tell us that [our] probationary state is fast hastening to a close? The calculation is that sixty die every minute.

Third. Is it not the duty of God's faithful ministers to urge the necessity of preparing to meet death in peace, as the prophets and the apostles did in their day? The prophet said, "Set thy house in order, for thou shalt die and not live." Peter said, "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the Judgment."

Fourth. Will not those who neglect to improve the probationary state be found fighting against God?

Yours in the bonds of the gospel of Christ.

EDWARD GOULD.

Morley, St. Law. Co., Aug. 28th, 1859.

In answer to the foregoing, we would say, that we are well aware that many teachers apply these scriptures, and many others, relative to Christ's second coming, to literal death; but with what benefit to the cause of truth, or to the preaching of the everlasting gospel of the Kingdom, before the end comes, we cannot see. He says, "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." The prophet Daniel speaks of a class of men who should understand the visions of the prophets, and instruct many. "And they that understand among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days." Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help. But many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. Did not the Saviour say, When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand,) then let them which be in Judæa flee into the mountains? And he that is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house: neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they would deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert, go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 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. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Now when they shall say, Peace and safety, in the very time when the signs of the coming of the Son of man are fulfilling, and when they shall say, Peace and safety, in the holy week of God's true Sabbath, and walk contrary to it, can any one believe that the third angel's message is not being given? We did not understand that the apostles or Jesus did believe that death was the coming of Christ, and we do not now. But those who now say, "My Lord delayeth his coming," as you remark, are saying, "Peace and safety," in this respect. They are looking away from our Lord's coming to death, the king of terrors. If the signs of the times are telling us that probation is closing, and we are telling the people that probation is closing in the desert of death, or in the secret chambers in this day, are we not fulfilling the symbols of a fallen church, and the condition of the world at the close of probation? When the judgment hour message has gone forth, and the beast and his image have been opposed, and those who have gotten the victory over the beast and his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the mount Zion with the Lamb, and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, we can then say, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

In answer to the foregoing questions of Bro. Gould, and also to the remarks of Bro. Byington, we say we believe that Christ's second coming will tell when probation is closed, and we can look up, and lift up our heads.

Yours in the blessed hope of Jesus,

Editor.