THE COMING OF THE LORD DRAWETH NIGH.
By S. C. WELCOME
BEHOLD he cometh! He who is to be crowned King over the whole earth! The signs are fast being fulfilled, the nations are troubled on every hand, everything in the moral and political world indicates that the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. The heavens have uttered their voice saying, The Lord is at hand! Yes, the sun has been shrouded in sackcloth, the moon has become as blood, the stars have fallen from heaven to warn the world of impending destruction. We have learned the parable of the fig-tree, and know that summer is near; the day of gladness to God's people. The third angel's message is being proclaimed through the length and breadth of the land, and soon shall we hear the blast of the last trumpet wakening the sleeping saints, and announcing the fact that the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and uttering the war-cry to his enemies. The many nations spoken of by Isaiah [chap. ii.] have been saying for a long time, that the law is yet to go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem,—he shall judge among the people—rebuke strong nations, they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks,—no longer lift up sword against each other, and learn war no more. The temporal millennium theory has been taught in the identical language that the prophet foretold, and he says God has forsaken them for it, and calls them strangers like the Philistines, pleasing themselves with the children of strangers, &c. He goes on to speak of their wealth, that their land is full of silver and gold; then of their idolatry, that their land is full of idols; of their hypocrisy, that the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself, therefore they are not to be forgiven. He exhorts this same people who have been prophesying peace, and affirming that the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it, to enter into the rock, and hide themselves in the dust, for the Lord is going to arise and shake terribly the earth. With this false teaching is connected the day of wrath; and who that will candidly look at the subject can fail to perceive that it is one of the strongest indications that the day of God's vengeance is right upon us. This peace and safety cry has been sounding for years, and nearly all the churches unite in the cry, "The Lord delayeth his coming." But the saint of God who has been taking heed to the sure word, sees in these things a fulfillment of prophecy; and while darkness is unshrouding the nations, the light of God's glory is soon to envelop the elect of God. The wicked must drink the dregs of the cup of wrath, but the saints will have wine on the lees, well refined. The time of trouble upon every soul of man that doeth evil, is at hand, but deliverance, rest and peace for the people of God. The wicked have been warned and entreated, they have heard the message, Come for all things are now ready; but all have made excuse. It is from the streets and lanes, the highways and hedges that a company will be gathered who will be worthy to sit at the table and partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb. But alas! when I think of the situation of the nominal church, my heart is pained within me. I see thousands there that profess to be the people of God, that reject the doctrine of the second coming of Christ. They see no beauty in it, it strikes terror to their hearts. I see a great similarity between the nominal church now, and the Jewish church when Christ made his first appearance. They looked for earthly pomp and splendor, so does the church now. They see not the fulfilling of prophecy, they beheld no signs; and even when God spoke from heaven with an audible voice, and announced the fact, "This is my beloved Son," they said it only thundered. So with the nominal church, "All things continue as they were;" "Where is the promise of his coming?" we see it not. If we tell them of the signs hung out in the heavens, why "these things have always been so." The Jewish church were not satisfied with those evidences which God gave them of his Son, and which had been foretold by their prophets, they demanded something else—a sign from heaven. So with the nominal church. They are not content with what has been given them, although they correspond exactly to what Christ and his apostles and holy men of old that lived before them foretold, and are therefore the only reliable evidences that could be afforded, yet they cry out for signs; for something that will demonstrate to their minds the fact that the Lord is at hand. But if they even could hear a voice from heaven announcing this thing, they would be just as likely to call it "thunder," as were the Jews. If they will not believe Moses and the prophets, if they will not heed the words of Jesus Christ himself, [Matt. xxiv, 35.] neither would they be persuaded though an angel from heaven were commissioned to bring to them the tidings, or one should arise from the dead. They are clad with unbelief as with an armor, it completely wards off the truth of God, so that it cannot reach the heart. The watchmen, the professed shepherds of the flock will have a fearful account to give when the day of reckoning comes. O, my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. Isaiah iii, 12, 13. Howl ye shepherds and the principal of the flock, for the day of your dispersion is at hand. The Lord has been watching over his people, and nothing escapes his notice. Notwithstanding he has permitted them to be scattered to the ends of the earth, to eat the bread of adversity, and drink the waters of affliction, to be hated by the wicked, to be persecuted by many of his professed followers, yet he says, "Hear the word of the Lord ye that tremble at his word, your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, let the Lord be glorified, but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed." Isaiah lxvi, 5. Yes, he is to appear without sin unto salvation. "That awful day will surely come,
The appointed hour makes haste."
O my brethren and sisters, let us see to it that we believe God's word, that we obey it in all things, for we must be judged thereby very soon. In a little while the eventful story will be told. Our destiny will be for ever sealed, either for weal or woe. Unto us it will be said, "Come ye blessed," or "depart ye cursed." The fearful pit, and the glorious city are just before us. In one of these our abode must be. We fix our own destiny. Let us remember this, and be in earnest to make our calling and election sure. Let us not fail of the grace of God. Let us not come short of the promised rest. We are sinners, but Jesus died. We are unworthy, but he is worthy. We are lost for ever without him. In his side then, let us take refuge. He will be a sure covert from the storm of wrath. He will suffer no harm to befall us. Though the fury of the Lord be poured upon the nations, and a great whirlwind be raised up from the coasts of the earth, and though the slain of the Lord be from one end of the earth to the other, yet it shall not come near us, if sheltered in Jesus. The thunders may roll, and the vivid lightnings flash, but bring no harm to us. The heavens may depart, and the earth be renovated with fire, yet our feet being firmly established on the Rock of Ages, we shall never be moved. God will say in that day, "Come my people, enter into thy chambers, and hide thee as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast; for the Lord cometh out of his place, to punish the inhabitants of the earth." Are we ready to meet our coming Judge? Let us ask ourselves this important question, Are we ready to stand at the bar of God at a moment's warning? O solemn thought! to be judged by him who knows our every thought, our every motive. O for a self-examination among the little remnant. Let it be the object of our lives to glorify God; and while we examine our hearts, if there is anything wrong in them, let us get rid of it by presenting ourselves living sacrifices to him. Seek for a refuge in Christ, wait for his appearing, and soon you will dwell with him in glory.
S. C. WELCOME.
Almond, Wis.