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THOUGHTS ON THE ADVENT

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 19, 1861

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 17, No. 14.

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THOUGHTS ON THE ADVENT.

(Concluded.)

LET us now look at a few of the evidences bearing directly upon the time of the second coming of Christ. That coming events cast their shadows before, is a saying to the truthfulness of which the world readily assent. But if this is true of any event, it certainly is, as it is natural that it should be, true of the last great event which is to close the stormy and troublesome drama of this unfortunate earth. No surer does the mariner know from manifold signs that he draws near land, or the husbandman know from all the indications of nature that summer is nigh, than we may know that even now, the great day of the Lord, the end of the world, and the coming of Christ, are even at the doors.
To enter into a full exposition of the evidences on this point would not be in accordance with the design of these articles. We shall give but an outline which the reader can fill up at his leisure. We are taught, then, that the end of this world is near.
1. By the prophetic periods. Periods of time are given in the word of God to mark certain great events. The rule by which to interpret these periods is also furnished us. Their commencement, intermediate dates and termination are all clearly established. And by the nature of the events which they are given to mark, we are brought down step by step till we know with absolute certainty that we are now in the time of the end.
Take for instance the 2300 days of Dan. viii, 14. By the aid of chap. ix, the commencement of this period is indubitably established; and it is shown to end in A. D. 1844. But what bearing has this on the end of the world? It does not say, to be sure, that at the end of this period the Lord shall come; but at that time the Sanctuary shall be cleansed. We are thus introduced to another great subject, than which there is scarcely one in the word of God more beautiful, harmonious and clear. The subject of the Sanctuary! The law of Moses with its types and ceremonies is here brought into requisition. By these types we now see plainly prefigured before us the work of our great High Priest in the antitypical Sanctuary in Heaven. In the type the cleansing of the Sanctuary was the last work of its yearly repeated service. The cleansing of the Sanctuary in Heaven is the last work of that antitypical service which is accomplished once for all. When this is finished, the plan of salvation, the day of probation, will be forever ended. Our great High Priest will then lay aside the priestly for the kingly robe, and proclaim to his waiting people that the day of vengeance, the year of his redeemed, is come. Isa. lxiii, 4.
To the commencement of this solemn work, that period which ended in 1844 introduced us. Sixteen years have since elapsed. The thoughtful reader can for himself judge whether this work will not shortly be accomplished. We are taught that the end of all things is near.
2. From the course of empire as marked out in the prophetic word. From the time of Daniel, onward, the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms was shown to the end of time. They were four in number: Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. These were to be succeeded by a fifth universal and everlasting kingdom, the kingdom of God, to be possessed by the saints of the Most High forever and ever. The outline of this world's history is three times repeated in this manner in the book of Daniel; and all the events in these chains of prophecy, with all their varying particulars, except the setting up of the fifth and everlasting kingdom of God, are now in the past. No person of even moderate intellect will deny this. So that, as far as these lines of prophecy are concerned, the setting up of the kingdom of God is the next event before us.
Supplementary to the predictions of Daniel, are several chains of prophecy in the book of Revelation, furnishing additional particulars, and leading us to the same result. We are taught that the end of all things is at hand.
3. By the signs given to mark its approach. These may be divided into four distinct classes: 1st. In the literary world. 2d. In the political world. 3d. In the natural world; and 4th. In the moral world. Let us look a moment at these in order:
1st. Says Prof. G. R. Graves, "It is one of the pleasing signs of the times that the prophetic declaration of Dan. xii, 4, is fulfilling before our eyes." He then introduces Michaelis' translation of that passage as follows: "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even unto the time of the end, when many shall give their sedulous attention to the understanding of these things, and knowledge shall be increased." In whatever way we understand this prediction of Daniel, that in the time of the end knowledge shall be increased, whether we understand it as an increase of knowledge in the prophetic word, or of new discoveries and attainments of science, it is most completely and strikingly fulfilled before us. In this respect there never was an age of the world equal to the present; and the reader has but to see held up side by side, this declaration of the prophet and the scientific attainments of the present age, to behold the word of the Lord fulfilled in all its force. Under this head we may mark the special proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom brought to view in Rev. xiv, 6-12,—the messages of three angels, symbolizing classes of religious teachers, following each other in consecutive order, to call out a people to meet the Son of man on the great white cloud. These messages began to be fulfilled with the proclamation of the advent, a little more than 20 years ago. Two of these are already in the past. We have witnessed their fulfillment. The third and last is now going forth. The next event in this chain of prophecy is one like the Son of man on a great white cloud, symbolizing the coming of the Saviour in the clouds of heaven. Would it be possible for inspiration to give us more impressive instruction of the shortness of time and the nearness of the coming of Christ?
2d. Signs in the political world. These were predicted by our Saviour as recorded by Matthew in chap. xxiv, and its parallels. Its principal features were to be an unexampled complication of affairs among the nations of the earth, causing in them anger, distress and perplexity. Here again comment is scarcely necessary. Those who have eyes to read the leading news of almost every paper in the land, or care to hear the remarks upon topics which are just now in all men's mouths, know that such is the present state of the world in an unprecedented degree. The affairs of earth are hopelessly complicated; and every attempt at adjustment only involves them in more perplexity still. Extended exposition would detract from the force of the fulfillment. We only ask the worldly man, or the professor who yet sees no occasion to believe that the Lord is near at hand, to look at the prophecy and look at the present state of the nations, and then say if one is not the exact counterpart of the other.
3d. Signs in the natural world. It was predicted by the prophet Joel that the sun should be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come. Chap. ii, 30, 31. Our Saviour in Matt. xxiv and other places, adds the falling of the stars to the catalogue, and tells when these signs were to take place. Authentic histories and living witnesses afford us abundant proof on this point. In the dark day and night of 1780, and the falling stars of 1833, these predictions were minutely and magnificently fulfilled. Connected with these events in such a manner as to leave no room for the intervening of many years, is the coming of the Son of man in power and great glory.
4th. Signs in the moral world. A general declension of piety, a lack of the vital power of godliness, the abounding of iniquity, increasing numbers, and increasing wickedness, of evil men and seducers, are all held forth in the Bible as characteristic of the last days. "This know also," says Paul in 2 Tim. iii, 1, "that in the last days perilous times shall come." And then follows a description, in a black catalogue of eighteen sins, of people in the last days. Of the world?
No: of those who have a form of godliness but deny the power. Peter says, Knowing this first that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning. 2 Pet. iii, 3, 4. Reader, have you ever seen any of these scoffers? If not, just begin to talk about the coming of the Lord and you will develop them all around you. This text affords incidental proof that the doctrine of the second advent will be proclaimed in the last days; for what occasion have these scoffers to inquire, "Where is the promise of his coming?" if there is nothing said about his coming, and none are believing that he is about to come? Jude also speaks of mockers in the last days walking after their own ungodly lusts. Verse 18. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse." 2 Tim. iii, 13. And here we may properly introduce that gigantic delusion. Spiritualism, which within a few years has arisen and spread with unwonted rapidity over all the land. It is thus described in the word of God: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils." See also 2 Pet. ii, 1.
What need we say more? What need we of further proof? The declarations of the word of God are unequivocal that the Lord will come again, and is now at the door. All the signs that could be required or asked to herald his approach have been accorded; and of all the long catalogue, there are none but such as have been already fulfilled, or are now fulfilling before our eyes. Yes, the great day of the Lord is near. It towers up as the great waymark directly before us. The crowning scene of earth's history is soon to transpire. The great day to which all other days are but conductors, is soon to come. The greatest displays of God's power and glory are soon to be revealed. Great events have transpired on earth, but the greatest is yet before us. Kingdoms have risen and crumbled; a flood has enveloped the earth in its liquid waves; fire and brimstone have been poured upon the corrupt cities of the plain; desolating armies have been the ministers of God's vengeance to punish the sins and rebellions of the people; but no scene has yet been witnessed which can compare with that great day when the heavens shall depart as a scroll when it is rolled together, and mountains and islands shall be moved out of their places, before the face of Him who cometh with the glory of the Father and all the holy angels.
Who is preparing for this event? Who are boldly and joyfully looking forward to the great day? Behold the sad state of the world. They are lulled in the arms of a strong delusion and think they have the truth. They are drunken, though not with wine, yet think they are sober. They lie in the embrace of an unconquerable lethargy, yet think they wake. Thus are all things ready for the great day to come upon them, as the apostle says, like a thief in the night, or a snare upon the unsuspecting game. But what says the apostle to us who see the day approaching? "Therefore let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober." 1 Thess. v, 6. And again he says that "knowing the time, it is now high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we [first] believed." Rom. xiii, 11. May it be the lot of both writer and readers to share in this great salvation, when the longed-for day arrives, which brings the Lord of life and glory to his waiting people.