p. 9 | The Doctrine of Christ's Coming in Its True Setting

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 19, 1914

The Doctrine of Christ's Coming in Its True Setting

By F. M. W.

It is one thing to recognize truth in the abstract, but quite another thing to recognize it in its divine setting and relationships. We have come to the closing days of earth's history. This is demonstrated by the witness of many signs and the fulfillment of many prophecies. Some of the conditions existing around us, religiously, socially, and politically, are such as to command the attention of even men of the world, leading them to recognize that we are on the eve of startling changes, they know not what. There are many people, members of different denominations, who recognize the serious tendency and portent of existing conditions. They understand in part that these conditions are a fulfillment of the prophetic word, but they fail to comprehend, after all, their true significance and import. In other words, they do not understand nor appreciate the divine setting of the truth of God for this day.

We have been impressed with this as we have noted the growing discussion among all classes of the meaning and portent of the unusual conditions which exist. In Denver, New York, and other leading centers, clergymen of the various churches have devoted considerable discussion to the subject of the second coming of Christ and the signs which indicate the proximity of that event. The same discussion has been carried on in many newspapers and religious journals. There is a growing book literature, emanating from many sources, on the subject. Similar to the days of the 1844 movement, the minds of men are becoming stirred. We believe this increasing agitation is in God's order. He is seeking to arouse his professed church from the lethargy of spiritual indifference. He is seeking to awaken the world to the danger and imminence of its impending doom.

And now comes the so-called International Prophetic Conference held in Chicago, February 24-27. This conference was attended by some of the leading church men of the various denominations—by men like Dr. R. A. Torrey, Dr. J. M. Gray, and other leaders in the world of religious thought. This was the fifth conference of the kind which has been held. It was attended by more than

five hundred delegates, and large overflow meetings were necessary to accommodate the evening congregations. These men came together because they sensed some of the dangers threatening the cause of Christianity at the present time. They recognized the rising tide of evil sweeping in upon the church of God, and they saw in these conditions a fulfillment of that prophetic word which centuries ago predicted that these conditions should immediately precede the coming of the Lord.

The president of the conference, R. M. Russell, D. D., LL. D., in his opening address claimed that all the leaders in the great world-wide religious movements from Luther to the present day had been premillennialists. Canon F. E. Howitt, M. A., delivered an address on "The Lord's Coming, the Key to the Scriptures." In this he taught that the saints would reign with Christ during the thousand years on earth. Dr. William B. Riley, another speaker, addressed the conference on "The Significant Signs of the Times." He named three significant signs: (1) Proclamation of peace and preparation for war; (2) search for truth and the acceptance of lies; (3) profession of godliness and practice of godlessness. He declared that never had such conditions threatened the church in its course as now threaten, and that the world could have no millennium until Christ came again to earth to rule in person. Mr. A. C. Gaebelein, editor of Our Hope spoke upon "The Lord's Coming in Relation to Israel." He claimed that the Jews would be restored to Jerusalem and would accept the Messiah. L. W. Munhall, D. D., LL. D., spoke on "The Lord's Coming and Evangelism," showing the need of activity in telling the people that they must be ready for Christ's coming. Dr. C. I. Scofield spoke on the theme, "The Doctrine of the Last Things as Found, (1) in the Prophets, (2) in the Gospels, (3) in the Epistles and Revelation." He held that the Scriptures teach the prekingdom coming of Jesus to reign with his saints upon earth. Dr. Torrey gave the closing address of the conference, on the theme, "The Lord's Coming a Motive for Personal Holiness."

We have referred thus at length to some of the addresses given in order to show the confused ideas taught with reference to the coming of the Lord. The Scriptures of Truth very clearly indicate that the millennium will not be spent by the saints here on this earth. The earth during that time will be in a waste and desolate condition; the prison house of Satan; the sepulcher of the countless wicked hosts. The saints will be in the New Jerusalem above, there engaged in judging the wicked dead and evil angels.

There is no prophecy which predicts the return of the Jews to Jerusalem and their conversion to Christ before the end of the world.

A committee of the leading members of this conference prepared a declaration of Christian faith, which they held to be the "fundamental truths of our holy faith." The following is the text of this declaration, as clipped from the Chicago Record-Herald of February 28:—

1. We believe that the Bible is the word and revelation of God, and therefore our only authority.

2. We believe in the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he is very God "by whom and for whom all things were created."

3. We believe in his virgin birth, that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and is therefore God manifested in the flesh.

4. We believe in salvation by divine sacrifice, that the Son of God gave his life a ransom for many and bore our sins in his own body on the tree.

5. We believe in his physical resurrection from the dead and in his bodily presence at the right hand of God as our Priest and Advocate.

6. We believe in the universality and heinousness of sin, and in salvation by grace, not by works, lest any man should boast; that sonship with God is attained only by regeneration by the Holy Spirit and faith in Jesus Christ.

7. We believe in the personality and Deity of the Holy Spirit, who came down upon earth on the day of Pentecost to indwell believers and to be the administrator in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, also being here to reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

8. We believe in the great commission which our Lord has given to his church to evangelize the world, and that this evangelization is the great mission of the church.

9. We believe in the second, visible, and imminent coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to establish his world-wide kingdom on the earth.

10. We believe in a heaven of eternal bliss for the righteous and in the conscious and eternal punishment of the wicked.

In addition the following was adopted:

Furthermore, we exhort the people of God in all denominations throughout this land to stand by these great truths, so much rejected in our days, and to contend earnestly for the faith which our God has, in his holy Word, delivered unto the saints.

With this declaration of faith for the most part our readers will feel in hearty accord. Exception will of course be taken to the tenth article, which speaks of the conscious and eternal punishment of the wicked, also to the statement in article nine in the sense in which the reign of Christ was taught at the conference. We are indeed pleased to see this emphatic statement of truth made by this body of Christian men. We believe that God will use it for his glory, and we hope that it may serve to stay in some measure the on-sweeping flood of skepticism which is so rapidly engulfing the

great Christian churches. But, as stated at the outset of this article, we are forcibly impressed with the fact, that, while on the part of this prophetic conference there has been a recognition of a part of God's truth in the abstract, the above declaration of faith fails to comprehend in its grasp some of the mighty living gospel truths which are particularly applicable to this day and generation.

Of the third angel's message as such; of the significance of some of the great movements in the political and religious world; of the special ministry of Christ in the sanctuary above and the work of the investigative judgment now going forward preparatory to his second coming; of the claims of the law of God with respect to his downtrodden Sabbath; of the part which the United States will play in the closing days of earth's history in the enforcement upon the people of the false sabbath; of the revival of papal power throughout the world; of the special warning of God to meet these conditions—these thrilling subjects, these vital present issues for this day, had no part in the discussions of this prophetic conference. The reason is evident. These men have no knowledge of these great themes. They have caught but a glimmering of the great system of truth associated with and forming a part of the message of Christ's second coming. Let us thank God that he has revealed to them a part, and pray that their vision may be enlarged to comprehend all that is involved in the blessed coming of our Saviour to this earth.

Our relationship to such movements as this is clearly evident. God has made this people the conservators of his special message for this day. That message they are to sound abroad everywhere. It is to go to the great Christian church; it is to go to the wide, wide world. "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand."

In the holy mountain, among his professed people, and to the ends of the whole earth is the message to be carried. And it is not to be carried as segregated truths, but in its unity and its entirety; in the setting of the great prophecies which focus upon the second coming of Christ. Every discussion of this subject will be used of God to awaken the consciences of the people. It is for us to take advantage of the widespread interest to read and study on this question, and faithfully present to the people the special message for this day and generation. God has gone out before us. Open doors exist on every side. Let us be true to our trust and walk in the light of his opening providences.