The impression prevails to some extent that he who teaches that Christ is
soon coming is acting the _rôle_ of an alarmist. If so, we have seen that
the great Teacher has placed himself at the head of the class. No one has
spoken more positively upon this point than he has done. He said, “In my
Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am,
there ye may be also.” John 14:2, 3. There is nothing ambiguous about that
language. A child can understand it. It means that Jesus will come again.
In the remarkable chapter we have here reviewed, the Saviour takes up the
subject specifically, and not only affirms the fact of his coming, but
foretells in explicit language the events which he would have us recognize
as signs of the near approach of his coming and the end of the world.
But the message of Christ’s second coming is not sensational in its
essential character. It is a solemn, practical truth. It is full of
warning and admonition to sinners and worldly professors, and full of
comfort to the faithful followers of Christ. It is spoken of in the
Scriptures as a fact, established upon the word which never fails. When
speaking of his second advent, the Saviour said, “Heaven and earth shall
pass away, but my word shall not pass away.” Matt. 24:35. To disbelieve in
his coming would be to doubt one of the two great features of the gospel
plan. What the harvest is to seed‐time, Christ’s second advent will be to
his first. To doubt that he ever came to earth would be to subvert the
gospel. To disbelieve his second coming would nullify in the mind his
first coming, and rob the sacrifice of its glorious reward.
The apostle Paul speaks of the second advent as “that blessed hope.” Titus
2:13. Jesus says: “And when these things [the signs of his coming] begin
to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption
draweth nigh.” The prophet Isaiah anticipates the feelings of God’s people
who will witness the event, and expresses them in the following manner:
“And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for
him, and he will save us: This is the Lord; we have waited for him, we
will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa. 25:9.
At his coming, the dead in Christ will be raised to everlasting life. The
righteous living will be changed to immortality. The hand of our Saviour
will wipe away all tears; “there shall be no more death, neither sorrow,
nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things
are passed away.”
Why should we not rejoice in such a prospect? Who would not welcome such a
friend? Who would not rejoice in the prospect of such a consummation?
But it is true that the grand event will not be attended with joy alone.
There will be dismay and anguish. For while one prophet records the
exclamations of joyful anticipation, another has foreseen and recorded the
cry of despair. “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the
rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman,
and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the
mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us
from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the
Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to
stand?” Rev. 6:15‐17. A vast number will thus lament. All who cannot join
the shout of welcome will unite in the wail of despair. There will be but
two classes in that day. And to one of those classes each one living will
belong. To which shall I belong? Solemn question. To which party will you
belong, reader? No one can _wait_ for Christ who is not prepared for his
coming. Only the precious blood of Jesus that cleanses from sin can
prepare us to receive him and fit us to dwell in his presence. Have you an
interest in his forgiving love? Is your peace made with God? If so, his
coming will have no terror to you, for he comes to save his waiting
people.