Manner Of Christ's ComingIllustration.Coming In Glory. "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." Rev. 1:7.1. Is Christ coming again?“I will comeagain.”John 14:3.2. How does Paul speak of this coming?“Unto them that look for Him shall He appearthe second timewithout sin unto salvation.”Heb. 9:28.3. Did the early disciples think that death would be the second coming of Christ?“Peter seeing him [John] saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarrytill I come, what is that to thee? follow thou Me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that discipleshould not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarrytill I come, what is that to thee?”John 21:21-23.Notes.—From this it is evident that the early disciples regarded death and the coming of Christ as two separate events.“‘Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.’Some people say that means death; but the Word of God does not say it means death. Death is our enemy, but our Lord hath the keys of death; He has conquered death, hell, and the grave.... Christ is the Prince of Life; there is no death where He is; death flees at His coming; dead bodies sprang to life when He touched them or spoke to them. His coming is not death. He is the resurrection and the life. When He sets up His kingdom, there is to be no death, but life forevermore.”—“The Second Coming of Christ,”by D. L. Moody, pages 10, 11.4. At His ascension, how did the angels say Christ would come again?[pg 338]Illustration.The Ascension. "This same Jesus ... shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Acts 1:11.[pg 339]“And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; anda cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven,shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”Acts 1:9-11.5. How did Christ Himself say He would come?“For the Son of man shall comein the glory of His Father with His angels.”Matt. 16:27.“Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man comingin the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”Matt. 24: 30.“For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, whenHe shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.”Luke 9:26.6. How many will see Him when He comes?“Behold, He cometh with clouds; andevery eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him.”Rev. 1:7.Note.—Christ's second coming will be as real as was His first, and as visible as His ascension, and far more glorious. To spiritualize our Lord's return is to pervert the obvious meaning of His promise,“I will come again,”and nullify the whole plan of redemption; for the reward of the faithful of all ages is to be given at this most glorious of all events.7. What wonderful demonstration will accompany the Lord's coming?“The Lord Himself shall descend from heavenwith a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”1 Thess. 4:16.8. What warning has Christ given concerning false views of the manner of His coming?“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 shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in thedesert; go not forth: behold, He is in thesecret chambers; believe it not.”Matt. 24:23-26.9. How visible is His coming to be?“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.”Verse 27.[pg 340]Object Of Christ's ComingIllustration.The Transfiguration. "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me." Rev. 22:12.1. For what purpose did Christ say He would come again?“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, 3.2. What part will the angels have in this event?“And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, andthey shall gather together His electfrom the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”Matt. 24:31.3. What takes place at the sounding of the trumpet?“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: andthe dead in Christ shall rise first.”1 Thess. 4:16.4. What will be done with the righteous living?“Then we which are alive and remain shall becaught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”Verse 17.5. What change will then take place in both the living and the sleeping saints?“We shall not all sleep, butwe shall all be changed, in a[pg 341]moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raisedincorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put onincorruption, and this mortal must put onimmortality.”1 Cor. 15:51-53.6. When are the saints to be like Jesus?“But we know that,when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”1 John 3:2.7. How many will receive a reward when Christ comes?“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; andthen He shall reward every man according to his works.”Matt. 16:27.8. What does He say He will bring with Him when He comes?“Behold, I come quickly; andMy reward is with Me, to give every man according as his works shall be.”Rev. 22:12.9. What promise is made to those who look for Him?“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Himshall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”Heb. 9:28.10. When did Christ say the good would be recompensed?“For thou shalt be recompensedat the resurrection of the just.”Luke 14:14.11. Have the worthies of old gone to their reward?“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us,that they without us should not be made perfect.”Heb. 11:39, 40.12. When did Paul expect to receive his crown?“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give meat that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”2 Tim. 4:8.13. Will this be a time of judgment?“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold,the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all.”Jude 14, 15.[pg 342]14. How did David express himself on this point?“For He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth.”Ps. 96:13.15. When did Paul say Christ would judge the living and the dead?“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.”2 Tim. 4:1.16. What great separation will then take place?“When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: andHe shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”Matt. 25:31, 32.17. What will He say to those on His right hand?“Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand,Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”Verse 34.18. What will He say to those on the left?“Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand,Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”Verse 41.At the sounding of the trumpet, when the saints are gathered home,We shall greet each other by the crystal sea;When the Lord Himself from heaven to His glory bids them come,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!When the angel of the Lord proclaims that time shall be no more,We shall gather, and the saved and ransomed see;Then to meet again together, on the bright, celestial shore,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!At the great and final judgment, when the hidden comes to light,When the Lord in all His glory we shall see;At the bidding of our Saviour,“Come, ye blessed, to My right,”What a gathering of the faithful that will be!When the golden harps are sounding, and the angel bands proclaimIn triumphant strains the glorious jubilee;Then to meet and join to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!J. H. Kurzenknabe.[pg 343]The Resurrection Of The JustIllustration.The Resurrection Of Christ. "I am He that liveth, and was dead; ... and have the keys of hell and of death." Rev. 1:18.1. Concerning what should we not be ignorant?“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”1 Thess. 4:13.2. What is set forth as the basis for hope and comfort?“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.”Verse 14.3. When will this resurrection of the saints take place?“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain untothe coming of the Lordshall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep.For the Lord Himself shall descend from heavenwith a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God:and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”Verses 15, 16.4. What will then take place?“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”Verse 17.5. With what are we to comfort one another?“Wherefore comfort one anotherwith these words.”Verse 18.Note.—The hope of a resurrection from the dead to a life immortal is the great hope set forth in the gospel.[pg 344]6. Concerning what did Christ tell us not to marvel?“Marvel not at this: forthe hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”John 5:28, 29.7. What is said of those embraced in the first resurrection?“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”Rev. 20:6.8. Upon what one fact does Paul base the Christian hope?“Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? Butif there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God thatHe raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. Forif the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ areperished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”1 Cor. 15:12-19.9. What positive declaration does the apostle then make?“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”Verses 20-22.Note.—The resurrection of Christ is in many respects the most significant fact in history. It is the great and impregnable foundation and hope of the Christian church. Every fundamental truth of Christianity is involved in the resurrection of Christ. If this could be overthrown, every essential doctrine of Christianity would be invalidated. The resurrection of Christ is the pledge of our resurrection and future life.10. What does Christ proclaim Himself to be?“I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.”John 11:25, 26.“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold,I am alive forevermore, Amen;and have the keys of hell and of death.”Rev. 1:18.Note.—Christ changed death into asleep. Absolute death knows no waking; but through Christ all who have fallen under the power of death will be raised, some to a life unending, some to everlasting death.[pg 345]11. What question does Job ask and answer?“If a man die, shall he live again?all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of Thine hands.”Job 14:14, 15.12. Why did Job wish that his words were written in a book, graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever?“For I know that My Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yetin my flesh shall I see God.”Job 19:25, 26.13. How does Paul say the saints will be raised?“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, andthe dead shall be raised incorruptible.”1 Cor. 15:51, 52.14. What great change will then take place in their bodies?“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It issown in corruption; it israised in incorruption: it issown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it issown in weakness; it israised in power: it issown a natural body; it israised a spiritual body.”Verses 42-44.15. What saying will then be brought to pass?“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”Verse 55.16. When did David say he would be satisfied?“As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied,when I awake, with Thy likeness.”Ps. 17:15.17. What comforting promise has God made concerning the sleeping saints?“I willransom them from the power of the grave; I willredeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction.”Hosea 13:14.18. What else has He promised to do?“And Godshall wipe away all tearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4. See pages759-785.[pg 346]Illustration.The Deluge. "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away." Matt. 24:39.[pg 347]The World's ConversionIllustration.After The Flood. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:13.1. What did Christ say would be the condition of the world at His second coming?“As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.”Luke 17:26. See also verses 27-30.2. How was it in the days of Noah?“And God saw thatthe wickedness of man was great in the earth, and thatevery imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.... Andthe earth was filled with violence.”Gen. 6:5-11.Note.—In a sermon delivered at Savannah, Ga., Dec. 2 1912, Bishop A. W. Wilson (Methodist) said:“Old Rome in her worst days never harbored such conditions of vice as are prevalent in our highest social circles. Never at any period of the world's history has the moral stratum been so thin or so low.”3. How did Paul characterize the last days?“This know also, that in the last daysperilous times shall come.”2 Tim. 3:1.4. What did he say would make those times perilous?“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than[pg 348]lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”Verses 2-5.5. Are things to grow better or worse before the Lord comes?“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”Verse 13.Note.—“Even to the end of time there will still be occasion for the same complaint; the world will grow no better, no, not when it is drawing toward its period. Bad it is, and bad it will be, andworst of alljust before Christ's coming.”—Matthew Henry, on Luke 18:8.6. According to the parable of the wheat and the tares, how long are the good and bad to remain together?“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil.”“Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them.”Matt. 13:38, 39, 30.7. When does the harvest come?“The harvest isthe end of the world.”Verse 39.Notes.—Thus it is plain that the wicked (the tares) live with the righteous (the wheat) till the end of the world. There is, then, no time before Christ's coming for a sinless state, in which all men will be converted and turn to God.Harper's“Book of Facts,”edition 1906, article“Religion,”classifies the population of the globe religiously as follows:—Non-ChristianChristianBuddhists400,000,000Roman Catholics175,000,000Brahmans250,000,000Protestants110,000,000Mohammedans180,000,000Greek Church90,000,000Fetish-worshipers150,000,000Various25,000,000Jews8,000,000Various62,000,0001,050,000,000400,000,000From this it will be seen that only about one fourth of the world's population are even nominal Christians.8. For what purpose did Christ say the gospel was to be preached in all the world?“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the worldfor a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”Matt. 24:14.Notes.—He did not say that all wouldreceivethe gospel, but that the gospel was to bepreachedin all the worldfor a witnessunto all nations, and thatthenthe end would come.Commenting on Rev. 20:2, Dr. Adam Clarke says:“Probably no such time shall ever appear, in which evil shall be wholly banished from the earth, till after the day of judgment, when, the earth having been[pg 349]burned up, a new heaven and a new earth shall be produced out of the ruins of the old, by the mighty power of God; righteousness alone shall dwell in them.”—Clarke's Commentary, edition 1860.9. When is the“man of sin,”or“mystery of iniquity,”called also“that Wicked,”to come to an end?“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.”2 Thess. 2:8.10. How long was the little horn of Dan. 7:25 to make war with the saints?“I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”Dan. 7:21, 22.11. How will the day of the Lord come upon the world?“For yourselves know perfectly thatthe day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, ... and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”1 Thess. 5:2-4.Note.—There will be but two classes in the world then: those in darkness, who are looking for a time of peace and safety, and those not in darkness, who are looking for the day of the Lord,—a day of waste and destruction,—the coming of Christ and the end of the world. See Jer. 7:1-19; Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:1-11; Zephaniah 1.12. What will some who are in darkness say when they hear about the Lord's coming?“Knowing this first, thatthere 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 of the creation.”2 Peter 3:3, 4.13. What will be popularly taught in the last days?“But in the last days ...many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; ... and He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off;and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”Micah 4:1-3. See also Isa. 2:2-5.Note.—Notice, this is not what theLordsays, but what the Lord saysmany nationsshall say in the last days. And this is the very message[pg 350]now heard in every land,—a great world's peace movement; a call for all nations to disarm, to go to war no more, and to profess religion.14. What message indicates the true condition of things?“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles;Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.”Joel 3:9, 10.Note.—On this question of preparing for war, note the following:—Armies of the WorldRegular Standing Army (1909)National Army Including ReservesAustria-Hungary409,0005,840,000Belgium45,000125,000British Empire250,0001,050,000China60,0001,000,000Denmark14,00068,000France630,0004,350,000Germany617,0003,000,000Greece28,000178,000Italy264,0003,200,000Japan225,000600,000Netherlands40,000500,000Norway30,00095,000Persia24,500105,000Portugal30,000175,000Russia1,100,0005,200,000Servia35,000353,000Spain100,0001,000,000Sweden62,000500,000Switzerland140,000275,000Turkey350,0001,500,000United States89,128208,054Total4,542,62829,322,054Naval Expenditures of the Great Powers for Ten Years—1902-11.ExpenditureNew ConstructionGreat Britain$1,761,500,000$589,875,000Germany737,695,000351,010,000France660,695,000236,430,000Russia556,730,000164,280,000Italy301,145,00082,750,000Austria154,070,00074,165,000United States1,150,680,000367,050,000Japan288,505,00076,155,000Total$5,611,320,000$1,941,715,000Thus in only ten years these eight great powers spent over seven and one-half billion dollars on their navies.“The immense armies maintained by European countries have come to be a terrific drain upon their respective nations.”—Nelson's Encyclopedia, article“Army.”15. While making these war preparations, what are men saying?[pg 351]“They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly,saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”Jer. 6:14.Note.—Every one conversant with existing conditions in the world today knows this is true. While the message of peace is being proclaimed, the nations are arming as never before; wars are in progress almost continually; international complications are constantly arising; and a world war is feared as imminent, and constantly looming in sight. The world today is a vast armed camp.16. But does not the Bible say that the heathen are to be given to the Lord for an inheritance?“Ask of Me, andI shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.”Ps. 2:8.17. What will the Lord do with them?“Thou shaltbreak them with a rod of iron; Thou shaltdash them in pieceslike a potter's vessel.”Verse 9.“And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He shouldsmite the nations: and He shallrule them with a rod of iron: andHe treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”Rev. 19:15.Note.—How suddenly surprised those who have been preaching peace and safety will be when the end comes is indicated in the text already quoted:“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; thensudden destruction cometh upon them.”1 Thess. 5:2, 3. All heedless of the signs of the times, and indifferent to the future, the world will come up to the day of the Lord unprepared. As a thief in the night, coming with stealthy, muffled tread, this day will take all unawares who are not looking, watching, and waiting for their Lord's return. Instead of looking for the world's conversion, we should be looking for Christ's coming.The coming King is at the door,Who once the cross for sinners bore,But now the righteous ones aloneHe comes to gather home.The signs that show His coming nearAre fast fulfilling year by year,And soon we'll hail the glorious dawnOf heaven's eternal morn.Look not on earth for strife to cease,Look not below for joy and peace,Until the Saviour comes againTo banish death and sin.Then in the glorious earth made newWe'll dwell the countless ages through;This mortal shall immortal be,And time, eternity.F. E. Belden.[pg 352]
Manner Of Christ's ComingIllustration.Coming In Glory. "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." Rev. 1:7.1. Is Christ coming again?“I will comeagain.”John 14:3.2. How does Paul speak of this coming?“Unto them that look for Him shall He appearthe second timewithout sin unto salvation.”Heb. 9:28.3. Did the early disciples think that death would be the second coming of Christ?“Peter seeing him [John] saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarrytill I come, what is that to thee? follow thou Me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that discipleshould not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarrytill I come, what is that to thee?”John 21:21-23.Notes.—From this it is evident that the early disciples regarded death and the coming of Christ as two separate events.“‘Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.’Some people say that means death; but the Word of God does not say it means death. Death is our enemy, but our Lord hath the keys of death; He has conquered death, hell, and the grave.... Christ is the Prince of Life; there is no death where He is; death flees at His coming; dead bodies sprang to life when He touched them or spoke to them. His coming is not death. He is the resurrection and the life. When He sets up His kingdom, there is to be no death, but life forevermore.”—“The Second Coming of Christ,”by D. L. Moody, pages 10, 11.4. At His ascension, how did the angels say Christ would come again?[pg 338]Illustration.The Ascension. "This same Jesus ... shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Acts 1:11.[pg 339]“And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; anda cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven,shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”Acts 1:9-11.5. How did Christ Himself say He would come?“For the Son of man shall comein the glory of His Father with His angels.”Matt. 16:27.“Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man comingin the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”Matt. 24: 30.“For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, whenHe shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.”Luke 9:26.6. How many will see Him when He comes?“Behold, He cometh with clouds; andevery eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him.”Rev. 1:7.Note.—Christ's second coming will be as real as was His first, and as visible as His ascension, and far more glorious. To spiritualize our Lord's return is to pervert the obvious meaning of His promise,“I will come again,”and nullify the whole plan of redemption; for the reward of the faithful of all ages is to be given at this most glorious of all events.7. What wonderful demonstration will accompany the Lord's coming?“The Lord Himself shall descend from heavenwith a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”1 Thess. 4:16.8. What warning has Christ given concerning false views of the manner of His coming?“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 shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in thedesert; go not forth: behold, He is in thesecret chambers; believe it not.”Matt. 24:23-26.9. How visible is His coming to be?“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.”Verse 27.[pg 340]Object Of Christ's ComingIllustration.The Transfiguration. "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me." Rev. 22:12.1. For what purpose did Christ say He would come again?“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, 3.2. What part will the angels have in this event?“And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, andthey shall gather together His electfrom the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”Matt. 24:31.3. What takes place at the sounding of the trumpet?“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: andthe dead in Christ shall rise first.”1 Thess. 4:16.4. What will be done with the righteous living?“Then we which are alive and remain shall becaught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”Verse 17.5. What change will then take place in both the living and the sleeping saints?“We shall not all sleep, butwe shall all be changed, in a[pg 341]moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raisedincorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put onincorruption, and this mortal must put onimmortality.”1 Cor. 15:51-53.6. When are the saints to be like Jesus?“But we know that,when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”1 John 3:2.7. How many will receive a reward when Christ comes?“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; andthen He shall reward every man according to his works.”Matt. 16:27.8. What does He say He will bring with Him when He comes?“Behold, I come quickly; andMy reward is with Me, to give every man according as his works shall be.”Rev. 22:12.9. What promise is made to those who look for Him?“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Himshall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”Heb. 9:28.10. When did Christ say the good would be recompensed?“For thou shalt be recompensedat the resurrection of the just.”Luke 14:14.11. Have the worthies of old gone to their reward?“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us,that they without us should not be made perfect.”Heb. 11:39, 40.12. When did Paul expect to receive his crown?“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give meat that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”2 Tim. 4:8.13. Will this be a time of judgment?“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold,the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all.”Jude 14, 15.[pg 342]14. How did David express himself on this point?“For He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth.”Ps. 96:13.15. When did Paul say Christ would judge the living and the dead?“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.”2 Tim. 4:1.16. What great separation will then take place?“When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: andHe shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”Matt. 25:31, 32.17. What will He say to those on His right hand?“Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand,Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”Verse 34.18. What will He say to those on the left?“Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand,Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”Verse 41.At the sounding of the trumpet, when the saints are gathered home,We shall greet each other by the crystal sea;When the Lord Himself from heaven to His glory bids them come,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!When the angel of the Lord proclaims that time shall be no more,We shall gather, and the saved and ransomed see;Then to meet again together, on the bright, celestial shore,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!At the great and final judgment, when the hidden comes to light,When the Lord in all His glory we shall see;At the bidding of our Saviour,“Come, ye blessed, to My right,”What a gathering of the faithful that will be!When the golden harps are sounding, and the angel bands proclaimIn triumphant strains the glorious jubilee;Then to meet and join to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!J. H. Kurzenknabe.[pg 343]The Resurrection Of The JustIllustration.The Resurrection Of Christ. "I am He that liveth, and was dead; ... and have the keys of hell and of death." Rev. 1:18.1. Concerning what should we not be ignorant?“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”1 Thess. 4:13.2. What is set forth as the basis for hope and comfort?“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.”Verse 14.3. When will this resurrection of the saints take place?“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain untothe coming of the Lordshall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep.For the Lord Himself shall descend from heavenwith a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God:and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”Verses 15, 16.4. What will then take place?“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”Verse 17.5. With what are we to comfort one another?“Wherefore comfort one anotherwith these words.”Verse 18.Note.—The hope of a resurrection from the dead to a life immortal is the great hope set forth in the gospel.[pg 344]6. Concerning what did Christ tell us not to marvel?“Marvel not at this: forthe hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”John 5:28, 29.7. What is said of those embraced in the first resurrection?“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”Rev. 20:6.8. Upon what one fact does Paul base the Christian hope?“Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? Butif there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God thatHe raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. Forif the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ areperished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”1 Cor. 15:12-19.9. What positive declaration does the apostle then make?“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”Verses 20-22.Note.—The resurrection of Christ is in many respects the most significant fact in history. It is the great and impregnable foundation and hope of the Christian church. Every fundamental truth of Christianity is involved in the resurrection of Christ. If this could be overthrown, every essential doctrine of Christianity would be invalidated. The resurrection of Christ is the pledge of our resurrection and future life.10. What does Christ proclaim Himself to be?“I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.”John 11:25, 26.“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold,I am alive forevermore, Amen;and have the keys of hell and of death.”Rev. 1:18.Note.—Christ changed death into asleep. Absolute death knows no waking; but through Christ all who have fallen under the power of death will be raised, some to a life unending, some to everlasting death.[pg 345]11. What question does Job ask and answer?“If a man die, shall he live again?all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of Thine hands.”Job 14:14, 15.12. Why did Job wish that his words were written in a book, graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever?“For I know that My Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yetin my flesh shall I see God.”Job 19:25, 26.13. How does Paul say the saints will be raised?“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, andthe dead shall be raised incorruptible.”1 Cor. 15:51, 52.14. What great change will then take place in their bodies?“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It issown in corruption; it israised in incorruption: it issown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it issown in weakness; it israised in power: it issown a natural body; it israised a spiritual body.”Verses 42-44.15. What saying will then be brought to pass?“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”Verse 55.16. When did David say he would be satisfied?“As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied,when I awake, with Thy likeness.”Ps. 17:15.17. What comforting promise has God made concerning the sleeping saints?“I willransom them from the power of the grave; I willredeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction.”Hosea 13:14.18. What else has He promised to do?“And Godshall wipe away all tearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4. See pages759-785.[pg 346]Illustration.The Deluge. "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away." Matt. 24:39.[pg 347]The World's ConversionIllustration.After The Flood. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:13.1. What did Christ say would be the condition of the world at His second coming?“As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.”Luke 17:26. See also verses 27-30.2. How was it in the days of Noah?“And God saw thatthe wickedness of man was great in the earth, and thatevery imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.... Andthe earth was filled with violence.”Gen. 6:5-11.Note.—In a sermon delivered at Savannah, Ga., Dec. 2 1912, Bishop A. W. Wilson (Methodist) said:“Old Rome in her worst days never harbored such conditions of vice as are prevalent in our highest social circles. Never at any period of the world's history has the moral stratum been so thin or so low.”3. How did Paul characterize the last days?“This know also, that in the last daysperilous times shall come.”2 Tim. 3:1.4. What did he say would make those times perilous?“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than[pg 348]lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”Verses 2-5.5. Are things to grow better or worse before the Lord comes?“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”Verse 13.Note.—“Even to the end of time there will still be occasion for the same complaint; the world will grow no better, no, not when it is drawing toward its period. Bad it is, and bad it will be, andworst of alljust before Christ's coming.”—Matthew Henry, on Luke 18:8.6. According to the parable of the wheat and the tares, how long are the good and bad to remain together?“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil.”“Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them.”Matt. 13:38, 39, 30.7. When does the harvest come?“The harvest isthe end of the world.”Verse 39.Notes.—Thus it is plain that the wicked (the tares) live with the righteous (the wheat) till the end of the world. There is, then, no time before Christ's coming for a sinless state, in which all men will be converted and turn to God.Harper's“Book of Facts,”edition 1906, article“Religion,”classifies the population of the globe religiously as follows:—Non-ChristianChristianBuddhists400,000,000Roman Catholics175,000,000Brahmans250,000,000Protestants110,000,000Mohammedans180,000,000Greek Church90,000,000Fetish-worshipers150,000,000Various25,000,000Jews8,000,000Various62,000,0001,050,000,000400,000,000From this it will be seen that only about one fourth of the world's population are even nominal Christians.8. For what purpose did Christ say the gospel was to be preached in all the world?“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the worldfor a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”Matt. 24:14.Notes.—He did not say that all wouldreceivethe gospel, but that the gospel was to bepreachedin all the worldfor a witnessunto all nations, and thatthenthe end would come.Commenting on Rev. 20:2, Dr. Adam Clarke says:“Probably no such time shall ever appear, in which evil shall be wholly banished from the earth, till after the day of judgment, when, the earth having been[pg 349]burned up, a new heaven and a new earth shall be produced out of the ruins of the old, by the mighty power of God; righteousness alone shall dwell in them.”—Clarke's Commentary, edition 1860.9. When is the“man of sin,”or“mystery of iniquity,”called also“that Wicked,”to come to an end?“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.”2 Thess. 2:8.10. How long was the little horn of Dan. 7:25 to make war with the saints?“I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”Dan. 7:21, 22.11. How will the day of the Lord come upon the world?“For yourselves know perfectly thatthe day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, ... and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”1 Thess. 5:2-4.Note.—There will be but two classes in the world then: those in darkness, who are looking for a time of peace and safety, and those not in darkness, who are looking for the day of the Lord,—a day of waste and destruction,—the coming of Christ and the end of the world. See Jer. 7:1-19; Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:1-11; Zephaniah 1.12. What will some who are in darkness say when they hear about the Lord's coming?“Knowing this first, thatthere 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 of the creation.”2 Peter 3:3, 4.13. What will be popularly taught in the last days?“But in the last days ...many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; ... and He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off;and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”Micah 4:1-3. See also Isa. 2:2-5.Note.—Notice, this is not what theLordsays, but what the Lord saysmany nationsshall say in the last days. And this is the very message[pg 350]now heard in every land,—a great world's peace movement; a call for all nations to disarm, to go to war no more, and to profess religion.14. What message indicates the true condition of things?“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles;Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.”Joel 3:9, 10.Note.—On this question of preparing for war, note the following:—Armies of the WorldRegular Standing Army (1909)National Army Including ReservesAustria-Hungary409,0005,840,000Belgium45,000125,000British Empire250,0001,050,000China60,0001,000,000Denmark14,00068,000France630,0004,350,000Germany617,0003,000,000Greece28,000178,000Italy264,0003,200,000Japan225,000600,000Netherlands40,000500,000Norway30,00095,000Persia24,500105,000Portugal30,000175,000Russia1,100,0005,200,000Servia35,000353,000Spain100,0001,000,000Sweden62,000500,000Switzerland140,000275,000Turkey350,0001,500,000United States89,128208,054Total4,542,62829,322,054Naval Expenditures of the Great Powers for Ten Years—1902-11.ExpenditureNew ConstructionGreat Britain$1,761,500,000$589,875,000Germany737,695,000351,010,000France660,695,000236,430,000Russia556,730,000164,280,000Italy301,145,00082,750,000Austria154,070,00074,165,000United States1,150,680,000367,050,000Japan288,505,00076,155,000Total$5,611,320,000$1,941,715,000Thus in only ten years these eight great powers spent over seven and one-half billion dollars on their navies.“The immense armies maintained by European countries have come to be a terrific drain upon their respective nations.”—Nelson's Encyclopedia, article“Army.”15. While making these war preparations, what are men saying?[pg 351]“They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly,saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”Jer. 6:14.Note.—Every one conversant with existing conditions in the world today knows this is true. While the message of peace is being proclaimed, the nations are arming as never before; wars are in progress almost continually; international complications are constantly arising; and a world war is feared as imminent, and constantly looming in sight. The world today is a vast armed camp.16. But does not the Bible say that the heathen are to be given to the Lord for an inheritance?“Ask of Me, andI shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.”Ps. 2:8.17. What will the Lord do with them?“Thou shaltbreak them with a rod of iron; Thou shaltdash them in pieceslike a potter's vessel.”Verse 9.“And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He shouldsmite the nations: and He shallrule them with a rod of iron: andHe treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”Rev. 19:15.Note.—How suddenly surprised those who have been preaching peace and safety will be when the end comes is indicated in the text already quoted:“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; thensudden destruction cometh upon them.”1 Thess. 5:2, 3. All heedless of the signs of the times, and indifferent to the future, the world will come up to the day of the Lord unprepared. As a thief in the night, coming with stealthy, muffled tread, this day will take all unawares who are not looking, watching, and waiting for their Lord's return. Instead of looking for the world's conversion, we should be looking for Christ's coming.The coming King is at the door,Who once the cross for sinners bore,But now the righteous ones aloneHe comes to gather home.The signs that show His coming nearAre fast fulfilling year by year,And soon we'll hail the glorious dawnOf heaven's eternal morn.Look not on earth for strife to cease,Look not below for joy and peace,Until the Saviour comes againTo banish death and sin.Then in the glorious earth made newWe'll dwell the countless ages through;This mortal shall immortal be,And time, eternity.F. E. Belden.[pg 352]
Manner Of Christ's ComingIllustration.Coming In Glory. "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." Rev. 1:7.1. Is Christ coming again?“I will comeagain.”John 14:3.2. How does Paul speak of this coming?“Unto them that look for Him shall He appearthe second timewithout sin unto salvation.”Heb. 9:28.3. Did the early disciples think that death would be the second coming of Christ?“Peter seeing him [John] saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarrytill I come, what is that to thee? follow thou Me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that discipleshould not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarrytill I come, what is that to thee?”John 21:21-23.Notes.—From this it is evident that the early disciples regarded death and the coming of Christ as two separate events.“‘Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.’Some people say that means death; but the Word of God does not say it means death. Death is our enemy, but our Lord hath the keys of death; He has conquered death, hell, and the grave.... Christ is the Prince of Life; there is no death where He is; death flees at His coming; dead bodies sprang to life when He touched them or spoke to them. His coming is not death. He is the resurrection and the life. When He sets up His kingdom, there is to be no death, but life forevermore.”—“The Second Coming of Christ,”by D. L. Moody, pages 10, 11.4. At His ascension, how did the angels say Christ would come again?[pg 338]Illustration.The Ascension. "This same Jesus ... shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Acts 1:11.[pg 339]“And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; anda cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven,shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”Acts 1:9-11.5. How did Christ Himself say He would come?“For the Son of man shall comein the glory of His Father with His angels.”Matt. 16:27.“Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man comingin the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”Matt. 24: 30.“For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, whenHe shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.”Luke 9:26.6. How many will see Him when He comes?“Behold, He cometh with clouds; andevery eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him.”Rev. 1:7.Note.—Christ's second coming will be as real as was His first, and as visible as His ascension, and far more glorious. To spiritualize our Lord's return is to pervert the obvious meaning of His promise,“I will come again,”and nullify the whole plan of redemption; for the reward of the faithful of all ages is to be given at this most glorious of all events.7. What wonderful demonstration will accompany the Lord's coming?“The Lord Himself shall descend from heavenwith a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”1 Thess. 4:16.8. What warning has Christ given concerning false views of the manner of His coming?“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 shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in thedesert; go not forth: behold, He is in thesecret chambers; believe it not.”Matt. 24:23-26.9. How visible is His coming to be?“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.”Verse 27.[pg 340]Object Of Christ's ComingIllustration.The Transfiguration. "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me." Rev. 22:12.1. For what purpose did Christ say He would come again?“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, 3.2. What part will the angels have in this event?“And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, andthey shall gather together His electfrom the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”Matt. 24:31.3. What takes place at the sounding of the trumpet?“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: andthe dead in Christ shall rise first.”1 Thess. 4:16.4. What will be done with the righteous living?“Then we which are alive and remain shall becaught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”Verse 17.5. What change will then take place in both the living and the sleeping saints?“We shall not all sleep, butwe shall all be changed, in a[pg 341]moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raisedincorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put onincorruption, and this mortal must put onimmortality.”1 Cor. 15:51-53.6. When are the saints to be like Jesus?“But we know that,when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”1 John 3:2.7. How many will receive a reward when Christ comes?“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; andthen He shall reward every man according to his works.”Matt. 16:27.8. What does He say He will bring with Him when He comes?“Behold, I come quickly; andMy reward is with Me, to give every man according as his works shall be.”Rev. 22:12.9. What promise is made to those who look for Him?“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Himshall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”Heb. 9:28.10. When did Christ say the good would be recompensed?“For thou shalt be recompensedat the resurrection of the just.”Luke 14:14.11. Have the worthies of old gone to their reward?“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us,that they without us should not be made perfect.”Heb. 11:39, 40.12. When did Paul expect to receive his crown?“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give meat that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”2 Tim. 4:8.13. Will this be a time of judgment?“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold,the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all.”Jude 14, 15.[pg 342]14. How did David express himself on this point?“For He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth.”Ps. 96:13.15. When did Paul say Christ would judge the living and the dead?“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.”2 Tim. 4:1.16. What great separation will then take place?“When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: andHe shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”Matt. 25:31, 32.17. What will He say to those on His right hand?“Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand,Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”Verse 34.18. What will He say to those on the left?“Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand,Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”Verse 41.At the sounding of the trumpet, when the saints are gathered home,We shall greet each other by the crystal sea;When the Lord Himself from heaven to His glory bids them come,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!When the angel of the Lord proclaims that time shall be no more,We shall gather, and the saved and ransomed see;Then to meet again together, on the bright, celestial shore,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!At the great and final judgment, when the hidden comes to light,When the Lord in all His glory we shall see;At the bidding of our Saviour,“Come, ye blessed, to My right,”What a gathering of the faithful that will be!When the golden harps are sounding, and the angel bands proclaimIn triumphant strains the glorious jubilee;Then to meet and join to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!J. H. Kurzenknabe.[pg 343]The Resurrection Of The JustIllustration.The Resurrection Of Christ. "I am He that liveth, and was dead; ... and have the keys of hell and of death." Rev. 1:18.1. Concerning what should we not be ignorant?“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”1 Thess. 4:13.2. What is set forth as the basis for hope and comfort?“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.”Verse 14.3. When will this resurrection of the saints take place?“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain untothe coming of the Lordshall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep.For the Lord Himself shall descend from heavenwith a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God:and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”Verses 15, 16.4. What will then take place?“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”Verse 17.5. With what are we to comfort one another?“Wherefore comfort one anotherwith these words.”Verse 18.Note.—The hope of a resurrection from the dead to a life immortal is the great hope set forth in the gospel.[pg 344]6. Concerning what did Christ tell us not to marvel?“Marvel not at this: forthe hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”John 5:28, 29.7. What is said of those embraced in the first resurrection?“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”Rev. 20:6.8. Upon what one fact does Paul base the Christian hope?“Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? Butif there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God thatHe raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. Forif the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ areperished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”1 Cor. 15:12-19.9. What positive declaration does the apostle then make?“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”Verses 20-22.Note.—The resurrection of Christ is in many respects the most significant fact in history. It is the great and impregnable foundation and hope of the Christian church. Every fundamental truth of Christianity is involved in the resurrection of Christ. If this could be overthrown, every essential doctrine of Christianity would be invalidated. The resurrection of Christ is the pledge of our resurrection and future life.10. What does Christ proclaim Himself to be?“I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.”John 11:25, 26.“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold,I am alive forevermore, Amen;and have the keys of hell and of death.”Rev. 1:18.Note.—Christ changed death into asleep. Absolute death knows no waking; but through Christ all who have fallen under the power of death will be raised, some to a life unending, some to everlasting death.[pg 345]11. What question does Job ask and answer?“If a man die, shall he live again?all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of Thine hands.”Job 14:14, 15.12. Why did Job wish that his words were written in a book, graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever?“For I know that My Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yetin my flesh shall I see God.”Job 19:25, 26.13. How does Paul say the saints will be raised?“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, andthe dead shall be raised incorruptible.”1 Cor. 15:51, 52.14. What great change will then take place in their bodies?“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It issown in corruption; it israised in incorruption: it issown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it issown in weakness; it israised in power: it issown a natural body; it israised a spiritual body.”Verses 42-44.15. What saying will then be brought to pass?“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”Verse 55.16. When did David say he would be satisfied?“As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied,when I awake, with Thy likeness.”Ps. 17:15.17. What comforting promise has God made concerning the sleeping saints?“I willransom them from the power of the grave; I willredeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction.”Hosea 13:14.18. What else has He promised to do?“And Godshall wipe away all tearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4. See pages759-785.[pg 346]Illustration.The Deluge. "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away." Matt. 24:39.[pg 347]The World's ConversionIllustration.After The Flood. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:13.1. What did Christ say would be the condition of the world at His second coming?“As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.”Luke 17:26. See also verses 27-30.2. How was it in the days of Noah?“And God saw thatthe wickedness of man was great in the earth, and thatevery imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.... Andthe earth was filled with violence.”Gen. 6:5-11.Note.—In a sermon delivered at Savannah, Ga., Dec. 2 1912, Bishop A. W. Wilson (Methodist) said:“Old Rome in her worst days never harbored such conditions of vice as are prevalent in our highest social circles. Never at any period of the world's history has the moral stratum been so thin or so low.”3. How did Paul characterize the last days?“This know also, that in the last daysperilous times shall come.”2 Tim. 3:1.4. What did he say would make those times perilous?“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than[pg 348]lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”Verses 2-5.5. Are things to grow better or worse before the Lord comes?“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”Verse 13.Note.—“Even to the end of time there will still be occasion for the same complaint; the world will grow no better, no, not when it is drawing toward its period. Bad it is, and bad it will be, andworst of alljust before Christ's coming.”—Matthew Henry, on Luke 18:8.6. According to the parable of the wheat and the tares, how long are the good and bad to remain together?“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil.”“Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them.”Matt. 13:38, 39, 30.7. When does the harvest come?“The harvest isthe end of the world.”Verse 39.Notes.—Thus it is plain that the wicked (the tares) live with the righteous (the wheat) till the end of the world. There is, then, no time before Christ's coming for a sinless state, in which all men will be converted and turn to God.Harper's“Book of Facts,”edition 1906, article“Religion,”classifies the population of the globe religiously as follows:—Non-ChristianChristianBuddhists400,000,000Roman Catholics175,000,000Brahmans250,000,000Protestants110,000,000Mohammedans180,000,000Greek Church90,000,000Fetish-worshipers150,000,000Various25,000,000Jews8,000,000Various62,000,0001,050,000,000400,000,000From this it will be seen that only about one fourth of the world's population are even nominal Christians.8. For what purpose did Christ say the gospel was to be preached in all the world?“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the worldfor a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”Matt. 24:14.Notes.—He did not say that all wouldreceivethe gospel, but that the gospel was to bepreachedin all the worldfor a witnessunto all nations, and thatthenthe end would come.Commenting on Rev. 20:2, Dr. Adam Clarke says:“Probably no such time shall ever appear, in which evil shall be wholly banished from the earth, till after the day of judgment, when, the earth having been[pg 349]burned up, a new heaven and a new earth shall be produced out of the ruins of the old, by the mighty power of God; righteousness alone shall dwell in them.”—Clarke's Commentary, edition 1860.9. When is the“man of sin,”or“mystery of iniquity,”called also“that Wicked,”to come to an end?“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.”2 Thess. 2:8.10. How long was the little horn of Dan. 7:25 to make war with the saints?“I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”Dan. 7:21, 22.11. How will the day of the Lord come upon the world?“For yourselves know perfectly thatthe day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, ... and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”1 Thess. 5:2-4.Note.—There will be but two classes in the world then: those in darkness, who are looking for a time of peace and safety, and those not in darkness, who are looking for the day of the Lord,—a day of waste and destruction,—the coming of Christ and the end of the world. See Jer. 7:1-19; Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:1-11; Zephaniah 1.12. What will some who are in darkness say when they hear about the Lord's coming?“Knowing this first, thatthere 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 of the creation.”2 Peter 3:3, 4.13. What will be popularly taught in the last days?“But in the last days ...many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; ... and He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off;and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”Micah 4:1-3. See also Isa. 2:2-5.Note.—Notice, this is not what theLordsays, but what the Lord saysmany nationsshall say in the last days. And this is the very message[pg 350]now heard in every land,—a great world's peace movement; a call for all nations to disarm, to go to war no more, and to profess religion.14. What message indicates the true condition of things?“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles;Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.”Joel 3:9, 10.Note.—On this question of preparing for war, note the following:—Armies of the WorldRegular Standing Army (1909)National Army Including ReservesAustria-Hungary409,0005,840,000Belgium45,000125,000British Empire250,0001,050,000China60,0001,000,000Denmark14,00068,000France630,0004,350,000Germany617,0003,000,000Greece28,000178,000Italy264,0003,200,000Japan225,000600,000Netherlands40,000500,000Norway30,00095,000Persia24,500105,000Portugal30,000175,000Russia1,100,0005,200,000Servia35,000353,000Spain100,0001,000,000Sweden62,000500,000Switzerland140,000275,000Turkey350,0001,500,000United States89,128208,054Total4,542,62829,322,054Naval Expenditures of the Great Powers for Ten Years—1902-11.ExpenditureNew ConstructionGreat Britain$1,761,500,000$589,875,000Germany737,695,000351,010,000France660,695,000236,430,000Russia556,730,000164,280,000Italy301,145,00082,750,000Austria154,070,00074,165,000United States1,150,680,000367,050,000Japan288,505,00076,155,000Total$5,611,320,000$1,941,715,000Thus in only ten years these eight great powers spent over seven and one-half billion dollars on their navies.“The immense armies maintained by European countries have come to be a terrific drain upon their respective nations.”—Nelson's Encyclopedia, article“Army.”15. While making these war preparations, what are men saying?[pg 351]“They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly,saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”Jer. 6:14.Note.—Every one conversant with existing conditions in the world today knows this is true. While the message of peace is being proclaimed, the nations are arming as never before; wars are in progress almost continually; international complications are constantly arising; and a world war is feared as imminent, and constantly looming in sight. The world today is a vast armed camp.16. But does not the Bible say that the heathen are to be given to the Lord for an inheritance?“Ask of Me, andI shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.”Ps. 2:8.17. What will the Lord do with them?“Thou shaltbreak them with a rod of iron; Thou shaltdash them in pieceslike a potter's vessel.”Verse 9.“And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He shouldsmite the nations: and He shallrule them with a rod of iron: andHe treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”Rev. 19:15.Note.—How suddenly surprised those who have been preaching peace and safety will be when the end comes is indicated in the text already quoted:“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; thensudden destruction cometh upon them.”1 Thess. 5:2, 3. All heedless of the signs of the times, and indifferent to the future, the world will come up to the day of the Lord unprepared. As a thief in the night, coming with stealthy, muffled tread, this day will take all unawares who are not looking, watching, and waiting for their Lord's return. Instead of looking for the world's conversion, we should be looking for Christ's coming.The coming King is at the door,Who once the cross for sinners bore,But now the righteous ones aloneHe comes to gather home.The signs that show His coming nearAre fast fulfilling year by year,And soon we'll hail the glorious dawnOf heaven's eternal morn.Look not on earth for strife to cease,Look not below for joy and peace,Until the Saviour comes againTo banish death and sin.Then in the glorious earth made newWe'll dwell the countless ages through;This mortal shall immortal be,And time, eternity.F. E. Belden.[pg 352]
Manner Of Christ's ComingIllustration.Coming In Glory. "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." Rev. 1:7.1. Is Christ coming again?“I will comeagain.”John 14:3.2. How does Paul speak of this coming?“Unto them that look for Him shall He appearthe second timewithout sin unto salvation.”Heb. 9:28.3. Did the early disciples think that death would be the second coming of Christ?“Peter seeing him [John] saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarrytill I come, what is that to thee? follow thou Me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that discipleshould not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarrytill I come, what is that to thee?”John 21:21-23.Notes.—From this it is evident that the early disciples regarded death and the coming of Christ as two separate events.“‘Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.’Some people say that means death; but the Word of God does not say it means death. Death is our enemy, but our Lord hath the keys of death; He has conquered death, hell, and the grave.... Christ is the Prince of Life; there is no death where He is; death flees at His coming; dead bodies sprang to life when He touched them or spoke to them. His coming is not death. He is the resurrection and the life. When He sets up His kingdom, there is to be no death, but life forevermore.”—“The Second Coming of Christ,”by D. L. Moody, pages 10, 11.4. At His ascension, how did the angels say Christ would come again?[pg 338]Illustration.The Ascension. "This same Jesus ... shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Acts 1:11.[pg 339]“And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; anda cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven,shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”Acts 1:9-11.5. How did Christ Himself say He would come?“For the Son of man shall comein the glory of His Father with His angels.”Matt. 16:27.“Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man comingin the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”Matt. 24: 30.“For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, whenHe shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.”Luke 9:26.6. How many will see Him when He comes?“Behold, He cometh with clouds; andevery eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him.”Rev. 1:7.Note.—Christ's second coming will be as real as was His first, and as visible as His ascension, and far more glorious. To spiritualize our Lord's return is to pervert the obvious meaning of His promise,“I will come again,”and nullify the whole plan of redemption; for the reward of the faithful of all ages is to be given at this most glorious of all events.7. What wonderful demonstration will accompany the Lord's coming?“The Lord Himself shall descend from heavenwith a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”1 Thess. 4:16.8. What warning has Christ given concerning false views of the manner of His coming?“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 shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in thedesert; go not forth: behold, He is in thesecret chambers; believe it not.”Matt. 24:23-26.9. How visible is His coming to be?“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.”Verse 27.
Illustration.Coming In Glory. "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." Rev. 1:7.
Coming In Glory. "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." Rev. 1:7.
1. Is Christ coming again?
“I will comeagain.”John 14:3.
2. How does Paul speak of this coming?
“Unto them that look for Him shall He appearthe second timewithout sin unto salvation.”Heb. 9:28.
3. Did the early disciples think that death would be the second coming of Christ?
“Peter seeing him [John] saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarrytill I come, what is that to thee? follow thou Me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that discipleshould not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarrytill I come, what is that to thee?”John 21:21-23.
Notes.—From this it is evident that the early disciples regarded death and the coming of Christ as two separate events.“‘Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.’Some people say that means death; but the Word of God does not say it means death. Death is our enemy, but our Lord hath the keys of death; He has conquered death, hell, and the grave.... Christ is the Prince of Life; there is no death where He is; death flees at His coming; dead bodies sprang to life when He touched them or spoke to them. His coming is not death. He is the resurrection and the life. When He sets up His kingdom, there is to be no death, but life forevermore.”—“The Second Coming of Christ,”by D. L. Moody, pages 10, 11.
Notes.—From this it is evident that the early disciples regarded death and the coming of Christ as two separate events.
“‘Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.’Some people say that means death; but the Word of God does not say it means death. Death is our enemy, but our Lord hath the keys of death; He has conquered death, hell, and the grave.... Christ is the Prince of Life; there is no death where He is; death flees at His coming; dead bodies sprang to life when He touched them or spoke to them. His coming is not death. He is the resurrection and the life. When He sets up His kingdom, there is to be no death, but life forevermore.”—“The Second Coming of Christ,”by D. L. Moody, pages 10, 11.
4. At His ascension, how did the angels say Christ would come again?
Illustration.The Ascension. "This same Jesus ... shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Acts 1:11.
The Ascension. "This same Jesus ... shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." Acts 1:11.
“And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; anda cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven,shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”Acts 1:9-11.
5. How did Christ Himself say He would come?
“For the Son of man shall comein the glory of His Father with His angels.”Matt. 16:27.“Then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man comingin the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”Matt. 24: 30.“For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, whenHe shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.”Luke 9:26.
6. How many will see Him when He comes?
“Behold, He cometh with clouds; andevery eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him.”Rev. 1:7.
Note.—Christ's second coming will be as real as was His first, and as visible as His ascension, and far more glorious. To spiritualize our Lord's return is to pervert the obvious meaning of His promise,“I will come again,”and nullify the whole plan of redemption; for the reward of the faithful of all ages is to be given at this most glorious of all events.
7. What wonderful demonstration will accompany the Lord's coming?
“The Lord Himself shall descend from heavenwith a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”1 Thess. 4:16.
8. What warning has Christ given concerning false views of the manner of His coming?
“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 shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, He is in thedesert; go not forth: behold, He is in thesecret chambers; believe it not.”Matt. 24:23-26.
9. How visible is His coming to be?
“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.”Verse 27.
Object Of Christ's ComingIllustration.The Transfiguration. "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me." Rev. 22:12.1. For what purpose did Christ say He would come again?“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, 3.2. What part will the angels have in this event?“And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, andthey shall gather together His electfrom the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”Matt. 24:31.3. What takes place at the sounding of the trumpet?“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: andthe dead in Christ shall rise first.”1 Thess. 4:16.4. What will be done with the righteous living?“Then we which are alive and remain shall becaught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”Verse 17.5. What change will then take place in both the living and the sleeping saints?“We shall not all sleep, butwe shall all be changed, in a[pg 341]moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raisedincorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put onincorruption, and this mortal must put onimmortality.”1 Cor. 15:51-53.6. When are the saints to be like Jesus?“But we know that,when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”1 John 3:2.7. How many will receive a reward when Christ comes?“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; andthen He shall reward every man according to his works.”Matt. 16:27.8. What does He say He will bring with Him when He comes?“Behold, I come quickly; andMy reward is with Me, to give every man according as his works shall be.”Rev. 22:12.9. What promise is made to those who look for Him?“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Himshall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”Heb. 9:28.10. When did Christ say the good would be recompensed?“For thou shalt be recompensedat the resurrection of the just.”Luke 14:14.11. Have the worthies of old gone to their reward?“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us,that they without us should not be made perfect.”Heb. 11:39, 40.12. When did Paul expect to receive his crown?“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give meat that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”2 Tim. 4:8.13. Will this be a time of judgment?“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold,the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all.”Jude 14, 15.[pg 342]14. How did David express himself on this point?“For He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth.”Ps. 96:13.15. When did Paul say Christ would judge the living and the dead?“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.”2 Tim. 4:1.16. What great separation will then take place?“When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: andHe shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”Matt. 25:31, 32.17. What will He say to those on His right hand?“Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand,Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”Verse 34.18. What will He say to those on the left?“Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand,Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”Verse 41.At the sounding of the trumpet, when the saints are gathered home,We shall greet each other by the crystal sea;When the Lord Himself from heaven to His glory bids them come,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!When the angel of the Lord proclaims that time shall be no more,We shall gather, and the saved and ransomed see;Then to meet again together, on the bright, celestial shore,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!At the great and final judgment, when the hidden comes to light,When the Lord in all His glory we shall see;At the bidding of our Saviour,“Come, ye blessed, to My right,”What a gathering of the faithful that will be!When the golden harps are sounding, and the angel bands proclaimIn triumphant strains the glorious jubilee;Then to meet and join to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!J. H. Kurzenknabe.
Illustration.The Transfiguration. "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me." Rev. 22:12.
The Transfiguration. "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me." Rev. 22:12.
1. For what purpose did Christ say He would come again?
“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.
2. What part will the angels have in this event?
“And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, andthey shall gather together His electfrom the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”Matt. 24:31.
3. What takes place at the sounding of the trumpet?
“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: andthe dead in Christ shall rise first.”1 Thess. 4:16.
4. What will be done with the righteous living?
“Then we which are alive and remain shall becaught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”Verse 17.
5. What change will then take place in both the living and the sleeping saints?
“We shall not all sleep, butwe shall all be changed, in a[pg 341]moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raisedincorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put onincorruption, and this mortal must put onimmortality.”1 Cor. 15:51-53.
6. When are the saints to be like Jesus?
“But we know that,when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”1 John 3:2.
7. How many will receive a reward when Christ comes?
“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; andthen He shall reward every man according to his works.”Matt. 16:27.
8. What does He say He will bring with Him when He comes?
“Behold, I come quickly; andMy reward is with Me, to give every man according as his works shall be.”Rev. 22:12.
9. What promise is made to those who look for Him?
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Himshall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”Heb. 9:28.
10. When did Christ say the good would be recompensed?
“For thou shalt be recompensedat the resurrection of the just.”Luke 14:14.
11. Have the worthies of old gone to their reward?
“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us,that they without us should not be made perfect.”Heb. 11:39, 40.
12. When did Paul expect to receive his crown?
“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give meat that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”2 Tim. 4:8.
13. Will this be a time of judgment?
“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold,the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all.”Jude 14, 15.
14. How did David express himself on this point?
“For He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth.”Ps. 96:13.
15. When did Paul say Christ would judge the living and the dead?
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.”2 Tim. 4:1.
16. What great separation will then take place?
“When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: andHe shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”Matt. 25:31, 32.
17. What will He say to those on His right hand?
“Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand,Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”Verse 34.
18. What will He say to those on the left?
“Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand,Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”Verse 41.
At the sounding of the trumpet, when the saints are gathered home,We shall greet each other by the crystal sea;When the Lord Himself from heaven to His glory bids them come,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!When the angel of the Lord proclaims that time shall be no more,We shall gather, and the saved and ransomed see;Then to meet again together, on the bright, celestial shore,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!At the great and final judgment, when the hidden comes to light,When the Lord in all His glory we shall see;At the bidding of our Saviour,“Come, ye blessed, to My right,”What a gathering of the faithful that will be!When the golden harps are sounding, and the angel bands proclaimIn triumphant strains the glorious jubilee;Then to meet and join to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!J. H. Kurzenknabe.
At the sounding of the trumpet, when the saints are gathered home,We shall greet each other by the crystal sea;When the Lord Himself from heaven to His glory bids them come,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!
At the sounding of the trumpet, when the saints are gathered home,
We shall greet each other by the crystal sea;
When the Lord Himself from heaven to His glory bids them come,
What a gathering of the faithful that will be!
When the angel of the Lord proclaims that time shall be no more,We shall gather, and the saved and ransomed see;Then to meet again together, on the bright, celestial shore,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!
When the angel of the Lord proclaims that time shall be no more,
We shall gather, and the saved and ransomed see;
Then to meet again together, on the bright, celestial shore,
What a gathering of the faithful that will be!
At the great and final judgment, when the hidden comes to light,When the Lord in all His glory we shall see;At the bidding of our Saviour,“Come, ye blessed, to My right,”What a gathering of the faithful that will be!
At the great and final judgment, when the hidden comes to light,
When the Lord in all His glory we shall see;
At the bidding of our Saviour,“Come, ye blessed, to My right,”
What a gathering of the faithful that will be!
When the golden harps are sounding, and the angel bands proclaimIn triumphant strains the glorious jubilee;Then to meet and join to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb,What a gathering of the faithful that will be!
When the golden harps are sounding, and the angel bands proclaim
In triumphant strains the glorious jubilee;
Then to meet and join to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb,
What a gathering of the faithful that will be!
J. H. Kurzenknabe.
The Resurrection Of The JustIllustration.The Resurrection Of Christ. "I am He that liveth, and was dead; ... and have the keys of hell and of death." Rev. 1:18.1. Concerning what should we not be ignorant?“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”1 Thess. 4:13.2. What is set forth as the basis for hope and comfort?“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.”Verse 14.3. When will this resurrection of the saints take place?“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain untothe coming of the Lordshall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep.For the Lord Himself shall descend from heavenwith a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God:and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”Verses 15, 16.4. What will then take place?“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”Verse 17.5. With what are we to comfort one another?“Wherefore comfort one anotherwith these words.”Verse 18.Note.—The hope of a resurrection from the dead to a life immortal is the great hope set forth in the gospel.[pg 344]6. Concerning what did Christ tell us not to marvel?“Marvel not at this: forthe hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”John 5:28, 29.7. What is said of those embraced in the first resurrection?“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”Rev. 20:6.8. Upon what one fact does Paul base the Christian hope?“Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? Butif there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God thatHe raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. Forif the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ areperished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”1 Cor. 15:12-19.9. What positive declaration does the apostle then make?“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”Verses 20-22.Note.—The resurrection of Christ is in many respects the most significant fact in history. It is the great and impregnable foundation and hope of the Christian church. Every fundamental truth of Christianity is involved in the resurrection of Christ. If this could be overthrown, every essential doctrine of Christianity would be invalidated. The resurrection of Christ is the pledge of our resurrection and future life.10. What does Christ proclaim Himself to be?“I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.”John 11:25, 26.“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold,I am alive forevermore, Amen;and have the keys of hell and of death.”Rev. 1:18.Note.—Christ changed death into asleep. Absolute death knows no waking; but through Christ all who have fallen under the power of death will be raised, some to a life unending, some to everlasting death.[pg 345]11. What question does Job ask and answer?“If a man die, shall he live again?all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of Thine hands.”Job 14:14, 15.12. Why did Job wish that his words were written in a book, graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever?“For I know that My Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yetin my flesh shall I see God.”Job 19:25, 26.13. How does Paul say the saints will be raised?“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, andthe dead shall be raised incorruptible.”1 Cor. 15:51, 52.14. What great change will then take place in their bodies?“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It issown in corruption; it israised in incorruption: it issown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it issown in weakness; it israised in power: it issown a natural body; it israised a spiritual body.”Verses 42-44.15. What saying will then be brought to pass?“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”Verse 55.16. When did David say he would be satisfied?“As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied,when I awake, with Thy likeness.”Ps. 17:15.17. What comforting promise has God made concerning the sleeping saints?“I willransom them from the power of the grave; I willredeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction.”Hosea 13:14.18. What else has He promised to do?“And Godshall wipe away all tearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4. See pages759-785.[pg 346]Illustration.The Deluge. "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away." Matt. 24:39.
Illustration.The Resurrection Of Christ. "I am He that liveth, and was dead; ... and have the keys of hell and of death." Rev. 1:18.
The Resurrection Of Christ. "I am He that liveth, and was dead; ... and have the keys of hell and of death." Rev. 1:18.
1. Concerning what should we not be ignorant?
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”1 Thess. 4:13.
2. What is set forth as the basis for hope and comfort?
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.”Verse 14.
3. When will this resurrection of the saints take place?
“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain untothe coming of the Lordshall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep.For the Lord Himself shall descend from heavenwith a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God:and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”Verses 15, 16.
4. What will then take place?
“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”Verse 17.
5. With what are we to comfort one another?
“Wherefore comfort one anotherwith these words.”Verse 18.
Note.—The hope of a resurrection from the dead to a life immortal is the great hope set forth in the gospel.
6. Concerning what did Christ tell us not to marvel?
“Marvel not at this: forthe hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”John 5:28, 29.
7. What is said of those embraced in the first resurrection?
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”Rev. 20:6.
8. Upon what one fact does Paul base the Christian hope?
“Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? Butif there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God thatHe raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. Forif the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ areperished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”1 Cor. 15:12-19.
9. What positive declaration does the apostle then make?
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”Verses 20-22.
Note.—The resurrection of Christ is in many respects the most significant fact in history. It is the great and impregnable foundation and hope of the Christian church. Every fundamental truth of Christianity is involved in the resurrection of Christ. If this could be overthrown, every essential doctrine of Christianity would be invalidated. The resurrection of Christ is the pledge of our resurrection and future life.
10. What does Christ proclaim Himself to be?
“I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.”John 11:25, 26.“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold,I am alive forevermore, Amen;and have the keys of hell and of death.”Rev. 1:18.
Note.—Christ changed death into asleep. Absolute death knows no waking; but through Christ all who have fallen under the power of death will be raised, some to a life unending, some to everlasting death.
11. What question does Job ask and answer?
“If a man die, shall he live again?all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of Thine hands.”Job 14:14, 15.
12. Why did Job wish that his words were written in a book, graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever?
“For I know that My Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yetin my flesh shall I see God.”Job 19:25, 26.
13. How does Paul say the saints will be raised?
“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, andthe dead shall be raised incorruptible.”1 Cor. 15:51, 52.
14. What great change will then take place in their bodies?
“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It issown in corruption; it israised in incorruption: it issown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it issown in weakness; it israised in power: it issown a natural body; it israised a spiritual body.”Verses 42-44.
15. What saying will then be brought to pass?
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”Verse 55.
16. When did David say he would be satisfied?
“As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied,when I awake, with Thy likeness.”Ps. 17:15.
17. What comforting promise has God made concerning the sleeping saints?
“I willransom them from the power of the grave; I willredeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction.”Hosea 13:14.
18. What else has He promised to do?
“And Godshall wipe away all tearsfrom their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”Rev. 21:4. See pages759-785.
Illustration.The Deluge. "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away." Matt. 24:39.
The Deluge. "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away." Matt. 24:39.
The World's ConversionIllustration.After The Flood. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:13.1. What did Christ say would be the condition of the world at His second coming?“As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.”Luke 17:26. See also verses 27-30.2. How was it in the days of Noah?“And God saw thatthe wickedness of man was great in the earth, and thatevery imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.... Andthe earth was filled with violence.”Gen. 6:5-11.Note.—In a sermon delivered at Savannah, Ga., Dec. 2 1912, Bishop A. W. Wilson (Methodist) said:“Old Rome in her worst days never harbored such conditions of vice as are prevalent in our highest social circles. Never at any period of the world's history has the moral stratum been so thin or so low.”3. How did Paul characterize the last days?“This know also, that in the last daysperilous times shall come.”2 Tim. 3:1.4. What did he say would make those times perilous?“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than[pg 348]lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”Verses 2-5.5. Are things to grow better or worse before the Lord comes?“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”Verse 13.Note.—“Even to the end of time there will still be occasion for the same complaint; the world will grow no better, no, not when it is drawing toward its period. Bad it is, and bad it will be, andworst of alljust before Christ's coming.”—Matthew Henry, on Luke 18:8.6. According to the parable of the wheat and the tares, how long are the good and bad to remain together?“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil.”“Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them.”Matt. 13:38, 39, 30.7. When does the harvest come?“The harvest isthe end of the world.”Verse 39.Notes.—Thus it is plain that the wicked (the tares) live with the righteous (the wheat) till the end of the world. There is, then, no time before Christ's coming for a sinless state, in which all men will be converted and turn to God.Harper's“Book of Facts,”edition 1906, article“Religion,”classifies the population of the globe religiously as follows:—Non-ChristianChristianBuddhists400,000,000Roman Catholics175,000,000Brahmans250,000,000Protestants110,000,000Mohammedans180,000,000Greek Church90,000,000Fetish-worshipers150,000,000Various25,000,000Jews8,000,000Various62,000,0001,050,000,000400,000,000From this it will be seen that only about one fourth of the world's population are even nominal Christians.8. For what purpose did Christ say the gospel was to be preached in all the world?“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the worldfor a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”Matt. 24:14.Notes.—He did not say that all wouldreceivethe gospel, but that the gospel was to bepreachedin all the worldfor a witnessunto all nations, and thatthenthe end would come.Commenting on Rev. 20:2, Dr. Adam Clarke says:“Probably no such time shall ever appear, in which evil shall be wholly banished from the earth, till after the day of judgment, when, the earth having been[pg 349]burned up, a new heaven and a new earth shall be produced out of the ruins of the old, by the mighty power of God; righteousness alone shall dwell in them.”—Clarke's Commentary, edition 1860.9. When is the“man of sin,”or“mystery of iniquity,”called also“that Wicked,”to come to an end?“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.”2 Thess. 2:8.10. How long was the little horn of Dan. 7:25 to make war with the saints?“I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”Dan. 7:21, 22.11. How will the day of the Lord come upon the world?“For yourselves know perfectly thatthe day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, ... and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”1 Thess. 5:2-4.Note.—There will be but two classes in the world then: those in darkness, who are looking for a time of peace and safety, and those not in darkness, who are looking for the day of the Lord,—a day of waste and destruction,—the coming of Christ and the end of the world. See Jer. 7:1-19; Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:1-11; Zephaniah 1.12. What will some who are in darkness say when they hear about the Lord's coming?“Knowing this first, thatthere 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 of the creation.”2 Peter 3:3, 4.13. What will be popularly taught in the last days?“But in the last days ...many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; ... and He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off;and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”Micah 4:1-3. See also Isa. 2:2-5.Note.—Notice, this is not what theLordsays, but what the Lord saysmany nationsshall say in the last days. And this is the very message[pg 350]now heard in every land,—a great world's peace movement; a call for all nations to disarm, to go to war no more, and to profess religion.14. What message indicates the true condition of things?“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles;Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.”Joel 3:9, 10.Note.—On this question of preparing for war, note the following:—Armies of the WorldRegular Standing Army (1909)National Army Including ReservesAustria-Hungary409,0005,840,000Belgium45,000125,000British Empire250,0001,050,000China60,0001,000,000Denmark14,00068,000France630,0004,350,000Germany617,0003,000,000Greece28,000178,000Italy264,0003,200,000Japan225,000600,000Netherlands40,000500,000Norway30,00095,000Persia24,500105,000Portugal30,000175,000Russia1,100,0005,200,000Servia35,000353,000Spain100,0001,000,000Sweden62,000500,000Switzerland140,000275,000Turkey350,0001,500,000United States89,128208,054Total4,542,62829,322,054Naval Expenditures of the Great Powers for Ten Years—1902-11.ExpenditureNew ConstructionGreat Britain$1,761,500,000$589,875,000Germany737,695,000351,010,000France660,695,000236,430,000Russia556,730,000164,280,000Italy301,145,00082,750,000Austria154,070,00074,165,000United States1,150,680,000367,050,000Japan288,505,00076,155,000Total$5,611,320,000$1,941,715,000Thus in only ten years these eight great powers spent over seven and one-half billion dollars on their navies.“The immense armies maintained by European countries have come to be a terrific drain upon their respective nations.”—Nelson's Encyclopedia, article“Army.”15. While making these war preparations, what are men saying?[pg 351]“They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly,saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”Jer. 6:14.Note.—Every one conversant with existing conditions in the world today knows this is true. While the message of peace is being proclaimed, the nations are arming as never before; wars are in progress almost continually; international complications are constantly arising; and a world war is feared as imminent, and constantly looming in sight. The world today is a vast armed camp.16. But does not the Bible say that the heathen are to be given to the Lord for an inheritance?“Ask of Me, andI shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.”Ps. 2:8.17. What will the Lord do with them?“Thou shaltbreak them with a rod of iron; Thou shaltdash them in pieceslike a potter's vessel.”Verse 9.“And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He shouldsmite the nations: and He shallrule them with a rod of iron: andHe treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”Rev. 19:15.Note.—How suddenly surprised those who have been preaching peace and safety will be when the end comes is indicated in the text already quoted:“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; thensudden destruction cometh upon them.”1 Thess. 5:2, 3. All heedless of the signs of the times, and indifferent to the future, the world will come up to the day of the Lord unprepared. As a thief in the night, coming with stealthy, muffled tread, this day will take all unawares who are not looking, watching, and waiting for their Lord's return. Instead of looking for the world's conversion, we should be looking for Christ's coming.The coming King is at the door,Who once the cross for sinners bore,But now the righteous ones aloneHe comes to gather home.The signs that show His coming nearAre fast fulfilling year by year,And soon we'll hail the glorious dawnOf heaven's eternal morn.Look not on earth for strife to cease,Look not below for joy and peace,Until the Saviour comes againTo banish death and sin.Then in the glorious earth made newWe'll dwell the countless ages through;This mortal shall immortal be,And time, eternity.F. E. Belden.
Illustration.After The Flood. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:13.
After The Flood. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Tim. 3:13.
1. What did Christ say would be the condition of the world at His second coming?
“As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.”Luke 17:26. See also verses 27-30.
2. How was it in the days of Noah?
“And God saw thatthe wickedness of man was great in the earth, and thatevery imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.... Andthe earth was filled with violence.”Gen. 6:5-11.
Note.—In a sermon delivered at Savannah, Ga., Dec. 2 1912, Bishop A. W. Wilson (Methodist) said:“Old Rome in her worst days never harbored such conditions of vice as are prevalent in our highest social circles. Never at any period of the world's history has the moral stratum been so thin or so low.”
3. How did Paul characterize the last days?
“This know also, that in the last daysperilous times shall come.”2 Tim. 3:1.
4. What did he say would make those times perilous?
“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than[pg 348]lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”Verses 2-5.
5. Are things to grow better or worse before the Lord comes?
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”Verse 13.
Note.—“Even to the end of time there will still be occasion for the same complaint; the world will grow no better, no, not when it is drawing toward its period. Bad it is, and bad it will be, andworst of alljust before Christ's coming.”—Matthew Henry, on Luke 18:8.
6. According to the parable of the wheat and the tares, how long are the good and bad to remain together?
“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil.”“Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them.”Matt. 13:38, 39, 30.
7. When does the harvest come?
“The harvest isthe end of the world.”Verse 39.
Notes.—Thus it is plain that the wicked (the tares) live with the righteous (the wheat) till the end of the world. There is, then, no time before Christ's coming for a sinless state, in which all men will be converted and turn to God.Harper's“Book of Facts,”edition 1906, article“Religion,”classifies the population of the globe religiously as follows:—Non-ChristianChristianBuddhists400,000,000Roman Catholics175,000,000Brahmans250,000,000Protestants110,000,000Mohammedans180,000,000Greek Church90,000,000Fetish-worshipers150,000,000Various25,000,000Jews8,000,000Various62,000,0001,050,000,000400,000,000From this it will be seen that only about one fourth of the world's population are even nominal Christians.
Notes.—Thus it is plain that the wicked (the tares) live with the righteous (the wheat) till the end of the world. There is, then, no time before Christ's coming for a sinless state, in which all men will be converted and turn to God.
Harper's“Book of Facts,”edition 1906, article“Religion,”classifies the population of the globe religiously as follows:—
From this it will be seen that only about one fourth of the world's population are even nominal Christians.
8. For what purpose did Christ say the gospel was to be preached in all the world?
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the worldfor a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”Matt. 24:14.
Notes.—He did not say that all wouldreceivethe gospel, but that the gospel was to bepreachedin all the worldfor a witnessunto all nations, and thatthenthe end would come.Commenting on Rev. 20:2, Dr. Adam Clarke says:“Probably no such time shall ever appear, in which evil shall be wholly banished from the earth, till after the day of judgment, when, the earth having been[pg 349]burned up, a new heaven and a new earth shall be produced out of the ruins of the old, by the mighty power of God; righteousness alone shall dwell in them.”—Clarke's Commentary, edition 1860.
Notes.—He did not say that all wouldreceivethe gospel, but that the gospel was to bepreachedin all the worldfor a witnessunto all nations, and thatthenthe end would come.
Commenting on Rev. 20:2, Dr. Adam Clarke says:“Probably no such time shall ever appear, in which evil shall be wholly banished from the earth, till after the day of judgment, when, the earth having been[pg 349]burned up, a new heaven and a new earth shall be produced out of the ruins of the old, by the mighty power of God; righteousness alone shall dwell in them.”—Clarke's Commentary, edition 1860.
9. When is the“man of sin,”or“mystery of iniquity,”called also“that Wicked,”to come to an end?
“And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.”2 Thess. 2:8.
10. How long was the little horn of Dan. 7:25 to make war with the saints?
“I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”Dan. 7:21, 22.
11. How will the day of the Lord come upon the world?
“For yourselves know perfectly thatthe day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, ... and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”1 Thess. 5:2-4.
Note.—There will be but two classes in the world then: those in darkness, who are looking for a time of peace and safety, and those not in darkness, who are looking for the day of the Lord,—a day of waste and destruction,—the coming of Christ and the end of the world. See Jer. 7:1-19; Dan. 12:1; Joel 2:1-11; Zephaniah 1.
12. What will some who are in darkness say when they hear about the Lord's coming?
“Knowing this first, thatthere 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 of the creation.”2 Peter 3:3, 4.
13. What will be popularly taught in the last days?
“But in the last days ...many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; ... and He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off;and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”Micah 4:1-3. See also Isa. 2:2-5.
Note.—Notice, this is not what theLordsays, but what the Lord saysmany nationsshall say in the last days. And this is the very message[pg 350]now heard in every land,—a great world's peace movement; a call for all nations to disarm, to go to war no more, and to profess religion.
14. What message indicates the true condition of things?
“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles;Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.”Joel 3:9, 10.
Note.—On this question of preparing for war, note the following:—Armies of the WorldRegular Standing Army (1909)National Army Including ReservesAustria-Hungary409,0005,840,000Belgium45,000125,000British Empire250,0001,050,000China60,0001,000,000Denmark14,00068,000France630,0004,350,000Germany617,0003,000,000Greece28,000178,000Italy264,0003,200,000Japan225,000600,000Netherlands40,000500,000Norway30,00095,000Persia24,500105,000Portugal30,000175,000Russia1,100,0005,200,000Servia35,000353,000Spain100,0001,000,000Sweden62,000500,000Switzerland140,000275,000Turkey350,0001,500,000United States89,128208,054Total4,542,62829,322,054Naval Expenditures of the Great Powers for Ten Years—1902-11.ExpenditureNew ConstructionGreat Britain$1,761,500,000$589,875,000Germany737,695,000351,010,000France660,695,000236,430,000Russia556,730,000164,280,000Italy301,145,00082,750,000Austria154,070,00074,165,000United States1,150,680,000367,050,000Japan288,505,00076,155,000Total$5,611,320,000$1,941,715,000Thus in only ten years these eight great powers spent over seven and one-half billion dollars on their navies.“The immense armies maintained by European countries have come to be a terrific drain upon their respective nations.”—Nelson's Encyclopedia, article“Army.”
Note.—On this question of preparing for war, note the following:—
Armies of the World
Naval Expenditures of the Great Powers for Ten Years—1902-11.
Thus in only ten years these eight great powers spent over seven and one-half billion dollars on their navies.
“The immense armies maintained by European countries have come to be a terrific drain upon their respective nations.”—Nelson's Encyclopedia, article“Army.”
15. While making these war preparations, what are men saying?
“They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly,saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”Jer. 6:14.
Note.—Every one conversant with existing conditions in the world today knows this is true. While the message of peace is being proclaimed, the nations are arming as never before; wars are in progress almost continually; international complications are constantly arising; and a world war is feared as imminent, and constantly looming in sight. The world today is a vast armed camp.
16. But does not the Bible say that the heathen are to be given to the Lord for an inheritance?
“Ask of Me, andI shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession.”Ps. 2:8.
17. What will the Lord do with them?
“Thou shaltbreak them with a rod of iron; Thou shaltdash them in pieceslike a potter's vessel.”Verse 9.“And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He shouldsmite the nations: and He shallrule them with a rod of iron: andHe treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”Rev. 19:15.
Note.—How suddenly surprised those who have been preaching peace and safety will be when the end comes is indicated in the text already quoted:“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; thensudden destruction cometh upon them.”1 Thess. 5:2, 3. All heedless of the signs of the times, and indifferent to the future, the world will come up to the day of the Lord unprepared. As a thief in the night, coming with stealthy, muffled tread, this day will take all unawares who are not looking, watching, and waiting for their Lord's return. Instead of looking for the world's conversion, we should be looking for Christ's coming.
The coming King is at the door,Who once the cross for sinners bore,But now the righteous ones aloneHe comes to gather home.The signs that show His coming nearAre fast fulfilling year by year,And soon we'll hail the glorious dawnOf heaven's eternal morn.Look not on earth for strife to cease,Look not below for joy and peace,Until the Saviour comes againTo banish death and sin.Then in the glorious earth made newWe'll dwell the countless ages through;This mortal shall immortal be,And time, eternity.F. E. Belden.
The coming King is at the door,Who once the cross for sinners bore,But now the righteous ones aloneHe comes to gather home.
The coming King is at the door,
Who once the cross for sinners bore,
But now the righteous ones alone
He comes to gather home.
The signs that show His coming nearAre fast fulfilling year by year,And soon we'll hail the glorious dawnOf heaven's eternal morn.
The signs that show His coming near
Are fast fulfilling year by year,
And soon we'll hail the glorious dawn
Of heaven's eternal morn.
Look not on earth for strife to cease,Look not below for joy and peace,Until the Saviour comes againTo banish death and sin.
Look not on earth for strife to cease,
Look not below for joy and peace,
Until the Saviour comes again
To banish death and sin.
Then in the glorious earth made newWe'll dwell the countless ages through;This mortal shall immortal be,And time, eternity.
Then in the glorious earth made new
We'll dwell the countless ages through;
This mortal shall immortal be,
And time, eternity.
F. E. Belden.