The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-06-20
CHRIST COMING IN JUDGMENT.
REV. JOHN HUGHES.

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er it is now past, or yet future. On
it depends right understanding of
the question of whether Christ is now
judging the world or whether there
is to be general judgment at the
end of time. The former we affirm;
the latter is the doctrine of the So
called orthodox.
The scriptures are so plain on this
subject that it seems that there ought
to be no misunderstanding in refer
ence to it. And yet how wide the
difference But as it seems to us,
there has been an almost universal
misunderstanding of Christ's plainest
teachings concerning his coming in
judgment. Take the following as his
most explicit teaching:
"For the Son of Man shall come in
the glory of his Father with his
angels and then he shall reward every
man according to his works. Verify
l say unto you, there be some stand
ing here which shall not taste of
death, till they see the Son of Man
coming in his kingdom" (Matt. xvi.
27, 2s).
This appears plain enough. 1t
seems impossible that any one should
understand otherwise than that
Christ meant that his coming to re-
ward men according to their works
would be within the life time of his
disciples. Seemingly so plain and
positive, we wonder why it is not con-
clusion to all minds, and by what
invention men attempt to parry its
force, and explain away its obvious
teaching.
The highest ingenuity eliminates
in the assertion that Christ refers to
two distinct comings; the first fu-
ture coming when there will be a
general judgment, the second his
coming in his kingdom now past.
And our attention is called to the two
verses, relating to different comings
separated by an interval of thousands
of years.
But does it never occur to these
sapient expositors that in the original
record as penned by Saint Matthew
there were no two verses? The
division of the Bible into chapters
and verses is but a modern thing,
made for convenience and by unin-
spired men. These words fell from
our Saviour's lips in the same breath,
and, as originally recorded without
break, or anything to indicate that
they relate to wholly different sub
jects. Such an explanation seems far
fetched, unwarranted and violent
wrestling of Christ's plain teaching on
this important subject.
But we inquire,-when should
Christ Judge and reward men, but in
his kingdom, and when should he COM
mence this work other than the time
of his coming in his kingdom! Surely
not at "the end. when he shall deliver
up the kingdom to God, the Father"
Il Cor. XIV. 24) 1t is absurd in the
highest degree to make Christ Judge
after he has resigned all his authority
as king and Judge. 1t is also of the
greatest importance that we remem-
Der that Christ's coming in his king
dom is his coming in judgment. They
are not two distinct and separate com
ings but one and the same. The Scrip
lures are very plain on this point.
Daniel the Prophet "saw in the
night visions, and behold one like
the Son of man came with the clouds
of heaven. And there was
given him dominion and glory and
kingdom" Dan. viii 13. IA.
To this Christ made allusion when
he said: "And then shall they see the
Son of man coming in cloud with
power and great glory. So
likewise ye, when ye see these things
come to pass, know ye that the king
dom of God is nigh at hand. Verify
l say unto you, this generation shall
not pass away, till all be fulfilled"
(Luke xxi: 27, 32.)
Christ's coming in the clouds of
heaven is his coming in judgmentand
at this coming there is given him a
kingdom; the kingdom of God is
then at hand.
As Christ is the "Lord of the dead
and the living" (Rom. xiv. 81 so we
believe his kingdom and judgment
extends to the future life. st. Peter
affirms that Christ was ordained to
be the Judge of the quick and the
dead" (Acts X. 42,) and so we believe
he is now, and will be until he gives
up his kingdom. OF this we have
certain testimony in these words:
"Who shall give an account to him
who is ready to Judge the quick and
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