Mountain advocate., 1920-04-02

then the attitude
RzzezsZ&zAA of the Christians
of Thessalonica should be the attitude
of Christians today.
A careful study Of the Scriptures
| will convince one that the truth of
the second coming holds a very large
| place. Those who have counted tell
us that the second coming is men
toned 31S times in the 2G0 chapters
of the New Testament. The late DIR.
| James III. Brookes of ST. Louis says
that one verse in twenty-five refers to
this fact. Any one familiar with the
Old Testament prophecies knows that
vastly more is said in them about the
second coming of Christ than there is
about his first advent. This is one
reason why Israel failed to recognize
her Messiah. Israel, taken up with
these prophecies which tell of his
glory, failed to give consideration to
the prophecies which foretold his
humiliation, suffering and death. No
wonder that when he came they
failed to recognize in him the one
about whom the prophets had written
such glorious things.
Christ himself many times predicted
his return, and always in the clearest
of terms. In John II 3 he says: "If
90 and prepare a place for you l will
come again and receive you unto my
self; that where l am there We may
be also" Again, For the Son of
man shall come in the glory of his
Father" Matt. 10 :29).
The references by Christ to his sec
ond coming are so numerous that we
can refer TO only one more of his
words concerning John spoken after
his resurrection, in answer to Peter:
''If he (John) tarry till come what
is that to thee?" John 81 :22). Here
we have a distinct reference by Christ
to his second coming, and following 1t
the saying that went forth concerning
John, that he should not die. But the
writer adds: Jesus said not unto
him he shall not die but If will that
he tarry till come, what lis that to
thee?" Now this should make it clear
that the death of the believer is not
the second coming of Christ. Death
is spoken of In the Scriptures as an
enemy, while the second coming is
called the blessed hope. If any passage
about the second coming of Christ is
taken and the word death substituted
for Christ, or the term used to refer
to him or his coming, it will be at
once seen how ridiculous it is to In
terpret the second coming of Christ
as the death of the believer.
We should also note that Christ al
ways distinguished between the Holy
Spirit and himself, so that by no
means can the coming of the Holy
Spirit on the day of Pentecost or to
the believer be interpreted as the re-
turn of our Lord from heaven.
Neither can the destruction Of
Jerusalem by Titus be considered as
the Lords return, for the Lord said
to John, on the Island OF PatmOs,
about thirty years after that event:
"Surely l come quickly" to which the
aged apostle prayed in response:
"Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus"
(Rev. % :2O).
Many, when they hear of the Lords
return, think that thereby is meant
the end of the world, but that is not
the case, as will be evident, If the
events that are to follow his return
are studied 1t will save from con-
fusion, as this is done, if it is under
stood that Scripture clearly re-
veals what we may call two stages in
our Lords coming: First, his coming
I'm the air and gathering to himself |
there his redeemed Il Thess. 1915
10; and then his coming with his
people to the earth to set up thereon
his kingdom Matt. % 1892. Great |
natural and governmental changes will
then take place on the earth. It's /.
golden age will have dawned, the .
desert shall blossom as a rose, no
man shall say, Know We. the Lord?
for all shall know him, and peace on
earth shall prevail, for he whose .
right il is 10 rule shall reign, /
crowned King of Kings and Lord Of
all.
The second coming Of Christ then is
not something TO be dreaded as some
would have us believe, but to be ex-
pectantIy looked and lOnged for. 1t
should be the hope OF the church and
find its place in our life and practice.
1t does not, if properly held, make
one crank, but an earnest Chris
tian; not a star gazer, but servant
who is always about his Masters
business and always ready, though he
know not the hour his Lord shall' re-