The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-03-19

| 4
termine, and II
the Scriptures
teach the second
coming Of Christ
! then the attitude
- y - 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 very large
place. Those who have counted tell
us that the second coming is men
toned 31S times In the 260 chapters
| of the New Testament The late DR.
James II. 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 IA 3 he says: ''If
go and prepare place for you will
come again and receive you unto my
self; that where | am there ye may
be also" Again, "For the Son Of
man shall come in the glory of his
Father" Matt. 1920.
The references by Christ 10 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 distinct reference by Christ
to his second coming, and following II
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 IL will that
he tarry till come, what is that to
thee7" Now this should make 1t 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. II 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 1t win 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 come quickly" to which the
aged apostle prayed in response:
"Amen. Even so come. Lord Jesus"
(Rev. % :20).
Many, when they hear OF the Lords
return. think that thereby rs 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. II II is under
stood that Scripture clearly re-
Veals what we may call two stages In
bur Lords coming: First. his coming
IN the air and gathering to himself
here his redeemed Il Thess. 4:16-
~: and then his coming with his
people TO the earth to set up thereon
his kingdom (sfatt. 25:31-32). Great
natural and governmental changes win
hen take place on the earth. Its
.olden age win have dawned. the
lesert shall blossom as a rose. no
nan shall say, Know We the Lordf
or all shall know him, and peace on
,arth shall prevail. for he whose
fight IL is to rule shall reign.
rowned King Of Kings and Lord Of
III.
The second coming Of Christ then Is
lot something to be dreaded as some
Eould have us believe. but to be ex-
looked and longed for. II
hould be the hope Of the church and
nd IT'S place In our life and practice.
I does no:, II properly held. make
ne = crank, but an earnest Chris
Ian: not a star gazer. but a servant
l. -.