In Due Season by William N. Glenn

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 20, 1883

"In Due Season."

By William N. Glenn

IN the 24th chapter of Matthew the Saviour gives his disciples instruction in regard to his second advent. Although explicit signs are given by which they may know that his coming is "near, even at the doors," yet "of that day and hour knoweth no man." On this account he cautions them to watch, and to be ready; and then inquires, "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?" Verse 45.

By due season we understand, at the proper time. The force of the Saviour's language was brought to mind a few days ago, by reading in the Mendocino Beacon's San Francisco correspondence, an account of the writer's attempt at getting novelties for a Thanksgiving dinner. He was to have some Eastern friends at his house on the occasion, and wished "to boast of our climate, soil, and State generally." He procured strawberries, raspberries, and cucumbers, and comments as follows: "With the exception of the raspberries, the novelty did not compensate for the insipidity of the lot. Fruit out of natural season is not good."

The meat or food which the Lord refers to, as above quoted, is evidently, proper and timely teaching in regard to his coming. This meat must be given at the proper time, "in due season." Hence he is careful to give the time and manner of the event. He not only specifies the true, seasonable food which should be given to his household, but he points out that which would grow out of season, and was to be avoided: "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." Verse 24.

The true signs of his coming are given in verse 29: "The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven." But the contrast between the true and false manner of coming is given in verses 26, 27: "Wherefore, if they shall say unto you, behold, he is in the desert, go not forth; behold, he is in the secret chambers, believe it not. 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."

The doctrine of the coming of the Lord is good food for the church. But to place it at a wrong time, or to present it in a wrong manner, is insipid meat, being out of due season. The Thessalonian church early imbibed the notion that the Lord was coming in their day, and it had a bad effect upon their Christian deportment. The apostle Paul wrote to them directly upon this point, reproving them sharply for their conduct. Some of them, on the strength of this idea, had ceased to labor for their own support, and had become busybodies, imposing upon others. Why did the doctrine of the second advent have such a bad effect upon them? Because the Advent was placed at the wrong time, and thus became false doctrine; it was premature—in advance of the season—hence it had an injurious effect. The apostle sets them right, and exhorts them to "be not quickly shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand." 2 Thess. 2 : 2.

On the other hand, in the early history of the church, certain teachers went from Judea to Antioch and taught the Gentile Christians that they must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. What was the effect? The account is given in the fifteenth chapter

of Acts. It caused great discouragement to the Gentiles, and dissension in the church, and a delegation of apostles and brethren had to go to Jerusalem and have the question settled before the work could progress any further. Now why this disastrous effect? Had not circumcision been given to Abraham as a sign of distinction between the people of God and the worldly nations? And had not the Gentiles under the Mosaic dispensation been required to become circumcised before being admitted to the privileges of Israel? If an outward sign was required before recognition as typical children, why not on becoming members of the real family? The reason is obvious. Circumcision, although good in its season, had passed away. The circumcision of the heart, as a distinctive badge, had taken its place, and was now in season. Hence the preaching of that which had passed away could not be nutritious meat for the church; the season was too late for that kind of food, it could only produce disorder in the body. The Spirit had signified this at various times previously; hence they were false teachers who persisted in giving the household stale food, just as they were false teachers who would give the Thessalonians unripe fruit. In neither case was meat in due season administered, and in both cases was the result detrimental.

According to the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew, which is Jesus' own exposition of his second advent, there will be a time when to teach that his coming is "near, even at the doors," will be "meat in due season." When will this be? Before answering this question, let it be remembered that the Lord speaks to his entire church through the apostles, even to the end. He had given the signs, as above quoted, and then he says, "when ye see all these things, know ye that he is near, even at the doors." The time was not in the apostles' day, nor did they expect it, as has already been shown by Paul's letter to the Thessalonians; hence it is clear that, when he says "ye shall see," and "know ye," that he did not mean those to whom he spoke directly, but those who should live at a time when it would be possible for them to know that he is "near, even at the doors." It would not be possible for the apostles.

Then when will this doctrine of the Lord's near coming be meat in due season? When these signs are accomplished. They are given as the signal for the servants of God to proclaim the messages pertaining to the last days. The signs have been identified by many witnesses—bearing evidence sufficient to convince any reasonable unprejudiced mind. [See pamphlet, "Matthew Twenty-four," published at this office.]

The falling of the stars occurred in 1833. From that time on, the Judgment and Advent messages (Rev. 14) became food in due season, including the warnings against the deceptions of the "man of sin" (2 Thess. 2:3), and his two-horned imitator (Rev. 13). The next sign in order will be the sign of the Son of man in heaven; but then it will be too late to warn anybody—even the proclamation of the Advent will be out of season.

For the last forty years or more the professed churches of God have been growing more worldly, proud, arrogant, self-sufficient, and spiritually powerless. Their own best ministers and organs acknowledge and deplore this upon every hand. Why is it? The precious meat that pertains to the season is withheld from them. That which is given in profusion is not calculated to produce spiritual health and vigor. The perverted appetite has been taught to disregard the law of the Creator, and to loathe the Christian's hope (the coming of the Lord and the resurrection of the dead); David tells us in the first psalm that he who delights in the law of the Lord, and meditates upon it day and night, "bringeth forth his fruit in his season." And the Saviour expressly says, "Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing."

W. N. GLENN.