Paul and Christ’s Second Coming

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 12, 1892

Paul and Christ’s Second Coming

SOME writers have said that Paul thought that Christ might come the second time in his day, because he said to the Corinthians, "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." 1 Cor. 15:51. But there is nothing in this text which would necessarily imply any such thing as that. By the "we" the apostle meant the entirety of the members of Christ's body, or church. He was a part of the "we" not less than every Christian living when Christ comes. So also was Stephen, the martyr. But Paul did not believe that Christ was coming in his day. See 2 Thess. 2:1-9. The great apostasy must first come before Christ should appear. The apostles wrote for all time, and especially for the last days. This is a fact that should be kept in mind.