The Second Advent Compared with the First by Rev. J. S. Gilbert, (Methodist.)

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 26, 1882

The Second Advent Compared with the First.

By Rev. J. S. Gilbert, (Methodist.)

CHRIST, the Son of God, came into this world of ours. Bethlehem contained his manger-cradle, Calvary his cross, and Olivet the last imprint of his blessed feet. He will come again. He said so; his apostles said so, and they wrote so. Only gigantic self-conceit or cold indifference can miss their meaning. Let us compare the two advents together. They have points of agreement and points of divergence. Let us first note their points of agreement.

Each has been foretold. The prophets of the Old Testament, who spake of his first coming, looked over intervening centuries and in vision beheld him come again in power and glory. The New Testament is full of predictions concerning his second advent. The closing verses of its last book contain a promise of his coming again.

Each is a personal coming. We can no more spiritualize away his second than we can his first coming. The one will be as real and actual an event as the other.

A few were looking for him the first time. A few, comparatively, will be looking for him the second time.

The first advent was certain, and came in God's good time,—it came when the nations had tried every help and hope, and all had failed. The second advent is no less certain to occur and will come at the appointed time. It will come when every other hope has failed, and men's hearts are failing through fear and despair.

Note now the points of difference. They are many and very patent. We can no more than name them.

The first time, he came to suffer; when he comes again it will be to reign. He came in the feebleness of infancy; when he comes again it will be in "power and great glory." He came to die for sinners; he will come the second time "without sin unto salvation." At his first coming he stood at the bar of Herod and Pilate; when he comes again, not only Herod and Pilate, but all men and all nations, must stand before his bar.

"The babe of Bethlehem, how unlike the man That groaned on Calvary, yet he it is, The man of sorrows,—Oh how changed!"

Then the seat of mercy will give place to the throne of judgment. The brow once pressed with thorns will be radiant with divine glory. The hands once nailed to the cruel wood will wave a sceptre of victory and dominion. The face, down which once trickled the tear of sorrow and the warm blood-drop, will be as the "sun shining in his strength." He will come to stay. It will be a final coming. He will come to live with and reign over his people.

Are we ready for this coming? Do we think upon it with pleasure? If so, happy are we. Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh will find watching and waiting.—Rev. J. S. Gilbert, (Methodist.)