JESUS is coming again. This blessed truth is plainly taught by the sacred writers. The Lord himself proclaims it. With comforting assurance the promise was given the disciples on the night preceding the betrayal. He told them that he was about to go away, but that he went to prepare a home for them, and that he would come again to take them to the mansions which he would prepare:—
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14: 1-3.
At his first advent Christ came as a sin offering for the world. When he comes the second time, he will come not as an offering for sin, but to bring salvation to his people: “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb. 9: 28.
A Personal Coming
The manner in which Christ will return to the earth is clearly taught in the Scriptures. His coming will be a personal coming. He declares: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again.”
A Literal Coming
The second coming of Christ to the earth will be a literal event. In Christian experience the Saviour takes his children into close relationship with himself. At conversion he takes up his dwelling place in their hearts by the presence of his Holy Spirit. In trial, in sickness and sorrow, and in the hour of death he sustains them by his gracious presence. He may even give them visions of the glory land, as he did Stephen before he fell asleep. These are precious assurances of Christ’s love, but they do not constitute his second coming, as foretold in the Scriptures of Truth.
The second coming of Christ is neither at conversion nor at death. It takes place at the end of the world. The Lord himself, personally and literally, will return to this earth: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4: 16, 17.
A Visible Coming
The coming of Christ will be a visible event. He himself tells us that we are not to believe that he comes in the secret chamber nor in the desert: “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.” Matt. 24: 26, 27.
When he comes, he will be attended by the glory of the Father and by the vast hosts of heavenly angels: “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” Matt. 16: 27.
When he left the earth, a cloud received him up out of men’s sight. He will return in precisely the same manner. Said the heavenly messengers to the men of Galilee who were gazing after their ascending Lord: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1: 11.
The apostle John bears similar testimony
to the manner in which Christ will return to the earth: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.” Rev. 1: 7.
The Day and Hour of His Coming Unknown
The day and the hour when Christ will return to the earth have not been revealed. It is foolish indeed to speculate, or to seek to demonstrate by mathematical calculations just when that event will take place. The Lord himself plainly declares: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Matt. 24: 36.
But while the exact time has not been revealed, the Scriptures clearly teach that we may know when his coming is near, even at the doors. After enumerating conditions which would be found in the world immediately preceding his second advent, and the signs which would be seen in the heavens and in the earth, the Lord declares: “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Matt. 24: 32, 33.
We may find by a comparison of the predictions of the sacred writers with the conditions which exist in the world today that the coming of the Lord is now near. We have space here to call attention very briefly to only a part of these indications.
Time Prophecies
In the prophetic writings, particularly in the books of Daniel and the Revelation, are found great lines of prophecies in which are clearly delineated much of the history of this world, and many important events which have taken place. These prophecies all focalize at the second coming of Christ. Comparing these predictions with the history of the human family, and with the conditions which exist today, we find that with one voice they proclaim that we have reached the closing days in earth’s history. Several of these important prophecies may be enumerated as follows:—
1. The dream of the great image, given to Nebuchadnezzar. Dan. 2.
2. The four great beasts representing the four universal monarchies, together with the notable little horn of Daniel 7.
3. The longest definite prophetic period mentioned in the Bible is brought to view23
in the eighth and ninth chapters of Daniel, beginning in 457 B. C. and ending in A. D. 1844.
4. The prophecy of Daniel 11 and 12, giving an outline of much of the history of the world from the days of Daniel down to the end of time, graphically describing the breaking up of the Roman Empire, the rise of the Ottoman Kingdom as a great power, and its final destruction just before the coming of the Lord.
5. The messages to the seven churches, as brought to view in the first three chapters of Revelation.
6. The prophecy of the seven seals as found in Revelation 6.
7. The events taking place under the blowing of the seven trumpets. Revelation 8, 9.
8. The prophecy of the two-horned beast of Revelation 13, which many Bible students believe to be a symbol of our own country and the part which it will act in the closing drama of earth’s history.
Sign Prophecies
In addition to this list of long-time prophecies which might be enumerated more at length, the Scriptures of Truth bring to view a number of what might be termed sign prophecies of the coming of the Lord. Of these we present the following partial list:—
1. Signs in the heavens. Matt. 24: 29, 30.
2. Signs in the physical earth. Heb. 1: 10-12.
3. Signs in the social world. Luke 17: 26-30.
4. Signs in the industrial world. James 5: 1-8.
5. Signs in the political world. Joel 3: 9-16.
6. Signs in the religious world. 2 Tim. 3: 1-5.
7. The proclamation of the gospel to all nations of men. Matt. 24: 14.
That these scriptures are meeting their fulfillment today is apparent to many thinking Christian people of different churches and various religious beliefs. The portent and outcome of the thrilling problems now engaging the attention of men in the church, in state, and in society have been made subjects of divine prediction. The world today appears on the verge of a great revolution. The meaning of these things now taking place on the earth is obvious to the student of the prophetic word.
And based upon these fast fulfilling signs which he has given, he sends to the world a message proclaiming his coming near. Through his prophet the Lord says to his waiting people: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Joel 2: 1.
To the church of God the message is first to be proclaimed, and from Zion the word is to go out to all the inhabitants of the land.
Of this same message the Lord speaks through his apostle John: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14: 6, 7.
This message is being proclaimed to all the world today. By tongue and by pen, by the living preacher and through the printed page, the message of the Lord’s coming is going to earth’s remotest bounds. That message is being carried in part by the people represented by this paper.
Yes, Jesus is coming again, coming back to this earth to reign, coming to dwell among his people as their Lord and King, as the chiefest among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely. Dear reader, are you prepared for that coming? Will you be enabled to meet your Lord in peace in that great day? Entering into fellowship with him here is the prelude to the fellowship of eternity. Loving him here is the beginning of a love which may last through the endless ages. Let us make peace with him now, and be found of him in peace when he shall come to claim his own.
F. M. W.
ONE SAILING PARTY ON BOARD SHIP AT SAN FRANCISCO
OFF FOR JAPAN, CHINA AND THE PHILIPPINES.
The Hope of Man
By C. M. S.
From the day when Eden sorrowed, o'er the penalty for sin
And the misery and the heartaches which man's folly ushered in,
Faith and hope have pointed forward through the shadows and the gloom
To a grand and glorious freedom from the terror of the tomb.
In the valley of the shadow it has cheered the stricken soul;
It has comforted the bruised heart, and beckoned toward the goal
Where the Light of all the ages sits between the cherubim,
On the throne of the Eternal, while the angels worship him.
'Tis the promise of his coming that has cheered the heart of man
Since the day when Abel perished and the reign of sin began,
Through the tomb that was his prison went the conquering Son of God,
And he brought his trophies with him who had slept beneath the sod.
He who conquered every evil in the desert wilderness,
He who burst the bands of Hades by the power of righteousness,
Has sent ringing through the ages this glad message to all men,
“If I go unto the Father, I will surely come again.”
Earth has staggered in her circuit 'neath the burden of her woe;
Hearts have broken with their sorrows as the seasons come and go.
Want and luxury are neighbors, rags and riches everywhere,
Meet and pass, or face each other in the busy thoroughfare.
Men have reared majestic mansions with the blood and sweat and tears
Of their brothers in the harness through the long and bitter years.
Every land has had its sorrow, every people their distress,
And the earth that once was Eden is a sin-cursed wilderness.
Yet there stands the mighty promise, given to Adam in his woe,
Of the perfect restoration from the bondage of the foe,
Just so sure as Jesus suffered, died, and reigneth now above,
We shall one day see him coming for the trophies of his love.
Speed, ye Christians, speed the message over land and over sea
Till all men have heard the summons to the coming jubilee!
When this gospel of the kingdom has been preached the world around,
We shall see our Saviour coming, and shall hear his trumpet sound.
O, the gladness of that coming when the reign of sin is o'er,
And when Death, the king of terrors, shall oppress the race no more!
From the graves where sleep his children on the pillow of his love,
Christ will call them for their journey to their waiting home above.
All their griefs will be forgotten, tears no more the eye will dim,
For the root of sin is banished, and we'll reign in peace with him.
To the mansions he has builded for his faithful ones on high
Angel hands shall guide his loved ones through the star-bejeweled sky.
There's no human speech can utter what that blessed day will bring
To the souls that have not faltered in the service of their King;
And the glory and the gladness which redemption will afford
Will be heightened, deepened, widened by the presence of our Lord.
C. M. S.
Accepting the Pardon
By Ellen G. White
HERE is where thousands fail: they do not believe that Jesus pardons them personally, individually. They do not take God at his word. It is the privilege of all who comply with the conditions to know for themselves that pardon is freely extended for every sin. Put away the suspicion that God's promises are not meant for you. They are for every repentant transgressor. Strength and grace have been provided through Christ to be brought by ministering angels to every believing soul. None are so sinful that they cannot find strength, purity, and righteousness in Jesus, who died for them. He is waiting to strip them of their garments stained and polluted with sin, and to put upon them the white robes of righteousness; he bids them live, and not die.
God does not deal with us as finite men deal with one another. His thoughts are thoughts of mercy, love, and tenderest compassion. He says, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins."
Do not give ear to the tempter, but say: "Jesus has died that I might live. He loves me, and wills not that I should perish. I have a compassionate Heavenly Father, and although I have abused his love, though the blessings he has given me have been squandered, I will arise and go to my Father, and say, ‘I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.’" The parable tells you how the wanderer will be received: "When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."
But even this parable, tender and touching as it is, comes short of expressing the infinite compassion of the Heavenly Father. The Lord declares by his prophet, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee." While the sinner is yet far from the Father's house, wasting his substance in a strange country, the Father's heart is yearning over him; and every longing awakened in the soul to return to God is but the tender pleading of his Spirit, wooing, entreating, drawing the wanderer to his Father's heart of love.
Look up, you that are doubting and trembling; for Jesus lives to make intercession for us. Thank God for the gift of his dear Son.
MRS. E. G. WHITE.
A Picture of Peace
By J. R. Miller
IN the Pitti Palace at Florence hangs a picture which represents a stormy sea, with wild waves and black clouds and fierce lightning flashing across the sky. Wrecks float on the angry waters, and here and there a human face is seen. Out of the midst of the waves a rock rises, against which the waters dash in vain. It towers high above the crest of the waves. In a cleft of the rock are some tufts of grass and green herbage with sweet flowers blooming, and amid these a dove is seen sitting on her nest quiet and undisturbed by the wild fury of the storm, or the mad dashing of the waves. The picture fitly represents the peace of the Christian amid the sorrows and trials of the world. He is hidden in the cleft of the Rock of Ages, and nestles securely in the bosom of God's unchanging love.—J. R. Miller.
A Company of Lepers Baptized
By MRS. E. C. BOGER
THE BAPTIZED LEPERS.
INCA INDIANS PLOUGHING.
“Sown in the darkness or sown in the light,
Sown in our weakness or sown in our might; Gathered in time or eternity,
Sure, ah! sure will the harvest be.”
When Jose Ignacio was a young man seventeen years of age, an Adventist sister taught him the way to Jesus. He did not then accept the message, although he knew it to be true.
Finally he contracted the dread disease leprosy, and two years ago was sent to the public leper asylum at Mahaica, British Guiana. There, in his affliction, he turned to God. He then began to tell his fellow sufferers of the Saviour, and soon one after another joined him, until we have been happy to see thirteen of these poor sufferers baptized beneath the waters of Mahaica Creek where it passes the grounds of the asylum on its way to the sea. “I feel to myself that I am a new man in Christ Jesus,” was Ignacio’s testimony one after having “put on Christ” in this sacred ordinance. MRS. E. C. BOGER.
British Guiana.
In Java
By Petra Tunheim
JAVA, you know, is the most densely populated island in the world, thirty-five millions of people being packed into forty-nine thousand square miles. Think of it! In the low-lying plains and the large cities the people throng like ants in an ant hill. The heart of the missionary is deeply stirred as he watches such scenes day after day. The millions are chained in Mohammedan and heathen darkness. But several little companies have been raised up here and there who are walking faithfully in God’s commandments, following Christ’s example in Sabbath keeping, and waiting for his return from heaven.
In Batavia, the capital, we have seen the power of God working in many ways. A Chinese dentist came out of heathenism and took his stand for the Lord. He gave up opium and tobacco,—no easy task, for it made him quite ill for a time. He tells us that in past years he was associated with bands of robbers, was imprisoned, and fired at and wounded a number of times; but he says God has spared him to find this precious truth, and now his happy countenance testifies to the great change which the Spirit of God has made in his heart and life. “Before, I was wicked very much,” he said in broken English, “and I wonder at that power of God that can change my heart that terrible bad.” He has seldom missed a meeting since he began to attend church a year ago; and when the prayer meetings are at the far end of the town, he often walks the distance of eight miles, both ways, to be present.
PETRA TUNHEIM.
Batavia.
The Christian Indian’s Hope
By Fernando A. Stahl
BEFORE our mission was established on Lake Titicaca, in Peru, Indian burials were scenes of the wildest debauchery. But now for many miles around everything is done decently and in order. And, best of all, the Indians have grasped the hope of the resurrection and the future life. As one of them remarked of a brother who was being laid away, “He is resting, and we have hope of seeing him again.”
Sometimes the work goes hard, and one gets weary and depressed, but every once in a while the Lord sends some experience for our encouragement.
For instance, when Maria, a beautiful Indian girl, was dying, Mrs. Stahl and I set out to visit her. After many hours of hard riding over rough mountains, a road which she had traveled regularly to attend Sabbath services and the Wednesday night prayer meeting, we reached her humble home. As we entered the low door, Maria rose in her bed to embrace us, but drew back as she remembered her horrible disease (black smallpox). How changed she was! all scarred and marred. She exclaimed: “O my brother, my sister, I am so glad you have come! Sing some of those lovely gospel hymns with me before I die. I shall die; but I am not afraid, for Jesus is with me. I am so glad that I know him! He will raise me to life when he comes.”
We sang with her and prayed with her. Although she manifested no fear nor sadness, we could not help but weep, and even now I shed tears as I think of that death-bed scene. But it was a great encouragement to us to see that once benighted Indian girl, seventeen years of age, grasp by strong faith the precious promises of God. Two days later she was laid to rest, to await the coming of the great Life-giver.
This is one case among many. And it is not only when death comes that we learn how completely they have taken hold of this blessed hope, but we see it in the wonderful change in their daily lives. One does not fully realize how great the change is until he goes out among the Indians who have not heard the good news of salvation.
F. A. STAHL.
Letter From Pitcairn Island
By Miriam Adams
[Of this famous island of the South Pacific, Macmillan's “Statesman's Year Book,” of London, says: “The affairs of the island are conducted by a parliament of seven members, with a president, a vice president, and a judge. In religion the islanders (descendants of the mutineers of the ‘Bounty’) are Seventh-day Adventists.” The following article was written by the wife of the resident missionary, recently sent there from Australia.]
The Chinese debtor, JAVA.
PRIMARY SCHOOL, RAROTONGA
As the islanders are expecting a ship to25call, I avail myself of the opportunity to send a letter. It is just seven weeks since we arrived on Pitcairn. For the first few weeks we were kept busy treating the sick and advising as to the care of health. The medicines and disinfectants supplied by the conference have proved a great source of comfort and help.
Our Sabbath school has a membership of 156. It is a very interesting Sabbath school. The kindergarten is composed of twenty-five little ones between the ages of fifteen months and four years, and is managed very successfully. Of the tiny tots each teacher has three, and of the older ones there are four in a class. You would be surprised to hear how well they sing. The order is the best I have ever seen, although there are about seventy children.
BOAT QUAY
SINGAPORE.
We are of good courage, and the Lord has blessed my husband in the responsibilities which have come to him. The church school is a large undertaking. There are about sixty pupils in attendance, and all are making good progress. My husband has a valuable helper in one of the deacons of the church, Fisher Young, who, though he is young, gives evidence of having a genuine Christian character.
We were made to feel very welcome on our arrival. The islanders had been praying earnestly that a way might open by which we could come to them. Thirteen persons have been baptized. It had been some years since there had been a baptism on this island. The people are looking forward to their annual camp meeting, which will be held in booths outside the village.
Just at present there is plenty of good food on the island. Oranges and bananas grow in abundance. There are also several kinds of beans, besides sweet corn and plenty of potatoes. We are told that fewer ships call each year. Last year there were only seven. Two have called since our arrival. If this condition continues, the outlook for clothing for the islanders is very poor, as this is their only means of purchasing clothing.
MIRIAM ADAMS.
Voodoo Priest of Haiti
By Albert F. Prieger
This is a picture of a genuine voodoo priest, of which there are many in the West Indies. And though they are called the “fathers of the law,” we may well add “of sin and death;” for they neither believe nor keep any of the ten commandments of the law of God. Feeling their wretched condition, they try to make peace by offerings and sacrifices until they generally end up in some miserable way.
It is wonderful to see the remarkable change the gospel is making upon people who formerly followed these misguided men. Many have been converted from voodooism to the gospel of peace, freed from the law of sin and death through faith in Christ Jesus, who is the only offering that takes away the sins of the world.
ALBERT F. PRIEGER.
Cape Haitien.
“A More Sure Word”
By Benjamin P. Hoffman
RECENTLY, in conversation with an educated young man in Tokio on the conditions existing in the world at present, the opportunity was presented of calling his attention to prophetic portions of the Bible bearing on the subject. His interest was at once awakened, which led to studies on the historical prophecies, as well as on the various other present-day fulfillments of prophecy. At the close of each study he exclaims with astonishment and wonder, “I never knew that the Christian’s Bible contained such things!” In studying the Bible with others here I have noticed that fulfillment of prophecy appeals to them as a most powerful evidence in favor of Christianity.
When the study of the response of history to the prophetic word draws the veil from the activities of the nations and reveals the omnipotent hand of God, who has foreseen and foretold these events, then these intellectually quick minds see the difference between religious truth and superstition, and some allow themselves to be led to see forgiveness of sin and salvation for their souls. Surely the sacred prophecies constitute one—and a very important one—of the many evidences of himself that Jehovah has given us for use in reclaiming his lost children. “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables. . . . We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:16-19.
BENJAMIN P. HOFFMAN.
Tokio, Japan.
New Missions in the Philippines
By L. V. Finster.
WITH the help sent from the homeland we have been able to begin permanent mission work in three new languages this year, one among the Ilocano people of northern Luzon, another among the Iloilo-Vasayans of the islands of Panay and Negros, and another in the island of Cebu, among the Cebu-Vasayan people.
The Lord answers the prayer of faith, no matter what the color of the suppliant may be. One of the sons of these darkened lands heard the gospel story preached. His simple faith grasped the promises, and he gave himself to the Lord. He could not read, but longed to know the words of God for himself. He thought of it much, and finally said that God had heard the prayer of people in other matters, why could he not help him to read his word? He went to his closet and prayed for what he so much coveted. He came back, picked up his Bible, and began to read. He has improved wonderfully, and is now one of our faithful colporteurs.
