Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 91

NOTES.-"To my mind this precious doctrine-for such I must call it-of the return of the Lord to this earth is taught in the New Testament as clearly as any other doctrine in it; yet I was in the church fifteen or sixteen years before I ever heard a sermon on it. There is hardly any church that does not make a great deal of baptism; but in all of Paul's epistles I believe baptism is spoken of only thirteen times, while it speaks about the return of our Lord fifty times; and yet the church has had very little to say about it. Now I can see a reason for this. The devil does not want us to see this truth; for nothing would wake up the church so much. The moment a man takes hold of the truth that Jesus Christ is coming back again to receive His followers to Himself, this world loses its hold on him. Gas stocks, and water stocks, and stocks in banks and railroads are of very much less consequence to him then. His heart is free, and he looks for the blessed appearing of his Lord, who, at His coming, will take him into His blessed kingdom."-_"__The Second Coming of Christ,__"__ by D. L.

Moody, pages 6, 7._

" '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_,' is the parting promise of Jesus to His disciples, communicated through the two men in white apparel, as a cloud received Hun out of their sight. When after more than fifty years in glory He breaks the silence and speaks once more in the Revelation which He gave to His servant John, the post-ascension gospel which He sends opens with, '_Behold, He cometh with clouds_,' and closes with, '_Surely I come quickly_.' Considering the solemn emphasis thus laid upon this doctrine, and considering the great prominence given to it throughout the teaching of our Lord and of His apostles, how was it that for the first five years of my pastoral life it had absolutely no place in my preaching? Undoubtedly, the reason lay in the lack of early instruction. Of all the sermons heard from childhood on, I do not remember listening to a single one upon this subject."-_"__How Christ Came to Church,__"__ by A.

J. Gordon, D. D., pages 44, 45._

7. At His ascension, what a.s.surance was given of Christ's return?

"And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, 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 1:10, 11.

8. How ancient is this doctrine of Christ's coming?

"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, _Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints_, to execute judgment upon all." Jude 14, 15.

NOTE.-Seeking to cast reflection upon modern believers in the advent doctrine, a man in Hungary not long ago remarked to a colporteur of this faith that he had heard that the first Adventist preacher is still living. "Yes," replied the colporteur, "the first Adventist preacher is still living, yet the Adventist faith is thousands of years old. The Bible says that Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, preached the coming of Christ in glory and power, and Enoch is still living. He was translated to heaven without seeing death, and will never die."

9. What was Job's confidence concerning Christ's coming?

"For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: ... whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." Job 19:25-27.

10. How does David speak of Christ's coming?

"Our G.o.d shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him." Ps. 50:3.

"For He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth." Ps. 96:13.

11. How does Paul give expression to this hope?

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." Phil. 3:20. "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great G.o.d and our Saviour Jesus Christ." t.i.tus 2:13.

12. What is Peter's testimony regarding it?

"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of His majesty." 2 Peter 1:16.

13. When are the saints to be like Jesus?

"Beloved, now are we the sons of G.o.d, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, _when He shall appear, we shall be like Him_; for we shall see Him as He is." 1 John 3:2.

14. What scriptures show that Christ's coming will be a time of reward?

"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.

"And, behold, I come quickly; _and My reward is with Me_, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22:12.

15. To whom is salvation promised at Christ's appearing?

"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.

16. What influence has this hope upon the life?

"We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And _every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure_." 1 John 3:2, 3.

17. To whom does Paul say a crown of righteousness is promised?

"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but _unto all them also that love His appearing_." 2 Tim. 4:6-8.

18. What will the waiting ones say when Jesus comes?

"And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our G.o.d; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." Isa. 25:9.

19. Has the exact time of Christ's coming been revealed?

"But of that day and hour _knoweth no man_, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Matt. 24:36.

20. In view of this fact, what does Christ tell us to do?

"_Watch therefore_: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." Verse 42.

NOTE.-"In the Scriptures, the constant note, the continually recurring exhortation, is to be prepared for the Lord's coming."-_Dean Alford._ "The proper att.i.tude of a Christian is to be always looking for his Lord's return."-_D. L. Moody._ See "How Christ Came to Church," by A. J. Gordon, pages 49, 50.

21. What warning has Christ given that we might not be taken by surprise by this great event?

"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pa.s.s, and to stand before the Son of man." Luke 21:34-36.

22. What Christian grace are we exhorted to exercise in our expectant longing for this event?

"Be _patient_ therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also _patient_; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."

James 5:7, 8.

I am waiting for the coming Of earth's long-expected Lord; For the signs are now fulfilling That He gave us in His Word.

I am watching, I am waiting, For that promised happy day; Yet I do not cease my working; I must work as well as pray.

W. S. CRUZAN.

Manner Of Christ's Coming

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Coming In Glory. "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." Rev. 1:7.