Preface
Desiring to be a servant of Jesus Christ to all who own a common Saviour, I dare not refuse to give, in my feeble testimony, the truth respecting the coming of the Lord as that which should be the proximate hope of every believer.
To many of my readers the theme will be not only new, but contrary to former notions. Let me advise such just to “Search the Scriptures whether these things are so;” and, if so, let the simplicity of faith accept them with gratitude to Him who has borne so long with our ignorance.
As regards many truths we have had to exclaim, “Why did I not see them before!” So if you avoid debating and argument—as children of faith should do—your proper hope will be made plain to you, and the name of the Lord magnified by you.
The question is one affecting the glory of the person of the Lord Jesus. To have His redeemed with Him in bodies of glory like His own—to rule this world now in rebellion—to gather Israel, now scattered and peeled—to execute judgment on rejecters of His grace—to swallow up death in victory—to bind Satan, our common foe—to judge the wicked dead—Scripture says HE must do all these. Into these secrets He has led His saints. Do we grudge Him His glory in those things?
Then let us turn from our own thoughts to things concerning Him. May He deign to use the following finger-posts as guides for my dear readers to His own truth!
May Himself be abundantly ministered to the souls of all that search His Word, in which to His saints He says, “Surely I come quickly.”
C. J. DAVIS.
The Personal Return of the Lord Jesus
The converts at Thessalonica to whom Paul preached “turned to God from idols to serve the living and the true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven” (1 Thess. 1:9-109For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9‑10)). They looked back at the past when they were against God; they believed at the time Paul wrote them that they were children of God; and they were looking forward to and hoping to see Himself in person who loved them and gave Himself for them.
Having the Blessing
They Longed to See the Blesser
No truth could be more solemnly affecting than this—solemnly affecting to every one of you, beloved friends, that now listen to me.
If saved now, if sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty now, what can be more calculated to draw out worship, adoration, and praise than to be reminded that He who appeared once to put away sin, and who appears now before God for us, will once more come to take us soul and body, fashioned like His own, to be with Himself forever! Do we not rejoice in the hope of seeing one we love? (Read Heb. 9:24, 26, 2824For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24)
26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)
28So 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. (Hebrews 9:28); and Phil. 3:20-2120For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20‑21)). And this is our hope.
But if found rejecting Christ, whom God offers for your righteousness, let me ask you—how shall you meet those eyes of fire? (Rev. 1:1414His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; (Revelation 1:14).) For soon after the saved ones are caught up to be with the Lord forever, the Lord will then be revealed in flaming fire to take vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 1:7-87And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thessalonians 1:7‑8)). While I put this blessed theme forward tonight as the hope of believers, and that which should be effective in shaping our walk in the present scene, let us desire earnestly that the Holy Ghost may use it to allure to the blessed Lord some that are not saved; and to alarm from their supine condition of calm indifference such as are asleep—it may be just a moment before their execution. Each of us, every man from Adam to the last born in this world must—I say again, must—have to do with Jesus, either as those that, knowing He has washed them from their sins in His own blood (Rev. 1:55And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5)), can say to Him, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev . 22: 20); or must be connected with Him, like those that shall say to rocks and mountains, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb”(Rev. 6:1616And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (Revelation 6:16)), for the word is emphatic.
You see, therefore, how differently the blessed Lord will stand related to men when He rises again from the throne. In the days of Noah eight persons were calm and peaceful before the flood came, and were so during all the time it lasted; but who can imagine the horror of the shut-out ones when the flood came! “Noah, Noah, open to us,” many of the carpenters of the Ark, and others of Noah’s neighbors, might cry. But he could not, for God had shut him in and them out. So if the Lord came now, some would know Him as Saviour, some as Judge! Those that are one with Christ in resurrection will go up in their order at His coming. God’s plan is
(1) Christ the first fruits—that is passed;
(2) then they that are Christ’s at His coming—of this, our hope, I am speaking now; and
The saved living ones will be taken away with the raised “dead in Christ” (or the Christian dead), but the world will continue with its business; that wicked one—Antichrist—will then be revealed. Judgments on living nations will be poured out, and so terrible indeed will they be that men will seek death, but death will flee from them (Rev. 9:66And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. (Revelation 9:6)). Men shall then be scorched with fire, and shall blaspheme the name of God (Rev. 16:8-118And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. 10And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, 11And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. (Revelation 16:8‑11)). Shall any of you be among the number, beloved? God forbid! Do come to the Saviour now, ere He comes in judgment to you. The rest of the dead (that is, the wicked dead) shall not be raised for 1000 years (Rev. 20:55But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:5)), and when raised, it shall be to stand before the great white throne to receive sentence of eternal banishment. The book of life will be opened to show that their names are not in it (Rev. 20:11-1511And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15)). The saints of God are exhorted to be found “waiting” for the Lord—“looking for that blessed hope” (Titus 2:1313Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13)); but to the world, to the ungodly, to the rejecters, He will appear as a thief in the night. He will find them, as in the days of Noah, eating, drinking, marrying, and doing everything that men seek happiness from—who are not owning Christ, who are rejecting Him and His truth, “as in the days of Noah.” I dare say that some of you think that we believers are the biggest fools in Christendom. So did the neighbors of Noah regard him as a madman for building such a huge ship on dry land, and his preaching was laughed at; but the flood overtook them notwithstanding. The fact is solemnly recorded, and I lift up my voice and warn you (Luke 17:26-2726And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. (Luke 17:26‑27)).
The heart of man has not been changed since Noah’s time—men scoff now as men did then. I wish I could so show these truths, as to alarm such as are at ease on the verge of the dispensation of grace. Think of a man being fast asleep at the bottom of a coal pit while the fire was approaching him! A friend wakes him up, and offers to lead him to the “lift,” which is being quickly let down to carry up the poor miners in danger. He says, “Don’t trouble me; leave me alone. I don’t believe you moreover.” His almost broken-hearted friend goes up himself on the “lift,” and just reaches the top as the fumes, rushing up the shaft, declare that the whole of the pit is delivered to the flames which consume one who for the first time then believed—when it was too late.
What say you of such a man? “That he is a fool.” Is this your calm and sober judgment? Thou art such a man. Yet I say to you the last gospel lift has not yet left you. You may be saved now by believing in Jesus. Another opportunity may never be afforded you. I do, in the stead of Christ, beseech you. “Turn and live” NOW (2 Cor. 5:20-22).
The personal return of the Lord Jesus is necessary too for the bringing into blessing in this earth, Israel, the nation now scattered and peeled, and with them the nations. Such is God’s counsel. Israel must be the first among the nations (Deut. 28:11And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: (Deuteronomy 28:1); Zech. 8; Isa. 2:22And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. (Isaiah 2:2); Mal. 3:1212And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 3:12)), notwithstanding the unbelief of the boasting Gentiles. There shall come the Deliverer out of Zion, and all Israel shall then be blessed. (Compare Rom. 11:2020Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: (Romans 11:20) with Isa. 59:20, 60-61, etc.) Jerusalem is to become a praise in the earth, and over Israel is to reign “the Lord God Omnipotent,” to whose reign all nations shall bow. His kingdom shall be from sea to sea—from the river to the ends of the earth. Before His reign over the earth commences, those terrible judgments of the Book of Revelation (chaps. 6 to 19) are to be poured out, when, I judge, that ploughshares shall be turned into swords, and pruning hooks into spears (Joel 3:1010Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. (Joel 3:10)).
Of course THE SAINTS SHALL ALREADY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UP. In 1 Thessalonians 4, we read of the catching up of the believers, and, in the fifth chapter, of the judgments coming upon Israel and upon the nations—as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.
Again, we find the Lord promising those that have an ear to hear, in Revelation 3:10,10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10) that He will keep them (lit., take them away) from the hour of trial which shall come upon all the world. This sweet reminder of the blessed Lord is so very preciously given, in the last, but one (Philadelphia), of the seven-fold view of the church for testimony in the earth, just before He spews the empty shell-like professing thing (Laodicea) out of His mouth. The word is to us today; may our ears be open to hear it. These are the Philadelphian days, and the shadow of Laodicea is already casting. May this word awaken us, and lead us, in much dependence, to Him who is holy, and Him who is true, who hath the key of David. But again, see the order in the book of Revelation.
1. The Lord is presented as the Judge (Rev . 1) in the midst of the seven churches; and, as such, He now graciously approves of what the individual members do in His name, and will manifest them at His coming. He also marks what has a name to live, but is dead, and what admits Balaam, Jezebel, etc.
2. In Revelation 2 and 3 we see the history of Christendom—the outward testimony in this world, with the hims “that have ears to hear,” from the Apostolic (Ephesus) times to Laodicea, when it shall be wholly removed. In the midst, as I said before, the Lord is Judge.
3. In parenthesis, so to say, the church is seen up in glory praising in chapters 4 and 5, removed from the judgment which commences in Revelation 6, and continues to Revelation 19. These judgments occupy Daniel’s seventieth week—this is prophecy, and not our hope.
4. Then the Lord is seen reigning a thousand years (Rev. 20).
5. The judgment of the wicked dead, before the white throne, is brought into view; and
6. Lastly, the eternal state (Rev. 21:1-81And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:1‑8)).
Believers in the Lord Jesus, who will bow to the authority of His word—notwithstanding all that is taught to the contrary—will see that these terrible judgments are to be executed, after the rapture of His saints, by the LORD HIMSELF, of whom the Jews said, “His blood be on us, and on our children”; and these blessings to be introduced by Him whom men rejected, but whom the heavens received until—mark that adverb—until the times of the restitution of all things. For such restitution then He must leave the place He now occupies. And this is just what the Holy Ghost teaches. And would less than this be worthy of Him? Let such as love Him answer.
Let those that refuse to own these truths, and read the blessings in Isaiah, etc.—as “blessings to the CHURCH”—continue to covet their neighbor’s goods; which (goods) are all for an earthly people; while believers in Christ are “blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ” (Eph. 1:33Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3)). Believers in Christ, as children of Abraham, get the heavenly side of the promise—“stars of the heavens”; Israel (and with them the nations) get the earthly side—“sand of the seashore” (Heb. 11:1212Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. (Hebrews 11:12)).
Despite their foolish skepticisms, the Lord will accomplish His purposes, “as it is written.”
How persons will be so bold as to spiritualize such a chapter, for example, as Isaiah 18, I cannot say. There we read of a people—the Jews—scattered and peeled, whose lands are trodden down. This people is to be carried as a present to the Lord of Hosts to Mount Zion. (Mount Zion is as literal in Isaiah, as Moab, Assyria, Babylon, etc. If you spiritualize one, you must ALL, and where will you stop?) Swift vessels of bulrushes (literally steamers, such a word the translators had not in 1604) are to be sent to pick them up, and the Jews now found in all climates are to be found in Canaan; and over them is to reign, on the throne of David, “The Lord our Righteousness.” This is what the Holy Ghost declares, and faith need not pry into the how or the when. It adds its hearty “amen,” and leaves the manner and the time to Him to whom all power is given in heaven and on earth.
It was necessary; perhaps, that I should, in this introductory manner, help some to see the way in which the personal return of the Lord Jesus is connected
1. with His saints for whom He will descend into the air (1 Thess. 4);
3. with the nations generally, whom He shall rule with a rod of iron, and break in pieces as a potter’s vessel (Psa. 2);
This is the time of grace; now He beseeches, allures, and woos by the Spirit through the preached word; now He sympathizes with His loved and oppressed ones, walking with them in their furnaces of trouble and opposition for His name’s sake. Because this—the true place of the believer now in the world—is not seen, we talk about “sending troops and men-of-war to protect our missionaries.” Has the Lord changed the normal relationship of His saints to the world since He said, If they have persecuted ME, they will persecute you?
And has the heart of man changed since Paul and other disciples were hunted for their lives, because they preached Jesus? Not a bit of it. Worldly Christians will not understand this. The true followers of the “despised Nazarene” have His sympathy now.
“All that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:1212Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)). But, lo! “I am with you.” is comforting. Then it will be to exert, to put forth His power, and make all feel it. But please note, “at His appearing.”
Those that love Him must truly desire the exhibition of His glory, His power and strength in this scene where He was rejected—they will “love His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:88Henceforth 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 Timothy 4:8)). All said of Him in Isaiah 61:1-31The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1‑3)—every iota of it—every jot—must be made true in Himself, by Himself.
In a word, all that meets the need of the sinner and saint is brought out most blessedly. And then He closed the book and said to His hearers, “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Mark, beloved, “this Scripture.” But is that all said of Him in the portion from which He quoted? Look back, and see—“And the day of vengeance of our God: to comfort them that mourn in Zion,” etc.
In grace He permits a long space to intervene between this Scripture, so far as He quoted it, and that which remains to be fulfilled. But though heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or tittle of His word shall, till all be fulfilled.
Hence All This Awaits His Personal Return
Moreover, the earth itself is to be blessed by Him; groaning creation—the animals now subject to man’s vanity—are to be brought into the liberty which the glory introduces. As another has said, “The creature has not part in the liberty of grace; it will in that which glory gives” (Compare Rom. 8:19-24,19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (Romans 8:19‑24) and Isa. 41:1-91Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment. 2Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. 3He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet. 4Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he. 5The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came. 6They helped every one his neighbor; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. 7So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. 8But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. 9Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. (Isaiah 41:1‑9)). But Himself must do this. I am just reminded of a Christian gentleman who saw once, for the first time—after many years of fruitless attempts to spiritualize all the prophecies about Israel and the earth—that this Scripture was to be literally fulfilled when the Lord Himself reigned King over the earth. He said to me, “I hope that may happen in my time, for then it will be pleasant to live in this earth.”
He may not be the only one with such language. Some of you, my beloved hearers, may, like him, wish to be alive when God does this.
But, as saints, your portion is heavenly; you will have already been caught away to be with the Lord, and you shall be with Him—not upon the earth—when He comes with you to do these things.
If not saved, I am pained at the recollection of the judgments through which you shall have to pass in your bodies. This may happen in your time. There is no prophecy to be fulfilled before the Lord comes for His saints; and that coming may be NOW. Yes, before I finish this sentence the shout may be heard. His word is “quickly”—“a little while” (Rev. 22:20,20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20) Heb. 10:3737For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (Hebrews 10:37)). And soon after He comes to the air for His saints, He Himself will come with His saints; and the seven years of terrible judgments—the pouring out of the vials—will commence upon the nations, upon Israel, and upon the false, the spurious, empty, professing Christendom. O do not trifle, my dear hearers. The Lord Himself is a reality; His coming a divine fact soon to be accomplished. Your souls are immortal. Do not let this hour pass away, and another find you without the knowledge of Himself as “my Saviour, my Lord, my God, my all.”
But the coming, as the hope of the believer, is what I desire specially to bring before you that love Him, and to this I now address myself. Let us look to Him that the truth may not be a subject merely to add to, or improve our stock of Scripture knowledge; but that which shall practically connect us in everything we do, say , and plan, with the object with whom the truth deals. It is a truth of immense power when allowed to act. No lever so effective for raising us up out of “earthly things” as the knowledge that our commonwealth is in heaven, from which we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile bodies {body of humiliation} and make them like his own (Phil. 3:20-2120For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20‑21)).
No cure of care so mighty as the truth, “I come quickly.” In the midst of sorrow, with these words, we are to comfort one another.
It must be evident, from all I said before, that there are various aspects of the coming, but there is only one coming referred to. When the Lord comes, however, for His saints, He will halt so to say, in the air. From that halting place He will shout, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, and those of us that are alive at the time shall be changed, and they and we shall go up together and meet Him in the air to be ever with Him. This is evident from 1 Thessalonians 4:16-1716For 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: 17Then 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 Thessalonians 4:16‑17).
This I shall, for simplicity’s sake, denominate the first or rapture aspect, called (in Titus 2:1313Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13)) “that blessed hope.” This is for the saints. Of the other aspect, the appearing, with its numerous sub-divisions, I shall say no more just now, although it may come in occasionally. In Titus 2:13,13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13) it is referred to in the words, “appearing of the glory.” In Jude 14,14And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, (Jude 14) it is referred to when we read, “The Lord cometh with ten thousand of His saints (previously caught up) to execute judgment.”
I am not ignorant of the existence of many who would rob God’s people of this their proper HOPE. Hence they will twist and turn—at least they try to do so—all the Scriptures that teach it. But it is such an integral part of the whole plan of salvation that the detraction of it is just like the removal of one of the stones of an arch. So interwoven is it with the wondrous fabric wrought by Christ, that the shape, color, and beauty of the whole design are lost, and the adorable Architect robbed of much praise—the enemy rejoicing that God’s people are left to “mind earthly things,” having nothing to look for but that which is common to men, death, should it be given up.
I shall endeavor, therefore, to be as simple as I can be, that the most illiterate may understand me.
Turn with me to John 14. Let us notice
(1) that it is a person speaking. “I go,” says the Lord to the disciples, “to prepare a place for you” (John 14:22In 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. (John 14:2)). Can there be any so ignorant, or so presumptuous as to assert that any, beside the Lord in person, was addressing the disciples? Surely not. Then this very person goes on to say,
(2) “and if I go and prepare a place for you, I (not death) will come again (when He does not say) and receive you unto myself; that where I am, ye may be also.” The practical truth, from this, the first announcement of the Lord’s return after leaving this earth, is, or ought to be of the most profound moment to us that love Him. It reminds us of that love of Him which does not get its full satisfaction till every blood-bought one is sharing the place He has with the Father “in the Father’s house.” A place in the mansions {abodes} is prepared for me, faith says, and no one shall have that place but me; for my Lord says so. But the place is with the FATHER. Quite new was this to Jews that never looked above Canaan. But so it is. Cast out by Israel, as the Lord is, grace triumphs, as it always does. And, in so doing, it brings out a people for mansions {abodes} with the FATHER—brings out a heavenly people. Oh, what heart can enter into the amazing love that links up believers thus with the Man at God’s right hand, and with His Father!
I need hardly remind you that this is fruit of His death and resurrection. Incarnation has its place; for it was necessary that as a man He should live in this scene, and declare in it what a man should be for God; while at the same time He manifested God before and unto men, defeating Satan withal. But He Himself declared that He must stand alone if He died not (see John 12:23-2423And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:23‑24)). The corn of wheat must go into the ground and die, that fruit (the ear) might be borne. Only as result of His death, and of course the inestimable worth God puts upon it, could He say, “Go and tell my BRETHREN, I ascend to My Father, and to your Father; My God, and your God” (Compare John 20:1717Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17) with Psalm 22:21-2221Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. 22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. (Psalm 22:21‑22)).
You will, from these remarks, see the blessed connection of these latter chapters in John. In John 12, the Lord announces His death, and shows how as a result believers should be united to the risen Man. In John 13, He keeps us clean; so that He might always see us without a spot. The word (water) applied by the Spirit should keep the feet clean of those that are bathed. In John 14, the saved ones, for whom the word is given and by which they are kept clean, are to wait for Himself. But while He tarries they are to be His witnesses in a world that cast Him out. They should be the branches of the vine (John 15) to hear fruit for His praise, such as would be of sweet savor to Himself, success for which depending on abiding in Him. The Holy Ghost should be the person here, whose very presence should be a reproof to the world for rejecting Jesus (John 14 and 16), and the power by which we should be true witnesses to the Lord. And lastly, the desire for the manifest oneness of those who are saved is expressed in John 17.
Now, when the Lord told the disciples not to be with troubled hearts, what did He mean? When persons are in sorrow, because of troubles of various kinds coming upon them, how apt are they to take the truth here, “Let not your heart be troubled,” as that applicable to their case. Well, beloved, I would be the last to tell them not to get consolation from it. The Holy Ghost can use—for He is God—any portion of the Word for the child of faith. To the intelligent soul, however, there is a special word for every special need; but who can question that just a few portions, known to the simple ones, may be specifics for all their ailments? Souls in affliction or sorrow, therefore, may use this scripture as a cordial for their case, although such special truths as 1 Peter 5:77Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7) are not wanting.
Here, however, the Lord saw some who wept because their Lord was leaving them. They loved Him. Surely, beloved brethren, you and I shall be covered with shame at the contrast between the love of those poor disciples and our own. The Holy Ghost, as fruit of the glorification of Jesus, had not yet been given (John 7:3939(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39)), and hence the fullness of blessing into which you and I are now brought was not yet entered into by them. Indeed, as I said before, it could not be till the grain of wheat died and rose again {John 12:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)}. Yet see the affection for the person manifested by those dear disciples.
There is a great tendency among us to be engaged with our blessing, while Him who blessed us we forget. But, as I said on a previous occasion, ours is such a perfect emancipation, complete deliverance from sin, Satan, and SELF, that we are left quite free to enter into God’s thoughts about the person of Jesus—to be, in fact, taken up absolutely with Himself. Bring hither the fatted calf, and let us eat. “Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ: whom having not seen we love.”
A most touching example of attachment to the person is seen in Mary (John 20). “The disciples went away again to their own home” after the Lord was put into the sepulcher. Is loud boasting Peter among those that could find a home, while the Lord, whom men rejected, lay in the sepulcher? And is loving John, too, at home in the scene without the Lord? Let your cheeks be covered with blushes as you learn that “Mary (only) stood without (outside a home) at the sepulcher weeping.” She is attached to the person. I would fain rebuke her ignorance (shown in her question); but I must first question my love. Are there any of us that can desire to be somebodies in this poor, Christ-rejecting world? Do we want a place here without Him? Then to us the portion (in John 14) has no application. But to such as long to see their once-rejected Lord taking His true place, asserting His supremacy, and rejoicing in having His Bride with Him—to such as for His name’s sake are hated and cast out as the Master was—He says, “Let not your hearts {heart} be troubled.” My resurrection is the ground of your faith (1 Cor. 15:1717And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17)), as it also is to be of your hope (v. 19), and of your hope you shall never be ashamed (Rom. 5:55And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5)). He who by the Spirit leads us now to cry, Abba (Rom. 8:15-1615For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:15‑16)), assures us that He Himself will “quickly” come, and take every blood-bought one and introduce them, in bodies like His own, to His Father and our Father.
(3) Again, in this portion the Lord challenges our confidence in His truth: “Ye believe in God” {John 14:11Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (John 14:1)}. You have not seen Him, and yet you cannot doubt Him. Even so, “Believe also in Me.” Soon I shall to you be invisible, as God is now. Nevertheless, take My word, as you do not doubt His, that I will come and take you unto Myself, that where I am ye may be also. This is our present hope. Why will you be robbed of it?
(4) Again observe that the Lord does not put the thinnest partition between His coming and our faith. Tell me one passage in Scripture to hinder me expecting Him now. You will search in vain for one. Many there are who cannot doubt that the Lord is to come at some time, but they are expecting “the fulfillment of certain prophecies first,” or, “the conversion of the world”; others expecting the millennium, or some other such thing first. If any of these were to be before our hope was realized, would the Lord have overlooked the present opportunity to put in such ideas? Surely not. Now, He is indeed wiser than all the learned of this earth put together, and faith prefers what He says to men’s theories, be the men ever so learned. Prophecies will be fulfilled, as I said before, in God’s time and nothing shall hinder them; and there shall be a millennium for this earth {Rev. 20:4,4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4) etc.}. But the efforts of men to bring about that which awaits the person of Christ will be as futile as are all the plans of Satan to rob the Lord Jesus of His glory. Meanwhile such believers, however, are losing the joy, and will miss the reward of those “that love His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:88Henceforth 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 Timothy 4:8)). I repeat, therefore, that our proper hope is the Lord’s coming for us. Let each of us ask ourselves, “Am I longing to see, in His glory, Him whom men—unrighteous men—rejected? Am I concerned about His absence, or am I so linked up with things in this scene, ay, even my service, that I should prefer Him to delay His coming to some indefinite period?” This is a solemn poser, beloved. But let us not shrink back from the closest scrutiny. Do I want the Lord and His glory, or am I preferring this world, with its short-lived pleasures and its evanescent joys? Do I know I am for heavenly mansions {abodes} and not for earth? The world prefers Him not—it would rather not have Him. What sayest thou, O my soul?
Respecting the Lord Himself, I may add, and surely this ought mostly to occupy us, He is waiting to display before this world, before heaven, and before everything, what He is as the exalted Son of Man. Fruit of the work on the cross, all power is given unto Him in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:1818And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18)); and all things ARE PUT in subjection to Him (Psalm 8; Colossians 1:18-2018And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:18‑20)). But we see not yet all things SUBJECT to Him (Heb. 2:88Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. (Hebrews 2:8)). Subjection is their normal condition according to God; for every knee shall bow to, and tongue confess the Lordship of Jesus (Phil. 2:10-11,10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10‑11) with Isaiah 45:2323I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. (Isaiah 45:23)). But we do not see it yet, says the Apostle. Then is it never to be? Let those that would keep out the Lord Himself answer it. In grace He tarries, for He is long-suffering; not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)). O who can estimate the patience of Him whose desire is to have His Bride with Him in glory? Who has any idea of the long-suffering that can bear with a world whose judgment lingers till He comes? In the full knowledge of His infallible might He waits in grace. He “bides His time,” as we say; for He knows what awaits His rejecters. So the Holy Ghost exhorts us to wait with Him (see 2 Thess. 3:55And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:5); read the margin, “patience of Christ”). But if any are tired of waiting, and thus exhibiting their unwillingness to have kindred thoughts with their Lord, they are not here rebuked by this loving One. No; He cheers and comforts their hearts by renewing the old promise, which He does not forget, and which quickly He will fulfill, “Let not your heart be troubled.” O thrice happy are those to whom these words are applicable! Yea, blessed are those hearts which, in the unclouded communion which is theirs to enjoy with the Father and the Son, can even now have mansions within them for the abode of the Father and Son by the Spirit; till in soul and body they enter the mansion prepared for them above. And, indeed, beloved, such is unquestionably the portion today of those that love Him and keep His words. “If a man love Me he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him and make Our abode with him”—or make a mansion of him (John 14:2323Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23)). What words could be more salutary? In glory we cannot desire more than the communion of the Father and the Son. Of course, in glorified bodies we shall fully understand them and enjoy them. But, may I ask, what is it that is to occupy us at that time? The overpowering sight (I speak after the manner of men) of the millions of glorified saints? Will it be the gates of brass and streets of gold? Will it be the holy angels, the ministers of His that do His pleasure? Will it be the crown worn by the Lamb who was slain? No, beloved, it will be Himself none less than Himself. Can any need more?
Not on the crown He weareth, but on His pierced hand:
The Lamb is all the glory in Emmanuel’s land.
The person who shall engage us then, is the one that should be uppermost in our affections now. Is it so, beloved friends? Is His glory so concerning us as to lead us to desire His entering upon it? Into it all, I need hardly remind you, we shall be brought; for He graciously makes us His joint-heirs (Rom. 7:1717Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (Romans 7:17)). That is, He will not assume that glory without us. Oh, how does the soul bend under such inimitable love! To Him now be praise, and forever. Amen.
A view of the person of {the Lord} Jesus, in His glory, is given us in Matthew 17:1-91And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 9And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. (Matthew 17:1‑9). Let us glance at it for a minute or two. Note, that in the previous chapter the Lord was speaking of His rejection. He was to go to Jerusalem to suffer and to die for the church which He would build on the rock (Himself), owned and confessed by Peter. Well, this is very precious; for it reminds me that He who can touch the Rock of Ages can shake the steadfastness of the soul that is perched thereon. But who can? Surely not the gates of Hades; nor all the powers of hell marshaled under Satan, their much experienced chief. I say no one can, in the least, damage your security, when for once, by faith, you entrust your all to Him who gave His all for you.
Thus seated, O, my dove, let thy chirps be the sweetest; thy songs the loudest; thy notes the earliest; thy tunes the latest; thy praises the most constant that heaven e’er could hear. It pleases Him who placed thee there to hear His blessed name sung. Indeed, for what did He nestle thee but to hear thy voice mingling with the millions that sing
There I end with what I get as the fruit of His sufferings.
But is the Blessed One not to have His full reward for glorifying God in this earth? Refuse to own His coming, beloved, and you deny Him that which you are persuaded He merits. Now, in this chapter we get a picture of the Son of Man in His glory. Moses is there representing the raised “dead in Christ” out from among the general dead. The living saints who, at His coming in the clouds, shall be changed in a moment without tasting death, are figured by Elijah; while Israel, and others with them, to be blessed on the earth, are represented in Peter, James, and John. But note, dear brethren, that the faces of all that occupy these concentric circles are turned towards the exalted center. He only will attract. How soon? Quickly. All in the glory there shall shine, but with the light of the glorious sun; but for whom darkness—yea, the very blackness or eternal despair—would be the lot of all. The bride, His body, shall lead the praises, in which all the glorified shall join. Angels shall not withhold their song. Israel, on earth, shall magnify their King, and nations all shall own His sway; the earth, His inheritance, too, shall rejoice and be glad. Not one opposer shall be found in all His vast domain. But for all this He waits in patience, and much is His heart gladdened as you and I are, even in this scene, praising and adoring Him, in a measure, as then most fully, and perfectly, we shall. But more than this; He looks to see those that love His appearing. Owning these truths, beloved, can our hearts not say to Him
“EVEN SO; COME, LORD JESUS”?
I shall now glance at other Scriptures that refer to this truth, either as the hope of the believer, or as the subject of prophecy.
After the Lord’s resurrection, the truth of His personal return is again presented to the disciples, as we find in Acts 1.
The restoration of the kingdom still occupied the hearts of the disciples. Hence their question (Acts 1:66When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6)). Well, we would be astonished at their ignorance if we did not remember that in many things we do not exhibit more intelligence, although the Holy Ghost (v. 8), whom they had not yet, is now freely given to us (1 John 2:2020But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (1 John 2:20)). Had not the Lord spoken of His going away to the Father, and of His coming again from thence to take them up to the Father? (John 14) Yet we see where their thoughts are. The “earthly things.” instead of Christ and the heavenly—Christ and His thoughts—are apt to occupy us too. And nothing delivers us from them but an entire engagement of the soul with CHRIST and HIS thoughts. To be somebodies in this scene; to be “great men” and “honorable” where the Lord was and is rejected, will be the insatiable longing of everyone, till “My will” and “My thoughts” are wholly swallowed up in “His will” and “His word.” He and His must be first; I and mine nowhere. This is the secret of happiness and of successful testimony for Him. Only thus may we expect a “well done” at His coming. The Lord intimates without scolding—oh, what a patient teacher!—that the Holy Ghost would give them power to be martyrs—“witnesses”—for the rejected One in the very sphere where they preferred to rule with Him.
LET THE TRUTH BE DISTINCTLY LEARNT THAT THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD ARE NOW APPREHENDED BY THE HOLY GHOST, AND ENDUED WITH HIS POWER TO BE SUFFERERS IN, AND NOT THE RULERS OF, THE WORLD THAT CAST OUT THE TRUE KING. The reigning time with Him—not without Him—is future. Saints are to judge the world in the future (1 Cor. 6:1-81Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 6But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. (1 Corinthians 6:1‑8)). Hence now they are to suffer wrong, but not to go to law. But while we are here for Him, He has His hands up in blessing, and is Himself before God for us—succoring us in our troubles. And this was the last look which the disciples had of Him (cp. Luke 24:50-5350And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. (Luke 24:50‑53)). Our highest privilege is to suffer here in the path of faithful witnessing to Himself. Those of us that prefer confederacy with His enemies, and for ease are in league with His foes, those, I say, that know not practically what it is to “go forth to Him without the camp bearing His reproach” (Heb. 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13)), must lose the blessing of those uplifted hands. But need the Daniels shrink back from the lions that oppose their path of devotion? Shall the Shadrachs, Meshachs, and Abednegos be tempted for once to shun the furnace with the Son of God for the approbation of a world without Christ? These are trying questions. Let them cast us upon Him whose love, like His patience, tires not.
But are the days of trouble never to end? Is my Lord always to be rejected? Let the word in Acts 1:1111Which 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 1:11) answer: “THIS SAME JESUS ... SHALL SO COME.” He who went to the Father then, despite the ignorance of the disciples in A.D. 33, shall so come (the year He gives not, but “quickly” is the word), the unbelief and selfishness of Christians of the 19th century notwithstanding. And blessed are they that wait for Him.
I must not dwell on every phase of this blessed truth as presented in the different epistles; but for the sake of any one that has lost sight of such a gem, covered up as it has been for 1700 years by not a few strata of men’s rubbish, I must just point to the many spots over which it is scattered in rich profusion and for various purposes.
And lest the hope should be dimmed—lest saints should settle down in this scene—they must go through the school of tribulation, which will work for them patience; and this endurance—will being broken—gives experience concerning Him whose grace is perfected in our weakness. Need I say that this school is practically unknown to those of us who are “Hail fellow, well met” with a world—pagan or religious—that hates HIM “who was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification.” W ell, such a path leads onwards to Him who trod it—to Him who now succors the travelers on it, and those on it are in fellowship with the despised One, who is coming for them. Cheer up, you that are scoffed for the name of Jesus. Don’t forget that it was the most religious, the loudest professors, the most sanctimonious, who, once enemies, became friends, and formed a conspiracy for killing the Prince of Life, whom God raised from the dead. And think you that a distinct and clear, unmixed standing forth for HIM will not evoke today for the poor and feeble confessors of the despised Nazarene the same hate from the same world! O, but what an exchange when He comes—a crown for a cross!
In Romans 8:18-25,18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:18‑25) groaning creation is to partake of the liberty which glory shall introduce.
(1 Cor. 15). The resurrection from among the dead of the bodies of those that are Christ’s at His coming is here treated. This truth the gathering at Corinth had lost through the philosophy of some of their teachers, and the result was the evil ways which this epistle was sent to correct. Note that all are not to sleep (to die). People say all must die; the Holy Ghost says not (1 Cor. 15:5151Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (1 Corinthians 15:51)). We shall not all sleep, but be changed in a moment at the last trump. This is consistent with 1 Thessalonians 4, “We that are alive and remain.” Even Paul puts himself among those in whose day such an event might have occurred. So does the Holy Ghost present the truth of Christ’s coming now, that not the faintest shadow should intervene between our hope and its fulfilment. Yes, and if we sleep ere its accomplishment—I say, suppose that we do die—shall death cause us to relinquish our hope? I ask, shall anything hinder the Lord from having His redeemed with Him in the glory, and from occupying His rightful place in connection with Israel, the nations, and the earth, as I before showed? Certainly not. Then, should I be called away through death, I shall only have had my “waiting-room” exchanged. “Present with the Lord” though “absent from the body.” I shall wait with Him for His glory, of which I am co-heir—a joint-heir (Rom. 8:1717And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)). He will not assume His without us. Paul, and others who were waiting 1800 years ago, are in the upper waiting-room, waiters still. But though He tarry, the truth remains, and shall soon be verified—“The dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we who are alive shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:5252In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52)). The thought about a “general resurrection” is not found in this chapter. Indeed, persons may go begging to every verse in the Bible, but will not succeed in obtaining one contribution to such a dogma of clever men. I may here remark that the expression “Resurrection of the dead” should in every case be “Resurrection out of, or from among, the dead.” At His coming they that are Christ’s “shall be raised,” but the rest of the dead shall not be for 1000 years after.
(2 Cor. 4:1414Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. (2 Corinthians 4:14)). Here the hope so occupies the Apostle, as in 2 Corinthians 1:9,9But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: (2 Corinthians 1:9) that though persecutions should end in death, he fears not. He looks forward to resurrection by Jesus, and to being with the Corinthian saints when all are presented by the Lord, as God, to Himself (cp. Gen. 2:22,22And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. (Genesis 2:22) and Eph. 5:37) as Son of Man. Was it not for this hope, today, beloved, many who are evil spoken of for the sake of Christ, and are treated as the off-scouring of all things, would be of all men the most miserable (1 Cor. 15:1919If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (1 Corinthians 15:19)). Here, then, the hope cheers the martyrs (witnesses) for the rejected Jesus. They will take care of His honor here, assured that five minutes in the glory into which He will soon introduce them will more than repay “the sufferings of the little while.” But to be in bodies of glory like unto His FOREVER, yes, forever, who with this prospect would shun the troubles for Him in the brief fleeting space of eighty years or so? To walk in the path He trod before us, to have Him in the path with us, who will have us to share His everlasting glories by and by. Is this enough, beloved? It is more than enough. Then let us bid farewell to sloth; let us seek devotees elsewhere; let the worldly have the world; but may the interests of Christ be our concern, as ours have been and are His still. To suffer, and even to die for Him, is truly nothing when contrasted with the glory that awaits us at His coming.
In the epistle to the Galatians nothing is written concerning this blessed truth. And why? Because the converts in Galatia had been removed through Judaizing teachers from Him who had placed them in grace to a sort of law-gospel, which the Holy Ghost designates “another gospel.” Law and grace are quite opposed; they never go together. The Law was given by Moses; but coming to Jesus Christ we get grace and truth (John 1:1717For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)). Persons who put themselves under it would have no taste for the truth of the personal return of {the Lord} Jesus; and, indeed, it is so now. Look for the standing of such as refuse this “blessed hope,” and you will find them at the base of Sinai, doing their best to keep the law, and just failing every moment. Of course the judgments for its breach they do not like. But can such be at peace? Certainly not. Hence the Holy Ghost cannot engage them with the PERSON coming; they must first learn the value of the WORK He accomplished. “If righteousness come by law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Gal. 2:2121I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21)). This is plain enough for faith. Reasoning won’t get it. If any of you, dear hearers, are in this position, you must wait for another Christ to die to bring you out of it, or you must look for the judgments awaiting transgressors. But, beloved, I am persuaded better things of you though I thus speak. If you know Him, who is full of grace, you may rejoice in hope of glory.
The Ephesians, on the other hand, needed not to be told this truth respecting the “coming,” for they are viewed as seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:5-65Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:5‑6)). So instructed they must have been in that to which all saints in their time looked forward, that the Holy Ghost can occupy them with what their normal state before God is.
The hope, however, must have been very consoling to Paul while he was confined in the prison at Rome, whence he penned the Epistle to the Philippians. Nero, the emperor, might at any moment have given commandment concerning his death. Truly Paul was dying daily. How can you account for such exhortations, then, as “Rejoice in the Lord,” and “Rejoice in the Lord always”? What was it that placed Paul above his difficulties; that raised him superior to his afflictions? Just that, beloved, which should raise us, if we are not scared out of it by philosophy and vain deceit and tradition of men—namely, the truth about the coming. Those “who mind earthly things,” might well be miserable when their best plans are thwarted, and crosses lie in their way. But the language of such as know their union with a risen Christ, and look forward to being with Him is, “Our conversation—commonwealth or citizenship—is in heaven; whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our bodies of humiliation, and transform them to His body of glory, by the power through which He will also subdue all things unto Himself” (Eph. 3).
The Colossians have a hope laid up for them in heaven (Col. 1:55For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; (Colossians 1:5)). Of it they had been before instructed in the gospel preached to them. Being risen with Christ, they were to seek HEAVENLY things, and not be as earthly men. In their measure they were to be practically identified while on earth with a risen Christ in heaven, for when He comes again in glory they shall co-appear with Him (Col. 3:1-41If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1‑4)).
The catching up or rapture is not brought out directly here; but the appearing in bodies of glory with Christ, our life, is. For He comes with, who has already come for, His saints. And that for which they were waiting was so to occupy them that their hearts should be where the treasure was. Christ is hid from the eyes of men. He is linked up with nothing of this vain world. So our life with Him is hid. This is not the time to seek to display ourselves. Soon He who is our life shall appear, and that will be the season for our manifestation too. What a truth, beloved! How weaning! Refuse to accept it and we will become as worldly as the most ungodly. The ball, the theater, the concert, or wealth on the one hand; or a worldly religion with all that pleases fancy, imagination, or human will, or that suits the progress of the day on the other, will command its admirers from the ranks of believers. And such are they in this day whom Satan would keep in ignorance of this blessed theme, which, like the magnet, points always to the person of Christ, and consequently detracts from everything beside.
But it is in the first epistle to the Thessalonians that the Holy Ghost develops the truth respecting the COMING, and shows the difference between Christ’s coming for His saints and His appearing for judgment to the world.
It is worthy of remark that this subject was placed before the young converts of Thessalonica as part of the glad tidings which Paul preached. So you see, it is truth for the youngest. It is said of them (1 Thess. 1:9-109For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9‑10)) that “they turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son (not death) from heaven.”
I find then that these late idol worshippers to whom Paul preached eighteen hundred years ago were far in advance of some of the “divines” of the nineteenth century. Take it as a fact that now as ever these things are hidden from the wise and prudent—from the learned and self-willed—and revealed to babes; made known to those who, owning their ignorance, receive in all simplicity what God declares.
To enter deeply into that which every chapter in both of these Epistles deals with, would be the work of many evenings. Indeed, they are so plain that to argue on them would be to darken counsel by a multitude of words. See the plainness of speech as we run over a few passages. In 1 Thessalonians 2:12,12That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:12) the saints are to walk worthy of the God who had called them to His kingdom and glory; v. 19, Paul hopes to see them “in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming,” though Satan may hinder his visiting them in the body; and in that he “boasts.” The desire of the Apostle’s heart for them is that practical holiness may constantly characterize them—“unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints” (1 Thess. 3:1313To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:13)).
In 1 Thessalonians 4, the question is answered, “How shall all the saints—seeing that some die—be ever with the Lord.” Naturally enough the Thessalonians, who had been converted to wait for the Son “from heaven,” were sorrowing for such saints as had fallen asleep; presuming that they would miss the Lord at His coming, for which they were waiting. And was it not for their ignorance, we would not be told how it is to be brought about, as in this special revelation. But so it is. God uses every occasion of short-coming, whether of practice, as at Corinth, or ignorance of doctrine, as among the Galatians and here, to unfold more of His mind to us.
A great fact is stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:1414For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:14). “If we believe that Jesus died and rose again; even so God will, with Him, bring those that fall asleep in Him” (cp. 1 Cor. 15). And here faith reposes in God. He raised from the dead Him who gave His life for us; and He will also raise up those who are forever linked up with Jesus. They shall have bodies of glory like His own (cp. Phil. 3). And not only shall the living ones not hinder (prevent) the departed; but as regards the order, “the dead in CHRIST shall rise first.” “The LORD HIMSELF shall descend from heaven with a shout,” etc. Note here,
1. THAT DEATH IS NOT THE COMING OF THE LORD. When Stephen was dying, he looked up and saw Jesus at the right hand of God in heaven (Acts 7). But for the saints—not for their spirits as at death, but themselves, bodies and spirits united—the LORD HIMSELF is to come from heaven. Since His ascension He has been as the exalted Man, seated at God’s right hand. There He lives to intercede for us, as we pass through this scene of failure. When He rises from the throne, it will be to descend to the air for us.
2. From that halting place will go forth “the shout.” This expression—“shout”—is a military one, used for the sound that summons not a few but ALL the troops. Understood only by the drilled ones, it suggests that none will hear the gathering call but the saints. The world will soon find that we are gone, and, as did the sons of the prophets in the days of Elijah, go searching for us; but alas for them! Blessed for us!
3. Only the “dead in Christ” are to rise when He comes for the saints. We wait, you see, for a “general resurrection”; but saints “in the body” and “out of the body” wait for their LORD; who, having first subdued all things to Himself—His Saints being with Him in the regeneration {that is, the millennium}—then the wicked dead are called forth to be judged at the white throne (Rev. 20).
To return. The dead in Christ rise first; then we who are alive, and remain till that event, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet, in the halting-place, the LORD in the air.
Note here particularly the expression, “We who are alive,” and tell me can any of us be sure of a grave? Is death the subject here set before us? Indeed I may challenge any—Where is death ever put as that for which the saint is to wait? In Matthew 25 the virgins wait for the Bridegroom. Here let me remark, first, that after Pentecost all converts looked for the Lord from heaven. “Went forth to meet the Bridegroom.” For more than 1600 years the truth was lost sight of—“all (wise and foolish) slumbered and slept.” And do all of you know that for more than 1000 years the truth of “justification by faith” was given up, till Luther, in 1517, preached it? Well, it is not more than forty years since the truth of the coming of the Lord (with other precious church truths, as the oneness of the body, etc.) was revived by a living servant of God {that is, J. N. Darby}. Notice, second, that soon after the midnight cry went forth the Bridegroom did come. And so the fact of the revival of this truth reminds us that now the coming of our Lord is nigh (cp. Rom. 13:11-1211And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:11‑12)). As a fact we are in the night. How can it be otherwise while He who is the light is absent from the earth? But we expect a bright morning. Indeed, faith looks up and sees the twilight of the coming sun. O may the Holy Ghost cause the hope of seeing soon the Lord Himself to be very bright before us all. What a meeting will that be when parent and child, brother and sister, preacher and convert, all in Christ, shall see Him in glorified bodies, and be with Him forever!
O how it cheers the heart to know, when parting from the friends we love,
’Tis yet a little while below, and then we meet in clouds above,
E’en as we weep and think them gone, before the tear drop from the eye,
Before the heart has time to mourn, the loving breast to heave a sigh,
The Lord Himself may yet descend, and all our grief at once be o’er,
When mother, brother, sister, friend, shall meet again to part no more.
This moment we may feel bereaved, the next together with them rise;
This moment by their absence grieved, and then behold them with our eyes.
O Christian, weep as though the tear might never from thine eyelid fall;
Each moment watch intent to hear the welcome “shout,” the gathering call.
To know the Lord Himself shall come, what cheering hope does this afford;
And “we in Him,” “with them,” “all one,” SO shall be ever with the Lord.
The Thessalonians had been instructed in the truth, moreover, respecting “the day of the Lord.” (Read carefully Isa. 2:12-1312For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: 13And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, (Isaiah 2:12‑13); Joel 2:31; 3:10-1631The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. (Joel 2:31)
10Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. 11Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord. 12Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. 14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 15The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:10‑16); Rev. 6, 19.) At the time the second Epistle was written they were greatly persecuted, and false teachers led them to suppose that that “day” was come. (The expression in 2 Thessalonians 2:2,2That ye be not soon 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 Thessalonians 2:2) “at hand,” should be “was come,” or “was present.” See the Greek.)
The day of the Lord will surely be a time of terrible trouble (cp. Matt. 24). But the Holy Ghost here unfolds two other wonderful facts, namely, that before that day—
1. The Holy Ghost, with the church, shall have been removed, according to the 1St Epistle; and
2. Antichrist, the Willful, or Lawless One, should be known, whom Christ should destroy, not at the shout for His saints, but at the manifestation of His glory to this world—“the brightness of His coming.”
The mystery of lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:77For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:7)) works now, but the personification of it, in the one who, exalting himself above God, will claim and get worship from such as refusing the truth shall be given over to believe a lie—this I say cannot be as long as the church, with the Holy Ghost in it, is on the earth. The presence of the Holy Ghost hinders his development. We are now dealing with most startling yet comforting revelations of God in this Scripture. Startling to know that the time will come when rejecters of the gospel, given over to a strong delusion (2 Thess. 2:10-1210And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:10‑12)), will be found at the feet of Antichrist! Comforting to be told that the catching-up will precede this (cp. 1 John; Rev. 3:1010Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)).
Lastly, the prayer of the Apostle is, that their hearts may be directed into the love of God (2 Thess. 3:55And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:5)), which surely would keep them from the thought of their having to be in the judgments on the world—and “into the patience of Christ.” Rest from suffering for His sake, and glory with Him are ours. He will then display us; but trouble our troublers (2 Thess. 1). But none more desires His Bride to be with Him than the Lord Himself. Yet, patiently He waits in grace to this poor world. We are to wait with Him.
See how the truth is referred to in 1 Timothy 1:1111According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. (1 Timothy 1:11); “gospel of the glory,” 4:14; 2 Timothy 2:10; 4:1-8,10Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (2 Timothy 2:10)
1I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth 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 Timothy 4:1‑8) “Love His appearing,” etc., etc.
So in the Epistle to Titus (2:11-14), the grace of God that brings salvation to all men hath appeared, and teaches us how to behave ourselves now among men. But that is not all. It puts before us (1), “the blessed hope,” and (2), the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
I have only to remind you, that in this pithy sentence you get both aspects of the theme I have been endeavouring to develop, namely (1), the coming of the Lord (to the air) for His saints; and (2), the appearing or Epiphany of the Lord in glory to this earth with His saints.
In the Epistle to the Hebrews, Paul writes to converts to Christianity who had once settled down in a religion—Judaism—which God had sanctioned; but which, upon the rejection of the Messiah, was laid aside, and a “heavenly calling” (Heb. 3:11Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (Hebrews 3:1)) revealed in its stead by the very God who had previously spoken by the prophets (Heb. 1).
Hence they are told to pass through this scene now as pilgrims, looking forward to a better country, a heavenly (Heb. 11). Quite startling this would be to Jews who had been hoping to settle down in Palestine. Well, as a nation, so they will, for God’s word remains ever sure. But Christianity, distinct from Judaism, teaches that now the Lord is gathering out from Jews and Gentiles “a people for his name.” Note this. (See Acts 15:1414Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (Acts 15:14); Eph. 2:11-1611Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (Ephesians 2:11‑16).) Afterwards He will return, and build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down. The Holy Ghost speaks of the Jews, the Gentiles, and the church of God (1 Cor. 10:3232Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: (1 Corinthians 10:32)).
Here let me remark, beloved, that till you distinguish between Israel as a (literally) earthly nation, once great, now scattered, to be again gathered, and the church of God, composed of believers from both Jew and Gentile, and elected for heavenly glory, you can never clearly enter into and enjoy the truth about the coming. So these saints from among the Hebrews were to wait now, not for a kingdom of Canaan, but for Christ Himself. Hence we are told (Heb. 9:2828So 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. (Hebrews 9:28)) “that to them that look for CHRIST [when these words were written all saints were taught to “look for Him”; hence it is the normal aspect in which all are viewed. It is not here to be inferred that such as deny the truth of the Coming will be left behind] He shall appear, having nothing to do with sin—for salvation.” That is, He will bring in that which is included in the idea of salvation, namely—“the redemption of our BODIES” (cp. Rom. 8:23-2523And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:23‑25); Phil. 3:2121Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21)). Lastly, notice how this “blessed hope” is placed before the soul as that which should encourage it in the midst of reproaches and affliction for confessing the name of Jesus (Heb. 10:35-3835Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (Hebrews 10:35‑38)). “Cast not away, therefore, your confidence, which has great recompense. For you have need of endurance, in order that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise. “FOR YET A LITTLE WHILE, AND HE THAT SHALL COME WILL COME, and will not tarry. But the just shall live by faith.” Yes, this truth, like every other, is one for faith. The simplicity of the child of God receives it without argument or a question, for “thus saith the Holy Ghost,” is, or ought to be, enough. It is for a child.
James, addressing believers among the tribes of Israel, brings in the coming to rebuke the rich, who were laying up their stores as if they belonged to this world, and to encourage the poor who were oppressed by them. “Be ye also patient, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:77Be 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. (James 5:7)).
The Apostle Peter has this blessed truth running like a vein of metal all through his Epistles. (See 1 Peter 1:3-8, 133Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:3‑8)
13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Peter 1:13); v. 10, etc.) I wish, however, just to call your attention to two points of immense importance in the present day. 1. That the hope of the believer of which I have been treating is not prophecy. Prophecy does point to the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, but as that to be on earth. The truth revealed to us in the New Testament confirms all that the prophets wrote respecting it, but is to be distinguished from prophecy, in that this deals with what prophecy does not touch. (See 2 Peter 1:16-2116For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19We 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: 20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:16‑21).) The prophets do teach the sufferings of Christ (Isa. 53); the glories of His Kingdom are developed in the law, prophets, and the Psalms (Gen. 49; Num. 24; Isaiah to Malachi; and all the Psalms, specially 2, 8, 9, 19, 45, 48, 68, 72, 76, 93, 100); but the coming for the saints, like the truth about the church, was reserved for the apostles—Paul especially—and prophets of the New Testament after the gift of the Holy Ghost upon the glorification of Jesus. It is of the last moment to see this difference. Hence the Apostle says that people should give heed to prophecy as those who would be guided by a lamp in a dark place, until—when? The day dawn {and [the] morning star} arise in our hearts. But, he says, “WE HAVE the {prophetic} word made more sure.” We have what the prophets pointed to, and much more beside. The word “I come quickly,” we have heard. The midnight cry we have heeded, and the watchers for the person are anticipating His coming, just as night watchers who see the morning star expect the brilliant sun.
Now, you may weigh this suggestion and avoid the confounding of the hope of the believer today, with the word of prophecy for the Jew. With all that concerns Christ you and I are deeply concerned, inasmuch as He associates us with Himself; but we are rightly to divide, or portion out the word of truth. Let two examples suffice to illustrate my thought—
(a) God speaks by Ezekiel (37:19-28) that the divided tribes now scattered are to be united, and are to dwell in the land of Canaan. This is the truth, brought out also in the “Vision of the dry bones,” as in all the prophets, in Romans 11, etc. But what is our position who now believe in Jesus? Our treasure is in heaven, from which we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3; Col. 3). Meanwhile we are to be hated by the world, and treated as the offscouring of all things. To be great in the world, and rulers over it now, is not our lot. It is now the portion of the Gentiles, “till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” But as the members of Christ we lose nationality, and are neither Jews nor Gentiles (Col. 3:1111Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11)). Of course our Father knows our need, and will feed us as He does the ravens, and clothe us as He does the lilies. Which do you prefer, beloved? Rejection now with Jesus and hope of glory soon, or a great place in the world without Him? A thick border line, an unmistakable landmark separates the two portions. You must absolutely have the one or the other.
(b) Another striking illustration between the hope of the believer now and the word of prophecy, is seen in the fact that the “morning star” or “day star” {2 Peter 1:1919We 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 1:19)} of the New Testament is Christ Himself as the person we wait for. To our affections He now shines forth. The watchers in the night see Him and enjoy Him by faith in their hearts, till He is seen by their eyes. But the day or morning star (Lucifer) of prophecy (Isa. 14) is the king of Assyria to be destroyed by Jehovah. Observe further that I am not to be surprised at the scoffers at this truth in this day. The Holy Ghost says there would be such (2 Peter 3). But that the Lord has not yet come, is not because He is slack concerning His promise. No, rather He is long-suffering to a poor world whose day of grace will close with His coming. O, how gracious are His ways and perfect withal!
1. All believers can say positively we are the sons of God now. As in Romans 5 we begin with justification, we start with the knowledge of “peace with God,” we go on in grace, and we look forward to glory—for very precious portions.
2. As to what we shall be, we do not know, nor are we careful. We leave that with Him who will not do without us; but we do know that when He shall appear we shall be like HIM, and that is enough. Some clever (?) Grecians used to ask, How can these things be? and because they could not analyze the mode of their accomplishment they denied the truth altogether. Like the clever (?) little boy who denounced the theory of the revolution of the earth round the sun as being “stupid,” because, said he, “I see the sun rise, but I do not see the earth go round the sun,” the Holy Ghost calls similar reasoners “FOOLS,” reminding them that the whole thing is in the hands of Him who gives a shape to the corn of wheat AS it hath pleased Him. “So also is the resurrection out from among the dead” (1 Cor. 15).
3. Although we are by believing in {the Lord} Jesus made “clean every whit,” yet we are passing through a scene of defilement. But see how the hope affects us (v. 3). We tuck up the garments and glide onwards most warily, lest the smallest speck be found on us at His coming. Call you this only an “advanced idea for a few”? God is wiser than men, and has put the truth before us as that which should practically sanctify us.
Jude, who wrote, like John, for the last time, exhorts believers to contend earnestly for the faith (here it is the thing itself believed, not the belief) once delivered to the saints. Losing such an integral portion of it as the coming, called forth the three woes which the godly can see running in parallel lines in the present day (v. 11). Then Enoch’s prophecy is quoted (v. 14). Here the Lord comes with the saints to judgment on the living wicked and ungodly.
Hence the person of Christ is constantly kept before the soul in the book.
In Revelation 1, He is the judge and the One who shall be the administrator of all things. Now, He is hidden from the eyes of the world. But, “Behold! He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see HIM.”
A general sketch of the book, so far as it regards the subject before us, I gave at the commencement. I would now only remind you –
1. All the judgments (Rev. 6-19) are future, and await the appearing of the Lord Himself. This is prophecy, not our proper hope.
2. They will be judgments on living nations (cp. Matt. 24; Luke 17).
3. The Lord will first have come for His saints to keep them out of the hour of trial which is about to come upon the whole HABITABLE WORLD to try them that DWELL UPON THE EARTH. If Aberdeen should unfortunately be in rebellion against the Queen, she might say to us loyal ones, “I am coming from Balmoral to shell the city; but just before that event I will send a telegram for you to meet me at Banchory.” The message received, we await such telegram. Meanwhile we get as many of our friends as we can to lay down their arms, and to side with us for our Queen. Her Majesty hears that our fellow-citizens are killing us loyal ones, and away she starts to fire the city. Think you she would not keep her word, and send first for us? Having met her at Banchory, we then come with her in her train. And this is just a picture of what our Lord says to us (Rev. 3:10,10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10) in Greek). Hence the redeemed are seen in glory worshipping (Rev. 4, 5), being previously caught up before the seals are opened in Revelation 6, etc.
4. The last sentence uttered by the Lord to John was, “Surely I come quickly.” Ascending to heaven from the Mount of Olives, the truth enunciated was, “This same Jesus which is taken from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven”; and now you and I hear the words from His own blessed lips—“Surely I come quickly.” The moral condition of the watcher (in Luke 12:3636And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. (Luke 12:36)) is such that he knows the “knock,” and opens “immediately.” (Luke deals with the moral application of the truth, but does not deal with it in the order of time.) Who would have thought that “quickly” would extend to 1800 years? Yet such is His grace. But who would be so bold as to assert that the shout may not be heard before another sun rises upon this guilty world? Of times and seasons we have nothing to do. We ARE made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; and thus ready, ours is to wait and watch. To the unprepared and to the careless, the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. When they shall say “Peace and safety” then sudden destruction shall overtake them.
Shall any of you be taken by surprise, beloved hearers? Are any sceptics among you? Are any of you going on still in rebellion against God, and refusing to own His Son? Now, tell me honestly, can you think of death—which you know you cannot escape—can you think of God and be happy? I know, and so do you, that you cannot. Then why will you resist God? He is gracious to you, and now bids me offer a free pardon to each rebel, on one condition only—namely, owning, like the thief on the cross, that the Son of God, the Lord from heaven, has satisfied God respecting the question of sin. But, to your everlasting shame and misery, you SHALL be condemned by Him whom now you will not allow to save you. O may it please God to awaken you, even though it be by crippling that body of yours, that your soul may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
And now, dear brethren, let us in the presence of Him whom we love, of Him who bore all our sins away and made us meet companions for Himself, of Him whose Father we address as “our Father,” and who has left us here as His witnesses, let us in His presence apply this blessed truth in a practical way.
I presume that each of us sees—
1. That the coming of the Lord for His saints is the proper hope put before every believer by the Holy Ghost in the New Testament.
2. That the Scriptures distinctly teach that He will come with His saints to judge Christendom; to punish the nations generally, and the Jews particularly; to establish the nation of the Jews in Palestine, thus fulfilling the prophecies; to introduce universal blessing for the earth—“the millennium” so called; to raise and judge the wicked dead, bind Satan, and then deliver up the kingdom—all things having been subdued to Himself—to God the Father, that GOD may be all in all (Rev. 20:21; 1 Cor. 15:2828And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:28)).
3. That respecting our hope (the subject of this address)—the believer’s proximate expectation—no dates are ever given; but the word to the simple is “quickly,” and there faith rests. Then am I indulging anything in which He would not like to find me? A bride expecting her bridegroom does not wait till he comes to adjust her garments. To go on in any when He comes “He will put things right,” only betrays the most untoward condition of heart. He can bear with ignorance, and provides a sacrifice for it (Lev. 5:27-32), but can He tolerate INDIFFERENCE?
4. Am I so engaged now and every moment that a “well-done” from His lips will be mine for my last act in this scene?
5. To each of us He has committed some talent {representing a responsibility}, telling us to occupy till He come; and now He adds, “I come QUICKLY.” Are we using such as those should, who cannot hope for another moment?
6. When He comes, the gospel door shall be shut, and then our unconverted relatives and friends shall be left behind! Are we now so putting Christ before them, and praying for their conversion, as those that hold the coming practically; or are we stumbling them by our walk and untoward ways?
7. Are we minding earthly things, and hoarding up the “corruptible things,” the silver and gold of this world; or are we using them today if the Lord gives us an opportunity, as those that expect to be called away quickly, with those for whom we are laying up? Are there no poor round us to feed? No distressed one to relieve? No cell of gloom to lighten up by the sunbeam of our presence? Are there no unbelievers here and abroad, to whom we may carry or send a free Bible, or a gospel book or tract? If there can be regret in glory will it not be for losing such opportunities of reproducing our Lord in the earth?
8. But again, if I believe this truth which the Holy Ghost has given me, why am I so anxious about what I shall eat, or drink, or do tomorrow. May I not hear the shout before “tomorrow”? And why may I not drink of my cup of joy, while to me is given a sip of one of sorrow? Why is my heart broken at the recollection of the dear departed one? Can I not commit him, with myself, to my Lord who will bring all of us with Him?
9. Lastly, am I so weaned from everything here—do I hold them all so loosely, that at any moment of my existence I could joyfully look up and say to {the Lord} Jesus, as the Spirit prompts the Bride, “Come”? (Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)).
And now unto Him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and majesty, might and authority, both now and ever. Amen.