The subject worked for this month is- The Coming of our Lord.
The anticipation we expressed last month as to a limitation of the subject proved to be well founded, the number of those who have sent in papers being again in excess of the average of some time past.
We do not wish in any way to forestall the remarks to be made next month; but we would earnestly press upon all our readers the desirability of their making the present, most important subject, a matter for further study. There are many passages which are necessarily excluded from our present paper, as they do not speak directly of the coming of our Lord, which have an important bearing upon many parts connected with His coming; and the study of these is most essential.
The following appears to be perhaps the clearest arrangement of the papers sent in.
1. Passages speaking directly of our Lord's coming for His people, or in which His people only are the objects of His coming.
2. Passages speaking of His public manifestation, divided into two sections:-His appearing as the Deliverer of Israel, and as the Judge of the World; and, in this latter section, frequently as with His people.
3. Passages speaking of His coming or appearing generally, without any special reference as to its character: in this latter class the context very often indicates in which of the two former classes the passage should be placed.
For convenience the 3rd class is set in the second place. We may note that the Greek word ἐπιφανεία which is used to denote His manifestation or appearing in glory, is never applied to His coming for His people. It will help us in our study if we bear this in mind.
Passages speaking directly of our Lord's corning for His people:I will come again and receive you unto myself.-John 14:3, 28.
Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.-1 Cor. 1:7.
Ye do show the Lord's death till He come.-1 Cor. 11:26.
Heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.-Phil. 3:20.
And to wait for his Son from heaven.-1 Thess. 1:10.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive, and remain unto the coming..of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thess. 4:15-17.
We beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.-2 Thess. 2:1.
Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without 'sin, unto salvation.-Heb. 9:28.
Passages speaking of the Coming generally:-
Some of these passages appear to refer to the Lord's coming for His people, and some refer unmistakably to His public manifestation: we commend the study very especially to all our readers.
Till I come.-John 21:22.
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.
Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart.-1 Cor. 4:5.
Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ's, at His coming. 1 Cor. 15:23.
The Lord cometh (Maranatha).-1 Cor. 16:22.
The Lord is at hand.-Phil. 4:5.
When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.-Col. 3:4.
For what is our hope?....are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming.-1 Thess. 2:19.
To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.-1 Thess. 3:13; 5:23.
Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.-1 Tim. 6:14. Them also that love his appearing. -2 Tim. 4:8.
Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.-Titus 2:13.
For yet a little while and he that shall come will come and will not tarry.- Heb. 10:37.
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.-James 5:7,8.
That the trial of your faith might be found unto praise at the appearing of Jesus Christ.-1 Peter 1:7.
The grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.-1 Peter 1:13.
And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear.-1 Peter 5:4.
Scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming?-2 Peter 3:4.
That when he shall appear we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.-1 John 2:28.
We know that when he shall appear we shall be like him.-1 John 3.2.
Hold fast till I come.-Rev. 2:25.
Behold, I come quickly.-Rev. 22:7,12,20.
Even so, come Lord Jesus.
Passages speaking of the public manifestation of our Lord generally:For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels.-Matt. 16:27. See Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26.
For judgment to the world, or to the unbelieving Jews.
The time not revealed, Matt. 24:42; Mark 13:32.
Certain events must precede it, Matt. 24:4-30.
Will be sudden, Matt. 24:27; Rev. 16:15.
Accompanied by signs in heaven, Matt. 24:29.
Will be the commencement of judgment to the world, Matt. 24:30.
The elect shall be gathered together, Matt. 24:31.
Will be unexpected by the careless world, Matt. 24:37-41.
For the judgment of the nations, Matt. 25:31.
Will be seen by His judges and condemners, Matt. 26:64.
When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord; and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be admired in his saints.-2 Thess. 1:7-10.
Then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.-2 Thess. 2:8.
The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.-2 Tim. 41.
Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all.-Jude 14.
Behold he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and all the kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him,-Rev. 1:7.
Rev. 19:11-21.
Passages speaking of our Lord's coming with reference to Israel.
Behold the Lord God will come with strong hand.-Isa. 40:10.
And the Redeemer shall come to Zion.—Isa. 59:20,
Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh.—Isa. 62:11
And he shall come to us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.- Hos. 6:3.
Till he come and rain righteousness upon you.- Hos. 10:12.
And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory saith the Lord of hosts.-Hag. 2.7
For, lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. Zech. 2:10.
For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle ... then shall the Lord go forth and fight against those nations ... and his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives (see Acts 1:11, 12) ... And the Lord thy God shall come and all the saints with thee. -Zech. 14:2-5.
The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple.-Mal. 3:1
Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of man be come.-Matt. 10:23.
Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.-Matt. 23:39; Luke 13:35.
What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? Matt. 24:3.
The Lord's coming in parables, See Matt. 25:1-13; 14-30; Luke 19:12-27, &C.