If there be one thing more powerful for practical holiness than another set before us in the Word, it is the constant expectation of Christ. This was the prayer of the apostle, for these young converts, night and day. “To the end He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness, before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints” (1 Thess. 3:13). This is the desire of every minister of Christ, who longs himself for the coming of the Lord; while others forget the connection there is between conversion and the coming of Christ. He will think of it night and day, and pray night and day, that every convert may be found unblamable in holiness in that moment.
Some have a very great difficulty as to waiting for Christ. They would say, How can I wait for or expect Christ this very day, seeing so many things have yet to be fulfilled? I am told the Roman Empire has to be reconstructed. The Jews have to be restored to Judea. The man of sin has to be manifested, reigning at Jerusalem – and all this before Christ comes to this earth again. Must I not, then, of necessity, say in my heart, “My Lord delayeth His coming;” at least, until after all these events. I cannot make it out how I am to be waiting for Christ today, since all these things have to take place.
There is no doubt the Roman Empire has to be reconstructed – (I shall have to speak of these things shortly). The Jews have to be restored: the wicked man of sin has to be revealed. Europe has to sink in grossest darkness – to become worshipers of devils or idolaters again. But let us look at the next chapter, and every difficulty will vanish.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18. “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 who are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and 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.” Now, observe, in the gradual unfolding of prophetic truth, up to this passage the coming of the Lord, in a general sense only, has been presented. But in this place there is a point of detail never noticed before. The special object of the apostle was evidently to comfort the hearts of these young converts, who were sorrowing because some of their number had fallen asleep. Bear in mind, they had only had three weeks’ preaching. (Acts 17:2). Paul’s manner was always to set forth the passing away of all things of the old creation, in the death of Jesus; and Jesus the beginning and head of the new creation, as raised from the dead. Thus these young converts were filled with joy – being raised from the dead, and in God the Father. (See Chapter 1). As we may imagine, these newly-converted heathen were sorely perplexed at the death of the body. Well, this passage is evidently written to show them the resurrection of the saints who sleep in Jesus – that they will lose nothing, but be raised first; then we who are alive and remain – changed in a moment, as noticed in 1 Corinthians 15.
And then a new fact is revealed – we shall be caught up together, to meet the Lord in the air. Now this may take place before any of the events which have to be fulfilled; yea, we shall find this event is the very first that will take place; and therefore the last elect soul being brought to God, may take place while you read this paper. No person can quote me a single verse, which has to be fulfilled, before the sleeping and living saints, be caught up to meet Christ.
Now if this be so. we should expect the Spirit of God, having made known this new fact, of believers being caught up to meet Christ, then to speak of this day of the Lord, which shall follow that event, the taking of the church to be ever with the Lord. And this is exactly what He does do (1 Thess. 5). As the believer’s hope is to be caught up to meet Christ, there is no need of writing on times and seasons. In fact there are no dates of Scripture that refer to this event (the moment of taking the saints) at all. All dates refer to Israel. “For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child and ye shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief,” etc. Thus this day of destruction and vengeance is introduced in dark contrast with the bright and blessed hope of the church. The church may be taken at any moment. Then sets in the day of vengeance. The acceptable year of the Lord shall close; the day of vengeance begin. (Isa. 61). Seeing this, how earnest the apostle was in prayer: “And I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:23). We find persecution and tribulations soon overtaking these dear young converts, and to add to their deep distress, deceivers come, as though sent by the apostle, to tell them the day of the Lord was come. Their trouble and sorrow seemed to favor the report. They seemed to have been greatly shaken by this stratagem of Satan.
(Continued from page 167).
(To be continued).