These are important questions as we hourly draw nearer the coming of our Lord. “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. 4:15-1715For 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. 16For 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 4:15‑17).) In contrast with these words of comfort, we read further on of others, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (Chap. 5:3.) Who are these respective companies? Will the first company comprise all true believers, all the saints of God? or, will some believers be taken to meet the Lord, and others be left to pass through the tribulation? This question is important, as it affects the value of the atoning death of Christ, and the eternal redemption which every believer has through that death.
When the Lord Jesus appears in glory, and comes in judgment and to reign, we find from scripture:—1St, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Surely this marvelous statement is true of all believers now as then; for all can give thanks to the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. (Col. 1:1212Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (Colossians 1:12).)
3rd, when He comes, all His saints come with Him—“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).) “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” (Chap. 4:14.) “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all,” &c. (Jude 14, 1514And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. (Jude 14‑15).) This also in-eludes Old Testament saints. “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives..... And the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.” It is, then, certain that when the Lord Jesus appears in glory, all the saints will appear with Him, and be like Him. Oh, blessed hope! And also it is certain that all His saints will come with Him to judgment. It follows, then, that if all come with Him, then all must have first been taken up to meet Him in the air; and to this agree other scriptures, whether as to those who are asleep, or those who are alive and remain unto His coming.
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order; Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” (1 Cor. 15:22, 2322For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:22‑23).) Just as all who are in Adam are involved in death, so all that are in Christ shall be made alive at His coming. Christ has been raised from among the dead: we are now waiting the next event—they that are Christ’s at His coming. Equally certain is the word as to all who are alive and shall be changed. “Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” &c. And mark, the address of this epistle evidently includes all Christians. “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.” (1 Cor. 1:22Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2).) To all these the apostle could say, “So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall confirm you unto the end.... blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This epistle further teaches that all believers, whether Jews or Gentiles, now compose the one body of Christ. “For by one Spirit are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” Part of the one body cannot be taken, and a part left behind.
It may be asked, Then is there no difference between those persons who are waiting for the Lord from heaven, and those who are not looking for Him? There is; and we will look at those scriptures that speak of it, that we may see how great that contrast is.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, hut after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin unto salvation.” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).) It is not appointed unto all men once to die; neither did He bear the sins of all men; but those who know that He bore their sins at His first coming, instead of looking for death and judgment, may look for Christ who shall come without a question of sin or judgment to them. “Without sin.” If we are not clear as to His having put away our sins, we cannot look for Him the second time, we should rather dread Him as a judge. Which is it, reader? Do you look for Him as Savior, sin and sins forever settled, or, is judgment for sins still before you? Again, “The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:11-1311For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:11‑13).)
Thus in the scriptures we find that all, not some few believers, are taught to look for the Lord Jesus. It is the effect of the grace of God. When Paul preached the gospel, those who believed were turned to God from idols, to serve the living and 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).) To Timothy Paul said, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” To the Philippians he says, “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body.” &c. (Phil, 3:20.) Yes, it is evident, when the church was in the freshness of its first love, that love to the Lord Jesus was preeminently seen in their looking for Him from heaven. Could it be otherwise? Is it possible for a wife to love her absent husband and not look for his return? And is it possible to hear the Bridegroom’s tender words, and not wait for His dear return? He says to us, a Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house arc many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-31Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In 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. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1‑3).) How is it possible, then, to love the Lord Jesus, and not love His appearing and wait for His return?
But are there not many who even profess to be ministers or servants of the Lord Jesus who do not look for His return? There are, and we will now turn to the words of the Lord to such. “If that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 24:4851.) Thus, to say even in the heart, My Lord delayeth his coining, and not to look for the Lord Jesus, is given by the Lord as a mark of the evil servant—that he is not a Christian at all—and when Jesus comes in the air, he will not be taken, but left behind for judgment. This brings us to the striking parable of the ten virgins, which parable brings our subject to such an issue.
In the beginning all go out to meet the bridegroom, wise and foolish. Those who have oil, and those who have none; those who were saved, and those who were not. For the oil is a figure of the Spirit; and if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. Such was Christianity in the beginning. All took that profession, whether true or false, to look for, and wait for, the Bridegroom from heaven—not Christ as Judge to them, but as Bridegroom. We have seen this everywhere in the epistles. While Christ tarried, they all slumbered and slept. Now, in these days, the very midnight of forgetfulness of Him, the cry has gone forth, “Behold the Bridegroom, go ye out to meet Him.” These words are being fulfilled at this very moment. The Holy Ghost is presenting the Person of Christ, the loving Bridegroom; and the Spirit is moving Christians to go out and meet Christ. Sad indeed that we should have to go out again from that world which crucified and still hates our Lord. Are you being thus moved to meet the Lord? or do you say, Nay, I am not sure that I have oil in the vessel? Take care how you delay. Mark how suddenly and unexpectedly to those who have no oil He comes, and the door is shut. “And they that were ready went in with him.... and the door was shut.” Then how sad the cry, “Lord, Lord, open unto us.” And, oh, those words from Him, “Verily, I say unto you, I know you not.” Do you notice that these very persons were not only professors, but those who got mixed up with the movement, they, in a half sleepy way, arose and trimmed their lamps. Is this your condition? Are you ready to meet the Lord? Have you believed God? Have you come to Him, owning your sins in self-judgment?
Have you the Holy Spirit dwelling in you? Oh, think of half those professors being shut out at last!
Neither will it do to rest on religious activities; you maybe doing great things according to human thoughts—greatly praised by your fellow-men; you may be said to have done great good in your day; and yet lost forever—left behind for judgment. Oh, how many will find themselves deceived when it is forever too late I Jesus says, u Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me ye that work iniquity.’’ (Matt. 7:22, 2322Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:22‑23).) How few think of these words of Jesus! Yet it will surely be so. Not a few, but many, will thus be rejected. We have just seen a most attractive memoir of a christian lady. Works in abundance, sacraments, and holy communions, but not one thought of that only foundation on which a soul can rest in peace—eternal redemption through the blood of Jesus. We hope this is the writer’s fault. We are assured all will be left, and given to strong delusion, who do not receive the truth of the Person and work of Christ.
We will now, in conclusion, just point out those scriptures which prove this. When He comes “in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.....When he shall came to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe.” Read 2 Thess. 1:6-106Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7And 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: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thessalonians 1:6‑10). Thus all believers have been taken to be with the Lord; and when He appears in glory and for judgment, He shall be seen and admired in all them that believe. This is very blessed, and takes in every one on earth who has received the truth.
But in the next chapter (2), the doom of every soul who has heard the gospel, and rejected it, is equally certain. “Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Thus it is most certain that all, without a single exception, who have been chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth, will be caught up to meet the Lord; and that the “they” who say “peace and safety,” when sudden destruction cometh, will be all those who have not received the truth. How solemn this is; and we know not the moment when He shall come to take us to be with Himself. Beloved reader, are you ready? Can you say, “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood”? If so, you will be glad to hear His words, “Surely I come quickly.”
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