[December 21st, 1856.] I. Nature of it.—Christ came. He comes. He is to come.
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He came in the flesh. The long lines of predictions from Adam to Malachi were accomplished at last, after long delay and anxious expectation.
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He comes continually. a. In the extraordinary manifestation of his presence and power, whether for judgment or mercy. b. In the special manifestation of himself to his people.
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He is to come. a. Personally and visibly. b. With power and great glory. c. The dead shall rise, the just and the unjust. d. The judgment will then be held. e. The world destroyed. f. The kingdom of God shall be consummated.
The consequences of his advent to his people will be. a. Their redemption; that is, their final deliverance from the power of death. b. Their complete conformity to the likeness of Christ. c. Their perfect enjoyment of that kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world.
II. As to the time of the Second Advent.
- It is unrevealed. 2. It is to be unexpected. 3. It will not be until the conversion of the Jews, and the calling in of the Gentiles. Did the Apostles expect him in their day? 1. They regarded his coming as they regarded the coming of death. 2. It was at last revealed to them that there was to be a falling away first. We must distinguish between their personal expectations and their teaching. The latter alone is infallible.
III. Points of analogy between the first and second coming.
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Both long predicted.
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Long and anxiously expected.
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The people indulged in many speculations as to the time and mode of his coming.
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They were greatly disappointed as to the one and the other.
IV. The state of mind which the doctrine of the Second Advent should induce.
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A firm belief in the revealed fact that he is to come. This faith should not be shaken by long delay. How long Abraham waited and died without the sight.
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Earnest desire. The hopes of the ancient people were concentrated on the coming of the Messiah. This led them to bear patiently what they had to suffer. To set their hopes on the future and not on the present. The same effect should be produced on us.
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Watchfulness and anxiety, lest that day should overtake us as a thief in the night. We should have our lamps trimmed and our lights burning. It would be a dreadful thing, should Christ come and find us immersed in the world.
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Prayer and waiting. “Waiting for the consolation of Israel.”
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Solicitous efforts to prepare others for his coming, and to prepare the way of the Lord. He will not come to the individual nor to the Church until the way is prepared. This includes, 1. Taking out of the way obstructions to his coming. 2. The accomplishment of the appointed ingathering of his people.
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