1900

January 1, 1900

“The Hope of His Coming” The Bible Echo 15, 1.

E. J. Waggoner 

The glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ is the “blessed hope” that is set before the church of Christ. It has been the hope of the church in all ages. The ancient prophets foretold in minutest detail “the sufferings of Christ,” and at His first advent the “sure word of prophecy” was fulfilled to the letter, but “the glory that should follow” was no less the theme of inspired penmen, and the followers of Christ were pointed forward to the time when His glory should be revealed, as the time when they also should “appear with Him in glory,” and “be glad also with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 4:13; Colossians 3:4. It was with this hope that our Saviour comforted His sorrowing disciples. BEST January 1, 1900, par. 1

“I will come again.” This means “another time once more.” Not thousands of times, as they would have us believe who claim that in fulfilment of His promise he comes whenever a saint dies, but only once more will He come again, to consummate the great plan of salvation. To this the apostle gave emphatic testimony, in these words: “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. It is appointed unto men once to die. In order that men might have life, Christ was once offered for sin, bearing “our sins in His own body on the tree;” and so, when His work for sinners shall have been finished, He will come once more—“the second time”—not bearing the sins of the world, as at his first advent, but for the salvation of those who, by means of His sacrifice and mediation, have “put away sin.” BEST January 1, 1900, par. 2

If He should not come the second time, His first coming would have been in vain. Said He, “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.” He comes to take to Himself the purchase of His own blood. He has gone to prepare a place for those who become His friends indeed, and when He has the place prepared for them, he will come and take them to it. His coming will be the grand consummation of the plan of salvation. In vain would be all His sufferings for men; in vain would be the faith which men have placed in him, if He should not return to complete that which He has begun. BEST January 1, 1900, par. 3

E. J. WAGGONER.