Jesus is coming

Preface To Second Edition

We re-dedicate this little book to those who ‘‘ love our Lord’s appearing.” It has been our prayerful desire to furnish, in abbreviated form, a hand book that might serve as a convenient reference in the study of this truth, and as an aid in the presentation of it to others.

We gratefully acknowledge the blessing of God, which has so rested upon it that it has become necessary to issue a second edition. In doing this we have decided to considerably enlarge it, but we trust that this enlargement may not frustrate the design as expressed above. We have no desire for controversy, but have only sought to testify our convictions regarding the scriptural importance of this subject, and to aid candid inquirers in obtaining ” like precious faith with us.” After continued, earnest and prayerful study, we are more than ever confirmed in the faith that Christ’s coming will be pre-millennial, and this all impoytani point we would emphasize, if possible, with the zeal and earnestness manifested by the early disciples, who repeateaiy taught us to look for Jesus. Phil. 3, 20 ; Tit. 2, 13 ; Heb. 9, 28 ; 2 Pet. 3, 14.

We would not be dogmatic concerning the order of events subsequent to our Lord’s return, and should any hold views different from what we have set forth as the result of our study, we will cordially strike hands with them, if we may unite upon the great fact that His return will be pre-millennial and that the time of it, is uncertain and imminent. Matt. 24, 42. And further, that this hope (Tit. 2, 13) begets a purifying, separating power in the heart, winning us unto holiness and love, i John 3, 3 ; I Thes. 5, 23-24.

For the kind criticism and helpful suggestions of brethrei^ dearly beloved — we express our sincere thanks, and we humbly pray for the continued blessing of ” the Coming One.”

W. E. B.

^ CONTENTS.

Page.

Dedication, — -

Preface to Second Edition

“ I don’t care anything about it!”. — - 7

^ The Christian’s incentive to a holy life, 8

“Oh, that’s Second Adventism,” Q

“ It don’t concern me,” etc.,- 9

Its importance in the Word, lo

Practical, - 10-76

Forty statements showing its practical character, 122

We are not ‘speculating,’ ii

Literal vs, ‘Spiritual ’ interpretation, ii

Conversation between a Christian and a Jew,- ii

Symbols, figures, etc., 12

The allegory. Gal. 4, 24-31, 12

' ‘Spiritualizing’ subverts the authority and power of the

Word, and saps the foundation of every Christian

doctrine, 13

Purpose of language, 13

Prophecies literally fulfilled at His first coming, 14

^ Prophecies to be literally fulfilled at His second coming, I4

^ His coming does not mean death, 16

^ Death is an enemy, 16

It will not apply in Scripture referring to His coming,.. 17

^ It is not practically the coming of Christ 18

Intermediate state of the dead, 18

Quotation from Rev. David Brown, 18

Substituting death for His coming degrades the doc-

trine of the resurrection, ig

We are not taught to watch for death, but for Christ’s

coming,- 20

It does concern us, and we may understand it,. 20

CONTENTS,

The Three Appearings, 21

The Departure and Promise, 21

The Lord’s Supper, a token, 22

The very Pole Star of the Church, 22

Believed by the Fathers, and its History, 22-43

Origen and his ^Spiritualizing’ error, 23

Post-Millennialism, 23

The principal question, — Is the coming to be Pre-Millennial

or Post-Millennial, 24

Arguments showing the coming to be Pre-Millennial.

1. Antichrist, — 25

2. Immediately after the Tribulation, 25

3. Persecuted Church, 25

4. Tares and Wheat, 26

5. Literal Reign of Christ, 26

6. Resurrection out of the Dead, 28

Order of the resurrection, i Cor. 15, 22-26 28

Dead in Christ rise first, i Thes. 4, 13-17 28

The First Resurrection, Rev. 20, 4-14 28

Before the Millennium, 30

Therefore Christ’s coming must be pre-millennial, 30

Objections to literal first resurrection considered.

1. No right thus to aggregate texts, 30

2. Only souls mentioned in Rev. 20, 4, 30

3. Spiritual life in Paradise, 31

4. Only the beheaded mentioned, etc., 32

5. Last day, = 1000 years, 33

6. Just and unjust rise simultaneously, 33

7. Only one passage, 34

Quotation from Dean Alford, 35

Argument from Greek testament, 36

7. Watching, 40

“ A little while,” 42

The early church a watching church, 43

Hold the traditions (teachings), 2 Thes. 2, 15, 46