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William Miller
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memory they cherish with reverence endured the same hatred, scorn,
and abuse from the press and the pulpit that were heaped upon Wm.
Miller.
Why were the doctrine and preaching of Christ’s second com-
ing so offensive to the churches? When Jesus made known to his
disciples that he must be separated from them, he said, “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 14:2, 3
.] When he ascended from Olivet, the
compassionate Saviour, anticipating the loneliness and sorrow of his
followers, commissioned angels to comfort them with the assurance
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that he would come again in person, even as he went into heaven. As
the disciples stood gazing intently upward to catch the last glimpse
of him whom they loved, their attention was arrested by the words,
“Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same
Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like
manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” [
Acts 1:11
.] Hope was
kindled afresh by the angels’ message. The disciples “returned to
Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple, prais-
ing and blessing God.” [
Luke 24:52, 53
.] They were not rejoicing
because Jesus had been separated from them and they were left to
struggle with the trials and temptations of the world, but because of
the angels’ assurance that he would come again.
Those who really love the Saviour cannot but hail with joy a
message founded upon the word of God, the He in whom their
hopes of eternal life are centered is coming again, not to be insulted,
despised, and rejected, as at his first advent, but in power and glory,
to redeem his people. The proclamation of Christ’s coming should
now be, as when made by the angels to the shepherds of Bethlehem,
good tidings of great joy. There can be no more conclusive evidence
that the churches have departed from God than the irritation and
animosity excited by this Heaven-sent message.
It is those who do not love the Saviour that desire him to remain
away, and such eagerly receive the testimony borne by unfaithful
servants, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” [
Matthew 24:48
.] While
they refuse to search the Scriptures to learn if these things are so,
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they grasp every fable which will put off the coming of Christ into