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Christ’s Object Lessons
glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.”
Revelation 14:6,
7
.
In the prophecy this warning of the judgment, with its connected
messages, is followed by the coming of the Son of man in the clouds
of heaven. The proclamation of the judgment is an announcement of
Christ’s second coming as at hand. And this proclamation is called the
everlasting gospel. Thus the preaching of Christ’s second
“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the
Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow,
and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was
like the burning fiery flame, and His wheels as burning
fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before
Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him ... : the
judgment was set, and the books were opened.”
Daniel
7:9, 10
.
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coming, the announcement of its nearness, is shown to be an essential
part of the gospel message.
The Bible declares that in the last days men will be absorbed in
worldly pursuits, in pleasure and money-getting. They will be blind
to eternal realities. Christ says, “As the days of Noah were, so shall
also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were
before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not
until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming
of the Son of man be.”
Matthew 24:37-39
.
So it is today. Men are rushing on in the chase for gain and selfish
indulgence as if there were no God, no heaven, and no hereafter.
In Noah’s day the warning of the flood was sent to startle men in
their wickedness and call them to repentance. So the message of
Christ’s soon coming is designed to arouse men from their absorption
in worldly things. It is intended to awaken them to a sense of eternal
realities, that they may give heed to the invitation to the Lord’s table.
The gospel invitation is to be given to all the world—“to every
nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.”
Revelation 14:6
. The
last message of warning and mercy is to lighten the whole earth with
its glory. It is to reach all classes of men, rich and poor, high and low.