Great Religious Awakening
307
from the temple. The disciples had asked the question, “What shall
be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” [
Matthew
24:3, 33, 42-51
]. Jesus gave them signs, and said, “When ye shall
see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” [
Matthew
24:3, 33, 42-51
]. One saying of the Saviour must not be made to
destroy another. Though no man knoweth the day nor the hour of his
coming, we are instructed and required to know when it is near. We
are further taught that to disregard his warning, and refuse or neglect
to know when his advent is near, will be as fatal for us, as it was for
those who lived in the days of Noah not to know when the flood was
coming. And the parable in the same chapter contrasting the faithful
and the unfaithful servant, and giving the doom of him who said in
his heart, “My Lord delayeth his coming,” shows in what light Christ
will regard and reward those whom he finds watching, and teaching
his coming, and those denying it. “Watch therefore,” he says; “blessed
is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”
[
Matthew 24:3, 33, 42-51
]. “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will
come on these as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will
come upon thee.” [
Revelation 3:3
.]
Paul speaks of a class to whom the Lord’s appearing will come
unawares. “The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For
when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh
upon them, ... and they shall not escape.” But he adds, to those who
have given heed to the Saviour’s warning, “Ye, brethren, are not in
darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the
children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night,
nor of darkness.” [
1 Thessalonians 5:2-5
.]
Thus it was shown that Scripture gives no warrant for men to
remain in ignorance concerning the nearness of Christ’s coming. But
those who desired only an excuse to reject the truth closed their ears
[372]
to this explanation; and the words, “No man knoweth the day nor the
hour,” continued to be echoed by the bold scoffer, and even by the
professed minister of Christ. As the people were roused, and began
to inquire the way of salvation, religious teachers stepped in between
them and the truth, seeking to quiet their fears by falsely interpreting
the Word of God. Unfaithful watchmen united in the work of the great
deceiver, crying, Peace, peace, when God had not spoken peace. Like
the Pharisees in Christ’s day, many refused to enter the kingdom of