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Chapter 17—Promises of Christ’s Return
The promise of Christ’s second coming to complete the great
work of redemption is the keynote of the Sacred Scriptures. From
Eden, the children of faith have waited the coming of the Promised
One to bring them again to the lost Paradise.
Enoch, the seventh in descent from them that dwelt in Eden, who
for three centuries walked with God, declared, “Behold, the Lord
cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon
all.”
Jude 14, 15
. Job in the night of affliction exclaimed, “I know
that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon
the earth: ... in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself,
and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.”
Job 19:25-27
. The
poets and prophets of the Bible have dwelt on the coming of Christ
in words glowing with fire. “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the
earth be glad ... before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to
judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the
people with his truth.”
Psalm 96:11-13
.
Said Isaiah: “It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we
have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have
waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
Isaiah
25:9
.
The Saviour comforted His disciples with the assurance that He
would come again: “In my father’s house are many mansions. ... I
go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, ... I will come again, and
receive you unto myself.” “The Son of man shall come in his glory,
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and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of
his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations.”
John 14:2,
3
;
Matthew 25:31, 32
.
Angels repeated to the disciples the promise of His return: “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
. And
Paul testified: “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.”
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