Basic HTML Version
Signs of the Second Coming of Christ
379
Lord’s coming are not waiting in idle expectancy. They are purifying
their souls by obedience to the truth. With vigilant watching they
combine earnest working. Their zeal is quickened to cooperate with
divine intelligences in working for the salvation of souls. They are
declaring the truth that is now specially applicable. As Enoch, Noah,
Abraham, and Moses each declared the truth for his time, so will
Christ’s servants now give the special warning for their generation.
[427]
But Christ brings to view another class: “If that evil servant shall
say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to
smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for
him.”
The evil servant does not say that Christ will not come. But by
his actions and words he declares that the Lord’s coming is delayed.
He banishes from the minds of others the conviction that the Lord
is coming quickly. His influence confirms men in their worldliness
and stupor. Earthly passions, corrupt thoughts, take possession of
the mind. The evil servant smites his fellow servants, accusing and
condemning those who are faithful to their Master. He mingles with
the world, and with the world he is taken in the snare. “The lord of
that servant shall come ... in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall
cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.”
The advent of Christ will surprise the false teachers. Upon all
who make this world their home, the day of God will come as a snare,
as a prowling thief. Full of rioting, full of godless pleasure, the world
is asleep in carnal security. Men laugh at warnings. “Tomorrow
shall be as this day, and much more abundant.”
Isaiah 56:12
. We will
go deeper into pleasure loving. But Christ says, “I come as a thief.”
Revelation 16:15
. When the scorner has become presumptuous,
when the routine of money-making is carried on without regard
to principle, when the student is eagerly seeking knowledge of
everything but his Bible, Christ comes as a thief.
The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events cast their
shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth,
and calamity follows calamity. Where is security? There is assurance
in nothing human or earthly.
There are those who are waiting, watching, and working for
our Lord’s appearing. Another class are falling into line under the
[428]