按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Protestant churches as in the Roman Church in the time of Luther。 There was
the same worldliness and spiritual stupor； a similar reverence for the
opinions of men； and substitution of human theories for the teachings of
God's word。
The wide circulation of the Bible in the early part of the nineteenth
century； and the great light thus shed upon the world； was not followed by a
corresponding advance in knowledge of revealed truth； or in experimental
religion。 Satan could not； as in former ages； keep God's word from the
people； it had been placed within the reach of all； but in order still to
accomplish his object； he led many to value it but lightly。 Men neglected to
search the Scriptures； and thus they continued to accept false
interpretations； and to cherish doctrines which had no foundation in the
Bible。
Seeing the failure of his efforts to crush out the truth by persecution；
Satan had again resorted to the plan of compromise which led to the great
apostasy and the formation of the Church of Rome。 He had induced Christians
to ally themselves； not now with pagans； but with those who； by their
devotion to the things of this world； had proved themselves to be as truly
idolaters as were the worshipers of graven images。 And the results of this
union were no less pernicious now than in former ages； pride and
extravagance were fostered under the guise of religion； and the churches
became corrupted。 Satan continued to pervert the doctrines of the Bible； and
traditions that were to ruin millions were taking deep root。 The church was
upholding and defending these traditions； instead of contending for 〃the
faith which was once delivered unto the saints。〃 Thus were degraded the
principles for which the Reformers had done and suffered so much。
（299）
Chapter 17
Heralds of the Morning
One of the most solemn and yet most glorious truths revealed in the Bible is
that of Christ's second coming to complete the great work of redemption。 To
God's pilgrim people； so long left to sojourn in 〃the region and shadow of
death；〃 a precious； joy…inspiring hope is given in the promise of His
appearing； who is 〃the resurrection and the life；〃 to 〃bring home again His
banished。〃 The doctrine of the second advent is the very keynote of the
Sacred Scriptures。 From the day when the first pair turned their sorrowing
steps from Eden； the children of faith have waited the coming of the
Promised One to break the destroyer's power and bring them again to the lost
Paradise。 Holy men of old looked forward to the advent of the Messiah in
glory； as the consummation of their hope。 Enoch； only the seventh in descent
from them that dwelt in Eden； he who for three centuries on earth walked
with his God； was permitted to behold from afar the coming of the Deliverer。
〃Behold；〃 he declared； 〃the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints； to
execute judgment upon all。〃 Jude 14； 15。 The patriarch Job in the night of
his affliction exclaimed with unshaken trust： 〃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。
300
The coming of Christ to usher in the reign of righteousness has inspired the
most sublime and impassioned utterances of the sacred writers。 The poets and
prophets of the Bible have dwelt upon it in words glowing with celestial
fire。 The psalmist sang of the power and majesty of Israel's King： 〃Out of
Zion； the perfection of beauty； God hath shined。 Our God shall come； and
shall not keep silence。 。 。 。 He shall call to the heavens from above； and
to the earth； that He may judge His people。〃 Psalm 50：2…4。 〃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 the prophet Isaiah： 〃Awake and sing； ye that dwell in dust： for thy dew
is as the dew of herbs； and the earth shall cast out the dead。〃 〃Thy dead
men shall live； together with my dead body shall they arise。〃 〃He will
swallow up death in victory； and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off
all faces； and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the
earth： for the Lord hath spoken it。 And 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 26：19； 25：8； 9。
And Habakkuk； rapt in holy vision； beheld His appearing。 〃God came from
Teman； and the Holy One from Mount Paran。 His glory covered the heavens； and
the earth was full of His praise。 And His brightness was as the light。〃 〃He
stood； and measured the earth： He beheld； and drove asunder the nations； and
the everlasting mountains were scattered； the perpetual hill did bow： His
ways are everlasting。〃 〃Thou didst ride upon Thine horses and Thy chariots
of salvation。〃 〃The mountains saw Thee； and they trembled： 。 。 。 the deep
uttered his voice； and lifted up his hands on high。 The sun and moon stood
still in their
301
habitation： at the light of Thine arrows they went； and at the shining of
Thy glittering spear。〃 〃Thou wentest forth for the salvation of Thy people；
even for salvation with Thine anointed。〃 Habakkuk 3：3； 4； 6； 8； 10； 11； 13。
When the Saviour was about to be separated from His disciples； He comforted
them in their sorrow with the assurance that He would come again： 〃Let not
your heart be troubled。 。 。 。 In My Father's house are many mansions。 。 。 。
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。〃 John 14：1…3。 〃The Son of man
shall come in His glory； 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。〃 Matthew 25：31； 32。
The angels who lingered upon Olivet after Christ's ascension 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 the apostle Paul； speaking by the Spirit of
Inspiration； testified： 〃The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout； with the voice of the Archangel； and with the trump of God。〃 1
Thessalonians 4：16。 Says the prophet of Patmos： 〃Behold； He cometh with
clouds； and every eye shall see Him。〃 Revelation 1：7。
About His coming cluster the glories of that 〃restitution of all things；
which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world
began。〃 Acts 3：21。 Then the long…continued rule of evil shall be broken；
〃the kingdoms of this world〃 will become 〃the kingdoms of our Lord； and of
His Christ； and He shall reign for ever and ever。〃 Revelation 11：15。 〃The
glory of the Lord shall be revealed； and all flesh shall see it together。〃
〃The Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all
the nations。〃 He shall be 〃for a crown of glory； and for a diadem of beauty；
unto the residue of His people。〃 Isaiah 40：5； 61：11； 28：5。
302
It is then that the peaceful and long…desired kingdom of the Messiah shall
be established under the whole heaven。 〃The Lord shall comfort Zion： He will
comfort all her waste places； and He will make her wilderness like Eden； and
her desert like the garden of the Lord。〃 〃The glory of Lebanon shall be
given unto it； the excellency of Carmel and Sharon。〃 〃Thou shalt no more be
termed Forsaken； neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate： but
thou shalt be called My Delight； and thy land Beulah。〃 〃As the bridegroom
rejoiceth over the bride； so shall thy God rejoice over thee。〃 Isaiah 51：3；
35：2； 62：4； 5； margin。
The coming of the Lord has been in all ages the hope of His true followers。
The Saviour's parting promise upon Olivet； that He would come ag