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Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of His saints. — Jude 14

Behold I come as a thief! Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walknaked and they see his shame. — Rev. 16:15

MY DEAR READER, Let me speak to you a few words respecting this solemn subject — the second coming of the Lord. In doing so, I shall confine myself, as much as possible, to the words of God Himself, both because they are the fittest and the plainest —“quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword”; and because I do not wish you to evade the matter, by saying that I am pressing upon you the uncertain opinions of man. “He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Reader! “That same Jesus who was taken up into heaven shall so come in like manner as He went up into heaven” (Acts 1:11). The heavens must receive Him until the times of restitution of all things (Acts 3:21). Then shall He come in His own glory, and in His Father’s glory, and with all His mighty angels, to call you to account for the deeds done in the body. Are you ready for His coming? Can you abide His presence? Will you be able to stand before the Judge of all? He once came in meekness; He shall then come in majesty; He once came in shame; He shall then come in glory; He once came in weakness; He shall then come in power; He once came to save; He shall then come to judge — to give to every man according as his work shall be (Rev. 22:12).

1. He comes to take vengeance upon them that know not God, and that obey not His Gospel (2 Thess. 1:8). This is the day of grace; that shall be the day of vengeance; this is the time of His mercy; that shall be the time of His fierce anger. His long-suffering shall then be wearied out, and His love shall then have passed away. His eyes — those very eyes that wept over Jerusalem, shall then be a flame of fire, piercing you like lightning, and consuming you with their terrible glance. His feet — those very feet that rested in their weariness upon the well of Sychar, shall be “fine brass,” to tread you down, as in the wine press of His wrath (Rev. 14:19). “The day of the Lord cometh; it is nigh at hand: a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness” (Joel 2:1-2). Are you prepared for that day of terror and darkness? Have you fled like the dove to the clefts of the rock? (Song of Sol. 2:14). Have you found shelter in the man who is the hiding place from the wind, and the covert from the tempest? (Isa. 32:2).

2. He comes to raise the dead. “Every man in his own order, Christ the first fruits, afterwards they that are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Cor. 15:23). The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first (1 Thess. 4:16). That resurrection morning is the believer’s joyful hope; for then he shall see Jesus face to face; and the last relics of sin and suffering be left behind him in his tomb. But is it full of hope and joy to you? Does the thought of that morning fill your soul with joy unspeakable and full of glory? Or are you of those who, when that day arrives, would, a thousand times over, wish to be allowed to remain forever in the tomb, rather than be dragged up, as criminals from their cells, to hear their final doom? If so, oh, then flee now to a risen Savior! His resurrection tells you of a finished atonement — an open fountain — a rent veil — a free mercy seat — a gracious welcome from an injured but still loving Father. Flee now — tarry not; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh!

3. He comes to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (2 Thess. 1:10). Reader, are you a saint? Are you one of those in whom Jesus shall be glorified in that day? Are you one of those who shall admire Him then? Ah! Do you glorify Him now? Do you admire Him now? Or do you despise and reject Him? All His saints admire Him; do you admire Him too? Angels praise Him; do you praise Him too? The Father delights in Him; do you delight in Him also? He is the Father’s beloved; is He your beloved too? Oh, “kiss the Son lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way when once His wrath is kindled but a little” (Ps. 2:2).

4. He comes to judge the world in righteousness (Ps. 96:13). He is now the Savior; but He shall then be the Judge; He is now upon the mercy seat; He shall then be on the throne — the great white throne, before which the living and the dead, the small and great, shall stand. His judgment shall be just and wise. It shall be impartial and unchangeable. His sentences shall never be reversed or altered throughout eternity! All nations, and kindreds, and tongues shall be summoned to His bar. You shall be there. You, who are now reading these lines, and thinking perhaps but little of that awful day! How will you answer the summons? How will you give in your account? Do you not tremble? Does unforgiven sin fill you with alarm? Then look to Jesus now! (Isa. 45:22). Look, and be forgiven! Look, and be saved forever!

5. He comes to make all things new (Rev. 21:5). He comes as the second Adam, to undo all that the first Adam did. He comes to repeal and remove the curse to which creation has been subjected by the fall (Rom. 8:19-23). We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness (2 Pet. 3:13). Reader! If all things are to be made new, your heart must also be made new. There must be a new creation within you, if you would possess or enjoy the new creation without you. There must be the new heart before you can sing the new song. Have you been renewed? Have old things passed away? If not, you are as yet without any hope of, or meetness for the inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away? Oh, hear the words of Jesus! “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed.” Then thou shalt walk with Him in white, and shalt eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

6. He comes to bind Satan (Rev. 20:1-3). As the woman’s promised seed He comes to bruise and crush the serpent’s head. In this His saints rejoice. But, Reader, have you a share in that rejoicing? Are Christ’s triumphs your triumphs? Are the victories of the Lamb your victories? Or, are you of the serpent’s seed, who are all in that day to share its doom? If you are now in Satan’s ranks, then your overthrow and perdition are certain. Oh, quit these ranks forever! Join the Captain of our salvation. Take up your cross and follow Him. Then the conquests of Jesus shall be your conquests; and the spoils of Jesus shall be your spoils!

7. He comes to the marriage supper (Rev. 19:7-9). He is the bridegroom. He is now “tarrying” (Matt. 25:5). He will not tarry long. He will soon be here, and the cry will be raised — Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet Him. Reader, are you ready? Have you oil in your vessels? Are your loins girt about, and your lamps burning? Have you the fine linen clean and white, which is the righteousness of the saints? (Rev. 19:8). Oh, be warned, lest you be a foolish virgin! Lest you should have no wedding garment! Lest, ere you seek admittance, the door be shut. Oh, remember, blessed are they that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9).

8. He comes to “sit upon the throne of His glory” (Matt. 19:28). “He shall judge among the nations” (Isa. 2:4). He shall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously (Isa. 24:23). He is to be the true Solomon — the Prince of Peace. All things are to be put under His feet (Heb. 2:8). He is to reign in righteousness (Isa. 11:4-9; 32:1; Ps. 72:2). His kingdom and His scepter are a kingdom and a scepter of righteousness (Ps. 45:6-7). The kingdoms of this world shall become His one glorious kingdom; and the crowns of earth be placed upon the head of Him who alone is worthy.

But into that kingdom nothing that defileth shall enter (Rev. 21:27). Respecting it He Himself declared, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Reader! Are You Born Again? If not, then the gates of that kingdom are closed against you. You cannot enter there. Oh, “Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). The coming of the Lord draweth nigh. It is but a little, and you shall hear the last trumpet sound. It is but a little, and it shall be said to you, “Come to judgment, come away.” He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”