BY LEO RANZOLIN

hilippi was a Roman province. And Philippians had every right to be proud of their citizenship. But Paul had a different message for the believers there. You are citizens of heaven, he told them. Rome is not the Eternal City. That city is in heaven, from which you should be waiting eagerly for the Saviour, Jesus Christ (Phil 3:21). Paul said to Timothy, Jesus is coming for those who are “eager for his coming” (2 Tim. 4:8, Message).

With this year’s readings we come to the climax of the Message and Mission series that began back in 1997 with the theme “Experience the Joy of Salvation.” In 1998 it was “Experience the Power of His Word.” And last year: “Experience the Family of God.” This year we conclude with a core doctrine of the Seventh-day Adventist Church: “The Second Coming of Christ.”

Here we are in a new century! Though sad that Jesus has not yet come, we must continue to let the message of His coming ring in our hearts as clear as ever before. We should never forget the angels’ message to the disciples at the ascension of Jesus: “This same Jesus . . . will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:1, NIV).

Paul assured the Philippians that Jesus, at His coming, “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Phil. 3:21, NIV). Centuries of sickness, cancer, and death will be over! What an assurance!

I read an interesting story about a man who was returning home after serving time in prison. He was traveling in a bus with a group of young people who were on their spring vacation. The man was taciturn, would not talk much. Later the youth were able to talk to him and found out the sad story of his life. He told them that he had written to his wife. If she still loved him, she was to put a gold ribbon around the tree close to the terminal station.

The young people got really excited and watched with interest when the bus reached the destination. What a surprise they had! When the bus stopped they saw the tree, not with just one ribbon, but totally covered with gold ribbons. What was the wife telling her husband? “Please come home, honey. I love you.”

Jesus is coming back, not as an ex-convict, but as the King of the universe. His church, like a bride, should be waiting for Him with gold ribbons all over the place.

As we study these Week of Prayer messages for this year, written by workers and laypeople from all over the world, let us renew our confidence in the Advent. And let’s be certain that when we least expect it, the heavens will open, the voice of the archangel will be heard, the trumpet will sound, and Jesus will come back in glory and majesty! May we be prepared every day for that great event. And may these messages of the Coming unite and thrill us as we face the challenges of the twenty-first century.

Maranatha! And keep a gold ribbon in your heart!

_________________________
Leo Ranzolin is a general vice president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

BY ELLEN G. WHITE

eventh-day Adventists profess to believe that the day of this world’s history is far spent, and that the night is at hand. Should we then, as the end draws nigh, manifest greater earnestness and zeal in the service of God, or may we now relax our energies and participate in the pursuits and pleasures of the world? The Lord has ever required His people to show in all their habits of life a marked difference between themselves and worldlings. Even if the end were not near, it would be the duty of every Christian to be true to his profession of faith, and by an example of simplicity and self-denial to rebuke the pride and selfishness of the ungodly. How much more, then, is it incumbent upon this people to manifest unfailing zeal and consecration!

In both the Old and the New Testament the Lord has positively enjoined upon His people to be distinct from the world, in spirit, in pursuits, in practice, to be a holy nation, a peculiar people. The east is not farther from the west than are the children of light, in customs, practices, and spirit, from the children of darkness. And this distinction will be more marked, more decided, as we near the close of time. It is not a profession of faith, or a name registered in the church book, that constitutes us children of God. It is a vital connection with Christ. We must be one with Him, imbued with His Spirit, partakers of the divine nature, crucified to the world with its affections and lusts, renewed in knowledge and true holiness.

God requires of His blood-bought heritage the sanctification of the whole being—purity like the purity of Christ, perfect conformity to the will of God. “Be ye therefore perfect” is God’s word to us; and in order that we might obey this word, He sent His only begotten Son to this earth to live in our behalf a perfect life. We have before us His example, and the strength by which He lived this life we also may have. Our duty, our safety, our happiness and usefulness, and our salvation call upon us each to use the greatest diligence to secure the grace of Christ; to be so closely connected with God that we may discern spiritual things, and not be ignorant of Satan’s devices. The mighty surges of temptation will break upon all, and unless we are riveted to the eternal Rock we shall be borne away, to become the helpless prey of the enemy. By diligent searching of the Scriptures, and earnest prayer for divine help, the soul must be prepared to resist temptation. The transforming power of Christ’s grace will mold the one who gives himself to God’s service, for God is bound by an eternal pledge to supply power and grace to everyone who yields himself to be sanctified by obedience to the truth.

A Time of Peril
Now is the time to prepare for the coming of our Lord. Readiness to meet Him cannot be attained in a moment. Preparatory to that solemn scene there must be vigilant waiting and watching, combined with earnest work.

We are living in a time of peril, a time of temptation, of despondency. Everyone is beset by the wiles of Satan, and we should press together to resist his power. We should be of one mind, speaking the same things, and with one mouth glorifying God. When unity prevails, the church advances from success to success, and the various departments of the cause of God fulfill their part in the finishing of the great work before us.

There are many, many in our churches who have but a limited understanding of the real meaning of the truth for this time. I appeal to them not to disregard the fulfilling of the signs of the times, which say so plainly that the end is near. Oh, how many who have not sought their soul’s salvation will soon make the bitter lamentation, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved”!

We need to humble ourselves before God, because there are those in the church who are failing of accomplishing that which the Lord desires them to accomplish in soul-saving effort. The privileges that He has given them, the promises He has made, the advantages He has bestowed, should inspire them with far greater zeal and devotion than they manifest.

My brethren and sisters, are we willing to leave self out of the question? Are our energies spent in the Master’s service? Are our voices often raised in earnest supplication for power from on high? Is our faith pure and strong? Have we put away all prejudice, all evil thinking and evil speaking? Are our affections set on things above, or are they twining about the things of this earth? Are our eyes open to see the needs of those around us? Can God call us faithful watchmen?

To those who have failed of discerning the opportunities of the present hour, I would say: Do you desire to break the spell that holds you? Would you arouse from this sluggishness that resembles the torpor of death? Go to work, whether you feel like it or not. Engage in personal effort to bring souls to Jesus and to the knowledge of the truth. In such labor you will find both a stimulant and a tonic; it will both arouse and strengthen. By exercise, your spiritual powers will become more vigorous, so that you can, with better success, work out your own salvation. The stupor of death is upon many who profess Christ. Make every effort to arouse them. Warn, entreat, expostulate. Pray that the melting love of God may warm and soften their ice-bound natures. Though they may refuse to hear, your efforts will not be lost. In the effort to bless others, your own souls will be blessed.

The greatest in the kingdom of God are those who love the Saviour too well to misrepresent Him; who love their fellow men too well to imperil their souls by setting a wrong example.

Preparing for Service
Let every church member kneel before God, and pray earnestly for the impartation of the Spirit. Cry: “Lord, increase my faith. Make me to understand Thy Word, for the entrance of Thy Word giveth light. Refresh me by Thy presence; fill my heart with Thy Spirit, that I may love my brethren as Christ loves me.”

God will bless those who thus prepare themselves for His service. They will understand what it means to have the assurance of the Spirit, because they have received Christ by faith. The religion of Christ means more than the forgiveness of sins. It means that sin is taken away, and that the life is filled with the Spirit. It means that the mind is divinely illumined, that the heart is emptied of self and filled with the presence of Christ. When this work is done for church members, the church will be a living, working church.

God expects those who claim to be His children to bring others to Him. On every hand are opening before us many doors for the presentation of the message of saving truth. Beside all waters the seeds of truth are to be sown. To all the world—to every nation and kindred and tongue and people—the message is to be proclaimed. As those who have received the light of present truth exercise a living faith in Christ, as they labor to-gether with Him in soul winning, what a work will be accomplished! For such laborers the angels of God will open ways and furnish opportunities, and will cooperate with the human agent, that he may not run in vain, neither labor in vain.

The Angel of the covenant is empowering His servants to be His witnesses to carry the truth to all parts of the world. He has sent forth His angels with their message. But as though these angels did not speed on their way fast enough to satisfy His heart of yearning love, He gives John personally the message to be given to all: “The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whoso-ever will, let him take the water of life freely.”  He has opened a fountain for Judah and Jerusalem, and every member of His church is to show his loyalty by inviting the thirsty to drink of the water of life. A chain of living witnesses is to carry the invitation to the world. Will you act your part in this work? God calls. Will you hear His voice, and, denying self, take up the cross and follow Him? As you see the peril and the misery of men and women under the working of Satan, do not exhaust your God-given energies in idle lamentations, but go to work for yourselves and for others. Arouse, and feel a burden for those who are perishing.

Sound an alarm through the land. Tell the people that the day of the Lord is near, and hasteth greatly. Let none be left unwarned. We might have been in the place of the poor souls who are in error. According to the truth that we have received above others, we are debtors to impart the same to them.

Footsteps of an Approaching God
We have no time to lose. The powers of darkness are working with intense energy, and with stealthy tread Satan is advancing to take those who are now asleep, as a wolf taking his prey. We have warnings now which we may give, a work now which we may do, but soon it will be more difficult than we imagine. God help us to keep in the channel of light, to work with our eyes fastened upon our Leader, and patiently, perseveringly press on till the victory is gained.

The coming of the Lord is nearer than when we first believed. The great controversy is nearing its end. Every report of calamity by sea or by land is a testimony to the fact that the end of all things is at hand. Wars and rumors of wars declare it. Is there a Christian whose pulse does not beat with quickened action as he anticipates the great events opening before us? The Lord is coming. We hear the footsteps of an approaching God, as He comes to punish the world for its iniquity. We are to prepare the way for Him by acting our part in getting a people ready for that great day. No entreaties are so tender, no lessons so plain, no commands so powerful and so protecting, no promises so full, as those which point the sinner to the Fountain that has been opened to wash away the guilt of the human soul. Let every heart as well as every hand be engaged to do the work that must be done. The word is given from the throne of God, “Every man to his work, each to do his best.”

_________________________
Review and Herald, Nov. 12, 1914. Paragraph headings have been inserted to break up the text.

Questions for Sharing
1. What considerations should motivate our witness?
2. What is the relationship between our lives and our witness? How can personal spirituality enhance or deter our witnessing?
3. How would you describe Ellen G. White’s burden in this reading? To what extent do we share it today?

_________________________
Ellen G. White was one of the pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Her work continues to be a prophetic voice among Adventists.

BY ARDIS DICK STENBAKKEN

enceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (2 Tim. 4:8).

I love to go home. The eager anticipation grows as we turn off the busy highway onto the quiet street, then the cul-de-sac, and finally into the gravel driveway. I know that even before I can disengage my seat belt and jump from the car, the door of the house will fly open and Mom and Dad are going to come hurrying out to envelop me in their arms of love.

 I have never lived in that house or even that town. So it’s not the place or even the scenery that interests me—although it’s beautiful, situated at the foot of the majestic snow-covered Rocky Mountains. The air is crisp and dry. The sky is almost always clear and blue. Sunsets are gorgeous. However, none of that really matters. What attracts me to this spot over any other spot on this earth is the simple fact that my parents live there. As a pastoral couple they’ve lived in many places in four different countries. But wherever they’ve lived has been home, and I’ve loved to go there.

Home. The word means love. Security. And so it is for those who “have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8, Amplified).

We often try to imagine heaven—streets of burnished gold, custom-built mansions waiting just for us, wondrous flowers, exotic fruit, and alien galaxies beyond our most vivid imaginations. But none of that is what really matters. What matters is that Jesus is there. He is waiting, longing for us.

Then an old man, Paul had been thinking more and more of his distant home. He had never lived there either, but it was where his Father lived, and he’d been longing to see his Father. He knows his time is short, that he is “being poured out as a drink offering” (verse 6, amplified)—the Romans have seen to it that he can no longer come and go as he pleases. But that does not matter. He has fought a good fight. He has finished his race, and he now ends with a mighty ringing chorus: he is soon going to meet his best friend, Jesus Christ.

And the promise, the assurance, is also for us, for all those who love Christ’s appearing.

A New Tribe
Who is this special group—this remnant, if you please—who love His appearing?

It’s not the appearing that is important here. It’s not an event we go out to see, like a passing comet or a football game. The emphasis here is on those who are waiting, those who are in love with the One who is to appear. The King James Version says they are the ones who love His appearing; Today’s English Version says they are those who wait with love for Him to appear; and the New International Version refers to them as those who have longed for His appearing. This love, agapao, “suggests much more than mere impulse; it demands that the whole life, every phase of thought and action, be oriented with respect to the person loved.”*

It seems evident from my reading of Scripture and my observation of people that those who are eagerly awaiting the Second Coming have been born again. The Holy Spirit is in charge of their lives. Their allegiance is no longer just to a worldly nation, tongue, or people, but to heaven itself. They have been born again and now they have new loyalties; when the old “isms” pull on them—nationalism, racism, sexism—they follow their new Master. As a wise person once noted: “When I became a Christian, I joined a new tribe.”

This new birth implies that these special people have a relationship with Jesus. But they have more than an implied relationship—they have an intentional relationship, and they work at it. They have a commitment to building and maintaining it. There is trust and there is communion. They love their Lord, and they relish spending time with Him. Daily devotion is important to them. They love to spend time with Him in public worship, too. Their fellow believers are important to them, helping them to build a viable relationship with their Lord.

They keep the commandments not in a legalistic sense, not a letter-of-the-law mentality—at the expense of people—but as a relevant guide to life. “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NIV). If a policy hurts a person, they work to change policy. When they see people hurting because of someone else’s action, they step in with love and understanding. Rather than being judgmental themselves, they try to help others build a personal, loving relationship with their soon-returning Lord.

Those who have longed for His appearing use all their spiritual gifts. They know they are an important part of the body of Christ, His church, and they know that every part is vital. They understand that each individual with their gift is unique and needed in sharing with the world the good news of the soon appearing of their Lord.

Here’s How You’ll Know Them
Those who are waiting and longing for the Second Coming will exhibit the fruit of the Spirit—not only love, but joy. Joy because they have been forgiven. Joy because they have hope.

No matter what is happening today, Jesus is coming, and they are waiting with joy. This brings peace. Peace for today and peace regarding the future. Many are not eagerly waiting for Jesus’ return because they are afraid, afraid they will not be ready or will not be prepared to go through the time of trouble. Jesus promises them peace.

Patience. Oh yes, those who are waiting for His appearing will have patience. Life is not always easy; in spite of their relationship with Jesus, problems come. (Perhaps we should say that because of the relationship, Satan sends problems.) But they continue to exhibit patience, waiting for their reward, because they know they serve a righteous judge.

Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—all attributes of people we love to know. These are people who are as good behind closed doors and in the family as they are out in public. These are people who are courteous, who do not abuse, who can be counted on. Sometimes these qualities seem impossible, beyond our feeble reach. But they are the fruit of the Spirit. We do not have to achieve them by ourselves. When we love and long for His appearing, the Spirit who gave us a new birth will continue to work in our lives.

With this loving attitude, those who are waiting for His appearing take seriously the command to go and baptize others who also need this relationship, this good news of a soon-coming Saviour. They also follow the command to make disciples, “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:20). They give of themselves in mentoring, in nurturing the new babies, those who have just experienced the new birth themselves. Regarding their reward, they say with Paul, “The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8, NIV).

Who are those who love His appearing? It should be you. It should be me. We are His children. We are those who are loved, and He wants us with Him. We don’t have much longer to wait. We are almost home. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. We have been waiting long enough.

*The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, pp. 349, 350.

Questions for Sharing
1. How does the author use the concept of “home” to enhance our expectation of meeting Christ at His coming?
2. What is the role of the hope of the Second Coming in bringing the church together?
3. How does the author describe the importance of spiritual gifts as we wait for the Advent? What is the practical significance of this emphasis?
Ardis Dick Stenbakken is the director of women’s ministries at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

BY EUGENE HSU

n the book A Third Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul, the story is told of a woman who was diagnosed as having a terminal illness, with only three months to live. Inviting her pastor to her home to discuss the details of her funeral, she made a very unusual request. She wanted to be buried with a fork in her right hand.

Why? “In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners,” she said, “I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, ‘Keep your fork.’ It was my favorite part, because I knew that something better was coming. . . . So I just want people to see me in that casket with a fork in my hand and wonder, ‘What’s with the fork?’  Then please tell them: ‘Keep your fork . . . the best is yet to come.’”

Yes, the best is yet to come! It’s said that for every prophecy of Jesus’ first coming mentioned in the Old Testament there are eight predicting His second coming. One out of every 24 verses in the New Testament also points to that wonderful day of Christ’s appearing.

When Jesus came to the earth 2,000 years ago, He came to redeem His people and to offer salvation to all who believe in Him. But according to Ellen White, the work of redemption that Christ did at His first coming and all the work that He has done in heaven and on earth since then will not be complete until He comes to earth a second time. Think of it this way—if Christ does not come again as He promised, then His teachings would be nothing other than a bunch of moral platitudes like those of Confucius or Mencius—or Ann Landers, for that matter. If He does not come again, then all this talk about salvation by grace through faith in Christ’s death on the cross would be totally in vain. Death would win out over life. Sin would be the victor over righteousness, and the last chapter of our earth’s history would be a hopeless, desperate scene. In short, Jesus’ second coming is the “Amen” of God to a work accomplished for humanity by the Godhead. Thus Christ’s first coming has made His second coming a necessity—an imperative.

Christ’s first coming is connected in many ways to His coming the second time. By understanding that relationship we can more fully appreciate the meaning of the Second Coming.

His first coming was to save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21; 1 Tim. 1:15). His death provided a perfect atonement for sins (1 John 1:9); and He provides us with the life-changing, life-enabling power of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome sin and “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).*

Even so, the world is full of sins and inequities, and God cannot suffer this wicked world much longer. The great day is drawing near in which the kingdoms of this world will come to an end. To the unbelieving and disobedient, the day of judgment will be a dreadful day. “Then the kings of the earth and the magnates and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb’” (Rev. 6:15, 16).

But to those who have lived by faith in Jesus, that day will be a day of great joy and celebration. It will be the day of salvation to which they have long been looking forward. “It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Isa. 25:9).

All sins and inequities will be gone forever, and justice and righteousness will finally prevail. “See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall” (Mal. 4:1, 2).

Jesus’ first coming was also to conquer death. “Through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death” (Heb. 2:14, 15). Through His own resurrection, Jesus pronounced the ultimate death sentence on death itself and made a way for the eventual resurrection of all His followers. The final conquest of death takes place at His second coming. Death will die, and all creation will sing words of praise to Him who is life eternal! With confidence we will say at that time, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55).

Jesus’ first coming was to show us the Father and to help us to know the Father. Because of sin and the pain and suffering that surrounds us at every turn, God the Father is often terribly misunderstood. As the Bible says, “we see through a glass, darkly” (1 Cor. 13:12, KJV). But on that “great gittin’ up mornin’,” we will behold our Father “face-to-face.”

At that time, not only will we see Him face-to-face, but we will also see Him in His full glory. And the amazing thing about the Coming is that not only Jesus will appear in glory, but all His followers also will appear in glory. The Bible says, “When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory” (Col. 3:4). What an incredible day that will be for all concerned.

The most important mission of Jesus’ first coming was to reveal the true character of God as a God of love. This is the core issue of the great controversy between God and Satan. “The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Jesus’  second coming will bring a final and complete vindication of God’s character before the entire universe. The Bible describes it this way: “After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to our God, for his judgments are true and just; he has judged the great whore who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants’” (Rev. 19:1, 2).

In one sense the kingdom of heaven had arrived for the followers of Jesus when He came the first time. But it will not be established in all its fullness until Jesus’ second coming and the final destruction of sin. The rules as we know them will all be changed. The Bible describes it this way: In that day “the wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:6-9).

Ellen White, in the last chapter of The Great Controversy, describes the completed work of Christ after His second coming:

“The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love” (p. 678).

This is the place that Jesus is preparing for us. It’s no wonder then that Ellen White quotes Richard  Baxter as saying that the day of Christ’s second coming “is the day that all believers should long, and hope, and wait for, as being the accomplishment of all the work of their redemption, and all the desires and endeavors of their souls” (ibid., p. 304).

The best is definitely yet to come. Dessert is on the way. Please keep your forks!

*Unless otherwise noted, Bible quotations in this article are from the New Revised Standard Version.

Questions for Sharing
1. How would you describe the significance of the Second Coming? How is it related to the credibility of Jesus’ message and mission?
2. Why is the Second Coming a joyous event for you? If it isn’t, then why not?
3. The author quotes a paragraph from The Great Controversy (p. 678) that talks about the cleansing of the universe from sin. Which parts of that statement do you find most meaningful?

_________________________
Eugene Hsu is a general vice president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

BY MARK FINLEY

he story is told of an absentminded scholar who was riding a train one day totally absorbed in his reading. The conductor walked down the aisle and asked for his ticket. The scholar frantically searched his pockets. He just couldn’t find it. Frantically he checked his pockets again. He still could not find his ticket. So the conductor said kindly, “Never mind, sir; when you find it, mail it to the company. I am certain you have it.”

The scholar shot back in panic, “I know I have it, but what I want to know is. Where in the world am I going?” The poor man had forgotten where he was headed. It is very possible to “forget” where we are headed, to lose sight of our destination. It is possible to become so absorbed in the present that the future is obscure.

The last book of the Bible gives us a reality check. It clearly reveals where we are headed. It brings the return of our Lord into sharp focus. It echoes and reechoes the theme

“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him” (Rev. 1:7).*  And the last chapter of this last book of the Bible ends with these thought-provoking words: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give every one according to his work” (Rev. 22:12).

How quickly is “quickly”? How soon is soon? Is there any clear biblical evidence that Jesus’ coming is nearer today than it was 500 years ago?

We face at least two dangers when we discuss the signs of Jesus’ coming. The first is a wild-eyed sensationalism that sees in every natural disaster, every act of random violence, every major war or calamity, a sign that Christ is coming this year or next. This news-watching mania only leaves sincere people discouraged when their hopes don’t materialize.

The opposite end of the spectrum is equally dangerous. It is a skeptical cynicism that suggests that Christ’s coming may not be for another 500 years and that it really doesn’t make any difference when He comes.

Sensationalism and skepticism are the Siamese twins of doubt. Both lead to spiritual apathy. They are the opposite sides of the same coin. Both destroy faith rather than build it up.

No single event constitutes a sign of the end. Another massive earthquake or a rapid rise in violent crime or ethnic tensions does not mean Jesus is coming soon. The Scriptures give us megatrends.  As we observe these megatrends we have the assurance the end is near. These megatrends are not found in isolated Bible passages. Rather, they’re woven throughout the New Testament. Here are four megatrends that indicate that Christ’s coming is near.

Megatrend 1 
Jesus will come at a time when there is a dramatic revival of false religions to deceive millions. In His sermon on the Mount of Olives, Jesus said, “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matt. 24:4). “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (verse 5). “For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (verse 24).

The apostle Paul describes the rise of the antiChrist with these compelling words: “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders” (2 Thess. 2:9). And John the revelator echoes this theme of Satan’s deceptive power: “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do” (Rev. 13:14).

False religions have increased phenomenally in our generation. Books on the occult and astrology are selling in the multimillions throughout America and elsewhere. Scores of universities offer students classes in ESP, psychic phenomena, and the occult. Some young people raised in Christian homes have rejected their Christian heritage and are now worshiping at the shrine of Satan. Interest in cults is exploding. There are Bible-based cults, UFO cults, Eastern cults, satanist cults, and New Age cults. Interest in astrology and communication with the dead continues to grow. And psychics have become a common feature in our society. The devil is pulling out all stops in these last days.

Listen to this powerful statement from The Great Controversy, page 588: “As spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal Christianity of the day, it has greater power to deceive and ensnare. Satan himself is converted, after the modern order of things. He will appear in the character of an angel of light. Through the agency of spiritualism, miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and many undeniable wonders will be performed. And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible, and manifest respect for the institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power.”

As the coming of our Lord draws near, we can expect mighty false religious revivals to sweep the world.

Megatrend 2
Jesus will come at a time of increasing political instability, rising ethnic tensions, bloody international conflicts, and deadly nuclear potential. In Matthew 24:6, 7 Jesus proclaims: “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. . . . For nation will rise against nation.” In Luke 21:26 He describes the anxious state of mind of millions before His return when He speaks of  “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth.” And the book of Revelation clearly delineates the time just before the coming of Christ when it declares: “The nations were angry” (Rev. 11:18).

Think back over the wars you can remember in your lifetime alone. World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Iran-Iraq war, the Arab-Israeli wars, wars in Bosnia, Kosovo, former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Northern and Southern Ireland, all over Africa from Rwanda and Somalia to the Sudan and into the Congo—the list goes on and on. One source estimates that 180 million people were killed in the twentieth century in wars alone. More people died in wars in the twentieth century than all other centuries combined.

At a time of rising ethnic conflicts and fragile peace treaties, nuclear weapons are much more accessible today than ever before. The nuclear club is quietly growing. India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and China are continuing to develop nuclear capacity. Christ will return

at a time when the human race has the capacity for self-destruction.

Megatrend 3
Jesus will come at a time of unprecedented natural disasters, critical food shortages, and a rapid increase in strange diseases. In Matthew 24:7 Jesus emphatically stated, “And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” The Bible predicts all nature will cry out for deliverance from a planet in rebellion.

Pestilences can be caused by nature or by human carelessness. Environ-mental pollution has become a significant international problem. American factories alone emit more than 2.4 billion pounds of toxic pollutants into the atmosphere each year, and nearly 100,000 premature deaths in the United States are associated with exposure to air pollutants. The very air we breathe is filled with pestilence.

Pestilences may also be described as unusual diseases (that sometimes defy treatment). Is it possible that the rapid rise of diseases such as the Ebola virus, the Marburg virus, Lyme disease, antibiotic-resistant strains of the flu, and HIV might all be classed as pestilences? There are 35 million cases of documented AIDS worldwide, with 9 million children suffering from the disease.

And we can go on. Jesus said there would be earthquakes, and we see a string of them today—in Mexico, Greece, Turkey, and Taiwan. All nature seems to be crying out for the coming of the Lord.

Megatrend 4
Jesus will come at a time when the moral fabric of society is falling apart. The moral decadence of Western society shouts the fulfillment of Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:37: “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” 

Genesis 6:5-11 reveals the corrupt moral conditions in Noah’s day. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. . . . The

earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.”

Even a casual view of what’s going on in our society indicates that something is tragically amiss. The average 14-year-old child in the United States has already witnessed 12,000 murders on television. The home, once the bulwark of strength and a Rock of Gibraltar, is now under attack. In the 1990s there was one divorce for every two marriages in Western society. Pornography is commonplace. Billy Graham once commented, “If Jesus does not return soon, He is going to have to resurrect Sodom and Gomorrah and apologize to them.” The great megatrends that Jesus predicted centuries ago are present in our

society today.

And there is one last sign: the proclamation of the gospel to all the world. Said Jesus: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14). Today, through radio, television, the printed page, and by thousands of voices around the world, God’s message goes forth.

This is the time to pin our hearts fully to Christ, to surrender fully to the Saviour, and to commit our lives to sharing His love with others. We may not know the exact day of His coming, but this we do know: the time for an all-out proclamation of the gospel is now!

*Bible quotations in this article are from the New King James Version.

Questions for Sharing
1. What are the dangers of sensationalism? How can we avoid its opposite, apathy?
2. Discuss each of the megatrends listed by the author. What warning should we derive from them? How do they bring us hope?

_________________________
Mark A. Finley is the speaker/director of the It Is Written television ministry in Simi Valley, California.

BY MONICA CASARRAMONA

hen thinking about the second coming of Christ many tend to consider it as being only in the future. And sadly, by being mainly interested in the what and when of the final events, Adventists have frequently ignored how the spiritual dimension of those events should impact the way we live today.

While it’s certainly good to understand final events, that is not the most important thing. For those events will have little significance for us if we do not comprehend their spiritual implications. Ellen G. White has admonished us to seek to understand the principles that are at the heart of the conflict between good and evil, to explore how this conflict impacts all aspects of human life, and to realize how right now we are consciously or unconsciously deciding which side of the controversy we will take (see Education, p. 190). Now is the time to develop a faith relationship and a close communion with Jesus.

Our hearts are excited when we see before us the fulfillment of some of the signs of the end. But it should be more exciting to understand what we should do today in order to stand firm in Jesus tomorrow. If we wait until that moment to open up our hearts to the Lord, that could be too late.

As Adventists we are fascinated by the signs of the second coming of Jesus. We want to know that He is at the door. But unless that glorious event moves us to open our Bibles, to fall on our knees, to deepen our daily relationship with Jesus, our knowledge will be useless to us.

The present time between the two Advents is a period of grace. The apostle Paul says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11, 12).* The love of God, our faith in Jesus, and our desire to be ready to meet Him should lead us to live self-controlled, upright, and pious lives as we wait for the return of the Lord. This hope should permeate everything. Nothing in our daily lives should remain outside its influence.

The effect of the second coming of Christ is not only in the future. It also provides the ground and shapes all aspects of our present life. How? Let me share with you the significance of the Second Coming for me today.

1. Church Unity. The Advent is to be preceded by the latter rain, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But in order for it to be experienced by the church, there has to be unity and love among church members. Ellen G. White comments: “Let Christians put away all dissension and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them ask in faith for the promised blessing [the latter rain], and it will come” (Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 21). We need to be united today in order to meet Jesus tomorrow.

2. The Confession of Sin. Among the different elements that make Pentecost possible is the confession of sin. Confession makes us honest, cleans our hearts, and tears down barriers that separate us from God and from our brothers and sisters. Confession cannot be postponed; we must practice it today in order to be ready to meet Jesus tomorrow.

3. The Daily Devotional Life. The Spirit comes to the heart of the believer who studies the Bible with prayer. This is not a sporadic type of devotion, but the careful study of the Bible, accompanied by constant prayer for wisdom. “I was shown that if God’s people make no efforts on their part, but wait for the refreshing to come upon them and remove their wrongs and correct their errors; if they depend upon that to cleanse them from filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and fit them to engage in the loud cry of the third angel, they will be found wanting” (ibid., vol. 1, p. 619).

4. Constant Readiness. The return of Christ is like an event that’s always immediate and urgent. We all live only a heartbeat away from the Coming. Consequently, our posture should be one of expectation and eager anticipation. “We must today seek God and be determined that we will not rest satisfied without His presence. We should watch and work and pray as though this were the last day that would be granted us” (ibid., vol. 5, p. 200).

5. Personal Reform. Sometimes we deny our profession of faith by acting like the world. It is not easy to swim against the stream, to go against the social grain. But the people led by the Lord must be different, special, not like the world. And we shouldn’t be simply superficially different, but unquestionably so. We must be morally independent from the world because we live under subjection to our Lord and to His Word.

6. Understanding and Communicating Present Truth. “I have been shown that many who profess to have a knowledge of present truth know not what they believe. . . . When the time of trial shall come, there are men now preaching to others who will find, upon examining the positions they hold, that there are many things for which they can give no satisfactory reason. . . . They will be surprised to see how confused are their ideas of what they had accepted as truth” (ibid., p. 707). We must take to the world the three angels’ messages and give a convincing testimony of the power of the truth. Now, while time lasts, is the moment to do that work.

7. A Posture of Waiting, Watching, Praying, and Working. Those four verbal nouns define the attitude that should characterize believers expecting the return of Jesus. There is much more to do than simply waiting in inactivity. The norm is holiness, growing in sanctification. The day of the Lord is closer now than when we first believed; therefore, we should be diligent (Rom. 13:11). We are surrounded by greater dangers than when the message was proclaimed for the first time.  “Now, just now, it is time for us to be watching, working, and waiting” (Review and Herald, Oct. 9, 1894).

8. A New Dimension to Everything. Everything we do, say, buy, or plan should be oriented by the hope of the second coming of Christ. The religion of Christ must be woven into what we do, say, and think. If we believe in and wait for the return of Jesus, we will build houses to live in, not to stay in forever on this earth.  We will buy a car to transport us from one place to another, not to take to heaven.  “I saw that it was impossible to have the affections and interests engrossed in worldly cares, to be increasing earthly possessions, and yet be in a waiting, watching position, as our Saviour has commanded” (Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 193).

9. Giving for the Spread of the Gospel. Waiting for the return of the Lord also means giving sacrificial offerings for the preaching of the message.  “The fashions and customs of the world, pride, love of amusement, love of display, extravagance in dress, in houses, in lands—these are robbing the treasury of God, turning to the gratification of self the means which should be used to send forth the light of truth to the world” (ibid., vol. 5, p. 10).

10. Representing the Character of God.  It is God’s purpose to reveal the principles of His kingdom through the character of His children. Hence, He wants to separate us from the habits and practices of the world. “Seventh-day Adventists, above all people, should be patterns of piety, holy in heart and in conversation. . . .  They look for the near return of Christ in the clouds of heaven. For them to give to the world the impression that their faith is not a dominating power in their lives is greatly to dishonor God” (Counsels to Parents and Teachers, pp. 321, 322).

11. Overcoming Trials. God will test His own. He did it to Israel, and He will do it again. “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands” (Deut. 8:2).

12. Rejoicing in Obedience. Those who are waiting for the Lord will serve Him joyfully, considering their service to Him an expression of genuine freedom. The psalmist says, “Your law is my delight” (Ps. 119:174). That should be the experience of those of us who are getting ready to meet our Lord.

13. Knowing God Personally.  “This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3). Only if we know God here and now will we be ready to go out to meet Him at His return.  “The world by wisdom knows not God. . . . Only by knowing Christ can we know God. And as we behold Him, we shall be changed into His image, prepared to meet Him at His coming” (Review and Herald, Feb. 3, 1903).

While it is true that the actual event of the second coming of Jesus is still in the future, we should give evidence that we really believe by living always in the shadow of His return, as a witness to those who do not believe. Our every act, decision, thought, and desire should bear the seal of the blessed hope.

Let us say with the apostle John: “What we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:2, 3).

*Bible quotations in this article are from the New International Version.

Questions for Sharing
1. The author invites us to consider the Second Coming not only as a future event but also as a present real-ity. What does she mean? And what’s the significance of her point for you?
2. Of the 13 points listed in the article, which three do you find most meaningful for your personal life?

_________________________
Monica Casarramona is a professor and pedagogy specialist at the Universidad Adventista del Plata in Argentina.

BY V. S. WAKABA

e had been traveling for three weeks and had covered a distance of about 3,000 miles (5,000 kilometers) through two countries. The moment we crossed the border into our own country, however, everyone in the microbus grabbed their mobile phones to announce to their family that we were almost home. There’s always an excitement when nearing home after a long trip.

If there was ever a moment that the church should announce the soon coming of Jesus, it is today. We’re almost home. While the church may be silent, the signs are proclaiming loud and clear that Jesus is coming soon.

The words of Jesus to His disciples in John 14:1-3 are relevant for us today. People’s hearts are troubled by the unstable economic climate, the high rate of inflation in some countries, the loss in value of many currencies, the uncontrollable rate of crime, the breakdown in moral values, and the crumbling social fabric. Where is our hope? There’s no politician or political party that can remedy the situation. There’s no ideology that’s the answer to the world’s problems. Jesus, and Jesus alone, is the answer. And He says, “Let not your hearts be troubled, because I am coming again.”

If the church were to proclaim that message loud and clear to this troubled generation, thousands—yes, millions of people in our society would look to Jesus and His church as a source of hope. As a church we sincerely need to ask ourselves: “Are we really enthusiastic in proclaiming to everybody that Jesus is coming soon?”

People know us by the day on which we worship, and that’s all right. It is my conviction, though, that the keeping of the Sabbath should be a by-product of the faith that we have in the soon coming of our Lord and Saviour. We should primarily be known as people who believe that this world is not our own. We are in transit. We should be known as people who proclaim the soon coming of Jesus as a matter of utmost urgency.

Many years ago, when South Africa was part of the British Empire, the royal family announced a visit to the country. Immediately a proclamation went out alerting the whole nation of the royal visit, and everything went into high gear in preparation for the coming king. Soon, every city, village, and school in the country knew the king was coming. Schoolchildren practiced the British national anthem. And the entire media was filled with the news. I was very young at the time, but the picture of the massive preparation is still very clear in my mind.

I wish we could say the same about the church as we wait for the King of kings. In Revelation 22:7 and 12 Jesus says “Behold, I am coming soon!”* The church should use every opportunity and every form of communication at its disposal to let the whole world know. We need to ask ourselves Why is our proclamation of the soon-coming Saviour not as fervent as it should be? Is it a lack of conviction? Is it lukewarmness? Are we in the same state as the five foolish virgins (see Matt. 25:1-13)? Have we grown tired of waiting and fallen asleep?

It’s time the church went into high gear in proclaiming a soon-coming Saviour. It’s time the church examined its faith. If there’s no conviction, there’ll be no proclamation. If we’re in the lukewarm state of the five foolish virgins, then we need a strong revival. We need to pray the prayer of the psalmist in Psalm 80:14, “Return  to us, O God Almighty.” In verse 19 the psalmist says: “Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.”

The Preparation Needed
As the children of Israel were traveling from Egypt to the Promised land, the Lord said to Moses near Mount Sinai, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud” (Ex. 19:9). Before the day came, there was to be a lot of preparation. The people were to devote themselves to humiliation, fasting, and prayer in order that their hearts might be cleansed from iniquity. To modern Israel, Jesus says, “I am coming soon.” The church needs to go into a preparation mode to meet its God.

One is tempted to think that Israel was in a better position than we are today. After all, apart from the mixed multitude in their midst, they were camped out there in the desert by themselves. Today, however, we are expected to prepare for our God in the midst of political confusion—in some cases, in the midst of bloodshed. We must prepare in the midst of a complete breakdown of morals, and in the midst of materialism that threatens to wipe out spirituality. We’re expected to be white lilies in a sinful muddy environment.

Our situation may look discouraging, but let’s never forget that Christ is the source of our victory. Like the children of Israel, we need to devote ourselves to humiliation, to fasting, and to prayer. Christ will cover us with His robe of righteousness. And we can become shining lights in our communities. Pentecost equipped the disciples to proclaim the gospel with power. Today, also, we need to be equipped by His Spirit.

The proclamation of the soon-coming Saviour is the responsibility of every church member. There are some who would like to delegate that responsibility to the ministry only. Even among ministers there are those who believe that this responsibility is for those who have the gift of evangelism. Nowhere in the Scriptures does it say that evangelism belongs only to a certain group of people. In Matthew 5:13 Jesus was addressing the crowds and not just the apostles when He said, “You are the salt of the earth.” In verse 14 He says, “You are the light of the world.” We must not be confused and think that satellite evangelism has now replaced our individual responsibility. Rather than replace it, satellite evangelism has come to en-hance our individual responsibility.

The Bible says in Acts 8:1 that when persecution broke out in the early church, “all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” Then in verse 4 it says that “those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” Those who were scattered were not the apostles but the rest of the members of the early church. The involvement of “all” caused the gospel to be preached to every known part of the Roman world.

We should feel ashamed that in that part of the world referred to as the 10/40 window (where 60 percent of the world’s population lives), only 3 percent of the people are Christians. As compared to the early church, we have numbers on our side (they were few); we have means (they were poor); and we have better modes of transport and communication. Is it possible that part of the problem is that not “all” are proclaiming the soon-coming Saviour?

The church should never forget that we are the watchmen on the walls of Zion. Our knowledge of Scripture helps us to see things at a distance. Millions of travelers in this world of sin are shouting: “Watchman, what of the night?” (Isa. 21:11, KJV). Have the watchmen fallen asleep? Is there silence from the walls of Zion? If ever there was a time for the watchmen to respond with excitement and enthusiasm, it’s today. Look on the horizon. The night is far spent. Daybreak is approaching.

The Promise Repeated
In the last chapter of the book of Revelation, Jesus repeats the promise of His coming three times. And the Bible closes with it. The message is so important that the Master chose to impress it on our minds as He closed the Bible. May the entire world church join John the revelator in his closing prayer, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Rev. 22:20, KJV).

*Unless otherwise noted, Bible quotations in this article are from the New International Version.

Questions for Sharing
1. What is the relationship of earthquakes and other disasters to the Second Coming? How would you demonstrate your answer from the Bible and from history?
2. Discuss the writer’s emphasis on the need for a new Pentecost. What does it mean to you personally?
3. What can you do personally (and as a local church) to advance the mission of the gospel? Where is the more urgent need—your own local area, or elsewhere?

_________________________
V. S. Wakaba is the president of the Southern Africa Union, with headquarters in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

BY NEIL W. WATTS

f you believed that you would die within the next few hours, what would you do? What would be your major concerns? Who and what would occupy your thoughts?

Would you be concerned that your bank account was not big enough or that your house was not as large and beautiful as you would wish? Would you be concerned about that promotion you were hoping for or about saving to buy the latest piece of modern technology? Would you be disappointed that you might miss the next episode of your favorite TV program? Would you rehearse with resentment all the unkind or nasty things people had said or done to you?

Those who have been through such an experience and lived to tell the story, as I have,* will agree that the above concerns are not important at all. In fact, they probably didn’t even give them a thought. Money, possessions, personal ambitions, and worldly pleasures are irrelevant when a person is facing death. For a Christian especially, the only things that really matter are: (1) your relationship with God and (2) your family or loved ones you are leaving behind. This latter concern would probably be most intense for those you knew were not followers of Jesus Christ and who therefore were unprepared to meet Him.

How does this relate to our topic for today? In reality there is no great difference between our preparing to die and our preparing to live so as to be ready to meet Jesus at His second advent. The same issues and concerns should engage our thinking and energies. Ellen White poses the question that today’s reading is all about: “Suppose that today Christ should appear in the clouds of heaven, who . . . would be ready to meet Him?” She then asks some testing questions that will give the answer: “Have you made your peace with God? Are you laboring together with God? Are you seeking to help those around you, those in your home, those in your neighborhood, those with whom you come in contact, that are not keeping the commandments of God?” (General Conference Bulletin, Apr. 6, 1903).

These two aspects of preparation—our personal relationship with God and our involvement in the lives of others so that they too can be ready to meet their God—are central to our topic for today.

Let’s look at five tests to see if we truly are looking for His appearing.

1. We have experienced the new birth. The Scriptures are clear that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again (John 3:3). This is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in which a person’s mind is renewed, bringing the “thoughts and desires . . . into obedience to the will of Christ” (The Desire of Ages, p. 176). The greatest evidence that we have been born again is that Jesus is the center and focus of our life. Probably the key to this whole question of being prepared for the Second Advent is found in John 17:3: “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

The key question, then, is Do I really know God? There is a great deal of difference between talking about beliefs or theories and really knowing Him as our personal Saviour, Lord, and constant Companion and Friend. This relationship is unknown to the person who has not been born again, but it is what our heavenly Father longs to have with us—and it can be ours.

2. We have a deep interest in knowing God’s Word as revealed in Scripture. Whereas before, the Bible was uninteresting and boring—and therefore neglected—people who have been born again by the Holy Spirit have a deep desire to study it and to fill their minds with its truths. First Peter 2:2 tells us that as newborn babes we are going to desire the sincere milk of the Word. So a deep interest in the Bible is one of the characteristics of a person who is certain of their salvation and preparing for the Second Advent.

Furthermore, a knowledge of the Word is essential if we are to stand through the final events of earth’s history. “None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict,” Ellen White warned us long ago (The Great Controversy, pp. 593, 594).

3. We have a daily meaningful prayer life. If knowing God is basic to having eternal life (John 17:3), then we will want to spend time in communication with Him. Prayer is the key to communing with God. If there is no prayer, there is no communication; and if there is no communication, there is no real relationship. If there is no relationship with the One whom to know is life eternal, then there can be no assurance of salvation.

4. There is a daily experience of following and serving God. Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). This is an ongoing, present-tense relationship. It doesn’t just rely on something that took place at an earlier time in one’s life. It rather involves relying on Jesus in a personal daily experience.

This daily experience will involve trusting in Jesus not only for forgiveness from past sins but for daily victories and spiritual growth. It will involve self-denial and, in the power of His Spirit,

a determined battle against sin and Satan. It will involve a willingness to do whatever Jesus asks you to do and to go wherever He asks you go. In other words, it will involve complete surrender and consecration to the will of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. “Sacrifice all to God. Lay all upon His altar—self, property, and all, a living sacrifice. It will take all to enter glory” (Early Writings, pp. 66, 67).

Where are you right now? Have you experienced a genuine conversion through repentance of your sins and faith in Jesus as your personal Saviour? Has Christ become a daily companion and familiar friend? Is it the deepest desire of your heart to follow and serve Him? If the answer to these questions is “Yes,” then “he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

If, on the other hand, you cannot answer positively the above questions, then do not spend another day spiritually lost with a broken relationship with God. Seek repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and a restored relationship with God. “If you are right with God today, you are ready if Christ should come today” (In Heavenly Places, p. 227). Praise God for His complete and marvelous provision for our salvation! He is only a prayer away from the most hardened sinner. His love, His care, His grace, His power, provide all we need to meet our Lord.

5. We will want a part in witnessing to God’s love and power and concerning the soon-coming Saviour. If we are at peace with God and have confidence of eternal life, then we will have a burden to tell others about the wonderful friend we have in Jesus. “The same intensity of desire to save sinners that marked the life of the Saviour marks the life of His true follower. The Christian has no desire to live for self. . . . He is moved by an inexpressible desire to win souls to Christ” (Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 10). Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world . . . then shall the end come” (Matt. 24:14).

This, then, should occupy the minds of all who are looking for and preparing for the Advent. While probation lingers, we have a work to do, and the Lord won’t come until that is finished. Therefore, one of the best ways to prepare for the Second Coming is to be busy about finishing the gospel commission.

If you truly know God today, you have eternal life. And we are saved as we continue to know Him tomorrow and the next day and the next—until Jesus comes. In Him, we are already in the throne room of heaven (see Col. 3:1-4). Those who are “partakers of the Holy Ghost” have in actuality tasted “the powers of the world to come” (Heb. 6:4, 5).

*See Neil Watts’ story in the Adventist Review, Dec. 9, 1999, pp. 8-12.

Questions for Sharing
1. How should the reality of the Second Coming affect my life and priorities?
2. Review the five ways to know if we’re ready for the Advent. Which do you find most challenging personally?
3. How has this reading helped you in the area of Christian assurance?

_________________________
Neil W. Watts is president of the Western Pacific Union Mission in the Solomon Islands.

BY JAN PAULSEN

e are turning a new millennium. Almost 2,000 years have passed since Jesus said, “I am going to prepare a place for you, and I am coming back to take you there. Trust Me!” (see John 14:1-3). And for 2,000 years believers have trusted Him—and continue to trust Him. They know the promises, and they know that He who made them is trustworthy. They also understand that the Second Coming will signal the beginning of the final acts by which God brings His created universe back to its original design of perfect harmony.

But the passage of time leads the believer to ask the natural question: Why is it taking so long?

Living next to believers are scoffers, out to challenge the life of faith, to make it all seem an illusion. Contemptuously they dismiss the hope of believers and ask: “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4).*

Of these scoffers Peter says: They “deliberately forget” (verse 5). This suggests that their “forgetting” is more serious than just a momentary lapse of concentration; it is a choice they’ve made. But, says Peter to the believers, “you must not forget. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise. In the interest of salvation He is just patient” (see verses 8, 9).

Cornerstone of Faith
There was absolutely no doubt among the first generation of believers that Jesus would return, and that history was moving toward its climax. It is also very clear that you cannot be a believer in the tradition of the early church without also believing that Jesus Christ will come again. The gospel itself would be incomplete without both the first and second coming of Christ. (See Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 227, 228.) The belief that Christ will come again shaped the lives, values, and choices of the early believers, as it must ours. The apostle wrote: “[That reality] teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives . . . while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12, 13).

In the inspired messages from God and in the age-old Christian tradition, the question is not whether Jesus will come back, but rather how to prepare for it and how to live with a clear sense of certainty, of urgency, of readiness. The “thief in the night” symbolism used to describe the second coming of our Lord (1 Thess. 5:2-4; 2 Peter 3:10; Matt. 24:42-44) tells us that there will be elements of surprise associ-ated with the Advent, whatever time it happens. In the parable of the 10 virgins who were awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom (Matt. 25), Jesus taught something about both the suddenness of His coming and the frame of mind that must characterize those who live in expectation of that event. We are told to stay awake. To stay alert. And to live ordered and sober lives (1 Peter 4:7; 5:8; 2 Peter 3:17).

Why He Waits
To many that’s not easy. Life sometimes is so treacherous. One can sometimes feel very alone, and at times it all seems more than one can bear. Which reminds me of the old fisherman’s prayer: “Dear Lord, be good to me; the sea is so large and my boat is so small.”

Then there are the aches we carry in our ailing bodies and hurting hearts, and we ask—maybe with some anxiety—“How long, O Lord? What else must happen?”

Says the Lord: “It will not be long. But I will give you some signs along the way—to help you remember my prom-ises and assure you of the lateness of the hour” (see Luke 21:9-11; 2 Tim. 3:1-4).

Jesus said that we do not know the day or the hour of His coming. Is He waiting simply to test our endurance—to see who will stay the course, who will stay awake and who will fall asleep, who will disqualify themselves along the way by disclosing signs of unworthiness. Under the stress of unresolved questions (with which we sometimes torment ourselves)—and because of the apparent delay—the human mind can play tricks with us, and we may, for however fleeting the moment, struggle with such questions in our minds.

But would such an attitude be compatible with the all-loving God we have come to know? I think not. To present such a picture would be an unjust and sinister caricature of God. God’s primary concern is to save as many as He possibly can. The One who so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that no one should perish is “patient with you” desiring “everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). That is His ultimate concern; and the passing of time must be understood in that context.

Even so, the question keeps coming back: Why so long? We see sufferings; the reports and images on television will not go away; and we have our own painful personal experiences. We see wars and all possible natural disasters; it is as though the whole creation cries out, “It is enough! It is enough!” Is it not?

Even as we ponder the difficult questions, painful as they are, we must remember that with our human limitations we can understand only a little. We see only the outlines of God’s design as through “a glass, darkly”

(1 Cor. 13:12, KJV). And reasons that are clear to Him are a mystery to us. Therefore, Jesus said, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:7). The decision about when the hour is right rests ultimately in the sovereignty of God. It is not given us to know with certainty the when. All we can know with certainty is that it will happen. And that certainty creates an urgency that sustains each generation of believers, leading them to make the right choices in terms of values, priorities, and commitment.

Wrong Conclusions
As we contemplate the promises of the Lord, the fire that burns inside us is a longing for Him to come quickly. From time to time, in earnestness and sincerity, we ask ourselves: Can I do anything to hasten that event? Or am I a hindrance to its fulfillment? What can I do?

In seeking answers to these questions, we may become too inward looking. This can lead us to supply answers that, although containing some truth, may not be as helpful to our spiritual journey as we think. Some may be inclined to look mainly at their own spiritual shortcomings: Their priorities are not right. They’re not gaining enough victories. They’re not good enough (are we ever?). They may conclude that the reason for the delay is that they are not personally ready. It is true that the indifferent spirit of Laodicea and the rebellious spirit of Kadesh-barnea are still dominant among God’s people. And we are mindful of the words from the pen of inspiration that “it is the unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration, and strife among the Lord’s professed people that have kept us in this world of sin and sorrow so many years” (Selected Messages, book 1, p. 69). As we look at our church and ourselves we are only too aware that we are nowhere near the model that Christ had in mind for us as a community “without stain or wrinkle . . . but holy and blameless” (Eph. 5:27). And we have to confess that we are not living the kind of “devout and dedicated lives” (2 Peter 3:11, NEB) that Christ expects of believers who live in anticipation of His coming. Many who “profess to have the oil of grace in their vessels with their lamps have not become burning and shining lights in the world” (Maranatha, p. 55).

Yes, these realities cannot be denied. The church fails so often to be what the Lord expects His people to be. We fail in love, and we fail in service. And most of the time we know it. Surely there is something we can do about it!

But while it is right and proper that each of us examine ourselves and seriously address our own situation, it is not right (as sometimes happens) that in lamenting our personal shortcomings we find occasions to begin examining each other, pointing out and addressing perceived shortcomings in the lives of other people. When that happens the spiritual climate in the church chills significantly. The church community quickly becomes an unattractive place, and the people there become unlovable and unloving. None of us is doing so well or is well enough placed to be the spiritual judge of our fellow travelers. Spiritual shortcomings are personal and are most often best addressed on a personal basis.

It’s in God’s Timing
We said above that the final decision about when the hour for the Lord’s return has come lies hidden in the sovereignty of God. That is a decision He has reserved for Himself to make. Yet God has given to humanity some insight into the goals and objectives that He is seeking to accomplish before He comes. These may serve as pointers for us.

First. Peter reminds us that “the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God’s intent is to save as many as He possibly can. In that respect His work is not yet finished. The message of Jesus is that the end will not come until the gospel of salvation is presented as a witness to all peoples (Matt. 24:14). Although the achievement of that goal is not easily measured, it nevertheless underlines the wonderful truth that our Saviour is not going to close the door prematurely. There will be friends and loved ones who’ll not be in heaven. But throughout eternity no one will have cause to say to Jesus, “Could You not have waited a bit longer? Could You not have tried a bit harder?” Our Saviour will have done all that could be done, and He will not return until that is done. That is the way His mission of love and redemption moves Him.

Obviously, however, there will come the moment when He will have to say, “We have done all that can be done. Let Us now close this painful chapter of human history.” But the timing of that decision is hidden in the sovereign wisdom of God. Only the all-knowing God can measure the depth and extent to which His offer of salvation in Jesus has been communicated to all. When one remembers God’s commitment to the salvation of men and women, the passing of time becomes an element of reassurance rather than a threat to certainty. Such waiting as there may be is for very good reasons. “Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation” (2 Peter 3:15). We want Him to come quickly. And yet, as we look around and as names and faces flash before us, we are painfully troubled by the absence of someone we had hoped would be there. Maybe He should wait a bit longer? The Lord knows our agony.

Second. As we search for answers to our questions, we accept—however difficult it may be to understand fully—that there are reasons for God’s allowing rebellion to run its course. When Jesus Christ returns, He will come as the victorious one who will not be challenged again, because He has delivered the final and full answer to the challenges of Satan. Nothing will have been left unresolved. No further answer to the sin problem will be needed. The father of rebellion, who introduced sin into the hearts and lives of our first parents (Gen. 3) by suggesting to them that God was less than truthful and that His motives were suspect, will have lost all credibility. He will have had time and space to demonstrate fully the consequences of rebellion through wars and suffering and exploitation and deprivation and sickness and death. Rebellion against God will never again be an attractive option. It will have been totally discredited, its attraction gone forever. The history of sin will stand as the most convincing witness against itself.

Therein lies our only guarantee for eternity. “Every question of truth and error in the longstanding controversy has now been made plain. . . . Satan’s own works have condemned him” (The Great Controversy, p. 670).

The course of rebellion against God is well advanced in its process of discrediting itself. Even so, only God knows when time is up.

It’s clear, then, that in God’s final and ultimate answer to the sin problem there are issues to be taken into account that are wider and larger than my personal salvation. For us individually the matter of personal salvation is clearly of critical importance. But for the larger picture—namely, for the eternal security of the new creation and its inhabitants—God will also have provided a far-reaching answer that deals with the roots as well as the consequences of rebellion.

Without Christ’s return the controversy between good and evil cannot be brought to an end. Without His return God’s design both in creation and salvation cannot be realized. Without His second coming all His promises will fail to find their fulfillment. There is no future without the Second Advent; redemption cannot be completed. Thus the injunction: “The Lord is soon coming. Talk it, pray it, believe it. Make it a part of the life” (Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 237). “Eden restored” (The Great Controversy, p. 648) signifies the completion of the circle; God will have brought creation back to His original design. His return signifies the end to suffering. His return means I will meet again the loved ones I laid to rest. His return means that the power of sin that has ruined the lives of so many will be broken. All pain will end. None of this can happen without His return.

How long will it yet be to wait?

We do not know. He has told us to be sober, to watch and pray, and to keep an eye on the “fig tree”—to be sensitive to the signs of the times.

I cannot be a believer without accepting the certainty of the Second Coming. If there is no room for that reality in my plans, then my “faith” rests on something other than the Word of God. To the world, the second coming of Christ is “bad news”; but to the believer it’s the ultimate moment of joy.

Unless otherwise noted, Bible quotations in this article are from the New International Version.

Questions for Sharing
1. How should we reflect on the apparent delay of the Advent—as a community and as individuals?
2. How is the “delay” affecting your witness and mission?
3. Why should you look forward to the Second Coming? Do you consider it appropriate or inappropriate to have your own personal reasons for wanting Jesus to come?

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Jan Paulsen is president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.