In presenting the truth as to the second coming of our Lord Jesus it is imperative that we follow the clear lines of Holy Writ. The New Testament is full of this subject from Matthew to Revelation. But we must distinguish, and not confound the closing part of our Christian age, and that of the next or Jewish age-the last week of Daniel's prophecy; the last half being the time of the great tribulation. The present dispensation is called the " Day of Grace." Daniel's last week will be characterized as the "Day of Trouble" (Jer. 30:7). Isa. chap. 37 is a picture of that time. The millennium, which follows, is a period called the "Day of the Lord." The eternal state which follows the millennium is styled the "Day of God" and also the "Day of Eternity" (2 Pet. 3:12, 18, /. N. D.'s Trans.). Each of those "days" has characteristic features which we do well to keep clearly before our minds to have those scriptures before us correctly.

In Daniel, as also in Revelation, chaps. 6-19, dates are given, but none of those dates refer to our Christian age. To observe the characteristic features of our age as given in the Epistles, and the characteristic features of Daniel's last week as given in the prophecies, is most important; they should not be confounded.

Some of the features which apply to the close of the Christian age have for long been manifest:the moral and spiritual darkness thickens day by day; but nowhere in the New Testament have we the least hint as to how long these characteristic marks may continue. Hence, our dispensation is one in direct contrast to Israel's, in which times and dates are given. We are now about 1900 years on in our Christian age. The spirit of-lawlessness had already begun in the apostle's day. How much more now. The spirit of antichrist had begun in the days of the apostle John, which, for the apostle, was an earnest of the close of things on earth when the Antichrist himself would become manifest. Other evils have arisen since the days of the apostles, as predicted by them, and we are surrounded on every hand with these sad marks-a full proof to us that the world is not getting better. Evil men and seducers are waxing worse and worse, and this will continue until the end (i Tim. 4 :1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-13).

The world is now confronted with an appalling war. We should not under-estimate the gigantic struggle now going on amongst the nations. But even this is not the worst. Darker days are yet in the future. Wars, energized by more than human agencies, will follow our age; they take place after the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ for His own (i Thess. 4:13-18). Armageddon, as presented in Rev. 16, will take place at the close of Daniel's last week-the close of the Day of Trouble. To have our mind calm and stayed by the word of God is the great thing for us.

Predictions concerning the present war are very harmful. Scriptures which refer to Daniel's last week, if applied to the present war, are most confusing. We have seen and heard such predictions during the last half century, and the enemy has used them to confuse many, and to discredit the truth. Let us all be warned, and use great caution concerning events as they are now taking place.

1. Within our own lifetime we can remember the great war that- was waged between Russia and Turkey (and be it observed, these two powers come within the scope of the prophetic Word), and some thought that the end was at hand. But that conflict passed, peace was restored, and the Lord did not then come.
2. Since that time, less than a quarter of a century ago, Greece entered into conflict with Turkey to sever the Island of Crete from Turkish rule. Many thought this might lead to the end; but the great Powers of Europe restrained Greece, and temporary peace was restored.

3. Italy of more recent years entered into war with Turkey, and wrested from her part of Africa and some islands of the Mediterranean. Students of Scripture watched this conflict with great interest, especially when it was thought that Italy might take possession of the Land of Palestine. Italy also comes within the scope of the prophetic Word and will have to do with events in the last week of Daniel's prophecy. But peace was again restored, and the Lord did not then come.

4. Of more recent years the Balkan States united in a war against Turkey, and many thought now the end was to be reached. But even that bloody war came to a close, and the end of the age has not come.

5. Now we are in the second year of a war which surpasses all that Europe or the world has ever yet known or witnessed. What a call for prayer to the whole Church of God ! What earnestness this dread conflict should awaken in the hearts of all the redeemed people ! Fellow-Christians, how have these terrible calamities wrought in our lives? It is clear that the present world is yet an evil world. As thousands day by day are violently thrown into eternity, oh for hearts to be stirred and energized by the Spirit to walk before God, and serve the Lord with increased devotion !

Yet, amidst this dread conflict, let us beware of premature predictions concerning the second coming of our Lord Jesus on that account. We cannot say that this is the last link in the chain of great events to bring in our Lord's second coming. This may be the last, but, as we have said, times and dates do not form part of the Christian dispensation ; and it is very important to note that in all the New Testament no war is mentioned after that predicted by the Lord concerning the Romans' destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 21:20) until we open Revelation, at chap. 6, when the same empire revived will once more come to the front. Wars and rumors of wars will then fill the air until the final struggle-the battle of Armageddon. This is important to note.

Paul's whole ministry, in which are fully made known the characteristic features of our age, giving also the marks of its close, passes over this entire subject, and never once mentions these struggles, or wars amongst the nations. If it has not already been observed, the reader will do well to read the passage referred to in Luke 21, and then John 14, which gives the Lord's promised return for His own (and through the whole New Testament), and no war is presented as a characteristic feature of our closing age. Throughout the Christian dispensation wars have been many, but the entire New Testament passes them all over, and gives them no notice whatever. This silence of Scripture ought to cause special inquiry, and produce moderation as to predictions at the present time.

These solemn events should have a voice to us, surely. They show how barbaric men are under their veneer of culture and refinement. With all the privileges that the most enlightened parts of the earth have enjoyed, we see that human nature abides the same, depraved, sinful, cruel. The first three chapters of the epistle to the Romans are verified before our eyes to-day-"None good," "Feet swift to shed blood," "Destruction and misery in their ways," "The way of peace they have not known," and " No fear of God before their eyes."

But we must turn away from all these conditions -national, political and ecclesiastical, and as we view the second coming of our Lord Jesus, stand upon a safer foundation-the unerring word of God, and the promises left us by the Lord Jesus. Do we believe His coming is near ? If so, what is our basis for such & belief ? If the New Testament is carefully read, from the 14th chapter of John, where the Lord Himself says, "I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also," throughout, to the close of the Church history in Rev., chap. 3, the Lord's return is ever presented to the Church as its hope. From the infant days of the Church the second coming of Christ was ever before them. Wars gave them no evidence of the near approach of Christ's coming. It was the promises given by Christ and by the apostles that formed the basis of that hope. When the Thessalonians turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and waited for His Son from heaven (i Thess. i:9, 10), no great political event was occurring, yet the Church has never since been so stirred by, and joyfully looking for, that blessed hope. They were waiting for the fulfilment of His promise, "I will come again." Their hearts were encouraged in this hope by the pen of the apostle, "A little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.." The sure word of God, we repeat, was the firm basis upon which they looked for Christ's return.

Is it not a mark of the Church's deep declension that events such as these are required to stir us to look for the Lord's second coming? Does it not prove that we are not searching that Word as for , hid treasures ? Does it not prove that we are not hanging upon that special promise left us before He went away, and that we are not making that blessed hope our meat and drink continually ?

Were they wrong in those early days in waiting for the Lord's return ? Surely not. It was their bright morning star. They looked for it, they longed for it; but grace withheld that longed for hope in order that the longsuffering of God might be fully expressed to this poor world. But the sands of time are running through the glass. Some day, how soon we cannot say, the last grain shall drop; then, whether war is present or not, the whole Church will rise as one to join her glorified Lord in the air, and be forever with Him.

Passing over the whole Church history till about 80 years ago, the midnight cry then was heard, "Behold He cometh, go ye forth to meet Him." Surrounding events did not lead to that cry. Men searched their Bibles. The Holy Spirit illuminated its pages, and that blessed hope was once more found and its power realized:"The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven;" "Surely, I come quickly." The truth as to the Church-the Bride of Christ-was also recovered, and the Bride then answered:"Even so, come, Lord Jesus." And this is the true spiritual attitude of every child of God, to be looking and waiting for the Lord at any time. Let this blessed hope be yours and mine, dear reader, sanctifying every day of our life.

Times and dates refer not to our time and day, we repeat, they refer to the time following the rapture of God's people to heaven. After the Church's translation to glory, an earthly people with earthly hopes and earthly promises, with dates, years, months and days before them, will watch the occurring events with the greatest concern. That period will divide into two parts:the first three years and a half shall be marked by certain characteristics, and the last three years and a half by different ones. To this period Matthew 24 refers. In the first half of those seven years, there shall be wars and rumors of wars, but our Lord tells them, "See that ye be not troubled . . . the end is not yet."

We have previously referred to the importance of having Scripture in its right place. The passage just quoted has again and again been taken out of its true setting and placed in our dispensation, which is greatly confusing. The passage refers to the end of Israel's history, to Daniel's last seven years, and has no connection whatever with the Christian age. In that chapter the sign of His coining and the end of the age do not refer to the Christian age, nor to Christ's coming to the air, but to the period following our dispensation. In this verse our Lord says, " See that ye be not troubled, the end is not yet "-other things must transpire before the end of that period. The gospel of the kingdom must be proclaimed by the Jewish witnesses. The abomination spoken of by Daniel the prophet (an idol worship set up in the temple at Jerusalem) must be set up, and other signs recorded in this chapter. Immediately after the tribulation of those days they shall see the Son of Man coming in glory and power to inaugurate a new era upon earth, a period called the millennium, when Christ will rule over all the earth.

With this chapter clear in our minds, we may, return to our present age, and from a New Testament standpoint look up to heaven where Christ has gone, and, according to His promise, look for Him who loves us and gave Himself for us. This is of prime importance for us as God's people. The Christian heart hangs upon the promise, believing it is near, even at the door.

Christ was first promised in Genesis (chap. 3:15). Faith, in God's people, ever looked for His coming. Skeptics may have said, "Where is the promise of His coming?"-after 4000 years the promise was fulfilled. The Babe was born in Bethlehem according to prophetic scripture. Now that God's Son has been rejected, crucified, has risen from the dead, ascended up to heaven, God's right hand, the promise concerning His coming again is presented to us. At God’s appointed moment, as the promise of the Old Testament concerning His first coming was fulfilled, so will His promise be.

Let us afresh gird our loins, trim our lamps, and be like unto men who wait for their Lord. A. E. B.