In presenting
the truth as to the second coming of our Lord Jesus it is imperative that we
follow the clear lines of Holy Scripture. 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 (Dan. 9:20-27), 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). The millennium that follows is a thousand year period called the “Day of
the Lord” (1 Thess. 5:2; 2 Pet. 3:10). The eternal state that follows the
millennium is styled the “Day of God” and also the “Day of Eternity” (2 Pet.
3:12,18 JND).   In Daniel, as also in Rev. 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 that 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. We are now [this was written in the year 1916] about 1900
years on in our Christian age. The spirit of lawlessness had already begun in
the apostle’s day. How much more now (1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-13; 1 John
2:18-19).

The world is
now confronted with an appalling war [World War I]. We should not underestimate
the gigantic struggle now going on among 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 (1 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. 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.

Within our own
lifetime we can remember the great war that was waged between Russia and Turkey
(two nations that 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.

Since then
there have been conflicts between Greece and Turkey, Italy and Turkey, and the
Balkan States and Turkey, but each time peace was restored and the end of the
age has not come.

Now we are in
the second year of a war that 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! 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, amid 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. It is very important to note that in all the New
Testament no war is mentioned after the one predicted by the Lord concerning
the Romans’ destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 21:20-24) until we come to Rev. 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.

The apostle
Paul’s entire ministry, in which are fully made known the characteristic
features of our age as well as the marks of its close, passes over this entire
subject and never once mentions these struggles or wars among the nations.
Throughout the history of Christianity there have been many wars, but the
entire New Testament passes them all over and gives them no prophetic notice
whatever. This silence of Scripture ought to cause special inquiry and produce
moderation as to predictions at the present time.

We must turn
away from all these conditions—national, political, and ecclesiastical. As we
view the second coming of our Lord Jesus we 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 a belief? From John 14 to
Rev. 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 (1 Thess. 1:9,10), 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
fulfillment of His promise, “I will come again” (John 14:3). Their hearts were
encouraged in this hope by the pen of the apostle, “For yet a little while, and
He that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Heb. 10:37). 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 this horrible world
war are required to stir us to look for the Lord’s second coming? 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?

Let us afresh
gird our loins, trim our lamps, and be “like unto men who wait for their Lord”
(Luke 12:35,36).

(From Help
and Food, Vol. 34.)