The Signs of the Times, vol. 17

September 14, 1891

“The End Approaching” The Signs of the Times, 17, 37.

E. J. Waggoner

“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14. This language occurs in the discourse which the Saviour delivered in answer to the question, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” The entire chapter in which these words occur is an answer to this question. The question as to whether or not the Lord will come again is not mooted. There was no uncertainty in the minds of the disciples on this point. They very well knew that the Lord would come to reign over his people; all that troubled them was to know the signs which should precede his coming. These the Saviour proceeded to give. Besides the physical signs in the sun, moon, and stars, which have all been fulfilled, he gave the one which heads this paragraph, and which is now in process of fulfillment. SITI September 14, 1891, page 259.37

What is “this gospel of the kingdom”? It is that which our Saviour preached in all his earthly ministry. Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:14. “Gospel,” means “good news.” The gospel which is to be preached “in all the world,” “to all people,” is the good news of a Saviour, “which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10, 11. A Saviour must save people from something, and so we find that Jesus saves his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21. But the wrath of God (Romans 1:18; Ephesians 5:5, 6), resulting in death (Romans 6:23), is visited upon all sin; so that the salvation of people from sin must also be salvation from the wrath of God, and so it is (Romans 5:9). Being saved from sin may be equivalent to being justified by faith, but being saved from wrath is the final and complete salvation from sin and all its consequences. And this is the salvation of which Isaiah speaks when he says that “Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation.” Isaiah 45:17. It is that salvation which the apostle Peter says shall be brought unto us “at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:9-13. SITI September 14, 1891, page 259.38

This final salvation is the end or object of our faith. 1 Peter 1:9. People may talk as much as they please about doing right for its own sake, but the fact remains that if there were to be no future life there would be no incentive to right living. Paul says, that “if in this we” only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19), and in harmony with this he continues that if there is no resurrection we would do well to eat and drink, and get all the enjoyment we can from this life while it is passing (1 Corinthians 15:32). What comfort would it be to a sinner to assure him that his sins are all forgiven, but that there is nothing for him beyond this present life?—None at all. In such a case forgiveness of sins would profit him nothing. So then the preaching of the gospel comprehends not alone the announcement that Christ died for sinners, but that through his death he has brought immortality to light. We believe that no one who has ever professed to preach the gospel has omitted the fact that an eternal inheritance awaits the overcomers. SITI September 14, 1891, page 259.39

But this eternal inheritance is “reserved in heaven,” and is to be revealed only “in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:4, 5. It is only when Christ comes “the second time” that salvation is brought to them that look for him. Christ himself told his disciples (John 14:1-3) that he would come again to receive them unto himself so that they might be with him, plainly indicating that they could be with him in no other way except by his second coming. Even though they should die they could not be with him unless he should return. Compare John 8:21 and 13:33. And in harmony with this Paul says, “by the word of the Lord,” that “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so [that is, by this means] shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. SITI September 14, 1891, page 259.40

Now what have we found?—Just this: That the gospel brings to view eternal redemption, and that any preaching of the gospel which should omit the future inheritance of the saints would be very incomplete, and that there is no future inheritance for the saints unless the Lord comes again. Therefore we are justified in saying that the preaching of the gospel necessarily includes the preaching of the second coming of Christ, and that those who ignore or deny the second coming of Christ do not preach the whole gospel. Still further; in the fourteenth of Revelation we read of three messages that immediately precede the second coming of Christ. Verses 6-14. The first of these messages announces the hour of God’s judgment come, and it and the two which follow give instruction how to prepare for that event. The Third Angel’s Message includes both the others, and contains the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,—the sum of all the instruction necessary to make “the remnant of Israel” a pure people, prepared for the coming of the Lord. It is the gospel in its simplicity and purity, and is therefore the gospel just as it was preached by Christ and his apostles. It announces the second coming of Christ, and tells how to be ready for that event. Therefore we confidently affirm that our Saviour’s words in Matthew 24:14 may justly be paraphrased thus: “And the Third Angel’s Message shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” We think that no one who has carefully followed this brief exposition can dissent from this conclusion. SITI September 14, 1891, page 291.1

This thing,—the preaching of the Third Angel’s Message in all the world, to all nations,—is all that remains to be done before the coming of the Lord; and this work will be cut short in righteousness; “because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” Romans 9:28. And short indeed it must be, for we know from our Saviour’s own words that his coming is now so near that he is “even at the doors.” Matthew 24:33. The generation now living upon the earth will witness the coming of the Lord with all his holy angels. There is no conjecture about this, no assumption. It is just as true as that Christ is the Son of God. E. J. W. SITI September 14, 1891, page 291.2