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The Coming of Christ
from the body” is “to be at home with the Lord ;” but death is for us inseparable from pain and loss and sorrow and tears and anguish; and even those who are now with their Lord, in heavenly joy, are waiting for their bodies of glory and for the rewards and reunions which will be theirs at the appearing of Christ. More marvelous than the scenes at Pentecost, more start ling than the fall of Jerusalem, more blessed than the indwell ing of the Spirit or the departure to be with the Lord, will be the literal,.visible, bodily, return of Christ. No event may seem less probable to unaided human reason; no event is more certain in the light of inspired Scripture. “This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him” (Acts 1:11; Rev. 1 :7 ). II. HIS COMING, GLORIOUS This coming of Christ is to be glorious, not only in its at tendant circumstances, but also in its effects upon the Church and the world. Our Lord predicted that He would return “in His own glory, and the glory of His Father, and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26). He will then be revealed in His Divine majesty. Once during His earthly ministry, on the mount of transfiguration, there was given to His followers a glimpse of the royal splendor He had for a time laid aside, and in which He will again appear. As on the great day of atonement the high priest put off his usual robes “for glory and for beauty” and appeared in spotless white, when he offered the sacrifices for sin and went into the holy place to intercede for the waiting people, so our Great High Priest laid aside the robes of His imperial majesty when stooping from heaven He assumed His garb of sinless flesh, and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice and entered into the holy places not made with hands to appear in the
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