The Coming of Christ 95 (Isa. 2:1-4). Such an age, of which poets have sung and philosophers have dreamed, such an era as psalmists,1 and prophets, and apostles have promised, will dawn at the coming of the King. Inspired by such a hope the waiting Church has learned to sing: “Come, Lord, and tarry not; Bring the long looked for day; O, why these years of waiting here, These ages of delay? , , “Come, and make all things new; - ■
Build up this ruined earth ; Restore our faded Paradise, Creation’s second birth. “Come, and begin Thy reign Of everlasting peace; Come, take the kingdom to Thyself, Great King of righteousness.” III. vIMMINENT
The Bible further describes the coming of Christ as immi nent. It is an event which may occur in any lifetime. What ever difficulties the fact involves, there is no doubt that all the inspired writers and their fellow Christians believed that Christ might return in their generation. This has been the normal attitude of the Church ever since. Paul describes believers as men “who have turned to God from idols” and who “wait for His Son from heaven.” Christians are further described as “those that wait for Him,” and as “those that love His appear ing.” They a re ' everywhere in the New Testament exhorted to “watch,” and to be ready for the return of their Lord. His coming is their constant encouragement and inspiration and hope. (1 Thess. 4 :10 ; 2; Peter 4 :8 ; Matt. 24 : 42; Mark 13:35, 37; Luke 21:36; Phil. 4 :5 .)
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