church goes through the Tribulation she would thus know the very day when Christ would come for her. There is no evading this conclusion. If thoughtful believers will ponder this fact, it will convince them of the unscriptural- ness of the posttribulation rapture. So evidently does posttribulationism set the exact date of Christ’s coming that some of their writers have admitted it. Evidently without seeing that the admission is fatal to their position, Nathaniel West and J. J. Scruby both declare that the church will know the time of Christ’s coming! Dr. West says, “When the Antichrist and the Jews are in ‘covenant’ at the beginning of the seventi eth week, and clearer still, when the breach occurs between them at the ‘middle of the week,’ then the determination of the year, perhaps the month, but never of the ‘day and hour’ will be certain.” But why did not Dr. West say the day itself would be as easy to know as the year and month? People can count up to 1260. The plain fact is he hesitated to follow the clear implication of his position, because it would reveal the date of the rapture, and that, said our Lord, no man would know. John Scruby had no such reticence, and pursued the matter to its logical conclusion. He wrote, “May it not be that so accurate are biblical times and season, that the coming of Christ will occur seven Roman years, of 360 days each, to the very hour, from the time that Anti christ will confirm the covenant with the Jews? Hence may it not be possible for us to know the day and hour of Christ’s return?” And, of course, it will be possible to know the date of Christ’s descent to earth with His saints, but never of His coming in the air to receive them unto Himself as
promised in John 14:3. This is so clearly and repeatedly declared by our Lord, that it offers almost infallible proof that there are two stages of Christ’s coming. The coming in the air at the rapture, and the coming to the earth at the end of the Great Tribulation, are the two different stages of the one over-all event — the second coming of Christ. The first stage is unheralded, and will be for multitudes utterly unexpected; the second stage will be preceded by spectacular signs, and earth-shaking events. The time of the rapture will not and cannot be known; the time of the descent to earth may and prob ably will be known. 6: THE PROMISES OF AN UNANNOUNCED RAPTURE ARE RENDERED MEANINGLESS The merest tyro in prophetic study knows that the coming for the church is set forth as an unheralded event. There will be no immediate sign, no warning given beforehand. Look at some of these promises: Jesus said, “ If the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up” (Matt. 24:43). A thief sends no notice before hand of his coming. Even thus will the Lord come to ask His servants to give account of their stewardship. Jesus also said, “ Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is” (Mark 13:33). Clearly no sign will be given of the translation to heaven. He said further, “Watch ye therefore; for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping” (Mark 13:35). Imagine any believer in Christ being asleep regarding the Lord’s return during the terrible days of the Great
W e ’ r e NOT WASTING S-P-A-C-E ON small TALK!
Since the students have moved to the new campus hotel rooms are available all year. T A 3\
Good accomodations for Christian, conventions; they have a choicei downtown location. ¡tia f > /
The biggest, best meal I ’ve/ had at so low a price. --------------------------------T '—
Itb a good place for Christians to meet and eat after going to their downtown church, or while shopping on week-days.
WHERE?
T h e BIBLE INSTITUTE HOTEL AND CAFETERIA — 558 S. HOPE ST. — LOS ANGELES 17, CALIFORNIA
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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