The Hope of the Church 117 left His servants behind with the command, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:12, 13). One evening during the last week He sat on the Mount of Olives, looking down no doubt upon the massive buildings of the temple, the total destruction of which He had just foretold. The disciples gathered about Him with the request: “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming and of the end of the world?” (Matt. 24:3). It is evident from the form of this question that His coming was no new thought to them. I t was occupying their minds already. They knew that He was coming again, and they wished to know how to recog- nize the approach of that event. In answer to the question, the Lord unfolded a panorama of intervening history, and emphasized the need of watchfulness because the time of His coming would be uncertain. “Watch therefore, for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh. Therefore be ye also ready, for in an hour that ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” He enforced this teaching with two striking illus- trations of the twofold kind of preparation needed on the part of the disciples, the inward preparation of spiritual life set forth in the parable of the virgins, and the outward prepa- ration of diligent service in that of the talents. Then He closed His discourse with a graphic picture of the changed conditions in which He would appear when He came the sec- ond time as the Son of Man sitting upon the throne of His glory. Through the sad and dark hours of the very last night His thoughts were occupied with His return. In the upper room, when the faithful little band were grouped about Him in sorrow for the parting which all vaguely felt was near, He began His farewell words to them with this comforting assur- ance: “Let not your hearts be troubled. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go * * * I will come again” (John 14:1-3). A few hours afterwards He was in the midst of the shameful scenes of His trial. Mark His answer to
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