have a private and a public ending. First, He is coming for the Church (John 14:3); second, He is coming with His Church (Jude 14). The first stage is in Grace, the second is in Judgment. One is at the beginning of the Tribulation period, the other is at the end. One is His “ parousia” or presence as related to His Church, the other is His “ epiphania” or manifestation ( apokalypsis ) as related to Israel. In the first aspect, He comes in the air; in the second, to the earth. In the first, only His own shall see Him; in the second, “ every eye shall see Him and they also that pierced Him.” Nothing inter venes between the Church and the first aspect of His second coming. It can happen at any time; it is immi nent. Many prophecies must be fulfilled before He can come openly. We had in Winston-Salem, N.C., where the writer makes his home, an incident a few years ago that affords a good parallel to these two aspects of our Lord’s return. Wake Forest College, the writer’s Alma Mater, was to break ground intending ultimately to move the college 110 miles from Wake Forest, where the school had thrived for 115 years, to Winston-Salem. Millions of dollars had been given by the Reynolds estate. The occasion was important. So important indeed as to seek the President of the United States as the speaker, who at that time was President Harry S. Truman. Mr. Tru man accepted the invitation. The day was appointed. However, there were two aspects to his one coming. First, he came to Winston-Salem in the official plane, unscheduled, timeless and signless; the Secret Service saw to it that it was so. He came not to town, not to the sight of the ground breaking, but to the airport some miles out. There he was met by a delegation of some seventy persons including the President of the College, the trustees, the city dignitaries and representatives of the Reynolds family. It was a particular, prearranged group who met the President of the United States. At the airport they formed a caravan; the President’s spe cial car had been driven down from Washington for the occasion. From the airport the procession moved some three miles to the well-guarded Reynolds estate where a special banquet had been prepared to be served at the hour of 12:30. Only invited guests were present; none other was permitted. It was a private affair. At exactly 2:00 this same group, led by Mr. Truman’s car, appeared at the scene of the ground breaking where there awaited 20,000 citizens. There he spoke and broke ground. This last was a public affair. We were all there. President Truman made one trip to Winston-Salem, but the trip had two aspects. We gather from Scripture that our Lord will descend from Heaven with a shout, with a voice, with a trump to meet His own who are caught up to meet Him in the air (I Thess. 4:13-17). The wedding supper (Rev. 19:7-10) now takes place. Then at the end of the Tribu lation Christ Himself, with His Bride, descends to the earth in splendor and glory first to judge, cleanse, and then reign (Rev. 19:11-20:6). According to Zechariah 14:4, His feet are to stand upon the Mount of Olives when He is to be seen as King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. These two stages of His return are in strict accord with His first advent which had both a private and public aspect. In His return He comes first to the Church as the “ Bright and Morning Star” (Rev. 22:16); second, He comes to Israel as the “ Sun of Righteousness” (Mai. 4:2). V. W H A T W IL L HAPPEN? Here we concern ourselves with the miracle wrapped up in the truth of our Lord’s return. It is more won
derful than any earthly romance. There is no theme in the Word of God that can so thrill the child of God. An understanding of its nature and importance fascin ates the heart, kindles the interest, and fires the hope of all who love the Lord. First, there will be the resurrection of those who sleep in Jesus. “The dead in Christ shall rise first;” not all the dead but the “ dead in Christ.” There is no general resurrection taught in Scripture where the just and un just will be raised; see “ out from the dead ones” (Phil. 3:10, margin). “But the rest of the dead live again until the 1,000 years were finished.” There are at least two resurrections taught in Scripture, “ resurrection of life . . . the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28-29). Second, the rapture of the living saints, “ Then we which are alive and remain . . . shall be changed” (I Thess. 4:17). “We shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” Oh, the joy of going with out dying. Third, there will be a meeting in the air “ together” (I Thess. 4:17). Think of it! We will see Lord; the One whom we having not seen yet love. Oh, what rapture and delight when we behold Him ever to be with the Lord! “Together,” yes, and with our blessed dead in our Father’s house (John 14:1-3). Fourth, there will be a great separation. Many will be left behind (Luke 17:26-36) to experience the throes of the great tribulation, and if saved in the tribulation, suffer the martyr’s death (Rev. 20:4). The horror of horrors is to be left when the saints have been taken and the Devil is on the rampage (Rev. 12:12). It pays to get right with God now, and one can only be set right with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Fifth, there will be the judgment seat of Christ. Ac cording to I Cor. 3, II Cor. 5, and Romans 14 all be lievers must appear before the “ Bema judgment seat”— this is a judgment of reward. The believer will never come in judgment where the issues of life and death are at stake. “ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath ever lasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24). Our eternal safety will never be brought into jeopardy again. That matter was forever settled at the Cross—once and for all. However, the saved must be judged as to their faithful ness as servants. This will take place most likely in the air ere our Lord returns in open glory. Every uncon fessed sin must be given an account of; every sin we confess before Him will be put under the blood. “ For if we judge ourselves, we shall not be judged” (I Cor. 11: 31). Sixth, and finally, there will be the marriage supper of the Lamb. He is going to make us sit down to the supper and He, Himself will gird Himself and come forth and serve His own (Luke 12:37-38). There are wonderful things in store for all those who love the Lord. V I. A N D W H A T DOES TH IS M EAN T O TH E UNSAVED? If one is not a Christian, if one has not been bom again, this means nothing to such an individual in his present state. It is as though God had not sent His Son, as though He had not risen from the grave so far as that individual is concerned. It is possible to belong to Him now through simple, trusting faith. Pardon, salvation and life can and will come to all who put their trust in Him. Through such a relationship the believer’s in heritance is indescribable and glorious. ‘ President, Piedmont Bible College; Pastor, Salem Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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DECEMBER, 1960
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