Athen's Library

Is Christ Delaying His Coming?

February 2007

In recent months over the airwaves, television ministers touching upon this question have been instilling in their audiences a degree of uncertainty.  This type of uncertainty leads to murmuring, to this end the Spirit directed me to address this question.

First and foremost Christ is not delaying His Coming.  It is His church that is delaying His Coming.  God has a timetable and this timetable is not open-ended, in other words there is a fixed point in time past which sin and sinners will no longer be allowed to exist.  On the other hand we have been offered several opportunities to return to God and keep His law but alas we refused.

I realize that this statement will be difficult for many, but let’s look at one fact.  In 1888 God sent a message to His church.  Mrs. White reports that this message was rejected, concerning the men who attended the General Conference in November of 1888 she writes …they have had all the opportunity God will ever give them to know He has given these men [A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner] a work to do, and a message to bear which is present truth for this time.  1888 228  After spending two years supporting this message as it was brought before the laity in our schools, churches and camp meetings, she reported that had this message been accepted we could have been in the City of God within a few years.  (Note: Read “Taking Up A Reproach”)  Here in black and white we have one documented instance where the church, not God, delayed His Coming.

Solemn are the scenes connected with the closing work of the atonement. Momentous are the interests therein involved. The Judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. Forty years has this work been in progress. Soon--none know how soon--it will pass to the cases of the living. In the awful presence of God our lives are to come up in review. At this time above all others it behooves every soul to heed the Saviour's admonition, "Watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is." [MARK 13:33, 35, 36.]  4SP 314.

A mere forty years after the end of the 2300 day/year prophecy concerning the First Advent, God had already orchestrated all of the events required to prepare the world for the message of the Second Advent.  It was at this time (the year 1884) that God impressed Mrs. White to pen these words about the judgment, Soon--none know how soon--it will pass to the cases of the living.  God was already working in the lives of Elders Jones and Waggoner, tutoring them in a present truth message that could prepare the church to receive the full message of the “Revelation 18 Angel” as the judgment passed from the cases of the dead to those of the living.  The information the church needed to be able to Watch ye therefore, ... lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping, is what was rejected.  God was not caught off guard when the message was rejected.  God allowed the church to postpone His coming, continuing at certain appointed times to send messages asking …How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him… 1 Kings 18:21.

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  Luke 3:8.

I’m not sure what the excuse was back then for rejecting a message Ellen White called present truth.  But I do know what excuse is used today.  It is purported that the church already has the Spirit of Prophecy in her midst, and it’s sitting right there on the shelves of the bookcase.  Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, God does not use a dead-man to ground His power to the earth like manmade power is grounded, but rather He always uses a live-man, a living human being.

The prophecies in the eighteenth of Revelation will soon be fulfilled. During the proclamation of the third angel's message, "another angel" is to "come down from heaven, having great power," and the earth is to be "lightened with his glory." The Spirit of the Lord will so graciously bless consecrated human instrumentalities that men, women, and children will open their lips in praise and thanksgiving, filling the earth with the knowledge of God, and with His unsurpassed glory, as the waters cover the sea.  7BC 984.

Notice that the text says “another angel” is to come (future tense) during the time the third angel’s message is being given.  This angel comes with a message that will lighten (totally illuminating the minds and hearts of man) the whole earth with the glory of God.  This angel does not come down and teach the message Himself but rather brings it to a human agent not unlike Mrs. White who brought the third angels message or William Miller who brought the first and second angels messages.  It is important to know that the “another angel” is to come” and “Soon--none know how soon--it will pass to the cases of the living.”  refers to different facets the same event.  In other words the message brought by the angel of Revelation 18 begins as the judgment passes from the dead to the living.  It is during the judgment of the living, that each living individual is called into the presents of the Judge. In the awful presence of God our lives are to come up in review.  Those that reject this message (a repeat of the message brought by Elders Jones and Waggoner) will find themselves standing naked before the Judge.  By their own action of refusing to put on Christ’s righteousness they separate themselves out from among God’s people.

For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.  And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.  Acts 3:22-23.

Let’s put this in perspective.  God is not delaying His coming; it is His church that is making the delays.  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance  2 Peter 3:9.  He continues to send this message to His church, a message that is in essence the wedding garment (Christ Righteousness) and the church continues to say …I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  Revelation 3:17.   It is due to the naked part that God sends this message to His church.  The wretched, miserable, poor, and blind attributes the Holy Spirit can deal with, all that He asks is that they accept and put on the wedding garment.

The most important question then is what was the message brought by Elders Jones and Wagoner?  Many say it was a message of Righteousness by Faith, and that it has already been accepted by the church.  This is only half true and all of us know that a half truth is really a lie.  Martin Luther brought a message of Righteousness by Faith and it is this message the church embraces.  The present truth message brought in 1888 was also a Righteousness by Faith message, but it was concerning the law as it is presented in the book of Galatians.  Mrs. White wrote this about Elders Jones and Wagoner as they brought their message before the church ministry, These men were just as sincere as those who criticized, men of correct principles--but who did not harmonize with their views concerning the law in Galatians.  Any student who while looking over their core courses and notices two with the same name immediately knows that the 101 course and the graduate course will be different.  The same is true here.  Martin Luther taught that righteousness can not be purchased, manufactured or obtained by unrighteous humanity through any work or action except by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  The Righteousness by Faith message brought in 1888 is like adding the book of James to the equation.  Most Christians are happy to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but God wants His followers to stand out from the world by their actions.  Anyone that is cold and naked can accept the free gift of a nice worm coat but they are still cold and naked until they physically reach out, take the garment and put it on.  The message in 1888 came to demonstrate to the church how to put on the free gift of Christ’s Righteousness so they would be able to stand as the judgment past to the names of the living.  

I am asked concerning the law in Galatians. What law is the school-master to bring us to Christ? I answer: Both the ceremonial and the moral code of ten commandments.

Christ was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy. The death of Abel was in consequence of Cain refusing to accept God's plan in the school of obedience to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ typified by the sacrificial offerings pointing to Christ. Cain refused the shedding of blood which symbolized the blood of Christ to be shed for the world. This whole ceremony was prepared by God, and Christ became the foundation of the whole system. This is the beginning of its work as the schoolmaster to bring sinful human agents to a consideration of Christ the Foundation of the whole Jewish economy.”  1888 1725.

By putting on the coats of skin made for them by God, Adam and Eve put on Christ’s Righteousness.  Cain on the other hand refused to be taught by the schoolmaster.  This act made it impossible for him to envision the work of his redeemer as the smitten Lamb of God and thus in ignorance he refused to put on Christ’s Righteousness.  We also are asked to put on Christ’s Righteousness.  The blood of Jesus has already been shed and it would a horrendous act of unbelief if we were to again shed the blood of animals.  What then is left for us to do, we can not shed Christ’s blood all over again!  What we are asked to do is to allow the schoolmaster …Both the ceremonial and the moral code of ten commandments… to teach us the work of Jesus as He continues to perform His priestly obligation in the sanctuary in Heaven.  By doing this we by faith (righteous by faith) enter within the vail with Him and …follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth… Revelation 4:14.

The intercession of Christ in man's behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was his death upon the cross. By his death he began that work which after his resurrection he ascended to complete in Heaven. We must by faith enter within the vail, "whither the forerunner is for us entered." There the light from the cross of Calvary is reflected. There we may gain a clearer insight into the mysteries of redemption. The salvation of man is accomplished at an infinite expense to Heaven; the sacrifice made is equal to the broadest demands of the broken law of God. Jesus has opened the way to the Father's throne, and through his mediation the sincere desire of all who come to him in faith may be presented before God.  4SP 313.

Many of you have had the opportunity to try to follow another car through traffic.  Depending upon the leader and the following drivers personal experience level this usually does not prove to be too difficult.  Imagine though, trying this same exercise on a dark foggy night.  It becomes obvious in this situation you must have the leaders itinerary, not only do you need the waypoints, but we also need the exact time of arrival and departure from each.  Jesus also has an itinerary for His work in the sanctuary in Heaven.  There are exact times and days spelled out in the Law of the Sanctuary upon which the sacrifices that pointed to “The Lamb of God” were offered.  These were given to us so we could comprehend His work for us in the Sanctuary.  How many of us are meeting up with Him at all of His waypoints?

Righteousness by Faith Does Not Downgrade the Law.--Holding up Christ as our only source of strength, presenting His matchless love in having the guilt of the sins of men charged to His account and His own righteousness imputed to man, in no case does away with the law or detracts from its dignity. Rather, it places it where the correct light shines upon and glorifies it. This is done only through the light reflected from the cross of Calvary. The law is complete and full in the great plan of salvation, only as it is presented in the light shining from the crucified and risen Saviour. This can be only spiritually discerned. It kindles in the heart of the beholder ardent faith, hope, and joy that Christ is his righteousness. This joy is only for those who love and keep the words of Jesus, which are the words of God.  3SM 176.

Many of the Old Testament prophets foresaw the condition of the church in the last days.  To us they give this advice, turn away from celebrating Baal and return to God and worship Him on His Sabbaths instead of worshiping God on Baal’s Sabbaths.

Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?  Malachi 3:7.

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 11:19-20.

Now it becomes unmistakably evident that it is not Christ who is delaying His coming, He is only waiting for His people to return and keep His commandments, statutes and laws.

Your obeying "all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments" of the moral law of Moses, you see, is your evidence that you have been born again, that you have been endowed with power from above, that you are enabled to choose the good and to refuse the evil, that you are the children of God.  Keeping the commandments and the statutes in the Lord, then is the light and shield of your life.  It is the outward sign that by the life of Christ you have overcome the Enemy of your soul and body.  This system of worship, therefore, is truly the Righteousness by faith that brings the righteousness of Christ in the people of God.  Let us now with ears wide open hear the crier's bell:  2 TG pg.37.

Athen Slawson