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Commentary on "The Message of the Prophets"
Day 6: Thursday, March 5, 2009
Today’s lesson looks at the manner of Christ’s coming, why it is important, and what deceptions Jesus warned us about. The Adventist understanding of the Second Coming is “far different” from some accounts of end time events, such as the “Late Great Planet Earth,” and the “Left Behind” series by Hal Lindsay. Adventists also believe in the nearness of His coming, it is part of their identity. What does the Bible teach? The reference texts are Matthew 24:5, 24-31, and Revelation 1:7.
A particular doctrine that concerns Adventists is the “secret rapture,” introduced by John Darby in the 19th century. This doctrine separates the coming of Christ into two stages, where the first stage has the true Christians being caught up seven years before the public appearing of Christ. The author states that Adventists find no scriptural evidence for such a separation of events: the Second Coming is one event that is visible and audible. We are reminded of Jesus’ warning about false interpretations and predictions.
Problems
- “Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD!
Why would you have the day of the LORD?
It is darkness, and not light…” Amos 5:18
Books and movies featuring end times have swept the Christian church today, and have helped to satisfy the hungry curiosity for details of the last events. There is tremendous speculation in these works to fill the knowledge gaps left by the words of Jesus. The author is right to point to the warning of Jesus about predicting details of his coming, “He is here, he is there!”
John Piper pointed out that when we construct a detailed pattern of end time events, and expect that pattern to unfold according to our expectations, we are setting up our hopes for failure, for a crisis of faith (John Piper, “Misgivings About Hal Lindsay’s ‘Planet Earth’”, 1974). Many Christians today look to the news, intensely focused on political struggles and military conflicts, and find confirmation for their speculations there. But Jesus’ warnings have a different focus, knowing him and caring for our neighbor.
There is a need for humility all around. We are reminded of a certain preacher back in the 1830’s who constructed an elaborate chart of prophecy, replete with calculations and specific dates of Christ’s arrival. The early Advent movement lived and breathed apocalyptic speculation, and when Jesus did not arrive on time, they reworked the calculations again and again, with more disappointments, stretching into the 1850’s. They finally had to change the location of Christ’s (invisible, inaudible) coming into a room in heaven. “He is here!” morphed into “He is there!”
Since that time, like many other Christians, many Adventists continue to watch the news for fulfillment of their detailed patterns of prophecy, and becoming excited by events such as both world wars, and the election of JFK, the Roman Catholic president. Each of these was to usher in the time of trouble. Many Christians have stopped looking for (or hoping for) positive events, and become obsessed with disasters and conflicts, while often neglecting the seeking of peace with all men (Rom. 12:18) and caring for their neighbors.
We Christians are often like Jonah, sitting outside the city, hoping for calamity to vindicate our predictions. Amos warned us about hoping for the disastrous day of darkness, the day of the Lord, “Why would you have the day of the LORD?” He called for his people, and us, to instead “establish justice in the gate” (Amos 5:15)
With the author of the lesson, I also find no solid scriptural support for a separate coming of Christ to take a select few. This doctrine does not parallel the intense longing of Christ to save “to the uttermost,” until the very last second of earth’s history. I also remember, as a young Adventist, the thrilling stories of running into the hills, just ahead of the guns and barking dogs of the Sunday keepers. There was much talk of preparation for that day. The passion to seek and save the lost evaporated.
Summary
- There are many real followers of Jesus who will disagree with a single stage coming, who have studied this much more than I have.
- Where we can gather in fellowship is over the bread and the cup, remembering the blood and sacrifice for the lost and dangerous like us, and that he is with us “until the end of the world.”
- We are not given a spirit of fear, but adoption.
Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised March 6, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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