the desire of ages-第135节
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this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations； and then shall the end come。〃 By giving the gospel to the world it is in our power to hasten our Lord's return。 We are not only to look for but to hasten the coming of the day of God。 2 Peter 3：12； margin。 Had
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the church of Christ done her appointed work as the Lord ordained； the whole world would before this have been warned； and the Lord Jesus would have come to our earth in power and great glory。
After He had given the signs of His coming； Christ said； 〃When ye see these things come to pass； know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand。〃 〃Take ye heed； watch and pray。〃 God has always given men warning of coming judgments。 Those who had faith in His message for their time； and who acted out their faith； in obedience to His commandments； escaped the judgments that fell upon the disobedient and unbelieving。 The word came to Noah； 〃Come thou and all thy house into the ark； for thee have I seen righteous before Me。〃 Noah obeyed and was saved。 The message came to Lot； 〃Up； get you out of this place； for the Lord will destroy this city。〃 Gen。 7：1； 19：14。 Lot placed himself under the guardianship of the heavenly messengers； and was saved。 So Christ's disciples were given warning of the destruction of Jerusalem。 Those who watched for the sign of the coming ruin； and fled from the city； escaped the destruction。 So now we are given warning of Christ's second coming and of the destruction to fall upon the world。 Those who heed the warning will be saved。
Because we know not the exact time of His coming； we are commanded to watch。 〃Blessed are those servants； whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching。〃 Luke 12：37。 Those who watch for the Lord's coming are not waiting in idle expectancy。 The expectation of Christ's coming is to make men fear the Lord； and fear His judgments upon transgression。 It is to awaken them to the great sin of rejecting His offers of mercy。 Those who are watching for the Lord are purifying their souls by obedience to the truth。 With vigilant watching they combine earnest working。 Because they know that the Lord is at the door； their zeal is quickened to co…operate with the divine intelligences in working for the salvation of souls。 These are the faithful and wise servants who give to the Lord's household 〃their portion of meat in due season。〃 Luke 12：42。 They are declaring the truth that is now specially applicable。 As Enoch； Noah； Abraham； and Moses each declared the truth for his time； so will Christ's servants now give the special warning for their generation。
But Christ brings to view another class： 〃If that evil servant shall say in his heart； My lord delayeth his coming； and shall begin to smite his fellow servants； and to eat and drink with the drunken； the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him。〃
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The evil servant says in his heart； 〃My lord delayeth his coming。〃 He does not say that Christ will not come。 He does not scoff at the idea of His second coming。 But in his heart and by his actions and words he declares that the Lord's coming is delayed。 He banishes from the minds of others the conviction that the Lord is coming quickly。 His influence leads men to presumptuous； careless delay。 They are confirmed in their worldliness and stupor。 Earthly passions； corrupt thoughts； take possession of the mind。 The evil servant eats and drinks with the drunken； unites with the world in pleasure seeking。 He smites his fellow servants； accusing and condemning those who are faithful to their Master。 He mingles with the world。 Like grows with like in transgression。 It is a fearful assimilation。 With the world he is taken in the snare。 〃The lord of that servant shall come 。 。 。 in an hour that he is not aware of； and shall cut him asunder； and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites。〃
〃If therefore thou shalt not watch； I will come on thee as a thief； and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee。〃 Rev。 3：3。 The advent of Christ will surprise the false teachers。 They are saying； 〃Peace and safety。〃 Like the priests and teachers before the fall of Jerusalem； they look for the church to enjoy earthly prosperity and glory。 The signs of the times they interpret as foreshadowing this。 But what saith the word of Inspiration？ 〃Sudden destruction cometh upon them。〃 1 Thess。 5：3。 Upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth； upon all who make this world their home； the day of God will come as a snare。 It comes to them as a prowling thief。
The world； full of rioting； full of godless pleasure； is asleep； asleep in carnal security。 Men are putting afar off the coming of the Lord。 They laugh at warnings。 The proud boast is made； 〃All things continue as they were from the beginning。〃 〃Tomorrow shall be as this day； and much more abundant。〃 2 Peter 3：4； Isa。 56：12。 We will go deeper into pleasure loving。 But Christ says； 〃Behold； I come as a thief。〃 Rev。 16：15。 At the very time when the world is asking in scorn； 〃Where is the promise of His coming？〃 the signs are fulfilling。 While they cry； 〃Peace and safety；〃 sudden destruction is coming。 When the scorner； the rejecter of truth； has become presumptuous； when the routine of work in the various money…making lines is carried on without regard to principle； when the student is eagerly seeking knowledge of everything but his Bible； Christ comes as a thief。
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Everything in the world is in agitation。 The signs of the times are ominous。 Coming events cast their shadows before。 The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth； and calamity follows calamity by sea and by land。 There are tempests； earthquakes； fires； floods； murders of every grade。 Who can read the future？ Where is security？ There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly。 Rapidly are men ranging themselves under the banner they have chosen。 Restlessly are they waiting and watching the movements of their leaders。 There are those who are waiting and watching and working for our Lord's appearing。 Another class are falling into line under the generalship of the first great apostate。 Few believe with heart and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win。
The crisis is stealing gradually upon us。 The sun shines in the heavens； passing over its usual round； and the heavens still declare the glory of God。 Men are still eating and drinking； planting and building； marrying； and giving in marriage。 Merchants are still buying and selling。 Men are jostling one against another； contending for the highest place。 Pleasure lovers are still crowding to theaters； horse races； gambling hells。 The highest excitement prevails； yet probation's hour is fast closing； and every case is about to be eternally decided。 Satan sees that his time is short。 He has set all his agencies at work that men may be deceived； deluded； occupied and entranced； until the day of probation shall be ended； and the door of mercy be forever shut。
Solemnly there come to us down through the centuries the warning words of our Lord from the Mount of Olives： 〃Take heed to yourselves； lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting； and drunkenness； and cares of this life； and so that day come upon you unawares。〃 〃Watch ye therefore； and pray always； that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass； and to stand before the Son of man。〃
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Chapter 70
〃The Least of These My Brethren〃
When the Son of man shall come in His glory； and all the holy angels with Him； then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory： and before Him shall be gathered all nations： and He shall separate them one from another。〃 Thus Christ on the Mount of Olives pictured to His disciples the scene of the great judgment day。 And He represented its decision as turning upon one point。 When the nations are gathered before Him； there will be but two classes； and their eternal destiny will be determined by what they have done or have neglected to do for Him in the person of the poor and the suffering。
In that day Christ does not present before men the great work He has done for them in giving His life for their redemption。 He presents the faithful work they have done for Him。 To those whom He sets upon His right hand He will say； 〃Come； ye blessed of My Father； inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world： for I was an hungered； and ye gave Me meat： I was thirsty； and ye gave Me drink： I was a stranger； and ye took Me in： naked； and ye clothed Me： I was sick； and ye visited Me： I was in prison； and ye came unto Me。〃 But those whom Christ commends know not that they have been ministering unto Him。 To their perplexed inquiries He answers； 〃Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren； ye have done it unto Me。〃
Jesus had told His disciples that they were to be hated of all men； to be persecuted and afflicted。 Many would be driven from their homes； and brought to poverty。 Many would be in distress th
