At Our Lord’s Second Presence

QUITE a number think that when sinners are converted, that forms a part of the coming of Christ, and that so he will continue coming until all the world is converted. Then, they say, he will have fully come. These evidently forget the testimony of the Scriptures on the subject, which declares the reverse of their expectation; that at the time of our Lord’s second coming the world will be far from converted to God; that “in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God” (II Tim. 3:1-4); that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (verse 13) They forget the Master’s warning to his little flock: “Take heed to yourselves, lest … that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.” (Luke 21:34,35) Again, we may rest assured that when it is said, “All kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him,” when they see him coming (Rev. 1:7), no reference is made to the conversion of sinners. Do all men wail because of the conversion of sinners? On the contrary, if this passage refers, as almost all admit, to Christ’s second presence, it teaches that all on earth will not love his appearing, as they certainly would do if all were converted.