| Highlights of DAWN | March 1977 |
“When the Son of Man Cometh”
“When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” —Luke 18:8
DURING his brief ministry on earth, and shortly before he was crucified, Jesus told his followers, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”—John 14:2,3
On another occasion, the disciples questioned him about this promised second advent. They asked him, “What shall be the sign of thy coming [presence], and of the end of the world [age]?”—Matt. 24:3
In his reply, Jesus indicated that prominent among the signs of his second advent, or presence, there would be extraordinary trouble in the world. He said, “For then [at that time] shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake [Greek, dia, by the elect] those days shall be shortened.”—Matt. 24:21,22
We believe the world is even now experiencing the foretold time of trouble which our Lord said would be a sign of his second presence. For never before in all the history of mankind have so many diverse and difficult problems come to focus at one point in time. Indeed, the substance of some of these problems did not even exist before the present generation came upon the scene, such as the threat of worldwide annihilation by nuclear bombs, and universal pollution from many entirely new and different contaminants. In addition, there are the worsening problems of population growth and the related potential for widespread, mass starvation, and the depletion of certain sources of energy needed to operate our factories and to heat our homes.
We believe that this unique and awesome time of trouble through which the world is now passing is indeed a sign of our Lord’s second presence, even as he foretold.
On a different occasion our Lord Jesus made another statement about the condition the world would be in at his second advent. Referring to the time of that event, he strongly implied that there would be little faith on the earth. He said, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”—Luke 18:8
A Multiplicity of Faiths
Today, the world is full of people who have faith of one kind or another. There are literally scores of different forms and sects of so-called Christianity alone, numbering their adherents in the hundreds of millions. There are also the many ancient Eastern religions, whose followers approximate a billion and half. Also, in recent decades there has been such a proliferation of new religious cults that it is difficult for one to keep track of them. And they are making their beliefs known.
On November 7 of the year just closed, The New York Times carried a full-page message paid for by a group of “Concerned Christians.” The scarehead proclaimed, “America Is Racing Toward Judgment,” the warning being addressed to the President and the people of the United States.
The message, quite properly, deplored and condemned the growing immorality that is touching and contaminating virtually every facet of human existence—the home, the school, the factory, the office, the political structure, and even the organized church. It is a sincere appeal to all to repent and turn from their evil ways before the judgment falls upon the nation. “Even though judgment is right now suspended over America,” the message states, “God would delay the execution of his wrath in response to the repentant heart cry of all our men, women, and youth.”
Doubtless, there are many earnest individuals who are even now seeking after the Lord, to give him their hearts and to serve him. But the Scriptures make it clear that God has been long-suffering, and is shortly to bring an end, not to the planet Earth, but to the selfish social order that dominates and plagues the world. “I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: Now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once,” the Lord tells us through the Prophet Isaiah.—42:14
Destruction from the Almighty
The foretold destruction of “this present evil world” (Gal. 1:4) comes in the day of the Lord [Jehovah]. “Howl ye,” writes Isaiah, “for the day of the Lord [Jehovah] is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. … Every man’s heart shall melt: and they shall be afraid: … they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth. … Behold, the day of the Lord [Jehovah] cometh, … to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. … And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity.”—Isa. 13:6-11
The Apostle Peter affirms that the world will not escape the destruction which shall occur, even as foretold, in this day of Jehovah’s wrath. (Ezek. 7:19; Rev. 6:17) He writes, “The day of the Lord [Jehovah] will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein [descriptive of this present evil social arrangement] shall be burned up.”—II Pet. 3:10
We believe the events occurring in the world today tell us that we are already in this Day of Jehovah, or time of trouble, and that God’s righteous judgment upon an evil world will not be stayed.—Zeph. 1:14,15; Ezek. 7:7,19; Matt. 24:21
A recent issue of a well-regarded Christian journal featured an article entitled, “God Before Birth.” One statement the writer (obviously a Trinitarian) makes is that it was God himself who left the heavenly realms and became a man. A little farther along in the article he makes another statement (also a result of his belief in the doctrine of the Trinity) that “God became a man; Christ died for us.” (emphasis ours) This, he states, is an “impenetrable mystery.” He seems also to suggest belief in the resurrection to heaven of the physical body, for he adds, “Our flesh is now represented in the Triune Godhead.”
The Scriptures, however, do not support the doctrine of the Trinity. To the contrary, they tell us that Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus himself said, “My Father is greater than I.” (Heb. 1:5; John 3:16; I John 5:5; John 14:28) It was Jesus who left the heavenly realms and was made flesh. (Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:9) It was Jesus who died on the cross. (Luke 23:46) It was Jesus who was raised from the dead by God, his Heavenly Father, putting off the body of flesh to take on a glorious, immortal spirit body; for flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.—Acts 2:24; I Thess. 1:10; I Cor. 15:49-53
The “Boom in Doom”
The January 10, 1977, issue of Newsweek magazine presents an article headed “The Boom in Doom.” It deals with the broadening interest on the part of many different religious groups in the prophecies of the Bible relating to the end of the “world” and the second advent of Christ. This renewed interest in the Bible has been growing for a century and more and is doubtless sparked, at least in part, by the deteriorating conditions in the world, and by real concern as to how it is all going to come out. Puzzled, worried people are eagerly searching the pages of the Bible for signs of solace and hope for the future.
But how precious little of the real truth of God’s great and loving purposes for man do they cull from his Word! Singer Pat Boone is reported as saying, “My guess is that there isn’t a thoughtful Christian alive who doesn’t believe we are living at the end of history.” Some believe and fear that this literal earth is to be destroyed. One small group is planning to escape the climax of the great time of trouble by floating in a dirigible balloon high in the sky during that terrible time. Others are preparing self-sufficient agricultural communities to supply the needs of their immediate followers.
Contrary to the direct statement of our Lord Jesus, (Acts 1:7), and despite repeated disappointments of earlier false prophets, some still believe they can ascertain the very date when the final destruction will come upon the earth and our Lord Jesus be revealed to the world. One such future date for this final phase of Armageddon to occur is presently set at May 5, 2000.
Sadly, the picture that emerges from all this earnest activity is one of scraps of wrested truth mingled with large portions of error. Yet it must be conceded that there are multitudes living today who have some kind of faith in a Supreme Being, some kind of faith in the Bible, some kind of hope for the future. But Jesus suggested that at his second advent there would be little faith on the earth. How can this statement be reconciled with the clear evidence of his presence that is given to us in the great time of trouble through which the world is presently passing?
When the Son of Man Cometh
The answer lies in properly understanding Jesus’ statement. A correct translation of his words is given to us in the Diaglott New Testament: “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find the faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8, Diaglott, interlinear) There is a vast difference between the numerous kinds of faith with their numerous variations which are so prevalent in the world today, and “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”—Jude 3
The wonderful Bible story of God’s great love for all his human creatures has been distorted, misunderstood, and misinterpreted, even by its supposed supporters. Its direct and simple teachings have been twisted and wrested in an effort to uphold such false teachings as the doctrine of immortality of the soul, ages of hell-fire for the wicked, and the Trinity. It has been disparaged by failure to understand the application of the ransom on behalf of all mankind, including the wicked dead. The Bible states that Jesus Christ is “the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”—I John 2:2
Two “Days of Salvation”
The Scriptures teach that the Gospel Age now drawing to a close is the accepted time for the calling out of the world and the testing of those who, by denying themselves and faithfully following in the steps of Jesus, will live and reign with him in his millennial kingdom. We believe the Scriptures also show that the coming thousand-year kingdom reign of Christ and his church is to be the day of salvation for “whosoever will” of the resurrected race of mankind to accept of God’s great Gift, and to “take the water of [everlasting] life freely.”—Mark 8:34; Rom. 12:1,2; II Cor. 6:1,2; Isa. 49:8; Rev. 22:17; Acts 3:19-21
While we believe that the Scriptures clearly teach that the world is to experience a purifying time of trouble, we regret the tendency of some to wrest or go beyond what is written, to set dates, or to embroider the clear statements of Scripture with fanciful imaginings.
We believe that man’s sin, selfishness, and imperfection have indeed operated to bring the world to that condition foretold in the Scriptures when God would intervene in the affairs of men to eradicate evil from the earth forever. (Isa. 13:9-11) We do not believe that the planet Earth is to be destroyed, but rather that “the earth abideth forever.” (Eccl. 1:4) We believe, as the Bible further states, that “God himself … formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited.”—Isa. 45:18
We believe the Lord’s purpose in bringing about the present time of trouble is to destroy the unrighteous social order which plagues this present evil world, in preparation for the establishment in the earth of Christ’s millennial kingdom, described by the Apostle Peter as a glorious new world, or social order, “wherein dwelleth righteousness.”—II Pet. 3:7-13
Associated with the Lord Jesus in that righteous kingdom will be his faithful footstep followers, the glorified church, who shall live and reign with him a thousand years. (Rev. 20:4,6; Matt. 19:28) The Scriptures further show that the loving purpose of that millennial reign is to call forth from their graves every human being who ever lived, even the wicked dead, to give to all a full and just opportunity to gain everlasting life right here on earth. “For … God … will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For … Jesus gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”—Acts 24:14,15; Dan. 12:1,2; John 5:28,29; Isa. 35:1-10; Rev. 22:17; I Tim. 2:3-6
The Apostle Paul tells us that “God … hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man [Jesus] whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30,31) All who persist in iniquity under that righteous reign shall be denied the right to everlasting life.—Acts 3:19-23
The Hidden Mystery
All, however, do not see these things. The Bible is a guidebook written especially for the faithful footstep followers of Jesus, and its truths are for their special instruction and sustenance. This fact becomes clear when we notice the greetings with which so many of the epistles are opened.
In writing to the church at Rome, Paul addresses his letter “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints.” (Rom. 1:7) The opening words of his letter to the church at Corinth are, “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.” (I Cor. 1:2) We find equally specific salutations in other letters of the apostles.—II Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:2; Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2; etc.
Even when speaking to the multitudes during his ministry, Jesus’ lessons were actually directed to his disciples. Indeed, his own disciples wondered about that, and asked, “Why speakest thou to them in parables?” Jesus answered, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” (Matt. 13:10,11) Privately, he explained to them that his wonderful message of truth was only for those whose hearts provided proper soil to receive the seed of the Word, to nurture it, and to bring forth fruit.—Matt. 13:23
On one occasion when he was preaching, Jesus spoke directly “to those Jews which believed on him,” again thus limiting his message to those whose hearts were right. He said, “If ye continue in my Word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”—John 8:31,32
Later, he explained to his followers that the eyes of their understanding would be opened through the power of the Holy Spirit, which was to be manifested following his resurrection. “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when … the Spirit of truth is come … [it] will guide you into all truth.”—John 16:12,13
The Apostle Paul tells us much the same thing in his first epistle to the Corinthians. He addresses his letter “to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints,” and then goes on to point out that God does not call many “wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble.” These, Jesus indicated in the Parable of the Sower, would be too busy seeking after worldly treasures and honors to devote themselves to a life of sacrifice, and thus lay up treasures in heaven. (Matt. 13:22) Paul continues, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, … that no flesh should glory in his presence.”—I Cor. 1:26-29
It is to these faithful and humble ones that God reveals his wonderful, beneficent purposes toward mankind. Paul writes, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. … Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”—I Cor. 2:9-12
The Mystery Revealed
God’s great and precious promises toward the faithful followers of Jesus, and his wise and loving plans on behalf of fallen mankind, are truly a mystery to the world. But he has graciously made known to his people “the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth.”—Eph. 1:9,10
The English word “mystery” appears a number of times in the New Testament. It is translated from the Greek word “musterion.” According to W. E. Vine, “it denotes, not the mysterious (as with the English word), but that which, being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, can be made known only by Divine revelation, and is made known in a manner and at a time appointed by God, and to those only who are illumined by His spirit.” Thus, we find the Apostle Paul writing to the Colossians of “the mystery which hath been hid from all ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested [disclosed, NEB, Moff.] to his saints.”—Col. 1:26, RV
Yes, the world is truly filled with many good people who possess a measure of faith. But, even as Jesus indicated, of all the billions who would inhabit the earth at his second advent, how very few would be blessed with an understanding of “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints!” (Jude 3) How few would know, and strive earnestly to live by, “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints?” Truly blessed are those whose eyes now see, and whose ears now hear! (Matt. 13:16) Let us continue to pray for that glorious day when “they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”—Jer. 31:34