by Eugene Higgins
The Shadows of Things to Come
Here is one of the most important principles taught to many of us, as young believers, by wise, competent teachers of the Word: “When interpreting the prophetic scriptures, do not look for the signs of the times because we are not in the times of the signs.” The value of that apothegm lies not in its cleverness but in its correctness; it is not only a memorable principle, it is a mighty preservative keeping us (if followed) from making wild conjectures and misapplying passages of Holy Writ. So, with that in mind, please do not misunderstand what I am about to write.
When in the past you were reading God’s Word about future conditions, particularly conditions in our world after the Lord has removed His people, did you ever find yourself wondering:
- How could the economy of (apparently) the whole world collapse and be commandeered by one world leader (Rev 13)?
- How could wild beasts ever encroach on present-day, 21st-century, “civilized” humanity (Rev 6:8)?
- How could shortages ever be severe enough to bring the world or even a nation to its knees (Rev 6:5, 6)?
- How could numerous governments all (simultaneously) be willing to cede their sovereignty to a central authority in order to “solve” their economic and societal problems (Rev 13:1; 17:12)?
- How could fear drive people to commit unthinkable acts (Rev 9:6)?
- How could a plague create such havoc (Rev 16:2)?
Are you still wondering? Not likely! Future events may be casting their shadows, but at any rate we have witnessed, in the space of 2 months, changes in our world that we hardly would have deemed possible 3 months ago. Admittedly, worse times have rocked our world. More people (perhaps more than 50 million) died in the 1918 Spanish Flu (I apologize, in advance, to any Spaniards reading this email for my calling it the Spanish Flu) than in all of World War 1. The late Mr. Everett Curran, for many years a highly respected elder in the Pennsauken, NJ, assembly, was 18 years old in 1918. He spoke of walking down nearby Haddon Avenue and scarcely seeing one home that was not marked by black crepe signaling that death had come to that house. So, yes, worse times have come. I am just not so sure that we have ever seen a worse reaction to bad times (at least in my lifetime).
Everything about society today tells us that we are nearing the moment of His return and that, for the world, the worst of times is coming. It is axiomatic but helpful to remember that no generation of Christians has ever lived farther (chronologically) from the Cross and no generation of believers has ever lived closer (chronologically) to Christ’s return. Every generation of Christians has looked for His coming; but we have even more reason than ever to expect His return in our day. It must be near. He must be near.
Christian living calls us to maintain a balance between (at least) these two truths: we are called to live as though His coming is just a moment away and yet we need to live as though His coming is a millennium away. That balance between waiting and working, between looking and laboring, between expectation and obligation – that is how we are called to live. However much time is left to us when the present restrictions are lifted, we are going to meet a lot of people with a lot of questions (some of you already have). We are going to meet a lot of people with a lot of insecurities. We are likely going to meet a lot of people feeling just a little bit less sure of life and the future than they were before. Life, hope assurance – we have found these things in our Savior and we need to be ready to reach all whom we can with that Gospel news. The brief interim between this present moment and the return of our Savior is described by the three Biblical words: “Till I come.”
Luke 19:13, “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.“
Joh 21:22, “Jesus saith unto him, ‘If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me.’”Rev 2:25, “But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.”
Busily working and serving, dutifully trusting and following, faithfully holding and treasuring His things – these are tasks the energy for which should be fueled by the reminder of how soon we will see Him. John’s Gospel account is rich with references to who Jesus is. The Lord’s “I am” statements reveal so much about Him. But the Savior’s last use of that terminology, and the last title John records, is in Rev. 22:16. It is as though, with the inspired Word about to close, the Lord wants us to remember this about Him: “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and Morning Star.” Before the Sun of Righteousness arises, He is coming as the Morning Star for His people – to resurrect, rapture, and remove His own.
In 1966, having only been saved a few weeks, I had the memorable experience of visiting a wonderful Christian in the Longport, NJ, Home for aged Christians. My sister-in-law Ruth was kind enough to take me to see him. His name was Mr. Cousley. He told us something I have never forgotten – and never heard from anyone else until I listened to a recording of the late Mr. David Craig. Mr. Craig related the same facts: Margaret L. Carson wrote the Hymn, “My Chains are Snapped,” (#152 in the wonderful old BHB) She wrote 4 verses, ending with these words:
“And now He’s risen, proclaim the joyful story, the Lord’s on high;
And we in Him are raised to endless glory, and ne’er can die.”
Uncertain about the quality of her hymn, and whether it should even see the light of day, she sent it C. H. Mackintosh, asking his opinion. He did not answer in prose but in poetry, writing the additional 5th verse that carries us on beyond the resurrection of the Lord Jesus to His return:
“We wait to see the Morning Star appearing in glory bright;
This blessed hope illumes, with beams most cheering, the hours of night.”
We are serving a risen Savior Who has said “Behold, I come quickly … behold, I come quickly … Surely I come quickly. (Rev 22:7, 12, 20). It’s long since overdue for us to be saying, “Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus.”