Glimpses through the barrier: the moral advent and mission of Christ.
"Behold, I come quickly," etc.
I. THE MORAL ADVENT OF CHRIST. "I come quickly," or, "I am coming quickly." There are four advents of Christ.
1. His incarnation. God was manifest in the flesh.
2. His dispensation in human history. The destruction of Jerusalem, as well as the death of individual man, are spoken of as the coming of Christ. In fact, every event in human life is a Divine advent.
3. To his spiritual influence on the human mind. He says, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you," etc. He comes to convince the world of "sin, righteousness, and judgment;" comes to establish his reign over human souls.
4. The final day of retribution. There is every reason to believe there is to be a grand crisis in human history—a crisis that shall usher in the ultimate, the permanent reign of universal retribution. All these advents are going on in every department of human life, and going on quickly. There is no suspense, no delay.
II. HIS MORAL MISSION. "Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book." "Prophecy" does not, of course, mean prognostications or idle fables, the inventions of imposture, but didactic truth, veritable facts and principles. The testimony of Christ is to eternal facts and absolute principles. Hence he himself is the Truth. He himself is the Word of God.
CONCLUSION. Brothers, let us profoundly ponder the constant comings of Christ to us. Indeed, his constant visitation preserves our existence every moment. Let us mark well that in all, in each event, he has a moral mission, some mighty testimony to the immutable realities of human life, duty, and destiny.—D.T.