April 19, 1905

With Power and Great Glory

EGW

Christ's second coming will be in marked contrast to His first coming. Then His glory was veiled with the garb of humanity. He came with no outward manifestation of glory. When He comes the second time, His divinity will not be concealed. He will come with His own glory and the glory of His Father. He will come as one equal with God, as His beloved Son, the Prince of heaven and earth. Instead of a crown of thorns, He will wear a crown of glory. Instead of a garment of humility, He will be clad in a garment of royalty. Upon His vesture will be written the name, “King of kings and Lord of lords.”ST April 19, 1905, par. 1

At His first coming, Christ was denied and rejected by men, and by them dragged as a criminal to Pilate's bar, where they charged Him with blasphemy. He was scourged and crucified. Nails were driven through His hands and His feet. For three hours He hung on the cross, while His enemies said tauntingly, “He saved others; Himself He can not save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God, let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him; for He said, I am the Son of God.”ST April 19, 1905, par. 2

At His second coming, the scene will be changed. He will be acknowledged by all as the King of glory. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The angels will bow in adoration before Him. His enemies will see the mistake they have made, and every tongue will confess His divinity.ST April 19, 1905, par. 3

Christ's glory did not appear when He was upon this earth. He was then a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Men hid their faces from Him. But He was following the path God had marked out for Him. Still bearing humanity, He ascended to heaven, triumphant and victorious. He has taken the blood of the atonement into the holiest of all, sprinkled it upon the mercy-seat and His own garments, and blessed the people. Soon He will appear the second time to declare that there is no more sacrifice for sin.ST April 19, 1905, par. 4

Then by innumerable voices will be sung the song, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.”ST April 19, 1905, par. 5

With earnest longing God's people await the tokens of their coming King. As the watchmen are accosted, “What of the night?” the answer is given unfalteringly, “The morning cometh, and also the night.” Light is gleaming upon the clouds above the mountain-tops. Soon there will be a revealing of His glory. The Sun of Righteousness is about to shine forth. The morning and the night are both at hand,—the opening of endless day to the righteous, the settling down of eternal night to the wicked.ST April 19, 1905, par. 6

“The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”ST April 19, 1905, par. 7

The Lord is soon coming, and we must be ready and waiting for His appearing. O, how glorious it will be to see Him, and be welcomed as His redeemed ones. Long have we waited, but our hope is not to grow dim. If we can but see the King in His beauty, we shall be forever blessed. I feel as if I must cry aloud, “Homeward bound!” We are nearing the time when Christ will come in power and great glory to take His ransomed ones to their eternal home.ST April 19, 1905, par. 8