Page 163 - Jesus is coming - Class version

160 JESUS IS COMING.

Surely, then, His speedy coming cannot be counted an
unmerciful event. The wonder is rather at the long-suffer-
ing of God, which now 135 (as before the flood 136 ) waits in
such patient pleading. But He will fulfill His promise, and
the Coming One* will come 137 and cut short the work in
righteousness. Rom. 9:28.
Then let us not look upon Christ's coming as cruel or
unmerciful. He has said "SURELY i COME QUICKLY/' and
let us have the mind of the Holy Spirit, who replied "EVEN
so COME LORD JESUS/' Eev. 22:20.
"Then welcome, thrice welcome, ye tokens of God.
What else but His coming' can comfort afford?
What presence but His set this prisoned earth free?
O Star of the Morning, our hope is in Thee!"
No. XIV. This Generation.
Jesus said: "This generation shall not pass away till
all be fulfilled." Lu. 21:32. See also Mat. 24:34; Mar.
13 :30.
Some have construed "generation" to mean a time of
thirty or forty years; and, as Jerusalem was destroyed
within forty years after Christ spoke, they refer all he said
to that event.
Israel the Generation That Passes Not Away.
We believe "generation," as there used, means the whole
existence of the Israelitish race. Compare the following
passages where the same Greek word is used. 138
So the Greek.
up to keep the feast of taberna- sometime were disobedient, when
cles. once the longsuflering of God
19. This shall be the punish- waited in the days of Noah,
ment of Egypt, and the punish- while the ark was a preparing,
ment of all nations that come wherein few, that is, eight souls
not up to keep the feast of taber- were saved by water,
nacles. Also Isa. 65:20. (137) Heb. 10:36. For ye
(135) 2 Pet. 3:9. The Lord have need of patience, that, after
is not slack concerning his prom- ye have done the will of God, ye
as some men count slack- might receive the promise,
ise,
ness ; but is longsuffering to us- 37. For yet a little while, and
ward, not willing that any should he that shall come will come,
perish, but that all should come and will not tarry. But
to repentance. (138) Mat." 11:16.
(136) 1 Pet. 3 :20. Which whereunto shall I liken this gen-