IF CHRIST CAME TO NIGHT

Chronicle (Levin), 18 July 1946, Page 4

IF CHRIST CAME TO NIGHT

INTERESTED AUDIENCE HEARS . MR. C. C. GRAHAM Supposing Christ came tonight, what wbuld happen? Those who study the Scriptures believe it possible for Him to come, for He Himself has given the promise and the rapid fuifilment of the Scriptures to-day cahnot lead one to believe other than that He may come at any moment — perhaps to-night. And if He did come tonight, what would happen? There can be but one reliable authority — the book that has for centuries proved its divine origin by the accurate fuifilment of its two prophesies as confirmed by secular history. In 1 Thess. 4, this book teaches that the Lord Himself shall descend. from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. There will be a resurrection of the dead in Christ at His coming, not a general resur-^ rection of all the dead, but only of those who have died in Christ. This is the resurrection of the just. The second resurrection, that of the unjust, takes place about 1000 years later, when- the dead, small . and great, stand before God's Judgment Throne (Rev. 20) . . A great reunion would also take place if Christ came to-night. This is "also taught i'n 1 Thess. 4. "Then we (all true Christians) which are alive and remain shall be caught up with them (the dead in Christ) and so- shall we ever be with the Lord." What a blessed hope is before the believer in Christ, for he shall see his loved ones who have died in Christ, and shall embrace them again. Bodies of pain and sickness will be changed at His coming, and new ones given "like unto His glorious body." The judgment seat of Christ, before which all Christians must appear (2 Cor. 5) will then take place. The salvation of the Christian will not be in question, for that is eternal and can never be lost, but the manner in which the Christian has lived his life on the earth wi,l be judged. If he has been a poor testimony for Christ, he will suft'er loss. If he has served God from a selfish motive, his life will.be burnt up as wooa, hay and stubble. If on the other hand his life has been lived for God and characterised by iove and self-secrfice, Christ will reward him openly. With all diii'erences righted and rewards given, the Bride of Christ, comprising all true born-again Christians of every denomination, tribe and colour will be wedded to Christ, the lieavenly bridegroom, at the Marriage Supper of the, Lamb (Rev. 19). What wedding on earth could ever copipare with this one? How could we describe it or _ Ihe mansions which will be the bride's portion, and which have been prepared by the Bridegroom at such infinite cost? While heaven enjoys such rapturous sights, the earth, together with its ungodly masses, left behind at Christ's coming, will be undergoing God's judgment and tribulation such as never was since the beginning of time, nor ever shall be (Matt. 24: 21). This will be the day of God's vengeance on Lliose who to-day. are indifi'erent to His Gospel and who, despise His Name. Men will call' upon* the rocks to fall on them and to hide them from the wrath of God. Christ too will be revealed from heaven. with His mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obe^ not the Gospel. (11 Thess. 1: 8) . No one will escape God's judgment, "for every eye shall see Him and wail because of Him." (Rev. 1: 7). The horrors of the war just passed will be nothing compared with the wailing; .and remorse in these da-ys to corrie, i > , . If Christ . came to-night, a gr$dt: division would take place. (Mdtjt. 24: 40). Some would'4 be left behinel for the judgment, 'while those who have acknowledged Christ to be their Saviour and Lord would be caught away to rheet Him and be reunited to loved ones eternally. How tragically solemn to be left behind for God's judgment, particularly when to-day God in merey and grace says, "He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (11 Peter, 3: 9). Man can do nothing to save himself, for God declares-him to be lost and in need of a Saviour from his sins. Christ is that Saviour by virtue of His perfect life sacrificed for our sins on the Cross, and to the one who receives Him God has promised to make him His child. (John 1: 12) / Christ is the Saviour, but He is not a Saviour until He is received. Why don't we receive Him to-day and be ready to meet Him when He comes? The above is an outline of Mr. C. C. Graham's address to another crowded audience in the Oxford Street Gospel Hall on Tuesday night. Mr. Graham continues his addresses in the same hall to-night when his subject. will be, "The Anti-Christ — the Man Whose Number is 666. Who is He, When will he appear?" A welcome is assured all who attend.