Christ without fear. However terrible the things that shall come upon the earth, his Master will take care that no harm comes to him. He may well bear patiently the partings and separations of this present time. He shall have a joyful meeting, by and bye, with all his brethren in the faith, of every age, and country, and people, and tongue. Those who meet in that day, shall meet to part no more. The great gathering is yet to come. (2 Thess. ii. 1.)
Let us observe, in the next place, how important it is to note the signs of our own times. Our Lord bids His dis- ciples "learn a parable of the fig tree." Just as its budding leaves tell men that summer is near, so the fulfil- ment of events in the world around us, should teach us that the Lord's coming " is nigh, even at the doors."
It becomes all true Christians to observe carefully the public events of their own day. It is not only a duty to do this, but a sin to neglect it. Our Lord reproved the Jews for "not discerning the signs of the times." (Matt. xvi. 3.) They did not see that the sceptre was passing away from Judah, and the weeks of Daniel running out. Let us beware of fall- ing into their error. Let us rather open our eyes, and look at the world around us. Let us mark the dry- ing up of the Turkish power, and the increase of mis- sionary work in the world. Let us mark the revival of Popery, and the rise of new and subtle forms of infidelity. Let us mark the rapid spread of lawlessness and contempt for authority. What are these things but the budding of the fig tree ? They show us that this world is wearing out, and needs a new and better dynasty. It need its
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rightful king, even Jesus. May we watch, and keep our garments, and live ready to meet our Lord ! (Kev. xvi. 15.)
Let us observe, lastly, in these verses, how carefully our Lord asserts the certainty of His predictions being fulfilled. He speaks as though he foresaw the incredulity and scepticism of these latter days. He warns us emphati- cally against it : — " Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
We ought never to allow ourselves to suppose that any prophecy is improbable or unlikely to be fulfilled, merely because it is contrary to past experience. Let us not say, "Where is the likelihood of Christ coming again ? Where is the likelihood of the world being burned up ?" We have nothing to do with " likely or unlikely" in such matters. The only question is, u what is written in God's word ?" The words of St. Peter should never be forgotten : " There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, saying, Where is the promise of His comiug ?" (2 Pet. iii. 3, 4.)
We shall do well to ask ourselves what we should have thought if we had lived on earth two thousand years ago. Should we have thought it more probable that the Son of God would come on earth as a poor man, and die, or that He would come on earth as a King, and reign ? Should we not have said at once, that if He came at all, He would come to reign, and not to die ? Yet we know that He did come as "aman of sorrows," and died on the cross. Then let us not doubt that He will come the second time iu glory, and reign as a King for evermore. Let us leave the passage with a thorough conviction
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