1st. For any special manifestation of God's presence and power, John xiv.; 18, 23 ; Is. xiii., 6 ; Jer. xlvi., 10. 2d. By way of eminence. (1.) In the Old Testament, for the coming of Christ in the flesh, and the abrogation of the Jewish economy, Malachi iii., 2 ; iv., 5. (2.) In the New Testament, for the second and final coming of Christ.
The several terms referring to this last great event are, 1st, dnoicdXvipu;, revelation, 1 Cor. i., 7 ; 2 Thess. i., 7 ; 1 Pet. i., 7, 13 ; iv., 13. 2d. irapovala, presence, advent, Matt, xxiv., 3, 27, 37, 39 ; 1 Cor. xv., 23 ; 1 Thess. ii., 19 ; iii., 13 ; iv., 15 ; v., 23 ; 2 Thess. ii., 1-9 ; James v., 7, 8 ; 2 Pet. i., 16 ; iii., 4, 12 ; 1 John ii., 28. 3d. cmcpdvEta,, appearance, manifestation, 2 Thess. ii.,, 8 ; 1 Tim. vi., 14 ; 2 Tim. iv., 1, 8 ; Titus ii., 13.
The time of that coming is designated as " the day of God," 2 Pet. iii., 12. " The day of the Lord," 1 Thess. v., 2. " The day of the Lord Jesus, and of Jesus Christ," 1 Cor. i,, 8 ; Phil, i., 6, 10 ; 2 Pet. iii., 10. " That day," 2 Thess. i., 10; 2 Tim. i., 12, 18. " The last day," John vi., 39-54. " The great day," " the day of wrath," and " of judgment," and " of revelation," Jude 6 ; Eev. vi., 17 ; Kom. ii., 5 ; 2 Pet. ii., 9.
Christ is called 6 egx^vog, the coming one, with reference to both advents, Matt, xxi., 9 ; Luke vii., 19, 20 ; xix., 38 ; John iii., 31 ; Kev. i., 4; iv. 8 ; xi., 17.
2. Present the evidence that a literal personal advent of Christ still future is taught in the Bible.
448 SECOND ADVENT.
1st. The anology of the first advent. The prophecies relating to the one having been literally fulfilled by a personal coming, we may be certain that the perfectly similar prophecies relating to the other will be fulfilled in the same sense.
2d. The language of Christ predicting such advent admits of no other rational interpretation. The coming itself, its manner and purpose, are alike defined. He is to be attended with the hosts of heaven, in power and great glory. He is to come upon the occasion of the general resurrection and judgment, and for the purpose of consummating his mediatorial work, by the final condemnation and perdition of all his enemies, and by the acknowl- edgment and completed glorification of all his friends, Matt, xvi., 27 ; xxiv., 30 ; xxv., 31 ; xxvi., 64 ; Mark viii, 38 ; Luke xxi., 27.
3d. The apostles understood these predictions to relate to a literal advent of Christ in person. They teach their disciples to form the habit of constantly looking forward to it, as a solem- nizing motive to fidelity, and to encouragement and resignation under present trials. They teach that his coming will be visible and glorious, accompanied with the abrogation of the present gospel dispensation, the destruction of his enemies, the glorifica- tion of his friends, the conflagration of the world, and the appear- ance of the " new heaven and new earth." See the passages quoted under the preceding chapter, and Acts, i., 11 ; iii., 19-21 ; 1 Cor. iv., 5 ; xi., 26 ; xv., 23 ; Heb. ix., 28 ; x., 37.— Dr. Hodge's Lecture.
3. What three modes of interpretation have been adopted in reference to Matt, xxiv and xxv. ?
" It is to be remarked that these chapters contain an answer to three distinct questions. 1st. When the temple and city were to be destroyed. 2d. What were to be the signs of Christ's com- ing ? 3d. The third question related to the end of the world. The difficulty consists in separating the portions relating to these several questions. There are three methods adopted in the ex- planation of these chapters. 1st. The first assumes that they refer exclusively to the overthrow of the Jewish polity, and the establishment and progress of the gospel. 2d. The second assumes that what is here said has been fulfilled in one sense in the des-
FACT CLEARLY REVEALED. 449
traction of Jerusalem, and is to be fulfilled in a higher sense at the last day. 3d. The third supposes that some portions refer exclusively to the former event and others exclusively to the lat- ter. It is plain that the first view is untenable, and whether the second or third view be adopted, the obscurity resting upon this passage can not properly be allowed to lead us to reject the clear and constant teaching of the New Testament with regard to the second personal and visible advent of the Son of G-od." — Dr. Hodge.
4. In ivhat passages is the time of Christ's second advent de- clared to be unknown t
Matt, xxiv, 36 ; Mark xiii., 32 ; Luke xii., 40 ; Acts i., 6, 7 ; 1 Thess. v., 1-3 ; 2 Pet. iii., 3, 4, 10 ; Rev. xvi., 15.
5. What ptassages are commonly cited in proof that the apos- tles expected the second advent during their lives ?
Phil, i., 6 ; 1 Thess. iv, 15 ; Heb. x., 25 ; 1 Pet. i., 5 ;
James v., 8.
6. How may it be shown that they did not entertain such an expectation /