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to these signs, he foretold also the existing state of worldliness and
backsliding, and gave warning of the result to those who refused
to arouse from their careless security: “Thou hast a name that thou
livest, and art dead.” “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come
on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come
upon thee.” [Revelation 3:1, 3.]
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He who knows the end from the begi
prophets and apostles to write the future history of churches and
of nations, was about to accomplish another reform similar to that
of the days of Luther. The Lord raised up men to investigate his
word, to examine the foundation upon which the Christian world
were building, and to raise the solemn inquiry, What is truth? Are
we building upon the rock, or upon shifting sand?
God saw that many of his professed people were not building for
eternity; and in his care and love he was about to send a message of
warning to arouse them from their stupor, and prepare them for the
coming of their Lord. The warning was not to be intrusted to learned
doctors of divinity or popular ministers of the gospel. Had these
been faithful watchmen, diligently and prayerfully searching the
Scriptures, they would have known the time of night; the prophecies
of Daniel and John would have revealed to them the great events
about to take place. If they had faithfully followed the light already
given, some star of heavenly radiance would have been sent to guide
them into all truth.
At the time of Christ’s first advent, the priests and scribes of the
holy city, to whom were intrusted the oracles of God, should have
discerned the signs of the times, and proclaimed the coming of the
Promised One. The prophecy of Micah designated his birthplace;
[Micah 5:2.] Daniel specified the time of his advent. [Daniel 9:25.]
God had committed these prophecies to the Jewish leaders; therefore
they were without excuse if they did not know and declare to the
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people that the Messiah’s coming was at hand. Their ignorance was
God Honors the Humble
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the result of sinful neglect.
God did not send his messengers to the palaces of kings, to the
assemblies of philosophers, or to the schools of the rabbis, to make
known the wonderful fact that the Redeemer of men was about to
appear upon the earth. The Jews were building monuments for
the slain prophets of God, while by their deference to the great
men of the earth they were paying homage to the servants of Satan.
Absorbed in their ambitious strife for place and power among men,
they lost sight of the divine honors proffered them by the King of
Heaven.
With what profound and reverent interest should the elders of
Israel have been studying the place, the time, the circumstances, of
the greatest event in the world’s history,—the coming of the Son of
God to accomplish the redemption of man! Oh, why were not the
people watching and waiting that they might be among the first to
welcome the world’s Redeemer! But lo, at Bethlehem two weary
travelers from the hills of Nazareth traverse the whole length of the
narrow street to the eastern extremity of the town, vainly seeking a
place of rest and shelter for the night. No doors are open to receive
them. In a wretched hovel prepared for cattle, they at last find refuge,
and there the Saviour of the world is born.
Heavenly angels had seen the glory which the Son of God shared
with the Father before the world was, and they had looked forward
with intense interest to his appearance on earth as an event fraught
with the greatest joy to all people. Angels were appointed to carry
the glad tidings to those who were prepared to receive it, and who
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would joyfully make it known to the inhabitants of the earth. Christ
has stooped to take upon himself man’s nature; he is to bear an
infinite weight of woe as he shall make his soul an offering for
sin; yet angels desire that even in his humiliation, the Son of the
Highest may appear before men with a dignity and glory befitting his
character. Will the great men of earth assemble at Israel’s capital to
greet his coming? Will legions of angels present him to the expectant
company?
An angel visits the earth to see who are prepared to welcome
Jesus. But he can discern no tokens of expectancy. He hears no
voice of praise and triumph that the period of the Messiah’s coming
is at hand. The angel hovers for a time over the chosen city and the
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temple where the divine presence was manifested for ages; but even
here is the same indifference. The priests, in their pomp and pride,
are offering polluted sacrifices in the temple. The Pharisees are with
loud voices addressing the people, or making boastful prayers at the
corners of the streets. There is no evidence that Christ is expected,
and no preparation for the Prince of life.
In amazement the celestial messenger is about to return to
Heaven with the shameful tidings, when he discovers a group of
shepherds who are watching their flocks by night, and, as they gaze
into the starry heavens, are contemplating the prophecy of a Messiah
to come to earth, and longing for the advent of the world’s Redeemer.
Here is a company that can be trusted with the heavenly message.
And suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared, declaring the good
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tidings of great joy. Celestial glory flooded all the plain, an i
merable company of angels were revealed, and as if the joy were
too great for one messenger to bring from Heaven, a multitude of
voices broke forth in the anthem which all the nations of the saved
shall one day sing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good will toward men.”
Oh, what a lesson is this wonderful story of Bethlehem! How it
rebukes our unbelief, our pride and self-sufficiency. How it warns us
to beware, lest by our criminal indifference we also fail to discern the
signs of the times, and therefore know not the day of our visitation. It
is “unto them that look for him” that Christ is to “appear the second
time without sin unto salvation.” [Hebrews 9:28.]
Jesus sends his people a message of warning to prepare them for
his coming. To the prophet John was made known the closing work
in the great plan of man’s redemption. He beheld an angel flying “in
the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto
them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and
tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give
glory to him; for the hour of his Judgment is come; and worship
him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of