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d knew not until the Flood came； and took them all away； so shall also the coming of the Son of man be。〃 Christ does not here bring to view a temporal millennium； a thousand years in which all are to prepare for eternity。 He tells us that as it was in Noah's day； so will it be when the Son of man comes again。
How was it in Noah's day？ 〃God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth； and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually。〃 Gen。 6：5。 The inhabitants of the antediluvian world turned from Jehovah； refusing to do His holy will。 They followed their own unholy imagination and perverted ideas。 It was because of their wickedness that they were destroyed； and today the world is following the same way。 It presents no flattering signs of millennial glory。 The transgressors of God's law are filling the earth with wickedness。 Their betting； their horse racing； their gambling； their dissipation； their lustful practices； their untamable passions； are fast filling the world with violence。
In the prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction Christ said； 〃Because iniquity shall abound； the love of many shall wax cold。 But he that shall endure unto the end； the same shall be saved。 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations； and then shall the end come。〃 This prophecy will again be fulfilled。 The abounding iniquity of that day finds its counterpart in this generation。 So with the prediction in regard to the preaching of the gospel。 Before the fall of Jerusalem； Paul； writing by the Holy Spirit； declared that the gospel was preached to 〃every creature which is under heaven。〃 Col。 1：23。 So now； before the coming of the Son of man； the everlasting gospel is to be preached 〃to every nation； and kindred； and tongue； and people。〃 Rev。 14：6； 14。 God 〃hath appointed a day； in the which He will judge the world。〃 Acts 17：31。 Christ tells us when that day shall be ushered in。 He does not say that all the world will be converted； but that 〃this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations； and then shall the end come。〃 By giving the gospel to the world it is in our power to hasten our Lord's return。 We are not only to look for but to hasten the coming of the day of God。 2 Peter 3：12； margin。 Had
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the church of Christ done her appointed work as the Lord ordained； the whole world would before this have been warned； and the Lord Jesus would have come to our earth in power and great glory。
After He had given the signs of His coming； Christ said； 〃When ye see these things come to pass； know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand。〃 〃Take ye heed； watch and pray。〃 God has always given men warning of coming judgments。 Those who had faith in His message for their time； and who acted out their faith； in obedience to His commandments； escaped the judgments that fell upon the disobedient and unbelieving。 The word came to Noah； 〃Come thou and all thy house into the ark； for thee have I seen righteous before Me。〃 Noah obeyed and was saved。 The message came to Lot； 〃Up； get you out of this place； for the Lord will destroy this city。〃 Gen。 7：1； 19：14。 Lot placed himself under the guardianship of the heavenly messengers； and was saved。 So Christ's disciples were given warning of the destruction of Jerusalem。 Those who watched for the sign of the coming ruin； and fled from the city； escaped the destruction。 So now we are given warning of Christ's second coming and of the destruction to fall upon the world。 Those who heed the warning will be saved。
Because we know not the exact time of His coming； we are commanded to watch。 〃Blessed are those servants； whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching。〃 Luke 12：37。 Those who watch for the Lord's coming are not waiting in idle expectancy。 The expectation of Christ's coming is to make men fear the Lord； and fear His judgments upon transgression。 It is to awaken them to the great sin of rejecting His offers of mercy。 Those who are watching for the Lord are purifying their souls by obedience to the truth。 With vigilant watching they combine earnest working。 Because they know that the Lord is at the door； their zeal is quickened to co…operate with the divine intelligences in working for the salvation of souls。 These are the faithful and wise servants who give to the Lord's household 〃their portion of meat in due season。〃 Luke 12：42。 They are declaring the truth that is now specially applicable。 As Enoch； Noah； Abraham； and Moses each declared the truth for his time； so will Christ's servants now give the special warning for their generation。
But Christ brings to view another class： 〃If that evil servant shall say in his heart； My lord delayeth his coming； and shall begin to smite his fellow servants； and to eat and drink with the drunken； the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him。〃
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The evil servant says in his heart； 〃My lord delayeth his coming。〃 He does not say that Christ will not come。 He does not scoff at the idea of His second coming。 But in his heart and by his actions and words he declares that the Lord's coming is delayed。 He banishes from the minds of others the conviction that the Lord is coming quickly。 His influence leads men to presumptuous； careless delay。 They are confirmed in their worldliness and stupor。 Earthly passions； corrupt thoughts； take possession of the mind。 The evil servant eats and drinks with the drunken； unites with the world in pleasure seeking。 He smites his fellow servants； accusing and condemning those who are faithful to their Master。 He mingles with the world。 Like grows with like in transgression。 It is a fearful assimilation。 With the world he is taken in the snare。 〃The lord of that servant shall come 。 。 。 in an hour that he is not aware of； and shall cut him asunder； and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites。〃
〃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。〃 Rev。 3：3。 The advent of Christ will surprise the false teachers。 They are saying； 〃Peace and safety。〃 Like the priests and teachers before the fall of Jerusalem； they look for the church to enjoy earthly prosperity and glory。 The signs of the times they interpret as foreshadowing this。 But what saith the word of Inspiration？ 〃Sudden destruction cometh upon them。〃 1 Thess。 5：3。 Upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth； upon all who make this world their home； the day of God will come as a snare。 It comes to them as a prowling thief。
The world； full of rioting； full of godless pleasure； is asleep； asleep in carnal security。 Men are putting afar off the coming of the Lord。 They laugh at warnings。 The proud boast is made； 〃All things continue as they were from the beginning。〃 〃Tomorrow shall be as this day； and much more abundant。〃 2 Peter 3：4； Isa。 56：12。 We will go deeper into pleasure loving。 But Christ says； 〃Behold； I come as a thief。〃 Rev。 16：15。 At the very time when the world is asking in scorn； 〃Where is the promise of His coming？〃 the signs are fulfilling。 Whi