The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

eing the express image of the Father, no human being could look upon Him and live. The
word translated "see" is the Greek horao, which, according to Dr. Young, means more
frequently, to perceive, to discern, to take heed; and it seems to be in the sense of
discerning that the word is used in this text. Many writers have taught that the Second
Advent will be invisible to mortals and will be made known to the true Church through an
understanding of the "sure word of prophecy," some time before the world will discern
that it has taken place. The world will know later on through the great troubles, clouds,
the like of which will never have been known before; also through the supernatural sights
and occurrences that will be in evidence in connection with the overthrow of the present
world or order of things and the establishment of the new. We quote two writers of note,
whose statements present splendid elucidations in regard to this. One of these wrote in
1856, and while it was his understanding that at the later stage of the Second Advent all
will literally see Him, yet it was his view that in its earliest stages Christ will be present for
some time, and the world be utterly unconscious of it:
"We are repeatedly told [in Scripture] that the Day of Judgment shall come 'as a thief in the
night.' And how does a thief come? He not only comes stealthily, and at such an hour as
we think not, but he is already on the premises, in the house and doing his work, before
we are aware of his presence. And so shall it be with the coming of Christ and the Day of
Judgment. He will be here judging the nations before we [many] know it. . . .
"Of this one thing, brethren, I am fully assured, that the stupendous occurrences of the
Day of Judgment will glide in upon the world as by stealth, and before a great number of
even pious people shall be aware, that these great scenes have commenced; whilst the
great mass of worldlings and politicians will not believe to the very last. . . . 'As it was in
the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. They did eat, they
drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until Noah entered into the ark,
and knew not until the flood came and took them all away.' Perhaps it had rained a month
before those wicked scoffers began to feel any special alarm. Perhaps many of them beheld
the ark taken up by the swelling waters, and yet stood upon the hill-tops laughing at the
old preacher's folly. Though the valleys were all covered and the waters rose higher and
higher every hour, 'they knew not' until all were swept away by the shoreless waves. And
so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. The nations shall be undergoing their
judgment, the sainted dead shall be raised, the sainted living shall be translated, and the
whole earth shall heave with the throes of judgment already present; and yet multitudes
will go on as before, and refuse to believe what is transpiring. Nations in their desperation
will continue to declare war, and make treaties, and form alliances, and join their armies,
and gather together their warriors against the Lamb and His people, until at last, . . . the
Son of Man will appear with his sainted host. . . . If it is not to be so, why have Peter and
Paul told us that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night? If it is not to be so,
why has the Savior told us so earnestly to watch, and pointed out so many signs by which
we are to be guided, and so repeatedly admonished us to take heed lest that day come
upon us unawares? All these things prove that the Day of Judgment will come upon the
world unknown except to the devoutest and most watchful of the children of men. How
important, therefore, that we should study with the profoundest care what the inspired