This is a question doubtless that many ask themselves, viz: "How soon will our change come?" This change many of us have looked forward to for years, and we yet with much pleasure, think of the time when we shall be gathered unto Jesus and see Him as he is. In the article concerning our change, in December paper, we expressed the opinion that it was nearer than many supposed, and while we would not attempt to prove our change at any particular time, yet we propose looking at some of the evidences which seem to show the translation or change from the natural to the spiritual condition, due this side or by the fall of our year 1881. The evidence that our change will be by that time, increases since we have seen that the change to spiritual bodies is not the marriage. While we thought the marriage to be the change, and knowing there was three and a half years of special favor to the Nominal Church (now left desolate) from 1878, we could not expect any translation this side of 1881, or during this three and a half years. But since we recognize that going into the marriage is not only being made ready (by recognizing His presence) for the change, but also, that going in includes the change itself, then the evidences that we go in (or will be changed) inside of the time mentioned are strong, and commend themselves to all interested as worthy of investigation. Aside from any direct proof that our change is near, the fact that the manner of the change can now be understood, is evidence that we are near the time of the change, for truth is "meat in due season," and understood only as due. It will be remembered that after the spring of 1878, (when we understand Jesus was due as King) that the subject of holiness or the wedding garment, was very much agitated. And aside from the parallel to the end of the Jewish age, and favor at that time being shown to the Jewish nation, which implied the presence of the King, the consideration of the wedding garment, was also proof of the correctness of the application, for "the King had come in to see the guests," [Matt. 22:11] and hence all were interested in knowing how they stood before Him. Now as the inspection of guests is the last thing prior to our change, which precedes the marriage and we are all now considering the change. It would seem that the time for it, is nigh.
We shall now present what we adduce from the types and prophetic points as seeming to indicate the translation of the saints and closing of the door to the high calling by 1881. We first notice the building of the Temple, by Solomon which seems to be a type of the spiritual as indicated in Acts 7:4-7. The time occupied in building is found by comparing 1 Kings 6:1,37 and 38, which was seven years and six months, yet called seven years. Verse 38. "The house when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer, nor ax, nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building." Verse 7. The quiet manner of building suggests to our mind the noiseless resurrection of the dead in Christ and change of the living, and if so the resurrection and change would cover a period of seven years, thus bringing to our mind, order. First the foundation laid and so on until completion, and this would be in harmony with statement in Rev. 11:18, viz: "Give reward unto thy servants, the prophets, and to the saints," that is, "Every man in his own order." In 1 Kings 5:17, we read, "The king commanded and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones to lay the foundation of the house." Those we would understand to represent the "Apostles and Prophets, which are the foundation, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, in whom all the building fitly framed together," groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord (Eph. 2:20-21).
of all the chaste virgins, the dead (by resurrection) and living (by translation or change.) In going into the spiritual condition "We cannot precede them." (E. Diaglott, 1 Thess. 4:15.) As Daniel's time was up in 1874 it is reasonable to suppose that the order he represented went in at that time, since which the "dead in Christ" are being raised; and as the seven years are about complete, that we will soon follow by being changed. Matt. 25 and the parallelism of the Jewish and Gospel ages, seem to teach that the wise of the virgins "who are alive and remain" must all come in, to a knowledge of the bridegroom's presence, by the fall of 1881, when the door—opportunity to become a member of the bride—will close.
But it is possible that the change to the spiritual condition—the "going in to the marriage on the higher plane—may not occur at the same moment to each individual. We suggest as quite possible, that the change may come to some prepared before that time.
If the dead are to be raised before we are changed it can as well take place some time before as a moment, and if the temple is any type it is evident that some will be raised at least seven years before the last are changed. The fact that the body or mass of the saints are assembled together when we are gathered, is intimated by Luke 17:34-37, and Paul in Heb. 12:22-23, says: "Ye are come [coming] unto Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. To the general assembly and church of the first born, and to the spirits of just men made perfect." We come to these.
The next point we will consider is that of Noah entering the Ark. It seems that the flood of forty days in the destruction of the old world is a type of the forty years' trouble here at the end of this world, (age) and as Noah entered there and escaped, so some shall enter here and escape.
This is shown also in the type of Moses and Aaron, for not one of the ten plagues came until after they met in the Mount. And as that meeting shows our change, then in order here, there would be none of the plagues come till after we are gathered unto Jesus, by which we would "escape all these things that shall come to pass and stand before the Son of man." [Luke 21:36.] It is in connection with this last type that we find additional proof of our speedy change.
Stephen says: "When he [Moses] was full forty years old it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel." Moses at this time came to deliver his brethren, but they rejected him, saying: "Who made thee a ruler and judge over us?" After his rejection, "he fled and was a stranger in the land of Midian," when he took the daughter of Jethro, priest of Midian, to wife. (Exo. 3:1.) And when forty years were expired there appeared to him "an angel of the Lord," at which time he was informed of God's intention to "send him into Egypt," and "this Moses, whom they refused did God send to be a ruler and deliverer." (Acts 7:23-36.) Moses seems clearly in this case to be a type of Christ. Jesus came to deliver his brethren (according to the flesh) and was rejected, after which he takes a Gentile wife and returns, showing favor to natural Israel. (Acts 15:14-16.) As Moses, in the first instance, Jesus came as a man, but the second time as a God, at which time He effects their deliverance. While there is a similarity in these general features, it is the time we would look at, more particularly now. The two periods in the life of Moses, at the end of which he came each time, seem to foreshadow the Jewish and Gospel ages, (each represented by forty years of Moses' life) at the end of which Jesus comes, first at the end of the Jewish as a man; now, in the end of the Gospel as a God.
1st. The days of Daniel ending in 1874, at which time the resurrection commenced, and since which, the dead have been going in to the marriage.
2d. The end of the seven years from that time, as marked by the parallel, of the end of the "seventy weeks" in the Jewish age ending in our year 1881, at which time we all should be in and the door closed, being the end of time of special favor to the nominal church before commencement of trouble which follows our change.
3d. The building of temple, covering seven years time, and hence in harmony with the above arguments.
5th. The last mentioned allegory in the life of Moses and Aaron.
Thus we find the types of days and years are in harmony. In view of these things let us watch and be sober, for "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." Lam. 3:26. A. D. J.