Where were you
on October 28?
Second Part

One of those who, in the nineteenth century, fixed the date of the Second coming was William Miller—it was to be in 1843. People sold or gave away their belongings, dressed themselves with white ascension robes. One built a boat on top of a rock in preparation for the sail to heaven. One group went to Jerusalem to meet Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane.

Some of you will recall that there was a magazine, Plain Truth, the editor of which was, Herbert W. Armstrong, Plain Truth kept scheduling the Second coming. When no such event occurred as fearlessly predicted (such as that it would be in 1966), Armstrong said, “Well, it will come in my lifetime,” He is now long dead; his plain truth turned out to be a plain lie!

Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie, Pastor of Hollywood Presbyterian Church, tells us from his vivid boyhood memories that there was likewise such a stirring up about the impending end of the world on a certain day and at a certain hour. The exact time was awaited. At the exact time, the class in Math of which Lloyd was a student would have an exam. Lloyd tells us now that since for him Math was a difficult subject, he listened to the ticking of the clock and wished the end of the world would come, and there would be no Math exam.

To his terrible disappointment the end of the world did not come and, predictably, he failed the exam. But he learned a theological lesson: do not believe the cranks who, according to some reports, make a lucrative profit from such a hoax.

Where was I theologically?

It is clear from the words of the Lord in the Gospels that no one should get involved in any speculation concerning the time of his return. “No one,” says Jesus, “No angel in heaven, not even the Son of God himself, but the Father in heaven knows.” As to earthquakes, wars and rumors of wars and natural calamities as signs of the impending return of Christ, the fact is, there have been wars and rumors of war and natural calamities from the beginning of history to our own times.

Again, knowing the nature of much of biblical material—specifically, that much of it is not to be interpreted literally—would such a wonderfully glorious event as Jesus coming again be construed in such crude terms as the cults and sects have pictured it?

And then we should be warned about the selfish pride that goes with the hope of a Mr. Lee and his kind. Isn’t it quite the height of pride and selfishness that the Rupture of the Saints upon the returning of Christ is so narrowly confined to those who claim to be “Jesus’ own?”*TO BE CONTINUED

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