The Spirit of the Advent
“The Spirit and the Birds say Come.” Rev. 22:17.
great business of the Holy Ghost since Christ’s ascension, has been to prepare for His return. The two last messages of our departing Master, recorded in the first ten verses of the Acts of the Apostles, are the promise of the Holy Ghost and the promise of His second coming. Between these two promises lies the whole Christian age, and the object of the first is to fulfill the last.
The Holy Ghost has now unfolded the prophetic vision, and as He closes it until the end of time. He pours out one ardent prayer and unites the beloved Bride of Jesus in it, ‘’Come Lord Jesus.” And then He sends the message forth to all around, and adds, “let him that heareth say come.” And, turning to the world and the sinner. He utters the last message of inviting mercy to come to Jesus. “Let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will let him take the wter of life freely.”
This passage suggests the connection of the Holy Ghost with the Lord’s return.
I. The Holy Ghost has given us the predictions of Christ’s second coming. Much of it we have misunderstood, much of it may remain somewhat obscure until the time of the end, but nothing has been left unsaid that we need to know to fit us for the meeting with our Lord.
2. The Holy Ghost has interpreted and illuminated the prophetic Scriptures.
Daniel uttered these advent visions, but he dimly comprehended them, and was told to seal them up until the time of the end. But he was also told that as the end drew near, the wise should understand, and this is just what is happening to-day.
The most remarkable sign that we are in the last days, and that the mystery of the ages is about to be finished, is the wondrous light which the Holy Ghost has shed on the interpretation of prophecy in our time.
3. The Holy Ghost is preparing for the Lord’s coming by awakening the desire and expectation of Christ’s return in the hearts of His disciples.
As the hour draws near this will become more uniform and universal among the little flock, and when He appears His Bride will not be left ‘hn darkness that that day should overtake her as a thief,” but she will be found ready and waiting to go forth to meet him.
Let us listen to His whisper, let us catch his full meaning, let us, as the day draws near, be found “bending ourselves back,” and “lifting up our heads” and, like the bird upon the branch, with fluttering wings and uplifted eye waiting for the signal of its mate, let us be ready at His earliest call to rise to met Him in the air.
4. The Holy Ghost is preparing for Christ’s return by the spiritual enrobing of His children.
The call is going forth. “The marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready; and it was granted to her that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.”
The Holy Ghost is preparing a people to-day for the coming of Christ. There is a marked movement in all sections of the Christian Church toward separation from the world and entire consecration to Christ, that we may receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost and be transformed and conformed to Christ.
This is the very sign that the Bridegroom is near at hand. When the Bride is found robed and ready, her I.ord will not be long behind.
Beloved, have we received the wedding robe? Have we made sure of the oil in our vessels with our lamps? Are we arrayed in raiment not only “clean” but also “bright,” not only without the stain of sin, but with all the beauty and glory of the priestly garments?
5. The Holy Ghost is working in the providence of God among the nations, to prepare for the coming of Christ.
The wonderful events of our time are the beginning of those overturnings which are to bring in the kingdom of Christ and His Millennial reign. The Ancient of Days is already working among the nations, and through the power of the Spirit of God is breaking down the barriers and opening up the highway for Christ’s return.
6. The Holy Ghost is sending forth the disciples of Christ to fulfill their great trust in witnessing for Christ and evangelizing the world.
This is His greatest work of preparation for the coming of Christ. In direct connection with the promise of the Spirit is the great commission, “Ye shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto Me,... unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
And so to-day we witness the mighty workings of the Holy Ghost, in sending out the message of the gospel to the neglected at home and the heathen abroad.
Beloved, if we are truly filled with the Holy Ghost and longing for the coming of Christ, we shall be active witnesses and workers in preparing for Him. We will be soul winners at home, and if we cannot go abroad we will help others go and give the gospel quickly to all the world.