But in this great school one thing stands out pre-eminently as the desideratum in determining a pupil’s fitness for promotion, whatever the grade—whether he has achieved a perfect love and trust in his Father God, and in his Teacher, Jesus Christ, and has made a faithful study and a persistent practice of what He taught. That and that alone always wins promotion, and those who have truly done that need have no fear of the outcome for them.

At the beginning of this last term of life’s school, their Father God sent His children this wonderful Teacher, Who not only gave them clear and definite instructions that would suffice to carry them all through the term, if carefully studied; but by His life He also gave them a very clear picture of how to live and put His teachings to daily practice. He even told them how He would come at the end of the term to preside at their examinations and to judge their work, even telling them in just what manner He would come and what would be a sure proof of their fitness. See Matthew 25:31-46.

But what principally concerns us is what will happen when He comes; how long will it be before He comes; and what will it mean to the world afterward?

LET US consider first when will He come. There is much earnest thought and speculation being given to this most important subject. Many books and magazine articles have been written and are available these days covering every phase of it. But we will discuss an interpretation of the Lord’s own words that will provide much food for thought for those who are familiar with our teachings on the soul and the inner life.

We will assume that our readers admit that the signs preliminary to His coming—finding ourselves in the midst of wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, persecutions, etc., apply to the present time, and indicate the time of His coming is close at hand; and so we will quote His own words telling us what will then take place, urging everyone to read all of chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken;