“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him,” (2 Thessalonians 2:1 (ESV)
John Charles (J.C.) Ryle (10 May 1816 – 10 June 1900) was an English evangelical Anglican bishop. He was the first Anglican bishop of Liverpool. Ryle was a strong critic of ritualism. He was a writer, pastor and an evangelical preacher. The following article, entitled The Great Gathering, first appeared in 1878.
WHY is this “gathering together” of true Christians a thing to be desired? Let us try to get an answer to that question.
Paul evidently thought that the gathering at the last day was a cheering object which Christians ought to keep before their eyes. He classes it with that second coming of our Lord, which he says elsewhere, believers love and long for. He exalts it in the distant horizon as one of those “good things to come,” which should animate the faith of every pilgrim in the narrow way. Not only, he seems to say, will each servant of God have rest, and a kingdom, and a crown — he will also have besides a happy “gathering together.” Now, where is the peculiar blessedness of this gathering? Why is it a thing that we ought to look forward to with joy, and expect with pleasure? Let us see.
(1) For one thing, the “gathering together” of all true Christians will be a state of things totally unlike their present condition. To be scattered, and not gathered, seems the rule of man’s existence now. Of all the millions who are annually born into the world, how few continue together until they die! Children who draw their first breath under the same roof, and play by the same fireside — are sure to be separated as they grow up, and to draw their last breath far distant from one another.
The same law applies to the people of God. They are spread abroad like salt, one in one place and one in another, and never allowed to continue long side by side. It is doubtless good for the world, that it is so. A town would be a very dark place at night, if all the lighted candles were crowded together into one room. But as good as it is for the world — it is no small trial to believers. Many a day they feel desolate and alone; many a day they long for a little more communion with their brethren, and a little more companionship with those who love the Lord! Well, they may look forward with hope and comfort. The hour is coming when they shall have no lack of companions. Let them lift up their heads and rejoice. There will be a “gathering together” by and by!
(2) For another thing, the gathering together of all true Christians will be an assembly entirely of one mind. There are no such assemblies now. Mixture, hypocrisy, and false profession — creep in everywhere. Wherever there is wheat — there are sure to be tares. Wherever there are good fish — there are sure to be bad. Wherever there are wise virgins — there are sure to be foolish. There is no such thing as a perfect church now. There is a Judas Iscariot at every communion table — and a Demas in every Apostolic company! And wherever the “sons of God” come together — Satan is sure to appear among them. (Job 1:6.)
But all this shall come to an end one day. Our Lord shall at length present to the Father a perfect church, “having neither spot nor wrinkle, nor any such thing.” (Ephesians 5:27.) How glorious such a Church will be!
To meet with half-a-dozen believers together now is a rare event in a Christian’s year, and one that cheers him like a sunshiny day in winter — it makes him feel his heart burn within him, as the disciples felt on the way to Emmaus. But how much more joyful will it be to meet a “multitude that no man can number!”
To find too, that all we meet are at last of one opinion and one judgment, and see eye to eye — to discover that all our miserable controversies are buried forever, and that Calvinists no longer hate Arminians, nor Arminians Calvinists; Churchmen no longer quarrel with Dissenters, nor Dissenters with Churchmen; to join a company of Christians in which there is neither jarring, squabbling, nor discord, every man’s graces fully developed, and every man’s besetting sins dropped off like leaves in Autumn — all this will be happiness indeed! No wonder that Paul bids us to look forward.
(3) For another thing, the gathering together of true Christians will be a meeting at which none shall be absent. The weakest lamb shall not be left behind in the wilderness. We shall once more see our beloved friends and relatives who fell asleep in Christ, and left us in sorrow and tears — better, brighter, more beautiful, more pleasant than ever we found them on earth! We shall hold communion with all the saints of God who have fought the good fight before us, from the beginning of the world to the end. Patriarchs and Prophets, Apostles and Fathers, Martyrs and Missionaries, Reformers and Puritans — all the host of God’s elect shall be there.
If to read their words and works has been pleasant — how much better shall it be to see them! If to hear of them, and be stirred by their example, has been useful — how much more delightful to talk with them, and ask them questions! To sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and hear how they kept the faith without any Bible; to converse with Moses, and Samuel, and David, and Isaiah, and Daniel, and hear how they could believe in a Christ yet to come; to converse with Peter, and Paul, and Lazarus, and Mary, and Martha, and listen to their wondrous tale of what their Master did for them — all this will be sweet indeed! No wonder that Paul bids us to look forward.
(4) In the last place, the gathering of all true Christians shall be a meeting without a parting. There are no such meetings now. We seem to live in an endless hurry, and can hardly sit down and take breath — before we are off again. “Good-bye!” treads on the heels of “Hello!”
The cares of this world, the necessary duties of life, the demands of our families,
the work of our various stations and callings — all these things appear to eat up our days, and to make it impossible to have long quiet times of communion with God’s people. But, blessed be God — it shall not always be so. The hour comes, and shall soon be here, when “good-bye” and “farewell” shall be words that are laid aside and buried forever!
When we meet in a world where the former things have passed away, where there is . . .no more sin, no more sorrow, no more poverty, no more work of body or work of brains, no more need of anxiety for families, no more sickness, no more pain,
no more old age, no more death, no more change —when we meet in that endless state of being, calm, and restful, and unhurried — who can tell what the bliss and blessedness will be? I cannot wonder that Paul bids us look up and look forward.
I lay these things before all who read this paper, and ask their serious attention to them. If I know anything of a Christian’s experience, I am sure they contain food for reflection. This, at least, I say confidently: the man who sees nothing much in the second coming of Christ and the public “gathering” of Christ’s people — nothing happy, nothing joyful, nothing pleasant, nothing desirable — such a man may well doubt whether he himself is a true Christian and has got any grace at all!
Will you be part of the gathering together of the saints when Jesus Christ returns in power might and glory? God commands sinners, by the Holy Spirit (John 3:1-8; Titus 3:1-5), to repent of their sins and to receive salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone (John 12:1-12; Acts 2:32-38; Romans 3:21-26; Eph. 2:1-10).
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 