Our Present Condition and Our Hope by F. G. Patterson shows the believer the past - a suffering, dead, and risen Christ; the present - the association of the people of God with him in a pathway of suffering and rejection; and the future - his coming again in glory, his taking to him his great power to reign, and our association with him in his glory.

Our Present Condition:

The Lord left his servants to carry on his heavenly mission here below. He set "every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch". He says, "What I say unto you, I say unto all, watch". Our blessed occupation here is "to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven". In one way or another, he has given us something to do for him, and he is coming back to ascertain how each is discharging the duty given him, and at an "hour ye think not". Therefore, "Let your loins be girded, and your lights burning".

Our Hope:

The Lord will come again in power and great glory - the great event that will bring about all this glory for which he waits and we wait. It is near, beloved brethren; the heart feels conscious that it is so, and the present action of the Holy Spirit marks it as very close at hand. By examining the two letters to the Thessalonians, F. G. Patterson reminds us of what we have to look forward to. He also shows us that the "coming" and the "appearing" are two entirely different things, as are the "great white throne" and the "judgment seat of Christ".