The Sure Word of Prophecy
By H. C. J. Walleker
ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. This surely also includes prophecy, which is simply history written beforehand. There are many who take the false position that the prophecies can not be understood; but notice what the Lord Himself says about this: “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever.” Deut. 29:29. The revealed things are for us to understand. The Lord pronounces a blessing upon him “that readeth,” and them “that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Rev. 1:3. It is well also to remember that this statement is found in a book which is called a Revelation, meaning something revealed; but many, even ministers, claim that these things can not be understood. But when people deny the prophecies which show so plainly that we are living in the last days, and that the second coming of Christ is near, we see another fulfilment of things foretold in the Word. Read 2 Peter 3:3, 4. The social and moral condition of the last days is also spoken of in the Word, comparing it with the days of Noah. Matt. 24:37-39. If this simply had reference to those who make no profession of religion, it would not be so bad; but the sad part of it is that these people profess to be Christians, since they have a form of godliness. 2 Tim. 3:1-5. This condition, which the Lord through His servant told us of about 1900 years ago, is very manifest in the so-called Christian world to-day. The financial condition in the last days is also plainly marked out in prophecy. There has never been a time in this world’s history, when wealth was heaped together as at the present time. Fabulous fortunes are accumulated in a short time; and very often this is done by fraud and oppression of the poor, and keeping back the wages of the laboring class. James 5:1-6. This is a sad condition, and it brings strife, hatred, and violence, between the classes. Murder and bloodshed are no uncommon thing to-day; but of this time our Master says: “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:8. Our Saviour calls special attention to the prophecies of Daniel, as recorded in Matt. 24:15, and this at a time when He was telling His disciples of the destruction of Jerusalem, and the signs that should be forerunners of His coming and the end of the world. We will notice that the Lord has spoken by the prophets, using similitudes and symbols to set forth great truths. Hosea 12:10. He also says that they should be specially plain in the last days. Hab. 2:2, 3; Dan. 12:4, 9, 10. In the prophecies of Daniel there are different lines of symbolic visions, which give us the rise and fall of nations clear down to the time when the everlasting kingdom of God should be set up. In the second chapter is opened before us one of the grandest records in the whole book, giving us the history of the world from the time of great Babylon, in all its pomp and glory, down to our own time, and the final destruction of all earthly powers. Eight short verses of the Inspired Word tell the whole story. Let us notice it briefly: The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, had a dream in which he saw a great image, whose “head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. . . . A stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” Dan. 2:32-45. The head of gold represents the Babylonian kingdom. This is clear from the fact that the other parts of the image represent kingdoms, which were to rise one after another. The next kingdom, Medo-Persia, was represented by the breast and arms of silver. Medo-Persia conquered Babylon in the year 538 B.C. They bore universal sway for 207 years, when they were subdued by the Grecians (represented by the brass) under Alexander the Great in 331 B.C. Later the Romans, symbolized by the legs of iron, subdued the world, and ruled with her iron hand, from about 161 B.C. until it was broken and divided. This division took place between the years 350 and 476 A.D. All this has been fulfilled, but there still remains one part unfulfilled, and that is the setting up of the fifth kingdom, the kingdom of Christ. It will surely come, and be as literal as the other kingdoms before it. As the first part of this prophecy has been fulfilled, just as surely will this part be fulfilled. There can be no question but that our Redeemer will soon come and put an end to sin. “The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.” Eze. 12:23. Our eyes may deceive us, and our ears may fail to hear correctly; but the prophetic Word is unfailing, infallible, and will surely be fulfilled. The sure word of prophecy shines out into the darkness, throwing light upon the future. Let us be awake, and discern the signs of the times.