THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPHECY.
The voice of prophecy being intended to serve as a guide to the church through all ages, it is unquestionably of great importance to ascertain, as far as possible, what portion of it really relates to the times in which we live, and to those events which are passing before our eyes. To this spiritual duty we are exhorted by the Apostle Peter, when he saith, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.” We have, moreover, the example of a holy man of old, who inquired diligently, “searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” We likewise meet with a similar exhortation in Isaiah, where the question is put to the watchman, “Watchman, what of the night?” and what is repeated—“Watchman, what of the night?”—as is usually done when persons are in a panic, or when they fear the watchman did not hear them the first time. (Isa. xxi, 11, 12.) The exhortation is then given: “If ye will inquire, inquire ye; return, come;” implying that it is of the utmost importance that the question should be answered, as much as if it had been said, “Do not go away without an answer; return, come.” “If you will inquire,” says Dr. Gill, “about the time of the night, and when the morning will come, inquire in good earnest; inquire seriously; search the Scripture; look into the prophetic parts of it—the several prophecies of the Old and New Testament respecting both the spiritual and PERSONAL COMING of Christ, and particularly the book of the Revelation, which is a prophetic history of events that should befall the church and the world, from the first times of Christianity to the end of all things; remain to be fulfilled,—carefully read over those accounts, and get the best help you can from those who have made it their study to understand and explain the things written therein, whereby you will in some measure know what is to come to pass,* and what is left behind.” Thus, whilst to the unbelieving world the future, with all the contingencies of human policy, is hidden behind a veil impenetrable by the human intellect, and which, unaided by the Revelation, it in vain endeavors to pierce, the Lord’s believing people, like the Israelites of old, amidst the surrounding Egyptian darkness, “have light in all their dwellings;” for “surely the Lord will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos iii, 7. And in the opening of the book of Revelation, he thus encourageth the investigation and study of its contents: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein; for the time is at hand.”—Habershon’s Preface, pp. 10–13.