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The Prophecy Fulfilled

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 9, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 45.

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The Prophecy Fulfilled

By W. A. S.

THE message of God in New Testament times continually called attention to the fulfilment of prophecy. Fulfilled prophecy sets the seal of divinity upon God's holy Word, and forces men to decision and action.
John's voice in the wilderness was the voice so long foretold by the prophet. Jesus came saying, “The time is fulfilled.” Peter on the day of Pentecost declared to the multitude that they were beholding “that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.” Through all the New Testament story apostles were showing that events on earth were moving in exact accordance with the word of God by the prophets of old.
Wonderful as it is to behold prophecy fulfilling, more wonderful still the experience of acting a very part in the fulfilment of prophecy. Joining in this advent movement is more than merely joining a denomination that has much to say about prophecy. This movement, the very presence of this people in the world to-day, is the fulfilment of prophecy.
When the year 1844, according to Daniel the prophet, brought the hour of judgment, or the cleansing of the sanctuary, it was necessary, according to the word of another prophecy, that there should be a movement in the earth crying out the judgment message to every people and tongue, continuing to lift up the standard of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus until the end.
At the appointed time the world saw just such a movement. It has made Seventh-day Adventists a people, the burden of whose message is exactly the burden of Rev. 14: 6-12. And this is the only movement the world has ever seen proclaiming such a message. No other people has ever professed to give that message. Here is the movement that is fulfilling prophecy. Solemn indeed the thought of being a part of such a work.
What this means is suggested by the words of Jesus concerning John's work: “But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” Matt. 11: 9, 10.
John was more than a prophet; he and the message that he bore were the fulfilment of prophecy. It was the first advent movement fulfilling the words of the prophets of old, preparing the way of the Lord.
Now Christ is coming again, in glory. This advent movement that has made us Seventh-day Adventists is a mightier thing than the rise of a people preaching about prophecy and its fulfilment in history. The movement itself is the fulfilling of prophecy. This very people, in the work they are doing, “are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts.” Isa. 8: 16-18.
What a marvelous thing to be a part of the movement that is to bind up the law, seal the testimony, and prepare the way of the Lord as he comes with all his holy angels. We have followed no cunningly devised fables. All along, and in every department of this work, God's hand has been seen fulfilling prophecy. As the message gathers strength and sweeps from land to land, the world will witness the fulfilment of the prophet's word: “The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”
The movement not only calls attention to the signs of the Lord's soon coming, but it is itself the sign that the Lord is at the door. To be a part of the movement is to live a life that proclaims the coming King. To be a part of it is to have every aspiration of the soul and every power of the life at the stretch to send this message flying, like an angel in the midst of heaven, to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. Again, “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.”
W. A. S.