The Divine Telescope by Daniel H. Kress

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 5, 1916

The Divine Telescope

By Daniel H. Kress

D. H. KRESS, M. D.

WITH all who embrace present truth, the question naturally arises, What relation do the “Testimonies for the Church” sustain to the Bible?

Shortly after Sister S. M. I. Henry, then National Evangelist of the W. C. T. U., received the light regarding the true Sabbath, she was greatly perplexed in regard to the Testimonies. She recognized that the books were spiritual and helpful, but she had always believed that the Bible was all the church of Christ needed. The question then arose, What place do the “Testimonies for the Church” occupy? She was greatly perplexed for some time.

In a meeting held in the city of Chicago, at which leading workers from the various parts of the United States were present, she stated her perplexity, and said, “Brethren, the time has come for me to know for myself whether these writings are given in addition to the Bible or are a part of it.”

She was always a most godly woman, one who knew how to prevail with God. In response to her request for help, several attempted to offer explanations, none of which made the matter clear in her mind. She then, with an anxious look upon her face, said, “Brethren, let us pray. I have come to the place where this matter must be settled.”

We knelt down, and after several prayers were offered, Sister Henry herself began to plead with God for light and help. While thus pleading, she suddenly ceased praying for a moment, and then began to thank and praise God. When we arose from our knees, that look of almost painful anxiety had disappeared; her face was radiant with joy and gratitude. She then told us what had taken place. She said that while pleading with God, suddenly a huge telescope appeared before her vision, pointing to the sky. This was all she saw, but it was sufficient to make plain to her the place occupied by the Testimonies.

With the naked eye we are able to see many stars in the heavens on a dark night, but with the aid of the telescope we can discern hundreds and thousands where with the naked eye we could see but one. The telescope does not add one star; it merely enables us to see those which are actually there.

The Testimonies are a huge telescope. They do not bring out additional truth or light, but they do enable us to appreciate, with clearer spiritual vision, the truth already revealed in the Bible.

It is against the gift of the spirit of prophecy, through which the Testimonies are given, that Satan has always been enraged, and so he will be to the end of time. “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 12: 17. “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Rev. 19: 10.

In the past, men went out of the church because God testified against them. Men have gone out of the remnant church for the same reason, and others will go out. Every one who has forsaken the remnant church, it will be observed, has manifested antagonism to this gift. Such may claim to stand stanchly for the law and to believe in the prophets of old, as did the people in Christ’s day, but the Word of God says, “To the law and to the testimony.” It is the living testimony that is opposed. Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets;” both were to continue. The one was to continue to magnify the other, and so the path of the just was to be “as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”

Of what good is a telescope if we simply keep it as an object of admiration, and never look through it? Neither are the Testimonies of any value if left on our shelves. It is this neglect to study them which ultimately brings men and women down to a low plane of living; for every candid person will admit that if the instruction given in the Testimonies was obeyed, it would develop Christlikeness of character.

When God led Israel out of Egypt, he gave them his law, and also a prophet. “By a prophet was he [Israel] preserved.” Hosea 12: 13. When they reached Jordan and were ready to cross over, God laid away his servant, and called Joshua to lead the people into the Promised Land. To Joshua were given no new revelations. These were not so much needed as that attention should be called to what had already been revealed. Enough had been given through Moses, and written in books, to carry the people through into the Land of Promise, if the instruction was heeded. God therefore said to Joshua, “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan.” “Be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee. . . . This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein.” Joshua 1: 2, 7, 8. After the death of Moses, special attention was to be called to his writings, and obedience thereto was to be urged.

What is needed today is not so much new revelations and new light, but special attention should be called to the light God has already given, and the people should be urged to walk therein. When we do that, and additional light is needed, God will give it; but until we obey the light we already have, we need not look for additional light.