Which Is It? by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 22, 1883

Which Is It?

By R. F. Cottrell

Is the book of Revelation a hidden mystery, or a revelation? Is its meaning "concealed under the apostle's words"? or are these words used by the spirit of God "to show to his servants" that which was to come to pass in the future? The following extracts are taken from notes and comments in a family Bible. After stating some views that have been given by expositors on the seals and trumpets of the book of Revelation, the author speaks of chapters 10 and 11 in this way: "On comparing the affair of the book with Dan. 8 and 9, and Eze. 2 and 3, several things appear to be similar in both, but no exposition can be given of their meaning." Then he says:—

"The remainder of the book has been, and continues to be, the source of controversy; and questions have been raised upon it that have distracted the Christian world. Into these we shall not enter, because we hold it to be quite impossible that mortal man can explain the mystery concealed under the apostle's words."

Now compare this idea of a "mystery concealed" under inexplicable words, of which "no exposition can be given of their meaning," with the declarations of the Spirit itself concerning the nature and design of the book—"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. . . . Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein."

What the Spirit of God calls a revelation, that is, something revealed, men call an unexplainable mystery; and that which "God gave" to show to the servants of Jesus Christ future events, they hold to be a "mystery concealed," something of which "no exposition can be given of its meaning." If this be so, the reader is not "blessed," for he does not understand it, and cannot; it is in vain to try. And he cannot "keep those things which are written therein," for he does not know what they are. The fearful warning and threatening of unmingled wrath against those who shall worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark, he cannot heed, because it is impossible for him to know what is meant by these terms; and the commandments of the message (Rev. 14:9-12) he cannot keep, not knowing what they are. And he may, with apparent modesty and reverence, conclude, with our author, that as the commandments of God have been, and still are, a "source of controversy," questions having been raised upon them "that have distracted the Christian world," it is better not to enter into these, it being quite impossible for mortal man to understand what God requires.

Look at it. High Heaven has sent us a letter, and has pronounced a special blessing upon those who read it and heed its behests. But the receiver says he cannot read it, it is impossible to understand it, and therefore he will not be to blame if he does not heed its injunctions. If this position is true, of course he is not to blame. But is this the way to treat a communication from God? Did you ever receive a letter from a dear friend, pronounce it impossible to read it, and so not try? I never gave up in that way. Our editor forwarded a communication to me which he said he could not read; and I did not blame him for not taking time, in the midst of his pressing duties, to decipher it; but by a determined effort I mastered it. And can we not take the time, and make the effort, to read the last great prophecy of the book of God, especially as he has pronounced his special blessing upon the effort? Oh, that men professing godliness would cease to insult the Majesty of Heaven, by treating what he has communicated to us for our good, even for our eternal salvation, as an incomprehensible mystery!

R. F. COTTRELL.