p. 21 | Prophecy-Its Use by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 1, 1873

Prophecy—Its Use.

By R. F. Cottrell

It has been truly said that prophecy is history in advance, and that history is the record of prophecy fulfilled.

The working out of the great plan of human redemption and salvation is a progressive work. The successive steps of this work are promised beforehand in prophecy, so that as they are fulfilled in the given order, faith in God and revelation shall be the result. Prophecy and its fulfillment are intended to keep alive the faith that God is—not that he was, a long time in the past, or that he will be, some time in the future; but that he now exists; because we now can see his work in fulfillment of the promises made long ago. Those great chains of consecutive prophecy, beginning some time in the past, and leading, step by step, down to the end, are calculated to strengthen and confirm the faith of the believer, and especially so as we approach the end, when faith shall be scarce, iniquity shall abound, and the love of many shall grow cold; in short, to sustain God’s people amid the perils of the last days. The progressive fulfillment of these prophecies proves progress in the work of the Lord; so that while the scoffers of the last days say, “All things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation,” it is evident from these that they do not, but that the ultimate promises of God will be verified.

And as the work of God in the fulfillment of his plan is progressive, so the faith of believers must be progressive; not that they must abandon their former faith, but they must add faith to faith. This the human heart is not naturally disposed to do. Though ready to be carried by every changing wind of the fleeting fashions of a vain world, in religious faith there is an aversion to progress, especially to progress in the right direction. In gradual apostasy from the faith, it is easy to progress; but to walk in the increasing light of truth, men are not naturally inclined. Hence, prophecy and its fulfillment tests the faith of men.

There are two grand events of prophecy, the first and the second advents of Christ; and in connection with these two events come two especial trials of the faith of those who profess to believe.

What caused the Jews to fall and be rejected at the first advent? Why was Christ a stumbling-block to them? The answer is, “Because of their unbelief.” But they professed faith in Moses and the prophets, and were as strict in the fulfillment of the form of religion as are the mass of Christians at the present day. In what was their unbelief manifested? In not accepting the progressive fulfillment of God’s plan as given before in prophecy. And so in their unbelief, they fulfilled the prophecies in condemning Christ. Acts. 13:27. They proposed, as professed Christians now do, to attend to the practical part of religion, without regard to prophecy and its fulfillment; and so they went on offering their sacrifices and attending to those duties that God had truly enjoined, thinking, doubtless, that this was a safe course, while they closed their eyes to the progress that had been made in the fulfillment of the divine plan, which challenged their faith, demanding advancement, and, being neglected by them, proved them infidels.

At the present time, the faith of the church is being tested in a similar manner. The history of the closing work of the gospel has been given in prophecy. Rev. 14:6–12; 10:5–11. The closing proclamations of the gospel are here given in promise; the closing work and experience of the true church will be just what is here indicated. The people of God will be able to show just where they are, and what their work is, by a reference to these promised messages and their fulfillment; and this will be positive proof that the end is at hand—that the Son of man is about to come to reap the harvest of the earth and tread the wine-press of the wrath of God.

And it will be seen that the probation of mankind is to close with a grand and final test on the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The subject of the commandments of God, as well as the faith of the gospel of Christ, will be agitated and discussed, just as we see is the case at the present time; and this will discover the true worshipers of God, and distinguish them from the worshipers of the beast; that is, the followers of the great papal apostasy.

The great lines of consecutive and descriptive prophecy, contained in Daniel, chapters 2 and 7, and in Revelation, chapters 12 and 13, are of great importance on two accounts. In the first place, they show our nearness to the Judgment and the close of human probation, and, secondly, they are still more important in a practical sense, because that in their fulfillment they bring mankind to a grand and final test, which closes probation forever. This test is found in the message of the third angel, found in Rev. 14:9–12. These prophecies and their fulfillment in history are so plain that the common mind can understand them; and it is self-evident that a just God will not make that a final test—a test on which the salvation or destruction of men depends—which cannot be comprehended by men in general. But that such a test is before us cannot be disproved.

As we have already observed, it is evident from this last message that the commandments of God will be a leading theme of discussion, as probation draws to its close. The professed worshipers of God will hold different positions in regard to these commandments. The dispute will be concerning the commandments of the moral law or decalogue; because all are agreed that the ceremonial law, consisting of types and shadows, has passed away, being nailed to the cross of Christ. So we see that the contest will be upon the ten commandments, as we see it being fulfilled at the present time.

The question then arises, Who will be right in their position on the commandments? While some contend that they have been abolished, and others that the Sabbath of the fourth commandment only has been changed from the seventh to the first day of the week, and others still that these commandments are perpetually binding and unchangeable in every jot and tittle, who will be right? Those who keep them. “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” The saints in this time of their patience will keep both the commandments of the Father and the faith of the Son.

Men may contend that these commandments have been abolished or changed; they may argue and wrangle and throw dust to blind the eyes and turn the heads of the unsophisticated, so that they can hardly tell their right hand from their left, yet this prophecy sets it all right and plain to the willing and obedient mind. The commandment keepers only are safe. All the others follow in the wake of the great apostate church, the power that persecuted the saints, and thought to change the times and laws of God.

Here is the use of prophecy. It shows the path of duty. It shows infallibly where the truth lies, at a time when without it good men might be deceived. It makes it sure that there will be a final test of the gospel; that that test will be upon the commandments of God; and that they only who keep them will stand the test and be translated without death into the everlasting kingdom of God.

The Jewish church were tested on prophecy and its fulfillment, and a large portion fell. The Christian church are to be tested, and who shall stand? They that shall stand are unerringly described as keeping the commandments now in dispute among the professors of the religion of Christ. R. F. COTRELL.