The Spirit of Christ in the Prophets.
By I. D. Van Horn
We meet with men almost everywhere who take the position that the Old Testament has served its time in the world, and is numbered with the things that are past. These, with some others who take a more favorable view of the relation the Old Testament sustains to us, look upon the writings of some of the prophets, especially those of Daniel, as being very obscure if not hidden mysteries. Some go so far as to say it is a sin to read or study them with a view to learn or understand their meaning. Of the New Testament and its teachings, they speak in the highest terms; though they have some difficulty with the book of Revelation. They respect the teachings of Jesus Christ, and accept them as worthy of their entire confidence. Christ, to them, is all in all. This is all as it should be. But what seems singular to me is, for them to accept his testimony in one portion of the Bible and reject it in another. I suppose though, that they have no idea that our Lord had anything to do in dictating the prophets to write what they did. We learn that “the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Pet. 1:21. Now it is very easy to show that the Spirit of Christ was in the prophets, and that therefore their writings are actually the teachings of Christ though they be found in the Old Testament. The apostle Peter speaks to the point as follows: “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you; 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.” 1 Pet. 1:10, 11. Now what about the book of Daniel? “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him understand),” Matt. 24:15. In this our Lord gives his special sanction to the writings of Daniel, which is not only a proof that they are genuine, but that they may be understood. We know that the Spirit of Christ was in Daniel, by the fact so clearly set before us by the apostle Peter. The book of revelation was dictated to John by Christ’s angel. Rev. 1:1; 22:16. Now compare Rev. 22:9 with chap. 19:10 and it will be seen, as John fell down to worship at his feet, in the one place he said, “I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets;” and in the other, “I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus;” and, “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” This must be undoubted proof that the writings of the prophets are the testimony of Jesus to us. It is quite probable that Christ’s angel is the angel Gabriel. As incidental proof of this, we refer the reader to the fact that this angel was sent to Zacharias, and gave him information of the birth of John the Baptist the forerunner of Christ; and then again to the virgin Mary to announce to her the bringing of Jesus into this world at his first advent. Luke 1. It was this angel that dictated to Daniel the important things he has left on record for us. For us, I say, because the greater portion of his book was to be understood and explained to the world in the time of the end. Chap. 12:4, 9, 10. From the above facts we conclude that it is not only right, but our duty to “inquire and search diligently” into the prophecies; and we do not think we do wrong, but “do well” to take heed unto them, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place.” I. D. VAN HORN.