The Mistake at the Time of the First Advent—The Danger of a Repetition at the Second
The words “Despise not prophesyings,” form an important part of the counsel given the church at Thessalonica. They were considered quite necessary to the welfare of that church, for the reason that some of the events predicted by the apostle, which were to influence the course of Christian experience, were soon to stand out prominently upon the horizon of church history. It was therefore needful to keep in mind the warnings inculcated, in order to know how to meet emergencies arising from the fulfillment of divine prophecy.
But that which was so necessary in the apostolic age, must be considered doubly so at this remote period, when the concluding and crucial portions of the far-reaching foreknowledge of God are under complete demonstration. So it is at least safe to let the apostle’s admonition apply at the present day. Let us then learn the scope of the warning, that we may decide its requirements upon the individual life.
As used in this text, the word “despise” carries a broad meaning. The thought of contempt or scorn is foreign to its use in this case. The foundation word from which it comes implies, “to think nothing of, or set at naught.” The plain English of the text would then run, Do not consider prophesyings as unworthy of thought, and so pass them by as needless.
It is hardly necessary to remind the reader that many religious teachers now ignore the prophetic utterances of the Bible, especially those of the book of Revelation. The excuse for doing so is probably not the same in all instances. Some do so because they do not share public sympathy in an attempt to apply them to social developments of their time. Others confess that they have not studied them closely, because of a lack of inclination.
But the question might fittingly be asked of these various classes. Why has inspiration left the prophecies on record, if they are not to fill a need for heavenly instruction? Do not such know that a special blessing is promised to those who read and obey the things written in the book of Revelation? Rev. 1:3.
It Is the Revelation
With such a statement in hand, it would seem the height of folly to declare the contents of that book anomalous, and of uncertain authority, especially in view of the fact that its very preface declares it to be the “revelation of Jesus Christ” of things that are to occur during the gospel dispensation.
Then again, after having told all these things in their order, so particular was the prophet to have all his words preserved to succeeding generations just as they had been delivered, drastic penalties were prescribed for any who should either add to the sentiment expressed, or take away any of the words employed therein. Rev. 22:18, 19.
It must therefore be conceded that the book of Revelation is not only important as a guide in tracing the history of the church through its various phases, but when the events predicted by it are being enacted, a duty rests on the people of that generation to study what relation they should sustain to those events. Should such duty be neglected, the omission is sure to bring disaster to all the guilty. This has been abundantly demonstrated throughout past ages. One reference will be sufficient to illustrate the point.
The Prophets Had Foretold It
Old-time prophets testified beforehand of the coming of Christ, and the sufferings He would endure for the fallen race. 1 Peter 1:10-12. But when He came to His own people, those who for centuries had been taught to anticipate the Messiah’s advent, they refused to acknowledge Him (John 1:10, 11), but maltreated Him in every way in their power. They even said, when condemning Him to the death of the cross, “His blood be on us, and on our children.” Matt. 27:25.
Their imprecation of the results began at once to bear fruit. But even before this fatal leap, they were clearly warned by the Saviour’s words to this effect: “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.” Luke 19:42. That people might have known, had they studied the prophecies that so accurately predicted His coming and mission; but their neglect of this duty brought them sad results.
The beginning of these calamities was divinely laid before them in these words: “For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another.” Terribly sad, if really fulfilled! But the Saviour faithfully gave the reason for such fearful visitation. Said He, “Because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” Verses 43, 44.
Pointed Out; but They Saw It Not
The prophecies had pointed with precision to the time then present; but the Jews of that day had no knowledge of what the events of that time meant, evidently because they had not studied the application of them to that particular time. But as to the consequences: Less than forty years after the death of Christ, the city of Jerusalem was laid low by fire and sword, and that nation was scattered over the face of the earth, to become the butt of satire and religious hostility. Would that it were not so! But the prediction in their case was their final warning, which, if heeded, would have placed that people on the platform of respect with all other nations.
The case of that nation has not been mentioned here because of any bias against them, but simply as an illustration of what is involved in the neglect of those prophecies which point to the present generation. Let every one, therefore, heed the evangelistic exhortation, “Despise not prophesyings.”
