A PROPHECY OF WORLD-WIDE IMPORT
By M. C. W.
A Sevenfold Sign of the End
Reader, what would you give to know of the time of the end of this age? What would it be worth to you to learn of a prophecy, clear, specific, striking in its specifications and particulars of this very time, this century, this very generation in which we live—not a prophecy of events centuries in the past, but a prophetic drama now upon the boards of the world's stage, the beginning acts of which are not far distant, the remaining, now before the world or soon to come? God has given us just such a prophecy as this, one that will not demand the study of ancient history that we may understand it. We see and live in its atmosphere; it is with us. We purpose to present this to you in a series of articles, which will be a brief treatment of the great subject, it is true, but which we believe will be conclusive. These studies will enable us to watch the progress of events in connection with the fulfillment of the prophecy, and to see, as that prophecy nears its culmination, the end of this age is approaching with like pace; for the fulfillment of this prophecy marks the end of this age. We will consider first God's object in giving prophecy, and then proceed step by step to unfold the evidences connected with this great prophecy. I. The Object of Prophecy
God has given His prophetic word for a threefold purpose: first, that He may reveal to all who may wish to know, believer or unbeliever, that He is God: “Remember this, and show yourselves men; bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” Isa. 46: 8-10. “There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and He hath made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.” Dan. 2: 28, A. R. V. Secondly, prophecy is given that man may know that notwithstanding the perversion, among men, of every principle of justice and equity and righteousness and mercy, the Most High rules, and is bringing, in His own wise times and seasons, His cosmos of glory out of the chaos of sin and death. The prophetic Word is given “to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men.” Dan. 4: 17. And that mighty king who had dared to set up his own apotheosis of patriotism, which declared that great Babylon should endure forever, in defiance of God's delineation of successive and crumbling empire, learned at last the lesson, and he himself published it to all the world from that time forward, that all the children of Babylon might know that God rules. This he proclaimed to the world: “And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored Him that liveth forever; for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom from generation to generation; and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou? . . . Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all His works are truth, and His ways justice; and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.” Dan. 4: 34, 35, 37. To use another illustration given us by Holy Writ, when a world which had repudiated God for the idols of the nations, when the great pantheons of empires, had proved to be not only things of naught, but a debasement of the nations, when the world's heart was crushed under the iron tyranny of Rome, heaven was opened wider to the world's great needs. “When the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, that He might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Gal. 4: 4, 5. For two centuries Israel had sojourned in Egypt, the later years in sore bondage and suffering, until it seemed that even God had forgotten; but when the day of the promise came, God delivered His people, notwithstanding the fact that all the power and wealth and boasts of proud Egypt, and the devotees of the gods there worshiped, were against Him. God knows and sees and cares. He permits, in His own wise purposes, that the world, nay, and the universe, may see the outworking of sin; but not one soul who trusts in Him shall perish or be confounded. Both a Warning and a Comfort
Thirdly, His prophetic word is given as a warning to the world and a comfort to His people. Men may guess at the meaning of things. They may reason from cause to effect. The history of the past teaches some thoughtful statesmen valuable lessons, unheeded as they are by the mass. Great nations may have great ambitions, and may predict them as coming history. Men with Luciferian ambitions to bring all under their sway may lay elaborate plans, and persist in their purposes for centuries, until nations become possessed with the same demon. Other nations are equally determined to thwart them. Federations of nations combine to overthrow, direct, establish. Socialism and anarchy may take deep root among all nations, causing royalty to pale and thrones to tremble. In the face of all these, wise men are at sea; discordant voices prophesy; false prophets, whose wishes and ambitions are the parents of their predictions, predict peace. The thoughtful philosopher who looks at world conditions alone, broods, and sees only dire disaster. But the child of the Most High can look away from all these, and see with clear eye and anointed vision the great truth of the matter, the sequel of it all. He may take God's invitation to come up into the mountain and see visions—seeings—of God. He may hear the voice of the infinite Man calling up to greater vision. Eze. 40: 4. He may take to his heart the words of the herdsman prophet, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.” Amos 3: 7. He may say, as did the student seer, the youthful statesman, Daniel: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are His. And He changeth the times and the seasons; He removeth kings, and setteth up kings; He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that have understanding. He revealeth the deep and secret things; He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him.” Dan. 2: 20-22. He may say, with Peter, as the fulfillment of prophecies has been demonstrated a hundred times, “We have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1: 19. 2. The Prophecy of Our Study
Then, reader, to the study of the sevenfold sign in prophecy which God has given for these days in which we live. Here are the prophecies which we are to study:43 “And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death-stroke was healed. And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men. And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who hath the stroke of the sword and lived. And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead; and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name.” Rev. 13: 11-17, A. R. V. “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshiped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone.” Rev. 19: 20. “And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man worshipeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand, he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of His anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment goeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14: 9-12. “And the first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men that had the mark of the beast, and that worshiped his image.” Rev. 16: 2. You, reader, may be somewhat familiar with these striking passages; but settle this,—that there is still more to learn, new scintillations from the facets of God's diamonds of truth. As we revolve them in our minds, new evidences will make them shine the clearer and the stronger, new settings will reveal more of their beauty. If you have not studied these prophecies, if you are not familiar with them, go with us, with hearts open to Him, with prayer for divine guidance in the study of them to the end, and we can assure you that you will demonstrate the truth of His own words regarding the study of the book in which these prophecies are found: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Rev. 1: 3. M. C. W. Our next study will be “A World-Molding Nation Rising to Power.”