May We Know the Time?—A Message.
By H.
1. What promise has God made to His children concerning the future? “Surely the Lord Jehovah will do nothing, except He reveal His secret unto His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7. 2. As a result of the wickedness of the earth, what message did God give to Noah? “God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for that he also is flesh: yet shall his days be an hundred and twenty years.” “Behold, I do bring the flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh.” Gen. 6:11-13, 3. 3. What provision was made for Noah’s salvation? “Make thee an ark of gopher wood.” “I will establish My covenant with thee; and thou shalt come into the ark; thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.” Gen. 6:14, 18. 4. The first advent of our Saviour was definitely foretold, and many events and circumstances were described minutely. A messenger was foretold, and his message was given. Note the following: Forerunner foretold: “The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of Jehovah.” Isa. 40:3. Fulfillment: “In those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.” Matt. 3:1-3. The message of the forerunner foretold: “Say unto the cities of Judah, Behold, your God.” Isa. 40:9. Fulfillment: “On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. 5. The time for this message to be given was definitely made known by the prophet Daniel. “Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people [Daniel’s people, the Jews] and upon thy holy city. . . . Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Anointed One, the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks.” Dan. 9:24, 25. NOTE.— The Jewish students of prophecy knew how to interpret this passage. This period began in 457 B.C., when the decree was made to restore and build Jerusalem, and extended sixty-nine weeks, 483 years, which came down to the date now known as A.D. 27, when the Messiah should be anointed. According to Jewish ceremonial law, this anointing would be when He was thirty years old; figuring back thirty years would locate the date of Christ’s birth. 6. Were there those who did understand? “One Anna, a prophetess, . . . spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” Luke 2:36-38. 7. While here on earth, Jesus Himself promised to come again. “If I go to prepare a place for you, I come again.” John 14:3. 8. The prophet Joel foretold a message of that event. “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of Jehovah cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” Joel 2:1. 9. How widely will this message be carried? “This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24:14. NOTE.— The preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom to all the world is evidence that Christ’s coming is near, for when this has been accomplished, “then shall the end come.” For half a century such a message has been going to the world. Future studies will bring it out more in detail.