The More Sure Word of Prophecy.
1. By what figure does the Lord express the condition of this world in the last days? “For, behold, THE DARKNESS SHALL COVER THE EARTH, and gross darkness the people.” Isa. 60:2. 2. But of what can His people be assured? “We have also a MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a LIGHT THAT SHINETH IN A DARK PLACE, until the day dawn.” 2 Peter 1:19. 3. What will the coming of the day of the Lord be to the wicked? “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” 1 Thess. 5:2, 3. 4. How will it be with the people of God when the world is in darkness? “But YE, BRETHREN, ARE NOT IN DARKNESS, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the CHILDREN OF LIGHT, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” 1 Thess. 5:4, 5. 5. How does the Lord express the same truth by another prophet? “Surely the LORD GOD WILL DO NOTHING, but He REVEALETH HIS SECRET unto His servants the PROPHETS.” Amos 3:7. 6. What is one of the purposes which God has in giving us prophecy? “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. 46:9, 10. NOTE.— It will be seen, from the above text that one of the great purposes which God has in giving predictions of the future is to reveal to the world that He is God, that He knows the end from the beginning; understands all causes and their effects, and who is able to control not only the great things, but all the minutia that enter into this great world’s history. 7. What other purpose has the Lord in giving His prophetic word? “He REVEALETH the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him.” “There is a God in heaven that REVEALETH SECRETS, and MAKETH KNOWN . . . WHAT SHALL BE IN THE LATTER DAYS.” “This secret . . . is REVEALED . . . FOR THEIR SAKES that shall make known the interpretation to the king.” Dan. 2:22, 28, 30. 8. Did the prophets themselves understand the messages which God gave through them? “And I heard, but I UNDERSTOOD NOT: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” Dan. 12:8. “Unto whom it was revealed, that NOT UNTO THEMSELVES, but UNTO US THEY DID MINISTER the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.” 1 Peter 1:12. 9. What promise did God give of a revelation of these things in the future? “But thou, O Daniel, SHUT UP THE WORDS, AND SEAL THE BOOK, EVEN TO THE TIME OF THE END: many shall run to and fro, and KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE INCREASED.” “And He said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed TILL THE TIME OF THE END.” Dan. 12:4, 9. 10. By whose Spirit did Daniel and the other prophets speak? 11. To whom is the assurance given of the understanding of the prophecy in the time of the end? “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but THE WISE SHALL UNDERSTAND.” Dan. 12:10. “The secret of the Lord is WITH THEM THAT FEAR HIM; and He will shew them His covenant.” Ps. 25:14. 12. Give one example of a prophecy definitely fulfilled. “And the Lord shall SCATTER THEE AMONG ALL PEOPLE, from the one end of the earth even unto the other.” Deut. 28:64. NOTE.— This last is a prophecy concerning the Jews. There are many others equally definite. But the fulfilment of this is so evident that all intelligent people can understand it. Go where one will, in every civilized nation of the earth, and one finds that there has gone before him the Jew. Frederick the Great, a skeptic, once asked the court chaplain for one evidence that the Bible is true. Laconically the Lord’s servant replied: “Sire, the Jews.”