THE STUDY OF PROPHECY

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 29, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 17.

THE STUDY OF PROPHECY.

THERE are two books of the Bible which hold a pre-eminent place in the prophetic field, especially in symbolic prophecy. These are the books of Daniel and the Revelation. By successive symbols, and in brief, the wonderfully comprehensive discourse, is spanned the entire history of this world, including the rise and fall of empires, and their relations to the people of God.

In all these prophecies is shown God’s overruling power, restraining evil to His glory (Ps. 76:10), teaching the world the evil, and the end, of sin, and the glorious fruits of righteousness. God’s sovereign majesty, omnipotent will, and omnipresent love exercised always for the good of those who honor Him, are the lessons He sought to impress upon the actors in the scenes, that they might “know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men;” that they might know that His “dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is 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?” Dan. 4:17, 34, 35. This is the lesson God would teach those who lived when the prophecy was given and began to be fulfilled. This is the lesson that He would teach us by the record of these things; “for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15:4.

The Book of Daniel.

The alphabet of all these symbolic prophecies is found in the second chapter of Daniel, under the symbol of a great metallic image. It begins with the history of the great world-empires, and reaches to the everlasting and universal reign of Christ. Other lines of prophecy in the book of Daniel, recorded in chapters 7 to 12, expand and fill out in detail what is not told in chapter 2, bringing out many new and characteristic features. And yet the book of Daniel is not complete. In later times, this side the coming of the Messiah, whom Daniel predicted, God has

given us a complement to the prophecies of Daniel, and Ezekiel, and Zechariah, filling up what was there left incomplete. The especial part of Revelation similar to the chapters of Daniel above referred to, includes chapters 12 to 22, but the symbols are largely found in chapters 12, 13, 17, and 18.

Elsewhere we begin the study of Revelation 12, and the wonderful truths found therein. We wish again to call the reader’s attention to some primary considerations in its study which may be of help, and anew urge our readers to study these prophecies of the Revelation.

1. God has given His Word, prophetic, didactic, devotional, as a lamp to the feet and a light to the path (Ps. 119:105) of all those who are willing to be taught and guided by Him; for “the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant;” for “the meek will He guide in judgment; and the meek will He teach His way” (Ps. 25:14, 9.) He, therefore, who would understand God’s Word must come with a meek heart and humble spirit, in the fear of God, with a desire that he may know, not man’s way, but God’s truth, in order that he may do the truth. To such it is that God will reveal His prophetic word, and verify what He has said through prophet and apostle:—

“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7.

“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, and the day-star arise in your hearts.” 2 Peter 1:19.

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand.” Rev. 1:3.

These are promises of God concerning those things which He has revealed through His prophets for the benefit of His people. May the reader ever come to the study of His Word in such a spirit that he may indeed receive the blessing promised.

2. The prophetic word deals with those kingdoms which have had connection with God’s people in the world, and through which the moulding influence upon the world came. For instance, China is a great country and the Chinese are a numerous people, and yet, as a nation, it has never had great connection with the people or cause of God, and never exerted a moulding influence upon the world, and, hence, is rarely mentioned in prophecy, and but little in history, while Babylon and Rome are frequently referred to in the prophetic word, and history concerning them abounds.

3. In these prophecies, notably in the Revelation, we have three classes of powers symbolized, and their working and spirit revealed: (a) The spiritual or supernatural forces, both good and evil, invisible to mortal eyes, but working through visible, tangible agencies; (b) ecclesiastical organizations, churches both pure and corrupt, through which the greater supernatural or spiritual forces work and influence for good or evil the minds and hearts of mankind; (c) the civil governments of earth, under limited control of Satan, but over which is the restraining hand of God. All this will be manifest to the reader, if he will go with us in these studies. He will be able to read aright the history of the world in prophecy, and see more and more the glory of God in Jesus Christ.