ON THE STUDY OF PROPHECY.
A LATE religious paper holds the following language:— “We once heard the venerable Dr. Archibald Alexander remark that an absorbing study of the unfulfilled prophecies was somewhat dangerous ground for unsteady people to tread; that it had unsettled some minds and wrecked others. This remark was made to the students of the Theological Seminary, at a time when the gifted but erratic Professor George Bush was lecturing in Princeton and ventilating some of his peculiar views on the prophetic scriptures. His remarkable career, so brilliant in the opening, and so sad in the ending, well illustrates the danger of going beyond what is written as it regards the things of the future.” In this statement of Dr. Alexander—if he ever made it—there is but one truth, and that is that there is some ground dangerous for unsteady people to tread; it would have been still truer if he had said that all ground is dangerous for unsteady people to tread, both of which the students probably knew before they went to Princeton. But again: it is the study of “the unfulfilled prophecies” that is so dangerous; but how can one tell which are fulfilled and which are unfulfilled, till he studies them all? Put the Bible into the hands of a man who has just come to Christ, but who has never read the book, and caution him against reading “the unfulfilled prophecies,” and what will he make of it? It may be objected to this, that the Doctor was talking to theological students. Well, is the matter so clear that all theological students can tell (which are fulfilled and which unfulfilled)? It certainly is not so clear to all theological professors, for it is not long since one asserted that the predictions of Christ’s second coming were all fulfilled at the siege of Jerusalem, though the last prediction of his second coming was made some years after that siege. History does not warrant the assertion of the professor. Joseph, Moses and Daniel were clearly all students of the “unfulfilled prophecies,” not to mention any others, and it did not seem either to “unsettle” or “wreck” them. But it may be objected that this is not quite fair, as the doctor was speaking of unsteady people. This is a vague expression, and we regret its use. It admits of an infinity of interpretations, for which we have no space; we will merely show who are not “unsteady people,” and such may study even the unfulfilled prophecies. - Those are not unsteady who are anchored, as are all who trust in Christ. Heb. 6:19.
- Nor those who are “taught of God.” John 6:4, 5.
- Nor those who study the word with the purpose of doing what they are taught. John 7:17.
The study of “the unfulfilled prophecies” will not hurt those having these qualifications, and those who have them not will derive but little benefit from the study of any part of the word. Furthermore, the Saviour very sharply rebukes his disciples as “fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken,” Luke 24:25, whence we should conclude that “the fools and slow of heart to believe” were just the ones that needed this very study of all the prophecies—fulfilled or unfulfilled. Finally, we are told, 1 Tim. 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Who shall venture, then, to build a wall around any part of the word of God and put up over the gateway, “Dangerous ground”? The closing sentence speaks of “the danger of going beyond what is written as it regards the things of the future.” We heartily join in reprobating any study of any prophecies not “written” in the word of God, and as heartily join in reprobating the course of all—especially religious teachers who say, “Here is a part of the word of God which I will neither study myself nor permit any one else to study, if I can help it.” This truly is “dangerous ground” for unsteady people and all others; such would do well to study Rev. 22:19. It is just such assertions as these that have brought so many unbelievers into the church—and not a few into the pulpits even—that have given infidelity such a vantage ground. Were the church true to its trust, did it study the whole Bible and live up to its teachings, the world would be presented with evidences of Christianity which no one would dare to gainsay.—Faith’s Record.