WHAT USE DO YOU MAKE OF THEM?
By R. F. Cottrell
THERE are many who will say that they believe the prophecies of Scripture, who do not recognize the fulfillment of those which have been fulfilled in the most obvious manner. Such faith can be of no practical use. But there are those who can point out the fulfillment of the great lines of prophecy which describe the great kingdoms of the earth in their order of succession, from the reign of ancient Babylon down to the divided state of the Roman Empire. Those profess faith, not only a vague faith in the truth of prophecy, but a definite faith in its fulfillment. To this class I address the question, What use do you make of the prophecies of Rev. 13:11-18 and 14:9-12? As these are prophecies which evidently relate to the very close of our world's history, and the coming of Christ, no others are of greater importance. Here the last persecution of the church is described; and also the last warning, by heeding of which we may stand in this last persecution and escape the unmingled wrath of God which is to follow. All ought to understand these prophecies. What use do you make of them? You have learned from the prophecies of Daniel and of Revelation that a beast is a symbol of some great earthly dominion. Hence the beast with two horns like a lamb represents some remarkable Government of earth existing in the last days, and which is to act a conspicuous part in the closing scene of the earth's drama. You believe we are near the close of time. Believing the fulfillment of these lines of consecutive prophecy, you cannot doubt it. What Government, then, is described under the symbol of the two-horned beast? There is to be a conflict on earth which has not yet been seen. An image of the Papal beast will demand that all shall worship that beast, or suffer deprivation of common rights, and even death itself. On the other hand, we are forewarned of God, by a special proclamation, that if we do yield to the demands of the image, by worshiping the beast and his image, and receiving his mark, we shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God without mixture. This test has never come upon men in any age of the world; but the prophecy being sure, it must come. And it will come just before the coming of Christ, as symbolized by one like the Son of man upon the white cloud, with a sickle in his hand to reap the harvest of the earth. You believe that the coming of Christ is at the door. By the prophecies and promised signs fulfilled, you know it is so. But what will you do with these predictions of the word of God? Will earth's history close, and the grand consummating event come, and they have no fulfillment? Will the "loud voice" of the last message not be heard at all? Impossible! The last warning will be heard by those who have ears to hear. And who knows that it is not already in the world? There are those who believe that it is. They are found in almost, if not quite, every State and Territory in our Union. There are some in the British Isles, in almost every country of Europe, in Egypt, Australia, and the islands of the Pacific. They are distinguished by the characteristics given in the prophecy, namely, "Here is the patience of the saints. Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." In patience and expectation they are waiting for the return of the Lord, while they acknowledge their obligation to keep every commandment of the moral law of God, and every precept taught by Jesus Christ as obedience to the gospel. The worship and mark of the beast are, in the prophecy, put in contrast with the keeping of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Hence we know that this worship and mark are directly opposed to these commandments and faith; and therefore those who keep these, will not worship the beast nor receive his mark. The present work, which is believed to be the fulfillment of the promised message, from a small beginning over thirty years ago, is now spreading over the whole earth. Besides being proclaimed by word of mouth, it is being published by the press from six or seven different points, and in nine or ten different languages. My brother, my sister, is not this the message promised in the word of God? If not, we shall be obliged to wait for another. If this is not genuine, how shall we know the genuine, when it shall come?