THE TESTIMONY OF THE SCRIPTURES.
By Raymond F. Cottrell
THE testimony of the prophecies of the Scriptures is our guide in regard to our present position in the progressive fulfillment of the great plan of human redemption and salvation. No better testimony to present truth can be given. Apollos of Alexandria, when at Ephesus, “mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” To prove that Jesus was the promised Christ, the testimony of those Scripture promises fulfilled was indispensably necessary. His miracles could prove his superhuman power, and, connected with his purity of moral character, his divinity. But unless the promises of the Scriptures in every particular were fulfilled in him, it could not be proved that he was the promised Messiah. For our time there is a present truth and a prophetic people, that is, a people before described in prophecy. They only are that people who answer the description given. They are the last remnant of the church, and are described as those who “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 12:17. These things—the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ—are the characteristics which distinguish the true people of God—that is, the people who know and do the truth—from all others. This people, and they only, can show their position in the fulfillment of the promised messages of Rev. 14:6-12,—messages which are having a marked fulfillment in our own time. The keeping of “the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” will distinguish all those who embrace the truth in the love of it, from all false professors. Can we imagine that those who hold that the commandments of God have been abolished and superseded by the faith of Jesus, are the people described in the last message of warning? R. F. COTTRELL.