PROPHECY | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 17, 1906

PROPHECY.

[The following is a paper read by Elder Geo. Brown of Mexico in a meeting of missionaries in that city, and sent to the SIGNS for publication.]

Its Relation to the Gospel.

IT is said that near the city of Lucerne, there is a mountain from whose summit an unparalleled view of the whole Alpine system can be obtained. From this vantage-point the whole range comes before the eye of the observer, from Mount Blanc in the Southwest to where the higher ranges slope down to Lake Constance in the Northeast.

Often, however, this wonderful mountain observatory is covered with clouds, which hang heavily about it for days; so that he who would see the grand panorama that is visible only from this point must sometimes spend weary days in waiting. When at last the wind arises and drives away the clouds, and after persevering effort the traveler stands upon Mount Pilate's snow-capped peak, he feels amply repaid for his days of waiting and the long climb up the mountain; for before him in all its glory lies one of the grandest and most sublime of all earth's scenes. What before appeared to be an unrelated group of peaks now resolves itself into a system of mountains majestic in their titanic size and resplendent under the rays of the sun reflected from their snow-capped summits.

In this world we often see evil apparently triumphant, and wicked men successful for awhile in carrying out their unholy schemes, while truth and righteousness seem to be unheeded, forgotten, and forsaken. Prophecy is a mountain-top, and when the Spirit of truth drives away the clouds of ignorance, which, in the minds of many, obscure the people of the prophecies; and after prayerful study the persevering seeker for truth stands upon the

heights of prophetic knowledge; that which before appeared to be a mass of contradictory and partially-understood facts is transformed into a grand panorama in which we see "the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11) that man, His wayward son, may be saved.

From the vantage-point of prophecy we can look beyond the present and see the ultimate triumph of truth and righteousness, catching a glimpse of man redeemed, and once more permitted to see the face of the Lord, with an eternity in which to study the great and glorious truths which now we can not grasp in their fulness because of our human limitations.

In this article I shall limit my consideration of the subject to those portions of the prophetic writings which are commonly called "The Prophecies," in which the writers foretold the future. We are often told that these prophecies can not be understood, that their study is not conducive to spirituality, and that they have no value to the Christian Church of to-day. With all due respect to those who hold such views, I must differ with them.

The Distinguishing Mark of God.

Jehovah offers His ability to foretell that which is to come as the great distinguishing mark between Himself and other so-called gods of the heathen (Isa. 44:6-8), and He declares that He reveals His secrets to His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7), and further, that the things thus revealed belong to His people and to their children forever (Deut. 29:29). Therefore it is evident that God's people are expected to understand the prophecies—the things revealed through the prophets. In the introduction to the Revelation we read, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy" (Rev. 1:3); and again at the close, "Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book" (Rev. 22:7).

Erroneous Interpretations.

I am aware there have been, and still are, persons who interpret prophecies in all sorts of absurd ways. I have met some of these, and have listened as patiently as possible while they explained that the words found in Eze. 13:18, "Wo to the women that sew pillows to all armholes," were a prophecy against the large sleeves in vogue a few years ago. I have also seen an interpretation of Isa. 19:19, 20, in which the altar and pillar in the land of Egypt were explained as referring to the great pyramid of Cheops, and every passage and stairway and chamber in the pyramid were declared to be types of different periods and phases of the Gospel dispensation.

Then there is the ever-present self-styled prophet who gains a passing notoriety by predicting the end of the world and the coming of Christ at some fixed date in the immediate future, announcing the day of month and the year. With such interpretations of prophecy I have no sympathy, for they bring the Bible and Christianity into reproach, and cause many to discount the true interpretations sent to warn the world and arouse the church.

As we do not have counterfeits of coins that do not exist, or are valueless, so there would not be these counterfeit interpretations of prophecy if there were not genuine ones of real value.

Value and Objects of Prophecy.

The prophecies are valuable in Gospel work because they strengthen our faith in God and in His knowledge of, and interest in, the affairs of men; because they point out clearly our position in the world's history, and the special message to be given to the world at this time; and further, because they encourage the worker with precious promises of the

things prepared for those who are faithful to the end.

As an illustration of the manner in which the prophetic gift has been instrumental in conversion, I wish to call attention to the case of Nebuchadnezzar, recorded in the book of Daniel. Through the interpretation of the king's peculiar dream, the prophet foretold what would befall the haughty monarch if he did not break off his sins by righteousness, and manifest his true repentance by showing mercy to the poor. Tho no doubt deeply impressed at the time, the king made no real change in his life, and the predicted calamity came upon him. When at the end of his affliction his reason returned to him, and he resumed his kingly honors, he acknowledged Jehovah as his God. The words of the prophet had been fulfilled, demonstrating in their fulfilment God's knowledge of the future, and His supreme control over the mightiest of earth's kings. This wonderful manifestation of divine knowledge and power humbled the proud king of Babylon, and he gave expression to his change of heart and newly-found faith in the beautiful language found in Dan. 4:34-37, concluding with these words: "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment; and those that walk in pride He is able to abase."

The remarkable prophecy of Isaiah concerning Cyrus and his work, in which the Persian king was called by name years before he was born, together with accurate reference to the manner in which the taking of Babylon was to be accomplished, so impressed the mind of this king that he was led to recognize the Lord of heaven as the one who had given him his kingdom, and he acknowledged his duty to do the work appointed him in the prophecy, giving orders that the house of the Lord at Jerusalem should be built. Compare Isa. 44:24-28 and chapter 45:1-4 with Ezra 1:2-4.

That prophecy has been the means of directing God's servants in their work, and instructing them so that they are able to do the right thing at the right time, is abundantly illustrated in the Bible. The bondage of Israel in Egypt was foretold, and the time of their deliverance made known, while Abraham still lived. Gen. 15:13, 14. Joseph believed this prophecy, and showed his faith in its ultimate fulfilment by charging his posterity to carry his bones to Canaan when they should leave Egypt, at the appointed time. Gen. 50:24, 25. When the time of the promise drew nigh, Moses was raised up to deliver his people from their cruel bondage. Acts 7:17. Thus prophecy was the basis of that mighty movement which not only gave liberty to a nation of slaves, but culminated in the organization of the "church in the wilderness" (Acts 7:38), which, by divine appointment, became the depository of God's law and the teacher of the way of salvation in the Mosaic dispensation.

Warnings to Israel.

When Saul by his disobedience had forfeited his right to the throne of Israel, God, through the prophet, indicated His choice of David for that exalted position. Tho David had opportunity to kill Saul, who was hunting him like a wild beast, he showed his implicit faith in the fulfilment of the prophecy in God's own time and way, by refusing to lift up his hand to take the king's life, tho he was urged to do so. The Lord amply repaid him for his faith, for when the time came, He inclined the hearts of the truest, bravest, and most skilful men of all the tribes of Israel to join the ranks of David's army. Of them all it could have been said, as it was said of the men of Issachar, that they "were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do." 1 Chron. 12:32.

In every age the true servants of God will, by the study of God's prophetic Word, have understanding of the times, and know what they should do, and thus be able to give the trumpet a certain sound. O, that there might be many like the men of Issachar in these days, of whom it can truly be said, that they have "understanding of the times to know what Israel ought to do." The Jews rejected Christ because they did not know that which pertained to their time. They might have known, for Simeon and Anna and John the Baptist and the disciples recognized Him and found salvation in so doing.

When Israel departed from God, He warned them through the prophets of their danger, and plead

with them to return to Him. The warnings and reproofs of the prophets did not please the people, and they turned from them to follow the easy course offered them by the false prophets who desired to please the people rather than God. These latter were the popular men of their time, and had large congregations to listen to their words. They looked upon Jeremiah and others who declared the whole counsel of God as pessimists and troublers of Israel, and even threw them into prison on the charge of treason. Jer. 37:11-15.

Tho the messenger was despised, the message was true, and its acceptance was the only way of escaping the doom that hung over the Jewish nation. Had it been heeded, how different would have been the result! The faith in God's Word which led the prophet to fearlessly depict the true condition of the people, enabled him to look beyond the immediate future and see the time when repentant Israel would be restored to the promised land, so thoroughly reclaimed from idolatry that never again would they fall into it; and he showed his faith in the promised restoration by purchasing a possession in the land. Jer. 32:6-15. By this act he not only manifested his faith in the prophecy, but demonstrated that he was a patriot and a true optimist.

(Concluded next week.)