GOD speaks to man thru His word; “for no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:21, A.R.V. God speaks thru nature; for “the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.” Ps. 19:1, 2. God speaks thru history; for “He increaseth the nations, and He destroyeth them; He enlargeth the nations, and He leadeth them captive.” Job 12:23. These are God’s complete revelation, each throwing light on the other.
The usual view of history is stated by Creighton: “History is concerned with tracing the evolution of human affairs.” To him the rise and fall of nations seems to be dependent upon the will of man, and determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. Thus viewed the soul of history is not discerned, the genius of history is disregarded. Those who study history aright “behold behind, above, and thru all, the play and counter-play of human interests and powers and passions, the agencies of the all-merciful One, silently, patiently, working out the counsels of His own will.” They see the divine purpose in forming every reform, see the hand of God hovering over every historic page, and His handwriting on every ancient monument. There is only one way to study history, and that is with “the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men.” Dan. 4:17.
The whole philosophy of history is given in one comprehensive sentence by Paul, in his address to the sages at Athens: He “hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.” For what purpose?—“That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him.” Acts 17:26, 27. In view of these words, then, it is evident that the whole history of man thru heathen darkness to twentieth century light is one long working out of God’s plan for the salvation of man.
The Bible, and the Bible only, gives a foreview of God’s plan. Here we learn of events that are casting their dark, ominous shadows before, “the sound of their approach causing the earth to tremble, and men’s hearts to fail them for fear.” It is only in the study of the execution of God’s purpose in history that we may correctly value things seen and unseen; “that, viewing the things of time in the light of eternity, we may put them to their truest and noblest use; that we may learn what is the true aim of life.”
(Continued on Page 12.)6### The Study of History.
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As usually taught, history is little else than a story of battles, intrigues, ambition, greed, rapacity, bloodshed; the iteration and reiteration of crimes, cruelties, enormities of nations and their rulers can serve no useful purpose, and can bring forth only an ultimate harvest of evil. But from the vantage-ground of the great I AM, we see down thru the ages and in all the movements of man the out-working of God’s infinite plan, and we see that history is not a string of episodes, a compendium of accepted facts, nor a selection of pleasing or even instructive narratives. Unless the purpose of the Creator is seen in the study of history, it is as profitless as the study of nature when nature is placed above God.
As we study history aright we see that all events tend to a definite end. Each nation or power is a stream—rivulet or river—flowing slowly or rapidly to the throne of God.
Each nation is encircled by that great golden chain of faith and love and salvation that reaches from darkness to light, from man to the Maker of man.