p. 400 | Not Following Fables

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 30, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 25.

Not Following Fables

THE apostle Peter says, "We have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of His majesty."

The prophecies of the Bible are not cunningly devised. Plain principles of interpretation are laid down in the sacred Book itself.

In connection with some of the more important of its prophecies, like those in the second, the seventh, and the eighth chapter of Daniel, a definite interpretation is given in the Book itself, so that we need make no mistake. God's prophetic utterances have been so accurately and so literally fulfilled that the individual who is carefully studying them is relieved from the uncertainty of speculation, and knows the ground upon which he is standing.

For instance, the second and the seventh chapter of Daniel run parallel, and each of them tells definitely that there would be four world monarchies, and that the last one of the four was to be divided, and that it would remain in that divided state until the end of time.

The eighth chapter of Daniel was given after the first of those four monarchies had passed off the stage of action; but it tells of the three that were to follow, mentioning the Medo-Persians and the Greeks by name. Thus when we follow these prophetic utterances, we find that one fortifies the other, and they are definite and plain. Most literally is it true that we are not following cunningly devised fables in making known the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the greatest hindrances to the understanding of prophecy is the foolish, vague, and absurd interpretations that a lot of extremists give to the divine predictions. But to the individual who takes the Word itself, and who follows it closely, asking for the divine Spirit to illuminate his mind, all is clear and plain. It is demonstrated to a mathematical certainty that we are most rapidly approaching the great climax of this world's history, which is the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven. This event is near. There can be no mistake about it, and the one important thing before the individual to-day is to get ready for it.