Prophecy Unsealed

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Nov 1, 1853

Prophecy Unsealed.

Great light has been thrown of late upon the prophetic word. "It shall come to pass that at eventide it shall be light." Zech. xiv, 7. "The vision is for an appointed time; but at the end it shall speak, and not lie." Hab. ii, 3. "In the latter days he shall consider it perfectly." Jer. xxiii, 20; xxx, 24. What Daniel was commanded to seal up and close, (Dan. xii, 4,) is now, through the all-powerful mediation of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, revealed unto us. Rev. v, 5. Hence "many run to and fro, and knowledge is increased." Never, since the days of our Lord's first advent, was the prophetic word so much studied; so many of the ambassadors of Christ engaged in this pursuit; or so much written on this subject. "The Revelation of Jesus Christ," contained in the Apocalypse, showing the coming of the Just One, with all his saints, to the destruction of the apostate nations, is now made so plain to the church, that none can, or, at least, ought to be ignorant of it. This, however, is a privilege belonging only to the faithful; for it is written that, "none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand." Dan. xii, 10. So St. Paul speaks: "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief; ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 1 Thess. v, 4, 5. Though "the true light now shineth," it enlighteneth only those

who believe. Those who are paying a prayerful attention to these things, "have," like the Israelites of old, "light in their dwellings," whilst the rest of the world are sitting in darkness, even "darkness such as may be felt." The opening, then, and unfolding of the prophetic word, is another convincing proof that we are arrived at the end of the age; the unsealing of prophecy, and the revelation of the "mystery of God," being reserved unto "the time of the end." Dan. xii, 9; Rev. x, 7.

"Many shall run to and fro." Says Dr. Clarke, "Many shall endeavor to search out the sense; and knowledge shall be increased by these means. This seems to be the meaning of this verse, though another has been put upon it, viz., 'Many shall run to and fro preaching the gospel of Christ, and therefore religious knowledge and true wisdom shall be increased.' This is true in itself; but it is not the meaning of the prophet's words."

The most eminent modern Hebrew scholars all agree with Clarke, in giving this sense. Scott's opinion seems to coincide with Clarke's, though he gives both meanings in his notes; but manifestly gives preference to the one which expresses the idea of searching out the meaning of the prophecy.—Word of Warning, 1843.