PROPHECY by Joseph Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 21, 1881

PROPHECY.

By Joseph Clarke

BY JOSEPH CLARKE.

PROPHECY is like a scroll of parchment, upon which is inscribed the future history of our race. As fast as this scroll unwinds, by the march of time, it is no more prophecy, but a history of the past. Thus the prophecies of the coming of Messiah as a humble prophet, are now a history of past events, but the second coming of our Lord is yet a subject of prophecy. With what interest do we look for that event. Why should these prophecies be ignored and slighted as being of no importance ?

"Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand," says the angel to John (Rev. 22:10) ; but to Daniel some centuries before he had said, "Go thy way, Daniel ; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." Dan. 12:9.

The scroll of prophecy, as given to Daniel, was sealed till the time of the end ; but to John the words of the prophecy were not sealed, but left open for the inspection of all who would choose to study them. Here is a plain intimation that God would have his people look for the fulfillment of those prophecies which he had given to John, and that some of them would even in John's day begin to appear as history to such as understood them ; and he confers a blessing upon such as do study and observe them. See Rev. 1:3.

Prophecy past is history. Can we discern in any way what of the prophecies are now history ? Certainly we can. Works upon prophecy, published at this office, such as Thoughts on Daniel and Revelations, The Sanctuary and 2300 Days, Signs of the Times, Matthew Twenty-four, the Three Messages, etc., show to us that we are now in the time of the end, that the first, second, and third messages of Revelation 14:6-14, are now history, also that the events of the sixth seal, up to the 14th verse of the 6th chapter of Revelations are in the past. The next event there described, is the departure of the heavens as a scroll when it is rolled together.

Do we not live in solemn times ? Who will be prepared ? Who will stand when he appears to call forth his chosen people ? Can those stand who put darkness for light, and light for darkness ? Can those stand who themselves are ignorant and try to keep others in the same cloud and mist in which they are enveloped ?

In the past good men studied the prophecies with care. See how the good and honored prophet Daniel studied the seventy years of captivity, as given in the prophecies of Jeremiah. (See Daniel 9:2-19.) Also we find our Saviour rebuking his followers for their dullness in understanding the prophecies concerning himself. (See Luke 24:26, 27.)

But, say some, were you not disappointed in the fulfillment of prophecy in 1844 ? We were. But Seventh-day Adventists do not set the time for the Lord's return ; but can we not have a little charity for those who do set times, as much at least as for those who wholly ignore the subject, and call it fanaticism ? Time and prophecy move hand in hand. As well might you stay the march of time, as hinder the unfolding of prophecy.

THE DISAPPOINTMENT.

In 1844, the Advent cause met with a great disappointment. The 10th chapter of Revelations contains a prophecy of this, and plainly marks this disappointment, and gives a clear description of it. The angel who proclaims the close of (prophetic) time, in the 6th verse, is clothed with a cloud, in verse 1 ; and this time-message from the little book (Daniel), open (understood) when received by the church, is sweet at first, but afterward bitter ; see verses 8-10 ; and the reason of this disappointment (bitterness) is that this same little book (of Daniel) has a further prophecy to unfold, while men are on probation. (See verse 11.) The cloud about the angel shows that the prophecy will not be fully understood when time (prophetic) closes ; but the time of the end (see Daniel 12:4) will close with Revelations 10:11, which is the same as the third message of Revelations 14:9-14.

That a disappointment was in order was proved by the fact that this disappointment shook off from the Advent cause the barnacles who clung to the sides of the Advent ship, and who went immediately into infidelity. That others have been disappointed before, is evident from the disappointment of the disciples at the crucifixion of Christ. On their way to Emmaus they were sad. "We trusted," said they, "that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel." Instead of their trust appearing to be well placed, he was crucified and buried. And their hopes were only partially revived by the report of his resurrection. If they had expected that he should be crucified, they would not have rejoiced as he entered Jerusalem, and sang hosannas to the son of David. But how, then, would the prophecy of Zechariah be fulfilled ? A disappointment was indispensable to fulfill the prophecy.

Hence we see that it is not right to mock the hopes of the disciples of Jesus because they suffer disappointment. Let us rather discard all prejudice and examine with candor the evidences of his second coming, notwithstanding the disappointment, which fulfills the prophecy and only makes it more sure, even as we are to examine the evidences of his messiahship, notwithstanding his crucifixion and burial. If the second advent doctrine is the truth of the Bible, it cannot remain buried out of sight any more than Jesus, the author of the truth, could be held in the tomb. "If I go away, I will come again," were his own words of promise. His word will not be broken ; it cannot fail. He will come without sin unto salvation to them that look for him. Heb. 9:28. We shall not look in vain, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:21.