PROPHECY by Jesse Dorcas

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 22, 1858

PROPHECY.

By Jesse Dorcas

Its use—to guide our feet amidst the darkness of this deceptive world. Says Peter, We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, &c. 2 Pet. i, 19.

How can prophecy shine for us? Ans. "Whatsoever doth make manifest is light," and if we will take notice of what is passing around us, marking well specifications of prophecy that apply to our time, we may learn what the mind of the Lord is concerning us, and take the timely warning, that we fall not into the snare of the devil.

The devil is the great enemy of our race. He deceived our mother Eve, and brought death upon man. God has provided a way for man's escape. But Satan, ever busy to cheat mankind out of eternal life, fails not to apply himself skillfully in every age, as the circumstances of the case may require. God has shown, by the prophecy of the book of Rev. xvi, 14, by a striking symbol, that at the time of the pouring out of the sixth vial there would be a consummation of Satan's deceptive work: it is by "spirits of devils working miracles." It goes now, in its embryo state, under the pleasing name of "Spiritual reform." It will also creep into the churches of the world. Then it will be that they are become the habitation of devils.

Now, if in connection with the great spiritual delusion of this age, we attend to the plain, faithful teaching of the Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, [chap. ii.] we cannot fail to see that "the prophecy came not in old times by the will of man;" for there never was a more clear description given of anything, even in the time of its existence, than is here given of the Papacy, and the period from its fall to the second advent of the Lord. "Whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power, and signs, and lying wonders," &c. It is worthy of notice, that the very things that are the most prominent in this age, to our own personal knowledge, namely, wonderful spiritual manifestations concerning which doubts are entertained, as to whether they are, or are not, of the devil; the manifest disposition to reject the truth; and to be deluded, and delighted with the fables of unrighteousness; are the very things that are the most prominent specifications of the letter referred to.

It is understood by most readers of the Review that the Papal supremacy was taken away in the year 1798, about 60 years ago. Since that period, there have so many pointed prophecies been fulfilled, in such rapid succession, and have marked our whereabouts so clearly, that it may truly be said as in the prophecy, the day of the Lord hasteth greatly. "A something strikingly awful shall forewarn that the world will come to an end and that the last day is even at the door."—Martin Luther.

JESSE DORCAS.