Old Prophet Writing on a Scroll at His DeskBibleWorld
2:2Habakkuk 2:2
And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
The Lord gave this as His gracious answer to Habakkuk as he stood on his watchtower to see what God would say to him, commanding him to write the vision on tables and make it plain so that he who reads it may run. To make it plain means not to leave prophecy and salvation in mystery to perplex and mislead, but to give a clear readable guide to God's will that honest souls who study prayerfully can understand and come to the light. That he may run that readeth means the truth is to be made so clear, prominent and accessible that even one hastening by or busy with life grasps it readily at once. The vision to be made plain is the prophetic visions of Daniel and Revelation, and the command was fulfilled in 1842 when Charles Fitch prepared the prophetic chart illustrating those visions, a work directed by the Lord. The verse belongs with the promise that the vision is yet for an appointed time and at the end shall speak and not lie, and though it tarry to wait for it, a waiting fulfilled when 1843 passed without Christ coming and earnest study carried the reckoning to 1844, a delay foreseen by God to test and strengthen sincere believers. That same plain truth of the three angels' messages is still to be made prominent and easily grasped and carried with force into large cities and dark places by publishing and devised means, giving sight to the spiritually blind and advancing the church in holiness.
Watchtower Answer and Wording
The verse is God's gracious answer to Habakkuk when he stood upon his watch on the tower and set himself to see what God would say to him while meditating concerning the future. That waiting, watching posture was an exercise of strong faith.
The answer commanded him to write the coming vision on tables or tablets and make it plain, so that he who reads it may run. It was to be a clear, readable record that readers could grasp and act upon.
To make it plain means prophecy and salvation were not left in mystery to perplex and mislead the honest seeker, but were given as a plain guide to God's will. God taught the prophets by pictures and symbols, and prophetic history was made known to Daniel and John in symbols to be made clear to readers. Every truly honest soul who studies the word with a prayerful heart as for hidden treasure can understand its important truths and come to the light of truth.
That he may run that readeth means the truth is to be made so clear, prominent, and accessible that it can be grasped readily at once. It is a message made plain enough for one hastening by to read, and for people busy with life to understand without lengthy perplexity. So presented, it brings spiritual sight to those who are blind.
The command to write is given in vision by an angel. Obeying it brings strengthening, so that one whose hand trembled and could not write or hold a pen steadily writes readily and steadily.
Chart and Appointed Time
The vision to be written and made plain means the prophetic visions of Daniel and Revelation. That command was fulfilled in 1842 when Charles Fitch prepared a prophetic chart illustrating those visions to make them plain for readers. The chart work was directed by the Lord. Its figures were not to be altered without inspiration, for God's hand concealed an error in some of the figures until the time came for it to be seen.
The chart published by Brother Nichols that presented the truth clearly was in keeping with God's purpose. A chart that sets truth forth so clearly can impress the mind favorably toward God and heaven even without explanation, and if one person needs it others do too. Setting truth forth so clearly upon tables effects much and causes souls to come to the knowledge of the truth. He who reads it understands at once, including the truth that the earth and all in it belongs to the Lord, and necessary means should be used to make it clear. When the angels' messages are made plain in this way they have effect and help many decide for the truth.
The truth about the three angels' messages, with the two former messages made plain upon tables, is to be made plain in this way. This work requires publishing a paper containing present truth for messengers to carry and put in the hands of hearers. So preserved, the truth does not fade from the mind where it has been heard and it goes where the messengers cannot go. The verse belongs with the promise that follows it that the vision is yet for an appointed time and at the end shall speak and not lie, and though it tarry believers must wait for it because it will surely come and will not tarry beyond its set limit. No one saw this tarrying time at first, but after 1843 passed without Jesus coming its full meaning became clear.
That tarrying was the passing from March 21, 1843 to March 21, 1844 without Christ coming, a waiting time to be expected rather than a failure. Earnest study of the prophetic periods revealed the error and carried the reckoning through the waiting time, and the prophecies of the last days will be fulfilled within their set limit. God foresaw the disappointment from the beginning and gave words of courage and hope to prove believers in the right path and strengthen their faith. The apparent delay was a test that strengthened sincere believers. The proclamation of 1843 and the seventh-month movement of 1844 were shown to have God's approval by the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, for the true vision about prophetic time was written plainly on a chart or table.
The instruction to make the truth plain upon tables stands against turning attention and resources toward going to Jerusalem. If the saints were truly to go there, attention would turn toward Jerusalem and resources would be reserved for the journey instead of making the truth plain.
Making Truth Plain Today
The vision gives only a faint outline of realities that will become living realities as evil emerges and the final conflict draws near. It describes scenes of destruction and desolation that will soon come and become universal, and those scenes will soon be witnessed just as clearly as they are described. The prophecies of the Old Testament are the word of the Lord for the last day and will be fulfilled as surely as the desolation of San Francisco was seen. The appointed time will not pass beyond its set limit, and the prophecies of the last days will be fulfilled.
Revealed things are to be written down, and the messages God gives are to be written out so that the people may have them and know what He has revealed. The command to record them remains even when people may not listen. A message should be written plainly so people can grasp it even while going about their busy lives.
This supports presenting teaching such as the Sabbath in clear, pointed arguments that ordinary readers can readily understand, rather than delaying publication until the work is perfect or burdening readers with lengthy arguments. Truth is to be made so clear and prominent that people can readily understand it, and made prominent and easily grasped in the large cities under the last testing message. It is to be carried with force into dark and unpromising places and presented with force, so that it speaks forcibly to thousands, gives sight to the spiritually blind, and reveals salvation. Even those who once opposed it may be won to help advance the work. God has counted and prepared men and women workers, will send them with angels before them, and will endow all who come from inexhaustible grace with the Holy Spirit. Won to Christ they will use their talents with zeal and devotion, carrying truth to unpromising places. This plain proclamation will use devised means and different methods from the past that must not be hindered, forbidden, or criticized. Matters of prophecy and salvation were not left in mystery to perplex and mislead the honest seeker, but were made known by angels and by Christ Himself to Daniel and John. The Word is plain to all who study it with a prayerful heart, and every truly honest soul seeking truth as hidden treasure will come to the light of truth, which members must do for the church to advance in holiness.
The Lord gave this as His gracious answer to Habakkuk as he stood on his watchtower to see what God would say to him, commanding him to write the vision on tables and make it plain so that he who reads it may run. To make it plain means not to leave prophecy and salvation in mystery to perplex and mislead, but to give a clear readable guide to God's will that honest souls who study prayerfully can understand and come to the light. That he may run that readeth means the truth is to be made so clear, prominent and accessible that even one hastening by or busy with life grasps it readily at once. The vision to be made plain is the prophetic visions of Daniel and Revelation, and the command was fulfilled in 1842 when Charles Fitch prepared the prophetic chart illustrating those visions, a work directed by the Lord. The verse belongs with the promise that the vision is yet for an appointed time and at the end shall speak and not lie, and though it tarry to wait for it, a waiting fulfilled when 1843 passed without Christ coming and earnest study carried the reckoning to 1844, a delay foreseen by God to test and strengthen sincere believers. That same plain truth of the three angels' messages is still to be made prominent and easily grasped and carried with force into large cities and dark places by publishing and devised means, giving sight to the spiritually blind and advancing the church in holiness.
Watchtower Answer and Wording
The verse is God's gracious answer to Habakkuk when he stood upon his watch on the tower and set himself to see what God would say to him while meditating concerning the future. That waiting, watching posture was an exercise of strong faith.
The answer commanded him to write the coming vision on tables or tablets and make it plain, so that he who reads it may run. It was to be a clear, readable record that readers could grasp and act upon.
To make it plain means prophecy and salvation were not left in mystery to perplex and mislead the honest seeker, but were given as a plain guide to God's will. God taught the prophets by pictures and symbols, and prophetic history was made known to Daniel and John in symbols to be made clear to readers. Every truly honest soul who studies the word with a prayerful heart as for hidden treasure can understand its important truths and come to the light of truth.
That he may run that readeth means the truth is to be made so clear, prominent, and accessible that it can be grasped readily at once. It is a message made plain enough for one hastening by to read, and for people busy with life to understand without lengthy perplexity. So presented, it brings spiritual sight to those who are blind.
The command to write is given in vision by an angel. Obeying it brings strengthening, so that one whose hand trembled and could not write or hold a pen steadily writes readily and steadily.
Chart and Appointed Time
The vision to be written and made plain means the prophetic visions of Daniel and Revelation. That command was fulfilled in 1842 when Charles Fitch prepared a prophetic chart illustrating those visions to make them plain for readers. The chart work was directed by the Lord. Its figures were not to be altered without inspiration, for God's hand concealed an error in some of the figures until the time came for it to be seen.
The chart published by Brother Nichols that presented the truth clearly was in keeping with God's purpose. A chart that sets truth forth so clearly can impress the mind favorably toward God and heaven even without explanation, and if one person needs it others do too. Setting truth forth so clearly upon tables effects much and causes souls to come to the knowledge of the truth. He who reads it understands at once, including the truth that the earth and all in it belongs to the Lord, and necessary means should be used to make it clear. When the angels' messages are made plain in this way they have effect and help many decide for the truth.
The truth about the three angels' messages, with the two former messages made plain upon tables, is to be made plain in this way. This work requires publishing a paper containing present truth for messengers to carry and put in the hands of hearers. So preserved, the truth does not fade from the mind where it has been heard and it goes where the messengers cannot go. The verse belongs with the promise that follows it that the vision is yet for an appointed time and at the end shall speak and not lie, and though it tarry believers must wait for it because it will surely come and will not tarry beyond its set limit. No one saw this tarrying time at first, but after 1843 passed without Jesus coming its full meaning became clear.
That tarrying was the passing from March 21, 1843 to March 21, 1844 without Christ coming, a waiting time to be expected rather than a failure. Earnest study of the prophetic periods revealed the error and carried the reckoning through the waiting time, and the prophecies of the last days will be fulfilled within their set limit. God foresaw the disappointment from the beginning and gave words of courage and hope to prove believers in the right path and strengthen their faith. The apparent delay was a test that strengthened sincere believers. The proclamation of 1843 and the seventh-month movement of 1844 were shown to have God's approval by the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, for the true vision about prophetic time was written plainly on a chart or table.
The instruction to make the truth plain upon tables stands against turning attention and resources toward going to Jerusalem. If the saints were truly to go there, attention would turn toward Jerusalem and resources would be reserved for the journey instead of making the truth plain.
Making Truth Plain Today
The vision gives only a faint outline of realities that will become living realities as evil emerges and the final conflict draws near. It describes scenes of destruction and desolation that will soon come and become universal, and those scenes will soon be witnessed just as clearly as they are described. The prophecies of the Old Testament are the word of the Lord for the last day and will be fulfilled as surely as the desolation of San Francisco was seen. The appointed time will not pass beyond its set limit, and the prophecies of the last days will be fulfilled.
Revealed things are to be written down, and the messages God gives are to be written out so that the people may have them and know what He has revealed. The command to record them remains even when people may not listen. A message should be written plainly so people can grasp it even while going about their busy lives.
This supports presenting teaching such as the Sabbath in clear, pointed arguments that ordinary readers can readily understand, rather than delaying publication until the work is perfect or burdening readers with lengthy arguments. Truth is to be made so clear and prominent that people can readily understand it, and made prominent and easily grasped in the large cities under the last testing message. It is to be carried with force into dark and unpromising places and presented with force, so that it speaks forcibly to thousands, gives sight to the spiritually blind, and reveals salvation. Even those who once opposed it may be won to help advance the work. God has counted and prepared men and women workers, will send them with angels before them, and will endow all who come from inexhaustible grace with the Holy Spirit. Won to Christ they will use their talents with zeal and devotion, carrying truth to unpromising places. This plain proclamation will use devised means and different methods from the past that must not be hindered, forbidden, or criticized. Matters of prophecy and salvation were not left in mystery to perplex and mislead the honest seeker, but were made known by angels and by Christ Himself to Daniel and John. The Word is plain to all who study it with a prayerful heart, and every truly honest soul seeking truth as hidden treasure will come to the light of truth, which members must do for the church to advance in holiness.