按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
that the prophecies were sealed。 Thus Protestants followed in the steps of
Romanists。 While the papal church withholds the Bible （see Appendix） from
the people； Protestant churches claimed that an
341
important part of the Sacred Wordand that the part which brings to view
truths specially applicable to our timecould not be understood。
Ministers and people declared that the prophecies of Daniel and the
Revelation were incomprehensible mysteries。 But Christ directed His
disciples to the words of the prophet Daniel concerning events to take place
in their time； and said： 〃Whoso readeth； let him understand。〃 Matthew 24：15。
And the assertion that the Revelation is a mystery； not to be understood； is
contradicted by the very title of the book： 〃The Revelation of Jesus Christ；
which God gave unto Him； to show unto His servants things which must shortly
come to pass。 。 。 。 Blessed is he that readeth； and they that hear the words
of this prophecy； and keep those things which are written therein： for the
time is at hand。〃 Revelation 1：1…3。
Says the prophet： 〃Blessed is he that readeth〃there are those who will not
read； the blessing is not for them。 〃And they that hear〃there are some；
also； who refuse to hear anything concerning the prophecies； the blessing is
not for this class。 〃And keep those things which are written therein〃 many
refuse to heed the warnings and instructions contained in the Revelation；
none of these can claim the blessing promised。 All who ridicule the subjects
of the prophecy and mock at the symbols here solemnly given； all who refuse
to reform their lives and to prepare for the coming of the Son of man； will
be unblessed。
In view of the testimony of Inspiration； how dare men teach that the
Revelation is a mystery beyond the reach of human understanding？ It is a
mystery revealed； a book opened。 The study of the Revelation directs the
mind to the prophecies of Daniel； and both present most important
instruction； given of God to men； concerning events to take place at the
close of this world's history。
To John were opened scenes of deep and thrilling interest in the experience
of the church。 He saw the position； dangers； conflicts； and final
deliverance of the people of God。 He
342
records the closing messages which are to ripen the harvest of the earth；
either as sheaves for the heavenly garner or as fagots for the fires of
destruction。 Subjects of vast importance were revealed to him； especially
for the last church； that those who should turn from error to truth might be
instructed concerning the perils and conflicts before them。 None need be in
darkness in regard to what is coming upon the earth。
Why； then； this widespread ignorance concerning an important part of Holy
Writ？ Why this general reluctance to investigate its teachings？ It is the
result of a studied effort of the prince of darkness to conceal from men
that which reveals his deceptions。 For this reason； Christ the Revelator；
foreseeing the warfare that would be waged against the study of the
Revelation； pronounced a blessing upon all who should read； hear； and
observe the words of the prophecy。
（343）
Chapter 19
Light Through Darkness
The work of God in the earth presents； from age to age； a striking
similarity in every great reformation or religious movement。 The principles
of God's dealing with men are ever the same。 The important movements of the
present have their parallel in those of the past； and the experience of the
church in former ages has lessons of great value for our own time。
No truth is more clearly taught in the Bible than that God by His Holy
Spirit especially directs His servants on earth in the great movements for
the carrying forward of the work of salvation。 Men are instruments in the
hand of God； employed by Him to accomplish His purposes of grace and mercy。
Each has his part to act； to each is granted a measure of light； adapted to
the necessities of his time； and sufficient to enable him to perform the
work which God has given him to do。 But no man； however honored of Heaven；
has ever attained to a full understanding of the great plan of redemption；
or even to a perfect appreciation of the divine purpose in the work for his
own time。 Men do not fully understand what God would accomplish by the work
which He gives them to do； they do not comprehend； in all its bearings； the
message which they utter in His name。
〃Canst thou by searching find out God？ canst thou find out the Almighty unto
perfection？〃 〃My thoughts are not your thoughts； neither are your ways My
ways； saith the
344
Lord。 For as the heavens are higher than the earth； so are My ways higher
than your ways； and My thoughts than your thoughts。〃 〃I am God； and there is
none like Me； declaring the end from the beginning； and from ancient times
the things that are not yet done。〃 Job 11：7； Isaiah 55：8； 9； 46：9； 10。
Even the prophets who were favored with the special illumination of the
Spirit did not fully comprehend the import of the revelations committed to
them。 The meaning was to be unfolded from age to age； as the people of God
should need the instruction therein contained。
Peter； writing of the salvation brought to light through the gospel； says：
Of this salvation 〃the prophets have inquired and searched diligently； who
prophesied of the grace that should come unto you： searching what； or what
manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify； when it
testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ； and the glory that should
follow。 Unto whom it was revealed； that not unto themselves； but unto us
they did minister。〃 1 Peter 1：10…12。
Yet while it was not given to the prophets to understand fully the things
revealed to them； they earnestly sought to obtain all the light which God
had been pleased to make manifest。 They 〃inquired and searched diligently；〃
〃searching what； or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in
them did signify。〃 What a lesson to the people of God in the Christian age；
for whose benefit these prophecies were given to His servants！ 〃Unto whom it
was revealed； that not unto themselves； but unto us they did minister。〃
Witness those holy men of God as they 〃inquired and searched diligently〃
concerning revelations given them for generations that were yet unborn。
Contrast their holy zeal with the listless unconcern with which the favored
ones of later ages treat this gift of Heaven。 What a rebuke to the
ease…loving； world…loving indifference which is content to declare that the
prophecies cannot be understood！
Though the finite minds of men are inadequate to enter
345
into the counsels of the Infinite One； or to understand fully the working
out of His purposes； yet often it is because of some error or neglect on
their own part that they so dimly comprehend the messages of Heaven。 Not
infrequently the minds of the people； and even of God's servants； are so
blinded by human opinions； the traditions and false teaching of men； that
they are able only partially to grasp the great things which He has revealed
in His word。 Thus it was with the disciples of Christ； even when the Saviour
was with them in person。 Their minds had become imbued with the popular
conception of the Messiah as a temporal prince； who was to exalt Israel to
the throne of the universal empire； and they could not understand the
meaning of His words foretelling His sufferings and death。
Christ Himself had sent them forth with the message： 〃The time is fulfilled；
and the kingdom of God is at hand： repent ye； and believe the gospel。〃 Mark
1：15。 That message was based on the prophecy of Daniel 9。 The sixty…nine
weeks were declared by the angel to extend to 〃the Messiah the Prince；〃 and
with high hopes and joyful anticipations the disciples looked forward to the
establishment of Messiah's kingdom at Jerusalem to rule over the whole
earth。
They