VIII — The Twentieth Century Flooded with Prophetic Light
WHILE on earth, Christ still filled His office as prophet. The fact should not be overlooked that Jesus witnessed by the spirit of prophecy while a man among men. He began to bear witness in this manner immediately after the fall. One of His first prophetic utterances was that the Seed of the woman would bruise the serpent's head. Gen. 3:15. This prophecy, in brief, comprehended the whole plan of salvation. It meant that, by the triumph of Calvary, Christ would finally redeem man, win back the lost inheritance, and destroy Satan.
He continued to witness in His church whenever their backsliding and rebellion did not prevent, for nearly four thousand years; and as not all His people had apostatized, we still find two true prophets (Simeon and Anna) at the time of His birth. During His ministry He was constantly mindful of the fact that He had been given "for a witness to the people;" and as His chosen method of witnessing is by "the spirit of prophecy," we discover that the four Gospels abound in His prophetic utterances.
These include His betrayal by Judas, His denial by Peter, His trial, condemnation, crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension, to be followed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon His apostles and disciples.
He foretold the arising of false christs and false prophets, He predicted wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, the destruction of Jerusalem, the great period of papal persecution, the proclamation of the Gospel of the kingdom in all the world, the signs and the event of His second coming, the resurrection, translation, and the home-gathering of His people of all ages.
Having Ascended to Glory, He Still Witnesses
After His ascension, when He occupied a seat at God's right hand, He was still true to His trust. Numerous true prophets are mentioned in the book of Acts; and about sixty years after His going back to glory, "to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass," He "sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John," and the result is that we have the book of Revelation, carrying us down through the stream of time, by numerous lines of prophecy, to the culmination of the world's history and the setting up of "the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ," in the earth made new. And lastly, we find Him witnessing by "the spirit of prophecy" in His remnant church.
Our Day the Focal Point of Prophecy
And thus it is that the twentieth century is flooded with prophetic light, for in our day we have the accumulation of practically all of "the testimony of Jesus," focused as a mighty search-light upon our pathway; and still Jesus is bearing witness in His church.
There are at least half a score of distinct lines of prophecy which clearly indicate that we are living in the closing days of this world's history; and if this is true, we are living in the time when all prophecy yet unfulfilled, and such lines of prophecy as are in process of fulfilment, reach their focal point.
While there have been prophecies given that were local, and in some instances personal, in their application, yet to a large extent the focal points of prophecy have had two events for their objective; namely, the first advent, and the second coming of Christ. The latter event has formed the stirring theme of all the "holy prophets since the world began." Acts 3:21. The reason for this is apparent, as upon these two events depends the plan of salvation; and as Heaven employs its most forceful manner of witnessing to prove these two events — namely, by the spirit of prophecy — how firm is their foundation!
Summary of Things Accomplished by Prophecy
A brief summary of the things accomplished by prophecy would include the following: It proves the existence of God. It proves the Word of God true, the Bible inspired, and thereby establishes faith therein. It proves Jesus to be the true Messiah, and all others who have made, or may yet make, that high profession, to be basely false. It proves the true religion of Heaven, and disproves the false, no matter tho it "masquerade in the livery of heaven." It identifies the true church, giving its unmistakable characteristics, and sets forth the errors of every false church and warns against their reception. As it warns against all fatally deceptive powers, it constitutes the safest of all safeguards. It gloriously portrays the second coming of Christ, and all associated events. It foretells the ultimate destruction of Satan, and the final overthrow of sin. Prophetic promises touchingly portray the future immortal life, when sin, Satan, rebellion, and death will be forever overthrown; and consequently a cleansed universe, when every creature will unite in "saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever." Rev. 5:13.
The Saviour's Precaution
with an appalling penalty attached thereto, in almost the final words of inspiration, adds tremendous force to the importance of prophecy, and constitutes a most forceful effort on the part of Jesus to preserve the absolute purity of His "testimony" throughout all time. Here is the warning: "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." Rev. 22:18, 19.
Mark that He does not lay guilt at the door of the one who explains the prophecies, or who makes their application to the things foretold, but rather to the one who adds to or takes away from them, and thus virtually nullifies them. Strange as it may seem, it is nevertheless true that a considerable number of professed ministers of the Gospel, in their teaching, literally "take away," or would sweep away, the entire prophetic book of Revelation, by saying that "it can not be understood," altho it is distinctly declared to be "the revelation of Jesus Christ."
How Opportune
that in the very last book of Holy Writ Jesus should send His angel to tell us that His chosen method of witnessing is by the spirit of prophecy! Is the church of to-day, altho lacking the numerous angelic appearances and the working of miracles, as in former times, less favored than were the people of God in the former days? — By no means. The concentrated light of practically all prophecy is shining upon the generation in which we are living, and fulfilled prophecy is the strongest groundwork for faith that Divinity has supplied to the human family.
The Remnant Church Has the Surest Guide
But why is it written that the last church to be upon the stage of action before the second coming of the Saviour will have "the testimony of Jesus," which is "the spirit of prophecy," manifested within its fold? Answer: The last church in point of time, because of certain conditions of unbelief, so-called "higher criticism," and multitudes of erroneous and seductive doctrines proclaimed, has special need of the safeguard of prophecy and of the gift of the spirit of prophecy, for there is no other way to be sure of our ground; and God has graciously supplied the need of the remnant church. Rev. 12:17; 19:10.
The Fatal Mistake
on the part of God's professed people at the first advent of Christ was that they "were willingly ignorant" of the prophecies which so clearly foretold His coming and minutely described the events connected therewith. Paul says of them, that because they knew not "the voices of the prophets," which were read every Sabbath day, they fulfilled them in condemning Him. Acts 13:27-30.
Jesus said of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that their terrible failure was in not knowing the things that pertained to their peace and the time of their visitation (Luke 19:42-44); hence instead of peace and prosperity, destruction and ruin resulted.
History Repeats Itself
from the fact that human nature is the same in one generation as in another. According to prophecy, when Christ's second coming is imminent many of His professed followers will fulfil prophecy in a way that means their eternal ruin, because they are willingly6ignorant of the things that belong to their peace, and thus know not the time of their visitation. No words can possibly give greater force to the importance of giving diligent heed to prophecy than these. Read in order 2 Peter 3:3-7; Rev. 14:9, 10; 13:8.
The individual and the church who are walking in the full light of prophecy know the things that pertain to their peace and the time of their visitation.
Let us, then, as believing in Christ, accept His own chosen method of witnessing, and recognize every line of prophecy as the direct effort of Jesus to bear mighty testimony to the truth of God, and thus supply the surest and safest possible foundation for faith. And let us agree that wherever in God's Word we find a true prophet, he was the mouthpiece of Jesus Christ; and wherever in that same Word we encounter a prophetic utterance or a connected line of prophecy, we come in contact with a definite effort of Jesus to bear witness to the ages of God's eternal truth.
Then from Enoch, who was the first of our race mentioned as a prophet, to the last Heaven-inspired prophet before Jesus comes again, and thus terminates in the world all necessity for prophesying,—for witnessing to God and His truth, for in that event faith will be swallowed up in sight,—"the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
If every professed Christian will recognize prophecy according to this inspired definition, it will at once command his most reverent respect, instead of being held by him in any degree of disrepute; and surely Jesus Christ, "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," has chosen the best possible manner of bearing unimpeachable witness to the ages, and we must freely concede to Him the right to choose His own method.
Thus it will be apparent that the text, "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified," applies with equal force to the study and to the preaching of prophecy as to the preaching of the Gospel; and it should be of universal application as well in the experience of every professed minister of the Gospel to-day, as in the preaching of the apostle Paul. And therefore, when I preach prophecy as "the testimony of Jesus," no one can consistently reproach me. And thus have I purposed in my heart to present the prophecies.
Skepticism in Pulpit and College
To an alarming extent, the tendency of our modern educational system is toward skepticism and infidelity. The professor of the philosophy of religion in Chicago University asks the startling question, "May not one deny that Jesus lived, and yet be well-pleasing to God?"
The president of the prominent institution, Morningside College, located at Sioux City, Iowa, in a sermon at Kansas City, Missouri, emphatically denies that the Bible is the Word of God. In these days of growing skepticism, even in the pulpit, what is the mightiest magnet to hold the needle of faith true to God's Word? I answer, The testimony of Jesus, the spirit of prophecy. Each prophecy fulfilled, as well as each recurring morning, proves that God exists, and that His Word is true.
A Prophecy of Vital Importance for the Church of Christ To-Day
It is the firm belief of the writer that a prophecy of tremendous importance to the human family is now in process of fulfilment. It reads as follows: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle." Rev. 14:6-14.
While it does not seem fitting to occupy space in these articles in expounding in detail this prophecy, yet we will note two or three things relative to it: First, that when this message is due, some one will understand it, and have the burden rolled upon his heart to proclaim it to the world; and surely He who had such an intense interest in the salvation of the human family as to give His only-begotten Son to die, would not bring the appalling penalty attached to this message upon those who reject it, unless He first gives every one fair warning. It must be possible to understand every question at issue in this message.
Second, the message involves a question of worship. On the one hand there is a rival of God, who invites worship to himself, while another class of people are true to God and His worship.
Third, so far as the writer's investigation goes, there is but one denomination that has any burden to preach this message.
No one can be absolutely certain that he is doing Heaven's appointed work in the last generation unless he is identified with that movement which is prophetically set forth as God's last message of mercy to the world. There is one church that feels called of Heaven to proclaim this message to all the world. The giving of this message closes with the glorious event of Jesus' coming, crowned as a king. Verse 14. Who can consistently claim that the event of Christ's coming is near, unless this message is now being proclaimed? And who would not desire to be connected with it and to share in its glorious triumph when its proclamation is completed?
The Church Safeguarded
Heaven foresaw all deceptions that would arise down the stream of time,—the false churches, the signs and wonders that would be wrought to "deceive if possible the very elect." To Jesus, by means of the spirit of prophecy, was entrusted the safeguarding of God's people from fatal deceptions throughout the ages. True to His sacred trust, He has given faithful warning in advance.
Satan, the rival of Christ, can not employ prophecy to deceive, because God's hand—even that hand which upholds the universe—is on the lever of events, and He "fashions all things according to the counsel of His own will."
A Few Prophecies Yet to Be Fulfilled
The scope of this brief treatise will not permit us to dwell in detail upon prophecies yet to be fulfilled. A brief outline of the thrilling and all-important events which are still before us would include the culmination of the tense social conditions which are daily developing in nearly all nations; the climax of the test between loyalty to God and worship of "the beast" (Rev. 14:6-12); then the outpouring of the seven last plagues, and the world-battle of Armageddon. Then follows the majestic appearance of Christ, with its associated events, concerning which "God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." Next, the setting up of Christ's eternal kingdom, and then, E-T-E-R-N-I-T-Y.
The sands of time are sinking; the dawn of heaven breaks;
The summer morn I've sighed for, the fair, sweet morn, awakes;
Dark, dark has been the midnight, but dayspring is at hand;
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel's land.
True Science
By Delwin Rees Buckner
By Delwin Rees Buckner
I see a single, solitary star
That shines in superb splendor in the sky;
But O, the many mysteries that lie
Locked up in silver-plated space so far,
More than within a lantern on the spar
Of some swift ship our steamer passes by,
Or lurid light that blinds the blinking
eye,
Borne by some grimly outlined touring car.
What secrets seal the still, cerulean skies!
And God above alone doth clasp the key.
But if we'll only be content to verse
Ourselves in things revealed, in Paradise
We all will have a whole eternity
To solve the problems of the universe.
HE first eight verses of this chapter, with the vision given by the angel, were printed in our last week's issue. The ram symbolized Medo-Persia; the rough goat, Grecia; the first notable horn, her first king, Alexander, and his empire; the succeeding four horns, the kingdoms inaugurated by Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, and Seleucus, respectively: Macedon, Asia Minor and Thrace, Egypt, and Syria. Succeeding the division of the Medo-Persian empire is another horn — another power symbolized and described by the scripture which we use this week.
The Answer of the Text
1. What did the prophet see coming forth from one of the four horns of the goat?
And out of one of them came forth a little horn. Verse 9.
2. What is said of this little horn?
Which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious land. Verse 9.
3. What assumption did it manifest?
And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them. Verse 10.
4. How far did it carry this assumption?
Yea, it magnified itself, even to the Prince of the host. Verse 11.
5. What did it take from the Prince of the host?
And it took away from Him the continual (burnt offering). Verse 11.
6. What was done with the place of His sanctuary?
And the place of His sanctuary was cast down. Verse 11.
7. What was given to it, and why?
And the host was given over to it together with the continual (burnt offering) through transgression. Verse 12.
8. Under such conditions, what did it do?
And it cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered. Verse 12.
9. What did the prophet hear?
Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said unto that certain one who spake. Verse 13.
10. What question was asked the holy speaker?
How long shall be the vision concerning the continual (burnt offering), and the transgression that maketh desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden underfoot? Verse 13.
11. What did the speaker answer?
And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Verse 14.
12. What did Daniel seek, and what was the response?
And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. Verses 15, 16.
13. For what time was the vision especially given?
So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was affrighted, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man; for the vision belongeth to the time of the end. Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face toward the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright. And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongeth to the appointed time of the end. Verses 17-19.
14. What did the angel say was symbolized by the little horn?
And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. Verse 23.
15. What is said of this power?
And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power. Verse 24.
16. What shall this power do?
And he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and do his pleasure; and he shall destroy the mighty ones and the holy people. Verse 24.
17. What shall he cause to prosper?
And through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand. Verse 25.
18. What spirit will be manifest?
And he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in their security shall he destroy many. Verse 25.
19. How shall he exalt himself? and what shall be his end?
He shall also stand up against the Prince of Princes; but he shall be broken without hand. Verse 25.
20. What assurance was given the prophet?
And the vision of the evenings and mornings which hath been told is true. Verse 26.
21. What was the prophet commanded to do?
But shut thou up the vision; for it belongeth to many days to come. Verse 26.
22. Had all the vision been explained?
And I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king's business: and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it. Verse 27.
The Prophetic Specifications
Let the reader note the particular specifications concerning the little horn in these few verses, and also what the prophet says concerning the vision itself:
1. The vision belongs to "the time of the end." Verse 17.
2. It reveals what shall be in "the latter time of the indignation," "the time of the end." See Dan. 11:35.
3. It belonged to "many days to come," and therefore was to be considered among the things "shut up" until "the appointed time of the end." Dan. 8:26; 12:4-9.
4. The little horn came out of one of the four horns. Dan. 8:8, 9.
5. It waxed "exceeding great." Verse 9.
6. It extended its conquest toward the south, toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. Verse 9.
7. "It waxed great, even to the host of heaven." Verse 10.
8. It cast down some of the host and of the stars, and trampled on them. Verse 10.
9. "It magnified itself, even to the Prince of the host." Verse 11.
10. It took away from the Prince of the host the continual. ("Sacrifice" in the Common Version, "burnt offering" in the Revised Version, are supplied because the translator supposed them to be necessary to the sense. This will be considered later.) Verse 11.
11. The place of His (the Prince's) sanctuary was cast down. Verse 11.
12. The host was given over to it through transgression. Verse 12.
13. The continual was given over to it, together with the host, through transgression. Verse 12.
14. It (the little horn) "cast down the truth to the ground." Verse 12.
15. "It did its pleasure and prospered." Verse 12.
16. Its blasting, blighting effect of transgression would be manifest concerning the continual for 2,300 prophetic days. Verse 14.
Now here are thirteen definite specifications concerning that power which is to arise. Still farther specifications are given in the explanation of Gabriel to Daniel, which we number in the same series:
17. The little horn arises to power in "the latter time" of the kingdom of the four horns, when their transgressions should come to the full. Verse 23.
18. It symbolizes a power of fierce countenance. Verse 23. Compare with Dan. 7:20.
19. It would deal in and understand dark sentences. Verse 23. Compare Deut. 28:49, 50.
20. It would become mighty, but not by its own power. Verse 24.
21. It would destroy wonderfully. Verse 24.
22. It would prosper and do its pleasure. Verses 24, 12.
23. It would destroy mighty ones. Verse 24. Compare with verse 10.
24. It would destroy the holy people (margin, "the people of the saints"). Verse 24. See also verse 10; chapter 7:21, 25.
25. It would cause craft to prosper through policy. Verse 25. See also verse 12.
26. It would magnify itself in its heart. Verse 25. Compare chapter 11:36; and 2 Thess. 2:4.
27. It shall destroy many in peace and security. Verse 25.
28. It shall stand up against the Prince of Princes. Verse 25. See also verse 11.
29. It should be broken without hand; that is, it would continue until God should judge. Verse 25. Compare chapter 2:34, 45; and Job 34:20.
Here are twenty-nine specifications. Three of these apply to the prophecy in general; twenty-six to the little horn. Some of the latter are duplicated, tho many times expressed so differently as to constitute another specification. But counting those which are identical in the first and last series, there are about a score of distinct particulars not ordinary, or common to kingdoms, named in the description of the little horn, and the power which it symbolizes. It would be utterly unreasonable to expect that all these would be applicable to any two powers. The law of probabilities would be immensely, infinitely (almost) against it. When the right power is found all will be applicable. The prophecy is clear and forcible, but with many applications, with the wrestling of the prophecy, we are left to drift on a sea of doubt and perplexity. Then, too, this prophecy must be in harmony with other great prophecies of Daniel and of John covering the same period, for the same Spirit inspired them all.
The Two Interpretations
There are two current interpretations of this little-horn prophecy. First is the traditional exposition which applies it to Antiochus Epiphanes, who reigned in the Syrian division of Alexander's kingdom before Greece, B.C. 175 to 164, a period of nearly twelve years. About the only specifications which could be made to apply to him are:
That he ruled in one of the four kingdoms;
That he persecuted God's people;
That he profaned the sanctuary, or temple, and interrupted for a period of years the Jewish temple service;
That he magnified himself against God;
In a limited way he prospered and did his pleasure.
Only in five particulars can the specifications of the prophecy be made to apply to Antiochus, and these may be equally applicable to any strong persecuting power.
The other claim is that the little horn applies to Rome, and of this we may say that it meets its every specification in the entire career of the Roman power.
Some General Principles
In the consideration of the application of these specific particulars to the Roman power in its entirety, it is well to keep in mind two great facts:71. Every other line of prophecy in God's Word continues to the end of this present world, or age, when vision and prophecy shall cease, and the glorious, everlasting kingdom of God shall be ushered in. As evidence of this, note the following:
In Daniel 2 the fourth kingdom is a latter-day kingdom, and is succeeded by the eternal kingdom of the God of heaven. Verses 28, 44.
The prophetic vision sweeps the centuries of human rule from Babylon to Jerusalem, the city of the great King, and the reign of Jesus upon the throne of David.
In Daniel 7 the same four world-powers are revealed which are symbolized by the metals of Daniel 2. As in the second chapter, the vision sweeps us on to the judgment of the great day, the overthrow of all earthly powers, and the reign of the once persecuted saints of God. Verses 26, 27.
Daniel 11 carries us to the time when the last great earthly power shall come to naught, and Michael shall begin His reign. So it is in the great discourse of our Lord in Matthew 24; and in the Revelation the prophecies of the seven churches, the seven seals, the seven trumpets, the great red dragon, the leopard beast, and the scarlet beast. Each one of these lines of prophecy from some noted mile-post of human history carries us on to the end of the road, to the culmination, the end of all imperfect, corrupt human rule, and the setting up of the world-wide kingdom of Jesus Christ our Lord. Is the prophecy which begins in Daniel 8 an exception to these? — Emphatically, it is not. It is one of the many similar witnesses, all of which testify to God's hand in history, even to the end, despite the machinations of evil.
2. The second great fact demonstrates this, for it is the express declaration of the angel that (a) The vision "belongeth to many days to come." It is with prophetic days the vision deals. A ram of a few years' existence symbolizes an empire which lasts more than 200 years. A short-lived goat symbolizes long-existing Grecia. The "many days to come" represent the many years of human history before God's purpose shall be accomplished. "Each day for a year" is the rule of inspiration. Eze. 4:6; Num. 14:34.
(b) The angel expressly declares that the vision was given to reveal "what shall be in the latter time of the indignation," to the very end of that time, when the apostate power of earth shall pour out the end of its wrath against the remnant of the people of the holy covenant, and the just wrath of God shall be visited upon the wholly unregenerate, reprobate powers. Dan. 11:30; Rev. 12:17.
(c) And this time is expressly stated in the prophecy; not only is it in "the latter time of the indignation," but it "belongeth to the appointed time of the end," that little period set apart in probation's hour for the finishing of God's work. Dan. 8:19. Therefore, it is not to be expected that the Jews, who may have applied this little horn to Antiochus IV, would understand it, for it was to be among the things which time must help in demonstrating, and therefore it was shut up "even to the time of the end," when "the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are wise shall understand." Dan. 12:4, 9, 10. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments." Ps. 111:10.
Therefore, as it is demonstrated both by fullest analogy and by positive declaration that the vision is for the last days, it does not, can not apply to Antiochus Epiphanes, who was only one of a line of kings, who reigned but twelve years in the middle of the Seleucid kingdom, and not in the closing years of the four divisions, who died long before the period demanded by the prophecy; while the little horn continues his work to the indignation in the time of the end.
Farther consideration of these specifications must be left until our next issue.