History and Prophecy VI
16. marts, 2010Introduction
The prophets to whom these great scenes were revealed (the final scenes of the history of the world) longed to understand their import. They
- “inquired and searched diligently: . . . searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify. . . . Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you; . . . which things the angels desire to look into.” 1 Peter 1:10-12.
To us who are standing on the very verge of their fulfillment, of what deep moment, what living interest, are these delineations of the things to come–
- Events for which, since our first parents turned their steps from Eden, God’s children have watched and waited, longed and prayed!
Absorbed in Pleasures
Lesson 1 At this time, before the great final crisis, as before the world’s first destruction, men are absorbed in the pleasures and the pursuits of sense.
Biblical evidence
Matthew 24:37-39 37 “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 “and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Practical application

Flowers in the field
At this time, before the great final crisis, as before the world’s first destruction, men are absorbed in the pleasures and the pursuits of sense.
- Engrossed with the seen and transitory, they have lost sight of the unseen and eternal.
For the things that perish with the using, they are sacrificing imperishable riches. Their minds…
- Their minds need to be uplifted,
- Their views of life need to be broadened.
- They need to be aroused from the lethargy of worldly dreaming.
Mere Outward Glory
Lesson 2 From the rise and fall of nations as made plain in the pages of Holy Writ, they need to learn how worthless is mere outward and worldly glory.
Biblical evidence
Isaiah 40:6-8 6 The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”
1 Peter 1:22-25 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, 25 But the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
Psalm 103:15-16 15 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.
Practical application

Daisy almost done
From the rise and fall of nations as made plain in the pages of Holy Writ, they ( who are engrossed with the seen and transitory) need to learn how worthless is mere outward and worldly glory.
Babylon, with all its power and its magnificence, the like of which our world has never since beheld,–power and magnificence which to the people of that day seemed so stable and enduring,
- Today how completely has Babylon with all its power and magnificence passed away!
- As “the flower of the grass” Babylon has perished.

Ruins of ancient Babylon
So perishes all that has not God for its foundation.
- Only that which is bound up with God’s purpose and expresses His character can endure.

God's Law and principles
His principles are the only steadfast things our world knows.
It is these great truths that old and young need to learn. We need to study the working out of God’s purpose in the history of nations and in the revelation of things to come,
- that we may estimate at their true value things seen and things unseen;
- that we may learn what is the true aim of life;
- that, viewing the things of time in the light of eternity, we may put them to their truest and noblest use.

Health principles
Thus, learning here the principles of His kingdom and becoming its subjects and citizens, we may be prepared at His coming to enter with Him into its possession.
His Coming is at Hand
The time for preparation to enter with Him is but too Short.
The day is at hand. For the lessons to be learned, the work to be done, the transformation of character to be effected, the time remaining is but too brief a span.
- “Behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off. Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; There shall none of My words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God.” Ezekiel 12:27, 28.



























