Nothing Intervenes – The Establishment of Christ's Kingdom, the Work now in Progress – The Testimony of Prophecy Concurs – The Worldly-wise See Much – The Watching Saints See More Distinctly – The Importance to All, of Open Eyes in the Right Direction.
But, from God's standpoint, from which the waking ones of the household of faith are privileged to look, not only the severity of the trouble is more distinct, but also the blessed results, which under God's providence it shall subserve by ushering in the Millennial Kingdom. And this is a comfort, and more than an offset for all the tribulation, even though we or our dearest ones may share it.
(1) Give a brief resume of our findings in preceding chapters, which show where we are located on the stream of time? How much do even the worldly-wise discern? And what advantage does the Church enjoy at this time? Page 363, to Page 364, par. 1
That we might now have the comfort of this knowledge, and not be in doubt and perplexity, was but part of the object in the giving of the time prophecies. Another object was, that, as the representatives of that kingdom among men, we should be aware of the great dispensational changes now in progress, and able to bear testimony before the world, regarding God's plan, etc., which, though unheeded now, will greatly benefit them by and by, and help them the sooner to recognize the Lord's presence in the great day of wrath, drawing on. Another object is, that the [B365] faithful, thus armed and strengthened by God's Word, may be enabled to stand firm, when so many will be falling into infidelity and various other deceptive errors, which will soon sweep over "Christendom." Another object is, to give force and point to the entire Plan of the Ages: for it is a general experience that, while the first glimpse of God's gracious plan for blessing the whole world through the Church, during the Millennial age, fills the hearts and enlists the zeal of his faithful children to the utmost, yet as their efforts to enlighten others are coldly received, and they find that only a very few, comparatively, have "an ear to hear," the tendency is to settle down to the quiet enjoyment of the precious knowledge, in such a manner as will bring the least reproach and opposition.
Seeing this, our natural weakness, the Lord has provided time prophecies as a spur, to quicken and awaken us fully, and keep us active in his service. Being already in the "harvest" time, harvest work should engage the time, service and thoughts of the Lord's servants, who now, like the disciples at the first advent, are to do the reaping work. (John 4:35-38) Let us each seek to do what our hands find to do, in obedience to the instructions of the great Chief Reaper. But, with reference more particularly to the time and order of events in this "harvest," we must refer the reader to the succeeding volume of this series, wherein the conclusions of the foregoing and other time prophecies are brought to a focus, and the various foretold signs and corroborative testimonies of the Master's presence and the progress of his work are marked, proving – that the "Time of the End" has come; that the Days of Waiting for the Kingdom are fulfilled; that the Cleansing of the Sanctuary is accomplished; that the great Harvest Work is in progress; that the Regathering of Israel is apparent; that the Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty is impending; and that the complete establishment of the glorious Kingdom of God at the time [B366] appointed, the end of the Times of the Gentiles, is an unquestionable certainty; and showing, further, the work of the saints during the harvest; marking the close of the "high calling," and the "change" of those saints who "are alive and remain"; and showing, also, that the Great Pyramid of Egypt is one of God's Witnesses (Isa. 19:19,20), whose wonderful message is a full and complete corroboration of God's plan of the ages, together with its times and seasons.
(2) What four purposes were evidently intended by the Lord to be served in the giving of time-prophecies to His faithful ones? And what should be the attitude of the Lord's servants at this time? Page 364, par. 2, to Page 366