It brings out a thought dear to every Christian who understands that prophecy has in all its parts a relation to Christ. This is true, whether the prophecy is direct or indirect as to Christ, whether it has to do with the Church, which is His body; the Jews, who are His earthly people; or the Gentiles over whom He will rule eventually as Son of Man. HE is the Center of prophecy, and all its predictions are related to that Center. That being so, how absorbingly interesting the prophetic word becomes.
Alas! the misuse of prophecy is not uncommon. Its details are too often discussed simply as appealing to the intellect—the conscience not exercised, the heart's affections not stirred. Let us ever remember that God never records the past, nor reveals the future, without designing to affect us by His word in the present.
To see how God will have all things headed up in Christ, to see aright how His ways in grace and government are all leading to this grand goal, is to secure these two things—a conscience exercised and affections deepened.
The mystery of God's will is in “[the] administration of the fullness of times; to head up all things in the Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth” (Eph. 1:1010That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10), JND). God's will is made known to us, who have received His Holy Spirit; and to recognize the goal to which God is working is to help us in our present inquiry.