At a time like the present so full of events crowding themselves together in the history of this present age — an age which ends with consequences so deep and solemn to the world, and so full of blessing to the Christian, and the Church of God — it is a blessing from the Lord to have our minds directed towards the Prophetic Word, and to the Ways of God. It is said of the Prophetic Word, that “ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:1919We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2 Peter 1:19)).
It is desired, as briefly as is consistent with the end in view, and as the Lord may graciously afford guidance and blessing, to bring before the reader, the general scope of the great dispensational dealings of God, which it has pleased him, in His infinite grace, to make known to us in His Word, so as to display those dealings in the Government of the world — His Grace towards sinners — and His purposes for the Glory of His Son. Those subjects have been entered upon with the desire that some may be enabled to follow those dealings in their consecutive order as nearly as such may be followed, and thus grasp the dispensational dealings and purposes of God thus revealed.
It is not pretended to give a complete view of these things, but such a general view of the whole dispensational dealings of God as may lead the mind to a closer searching after the more minute details of these dealings from the Word, and thus to a more perfect and growing apprehension of His purposes and ways.
In carrying out such a desire, many truths well known of late amongst the Lord’s people will be before us — needfully so — that the more important parts may not be forgotten or omitted in the consecutive order of God’s ways. And should it be found necessary to depart from this consecutive order, it will be with the desire but to link together the events more fully and clearly, that the mind may be enabled to pass along the chain without leaving any links behind.
The purpose of these papers is to put the truth plainly and simply before the mind from Scripture, for that “godly edifying which is in faith” — not to combat with error, however useful and necessary such may be in its season. For it is strongly felt that when the truth, with its divine and perfect Light shines into the soul, it dispels the darkness, and finds a resting-place in the heart that desires to be subject to the everlasting Word of God. It is like the bringing in of a light to a dark place — it dispels the not dispel it and the two things — light and darkness — cannot combine.
May the consideration of these truths prove a blessing from Him who alone can bless. And may He enable us to practice that which He teaches, and to live in the power of the things which are unseen and eternal — abundantly blessing His own word to our souls.
In searching into these subjects a very large scope of Scripture will be before us.
The prophetic Scriptures of the Old Testament embrace five great distinct subjects, namely
1. The Corruption or Ruin of Israel, God’s elect nation.
2. Judgment following this ruin, whether from the hand of the Gentiles or otherwise.
3. The Times of the Gentiles, and their judgment.
4. The Crisis, or short period of judgment when the Lord will make “short work upon the earth”; introductory of that age when “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:1414For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14)).
5. The glory or Kingdom, which we know familiarly as the Millennium. Prophecy is in the main occupied with earthly events; and that of the OT is silent as to the mystery, “which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God” (Eph. 3:99And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:9)). “The mystery which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest through the prophetic writings” (Rom. 16:25, 2625Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: (Romans 16:25‑26); διά τε γραφὦν προφητικῶν, that is the prophetic writings of the New Testament in which are revealed the mystery of “Christ and the Church”). God’s dear Son having been rejected by the world and the Jew, is to have a heavenly bride — a church gathered to Him out of Jew and Gentile — while He is hidden in the heavens, by the Holy Spirit come down, which will to joint heir with Him of all the glory which the Father has given Him when ‘He assumes openly the headship of all things.
I would make a remark upon 2 Peter 1:2020Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (2 Peter 1:20), before passing on. “Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” There have been certain partial fulfillment of prophecy in times past which, no doubt, bore largely in them the features of the occurrences to which, when darkness; while the endeavor to combat with the darkness will fulfilled in a primary application, they referred. But if we were to say that their scope ended there, we should miss the mind of the Spirit in the object of the scripture, and at once make it of private interpretation, by confining its application solely to the occurrence which had come to pass. Prophecy begins in the mind, and counsels, and self-conceived purposes of God, and only ends in the full display of Himself and in the glory to be perfected and displayed in His Son. It links together two things — the counsels of God and their accomplishment in Christ. We cannot, therefore, begin at a subsequent point, or stop at any prior to the end, without losing its great aim.
No matter how accurate may have been the apparent fulfillment of certain prophecies; when we come to examine the details, we are sure to find features which clearly show that when God was pleased to use the circumstances that were then coming, or through which those who were addressed were passing at the moment; and even these before Him, — He has always shown that He had other thoughts in view, reaching on to the accomplishment of His full purposes and glory; of which the matter then before Him served as a type. Instance the plague of locusts in Joel, which the Spirit of God uses to bring the consciences of the people before Him at the moment; and yet it forms an impressive figure of the judgment of Judah at the hands of the northern army, and the deliverance of the nation and judgment of the Gentiles, at the time of the introduction of the kingdom. Many other instances could be adduced as to this principle.