This Article: (2 Pages)
- 1. Time no longer’ (Rev.10)
- 2. Isaac Newton and The Time of The End:
1) Time no longer’ (Rev.10)
From A Treatise on Revelation by Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
I would not have any discouraged by the difficulty and ill success that men have hitherto met with in these attempts. For it was revealed to Daniel that the prophecies concerning the last times should be closed up and sealed until the time of the end: but then, the wise should understand, and knowledge should be increased. Dan 12:4,9,10
And therefore the longer they have continued in obscurity, the more hopes there is that the time is at hand in which they are to be made manifest. If they are never to be understood, to what end did God reveal them? Certainly he did it for the edification of the church; and if so, then it is certain that the church shall at length attain to the understanding thereof. I mean not all that call themselves Christians, but a remnant, a few scattered persons which God hath chosen, such as without being blinded, led by interest, education, or humane authorities, can set themselves sincerely and earnestly to search after truth. For as Daniel hath said that the wise shall understand, so hath he said also that none of the wicked shall understand.
Let me therefore beg of thee not to trust to the opinion of any man concerning these things, for so it is great odds but thou shalt be deceived. Much less oughtest thou to keep to rely upon the judgment of the multitude, for so thou shalt be deceived. But search the Scriptures thyself and that by frequent reading and constant meditation upon what thou readest, and prayer to God to enlighten thine understanding if thou desirest to find the truth. Which if thou shalt at length attain thou wilt value above all other treasures in the world by reason of the assurance and vigour it will add to thy faith, and steady satisfaction to thy mind which he can only know how to estimate who shall experience it.
That the benefit which may by understanding the sacred Prophecies and the danger by neglecting them is very great and the obligation to study them is as great may appear by considering the like case of the Jews at the coming of Christ. For the rules whereby they were to know the Messiah were the prophecies of the Old Testament. And these our Saviour recommended to their consideration in the very beginning of His preaching and afterward commanded the study of them for that end saying
Luke 4:21: "Search the Scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and these are they which testify of Me." And at another time severely reproached their ignorance herein, saying to them when they required a sign, "Ye Hypocrites can ye discern the face of the sky but can ye not discern the signs of the times." And after His resurrection, he reproved also this ignorance in His disciples, saying unto them, "O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?" And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Thus also the Apostles and those who in the first ages propagated the gospel urged chiefly these Prophesies and exhorted their hearers to search and see whether all things concerning our Savior ought not to have been as they fell out. And in a word it was the ignorance of the Jews in these Prophecies which caused them to reject the Messiah and by consequences to be not only captivates by the Romans, but to incur eternal damnation. Luke 19:42,44
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