The simple fact that, interpreters of prophecy and signs, have generally erred in conclusions, has created almost inveterate prejudices against them as safe teachers; and yet, there is a high obligation resting upon Christians, to note with care, the signs of the times; and in the prophecies, there can be no doubt, there are valuable mines of truth yet to be explored. While we make no pretension to remarkable penetration, in the interpretation of either signs or prophecies, we are strongly persuaded, there lie on the very surface of passing events, signs that should not be neglected ; and there are In the prophecies, stores of valuable information for all who will but carefully look into them. We desire to afflict our readers with no sensational essays, and yet we have the example of the Savior, in calling special attention to the signs of the times; and perhaps, there is not a book of any considerable length in either Old or New Testament, that does not contain an important prophecy. We might do well to treasure up the words of the Savior, to “The Pharisees and Saducees, who desired Him that He would show them a sign from Heaven.” He answered and said, “ When it is evening, ye say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red, and in the morning, it will be foul weather- to-day, for the sky is red and lowering. O, ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” Mat. 16, 3. Again, the Lord said to the people, “When ye sec the cloud rise out of the West, straightway ye say, ‘There cometh a shower,’ and so it is. And when ye see the South wind blow, ye say, ‘There will be heat,’ and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, and of the earth, but how is it that ye cannot discern this time
Men still diligently watch the indications of nature, and the wise derive signal advantages therefrom, and it becomes all who would be good and do good, to anxiously regard the signs in the moral world. In the present number of our paper it is not our purpose to attempt to specify any particular signs which we should study, but It will be quite sufficient to direct attention to the proper regions for signs.
In the scriptures of truth certain important results are to be worked out, and our only evidence of their occurrence will be in the gracious signs furnished. For instance, it is said, ‘To Him shall every knee bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2. Have we any indications of the fulfillment of this promise? There is not a nation or government on earth, that acknowledges the authority of Messiah’s rule, and nine-tenths of the professed followers of Christ, still pray, “Thy kingdom come,” indicating that the Lord’s reign did not open at Jerusalem on the first Pentecost after his resurrection, as many good men are disposed to believe. That our Heavenly Father crowned his beloved Son king, when he ascended to Heaven, the Scripture admits not a doubt; and “To Him shall every knee bow, and every tongue confess that he is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Where is the evidence of the fulfillment of this remarkable prediction ? None as yet can be discovered, and still no Christian can doubt that the time will come when every item in it will be fulfilled to the letter.
We are not of the school to preach a failure of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or to conclude that the Kingdom of Heaven has no existence on this earth. Whither do we look for a new order of things for the conversion of the world? But we live and act under the firm conviction that Christ is the Redeemer of our race; that God, our Heavenly Father, crowned Him at His own right hand when He ascended from Mount Olivet, and that as certainly as God lives and rules the heavens and earth, to his “Son shall every knee bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God, the Father.” Where, brethren, are the signs of our Savior’s triumphs? This is a rich field for examination, and we invite attention to the subject, in the firm confidence that our readers will be pleased and much profited by the investigation.
Tolbert Fanning
Gospel Advocate, Vol. 8 issue1, page 4, 1/1/66