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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
John, who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of
Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Blessed
is he that
readeth
,
and they that
hear
the words of this prophecy, and
keep
those things
which are written therein; for the time is at hand.” [
Revelation 1:1-3
.]
Says the prophet, “Blessed is he that readeth”—there are some
who will not read; the blessing is not for them. “And they that
hear”—there are some, also, who refuse to hear anything concerning
the prophecies; the blessing is not for this class. “And keep those
things that are written therein”—many refuse to heed the warnings
and instructions contained in the Revelation. None of these can
claim the blessing promised. All who ridicule the subjects of the
prophecy, and mock at the symbols here solemnly given, all who
refuse to reform their lives, and prepare for the coming of the Son
of man, will be unblest.
In view of the testimony of Inspiration, how dare ministers teach
that the Revelation is a mystery beyond the reach of human under-
standing? It is a mystery revealed, a book opened. The study of the
Revelation directs the mind to the prophecies of Daniel, and both
present most important instruction, given of God to men, concerning
events to take place at the close of this world’s history.
To John were opened scenes of deep and thrilling interest in the
experience of the church. He saw the position, dangers, conflicts,
and final deliverance of the people of God. He records the closing
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messages which are to ripen the harvest of the earth, either as sheaves
for the heavenly garner or as fagots for the fires of the last day.
Subjects of vast importance were revealed to him especially for the
last church, that those who should turn from error to truth might be
instructed concerning the perils and conflicts before them. None
need be in darkness in regard to what is coming upon the earth.
Why, then, this wide-spread ignorance concerning an important
part of Holy Writ? Why this general reluctance to investigate its
teachings? It is the result of a studied effort of the prince of dark-
ness to conceal from men that which reveals his deceptions. For
this reason, Christ the Revelator, foreseeing the warfare that would
be waged against the study of the Revelation, pronounced a bless-
ing upon all who should read, hear, and observe the words of the
prophecy.