Chapter 22—Prophecies Fulfilled
When the time passed at which the Lord’s coming was first
expected,—in the spring of 1844,—those who had looked in faith
for His appearing were for a season involved in doubt and uncertainty.
While the world regarded them as having been utterly defeated and
proved to have been cherishing a delusion, their source of consolation
was still the word of God. Many continued to search the Scriptures,
examining anew the evidences of their faith and carefully studying the
prophecies to obtain further light. The Bible testimony in support of
their position seemed clear and conclusive. Signs which could not be
mistaken pointed to the coming of Christ as near. The special blessing
of the Lord, both in the conversion of sinners and the revival of spiritual
life among Christians, had testified that the message was of Heaven.
And though the believers could not explain their disappointment, they
felt assured that God had led them in their past experience.
Interwoven with prophecies which they had regarded as applying
to the time of the second advent was instruction specially adapted to
their state of uncertainty and suspense, and encouraging them to wait
patiently in the faith that what was now dark to their understanding
would in due time be made plain.
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Among these prophecies was that of
Habakkuk 2:1-4
: “I will stand
upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what
He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it
plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is
yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:
though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just
shall live by his faith.”
As early as 1842 the direction given in this prophecy to “write the
vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it,”
had suggested to Charles Fitch the preparation of a prophetic chart to
illustrate the visions of Daniel and the Revelation. The publication
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