Heavenly Visions

ALL THIS CAME

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.

THE following words are those used after the prophet Daniel’s interpretation of the dream given to the proud Nebuchadnezzar respecting his humiliation: “All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.” Daniel 4:28. HEVI 44.4

The exact accomplishment upon Nebuchadnezzar of what Daniel had said in interpreting his dream seemed to establish faith in the Chaldean queen that what he would predict was from the Lord; for when the handwriting on the wall was confounding all the skill of the wise men of Babylon, she said to Belshazzar: “There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father [“grandfather,” margin] light of understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.” Daniel 5:11, 12. HEVI 44.5

In this instance, as in others, the simple narration of the fact that what had been predicted by the prophet was accurately fulfilled, inspired faith that he had divine illumination,-that he was, indeed, taught of God. So it should be in the confirming of the Spirit of Prophecy among those “waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:6, 7. HEVI 44.6

In the further study of this question we refer to a prediction made in a vision by Sister White, at Parkville, Mich., Jan. 12, 1861, concerning the civil war that was to come in the United States. At that time only one State, South Carolina, had passed a secession ordinance. The people in the North little thought of war growing out of that. In the new York Tribune of that week, Horace Greeley, the editor, said, “A few old women with broomsticks could go down there and beat out all the rebellion there is in South Carolina.” In speaking of it the week before, he said: “If some one with the firmness of Andrew Jackson should go down there and say, ‘South Carolina, where are you going?’ they would reply, ‘Back into the Union again, sir. ’” HEVI 44.7

After Sister White came out of the vision already referred to, she arose before the congregation, and said: “There is not a person in this house that has even dreamed of the trouble that is coming upon this land. People are making sport of the secession ordinance of South Carolina [some of the leading men of Parkville, while she thus spoke, sneered at the ideas she was advancing], but I have just been shown that a large number of States will yet join that State, and there will be a most terrible war. In this vision I have seen large armies of both sides gathered on the field of battle. I heard the booming of the cannon, and saw the dead and the dying on every hand. I saw the field after the battle, all covered with the dead and the dying. Then I was carried to prisons, and saw the sufferings of those in want, who were wasting away,” etc. She said: “There are men in this house who will lose sons in that war.” HEVI 45.1

This vision, when given, was directly contrary to all Northern sentiment, but was nevertheless accurately fulfilled. Before the end of May, 1861, eleven States had seceded, and elected their Confederate president. On the 12th of April the first gun of war was fired on Ft. Sumpter, which surrendered to them on the 13th. The Northern idea of the war was so meager even then that President Lincoln called for only seventy-five thousand men for three months, to put down the rebellion. Little did the people in responsible places think they were entering upon a war to continue till the spring of 1865-a war in which the North would have in the field 2,859,132 men, and the South probably half that number. HEVI 45.2

Not only was this vision accurately fulfilled concerning the secession of States and the war itself; but as the war continued, other things were predicted. At first the war was conducted with the thought of preserving the Union, allowing slavery to remain; but while that was the case, the North met many sad reverses. As expressed by Governor St. John, of Kansas, “Had we whipped the rebels, the politicians would have patched up a peace, and the Union would have been continued with slavery, and we would have had it to-day.” HEVI 45.3

As the Northern army met these reverses, national fast-days were appointed, and all Christians were to plead with the Lord to manifest his power in bringing the war to a close. In a vision given to Sister White, Jan. 4, 1862, speaking of these fasts, she said, “And yet a national fast is proclaimed! Saith the Lord, ‘Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? When our nation observes the fast which God has chosen, then will he accept their prayers as far as the war is concerned; but now they enter not into his ear.” HEVI 45.4

Five months after this vision, the politicians of the North began to call for desperate measures. In June, 1862, the Republican Standard of New Bedford, Mass, said: “It is time to put into vigorous exercise that severity which is the truest mercy; it is time to proclaim freedom to the slave, and thus strike treason to the heart.” HEVI 45.5

On Jan. 1, 1863, President Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation. Of it Governor St. John, in the speech previously mentioned, said: “But after Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation, we had swung round on God’s side, and could not lose.” From that time it was a course of almost continuous success that attended the Northern army. HEVI 45.6

Of these predictions through Sister White concerning the war, we can truly say, “All this came;” and can we not, with firmer faith than exhibited by the queen of Babylon, truly say that it was the Spirit of God that taught these things? The Review and Herald, November 14, 1899 HEVI 45.7