Bible Training School
December 1, 1912
The Prophetic Word
The strength of nations and of individuals is not found in the opportunities and facilities that appear to make them invincible; it is not found in their boasted greatness. That which alone can make them great or strong is the power and purpose of God. They themselves, by their attitude toward His purpose, decide their own destiny. BTS December 1, 1912, par. 1
Human historians relate man's achievements, his victories in battles, his success in climbing to worldly greatness. God's history describes man as heaven views him. In the divine records all his merit is seen to consist in his obedience to God's requirements. His disobedience is faithfully chronicled as meriting the punishment he will surely receive. In the light of eternity it will be seen that God deals with men in accordance with the momentous question of obedience or disobedience. BTS December 1, 1912, par. 2
Hundreds of years before a people had come upon the stage of action, the prophetic pen, under the dictation of the Holy Spirit, had traced its history. The prophet Daniel described the kingdoms that would rise and fall. Interpreting to the king of Babylon the dream of the great image, he declared to Nebuchadnezzar that his kingdom would be superseded. His greatness and power in God's world would have its day, and a second kingdom should arise, which also should have its period of test, and trial, as to whether the people would exalt the one ruler, the only true God. Not doing this, their glory would fade away, and a third kingdom would occupy their place. Proved by obedience or disobedience, this also would pass away; and a fourth, strong as iron, was to subdue the nations of the world. This word, opened by the infinite God to finite man, recorded on the prophetic page and traced on the pages of history, declares that God is the ruling power. He changes the times and the seasons, He removeth kings and setteth up kings, to fulfill His own purpose. BTS December 1, 1912, par. 3
Under Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon was the richest and most powerful kingdom on the earth. Its riches and splendor have been faintly portrayed by inspiration. But in God's appointed time, that kingdom of pride and power, ruled by men of the highest intellect, was broken, shattered, helpless. Christ has declared, “Without Me, ye can do nothing.” Illustrious statesmen did not regard themselves as being dependent upon God. They thought that they themselves had created all their grandeur and exaltation. But when God speaks, they are as the grass that groweth up, and as the flower of the grass that fadeth away. The word and will of God alone liveth and endureth forever. BTS December 1, 1912, par. 4
The voice of God, heard in ages past, is sounding down along the line from century to century through generations that have come on the stage of action and passed away. Shall God speak, and His voice not be respected? What power mapped out all this history, that nations, one after another, should fill in their predicted time and place, unconsciously witnessing to the truth of which they themselves know not the meaning? BTS December 1, 1912, par. 5
History and prophecy testify that the God of the whole earth revealeth secrets through His chosen light-bearers to the world. A skeptical world, talking and writing of higher education, is prating of things which it does not understand. It does not see that true, higher education comprehends a more perfect knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, whom He has sent. There are few who understand that all true human science is from the God of science, and that God demonstrates to the world that He is King over all. BTS December 1, 1912, par. 6