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The Fulfilment of Prophecy MATTIE BIRD CLARKE
It was two thousand years from Adam, at a time when mankind had sunk to a low ebb spiritually, having lost sight of the true idea of God and having abandoned themselves to the worship of idols, — gods that are "no gods," — that Abraham, having been spiritually awakened, turned from worshiping the idols of the Chaldees to the one God, who led him out of the land of his fathers into Canaan, which He gave unto him and his seed. Here Abraham set up the standard of Truth as he perceived it, and it became incorporated into the lives of his descendants for many generations. During the two thousand years that followed there were many prophecies concerning a more perfect revelation, which were fulfilled in the life and teachings of our blessed Master, whom the world rejected, but whose teachings still live among us, — a mighty spiritual force. It took the world all these years to get ready for this wonderful revelation, this marvelous impersonation of Truth, which was brought forth by the virgin purity of Mary's exalted spirituality, and many did not then receive him: even those who did receive him could not understand his higher teachings, as he himself declared. So it came to pass that two thousand years more had to elapse before the world could truly perceive the purpose of his divine mission, and understand those higher things of which Christ Jesus spoke. These are now fully revealed to mankind through "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, which interprets Jesus' words and works, and reveals "the Comforter" that he said would testify of him and lead into all truth. This inspired book is now in its three hundred and eightieth edition of one thousand copies each, and is spreading the truth over the world so rapidly that it is not impossible that even before A.D. 2000 the prophecy in Habakkuk may be fulfilled: "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." That a perfect understanding of Truth was to be attained at some future time was taught by both Jesus and his apostles, and the prophets before them. A covenant had been made with Israel, but because of their disobedience and the materiality of their beliefs and practices, they were not able to obtain its blessings. In Hebrews we read, "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second . . . For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will he to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: and they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest." This is repeated from an ancient prophecy, but is used as an argument for the coming in of that glorious day depicted in the following prophecies: "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." "And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." "And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity." Later the beloved disciple wrote, "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there he any more pain: for the former things are passed away." It is surely evident that if the above prophecies have not been fulfilled, the teachings of Christ Jesus have not been universally adhered to, as entire obedience to them would inevitably bring about such an ideal state. Did he not rebuke self-seeking, ambition, pride, the love of gain; and teach man to love God supremely, and his neighbor as himself? Did he not teach that truth is triumphant over all error, that it calms the storm, heals the sick, destroys sin, and even raises the dead? And did he not command his followers to do all these things, and to teach all nations to do them? If every one who calls himself a Christian were living up to his profession, and doing the works that Jesus commanded, would not the millennium be speedily ushered in? The Christian Scientist knows it is being ushered in, and that very rapidly. The teachings of Jesus are beginning to be understood and are becoming clearer each day to those who study the Bible through the lens of Christian Science which magnifies the beauty, harmony, and power of the Word, and unveils the "mysteries of the kingdom," "kept secret since the world began." That the sick are being healed, the sinner reformed, fear and unrest destroyed by this revelation of Truth, is a well-known fact. When we contemplate the great amount of work which Christian Science has already done in purifying the lives of thousands of people, and in healing them of sorrow and pain, when we think of the rapidity with which Science and Health is being acknowledged as the true interpreter of the Bible, it seems almost miraculous. The momentum with which this truth will sweep down the coming centuries is inconceivable. Just before coming into Christian Science, the writer was greatly stirred up over the "second coming of Christ;" had read a book and heard numerous sermons on that subject, and was convinced that the advent was near at hand; but somehow this reflection did not afford any great degree of satisfaction; on the contrary, there was fear of not being ready: but being healed by Christian Science, after having employed material methods for long years without permanent benefit therefrom, almost the first thought that presented itself was, — This is the "second coming of Christ." The Messiah did not come at first in the way he was expected, and it is not strange if people should now have a wrong conception of the re-appearing of the Christ. From that moment I was convinced that Christian Science is the truth. Jesus said, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth." He also said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Again he said, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." This Comforter, — the Holy Ghost, or Spirit of truth, — the ever-present, impersonal Christ, comes in Christian Science, revealing to mortals a true knowledge of God, and of man as the true image, immortal, spiritual, perfect, reflecting divine power and goodness, and teaching them how to resist the devil so that he shall flee; transforming the body by the "renewing" of the mind; giving them power (through spiritual understanding) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and to realize the promise that "nothing shall by any means hurt you." When this "good-spell" shall have spread over the whole earth, filling it with spiritual understanding and joy supreme, wiping out every manifestation of envy and hate, of pain and death, then shall Love reign in the hearts of men and rule the world; then shall the nations learn war no more. Among the prophecies in Revelation which have special reference to Christian Science, that concerning the "little book" is very significant. Its meaning is made clear by our Leader in the chapter of Science and Health called "The Apocalypse." To the Christian Scientist this revelation is crowned with the glorious promise of salvation. It is a message from God, illuminating mortal consciousness as the sun illumines the earth; consuming all error as fire consumes stubble. The revelation of Truth to this age clears up all mystery, as was promised where John says, "In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." Can any one doubt that Christian Science is the Comforter, revealed through the spiritual illumination and travail of woman; denying reality in aught but Spirit, God, and His reflection in spiritual ideas? And shall not this truth rule the nations with a rod of iron? Truth makes no concessions to error, but smites it and destroys it, thereby revealing divine Love and the ever-present Christ. All who shall be gathered into the fold become witnesses to the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah, "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, . . . and he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim." If there were no prophecies concerning Christian Science, its works alone would prove its divine authority and mission. When John sent to Jesus to know if he were the Christ, the great Master did not point to the prophecies but bade the messengers tell John of the works he was doing, thus showing conclusively that he considered them sufficient proof of his Messiahship. In speaking of his followers he said, "By their fruits ye shall know them;" and it is by their fruits that Christian Scientists desire to be judged . . .
The Christian Science Journal, February, 1906 |
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