Prophecy WILLIAM B. HARRISON          The word "prophecy" comes from two Greek words meaning "to speak," and "for" or "before." A prophet was one who spoke for God before the people, "before" relating not to time merely, but also to position. Among the Israelites a prophet was one chosen to be their spiritual leader, because of his ability to teach them spiritual truth. He also foretold future happenings; but this faculty was only one expression of his purity of thought. Ability to foretell events was not the ground on which alone his leadership was based. He possessed such power because of his sincere consecration to God's service, and because of his acquisition — through long study and application of spiritual law — of sufficient understanding to enable him to foretell events.          A prophet was a seer; that is, one who sees spiritually. He saw the past, present, and future from a spiritual standpoint. Discerning clearly the law of divine justice, he knew that so long as an individual or a nation sinned, that individual or nation must suffer. With equal clearness he saw that when the belief in sin had been destroyed, that individual or nation would return to the highway of holiness, and reap the reward of righteousness. Nothing mystical entered into the wise utterances of the prophets which have made their names revered throughout the ages. They, however, expressed divine Mind more clearly than their contemporaries; and by their devotion to Truth they earned immortality.          It was after spiritual understanding had to a great extent disappeared from modern religion that the word "prophet" became narrowed to mean only the person who foretold events. Unconsciously, this narrower interpretation gave definite proof of the waning spirituality of religion, and of the prevalent lack of inspiration. It is as impossible for the so-called mind that does not comprehend spiritual law to understand how prophecy takes place, as it is inevitable that one who does understand divine law shall become a prophet. It has been many times evidenced in Christian Science practice, and is clearly taught in the Scriptures, that the ability to foretell events, or to become cognizant of affairs distant or near, without material assistance and in spite of the absence of the usual channels of information, accompanies the growth of spiritual understanding. We read in Deuteronomy, "And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do." Was not Moses' position as a prophet based largely on the healing miracles he performed, and the miraculous protection of his people that resulted from his spiritual leadership?          Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream is an illuminating example of the ability of spiritual-mindedness to foresee and foretell events; so, likewise, Daniel's remarkable reading of the writing on the wall at the feast of Belshazzar. Both of these acts were testimonies to the power possessed by those devout servants of God to pierce the veil of materiality with the penetrating rays of spiritual discernment. "Despise not prophesyings," says Paul in his first epistle to the Thessalonians. Is not this a warning to those who do not see the relation between prophesying and practical Christianity? In II Peter we read, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."          That Deity is not partial in bestowing the gift of prophecy is shown in the experience of Cornelius, related in the tenth chapter of Acts. Although he seems to have known nothing about it before, his spirituality was rewarded by a vision that resulted in bringing the truth of the Christian religion to him in authentic and convincing manner. We also note in the life of Samuel that age had nothing to do with this extraordinary prophetic power, which was exercised in this instance by a child. Samuel's prophecies, before he grew to manhood, were so accurately fulfilled that the people came to place absolute faith in their young leader.          Jesus' astonishing, yet remarkably accurate, prophecy regarding Jerusalem was the expression of his perfect spiritual understanding. So, too, his statement in regard to the immortality of his words indicated how fully he comprehended the eternal nature of Truth. Not one of Jesus' prophecies, as recorded in the gospels, has been proved ill-founded by the intervening centuries. Even his statement to the little gathering at Simon's house, that the gracious act of the woman would be told wherever the gospel is preached, has been fulfilled literally. So absolutely was Jesus controlled by the divine Mind that it was impossible for him to err in comprehending the present or foretelling the future.          And why should not prophesying be an essential element of the Christian religion? Christian Scientists understand that there is but one Mind, and this Mind is everywhere; in other words, that the only fact of existence is ever present and everywhere present spiritual being. If they comprehend this clearly enough, no thought of material time or space can prevent them from knowing that which is. In I Corinthians Paul speaks of the performing of miracles and the spirit of prophecy as spiritual gifts. Evidently, Paul understood both to be the natural accomplishments of higher spiritual understanding.          On page 593 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy defines a prophet as, "A spiritual seer; disappearance of material sense before the conscious facts of spiritual Truth." And on page 84 of the same work she says: "When sufficiently advanced in Science to be in harmony with the truth of being, men become seers and prophets involuntarily, controlled not by demons, spirits, or demigods, but by the one Spirit. It is the prerogative of the ever-present, divine Mind, and of thought which is in rapport with this Mind, to know the past, the present, and the future."          Mrs. Eddy penned many remarkable prophecies that have already been fulfilled; others are being proved true as time goes on; and all will eventually be seen to have been the expression of Truth to this age. Prophecy, which is in accordance with the teachings of Christian Science, is an accomplishment which goes hand in hand with the healing of the sick. Both are evidences of spiritual growth. Now that healing the sick by Christian Science has become generally recognized as an established and indisputable fact, the time need not be far distant when the advancing students of this Science will demonstrate more generally the power of spiritual understanding to reveal the past, perceive the present, and foretell the future, whenever and wherever such knowledge is necessary in accomplishing good for mankind.   "Prophecy" by William B. Harrison Christian Science Sentinel, July 15, 1922

 

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