Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-02-15

| lhol tney were not mistaken. Inc *
pected change came and suddenly q
new dispeusation was ushefed in.
The error Of that generation l. plain.
II wac not that they neglected 70
study; for the Law and the Prophets
we're read IN tho synagoguss every
sabbath. Nor dli they disbelieve the
sofipiufes with the exception OF the
Sad iucees they regarded their sacred
books with the utmost reverence. Nor
were they as general RUE dishonest
In their religious exercises. But
In adhering to traditions not founded
In the eternal Word, they were misied.
As time relied on they became unable
to see, or to Understand, the Scriptures
In their fuluess. Gathering the pro-
pheiic rays that illuminated their
horizon, they grasped only part.
They dwelt on the kingshlp Of their
expected Messiah; they realized that
He was TO achieve victories ant rule
IN fesplendent glory with His enemies
'ubdued, but Tor Hls humiliation, His
sunerlngs, and death, ami for the
struggle Of ages that was to Intervene
between His advent 40 the sacrifice
aud His Appearance Ne the Lord Of
lords and the King Of kings, there was
no room 10 their thought. The latter
was NJ clearly ioreshadowed
~ the former but with revela-
tion withdraw they failed to
comprehend tile full truth. Yet,
AZ stated, the great feet remained i'm.
pressed on their minds that the Mes.
sianio era wss dawning, aud ia this
they were correct. Similarly, the
preseht expectation Of speedy change
In the affairs Of the word may be
fully Justified, though to the present
generation the moving causes may be
NJ hidden and incomprehensibl a.
they were to tho oolomporaries Of
Jesus OF Nazareth aud His followers,
who failed " see Ia them the standard
bearers Of the new dispensaiion.
How far II may be OF Importance to
a practical follower Of the Son OF God |
TO look Into tho future by the aid OF
reason, or Of prophetic writings, or
new revelations, 10 an Interesting
question. There arc those who
regard all attempts to penetrate
tho veil Ne useless; others dwell
No much In tho atmosphere
VI apocalypiio mlslS that they neglect
The duties OF everyday life. Both are
wrong. Tho present with Ia duties
and circumstances IL what first con.
cetnaa practical believer. 10 a sailor
steering for q distant shore the details
oi his voyage day BY day aro what
chiefly occupies his thoughts. These
he dare not neglect, lest n mistake
lhould prove disastrous. Attention 10
he winds, tho currents, the proper
'ouTso every hour IL what insufes n safe
Quincy. Yet no must possess soma
pre.knowledge Of tho future. since IL
would be impossible Tor him TO regu-
ate his oourso without n general idea
II that which Is before him until the
larboT 10 reached. Man on llir's
'cean 10 very much In the
anne position. His Hnt con.
,crn IL TO discharge his duties day by
lay, thereby regulating his course &c.
'ording 70 the destination Of his Jour.
ley, hut In doing - he will, like the
'ailor, consult tho charts that give him
Iom' knowledge OF what tho future
probably will bring.
The IA the very object OF prophecy.
'wo have also n more suTo word Of
prophecy" says one Of the ancient
A postles, "whereunto ys do well thai
20 take heed, As unto light that shin
iih In a dark place, until the day
lawn, and the dayslRt arise In your
iearls.n
One Of the most wonderful preIio.
ions given In ancient limes Il that 70.
corded In the last two chapters OF
Daniel. II 10 remarkable beosuse Il
loes not consist Of unintelllgible SYN.
'olioAl language, but 10. as II were, 40
distract Of heavenly record,
he Scripture Of rruta, which was
cad TO tho Prophet by q heavenly mes.
engeL II partakes Therefore OF tho
nature OF a history, written before.
'andi but II Is so plain that lnhIels
AVE denied that II was written at the
Inns OF Daniel. II concerns the an.
lent covenant people chiefly and
ouches their history "ln the latter
ays." II was further sealed up until |
he time OF the end with the promise
hat finally it. meaning should be.
ONE perfectly clear. And IL is re.
iArkable, because II shows how the H
vents Of the visible worldare connect. i
4 with those OF tho invisible one. Il
This wonderful vision commences II
lth the Persian empire, noticing H
.otIes anj his famous march upon II
retce. This II In the Fad verse Of III
napier IL. In the sfi verse the III
80 OF the GreolRn empire Is y
'seribed, followed by IL d.
sion In four smaller Kingdoms.
these the northern kingdom,
'ria, ami southern, Egypt, are par.
nularly noticed because OF their In.
nenee on tho history Of tue jews.