There are many seemingly obscure prophetic passages of scripture for which we have no specific understanding of the moment of time to which they may be referring. The unfolding of history is a very complex occurrence, with every event orchestrated by the hand of an Eternal and Sovereign GOD who does all things according to the good pleasure of HIS will. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
(Isa 46:9-11) Of this we can be certain even though we may be puzzled as to how or when these things may yet occur or have already occurred in the Earth or even what that purpose may be at that time.
Yet we can be sure that all prophecies ultimately have their fulfillment in the declaration of the LORD JESUS CHRIST as the KING of Kings and the REDEEMER of sinners. “Worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Rev 19:10) “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. ------For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:36,39)
So, while we cannot delineate or decipher every detail of many of these prophecies, we can always make an application of them, at least in principle, to the manifestation of the coming of CHRIST and HIS purpose to obtain eternal redemption for HIS people even as the Angel testified to Joseph, “thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Mat 1:21)
We read that in the beginning, “darkness was upon the face of the deep”. Then we read that the LORD said, “Let there be light: and there was light.” (Gen 1:3) We go on to read that “God divided the light from the darkness.” (Gen 1:4) calling it good. Some have surmised that darkness is the absence of GOD, and it is no doubt true that to be without HIM is indeed to be “in darkness”. But let us never forget that all things come from HIS hand according to HIS purpose. “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isa 45:7)
So, we can be certain that darkness cannot exist apart from HIS purpose whether we can fathom the intricacies of such knowledge or not. “Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” (Psa 139:12) “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” (Psa 139:6) “If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.” (Psa 139:11)
One of the principles of darkness and light which we learn from the scriptures is that the darkness precedes the LIGHT, but the LIGHT dispels the darkness. As we look at the first day in the creation of the Earth, we find this to be true. For in the beginning darkness covered the Earth and the LIGHT was brought forth according to the decree of GOD. We see it as the first day was defined by the LORD, noticing the order in which it was described, “And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” (Gen 1:5) This is no “happenstance” but depicts the purpose of GOD as HE sets this order, with evening coming before the morning.
Throughout the scriptures we read of the coming of a LIGHT which would dispel the darkness into which Adam and his posterity were plunged by sin. The promise of this LIGHT was not to be some gradual lessening of this darkness but a sudden and glorious burst of the most magnificent illumination which would be brought as the deliverance of those who sat in darkness. Matthew describes the coming of CHRIST and the beginning of HIS ministry in this fashion, “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” (Mat 4:16) This is the fulfillment of that which Isaiah prophesied, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” (Isa 60:1-3)
The exact manner in which the LORD would bring this to pass was hidden in a mystery from the foundation of the world (see I Cor.2:7; Col.1:26-27) but is now clearly manifested in the advent of CHRIST and the unfolding of HIS work of REDEMPTION and priestly intercession for those HE came to save. This is a work which is in no wise hidden from men except for those who are left in their natural darkness according to the purpose of GOD. Even as the LORD JESUS declared, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.” (Luke 10:21)
Zechariah, though he was a great prophet, yet had no clear understanding of these words which he wrote, which we now can plainly see (by the grace of GOD) to be speaking of CHRIST “whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Mic 5:2) “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” (Zec 14:6-9)
We are not awaiting a time in the future when this TRUTH shall be made manifest, but by the grace of GOD, we see that this has come to pass and we are given the privilege to declare it from the rooftops and in the byways of the world. The KING is come. Our GOD reigneth in the Earth as well as the Heavens. HE who is the LIGHT of the world has come, to dispel the darkness, to enlighten those whose sin has reached unto Heaven, that they might call upon HIS NAME, and be saved. Oh, who is like unto this KING who rides in majesty, going forth to conquer, with HIS army clothed in linen clean and white? Can you see HIM now returning from the slaughter of HIS enemies who would dare to speak against those who belong to HIM? HE “that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” (Isa 63:1)
1 All hail the power of Jesus’ name, Let angels prostrate fall,
Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown him Lord of all.
2 Ye souls redeemed of Gentile race, Ye ransomed from the fall;
Hail him who saves you by his grace, And crown him Lord of all.
3 Let every kindred, every tribe, Throughout this earthly ball,
To him all majesty ascribe, And crown him Lord of all.
4 We too, amid the sacred throng, Low at his feet would fall,
Join in the everlasting song, And crown him Lord of all. (by Edward Perronet, #730, Gadsby’s Hymns)
And so, we rejoice in the watchman’s observation that though the darkness has covered the land, even the same darkness that fell upon Egypt by Moses’ decree, “darkness which may be felt”, a darkness which was interminably long, yet the MORNING has come.“Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79) “Unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” (Mal 4:2) “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.” (Rev 22:16) Do you rejoice in the LIGHT of HIS rising?
mam