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The Importance of Prophecy By Sir Isaac Newton
Editor’s note: Sir Isaac Newton’s book, “signs of the times” (Matt. 16:3) that you
Principia (1687), is recognized as the may know how to watch, and are able to
greatest scientific book ever written. In it, discern what times are coming on the earth
Newton analyzed gravity and the motion by these things that come to pass. If you
of bodies, demonstrating that the planets watch, you may know when it is at the door;
were attracted toward the Sun by a force just as a man knows by the leaves of a fig
of gravity, and suggested that all heavenly tree that summer is near.
bodies mutually attract one another. But, if through ignorance of the signs you
His greatest achievement was his work say in your heart,
in physics and celestial mechanics, which “My Lord delayeth his coming;
culminated in the theory of universal gravi- “And shall begin to smite his fellowser-
tation. He was the father of the mathemati- vants, and to eat and drink with the
cal discipline called, Calculus. drunken;
In 1703 he was elected president of the “The Lord of that servant shall come in
Royal Society and was re-elected each year a day when he looketh not for him, and in
until his death. He was knighted in 1705 an hour that he is not aware of,
by Queen Anne, the first scientist to be so “And shall cut him asunder, and appoint
honoured for his work. him his portion with the hypocrites: there
Sir Isaac Newton was also a theologian shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth”
and an avid student of prophecy. Even in his (Matt. 24:48-51).
day, he looked for the return of Christ. be dangerously seduced and not know it. If you do not watch, how can you escape
The following is an article by Sir Isaac Antichrist is to seduce the whole world more than other men?
Newton, on the importance of studying and, therefore, he may easily seduce you, “For as a snare shall it come on all them
prophecy. Its grammar is updated somewhat if you are not well prepared to discern him. that dwell on the face of the whole earth”
for clarity in modern English. However, even if he has not yet come into (Luke 21:35).
________ the world; living amidst so many religions, Consider that the same prophets, who
If the prophecies that concerned the Ap- of which there can be but one true (and foretold our Savior’s First Coming, also
ostolic Age were given for the conversion perhaps none of those that you are ac- foretold His Second Coming. And, if it
of the people of that age to the truth, and quainted with), it is possible that you may was the main and indispensable duty of the
for the establishment of their faith; and, if be deceived; and, therefore, it concerns you people, before the First Coming of Christ,
it was their duty to search diligently into to be very circumspect. to have searched into and understood those
those prophecies; why should we not think Consider how our Savior taught the Jews prophecies beforehand; why should it not
that the prophecies, which concern the latter with parables: “By hearing ye shall hear, be as much the duty of the Church, before
times, that we might be able to discern the and shall not understand; and seeing ye His Second Coming, to understand the same
truth; and be established in the faith? Con- shall see, and shall not perceive” (Matt. prophecies beforehand (so far as they are
sequently, it is also our duty to search with 13:14). As these parables were spoken to yet to be fulfilled)? Or how do you know
all diligence into these prophecies. try the Jews, even so, the mystical Scrip- that the Christian church (if they continue to
If God was so angry with the Jews for tures were written to try us. Therefore, be neglect) shall not be punished, even in this
not searching more diligently into the aware; so that you are not found wanting world, as severely as were the Jews? Yea,
prophecies, which He had given them to in this trial. For if you are, the obscurity of will not the Jews rise up in judgment against
know Christ by; why should we think He these Scriptures will not excuse you; as the us? For they had some regard to these
will excuse us for not searching into the obscurity of our Savior’s parables did not prophecies, insomuch as to be in general
prophecies, which He has given us to know excuse the Jews. Consider also the instruc- expectation of our Savior about that time
Antichrist by? Certainly, it must be as dan- tions of our Savior concerning the “latter when He came; only they were not aware
gerous, and as easy an error, for Christians times” by the parable of the fig tree: of the manner of His two comings. They
to adhere to Antichrist, as it was for the Jews “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; understood the description of His Second
to reject Christ. Therefore, it is as much our When his branch is yet tender, and putteth Coming, and only were mistaken in apply-
duty to endeavor to be able to know him that forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: ing that to the time of His First Coming.
we may avoid him, as it was theirs to know “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all Consider, therefore, if the description
Christ that they might follow Him. these things, know that it is near, even at of His Second Coming was so much more
You see, therefore, that this is no idle the doors” plain and conspicuous than that of the first;
speculation, no matter of indifference, but a “Watch therefore: for ye know not so that the Jews (who could not so much as
duty of the greatest importance. Wherefore, what hour your Lord doth come” (Matt. perceive anything of the first) could yet un-
it concerns you to look about narrowly, 24:32,33,42). derstand the second, how shall we escape,
lest you should, in so degenerate an age, Wherefore, it is your duty to learn the who understand nothing of the second,
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but have turned the whole description of of the church they live in — as is plain, trust it not; nor value their censures and
it into allegories? And, if the Jews were because all parties keep close to the religion contempt. But rather, consider that it is the
so severely punished for not understand- they have been brought up in. And yet, in wisdom of God that His church should ap-
ing the more difficult prophecy, what can all parties, there are the wise and learned, pear despicable to the world, to try the faith-
we plead, who know nothing of the more as well as the fools and ignorant. There ful. For this end, He made it a curse under
conspicuous? are but few that seek to understand the Law to hang upon a tree; that the scandal of
We have this advantage above them religion they profess. And those that study the Cross might be a trial to the Jews; and
— that the first, which is a key to the for understanding, therein; do it rather for for the like trial of the Christians, He has
second (and was hidden from them), is worldly ends, or that they may defend it; allowed the apostasy of the latter times, by
made manifest to us; and that we have the rather than to examine whither it be true, calling it: “the hour of temptation, which
second, also much further explained in the with a resolution to chose and profess that should come upon all the world to try them
New Testament. Again, consider how the religion, which, in their judgment, appears that dwell upon the earth” (Rev. 3:10). Be
Apostles instructed the churches of the the truest. not, therefore, scandalized at the reproaches
first age in the knowledge of these “latter As is their faith, so is their practice; for of the world; but rather look upon them as
times” (I Tim. 4:1). And, if it was the duty where are the men that do not yield to anger; a mark of the true church.
of those Christians to understand them, nor seek revenge; nor disobey governors; And when you are convinced, be not
which were not to live in them, shall we nor censure and speak evil of them; nor ashamed to profess the truth; for, otherwise,
think that the knowledge, thereof, is of no cheat; nor lie; nor swear; nor use God’s you may become a stumbling block to oth-
concern to us? name idly in their common talk; nor are ers, and inherit the lot of those “rulers of
Consider also, the design of the Apoca- proud; nor ambitious; nor covetous; nor un- the Jews” who believed in Christ, but yet,
lypse. Was it not given for the use of the chaste; nor drink immoderately? Where are were afraid to confess Him lest they should
church, to guide and direct her in the right they that live like the primitive Christians be put out of the synagogue.
way? And, is not this the end of all prophetic — that love God with all their hearts, and Wherefore, when you are convinced,
Scripture? If there was no need of it, or if with all their souls, and with all their might, be not ashamed of the truth, but profess
it cannot be understood, then why did God and their neighbor as themselves? it openly; and endeavor to convince your
give it? Does He trifle? But, if it was neces- The godly are not led by fashions and brother, also, that you may inherit, at the
sary for the church, then why do you neglect principles of gentility, but rather, by re- resurrection, the promise made in Daniel
it? Or, how do you know that you are in the ligion. And where fashions disagree, the 12:3, that “they that turn many to righ-
right way, and yet do not understand it? godly do not account it rudeness to depart teousness [shall shine] as the stars for ever
Lastly, consider the blessing, which is from fashions. I fear there are but very few and ever.” And rejoice if you are counted
promised to them that read and study and whose righteousness exceeds the righteous- worthy to suffer in your reputation, or any
keep the things, which are written in this ness of the Scribes and Pharisees. other way for the sake of the Gospel, for
prophecy: This is the guise of the world. Therefore, then, “great is thy reward!” u
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that
hear the words of this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written therein: for
the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3).
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To reinforce the invitation to take these
things into consideration, the same bless- Prophecy in the News
ing is repeated in Revelation 22:7. Does ... on LBN television network
God ever annex His blessings to trifles, or
things of indifference? Wherefore, be not
wise in your own conceit; but, as you desire Sky Angel Satellite
to inherit this blessing, consider and search Channel 9716
into these Scriptures, which God has given Sunday Afternoons
to be a guide in these latter times; and be not 4:00 P.M. Eastern
discouraged by the gainsaying, which these
3:00 P.M. Central
things will meet with in the world.
They will call you a bigot, a fanatic, a
heretic; and tell you of the uncertainty of
these interpretations, and the vanity of at-
tending to them; not considering that the
prophecies concerning our Savior’s First
Coming were of more difficult interpreta-
tion; and yet, God rejected the Jews for not
attending better to them. And whither they
will believe it or not, there are greater judg-
ments that hang over the Christians for their
Watch Prophecy in the News anytime on
remissness, than ever the Jews felt.
But the world loves to be deceived. They
will not understand. They never consider
equally, but are wholly led by prejudice,
interest, the praise of men, and authority
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