Ship of the West
Leonardo da’ Vinci once said: “A bird is an instrument working according to a mathematical law. It lies within the power of man to make this instrument.”
A statement like this would have been extremely rare to make five hundred years ago because of the prevailing religious world’s fear of discovery. Imagine if a man were to walk into a typical European village during the period of the Middle Ages saying, “Good fellows, today I am going to build a flying machine and soar like a bird into the next town”. I am certain that the townspeople would fear for his sanity and also for his soul! In fact, there would be a good chance that he could be jailed or even burned at the stake for making such a statement like that in those days.
Though society once resisted the notion of human flight, some saw some hope in its possibility. Visionaries assembled crude materials and courageously pointed their contraptions into the sky. Skeptics also stood by to confirm their unbelief as they watched these dreamers try and fail. Yet the dreamers persisted until one day, a machine did in fact carry a human being skyward while those of the unbelieving world were forced to take notice.
Today, if I were to publicly declare my intention to fly thousands of miles from my home, no one would be at all surprised. Our world wholeheartedly accepts the science of aeronautics. Governments have now found it essential to award vast amounts of money for scientists to research natures great secrets rather than burning them at the stake. With all the wonders of our age, there is still one science man has yet to fully embrace; the scientific knowledge locked within the Bible prophecies. The wise men of this earth must learn to expose the forces behind Bible prophecy.
Science defined is this: Observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena. There is a great need today for prophetic scientists who, in the fear of God, venture forward in a logical manner, remaining unafraid to experiment with the many objects and symbols contained within the prophetic writings of the Holy Bible. A prophetic scientist must not fear to make theoretical projections based upon his or her observation. Theories must be developed and tested in order for breakthroughs in our understanding to occur.
Prophetic science will by one of the last mysteries on this earth to be fully explored by man. True explorers in this field must broaden their minds by examining new ideas and concepts. Traditional theories must be re-examined; certain elements may need to be refined while some ideas will need to be wholly discarded. Traditional thinking must not be allowed to impede our way if we desire to soar to new heights and break through the barriers of conventional understanding. Those who allow prejudice and tradition to hold them back shall watch as their peers advance far ahead of them.
And what are these investigators hoping to accomplish through their efforts? The best measurement of a scientist’s success can be seen by his ability to make complex problems simply understood and difficult actions easily accomplished. Common men and women of the world may not be able to understand the laws of flight, they may not be able to name the thousands of components that compose a jetliner, but they can step on to an aircraft and fly anywhere they desire. Simplification is the work of a scientist. Prophetic science is not as some suppose; the exclusive investigation of prophetic events fulfilled long ago. If we were to promote the study of prophecy in this manner, it would become a dead science!
Prophecy in its true form is event forecasting. Like modern weathermen who spend their lives pursuing the outcome of the ever changing cloud masses, so the prophetic scientist must be watchful, and most of all, willing to publish his report to be scrutinized before the world. The forces behind prophecy are as unconquerable as the wind, yet It lies within the power of man to co-operate with its laws. Through the accurate identification of the symbols contained within the prophetic writings, by the careful extraction of its past biblical fulfillment, it is possible to forecast an accurate event sequence for the world to follow in preparation for the day of Judgment. And it is God’s desire for man to pursue this knowledge! “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).
Blessed shall be that nation who takes heed to the Spirit of Prophecy! “The Lord will set you...high above all the nations on earth” (Deuteronomy 28:1). “I will make your name great...and all peoples on earth shall be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1-3). Unfortunately, only one nation has ever reaped the sustained blessing promised through the guiding force of prophetic science. And surprisingly, it was not the people of Israel!
3600 years ago, when Heaven saw that a famine that was about to descend upon the promised land. God selected one who could enlighten Israel and place the nation into that high position over the earth that God had promised. But when Heaven’s spokesman humbly presented his calling before his family, he was met with stubborn unbelief. The scripture says that “Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren: and they hated him” (Genesis 37:5). Even Joseph’s father hesitated to acknowledge belief in his revelation. His ten brothers became so enraged that they secretly conspired to dispose of him. What a pity that Israel traded away the prosperity of their nation for the price of a lowly slave!
But in Egypt, their was one who would gladly accept the wisdom of Joseph. Consequently, the blessing intended for the uplifting of Israel was passed on to the Pharaoh. Jesus taught that “He that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward” (Matthew 10:41). News spread throughout the region regarding the sudden appearance of a mysterious young man who was able to accurately interpret dreams! The world watched as Egypt began to prepare for a great time of trouble. Again Israel had opportunity to take heed to to the “spirit of prophecy” and retain their foothold in the land of Canaan.. Yet stubborn pride and resistance hindered them. Why should they follow the advice of a heathen mystic (Joseph in disguise) when God had promised great favor to the nation of Israel?
Unbelief and skepticism is a poor shield to use against the forecast of a prophet. The famine came exactly as Joseph predicted and steadily deflated the fragile economies of all the surrounding nations. Egypt now stood alone as master over all the earth!
Without even going to war, Pharaoh had peacefully conquered the region through his co-operation with forces of prophetic science! Had Joseph’s family accepted the prophetic gift, the negative outcome seen in Israel’s history would have been reversed. “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet...from among your own brothers. You must listen to him...If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account” (Deuteronomy 18:15-19). Though the God of Israel predicted it, He never desired a conflict between Moses and Egypt’s Pharaoh. He designed that Israel would become the crown of the nations peacefully by simply exercising trust in the foresight of God’s chosen messengers. “Believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (Chronicles 20:20).
