s have inquired and searched diligently, who
prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching _what_, or
_what manner of time_ the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify,
when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that
should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto _themselves_, but
unto _us_ they did minister."(573)

Yet while it was not given to the prophets to understand fully the things
revealed to them, they earnestly sought to obtain all the light which God
had been pleased to make manifest. They "inquired and searched
diligently," "searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ
which was in them did signify." What a lesson to the people of God in the
Christian age, for whose benefit these prophecies were given to His
servants! "Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves, but unto us
they did minister." Witness those holy men of God as they "inquired and
searched diligently" concerning revelations given them for generations
that were yet unborn. Contrast their holy zeal with the listless unconcern
with which the favored ones of later ages treat this gift of heaven. What
a rebuke to the ease-loving, world-loving indifference which is content to
declare that the prophecies cannot be understood.

Though the finite minds of men are inadequate to enter into the counsels
of the Infinite One, or to understand fully the working out of His
purposes, yet often it is because of some error or neglect on their own
part, that they so dimly comprehend the messages of Heaven. Not
infrequently the minds of the people, and even of God's servants, are so
blinded by human opinions, the traditions and false teaching of men, that
they are able only partially to grasp the great things which He has
revealed in His word. Thus it was with the disciples of Christ, even when
the Saviour was with them in person. Their minds had become imbued with
the popular conception of the Messiah as a temporal prince, who was to
exalt Israel to the throne of universal empire, and they could not
understand the meaning of His words foretelling His sufferings and death.

Christ Himself had sent them forth with the message, "The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the
gospel."(574) That message was based on the prophecy of Daniel 9. The
sixty-nine weeks were declared by the angel to extend to "the Messiah the
Prince," and with high hopes and j