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hidden from the wise and prudent. Know when we encounter the
symbolic language of prophecy, still WE are not to interpret it.
Always the Scripture interprets its OWN symbols.
But denominations necessarily are bound to their
particular traditional creeds or doctrines. They are not free to
confess error in their teaching, or admit a new revelation of truth
which would upset their past teachings. Consequently God has been
unable to use them as instruments for proclaiming the long-hidden
messages of these sealed prophecies NOW OPENED, which contain a
live, most vital WARNING to our people today!
I was in business in Chicago, as a publishers'
representative, when God first called me to His service. My wife
had a most unusual dream---perhaps more of a vision than a dream
---in which she "saw" the second coming of Christ, as it first
appeared, or a warning vision of it, as it then turned out. In
this remarkable dream, she saw Christ descend; and she feared
greatly for me, knowing I was not converted. But Jesus descended
immediately in front of us, and placed His arms around us both,
then revealing this was not His second coming----but that it would
be soon, and He was calling me to a special mission. At the
time, I was awed when my wife told me of the dream, but suggested
she tell it to some minister. I did not take it seriously---
then. My heart was set on business success and making money. I
was unusually successful for a young man, fired with an over-
powering ambition. I had studied hard, applied myself diligently,
and felt assured of great success in the business world.
Overnight, God took away this business. Every large and
important advertising client---multi-million dollar corporations---
went into the hands of the receiver during the depression of 1920-
21. Twice afterward I started other businesses. Each promised to
grow to national proportions, was on the very threshold of big
success, when forces entirely out of my control swept them suddenly
and completely away. I couldn't understand it.
I had endeavored to run away from God's call in order to
achieve success in business and make money. My business was my
god. My sin was along economic lines; the punishment had to be
economic. For seven years my family had to suffer poverty with
me. It was like King Midas in reverse---everything I touched
turned to NOTHING, no matter how diligently or determined the
effort.
It was during this time that my interest was drawn by two
incidents to the Bible. My wife had suddenly come upon a truth
which seemed to me utterly fanatical. Contrary to my orders, she
insisted on following and living this truth. Divorce was even
threatened, but first I exacted a promise that she would give it
up, provided I would study the Bible and be able to show her where
she was in error. For six months I wrestled with this Bible truth,
and ended up by facing the alternative of accepting it or resorting
to a dishonest perverting of God's Word. God had "softened" me up
for this surrender by financial reverses and discouragements almost
beyond description. The surrender was made, the truth accepted,
and then, for the first time in his life the writer began to really