The Desire of Ages Audiobook Chapter 3: The Fullness of the Time

Summary

The script 'The Desire of Ages Chapter 3: The Fullness of the Time' explores the anticipation and arrival of Christ as the world's Redeemer. It discusses the historical context, the spiritual longing of humanity, and the divine plan for redemption. The narrative highlights the oppressive darkness of sin and the hope brought by Christ's mission to restore the divine image in humanity, offering a clear understanding of God's government and the principles of salvation.

Takeaways

• 🕰 The arrival of the Savior was prophesied in Eden and eagerly anticipated by Adam and Eve, but the fulfillment was delayed, with many waiting in vain for its arrival.
• 📜 The prophecy of Daniel revealed the time of the Savior's coming, but it was not universally understood, and the passage of time without His arrival led to despair among many.
• 🌌 God's timing for the coming of Christ was precise, as symbolized by the stars on their appointed path, and His birth in Bethlehem coincided with the 'fullness of time'.
• 🌐 Providence had orchestrated the world's conditions, including political unity and the spread of a common language, to prepare for the spread of the Messiah's message.
• 📚 The decline of pagan systems and the longing for a fulfilling religion among people created a ripe environment for the introduction of the Messiah's teachings.
• 😔 The Jewish people, having strayed from God, experienced a dimming of faith and a loss of hope, leading to a widespread sense of uncertainty and despair about the afterlife.
• 🌟 There were Gentile teachers who, inspired by the Spirit, foretold the coming of a divine instructor, kindling hope among many and spreading knowledge of the Messiah's impending arrival.
• 📖 The Scriptures had been translated into Greek, facilitating their dissemination throughout the Roman Empire and sharing the Jewish expectation of the Messiah among the Gentiles.
• 🔮 Some Gentiles had a better understanding of the Messiah's prophecies than the Jewish teachers, and there was a hope among them for a deliverer from sin.
• 🙏 The Jewish people, despite their shortcomings, still held onto the hope of the Messiah's coming, as expressed in the words of the prophets and the promises made to their ancestors.
• 🌈 The Messiah's mission was to clearly define the principles of God's government and the plan of redemption, to fully explain the lessons of the Old Testament, and to restore the knowledge of God among humanity.

Q & A

What is the significance of the phrase 'the fullness of the time' in the context of the script?

The phrase 'the fullness of the time' signifies a divinely appointed moment when conditions were ripe for the coming of Christ, as foretold in prophecies and prepared by historical and spiritual developments leading up to His birth.

Why did Adam and Eve initially hope that their first-born son could be the Deliverer?

Adam and Eve hoped that their first-born son could be the Deliverer because they were filled with the promise of a Savior after their fall in Eden, and they eagerly anticipated the fulfillment of this promise.

How did the prophecy of Daniel contribute to the anticipation of Christ's coming?

The prophecy of Daniel revealed the specific time of Christ's advent, adding a temporal dimension to the anticipation and preparing the people for His arrival, although not all interpreted the message correctly.

What was the state of the world's spiritual condition before Christ's coming, according to the script?

The world was in a state of spiritual darkness and confusion before Christ's coming, with people weary of empty religious rituals and longing for a genuine faith that could offer hope and knowledge of a life beyond the grave.

In what way did the Jewish nation's departure from God affect their understanding and expectation of the Messiah?

The Jewish nation's departure from God led to a dimming of faith and a near-extinguishing of hope, causing them to misunderstand the nature of Christ's mission and to focus on a political and military deliverer rather than a spiritual one.

What role did the Gentiles play in the expectation of the Messiah's coming?

The Gentiles, despite being considered 'heathen' by the Jews, had some individuals who had a better understanding of the Scriptural prophecies concerning the Messiah and hoped for His coming as a deliverer from sin.

How did the translation of Scriptures into Greek facilitate the spread of the Messiah's message?

The translation of Scriptures into Greek, a widely spoken language throughout the Roman Empire, allowed the message of the Messiah to be accessible to a broader audience, including the Gentiles, and facilitated its spread when the Jews dispersed.

What was the impact of the Jewish nation's exclusivity and hoarding of truth on their religious practices and the world?

The Jewish nation's exclusivity and hoarding of truth led to the corruption of their religious practices, turning their faith into an offense and making them agents of Satan in the world's destruction by spreading a counterfeit of the gospel.

How did the concept of self-salvation, as promoted by Satan, affect the people and their relationship with God?

The concept of self-salvation, implanted by Satan, removed the barrier against sin and led to a deeper corruption and degradation of both the heathen and the Jewish people, further distancing them from God and His grace.

What was the purpose of Christ's coming, as described in the script?

Christ's coming was to restore the image of God in humanity, expel the demons that controlled human will, lift humanity from degradation, reshape the marred character, and impart a new element of life and power to those who were lost and corrupted by sin.

How did the unfallen worlds view the situation on Earth and the coming of Christ?

The unfallen worlds watched with intense interest as God chose to send His Son to save the world instead of destroying it. They observed the demonstration of God's love and the provision of a way for humanity's recovery amidst Satan's attempts to claim victory.

Outlines

00:00

🕰 The Divine Timing of Christ's Advent

This paragraph discusses the anticipation of the Messiah's coming as foretold since Eden, with the hope initially placed in Adam and Eve's firstborn son. Despite the delay in fulfillment and the passing of time, the prophecy was kept alive through patriarchs and prophets. The exact timing of Christ's birth was revealed to Abraham and fulfilled with the Exodus from Egypt, symbolizing the divine plan's precision. The world was prepared for the Messiah's arrival with political unity, widespread language, and a yearning for a genuine religion. The paragraph highlights humanity's spiritual thirst and the darkness that preceded the light of Christ's coming.

05:06

🌏 The World's Readiness for the Messiah and the Jewish Expectations

Paragraph 2 delves into the various groups who anticipated the Messiah, including philosophers and Gentiles who had a better understanding of the prophecies than the Jewish teachers. It describes the Jews' reluctance to share their knowledge and the necessity for the true Interpreter to clarify the significance of the symbolic service. The paragraph emphasizes the need for the Messiah to clearly define the principles of God's government and the plan of redemption, as well as to fully explain the Old Testament lessons. It also touches on the steadfast souls among the Jews who looked forward to the fulfillment of the ancient promises, the prophecy of Daniel regarding the everlasting reign of the Messiah, and the widespread but often misunderstood expectation of a mighty prince who would deliver both Israel and the nations.

10:12

😈 The Deception of Sin and the World's Cry for Redemption

The third paragraph paints a grim picture of humanity's state before Christ's coming, detailing the extent of sin's corruption and the world's suffering. It describes how the Jewish nation, once the guardian of divine truth, had become an agent of Satan, misrepresenting God and hardening hearts further. The paragraph discusses the loss of the sacrificial system's meaning, the spiritual blindness caused by the priests' rituals, and the world's descent into sin and rebellion. It also portrays the compassion of Christ, who came to save a world enslaved by sin, to restore the divine image in humanity, and to provide a new element of life and power. The arrival of Christ is presented as the ultimate act of divine grace in response to the world's cry for redemption and the culmination of God's unceasing love and mercy.

Keywords

💡Fullness of the time

The phrase 'fullness of the time' refers to the divinely appointed moment when conditions are ripe for a significant event to occur. In the script, it is used to describe the moment when God sent His Son to redeem humanity. This concept is central to the video's theme, illustrating the fulfillment of ancient prophecies and the readiness of the world for the Savior's arrival.

💡Redemption

Redemption is the act of buying back or saving something or someone from a state of bondage or captivity. In the context of the video, it signifies the liberation of those under the law, allowing them to receive the adoption of sons. The script discusses the anticipation of this redemption through various historical and religious contexts, emphasizing the deliverance from sin and the establishment of a new relationship with God.

💡Deliverer

A Deliverer is someone who rescues or saves from danger or oppression. The script mentions the hope for a Deliverer, particularly in the context of the Messiah's coming, to free people from the burdens of sin and the law. This term is integral to the narrative, as it underscores the expectation and the eventual arrival of the Savior to bring about spiritual liberation.

💡Prophets

Prophets are individuals believed to have the ability to foretell the future or to speak to people on behalf of a deity. In the script, prophets play a crucial role in keeping the hope of the Messiah's coming alive, as they pass on the promise through generations. Their messages are central to the anticipation and understanding of the timing and significance of the Savior's birth.

💡Heathenism

Heathenism refers to the religious beliefs and practices of people who do not follow the main monotheistic religions, often associated with polytheism or idolatry. The script discusses the decline of heathen systems and the people's weariness of their empty rituals, creating a context for the longing for a more fulfilling and truthful religion, which is eventually provided by the coming of the Messiah.

💡Patriarchs

Patriarchs are the founding fathers or leaders of a religious or cultural tradition. In the script, patriarchs are mentioned as the ones through whom the promise of the Messiah's coming was repeated, thus maintaining the continuity of faith and hope across generations. Their role is essential in preserving the religious narrative and expectation of the Savior's arrival.

💡Sin

Sin is an act or instance of wrongdoing, often understood as a transgression against divine law or moral principles. The script frequently refers to sin as the source of human suffering and degradation, and it is the primary reason for the need of a Redeemer. The concept of sin is foundational to the video's message, as it explains the necessity of the Savior's mission to restore humanity.

💡Salvation

Salvation is the state or process of being saved or rescued from sin, suffering, or destruction. In the script, salvation is depicted as the ultimate goal of the Savior's mission, offering a way for humanity to be redeemed and reconciled with God. The concept of salvation is central to the video's theme, as it represents the hope and promise of a new beginning for humankind.

💡Prophecy

A prophecy is a prediction or forecast of the future, often of a religious nature. The script discusses various prophecies that foretold the time and circumstances of the Savior's coming. These prophecies are crucial to the video's narrative, as they provide a divine framework for understanding the timing and significance of the Messiah's birth.

💡Messiah

The Messiah is a savior or liberator, particularly in Jewish and Christian traditions, referring to a prophesied figure who would come to save the world. The script centers around the expectation and arrival of the Messiah, whose coming is seen as the fulfillment of ancient prophecies and the resolution of humanity's longings for redemption and salvation.

💡Satan

Satan is traditionally considered the embodiment of evil, often depicted as a tempter and deceiver. In the script, Satan is portrayed as working to deepen the divide between humanity and God, spreading sin and corruption. The presence and influence of Satan are significant to the video's theme, as they highlight the challenges and the adversary that humanity faces, necessitating the intervention of the Savior.

Highlights

The Saviour's coming was foretold in Eden, with Adam and Eve initially hoping their first-born son would be the Deliverer.

The fulfillment of the promise of the Saviour's arrival was delayed, with many who first received it dying without seeing it.

The prophecy of Daniel revealed the time of the Saviour's advent, but its interpretation was not universally correct.

God's purposes, symbolized by stars, know no haste or delay, as seen in the fulfillment of Israel's bondage in Egypt.

The hour for Christ's coming was determined in heaven's council, and He was born in Bethlehem when the time was right.

Nations were united under one government and language, making the world ripe for the Deliverer's coming.

The Jewish dispersion facilitated the spread of the Messiah's coming throughout the world.

Systems of heathenism were losing their hold, and people were seeking a religion that could satisfy the heart.

The Jewish nation had strayed from God, causing faith to grow dim and hope to nearly vanish.

Outside the Jewish nation, there were men who foretold a divine instructor's appearance and sought truth.

Scriptures had been translated into Greek, spreading the expectation of the Messiah's coming among the Gentiles.

Some Gentiles had a better understanding of the Messiah's prophecies than the teachers in Israel.

The true Interpreter, Christ, must come to explain the significance of the symbols and types that prefigured Him.

Christ's mission was to clearly define the principles of God's government and the plan of redemption.

The Jewish nation, meant to be a pillar of truth, had become representatives of Satan, misrepresenting God's character.

Satan's influence had turned the bodies of men into the habitation of demons, reflecting the expression of evil.

Jesus came to restore the image of God in humanity, expelling demons and reshaping marred characters.

Transcripts

The Desire of Ages Chapter 3: "The Fullness of the  Time". "When the fullness of the time was come,  

God sent forth His Son, . . . to redeem them  that were under the law, that we might receive  

the adoption of sons." Galatians 4:4, 5.  The Saviour's coming was foretold in Eden.  

When Adam and Eve first heard the promise,  they looked for its speedy fulfillment.  

They joyfully welcomed their first-born  son, hoping that he might be the Deliverer.  

But the fulfillment of the promise tarried. Those  who first received it died without the sight.  

From the days of Enoch the promise was  repeated through patriarchs and prophets,  

keeping alive the hope of His appearing,  and yet He came not. The prophecy of  

Daniel revealed the time of His advent, but  not all rightly interpreted the message.  

Century after century passed away; the voices of  the prophets ceased. The hand of the oppressor  

was heavy upon Israel, and many were ready  to exclaim, "The days are prolonged, and  

every vision faileth." Ezekiel 12:22. But like the  stars in the vast circuit of their appointed path,  

God's purposes know no haste and no delay. Through  the symbols of the great darkness and the smoking  

furnace, God had revealed to Abraham the bondage  of Israel in Egypt, and had declared that the time  

of their sojourning should be four hundred years.  "Afterward," He said, "shall they come out with  

great substance." Genesis 15:14. Against that  word, all the power of Pharaoh's proud empire  

battled in vain. On "the self-same day" appointed  in the divine promise, "it came to pass, that all  

the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of  Egypt." Exodus 12:41. So in heaven's council the  

hour for the coming of Christ had been determined.  When the great clock of time pointed to that hour,  

Jesus was born in Bethlehem. "When the fullness  of the time was come, God sent forth His Son."  

Providence had directed the movements of nations,  and the tide of human impulse and influence,  

until the world was ripe for  the coming of the Deliverer.  

The nations were united under one  government. One language was widely spoken,  

and was everywhere recognized as the language  of literature. From all lands the Jews of the  

dispersion gathered to Jerusalem to the annual  feasts. As these returned to the places of their  

sojourn, they could spread throughout the  world the tidings of the Messiah's coming. 

At this time the systems of heathenism  were losing their hold upon the people.  

Men were weary of pageant and fable. They longed  for a religion that could satisfy the heart.  

While the light of truth seemed to have departed  from among men, there were souls who were looking  

for light, and who were filled with perplexity and  sorrow. They were thirsting for a knowledge of the  

living God, for some assurance of a life beyond  the grave. As the Jews had departed from God,  

faith had grown dim, and hope had well-nigh  ceased to illuminate the future. The words  

of the prophets were uncomprehended. To the  masses of the people, death was a dread mystery;  

beyond was uncertainty and gloom. It was not  alone the wailing of the mothers of Bethlehem,  

but the cry from the great heart of humanity, that  was borne to the prophet across the centuries,—the  

voice heard in Ramah, "lamentation, and weeping,  and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her  

children, and would not be comforted, because  they are not." Matthew 2:18. In "the region and  

shadow of death," men sat unsolaced. With longing  eyes they looked for the coming of the Deliverer,  

when the darkness should be dispelled, and the  mystery of the future should be made plain. 

Outside of the Jewish nation there were men who  foretold the appearance of a divine instructor.  

These men were seeking for truth, and to  them the Spirit of Inspiration was imparted.  

One after another, like stars in the darkened  heavens, such teachers had arisen. Their words  

of prophecy had kindled hope in the hearts of  thousands of the Gentile world. For hundreds  

of years the Scriptures had been translated into  the Greek language, then widely spoken throughout  

the Roman Empire. The Jews were scattered  everywhere, and their expectation of the  

Messiah's coming was to some extent shared by the  Gentiles. Among those whom the Jews styled heathen  

were men who had a better understanding of the  Scripture prophecies concerning the Messiah  

than had the teachers in Israel. There were some  who hoped for His coming as a deliverer from sin.  

Philosophers endeavored to study into the mystery  of the Hebrew economy. But the bigotry of the  

Jews hindered the spread of the light. Intent on  maintaining the separation between themselves and  

other nations, they were unwilling to impart  the knowledge they still possessed concerning  

the symbolic service. The true Interpreter must  come. The One whom all these types prefigured  

must explain their significance. Through nature, through types and symbols,  

through patriarchs and prophets,  God had spoken to the world.  

Lessons must be given to humanity  in the language of humanity.  

The Messenger of the covenant must speak.  His voice must be heard in His own temple.  

Christ must come to utter words which should be  clearly and definitely understood. He, the author  

of truth, must separate truth from the chaff of  man's utterance, which had made it of no effect.  

The principles of God's government and the plan of  redemption must be clearly defined. The lessons of  

the Old Testament must be fully set before men.  Among the Jews there were yet steadfast souls,  

descendants of that holy line through whom  a knowledge of God had been preserved.  

These still looked for the hope of  the promise made unto the fathers.  

They strengthened their faith by dwelling  upon the assurance given through Moses,  

"A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto  you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall  

ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say  unto you." Acts 3:22. Again, they read how the  

Lord would anoint One "to preach good tidings  unto the meek," "to bind up the brokenhearted,  

to proclaim liberty to the captives,"  and to declare the "acceptable year of  

the Lord." Isaiah 61:1, 2. They read how  He would "set judgment in the earth," how  

the isles should "wait for His law," how the  Gentiles should come to His light, and kings to  

the brightness of His rising. Isaiah 42:4; 60:3. The dying words of Jacob filled them with hope:  

"The scepter shall not depart from Judah,  nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until  

Shiloh come." Genesis 49:10. The waning power of  Israel testified that the Messiah's coming was  

at hand. The prophecy of Daniel pictured the glory  of His reign over an empire which should succeed  

all earthly kingdoms; and, said the prophet,  "It shall stand forever." Daniel 2:44. While few  

understood the nature of Christ's mission, there  was a widespread expectation of a mighty prince  

who should establish his kingdom in Israel, and  who should come as a deliverer to the nations.  

The fullness of the time had  come. Humanity, becoming more  

degraded through ages of transgression,  called for the coming of the Redeemer.  

Satan had been working to make the gulf deep  and impassable between earth and heaven. By his  

falsehoods he had emboldened men in sin. It was  his purpose to wear out the forbearance of God,  

and to extinguish His love for man, so that He  would abandon the world to satanic jurisdiction. 

Satan was seeking to shut out from men a knowledge  of God, to turn their attention from the temple of  

God, and to establish his own kingdom. His strife  for supremacy had seemed to be almost wholly  

successful. It is true that in every generation  God had His agencies. Even among the heathen  

there were men through whom Christ was working to  uplift the people from their sin and degradation.  

But these men were despised and hated.  Many of them suffered a violent death.  

The dark shadow that Satan had cast  over the world grew deeper and deeper. 

Through heathenism, Satan had for ages turned  men away from God; but he won his great triumph  

in perverting the faith of Israel. By  contemplating and worshiping their own  

conceptions, the heathen had lost a knowledge  of God, and had become more and more corrupt.  

So it was with Israel. The principle that  man can save himself by his own works lay at  

the foundation of every heathen religion; it had  now become the principle of the Jewish religion.  

Satan had implanted this principle. Wherever  it is held, men have no barrier against sin. 

The message of salvation is communicated to men  through human agencies. But the Jews had sought  

to make a monopoly of the truth which is eternal  life. They had hoarded the living manna, and it  

had turned to corruption. The religion which they  tried to shut up to themselves became an offense.  

They robbed God of His glory, and defrauded the  world by a counterfeit of the gospel. They had  

refused to surrender themselves to God for  the salvation of the world, and they became  

agents of Satan for its destruction. The people whom God had called to be  

the pillar and ground of the truth  had become representatives of Satan.  

They were doing the work that he desired  them to do, taking a course to misrepresent  

the character of God, and cause the world to  look upon Him as a tyrant. The very priests  

who ministered in the temple had lost sight of  the significance of the service they performed.  

They had ceased to look beyond the symbol to the  thing signified. In presenting the sacrificial  

offerings they were as actors in a play. The  ordinances which God Himself had appointed were  

made the means of blinding the mind and hardening  the heart. God could do no more for man through  

these channels. The whole system must be swept  away. The deception of sin had reached its height.  

All the agencies for depraving the souls of men  had been put in operation. The Son of God, looking  

upon the world, beheld suffering and misery. With  pity He saw how men had become victims of satanic  

cruelty. He looked with compassion upon those who  were being corrupted, murdered, and lost. They  

had chosen a ruler who chained them to his car  as captives. Bewildered and deceived, they were  

moving on in gloomy procession toward eternal  ruin,—to death in which is no hope of life,  

toward night to which comes no morning.  Satanic agencies were incorporated with men.  

The bodies of human beings, made for the dwelling  place of God, had become the habitation of demons.  

The senses, the nerves, the passions, the organs  of men, were worked by supernatural agencies in  

the indulgence of the vilest lust. The very stamp  of demons was impressed upon the countenances of  

men. Human faces reflected the expression of the  legions of evil with which they were possessed.  

Such was the prospect upon which the world's  Redeemer looked. What a spectacle for Infinite  

Purity to behold! Sin had become a science,  and vice was consecrated as a part of religion.  

Rebellion had struck its roots deep into the  heart, and the hostility of man was most violent  

against heaven. It was demonstrated before  the universe that, apart from God, humanity  

could not be uplifted. A new element of life and  power must be imparted by Him who made the world. 

With intense interest the unfallen worlds had  watched to see Jehovah arise, and sweep away  

the inhabitants of the earth. And if God should  do this, Satan was ready to carry out his plan  

for securing to himself the allegiance of heavenly  beings. He had declared that the principles of  

God's government make forgiveness impossible.  Had the world been destroyed, he would have  

claimed that his accusations were proved true. He  was ready to cast blame upon God, and to spread  

his rebellion to the worlds above. But instead of  destroying the world, God sent His Son to save it.  

Though corruption and defiance might be  seen in every part of the alien province,  

a way for its recovery was provided. At the  very crisis, when Satan seemed about to triumph,  

the Son of God came with the embassage of divine  grace. Through every age, through every hour,  

the love of God had been exercised toward the  fallen race. Notwithstanding the perversity of  

men, the signals of mercy had been continually  exhibited. And when the fullness of the time had  

come, the Deity was glorified by pouring  upon the world a flood of healing grace  

that was never to be obstructed or withdrawn  till the plan of salvation should be fulfilled.  

Satan was exulting that he had succeeded  in debasing the image of God in humanity.  

Then Jesus came to restore in man the image of  his Maker. None but Christ can fashion anew the  

character that has been ruined by sin. He came  to expel the demons that had controlled the will.  

He came to lift us up from the dust,  to reshape the marred character after  

the pattern of His divine character, and  to make it beautiful with His own glory.