The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 313

The European Union in Prophecy
for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait
for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. . . . The just shall live by his faith."
A portion of Ezekiel's prophecy also was a source of strength and comfort to
believers: "The word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, what is that
proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every
vision faileth? Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God. . . . The days are at hand,
and the effect of every vision. . . . I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall
come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged." "They of the house of Israel say, The
vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that
are far off. Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; There shall none of My
words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done."
Ezekiel 12:21-25, 27, 28.
The waiting ones rejoiced, believing that He who knows the end from the
beginning had looked down through the ages and, foreseeing their disappointment,
had given them words of courage and hope. Had it not been for such portions of
Scripture, admonishing them to wait with patience and to hold fast their confidence
in God's word, their faith would have failed in that trying hour. The parable of the
ten virgins of Matthew 25 also illustrates the experience of the Adventist people. In
Matthew 24, in answer to the question of His disciples concerning the sign of His
coming and of the end of the world, Christ had pointed out some of the most important
events in the history of the world and of the church from His first to His second advent;
namely, the destruction of Jerusalem, the great tribulation of the church under the
pagan and papal persecutions, the darkening of the sun and moon, and the falling of
the stars. After this He spoke of His coming in His kingdom, and related the parable
describing the two classes of servants who look for His appearing. Chapter 25 opens
with the words: "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins." Here
is brought to view the church living in the last days, the same that is pointed out in
the close of chapter 24. In this parable their experience is illustrated by the incidents
of an Eastern marriage.
"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their
lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five
were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but
312