The Bible: What It Is and What It Teaches

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="054fd5a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Tyler - Longview Christadelphian Ecclesia</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tyler Longview Christadelphian Ecclesia"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who We Are">Who We Are</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News and Events">News and Events</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ecclesial Statements">Ecclesial Statements</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Daily Bible Readings">Daily Bible Readings</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Statement of Faith">Statement of Faith</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bible Study">Bible Study</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Apples of Gold">Apples of Gold</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <I>Section 1</I></div> <div> <I>THE BIBLE: WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT TEACHES</I></div> <div> The Bible is pre-eminently the Book for today. Its prophecies clearly reveal that God guides the destiny of nations, that the great crisis of Armageddon is rapidly approaching, and what its aftermath will reveal.</div> <div> But more than that, it is the Book of Life. It sets forth the true nature of man, shows that he is afflicted by the grim disease of mortality, and reveals what he must do to overcome it and attain unto eternal life. It points the way towards more abundant living now and immortality in the age to come, for godliness has “promise of the life that now is, and that which is to come” (1 Tim. 4:8).</div> <div> To the Bible then let us turn, as to “a light shining in a dark place”, and, with humility, teachableness, and independence of mind, let us diligently inquire into the things which it reveals for the obedience and confirmation of faith. The object before us will be, to present such a connected view of this truthful and wonderful book as will open the reader's eyes, and enable him to understand it, and expound it to others, that he may become “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”; and be able intelligently to “contend for the faith.”</div> <div> We trust that in so doing it will be the reader's lot to receive as much pleasure and profit as it has been our lot to obtain.</div> <bR> <div> <I>(1) The Bible: Inspired and Infallible</I></div> <div> By “inspired” we mean that God was its Author; by “infallible” we mean that it is true in all its parts. We claim this in spite of minor errors that have crept in through transcription or translation. These are so insignificant that they do not affect the general teaching of the Book, and in any case are easily explained.</div> <bR> <div> <B>A Literary Miracle.</B></div> <div> The Bible is a literary miracle, unique among all other books. It matters not whether you consider the wonder of its construction, the beauty of its unification, the marvel of its preservation, the truth of its prognostications, the claim of its inspiration, or the power of its teaching in transformation, it is outstanding and distinct among books, bearing the stamp of divine authorship.</div> <div> The word Bible means book. The Bible is not one book, however, but a library of sixty-six books, the compilation of which extended over almost 1600 years. Its various authors, or amanuenses rather (for God was the real Author), were drawn from every class of society. Kings, statesmen, priests, laymen, scholars, shepherds, fishermen and others cooperated in its production. One man wrote one part in Syria, another man wrote in Arabia, a third man wrote in Italy, a fourth man wrote in Babylon, others wrote in Palestine.</div> <div> And yet, though these writers were divided by time, class and distance so that there was no possibility of any collusion, there is a wonderful harmony manifest in all that they wrote that is quite unlike any other composite work in the realm of literature.</div> <div> That is due only to the fact that God was the moving influence in its production, and in all that is recorded therein.</div> <div> It was He Who caused the various authors to write as they did, so that each one, in his own individual manner, expressed that which Inspiration caused him to write. Thus all sixty-six books agree perfectly in teaching. Each one harmonizes with the rest, supplementing or expounding upon what has gone before, so that by “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13), the reader is brought to a complete understanding of the Divine will and purpose.</div> <bR> <div> <B>A Living Message For Today.</B></div> <div> The Bible is also unique in that it provides for every kind of reader. It can guide the simple mind of a child, or satisfy the most profound student. As its writers were drawn from every strata of society, and expressed Divine truths from their individual standpoint, it is capable of helping and inspiring every type of person whether male or female, young or old, rich or poor, educated or ignorant.</div> <div> What it demands of all, however, whether they be simple or profound, educated or ignorant, is a faith to accept its message, and a disposition to apply its precepts.</div> <div> The Bible is unique in that more books, commentaries and concordances have been published about it than any other work; and yet, though they have been appearing for centuries, new works of exposition continue to pour forth from the press. In short, the depths of its Significance are inexhaustible, so that the Bible never stales; it remains a best-seller year after year. There is always some deeper significance to be discovered, even in its basic message, that makes the reading of the Bible an exciting adventure in study.</div> <div> How different that is to most books! I have, in my library, well over a thousand volumes, covering almost all subjects, some of which I have read more than once, though normally a single reading suffices; but the Bible I read through completely every year, besides giving close, detailed attention to sections of it, without ever becoming tired of doing so, nor losing my interest in its contents.</div> <div> I know of no other book that I could read so often, without becoming completely bored by its contents.</div> <div> Despite the great antiquity of the Bible, despite the fact that it was written primarily for a different age and a foreign people, it has a living message for today. Of what other book can that be said? The Psalmist truly declared:</div> <div> <B>“I will never forget Thy precepts; for with them Thou hast quickened me” (or given me new life-Psalm 119:93).</B></div> <div> This is the book we desire to study together. It can inspire us, purify our characters, give us peace of mind, and provide us with a glorious hope for the future. In its transforming influence is found, indeed, the stamp of its divinity.</div> <div> <B>Objections Considered.</B></div> <div> The Bible challenges us with its divine origin. Five hundred times in the first five books, it prefaces or concludes its declarations with the assertion, “The Lord said,” or “The Lord spake.” Three hundred times again in the following books it does the same. Similar expressions occur no less than twelve hundred times in the prophetical books.</div> <div> The Bible thus claims to be the inspired Word of God (Hebrews 1:1).</div> <div> It must be judged upon that claim.</div> <div> Some allow inspiration for some portions of the Bible, and deny it for others; but obviously, it must either all be true, or all be false, for its sixty-six books are indissolubly linked together. We must either accept all, or reject all; and, sooner or later, every person is forced to decide as to where he stands in this matter.</div> <div> Some seek to belittle the Bible by pointing to inconsistencies revealed in the characters portrayed therein. They declare that David was an adulterer, that Peter was a traitor, that Paul was a murderer. But surely the impress of Divine inspiration is stamped in the recording of such matters. Life is presented in its true light. The sins of Peter are not omitted because he was foremost of the Apostles; the crimes of Paul are not overlooked though he did take the message to Gentiles; the great apostasy of the Jewish people is revealed in all its wickedness, even though they constitute the chosen race, the “people of the Book.”</div> <div> In a merely human document, these blemishes, most likely would be deleted or explained in a way as to not so harshly reflect upon the persons concerned; but the Bible, being what it claims to be, reveals human nature as it really is. Because the Bible is true and Divine, the characters that are portrayed therein, are set forth as seen through the eyes of God.</div> <div> No one has yet shown the Bible to be wrong in its outline of history. On the contrary, history and archaeology have confirmed it upon every point where they have touched. Nevertheless, we freely concede that the mere fact that a book is true does not establish it as Divine; a greater reason must be given for such a claim to be made.</div> <div> Such a reason is found in the amazing fulfilment of Bible prophecy. Man can not predict ahead with any certainty; but God has done so in the Bible, and events have thoroughly vindicated what He has proclaimed. As predicted, Babylon is still in heaps (Jer. 51:37), Nineveh still lies empty, void and waste (Nahum 2:10), Egypt still remains a base nation (Ezekiel 29:15); Tyre has been submerged by the sea and literally remains a place for the spreading of nets (Ezekiel 26:5); Israel has been scattered among the nations (Deuteronomy 28:64), and Jerusalem given over to the Gentiles (Luke 21:24), but today the Jews are returning to their land and restoring the wastes (Jeremiah 30:18-24; Amos 9:14), and Jerusalem is gradually gaining more independence, as foretold.</div> <div> The evidence of prophecy is an irrefutable argument for the Divine inspiration of the Bible, proving that it is more than a merely human document.</div> <div> <B>What About Contradictions?</B></div> <div> It is a common fallacy that the Bible is full of contradictions. This we refute. We do not dispute that a few errors and interpolations, due to mistakes in translation or transcription, have entered the text of the Authorised Version, but they are by no means as frequent as is generally thought, and are so minor in importance that they do not interfere with the general teaching of the Book. We were once handed a booklet entitled <I>One Hundred Contradictions In The Bible</I>. Examination proved it to be a very shallow publication. The so-called “contradictions” existed in the mind of the author, rather than in the pages of Scripture. The meaning of Scripture was distorted to create contradictions, and the writer did not appreciate that apparent discrepancies can be harmonised without doing violence to the record.</div> <div> For example, let four men report on a specific incident, and the four accounts will differ according to the particular interest of the person concerned. A superficial examination of the four accounts would suggest that they conflicted, whereas, in fact, each one could be perfectly true, and revealed as such when the facts were thoroughly investigated.</div> <div> This is the case with the four Gospel accounts of the life of Christ, and other records of Scripture. Though the writers were inspired, they expressed in their own words, or from their own standpoint, what Inspiration caused them to write. This is sometimes represented as contradiction by readers without discernment. On the contrary, we claim, with every assurance, that there is perfect harmony throughout the Bible, and would be pleased to show this to be the case.</div> <div> Let us present a case of a so-called contradiction being harmonised when all the facts are brought to bear. The parallel accounts of the armies of Israel and Judah are recorded in the books of Samuel and Chronicles. The former provides figures that seem to be at variance with the latter. It states that there were 800,000 men in Israel, and 500,000 in Judah (2 Samuel 24:9); the latter gives 1,100,000 in Israel, and 470,000 in Judah (1 Chronicles 21:5). At first sight a discrepancy seems evident, but a more careful reading will show that the basis of computation is not the same in the two records. In Samuel, the figures relating to Israel concern “valiant” men only, and represented only portion of the army (the veterans), whilst the figures for Judah in 1 Chronicles 21:5 omitted some of Benjamin usually counted with Judah (see v.6).</div> <div> Thus these two accounts which seem to contradict each other when read superficially, actually harmonise and supplement each other when studied properly.</div> <div> The same two chapters record a transaction that took place between David the king of Israel, and Araunab, a Jebusite, wherein the former purchased some land from the latter. The accounts seem to be contradictory. In 2 Samuel 24:24, the price is given as fifty shekels of silver; but in 1 Chronicles 21:22-25, it is said to be six hundred shekels of gold. Critics of the Bible advance the seeming contradiction triumphantly to prove their contention that it is fallible. But a careful reading will show that both the accounts are correct, for the former price related only to “the threshing floor and oxen,” whilst the latter price was for “the place,” a term which included the whole site of what was later the Temple area.</div> <div> The “threshing floor” was a very important, but relatively small, part of the complete purchase, called in Chronicles “the place.”</div> <div> These are very minor matters, and even if it could be proved that they were contradictions, they would not affect the basic message of the Bible. We merely quoted them to illustrate what is advanced as some of the “hundred contradictions” in the Bible, as set out in the book banded to us. Other so-called discrepancies were even more easily rebutted than these. It is apparent that the “contradictions” existed in the biased mind of the critic, not in the pages of the Bible.</div> <div> <B>The Canon Of Scripture.</B></div> <div> Another claim of the critics is that the Bible came into being by the caprice of man, and that fallible men decided what they thought was inspired. That is not so.</div> <div> It is true that fallible men were the medium that God used in establishing the canon of Scripture, but it was God Who overruled their decisions in determining what constitutes inspired writings.</div> <div> Concerning the Old Testament, Paul wrote that the Scriptures were committed to the Jews, and therefore they did not select them. By that he meant that God guided the selection of what was inspired or not (Rom. 3:2).</div> <div> A careful consideration of the evidence will show how true Paul's statement is.</div> <div> In a merely human document, the author of a piece of writing would determine whether it is to be considered “inspired.” For example, some people speak of Shakespeare's writings as “inspired,” and in so doing, they include all that be wrote.</div> <div> That is not the case with the Bible. It was not considered sufficient for a man to write for his work to be included. For example, some of Isaiah's prophecies find a place therein, whilst other of his writings do not (2 Chronicles 26:22). Some of Solomon's proverbs are included, whilst others are not (1 Kings 4:32). The writings of an accredited prophet were not necessarily accepted as inspired. Some of the writings of acknowledged prophets, such as Samuel, Nathan and others were excluded (1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29; 12:15; 20:34). Although “many accounts” of Jesus were written (Luke 1:1), only four found their place in the Bible. A Higher Power than mere human will was obviously at work, overruling the selection of the writings that were to be accepted or rejected.</div> <div> Whilst determined attempts were made by influential men to exclude portions of the Scriptures with which they disagreed, all such attempts were thwarted.</div> <div> In this, likewise, we must see the hand of God.</div> <div> The historian Gibbon in his Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire, ch. 15, records that “In the council of Laodicea (about the year 360), the Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) was tacitly excluded from the sacred canon by the same churches of Asia to which it is addressed.”</div> <div> The Book of Revelation is very severe upon those Asian congregations, and that, no doubt, was the reason why they opposed its inclusion at the Council. But God did not permit it. He overruled the opposition of men, so that the Apocalypse was rightly included within the canon of Scripture.</div> <div> A careful consideration of the evidence will reveal without doubt that the Bible is the inspired and infallible word of God.</div> <bR> <div> <B>THE LIBRARY WE CALL THE BIBLE</B></div> <div> Question:<B> What is the Bible?</B></div> <div> Answer: It is a book written by the power of inspiration in prophets and apostles who lived in Israel a long They lived at different times, and each wrote his part independent of the others; but one Spirit moved them all, and enabled them to make known to men the mind of God in history, precept and prophecy, so that the Bible though composed of many books and parts, is the one Word of God (from <I>The Christadelphian Instructor</I>).</div> <div> Proof: <I>“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son” (Heb. 1:1). “Which things we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth” (1 Cor. 2:13). “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21) “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). “Thou testifiest against them by thy spirit in he prophets” (Neh. 9:30). “The things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 14:37).</I></div> <div> The word <I>Bible</I> means “Book”, but actually the Bible is a library of sixty-six books, thirty-nine of which are in the Old Testament, and twenty-seven in the New. The division of the Bible into Old and New Testaments is artificial and man-made. Both the Old and the New Testaments are to be equally accepted as God's revelation to man. There is no conflict between them, nor is one of greater importance than the other. The writers of the New Testament repeatedly quoted from the Old in support and proof of their teaching. Christ quoted extensively from the Old Testament to make manifest the things “concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27).</div> <div> <B>The Object of the Bible.</B></div> <div> “Whatsoever things were written beforehand, were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope” (Romans 15:4).</div> <div> <B>The Value of the Bible.</B></div> <div> “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me” (Christ-John 5:39).</div> <div> “Preach the Gospel, he that believeth and is baptised shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).</div> <div> <B>The Power of the Bible.</B></div> <div> “My word shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isa. 55:11).</div> <div> “Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy word is truth.”(John 17:17).</div> <div> “Wherewithal shall a man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word” (Psalm 119:9).</div> <div> “God hath chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <B>An Epitome of the Books of the Bible.</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <B>Old Testament Books.</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <B>HISTORY</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="127"><div> Genesis</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> Recording Creation, and the beginnings of history from God's standpoint. </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="127"><div> Exodus</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> How God saved Israel from Egypt.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="127"><div> Leviticus</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> The ideal that God set before Israel; to what the people were called</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="127"><div> Numbers </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> How Israel failed: the wanderings through the wilderness.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> Deuteronomy</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> The unfailing mercy and love of Israel's further opportunity.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="127"><div> Joshua </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> How God made it possible for Israel to occupy the Land of Promise.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="127"><div> Judges </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> How the nation again failed God.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="127"><div> Ruth</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> How individuals remained faithful in the midst of a faithless generation.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> 1 & 2 Samuel</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> The monarchy established and a righteous king (David) elevated by God.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 ><NOBR><div> 1 & 2 Kings </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> How the nation failed politically.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="127"><div> 1 & 2 Chronicles </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> How the nation failed theocratically, and was taken into captivity.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="127"><div> Ezra </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> Restoration of Israel from Babylon.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 ><NOBR><div> Nehemiah </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Reconstruction of Israel from anarchy.</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="127"><div> Esther</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Preservation of Israel from annihilation.</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <B>POETRY</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="127"><div> Job</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> A dramatic epic-blessing through suffering.</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="127"><div> Psalms </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> Rejoicing in hope.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="127"><div> Proverbs </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Practical wisdom for life as it is now.</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> Ecclesiastes </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> Set not affection on anything under the sun, but seek the treasure from on high.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="127"><div> Song of Solomon</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Typical communion with Christ the bridegroom.</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <B>PROPHECY</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 53 WIDTH="587"><div> Eighteen books of prophecy: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <B>New Testament Books</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <B>HISTORY</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="127"><div> Matthew </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Jesus from the standpoint of his royalty.</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="127"><div> Mark </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Jesus from the standpoint of his ministry.</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="127"><div> Luke</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Jesus from the standpoint of his humanity.</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="127"><div> John </div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Jesus from the standpoint of his divinity</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="127"><div> Acts</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> The preaching of the Gospel by the Apostles.</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <B>PRECEPT</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 WIDTH="587"><div> Paul's Epistles for the guidance of communities of believers-Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 ><NOBR><div> Paul's Epistles of Instruction for individuals-1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon.</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="587"><div> Paul's exposition of the Law of Moses-Hebrews.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 ><NOBR><div> James' Epistles </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> Faith in action</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 ><NOBR><div> Peter's Epistles </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> Courage in persecution.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 ><NOBR><div> John's Epistles </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> Love in manifestation.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 ><NOBR><div> Jude's Epistle </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="333"><div> Contention against apostasy.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <B>PROPHECY</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 ><NOBR><div> Revelation </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="123"><div> -</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Christ's outline of future events recorded by John.</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 53 WIDTH="587"><div> <I>“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (1 Timothy 3:16).</I></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>QUESTIONS TO STUDY No. 1</B></div> <div>      <I>1.</I>     <I>Who is the author of the Bible?</I></div> <div>      <I>2.</I>     <I>Were the author's thoughts recorded by more than one writer?</I></div> <div>      <I>3.</I>     <I>Whose will and purpose are expressed in this Book?</I></div> <div>      <I>4.</I>     <I>Can the things recorded in the Bible contradict?</I></div> <div>      <I>5.</I>     <I>Is it right to reject the Old Testament, seeing that both Old and New Testaments form the One Book and are Gods revelation to man?</I></div> <div>      <I>6.</I>     <I>Could the men that were selected of God to record His will withstand the force of inspiration?</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>(2) Miracles Really Did Happen</I></div> <div> <B>What Constitutes “Miracle”?</B></div> <div> In the modern, scientific age of today, when man can boast great progress in knowledge of the hidden forces of nature, it is fashionable to be incredulous of miracle.</div> <div> Indeed, the record of miracles in the Bible is perhaps the greatest reason why most people reject its authenticity.</div> <div> They claim that miracle is an impossibility, and on that score repudiate the Bible as a whole.</div> <div> We believe that this attitude is unreasonable in this age of scientific advancement.</div> <div> Man can perform things today that would have been once considered miraculous; why limit God's power to do what seemingly is impossible, seeing that He completely controls all the forces of nature?</div> <div> The Bible sets forth God as the primordial Force of all things: “In Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28), “Of Him are all things” (1 Cor. 8:6). Miracles are merely a higher form of the work we see performed every day by nature, and the recognition of this fact should reduce the difficulty some experience in receiving the testimony of them. As the late R. Roberts wrote:</div> <div> <B>“Jesus produced bread sufficient for the feeding of the multitude. The only difference between the bread so produced and ordinary bread was the way It was made. When made, the one was the same as the other. Both were equal marvels when looked at rightly. The bread naturally produced was slowly manufactured from invisible elements in the light, rain, soil, etc. Because slowly conducted, the process does not strike us; but it is in itself as wonderful as any miracle. In the bread that Jesus produced, the elements were gathered and combined instantaneously, that was all the difference-a great difference truly, and one beyond the power of man, but still a difference more of mode than of essence. The mode is divine and wonderful In both cases, but in the one it is slow, and in the other quick. The quickness was necessary to show undoubtedly the presence and operation of divine power. This is the case in all miracles.”-(From </B><I><B>The Trial</B></I><B>.)</B></div> <div> <B>Science Confirms Bible Miracle.</B></div> <div> The science of archaeology has unwittingly given support to the record of Divine interposition in man's affairs, as recorded in the Bible. Take, for example, the Flood, referred to in Genesis 7. Though this was once refuted, it is acknowledged today that it has historical reality. In 1922-29 factual evidences of a flood of unprecedented proportions were discovered by the eminent archaeologist, Sir L. Woolley. In his book, Ur Of The Chaldees, he records how he unearthed evidences in the Middle East of a flood “of a magnitude unparalleled in local history,” and which, he claimed, was that recorded in Scripture. In describing his findings, be declared:</div> <div> <B>“Thee clay bank marks a definite break in the continuity of the local culture; a whole civilisation which existed before it is lacking above it, and seems to have been submerged by the waters.”</B></div> <div> He claimed that an entire generation was destroyed by the waters of this flood.</div> <div> In short, a Bible story that was once dismissed as myth, is now recognised to have been a fact.<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >*</FONT></div> <div> Another notable miracle recorded in the Bible, was the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6). The city resisted the invading Israelites, and seemed impregnable to attack. Joshua was ordered to command the army to march around the city once every day for six days, with the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day, they were to march around seven times, at the completion of which, the priests were to blow with the trumpets, the people were to shout, and the walls would collapse to permit entry to the Israeli soldiers.</div> <div> For centuries skeptics ridiculed the story.</div> <div> Archaeologist, Professor Garstang, however, excavating at the site of Jericho, claimed that the Bible record is true. He did not always believe it to be so, and originally believed that his research would disprove the whole account. But, to his amazement, the excavations revealed that the walls had fallen down as recorded in the book of Joshua.</div> <div> This seemed so incredible, that the Professor believed that they might have been undermined, and propped up by timbers, which were set on fire, during the seven perambulations round the city on the last day. In other words, he expected to find evidence of a pious fraud rather than those proclaiming a miracle.</div> <div> But he found that the soil beneath the walls had been undisturbed, and that the only possible explanation is that which is recorded in the Bible!</div> <div> Summing up the evidence, be declared:</div> <div> <B>“One conclusion indeed seems certain: the power that could dislodge hundreds of tons of masonry … must have been superhuman”</B></div> <div> The Professor, who bad been sceptical of the Bible story, was convinced by the evidence of his eyes. God had interposed at the right time-possibly by earthquake (Psalm 114:3-6)-and caused the walls to fall! Thus modem science helps to confirm an ancient miracle.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Modern Miracles.</B></div> <div> Meanwhile, the world has advanced to the nuclear age: the epoch of radio, radar, television, nuclear power and space travel. Man is able to accomplish today what would have been considered miraculous a hundred years ago. If man is able to do so by his limited knowledge of what is possible, how much more can an omnipotent God accomplish!</div> <div> Nothing is impossible with Him!</div> <div> We can, therefore, with full assurance, extract the greatest measure of comfort and hope from that most wonderful and significant of all miracles: the resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:20).</div> <div> On the other hand, if we reject belief in God what remains?</div> <div> The hopeless theory of evolution: a theory that is not only unproven, but which demands more in the way of credulity than does belief in the Bible.</div> <div> To imagine that the amazing creation about us, in its infinite variety, and its marvellous order, came into existence by mere chance, demands more in the way of faith than does belief in the miracles of the Bible.</div> <div> Truly the Bible declares: “The fool hath said, There no God” (Psalm 14:1).</div> <div> The utmost confidence can be placed in the record of Bible. It is as a, light shining in a dark place, Illumination the pathway that leads to salvation. Let the reader open his eyes to its wonderful teaching; let him step inside the portals of Bible knowledge, and drink deeply a the fountain of living water found within. Let him not be deflected from such a course by the ridicule of the so-called wise Let him take heed to the counsel of Paul who declared that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, no many noble are called, but that God has seen fit to call humble men and women to a knowledge of divine wisdom to bring to nought the mighty, that “no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Cor. 1:26-29). The Bible teaches:</div> <div> <B>“Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that giorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness judgment and righteousness in the earth; for in them things I delight, saith the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).</B></div> <div> <B>SUMMARY:</B></div> <div>      1.     A miracle is a marvel which God is able to perform by His omnipotent control of the forces of nature.</div> <div>      2.     Science has given partial confirmation of Bible miracles in certain instances. </div> <div>      3.     Granted the existence of God, we must accept the probability of miracle.</div> <div>      4.     This enables us to extract hope from the greatest of miracles the Resurrection of Christ.</div> <bR> <div> <I>(3) How to Interpret the Bible</I></div> <div> <B>It Means What It Says.</B></div> <div> Though the Bible is profound in its teaching, it is written in language capable of being understood. To this proposition all will agree. But suppose attention was directed to the following statements:</div> <div> <B>“This same Jesus which ascended into heaven, shall go come in like manner as he ascended into heaven” (Acts 1:11); “And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father, David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:32). “Yea, all kings shall fail down before him; all nations shall serve him; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, from the river to the ends Of the earth” (Ps. 72:8, 11); “for He shall reign in Mount Zion in Jerusalem” (Isa. 24:23). “In that day, the Lord shall be king over all the earth” (Zech. 14:9), for “the Kingdoms of this world become the Kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 11:15) …</B></div> <div> And suppose, on the reading of these statements, the remark was made, “It seems plain from this that Christ is coming to earth again, and that on his return, he will set aside all existing rule upon the earth and reign personally in Jerusalem as universal king”-what answer would be given? It is not a matter of surmise. It is supplied by thousands of cases of actual experience. “Oh! No such thing!” is the instant response; “What the prophet says is spiritual in its import. Jerusalem means the Church, and the coming of Christ again to reign means that the time is coining when he will be supreme in the hearts and affections of men.”</div> <div> This method of interpretation -which is quite a common one -is untenable. The Bible tells its message in a direct and sensible way, going at once to its work without any scholastic preliminaries, taking it for granted that certain words represent certain ideas, and using those words in their current significance. Take a prophecy:</div> <div> <B>“I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savior of your sweet odours, and I will bring the land into desolation; and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it, and I will scatter you among the heathen, mid will draw out a sword after you; and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste” (Lev. 26:31-33). “And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations whither the Lord shall lead thee (the Jews)” (Deut 28:37).</B></div> <div> There is no dispute about the mode in which this has been fulfilled.</div> <div> The sublimest spiritualism is bound to recognise that the subject of these words is the literal nation of Israel and their land, and that, in fulfilment of the prediction, the <I>real</I> Israelites were driven from their <I>real</I>, literal land, which became <I>really</I> and <I>literally</I> desolate, and that Israel became a <I>literal</I> byword and reproach throughout the earth. This being so, on what principle are we to reject a literal construction of the following:</div> <div> <B>“I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel, and ONE KING shall be king to them all” (Ezek. 37:21-22).</B></div> <div> It is usual, with this and other similar predictions of a future restoration of Israel and their reinstatement as a great people under the Messiah, to contend that they refer to the future glory and extension of the church. But such an interpretation will never be maintained in the face of fulfilled prophecy by a truly reflecting mind. The restoration of the Jews to Palestine, and the emergence of the nation of Israel in recent years, illustrates how literally these words are to be understood.</div> <div> Take another prophecy:</div> <div> <B>“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel” (Micah 5:2).</B></div> <div> How was this fulfilled? Turn to Matthew 2:1:</div> <div> <B>“Now Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king.”</B></div> <div> The fulfilment of the prophecy was in exact accordance with a literal understanding of the words employed, as everyone is aware.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Use Of Metaphor.</B></div> <div> Figures of speech are also used in Scripture to garnish the literal. Thus the Messiah is described as “a stone,” “a branch,” “a shepherd” and so forth. Both metaphor and literal speech have their functions, but each is so distinct from the other that ordinary discrimination can recognize and separate them, though mixed in the same sentence. This will be evident on a little reflection.</div> <div> We use metaphor in common speech without causing obscurity. We are never at a loss to perceive the metaphor when it is employed, and to understand its meaning, nor do we confuse the metaphor with the literal. When we. talk of tyrants “trampling the rights of their subjects under their feet,” we mix the literal with high metaphor; but no one is in danger of supposing that rights are literal substances that can be crushed to pieces under trampling feet. When we say, “he carried a high head,” we do not mean a height that can be measured by the pocket rule; a “black look” has nothing to do with color: “hard times” cannot be broken with a hammer. These are well understood metaphors beyond the danger of misconstruction. But suppose we say, “The Jewish nation is to be restored,” we use a style of language in which there is no metaphor. We speak plainly of literal things, and instinctively understand them in a literal sense.</div> <div> Now with regard to the Bible, it will be found that, in the main, this is the character of its composition. It is not a revelation of words but of ideas, and hence everything in its language is subordinated to the purpose of imparting the ideas. The peculiarities of human speech are conformed to in the various particulars already mentioned. For instance, a metaphor is used in Deuteronomy 4:20: “The Lord hath brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt.” Here Egypt is metaphorically spoken of as an “iron furnace.” In Isaiah 8:7-8 the power of Assyria is likened to “the waters of a river.” Other examples could be given but these are sufficient to illustrate the metaphorical element in Scripture. It is a very different thing from the gratuitous and indiscriminating rule of interpretation which, by a process called “spiritualizing,” obliterates almost every original feature in the Bible, making the Word of God of none effect.</div> <div> Metaphors enrich the language of Scripture with the beauty of their hidden meaning, and many interesting and profitable hours can be spent in searching out their significance. As an example Isaiah 11:1 refers to Jesus as a “Branch” that would grow out of the roots of the house of David. According to the Hebraist, Parkhurst, the original word (Nehtzer) implies, “A plant, sucker, or young tree springing from the old root, and reserved or preserved when the tree is cut down.” What an apt illustration to describe Jesus. He came at a time when Jewry was spiritually dead, but in him the hope of Israel sprang forth to new life. Christianity was established, to flourish even when the old Jewish tree had been cut down in the destruction of the Jewish State by Rome in a.d. 70.</div> <bR> <div> <B>The Use of Symbol.</B></div> <div> In the Bible, symbols are often employed in what may be called political prophecy. In this case, events are represented in Hieroglyph. A beast is put for an empire, horns for kings, waters for people, rivers for nations, and so forth. Symbols can always be identified where they occur, and are always explicable on certain rules supplied by the context. The literal always remains the basis. The elementary principles of divine truth are communicated literally, whilst its deeper aspects are elaborated and illustrated metaphorically and symbolically. The one is the step to the other, and before the latter can be understood, we must understand the clear, literal teaching of the Bible. It is the alphabet of spiritual things, and the mind, established on this sound foundation, will be prepared to ascend to the comprehension of those deeper things of God which are concealed in enigmas, for the study of those who delight to search out His mind. Scattered throughout the Scriptures are sufficient interpretations of symbols so as to intelligently explain them (see, for example, Daniel 8:20; Daniel 7:24; Revelation 1:20; Jeremiah 1:11-15, etc.). Thus the Bible becomes its own interpreter to the one who is prepared to read and study it.</div> <bR> <div> <B>HELPS TO THE STUDY OF THE BIBLE</B></div> <div>      1.     There is no substitute for the Bible itself. It is its own interpreter and should be carefully and consistently read to be properly understood. Its teaching is the manna of life, and is alone capable of successfully guiding men and women along the path that leads to salvation. We therefore recommend the <I>Bible Companion</I> for an admirable plan of daily readings. If the system of reading there laid down is followed, the old Testament will be covered once, and the New twice in the course of a year. A free copy will be sent on application.</div> <div>      2.     A good Concordance is of great assistance in ascertaining the position of any given passage of Scripture. We recommend <I>Strong's</I>, <I>Young's</I> or <I>Cruden's</I> in that order, with particular emphasis on the first two.</div> <div>      3.     A good Bible Dictionary is helpful. <I>Unger's</I> is recommended, though we do not endorse all that is contained therein by any means. In fact, extreme care needs to be taken in the use of these books, as false ideas are by no means rare in their articles. The Dictionary is mainly helpful for historical, geographical, and archaeological information.</div> <div>      4.     A competent exposition, <I>Elpis Israel</I> (meaning “the Hope of Israel”) is recommended as being sound and helpful. <I>Christendom Astray from the Bible</I> (from which the above study has been adapted) is also highly recommended. We can supply copies of these works on loan if desired.</div> <div> <B>QUESTIONS TO STUDY No. 2</B></div> <div>      <I>1.</I>     <I>Who is the basis of all created matter?</I></div> <div>      <I>2.</I>     <I>What is a miracle?</I></div> <div>      <I>3.</I>     <I>Which incidence in Israel's history was once considered a myth, but has now been established as fact?</I></div> <div>      <I>4.</I>     <I>What can rightly be declared to be the greatest of miracles?</I></div> <div> <B>QUESTIONS TO STUDY No. 3</B></div> <div>      <I>1.</I>     <I>How must the main contents of the Bible be understood?</I></div> <div>      <I>2.</I>     <I>What is occasionally used in Scripture to garnish the literal record.</I></div> <div>      <I>3.</I>     <I> Name three figurative expressions that are used to describe the Messiah of Israel.</I></div> <div>      <I>4.</I>     <I>Which symbols are used in political prophecy as recorded in the Bible?</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>(4) The Fundamental Message of the Bible</I></div> <div> <B>The Basic Theme.</B></div> <div> Although the Bible is a library of sixty-six books, it has a basic theme that unites them as one, and provides the key that will unlock the deeper secrets of this wonderful Book.</div> <div> In Scripture it is termed “the Gospel,” a word that literally means good news.<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >*</FONT> It is styled “the Gospel of God” because it is a good message emanating from Him. It announces a good time coming, when “all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord” (Num. 14:21).</div> <div> The Gospel was associated by Christ with the establishment of a Kingdom in a time appointed of God. His mission was to preach “the gospel (good tidings) of the Kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14). He called on all men to “believe these good tidings,” and announced himself as the King of the Kingdom they proclaimed (John 18:37). So much did he preach about this Kingdom that the people became impatient, and sought to “take Him by force and make him King.” But he would not permit it, “and because they thought that the kingdom of God was immediately to appear, He spake a parable to them” (Luke 19:11). He gave them to understand that before the kingdom could be established, he must first take a journey into a far country to receive his full authority, and then to return; when he would bestow upon his servants power over the cities of the world (Luke 19:11-26). According to this arrangement, Jesus was crucified, rose from the dead (Acts 2:23-24), and took his departure, when he ascended to the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens (Acts 1:9-11), where he is now. He has not yet received the kingdom, glory and dominion, or he would have already returned. In the time appointed (new near at hand) he will return, to establish upon the earth his kingdorn, and to rule as King over all mankind (Acts 3:20-21; Zech. 14:9).</div> <div> <B>The Gospel As Taught By The Apostles.</B></div> <div> The Apostles were sent forth to preach the same “good tidings” unto mankind. “Go ye into the world, and preach the gospel,” they were told, “he that believeth and is baptised shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). They were to be very careful only to preach the “good tidings” which had been divinely revealed to them. Paul used very strong language on this point. He declared: “Though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8).</div> <div> If an apostle was not exempt from the curse of God if he preached a perverted gospel, what are we to say of those who, under the cloak of religion, preach fables in the name of Christ, such as the immortality of the soul, heaven going at death, and similar theories? The curse of God has rested on Christendom because it has perverted His teaching. Its history is one of discord, trouble and bloodshed; true peace it knows not.</div> <div> Some believe that the Gospel comprehends only the work of reconciliation between God and man effected by the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. But the term was associated by Christ himself, with the establishment of a Kingdom in a time appointed of God, and this is confirmed by his instructions to the disciples. During his lifetime upon the earth, he sent them forth to preach the Gospel (Luke 9:6), instructing them, however, that they were not to tell men of his coming decease until after his resurrection (Luke 9:20-22). Thus the Gospel preached by the disciples at that time did not include matters concerning the sacrificial mission of the Lord.</div> <div> The Gospel, therefore, is prophetic of the purpose of God in the earth. It was styled by the Apostles, “the good tidings of Christ” (Rom. 15:19), the “good tidings of God” (Rom. 1:1), and the “good tidings of peace” (Eph. 6:15). Paul taught that the Gospel bad its roots in the Old Testament, and in its simplest form could be expressed in seven words. He wrote: “God … preached the Gospel (good tidings) unto Abraham, saying: “In thee shall all nations be blessed” (Gal. 3:8).<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >*</FONT> epitomise the purpose of God. They centre attention on earth and not heaven as the arena where His purpose will be manifested. They teach that He intends to intervene in world affairs and establish a Kingdom under the rulership of Christ which will bring blessings of peace and righteousness to men everywhere. In the same chapter (vv. 26-28), the Apostle shows also that God is calling men to Him by the power of the Gospel, that they may be the associates of Christ in the day of His glory, when He shall reign from Jerusalem (Jeremiah 3:17) over the whole world (Daniel 2:44).</div> <div> The establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth with Christ as King, comprised the “good things” of both Old and New Testaments.</div> <div> This is shown by the following quotations:</div> <div> <B>“The Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations” (Isa. 61:11).</B></div> <div> <B>“He (Christ) shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares nation shall not lift up a sword against nation neither shall they learn war any more” (Micah 4:3).</B></div> <div> <B>“The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44).</B></div> <div> <B>“I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed” (Ezekiel 39:21).</B></div> <div> <B>“In his days (the days of Christ) shall the righteous flourish and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth” (Psalm 72:7).</B></div> <div> <B>“The Lord shall be king over all the earth” (Zechariah 14:9).</B></div> <div> <B>“The desire of all nations shall come” (Haggai 2:7).</B></div> <div> <B>“The Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel” (Joel 3:16).</B></div> <div> <B>“The knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters do the sea” (Habbakuk 2:14).</B></div> <div> <B>“The law shall go forth out of Von, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:2-4).</B></div> <div> <B>“In that day Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord” (Jeremiah 3:17).</B></div> <div> Hundreds of similar references could be quoted from different parts of the Bible, for all its sixty-six books proclaim the same grand message. Christ, the Apostles, and the Prophets were all united in one great hope. They looked forward to coming changes in human affairs when the evils of man's rule will be replaced by the wise administration of a theocracy ruled over by the Lord Jesus and his resurrected and immortalised followers, This will bring about such an alteration in human relationships, as to cause men to become a mutual blessing instead of a mutual curse as at the present.</div> <div> The meek will then inherit the earth as Christ promised (Matthew 5:5), peace will universally prevail (Psalm 72:7), and the good tidings of the Gospel will find their fulfilment in the conditions that will then be established. The prophet taught:</div> <div> <B>“He (Christ) shall not fail, nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth, and the isles shall wait for his law” (Isaiah 42:4).</B></div> <div> <B>How The Gospel Message Was Perverted.</B></div> <div> Following the death of the Apostles, the teaching of the Gospel was gradually perverted by churches that fell into apostasy. Paul had predicted that this would be the case. He wrote:</div> <div> <B>“The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).</B></div> <div> It is not difficult to trace this decline in history, and to see that the divided state of Christendom today is an heritage from such.</div> <div> Gibbon in The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire (Chapter 15) traced this decline. He declared that originally the Christians believed in the millennial reign of Christ on earth. Belief in this thousand years' reign of Christ “was carefully inculcated by a succession of fathers from Justin Martyr and Irenaeus, who conversed with the immediate disciples of the apostles, down to Lactantins, who was preceptor to the son of Constantine.”</div> <div> In short, Gibbon clearly states that evidence shows that the early believers looked forward to the physical and visible return of Christ to set up on earth the Kingdom of God.</div> <div> These early believers, he declared: “Intimately connected the millenium with the second coming of Christ.” They taught that “Christ, with the triumphant band of saints and the elect who had escaped death or who bad been miraculously revived, would reign upon earth.”</div> <div> This doctrine is clearly taught in Scripture, as the quotations we have advanced above show.</div> <div> But, today, it is not taught by the churches.</div> <div> They have inherited the results of a drift from this original Apostolic teaching.</div> <div> Gibbon records:</div> <div> <B>“But when the edifice of the church was almost completed, the the doctrine temporary support was laid aside. the doctrine of Christ's reign upon the earth found allegory, was considered by degrees as a doubtful and useless opinion, and was at length rejected as the absurd invention of heresy and fanaticism.”</B></div> <div> How significant is this statement of the historians, in view of the prediction of the Bible itself. It predicts:</div> <div> <B>“There shalt come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?” (2 Peter 3:4).</B></div> <div> This is the attitude adopted by many so-called Christians today, who thus fail to appreciate the key to the understanding of the Bible, and failing to understand the book, lose interest in its glorious, life-giving message.</div> <div> Unfortunately, in so doing, they follow their religious leaders, to whom the words of Christ can surely apply:</div> <div> <B>“Woe unto you! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men” (Matthew 23:13).</B></div> <div> They do this by distorting the teaching of the Bible, and closing men's minds against its teaching.</div> <div> <B>QUESTIONS TO STUDY No. 4</B></div> <div>      <I>1.</I>     <I>What is the basic theme of the Bible?</I></div> <div>      <I>2.</I>     <I>What is the Gospel? (Paul defines it in seven words!)</I></div> <div>      <I>3.</I>     <I>Is the Gospel taught in the Old Testament? Give Bible references to support this.</I></div> <div>      <I>4.</I>     <I>What dramatic changes will Jesus Christ bring to the world when he returns?</I></div> <div>      <I>5.</I>     <I>What is to be understood under the expression “the millennial reign of Christ”?</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>SUMMARY</B></div> <div> The fundamental message of the Bible is the Gospel, which signifies “good news” or “glad tidings”.</div> <div> The Gospel announces a time of blessing for all nations (Galatians 3:8).</div> <div> It concerns the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth (Mark 1:14; Luke 4:43; Luke 8:1; Daniel 2:44).</div> <div> Christ will be its King (Luke 1:32-33), reigning from Jerusalem (Jeremiah 3:17). The scope of his reign will be world-wide (Zechariah 14:9). He will be assisted by his resurrected and immortalised followers who shall reign with him “on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10).</div> <div> Current political and social conditions will be drastically altered to provide for the following:</div> <div>      •     The abolition of war and establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 2:2-4).</div> <div>      •     The removal of fear and insecurity from civil life (Micah 4:4).</div> <div>      •     The overthrow of all tyrants and oppressors (Psalm 72:4).</div> <div>      •     The establishment of a universal Empire on earth (Revelation 11:15).</div> <div>      •     The equitable distribution of the world's produce (Isaiah 23:18).</div> <div>      •     The manifestation of justice and goodwill among men (Luke 2:14).</div> <div>      •     The establishment of one universal religion in all the earth (Zephaniah 3:8-9).</div> <div>      •     A new educational system based upon Divine principles (Isaiah 33:6).</div> <div>      •     The uplifting of humanity mentally morally, and socially (Isaiah 11).</div> <div>      •     The restraining of sin (Isaiah 30:18-21).</div> <div>      •     The elevation of God's way as supreme (Isaiah 60).</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>