Importance Of Sound Doctrine
Ezra Reading The Law. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." 1 Thess. 5:21.
1. Does it matter what one believes, so long as he is sincere?
“God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” 2 Thess. 2:13.
NOTE.—Doctrine affects the life. Truth leads to life and God; error to death and destruction. No one would think of saying it matters not what god one worships, so long as he is sincere, any more than he would think of saying it matters not what one eats or drinks, so long as he relishes what he eats and drinks; or what road he travels, so long as he thinks he is on the right road. Sincerity is a virtue; but it is not the test of sound doctrine. God wills that we shall know the truth, and He has made provision whereby we may know what is truth.
2. Did Joshua think it immaterial what God Israel served?
“Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14, 15.
NOTE.—The influence of all idolatrous worship is degrading. See Rom. 1:21-32; Numbers 15; 1 Cor. 10:20; 1 John 5:21.
3. How may we determine the truthfulness of any doctrine?
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thess. 5:21.
4. By what should we test, or prove, all doctrine?
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20.
NOTE.—The Bible is the test of all doctrine. Whatever does not harmonize and square with this, is not to be received. “There is but one standard of the everlastingly right and the everlastingly wrong, and that is the Bible.”—T. DE WITT TALMAGE.
5. Of what kind of doctrines should we beware?
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.” Eph. 4:14. See also Heb. 13:9.
6. What is a “wind of doctrine”?
“And the prophets shall become wind; and the word is not in them.” Jer. 5:13.
NOTE.—Calling a doctrine a wind of doctrine does not make it such. That is a wind of doctrine which is not sustained by the Word of God.
7. For what is all scripture profitable?
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine.” 2 Tim. 3:16.
8. What advice was given to Timothy while preparing for the gospel ministry?
“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.... Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine.” 1 Tim. 4:13-16.
9. What solemn charge was given him concerning his public work?
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; Preach the word; ... reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.” 2 Tim. 4:1, 2.
10. Why did the apostle say this duty was so imperative?
“For 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.” Verses 3, 4.
11. What similar instruction was given to Titus?
“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: ... in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity.” Titus 2:1-7.
12. What will sound doctrine enable the faithful teacher to do?
“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” Titus 1:9.
13. What danger attends the teaching of false doctrine?
“Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.” 2 Tim. 2:18.
14. Who are the disciples of Jesus, and what gracious work does the truth do for those who receive it?
“If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31, 32.
15. Through what are they to be sanctified?
“Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.” John 17:17.
16. What kind of worship results from false teaching?
“But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt. 15:9.
17. Can we close our ears to truth, and remain innocent before God?
“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Prov. 28:9.
18. What did Christ say of those who will to do God’s will?
“If any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it be of God, or whether I speak from Myself.” John 7:17, R. V. See also Ps. 25: 9; John 8:12.
19. What will God allow to come to those who reject truth?
“Because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thess. 2:10-12.
20. By what doctrines are some to be misled in the last days?
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1 Tim. 4:1. See 2 Peter 2:1.
21. What fate awaits blind teachers and their followers?
“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Matt. 15:14.
22. To whom will the gates of the heavenly city finally be opened?
“Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.” Isa. 26:2. See also Rev. 22:14.
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Truth is the gem for which we seek, O tell us where shall it be found! For this we search, and pray, and weep, That truth may in our hearts abound.
We want the truth on every point, We want it all to practise by; Do thou, O Lord, our eyes anoint With a fresh unction from on high. CHARLOTTE HASKINS.
Present Truth
Nehemiah Viewing The Ruins Of Jerusalem. "And they said, Let us rise up and build." Neh. 2:18.
1. By what are men sanctified?
“Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.” John 17:17.
2. To what knowledge would God have all men come?
“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim. 2:4.
3. After receiving a knowledge of the truth, what must one do in order to be sanctified by it?
“God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” 2 Thess. 2:13.
4. And what besides a mere belief in the truth is necessary?
“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience.” 1 Peter 1:2.
5. What effect does obedience to the truth have?
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit.” Verse 22.
6. How should the truth ever be cherished?
“Buy the truth, and sell it not.” Prov. 23:23.
NOTE.—That is, buy the truth at whatever sacrifice or cost, and sell it under no consideration.
7. Does the Bible recognize what may be called “present truth”?
“Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.” 2 Peter 1:12.
NOTE.—Some truths are applicable in all ages, and are therefore present truth for every generation; others are of a special character, and are applicable to only one generation. They are none the less important, however, because of this; for upon their acceptance or rejection depends the salvation or loss of the people of that generation. Of this kind was Noah’s message of a coming flood. To the generation to whom it was preached that message was present truth; to later generations it has been past truth, and not a present, testing message. Similarly, had the first advent message of John the Baptist, of the Messiah at hand, been proclaimed in the generation either before or after John’s time, it would not have been applicable—would not have been present truth. The people of the generation before would not have lived to see it fulfilled, and to those living after, it would have been wrongly timed. Not so with general truths, such as love, faith, hope, repentance, obedience, justice, and mercy. These are always in season, and of a saving nature at all times. Present truths, however, always include all these, and hence are saving in character, and of vital importance.
8. What was the special message for Noah’s day?
“And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopherwood.” Gen. 6:13, 14.
9. How did Noah show his faith in this message?
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Heb. 11:7.
10. How many were saved in the ark?
“The long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” 1 Peter 3:20.
NOTE.—Doubtless many who were lost in the flood held, in a nominal way, to faith in God; but the test as to the genuineness of this came with Noah’s special message; and the difference between their faith and his was made plain when they rejected the saving truth for that time,—the warning message concerning the coming flood.
11. What special message was given to Jonah for Nineveh?
“So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.... And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” Jonah 3:3, 4.
12. What saved the people from the predicted overthrow?
“So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.... And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them; and He did it not.” Verses 5-10. See Jer. 18:7-10.
NOTE.—So likewise would God have spared the antediluvian world had they received Noah’s message, and turned from their evil ways.
13. What was the special mission of John the Baptist?
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe.” John 1:6, 7.
14. What answer did he return when asked concerning his mission?
“He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.” Verse 23.
15. What did Christ say of those who rejected John’s message?
“But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.” Luke 7:30.
16. What did those do who were baptized of John?
“And all the people that heard Him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.” Verse 29.
NOTE.—That is, they honored God by this act, which showed their faith in His truth for that time.
17. Did God’s chosen people receive Christ when He came?
“He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” John 1:11.
18. What reason did they give for not receiving Him?
“We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence He is.” John 9:29.
NOTE.—That was the trouble; they had no faith in anything new. They knew that God spoke by Moses: it required little faith to believe that. They felt perfectly safe in accepting him, for everything had demonstrated that he was sent of God. All could see that. But here was One whom, although He had come in fulfilment of the prophecies of Moses and the prophets as their long-looked-for Messiah, they felt there was a risk in accepting, because they did not understand the prophecies relating to Him, and time had not worked out to their satisfaction the truthfulness of His claims. It required too much faith, as against their desire to walk by sight, to accept Christ. It also called for a change of views in some things, and a reformation in life. So they rejected Him. They believed in the flood, faith in which had saved Noah; they believed in Elijah also, and professed faith in all the prophets; but when it came to this special truth for their time, they refused to accept it. Thus it has been in all ages, and thus we may expect it to continue to be to the end.
19. How did Christ say those who rejected Him reasoned?
“Ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous, and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.” Matt. 23:29, 30.
NOTE.—While they condemned the action of their fathers in slaying the prophets whom God had sent with messages of reproof and warning applicable to those times, they soon filled up the measure of the iniquity of their fathers by putting to death the Son of God. This showed that they would have done as did their fathers had they lived in their day. Thus we see that present truths are testing truths.
20. What was the result of the Jews’ not accepting Christ?
“And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.” Luke 19:41, 42. “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Matt. 23:38.
21. Is there to be a special message for the last days?
“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?” Matt. 24:44, 45.
NOTE.—In the last days a message will go forth which will be “meat in due season” to the people. This must be the warning concerning the Lord’s soon coming, and the preparation necessary to meet Him. Because such a message was not always preached, is no evidence that it is not now to be proclaimed. In his farewell address to the Pilgrim Fathers on their departure from Holland for America, John Robinson said: “The Lord knoweth whether I shall ever see your faces more; but whether the Lord hath appointed that or not, I charge you before God and His blessed angels to follow me no farther than I have followed Christ. If God should reveal anything to you by any other instrument of His, be as ready to receive it as you ever were to receive any truth by my ministry; for I am very confident that the Lord hath more truth and light yet to break forth out of His Holy Word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the Reformed churches, who are come to a period in religion, and will go no farther than the instruments of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go any farther than what Luther saw; and the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all things. This is a misery much to be lamented; for though they were burning and shining lights in their time, yet they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God, but were they now living, would be as willing to embrace further light as that which they first received.”
22. What does Christ say of that servant who, when He comes, is found giving “meat in due season”?
“Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” Verse 46.
NOTES.—The coming of Christ in glory has been the hope of the faithful in all ages.
Luther declared: “I persuade myself verily, that the day of judgment will not be absent full three hundred years. God will not, cannot, suffer this wicked world much longer. The great day is drawing near in which the kingdom of abominations shall be overthrown.”
Melanchthon said: “This aged world is not far from its end.”
Calvin bade Christians “not to hesitate, ardently desiring the day of Christ’s coming as of all events most auspicious;” and declared that “the whole human family of the faithful will keep in view that day.” “We must hunger after Christ, we must seek, contemplate,” he adds, “till the dawning of that great day, when our Lord will fully manifest the glory of His kingdom.”
Said Knox, the Scotch Reformer: “Has not our Lord Jesus carried up our flesh into heaven? and shall He not return? We know that He shall return, and that with expedition.”
Ridley and Latimer, who laid down their lives for the truth, looked in faith for the Lord’s coming. Ridley wrote: “The world without doubt—this I do believe, and therefore I say it—draws to an end.”
Said Baxter: “The thoughts of the coming of the Lord are most sweet and joyful to me. It is the work of faith and the character of His saints to love His appearing, and to look for that blessed hope.”
23. What will be the burden of the closing gospel message?
“Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.... Babylon is fallen, is fallen.... If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.” Rev. 14:7-10.
24. How are those described who accept this message?
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Verse 12.
25. How earnestly is this work to be prosecuted?
“And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” Luke 14:23.
NOTE.—This work is now going on. In every part of the world the sound of this closing gospel message is being heard, and the people are being urged to accept it, and to prepare for Christ’s coming and kingdom. See readings on pages 251-263.
The Obedience Of Faith
Abraham Entering The Promised Land. "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out ... obeyed." Heb. 11:8.
1. What did the Lord command Abraham to do?
“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee.” Gen. 12:1.
2. How did Abraham respond to this command?
“So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.” Verse 4.
3. Of what was Abraham’s obedience the fruit?
“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Heb. 11:8, R. V.
4. What command did the Lord later give to Abraham?
“And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him therefor a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” Gen. 22:2.
5. Upon what ground were the previous promises then renewed to Abraham?
“And said, By Myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the world be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice.” Verses 16-18.
6. What enabled Abraham to endure the test?
“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.” Heb. 11:17.
7. Of what were the works of Abraham an evidence?
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” James 2:21.
8. By his works what was shown to be perfect?
“Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” Verse 22.
9. In what statement of the scripture was Abraham’s obedience really implied?
“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” Verse 23.
10. What kind of faith avails with God?
“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Gal. 5:6.
NOTE.—The faith which justifies is the faith which works. Those who say, and do not, are not men of faith. The obedience which is pleasing to God is the fruit of that faith which takes God at His word, and submits to the working of His power, being fully assured that what He has promised He is able also to perform. This is the faith which is reckoned for righteousness. See Rom. 4:21, 22.
11. For what purpose is the mystery of the gospel made manifest?
“But now [the mystery] is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.” Rom. 16:26.
12. For what purpose is the grace of Christ received?
“Through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for His name’s sake.” Rom. 1:5, R. V.
13. What example of obedience has Christ set for us?
“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil. 2:8.
14. At what cost did even He learn the lesson of obedience?
“Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.” Heb. 5:8.
15. To whom did Christ become the author of salvation?
“And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.” Verse 9.
16. How complete should this obedience be?
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5.
17. What effect did the preaching of the apostles have upon the hearers?
“And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:7.
18. What effect did the preaching of the apostle Paul have upon the Gentiles?
“For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed.” Rom. 15:18.
19. How highly does God regard obedience?
“And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to harken than the fat of rams.” 1 Sam. 15:22.
20. With what sins are rebellion and stubbornness classed?
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.” Verse 23.
Ruth And Naomi. "Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." Ruth 1:16.
21. Whose voice had more weight with Saul than had the commandment of God?
“And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.” Verse 24.
22. What charge did Jesus bring against the Pharisees?
“And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Mark 7:9.
NOTE.—Human tradition is simply the voice of man preserved in the church. To follow the traditions of men instead of obeying the commandments of God is to repeat the sin of Saul.
23. What will be the fate of those who do not obey the gospel of Christ?
“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thess. 1:7, 8.
24. What condition is attained in obeying the truth?
“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” 1 Peter 1:22.
25. What promise is made to the obedient?
“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” Isa. 1:19.
26. Whose example are we urged to imitate?
“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Heb. 6:12.
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To obey is better than sacrifice, the Lord hath said; To harken when He commandeth, than an offering made.
All ye who say, “There is naught to do since Christ doth save,” Remember what He commands you in the Book He gave.
Remember only the doers of the word are blessed; ’Tis well to hear and believe it, but to do is best.
F. E. BELDEN.
IV. LIFE, PARABLES, AND MIRACLES OF CHRIST
Immanuel—God With Us. "In the beginning was the Word.... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." John 1:1-14. "He Was Wounded For Our Transgressions, He Was Bruised For Our Iniquities: The Chastisement Of Our Peace Was Upon Him; And With His Stripes We Are Healed." Isa. 53:5.
Birth, Childhood, And Early Life Of Christ
The Flight Into Egypt. "Arise, ... and flee into Egypt." Matt. 2:13.
1. In what promise was a Saviour from sin first revealed?
“And the Lord said unto the serpent, ... I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.” Gen. 3:14, 15.
2. Through whom was a restoration of the lost dominion promised to Abraham?
“To thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.” Gen. 13:15.
3. Who was this promised seed?
“He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” Gal. 3:16.
4. Where was Christ to be born?
“And ... he [Herod] demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea.” Matt. 2:4-6. See Micah 5:2.
5. Of whom was Christ to be born?
“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isa. 7:14.
NOTE.—Immanuel means “God with us.” See Matt. 1:23.
6. Before His birth, what did the angel say to Joseph concerning the naming of the child?
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21.
7. At His birth, what message did the angel bring to the shepherds abiding in the field?
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10, 11.
8. In what song of praise did a host of angels join?
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Verses 13, 14.
9. What prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled at Christ’s birth?
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder.” Isa. 9:6.
10. What did the prophet say His name should be called?
“And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end.” Verses 6, 7.
11. What did the devout Simeon say when he saw the child Jesus?
“And when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law, then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.” Luke 2:27-32.
12. How did the aged prophetess Anna express herself at the sight of Jesus?
“And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” Verse 38.
13. What did the wise men of the East do when they had found Jesus?
“When they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Matt. 2:11.
The Visit Of The Shepherds. "And they came with haste, and found ... the babe lying in a manger." Luke 2:16.
14. How came Jesus to live for a time in Egypt?
“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child, and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him.” Verse 13.
15. How does the revelator describe this satanic desire to destroy Christ?
“And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.” Rev. 12:4.
16. By what means did Herod seek to destroy Christ?
“Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under.” Matt. 2:16.
17. After Herod’s death, where did Joseph and his family live?
“And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.” Verse 23.
18. What is said of Christ’s childhood and early life?
“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him.... And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.” Luke 2:40-51.
19. Upon returning from a feast at Jerusalem, how came Joseph and Mary to lose Jesus when He was twelve years old?
“But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him.” Verses 44, 45.
NOTE.—This is how many lose Jesus today. They suppose He is in their company, but do not see to it that He is with them personally. Through carelessness it takes but a day to lose Him; but, when once lost, it sometimes takes days of sorrowful searching, as it did Joseph and Mary, to find Him again.
20. What was Jesus doing when they found Him?
“And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.” Verse 46.
21. How did His questions and answers impress those who heard Him?
“And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.” Verse 47.
22. With what words do the Scriptures conclude the record of Christ’s early life?
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Verse 52.
NOTE.—Christ’s early life is a pattern for all children and youth. It was marked by respect and love for His mother. He was obedient to His parents, and kind to all. He hated sin, and to every temptation turned a deaf ear. He sought to understand the reason of things, and so increased in knowledge and wisdom. He was sympathetic and tender-hearted, and ever ready to relieve the oppressed, the sorrowing, and the suffering. If we love Christ, we shall love to talk of Him; our sweetest thoughts will be of Him; and by beholding Him we shall be changed into the same image. See note on page 98.
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All praise to Thee, eternal Lord, Clothed in a garb of flesh and blood; Choosing a manger for Thy throne, While worlds on worlds are Thine alone!
Once did the skies before Thee bow; A virgin’s arms contain Thee now: Angels, who did in Thee rejoice, Now listen to Thine infant voice.
A little child, Thou art our guest, That weary ones in Thee may rest; Forlorn and lowly is Thy birth, That we may rise to heaven from earth.
Thou comest in the darksome night To make us children of the light; To make us, in the realms divine, Like Thine own angels round Thee shine.
All this for us Thy love hath done; By this to Thee our life is won; For this we tune our cheerful lays, And tell our thanks in songs of praise.
MARTIN LUTHER.
Christ’s Ministry
Nazareth. "Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil." Acts 10:38.
1. With what words had John the Baptist announced Christ’s ministry?
“He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” Matt. 3:11.
2. How old was Jesus when He began His ministry?
“And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age.” Luke 3:23.
3. By what act and what miraculous manifestations was His ministry opened?
“And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him: and there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Mark 1:9-11.
4. Before entering upon His ministry, through what experience did Jesus pass?
“And immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto Him.” Verses 12, 13. See also Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13.
5. With what was Jesus anointed for His work?
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.” Acts 10:38.
6. Where did Jesus begin His ministry?
“And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of Him through all the region round about. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.” Luke 4:14, 15.
7. How did He announce His mission while at Nazareth?
“And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.... And He began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Verses 16-21.
8. How were the people impressed with His preaching?
“And all bare Him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.” Verse 22.
9. Why were the people at Capernaum astonished at His teaching?
“And [He] came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the Sabbath days. And they were astonished at His doctrine: for His word was with power.” Verses 31, 32.
10. Wherein did His teaching differ from that of the scribes?
“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matt. 7:28, 29.
11. How did the common people receive Christ?
“And the common people heard Him gladly.” Mark 12:37.
12. In His ministry, what work was closely associated with His preaching?
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” Matt. 4:23.
NOTE.—In His ministry, Christ combined plain, practical teaching with practical, helpful relief work.
13. How extensive was His fame, and how many were attracted to Him?
“And His fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them. And there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.” Verses 24, 25.
14. What expression used frequently in narrating His ministry shows Christ’s deep sympathy with mankind?
“But when He saw the multitude, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.” Matt. 9:36; 14:14.
15. In what few words did Christ sum up the object of His ministry?
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.
16. How did Christ feel over the impenitence of Jerusalem?
“And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it.” Luke 19:41.
NOTE.—In no other place did Christ appear so much a reformer as in Jerusalem, the headquarters of the Jewish religion, which religion, though having come from Christ Himself, had degenerated into mere formalism and a round of ceremony. Both the beginning and the close of His ministry here was marked by a cleansing of the temple. See John 2:13-18 and Matt. 21:12-16.
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O blessed Christ! my Strength, my King, He is my comfort and my stay; In Him I hope, of Him I sing, While toiling o’er life’s rugged way. Chiefest among ten thousand He, For Christ, my King, is all to me.
MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE.
Christ The Great Teacher
Christ Teaching The Multitude. "Never man spake like this man." John 7:46.
1. What report did the officers bring who were sent out by the chief priests and Pharisees to take Jesus?
“Never man spake like this man.” John 7:46.
2. How did Christ teach the people?
“He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matt. 7:29.
NOTE.—“The teaching of the scribes and elders was cold and formal, like a lesson learned by rote. To them the Word of God possessed no vital power. Their own ideas and traditions were substituted for its teaching. In the accustomed round of service they professed to explain the law, but no inspiration from God stirred their own hearts or the hearts of their hearers.”
3. Why was Christ’s preaching so impressive?
“For His word was with power.” Luke 4:32.
4. With what was He filled?
“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” Verse 1.
5. How freely was the Holy Spirit bestowed upon Him?
“For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.” John 3:34.
6. How had Christ’s teaching by parables been foretold?
“I will open My mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old.” Ps. 78:2.
7. How was this fulfilled?
“Without a parable spake He not unto them.” Matt. 13:34.
8. What question did Christ’s wonderful teaching call forth?
“And when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?” Verse 54.
9. What did Isaiah say Christ would do with the law?
“He will magnify the law, and make it honorable.” Isa. 42:21.
10. Because some thought He had come to destroy the law, what did Christ say?
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 5:17-20.
11. What testimony did Nicodemus bear concerning Him?
“Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.” John 3:2.
12. What did Christ’s words at Jacob’s well lead the woman of Samaria to ask?
“The woman then left her water-pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?” John 4:28, 29.
13. How were the two on the way to Emmaus affected by Christ’s conversation with them?
“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32.
14. In His teaching, to what did Christ direct attention?
“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.” “And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures.” Verses 27, 44, 45.
15. How did He encourage His disciples to look for the fulfilment of prophecy?
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains.” Matt. 24:15, 16.
NOTE.—Christ was a faithful student, a consistent user, and a perfect expounder, of the Scriptures. He met temptation with the Scriptures; He proved His Messiahship by the Scriptures; He taught from the Scriptures; and He told His disciples to look to the Scriptures as their counselor and guide for the future.
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Blest they who seek While in their youth, With spirit meek, The way of truth. To them the Sacred Scriptures now display Christ as the only true and living way; His precious blood on Calvary was given To make them heirs of bliss in heaven. And e’en on earth the child of God can trace The blessings of his Saviour’s grace. For them He bore His Father’s frown; For them He wore The thorny crown; Nailed to the cross, Endured its pain, That His life’s loss Might be their gain. Then haste to choose That better part, Nor e’en refuse The Lord thy heart, Lest He declare, “I know you not,” And deep despair Should be your lot. Now look to Jesus, who on Calvary died, And trust on Him who there was crucified.
Parables Of Christ
Lessons From Nature. "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow." Matt. 6:28.
1. What reference is made in the Psalms to Christ’s use of parables?
“I will open My mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old.” Ps. 78:2.
NOTE.—A parable primarily means a comparison or similitude; specifically it is a short story or narrative drawn from life or nature, by means of which some important lesson is taught, or some moral drawn.
2. From what sources did Christ usually draw His parables?
From nature and from every-day experiences.
3. For what are His parables noted?
“Our Saviour’s parables are distinguished above all others for clearness, purity, chasteness, intelligibility, importance of instruction, and simplicity. They are taken mostly from the affairs of common life, and are intelligible, therefore, to all men.”—Dr. Albert Barnes, on Matt. 13:3.
4. Following one of His parables, what did Christ say?
“Who hath ears to hear let him hear.” Matt. 13:9.
5. What question did the disciples then ask?
“And the disciples came, and said unto Him, Why speakest Thou unto them in parables?” Verse 10.
6. What reply did Christ make?
“He answered and said unto them, _Because it is given unto __ you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven_, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” Verses 11-13.
NOTE.—Christ’s object, therefore, in using parables was to teach the mysteries, or truths, of the kingdom of heaven,—truths not necessarily difficult to understand, but which had long been hidden or obscured by sin, apostasy, and tradition,—in such a way that the spiritually minded and those desirous of learning the truth, might understand them, and the worldly-minded and unwilling would not. When asked the meaning of any parable, Christ readily explained it to His disciples. See Luke 8:9-15; Matt. 13:36-43; Mark 4:33,34.
7. After giving instruction by the use of parables, what question did Christ ask His disciples?
“Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto Him, Yea, Lord.” Verse 51.
8. How extensively did Christ make use of parables?
“All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake He not unto them.” Verse 34.
NOTE.—Parables are simply stories. All, young and old, like to hear a story. Story-telling is one of the most successful means of awakening an interest, securing attention, and teaching, illustrating, and enforcing important truths. Christ, the greatest of all teachers, recognized this, and therefore made constant use of this method of instruction. See reading on “Preaching the Gospel,” page 631.
9. How did Christ suggest that His disciples follow His example in teaching gospel truth?
“Then said He unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” Verse 52.
10. Which are some of the most touching and soul-winning of Christ’s parables?
The parable of the lost sheep, and that of the prodigal son. Luke 15:3-7, 11-32.
NOTE.—Each parable is designed to teach some one great and important truth. The first twelve in the list here given are intended to teach the following lessons, respectively: (1) Good and evil in life and judgment. (2) Value of the gospel. (3) Seeking salvation. (4) The visible church of Christ. (5) Truths new and old. (6) Duty of forgiving others. (7) Call at various epochs. (8) Insincerity and repentance. (9) Need of righteousness. (10) Watchful and careful profession. (11) Use of abilities. (12) Final separation of good and bad.
Christ’s Parables
Parables Locality Matt. Mark Luke I. Recorded in only one Gospel The Tares Gennesaret 13:24-30 The hid treasure 13:44 The goodly pearl 13:45,46 The draw-net 13:47-50 Householder and 13:52 treasure The unmerciful servant Capernaum 18:23-35 Laborers in the Jerusalem 20:1-16 vineyard The two sons 21:28-32 Marriage of the king’s Mt. of 22:1-14 son Olives The ten virgins 25:1-13 The ten talents 25:14-30 The sheep and goats 25:31-46 The seed growing Gennesaret 4:26-29 secretly Householder and 13:34-37 servants The two debtors Galilee 7:40-47 The good Samaritan Jerusalem 10:25-37 The friend at midnight 11:5-13 The rich fool 12:16-21 The wedding-feast 12:35-40 The wise steward 12:42-48 The barren fig-tree 13:6-9 The seat to take 14:7-11 The great supper 14:15-24 Tower; king going to 14:28-33 war The piece of money 15:8-10 The prodigal son 15:11-32 The unjust steward 16:1-12 Rich man and Lazarus 16:19-31 The unprofitable 17:7-10 servant The importunate widow 18:1-8 Pharisee and publican 18:9-14 The pounds 19:11-27 II. Recorded in two Gospels House on rock and sand Galilee 7:24-27 6:47-49 The leaven in meal Gennesaret 13:33 13:20,21 The lost sheep Jerusalem 18:12-14 15:3-7 III. Recorded in three Gospels New cloth on old Capernaum 9:16 2:21 5:36 garment New wine in old 9:17 2:22 5:37 bottles The sower Gennesaret 13:3-9 4:3-9 8:4-15 The mustard-seed 13:31,32 4:30-32 13:18,19 The wicked husbandmen Jerusalem 21:33-43 12:1-9 20:9-16 The fig-tree Mt. of 24:32,33 13:28,29 21:29-31 Olives
Miracles Of Christ
Healing The Lunatic. "A man approved of God ... by miracles and wonders." Acts 2:22.
1. What testimony did the chief priests and Pharisees bear concerning Christ’s work?
“Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.” John 11:47.
2. By what did Peter, on the day of Pentecost, say that Christ had been approved by God?
“Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.” Acts 2:22.
3. By what means did Christ claim to cast out devils?
“But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.” Luke 11:20. Matt. 12:28 says “by the Spirit of God.”
NOTE.—Under the third plague in Egypt,—that of turning the dust into lice,—the magicians, failing to duplicate it, said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” Ex. 8:18, 19.
4. Upon what ground did Nicodemus rest his belief that Christ was a teacher from God?
“Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.” John 3:2.
5. After the healing of the blind man, upon what charge did some of the Pharisees seek to prove that Christ was not of God?
“Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because He keepeth not the Sabbath day.” John 9:16, first part.
NOTE.—This was a false charge. Christ did keep the Sabbath, but not according to the Pharisees’ idea of Sabbath-keeping. See reading on “Christ and the Sabbath,” page 430.
6. What question did others raise in opposition to this view?
“Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.” Same verse, last part.
7. What was the result of Christ’s working miracles at His first Passover?
“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast-day, many believed in His name, when they saw the miracles which He did.” John 2:23.
8. What question did the performing of these miracles lead many to ask?
“And many of the people believed on Him, and said, When Christ cometh, will He do more miracles than these which this man hath done?” John 7:31.
9. Why were many attracted to Christ?
“A great multitude followed Him, because they saw His miracles which He did on them that were diseased.” John 6:2.
NOTE.—A miracle is the display of divine or superhuman power in some unusual or extraordinary manner; hence its nature to attract attention. Christ fed the five thousand with the multiplied loaves and fishes, and all men wondered. Every day God feeds millions of humanity with the multiplied fruits of the earth, and no one marvels. Christ, by a shortened process, changed water into wine, and everybody was astonished; but every year God does this in the usual way—through the vine—in almost limitless quantities, and no one is astonished. A divine miracle, therefore, whenever performed, is wrought to heal and to save, and to call attention to the source of divine power.
10. What did the people say when they saw these things?
“He hath done all things well: He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.” Mark 7:37.
11. What kinds of disease and sickness did Jesus cure?
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” “Great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.” Matt. 4:23; 12:15.
Miraculous Draft Of Fishes. "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets." Luke 5:4.
12. Who were brought to Him for healing?
“And they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them.” Matt. 4:24.
13. To the woman who had been healed by touching His garment, what did Christ say made her whole?
“Thy faith hath made thee whole.” Matt. 9:22.
14. What did He say to the two blind men as He healed them?
“According to your faith be it unto you.” Verse 29.
15. To another whose sight He had restored, what did Christ say?
“Thy faith hath saved thee.” Luke 18:42.
16. Why did not Christ work many miracles in His own country?
“And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Matt. 13:58.
17. What lesson did Christ design to teach in healing the man sick of the palsy?
“But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (He said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.” Luke 5:24.
NOTE.—By His miracles, therefore, Christ designed to teach faith in the power of God not only to restore the body, but to heal the soul.
18. What effect did Christ’s miracles have upon the individuals restored, and the people who witnessed them?
“And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.” “And all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.” Luke 18:43; 13:17.
19. What message did Christ send to John the Baptist while John was in prison, to strengthen his wavering faith?
“Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.” Matt. 11:4-6.
20. In what miracle did Christ bring to a climax His works on earth?
“And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.” John 11:48, 44.
21. What was the result of this great miracle?
“Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him.” Verse 45.
22. Because of the interest which this miracle created in Him, what did the Pharisees say?
“Behold, the world is gone after Him.” John 12:19.
23. What did Jesus present to the people as a basis of confidence in Him?
“If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not. But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” “Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very works’ sake.” John 10:37, 38; 14:11.
24. Did Jesus ever make use of ordinary means in performing His miracles?
“When He had thus spoken, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.” John 9:6, 7. See also Mark 7:33-35; 8:23-25; 2 Kings 5:1-14.
25. Why were the miracles of Christ recorded by the inspired writers?
“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.” John 20:30, 31.
Christ’s Miracles
Miracle Matt. Mark Luke John I. Recorded in only one Gospel Two blind men healed 9:27-31 A dumb demoniac healed 9:32, 33 Piece of money in mouth 17:24-27 of fish Deaf and dumb man healed 7:31-37 A blind man healed 8:22-26 Passed through throng 4:28-31 unseen Draft of fishes 5:1-11 Raising the widow’s son 7:11-17 Healing woman with 13:11-17 infirmity Healing man with dropsy 14:1-6 Healing ten lepers 17:11-19 Healing ear of Malchus 22:50, 51 Turning water into wine 2:1-11 Healing nobleman’s son 4:46-54 Healing impotent man 5:1-16 Healing man born blind 9 Raising of Lazarus 11:1-46 Draft of fishes 21:1-11 II. Recorded in two Gospels Healing centurion’s 8:5-13 7:1-10 servant Blind demoniac healed 12:22-30 11:14-26 Healing Syrophenician 15:21-28 7:24-30 maiden Feeding the four 15:32-39 8:1-9 thousand Cursing the fig-tree 21:17-22 11:12-14 Demoniac in synagogue 1:23-28 4:33-37 healed III. Recorded in three Gospels Healing the leper 8:2, 3 1:40-42 5:12, 13 Healing Peter’s 8:14, 15 1:30, 31 4:38, 39 mother-in-law Stilling the storm 8:23-27 4:35-41 8:22-25 Legion of devils cast 8:28-34 5:1-20 8:26-37 out Healing man sick of 9:1-8 2:3-12 5:18-26 palsy Healing woman with issue 9:20-22 5:25-34 8:43-48 Raising Jairus’s 9:18-26 5:22-43 8:41-56 daughter Healing man’s withered 12:10-13 3:1-5 6:6-10 hand Walking on the sea 14:22-33 6:48-51 6:16-21 Curing demoniac child 17:14-21 9:14-29 9:38-42 Curing blind Bartimæus 20:30-34 10:46-52 18:35-43 IV. Recorded in four Gospels Feeding the five 14:15-21 6:35-44 9:12-17 6:5-14 thousand
Sufferings Of Christ
Christ In The Garden. "There appeared an angel unto Him from heaven strengthening Him." Luke 22:43.
1. For what purpose did Christ come into the world?
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Tim. 1:15.
2. What constrained God to give His Son to die for man?
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. See 1 John 4:9, 10; Rom. 5:8.
3. What did the prophet say Christ would be called to endure?
“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of My people was He stricken.” Isa. 53:7, 8.
4. Did Christ know beforehand the treatment He was to receive?
“Then He took unto Him the twelve, and said unto them, _Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by __ the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished_. For He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge Him, and put Him to death.” Luke 18:31-33.
5. How heavy was the burden which rested on His soul on the night of His betrayal?
“And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me.” Matt. 26:37, 38.
6. What prayer of Christ shows that the redemption of a lost world trembled in the balance in that terrible hour?
“And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” Verse 39.
7. How great was the agony of His soul?
“And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:44.
8. After He had prayed this remarkable prayer three times, what occurred?
“And while He yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?” Verses 47, 48.
9. To what place was Christ taken?
“Then took they Him, and led Him, and brought Him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.” Verse 54.
10. While at the high priest’s house, how did Peter deny Him?
“Another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with Him: for he is a Galilean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.” Verses 59-61.
11. To what insults was Christ subjected at the house of the high priest?
“And the men that held Jesus mocked Him, and smote Him. And when they had blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face, and asked Him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote Thee?” Verses 63, 64.
12. Where was Christ next taken?
“And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led Him into their council.” Verse 66.
13. What admission did they secure from Him as the basis of condemning Him?
“Then said they all, Art Thou then the Son of God? And He said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of His own mouth.” Verses 70, 71.
14. What was the next step in their plan to secure lawful authority to carry out their unlawful purpose?
“And the whole multitude of them arose, and led Him unto Pilate.” Luke 23:1.
15. When Pilate desired Christ released, how did they remonstrate?
“And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.” Verse 5.
NOTE.—This has ever been a favorite accusation of the enemies of truth against the work of true reformers. The Romans at this very time had a law forbidding the teaching of any new religion “whereby the minds of men may be disturbed.”
16. When Pilate heard that Christ was from Galilee, what did he do?
“And as soon as he knew that He belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.” Verse 7.
17. Who appeared to accuse Christ before Herod?
“And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.” Verse 10.
18. To what indignities did Herod subject the Saviour?
“And Herod with his men of war set Him at naught, and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him again to Pilate.” Verse 11.
19. What did Pilate propose to do when Christ was again brought before him?
“I have found no cause of death in Him: I will therefore chastise Him, and let Him go.” Verse 22.
The Crucifixion. "There was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour." Luke 23:44.
20. Instead of consenting to His release, what did Christ’s accusers now demand?
“And they were instant [earnest] with loud voices, requiring that He might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.” Verse 23.
21. Although Pilate had declared his belief in Christ’s innocence, yet what cruel punishment did he inflict upon Him?
“Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him.” John 19:1.
22. What shameful treatment did Christ receive from the soldiers?
“And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head.” Matt. 27:29, 30.
23. After bringing Him to the place of crucifixion, what drink was offered Christ to stupefy Him?
“They gave Him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when He had tasted thereof, He would not drink.” Verse 34.
24. In what prayer for those who crucified Him did Christ manifest the true spirit of the gospel,—love for sinners?
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34.
25. With what words did the chief priests and others mock Jesus while on the cross?
“Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.” Matt. 27:41, 42.
NOTE.—In their blindness they could not see that Christ could not save others and save Himself at the same time.
26. As He cried out in agony on the cross, and said, “I thirst,” what was given Him?
“And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink.” Verse 48. See John 19:28, 29.
27. What closed this terrible scene?
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19:30.
28. By what miracle, and phenomenon in nature did God indicate the character of the deed which was being committed?
“And it was about the sixth hour [noon], and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.” Luke 23:44, 45.
29. What divine purpose was wrought out in the sufferings of Christ?
“For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Heb. 2:10.
30. For whom did Christ suffer all these things?
“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Isa. 53:5.
31. How much was included in the gift of Christ for the salvation of man?
“He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Rom. 8:32.
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’Tis midnight; and on Olives’ brow The star is dimmed that lately shone: ’Tis midnight; in the garden, now, The suffering Saviour prays alone.
’Tis midnight; and from all removed, The Saviour wrestles lone with fears; E’en that disciple whom He loved Heeds not His Master’s grief and tears.
’Tis midnight; and for others’ guilt The Man of Sorrows weeps in blood; Yet He who hath in anguish knelt, Is not forsaken by His God.
’Tis midnight; and from ether plains Is borne the song that angels know; Unheard by mortals are the strains That sweetly soothe the Saviour’s woe.
WILLIAM B. TAPPAN.
The Resurrection Of Christ
The Visit To The Sepulcher. "He is not here: for He is risen, as He said." Matt. 28:6.
1. In what psalm was the resurrection of Christ foretold?
“For Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell [Heb., Sheol, the grave]: neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.” Ps. 16:10.
2. In what way was Jonah a type of Christ?
“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matt. 12:40.
3. In what plain words did Christ foretell His resurrection?
“From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” Matt. 16:21. “And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: and they shall kill Him, and the third day He shall be raised again.” Matt. 17: 22, 23. “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.” Luke 9:22. See also Matt. 20:17-19; Mark 8:31; 9:31, 32; 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-34.
4. When asked by the Jews for a sign of His Messiahship, what did Jesus say?
“Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2:19.
5. To what temple did He refer?
“Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt Thou rear it up in three days? But He spake of the temple of His body.” Verses 20, 21.
6. After His resurrection, what effect had this prediction upon His disciples?
“When therefore He was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.” Verse 22.
7. How did the chief priests and Pharisees seek to prevent the fulfilment of Christ’s words concerning His resurrection?
“Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night, and steal Him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.” Matt. 27:62-64.
8. How did Pilate comply with their request?
“Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.” Verses 65, 66.
9. How futile was all this?
“In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead.” Matt. 28:1-7. See also Mark 16:1-16; Luke 24:1-8, 44-46; John 20:1-9.
10. Was it possible for Christ to be holden of death?
“Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it.” Acts 2:23,24.
The Resurrection. "Go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead." Matt. 28:7.
11. How does Paul speak of the resurrection of Christ?
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Cor. 15:3, 4.
12. Who does the apostle say saw Christ after He was risen?
“He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; ... after that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” Verses 5-8.
13. What importance is attached to Christ’s resurrection?
“If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.... Ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” Verses 14-18.
14. What positive assurance of the resurrection is given?
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.” Verse 20.
15. What great truth therefore follows?
“As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Verse 22.
16. What cheering message has Christ sent to His people touching His resurrection?
“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Rev. 1:18.
17. What is the measure of the power of God which believers may experience in their daily lives?
“That ye may know ... the exceeding greatness of His power to us ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead.” Eph. 1:18-20.
18. What Christian ordinance has been given as a memorial of Christ’s burial and resurrection?
Baptism, the symbol of the new birth. Rom. 6:3-5.
A Sinless Life
A Teacher Of Righteousness. "He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Heb. 4:15.
1. What testimony is borne concerning Christ’s life on earth?
“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.” 1 Peter 2:22.
2. What is true of all other members of the human family?
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23.
3. With what question did Christ challenge His enemies?
“Which of you convinceth Me of sin?” John 8:46.
4. To what extent was Christ tempted?
“[He] was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Heb. 4:15.
5. In His humanity, of what nature did Christ partake?
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Heb. 2:14.
6. How fully did Christ share our common humanity?
“Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” Verse 17.
NOTE.—In His humanity Christ partook of our sinful, fallen nature. If not, then He was not “made like unto His brethren,” was not “in all points tempted like as we are,” did not overcome as we have to overcome, and is not, therefore, the complete and perfect Saviour man needs and must have to be saved. The idea that Christ was born of an immaculate or sinless mother, inherited no tendencies to sin, and for this reason did not sin, removes Him from the realm of a fallen world, and from the very place where help is needed. On His human side, Christ inherited just what every child of Adam inherits—a sinful nature. On the divine side, from His very conception He was begotten and born of the Spirit. And all this was done to place mankind on vantage-ground, and to demonstrate that in the same way every one who is “born of the Spirit” may gain like victories over sin in his own sinful flesh. Thus each one is to overcome as Christ overcame. Rev. 3:21. Without this birth there can be no victory over temptation, and no salvation from sin. John 3:3-7.
7. Where did God, in Christ, condemn sin, and gain the victory for us over temptation and sin?
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” Rom. 8:3.
NOTE.—God, in Christ, condemned sin, not by pronouncing against it merely as a judge sitting on the judgment-seat, but by coming and living in the flesh, in sinful flesh, and yet without sinning. In Christ, He demonstrated that it is possible, by His grace and power, to resist temptation, overcome sin, and live a sinless life in sinful flesh.
8. By whose power did Christ live the perfect life?
“I can of Mine own self do nothing.” John 5:30. “The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.” John 14:10.
NOTE.—In His humanity Christ was as dependent upon divine power to do the works of God as is any man to do the same thing. He employed no means to live a holy life that are not available to every human being. Through Him, every one may have God dwelling in him and working in him “to will and to do of His good pleasure.” 1 John 4:15; Phil. 2:13.
9. What unselfish purpose did Jesus ever have before Him?
“For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.” John 6:38.
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Have I need of aught, O Saviour! Aught on earth but Thee? Have I any in the heavens, Any one but Thee?
Though I have of friends so many, Love, and gold, and health, If I have not Thee, my Saviour, Hold I any wealth? CORIE F. DAVIS.
Our Pattern
Sea Of Tiberias. "Leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps." 1 Peter 2:21.
1. In whose steps should we follow?
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.” 1 Peter 2:21.
2. How should the Christian walk?
“He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” 1 John 2:6. See Col. 2:6.
3. What mind should be in us?
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 2:5.
NOTE.—The mind of Christ was characterized by humility (verses 6-8); dependence upon God (John 5:19, 30); a determination to do only the Father’s will (John 5:30; 6:38); thoughtfulness of others (Acts 10:38); and a willingness to sacrifice and suffer, and even to die, for the good of others (2 Cor. 8:9; Rom. 5:6-8; 1 Peter 2:24).
4. As a child, what example did Christ set in the matter of obeying His parents?
“And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.” Luke 2:51.
5. How are His childhood and youth described?
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Verse 52.
6. What example did He set concerning baptism?
“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered Him.” Matt. 3:13-15.
7. How did Christ teach the prayerful life?
“He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12. “He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.” Luke 9:28.
8. To what kind of work did Jesus devote His life?
“Who went about doing good.” Acts 10:38.
9. For whom and why did Christ leave the riches of heaven?
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Cor. 8:9.
10. When reviled and mistreated, what did He do?
“Who when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” 1 Peter 2:23.
11. How did He pray for those who crucified Him?
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34. See Acts 3:17.
12. What is the inspired testimony concerning Him?
“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.” Heb. 1:9.
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Majestic sweetness sits enthroned Upon the Saviour’s brow; His head with radiant light is crowned, His lips with grace o’erflow.
No mortal can with Him compare, Among the sons of men; Fairer is He than all the fair That fill the heavenly train. SAMUEL STENNETT.
Our Helper And Friend
Stilling The Tempest. "He arose, and rebuked the winds ... and there was a great calm." Matt. 8:26.
1. Through Christ, what has been opened to the house of David?
“In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” Zech. 13:1.
2. Who has borne our sins, and stands ready to help us?
“I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” Isa. 63: 1. last part.
3. For what purpose did Christ come to this world?
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.
4. Through what was Christ made a complete and perfect Saviour?
“For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Heb. 2:10.
5. Because of this, what is Christ able to do?
“For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.” Verse 18.
6. How complete a Saviour is He?
“Wherefore _He is able also to save them to the uttermost that __ come unto God by Him_, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb. 7:25.
7. From what is He able to keep us?
“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 24, 25.
8. What does He call those who accept Him?
“Henceforth I call you not servants; ... I have called you friends.” John 15:15.
9. What kind of friend is He?
“There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Prov. 18:24.
10. What is the mark of a true friend?
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Prov. 17:17.
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I will sing the wondrous story Of the Christ who died for me, How He left His home in glory, For the cross on Calvary.
I was lost, but Jesus found me, Found the sheep that went astray; Threw His loving arms around me, Drew me back into His way.
I was bruised, but Jesus healed me, Faint was I from many a fall, Sight was gone, and fears possessed me, But He freed me from them all.
Days of darkness still come o’er me, Sorrow’s paths I often tread, But the Saviour still is with me, By His hand I’m safely led.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story Of the Christ who died for me, Sing it with the saints in glory, Gathered by the crystal sea. FRANCIS H. ROWLEY.
V. THE HOLY SPIRIT
Outpouring Of The Spirit At Pentecost. "It shall come to pass in the last days ... I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh." Acts 2:17.
The Holy Spirit And His Work
The Ascension Of Christ. "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter." John 14:16.
1. What precious promise did Jesus make to His disciples shortly before His crucifixion?
“I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.” John 14:16.
2. Who is the Comforter, and what was He to do?
“But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.” Verse 26, R. V.
3. Why cannot the world receive Him?
“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him.” Verse 17.
4. How intimate is His union with believers?
“But ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” Same verse.
5. Whose presence does the Holy Spirit bring to the believers?
“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” Verse 18.
6. What promise is thus fulfilled?
“Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:20. See also John 14:21-23.
7. What threefold union is thus established?
“At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.” Verse 20.
NOTE.—Rom. 8:9 shows the Spirit of each of the three persons of the Godhead to be one and the same Spirit.
8. How does Jesus, through the Spirit, seek an entrance to every heart?
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Rev. 3:20.
9. Why was it necessary for Christ to go away?
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” John 16:7.
10. What was the Comforter to do when He came?
“And when He is come, He will reprove [margin, convince] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” Verse 8.
11. By what other title is the Comforter designated?
“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me.” John 15:26.
12. What did Jesus say the Spirit of truth would do?
“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come.” John 16:13.
NOTE.—The Spirit speaks (1 Tim. 4:1); teaches (1 Cor. 2:3); bears witness (Rom. 8:16); makes intercession (Rom. 8:26); distributes the gifts (1 Cor. 12:11); and invites the sinner (Rev. 22:17).
13. Whom did Christ say the Holy Spirit would glorify?
“He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you.” Verse 14.
NOTE.—It is plain from these scriptures that the Holy Spirit is the personal representative of Christ upon the earth, abiding in the church by dwelling in the hearts of the believers. It follows that any attempt to make a man the vicegerent of Christ in the place of the third person of the Godhead is an attempt to put man in the place of God. Thus does the fundamental principle of the Papacy set aside the person and work of the Holy Spirit.
14. How has God revealed to us the hidden things of the kingdom?
“But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” 1 Cor. 2:10.
15. Who moved upon the prophets to give their messages?
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21.
16. After Pentecost, how was the gospel preached?
“With the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.” 1 Peter 1:12.
17. How are believers sealed?
“In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” Eph. 1:13.
18. What warning is therefore given?
“Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph. 4:30.
19. Is there a limit to the strivings of God’s Spirit?
“And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man.” Gen. 6:3.
NOTE.—The limit is determined by the creature rather than by the Creator. It is when there is an utter abandonment to evil, and further appeals would be without avail. God foreknowing all things, may designate a definite period of probation for man, as in the case of the one hundred and twenty years before the flood (Gen. 6:3); but His Spirit never ceases to strive with man as long as there is hope of his salvation.
20. For what did David pray?
“Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.” Ps. 51:11.
21. How willing is God to give to us the Holy Spirit?
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” Luke 11:13.
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O for that flame of living fire? Which shone so bright in saints of old; Which bade their souls to heaven aspire, Calm in distress, in danger bold!
Remember, Lord, the ancient days; Renew Thy work, Thy grace restore; And while to Thee our hearts we raise, On us Thy Holy Spirit pour. WM. H. BATHURST.
Fruit Of The Spirit
David And Jonathan. "The fruit of the Spirit is love." Gal. 5:22.
1. What is the fruit of the Spirit?
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Gal. 5:22, 23.
2. What are the works of the flesh?
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like.” Verses 19-21.
NOTE.—The evils here mentioned are a close parallel to the lists found in Matt. 15:18, 19; Mark 7:20-23; Rom. 1:29-31; and 2 Tim. 3:1-5.
3. How may the works of the flesh be avoided?
“Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Gal. 5:16.
4. By what is the love of God shed abroad in the heart?
“The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Rom. 5:5.
5. What is love declared to be?
“And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.” Col. 3:14, R. V.
6. By what does genuine faith work?
“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” Gal. 5:6.
7. What does love do?
“Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” Prov. 10:12. “Have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8.
8. Of what does the kingdom of God consist?
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Rom. 14:17.
NOTE.—It is the Christian’s privilege to have righteousness, peace, and joy,—a righteousness which is of God by faith (Rom. 3:21, 22); a peace that passeth understanding (Phil. 4:7), which the world can neither give nor take away; and a joy that rejoices evermore (1 Thess. 5:16; Phil. 4:4).
9. In what way does love manifest itself?
“Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil.” 1 Cor. 13:4, 5, R. V.
10. What does God’s gentleness do for us?
“Thy gentleness hath made me great.” Ps. 18:35.
11. What spirit should we show toward others?
“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men.” 2 Tim. 2:24.
12. What does the goodness of God do?
“Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” Rom. 2:4.
13. How should we treat those who have wronged us?
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” Rom. 12:19, 20.
14. How does faith determine our standing with God?
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Heb. 11:6.
15. How does God regard the meek and quiet spirit?
“Whose adorning ... let it be the hidden man of the heart, ... even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 1 Peter 3:3, 4.
16. In our Christian growth and experience, what is to accompany faith, courage, and knowledge?
“Add to your faith virtue [courage]; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance.” 2 Peter 1:5, 6.
NOTE.—One of the briefest and best definitions of temperance is self-control. The word in the text means much more than mere abstinence from intoxicating drinks,—the limited sense now frequently given to it. It means control, strength, power, or ascendency over exciting and evil passions of all kinds. It denotes the self-rule which the overcomer or converted man has over the evil propensities of his nature. Commenting on this passage, Dr. Albert Barnes says: “The influences of the Holy Spirit on the heart make a man moderate in all indulgences; teach him to restrain his passions, and to govern himself.”
17. How highly is he commended who controls his spirit?
“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Prov. 16:32.
18. What is said of all these different virtues?
“Against such there is no law.” Gal. 5:23, last clause.
NOTE.—The law condemns sin. But all these things, being virtues, are in harmony with the law. They are produced by the Spirit; and the law, which is spiritual, cannot, therefore, condemn them.
19. From what condemnation does Spirit-leading save us?
“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” Verse 18.
20. To what unity are Christians exhorted?
“Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Eph. 4:3.
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Spirit of life, and light, and love, Thy heavenly influence give; Quicken our souls, our guilt remove, That we in Christ may live.
His love within us shed abroad, Life’s ever-springing well; Till God in us, and we in God, In love eternal dwell. THOMAS HAWEIS.
Gifts Of The Spirit
Healing The Leper. "He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." Eph. 4:8.
1. Concerning what subject ought we to be informed?
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” 1 Cor. 12:1.
2. When Christ ascended, what did He give to men?
“Wherefore He saith, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive [margin, a multitude of captives], and gave gifts unto men.” Eph. 4:8.
3. What were these gifts that Christ gave to men?
“And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” Verse 11.
4. How are these gifts elsewhere spoken of?
“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” 1 Cor. 12:28.
5. For what purpose were these gifts bestowed upon the church?
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ... that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Eph. 4:12-15.
6. What result is to be obtained by the exercise of the gifts in the church?
“Till we all come in [into, margin] the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Verse 13.
7. How is unity preserved in the diversities of gifts?
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” 1 Cor. 12:4.
8. For what purpose is the manifestation of this one Spirit given?
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.” Verses 7-10.
9. Who controls the distribution of the gifts of the Spirit?
“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.” Verse 11.
10. Was it God’s design that all should possess the same gifts?
“Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?” Verses 29, 30.
11. Were the gifts of the Spirit to continue forever?
“Whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away.” 1 Cor. 13:8, R. V.
12. When will the gifts of the Spirit be no longer needed?
“When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” Verse 10.
The Gift Of Prophecy
Writing The Prophecies. "And He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John." Rev. 1:1.
1. How did God communicate with man in Eden?
“And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” Gen. 3:9.
2. Since the fall, by what means has God generally made known His will to man?
“I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.” Hosea 12:10.
3. What things belong to God, and what to us?
“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever.” Deut. 29:29.
4. How fully and to whom does God reveal His purposes?
“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7.
5. Can the wise men of the world foretell the future?
“Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show unto the king.” Dan. 2:27, R. V. See notes on page 202.
6. Who did Daniel say could reveal secrets?
“But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.” Verse 28.
7. How did the prophet Daniel acknowledge the insufficiency of human wisdom?
“As for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.” Verse 30.
8. After revealing and interpreting the dream, what did Daniel say?
“The great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter.” Verse 45.
9. How does God show His foreknowledge?
“Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isa. 42:9.
10. How does the Lord reveal Himself to His prophets?
“If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make Myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.” Num. 12.6.
11. Under what influence did the prophets of old speak?
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21. See 2 Sam. 23:2.
12. How are both the origin of prophecy and the means of communicating it still further shown?
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John.” Rev. 1:1.
13. What angel revealed to Daniel his visions and dreams?
“Whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.” Dan. 9:21, 22. See also chapter 10, and Rev. 22:9, 10.
14. What Spirit was in the prophets inditing their utterances?
“O which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” 1 Peter 1:10, 11.
The Anointing Of Christ. "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him." John 1:32.
15. How were the Lord’s words to the prophets preserved?
“Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.” Dan. 7:1. See Jer. 51:60; Rev. 1:10, 11.
16. By whom has God spoken to us in these last days?
“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, 2.
17. What was one of the offices to be filled by the Messiah?
“The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall harken.” Deut. 18:15.
18. What was foretold through the prophet Joel?
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.” Joel 2:28.
19. When did this prediction begin to be fulfilled?
“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” Acts 2:16, 17.
20. What were some of the gifts Christ gave to His church?
“When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.... And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” Eph. 4:8-11.
21. By what means did God deliver and preserve Israel?
“By a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.” Hosea 12:13.
22. When Moses complained of his slowness of speech, what did God say Aaron should be to him?
“And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.” Ex. 4:16.
23. What did God afterward call Aaron?
“And the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.” Ex. 7:1.
24. What is one test by which to detect false prophets?
“When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.” Deut. 18:22.
25. What other test should be applied in determining the validity of the claims of a prophet?
“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; thou shalt not harken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him.” Deut. 13:1-4.
NOTE.—From these scriptures it will be seen that, in the first place, if a prophet’s words do not prove to be true, it is evidence that God has not sent that prophet. On the other hand, even though the thing predicted comes to pass, if the pretended prophet seeks to lead others to break God’s commandments, this, regardless of all signs, should be positive evidence that he is not a true prophet.
26. What rule did Christ give for distinguishing between true and false prophets?
“By their fruits ye shall know them.” Matt. 7:20.
27. What general rule is laid down for testing all prophets?
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20.
28. How did God’s prophets anciently use the words of former prophets in exhorting the people to obedience?
“Should ye not hear the words which the Lord hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity?” Zech. 7:7.
29. What is the promised result of believing God’s prophets?
“Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper.” 2 Chron. 20:20.
30. What admonition is given regarding the gift of prophecy?
“Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thess. 5:20, 21.
31. What will characterize the last, or remnant, church?
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 12:17.
32. What is the “testimony of Jesus”?
“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Rev. 19:10. See Rev. 1:9.
33. What results when this gift is absent?
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Prov. 29:18. See also Ps. 74:9.
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What poor, despised company Of travelers are these, Who walk in yonder narrow way, Along the rugged maze?
Ah! these are of a royal line, All children of a King, Heirs of immortal crowns divine; And lo! for joy they sing.
Why do they, then, appear so mean, And why so much despised? Because of their rich robes unseen The world is not apprized.
But why keep they that narrow road,— That rugged, thorny maze? Why, that’s the way their Leader trod, They love and keep His ways.
Why do they shun the pleasing path That worldlings love so well? Because that is the road to death, The open road to hell.
What! is there then no other road To Salem’s happy ground? Christ is the only way to God, No other can be found.
The Outpouring Of The Spirit
Peter Preaching On The Day Of Pentecost. "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." Acts 2:16.
1. For what did Christ, just before His ascension, tell His disciples to wait?
“And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49.
2. With what did He say they would be baptized?
“Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:5.
NOTE.—John the Baptist had foretold this baptism. He said: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matt. 3:11.
3. For what work was this baptism to prepare them?
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8.
4. What were some of the results of the preaching of the gospel under the outpouring of the Spirit?
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said ... Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.... Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:37-41. “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; ... and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” Acts 5:12-14. “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:7.
5. How did persecution affect the preaching of the gospel?
“And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.... Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” Acts 8:1-4.
NOTE.—“Persecution has only had a tendency to extend and establish the faith which it was designed to destroy.... There is no lesson which men have been so slow to learn as that to oppose and persecute men is the very way to confirm them in their opinions, and to spread their doctrines.”—Dr. Albert Barnes, on Acts 4:4.
6. What words of Peter seem to indicate another outpouring of the Spirit?
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19.
7. What event does he speak of as immediately following these times of refreshing?
“And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive [Syriac, retain] until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” Verses 20, 21.
NOTE.—From this it seems evident that we may look for another outpouring of the Spirit for a final proclamation of the gospel to all the world just before Christ’s second advent and the restitution of all things.
8. What prophecy was fulfilled in the Pentecostal outpouring of the Spirit in the time of the apostles?
“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said, ... These are not drunken, as ye suppose, ... but this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy.” Acts 2:14-18. See Joel 2:28, 29.
9. What expressions in the prophecy of Joel seem to imply a double fulfilment of this outpouring of the Spirit?
“Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.” Joel 2:23. See also Hosea 6:3.
NOTE.—In Palestine the early rains prepare the soil for the seed sowing, and the latter rains ripen the grain for the harvest. So the early outpouring of the Spirit prepared the world for the extensive sowing of the gospel seed, and the final outpouring will come to ripen the golden grain for the harvest of the earth, which Christ says is “the end of the world.” Matt. 13:37-39; Rev. 14:14, 15.
10. For what are we told to pray at this time?
“Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.” Zech. 10:1.
NOTE.—Before the apostles received the baptism of the Spirit in the early rain on the day of Pentecost, they all “continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.” Acts 1:14. During this time they confessed their faults, put away their differences, ceased their selfish ambitions and contentions for place and power, so that when the time for the outpouring came, “they were all with one accord in one place,” ready for its reception. To be prepared for the final outpouring of the Spirit, all sin and selfish ambition must again be put away, and a like work of grace wrought upon the hearts of God’s people.
11. How is the closing work of the gospel under the outpouring of the Spirit described by the revelator?
“After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” Rev. 18:1.
12. What does this angel say?
“And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Verse 2.
NOTE.—The religious world will then be in much the same condition as was the Jewish nation after it had rejected Christ at His first advent. See 2 Tim. 3:1-5.
13. What did Peter on the day of Pentecost tell his hearers to do?
“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” Acts 2:40.
14. What similar call and appeal will be made under the final outpouring of the Spirit?
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” Rev. 18:4, 5.
NOTES.—A great work will be accomplished in a short time under the final outpouring of the Spirit. Many voices all over the earth will sound the warning cry. Signs and wonders will be wrought by the believers, and, as at Pentecost, thousands will be converted in a day.
Those who fail to heed this final gospel call, like the unbelieving Jews, will be doomed to destruction. The seven last plagues will overtake them, as war, famine, death, and destruction overtook the Jews, who, not believing in Christ, failed to heed His call to flee, and shut themselves up in Jerusalem to their doom. Those who heed the call, and separate themselves from sin and from sinners, will be saved.
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Come, Holy Spirit, come, Let Thy bright beams arise, Dispel the sorrow from our minds, The darkness from our eyes.
Convince us all of sin, Then lead to Jesus’ blood, And to our wondering view reveal The mercies of our God.
Revive our drooping faith, Our doubts and fears remove, And kindle in our breasts the flame Of never-dying love.
’Tis Thine to cleanse the heart, To sanctify the soul, To pour fresh life in every part, And new-create the whole.
Come, Holy Spirit, come, Our minds from bondage free; Then shall we know, and praise, and love The Father, Son, and Thee. JOSEPH HART.
VI. THE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY
Handwriting On The Wall. "In that night was Belshazzar ... slain, and Darius the Median took the kingdom." Dan. 5:30, 31.
Prophecy, Why Given
Daniel In Babylon. "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets." Amos 3:7.
1. Why were the Sacred Writings given?
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15:4.
2. By what means is all scripture given?
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” 2 Tim 3:16, first part.
3. For what is it profitable?
“And is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Same verse, last part.
4. How was the prophecy given?
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21.
5. What is the Lord able to do regarding the future?
“Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Isa. 42:9.
6. How far-reaching is God’s ability to reveal the future?
“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, ... and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done.” Isa. 46:9, 10.
NOTES.—In contrast with this, note the following confession of a noted modern historian as to man’s inability to reveal the future:—
“History has yet made so slight progress toward the scientific basis that she is able to foretell nothing that is to be hereafter. As to the future, she is stone-blind. There is not a philosopher in the world who can forecast the historical evolution to the extent of a single day. The historian is as completely dumb before the problems of 1895 as a charlatan weather-prophet ought to be with respect to the meteorological conditions of the next season. The year will come and go. It will fulfil its purpose in the great calendar of man-life. Its events and issues will be evolved with scientific exactitude out of antecedent conditions. But no man living can predict what the aspect and event will be. The tallest son of the morning can neither foretell nor foresee the nature of what is to come in the year that already stands knocking at the door.”—John Clark Ridpath, in Christian at Work, Dec. 27, 1894.
Knowing all things, the future is present with God. More, perhaps, than any other one thing, the prophecies of the Bible and their fulfilment bear witness to its divine inspiration.
7. To whom does God reveal the secrets of the future?
“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7.
8. To whom do the things which have been revealed belong?
“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever.” Deut. 29:29.
9. What testimony did the apostle Peter bear concerning his experience on the mount of transfiguration?
“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of His majesty.” 2 Peter 1:16.
10. When did he say he saw the majesty of Christ, and heard the voice from heaven?
“And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount.” Verse 18.
11. How does he emphasize the reliability of prophecy?
“And we have the word of prophecy made more sure.” Verse 19, R. V. “Now more confirmed.” Boothroyd’s translation.
NOTE.—Every fulfilment of prophecy is a confirmation of the truthfulness and reliability of prophecy.
12. What admonition is therefore given?
“Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts.” Verse 19, last part, R. V.
13. What has ever been the theme of God’s prophets?
“Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you.” 1 Peter 1:9, 10.
14. Whose spirit inspired their utterances?
“Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” Verse 11.
15. In what prophecy did Christ recognize Daniel as a prophet?
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand).” Matt. 24:15.
16. To what time were the prophecies of Daniel, as a whole, to be sealed?
“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Dan. 12:4.
17. What assurance was given by the angel that these prophecies would be understood in the last days?
“And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Verses 9, 10.
18. What is the last book of the Bible called?
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him.” Rev. 1:1.
19. What is said of those who read, hear, and keep the things contained in this book?
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.” Verse 3.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
Daniel Interpreting The Dream. "There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets." Dan. 2:28.
1. What statement did Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, make to his wise men whom he had assembled?
“And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.” Dan. 2:3.
2. After being threatened with death if they did not make known the dream and the interpretation, what did the wise men say to the king?
“The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” Verses 10, 11.
3. After the wise men had thus confessed their inability to do what the king required, who offered to interpret the dream?
“Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.” Verse 16.
4. After Daniel and his fellows had sought God earnestly, how were the dream and its interpretation revealed to Daniel?
“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night-vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” Verse 19.
5. When brought before the king, what did Daniel say?
“Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, show unto the king; but there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these.” Verses 27, 28.
6. What did Daniel say the king had seen in his dream?
“Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; ... Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.” Verses 28-31.
7. Of what were the different parts of the image composed?
“This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.” Verses 32, 33.
8. By what means was the image broken to pieces?
“Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.” Verse 34.
9. What became of the various parts of the image?
“Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” Verse 35.
10. With what words did Daniel begin the interpretation of the dream?
“Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath He given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.” Verses 37, 38.
NOTE.—The character of the Babylonian Empire is fittingly indicated by the nature of the material composing that portion of the image by which it was symbolized—the head of gold. It was “the golden kingdom of a golden age.” The city of Babylon, its metropolis, according to history towered to a height never equaled by any of its later rivals. “Situated in the garden of the East; laid put in a perfect square sixty miles in circumference, fifteen miles on each side, surrounded by a wall three hundred and fifty feet high and eighty-seven feet thick, with a moat, or ditch, around this, of equal cubic capacity with the wall itself; divided into six hundred and seventy-six squares, laid out in luxuriant pleasure-grounds and gardens, interspersed with magnificent dwellings,—this city, containing in itself many things which were themselves wonders of the world, was itself another and still mightier wonder.... Such was Babylon, with Nebuchadnezzar, youthful, bold, vigorous, and accomplished, seated upon its throne.”
11. What was to be the nature of the next kingdom after Babylon?
“After thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee.” Verse 39, first part.
12. Who was the last Babylonian king?
“In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.” Dan. 5:30, 31. See also verses 1, 2.
13. To whom was Belshazzar’s kingdom given?
“Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” Verse 28.
14. By what is the Medo-Persian Empire represented in the great image?
“The breast and arms of silver.” Dan. 2:32.
15. By what is Grecia, the kingdom succeeding Medo-Persia, represented in the image?
“His belly and his thighs of brass.” Verse 32. “And another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.” Verse 39.
16. What is said of the fourth kingdom?
“And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.” Verse 40.
17. What scripture shows that the Roman emperors ruled the world?
“And it came to pass in those days, that _there went out a __ decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed_.” Luke 2:1.
NOTE.—Describing the Roman conquests, Gibbon uses the very imagery employed in the vision of Daniel 2. He says: “The arms of the republic, sometimes vanquished in battle, always victorious in war, advanced with rapid steps to the Euphrates, the Danube, the Rhine, and the ocean; and the images of gold, or silver, or brass, that might serve to represent the nations and their kings, were successively broken by the iron monarchy of Rome.”—_“__Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,__”__ chap. 38, par. I, under __“__General Observations,__”__ at the close of the chapter._
18. What was indicated by the mixture of clay and iron in the feet and toes of the image?
“And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided.” Dan. 2:41.
19. In what prophetic language was the varying strength of the ten kingdoms of the divided empire indicated?
“And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken [margin, brittle].” Verse 42.
20. Were any efforts to be made to reunite the divided empire of Rome?
“And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.” Verse 43.
NOTES.—Charlemagne, Charles V, Louis XIV, and Napoleon all tried to reunite the broken fragments of the Roman Empire, but failed. By marriage and intermarriage ties have been formed with a view to strengthening and cementing together the shattered kingdom; but none have succeeded. The element of disunion remains. Many political revolutions and territorial changes have occurred in Europe since the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D.; but its divided state still remains.
This remarkable dream, as interpreted by Daniel, presents in the briefest form, and yet with unmistakable clearness, the course of world empires from the time of Nebuchadnezzar to the close of earthly history and the setting up of the everlasting kingdom of God. The history confirms the prophecy. The sovereignty of the world was held by Babylon from the time of this dream, B.C. 603, until B.C. 538, when it passed to the Medes and Persians. The victory of the Grecian forces at the battle of Arbela, in B.C. 331, marked the downfall of the Medo-Persian Empire, and the Greeks then became the undisputed rulers of the world. The battle of Pydna, in Macedonia, in B.C. 168, was the last organized effort to withstand a world-wide conquest by the Romans, and at that time therefore the sovereignty passed from the Greeks to the Romans, and the fourth kingdom was fully established. The division of Rome into ten kingdoms is definitely foretold in the vision recorded in the seventh chapter of Daniel, and occurred between the years 351 A.D. and 476 A.D.
21. What is to take place in the days of these kingdoms?
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: ... but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” Verse 44.
NOTE.—This verse foretells the establishment of another universal kingdom, the kingdom of God. This kingdom is to overthrow and supplant all existing earthly kingdoms, and is to stand forever. The time for the setting up of this kingdom was to be “in the days of these kings.” This cannot refer to the four preceding empires, or kingdoms; for they were not contemporaneous, but successive; neither can it refer to an establishment of the kingdom at Christ’s first advent, for the ten kingdoms which arose out of the ruins of the Roman Empire were not yet in existence. It must therefore be yet future.
22. In what announcement in the New Testament is the establishment of the kingdom of God made known?
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever.” Rev. 11:15.
23. For what have we been taught to pray?
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:10.
24. What event is closely associated with the establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom?
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.” 2 Tim. 4:1.
25. With what prayer do the Scriptures close?
“He that testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Rev. 22:20.
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Look for the way-marks as you journey on, Look for the way-marks, passing one by one: Down through the ages, past the kingdoms four,— Where are we standing? Look the way-marks o’er.
First, Babylonia’s kingdom ruled the world, Then Medo-Persia’s banners were unfurled; And after Greece held universal sway, Rome seized the scepter,—where are we today?
Down in the feet of iron and of clay, Weak and divided, soon to pass away; What will the next great, glorious drama be?— Christ and His coming, and eternity.
F. E. BELDEN.
The Gospel Of The Kingdom
Jerusalem And The Mount Of Olives. "In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom." Dan. 2:44.
1. What gospel did Jesus preach?
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” Matt. 4:23.
2. How extensively did He say this should be preached?
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24:14.
3. What shows that it has always been God’s purpose that all the world should hear the gospel?
“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Gen. 12:1-3. “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.” Gal. 3:8.
4. How did God warn Israel against formalism?
“Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men: therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people: ... for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” Isa. 29:13, 14.
5. What shows that they had substituted the ritual service of the temple for heart service?
“Thus saith the Lord, ... Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these.” Jer. 7:3, 4.
6. What national disaster did they bring upon themselves by their apostasy from God?
“So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.” 1 Chron. 9:1.
NOTE.—From the earliest times it has been God’s purpose that those who receive the gospel should make it known to others. For this purpose He chose a special people and established them in Palestine, in the highway of the nations; but they shut up the revelation of the truth to themselves, and so lost it. A few, like Daniel and his companions, maintained a personal connection with God, although surrounded by spiritual declension and dry formalism, and so were chosen by God to carry out His plan that the gospel of the kingdom should be preached in Babylon. They were tested and trained in Babylon, as shown in the first chapter of Daniel, and then, being ready to make known the gospel, the way providentially opened for them by the dream of Nebuchadnezzar.
7. In interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, what kingdom did Daniel say would follow the four world empires?
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed.” Dan. 2:44.
8. What was this kingdom to do to the other kingdoms?
“The kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms.” Same verse.
9. How long is this kingdom to continue?
“And it shall stand forever.” Same verse, last clause.
10. What words of Christ imply the gospel’s final triumph?
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:18.
NOTE.—Anciently the gates to cities were places for holding courts, transacting business, and deliberating on public matters. The word gates, therefore, is used for counsels, designs, machinations, and evil purposes. The gates of hell mean the plottings, stratagems, and designs of Satan to overthrow the church. But none of these are to prevail.
11. What promises to David will thus be fulfilled?
“Thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever: ... thy throne shall be established forever.” 2 Sam. 7:16.
NOTE.—By uniting His divinity with humanity in becoming the Son of David, Christ laid the foundation upon which He built His church, and thus established the house of David forever. The kingdom of God, the house of David, and the church of Christ are so inseparably connected in this prophecy that the establishment of either involves the establishment of the other two.
12. Through whom are these promises to be fulfilled?
“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:32, 33.
13. In order to fulfil these promises, whose son did the Son of God become?
“The son of David.” Matt. 22:42.
14. What is this union of divinity and humanity called?
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Tim. 3:16.
15. What did Jesus call this same mystery?
“And He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables.” Mark 4:11.
16. In what confession did the wise men of Babylon deny any knowledge of this essential doctrine of Christianity?
“And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” Dan. 2:11.
NOTE.—The union of the divine and human in the person of Christ is “the mystery of godliness,” or “the mystery of the kingdom of God.” In the case of the seed which is sown in the field, this same principle is illustrated by the union of the reproducing power with the material form. As the seed is thus capable of multiplying itself, so Christ reproduces His own character in believers, by making them partakers of the divine nature. At His coming He bestows upon the subjects of the kingdom the gift of immortality (1 Cor. 15:51-53), and so the kingdom will stand forever. It is quite likely that the wise men of Babylon did not understand about the incarnation of God in the flesh in the coming Messiah, but in their statement that the dwelling of the gods was not with flesh they announced the fundamental error of Babylon, both ancient and modern, and really denied the vital principle of Christianity. This was the essential secret, or mystery, of the kingdom of God, which needed to be known in Babylon, and which is still to be proclaimed throughout the world.
17. Concerning what did Daniel and his companions pray?
“Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret.” Verses 17, 18.
18. What would have been the result of failure on their part to obtain a knowledge of this mystery?
“That Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.” Verse 18, last part.
19. How was the secret concerning the king’s dream revealed, and thus the mystery of the kingdom of God made known in Babylon?
“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night-vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” Verse 19.
NOTE.—The most vital truth of the gospel of the kingdom of God was denied in the religion of Babylon. This made it necessary that this very truth should be preached in Babylon. This mystery of the kingdom of God was the real and essential secret which the wise men of Babylon could not make known to the king, and which could be learned only by revelation. This is the mystery which “from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God” (Eph. 3:9); and the “riches of the glory of this mystery” is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27), or “the mystery of the gospel” (Eph. 6:19).
20. How did Nebuchadnezzar acknowledge God as the revealer, and thus Daniel’s intimate fellowship with Him?
“The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.” Verse 47.
21. When the gospel of the kingdom has been fully preached, and Christ appears as King, what invitation will be extended to those who have learned “the mystery of the kingdom”?
“When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations.... Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matt. 25:31-34.
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Thy kingdom come. Thus day by day We lift our hands to God, and pray; But who has ever duly weighed The meaning of the words He said?
Four Great Monarchies
Isaiah’s Vision Of The Ruins Of Babylon. "And the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure." Dan. 2:45.
1. At what time was Daniel’s second vision given?
“In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.” Dan. 7:1.
NOTE.—That is, in the first year of Belshazzar’s office as associate king with his father Nabonadius, or 540 B.C.
2. What effect did this dream have upon Daniel?
“I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.” Verse 15.
NOTE.—The effect of Daniel’s dream upon him, it will be noticed, was similar to the effect of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams upon him; it troubled him. See Dan. 2:1.
3. What did Daniel ask of one of the heavenly attendants who stood by him in his dream?
“I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.” Verse 16.
4. What did the prophet see in this vision?
“Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.” Verse 2.
5. What was the result of this strife?
“And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.” Verse 3.
The Four Beasts Of Daniel 7. "These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth." Dan. 7:17.
6. What did these four beasts represent?
“These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.” Verse 17.
NOTE.—The word kings here, as in Dan. 2:44, denotes kingdoms, as explained in verses 23 and 24 of the seventh chapter, the two words being used interchangeably in this prophecy.
7. In symbolic language, what is represented by winds?
Strife, war, commotion. See Jer. 25:31-33; 49:36, 37.
NOTE.—That winds denote strife and war is evident from the vision itself. As a result of the striving of the winds, kingdoms rise and fall.
8. What, in prophecy, is symbolized by waters?
“And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest ... are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Rev. 17:15.
NOTE.—In the second chapter of Daniel, under the figure of an image of man, the mere political outline of the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms is given, preceding the setting up of God’s everlasting kingdom. In the seventh chapter, earthly governments, are represented as viewed in the light of Heaven,—under the symbols of wild and ferocious beasts,—the last, in particular, oppressing and persecuting the saints of the Most High. Hence the change in the symbols used to represent these kingdoms.
9. What was the first beast like?
“The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.” Dan. 7:4.
NOTE.—The lion, the first of these four great beasts, like the golden head of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, represents the Babylonian monarchy; the lion, the king of beasts, standing at the head of his kind, as gold does of metals. The eagle’s wings doubtless denote the rapidity with which Babylon extended its conquests under Nebuchadnezzar, who reigned from B.C. 604 to B.C. 561. This kingdom was overthrown by the Medes and Persians in B.C. 538.
10. By what was the second kingdom symbolized?
“And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.” Verse 5.
NOTE.—“This was the Medo-Persian Empire, represented here under the symbol of a bear.... The Medes and Persians are compared to a bear on account of their cruelty and thirst after blood, a bear being a most voracious and cruel animal.”—Adam Clarke, on Dan. 7:5.
11. By what was the third universal empire symbolized?
“After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.” Verse 6.
NOTES.—If the wings of an eagle on the back of a lion denoted rapidity of movement in the Babylonian, or Assyrian, Empire (see Hab. 1:6-8), four wings on the leopard must denote unparalleled celerity of movement in the Grecian Empire. This we find to be historically true.
“The rapidity of Alexander’s conquests in Asia was marvelous: he burst like a torrent on the expiring Persian Empire, and all opposition was useless. The gigantic armies collected to oppose him melted like snow in the sunshine. The battles of Granicus, B.C. 334, Issus in the following year, and Arbela in B.C. 331, settled the fate of the Persian Empire, and established the wide dominion of the Greeks.”—_“__The Divine Program of the World’s History,__”__ by H. Grattan Guinness, page 308._
“The beast had also four heads.” The Grecian Empire maintained its unity but a short time after the death of Alexander, which occurred in B.C. 323. Within twenty-two years after the close of his brilliant career, or by B.C. 301, the empire was divided among his four leading generals. Cassander took Macedonia and Greece in the west; Lysimachus had Thrace and the parts of Asia on the Hellespont and Bosporus in the north; Ptolemy received Egypt, Lydia, Arabia, Palestine, and Cœle-Syria in the south; and Seleucus had all the rest of Alexander’s dominions in the east.
12. How was the fourth kingdom represented?
“After, this I saw in the night-visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.” Verse 7.
13. What was the fourth beast declared to be?
“Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.” Verse 23.
NOTES.—“This is allowed on all hands to be the Roman Empire. It was dreadful, terrible, and exceeding strong; ... and became, in effect, what the Roman writers delight to call it, the empire of the whole world.”—Adam Clarke, on Dan. 7:7.
The final overthrow of the Greeks, by the Romans, was at the battle of Pydna, in 168 B.C.
14. What was denoted by the ten horns?
“And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise.” Verse 24.
NOTES.—The Roman Empire was broken up into ten kingdoms between the years 351 A.D. and 476 A.D.
“The historian Machiavelli, without the slightest reference to this prophecy, gives the following list of the nations which occupied the territory of the Western Empire at the time of the fall of Romulus Augustulus (476 A.D.), the last emperor of Rome: The Lombards, the Franks, the Burgundians, the Ostrogoths, the Visigoths, the Vandals, the Heruh, the Suevi, the Huns, and the Saxons: ten in all.
“Amidst unceasing and almost countless fluctuations, the kingdoms of modern Europe have from their birth to the present day averaged ten in number. They have never since the breaking up of old Rome been united into one single empire; they have never formed one whole even like the United States. No scheme of proud ambition seeking to reunite the broken fragments has ever succeeded; when such have arisen, they have been invariably dashed to pieces.
“And the division is as apparent now as ever. Plainly and palpably inscribed on the map of Europe this day, it confronts the skeptic with its silent but conclusive testimony to the fulfilment of this great prophecy. Who can alter or add to this tenfold list of the kingdoms now occupying the sphere of old Rome? Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France, Germany, England, Holland, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal—ten, and no more; ten, and no less.”—_“__The Divine Program of the World’s History,__”__ by H. Grattan Guinness, pages 318-321._
15. What change did Daniel see take place in these horns?
“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” Verse 8.
16. What inquiry on the part of Daniel shows that the fourth beast, and especially the little horn phase of it, constitutes the leading feature of this vision?
“Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; and of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.” Verses 19, 20.
17. When was the little horn to arise?
“And another shall rise after them.” Verse 24.
NOTE.—The ten horns, as already shown, arose when Rome, the fourth kingdom, was divided into ten kingdoms. This division was completed in A.D. 476. The little-horn power was to arise after them.
18. What was to be the character of the little horn?
“And he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.” Same verse, last part.
NOTES.—That power which arose in the Roman Empire after the fall of Rome in A.D. 476, which was entirely different from all the ten kingdoms into which Rome was divided (for it demanded and exercised spiritual power over the other kingdoms), and before whom three of the other kings—the Heruli, the Vandals, and the Ostrogoths—fell, was the Papacy.
Having located the place and the time of the kingdom of the little horn, the study of its character and work will be considered in the readings which follow.
The Kingdom And Work Of Antichrist
The Papal Tiara. "He shall speak great words against the Most High." Dan. 7:25.
1. What is said of the little horn as compared with the ten horns of the fourth beast of Daniel 7?
“He shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.” Dan. 7:24.
NOTE.—The Papacy, which arose on the ruins of the Roman Empire, differed from all previous forms of Roman power, in that it was an ecclesiastical despotism claiming universal dominion over both spiritual and temporal affairs, especially the former. It was a union of church and state, with the church dominant.
2. What attitude of rivalry was the Papacy, represented by the little horn, to assume toward the Most High?
“And he shall speak great words against the Most High.” Verse 25, first clause.
3. How does Paul, speaking of the man of sin, describe this same power?
“Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thess. 2:4.
NOTES.—The following extracts from authoritative works, most of them by Roman Catholic writers, will indicate to what extent the Papacy has done this:—
“All the names which are attributed to Christ in Scripture, implying His supremacy over the church, are also attributed to the Pope.”—_Bellarmine, __“__On the Authority of Councils__”__ book 2, chap. 17._
“For thou art the shepherd, thou art the physician, thou art the director, thou art the husbandman; finally thou art another God on earth.”—_From Oration of Christopher Marcellus in fourth session of Fifth Lateran Council, Labbe and Cossart’s __“__History of the Councils,__”__ published in 1672, Vol. XIV, col. 109._
“For not man, but God, not by human but rather by divine authority, releases those whom, on account of the need of the churches or what is regarded as a benefit, the Roman pontiff (who is vicegerent on earth, not of mere man, but of the true God) separates [from their churches].”—_“__The Decretals of Gregory IX,__”__ book 1, title 7, chap. 3._
“The Pope is the supreme judge of the law of the land. He is the vicegerent of Christ, who is not only a priest forever, but also King of kings and Lord of lords.”—_From the Civilta Cattolica, March 18, 1871, quoted in __“__Vatican Council,__”__ by Leonard Woolsey Bacon, American Tract Society edition, page 220._
“Christ entrusted His office to the chief pontiff; ... but all power in heaven and in earth has been given to Christ; ... therefore the chief pontiff, who is His vicar, will have this power.”—_Gloss on the __“__Extravagantes Communes,__”__ book 1, __“__On Authority and Obedience,__”__ chap. 1, on words Porro Subesse Romano Pontiff. Canon law, published in 1556, Vol. III, __“__Extravagantes Communes,__”__ col. 29._
“Hence the Pope is crowned with a triple crown, as king of heaven, and earth, and purgatory (Infernorum).”—_“__Prompta Bibliotheca,__”__ Ferraris, Vol. VI, page 26, article __“__Papa__”__ (the Pope)._
“The decision of the Pope and the decision of God constitute one decision, just as the opinion of the Pope and his disciple are the same. Since, therefore, an appeal is always taken from an inferior judge to a superior, as no one is greater than himself, so no appeal holds when made from the Pope to God, because there is one consistory of the Pope himself and of God Himself, of which consistory the Pope himself is the key-bearer and the doorkeeper. Therefore no one can appeal from the Pope to God, as no one can enter into the consistory of God without the mediation of the Pope, who is the key-bearer and the doorkeeper of the consistory of eternal life; and as no one can appeal to himself, so no one can appeal from the Pope to God, because there is one decision and one curia [court] of God and of the Pope.”—_Writings of Augustinus de Ancona, printed without title-page or pagination, Ques. VI, __“__On an Appeal From the Decision of the Pope.__”_
“All the faithful of Christ must believe that the Holy Apostolic See and the Roman pontiff possesses the primacy over the whole world, and that the Roman pontiff is the successor of the blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, and is true vicar of Christ, and the head of the whole church, and father and teacher of all Christians, and that full power was given him in blessed Peter to rule, feed, and govern the universal church by Jesus Christ our Lord.”—_“__Petri Privilegium,__”__ in section on __“__The Vatican Council and Its Definitions,__”__ by Henry Edward Manning, archbishop of Westminster (Roman Catholic), London, Longmans, Green & Co., 1871, page 214._
“We teach and define that it is a dogma divinely revealed; that the Roman pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra, that is, when in the discharge of the office of Pastor and Doctor of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority he defines a doctrine regarding faith or morals to be held by the universal church, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, is possessed of that infallibility with which the divine Redeemer willed that His church should be endowed for defining doctrine regarding faith or morals; and that therefore such definitions of the Roman pontiff are irreformable of themselves, and not from the consent of the church.”—Id., page 218.
“Should Jesus Christ come in person from heaven into a church to administer the sacrament of reconciliation, and should He say to a penitent, ‘I absolve thee,’ and should a priest sitting at His side in the tribunal of penance pronounce over a penitent the selfsame words, ‘I absolve thee,’ there is no question that in the latter case, as in the former, the penitent would be equally loosed from his sin.”—_“__Jesus Living in the Priest,__”__ by the Rev. P. Millet, S. J., English translation by the Rt. Rev. Thomas Sebastian Byrne, D. D., bishop of Nashville; New York, Benziger Brothers, printers to the Holy Apostolic See, 1901, pages 23, 24. Imprimatur, Michael Augustine, archbishop of New York._
Among the twenty-seven propositions known as the “Dictates of Hildebrand,” who, under the name of Gregory VII, was Pope from 1073-87, occur the following:—
“2. That the Roman pontiff alone is justly styled universal.
“6. That no person ... may live under the same roof with one excommunicated by the Pope.
“9. That all princes should kiss his feet only.
“12. That it is lawful for him to depose emperors.
“18. That his sentence is not to be reviewed by any one; while he alone can review the decisions of all others.
“19. That he can be judged by no one.
“22. That the Romish Church never erred, nor will it, according to the Scriptures, ever err.
“26. That no one is to be accounted a Catholic who does not harmonize with the Romish Church.
“27. That he can absolve subjects from their allegiance to unrighteous rulers.”—_Annals of Baronius, 1076, Vol. XI, col. 506. See Gieseler’s __“__Ecclesiastical History,__”__ third period, div. 3, par. 47, note 3; and Mosheim’s __“__Ecclesiastical History,__”__ book 3, cen. 11, part 2, chap. 2, par. 9, note._
“They have assumed infallibility, which belongs only to God. They profess to forgive sins, which belongs only to God. They profess to open and shut heaven, which belongs only to God. They profess to be higher than all the kings of the earth, which belongs only to God. And they go beyond God in pretending to loose whole nations from their oath of allegiance to their kings, when such kings do not please them. And they go against God, when they give indulgences for sin. This is the worst of all blasphemies.”—Adam Clarke, on Dan. 7:25.
4. How was the little horn to treat God’s people?
“And shall wear out the saints of the Most High.” Dan. 7:25.
NOTES.—“Under these bloody maxims [previously mentioned], those persecutions were carried on, from the eleventh and twelfth centuries almost to the present day, which stand out on the page of history. After the signal of open martyrdom had been given in the canons of Orleans, there followed the extirpation of the Albigenses under the form of a crusade, the establishment of the Inquisition, the cruel attempts to extinguish the Waldenses, the martyrdoms of the Lollards, the cruel wars to exterminate the Bohemians, the burning of Huss and Jerome, and multitudes of other confessors, before the Reformation; and afterwards, the ferocious cruelties practised in the Netherlands, the martyrdoms of Queen Mary’s reign, the extinction by fire and sword of the Reformation in Spain and Italy, by fraud and open persecution in Poland, the massacre of Bartholomew, the persecution of the Huguenots by the League, the extirpation of the Vaudois, and all the cruelties and prejudices connected with the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. These are the more open and conspicuous facts which explain the prophecy, besides the slow and secret murders of the holy tribunal of the Inquisition.”—_“__The First Two Visions of Daniel,__”__ Rev. T. R. Birks, M. A., London, 1845, pages 248, 249._
A detailed summary of the number of the victims of the Inquisition in Spain, under each Inquisitor-General, is given in “The History of the Inquisition in Spain,” by Llorente, formerly secretary of the Inquisition, pages 206-208. According to this authority the number who were condemned and perished in the flames is 31,912.
“The church has persecuted. Only a tyro in church history will deny that.... One hundred and fifty years after Constantine the Donatists were persecuted, and sometimes put to death.... Protestants were persecuted in France and Spain with the full approval of the church authorities. We have always defended the persecution of the Huguenots, and the Spanish Inquisition. Wherever and whenever there is honest Catholicity, there will be a clear distinction drawn between truth and error, and Catholicity and all forms of error. When she thinks it good to use physical force, she will use it.”—The Western Watchman (Roman Catholic), of St. Louis, Dec. 24, 1908.
5. What else does the prophecy say the little horn would do?
“And he shall think to change the times and the law.” Dan. 7:25, third clause, R. V.
NOTES.—“The little horn, further, shall think to change times. The description applies, in all its force, to the systematic perversion of God’s words by which all promises of millennial glory are wrested from their true sense, and referred to the dominion and grandeur of the Church of Rome. The orator of the Pope, for instance, in the Lateran Council, declares that in the submission of all nations to Leo the prophecy was fulfilled: ‘All kings shall fall down and worship Him; all nations shall serve and obey Him.’ The same antichristian feature appears in those advocates of the Papacy who would clear it from the guilt of actual idolatry, because ‘it is part of that church from which the idols are utterly abolished.’ Thus are the times changed; but only in the vain ‘thoughts’ of dreamers who see false visions and divine lying divinations; because the visible glory of Christ’s kingdom remains still to be revealed.”—_“__The First Two Visions of Daniel,__”__ Rev. T. R. Birks, M. A., London, 1845, pages 257, 258._
Although the ten commandments, the law of God, are found in the Roman Catholic versions of the Scriptures, as they were originally given, yet the faithful are instructed from the catechisms of the church, and not directly from the Bible. As it appears in these, the law of God has been changed and virtually reenacted by the Papacy. Furthermore, communicants not only receive the law from the church, but they deal with the church concerning any alleged infractions of that law, and when they have satisfied the ecclesiastical authorities, the whole matter is settled.
The second commandment, which forbids the making of, and bowing down to, images, is omitted in Catholic catechisms, and the tenth, which forbids coveting, is divided into two.
As evidence of the change which has been made in the law of God by the papal power, and that it acknowledges the change and claims the authority to make it, note the following from Roman Catholic publications:—
“Question.—Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept?
“Answer.—Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her,—she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority.”—_“__A Doctrinal Catechism,__”__ Rev. Stephen Keenan, page 174. Imprimatur, John Cardinal McCloskey, archbishop of New York._
“Ques.—How prove you that the church hath power to command feasts and holy days?
“Ans.—By the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants allow of; and therefore they fondly contradict themselves, by keeping Sunday strictly, and breaking most other feasts commanded by the same church.
“Ques.—How prove you that?
“Ans.—Because by keeping Sunday they acknowledge the church’s power to ordain feasts, and to command them under sin: and by not keeping the rest by her commanded, they deny again, in fact, the same power.”—_“__An Abridgment of the Christian Doctrine,__”__ composed in 1649, by Rev. Henry Tuberville, D. D., of the English College of Douay; New York, John Doyle, 1883, page 58._
“Is not every Christian obliged to sanctify Sunday, to abstain on that day from unnecessary servile work? Is not the observance of this law among the most prominent of our sacred duties? But you may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify.”—_“__The Faith of Our Fathers,__”__ by James Cardinal Gibbons, Baltimore, John Murphy & Co., 1893, page 111._
All Roman Catholic writers agree in this teaching. See page 441.
6. Until what time were the saints, times, and laws of the Most High to be given into the hands of the little horn?
“And they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Dan. 7:25, last clause.
7. In what other prophecies is this same period mentioned?
“And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” Rev. 12:14. “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue [margin, to make war] forty and two months.” Rev. 13:5. See also Rev. 11:2. “And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.” Rev. 12:6.
8. In symbolic prophecy what length of time is represented by a day?
“After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years.” Num. 14:34. See Eze. 4:6.
NOTES.—A time in prophecy being the same as a year (see Dan. 11:13, margin, and R. V.), three and one-half times would be three and a half years, or forty-two months, or twelve hundred and sixty days, since the calendar year of 360 days, or twelve months of thirty days each, is used in prophetic chronology. As each day represents a year, the period, the end of which was to mark the limit of the time of the supremacy of the little horn, the Papacy, over the saints, times, and the law, would therefore be twelve hundred and sixty years.
The decree of the emperor Justinian, issued in A.D. 533, recognized the Pope as “head of all the holy churches.” (Justinian’s Code, book 1, title 1. Baronius’s Annals, A.D. 533.) The overwhelming defeat of the Ostrogoths in the siege of Rome, five years later, A.D. 538, was a death-blow to the independence of the Arian power then ruling Italy, and was therefore a notable date in the development of papal supremacy. With the period 533-538, then, commences the twelve hundred and sixty years of this prophecy, which would extend to the period 1793-1798. The year 1793 was the year of the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution, and the year when the Roman Catholic religion was set aside in France and the worship of reason was established in its stead. As a direct result of the revolt against papal authority in the French Revolution, the French army, under Berthier, entered Rome, and the Pope was taken prisoner Feb. 10, 1798, dying in exile at Valence, France, the following year. This period, 1793-1798, during which this death-stroke was inflicted upon the Papacy, fittingly and clearly marks the close of the long prophetic period mentioned in this prophecy. Any standard history of the time may be consulted in substantiation of the facts here stated.
9. What will finally be done with the dominion exercised by the little horn?
“But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.” Dan. 7:26.
10. To whom will the dominion finally be given?
“And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.” Verse 27.
NOTE.—Here, as in the second chapter of Daniel, the announcement of the setting up of the everlasting kingdom of God in the earth includes a brief outline of the history of this world; and the prophecies of Daniel concerning the powers that would oppose the purpose of God, furnish additional features of this outline. The exact fulfilment of this outline in the history of the world since the time of Nebuchadnezzar constitutes an unimpeachable testimony to the inspiration of these prophecies, and furnishes a ground of confidence that the unfulfilled portion of the prophecies will be wrought out in the future with absolute certainty and in every detail.