Is the Bible what it claims to be?

Preface

It was only after long consideration and months of examination as to my motives; and much earnest prayer, that a decision was arrived at, and I concluded to write this book. It was with much reluctance that a start was made, and it required much prayer and faith to continue: because it seemed that every influence seen and unseen, opposed its continuance. We were surrounded by the unseen influence of satan, the ever present influence of worldly and financial displeasure, sickness, inconvenience, personal ill-health and poverty; but the impressions could not be shed, in spite of every argument coming into combat in our mind. First, we realized our insufficient ability on account of being deprived of a university education; second, we saw the monstrous error that is connected with modern education: that the majority desire what is called "degrees" either for the purpose of evading honest hard labor, or to exploit the laboring classes by legal oppression and educational sharp practices; third, the noticeable silence of men who have ample ability, regarding matters of most vital importance connected with the teachings of the Bible and the example of Christ. We considered the fact that there are too many books now, yet, we have been unable to find any book on the market today, that presents the unclothed facts of Scripture in their bearing upon the vital issues of life, such as : Creation, Education, Socialism, Business, Banking, Philanthropy,

Charity, Law, Medicine, Politics, Prophecy and its •clear bearing upon the .nations, set forth in a plain way that common people could understand, and busy men could get a fact without the necessity of reading five hundred pages to find out what the writer was trying to present!

I have tried to avoid being too critical, yet my desire has been to put the mustard poultice just where the defective spot is, and although it may smart the guilty ones; it has been written in the fear of God and His judgment, and I have no apology to make for the close range in which the attack has been made upon sin.

With the utmost sincerity the work is dedicated to all in the confident hope that it will be helpful, personally, collectively, nationally and internationally. This work embracing so many points, only slight reference could be made, especially on prophecy; we could but touch it. I am reminded that in 1914 when speaking in a certain western city, that my remarks on the Bagdad Railway, and its bearing upon the revived Roman Empire, and how that Germany would never realize any benefit, nor its promoters a penny profit ; I was mocked and ridiculed, but time will reveal whether this was a rainbow chase or not.

I request the prayers and co-operation of all the children of God that this book shall be a blessing to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.

A. J. B.

Table Of Contents

Chapter Page

PREFACE 7

INTRODUCTION ii

Introduction

This humble, unassuming work is submitted in the hope of correcting some of the errors of the present day. The subject is one such as man can never, in ihis finite state, fully comprehend or exhaust; the fact that errors exist, will be concurred in by all, whether they believe there are more, or less, than at any other time. The question as to this point we must leave with your own mind, but feel that this book will lead to truth, and that without being mixed with error, as many books are.

The majority of the white race, is ready to denounce Turkey and consign her to the pot. This nation is upon the tongue of thousands, whether learned or unlearned, and the term, "wipe her out," has become quite common; yet not more than one in a hundred can give a reasonable answer why. Perhaps a fewer number are able to give a Biblical account of Turkey ( ?) . One of the greatest errors of modern times was the attempt to capture the Dardanelles. If the military men had understood the Bible, this terrible error would not have occurred.

The ten kingdomed confederacy, of which Turkey is one according to Scripture, must first come into concrete form, after whicli we can immediately look for her to be torn out by the roots. What are the roots of Turkey but jealousy toward Israel. The poor Jews have yearned and wept for certain privileges in Palestine, but have been denied them for hundreds of years. How they would love to have access to that Tomb at Hebron that is guarded by Turkish 'soldiers day and night; how they have desired to stand in the Holy Place and other sacred spots, but it would mean death to the soldiers, as well as the Jew, who got into the sacred area of the Turkish Haram. Very soon, however, these privileges shall be opened to the Jews, but not by forcing events out of their propihetic order. It is the gteat soon-coming genius that is to put Turkey out of the arena, not great armies and ships.

Prophetic events come as the links of chains, and can not be forced by man. If all the world combined to take the Dardanelles it could not be taken at this time. If the Crusaders had understood the 2nd and 7th chapters of Daniel they would never have thrown away their lives like water. This book it is hoped, will help not only infidels but military men also. While we take no military stand for any nation, yet if we could, like Jeremiah, be of service in the way of giving Scriptural advice we would be glad. We fear that the United States has already been too slow in taking

Germany firmly in hand, because the sooner we learn that we are destined to be the servant of the Allies the better. We have devoted considerable attention to strengthening the fundamentals of creation, and pointing out the facts sustaining the Bible as an Age-abiding book, as well as being the revelation of God.

Some of the absurdities of unbelief are revealed in the hope that deluded men shall see the folly and baselessness of infidelity and criticism. The shameful theory of Blumenbach's Ethnology that has received such widespread credence, and is taught more or less in all our schools, and mostly accepted by all except Jews, is referred to but slightly. We would direct your attention especially to this shocking theory as the chiefest advance of all kinds of unbelief in and toward God and the Scriptures. This wicked theory that came from hell and afterward from Germany, has opened the way through the teaching of children at school to the acceptance of such damnable books as Kean's Ethnology published by Cambridge University, and Darwin's Monkey Theories.

Christian people should be alarmed at the conditions of our public schools. Considering that such wicked men as Virchow, Bastine, Waitz and KoUmann, German infidels, have poisoned English literature by their deadly arrows of Evolution. These wolves, have cunningly advanced to the

14 IS THE BIBI.E WHAT IT CLAIMS TO BE

front and by subtle means 'have inserted, what they call, the golden skeleton-key into our literature by mystification of language, by Latin sentences and metaphysics. They tell us that God never talked to man and that man never had speech created and handed to him ready-made, but that speech developed from germs; that there never was a mother-tongue; that man at first was a speechless animal and became a talking animal by the development of these language-germs; that God didn't make, but by tentative and unconscious efforts the animal called man first talked.

We have striven to avoid assumption where matters of difficulty arose. In the dispersion of the sons of Noah there are great difficulties in tracing China, and we have tried sincerely to obtain a more definite account from various learned men than we ourselves were 'able to assemble, but have failed.

But the evidences submitted ought, we believe, to be sufficient to satisfy the mind of honesthearted men, especially Christians. It seems rather unfortunate that the 11th chapter of Genesis gives only the Genealogy of Shem. This, of course, was given to establish Abram. But the 8th verse should suffice wherein is stated that God scattered them upon the face of all the earth. We believe that at this time there was a dispersion. There can be no doubt of this whether or not we believe the people sought to get to heaven by means of the tower, or whether or not we believe the ancient Jewish theory, viz., "that fire from Heaven split the building from top to bottom."

This dispersion occuring about 2200 years B. C, or about eleven hundred years before Chinese records. There was a gradual dispersion south, east, and west, but at the confusion of tongues and during Peleg's days, when the earth was divided, there must have been a pronounced dispersion. It is quite evident to our minds that the Chinese were not always as they now are. We are so apt to forget that sin, and especially the sin of unlawful mixture, leaves irremovable marks, features and characteristics. We remember it well enough in the case of Canaan the son of Ham, but in the sons of Gog — the cursed grandson of Jacob, Russia and in China who bear the mark of sin, we forget. Personally we believe China to be either the descendants of the second or third son of Japheth,. mixed up with the Tartars. We believe the Tartars and Afghanistans to be the descendants of the six sons of Abraham's second wife. There is evidence for this which we cannot state here and now for lack of space. (See appendix on China).

But we are reasonably certain that Japheth's tjhird son established Media, and this country bordered the China boundary as is known today. Then, too, we know the Tartars were the terror to the Chinese for centuries, and we know that the Chinese women were constantly ravished, so is it any wonder their eyes are a J4 i^^ch farther apart than ours? We know that sin mars, cripples and deforms the physiognomy of man, therefore, if we •accepted such basis as Blumenbach's we could establish possibly fifteen races as well as five?

Further it is not many centuries ago since on account of the dense population of China Chinese adventurers began colonies in the Islands and named their nation after the name of their Father Japheth by changing the last syllable.

We have endeavored to present the claims of Socialism, submitting a few thoughts in regard to its relation with the Bible, its inconsistencies in connection with Christ's life, work and teachings. Also the true Socialism that is inseparable from righteousness.

The inconsistencies and mockeries that are dressed up in the robes of Christianity! A parallel comparison is here and there shown between the History of Israel, then Judah and Israel with their kings, priests and prophets, up to and including Jeremiah and Daniel. Then, too, some prophecies are submtted from Noah to Daniel showing the lineage of Christ inadvertently preserved and unwittingly spoken of many times and in different manners.

We have touched on the social relation, the shocking injustice between capital and labor, the extreme inequalities, the inhuman standards set up between men because of our educational views being false to the principles of God as laid down by Moses and the prophets. Then a few thoughts on the value of labor and the overestimated value of a doctor's and lawyer's services and how these men by this error become oppressors; how that men who enjoy all the blessings of life and profess to believe in the golden rule believe in it working only toward themselves.

We have pointed out the shameful absorption of resources by private individuals and railroads in grabbing tremendous areas of land; the hypocricies of professed Christians in having part in •comercial trickery in an effort to accumulate riches.

We cite the qualities and wonders of the Mosaic law, its absolute certainty of carriage, its concreteness and durability, and that it is not only for the Jew who was merely administrator but for the universe, as was clearly set forth by God before the law was given to Moses (Ex. 12:49).

The awful mistaken idea of some Christians that the world is to be converted by evangelization of the Gospel. The writer in earlier days had such an idea when he rolled up his sleeves intending to do his part, vi^hile engaged in mission work in Trenton, N. J. But we learned our error and were well satisfied to admit that Peter knew more about this great subject than we did, and that it is God's plan to take out from the Gentiles a people for His Name. (Acts 15 :14) In this connection we have submitted the figures of W. H. Manders.

We have endeavored to compare our systems with those set forth in the Bible. Our charities are but a shadow of what are rendered in the Mosaic law. Our charity agents often draw large salaries and quite a lot of red tape is connected with these institutions.

Also in the same connection we have shown that "Building and Loan Associations," boomers, brokers, loan sharks, sheriff trailers, franchise grabbers, 'mineral thieves and other frauds that get riches through snap-trap schemes and panic booming are only vultures of society and that such could never exist nor be born under Moses.

Then we have given a few examples of the costliness of Jewish worship, and that only an actual revelation from God could have induced a Jew to adopt such an expensive and laborious worship.

In this same connection we show the wicked fallacy of philosophers who have attempted to portray the Jewish, and consequently the Christian religion, as a written system of pious butcher's fancies and Utopian dreams that pacify the worship germs of mankind.

The authorship of Job, Samuel and Kings is touched upon, and in this connection the continual downgrade of Judah is noted. We show how the seed of David, as prophesied by Nathan, was preserved, and although this Judaic lineage seemed to be attacked and almost disrupted God preserved it until Christ was born. But the genealogy of the Jews since Christ's earthly life has been lost and there is now no trace of this royal line among them.

Reference is made to a few Bible characters regarding human capacity for both good and evil. Comparisons are drawn from such men as Mr. Baer, former President of the Reading Railroad, who was also President of the "Christian Endeavor" during the same time.

In these connections the "Roosevelt Coal Strike Commission" is referred to, as well as other cases of shameful oppression and robbery of coal miners. Strikes are mentioned in connection with the so-called gifts of corporations and individuals who desire to appear as philanthropists, but are really in the sig'ht of God nothing more than "thieves and robbers." These men give that which is not theirs because they have by wicked, sharp and oppressive means wrung from labor what belonged to the laborer.

We also present the sad mistake of Jehosaphat in his alliance with Ahab and compare it with the modern follies of the so-called Church in seeking to be true and obedient to Jesus Christ and yet desiring the friendship of Christ's enemies. This notion, although carried very far these days through corporation gifts and Y. M. C. As., is just as diametric now as ever, and that if the Church was in its sphere the money interests would hate it as they hated our Lord. The law of God in Deut. 7:25-26 and 16:19 should be conclusive on this.

The affiliation of Christians with the worldly organizations, that pretend to be Christian by incorporating a few Christian teachings into their formula is hereby pointed out as a fatal mistake and without precedent in Scripture; not only this, but they form the demon system which protects crime of every sort from a lie to murder.

We have a deep rooted pity for men who are so deluded by Satan as to think they can be an ambassador of Christ and yet be a member of the Masonic and other secret orders where Christ's name is not allowed to be mentioned, and others where His name is mentioned only in "bluff." "What fellowship hath light with darkness? Time is too short and the age is too far spent to handle these vital subjects with kid gloves. We cannot believe that a "minister of Christ" will join himself to anything of this kind, that is, if we know the meaning of the word "ambassador." We believe that the kind of men our universities have turned out the last ten years are too stiff and cold to warm the soul of man.

In a few instances we seemed to be compelled to be personal, and hope our readers will pardon this because of its unavoidance. We have desired to be impartial and Catholic.

We hope that none will take personal offense either way, because the matters dealt with are neither fancies nor theories but truths of the Bible.

Now in our mention of the apostasy of the Church it is with sorrow that reference is made to these things, yet, on the other hand, it is very significant because these are the "very days" that the New Testament prop'hecies refer to. We can know this just as we can distinguish a gooseberry bush. Just compare these scriptures with conditions today then you will be convinced: I Tim. 4:1,3; II Tim. 3:1-7; II Pet. 3:1-5. Paul, who was caught up to the third Heaven, said, "In the last days evil men shall wax worse and worse." Did he know better than we? The writer is not firing away aimlessly for we know by experience that the soup kitchens and pool tables, bowling alleys and gymnasiums that have been added to the Churches have proven to be the means of distinguishing the spiritual weakness that the Church has drifted into! The bitter and almost crushing experience of our own life whereby it was either sell out or get out, we were compelled by the "winking ecclesia" of the Church to keep silent regarding the corrupt methods of ministerial support, or resign. We now rejoice that the latter course was adopted, although it meant the bitterest experience imaginable. Every apparent open door was closed when we told our reasons for resigning. But we cannot now enter into the bitter narratives of our experience further than mention it to show that the standard set up is to "love the organization 'more than Christ." We perhaps should mention in this connection that we were driven from pillar to post and state to state. Twice we entered a University desiring to complete our studies but only to leave in a short time filled with disgust because of infidelity and fanaticism. These things that have weakened Protestant Churches have prepared the way for what is known as Church Federation. Let us keep this subtle demon back as long as we can, but at the same time remember that all the anti-Roman journals and every other human restraint cannot save us from the embrace of the "Roman Beast." God, w'ho fore-saw both nations and churches turn their back upon Him, is now going to laugh at our calamity and mock our fears. The nations have shaken the fist in the face of God and the Church has shaken her head.

The proiphecies that are submitted in tliis book are very simple, yet some people may not comprehend them because of the reason stated by our Lord in Matt. 13:11. But the ''Church" should understand.

We have drawn a few examples of Romanism as referred to in the Scriptures, especially in the New Testament. The present war will, we believe, converge into the fulfillment of the prophecies of Daniel and the New Testament. The prophecies of St. Paul have been working very rapidly this last decade. The second chapter of Daniel is now to become history in its completeness. The 2nd book of Thessalonians which corresponds with the 7th of Daniel, the 24th of Matthew and the 13th of Revelation is now about to dawn. We believe that however this war may be terminated the Pope will contrive some means by which he gets the credit of bringing about peace. We hope the reader will see, and by repeatedly reading and comparing, will understand the interchangeable terms in Revelation 13 and 17. Both the revived Roman Empire and Anti-Christ are mentioned synonymously, and also the Beast that received the deadly wound — the head of the Roman ecclesia. We feel certain that the Pope by receiving credit in bringing peace throug'h the Vatican Delegates will have sway over the Roman Empire and consequently over the world, thereby he shall give the second Man-Beast power, and by his false prophecies shall turn the world to this genius, the Man-of-Sin; who of course will co-operate with him for the first period of the tribulation.

We have also mentioned some of the errors of modern times. The errors Of Russellism and Spiritualism are not dealt with much because these are well known. There are other dangers more insididous to Christians, such as "demon-arrogance" and audacity and impudence of thinking God to be less offended because of sin than man; the theory of "impenitence, or in other words, the doctrine of "Salvation without Repentance" Which is of the Adversary. Then too, there is another evil doctrine that ruins the Christian hope, namely, "Demon Possession among Christians." The strangest thing about this is that its advocates claim to believe in eternal security. We know that the Bible teaches "demonology," but not among Christians. Then there is the "Tongues" movement. This untameable member always did cause trouble, but we hardly expected the "rain" in Joel 2:23, which means water from the clouds, to be changed into "brain-storms." We have endeavored to hew close to Scripture in our simple efforts to teach the truth concerning "Anti-Christ" and beg to say that we have no sympathy with the manufactured notions that the "Scientists" in Boston are trying to give birth to. a "miraculous baby." We repudiate this as baseless. This "Man-of-Sin" will come as indicated in Daniel 7:8, therefore we believe this to be "hot-air."

The Jews are very wary in regard to any miraculous baby on account of centuries of blind prejudice, and especially would they reject one born through such a medium as "Christian Science!"

The Jews will readily accept such a personage as we have tried to reveal; one who shall rise up amid kings. While (he will feed at first from the 'hand of Romanism he will explain to the Jews' satisfaction that it will be for a commercial purpose only, and that but for a shor't time, which of course will be true. The fact of this "Little Horn" rising up and plucking Turkey out by the roots and offering the Jews such unheard-of favors will •draw them like a magnet, and he being such a "Wonderful Counselor" and a Jew, they will readily make a covenant with him as we find in Isaiah 28th chapter.

We had intended to include some of the external evidences that so conclusively prove the Bible to be the voice from Heaven, but we saw it to be too voluminous to undertake here so have left it over for a subsequent work if time permit and the Lord wills. We hardly expect college men to read this work, but, should it come to the hands of such, we trust they will find the truth though expressed in simple language. Now before coneluding this lengthy introduction we beg to state that the Millennium has scarcely been mentioned except in the light of the false notions of optimists. We delight very much in the blessed thought of this subject that occupies sudh a prominent place in the Bible, but so far as a Christian is concerned we believe he is getting now all the "vine and fig tree" that he is to get in the flesh. The important subject is that which leads to the event of Christ's second coming and the first resurrection, which means the reunion of body, soul and spirit of all the dead in the iLord and the changing of all living in the Lord in the twinkling of an eye. That this is to occur before the vials of the wrath of God are poured out upon the earth seem absolutely certain for many reasons : First, that the deliverance of Lot from Sodom is given as a type of this "Saved remnant." Just as God could not pour out fire from Heaven upon Sodom until He had, for Abraham's sake (?), delivered Lot, just so God cannot pour out His wrath upon His children such as is described in the 16th of Revelations until they are taken out.

Second, the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt, and also their deliverance from the plagues that were sent upon the Egyptians through having the blood of a lamb sprinkled upon their doorway, is a perfect type of the deliverance of God's children from the awful tribulation that will be meted out to this wicked world. They, too, will be spared through the blood of, not a lamb, but "the Lamb." It will not matter so much as to how holy they are, or whether they were baptized the right way, but it will matter altogether if they have despised the goodness of God that led them to repentance, and faith in Christ's blood. There were many no doubt in those little huts in Egypt the night when the Angel of the Lord slew the first born of all man and beast who were not as holy as they ought to have been, but the Angel did not inquire whether they could jump and shout for they were to be attended to for their faults after they got into the wilderness, the angel simply looked to see if the blood was on the doorway. Third, the Lord Jesus Christ so many times in His discourses mentioned Himself as the "Bridegroom." Nobody understood it then, but since John gave us from Patmos the 19th chapter of Revelation we know it means fulfilment of 1 Thes. 4:16, 17. "When a Bridegroom" is talked about we know there is also a Bride, "a chosen one." See Acts 15:14 again. A bridegroom doesn't marry anybody, but a definite "chosen one." We always think of a coming wedding when we hear one talk of a bridegroom, do we not? Now isn't this plain enough?

We believe this wedding will take place almost simultaneously with the coming of Anti- Christ, whom we believe will rise out of Greece.

However this may be, he will be a "cultured one." It is very evident from Rev. 13:7 that the Beast sh^ll have despotic power over the entire world; this will make the U. S. A. a servant too. Our heart adhes for the poor Jews, and we hope that all in whose hands this book may come will repent and turn with faith to Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ of 'God. This is their only hope of escape. The Temple that is now being prepared cannot help them. We are sure that when it is completed the Altar will never be kindled from Heaven.

We now (humbly submit this work, hoping the same will be helpful to everybody. We will be glad to assist any honest inquirer through the mail, if such make it known and desire the Glory of God and believe His book to be What it claims to be.

"IS THE BIBLE WHAT IT CLAIMS TO BE?"

The author feels constrained to begin the work, by dedicating the first portion to honest unbelievers, whether mere doubters or professional infidels. Evidently there are some who seem sincere in their rejection of the Bible, therefore a few simple references will be submitted for their honest consideration. Having been in touch with pronounced unbelievers and infidels for some years, especially in and about Chicago, there is a feeling of pity and sympathy for this class, because, after studying the conditions as they are, we are convinced that much of the professed infidelity is the result of unbelief through inconsistency. It is very easy for those whose environments are unfortunate, and especially in cases where their misfortune is the direct result of the practice of the fortunate, that they should drift into unbelief and pronounced infidelity, because in many instances their misfortune, oppressions, etc., have come from men who have professed faith in God and in the Bible as God's book of truth, in the Church as God's earthly fold, and in Heaven as God's eternal fold. Therefore, realizing these conditions, profound sympathy for these naturally arises and to the best of our recollection we have never parted with any after discussion but that they were afterward friendly, excepting one or two cases. We have generally foun'd infidels very appreciative of honest reasoning and when meeting some of their queries with an honest, "I don't know," they have shown every respect, but on the other hand a desperate contempt for evasion. It is not our purpose to attempt to give an exhaustive treatise of the internal or external evidences showing the authenticity of Scripture. We desire only to cite a few evidences in order that honest doubters may be stirred in mind and fairly meet the simple evidences of truth that are herewith humbly submitted, in the confident hope of awaking the soul to hear the voice of God.

In this brief and rapid trip through the Bible there is not the slightest hesitancy in stating clearly the object and purpose of this work. First, it is to show forth, in clear and simple language, the positive authority and inspiration of the Scripture from a reasonable, prophetic, and material point of view so that unbelievers might thereby be assisted to accept the Bible as the only sure guide of life. Second, that believers shall be encouraged and rejoice in the further establishment of the mind that the fundamentals of Christianity are immovable. Third, to set forth the fallacy and baselessness of infidelity, showing that these shafts of so-called reason are filled with deadly poison and tend to destroy life, home and eternal hope. Why do the enemies of the Bible seek to enshroud their purpose? Why do they not state frankly that their business is to destroy law, order, home and church, and to teach murder, theft and adultery?