Chapter 49.
The Gospel of the Kingdom
1. WHAT gospel did Jesus preach?
"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching _________________________________." Matt. 4:23.
2. How extensively did He say this should be preached?
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached ______________ 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 ___________________________." Gen. 12:1-3.
"And the Scripture, __________________________, 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 ___________, and with their ________ 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. ________________________________." 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, __________________________." 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 m Babylon, as shown m the first chapter of Darnel, 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 _________________, 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 ______________________." Same verse.
9. How long is this kingdom to continue?
"And it shall ___________________." 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; ______________________________." 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 _________________________ forever: . . . thy __________________ 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 _________________: 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 _______________." Matt. 22:42.
14. What is this union of divinity and humanity called?
"And without controversy great is __________________: 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 ______________________: 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 ________________________________________." 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 ________________________." 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 _________________________." 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 ___________________. 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 ________________ ___________." 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, ____________________." Matt. 25:31-34.
________________________________________
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?
Copyright © 2003-2008
www.preparingforeternity.com
All rights reserved.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
BIBLE STUDY: CHAP.48 -- NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM
Chapter 48.
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
(The Great Image of Daniel 2)
or the kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of God
1. WHAT statement did Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, make to his wise men whom he had assembled?
"And the king said unto them, __________________________________." 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, ________________________: 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 ________________________________________." 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 _____________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 ________________. 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 ________________, 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 ________________. 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 ____________, his breast and his arms of _______, his belly and his thighs of ___________, his legs of __________, his feet ___________." Verses 32,33.
8. By what means was the image broken to pieces?
"Thou sawest till that ____________ 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 _________________________________, 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. _____________________." 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 out in a perfect square sixty miles in circumference, fifteen miles on each side surrounded by a wall three hundred and fifty feet high an 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 __________________." Verse 39, first part.
12. Who was the last Babylonian king?
"In that night was __________________ 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 ____________________." Verse 28.
14. By what is the Medo-Persian Empire represented in the great image?
The __________________________. Dan. 2:32.
15. By what is Grecia, the kingdom succeeding Medo- Persia, represented in the image?
"His belly and his thighs of _______________." Verse 32. "And another __________________________, which shall bear rule over all the earth." Verse 39.
16. What is said of the fourth kingdom?
"And the fourth kingdom ____________________: 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, ______________________________." 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. 1, 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, _______________________________." 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 ___________________, so the kingdom shall be ________________________ [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, _______________________: 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 __________________________________: . . . 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, __________________________________; and He shall reign forever and ever." Rev. 11:15.
23. For what have we been taught to pray?
"__________________. 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 ____________________ 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. ________________________________________." Rev. 22:20.
________________________________________
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.
Copyright © 2003-2008
www.preparingforeternity.com
All rights reserved.
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
(The Great Image of Daniel 2)
or the kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of God
1. WHAT statement did Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, make to his wise men whom he had assembled?
"And the king said unto them, __________________________________." 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, ________________________: 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 ________________________________________." 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 _____________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 ________________. 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 ________________, 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 ________________. 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 ____________, his breast and his arms of _______, his belly and his thighs of ___________, his legs of __________, his feet ___________." Verses 32,33.
8. By what means was the image broken to pieces?
"Thou sawest till that ____________ 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 _________________________________, 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. _____________________." 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 out in a perfect square sixty miles in circumference, fifteen miles on each side surrounded by a wall three hundred and fifty feet high an 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 __________________." Verse 39, first part.
12. Who was the last Babylonian king?
"In that night was __________________ 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 ____________________." Verse 28.
14. By what is the Medo-Persian Empire represented in the great image?
The __________________________. Dan. 2:32.
15. By what is Grecia, the kingdom succeeding Medo- Persia, represented in the image?
"His belly and his thighs of _______________." Verse 32. "And another __________________________, which shall bear rule over all the earth." Verse 39.
16. What is said of the fourth kingdom?
"And the fourth kingdom ____________________: 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, ______________________________." 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. 1, 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, _______________________________." 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 ___________________, so the kingdom shall be ________________________ [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, _______________________: 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 __________________________________: . . . 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, __________________________________; and He shall reign forever and ever." Rev. 11:15.
23. For what have we been taught to pray?
"__________________. 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 ____________________ 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. ________________________________________." Rev. 22:20.
________________________________________
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.
Copyright © 2003-2008
www.preparingforeternity.com
All rights reserved.
BIBLE STUDY: CHAP.47 -- PROPHECY, WHY GIVEN
Chapter 47.
Prophecy, Why Given
1. WHY were the Sacred Writings given?
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written _______________." Rom. 15:4.
2. By what means is all scripture given?
"All scripture is given ______________________." 2 Tim. 3:16, first part.
3. For what is it profitable?
"And is profitable for ______________________________________________." Same verse, last part.
4. How was the prophecy given?
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but _________________ ____________________________________________." 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: ________ ______________________________________________." 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, _____________________________, 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 fulfill 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 fulfillment 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 ____________________." 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 ______________________________________." Deut. 29:29.
9. What testimony did the apostle Peter bear concerning his experience on the mount of transfiguration?
"__________________________________, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, _______________________________." 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, ________________________ ________________." Verse 18.
11. How does he emphasize the reliability of prophecy?
"And we have the word of prophecy ____________." Verse 19, R.V. "Now more confirmed." Boothroyd's translation.
NOTE.-Every fulfillment of prophecy is a confirmation of the truth- fullness and reliability of prophecy.
12. What admonition is therefore given?
"Whereunto ye do well that ye ___________________, 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 _____________________. 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 ____________________________ 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 __________ ____________, 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 ______________: 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; ______________________." Verses 9,10.
18. What is the last book of the Bible called?
"_________________________________, 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?
"_________________ is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein." Verse 3.
Copyright © 2003-2008
www.preparingforeternity.com
All rights reserved.
Prophecy, Why Given
1. WHY were the Sacred Writings given?
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written _______________." Rom. 15:4.
2. By what means is all scripture given?
"All scripture is given ______________________." 2 Tim. 3:16, first part.
3. For what is it profitable?
"And is profitable for ______________________________________________." Same verse, last part.
4. How was the prophecy given?
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but _________________ ____________________________________________." 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: ________ ______________________________________________." 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, _____________________________, 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 fulfill 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 fulfillment 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 ____________________." 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 ______________________________________." Deut. 29:29.
9. What testimony did the apostle Peter bear concerning his experience on the mount of transfiguration?
"__________________________________, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, _______________________________." 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, ________________________ ________________." Verse 18.
11. How does he emphasize the reliability of prophecy?
"And we have the word of prophecy ____________." Verse 19, R.V. "Now more confirmed." Boothroyd's translation.
NOTE.-Every fulfillment of prophecy is a confirmation of the truth- fullness and reliability of prophecy.
12. What admonition is therefore given?
"Whereunto ye do well that ye ___________________, 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 _____________________. 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 ____________________________ 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 __________ ____________, 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 ______________: 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; ______________________." Verses 9,10.
18. What is the last book of the Bible called?
"_________________________________, 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?
"_________________ is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein." Verse 3.
Copyright © 2003-2008
www.preparingforeternity.com
All rights reserved.
BIBLE STUDY: CHAP.46 -- THE OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT
Chapter 46.
The Outpouring of the Spirit
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, _____________________." Luke 24:49.
2. With what did He say they would be baptized?
"Ye shall be baptized _______________ 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 ___________________________ 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, __________________, and said . . . Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone 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: ________________________________." Acts 2:37-41. "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; . . . and _______________________________________, multitudes both of men and women." Acts 5:12-14. "And the word of God increased; and ________________; 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 ___________________." 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, ___________________________________." Acts 3:19.
7. What event does he speak of as immediately following these times of refreshing?
"________________________, 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 __________________________; 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 fulfillment 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 _______________ moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the ________________, and the ______________ 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?
"__________________________; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain to everyone 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 out pouring of the Spirit described by the revelator?
"After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and _______________________." Rev. 18:1.
12. What does this angel say?
"And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, ________________________, 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.
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, _______________." 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, _______________________, 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.
________________________________________
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.
Copyright © 2003-2008
www.prparingforeternity.com
All rights reserved.
The Outpouring of the Spirit
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, _____________________." Luke 24:49.
2. With what did He say they would be baptized?
"Ye shall be baptized _______________ 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 ___________________________ 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, __________________, and said . . . Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone 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: ________________________________." Acts 2:37-41. "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; . . . and _______________________________________, multitudes both of men and women." Acts 5:12-14. "And the word of God increased; and ________________; 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 ___________________." 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, ___________________________________." Acts 3:19.
7. What event does he speak of as immediately following these times of refreshing?
"________________________, 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 __________________________; 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 fulfillment 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 _______________ moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the ________________, and the ______________ 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?
"__________________________; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain to everyone 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 out pouring of the Spirit described by the revelator?
"After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and _______________________." Rev. 18:1.
12. What does this angel say?
"And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, ________________________, 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.
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, _______________." 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, _______________________, 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.
________________________________________
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.
Copyright © 2003-2008
www.prparingforeternity.com
All rights reserved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
