There is one very noticeable feature in all attacks on the Christian faith, and that of Unitarianism is no exception. The prophecies of Scripture are either altogether ignored, or an attempt is made to explain them away, as for instance, when they tell us that the very striking prophecies of the Book of Daniel were written after the events had happened, and were merely history, and not prophecies at all. But there is one very definite and helpful fixing of dates. In B.C. 277 Ptolemy Philadelphus, King of Egypt, gathered seventy-two learned Jews, six from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, to Alexandria in order to translate the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek. This translation is commonly called the Septuagint, because it was the work of seventy translators. It is reputed that the King gave a million sterling for a single copy of the Old Testament, and half a million sterling to the translators for their translation. There can be no fixing of Old Testament prophecies after that date. Of course the books of the Old Testament were much older than B.C. 277, as the Jews, the custodians of the Old Testament, could testify.
Why do the attackers of the Christian faith endeavor to explain away these prophecies? It cannot be denied, that the Bible is the ONLY Book in all the literature in the world, that has prophesied future events of a world magnitude, and that these prophecies have been fulfilled. No person can deny
this. Is this not a staggering fact, proving without a doubt that the Bible is inspired of God, for such prophecies are clearly beyond the power of mortal man? When prophet after prophet foretells future events, unknown to each other, living in different centuries, and sometimes in different countries, and yet not contradicting each other, but prophesying in one harmonious whole, the one and only conclusion, that can be arrived at, is that one Master Mind inspired them to write what they did. " All Scripture is given by inspiration of God " (2 Tim. 3:1616All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)). " 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 1:2121For 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)). It is beyond contradiction that there are prophecies in the Bible which have been most strikingly fulfilled. Take two or three outstanding examples. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, dreamed a dream, interpreted by the Prophet Daniel as being revealed to him by God. He tells us, " There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known... what shall be in the latter days." (Dan. 2:2828But 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; (Daniel 2:28)). Four great empires were to arise, Babylonian, Medio-Persian, Grecian, Roman Three world empires rose and passed into history, whilst the last, the Roman empire, was at the height of its power when our Lord was born into this world. Rome was founded in B.C. 753, and its empire continued till its break-up through the invasion of the Huns and Goths in A.D. 410, a matter of over eleven hundred years. There is nothing in all the literature of the world remotely like this remarkable prophecy, outside of the Word of God. Should this not afford the Unitarian food for thought? If he really understood what this means, and its implications, it would shatter once and forever his Unitarian beliefs.
Scripture presents undeniable prophecies of our Lord's incarnation, as we have shown in this pamphlet. We ask, Is it likely, or even possible, that prophets not knowing what each other wrote, living in different centuries, and sometimes in different countries, should tell the most horrible lies on sacred subjects, and that these lies should have a consistency about them, as if they had been concocted around one table in collaboration one with another. It takes very clever rogues to tell lies. Lies are generally found out. It is easily discovered where one statement is inconsistent with another statement, and even contradictory. But in the case of prophets not knowing what each other wrote, the possibility of successful lying is ruled out. Does it commend itself to the Unitarian mind to charge the prophets with lying in the circumstances we have described? No, the Bible is not built up on lies. It has commanded respect and trust of the best of mankind all down all centuries. " Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart." (Jer. 15:1616Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)). So said the Prophet Jeremiah.
A final example. Our Lord when on earth uttered a most notable prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and its gorgeous Temple, and the scattering of the Jews among the nations. It is a matter of history, as described so graphically by Josephus, an eye witness of the siege of Jerusalem under Titus, the son of the Emperor Vespasian, that it was completely destroyed and the Temple razed to the ground, leaving not one stone upon another. This took place in A.D. 70, about thirty-seven years after our Lord prophesied that it would take place. Nearly a hundred years after the siege of Jerusalem, our Lord's prophecy of the scattering of the Jews among the nations was fulfilled. About the year A.D. 135 this scattering took place. The occasion was the rebellion of the Jews against the Roman power, headed by a leader, Bar-chobab by name, who gave himself out to be the Messiah, come to deliver the Jews from the Roman yoke. The Romans were so tired of these recurring rebellions, that to end them once and for all they drove the Jews from their ancient land, and dispersed them among the Gentile nations. For over eighteen hundred years this prophecy has been most strikingly fulfilled, and still continues to be fulfilled under our very eyes today. This is an outstanding prophecy that could only, and in no other way, emanate from the Divine mind.
Verily, the deniers of the Scriptures are called upon to believe more than the Christian, for the deniers believe great results flow from utterly inadequate causes; whereas the Christian ever has a sufficient Cause, even an Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, All-wise God, from whom comes the ordering of everything in its final issue, whether it be in grace or in government.
Spite of themselves the Bible colors the thoughts of the Unitarians far more than they would like to acknowledge. Their literature proves this. They cannot get away from the influence of the Book, however much they may deny its truths to their own utter loss. If only the Unitarian and the Modernist would face the one question of prophecy honestly, they would find their disbeliefs rudely shaken and fall like a pack of cards.
One thing is certain, Christians must refuse to give the slightest quarter for a single moment to Unitarian and Modernist disbeliefs, so completely are they the absolute negation of the Christian faith. We may well pay heed to the Scripture, " Of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." (Jude 22, 2322And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Jude 22‑23)).
How vastly different is the wonderfully beautiful and triumphant doxology closing the Book of Jude, each Christian heart responding to it with rejoicing and worshipping spirit:-
" 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 Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." (Jude 24, 2524Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 24‑25)).
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