1.—Total number of words in the Bible, about 773,692.
2.—Total number of letters in the Bible, about 3,566,480.
3.—Total number of books in the Old Testament, 39.
4.—Total number of chapters in the Old Testament, 929.
5.—Total number of verses in the Old Testament, about 23,214.
6.—The shortest book in the Old Testament is Obadiah.
7.—The shortest chapter in the Old Testament is Esther 10
9.—Total number of books in the New Testament, 27.
10.—Total number of chapters in the New Testament, 260.
11.—Total number of verses in the New Testament, about 7,959.
12.—The shortest verse in the New Testament is John 11:3535Jesus wept. (John 11:35).
13.—The moral condition of Israel on the first coming of the Lord in grace is unfolded in the book of Malachi.
14.—Old Testament history is comprised in sixteen books—from Genesis to Nehemiah—the first and last historical books of the Old Testament.
15.—The priests’ guidebook was Leviticus
16.—The Levites’ guidebook was Numbers.
17.—The peoples’ guidebook was Deuteronomy.
18.—The following prophets prophesied after the restoration from the captivity: Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
19.—The following prophets prophesied during the captivity: Daniel in the royal court of the conquerors; Ezekiel amongst the captives at the river of Chebar; and Jeremiah amongst the poor of the people left in the land.
24.—The first worker for salvation was Cain (Gen. 4)
25.—The first city builder and murderer was Cain (Gen. 4)
28.—The first recorded instance of a daughter being born is in Genesis 4
29.—The first general confederacy amongst men is recorded in Genesis 11:1-61And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. 4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. (Genesis 11:1‑6).
32.—The first, second, and third kings of all Israel each reigned the probationary period of 40 years.
34.—Christ suffered at man’s hands as a martyr for righteousness; hence judgment is the result (Psa. 69). Christ suffered at God’s hands as a victim for sin; hence grace to man is the blessed fruit (Psa. 22)
35.—The last five verses of Psalm 40—the prayer of the suffering Messiah—form Psalm 70, the prayer of the future remnant of Judah.
36.— “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked,” are the concluding words of Jehovah’s expostulation with His people, because of their idolatry (Isa. 40-48) “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked,” are the concluding words of God’s expostulation with His people, because of their rejection of the Messiah (Isa. 49-57)
37.—Human life has been shortened by about a half several times; thus the longest liver after the flood (except Shem)—Heber—lived 464 years, a little more than half Methuselah’s age, 969 years, the longest liver before or since the flood; the longest liver after the dispersion at Babylon—lived 239 years, a little more than half Heber’s age. In the wilderness, life was again shortened to about half of the age of Abram (Psa. 90:1010The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Psalm 90:10)): the blessed Lord was cut off in the “midst” or half of His days, as a man (Psa. 102:2424I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. (Psalm 102:24)).
38.—Scripture furnishes no account of the birth or death of any of Cain’s posterity, but simply records their doings (Gen. 4) They were exceedingly clever in patching up a wrecked world. Science, music, and the lusts of the flesh characterized that energetic race.
39.—Seth, third son of Adam, in whom the line of grace flowed, was contemporary with all the antediluvian fathers, except Noah.
40.—Methuselah was contemporary with Adam for more than 200 years, and with Noah for about 600 years.
41.—Enoch, who walked with God, was contemporary with Adam for about 300 years, and with Noah for some time, and thus the truth and revelation of God then revealed, were handed down for 1656 years —from Adam to Noah.
42.—The Cherubim (plural) are always connected with the judicial and governmental authority of God; it is so in the first instance where they are named, as guarding the tree of life (Gen. 3:2424So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (Genesis 3:24)). In the tabernacle and temple they signify the moral supports of Jehovah’s throne, as “justice and judgment” (Psa. 89:1414Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. (Psalm 89:14)); and in Ezekiel 1 and 10. they clearly set forth God acting judicially towards His people, in bringing against them that “bitter nation” —the Chaldeans.
43.—The Seraphim (plural) announce the holiness of Jehovah, the Divine glory being their great care and concern; they are only once named in Scripture (Isa. 6); God’s righteousness is the great care of the Cherubim.
44.—Four cities originally constituted the strength of the Babylonian kingdom (Gen. 10:1010And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. (Genesis 10:10)), and four cities the strength of the Assyrian kingdom (verses 11-12).
46.—The Feasts of Jehovah were seven in number (Lev. 23), and are termed in John’s gospel “feasts of the Jews,” because there the moral rejection of the Lord is assumed from the commencement of the gospel (1:10-11).
47.—THE SEVEN FEASTS OF JEHOVAH (Lev. 23).—
(a) The Sabbath—God’s eternal rest for man and creation (Heb. 3; 4)
(d) The Feast of Weeks—Pentecost, when the Holy Ghost came down and formed the Church (Acts 2).
(e) The Feast of Trumpets—Israel again summoned and gathered to her land and God (Psa. 81)
(f) The Day of Atonement—Israel coming into the blessing of redemption (Zech. 12)
48.—The first four chapters of Lamentations, Proverbs 31:10-3110Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. 31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. (Proverbs 31:10‑31), Psalm 25; 34; 37; 111; 112; 119, and 145. are acrostics founded on the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
49.—Abimelech was a common title of a race of Philistine kings.
50.—Pharaoh was the royal designation of the Egyptian monarchs.
51.—Antiochus was the royal title borne by the kings of the North, or of Syria.
52.—Cæsar was the imperial title of the first Roman Emperors.
53.—Ptolemy was the royal title of the Southern or Egyptian kings.
54.—Raguel, Reuel, Jethro are names given to Moses’ father-in-law.
55.—The following are various names and titles applied to the future Antichrist in the Scriptures:—(a) The King (Dan. 11:3636And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. (Daniel 11:36)); (b) The Idol Shepherd (Zech. 11:1717Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. (Zechariah 11:17)); (c) Bloody and Deceitful man (Psa. 5:66Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. (Psalm 5:6)); (d) Antichrist (1 John 2:2222Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:22)); (e) False Prophet (Rev. 19:2020And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20)); (f) Another Beast (Rev. 13:1111And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. (Revelation 13:11)); (g) Man of Sin (2 Thess. 2:33Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thessalonians 2:3)); (h) Son of Perdition (2 Thess. 2:33Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thessalonians 2:3)); (i) Wicked One (2 Thess. 2:88And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (2 Thessalonians 2:8)); (j) Come in his own Name (John 5:4343I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. (John 5:43)).
56.—The seven heathen nations inhabiting the land of Canaan, and which God ordained to be exterminated root and branch, were: (a) the Canaanites, (b) the Perizzites, (c) the Hivites, (d) the Jebusites, (e) the Hittites, (f) the Girgashites, (g) the Amorites. Israel failed in driving out these nations, hence their descendants will once again inhabit the land of Palestine, but will be utterly destroyed by the Lord at His Second Coming; “And in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of Hosts” (Zech. 14:2121Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 14:21)).
57.—Interesting details as to the closing days are given us in the book of Zechariah.
58.—A comprehensive outline of the prophetic future is found in the book of Isaiah.
59.—The religious and civil state of Israel during the millennium is given in the prophecy of Ezekiel.
60.—The rise, course and doom of the Gentile powers of the west are unfolded in the prophecy of Daniel.
61.—The feelings, exercises, and sorrows of the Israel God-fearing remnant in the future crisis of her history, are fully detailed in the book of Psalms.
62.—The judgment and ruin of the Edomites were prophetically foretold by Obadiah.
63.—The judgment and ruin of the Assyrians were prophetically foretold by Nahum.
64.—The judgment and ruin of the Chaldeans were prophetically foretold by Habakkuk.
65.—THE TEMPLES.
The following are the temples mentioned in the Word of God:—Solomon’s (1 Kings 8); destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in the year 588 B.C. Zerubbabel’s (Ezra 3;6); pillaged and dedicated to the heathen god Jupiter, by Antiochus, Epiphanes, in the years 168 and 170 B.C. Herod’s (John 2:2020Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? (John 2:20)); reconstructed and almost rebuilt in a style of surpassing magnificence; commenced in the year 17 B.C. Antichrist’s (2 Thess. 2:44Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4)) built by the Jews in unbelief when returned to their land (Isa. 18); the “Antichrist,” and the “Beast,” i.e., head of the revived Roman Empire, will establish idolatrous worship in it. Christ’s Millennial Temple (Ezek. 40); entirely new, and not on the site of the old one; it will be grand and capacious, according to Divine plan and measurement, and the glory of Jehovah will fully occupy it.
66.—Both Phineas and Aaron were set in the priesthood; the latter by the choice of Jehovah (Lev. 8), the former by earning his title to it (Num. 25)
68.—The first recorded instance of Egypt invading Judah is in the reign of Rehoboam. The temple and palace were plundered of their wealth; but Jerusalem itself and the country were spared (1 Kings 14; 2 Chron. 12)
69.—UNWRITTEN PERIOD OF PROPHECY.
Prophecy as an institution permanently established in Israel dates from the call of Samuel (Acts 3:2424Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. (Acts 3:24)). From Israel’s settlement in Canaan under Joshua till the judgeship of Samuel 450 years (Acts 13:2020And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. (Acts 13:20)), we have only three direct notices of prophetic ministry (Judg. 6:8; 4:48That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; (Judges 6:8)
4And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. (Judges 4:4); 1 Sam. 2:2727And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? (1 Samuel 2:27)); again, from Samuel, the first of the long line of prophets which closed with John the Baptist, till the days of Uzziah, period of about 300 years, we have no written prophecy. We would style that era the historical period.
70.—Note three expressions in Hebrews, chapter 9: “The tabernacle,” the “first tabernacle,” the “second tabernacle.” The first expression refers to the whole structure, as in the first clause of verse 2: “for there was a tabernacle made;” the second expression refers to the holy place, and the third to the most holy.
71.—MATERIALS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE AND THE VESSELS, THE PRIESTS’ HOLY GARMENTS, &c. (Ex. 25).
(a) Gold—Divine glory; Divine righteousness; Divine nature of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(b) Silver—Jesus in the value of His work for the redemption of the sinner.
(c) Brass—Christ sustaining the judgment of God against sin.
(d) Blue—Heavenly character of the blessed Lord.
(e) Purple—Sufferings of Christ,
(f) Scarlet—Earthly glories of Christ.
(g) Fine Linen—Spotless purity of the blessed One in His person and ways.
(h) Coats’ Hair —Christ’s absolute separation from all outward evil and sin.
(i) Rams’ Skins Died Red—Life-and-death devotedness of Christ to God.
(j) Badgers’ Skins—Absolute holiness of Jesus, repelling every form of outward evil.
(k) Shittim Wood—The holy humanity of our Lord.
(l) Oil for the Light—The Spirit of God the efficient power of all true testimony.
(m) Spices for Anointing Oil, and for Sweet Incense —The moral graces and perfections of Christ expressed in the energy of the Holy Spirit (the oil), and also in Christ’s intercession for believers (the incense).
(n) Onyx Stones—The variegated glories of Christ.
(o) Stones for the Ephod and Breastplate—Moral glories and beauties of Christ.
72.—THE PROMINENT VESSELS, ETC., OF THE TABERNACLE.—
(a) Ark, made of shittim wood, and covered all over with gold inside and outside, surmounted with a golden crown, and with its rings and staves: Highest type of Christ in the two-fold glory of His person as man (shittim wood), as Divine (gold) and now crowned with glory and honor, and His perfect adaptation to all our wilderness circumstances (the rings and staves).
(b) Altar of Incense, made of shittim wood, and overlaid with pure gold, with its rings and staves, and surrounded with a golden crown: Christ the holy meeting place between God and His saints in respect to worship. By Him we offer the sacrifice of praise to God (Heb. 13:1515By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)). Crowned on high (Heb. 2:99But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9)) and seated in the highest place (Heb. 8:11Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; (Hebrews 8:1)), He presents the merits of His own glorious person and the infinite perfection of His own accomplished sacrifice before the face of God, and that too for us, who also act as kings and priests to God (Rev. 1:66And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:6)). In yonder Man, “Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,” our hearts rest, in Him our affections delight; on Him we feed, and find present, full, and eternal satisfaction. As we gaze on Him, the heart is filled with worship, and we fill the holy place with songs of praise to Him who loves us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.
(c) Altar of judgment, made of shittim wood and overlaid with brass (copper) with its rings and staves, grating, etc.: Christ the righteous meeting place between God and the sinner in respect to sin. Christ on the cross measuring the distance and the responsibility of the sinner to God. There our need as sinners is fully met, and our guilty con sciences perfectly satisfied. The golden altar in the holy place is the expression of our nearness to God as saints; the brazen altar in the court is the expression of distance from God and of the judgment due to the sinner.
(d) Breastplate of judgment, made of gold (divine), blue (heavenly), purple (suffering), scarlet (earthly glory), and of fine-twined linen (spotless humanity), with stones engraved (reflections of the glories of Christ) and set in the breastplate in a gold enclosing (Divine securities): Believers ever borne on the heart of Jesus before God in divine love and righteousness, and according to all that Christ is personally and officially.
(e) Cherubim (plural) made out of the same piece of gold as the mercy seat or lid of the ark, one on either side, covering it with outstretched wings: Divine attributes judicially displayed, or the moral supports of Jehovah’s throne, as justice and judgment (Psa. 89:1414Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. (Psalm 89:14)).
(f) Candlestick, of pure gold, with beautifully carved shaft, and with its branches, bowls, knops and flowers: The Holy Spirit’s perfect display of Christ in the exquisite and variegated glories of His person as the wondrous light of a heavenly people.
(g) Golden bells, and pomegranates, of blue, purple, and scarlet, bung alternately round the hem of the blue robe of the ephod worn by the High Priest in the presence of God: The “golden bells” set forth the testimony of the Holy Ghost to us, as to the acceptance of Christ’s work in all that He is, as now within the veil. The precious pomegranates set forth the fruit as gathered out of this scene, and which He now presents to God in all the glorious efficacy of His person. The “bells” are testimony to us; the “pomegranates” are fruit to God.
(h) Laver, of brass, with its foot also of brass and filled with water: The ability of Christ in meeting His people’s defilement, so as to keep them practically clean for priestly service and priestly worship. The water figures the Word of God (Eph. 5:2626That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26)) as constantly applied to our walk, ways, words, thoughts, and actions—the whole life.
(i) Mercy Seat, of pure gold; the golden cover of the ark—On this, and between the cherubim, rested the cloud—symbol of Jehovah’s presence. It was on the mercy seat, and thus before the eye of God, that the high priest sprinkled the blood once on the yearly atonement day, and before it seven times, thus giving us a standing in the Divine presence. The mercy seat was also the trysting place between God enthroned in Divine majesty and the people represented by the high priest, who entered with incense and blood. Christ is our mercy seat (Rom. 3:2525Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25)).
(j) Table of showbread, made of shittim wood, overlaid with pure gold, surrounded with a golden crown, and showbread set before the Lord always: Christ now crowned with glory and honor in the double glory of His person as God and man is the table; and Christ too the food set thereon, and all this He ever is before our God. He is our light—the candlestick; our food—the bread; and our object in worship—the golden altar; all these stood in the holy place is riot Christ everything in these shadows?
(k) Veil, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine-twined linen, with cherubim: We know from the Hebrews, chap. 10:20, that the veil represents “His flesh.” His varied glories, and all judicial and governmental attributes center in Him, who is the man Christ Jesus.
74.—THE IMAGE AND BEASTS (Dan. 2 and 7.).—
The Gold ... Babylon. The Lion ... Babylon.
The Silver ... Persia. The Bear ... Persia.
The Brass ... Greece. The Leopards ... Greece.
The Iron ... Rome. The Dreadful and Terrible Beast ... Rome.
75.—THE OLDEST ALMANAC IN THE WORLD. In the British Museum (London) there is an Almanac 3000 years old. This ancient book was found on the body of an Egyptian; it is written on papyrus and in columns. It establishes the date of the reign of Rameses the Great. It is not complete, nor of real value. Its antiquity lends all its interest to it.
76.—ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURES.—
Wycliffe’s—1380. First English Translation of the Bible.
Tyndale’s—1526. First English printed New Testament.
Coverdale’s—1535. First complete English Bible printed.
Matthew’s—1537. Revision merely of Coverdale’s Bible.
Tarerner’s—1539. Revision merely of Matthew’s Bible.
The Great Bible—1539—from its size. A revision of its predecessors.
The Geneva Bible—1560. Not a revision, but a complete translation.
The Bishop’s Bible—1568. A revision of “The Great Bible.”
Rheims New Testament—1582. Roman Catholic.
Douay Bible—1609. Roman Catholic.
Authorized Version, of the Bible—1611. Version and translation.
Revised New Testament—1881. On the basis of the authorized.
Revised Bible 1885. On the basis of the authorized.
77.—FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED IN BRITISH AMERICA was The Psalms in Meter, faithfully translated for the use, edification, and comfort of the Saints in Public and Private, especially in New England. Printed at Cambridge in 1640.
78.—FIRST PRINTED BOOK was the Bible executed in Mentz, Germany, in 1450, by Gutenberg, supposed inventor of the art of printing in Europe.
79.—THE CATACOMBS OF ROME. It has been calculated that these subterranean passages cover an extent of about 900 miles, and may contain about 7,000,000 of graves. They were discovered towards the close of the sixteenth century. In these gloomy abodes of the dead, numerous Christians found a hiding place and a grave during the pagan persecutions of Rome.
80.—CHALDEANS. The character and doom of these destroyers of Judah are eloquently and strikingly descanted upon by Habakkuk.
81.—EDOM is an interesting country of about 100 miles in length, and 20 miles broad. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother, “the people against whom the Lord hath indignation forever” (Mal. 1:1-41The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. 2I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob, 3And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. 4Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever. (Malachi 1:1‑4)). The cry of the exulting Edomite over the downfall of Judah (Psa. 137:77Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. (Psalm 137:7)), and the active assistance given to the Chaldeans in the overthrow of Jerusalem and captivity of the people (Obadiah), will be duly answered in the coming crisis. Christ in awful retribution will bathe His sword in the land of Edom, staining His garments with the blood of her people (Isa. 63:1-61Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 5And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 6And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. (Isaiah 63:1‑6)); this after the restoration of the Edomites to their now ruined cities and rock-hewn dwellings. But Judah will yet possess that land (Isa. 11:1414But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them. (Isaiah 11:14); Obad. 1:17-2117But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. 18And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it. 19And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. 20And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south. 21And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's. (Obadiah 17‑21)), and the pride, strength, and wisdom of Edom will perish forever.
82.—ISRAEL.—
Leading points in her history. In the loins of Abraham (Rom. 4), as a family under Jacob (Gen. 49), as a nation under Moses (Ex. 12-14), a kingdom under Saul (1 Sam. 10), in captivity (ten tribes) under Shalmaneser (2 Kings 17), in captivity (two tribes) under Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25), as restored (remnants of Judah) under Cyrus (Ezra 2), and now dispersed (Judah) under Titus (Luke 21:2424And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)); lastly, “He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather, together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isa. 11:1212And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (Isaiah 11:12)). The whole nation will be saved, re-united, and blessed under the personal reign of the Messiah (Ezek. 34).
83.—The first nineteen verses of the eleventh chapter of Genesis precede the historical account of the nations as given in chapter 10. The moral reason of the dispersion is stated in chapter 11:19. Further, “Peleg,” division, in whose days the earth was divided (10:25), is named in chronological sequence (11: 19).
84.—The three sons of Noah were Japheth, the eldest, Shen), the second, and Ham, the youngest. When the order of grace is given, Shem is first named (Gen. 9:2626And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. (Genesis 9:26)); when the order of birth or nature, Japheth comes first (10:2).
85.—DESCENDANTS Of JAPHETH.—
(a) Gomer the eldest son of Japheth, is the father of the ancient Cimmerians, who settled on the northern shore of the Black Sea. The modern and familiar name “Crimea,” and the “Cimbri” of olden times, are derived from the Cimmerians, the immediate descendants of Gomer. The Gauls and Celts of ancient times, and of more modern date the Germans, French, and English or British rather, are descended from Gomer.
(b) Magog refers to the Scythians or Mongolian tribes who settled on the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea.
(e) Tubal is the modern Tobolsk, capital of Asiatic Russia. The people descended from Tubal were located between the Black Sea and the Caspian.
(f) Meshech from its association with Tubal and connection with Gag, or Russia, in Ezekiel 38; 39, we identify as Moscow, not only a large and populous province, but the city of that name, forming, till the beginning of this century, the metropolis of the whole Russian Empire.
(g) Tiras is in all probability the progenitor of the Thracians.
(h) Ashkenaz whose descendants settled in the northern and southern side of the Black Sea.
(i) Riphath the father of the tribes who located themselves on the Rhipean or Carpathian mountains, pretty far north of Tiras or Thrace.
(j) Togarmah better known as Armenia, the people of which assert that they are descended from “Targom,” or the Togarmah of Scripture.
(l) Tarshish is identified by many as Tuscany, in Italy; it may be so, but the proof is not satisfactory. There was an eastern city and a western one both of that name.
(n) Dodanim believed by many to signify an ancient Greek race, “By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands, everyone after his tongue, after their families in their nations.” It will be observed from the foregoing brief geographical notes, that the “seas round which the descendants of Japheth located, were the Mediterranean, Caspian, and Black Seas;” this will help us to understand what is meant by the “isles of the Gentiles.” A similar expression occurs in Zephaniah 2:1111The Lord will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen. (Zephaniah 2:11), etc.
86.—DESCENDANTS OF HAM.—
(a) Cush, is wrongly translated “Ethiopia” in Isaiah 18:11Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: (Isaiah 18:1), and elsewhere. The Cushites settled partly on the Nile and partly on the Euphrates. “Rivers of Ethiopia” or Cush are therefore the rivers Nile and Euphrates.
(b) Mizraim is a plural word denoting both Upper and Lower Egypt.
(c) Phut an African people, known as the Libyans, and from whom the Moors are in turn descended.
(d) Canaan, is the general designation of the nations inhabiting the country from the Mediterranean on the west, to the Jordan on the east, prior to Israel’s occupation.
(e) Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, Sabtechah, Sheba, and Dedan, all these seven names refer to peoples settled at or near the Persian Gulf.
(f) Babel, Erech, Accad, Calneh, these four cities originally formed the strength of the Babylonian kingdom.
(g) Nineveh, Rehoboth, Calah, Resen, these four cities originally constituted the strength of the Assyrian kingdom.
(h) Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim these six, it will be observed, have the Hebrew dual ending, and denominate various African tribes or nations.
(i) Philistim the well-known people who settled within the western borders of Canaan, namely the Philistines.
(j) Caphtorim the original inhabitants of the Isle of Crete, now known as Candia in the Mediterranean, once a mighty kingdom of 100 cities; so sang Homer.
87.—DESCENDANTS OF SHEM.—
(a) Elam is the ancient name for Persia.
(b) Asshur is the country of Assyria.
(c)Arphaxad is the northern portion of Assyria.
(d) Lud refers to a people who settled in Asia Minor.
(e) Aram is the Bible designation of Syria (Num. 23:77And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. (Numbers 23:7)). (Here several of the names, as Salah, Peleg, must be read simply as the heads of races or peoples.)
(f) Eber or Heber from whence sprung the Hebrews. The most of the other names refer to tribes inhabiting various parts of Arabia.
88.—Ezra, being a priest and a scribe, unfolds the religious side, or history of returned Judah, and that for about 80 years. This distinguished scribe and ecclesiastical historian is generally regarded as the compiler of the books of the Old Testament, and his memory held in great reverence by Jews, ancient and modern. Work and worship are characteristic features of his book.
From chapter 4, verse 8, to chapter 4, verse 18, and from chapter 7, verse 12, to verse 26 of Ezra, are portions written in the Chaldean or Aramean language—the tongue of the Babylonians and Assyrians.
89.— PALESTINE.
Palestine is protected on the north by the Lebanon range of mountains, the summits of which are almost perpetually capped with snow; on the west it is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean; on the south lies Egypt and adjoining desert, the scene of the forty years’ wanderings; while on the east from the Jordan stretches out the great Arabian desert to the Euphrates, a distance of about 300 miles. It is difficult to give the exact length of the country in miles, as geographers considerably differ in defining the limits of the land from north to south, and even from west to east; but it has been computed that its extreme length is from 140 to 150 miles or thereabout, having an average breadth of about 40 miles, but in some parts it is about double that. If the territory east of the Jordan, occupied by the two tribes and a half, be embraced, then the land of Canaan would nearly cover 20,000 square miles. The future size of the land, according to Genesis 15 and Ezekiel 48, has been computed to be about two and a half times as large as Great Britain and Ireland, covering an area of about 300,000 square miles.
The names by which Palestine is spoken of are as follow:—
(a) Canaan (Lev. 14:3434When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession; (Leviticus 14:34)); (b) Palestine, so named by the ancients; (c) The Holy Land (Zech. 2:1212And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. (Zechariah 2:12)); (d) The Lord’s Land (Hos. 9:33They shall not dwell in the Lord's land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria. (Hosea 9:3)); (e) Thy Land, O Immanuel (Isa. 8:88And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel. (Isaiah 8:8)) (f) Land of Israel (1 Sam. 13:1919Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: (1 Samuel 13:19)); (g) Land of the. Hebrews (Gen. 40:1515For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon. (Genesis 40:15)); (h) Land of Judah (Isa. 26:11In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. (Isaiah 26:1)); (i) Land of Promise (Heb. 11:99By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: (Hebrews 11:9)); (j) The Pleasant Land (Dan. 8:99And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land. (Daniel 8:9)).
90.—JERUSALEM.
Jerusalem, the ancient capital of the kingdom, is named in the Scriptures upwards of 800 times. Some of its names are as follow:
(a) The City of the Great King (Psa. 48:1, 21<<A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah.>> Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. 2Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. (Psalm 48:1‑2)); (b) The City of God (Psa. 46:44There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. (Psalm 46:4)); (c) The City of the Lord (Isa. 60:1414The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 60:14)); (d) A City of Truth (Zech. 8:33Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain. (Zechariah 8:3)); (e) The City of Righteousness (Isa. 1:2626And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. (Isaiah 1:26)); (f) The Faithful City (Isa. 1:2121How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. (Isaiah 1:21)); (g) The Holy City (Isa. 48:22For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name. (Isaiah 48:2)); (h) The City of Judah (2 Chron. 25:2828And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah. (2 Chronicles 25:28)); (i) The City of David (2 Sam. 5:77Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. (2 Samuel 5:7)); (j) The City of Solemnities (Isa. 33:2020Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. (Isaiah 33:20)); (k) The Throne of the Lord (Jer. 3:1717At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. (Jeremiah 3:17)); (l) The Lord is there (Ezek. 48:3535It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there. (Ezekiel 48:35)); (m) The Zion of the Holy One of Israel (Isa. 40:1414With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding? (Isaiah 40:14)); (n) Salem (Gen. 14:1818And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. (Genesis 14:18)); (o) Jebus (Josh. 15:88And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward: (Joshua 15:8)).
Described—(a) Its Palaces and Towers (Psa. 48:1313Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. (Psalm 48:13)); (b) Its Walls, Gates and Bulwarks (Isa. 26:11In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. (Isaiah 26:1)); (c)Its Wealth, Population, and Industry (Isa. 22:22Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city: thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle. (Isaiah 22:2)); (d) Its Idolatry, Wickedness, and Religion (Lam. 2); (e) Its Geographical Situation (Psa. 48:22Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. (Psalm 48:2)).
Besieged by Shishak, king of Egypt (2 Chron. 12:1414And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord. (2 Chronicles 12:14)); by Jehoash, king of Israel (2 Kings 14:13, 1413And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits. 14And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria. (2 Kings 14:13‑14)); by Rezin and Pekah (2 Kings 16:55Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. (2 Kings 16:5)); by Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:1717And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rab-saris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field. (2 Kings 18:17)); by Pharaoh-Nechoh (2 Kings 23:33-3533And Pharaoh-nechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold. 34And Pharaoh-nechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there. 35And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaoh-nechoh. (2 Kings 23:33‑35)); by Nebuchadnezzar, once (2 Kings 24:11In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him. (2 Kings 24:1)); by Nebuchadnezzar, a second time (2 Kings 24:10,1110At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. 11And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it. (2 Kings 24:10‑11)); by Nebuchadnezzar, a third time (2 Kings 25); by Titus (Luke 21), etc.
Its Desolation—Trodden down (Luke 21:2424And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)); Plowed as a field (Jer. 26:1818Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest. (Jeremiah 26:18)); Reduced to ruins (Isa. 25:22For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. (Isaiah 25:2)); Not one stone left upon another (Mark 13:22And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Mark 13:2)); A wilderness and desolation (Jer. 25:1818To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day; (Jeremiah 25:18)); Forsaken and hated (Isa. 60:1515Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. (Isaiah 60:15)); Under Divine judgment (Lam. 1)
91.—RETURN OF THE JEWS.
The Jews in considerable numbers are returning to Palestine, and to England, but not from choice. In certain parts of Russia and Turkey they are barely tolerated, whilst almost every species of insult, contempt and robbery are their unhappy lot. Wealthy Jewish families in the lands of persecution are not so badly treated, as they can afford by a liberal expenditure to purchase a partial exemption from the trials to which their poorer brethren are exposed. Hence the influx of so many poor Jews—in a state of almost utter destitution, is causing serious concern to the Jewish authorities in England and elsewhere. The drain upon the Jewish exchequer is enormous. Need we say that this is not the Jewish restoration foretold in Isaiah 17-18, which will be a national one, and the grave political event of the century.
92.— THE LINKING UP OF THE TESTAMENTS.
The first three chapters of the Bible supply abundant material for the imagery employed in describing the glories and beauties of the New Jerusalem in the last three chapters of the Bible Thus Moses and John bridge the compass of Revelation, and clasp hands—the beginning and the end are linked. But again, in the last book of the Old Testament we have a prophetic announcement of the coming of John the Baptist and also of Elijah—the Baptist to precede the advent of the Lord in grace (Mal. 3); and Elijah the forerunner of the Lord in judgment (chap. iv.). In the first book of the New Testament those two chapters of Malachi are each unmistakably referred to by our Lord (chap. 11.). Thus, again, we have the linking up of the Testaments, and what God hath joined let no man put asunder.
93.— There are about 960 Old Testament passages quoted, cited, or alluded to in the New.
94.— OLD TESTAMENT DIVISIONS.
In the New Testament oracles we meet with two classifications of the 39 books of the former revelation. (a) Moses and the prophets, or, the law and the prophets (Luke 16:2929Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. (Luke 16:29)), etc. (b) The law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms (Luke 24:4444And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44)). This latter passage is an interesting one. “The law of Moses” refers to the first five books of the Bible. “The prophets” comprise the historical books, as well as those from Isaiah to Malachi; 29 in all. Prophecy means “forth-telling,” not necessarily “future-telling.” “The Psalms” —this divisional title is applied to the five remaining books of the Old Testament, as Job, Book of Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song. “The Book of Psalms” (Acts 1:2020For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. (Acts 1:20))—the second of the five—must not be confounded with the general title, “The Psalms.” They are quite distinct.
95.—The ancient title of the prophets was that of “Seer,” for “he that is now called a prophet was beforetime called a Seer,” (1 Sam. 9:99(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.) (1 Samuel 9:9)). Possibly the latter differed from the former in this respect, that visions of God were opened to the gaze of the Seer, while the word of the Lord was as truly characteristic of the prophet (2 Chron. 9:2929Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat? (2 Chronicles 9:29)).
96.— NEW TESTAMENT DIVISIONS.
The term “New Testament,” borrowed from Matthew 26:2828For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:28), is the chosen title of the 27 books begun by Matthew a few years after Christ’s death and finished by John ere the first century closed. The following seems a simple and natural arrangement of the New Testament. (a) The Gospels. (b) The Acts (c) The Epistles.
The royalties of Christ are unfolded in the first Gospel. The service of Christ is the subject of the second Gospel. The manhood of Christ is developed in the third Gospel. The Deity of Christ is the happy theme of the fourth Gospel. This is followed by the progress of Christianity on earth for about 34 years, chiefly under the apostolic labors of Peter (Acts 1-12), and of Paul (Acts 13-28). Here, the acts, ways, words, and works of the Holy Ghost through sinners saved, and in answer to the exalted place and heavenly glory of Christ, are unfolded in this the only historical book of the New Testament. Then the teaching, feeding, guiding, and instruction of the saints as in Ephesians, Jude, etc., and of the Church as in Corinthians, Thessalonians, etc., and of servants as in The Revelation, etc., are richly and abundantly provided for in the 22 epistles.
97.— The “heavenly places” is an expression found five times in the Ephesians; (a) The sphere of our blessings (chap. 1:3); (b) Where in the highest seat Christ sits (verse 20); (c) Whereas believers we are seated (chap. 2:6); (d) The present sphere of angelic intelligences (chap. 3:10); (e) The scene of Christian conflict (chap. 5:12).
99.—Avoid one-sidedness in studying and applying the truth. If we want to be like Christ avoid ranging yourself under Paul to the exclusion of Peter, else you will become sentimental and unpractical; or Peter to the exclusion of Paul, else you will become earthly instead of having heaven’s character and ways imprinted upon you as you pass along serving Christ and waiting for His return from heaven.
101.— Idolatry was introduced after the defeat of the Babel attempt to establish a universal independency apart from God (Gen. 11:1-91And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. 4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. 8So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:1‑9)), and spread rapidly even if the family of Shem, so that Abram’s father was an idolater. Idolatry is first mentioned in Joshua 24:22And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. (Joshua 24:2). It was this awful evil which led to the call of Abram by the Word of Jehovah and the appearing of the God of glory, thus God morally judged the world, and began afresh, depositing promise in Abram (Gal. 3:1616Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)) and committing a new testimony to man (Rom. 11) of which the patriarch was the root, i.e., of the olive tree.
102.— THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
The title (Acts 1:2020For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. (Acts 1:20)) and numbering (Acts 13:3333God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. (Acts 13:33)) of this divine collection of heart utterances are fully owned of God. The headings, many of which are untranslated, are of very ancient date, being found in the Septuagint or Greek version of the Old Testament, commenced nearly 300 years B.C. There are 116 psalms titled or headed, the remaining 34 being strangely enough styled “Orphan Psalms.” The name of David occurs in the headings in more than the half of those titled psalms. Those dedicated to “the sons of Korah” are evidence that God remembered mercy in that awful scene of judgment recorded in Numbers 16, for to them were committed the choral services of worshipping Israel. The psalms historically cover the whole period from Moses (Psa. 90, the first chronologically) to the Judean captivity in Babylon (Psa. 137, the last written), about 1000 years.
103.— DIVISIONS OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
There are in all 150 Psalms, not chronologically, but morally divided into five books, thus:
Book One contains Psalms 1:41. Of these Psalms, 37 contain the name of David in the headings; Jehovah is the characteristic Divine title throughout.
Book Two contains Psalms 42.-72. All these Psalms are titled, save three, and 18 liar the name of David; God is the characteristic Divine title.
Book Three contains Psalms 73.-89. All these Psalms are headed and titled. The Divine names God and Jehovah occur in about equal numbers, although God is more prominent in the first 11 Psalms.
Book Four contains Psalms 90.-106. There are only three of these Psalms titled. Jehovah is here the characteristic Divine title.
Book Five contains Psalms 107.-150. Of these Psalms 16 are titled. Jehovah is the Divine name which is here almost exclusively used.
104.— The complete overthrow of the mighty and extensive Persian Empire; its destruction by Alexander the Great, and rapid growth of the Grecian power; its break-up and subsequent four-fold division, are all described with wonderful circumstantiality of detail in the prophet Daniel 7:6; 8:1-86After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. (Daniel 7:6)
1In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. 2And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai. 3Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. 4I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. 5And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. 6And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. 7And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. 8Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven. (Daniel 8:1‑8).
105.— The awful condition of the Jews during the great siege of Jerusalem in the year A.D. 70, and the character of the Roman power, are minutely described by Moses more than 1500 years previously (Deut. 28:44-6744He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail. 45Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee: 46And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever. 47Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; 48Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. 49The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; 50A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young: 51And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee. 52And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the Lord thy God hath given thee. 53And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee: 54So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave: 55So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates. 56The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, 57And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates. 58If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD; 59Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance. 60Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. 61Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed. 62And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the Lord thy God. 63And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. 64And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. 65And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: 66And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: 67In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see. (Deuteronomy 28:44‑67)).
106.—PERSIAN SOVEREIGNS. —
NAME IN HISTORY. NAME IN SCRIPTURE.
Cyrus ... ... ... Cyrus (Ezra 1, etc.)
Smerdis ... ... ... Artaxerxes (Ezra 4:1-231Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel; 2Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. 3But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. 4Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, 5And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 6And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. 7And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue. 8Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: 9Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, 10And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time. 11This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time. 12Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations. 13Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings. 14Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king; 15That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed. 16We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river. 17Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time. 18The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me. 19And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. 20There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them. 21Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me. 22Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings? 23Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power. (Ezra 4:1‑23)).
Xerxes ... ... ... Ahasuerus (Esther 1, etc.)
107.—It will be observed that Israel is spoken of as outcast and Judah as dispersed, (Isa. 11:1212And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. (Isaiah 11:12)). Notice, too, that the first three divisions of the prophecy of Isaiah end with a bright millennial scene, and the last three division with a dark millennial picture.
108.—CORRECTIONS IN THE TEXT OF CHAPTER 53 OF ISAIAH.—
ENGLISH TEXT. CORRECTED TEXT.
Ver. 8. Who shall declare his generation? His manner of life who would declare?
(The question was alone answered by the dying robber, who justified Christ, saying, “This man hath done nothing amiss.”)
Ver. 9. He made his grave with the wicked. His grave was appointed with the wicked.
(Man’s appointment to lay the holy One of God in the same grave with the wicked was divinely overruled, for God had determined otherwise) —John 19:38-4238And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. 42There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. (John 19:38‑42).
Ver. 11.
By His knowledge shall my righteous Servant justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.
By His knowledge shall my righteous Servant instruct many (i.e., in practical righteousness) and He shall bear their iniquities.
(In this verse we have the life-work of the blessed Lord, and also His death-work. He instructed His disciples (Matt. 5-7) during His life. He bore the iniquities of sinners in His death).
109.— BABYLON AND NINEVEH.
In the destruction of Babylon and Nineveh, the respective capitals of the Chaldean and Assyrian kingdoms, there are strong points of resemblance; but there is also marked contrast. The besiegers of Babylon entered the city through the almost dry bed of the river, which had been diverted from its usual course, but in the case of the latter city, the waters of the Tigris overflowed its banks and poured into the doomed city. The proud monarch retired to his palace and set it on fire, and thus perished, after sustaining a siege of about two years. The charcoal and burnt wood were plentifully found by the excavators in the ruins of Nineveh—which will never again rear its head (Nah. 3:1919There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually? (Nahum 3:19)). Assyria, however, but not its capital, will share millennial blessedness (Isa. 19)
110.— Note the distinction in the terms Sacrifice, Oblation, and Offering. Sacrifice involved the shedding of blood, as of bullocks, lambs, etc.; oblation referred to the presentation of fruits, vegetables, where no blood was shed; offering is the more general word, and could apply to either or both of the foregoing.
There were morning (3rd hour), evening (9th hour), weekly, monthly, and yearly sacrifices, besides other national festivals and feasts, all of which will be found specifically mentioned in Leviticus, Numbers, etc. The three national and compulsory feasts were the Passover (shelter), Pentecost (first fruits of the nation to God), and Tabernacles (millennial glory); in other words, shelter by blood, liberty of grace, and glory.
111.— There are nearly 300 plants, flowers, herbs, and trees named in the Scriptures from the tree of life in Genesis to the tree of life in Revelation.
113.— The word Eternity occurs but four or five times in the Bible.
114.— BOOKS OF THE JEWISH RESTORATION.—
(a) Ezra unfolds the ecclesiastical state of things.
(b) Nehemiah depicts the civil condition.
(c) Haggai, the book of encouragement
(d) Zechariah, the book of the future.
(e) Malachi, the book of moral condition.
115.— GOG AND MAGOG.
Who is Gog and Magog of Ezekiel 38; 39? The reference is to the last prince or autocrat of all the Russias: Magog, or ancient Scythia, is his land. Russia will be the great antagonist and leader of the powers north and east of Palestine in the coming future for Israel. The attack described in these chapters will be after the Lord has come, and at the introduction of the millennial era. The words, “O Gog, the chief prince of Mesech and Tubal,” is rendered in the Septuagint, “O Gog, prince of Rosh,” i.e., Russia. This is confirmed by the naming of the former European and present Asiatic capitals of the empire—Moscow and Tobolsk. Gog and Magog in this book, therefore, refers to the Russian people and land; but in the Apocalypse (chap. 20:8) the expression must be understood symbolically.
116.—PROPHETIC SYMBOLS IN DANIEL.—
Chapter 2—The great image represents Gentile authority or government. The gold, the Babylonian empire. The silver, the Persian Empire. The brass, the Grecian empire. The iron and clay, constitutional governments. The stone cut out of the mountain, Christ in judgment.
Chapter 7—The four beasts represent the four universal empires. The lion, Babylon. The bear, Persia. The leopard, Greece. The four wings, the fourfold partition of Alexander’s empire. The fourth beast, Rome. The ten horns, the ten kings of the Roman empire. The little horn, the personal head of the empire. “Till the thrones were cast down” read, “till the thrones were placed or set up.”
Chapter 8—The ram with two horns represents the Medo-Persian empire. The goat from the west, Alexander the Macedonian. The great horn was broken, Alexander’s empire was broken up on his death. Four notable ones, the fourfold division of the empire. Little horn (verse 9), Antiochus the Syrian king.
Chapter 11—The first 35 verses record past. fulfillment; from verse 36 to the end the application is yet future.
The days of Daniel and the Apocalypse are literal, and apply to the time of the end.
Horns, signify kings; beasts, empires; and heads, the governing powers.
117.— NOTES ON THE KINGS OF ISRAEL.—
None of the kings of Israel, or of the ten-tribed kingdom, were really good; of only one (Jehoahaz) is it said he “besought the Lord,” and that only under deep pressure.
Idolatry from first to last characterized the reigns of the kings of Israel, and it would be well to note carefully that oft-recurring expression “walked in the ways of Jeroboam,” as Israel’s first king really gave character to the Kingdom during its entire history.
The longest reign was that of Jeroboam II., and the shortest reign Zimri’s—the former reigned forty-one years, and the latter seven days.
Observe that there were two kings of the name of “Jeroboam.”
The fifth king of Judah and the ninth king of Israel were both named “Jehoram;” and the sixth king of Judah and the eighth king of Israel were named “Ahaziah;” the seventeenth king of Judah and the eleventh king of Israel were called “Jehoahaz;” while the eighth king of Judah and the twelfth king of Israel were called “Jehoash.”
The books of Kings specially detail the history of the kings of Israel.
There were eight dynasties in the history of this kingdom, the founders of which were Jeroboam, Baasha, Omri, Jehu, Shallum, Menahem, Pekah, Hoshea.
The kingdom of Israel or that of the ten tribes, existed for about 260 years under 19 kings. The kingdom was destroyed by the Assyrians about 130 years before the overthrow of Judah (2 Kings 17)
118.—MEANING OF THE DIVINE NAMES AND TITLES.—
(a) God (Elohim). Glory and power connected with creation, and Godhead fullness.
(b) God (Eloah). Only living and true God, object of worship, and subject of testimony.
(c) Lord God. Creature relationships established with the creator.
(d) Lord or Jehovah. Moral relationship established with man and Israel.
(e) Almighty God. Divine sustainment for the saint; Divine wrath on the sinner.
(f) Most High God. Mediatorial power, priesthood, and blessing in the coming kingdom.
(g) Lord of All the Earth. Authority over and proprietorship of the earth.
(h) God of Heaven. Divine government exercised providentially on the earth.
(i) Father. God’s relationship to New Testament believers.
(j) Jesus. Personal name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(k) Christ. In whom we are before God, and the measure too of our new place and blessing.
(l) Jesus Christ. The once humbled, but now exalted one.
(m) Christ Jesus. The now exalted one, once humbled on earth.
(n) Lord Jesus Christ. Authority united to manhood and glory.
(o) Son of God. Divine and personal glory.
(p) Son of Man. Earthly glory and dominion.
(q) Son of David. Judaic glory—co-extensive with Immanuel’s land and people.
119.—TEN IMPORTANT DATES.—
(a) Destruction of the Old World, 2348 B.C. We have no authentic history, or even scrap of information in book or stone of the times preceding this appalling event of universal interest, save what is contained in the first seven chapters of the Bible.
(b) Call of Abraham, 1921 B.C. Within four centuries after the flood the new world founded on sacrifice (Gen. 8:20, 2120And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21And the Lord smelled a sweet savor; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. (Genesis 8:20‑21)) had as completely departed from God as had the old world. The race, including the highly favored family of Shem, with open eyes and in deliberate self-will, gave up the knowledge and worship of God for numerous and disgusting forms of satanic worship (Rom. 1:21-2321Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Romans 1:21‑23)). Man gave up God for Satan, and so God gave him up to the fruits of his own morally degraded nature (verses 24-32). As a testimony against an apostate world God called out of it Abraham, making him the depository of promise (Gal. 3:1616Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)) and root of the olive tree (Rom. 11.)—responsibility to God on earth; father, too, of the circumcision (Rom. 4:1212And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (Romans 4:12)) and of all believers (verse 11).
(c) The law given by Moses, 1491 B.C. From Abraham to Moses, or, from promise to law. This period is carefully noted more than once to be 430 years (Ex. 12:40,4140Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. 41And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:40‑41); Gal. 3:16,1716Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. (Galatians 3:16‑17)); only the former Scripture refers to the Exodus, while the latter oracle points to the promulgation of the law. Paul more fully than any of the inspired penmen enters into the doctrinal teaching of the law; showing its object, purpose, and scope, as also its contrast with promise to Abraham, and grace by Christ; see Romans and Galatians.
(d) Commencement of the Hebrew Monarchy, 1095 B.C. The duration of the United Kingdom of Israel was 120 years. Each of the three successive kings reigned 40 years. Saul typifies the future anti-christian king in Palestine. David figures Christ, first nominated for the kingdom, then rejected, afterward setting up the millennial kingdom on the ruin of all opposing authority. Solomon sets forth the regal splendor and magnificence of the coming peaceful reign of Christ.
(e) Capture of Samaria—Overthrow of the Kingdom of Israel, 721 B.C. The origin of this kingdom was marked by disloyalty to the royal house of David (1 Kings 12:16-2016So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. 17But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. 20And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. (1 Kings 12:16‑20)), and by open, public apostacy from Jehovah (verses 27-33). It existed about 254 years under 19 bad kings. The evils which characterized its formation were fully displayed throughout its progress and history. The oft-recurring expression “walked in the way of Jeroboam” is a mournful commentary upon this apostate period of Israelitish history.
Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, after a determined and prolonged siege of three years, captured Samaria and carried Israel into captivity.
(f) Nineveh totally destroyed, 625 B.C. “The bloody city” and proud capital of the Assyrian kingdom, after a lengthened siege by the combined forces of the Medes and the Babylonians, was taken and completely destroyed by fire and water. It is remarkable that the rival cities of Babylon and Nineveh, the respective centers of Gentile hatred in the past to Judah and Israel, are doomed to perpetual desolation. Their degradation will continue so long as sun and moon endure. The prophet Nahum gives a wonderfully graphic and interesting account of the siege of Nineveh.
(g) Jerusalem destroyed—Overthrow of the Kingdom, of Judah, 588 B.C. The Hebrew monarchy which had existed for 500 years— from Saul to Zedekiah— was totally subverted by the Chaldean invasion of Judah, the destruction of her capital and temple, and deportation of the king, princes, priests and people. The government of the world was then changed. Babylon, and not Jerusalem, the Gentile, and not the Jew, from the date 588 became the seat, and channel of government. Nebuchadnezzar became “head of gold” and Babylon the first of the four universal monarchies. The siege of Jerusalem lasted for about 18 months (Jer. 39:1, 21In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. 2And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. (Jeremiah 39:1‑2)). A month after its capture, the temple, palaces, and whole city were totally destroyed. The desolation was complete (2 Kings 25)
(h) Babylon overthrown, 538 B.C. Cyrus the celebrated Persian and Darius the Mede combined their forces and besieged Babylon—the largest and probably the most strongly fortified city in the then known world. The distinguished Persian is named in the Scriptures as the deliverer of Judah from the 70 years’ Chaldean captivity, as also his purpose to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, and to destroy the Babylonian empire—the first of the great Gentile monarchies— by the capture of the mighty city, which latter event is not more accurately described in the pages of Herodotus— “the father of history” —than it is in the inspired pages of Isaiah and Jeremiah (Isa. 44; 45) All this and more were foretold in the writings of the Hebrew prophets about 170 years before they took place. Belshazzar, grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, conducted the defense of his capital with consummate skill, and fora time successfully defied the utmost strength and stratagem of the besieging host. The walls, upwards of 300 feet in height and more than 80 feet in breadth, flanked with towers, and with her 100 gates of solid brass, with no lack of resources and provisions within the city, seemed to mock the strength and skill of the Persian commander investing the city. But God had decreed the downfall of the Babylonian monarchy, and the triumph of the Persian, who in turn would give place to the third empire, then lastly the Roman. The last night of the Babylonian empire was one of revelry and of daring impiety. During the drunkenness which prevailed, and lulled to a fatal sense of security by the impregnable nature of their defenses, vigilance was relaxed; the gates of the river were carelessly left open. “I (Jehovah) will loose the loins of kings, to open before him (Cyrus) the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut” (Isa. 45:11Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; (Isaiah 45:1)). Thus the invaders entered the city, massacring all they met, and penetrating to the palace of the monarch slew the guests in the very height of daring impiety. “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.” Babylon’s last night is tersely and fully described by Daniel in chapter v. of his prophecy.
(i) Judea annexed to the Roman Empire, 63 D.C. Rome was founded in the year 753 by Romulus, its first king, and rapidly increased in wealth and extent until it spread its giant arms from the Tiber to the Euphrates. Its direct connection with Palestine dates from 63. Under it our Lord was crucified, the legal sanction of the Roman name being attached to it.
(j) Jerusalem destroyed by the Romans, 70 A.D. The national hopes of unbelieving Israel perished in the awful destruction of the city and temple, and universal scattering of the people after a siege unparalleled in history. God’s historical dealings with Judah were now closed. They had clamored for the death of their Messiah, saying, “His blood be on us,” and the demand was awfully answered in the fiery baptism of judgment under the Romans; “and on our children,” the future most awful tribulation will yet witness to this imprecation. But Judah’s agony will cease, her 2000 years’ degradation will close, and the babe of Bethlehem and Calvary’s victim will come in glory and reinstate His ancient people in their land, made glorious by the touch of His scepter. The people will mourn and be saved, and gaze upon their Messiah, once wounded to death for their sins (Isa. 53) but now all-glorious for evermore.
120.—THE FIVE EPISTOLARY WRITERS.—
Paul writes of and to the Church of God.
Peter in his Epistles feeds the flock of God.
John carefully instructs the family of God.
James comforts and warns Israel—the people of God.
Jude addresses himself to the saints of God.
121.—WHAT WE ARE AND HAVE.—
Our Sinnership. —Romans 3:9-199What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:9‑19); Ephesians 2:1-31And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (Ephesians 2:1‑3).
Our Standing.—Romans 3:25, 2625Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:25‑26); 1 Corinthians 15:1-41Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:1‑4).
Our Portion.—Hebrews 11:4040God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40); Ephesians 1:3-143Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:3‑14).
Our Service.—Luke 22:21-2721But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. 22And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! 23And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. 24And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. 27For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. (Luke 22:21‑27); Romans 12.
Our Worship.—John 4:21-2421Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:21‑24); Hebrews 13:15-1615By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:15‑16).
122.—THE TEN SECTIONS OF GENESIS.—
(a) Chapter 2:4.—Generations of the heavens and of the earth.
(b) Chapter 5:1.—Generations of Adam, in Seth his third son.
(c) Chapter 6:9.—Generations of Noah.
(d) Chapter 10—Generations of Noah’s sons.
(e)Chapter 11:10.—Generations of Shem, Noah’s second son.
(f) Chapter 11:27.—Generations of Terah, Abram’s father.
(g) Chapter 25:12.—Generations of Ishmael, founder of the Arab races.
(h) Chapter 25:19.—Generations of Isaac, the heir, figure of Christ.
(i) Chapter 36:1—Generations of Esau, founder of the Edomites.
(j) Chapter 37:2.—Generations of Jacob, from whence sprung the Jews.
123.—The first date recorded in the Word of God is in the interesting book of Genesis, and in that chronological chapter 5., verse 3: “And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his own image; and called his name Seth.” This is surely important, as it establishes the point from whence we are to reckon; namely, the creation of man, and not, as is generally done, the making of the world.
124.—THE HEBREW ALPHABET. In the Lamentations of Jeremiah we have a striking example of the use of the Hebrew alphabet. Chapters one, two, and four, consisting of 22 verses each, are arranged in strict alphabetical order, the 22 letters of the alphabet answering to the 22 verses in each chapter, which are found in the opening words of the verses. Our translation, of course, fails to convey this to the English reader; then, in chapter three, we have once more the letters of the Hebrew alphabet enumerated in order, but with three verses to each letter—66 verses in all. Chapter five, although consisting of 22 verses, is not alphabetically arranged. To the Hebrews, who had neither paragraph, chapter, nor other division in their ancient writings, this Divine arrangement must have been extremely useful, and shows the condescending care of our God in thus aiding the memories of His people. Again, in the longest of the Psalms— 119th —consisting of 22 sections of eight verses each, the Hebrew letters in alphabetical sequence head the sections.
125.—The Jewish writers had an exalted idea of their sacred language—perhaps the primitive language of man—and used the letters of their alphabet in many striking combinations; thus they reduced the 39 books of the Old Testament to 22; this they accomplished by coupling certain books and counting them as one. But the reader would do well to turn from the vagaries of man, which, at the most, contain but an element of truth, to the Word itself. Search these imperishable records, they contain the truth they are the living source, the Divine fountain, while all else are but muddled channels.
126.—THE MOABITE STONE.
This interesting relic of antiquity was discovered by the Rev. F. A. Klein, at Dhiban, in the country of Moab, in August, 1868.
It is a large stone about 40 inches in length, 20 inches broad, and the same in thickness. It must be nearly 3000 years old, as it dates from 896 B.C., and records the victories of Mesha, king of Moab, over Israel. There are 34 lines in the old Phoenician characters. Most of the places referred to are found in Jeremiah 48., while the names of the kings of Israel are recorded in the second book of Kings.
127.—Peter commends the writings of his “beloved brother Paul” (2 Peter 3:1616As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:16)). Yet in one of these very writings (Gal. 2:1111But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. (Galatians 2:11)) Paul had to rebuke Peter rather sharply. Peter, too, lets us into the secret of the much disputed point as to the authorship of the Hebrews; saying of Paul “who hath written unto you” (2 Peter 3:1515And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (2 Peter 3:15)), i.e., Jewish believers.
128.—THE BLOOD AND THE LAMB.
The first mention of the blood of the Lamb is in Exodus 12:77And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. (Exodus 12:7): on earth the righteous ground of our security; the last reference to the blood of the Lamb is in Revelation 12:1111And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11): in heaven the holy ground of our triumph. But how unutterably precious that the Lamb Himself in His love, strength, perfection, and glory will be our Husband and Lover through Eternal Ages! Compare Revelation 19:77Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7) with chap. 21:2, and remember that between the events indicated in these passages 1000 years of glory transpire. Yet Christ and the bride remain unchanged—the love and relationship are eternal.
129.—THE CREATION.
The first 34 verses of the Bible contain a full and orderly account of creation. In the narrative God, the creatorial name, occurs 34 times. There is no date to the first or second verses of Genesis, neither forming part of the creative week. The antiquity of the globe is undetermined in Scripture and hitherto insolvable by science. The primal creation of verse 1 was one of perfection. The subsequent ruin of the earth only, is mentioned in verse 2. How long the perfection lasted (verse 1), or the duration of the ruined state (verse 2), we are not informed. Neither are we told when the angels were created, nor when many of them morally fell (2 Peter 2:44For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (2 Peter 2:4)). Matter is not eternal, for “God created;” nor were things produced by evolution, for the various creations were specific, and each after its “kind” —ten times repeated. Creating and making are distinguished, thus “created, to make” (margin of chap. 2:3). “God said” —a simple and majestic expression—occurs ten times; twice on the third day, and four times on the sixth. Man was created in the latter part of the sixth day and as the subject of special Godhead counsel (verse 26). Faith is the grand requisite for creation study (Heb. 11:33Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3)).
130.—EGYPT AND ASSYRIA.
The origin of these rival powers, which has baffled the keenest research of ancient and modern historians, is given us by Moses (Gen. 10) Wherever they are referred to in God’s Word, it is always in connection with Israel as a people, and Palestine as the center of God’s government on earth. The second notice of these kingdoms is contained in the second book of Kings, 1500 years after the Mosaic reference. After repeated conflicts with each other, with Israel, and the surrounding nations, Assyria and Egypt, were in turn put down by the then rapidly growing power of Babylon. Consequent upon the breakup of the Grecian empire, on the death of its mighty chief, these kingdoms were again formed, known in prophetic Scripture (Dan. 11) as of the north and south toward Palestine. The geographical position of these kingdoms, and their relationship to Israel in the historic past, and in the prophetic future, are minutely told by Daniel in the eighth and eleventh chapters of his prophecy.
131.—HISTORICAL STATEMENT.
The Persian succeeded the Chaldean in rule over Judea; followed by the Grecian. On the breakup of the Grecian, or third universal Empire, the northern or southern kingdoms, formed shortly after the death of Alexander the Great, strove for possession of Palestine (Dan. 11) The kingdoms established east and west are unnoticed in Scripture as having no direct connection with the Jewish people. Rome, which commenced its history 752 B.C., rapidly came to the front, and ultimately became the mighty colossal power in the world. It will yet be a greater object of admiration to the world than it has ever been in the past (Rev. 13:33And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. (Revelation 13:3))—startling and wonderful as that history has been. In the year 63 B.C. Judea was annexed to the Roman dominions. In 70 A.D. Jerusalem was destroyed and is yet “trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” —this in accordance with the Lord’s prophetic announcement 37 years previously (Luke 21) A few years before the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and dispersion of Judah, Paul definitely announced the judicial judgment of his people uttered by Israel’s favorite prophet, Isaiah (chap. 6.), 825 years before its fulfillment. How patient is the long-suffering of our God! The Roman plowshare has passed over Zion. Jerusalem is now in the possession of the haughty Turk, whose empire— thank God!—is tottering to its utter end. Israel scattered, and Judah dispersed a broken vessel among the Gentiles—proclaim the absolute truth of the prophetic Scriptures.
132.— The tide of Jewish emigration, principally from the persecuting power of Russia, has been steadily flowing on towards Palestine for the last fifteen years. Now there are nearly 50,000 Jews in and about Jerusalem, but that is not the predicted return; the national one, for political reasons, and by a western power, will be in unbelief; a subsequent return will be of individuals and families who will be saved and knowing the Lord (Isa. 27:12, 13; 35:10; 66:19-2112And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. 13And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. (Isaiah 27:12‑13)
10And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:10)
19And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. 20And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. 21And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 66:19‑21); Matt. 24:3131And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:31)). Israelites (Ephraim) as well as Jews (Judah) are noted in these Scriptures.
133.—TURKEY.
Turkey is not once mentioned by name in the Word of God. The Euphrates, which is supposed to point out the decaying Mohammedan power (Rev, 9:14; 16:12), was originally the seat of the first of the Universal Monarchies, Babylon. In John’s day 96 A.D.—the period of the apocalyptic visions—the Euphrates formed the eastern boundary of the Roman conquests; while the prophetic references (Gen. 15:1818In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: (Genesis 15:18); Deut. 11:2424Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be. (Deuteronomy 11:24)) mark it as the eastern limit of extended Palestine in the future. The Euphrates is ever a boundary river.
134.—THE CITIES of BABYLON AND NINEVEH.
These cities being the respective capitals of the kingdoms which destroyed Judah and Israel—the centers of hatred to God’s people—are doomed—to perpetual desolation. As cities they shall never again rear their heads. For Babylon, see Jeremiah 51:62-6462Then shalt thou say, O Lord, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever. 63And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates: 64And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 51:62‑64); for Nineveh, consult Nahum 3:18, 1918Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them. 19There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually? (Nahum 3:18‑19).
136.—CHINA.
We believe the Celestial Empire is referred to in Isaiah 49:1212Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. (Isaiah 49:12), when the prophet, referring to the future gathering of Israel, says “these from the land of Sinim” —the ancient Asiatic name for China.
137.—In the year 364 A.D. the division of the Roman Empire into east and west took place—Constantinople and Milan being the respective capitals But this amicable arrangement failed to preserve the integrity of the Empire, which was threatened by numerous and warlike enemies without, while corruption and weakness reigned within. In the year 476 A.D. the Empire ceased to exist. Charlemagne and the first Napoleon each sought to re-establish the fallen Empire and revive its ancient greatness and glory; but in vain.
138. —PERIOD OF UN-WRITTEN REVELATION.
From Adam to Moses is a period of 25 centuries, that is, 2500 years, in which there was no written revelation from God, Hieroglyphic inscriptions on stone, rock, lead, and other hard and imperishable material were the earliest forms of writing. Jehovah wrote the Ten Commandments on tables or slabs of stone; the Peninsula of Sinai is covered with rock inscriptions; the monuments of Egypt, the bricks of Babylon, and the exhumed remains of Nineveh bear witness to that most ancient style of writing; the first mention of a book is in Exodus 17:1414And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. (Exodus 17:14). There is no proof, however, that writing was practiced even in its rudest forms prior to Moses, unless we except Job 19:23, 2423Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! 24That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! (Job 19:23‑24).
139.—THE INCARNATION.
The Incarnation, or, God manifested in the flesh is a great fact, and is the basis, of Christianity. It is treated of historically only in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. In the Gospels of Mark and John the fact is, of course, assumed. Matthew records the Incarnation in Jewish connection; whereas Luke relates it in connection with the Human family. As to the vexed question of the different genealogies, it is really very simple. In Matthew, chapter 1, it is the legal line of succession from David, royalty, and Abraham, promise, and down through Joseph, the reputed father of the Lord. In Luke chapter 3, it is the civil genealogical tree, through the mother of the Lord, up to Adam. The two lines meet in David, but in Matthew 1:66And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; (Matthew 1:6) it is traced through Solomon, the royal branch of the family; whereas in Luke 3:3131Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, (Luke 3:31) it is traced through Nathan, the civil branch of the Davidical
141.—We would call attention to a curious circumstance, that in the tombs, and papyrus inscriptions, the “blessed west” and the “filthy east” are so spoken of, whereas in the sacred books of the Brahmans the order is reversed. It is with them the “filthy west” and “blessed east.” The respective positions of Egypt and India, as geographically situated west and east from the scene of the dispersion, would account for the difference. From the Euphrates to Egypt the descendants of Ham would go west, while, of course, to occupy India, Burmah, etc., the colonists would proceed eastward.
142.—It has not yet been ascertained with certainty whether the Nile or the Euphrates was the earliest seat of civilization and empire. Both Egypt and Chaldea were colonized after the dispersion at Babel and confusion of tongues, nearly 2500 years before Christ. The regions about the Euphrates and Tigris were certainly more accessible and nearer the scene of the dispersion than the Nile. In that important chapter, Genesis 10, which gives authoritative information upon the origin of nations and kingdoms, we learn by whom, and about the time when, the kingdoms of Chaldea and Egypt were founded.
143.—THE PRESENT SAMARITANS.
The ancient city of Shechem, now Nablous, is the headquarters of the Samaritans, whose existence, at the present day, at the foot of the holy mountain is one of the most astonishing testimonies to the historical accuracy of the Bible. A few years ago this people had colonies in Damascus and other cities of Syria. A few centuries ago they extended into Egypt. Gradually they dwindled in numbers until at length there are but a few families, numbering in all 130 persons left as a testimony. They still cling to the side of their holy mountain, where they continue to eat the “Passover” as they have done for over 2,500 years. Their religion is remarkable for its simplicity, being founded on the five books of Moses, and the book of Joshua. Beyond this they will not go; it is their all. They tare Sadducees, believing in no resurrection. They therefore required no prophets as to the future, no Messiah, no scheme of salvation. It is a code of morality in this world and then it all ends. They are bitter enemies of the Jews.
144. —It is difficult to estimate the number of Jews throughout the world. There are not less than six millions, and certainly not more than ten millions of Hebrews.
145. —The Babylon of the Apocalypse occupies the same relation to the Babylon of the prophets, as does the New Jerusalem to the Jerusalem of the prophets. In the Revelation, both cities are used in a mystical sense; in the prophets, the cities are to be understood in their literal import. The prophets Jeremiah, Isaiah and Ezekiel are remarkably definite in their statements upon Babylon and her relation to Judea.
146.—The repentance of a sinner is shown in Luke 15:17,1817And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, (Luke 15:17‑18); that of an erring saint in Luke 22:61, 6261And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:61‑62); and of a failed and failing assembly in 2 Corinthians 7:8-118For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. (2 Corinthians 7:8‑11).
148.—ISRAEL ENDER SIX CONDITIONS.—
(a) Promise.—Israel in the loins of Abraham—the father of the nation (Rom. 4:11-1311And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. 13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:11‑13)). In the period from Abram to Moses we have the planting, discipline and culture of the fathers of the people.
(b) Law.—Israel grew rapidly from a family (Acts 7:1414Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. (Acts 7:14)) into a populous nation—a nation of slaves, yet feared and dreaded by Pharoah (Ex. 1:1010Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. (Exodus 1:10)). The moral testing of the people was by law,
(c) Royalty.—Israel a kingdom under David. Her kingdom-history and trial lasted for more than 500 years. Assyria and Babylon made her desolate, and destroyed her regal independence.
(d) Captivity.—Israel was sent into captivity because of her idolatry and wickedness—Ephraim to Assyria, and Judah to Babylon.
(e) Dispersed.—Israel is now dispersed amongst the Gentiles. Her political history is sketched in Genesis 49. Her ecclesiastical history is unfolded in Leviticus 23
(f) Restored.—Israel will be nationally restored Judah in one way, Ephraim in another. Both houses of Israel will be saved, blessed, and united in the land (Jer. 31; Ezek. 34:35).
150.— Priesthood and ministry are distinct truths: the former is towards God; the latter towards man.
151.—Asia is the largest of the continents, being four and a half times the size of Europe. It is nearly 7000 miles from east to west, and about 5000 miles from north to south. Its estimated population is 784,000,000, giving about 40 persons to each square mile.
152.—Asia Minor, the most westerly portion of the continent, is a peninsula of about 900 miles from east to west, and about 400 miles from north to south.
153.—Palestine is about 150 miles in length from north to south; the average width is about 40 miles. It covers an area of about 12,000 square miles. The countries of Holland, Belgium, and Switzerland are about the same size. The prophetically defined limits of the country (Gen. 15:1818In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: (Genesis 15:18)) are from the Nile to the Euphrates west to east and from Hethlon to Kadesh—north to south (Ezek. 48:1-281Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazar-enan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan. 2And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Asher. 3And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Naphtali. 4And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Manasseh. 5And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Ephraim. 6And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Reuben. 7And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Judah. 8And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it. 9The oblation that ye shall offer unto the Lord shall be of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth. 10And for them, even for the priests, shall be this holy oblation; toward the north five and twenty thousand in length, and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the midst thereof. 11It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray. 12And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites. 13And over against the border of the priests the Levites shall have five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand. 14And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the Lord. 15And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof. 16And these shall be the measures thereof; the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred. 17And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west two hundred and fifty. 18And the residue in length over against the oblation of the holy portion shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward: and it shall be over against the oblation of the holy portion; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the city. 19And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel. 20All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city. 21And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof. 22Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which is the prince's, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince. 23As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin shall have a portion. 24And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon shall have a portion. 25And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a portion. 26And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a portion. 27And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad a portion. 28And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea. (Ezekiel 48:1‑28)). This will give an area of about 300,000 square miles, or nearly twice and a half as large as Great Britain and Ireland together.
154.—The MEDITERRANEAN
(middle of the earth; from medius, middle, and terra, earth) is the largest inland sea in the world, consisting of 977,000 square miles; 2320 miles extreme length, and 1080 miles extreme breadth. In some places it is 6000 feet deep.
The name Mediterranean is not found in Scripture, but it is spoken of as the “Great Sea,” “The Sea of the Philistines,” “The Hinder Sea,” etc.
155.—The RED SEA or EGYPTIAN SEA
(Ex. 23:3131And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee. (Exodus 23:31)) is about 1400 miles long and about 150 miles broad. Its area is about 180,000 square miles. Its western arm, or Gulf of Suez, is about 190 miles long, with an average breadth of 21 miles. Its eastern arm, or Gulf of Akabah, is about 112 miles long, with an average breadth of 15 miles. Within the last eighteen Christian centuries the head of the Gulf of Suez has retired at least 50 miles from its ancient limit, hence the difficulty of fixing the precise spot for the passage of the Red Sea (Ex. 14)
156.—The SEA OF GALILEE, or SEA OF TIBERIAS
(John 21:11After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise showed he himself. (John 21:1)), or LAKE OF GENNESARET (Luke 5), is nearly 700 feet below the level of the Mediterranean. It is about 12 miles long, and about 6 miles broad. Unlike the Dead Sea, its waters are pure and abound in fish. The direct distance from the Dead Sea is about 70 miles.
(Deut. 3:1717The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast thereof, from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, under Ashdoth-pisgah eastward. (Deuteronomy 3:17)), and from its geographical position, according to Hebrew usage, the “East Sea” (Joel 2:2020But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savor shall come up, because he hath done great things. (Joel 2:20)), is the final receptacle of the waters of the Jordan. Its length is about 46 miles, is greatest width is about 9 miles, its greatest depth about 1300 feet, and it is also about 1300 feet below the level of the Mediterranean. Its area of square miles is about 300. The southern part of the Sea for a considerable length is only about 18 feet deep, thus in marked contrast to the northern portion of the sea, which is there at its deepest. The Dead Sea, so called by Jerome, from its character, as life only in its lowest forms can exist in it, is the most depressed sheet of water known, and its shores evidently bear witness to violent disruptions having taken place. It is believed to cover the site of the doomed cities of the Plain, and may have anciently formed a channel between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Although the Jordan discharges into it about 6,000,000 tons of water daily, yet no outlet to the sea has yet been discovered. There is either a subterranean passage, or the waters pass off by evaporation—perhaps both together give the solution.
158.—FINGER-POSTS TO THE SUBJECTS OF THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.—
Matthew reveals Christ in Jewish connection, according to Old Testament Prophecy and prediction.
Mark shows Jesus as His Father’s servant, acting in grace in the midst of human misery.
Luke unfolds Christ’s pathway as a man amongst men—a Perfect Man, full of human sympathy and tenderness.
John—Christ is here revealed as Son and Lamb of God. His moral and divine glories broke through the veil of His perfect humanity and scattered rays of light and love all along His blessed path.
Note.—The four Gospels combined give the Spirit’s perfect revelation of the Christ of God. Behold the King is the testimony of Matthew. Behold the Servant is that of Mark. Behold the Man is that of Luke. Behold the Son and Lamb is that of John. In the four the death and resurrection of our Lord are narrated; in the second and third only is the Ascension recorded. There is no genealogy of the Lord in Mark and John. In Matthew it is the legal genealogy through Joseph; in Luke it is the civil genealogy through Mary.
Acts is the only missionary record of a reliable character extant, as to the progress of Christianity for the first 30 years and more of the Christian era, or from Pentecost—from Jerusalem to Rome.
Romans is the unfolding of the great doctrines of Christianity; as Righteousness, Justification, &c., and the consequences upon the state of soul and practice in daily life.
1 Corinthians rebukes loose walk, low state of morals, and had doctrine. It also unfolds church order, ministry, gift, discipline, &c.
2 Corinthians delineates the feelings, experiences, trials, and circumstances of the Apostle in his life and service for the Lord.
Galatians contrasts Judaism with Christianity, or Moses with Christ.
Ephesians unfolds the fullness of Christian blessing and privilege; also Christian responsibility and conflict.
Philippians delineates Christian experience, which is simply Christ in life and death for the believer.
Colossians discloses the pre-eminent glories of Christ in every sphere and in all things, and this glorious One—the Church’s Head.
1 Thessalonians unfolds the truth of the Lord’s personal return, but in connection with His saints.
2 Thessalonians treats of the Lord’s coming chiefly in relation to the world.
1 Timothy unfolds the ecclesiastical ordering of the Church according to God.
2 Timothy is the last of the Pauline Epistles, and, while treating of the Church as in disorder and ruin, reveals the path of faith for the individual believer.
Titus shows the needed qualifications for office in the Church; and also insists upon godly conduct.
Philemon is the first and finest specimen of private Christian correspondence extant.
Hebrews reveals Christ as the Apostle, Sacrifice, High Priest, Witness, and other official glories and offices, and our association with Him.
James writes to the twelve tribes of Israel, distinguishing also the godly from the nation, insisting upon practical Christianity, and treating of the Synagogue and of their Assemblies.
1 Peter treats of God’s righteous and holy government over His saints.
2 Peter shows God’s righteous and public government over the world and on to eternity.
1 John descants upon Eternal Life, the characteristics of the new nature, and communion with God.
2 John insists upon acknowledgment of Christ and love in the truth as safeguards in the last days.
3 John urges to Christian hospitality, especially to servants of the Lord.
Jude sketches energetically, and in forcible figures and language the apostasy of the public Christian profession, yet future.
Revelation is a marvelous disclosure of the future, and fitly closes the volume of inspiration.
159.—FINGER-POSTS TO THE SUBJECTS OF THE. BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.—
Genesis contains in germ every truth and subject unfolded in the Word of God.
Exodus illustrates in grand and impressive types the great truth of Redemption, and resulting consequences in grace and government.
Leviticus treats of sacrifice and priesthood, the basis and means of drawing nigh to God. Its counterpart in the New Testament is the Hebrews.
Numbers records the trials, service, and wanderings of Israel in the wilderness, and abounds in moral instruction to us.
Deuteronomy reviews the wilderness and instructs us as to Canaan ways and conduct.
Joshua treats of the wars of Canaan and conquest of and partition of the country amongst the tribes.
Judges notes the repeated failures of the people, with Jehovah’s unchangeable faithfulness and grace.
Ruth unfolds in type Israel’s future reception on the ground of sovereign grace alone.
1 Samuel shows governmental power in the hands Of Saul.
2 Samuel shows governmental power in the hands of David.
1 Kings shows governmental power in the hands of Solomon and its subsequent decline.
2 Kings traces the decline of royal power especially in the kingdom of Israel.
1 Chronicles shows royal power and glory in David connected with the Throne and the Temple.
2 Chronicles traces the decline of royal power, especially in the kingdom of Judah.
Ezra unfolds the ecclesiastical condition of the returned Jews from Babylon to Jerusalem. Ezra was a priest and scribe.
Nehemiah unfolds the civil condition of the returned Jews to Jerusalem. Nehemiah was the civil governor over Jerusalem.
Esther reveals the providential care of Jehovah over the mass of His people, not returned to Judea from the captivity. Contains also the origin of the Jewish feast of Purim, i.e., lots, yet observed.
Job details the process by which the flesh and human righteousness are withered up—all being under the disciplinary hand of God.
The Book of Psalms records the experiences of Christ personally, of Israel, and of the godly in all ages and also shows the Messiah’s connection with Israel and Judah in the past and future. The book is both moral and prophetic.
Proverbs is a divine collection of wise maxims for a righteous walk in the world, ensuring prosperity under the government of God.
Ecclesiastes gives the search of the king for happiness, with the result; “All is vanity” —all under the sun. Our object is above (Phil. 3)
The Song of Solomon unfolds the changing feelings of the bride and the unchanging affections of the bridegroom.
Isaiah is the grandest and most comprehensive of all the prophetic writings.
Jeremiah is both historical and moral in character, and deals with Israel, Judah, and the nations of the past and future.
The Lamentations depict the sorrows of a heart breaking itself over the miseries of God’s people— Israel, and is a supplement to the book of Jeremiah.
Ezekiel unfolds the judgment of Israel by the Chaldeans, and reveals latter-day blessing connected with Israel and her land and temple.
Hosea points out the sins of Israel and Judah; but also their future blessing.
Joel speaks of the day of the Lord (judgment), afterward, the Spirit poured out upon all flesh—Pentecost being a sample of the blessing (Acts 2)
Amos declares the iniquities of Israel and the nations; at the close, however, glory and blessing break out for all Israel.
Obadiah presents a brief and forcible record of Edom’s ways and doom.
Jonah announces judgment upon Nineveh, and also records its repentance.
Micah, predicts certain judgment upon Jerusalem and Samaria, but announces full blessing for both in the last days.
Nahum is the announcement of final judgment upon haughty Nineveh—capital of the Assyrian kingdom.
Habakkuk abounds in moral reflections and exercises upon Israel’s sorrowful condition and guilty ways.
Zephaniah speaks of unsparing judgment upon Jerusalem and the nations; a remnant, however, preserved and blessed. “The day of the Lord” is the characteristic term of the book, and one which always denotes judgment.
Haggai affords divine encouragement to the people to resume the building of the temple, which had been interrupted for about 14 years.
Zechariah unfolds the scenes of the last days, Jerusalem being the center of them all.
Malachi gives a touching record of Jehovah’s last pleadings with His people. John the Baptist is referred to in chap. 3.; Elijah in chap. 4; Christ’s coming in grace, chap. 3.; Christ’s coming in judgment, chap. 4.
160.—INVENTIONS.
Music, as the harp and organ—, agriculture; and working in metals were known and practiced in the infantile age of the world (Gen. 4) The finest specimens of pottery are of Egyptian manufacture, 2000 B.C. The monumental remains and architecture of ancient Egypt leave that of the moderns far behind. Our English word “paper” is from the Papyrus plant, which anciently grew on the banks of the Nile and Jordan, and was used for writing—numerous specimens having been recovered from Egyptian tombs. Paper from rags was invented by the Chinese 170 B.C., and printing by the same people many centuries before it was known in Europe. Glass was manufactured in Egypt 3000 B.C.
161.—TREES.—
Tree of Life.— The first and last mentioned in Scripture. Expression of God’s sovereign grace (Gen. 2, and Rev. 22)
Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.—Expression of human responsibility (Gen. 2)
The Palm.—Emblematic of victory (Rev. 7:99After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; (Revelation 7:9)).
The Olive.—Testimony (Rom. 11)
The Fig.—National profession (Matt. 24)
The Vine.—Fruitfulness (John. 15)
162.—The subject of 1 Corinthians 12 is that of gift; of chap. 13., love; of chap. 14. ministry. Thus love becomes the connecting link between gift and its exercise alike needed by every servant and saint.
163.—THE CHALDEAN DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM.
The Chaldeans were a “bitter and hasty” people; and Zedekiah—who had sworn by Jehovah to be a true and faithful vassal of the mighty heathen monarch, Nebuchadnezzar certainly stirred up the slumbering passions of the Babylonian. Relying upon Egypt’s help, Zedekiah despised the name of Jehovah by whom he had sworn, and threw off his allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar. The Chaldeans commenced the siege of Jerusalem in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign (2 Kings 25:11And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about. (2 Kings 25:1)). The defense was a bold and protracted one. Egypt, the only hope of the despairing people, marched an army to the relief, which compelled Nebuchadnezzar to raise the siege, but the respite was but of short duration (Jer. 37) and the siege was prosecuted with increased vigor. The city was completely invested on all sides. Even then, had the king and nobles accepted the counsel of Jeremiah and gone out, submitting themselves to the clemency of the Babylonian, the city and people would have been spared (Jer. 38:22Thus saith the Lord, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live. (Jeremiah 38:2)); but, alas! the word of Jehovah was set at naught, and the weeping prophet committed to a filthy dungeon in Jerusalem. Soon, however, famine and pestilence desolated the city, and the besiegers making a breach in the walls, poured into the doomed city, wreaking their vengeance on the truly miserable and infatuated people. No mercy was shown. The streets of Jerusalem ran with blood, and her sanctuary courts were polluted with the slain of her people. Neither youth, beauty, age, nor sex moved the heart nor arrested the relentless arm of the Chaldean. The city was taken after a siege of about eighteen months (Jer. 39:1, 21In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. 2And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. (Jeremiah 39:1‑2)). The king and princes vainly attempted to escape. They were captured, and Zedekiah’s sons cruelly slain before him; and, by a refinement of cruelty, made the last object he ever beheld. His eyes were put out, and he was taken, heavily fettered, to Babylon, where he lingered in prison till his death. Upwards of threescore of the nobles and chief men were cruelly massacred at Riblah. A month after the capture of the city (compare 2 Kings 25:33And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. (2 Kings 25:3) with verse 8) the captain of the Chaldean army burned the temple, the palaces, and laid the whole city in ruins. The desolation was complete; hence these mournful elegies, the Lamentations.
164.—THE EPISTLES.
The 22 Epistles of the New Testament are the work of five writers, and their individuality is distinctly and broadly reflected in their writings. What do persons mean when they speak of this or that being the style of the Holy Ghost? The human characteristics of the selected vessel of inspiration give the Spirit’s style for the time being. Of these writings Paul contributed fourteen; John four; Peter two; James, and Jude one each. But how perfect the combination! How necessary for the growth of Christian character! Heaven is the standpoint of Paul; earth the standpoint of John; the wilderness that of Peter; the battlefield that of Jude; and the Assembly and Synagogue that of James. Our heavenly and earthly relationships are unfolded by Paul; our strangership and pilgrimage under the government of God are the truths graven on the epistles of Peter; the manifestation of Eternal Life on earth by the family of God is the great theme of John; a practical walk according to your profession is insisted upon by James; and energy in contending for the faith, i.e., Christianity, is the commanding subject of Jude—the Lord’s brother.
165.—THE TERM HEBREW.
The term “Hebrew” was the Gentile appellation for Abraham and his descendants. It is derived from the word “Eber,” signifying “from the other side;” i.e., the Euphrates on the way to Palestine. Abraham is the first one termed a “Hebrew” (Gen. 14:1313And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. (Genesis 14:13)). The Hebrews of Acts 6:11And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. (Acts 6:1) were Jews of Palestine, in distinction to the Hellenists or foreign Jews speaking Greek, the then common language of civilized nations. Thus the term “Hebrews” has a somewhat more restricted bearing in the New Testament than it has in the Old. In the latter all Israel are termed Hebrews; in the former, the Jews only. “Jews,” as a term, first occurs in 2 Kings 16:66At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day. (2 Kings 16:6), and is applied to the men of Judah, who maintained loyalty to the house of David, and who inhabited Judea, the southern part of Palestine, in contradistinction to the seceding ten tribes known as Israel, or Ephraim. Thus the Jews were Hebrews, but all Hebrews were not Jews.
166. —The names Satan, adversary, and devil, accuser, occur in the Scriptures, the former about 42 times, and the latter about 50 times; they are also found in conjunction in such passages as Matthew 4:10, 1110Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. (Matthew 4:10‑11); Revelation 20:22And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (Revelation 20:2). It seems to us preposterous to deny the personality of Satan, who is a spiritual being, and the leader of the fallen hosts of spiritual beings.
167.—Jewish tradition asserts that the prophet Amos was badly used by the apostate priest Amaziah, on his refusal to leave the land of Israel for Judah, and, further, that the priest’s son completed the work of his father by driving a nail into the prophet’s temple, whose friends then removed him in a dying condition to his native place, where he died, and was buried in the sepulcher of his fathers, but, as we have already observed, this is merely tradition.
168.—THE ANIMAL CREATION.
That interesting department of natural history zoology, thus classifies the animal kingdom; first, land mammalia; second, birds, or all kinds of flying fowl; third, reptiles or creeping things; fourth, fishes; and fifth, invertebrates. These distributions of animal life are most useful when scientific accuracy is required; but to a general reader, and for all practical purposes the scripture classification is amply sufficient as, first, marine creatures; second, winged and flying fowl; and third, land animals. We have the seas, then heaven or the air, and lastly the land respectively stocked with life (Gen. 1:20-2520And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 21And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 22And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 23And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. 24And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 25And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:20‑25)). This is the order, too, observable in modern geological research.
169.—Israel’s first king (Saul) was the man of the people’s choice (1 Sam. 8); Israel’s second king (David) was the man after God’s own heart (Acts 22). The kingly power was continued in the tribe of Judah for 130 years after the destruction of the kingdom of Israel or ten tribes, but was finally destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, 588 B.C.
170.—Assyria became the place of captivity to Ephraim—the ten tribes. They have never been restored, and who and where they now are has not been ascertained with certainty. Ezekiel, chapter 20, details their future restoration. The Jews were deported to Babylon, and the government of the earth transferred to the Gentiles (Dan. 2); at this point of the history “the times of the Gentiles” commence.
171.—After a captivity of 70 years, remnants of Judah are permitted to return, first under Cyrus and then under Artaxerxes; they settle again in Palestine but under Gentile subjection, and, after having been ruled over by Persia, Greece, Egypt, and Syria, the Romans, in the year 63 B.C., took Jerusalem, and Judea became a tributary province to the Roman empire.
172.—THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
The historical circumstances which led to the founding of Assemblies, and to the penning of those inspired Epistles, which were severally addressed to them, are here detailed. Connect chap. 15. with the Epistle to the Galatians; chap. 16. with that to the Philippians; chap. 17. with those to the Thessalonians; chap. 18. with those to the Corinthians; chap. 19. with that to the Ephesians; chap. 21. with that by James, etc.
173.—REFERENCES TO THE PENTATEUCH.
In the historical books of the Old Testament “the Law of the Lord” is mentioned more than 30 times, while 15 times Moses is named as the giver or mediator of it. Again, in the New Testament, Moses is mentioned 80 times; in about 40 of those instances the lawgiver is expressly referred to as the deliverer of it. All the prophets refer to the Pentateuch. In Deuteronomy alone we meet with about 36 express references to the previous books. But the chain of evidence is complete, the Divine legation of Moses proved and vindicated, and the authority of the whole Pentateuch amply vouched for, inasmuch as the Lord before the cross appealed to the writings of Moses as of equal authority with His own words (John 5:46, 4746For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? (John 5:46‑47)): while after the cross He spake of them as the first great division of the Old Testament books (Luke 24:4444And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44)); also expounding them and applying them to the hearts of His two fellow-travelers to Emmaus (verse 27).
174.—In John’s first Epistle the children are first seen at home in the presence of the Father (chap. 1.); then at school learning their lessons (chap. 2:13-27); lastly in the world witnessing for the truth (chaps. 3.-5.) “Children” in verses 1, 12, 28 of chap. 2 refer to all believers; but in verses 13 and 18 babes in Christ only, are referred to; the words are different.
175.—THE PHARISEES.
The two most powerful sects in Judea were the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the former being more numerous and influential, while the latter were more intellectual and wealthy. The Pharisees labored with unbounded zeal—worthy of a better cause—to extend their influence and increase their numbers (Matt. 23:1515Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. (Matthew 23:15)), and to a very large extent they succeeded, being regarded by the great body of the people with peculiar veneration and respect, and being by far the most numerous ecclesiastical party in the country. The Maccabees, in their bold struggle to regain their country’s freedom, received powerful support from two classes of their countrymen, the Chasidim or pious, and the Zadikim or righteous; these ultimately came to be designated under the well-known and familiar names of Pharisees and Sadducees. Pharisee is derived from a word signifying to separate, hence Separatists or Pharisees, who have their counterpart in the Christian profession as pointed out in Jude, verse 19: “These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” The Pharisees were a highly religious class, keen observers of the life and ways of Jesus, rigid exactors of the tithes and dues prescribed in their cumbersome ritual, most scrupulous in the observance of the traditions of the elders, to which they attached more authority practically than even to the commandments of the Lord, right, too, as to doctrine in which they bitterly opposed their enemies the Sadducees. Of this strictest of all sects (Acts 26:55Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. (Acts 26:5)) was Paul; but if they were the most religions, they were also the most hypocritical class of persons that ever lived. They were ever the opposers of the Lord in His most holy life and ways, and when baffled by a life which exposed their hollow pretensions they conspired His death. The Lord gives a most withering exposure of pharisaical life and practice, denouncing “woe” upon “woe” on that proud, haughty, and hypocritical people (Matt. 23) “Beware ye of the leaven (evil) of the Pharisees—” i.e., a mere formal life—is a solemn word to all.
176.—THE SADDUCEES.
This smallest of all the Jewish sects derives its name from its founder, Sadoc and Sedoc (justice,) who lived more than 250 years before Christ. The members of this party were chiefly confined to the wealthy and governing classes. They possessed little or no influence amongst the people generally, for they never courted the commonality as did the Pharisees. Caiaphas and others of the priestly party were of this sect, and they seemed on several occasions to have gained the upper hand over their rivals the Pharisees in guiding the ecclesiastical affairs of the nations (Acts 5:1717Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, (Acts 5:17)). The opposition of the Pharisees to Christ was mainly directed against His holy, spotless life; while that of the Sadducees attacked His teaching or doctrine. The life of the Lord was the best exposure of pharisaical hypocrisy; while the resurrection of the Lord was equally destructive of the Sadducean system. The Lord again and again confronted the Pharisees; the Apostles repeatedly confronted the Sadducees. The leaven (evil) of the Sadducees was bad doctrine, which is briefly summed up in Acts 23:88For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. (Acts 23:8): “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit.” The denial of these truths led, as a consequence, to the negation of many others.
177.—THE SCRIBES.
The Scribes were not a sect, but were a distinct class of learned men employed in writing out and in transcribing the Sacred Writings. From their verbal acquaintance with the Scriptures, they also taught the people and expounded the law. But mere intellectual knowledge of Divine truth or a perfect understanding of the letter of Scripture will not avail for God and eternity. The Scribes could accurately inform the king (Matt. 2) from the prophetic writings where Jesus should be born, thus playing into the hands of the most cruel of the Herods in compassing the death of Jesus; “The letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life.” The Scribes most thoroughly identified themselves with the Pharisees in their determined opposition to Christ, and hence the Lord, in His truly terrible denunciations of “woe” and withering exposure of the character and practices of the Pharisees, couples the Scribes with them (Matt. 23; Luke 11:4444Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them. (Luke 11:44)). The term “scribe” is used in 1 Corinthians 1:2020Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1 Corinthians 1:20) to signify the learning of the world.
178.—THE LAWYERS.
The Lawyers were probably the ablest class of men among the many sects and parties in Judea. Their influence among all classes of the community was very great, as their profession brought them into contact with all grades of society. Their duties were to study and expound the Jewish law and all questions affecting its interpretation; disputed points, too, were generally submitted to their decision. In keeping with their profession they repeatedly sought to entangle the blessed Lord with craftily-put questions, but their subtlety was of no avail against Him whose very name is “Wisdom” (Prov. 8.), and the whole college of the “Doctors of the Law” (Luke 5:1717And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. (Luke 5:17)) were baffled and put to shame and silenced by a wisdom which they could neither gainsay nor resist (Luke 10:2525And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 10:25), etc.; Matt. 22:3535Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, (Matthew 22:35), etc.)
179.—THE PUBLICANS.
The Publicans were a class of men cordially detested by the Jews. They were the appointed farmers of the taxes imposed by the Romans, and as the right to collect these taxes was sold to the highest bidder, great temptation was thereby afforded to men of a cruel and rapacious spirit to exact their dues with rigor. Many of them were exceedingly rich. The Lord often accepted their hospitality (Matt. 9:1010And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. (Matthew 9:10); Luke 5:2929And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. (Luke 5:29)). As a class and in general the Publicans gladly listened to the Saviour’s teaching, and many entered the kingdom (Matt. 21:31, 3231Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. (Matthew 21:31‑32)). Heathen, Publicans, sinners, and harlots were regarded as the offscouring of religious Judea, but the most obnoxious of any were the Publicans, who, by their very occupation, continually reminded the nation that they were under Gentile subjection. While but few persons of the religious sects received the Word, it was listened to gladly by numbers of those most despised of their religious neighbors, and who with joy received the tidings of grace from the lips of the blessed Lord. Zacchæus, a chief Publican, seems to have conducted his duties with unexceptionable honesty, but it was not so generally amongst his class (Luke 19)
180.—THE HERODIANS.
The Herodians were those who, through fear or self-interest, allied themselves to Herod, the Idumean King of the Jews. Herod contrived to ingratiate himself with the court at Rome, and thus through influence obtained the royal authority in Judea. Through his craft and policy he succeeded in attaching an influential party to himself and to the Cæsars. Thus the Herodians were purely a political class, and the questions they proposed to the Lord savored of their principles, which were a species of political craft or time-serving (Matt. 22:1616And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. (Matthew 22:16) and Mark 12:1313And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. (Mark 12:13)). The Pharisees could take counsel with the Herodians, to whom they were strongly opposed, when it suited their purpose—the destruction of Jesus (Mark 3:66And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. (Mark 3:6)). Mere religion without Christ, and the world without God, respectively represent the Pharisee and the Herodian.
181.—THE ELDERS.
The Elders are frequently referred to in the New Testament as a recognized body of men in Judaism and in the Church also. Age and experience, thus carrying moral weight and authority, are denoted by the term “Elder.” As a class in Judea they were associated with the rulers and others in the social and ecclesiastical government of the country. They assisted in all matters affecting the welfare of the people, and were held in great respect and veneration, while their counsels, being regarded as the fruit of old age and matured experience, were highly esteemed. Yet these aged men, whenever mentioned in the Gospels and Acts, are seen as leaders in determined opposition to Christ and His Apostles.
182.—It was not what Christ did only, but the way He did things which elicited the note of admiration, “He hath done all things well.”
183.—The Incense of old (Ex. 30:3434And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: (Exodus 30:34)) was composed of four valuable ingredients of equal weight, and then tempered together and beat or crushed small. Now the incense represents the personal merits of Christ Himself. The Divine records of Christ as in the four Gospels present Him when thus viewed as the precious incense. The bruising only brought out His perfections for God and man.
184. —THE SEVEN DISTINCTIVE PERIODS OF TIME.—
(a) From Adam fallen to the Judgment of the Flood. During this long period of 162 centuries man was left without law, as the Apostle tells us in Romans 5:12-1912Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:12‑19). Conscience supplied its place. Man left to the freedom of his own will can only do Satan’s bidding (Eph. 2:22Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:2)). This period we term the age of Unrestrained Self-Will.
(b) From the Judgment of the Flood to the call of Abram. The institution of civil government; the peopling of the earth; the Judgment at Babel; the introduction of idolatry (Josh. 24:22And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. (Joshua 24:2)), and other grave events during this period, would lead us to call it the age of Public, Governmental Dealing.
(c) From the Gracious Call of Abram to Moses, the Lawgiver. The call of Abram, because of widespread idolatry—prevalent even in the family of Shem—is one of the most blessed interventions of grace recorded in Scripture. Man was to be placed on the new ground of promise (Gal. 3:1616Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)). Abram also became the root of God’s testimony on earth (Rom. 11) Hence we term this period the age of Promise and Testimony.
(d) From Moses (Law) to Christ (Grace), and Christianity. “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:1717For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)). How long the people were to remain under the terms of the Sinaitic covenant we are told in Galatians 3:2424Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24). “The law was our schoolmaster unto Christ,” i.e., till His coming in grace (delete the italicized words).
During this period kingly power on the earth was committed to Israel (1 Sam. 8), who in course sinned it away; government was then transferred to the Gentile (Dan. 2), and the people put under Gentile rule till the year 70, when Jerusalem was totally destroyed by the Romans. We style this period the age of Law and Monarchial
(e) From Christ to the Translation of the Saints to Heaven. This is the blessed time when a worldwide testimony to the Son of God is being proclaimed. The season, too, when the heirs of God and Christ’s joint-heirs are being gathered by the effectual testimony of God’s Word and Spirit. We are safe therefore in naming this period as the age of God’s long-suffering Grace to a Guilty World.
(f) From the Translation of the Saints (1 Thess. 4) to their descent from Heaven with the Lord (Rev. 19.) The period lying between these events—the rapture of the saints to heaven, and their subsequent descent from heaven—is a solemn and impressive one. Christendom’s apostasy; the satanic revival of the Roman empire; the rise of Antichrist; the great tribulation—these and a host of other events happen during this terrible period, which, blessed be God will be a brief one. This sixth period we name The Coming Crisis and Satan’s rule.
(g) From the Introduction of the Kingdom or Millennium till its Close. Just take a glance over the prophetic Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. As to this blessed era, Christ will reign over the earth, and Satan will be bound for the full period of 1000 years, and say—Is not this time well styled the age of Righteousness, Blessing, and Glory?
Then succeeds the eternal rest of God, into which believers are now called, and into which they will assuredly enter (Heb. 4)
185.—The number of the people who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses, then 80 years of age, and Aaron, 83 years, cannot with certainty be determined. We know, however, that 600,000 men, besides women, children, and a large mixed multitude (Ex. 12:37, 3837And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. 38And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. (Exodus 12:37‑38)), took their departure from the land of captivity and cruel bondage, and we cannot be far wrong in estimating the whole number at about two and a half millions of people.
186.—SYNOPSIS OF Hebrews 11—
(a) Verses 1-7. Faith in the great relationships of man with God.
(b) Verses 8-16. Faith patiently waiting for fulfillment of promise.
(c) Verses 17-22. Faith looking alone to the God of Resurrection.
(d) Verses 23-27. Faith overcoming the world in its power and riches.
(e) Verses 28-31. Faith using divinely given means, however insignificant.
(f) Verses 32-35. Faith the root and spring of all energy and service for God.
(g) Verses 35-40. Faith in all ages ever a suffering path.
The word “faith” is used 24 times in the chapter; its properties and powers are noted in verse 1; but the definition of faith is given in John 3:3333He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. (John 3:33). This famous and practical treatise on faith for everyday use closes with chapter 12, verse 2 “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith (not of our faith, but of His own), who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
187.—ALEXANDRIA.
This famous Egyptian city derives its name from its founder, Alexander the Great. Founded about 332 B.C., it soon became the center of learning and commerce, and upon the death of the renowned soldier and accomplished statesman, and break-up of the Empire he had so rapidly established, Alexandria became the royal residence of the Ptolemies for nearly 300 years. Many of these Egyptian Kings, being men of taste and learning, enlarged, adorned, and beautified the city so that it was justly ranked as unequaled in the world for wealth, commercial importance, and literature. The researches of antiquarians in the ruins of the great city have been richly rewarded in a large accumulation of ancient and interesting relics, while its former grandeur is fully attested by its numerous monumental remains of temples, streets, columns, etc., accessible to all. Here, too, existed the most famous library of the ancient world, consisting of 700,000 volumes or rolls, the fruit of centuries, and embracing the lore of every land and clime. The Saracens true to their faith and traditional policy of extirpating all and everything opposed to Islamism, burned this wondrous and celebrated collection of works in the seventh century. Here, too, the Old Testament was translated into Greek—commenced about 284 B.C., commonly termed “The Septuagint,” and frequently quoted from, and referred to by the Lord, the Apostles, and writers of the New Testament. Here also was born Philo, the learned Jewish author and philosopher, who flourished in the early part of the first Christian century. Clement, Origen, and other distinguished men, maintained for the first half-dozen of the Christian centuries the high reputation of Alexandria. The eloquent Apollos was born here (Acts 18:2424And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. (Acts 18:24)). Its shipping supplied a vessel to carry Paul and his companions to Rome (Acts 27:66And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein. (Acts 27:6)). The present population of the town is about 40,000; its ancient population probably numbered fully 600,000. Situated on the western side of the Nile on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
188.—THE BIBLE AND THE NEWSPAPER.
The first portion of the Bible is 3330 years old, and the last part of the wonderful book about 1780 years old. Now how old is the newspaper? The word is derived from a practice between the years 1695-1730, in which the initial letters of the compass were put over papers containing general news, thus:-meaning news from all parts of the globe, hence “newspaper.” What is the newspaper but the record of man’s doings?—useful and necessary for commercial and other purposes.
189.—Divine Sovereignty in the bestowal of gift, and according to the natural ability of the recipient, is taught in Matthew 25:14-3014For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:14‑30). Here the rewards for faithful service are the same. Human responsibility according to what has been given is the main point in Luke 19:12-2612He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. 22And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. (Luke 19:12‑26). Here the rewards for faithful service are proportioned according to the work done—not as to its amount, but as to its character and quality.
190.—THE SAMARITANS.
In the time of our Lord Canaan was divided into three provinces; Judea the religious being south, Galilee the rational lying north, while Samaria the defiled lay between. Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, completed the overthrow of the kingdom of the ten tribes of Israel, removing the nation into captivity, and occupying the deserted cities of Israel with the heathen from his own kingdom. But the Lord would teach the idolatrous heathen that the land was His, although in judgment He had removed His people. Lions were sent amongst the heathen, many of whom were slain. On their representations to the king that this judgment was in consequence of their not knowing the manner of the God of the land, one of the captivity priests was sent to Bethel for their instruction in Jewish worship. The result was the wicked union of Jehovah and idol worship; “So these nations feared the Lord and served their graven images, both their children and their children’s children; as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.” The seventeenth chapter of the second book of Kings will afford the reader an interesting and divine account of the origin of the people, who were held in such abhorrence by the Jews that the vilest epithets they could apply to the Blessed One, were that He was a Samaritan, and devil (demon) possessed (John 8:4848Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? (John 8:48)). The Jews refused all social and neighborly intercourse with the Samaritans, hence the surprise of the woman in being accosted so graciously by the Lord (John 4), and the point of the beautiful parable of Luke 10:30-3730And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? 37And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. (Luke 10:30‑37). The Samaritans alleged that theirs’ was a divine worship and an ancient pedigree as title to share in the work of the returned remnants to Jerusalem (Ezra 4), but Zerubbabel rejected their claims and refused their cooperation in the work of the Lord. The woman in the fourth chapter of John, too, claimed for herself and people a pure descent from Israel’s great progenitor, “our father Jacob,” and also proposed to the Lord the much vexed question between Jew and Samaritan: “Is Mount Gerizim or Jerusalem the place of worship?” The Lord in His reply levels all Samaritan pretension to equal Jewish right and privilege, “Ye worship ye know not what; we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.” Samaria thus rebuked and humbled became the scene of an extensive work of grace; still the Lord is ever true to Himself and to His ways, and so the saved Samaritans were indebted to Jerusalem instrumentally for the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:14-1714Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:14‑17)),
191.—THE TITLE JEHOVAH. God is the name of the Divine Being; Jehovah one of the Divine titles. The signification of LORD or Jehovah is given us in Revelation 1:88I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1:8)— ever is, ever was, ever will be. It occurs about 7000 times in the Sacred Scriptures. It is rendered “God” about 800 times “the Lord” about 6000 times; while “Jehovah” only occurs a very few times in the text.
192.—JAH is another sublime title. It occurs about 50 times, and only in the books of Isaiah, the Psalms, and Exodus; rendered “the Lord” in our English Bible. We wish the various titles of God had been distinguished in our Bibles. They are indifferently translated, and we are the losers, there being so much beauty in the Divine names and titles scattered throughout the sacred pages.
193.—Adam was created in innocence; we are born in sin (Psa. 51); in Christ humanity was holy (Luke 1:3535And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)). The period of innocence or sinlessness was a brief one, and in it Adam stood alone, as Christ did before the work of the cross (John 12:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)). Adam, as fallen became the head of the race (Rom. 5:1515But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. (Romans 5:15)); Christ in victorious power over death is head of His redeemed (1 Cor. 15:4545And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45)). Innocence and Paradise once forfeited cannot be regained; but Holiness, Heaven and Eternal Life are ours in Christ.
194.—PLACES DISTANT FROM JERUSALEM. “Thus saith the Lord God: This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her” (Ezek. 5:55Thus saith the Lord God; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her. (Ezekiel 5:5)).
195. —Herod built the temple. Ten thousand laborers were employed for two years, and 1000 priests were empowered to give the necessary directions. The most holy place was finished in a year and a half; but including the courts and other improvements by Herod’s successors, it was forty-six years in building (John 2:2020Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? (John 2:20)). There are five temples mentioned in the Word of God: first, Solomon’s; second, Zerubbabel’s; third, Herod’s; fourth, Antichrist’s (yet future); fifth, Christ’s millennial temple. Yet in the view of the Spirit there is but one house, as we read, “the latter glory of this house” (Hag. 2:99The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:9))—not “the glory of this latter house.”
196.—Herod the Idumean King, Antiochus the Syrian Monarch, Galerius the Roman Emperor, and Philip II. of Spain—all notorious persecutors, were eaten of worms.
197.—In the estimation of statesman, the Jew, if at all thought of in any scheme of state policy, is but an insignificant element in the situation. What is said of the Jews in Constantinople may be said of their position generally in eastern lands. “The Greeks detest them, the Turks loathe them, the Christians abhor them.” (In passing, it may be remarked that the Jew points to Scotland as the only country where he has not been persecuted.) The Jew is the kernel of the whole question, and the key to the world’s blessing in grace now (Rom. 11:1111I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. (Romans 11:11)), as also in governmental blessing when restored (verse 12).
199.—THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD.
The Blood of the New Covenant has secured to the believer an immediate, frill, divine, and eternal remission of all his sins.
The Blood of Christ is God’s answer in grace and righteousness to man’s state of evil in life and practical ungodliness (Rom. 3)
The Blood of Jesus is the title to pass through the rent veil into the untreated light of God, and worship in His holy presence (Heb. 10:1919Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19)).
The Blood is the purchase-money of the flock of God (Acts 20:2828Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)). By it persons are washed from their sins (Rev. 1:55And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5)), and in it their robes are made white (Rev. 7:1414And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14)), while by it they overcome (Rev. 12:1111And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Revelation 12:11)). By it the conscience is purged (Heb. 9:1414How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)), and by it peace is made (Col. 1:2020And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20)). By it He entered into the holy place (Heb. 9:1212Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)), and by it we enter in also (Heb. 10:1919Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19)). By it we are made nigh (Eph. 2:1313But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)), are justified (Rom. 5:99Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:9)), and have redemption (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)).
200.—Having and knowing are distinct things, yet closely related. In John’s gospel the point is ye “have” (20:31); in his first epistle it is ye “know” (v. 20).
201.—All revealed truth, from the “in” in Genesis to the “Amen” closing the Bible, is intended to act in present, sanctifying power.
202.—Man was formed of the dust of the ground—the only creature so made (Gen. 2:77And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7))—not of rock or stone. His frailty is the point, and this God never forgets, but ever remembers in His providential dealings. “He knoweth our frame: He remembereth that we are dust” (Ps, 103:14).
204.—The footnotes to Paul’s epistles are destitute of divine authority; they date from the fifth century.
205.—THE VARIOUS COMPANIES NOTED IN THE REVELATION.
“The twenty-four elders” represent the redeemed of past and present ages (chaps. 4.-19). Israel—the twelve tribes—are referred to in chapter 7 as 144,000 who are sealed for millennial blessing. The preserved company of 144,000 spoken of in chapter 14 are of Judah only, and are distinct from the number noted in chapter 7. The harpers of chapter 15 are the company of martyred Judah. The apostate part of Israel is noted in chapter 9:4-6. Two companies of martyrs—Jewish and Gentile—are referred to in chapters 6 and 13, and a special class of Jewish witnesses is the subject of chapters 11:1-12. The general body of Gentiles saved is spoken of in chapter 7:9-17.
206.—Of the Epistles, Paul penned fourteen; the first in historical sequence being that to the Thessalonians, and the last being addressed to his son Timothy. The first, however, in moral order is undoubtedly the Roman Epistle. Paul usually wrote on parchment (2 Tim. 4:1313The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. (2 Timothy 4:13)), John on paper (2 John 1212Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. (2 John 12)). The only Epistle written by the hand of Paul was that to the Galatians (chap. 6:11). He generally employed an amanuensis (Rom. 16:2222I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. (Romans 16:22)), while he wrote the salutations with his own hand in token of their Pauline authorship (2 Thess. 3:1717The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. (2 Thessalonians 3:17)).
207.—PAUL’S SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY.
This is the last written of Paul’s 14 Epistles. The martyrdom of the aged Apostle under Nero was an almost immediate and expected event, which with the darkened state of the Church and the increasing power of evil, imparts a solemn character to the Epistle.
Chapter 1, Paul the Lord’s prisoner and Timothy strengthened.
Chapter 2, Paul the Lord’s servant and Timothy encouraged.
Chapter 3, Paul the Lord’s witness and Timothy warned.
Chapter 4, Paul the Lord’s martyr and Timothy charged.
The normal condition of the Church before the world is the great subject of first Timothy; the abnormal condition of things in presence of widespread profession is characteristic of second Timothy.
208.—DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WRITINGS.
The very copy of the law written by the hand of Moses, and deposited in the Ark, was preserved for about 800 years, being found by Hilkiah, the High Priest, in the days of the godly Josiah (2 Chron. 34) It is likely that the original documents perished in the destruction of the Temple by the Chaldeans, in the year 588 B.C., and about a month after the overthrow of the city (2 Kings 25). The Sacred Books, and other MSS. of value, were carefully deposited in the Temple, regarded by the Jews as a stronghold guaranteeing absolute security, because hedged about by Divine grace and favor. Hence, when the Temple was robbed of its costly vessels, and despoiled of its precious contents, the Sacred Books would he regarded as only fit for the fire by the triumphing heathen. Probably, too, the writings of the prophets shared the same fate during that awful Jewish persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes, about 170 B.C.—a man of infamous name and memory by all Jews, ancient and modern.
209. PEACE WITH GOD.—
(d) It was made 1863 years ago, A.D. 33.
210.—UNINSPIRED WRITINGS REFERRED TO IN THE BIBLE.
(g, h) There seems to have been a separate account of each monarch’s reign, to which reference could readily be had.
(i) This may refer to the books of Samuel, and which were originally written as one.
(j, k) Jewish tradition is sometimes well founded. We are inclined to receive it in this instance, which attributes the authorship of the first 24 chapters of the first book of Samuel to that prophet, while relegating the remaining seven chapters, along with the second book, to the prophets Gad and Nathan. “And Samuel died” (1 Sam. 25:11And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran. (1 Samuel 25:1)) is evidently the historical statement of another, and not the prophetic utterance of the prophet about himself.
(o, p) See the margin of our English Bibles.
(s) This is not exactly the same as f or g.
211.—THE PAPAL SYSTEM.
As showing the weakness of the papal system in Italy—its birthplace, Christian missions are tolerated in Rome itself—the seat of the papacy. The Italian government, one of the most vigorous in Europe, has thrown off the yoke of the Vatican and stripped the Holy See of its temporalities. But the aims and political aspirations of popery are as pretentious as ever, and its rapid increase in England and elsewhere is a remarkable fact. The growth and development of evil, of which the papal system is part, is certainly noted in the prophetic parts of the New Testament as characterizing the last days— already set in (2 Tim. 3; Jude; Rev. 2 and 3.; 2 Peter 2, etc.) Our path is a simple one. Do not become politicians; but trim lamps and go out to meet the coming bridegroom (Matt. 25)
212.—There are two mountain-sermons recorded in Matthew; first in chapters 5-7; second in chapters 24, 25.
213.—The Lord’s Prayer is given in John 17. The disciple’s prayer is noted in Matthew 6 and ends with the word “evil;” the doxology is rejected by the authorities, verse 13; compare with Luke 11:44And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. (Luke 11:4).
214.—If the Lord’s three special temptations are compared, as recorded in Matthew 4 and Luke 4, an interesting difference in the order is observable.
215.—Atonement and Redemption are distinct truths; the former is the great theme of Leviticus 16; the latter that of Exodus 14. The High Priest to deal with the blood was needed to effect the former; Moses the deliverer was required to accomplish the latter.
216.—Carefully distinguish between Purchase and Redemption. All persons and things are purchased by Christ, this is change of proprietorship (Matt. 13:4444Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (Matthew 13:44); 2 Peter 2:11But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)); but believers only are redeemed (1 Peter 1:1818Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (1 Peter 1:18); Rev. 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9)). The connection between purchase, present, and redemption of things, future, is to be noted in Ephesians 1:1414Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14).
217.—Both things and persons are estranged from God; but by the blood of the cross believers are now reconciled, and things shall be; the former is present, the latter future; 2 Corinthians 5:1818And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:18) for persons, Colossians 1:2020And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:20) for things.
218.—ON PRAYER.—
219.—MISCELLANEOUS NOTES—FIFTY-THREE.
There are more than 40,000,000 Bibles in circulation.
There are about 800,000,000 souls without the Bible.
The Bible is published in more than 400 different languages and dialects.
First English Bible (Wycliffe’s) published in 1380.
First printed of all books was a Latin Bible.
Price of a Bible in 1270 from £30 to £37.
Careful writing of a Bible in the Scriptorium occupied about ten months.
Bible divided into chapters in the 13th century.
Bible divided into verses in the 16th century.
The Septuagint was commenced about 284 B.C.
The Apocrypha was written after the completion of the Old Testament.
Oldest MSS. are those of the New Testament.
The Vatican and Sinaitic are of the fourth century, and the Alexandrian of the fifth.
God acting in government—the Old Testament.
God revealed in grace—the New Testament.
Isaiah is most complete as to prophetic subjects.
Kingdom of Judah; see the books of Chronicles.
Kingdom of Israel; see the books of Kings.
Headings of the Psalms are as ancient as the text.
“Selah,” pause, occurs about 70 times in the book of Psalms.
Historical origin of all nations; see Genesis 10
Chaldean destruction of Jerusalem, 588 B. C.
Roman destruction of Jerusalem, 70 A.D.
Kingdom of Judah existed about 390 years.
Kingdom of Israel existed about 260 years.
There were 20 Sovereigns of Judah—many good,
There were 19 Sovereigns of Israel—all bad.
“The Faith” might charactize Paul’s 14 Epistles.
“God” plural, occurs about 2700 times.
“God” singular, occurs in the Bible about 60 times
“LORD” occurs about 6860 times in the Old Testament.
“Jehovah” —Israel’s title of covenant relationship.
“Father” —God’s title of relationship to Christians.
The Church is first prophetically announced in Matthew; chapters 16 and 18.
The Church is historically given in the Acts.
The Church is doctrinally taught, and only so, in Paul’s Epistles.
Christ’s present Priesthood is exercised according to the pattern of Aaron (Heb. 9), but according to the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 7).
God willed our salvation; Christ effected it; the Holy Ghost testifies of it (Heb. 10:7-157Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, (Hebrews 10:7‑15)).
“Redeeming the time because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:1616Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:16)). Here the point is the energy of Christian walk and the solemnity of Christian motive. “Redeeming the time” (Col. 4:55Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. (Colossians 4:5)). Here the exhortation is to embrace every moment and seize every opportunity of commending the truth to those “without,” i.e., the world.
“Kingdom of heaven,” a phrase peculiar to the first Gospel, and of which there are about 30 occurrences, is a dispensational term. “Kingdom of God” is a favorite expression in the third Gospel, occurring also about 30 times, and is of moral, besides of dispensational application.
Our place of worship is inside the veil, for Christ is there (Heb. 10:19-2219Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21And having an high priest over the house of God; 22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19‑22)); our place of testimony is outside the camp, for Christ was there (Heb. 13:12-1312Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:12‑13)).
Delete the italicized words in Galatians 3:2424Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24), which will then read, “the law was our schoolmaster unto Christ,” that is, until His coming in grace.
220.—PROPHETIC NOTES—THIRTY.—
Increase of evil foretold (2 Tim. 3:1-91This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. (2 Timothy 3:1‑9)).
Future extent of Palestine about 300,000 square miles.
Palestine gifted to the Jews (Gen. 13:14-1714And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. (Genesis 13:14‑17)).
National restoration of the Jews (Isa. 18)
“Little horn” of Daniel 7 arises from the west.
“Little horn” of Daniel 8 arises from the east.
King of the south is Egypt (Dan. 11)
“Gog” of Ezekiel 38; 39 is Russia.
The Weeks of Daniel 9 are weeks of years.
The great Tribulation lasting 32 years (Rev. 12).
King of the North and the Assyrian are identical:
Jerusalem besieged and partly captured (Zech. 14.)
Western Europe espousing the cause of and politically favoring the Jews.
Eastern powers politically hate the Jews (Psa. 83)
The “woman,” or mother, in Revelation 12 is Israel. The “man-child” of Revelation 12 is Christ.
The gathering together of the long lost ten tribes (Ezek. 34)
221 —MILLENNIAL NOTES—TWENTY-ONE.
Jerusalem rebuilt and adorned (Isa. 60)
A large and costly Temple erected (Ezek. 40)
Israel’s sacrifices commemorative (Ezek. 43-46)
New land-arrangement of the tribes (Ezek. 48)
“The Prince of the House of David” Christ’s vicegerent on the throne of Judah (Ezek. 44-48)
Palestine exceedingly fruitful (Psa. 72)
Waters of the Dead Sea healed (Ezek. 47)
The Egyptians blessed and saved (Isa. 19:18-2218In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the Lord of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction. 19In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord. 20And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the Lord because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. 21And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it. 22And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them. (Isaiah 19:18‑22).)
The Church in glory (Rev. 21)
No tears, no curse, no night (Rev. 21) 222.
222.— THE ROMAN DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM,
A.D. 70. Possibly, nearly 3,000,000 of people were crowded within the city walls of Jerusalem. The houses, public buildings, courts and streets were occupied by worshipping crowds—Jews from all quarters of the Empire having flocked to their distinguished feast. The sword of Judgment hung suspended over the doomed city, while murder and violence triumphed within, and the blood of the citizens was shed as water by the rival sects and contending parties. Jerusalem was as hell let loose. Then the Roman trumpets sounded, the camp at Cesarea was broken up, the clash of arms was heard, and the terrible march of the trained and veteran soldiers of Rome commenced. Jerusalem was quickly encircled by an iron band, and the most memorable siege on record, and most unexampled in the annals of human sorrow, began and lasted for 134 days. The details of the siege have been often told, and many of these are sickening and revolting in the extreme. On the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar, it was again totally destroyed by the Romans, and the city leveled to the ground. Titus commissioned Turnus Rufus to inflict the last dregs of wrath upon the guilty city, who performed his work so perfectly that the Roman plow was passed over its ruins; not one stone was left upon another of the magnificent Temple. Literally Zion was plowed as a field, according to the prediction of Micah, chapter 3:12. More than a million of Jews miserably perished either by famine or sword, and 97,000 were taken captive. Those under 17 were sold as slaves, and so glutted were the slave marts in Egypt and elsewhere, that ultimately purchasers could not be found at any price (Deut. 28:6868And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you. (Deuteronomy 28:68)). Many of those spared were thrown amongst the wild beasts, to afford brutal sport to the Roman populace, and others were murdered at the mere will and whim of their savage conquerors. At Cesarea Philippi Titus celebrated the birthday of his brother, the savage Domitian, on which occasion he caused no fewer than 2500 of his captives to be killed, either by fighting with gladiators, or with wild beasts. Vast numbers were sent to labor in the Egyptian mines. Others again were selected to grace the triumphal entry into Rome, and were then, according to custom, severely scourged and killed. Go to Rome, yet to become the capital of the restored Gentile Monarchy before it is finally crushed by the Lord of Glory (Dan. 2), and gaze upon the triumphal and sculptured arch of Titus, and there behold the witness of Jehovah’s vengeance upon Judah! Or look upon those coins struck to commemorate the proud Roman triumph, inscribed with the words Judea Capta, also bearing the emblematic and expressive figure of a woman sitting under a Palm tree, sadly mourning, with a Roman soldier standing by. The very country was publicly sold, and lands gifted to some thousands of soldiers who had distinguished themselves in the war.
223.—CHRONOLOGY OF THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CENTURY. A.D.
9 Archelaus governs Judea instead of Herod.
12 Jesus in the Temple about His Father’s business.
14 Tiberius ascends the throne of the Cæsars.
30 Jesus is baptized.
33 Jesus is crucified.
36 Paul is converted.
37 Caligula, the wantonly cruel, reigns.
41 James killed.
50 London built by the Romans.
51 The first of the Epistles written—that to the Thessalonians.
55 Nero reigns—a monster of cruelty.
59 Conquest of Great Britain completed.
64 First persecution of the Christians under Nero.
66 Martyrdom of the Apostles Peter and Paul.
69 The Christians in Jerusalem retire to Pella,
70 Jerusalem besieged and taken by Titus.
83 Agricola reduces Britain to a Roman province.
93 John banished to the isle of Patmos.
94 Second persecution of the Christians under Domitian.
99 John dies, urging love in the truth upon the saints.
224.—The divine circles of interest are the Church, the World, and the Family; the first loved by Christ (Eph. 5:2525Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25)); the second loved by God (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)); and the third loved by the Father (1 John 3:11Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1)).
225.— “Covenant” and “Testament” are the same in the original, the former occurring about 12 times in the New Testament, and the latter about 20 times. In all these 32 instances the word “Covenant” should be used, save in Hebrews 9:16-1716For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. (Hebrews 9:16‑17), where “Testament” is clearly the force and sense of the word there employed.
227.— “The heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:2222But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, (Hebrews 12:22)) refers to the city which God and the saints will occupy in the coming ages, and must not be confounded with “the holy Jerusalem” (Rev. 21:9, 109And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, (Revelation 21:9‑10)), which is itself the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
228.—John speaks of the whole of the present period as “the last time” (see first epistle, chap. 2.), which Paul divides into “the latter times” (1 Tim. 4.), and “last days” (2 Tim. 3)—the former covering the papal Apostasy—the middle ages; while the latter contemplates the setting in of the Apostasy of these days.
229.—James insists upon works as evidencing faith. Peter conducts the flock of God through the wilderness. John treats of life displayed in Christ and then in the believer. Paul sets the believer in a new place before God. Jude would have the saints buckle on their armor and earnestly contend for the faith.
230.—God’s love is omnipotent and is opposed to all creature might (Rom. 8:38-3938For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38‑39)). Christ’s love is tender and is opposed to all creature difficulty (verses 35-37).
233.—The faith of the Jewish believer rested on what God was able to perform (Rom. 4:2121And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (Romans 4:21)); whereas the faith of the Christian believer rests on what He has, done (verses 24-25).
234.—SIGNIFICATION ON THE LEADING DIVINE NAMES AND TITLES.
(a) God (Elohim) a plural word, occurring about 2700 times in the Bible. The expression of creation-power and glory, and Godhead fullness.
(b) God (Eloah) singular. Used about 60 times in the Holy Scriptures, and generally, if not always, in marked contrast with the many gods of the heathen. Distinguishing name for Him who is the only living and true God.
(c) Lord God occurs in the second and third chapters of Genesis 20 times, and denotes Creator-relationships; that is, certain responsibilities and relationships are founded upon our creation and are established with the Creator.
(d) Lord or Jehovah first used in Genesis 4 expressive of moral relationship.
(f) Most High God occurs four times in Genesis 14:18-2418And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. 21And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 24Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion. (Genesis 14:18‑24), and several times in the Prophet Daniel. The Genesis-scripture, typical of the Millennial Kingdom, gives the force of the title, which is the union of royalty and priesthood in Christ exercised mediatorially in the millennium.
(h) God of Heaven, used about 20 times, only two of which are found in the New Testament—the Revelation; as implied in the title, it is God acting from heaven upon earth, hence it may be explained as Divine providential government on earth.
(j) Jesus occurs about 700 times in the New Testament, and in no case is it written with an adjective. “Jesus” needs no qualifying or added word to set His glory forth. Most of those occurrences are in the Gospels. It is the personal name of the Lord on earth and in heaven.
(k) Christ. This is an official and positional title, and is usually written in the Gospels with the article prefixed (see Greek), as “the Christ.”
“Messiah,” which is Hebrew, And “Christ,” which is Greek, both mean the “Anointed,” as in Psalm 2:22The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, (Psalm 2:2). In the Epistles the title is used to express the saint’s place and position before God, whether alive or dead; see 2 Corinthians 12:22I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. (2 Corinthians 12:2), as to the living; 1 Thessalonians 4:1616For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 4:16), as to the dead.
(l) Lord. The root idea in this title is that of authority; one who has claims over us. All duties, responsibilities, and relationships of every kind pertaining to the Christian are in reference to Christ as Lord. It expresses also universal and absolute proprietorship (Matt. 13:4444Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. (Matthew 13:44); 2 Peter 2; Jude). Power and authority are the cardinal thoughts in this title.
(m) Jesus Christ. This title is found eight times in Peter’s first Epistle. It is one rarely used by Paul. It seems to link up the sufferings of earth with the glories of Heaven. The thought is from what He was to what He is—the humbled and suffering One now exalted and glorified.
(n) Christ Jesus. Paul’s favorite title. John in his Epistles and Revelation and Jude in his brief letter do not once write “Christ Jesus,” but invariably “Jesus Christ.” What He is in glory to what He was on earth seems the thought; hence the signification of this interesting title; the now exalted and glorified Man was once the humbled and suffering One on earth.
(o) Lord Jesus Christ. The full written title of our Lord; is found in the introduction to all the Pauline Epistles, save in the Hebrews and 2 Timothy, but is found in the last verse of the latter Epistle. It is not once used in John’s three Epistles; in fact, the title “Lord” does not once occur in these Letters. By connecting the thoughts given under each name, the scriptural idea of this fullest of the Lord’s titles will be easily seen. It connects power, manhood, and glory.
(p) Son of God. This grand and divine title is neither official nor dispensational; it is one of full personal and moral glory, and is only fully declared and unfolded in John’s writings. Son of God in His dignity; Son of the Father in divine relationship; Only begotten Son in the bosom of the Father—alone in the secrets and love of the divine bosom. Son of God, we regard, as signifying the full personal glory of the Son.
(q) Son of Man. Jesus is not once called the Son of Man in the Gospels; but He used the title of Himself upwards of 60 times—the one He peculiarly delighted in. This title is used of Ezekiel more than 100 times, and in Daniel three times. It occurs but once in the Epistles—the Hebrews, chapter 2:6, as a quotation from Psalm 8 Judgment, and power to execute that judgment, are Son of Man glories (John 5); and, as Son of Man, He will bring in blessing and righteous rule for the earth. Earthly glory and universal sovereignty are the thoughts embodied in this title.
(r) Son of David. This Judaic title is a dispensational one, connecting itself with royalty and blessing, specially within the circumscribed limits of Judea. We therefore regard it as expressing Royalty and Blessing made good in Israel.
{ Almighty to the Patriarchs. GOD as,
GOD as, { Jehovah to Israel.
{ Father to Christians.
235.—Amongst the most ancient forms of commerce was that practiced by Abraham, who bought the field of Ephron, containing the cave of Machpelah, for a burying-place for himself and family, for four hundred shekels of silver, estimated according to weight; not necessarily of one size. Buying and selling by weight, and not by current money, is still extensively practiced in certain parts of the world.
236. — NIGHT. —
First Watch, Evening 6-9 p.m.
Second Watch, Midnight 9 -12 p.m.
Third Watch, Cockcrow 12-3 a.m.
Fourth Watch, Morning 3-6 a.m.
DAY.—
Third Hour 6-9 a.m.
Sixth Hour 9-12 noon.
Ninth Hour 12-3 p.m.
Twelfth Hour 3-6 p.m.
In the Eastern world the evening and the morning constituted the day (Gen. 1) This borne in mind will afford a clue to the solution of many chronological difficulties.
237.—THE PENTATEUCH.
Pentateuch, from the Greek words pente, five, and teuchos, volume or book; thus the Pentateuch or “five books” of Moses. These early books of Scripture were originally written in one scroll, according to Hebrew custom, and are still used as such in Jewish reading, and in all modern synagogues. The distribution of the Pentateuch into separate books can be traced up to the days of Ezra, about 450 B.C.; but their English titles, which are of Greek origin, and which are supposed to denote their contents generally, are borrowed from the Septuagint or Greek version of the Old Testament, about 280 B.C. The Hebrew titles of the books are taken from the opening word or sentence of each, but are not regarded by the Jews as descriptive of their character. Thus the Hebrew Pentateuch, though not arranged in books, has yet 54 pretty lengthy sections, and 669 very short ones; while the English version has its five books and 187 chapters—the latter dating from the 13th century.
It is an interesting circumstance that the Samaritans the religious rivals of the Jews (John 4)—possessed a copy of the Pentateuch written in the ancient Phoenician or Hebrew characters, which they regarded with peculiar veneration, and from which the Woman of Samarian-race gathered that Messiah was to come (John 4:2525The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. (John 4:25)). There are said to be several complete copies of the Samaritan Pentateuch now in Europe, and one is believed to date from the 8th century—the age of Mohammed. The Pentateuch, as a whole, was from earliest times familiarly spoken of by the Jews as “the law,” or “the law of Moses,” etc. The blessed Lord, and writers of the New Testament, not merely refer to the Pentateuch as a whole, and to its several books repeatedly, but the writings of Moses are held to be of equal authority with the words of the Lord Himself (John 5:45-4745Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? (John 5:45‑47)), and the testimony of Moses placed on equal par with the voice of resurrection (Luke 16:3131And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:31)).
238.—Revelation 2 and 3.
Ephesus, desire, the ECCLESIASTICAL period. Smyrna, myrrh, the SUFFERING period.
Pergamos, lofty, the WORLDLY period.
Thyatira, dunghill or cesspool, the PAPAL period.
Sardis, the escaped or delivered, the PROTESTANT period.
Philadelphia, brotherly love, the REMNANT period.
Laodicea, justice for the people, the CHRISTLESS period.
239.—Sanctification is viewed absolutely and progressively: absolute as regards the person, progressive as regards the state.
240.—It is a remarkable fact that there is no authentic profane Gentile history previous to the time when the Gentile nations began to be raised up as the scourge of Jerusalem, i.e., about 787 B.C. In the eighth century the Assyrian power began to be consolidated under Pul; the nucleus of the Persian power was formed by the revolt of the Medes; the Grecian era was introduced by the establishment of the Olympiads, and the city of Rome was founded. The migration of the Cimmerian Scythian nations, on which all the arrangements of modern Europe are founded, also commenced in this century.
241.— “Holy and without blame” — “holy,” that is character: “without blame,” conduct.
242.—The word for “Gospel” in the Irish language is a very fine one. It means “The Story of Peace.”
243.—Ancient History covers a period of about 4480 years, down to the fall of the western Roman empire.
244.—Medieval History covers a period of about 1000 years, down to the discovery of America, Printing, and introduction of the Reformation.
245.—Modern History covers a period of about 350 years, from the Reformation to our own times.
246.—There are of known dialects and languages, 2623; of these 587 are European, 396 are Asiatic, 376 African, 1264 American; in all 2623. All these may be reduced to three great families, and these again to one parent source.
248.—HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF BABYLON.
Herodotus, the historian, who saw it in its glory, describes it as a most magnificent sight. Situated on the highway of the nations, it covered a space of about 56 miles—the largest city in the world. It stood on both sides of the river Euphrates, and formed an exact square of 14 miles each side. Its walls are said to have been 87 feet thick and about 335 feet high, and so broad that six chariots could ride abreast. There were 25 gates on each side, of solid brass, and enormously strong. Inside, the city was divided into 676 squares, and 15 streets, each 150 feet wide. The hanging gardens, constructed as terraces, were exceedingly grand; and regarded as one of the wonders of the world. The Median Princess—Nebuchadnezzar’s Consort—had them built to remind her of her own country’s magnificent gardens. The two most magnificent buildings were the Temple of Belus and the Palace of Nebuchadnezzar, both built in separate squares, at immense cost, and superbly adorned and finished. Fully allowing for a measure of exaggerated language, it is allowed on all hands that its glory, wealth, and commercial importance fully justify its designation as the “praise of the whole earth,” the “emporium of the world;” styled also “the golden city,” and “the glory of kingdoms” (see also Isa. 43:1414Thus saith the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships. (Isaiah 43:14); Dan. 4) This as to its worldliness.
As to its idolatry, we read— “It is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols” (Jer. 1. 38). Bel or Baal, the great Babylonian deity, had a magnificent temple erected for his worship, which was pillaged by the famous Xerxes 478 B.C. As to the mystical Babylon (Rev. 17 and 18.) she is seen decked out in the world’s glory, and “become the habitation of devils (demons) and the hold of every foul spirit” (idolatry). Compare as to the destruction of the literal Babylon (Jer. 1. and 51.) with the overthrow of the mystical city (Rev. 17 and 18.) It was besieged and taken by Cyrus, the Persian, 538 B.C. Thus the destruction of Babylon and the deliverance of the Jews were affected at the same time. The historians Herodotus and Xenophon give a circumstantial account of the taking of Babylon, but not more minute than do the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, the former of whom lived and prophesied 160 years before the event occurred (and at a time, moreover, when the Persians were scarcely known), and the latter prophet 60 years before. The conqueror is foretold by name (Isa. 44:28; 45:128That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. (Isaiah 44:28)
1Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; (Isaiah 45:1)). The Persians and Medians are pointed out as the successful besiegers (Isa. 21:22A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. (Isaiah 21:2); Jer. 51:1111Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the Lord hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of his temple. (Jeremiah 51:11)). The duration of the Babylonian dynasty is given (Jer. 25:11-1211And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations. (Jeremiah 25:11‑12)). Belshazzar’s impious feast to his thousand nobles, with its revelry and drunkenness, is also carefully noted in Scripture (Jer. 51:39-5739In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the Lord. 40I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats. 41How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations! 42The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof. 43Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby. 44And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall. 45My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the Lord. 46And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumor that shall be heard in the land; a rumor shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumor, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler. 47Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her. 48Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the Lord. 49As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth. 50Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the Lord afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. 51We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the Lord's house. 52Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan. 53Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the Lord. 54A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans: 55Because the Lord hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered: 56Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows is broken: for the Lord God of recompences shall surely requite. 57And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts. (Jeremiah 51:39‑57)); the suddenness and unexpected nature of the assault (Jer. 51:4141How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations! (Jeremiah 51:41)); the drying up of her famous river, the Euphrates—pledge of a future event of similar import (Rev. 16:1212And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. (Revelation 16:12); Isa. 44:2727That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: (Isaiah 44:27); Jer. 36); the carelessness of the besieged in leaving open the two-leaved gates of brass through which the invaders entered (Isa. 45:22I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: (Isaiah 45:2)); these and other particulars of deep interest are fully given in the Scriptures.
The country of Babylonia lay between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates, and was about 400 miles in length and 100 in breath. It first bore the name of Shinar, then Babylonia, and latterly Chaldea.
249.— CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
The Songs and Praises of the Messiah are written in psalms 30., 92., 101., 108., 116., 22:23-31, etc.
The Glories and Exaltation of the Messiah are celebrated in psalms 2., 8., 21., 24., 45., 72., 75., 110., etc.
The Life and Service of the Messiah are rehearsed in psalms 16., 17., 23., 40., 63., etc.
The Sufferings and Death of the Messiah are recorded in psalms 22., 31., 69., 88., 102., etc.
250.—Euthalius of Alexandria, A.D. 458, edited an edition of Paul’s Epistles, and appended those subscriptions transferred to our English New Testaments.
251.—Geology clearly enough establishes the truth of a creation prior to Adam, but no conflict need thereby be apprehended between science and the Mosaic or rather Divine account of creation. The first verse of Genesis refers to the original creation of the heavens and earth, and is an independent statement entirely apart from what follows; the second verse shows the earth in a ruined state, yet at a period prior to man; while from verses 3-31 we have the earth got ready in 6 literal days as a dwelling for man. The terms “creating” and “making” are important in this connection. “These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created (verse 1 of the Bible), in the day that the Lord God made (in six days, Ex. 20:1111For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:11)) the earth and the heavens” (Gen. 2:44These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, (Genesis 2:4)).
252.—THE LANGUAGES IN WHICH THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN.
These were the Hebrew and the Syriac or Aramean in the Old Testament, and the Greek in the New. The Hebrew of Moses, of Abraham, of Isaiah, was probably the primitive language of man—the language of Adam. The Syriac, is more generally termed the “Aramean,” from Aram, the Bible name of Syria (Gen. 10:22, 2322The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram. 23And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash. (Genesis 10:22‑23)), sometimes also called, but erroneously, “Chaldean,” that being a dialect peculiar to the learned in Babylon (Dan. 1:44Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. (Daniel 1:4)). The Syriac was the tongue spoken by the Assyrians who destroyed the kingdom of Israel, and of the Babylonians who destroyed Judah. The several instances in which this language is used in the Old Testament are, first, Jeremiah 10:1111Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. (Jeremiah 10:11), in which the triumphing heathen are abruptly informed that their gods are doomed to utter destruction; second, Ezra 4:88Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort: (Ezra 4:8) to 6:18, and 7:12-26, in these portions the haughty Gentile conquerors of Judah are informed in their own language of Jehovah’s abiding interest in His people, although but weak and few in number, having just emerged from their long captivity; third, in Daniel 2:44Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. (Daniel 2:4) to the close of chapter 7, here the rise, progress, and total destruction of Gentile power are divinely sketched, and thus they are left without excuse.
The Hebrew tongue, Acts 26:1414And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 26:14), and the various Hebrew words and expressions, such as in Mark 5:41; 7:34; 15:3441And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. (Mark 5:41)
34And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. (Mark 7:34)
34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:34), spoken by Christ; also John 5:22Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. (John 5:2); Revelation 9:1111And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. (Revelation 9:11), must not be understood to mean the original Hebrew language, but simply that then spoken by the Jews. In general, the Lord and the Apostles spoke the common tongue— Greek. The exceptions we have indicated, as also Paul’s address on the Castle stairs at Jerusalem (Acts 22), were in the Syriac tongue. The whole of the New Testament was written in Greek. John, Paul, James, and Luke wrote it.
253.—ISRAEL’S THIRTEEN JUDGES.
The names of the thirteen Judges and the several periods of rest granted to the people consequent on the various deliverances wrought on their behalf, are as follows.
Othniel - 40 years, chap. 3:8-11.
Ehud - 80 years, chap. 3:12-30.
Shamgar - chap. 3:31.
Deborah and Barak - 40 years, chaps. 4., 5.
Gideon - 40 years, chaps. 6.-8.
Abimelech - 3 years, chap. 9.
Tola— 23 years, chap. 10:1-2.
Jair- 22 years, chap. 10:3-5;
Jephthah - 6 years, chaps. 11., 12:7.
Ibzan- 7 years, chap 12:8-10.
Elon- 10 years, chap. 12:11-12.
Abdon - 8 years, chap. 12:13-15.
Samson - 20 years, chaps. 13.-16.
254.—THE BOOK OF JOB.—
God, Satan, and Job- chaps. 1.-3.
The Argument stated.
The address of Eliphaz— chaps. 4., 5.
The answer of Job— chaps. 6., 7.
The address of Bildad— chap. 8.
The answer of Job— chaps. 9., 10.
The address of Zophar— chap. 11.
The answer of Job— chaps. 12.-14.
The Argument continued.
The address of Eliphaz — chap. 15.
The answer of Job — chaps. 16., 17.
The address of Bildad — chap. 18.
The answer of Job — chap. 19.
The address of Zophar — chap. 20.
The answer of Job — chap. 21.
The Argument continued.
The address of Eliphaz — chap. 22.
The answer of Job — chaps. 23., 24.
The address of Bildad — chap. 25.
The answer of Job — chaps. 26.-31.
255.—The sovereignty of God in election cannot be questioned, for the Word of God is full of it from Genesis to Revelation. Jacob instead of Esau, Isaac instead of Ishmael, Shem instead of Japheth, Seth instead of Cain, Arphaxad instead of Elam, Ephraim instead of Manasseh, Joseph instead of Reuben, royalty in the fourth son of Jacob, and priesthood in the third, are all witnesses of the sovereign elective purposes of God.
The Argument continued—
The speeches of Elihu— chaps. 32.-37.
Jehovah addressing His servant— chaps. 38.-49.
Job’s brokenness of Spirit and happy conclusion— chap. 42
256.—The subject of Isaiah 53 commences with verse 13 of chapter 52.
257.—The Jews have been successively ruled over by the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Egyptians, the Syrians, and the Romans.
258.—NOTES ON THE JUDEAN KINGS.—
About the half of the Judean sovereigns were good; hence the long continuance of the kingdom over that of Israel.
It will be observed that, as a rule, the mothers of the Judah kings are specially named, but not so in the case of the kings of Israel.
There is only one female sovereign amongst those of Judah, and not one amongst the sovereigns of Israel.
The fathers of the godly kings Hezekiah and Joshua were bad men, thus illustrating the sovereign goodness and choice of God.
It is worthy of careful observation that, according to the personal piety and faithfulness of the monarch, Judah was blessed, and the country enjoyed peace and prosperity.
The longest reign was that of Manasseh’s 55 years; while the shortest was that of Jehoahaz, which lasted only three months.
The books of the Chronicles specially detail the doings of the kings of Judah.
260.—For “Who shall declare His generation?” read, “Who shall declare His manner of life?” (Isa. 53:88He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. (Isaiah 53:8)). Who? asks the prophet, 750 years before Christ came. God answers it. The dying robber in face of assembled priests and people fearlessly asserts the Holy life of Christ, saying, “This man hath done nothing amiss.” Who was there to speak a word for Jesus? Strange advocate at such a moment! Truly God’s ways are not as our ways.
262.—In the book of Daniel it is the “Medes and Persians”; in the book of Esther the order is reversed, it is the “Persians and Medes.” In the time of the former the “Medes” were prominent; in the time of the latter the “Persians” had gained the ascendency.
264.—Golgotha or Calvary (place of a skull) was the place of execution which was always outside the city, or without the gates (1 Kings 21:1313And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. (1 Kings 21:13); Acts 7:5858And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. (Acts 7:58); Heb. 13:1212Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. (Hebrews 13:12)).
265.—THE ORIGINAL HEBREW AND GREEK MSS.
We are thankful that the original MSS.—Hebrew and Greek—which proceeded from the inspired penmen are not in existence. Men would worship them, as Israel did the brazen serpent type of salvation by Christ (2 Kings 18:44He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. (2 Kings 18:4)), and as the devil sought possession of the body of Moses (Jude 99Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. (Jude 9)), no doubt for a similar purpose. The original Pentateuch was in existence about 800 years after Moses (2 Chron. 34:1414And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses. (2 Chronicles 34:14)). Probably the early books of the Old Testament perished in the Chaldean destruction of Jerusalem and of the temple (in which the sacred records were preserved) 588 B.C. The later books were most likely destroyed during the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes, of infamous memory. Under the reign of Diocletian numerous MSS. of rare value, and probably the original books of the New Testament, were committed to the flames; this, the hottest and last of the imperial persecutions, lasted just ten years, from A.D. 303-312. The oldest existing Greek MSS. date from the era of Constantine the successor of Diocletian.
266.—The following days of the week are set apart for the public observance of religion in different nations: Sunday by the Christians; Monday by the Grecians; Tuesday by the Persians; Wednesday by the Assyrians; Thursday by the Egyptians; Friday by the Turks; Saturday by the Jews.
267.—The manna and the water—Christ and the Spirit—were given to Israel in the wilderness, not to take them out of trouble, but to sustain them in it, and to impart strength and joy in the way. Exodus 16 and John 6 show Christ as the manna; while Exodus 17 and John 7 give the Spirit as the water.
268.— “Dead with Christ”; therefore necessarily dead to all He died to; “risen with Christ”; therefore risen to all He rose to as man. God deals with the roots of what we were and are—Dead to sin and alive to God.
269.—The first seven chapters of the book of Leviticus contain a mine of spiritual wealth. We dig because we know Christ the treasure is embedded there. The Jew attempted to grope his way through the shadows on to the substance. The Christian, on the contrary, has grasped the substance and hence he can with certainty interpret the shadows of the past. These chapters are replete with interest; they abound in precious detail of Christ and of His finished work. They naturally divide into two parts: (a) The offerings in all their typical value as estimated by God—His acceptance of and part in Christ’s infinitely precious work (chaps. 1:6, 7); (b) “The law of the offerings” in which our part and communion in the person, work, and affections of Christ are unfolded (chaps. 6:8, -7.)
270.—The personal recognition of friends in Heaven is unquestionable from Luke 9:30-3330And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. 32But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. 33And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. (Luke 9:30‑33). How did Peter know Moses and Elias?—the former had been in Heaven for about 1500 years and the latter 900 years. “Then shall I know” (1 Cor. 13:1212For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)) explains it.
271.—The frequent use of the word “Selah” in the book of Psalms—about 70 times (see also Hab. 3, where the word occurs three times)—is to be carefully noted. You naturally pause where the word occurs, as in Psalms 3 and 4; and this, we believe, is the force of the word, whatever it signifies critically, and that the ripest scholarship has not yet definitely settled.
272.—THE FIFTEEN SONGS OF DEGREES.—
Psalm 120, First song of degrees. Deliverance from deceit and falsehood.
Psalm 121, Second song of degrees. Jehovah helps, keeps, and preserves.
Psalm 122, Third song of degrees. Jerusalem built; its peace sought.
Psalm 123, Fourth song of degrees. Jehovah-God alone looked to.
Psalm 124, Fifth song of degrees. Jehovah on Israel’s side.
Psalm 125, Sixth song of degrees. Jehovah His people’s protection.
Psalm 126, Seventh song of degrees. Redemption from the captivity celebrated.
Psalm 127, Eighth song of degrees. Jehovah keeps and watches.
Psalm 128, Ninth song of degrees. Jehovah blessing out of Zion.
Psalm 129, Tenth song of degrees. Haters of Zion confounded.
Psalm 130, Eleventh song of degrees. Jehovah known in His grace and mercy.
Psalm 131, Twelfth song of degrees. Quietness in presence of Jehovah.
Psalm 132, Thirteenth song of degrees. Davidical grace and blessing.
Psalm 133, Fourteenth song of degrees. Unity of Israel in blessing.
Psalm 131, Fifteenth song of degrees. Jehovah’s servants in unceasing praise.
These songs were sung on successive stages of the journey to Jerusalem in returning from the captivity.
273.— THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS.
Chapter 1—We have Christ the Christian’s life.
Chapter 2—We have Christ the Christian’s pattern.
Chapter 3—We have Christ the Christian’s object.
Chapter 4—We have Christ the Christian’s strength.
This Epistle delineates Christian experience as witnessed in Christ, Paul and others. The word “Apostle” does not occur at all. Apostolic experience as such is delineated in 2 Corinthians
274.—JUSTIFICATION. —
Justification is a judicial term and thus connected with God’s throne or seat of government, before which believers stand cleared from every charge by the blood of Christ.
275.—THE DEAD SEA,
so called because life only in its lowest forms can exist in its waters, comes in for special blessing. It will be healed and filled with fish equal to any found in the Great Sea or Mediterranean; its banks will be covered with trees yielding fruit and medicine—to sustain and to restore. This celebrated sea is about 50 miles in length, and its greatest breadth about 10 miles; its utmost depth is 1300 feet. The Jordan flows into it, as well as other rivers and streams. It has no visible outlet. The surface of the Dead Sea is about 1300 feet below the level of the Mediterranean, and is the most depressed sheet of water in the world. The past, present, and future of the Dead Sea is a story of interest. The future of the earth is grandly foretold in Psalm 72; Amos 9:1313Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. (Amos 9:13), etc. Does not Zechariah 14:6-76And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: 7But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. (Zechariah 14:6‑7) teach that there will be no darkness on the earth during the millennial era, as Revelation 21:2525And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. (Revelation 21:25) undoubtedly shows that night will be banished from the higher region of that blessed period?
276.—ELECTION IN THE CALLING OF PERSONS.—
Seth, Adam’s third son.
Shem, Noah’s second son.
Arphaxad, Shem’s third son.
Sarai, not Hagar.
Isaac, not Ishmael.
Jacob, not Esau.
Joseph, not Reuben.
Ephraim, not Manasseh.
277.—THE AGES.—
(a) Innocence—connect with Adam (Gen. 2.)
(b) Lawlessness—connect with Cain (Gen. 4)
(c) Governmental Dealing—connect with Noah (Gen. 8; 9)
(d) Promise—connect with Abram (Gen. 12.)
(e) Law—connect with Moses (Ex. 19)
(f) Grace—connect with the Cross—Christ (1 Cor. 1: 23).
(h) Rest—connect with God (Heb. 4)
The governmental judgment on the Man (Gen. 17-19).
279.—TEN DISTINCT TITLES APPLIED TO SATAN.—
(a) Serpent— seducer.
(b) Deed —tempter.
(c) Satan—adversary.
(d) Great Dragon—cruelty.
(e) God of this world—bead of its religion.
(f) Prince of this world—head of its power.
(g) Prince of the power of the air—head of the wicked spiritual world.
(h) King of the bottomless pit—commands the power of darkness.
(i) Roaring lion (to the careless) —seeking his prey.
(j) Angel of light (to the watchful) —seeking to deceive the saints.
281.— EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS.
Paul was the writer, so Peter informs us (2 Peter 3:1515And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (2 Peter 3:15)). Its subjects are: First, the person of the Lord, as Divine (chap. 1.), and as man (chap. 2.); second, the rest of God—the eternal state, chaps. 3, 4; third, the priesthood of the Lord, chaps. 5-7; fourth, the two covenants both made with Israel—the one past, the other future, chap. 8; fifth, the sacrifice of Christ contrasted with Jewish sacrifice and its present and eternal application to believers, chaps. 9, 10; sixth, the walk of faith and divine exhortations and encouragements, chaps. 11-13.
282.—FOURFOLD VIEW OF CHRIST.—
Behold the King! —Matthew.
Behold the Servant! —Mark.
Behold the Man! —Luke.
Behold the Son! —John.
In the four Gospels the death and resurrection of the Lord are presented as forming the solid basis of the believing sinner’s salvation; but in two of then only is the Ascension narrated, viz., Mark and Luke in two of them only, the genealogy, viz., Matthew and Luke.
283.—NUMERALS OF SCRIPTURE.
One, unity (Mark 12:3232And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: (Mark 12:32); 1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)); two, fullness of testimony (John 8:1717It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. (John 8:17)); three, divine testimony and manifestation (Matt. 28:1919Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:19)); four, universality (Rev. 7:11And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. (Revelation 7:1); Dan. 7:1717These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. (Daniel 7:17)); five, human responsibility (Ex. 27); six, non-completeness (John 2:66And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. (John 2:6)); seven, completion, perfection (Rev. 6;8 Matt. 13); eight, new commencement (Lev. 14:2323And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the Lord. (Leviticus 14:23)); nine, an intensely solemn hoar (Mark 15:33-3433And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:33‑34); Acts 3:11Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. (Acts 3:1)); ten, testimony from God, or towards Him by man (Ex. 19; Matt. 25); twelve, administrative government (John 6:1313Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. (John 6:13); Rev. 21:2121And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. (Revelation 21:21)); forty, probationary period (1 Kings 19)
284.—SCRIPTURAL TERMS AND EXPRESSIONS.—
“Dead with Christ;” “risen with Christ” is scriptural thought and language. Dead in Him, risen in Him, is unscriptural. It is the ascension of the Lord which gives the further thought of being “in Him.” Distinguish between being united to Him and being in Him; the former connects us with Christ as members of His body: the latter is connected with our place as of the new race of which He is Head.
285.—OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT CONNECTIONS.—
The manna (Ex. 16) with Christ Incarnate (John 6).
286.—The correspondence between the facts of the Old Testament and the teachings of the New forms an interesting subject of study. The two Testaments are linked and gripped by these facts and doctrines, which are of unquestionable strength: What God hath joined, let not man put asunder.
287.—CONTRASTS.—
The two natures in the believer (Rom. 7) are contrasted in character and results.
The flesh and the Spirit are contrasted in Galatians 5
The two Adams are contrasted in Romans 5
The Father and the World are opposed in 1 John Christ and the devil are opposed in John 8
The children of the devil and the children of God are contrasted in 1 John 3
The works of the flesh as opposed to the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5
The mind of the flesh is opposed to the mind of the Spirit in Romans 8
The sacrifices, priests, sanctuaries, mediators, and covenants are contrasted in the epistle to the Hebrews.
291.—THE REVELATION—
Signifying “the Veil rolled aside.” These visions were seen and the prophecy written by John in the Roman convict establishment of Patmos, an Island of about twenty-five miles in circumference, and about the year A.D. 96.
Its Subjects and Character.—The history of the professing Church; the revival by satanic agency of the ancient universal Empire of Rome in blasphemy against God and persecution of the saints—Jewish and Gentile, and its connection with Apostate Judah then returned to her land; Satan’s future plans and eternal ruin with his confederates in evil; the judgment of the wicked—living and dead; the blessing and glory of the Saints in association with Christ in the Millennium and Eternal State, are the main subjects of the book. Its general character is one of Judgment.
Its Parts.—From verse one of chapter 1 to verse eighteen of chapter 11, the general condition of things is prophetically sketched from the close of the first Christian century to the commencement of the Eternal State. From verse nineteen of chapter 11 till chapter 22, details are furnished connected with Israel and the world in the future awful crisis.
Its Divisions.—The threefold division of this prophecy is noted in verse nineteen of chapter 1, “The things which thou hast seen,” being contained in chapter 1:12-16. “The things which are,” written in chapters 2 and 3. “The things which shall be hereafter” or “after these” are fully narrated in chapters 4.-22.
Its Sections.—First, The introduction, chap. 1:1-11. Second, Christ’s inspection of and judgment of the Church as the house of God, chap 1:12-20. Third, The Church’s history on earth as God’s public witness therein, chapters 2, 3. Fourth, The Saints of this and previous ages in presence of the Throne (chap. 4.) and of the Lamb of God (chap. 5.) Fifth, The opening of the seven seals successively by the Lamb, chapters 6.-8. 1. Sixth, The seven trumpets successively blown by the Angels, chapters 8:2-11:18. Seventh, The chief actors, sources of evil, and results in grace and judgment in the future crisis, chapters 11:19; 14. Eighth, The seven vials of God’s wrath, successively poured out upon the prophetic earth, chapters 15, 16. Ninth, Babylon in her political and ecclesiastical associations, chapters 17, 18. Tenth, Chronological order of events from the fall of Babylon till the Eternal State, chapters 19-21:8. Eleventh, The Church as the bride and wife of the Lamb in millennial glory and her relation to Israel and the world, chapters 21:9, 22:5. Twelfth, Warnings and encouragements, chapter 22:6-21.
Its Parentheses.—Chapter 7 between the sixth and seventh Seals. Chapters 10, 11:13, between the sixth and seventh Trumpets. Chapter 16 verse 15 between the sixth and seventh Vials.
Its Symbols.—The Candlesticks, the Church. The Stars, the moral representatives of the Church. The Woman of chapter 12. is Israel; the Man-Child is Christ; the Dragon, Satan’s power through Rome. The beasts of chapter 13. are the heads of the Civil (verse 1-10) and Ecclesiastical Apostasies (verse 11-18). The Twenty-four Elders represent the redeemed of present and past dispensations and worshipping in heaven. The beasts or living creatures (chap. 4.) set forth the Judicial Government of God. Sun, Moon, and Stars, supreme, derived, and all subordinate authorities. Lion, majesty. Calf or Ox, endurance. Man’s face, intelligence. Horse, conquest. Sword, slaughter. Bow and Arrow, distant warfare. Earthquake, disruption of society. Third part, the Roman earth. The Fourth part, a circumscribed sphere. Grass, general prosperity. Trees, eminent political persons. Trees and river of life, what sustains and gladdens. Gates, government. Horns, kings. Gold, divine righteousness. White raiment, righteousness of Saints. Harvest, separating judgment. Vintage, unsparing judgment upon the wicked. Earth, settled government. Sea, unsettled condition of things. Jasper and sapphire, symbols of God’s glory. Babylon, the corrupt Church. New Jerusalem, the Church in glory.
292.—NOTES ON THE REVELATION.
The strictly prophetic part of The Revelation commences with chap. 6. and concludes with verse 8 of chapter 21.
The Seal Judgments are widespread and comparatively light compared to the Trumpet and Vial series of Judgments. The first four trumpets (chap. 8.) specially concern the Roman world. The “woe” trumpets announce Judgment respectively upon Apostate Israel, Apostate Christendom, and upon the Guilty World. The Trumpets succeed the Seals. The Vial Judgments are the full expression of God’s wrath upon the prophetic earth.
The book is specially addressed to the Saints in their Servant character, chapter 1:1. The reader, hearers, and doers of this prophecy are pronounced blessed, while those who tamper with it, bring themselves under its judgments and plagues.
The martyred company of Judah, harping and singing are noted in chapter 14:2-3; 15:2-4.
The preserved company of Judah on earth learn the song of their brethren in heaven, chapter 14:1-5.
The sealed company of Israel (chap. 7.) are not said to emerge out of the Tribulation, and are a totally different class from the one hundred and forty-four thousand of chapter 14.
In chapter 6:1, 3, 5, 7, the words “and see” should be omitted. The call “come” is addressed to the minister of judgment, not to the seer.
293.—THE SEPTUAGINT.—
About 280 years B.C. the Old Testament was commenced to be translated into Greek, and was completed a century at least before Christ. This was the first of all translations. This important work was begun under the orders of Ptolemy Philadelphus, the learned King of Egypt who was desirous, not only of enriching the great Alexandrian library with a copy of the Sacred Scriptures, but also on behalf of the many thousands of Alexandrian Jews who knew nothing of Hebrew. The Alexandrian version of the Old Testament, or Septuagint, as it is generally termed, was in general use in Palestine during the time of Our Lord, and from which, He and the writers of the New Testament repeatedly quoted. The Hebrew text, however, is paramount as an authority, for the chief advantage of the Jews over all others consisted in this, “that to them were committed the oracles of God” (Rom. 3:22Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. (Romans 3:2)), and these written oracles were penned in Hebrew.
It was written in Hebrew, the ecclesiastical and sacred language of the Jews; in Greek, the language of the people; and in Latin, the official language of the then Imperial power. The very title thus pointed to the general guilt in the crucifixion of Our Lord.
295.—The ecclesiastical calendar of Israel is given in Leviticus 23. Her prophetic future is recorded in Genesis 49. Her governmental history in the past is written in Deuteronomy 33.
297.—A TRINITY OF EVIL.—
The devil, the world, and the flesh. Satan, the beast, and the false prophet.
298.—EUTHEOS.
This word occurs in the New Testament Greek Scriptures about 80 times, and about half of these occurrences of the word is in the shortest of the Gospels, St. Mark. It is variously translated, “immediately,” “anon,” “forthwith” servant language and fittingly characteristic therefore of that Gospel which specially unfolds the ministry of Our Lord.
299. RIGHTEOUSNESS.—
The theological expression “the righteousness of Christ” is not found in scripture, nor is it said to be imputed. “The righteousness of God” is the Biblical phrase and that being the Manifestation of His nature cannot be imputed. Righteousness simply as such is imputed (Rom. 4) In chapter 3 of the Romans the righteousness of God in justifying believing sinners is the great subject, but with no thought of imputation. How could God impute His own righteousness to another? In chapter 4, however, the subject is imputation, hence righteousness simply is spoken of, but “of God” is omitted. “The righteousness of God” in chapter 3. “Righteousness” in chapter 4. In Philippians 3:99And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Philippians 3:9) “righteousness which is of God,” or, “from God,” used in the sense of Romans 4.
300.—GOD’S THREEFOLD CHARACTER OF LOVE.—
God’s love toward us for life and propitiation (1 John 4:9, 109In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:9‑10).) God’s love in us for love and communion (1 John 4:1212No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:12)). God’s love with us for blessing in the Day of Judgment (1 John 4:1717Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)).
302.—CHRIST’S HEADSHIPS.—
He heads creation in virtue of His person as Divine (Col. 1:15-17; 2: 1015Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:15‑17).)
303.—CHURCH.—
Church in a house of which there are four (Rom. 16:55Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. (Romans 16:5); Col. 4:1515Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. (Colossians 4:15); Philem. 1:22And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: (Philemon 2); 1 Cor. 16:1919The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (1 Corinthians 16:19)). Church of, or at a city, as Jerusalem (Acts 11:2222Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. (Acts 11:22)), Corinth (1 Cor. 1:22Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: (1 Corinthians 1:2)), Ephesus (Rev. 2:11Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; (Revelation 2:1)). Churches of a province or country, as of Asia (Rom. 16:1919For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. (Romans 16:19)), of Galatia (1 Cor. 16:22Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:2)), of Judea Gal. 1:2222And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ: (Galatians 1:22)), of Macedonia (2 Cor. 8:88I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. (2 Corinthians 8:8)). We read, too, of the Churches of the Saints, because composed of such (1 Cor. 14:3333For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33)), of the Churches of Christ, because they are the fruit of His love (Rom. 16:1616Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. (Romans 16:16)), of the Churches of the Gentiles, because planted in, and composed of those outside Judaism (Rom. 16:44Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. (Romans 16:4)). Church and its plural occurs about 115 times in the New Testament.
305.—SEALED AND BAPTIZED.—
Believers are sealed by God (2 Cor. 1:21-2221Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:21‑22)) with the Spirit (Eph. 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)). The indwelling Holy Ghost is the seal or divine mark that one belongs to God. Believers have been baptized by the Lord on high (John 1:3333And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:33)); as the effect, one body has been formed (1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)). God seals. Christ baptizes. The sealing is individual. The baptism is a corporate act and never repeated.
306 —Cloven tongues like as of fire (Acts 2:33And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (Acts 2:3)). “Cloven” —Jew and Gentile were to be addressed. “Fire” expresses the energy of the testimony.
Now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.—Acts 20:3232And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (Acts 20:32).