CONSCIENCE—HUMAN GOVERNMENT

Noah was the great grand-son of Enoch. Noah means “rest” or “quiet.” “And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.” Genesis 5:29. “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Genesis 6:8. “Noah walked with God.” – Genesis 6:9.

Some one has given to the dispensation in which Adam, Abel, Seth, Enoch and Noah lived before the flood the name “Conscience.” A better name might be found; but whatever the name might be there was a definite dispensation which began with the expulsion from the garden and closed with the destruction of the earth by the flood. A sinner could find grace in the eyes of the Lord and be declared righteous by the faith during that dispensation.

Noah lived for six hundred years, before the flood, under the dispensation of “Conscience.” Genesis 7:6. Noah lived three hundred and fifty years after the flood. Genesis 9:28.

What Noah did by faith before the flood is recorded in Hebrews 11:7 and II Peter 2:5. After Noah came out of the ark, in the year 1656 A.H. (year of man), God entered into a new covenant with the new earth and its inhabitants and set His bow in the clouds as a constant reminder. There were new terms, new promises, new responsibilities. Read carefully Genesis 8:20 to 22. Seed time and harvest and seasons of the year guaranteed by the gracious God. “And I will remember my covenant, which is between Me and you, and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.” Genesis 9:15. “And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature, etc.” Genesis 9:16 and 17. Now to any student of the Word of God, it is obvious that this covenant is a different covenant from that which God made with the human race at the time of Adam’s transgression, and yet both of these covenants contain promises which we enjoy at this time. Some have called the new dispensation under which Noah live after the flood, “Authority.” Others have called it “Human Government.” Either name is fitting, if we feel that we must have a name for it. We must recognize the new dispensation, whether or not we name it. God placed responsibility for government upon the shoulder of man. Genesis 9:4 to 7. Capital punishment is therein established; not in the Old Testament, for Noah lived and died as a sinner saved by grace centuries before God entered into the Old Covenant with the House of Israel. Noah was not an Old Testament character. He lived in two dispensations, under two different covenants, with somewhat different ministries.

GENESIS 11:1 TO 9:

“AND THE WHOLE EARTH WAS OF ONE LANGUAGE, AND OF ONE SPEECH AND IT CAME TO PASS AS THEY JOURNEYED FROM THE EAST, THAT THEY FOUND A PLAIN IN THE LAND OF SHINAR; AND THEY DWELT THERE. AND THEY SAID ONE TO ANOTHER, GO TO, LET US MAKE BRICK, AND BURN THEM THOROUGHLY. AND THEY HAD BRICK FOR STONE, AND SLIME HAD THEY FOR MORTER.

AND THEY SAID, GO TO, LET US BUILD US A CITY AND A TOWER, WHOSE TOP MAY REACH UNTO THE HEAVEN; AND LET US MAKE US A NAME, LEST WE BE SCATTERED ABROAD UPON THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH. AND THE LORD CAME DOWN TO SEE THE CITY AND THE TOWER, WHICH THE CHILDREN OF MEN BUILDED.

AND 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.

GO TO, LET US GO DOWN, AND THERE CONFOUND THEIR LANGUAGE, THAT THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER’S SPEECH.

SO THE LORD SCATTERED THEM ABROAD FROM THENCE UPON THE FACE OF ALL THE EARTH; AND THEY LEFT OFF TO BUILD THE CITY.

THEREFORE 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.”

INNOCENCE – CONSCIENCE

In the image of God, in a sinless state, the first man dwelt in unbroken fellowship with God, His Maker in the Garden of Eden. The covenant is set forth in Genesis 1:26 to 28. Adam became disobedient unto death, believed the lie and was condemned, was driven from the Garden, in a state of sin, under the sentence of death. Admittedly a great change. A complete change, under entirely new conditions. “Under the curse,” with the promise of the coming Redeemer, Adam found himself, where we should find him, under a new dispensation, and deprived of his rights under the first covenant. But God entered into a new-covenant. Adam was not an Old Covenant or Old Testament character. As to whether or not Adam was a saved man may be a debatable question. But under that same covenant, in which there was the offer of righteousness by faith, without religion, Abel was saved. Seth was saved. Enoch was saved. Enoch was a prophet, and foretold, the coming of Christ with His saints in judgment. Jude 14.

(King James Translation)

(1) The Flood was on the earth about 1656 A.H. (year of man), or about 2344 Before Christ.

(2) Noah built the ark, according to God’s pattern, and was saved with his family (8 souls – I Peter 3:20). Noah was the eighth person. II Peter 2:5. Enoch was the seventh from Adam and prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord in judgment. Jude 14.

(3) Enoch was Noah’s great-grandfather. Genesis 5:23 to 29. Enoch escaped death. He left the earth without dying, at the age of 365. His son, Methuselah, died at the age of 969, the oldest man ever on this earth. He died the year of the flood. Adam died at the age of 930. Genesis 5:5. Noah died at the age of 950. Genesis 9:29. Seth died at the age of 912. Genesis 5:8. Jared died at the age of 962. Genesis 5:20.

Note the following: (A.H. – the year of man)

(4) Noah was 600 years old when the flood was on the earth. Genesis 7:6. And Noah lived 350 years after the flood. Genesis 9:29.

(5) Noah’s father, Lamech, was 38 years old when Adam’s son, Seth, died in the year 912 A.H. (year of man). Genesis 5.

(6) Noah’s son, Shem, (from whom Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus, descended) was 98 years old when the flood was on the earth. Shem died 502 years after the flood. Genesis 11:10 and 11. Shem died the year of man 2158, about 1842 B.C.

(7) Abram was 75 years old in 2083 A.H. Genesis 12:4 (about, 1917 B.C.). Abraham died when 175 years old (Genesis 25:7): therefore, about 1817 B.C. Note then, that although Abraham was the ninth generation from Shem (Genesis 11:10 to 29) Shem lived until Abraham was 150 years old. For many years they could have talked about the events before and during the flood; for Shem lived 98 years before the flood.

(8) The Bible speaks of two men in I Corinthians 15:45 and 47: “The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening Spirit.” “The first man is of the earth, earthly; the second man is the Lord from heaven.” Concerning these two men, we also read in I Corinthians 15:21 and 22: “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. And Roman 5:12 and 5:19: “Wherefore, 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.” “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

(9) Romans 5:13 and 14: “For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless 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.”

ADAM TO MOSES

Remark: “From Adam to Moses,” is a period of time designated in the Bible. Abraham was 75 years old when God covenanted with him. Genesis 12:4. That was in the year 1917 B.C. It was 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. Galatians 3:17. Therefore the law (the Ten Commandments) was given at Sinai about 1492 B.C. Moses at that time was 80 years old. Exodus 7:7. Moses lived 40 years under, the law. Deuteronomy 34:7.

Moses by tradition and revelation had sufficient information from God to give in writing a detailed account of God’s dealings and covenants with Adam, Noah and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob’s twelve sons. But all of these men had died before Moses was taken as a little babe out of the ark in Egypt’s river. God spake some things to Moses before He sent him to Egypt to be Israel’s deliverer. But by the new name, Jehovah, after the children of Israel left Egypt for Canaan, God spake more often to Moses than He had spoken to any one before him. To the nation Israel, God added revelation after revelation, first through Moses, and after him, through Joshua to Samuel, David to Daniel, Isaiah to Malachi. The Law with its sacrifices, sabbaths and ceremonies was given to Moses by Jehovah. Imposed upon them until the time of Reformation.

Hebrews 9:10. The Law was added to the Promise.

DANIEL

Daniel was the chosen vessel of the God of heaven to reveal to Israel and the Gentile rulers God’s “governmental” plan, beginning with the “Times of the Gentiles” and closing with the establishment of His coming heavenly Messianic kingdom on earth. His ministry was altogether different from that of any of the other men we have mentioned and the revelations that came to him from God were altogether different and new, because of new conditions. He was peculiarly the writer concerning the future of Israel and their land and King; also of the end time.

FROM ADAM TO ISRAEL AND THE LAW

Note, “from Adam to Moses,” “When there was no law.” Romans 5:13. Now note, Galatians 3:19; “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” Romans 5:20: “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” About 1490 B.C. the law was added to the promise God made Abram 430 years before.

In Jeremiah 31:32 to 34 we are told when God made the “Law” covenant with the house of Israel (about 1490 B.C.). God tells us in Hebrews 8:9 to 13 when He made it old. So we are taught that the Old Covenant did not exist from Adam until Moses was 80 years of age.

Therefore Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s twelve sons were not under the Old Covenant: for they all died before 1490 B.C.

Seventy souls out of the loins of Jacob went down to Egypt about 33 years after Jacob’s name was changed by God to Israel. Read the story in Genesis 35:9 to 14. So the birth of the Nation Israel was about 1700 B.C. Seventy Israelites went down to Egypt. More than 200 years later about 2,000,000 came out of Egypt. Exodus 12:37.

Thus we see that the Book of Genesis does not refer to the Old Covenant, but with God’s dealings with men from Adam to Joseph, before the Old Covenant was made at Sinai about 1490 B.C. From Adam to the Nation Israel was about 2,300 years. There was no such nation until about 1700 B.C.. From Adam to the Old Covenant was about 2,500 years. Do not think that we – begin to study the Old Covenant when we open the Bible at Genesis.

Israel had twelve sons. From them came the “Twelve Tribes of Israel”. They are yet to be judged by the “Twelve Apostles.” Matthew 19:28. Ten of the “Twelve Tribes” revolted under Jereboam, about 970 B.C. They were led into captivity by the Assyrians about 735 B.C. The two tribes (Judah and Benjamin) remained in Jerusalem until about 600 B.C. when they were taken to Babylon. II Kings 25; Jeremiah 52. Then began the Times of the Gentiles.

Where is the Nation Israel today? Read Deuteronomy 28:15 to 67 and you will see God’s awful judgment pronounced upon Israel. The history of Israel from that day (1450 B.C.) up to the present time will show how literally it has been fulfilled. See what Christ said to Israel nearly 1,500 years after the judgment of Deuteronomy: “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and 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. “Behold your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.” Matthew 23:38 and 39. “God hath not cast away His people whom He foreknew.” Romans 11:1 and 2. Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever.” Romans 9:4 and 5. “Ye worship ye know not what; we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews.” John 4:22.

Christ was born “King of the Jews.” Matthew 2:2. He was saluted, “King of Israel.” John 1:49. He Died King of the Jews. John 19:19. He was made under the law. Galatians 4:4 He was not sent (at first) but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 15:24. He was a minister of the circumcision. Romans 15:8.

NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES

John the Baptist was a connecting link. He ministered as the “Kingdom of Heaven” prophet at the time Israel’s Messiah came to take away their old covenant and establish the new. And as we said, John the Baptist lived long enough to know that Israel was not going to accept the credentials of their Jehovah-King. His ministry was for Israel. Acts 13:24.

Read these words recorded in Matthew 13:17. “For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things, which ye hear, and have not heard them.” By this we know that Peter and his associate apostles were receiving truths from God, through His Son, that had never been revealed to righteous men. God who at sundry times spoke to the fathers through His prophet, was now speaking to Israel in His Son. Hebrews 1:1 and 2. His Son was a minister of the circumcision and was confirming many of the promises made unto the prophets and fathers. Romans 15:8. Before Christ died He told Peter that He had many more things to tell him after the coming of the Holy Spirit from heaven. John 16:12. If you will read in Acts 10:14, these words of Peter, “not so Lord,” you will find that immediately thereafter Peter was learning from heaven something that he had never known before. He learned that God was going to send repentance unto life to Cornelius and the Gentiles. Peter was receiving new truth from heaven. But there was Church truth that he did not receive, because he was peculiarly the minister to the Jews, with that gospel of the circumcision which was for them. Galatians 2:7 and 9. Peter was saved while Christ was under the law and found himself after Pentecost living in a new dispensation, filled with the Holy Spirit. He lived before and after the death of Christ; before and after the coming of the Holy Spirit. Peter had the keys of the kingdom of the heavens but not the dispensation of the grace of God. Compare Matthew 10:5 to 8; Matthew 16:16 to 20 with Ephesians 3:1 to 11. What a difference!

Hear what the risen Lord said to Saul, the Pharisee Jew: “I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both to these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in which I shall appear unto thee.” Acts 26:16. Later on this same Saul was in the Jewish temple at Jerusalem and heard some more words from the risen Lord: “Make haste and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem.” “Depart, for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.” Acts 22:18 and 21. Paul had in his possession the written God-inspired Scriptures that told of the Lord’s dealings with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Daniel. He knew these Scriptures thoroughly. He also knew, by conference with Peter and James, the Lord’s brother, the story of John the Baptist and the twelve apostles before the death of Christ. Galatians 1:18. But Paul had revelations from heaven that no prophet or apostle had ever received. Galatians 1:12 and 13 and Galatians 2:6. He had such a superabundance of new revelations that he was in danger of being puffed up. II Corinthians 12:1 to 8. There was no place for the truth revealed to Paul in any former dispensation. Paul lived in an entirely different dispensation from that in which John the Baptist ministered. During the transition period, Paul recognized God’s order, “to the Jew first”, and said to them, “It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken unto you.” Acts 13:46. But after he reached Rome the risen Lord changed his ministry in this respect. Then he emphasized the revelation of the “Secret” that had been hidden in God for ages, the truth, concerning the Body of Christ. Ephesians 3:1 to 15. Colossians 1:24 to 28. Paul was an apostle, a minister, a teacher of Gentiles. Romans 11:13. Ephesians 3:1. Galatians 2:9. I Timothy 2:7. II Timothy 1:11. – Moses, John the Baptist, and Peter were ministers to Israel. The Mystery (secret) is mentioned 12 times in Paul’s Prison Epistles.

By diligently searching the Scriptures we learn that to each of the eight men mentioned was committed a distinct ministry. Each, of course, had the same important ministry of declaring the righteousness of God, so there were general truths that belonged to all of the different dispensations and prophets. But each of these representatives of God was responsible to present to humanity God’s particular program for the dispensation in which he lived.

“When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” Acts 11:18.

“And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.” Acts 14:27.

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office. Romans 11:13. Whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle; and a teacher of the Gentiles. II Timothy 1:11. That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:16. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” I Timothy 2:7. “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27.

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles. If you have heard” the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:” Ephesians 3:1 and 2. “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles, the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 3:8 and 9.

“RIGHTLY DIVIDING”

But now, as Bible students, we are confronted with a real problem in seeking to be obedient unto Lord’s command to “rightly divide the word of truth”. Here is problem: there are many things which had their rightful place in a former dispensation, but have absolutely no place in the Church of Christ during this dispensation. On the other hand there are some things which not only had their rightful place in a former dispensation, but they have likewise been brought over by the Lord to be obeyed and observed by the members of the, Body of Christ right now.

What principle must the child of God follow in selecting or rejecting truth out of past dispensations for this present dispensation? It is obvious that there can be no intelligent understanding or spiritual application of the Truth of God unless we seek and find and apply the principle of selecting and rejecting. However, the task of thus “comparing spiritual with spiritual,” to retain or eliminate Divine truths which belonged to “other ages,” is not always difficult. For instance, any babe in Christ today should know that Israel’s Old Testament sacrifices, offerings, priesthood, sanctuary, meats and drinks, synagogue and sabbath, with all of their blessings concerning Jerusalem and its government, have no part in God’s program for the Body of Christ in this present age. But to determine just what can be transferred from the Old Testament ritual and ceremonies to New Testament worship and service, to know just how many of Israel’s promises or how much of Israel’s order can be claimed by the members of the Body of Christ is not such a simple study. There are many of the Psalms that have no reference whatever to the Church. There have other ages. God says so. Ephesians 3:5. Some things are made known to God’s people in this age which were not made known in or to other ages. God says so. Some things of God which belonged to other ages were taken away by God before this age began. God says so. Hebrews 9:13. “He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second.” Hebrews 10:9. How much of Deuteronomy is Church truth? Written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages are come. I Corinthians 10:11.

Every real student of the Word of God knows two things which must be known for an intelligent understanding of God’s revealed Truth. First, that the Holy Scriptures were given by God to the human race on the installment plan and therefore from the writings of Moses, about 1490 B.C., to John, about 90 A.D., new spiritual truths were being added by revelation from God. We therefore must believe in progressive Divine revelation from the first of Genesis to the last of Revelation; progressive spiritual revelation confined to the limits of the Bible. Second, the student must know under what covenant, or during what dispensation, any particular vital spiritual truth or outward form was given by God to and for His people.

Consecrated Christians sometimes disagree as to, just when a dispensation began, or when it ended.

THE BIBLE CHURCH AND OTHER CHURCHES

Nothwithstanding the fact that there is but one Bible and more than two hundred established denominations using this one Bible as their text book, each one of these denominations insists that their founders and rulers have presented the correct doctrinal interpretation of that one Bible. Moreover the acceptance by the individual Christian of that interpretation is an imperative requirement for good standing in that particular denomination. The denominationalist, therefore, cannot heartily accept from a Spirit-filled teacher of another denomination, or directly from the Holy Spirit through searching the Scriptures, and different interpretation of the Truth of God without seriously jeopardizing his or her fellowship and membership in the denomination with which he or she is affiliated. And for some unaccountable reason denominational leaders can influence their members to such denominational loyalty and obedience—if not subjection—that they esteem their denominational affiliation of greater value than that knowledge of the Word of God, interpreted by the Holy Spirit, which might differ from the established denominational interpretation.

To accept as final authority the interpretation of God’s Word by any man, or body of men, may be to so limit the Holy Spirit that the individual Christian may be kept in utter ignorance of the glorious truths in the Word of God, and such an attitude and such action on the part of any individual may even expose individual to spiritual seduction. However, for this, God tells us, there is no excuse . . . “Concerning them that seduce you . . . The anointing ye have received of Him abiding in you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, is truth.” I John 2:26 and 27.

But sometimes this question is asked, “why does the same Holy seem to teach several different meanings to several different believers concerning the same Scripture?” We at once answer this question by asking another question, “is it possible for the Holy Spirit to teach error to any individual?” To this question we all give an emphatic, “no.” Then our conclusion is that some people must believe that they are taught by the Holy Spirit when they are not. When the Holy Spirit moved upon holy men to give the Holy Scriptures, He certainly had a clear comprehension of the spiritual truth He presented. There was no doubt in the mind of the Spirit as correct meaning of that truth. There were no errors in the God-inspired records in the original languages. There may be cause for some misunderstandings and differences because of lack of clearness of expression of the truth in some of the translations. But the two principal causes for differences in the interpretation and application of Bible truths on the part of intelligent consecrated and earnest Christians is, first, the influence of some human leader or movement, and, second, because of the failure on the part of the individual Christian to recognize the all important principle of progressive revelation and dispensational changes in the study of the Word of God. “Comparing spiritual with spiritual is a most elementary principle. Another principle which is included in this general principle may not always prove so simple; and that is, the fact that some times the Holy Spirit may bring some part of a dispensational program to a sudden cessation with the close of that dispensation; while another part may be carried over to overlap for a short period of time and gradually wane and pass out.

HOW MANY DISPENSATIONS?

Thus we see that while the outstanding doctrines, such as sin and righteousness, grace and faith and salvation, resurrection, judgment, etc. are so clearly set forth in the Bible that the babe in Christ can understand them; yet a thorough understanding of the complete structure, interpretation and application of God’s Book is a study that knows no limit. Intelligent study of the Book means dispensational study of the Book. The dispensational study and teaching of the Book should certainly make no Christian less spiritual or practical. But it will make him anything’ but popular in religious circles; for “dispensationalism” and “denominationalism” often have very little in common. Perhaps you may have to forsake either the one or the other.

Christians may differ as to the exact number of dispensations or as just how to name them, but to once see that rightly dividing the word of truth means the recognition of dispensations, the individual can diligently search the Scriptures with this principle in mind. He will find it one of the most important keys to the hidden treasures of God’s Holy Word.

Some months ago a Christian minister, who has been teaching the Bible for twenty years, told me he recognized only two dispensations in the Bible, the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Within twenty minutes he was convinced that he had been mistaken for twenty years, for he had taught that the Old Testament began with the creation of Adam and the New Testament began with the birth of Christ. There are many many Christians who have always believed this, but the fact is, that the Old Testament began when Moses led the children of Israel forth from Egypt, about 2500 years after Adam sinned; and the other fact is, that God’s Son was made under the law and spent His days under the Old Covenant. Jeremiah 31.31 to 35. Galatians 4:4. This Christian minister left, willing to admit that there were more than two dispensations in the Bible; but he feared there was danger in making too many, perhaps robbing the child of God of some portion of God’s Word that he should be obeying and enjoying.

There will be very little danger along this line if the child of God today will obey and enjoy God’s truth for the Body of Christ in this dispensation, and study all truth of former dispensations in the light of this “Body” truth. Here, for instance, is the command of Jesus of Nazareth given to His twelve apostles while He was on earth: “Go, preach, saying the kingdom of the heavens is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons.” Matthew 10:7 and 8. “Go not in the way of the Gentiles.” 10:5. When we turn to Church truth, we find a message and order which supersedes this commission. There has been a dispensational change. How many of us have seen the heresy, confusion and fanaticism in “churches” because of the blunder of bringing the program of Matthew 10:1 to 10 into this dispensation.

One other simple example, we find in Genesis 17:14 and in Galatians 5:12 the expression “cut off.” In Genesis the man was to be “cut off” for not teaching and practicing circumcision, while in Galatians the man was to be “cut off” for teaching and practicing circumcision. What is the explanation? Very simple. Different dispensations. Read I Corinthians 9:17. Ephesians 3:1 and 2, Ephesians 3:9 (fellowship-dispensations) and Colossians 1:25. You will learn that Paul had a dispensation never given by Christ to the Twelve. Paul called it “my deposit”. II Timothy 1:12 (Greek.)

THE CHURCH—WHICH CHURCH?

But how about the order, the program, the signs and the gifts of the church during the Book of Acts? Should the Church of Christ in this day perpetuate the Apostolic program? Any intelligent student of the Bible will answer, “part of it but not all of it.” Some denominations have incorporated in their written creeds and church policy more or less of this “part” than other denominations; and unpleasant if not serious, divisions have resulted. During the Book of Acts there was Christ-given apostolic authority, witnessed by miraculous signs; there was during that early Church period supernatural demonstrations, cloven tongues of fire, speaking with tongues, laying on hands for the gift of the Holy Spirit, angelic jail deliverances, healing of incurable diseases, raising the dead, casting off poisonous reptiles, an earthquake in prison, death and blindness, judgments by the hands of the apostles, communications with heavenly beings including the audible voice of the risen Lord; there was circumcision, shaving of heads, Jewish vows and ceremonies; there were the gifts of healing, tongues. interpretations, discerning of spirits, miracles, knowledge wisdom, faith, etc.

Now who is to be the judge as to how many of these ceremonies, gifts and miracles are to be included in the Body of Christ today? It is because of the different opinions of the different judges today that we have bitter controversies and unholy criticisms, resulting from divisions among God’s people about physical healing, Holy Spirit baptism, laying on of hands, visions, tongues, miracles, anointing with oil, water baptism, etc. If there is hope for the settlement of differences of opinions, the hope must be in the one thing we are emphasizing, “dispensationalism,” which of course includes progressive revelation, and the “overlapping” principle. Of course love and meekness must be elements in the consideration. But dispensational study is the only key to agreement. What is the order for the Church or Body of Christ for today? This is the most important question for Christians in this day of confusion. There is more than one Church in the Bible but only one is this dispensation.

Now before we take up the study of the eight characters for a dispensational study, we ask this question, “How would you give a Scriptural answer to the Seventh Day Adventist who insists that you must observe Israel’s seventh day sabbath or suffer the penalty from God for not doing so?” Can you point in Scripture to the place where God says, “from now on the first day of the week will be the Christian Sabbath?” Most assuredly you cannot, for the first day of the week was not the sabbath. Because many church members have been unable to answer the arguments of the Adventists they have fallen into their snare and delusion. Why? Failure to understand the Word of God dispensationally. Failure to know the difference between Israel and the Church, between Law and Grace. So surely we must decide that it is imperative that we obey God by “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

COLOSSIANS 11:24 TO 27:

“WHO NOW REJOICE IN MY SUFFERINGS FOR YOU, AND FILL UP THAT WHICH IS BEHIND OF THE AFFLICTIONS OF CHRIST IN MY FLESH FOR HIS BODY’S SAKE, WHICH IS THE CHURCH:

WHEREOF I AM MADE A MINISTER, ACCORDING TO THE DISPENSATION OF GOD WHICH IS GIVEN TO ME FOR YOU, TO FULFILL THE WORD OF GOD; EVEN THE MYSTERY WHICH HATH BEEN HID FROM AGES AND FROM GENERATIONS, BUT NOW IS MADE MANIFEST TO HIS SAINTS:

TO WHOM GOD WOULD MAKE KNOWN WHAT IS RICHES OF THE GLORY OF THIS MYSTERY AMONG THE GENTILES; WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY.”

COLOSSIANS 2:13 to 15:

“AND YOU, BEING DEAD TO YOUR SINS AND THE UNCIRCUMCISION OF YOUR FLESH, HATH HE QUICKENED TOGETHER WITH HIM, HAVING FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES;

BLOTTING OUT THE HANDWRITING OF ORDINANCES THAT WAS AGAINST US, WHICH WAS CONTRARY TO US, AND TOOK IT OUT OF THE WAY, NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS;

AND HAVING SPOILED PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS, HE MADE A SHEW OF THEM OPENLY, TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN IT.”

We present here eight Bible characters for a Dispensational study: We have a colored chart of the Bible – an outline from Genesis to Revelation – showing the facts of this study in picture.

ADAM

Adam, the first man, lived before the fall, in the Garden of Eden, in a state of innocency; and he also lived after the fall, outside of the Garden, in a state of sin. Adam lived and sinned about 4000 years before Christ Jesus, the Second Man, came into the world to save sinners. Read I Corinthians 15:45 to 47 and 22.

NOAH

Noah lived before the flood in the same dispensation, under the same covenant, with Adam the sinner. Noah also lived after the flood under an entirely new covenant, with new promises, in a new dispensation, under new conditions.

Noah was a preacher of righteousness. II Peter 2:5.

ABRAHAM

Abraham lived part of his life under the covenant that God made with Noah after the flood, and he lived the last hundred years of his one hundred and seventy-five years enjoying blessings guaranteed to him through Noah, but also under the new covenant which God made; that is, the Abrahamic covenant. Under this covenant he spent the first twenty-four years in uncircumcision and the last seventy-six years in circumcision. It could be truly said, “The Abrahamic covenant was added to the Noahic covenant.” God made His covenant with Abram 430 years before the Law was given.

MOSES

Moses, the mediator of the old covenant, spent eighty years of his life under the Abrahamic covenant of promise, and the last forty years of his life under Israel’s old covenant, that is, under the law. Moses’ life was divided into three periods of forty years each. He received from Jehovah the Law for Israel about 1492 B.C. It is a very simple matter to see that Moses spent his life under two different covenants, although the Noahic covenant and the Abrahamic covenant continued into the Mosaic covenant. The Law was added to the promise – Galatians 3:19. Read Exodus 7:7 and Deuteronomy 34:7.

DANIEL

Daniel lived in the same dispensation of Law that was given through Moses to Israel. But Daniel lived in the Land of the Jews before the Babylonian captivity, before the “Times of the Gentiles” began; and then he lived in Babylon after the “Times of the Gentiles” began about 600 B.C.

JOHN THE BAPTIST

John the Baptist lived as a contemporary of Jesus Christ for more than thirty years. As the forerunner of Israel’s Messiah, John proclaimed the Kingdom message, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He lived long enough to know that Israel would not receive the King and His Kingdom. Therefore John lived before and after the King was rejected.

SIMON PETER

Simon Peter was in company with Christ for more than three years before the death of Christ. During those three years both Christ and Peter were under the law. The Holy Spirit had not yet been given. John 7:39. Simon Peter lived after the death and resurrection of the Son of God. Therefore he lived in two entirely different dispensations; first under the old covenant, and then under the new covenant. Simon lived in the days of the Son of man – then in the Holy Spirit dispensation. Read John 1:41 and Luke 5:8 to 11.

SAUL—PAUL

Paul, the Apostle, was saved before Peter preached to the first Gentile household, that of Cornelius. Paul Lived during the “transition” period, that thirty-year period covered by the Book of Acts. Then he lived and ministered for some years after the transition period had ceased, after he reached Rome as Caesar’s prisoner, delivered to that Gentile government by the Jews of Jerusalem. There was a radical change after Acts 28:28. Saul’s conversion is recorded in Acts 9:2 to 15.

DIFFERENT MINISTRIES

All of these men had very definite dealings with the God of Heaven. The omnipotent, everlasting God revealed Himself to each of these eight men. God committed to each of these men a definite ministry and each was responsible to God to represent Him on earth in the particular age in which he lived. Circumstances and responsibilities differed with different dispensations and covenants.

PROGRESSIVE REVELATION

Noah knew by tradition concerning the dealings of God with Adam; but Adam died before God revealed Himself and His new plans to Noah both before and after the flood.

Abraham knew by tradition and revelation the story of Adam before he passed out of the dispensation of “Innocence” into the dispensation of “Conscience” as a fallen creature. In the same way Abraham knew of God’s dealings with Noah, the arkbuilder and preacher of righteousness, before the flood, and of the new covenant that God made with Noah after the flood, when the human race was placed by God under the dispensation of “Human Government” or “Authority.” But if you will search the Scriptures from the twelfth chapter of Genesis to the twenty-fourth chapter, you will learn that Abraham knew many things from God that neither Adam nor Noah knew. A new dispensation had been ushered in, “Promise”. During the twentyfour years before Abraham was circumcised he had many revelations from the Almighty God, and during the years that followed his circumcision he received new Divine truth from heaven. Revelation was progressive—new truths constantly being revealed.

We learn in the fifth Chapter of Genesis that Lamech, the ninth from Adam, was 56 years old when Adam died at the age of 930. Lamech was the father of Noah and died five years before the flood. Shem was 93 years old when his grandfather, Lamech, died. Shem was 98 years old at the time of the flood, which was in the year of man, 1656. Lamech was contemporary of Adam and Shem, the eleventh generation after Adam. According to the eleventh chapter of Genesis, Shem lived 502 years after the flood and died in 2158 A.H. (year of man). According to the same chapter Abraham was born in 2008 A.H. He died in 2183 A.H. Genesis 25:7. Notwithstanding the fact that Abraham was the ninth from Shem, Shem lived until Abraham was 150 years of age. See the connecting link from Adam to Abraham.

TWO GREAT QUESTIONS

We are presenting from God’s Word two questions. The first question suggests thought. The second suggests action. The first question is found in Matthew 22:42, and was asked by the man Christ Jesus concerning Himself

“WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?”

Since the day Christ asked that question of His own nation, countless millions of many nations in every generation have put the same question to their own hearts and consciences and to their fellow-men. In order to answer such a question intelligently concerning any man, it is necessary to get acquainted with him. There is a certain acquaintance with Christ which can be experienced only by those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. But there is available for any man a written record of the character and achievements of the One who asked the question. Had the question been asked by any other man concerning himself, it would have suggested the spirit of self-importance or egotism on the part of the questioner. But to any one who has made even a hasty superficial study of the written record, the question seems most proper and in order.

The most sensible decision that any sensible person can reach so far as this Man’s relation to the record is concerned, is that the historical Jesus is the “Bible Christ.” The record has existed for nearly nineteen hundred years. It has been discussed, criticized, hated and condemned by millions. It has been honored, cherished and defended, even unto martyrdom, by other millions, just as intelligent, courageous and true as those who have been its bitterest enemies. Never since this history was first written has this record been the object of such vicious and insidious assaults as at this present time, when all the forces of Satan are turned loose against it. But multitudes are still submitting the record to the test “if any man willeth to do my will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” John 7:17.

No man has ever been wise enough to produce evidence to invalidate the Bible Record of Jesus Christ. Some have persuaded themselves that the Record is too unique to be true; and their verdict is, that the narratives were either written by enthusiastic religious men who were deceived, or else they discount it as a willful forgery. No one is more ignorant than the one who declares that the Scriptures are the imaginations or inventions of ignorant men. Moreover it must be admitted, that if the records concerning Christ be forgeries, they are the forgeries of very clever men.

If the writers were deceived, were they deceived by Christ? The Pharisees accused Him of deceiving the people. “Are ye also deceived?” John 7:47. Concerning Christ, “some said, He is a good man, others said, Nay; but He deceiveth the people.” 7:12. Christ did not prove His goodness by deception.

If the narratives be forgeries, then what is our conclusion concerning Christ? Was He a fictitious character? Is the Christ of orthodox Christianity unreal? Did such a man as Jesus Christ ever live on earth? If so, was He a good man or a deceiver? Without a trustworthy history to study, who knows? If the Bible narratives of Jesus Christ be the untrustworthy or untrue writings of deluded or dishonest men, to whom shall we turn for reliable information that will enable us to answer intelligently the question, “what think ye of Christ?”

Some say, “we do not know what to think.” Why not forget Him altogether and decide that the question was never asked and that the Christ, who was supposed to have asked the question, never existed? Impossible for any intelligent person to do this. Christ has so found His way into every avenue of Human experience that; any thinking person must acknowledge that He is an up-to-date living reality. If unreal, truly He Has more influenced human life and thought than all the real men of all ages combined. The Jews in His day said, “And destroy Jesus”. It was impossible then. It is impossible today. No one can blot Him out of human history. But without the Bible I cannot answer the question.”

Surely the people did their very best to get rid of Jesus Christ. They have tried to forget Him. They have tried to ignore Him. They have tried to explain Him away by every argument. And in spite of their determined efforts, behold today, every thinking rabbi, whether associated with an orthodox or a liberal congregation, is now declaring that Jesus of Nazareth was the best man who ever lived on this earth and that He has exercised more influence for good upon the human race than all other men combined. Are they deciding that He was good, because of His good influence, or because they have carefully examined His written biography? Why can they not see their utter inconsistency, in either bowing to the religious authority, or acknowledging the superiority of the most extraordinary Man who ever lived on this earth, while at the same time they are discrediting and condemning the only Record that can truly establish His right to their respect and admiration?

There is only one other group of men more inconsistent than the inconsistent Jews: the so-called “Modernist” Christians. They believe virtually what the Jews believe, but they go a step further and bear the name of Christ and claim to be His disciples. They bow in His name to worship the true Deity; call Jesus Christ the fairest flower of humanity; exalt and praise Him as the highest expression of the one and only God; even claim that they believe in the Son’s revelation of the Father; and at the same time they declare that the Record containing that revelation is either the work of frauds or ignorant men, writings which no intelligent an of this enlightened age can accept to be worth more than fiction. If they have learned that Jesus Christ is the noblest, truest purest expression of the mind and heart of the true and living God, they have learned that great fact by reading narratives which they claim are false, if not fraudulent, and if their learning and thinking have been based upon that which is false, their opinions are worthless and they know not what they think they know.

Any intelligent and satisfactory answer to the question must be based upon the Scriptural Record of Christ. If on that basis, Christ is worthy of admiration. He is likewise worthy of adoration. He should be both respected and worshipped or neither respected nor worshipped. The Modernists accuse our Lord of the crime of the Antichrist who, is to sit in the temple of God and show himself as God. He is to be destroyed for this crime. Jesus Christ made this claim. If not God. He was guilty of blasphemy and worthy of death.

Christ is mentioned by noun and pronoun about seven thousand times in the New Testament Scriptures. The same supernatural story is woven into every part of those Scriptures. After studying these twenty-seven records, we should decide that the Jews of the first century who took up stones to stone Him, “because thou being a man makest thyself God,” were far more consistent than are the Modernist Jews and so-called Modernist Christians of the twentieth century who join with Judas to betray Christ with a kiss. John 10:30 to 38. Read about them in Jude 4 and II Peter 2:1—III John 7.

Without the Scriptures I know not what I think. By the Scriptures I think that Christ was, and is, Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, everlasting Father; that He was in the form of God and took upon Himself the form of a servant; that He was with God; that He was God. I think that all things were created by Him; that He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. I think that in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; that in Him are hid the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; that in all things He should have the pre-eminence; that when the Father brought Him into the world, He said, “let all the angels of God worship Him,” and the Father said to the Son, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever.” My thinking is based upon the following Scriptures Isaiah 9:6 . . . Philippians 2:5 to 9 . . . John 1:1 to 10 . . . Ephesians 3:9 . . . Colossians 1:15 to 19 . . . Colossians 2:3 to 9 . . . Hebrews 1:1 to 8 . . . . Because Christ had glory with the Father before the world was, He could truly say, “I and Father are one,” “he that hath seen me hath seen the Father.”

Every one should either bow before Christ, with Thomas, and: say, “My Lord and My God,” and sing with men and angels, “worthy is the Lamb that Was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory and blessing,” or else discredit and reject the only written story of Jesus Christ as a fable or a forgery, and confess that there is no authentic document that can be examined for an intelligent answer to the question. John 17:5 . . . John 10:30 . . . John 14:9 . . . John 20:28 . . . Revelation 5:12.

It certainly would not be the mark of intelligence to hand the New Testament Scriptures over to the religious modern scholars of this age and tell them to separate truth from fiction; for we would find the Christ of their creation more impossible than the Christ they reject. You have only to read “The Man Nobody Knows” to be convinced of this fact.

The Christ of orthodox Christianity is truly the Christ of the Scriptures, the only true Christ, the only Christ who could communicate saving grace to the sinner. He had power to lay down His life and take it up again. Only the Holy Spirit can enable us to answer the first question aright. Only the Christ of the Bible could bring sinners to God by His shed blood. And it is by His precious blood that believing sinners are saved. Ephesians 2:13; I Peter 1:18 to 21.

Despising the grace of God, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:28 to 33.

Now for the second question:

“WHAT SHALL I DO THEN WITH JESUS WHICH IS CALLED CHRIST?” MATTHEW 7:22.

“Christ died for our sins.” He was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification.” “The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Before His death, the Saviour said, “the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” The Son of man came to give His life a ransom for many. “Neither is there salvation in any other.” . . . I Corinthians 15:3 . . . Romans 4:24 . . . Isaiah 53:6 . . . John 10:11 . . . Mark 10:45 . . . Acts 4:12.

“God commandeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US.” Romans 5:8.

Are you not moved to action because of this sacrifice of love?

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him. should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Surely this should move you to act quickly. You should act, for two reasons; first, because of God’s great love. He has done something with Christ, for your sake and mine. Christ suffered an awful penalty, obediently and willingly, for us. That love is enough to constrain us to action. But secondly, we should act immediately, because of the awful penalty, the terrific judgment awaiting all who refuse to act. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31. “He that believeth on the Son is not condemned; but he that believeth not condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18.

I must act favorably, or be lost and condemned forever. I have acted. I have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my own personal Saviour. Have you? If not, why not? If not up to now, why not now?

During the forty days when the Son of God was showing Himself alive by many infallible proofs, He journeyed with two of His disciples and conversed with them. In the course of the conversation He asked of them a question in these words:

“O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have written. Ought not Christ to have suffered and entered into His glory?” “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” – Luke 24:27.

So He began with Genesis and closed with Malachi to show that He was the heart and center, the theme and subject of the Old Testament writers in prophecy, figure, type and shadow. Adam was a figure of Him which was to come. – Romans 5:14.

The coats of skin with which God covered the first two sinners, provided by sacrifice, was a type of the righteousness of God with which the sinner is clothed because he accepts by faith the great sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son on the cross. – II Corinthians 5:21.

Enoch’s testimony and translation spoke of the coming of Christ with His saints. – Jude 14.

Noah’s ark, pitched within and without, constructed according to God’s pattern, was judgment-proof and the only place of safety and security when His wrath was poured out in judgment upon an ungodly world; and it was, therefore, a type of Jesus Christ, the one and only ark of safety, the only way to escape from the condemnation of God. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1. “In Christ Jesus.” “He that believeth not is condemned already.” – John 3:18.

Certainly Isaac, the well-beloved son of Abraham, was a type of Christ when He was offered on the altar by his father; and in other events in his life Joseph with his coat of many colors, envied, betrayed and sold by His brethren to the Gentiles, was a type of the true Joseph who came unto His own, who rejected Him, delivered Him to Pilate because of envy; sold Him for thirty pieces of silver, spat upon Him and demanded His death. On the throne of Pharaoh the saviour of the world, Joseph who told his brethren that God had used their conspiracy and rejection to His own glory was a type of the One who shall yet sit on His glorious earthly throne and bring the whole world in subjection to God. Genesis 45:8. When the Jews with wicked hands slew Him, it was because He was delivered according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. – Acts 2:23.

Moses said, “A prophet like unto me shall the Lord raise up.” Deuteronomy 18:15. So Moses, the mediator of the Sinai covenant, was a type of Christ.

The passover lamb by which the children of Israel were delivered from death was a type of Christ our passover Who is sacrificed for us. – I Corinthians 5:7.

Aaron the High Priest, the offerer, was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, as were his offerings.

The feast of Jehovah were all typical of the work of redemption and blessing centered in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The tabernacle with its sanctuary was a type of that Holy thing which was conceived by God; the Word made flesh which tabernacled in our midst. The furniture, the color schemes, the materials, spoke of the character and work of the Holy Son of God.

Joshua, the leader and deliverer, is the Hebrew for Jesus. Samuel, prophet, priest and judge, a type of Jesus Christ, Prophet, Priest and King. Boaz, the redeemer kinsman, a type of the true Redeemer Kinsman. Job spoke of a daysman who could be the representative of both God and man. Christ alone, the one mediator between God and men, can do this acceptably. – Job 9:33.

Daniel spoke of the coming Christ as the smiting Stone in the second chapter and as the cut-off Messiah in the ninth chapter. The true King David can be none other than one who was nailed to Calvary’s tree. Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Child, the Son, Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Christ alone could answer such a description;” “Immanuel.” – Isaiah 9:6-7:14.

The Fifty-third of Isaiah speaks of the suffering of Christ. Philip, from this Scripture, preached unto the eunuch, Christ. – Acts 8:35.

Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Zechariah, Malachi, and all of the Jewish prophets told of the coming of Christ. Paul reasoned from these Old Testament prophets that Jesus was the Christ. – Acts 18:22; Acts 13:27 to 30.

Beginning with the promise of the “Seed of the woman” in the first book of the Old Testament, Genesis 3:15, and closing with the statement that the “Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly appear in His holy temple,” in the last book of the Old Testament Scriptures, Malachi 3:21, there is the promise of the coming One Who fulfilled these Scriptures in His birth, life, ministry and suffering, death and resurrection. “When they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a sepulchre—But God raised Him from the dead.” – Acts 13:29 and 30.

Christ is mentioned by noun and pronoun about 6990 times in the New Testament Scripture.

We have listed hereunder some of the several hundred titles of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Man of the Book:

Genesis:
“The Seed of the Woman” 3:15
“Abraham’s Seed” 22:18
“Isaac’s Seed” 26:4
“Melchisedec” 14:18
“Shiloh” 49:10

Deuteronomy
“A Prophet like unto Moses” 18:15

Psalms
“His Anointed” 2:2
“The King of Glory” 24:10

Song of Solomon
“The Lily of the Valleys” 2:1
“The Rose of Sharon” 2:1
“Chiefest Among Ten Thousand” 5:10
“One Altogether Lovely” 5:16

Isaiah:
“Immanuel” 7:14
“Wonderful” 9:6
“Counsellor” 9:6
“Mighty God” 9:6
“Everlasting Father” 9:6
“Prince of Peace” 9:6
“A Root of Jesse” 11:10
“Man of Sorrows” 53:3
“A Root out of dry Ground” 53:2
“A Tender Plant” 53:2

Ezekiel:
“Plant of Renown” 34:29

Jeremiah:
“A Righteous Branch” 23:5
“The Lord our Righteousness” 23:6

Zechariah:
“My Servant the Branch” 3:8
“The Man whose name is the Branch” 6:12

Malachi:
“The Lord Whom Ye Seek” 3:1
“Sun of Righteousness” 4:2

Matthew:
“Jesus Christ the Son of David” 1:1
“The Son of Abraham” 1:1
“Jesus who is called Christ” 1:16
“Jesus Christ” 1:18
“Jesus” 1:21
“Emmanuel, God with us” 1:23
“King of the Jews” 2:2
“Christ” 2:4
“Governor, that shall rule my people Israel” 2:6
“The Young Child” 2:11
“My Son” 2:15
“A Nazarene” 2:23
“The Lord” 3:3
“My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” 3:17
“The Son of God” 4:3
“Master” 8:19
“The Son of Man” 8:20
“The Bridegroom” 9:15
“Thou Son of David” 9:27
“He that should come” 11:3
“A Friend of Publicans and Sinners” 11:10
“One greater than the Temple” 12:6
“The Lord of the Sabbath day” 12:8
“My Servant whom I have chosen” 12:18
“My Beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased” 12:18
“A greater than Jonas” 12:41
“A greater than Solomon” 12:42 .
“This Man” 13:56
“The Christ, the Son of the living God” 16:16
“Good Master” 19:16
“Thy King” 21:5
“This Jesus, the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee” 21:11
“The Stone which the builders rejected” 21:42
“The Head of the Corner” 21:42
“The King” 25:34
“The Shepherd” 26:31
“King of Israel” 27:42

Mark:
“One that hath authority” 1:22
“Jesus of Nazareth” 1:24
“The Holy One of God” 1:24
“Son of the Most High God” 5:7
“The Carpenter” 6:3
“Son of Mary” 6:3
“A Prophet” 6:4
“Christ, the son of the Blessed” 14:61

Luke:
“Son of the Highest” 1:32
“The Lord’s Christ” 2:26
“A Great Prophet” 7:16
“The Christ of God” 9:20
“He that cometh in the Name of the Lord” 19:18
“Christ, the chosen of God” 23:35

John:
“The Word” 1:1
“That Light” 1:8
“The True Light” 1:9
“The only begotten of the Father” 1:14
“The Lamb of God” 1:29
“The Messias” 1:41
“Him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write” 1:45
“He that cometh from Heaven” 3:31
“Thou art a Prophet” 4:19
“The Christ, the Saviour of the World” 4:42
“The Son” 5:23
“The Bread of Life” 6:35
“The Bread which came down from Heaven” 6:41
“A Good Man” 7:12
“The Light of the World” 8:12
“That I AM” 8:24
“The Door of the Sheep” 10:7
“The Good Shepherd” 10:11
“The Resurrection’’ 11:25
“Master and Lord” 13:13
“The Way” 14:6
“The Truth” 14:6
“The Life” 14:6
“The True Vine” 15:1
“The Man” 19:5

Acts:
“A Man. approved of God” 2:22
“Thine Holy One” 2:27
“Both Lord and Christ” 2:36
“Jesus Christ of Nazareth” 3:6
“The Holy One and the Just.” 3:14
“The Prince of Life” 3:15
“His Christ” 4:26
“A Prince and a Saviour” 5:31
“Thy Holy Child Jesus” 4:30
“The Just One” 7:52
“Son of Man” 7:56
“Unto Israel a Saviour Jesus” 13:23
“Another King Jesus” 17:7

Romans:
“Jesus Christ our Lord, of the Seed of David” 1:3
“Our Lord Jesus Christ” 5:11
“God blessed forever” 9:5
“The End of the Law for Righteousness” 10:4
“A Minister of . the Circumcision” 15:8
“A Root of Jesse” 15:12

I Corinthians:
“Righteousness” 1:30
“Sanctification” 1:30
“Redemption” 1:30
“The Lord of Glory” 2:8
“Foundation” 3:11
“Christ Our Passover” 5:7
“The Lord Jesus Christ by whom are all things” 8:6
“That Rock, Christ” 10:4
“Jesus is the Lord” 12:3
“The Last Adam” 15:45
“The Second Man, the Lord from Heaven” 15:47

II Corinthians:
“Thee Lord, the Spirit” 3:17
“Christ, the Image of God” 4:4
“God in Christ” 5:19

Ephesians:
“The Head over all Things” 1:22
“Our Peace” 2:14
“The One of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named” 3:15
“Christ, the Head of the Church” 5:23
“Master in Heaven” 6:9

Philippians:
“The One in the Form of God” 2:6 and 7
“The One in the Form of a Servant, the Likeness of Men” 2:7
“Jesus Christ, my Lord” 3:8
“The Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” 3:20

Colossians:
“His Dear Son or the Son of His Love” 1:13
“The Image of the Invisible God” 1:15
“The First-born of every Creature” 1:15
“The One by whom all. things consist” 1:17
“The First-born from the dead” 1:18
“The One in whom all fulness dwells” 1:19
“The One in whom are hid treasures of wisdom and knowledge” 2:3
“The One in whom dwelleth all fullness of the Godhead bodily” 2:9
“Christ, who is our Life” 3:4

I Timothy
“The King eternal” 1:17
“God manifest in the flesh” 3:16
“Potentate” 6:15
“King of Kings, Lord of Lords” 6:15

II Timothy:
“Our Saviour, Jesus Christ” 1:10
“The effulgence of His Glory” 1:3

Hebrews:
“Express Image of His Person” 1:3
“Captain of our Salvation” 2:10
“Merciful and faithful High Priest” 2:17
“Apostle and High Priest of our Profession” 3:1
“Builder of the House” 3:3
“A Priest after order of Melchisedec” 5:6
“Author of eternal Salvation” 5:9
“Forerunner, Jesus” 6:20
“An High Priest over the House of God” 10:21
“He that shall come” 10:37
“Author and Finisher of our Faith” 12:2
“Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant” 12:24
“The Lord, my Helper” 13:6
“Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever” 13:8

James
“The Lord of Glory” 2:1
“The Husbandman” 5:7

I Peter
“A Lamb without Blemish and Spot” 1:19
“A stone of Stumbling” 2:8
“Rock of Offense” 2:8
“Shepherd and Bishop of your Souls” 2:25
“Chief Shepherd” 5:4

II Peter:
“The Day Star” 1:19
“Lord that bought us” 2:1

I John
“An Advocate” 2:1
“Our Propitiation” 2:2
“The Holy One” 2:20

II John:
“The Son of the Father” 1:3

Jude:
“Only Lord God” 1:4

Revelation:
“Jesus Christ, a faithful Witness” 1:5
“The first Begotten of the Dead” 1:5
“Prince of the Kings of the Earth” 1:5
“Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending” 1:8
“The First and the Last” 1:17
“He which searcheth the reins and hearts” 2:28
“The Morning Star” 2:28
“He that is holy. He that is true” 3:7
“Amen, the faithful and true Witness” 3:14
“Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come” 4:8
“Lion of the Tribe of Juda” 5:5
“Root of David” 5:5
“He that liveth forever and ever” 5:14
“The Lamb in the midst of the Throne” 7:17
“Lamb slain from the foundation of the World” 13:8
“King of Saints” 15:3
“Lord of Lords, and King of Kings 17:4
“Faithful and True” 19:11
“The Word of God” 19:13
“The Root and Offspring of David” 22:16

WHAT WE BELIEVE AND WHY WE BELIEVE IT

In this printed message we are setting forth something of what we believe concerning the Bible and concerning the faith once-for-all delivered unto the saints. Our first message after this introduction will be the Bible. We believe in the God of the Bible, the Christ of the Bible and the Holy Spirit of the Bible. Therefore we believe in the eternal Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe in the ruin of the human race in Adam and that man’s only hope of redemption or recovery, is in Christ. The redeemed sinner is “God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good words.” Ephesians 2:10. “If any man be in Christ there is a new creation.” II Corinthians 5:17. We believe that the sinner is saved by the grace of God; by faith in the Lord Jesus; redeemed by the shed blood of Christ, the lamb of God, without spot or blemish.

“To us there is but one God, the Father, of Whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom are all things, and we by Him.” I Corinthians 8:6.

As there is but one God and one Lord Jesus Christ, there is one and only one way to God, and that is called, in Hebrews 10:19 and 20, “the new and living way”, “by the blood of Jesus.”

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10. “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14.

“For in that he died, He died unto sin ONCE; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God.” Romans 6:10.

“Christ appeared ONCE in the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Hebrews 9:26.

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in ONCE into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12.

“Christ also hath ONCE suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God,” I Peter 3:18.

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is now at the right hand of God, as the glorified Man, seated in the heavenlies, far above all heavens. Ephesians 1:19 to 22 and Ephesians 4:10.

There He is the Head of the Church which is His Body. Members of this Body of Christ are identified with Him in death, burial and resurrection; are seated with Him in the heavenlies and there blessed with all spiritual blessings in Him. Ephesians 1:3 and 4 and Ephesians 2:6. These members are the children of God by faith in the glorified Christ. they constitute the “Household of God,” and are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:17 to 22. Only regenerated sinners. partakers of the Divine nature, God’s new creation, are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

We believe that God has the walk of the believer, in accordance with Ephesians 2:10, and they that walk should be in the Spirit, fulfilling the righteousness of the law: circumspectly, in love worthy of the vocation wherewith he is called. Ephesians 4:1.

THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT

“Endeavoring to keep the UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ONE body—and ONE Spirit—even as ye are called in ONE Hope of your calling—ONE Lord—ONE Faith— ONE Baptism—ONE God and Father.” Ephesians 4:3 to 6.

Here we are told, specifically and clearly, that, in this Divine age, there is ONE and only ONE Church, which is a Divine organism. We believe that obedience to Ephesians 4:3 is altogether impossible unless we acknowledge and act upon the Truth of God as to the ONE Church; and that no group of men have the Scriptural right to claim to be the Bible Church and demand obedience to a denominational church creed which differs from the sevenfold unity of Ephesians 4:3 to 6.

Inasmuch as there is more than one Church, one gospel and one hope in the Bible, but only ONE Church, ONE gospel and ONE hope in this particular Dispensation, we insist that all intelligent Bible study must be Dispensational Bible study. And that every true servant of Christ is under obligation, “to make all men see what is the fellowship (dispensation) of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God. Ephesians 3:9

After several chapters of some fundamental Bible doctrines, we shall present a Dispensational Study of the Bible.

CONCERNING THE BIBLE

The learned Prince of Granada, heir to the Spanish throne, imprisoned by order of the crown, for fear he should aspire to the throne, was kept in solitary confinement in the old prison at the place of Skulls, Madrid. After thirty-three years in this living tomb death came to his release, and the following remarkable researches taken from the Bible, and marked with an old nail on the rough walls of his cell, told how the brain sought employment through the weary years.

In the Bible the word Lord is found 1853 times. The word Jehovah, 6855 times, and the word reverend but once, and that is in the 9th verse of the 111 psalm. Psalm 117:8 is the middle verse of the Bible. Esther 8:9 is the longest verse, and St. John 11:35 the shortest verse in the Bible. In the 107th Psalm four verses are alike, the 8, 15, 21 and 31. Each verse of the 136 Psalm ends alike. No name or word with more than six syllables are found in the Bible. The 37th chapter of Isaiah and the 19th chapter of II Kings are alike. The word girl occurs only twice in the Bible, in Zechariah 8:5 and Joel 3:3. There are found in both books of the Bible, 3,586,483 letters, 773,693 words 31,373 verses, 1189 chapters and 66 books. The 26th chapter of Acts is the finest chapter to read, the most beautiful chapter the 23rd Psalm. The four most inspiring promises are John 14:2, John 6:37, St. Matthew 11:28 and Psalm 37:4. Isaiah 60:1 is the one for the new convert. All who flatter themselves with vain boasting of their perfection should learn Matthew 6.

The Bible is God’s Word. The Bible not only contains the Word of God, but it is the very Word of God.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” II Timothy 3:16-17.

“By Inspiration”—The Greek word is “Theopneustos”, and is never used to describe any other writings or writers.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” II Peter 1:19 to 21.

“Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Psalm 119:89. “The Word of the Lord endureth forever.” I Peter 1:25.

The Psalmist who said: “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven,” likewise said in Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

It is a blessed thing to know both facts. Though settled in heaven, it will not profit the individual unless hidden and settled in the heart.

In this 119th Psalm read the following verses concerning God’s holy infallible Words: 9, 11, 16, 17, 25, 28, 38, 41, 42, 43, 49, 50, 57, 58, 65, 67, 74, 76, 81, 82, 89, 101, 103, 105, 107, 114, 116, 123, 130, 133, 139, 140, 147, 148, 154, 158, 160, 161, 162, 169, 170, 172. Also read verses concerning precepts, commandments, etc.

Men may have changed in their attitude toward the word of God; but His Word never changeth. As the Psalmist said: “Thy Word is very pure; therefore thy servant loveth it.” Psalm 119:140

“Thy Word is true from the beginning; and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.”—Psalm 119:160.

“How sweet are thy words unto my taste; yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.”—Psalm 119:103

Commit to memory these words found in Jeremiah 15:16;

“Thy words were found, and I was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.”

Think of the poisonous food which is going into the souls of men by way of the literature of the worldly and ungodly agents of Satan.

“I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary”—Job 23:12.

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”—119:105.

The world is a dark place because sin. It is a blessed thing to have a lamp and a light in such a dark place. “Is not my Word like as a fire? the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:29.

“He sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”—Psalm 107:20.

“But he said, Yea rather blessed are they that hear the Word of God and keep it.”—Luke 11:28.

“The seed is the Word of God.”—Luke 8:11.

The sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God.”—Ephesians 6:17.

“For the Word of God is quick (life-giving) and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”—Hebrews 4:12.

The expression, “The Word of the Lord,” is used forty-nine times in the prophecy of Ezekiel alone—many, many times in the Bible.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”— Isaiah 55:11.

God’s instruction to His servant is: “Preach the Word.”—II Timothy 4:2.

Also read Acts 4:4, Acts 4:29, Acts 4:31, Acts 6:2, Acts 6:4, Acts 6:7.

“Went everywhere preaching the Word.”—Acts 8:4.

Acts 8:14, Acts 8:25, Acts 10:44, Acts 11:11, Acts 11:19, Acts 12:24.

“They preached the Word of God.”—Acts 13:5. Acts 13:7, Acts 13:26, Acts 13:44, Acts 13:46. “And glorified the Word of the Lord.’’—Acts 13:48, Acts 13:49, Acts 14:3, Acts 14:25, Acts 15:7, Acts 15:35 and 36, Acts 16:32.

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”—Acts 17:11, Acts 17:13, Acts 18:11, Acts 19:10.

“So mightily grew the Word of God.”—Acts 19:20.

“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 of them which are sanctified.”— Acts 20:32.

So the Christian is built up by the Word of God, after he becomes a Christian by hearing the Word of God and being born again by that incorruptible seed. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”—Romans 10:17.

“Chosen to salvation through belief in the truth.”—II Thessalonica 2:13.

“Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth.”—James 1:18.

“Receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls.”—James 1:21.

“Being born again by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever.”—I Peter 1:23.

“As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby.”—I Peter 2:2.

“Now ye are clean, through the word which I have spoken unto you.”—John 15:3; also Psalm 119:9.

“Sanctify them through thy truth; thy Word is truth.”—John 17:17.

As the Word of God is the seed which falls into good and honest hearts which gives life and as faith cometh through hearing this Word, it is the only seed which has in it the germ of eternal life.

The sinner becomes a saint by hearing the Word of God.

The saint grows by that same Word, is built up, sanctified, cleansed and equipped for service by it. It is part of his armour to stand against the wiles of the devil. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Our offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit wielded in the power of the Spirit. Christ used this weapon against Satan in the temptation—“It is written.”—Luke 4:4, Luke 4:8, Luke 4:10.

But Jesus said, “yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”— Luke 11:29.

“These are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.”—John 20:31.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”

“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon sand: And the rain descended, and floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”—Matthew 7:24 to 27.

The Bible is the revelation of the one true God.

LUKE 24:44 TO 48:

“AND HE (CHRIST) SAID UNTO THEM, THESE ARE THE WORDS WHICH I SPAKE UNTO YOU, WHILE I WAS YET WITH YOU, THAT ALL THINGS MUST BE FULFILLED, WHICH WERE WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES, AND IN THE PROPHETS, AND IN THE PSALMS CONCERNING ME.

THEN OPENED HE THEIR UNDERSTANDING, THAT THEY MIGHT UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES AND SAID UNTO THEM. THUS IT IS WRITTEN, AND THUS IT BEHOOVED CHRIST TO SUFFER, AND TO RISE FROM THE DEAD THE THIRD DAY; AND THAT REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS SHOULD BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME AMONG ALL NATIONS, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM. AND YE ARE WITNESSES OF THESE THINGS.”