1. January 2008 $2.95 U.S. ($4.25 Canada)

2. INSIDE THIS ISSUE
O Jerusalem! . . . . . . 3
The Jews are still God’s Chosen People and Jerusalem is still the
spiritual center of this world. Know this — God said that Jerusalem P. O. Box 7000
was the apple of His eye. And when anyone tries to steal it from Oklahoma City, OK 73153
God, he will feel the pain of swift and certain judgment. If Islam Dr. J. R. Church, Editor
has its way, over the next twelve months, Jerusalem will become the Gary Stearman, Associate Editor
capital of a Moslem state. This could be the “covenant” that Daniel Volume 28 • Number 1 • January 2008
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
9:27 predicted. Already, Jerusalem has been classified as a universal
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city, no longer belonging to Israel. The document, the United States
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ago as the U.S. promotion of a political division of Jerusalem to Find Prophecy in the News on the Worldwide Web!
accommodate demands from the Palestinian Authority.
http://www.prophecyinthenews.com
Daniel’s Last Incredible Vision . . . . . . 6
The tenth chapter of Daniel begins a vision that runs through the
rest of the book. It is Daniel’s last and greatest vision, in which he
Page 3 . . .
sees a heavenly visitor — who has the exact same characteristics
that John saw in the glorified Jesus in the opening chapter of Rev-
O Jerusalem!
elation. Did Daniel see Jesus? If so, then he was not a pre-incarnate By Gary Stearman
person, but the same one John saw. This would make the Savior a
Time Traveler of the first order. In fact, throughout the next three
chapters (Dan. 10-12) this heavenly visitor tells Daniel what will
happen in the future — as if he had already lived through it! Be sure
to read this article carefully. The clues contained in this chapter
may reveal the identity of the heavenly visitor, especially the part Page 6 . . .
where the visitor says that only he and Michael were privy to the
grand plan for Israel’s redemption. Who else could it be? Daniel’s Last Incredible Vision
By J. R. Church
Light on Prophecy . . . . . . 12
We are taking a step back in time — It is Tuesday morning, May
28, 1918. We are attending a prophecy conference, sponsored by
some of the world’s leading scholars on eschatology, being held at
the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. The 3,300-seat auditorium
is nearly full as we prepare to hear the first speaker of the day, Rev.
Page 12 . . .
Harris Gregg on the subject, “Hath God Spoken.” As we arrive in
the fourth gallery, we hear a lady ask an usher, “Is it possible I am
Light on Prophecy
in the wrong place? Is this the Bible Conference on the Return of The 1918 Philadelphia Prophecy Conference
Our Lord?” Amused, we settle in to enjoy the first session.
Bob’s Corner . . . . . . 17
Backfield in Motion - book review by Bob Ulrich - There is an Page 17 . . .
Backfield in Motion
eerie feeling of uncertainty in the air today. Something is just not
right. Gold and silver prices are going up. The U.S. dollar seems
Book Review by Bob Ulrich
to hit a new low every day and our national debt is increasing at
the rate of one million dollars per minute! What’s going on?
The Cross and the Reconciliation . . . . . . 37
Something happened at Calvary that changed the course of his-
tory and left heaven and Earth in a state never before experienced.
Time and eternity were connected during the Savior’s life on Earth. Page 37 . . .
They met at the cross. In this remarkable article, Gary Stearman
writes, “He entered this dimension to perform a work so sublime The Cross and the Reconciliation
that it can never be fully understood by ordinary human beings.” By Gary Stearman
This single event utterly changed what had been thought of as
“normal.” This is a profound study!
2 Prophecy in the News

3. O Jerusalem!
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The City of Prophecy
By Gary Stearman
A recent development on the world scene
has led us to look again at a place that the
Bible refers to as the center of the earth.
In Ezekiel 38:12, latter-
day Israel is said to, “…
dwell in the midst of the
land.” Here, the Hebrew
language literally says “in
the navel of the earth.”
Politically, culturally and
spiritually, Israel, and Je-
rusalem in particular, is
ground zero – the crux of world events.
Now, for their own purposes, world
leaders have taken measures to separate
Jerusalem from the rest of Israel. Christians
who view the Bible as a document of the
ages, from past to future, take it for granted
that Jerusalem lies at the very center of
God’s plan for this earth. To them, this new
At the Annapolis summit, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian
development sounds a rumble of approach-
President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to spend the next twelve months hammering out
ing thunder.
a peace agreement, dividing Jerusalem, and establishing a Palestinian State.
Though stained by centuries of sin, Jeru-
salem is literally God’s city. Scripture views There also have been calls for Jerusalem to for the dramas that will unfold there.
it as the place that is closest to His heart. It be made an international city.” Throughout the pages of Scripture, the
has long been the focus of a battle for the Translation: Global planners want to Lord’s love for this city is quite evident.
spiritual control of the world. It is to be the slice up Jerusalem like a colossal pie. This But nowhere is His devotion so poignantly
site of much prophecy yet to be fulfilled … would mean that the many forces that displayed as in an occurrence that took
a complex place of darkness and hope. For claim the right to control the Holy City place in the days immediately preceding
this reason, it is both exciting and distress- could each claim a share of the prize. The Christ’s crucifixion. As He pronounced woe
ing to see it singled out by global planners above-mentioned international listing of upon Jerusalem’s leaders, He reflected upon
as the place where they will make their own the city presents the first concrete evidence His beloved city. He personified it as stub-
headquarters. that plans for its change of status are well bornly resistant to His will. He expressed
A recent news item, published by World- underway. No longer is it to be considered His desire to gather His people there, in a
NetDaily on November 27, reminds us once Israel’s capital. place where He might have protectively
again of Jerusalem’s central status in world Referring to Jerusalem’s new State gathered the faithful. He lamented the fact
events. It begins as follows: Department status, WorldNetDaily writes, that this would no longer be possible. Then,
“A new U.S. government listing of State “While the directory, dated Nov. 20, 2007, He prophesied its destruction, which came
Department contacts around the world that lists the consulates for various cities in to pass only a short time later. His words
separates Jerusalem from Israel apparently nations under that nation’s listing, such as are a dramatic soliloquy:
is going to be unexplained. listing Baghdad, Basrah and others under “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that kill-
“The document, the United States De- Iraq, there are separate listings for Israel est the prophets, and stonest them which
partment of State Telephone Directory (Tel Aviv) and Jerusalem.” are sent unto thee, how often would I have
(unclassified), was finished just days ago as In the eyes of the Western (and global) gathered thy children together, even as a
the U.S. promotion of a political division of Alliance, Tel Aviv is now the official capital hen gathereth her chickens under her wings,
Jerusalem to accommodate demands from of Israel. Jerusalem has been set apart as a and ye would not!
the Palestinian Authority. prize for the power brokers. “Behold, your house is left unto you
“The split of the Israeli capital is one For prophecy watchers, this development desolate.
of the issues on the table at the Annapolis comes as no great surprise. It is, however, an “For I say unto you, Ye shall not see
Middle East peace summit ... and the Pales- eyebrow-raiser, revealing just how close we me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is
tinian Authority wants to base the capital of are to certain events that the Bible predicts for he that cometh in the name of the Lord”
a future Palestinian Arab state in Jerusalem. latter-day Jerusalem. The stage is now set (Matthew 23:37-39).
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He concluded His lament with a prophecy,
saying that they would not see Him again
until they greeted Him with the Messianic
blessing. In other words, He predicted that
Sky Angel Is Developing IPTV
His second coming would be received by an
Israel that finally acknowledges that Jesus
is its anointed King. That day still lies in
Internet TV is
the future. on its way!
Jerusalem: Politics and the Spirit
The set-top box (above) will soon be available for
Jerusalem is the world’s most prominent
geographical location. But it is not an im- dramatic improvements to Sky Angel subscribers!
posing site. In Europe, America, China and
even the Middle East, there are far more Dominion Video Satellite, Inc. is planning dramatic
impressive and scenic locations. It doesn’t improvements to the way it delivers “Sky Angel” Christian
boast a great river or majestic mountains. and family-friendly programming to its nationwide subscriber
Unlike New York or Hong Kong, it is not base. CEO Rob Johnson says, “We will be transitioning Sky
a great seaport. It has no great mineral Angel to a broadband Internet protocol, commonly known
wealth … oil, diamonds, gold and the like. as IPTV, with programming still delivered to the TV. The
Its Temple Mount is a ruin dominated by technology is already in use widely in both Europe and
enemy forces. Seeking to show its glory, Asia and experiencing growing popularity in the U. S. Our
photographers always aim their cameras current subscribers will simply need to use an IPTV set-top
on the golden Dome of the Rock, an enemy box (shown above) that will allow them to connect their
emplacement. television to high-speed Internet. Overall service will be more
Even its own politicians do not believe in economical than our current satellite system and will provide
its promise. They are presently more than Sky Angel viewers more options.” IPTV enables programs
willing to cede it to Gentile control in the to be viewed on conventional TVs, personal computers and
name of peace. Jerusalem has been secu- handheld instruments.
larized. Still, it holds a particular spiritual
Prophecy in the News airs on Sky Angel
ethos, an aura of God’s presence.
Jerusalem uniquely encompasses history
— both political and spiritual. It brings the
world’s most important people into sharp Wednesday 11:00 PM (ET) & Thursday 1:00 AM (ET)
focus — Abraham, David and Jesus, among
many others. Though gripped by warring
factions, it is destined to lead the world to be Abram of the most high God, possessor (Gen. 22:2, 14).
peace. It defines spirituality, from the glory of heaven and earth: There is no doubt that this is one and the
of Solomon’s Temple, to its descent into “And blessed be the most high God, same place as Salem, home of Melchize-
corrupt apostasy. It is even a metaphor for which hath delivered thine enemies into dek’s priesthood.
the new birth. It is the earthly home of the thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all” Still later, it became the site of the City
Lord. As Zion, it is the ensign and symbol (Gen. 14:17-20). of David. The rising elevation north of the
of His final victory. Following Abraham’s victory, the peace Valley of Shaveh became the place of his
Salem was sanctified by a priest-king who brought
forth bread and wine, the eternal symbols
palace. Even in Abraham’s day — long
before the existence of the twelve tribes
Like a prophetic jewel set in the heart of of redemption. A millennium before David of Israel — it seems that the Lord already
Israel, Jerusalem first appears in the Bible built his city there, the “valley of Shaveh” viewed this location as the spiritual center
as a city called “Salem.” A that time its became the site of a monumental consecra- of the earth. In Psalm 110, the King-Priest
name was simply the word, “peace,” the tion. This valley is the rising slope of the Melchizedek, is shown to be the originator
word has become Israel’s heartfelt cry from valley of Hinnom, on the south side of the of the Lord’s own priestly order:
then until now. Temple Mount. It certified Abraham’s claim “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou
Fittingly, it was the site of a covenant (or to the land the Lord had shown him. at my right hand, until I make thine enemies
Peace Accord) between the king of Sodom Some time after that, Abraham took his thy footstool.
and Abraham, following the crushing defeat son, Isaac to the place of sacrifice, called “The LORD shall send the rod of thy
of four Gentile kings: “Moriah:” strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst
“And the king of Sodom went out to meet “And he said, Take now thy son, thine of thine enemies.
him after his return from the slaughter of only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get “Thy people shall be willing in the day of
Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him thy power, in the beauties of holiness from
with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is there for a burnt offering upon one of the the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew
the king’s dale. mountains which I will tell thee of …” of thy youth.
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought At the site, Abraham gave it a name: “The LORD hath sworn, and will not
forth bread and wine: and he was the priest “And Abraham called the name of that repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the
of the most high God. place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:1-4).
“And he blessed him, and said, Blessed In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen” Continued on Page 8
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Backfield in Motion
end times events take center stage ... behind the scenes
by michael j. riley
There is an eerie feeling of uncertainty in the air today and it is making Americans
uncomfortable. Something is just not right. Gold and silver prices are going through
the roof. The embattled U.S. dollar seems to hit a new low every day and our national
debt is increasing at a rate of one million dollars per minute! The once-mighty dollar
is losing its appeal around the world, a harbinger of potential disaster.
This book is an absolute must for those seeking the answers to these and other
end-times prophectic events! This deep study of Revelation 13 uses a unique visual
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behind the scenes – all without your knowledge. It explores how these events are
interrelated, and assembles them together to point to the Second Coming of the Lord
– and shows how they all fit together for God’s purpose in your life. (224 pages)
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Evolution: The Grand Experiment
the quest for an answer
by dr. carl werner
Charles Darwin predicted that his theory would be confirmed as more and more
fossils were found. One hundred fifty years later, this book challenges his theory.
Here is a large, coffee-table book with enamel-coated paper and hundreds of full
color photographs. Beautifully illustrated, it disproves Darwin’s theory of evolution
in favor of Divine design. It challenges evolution and demands a verdict.
It separates science from myth and addresses such subjects as Primordial Soup,
Survival of the Fittest, Mutations, Similarities, Adaptations and Fossils. It contains
the research of many scientists from around the world, publishing what they say
about transitional fossils; what they say about the fossil record; and what they say
about the origin of life.
There are dozens of special features, including interviews with scientists from
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THE FINAL ACT Politics, Prophecy & the Supernatural
by chuck smith by l. a. marzulli
What exciting days we are living in! Ancient texts including the Bible tell
Like observers invited backstage be- of heavenly beings called “Watchers”
fore a play, we can see the director po- that visited the earth in antiquity and
sitioning the players and making sure engaged in molecular experiments
the props are in order. We can feel the resulting in a race of partly human be-
excitement in these minutes before ings known as Nephilim. The records
he signals for the curtain to rise. This indicate that by the time Noah and his
analogy is apt, for God is positioning children came along, they were the
nations and current events before our only ones left with DNA not corrupted
very eyes. The world is ready for the by intermarriage with the Nephilim and
curtain to be lifted for the final act. their offspring.
Prepare yourself for the drama of the According to one theory, God had to
end times — the return of Jesus Christ! Pastor Chuck eliminate everybody but Noah and his family in order to
Smith sets the stage for God’s prophetic plan, providing preserve the human species. Now, transgenics may be
insight into current world events. (270 pages) happening again! (248 pages)
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Deciphering Daniel
Daniel’s Last
Incredible Vision
By J. R. Church
“In the third year of Cyrus king of Per-
sia a thing was revealed unto Daniel …”
(Dan. 10:1).
Daniel’s final vision, recorded in chapters
10-12, occurred in the third year of the reign
of Cyrus, king of Persia.
This was two years after
Cyrus sent Zerubbabel
with 49,697 Israelites
(Ezra 2:64,65) back to
Jerusalem. We should
also note that this vision
occurred two years after
the date given in Daniel
1:21, which says: “And Daniel continued
even unto the first year of king Cyrus.” One
would think that this verse should have
referred to the death of the prophet, but
that is not the case. Daniel was still alive
two years later.
These three chapters were written in the
third year of Cyrus. Therefore, the reason
Daniel included the statement that he “con-
tinued … unto the first year of king Cyrus,”
is that the date refers to conclusion of the
seventy-years captivity and the Persian
king’s commandment to restore Jerusalem.
It seems strange to me that most scholars
want to place the date for the beginning of
the seventy weeks (ch.9) with Artaxerxes
in 445 B.C., instead of with the decree of
Cyrus in 537/536 B.C.
If the decree that launched the seventy
weeks is not the one in the first year of
Cyrus, then why did Daniel open his first
chapter (Dan. 1:1) with Nebuchadnezzar
besieging Jerusalem in the third year of
Jehoiakim, and conclude the chapter (Dan.
1:21) in the first year of Cyrus? The answer Sunset over the Tigris River reminds us of Daniel’s last and greatest vision. It is
is obvious, those are the years of the captiv- there that he saw a heavenly visitor in a glorious appearance. From the description, it
ity. The seventy years were up in the first is possible that Daniel saw our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His view is quite similar
year of Cyrus. to the vision John saw and recorded in Revelation, chapter one.
Our chapter opens two years later and provinces of the Persian Empire, directly the Persian king. The Samaritans managed
Daniel was about 90; some say 93 years under the king. to bribe certain courtiers of the king and
of age. As far as we know, Daniel was still I am confident that Daniel was a close ad- disrupt the Jews in their work of rebuilding
active in government. He had been ap- viser to King Cyrus. However, a serious prob- the Temple. According to Flavius Josephus
pointed as the chief of three rulers over the lem had developed during the second year of (Antiquities, IX, XIV, 3), the Samaritans
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were originally imported to Israel from
Prophecy in the News
Cuthah, a province in Persia. Naturally,
these Persian settlers from Samaria had the
ear of certain Persian politicians.
This chapter opens in the Jewish Passover
season, a few months after the Samaritans ... on LBN television network
had managed to halt construction on the
Temple. According to Bishop James Ussher,
this was the reason why Daniel had been
fasting for three weeks.
The Revelation of a Heavenly Visitor
Sky Angel Satellite
Channel 9716
“In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia
a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose Sunday Afternoons
name was called Belteshazzar; and the 4:00 P.M. Eastern
thing was true, but the time appointed was 3:00 P.M. Central
long: and he understood the thing, and had 2:00 P.M. Mountain
understanding of the vision. 1:00 P.M. Pacific
“In those days I Daniel was mourning
three full weeks.
“I ate no pleasant bread, neither came
flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I
anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks
were fulfilled.
“And in the four and twentieth day of the
first month, as I was by the side of the great
river, which is Hiddekel” (Dan. 10:1-4).
Daniel referred to this vision as a “thing
… revealed.” This term is used only three
times in the book of Daniel. It was used
twice in chapter two, when Daniel received
details of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream; and the
third time is in the chapter before us. It is a
term reminiscent of the Apostle John’s last
book, The Revelation of Jesus Christ. In
John’s opening chapter, we are told about
a vision of the glorified Savior. And in this
chapter, Daniel sees a remarkably similar Watch Prophecy in the News anytime on
www.pitn.tv
scene. As we shall learn in the following
verses, the heavenly visitor had a gleam-
ing and somewhat metalic appearance.
The description is almost identical to that
of John’s view of Christ.
Daniel had fasted for three weeks, begin-
ning on Nissan 3 and concluding on Nissan gap between the sixty-ninth and seventieth down to the Tigris River for a season of
24. Notice that Daniel did not partake in the weeks, given in the previous chapter. In prayer. Rabbinical sources, with no biblical
observance of Passover that year. It was other words, the dispensation of Gentile proof, suggest that Daniel’s companions
certainly a good time of the year to engage Christianity is completely overlooked were Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
in a season of prayer, and Daniel probably … unless these 21 days give us a clue to Some rabbis see these three prophets as
did not intend to continue his fast for three the timing of the gap. It is not an explicit contemporary, though the Bible is silent
full weeks. Perhaps he thought that God teaching, nor can we find a reference to on this subject. We see Haggai and Zecha-
would send an answer much sooner. It had it anywhere else in the Bible. Daniel said riah together in Ezra 5:1, but Malachi is
not taken that long before. Usually, God that he “understood the thing,” but did not nowhere mentioned. His name does not
answered Daniel’s prayers promptly. disclose any further information about those appear in Ezra, Nehemiah, or Esther. There
I think there was a prophetic reason why 21 days. However, Daniel used specific is no proof that he was a contemporary with
it took 21 days for the answer to his prayer. Hebrew terms to let us know that these Haggai and Zechariah. Most theologians
Daniel explained that it was a vision whose three weeks were weeks of days, rather than place his writing between 75 and 130 years
appointed time “was long” (v.1). As we weeks of years as in the previous chapter. later than the other two. It is possible that
shall see, the vision points first to Antiochus The Hebrew text says, ohnh ohgca shavua placing Malachi with Daniel was another
IV Epiphanes, the Syrian monarch who yamim, meaning “weeks of days” (v. 2). deliberately dishonest attempt to eliminate
sacrificed a sow in the Temple courtyard;
On the Banks of the Tigris River years from the Jewish calendar.
but then moves us right into the latter days Nevertheless, as we look in upon the
… to the future Antichrist, bypassing the On Nissan 24, Daniel took some friends Continued on Page 33
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Continued From Page 4
Thus, the Melchizedekian order of
Christ’s priesthood is centered upon Je-
rusalem … Zion. The peace overseen by
Melchizedek was the forerunner of the final
peace that will arise from the defeat of the
Gentile armies that come against Jerusalem
shortly before the Second Coming.
At first mention, Jerusalem is presented
as the spiritual capital of the world. It is the
archetype of the Lord’s plan. Certainly, it is
no coincidence that Abraham went directly
to Jerusalem after defeating Gentile kings,
and consulted with Melchizedek in the
King’s Dale. At that moment, the spot was
forever marked as the site where heaven
touched earth.
The Abstract
It is thus clear that Jerusalem is the spiri-
tual capital of the world. However, the Bible
includes much more information about the
status of the great city. When King David
decided to move his reign from Hebron to
Jerusalem, he fought the Jebusites for pos-
session of the historic site. Apparently, he
knew that centuries before it had already
been established as a spiritual center.
Now, he intended to make it the place
from which the Lord’s house would rule
the Land:
“David was thirty years old when he be-
gan to reign, and he reigned forty years.
“In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven The turmoil has just begun over the disposition of Jerusalem. The current plan is
years and six months: and in Jerusalem to completely vacate Jerusalem, remove the entire Jewish quarter of the Old City
he reigned thirty and three years over all and let the Moslems establish Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.
Israel and Judah. There, David was to build an altar and offer But David’s transaction didn’t end there.
“And the king and his men went to Jeru- a sacrifice, in order that the plague would As recorded in First Chronicles, Araunah,
salem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of be stayed. referred to as “Ornan” in the verses that
the land: which spake unto David, saying, “All these things did Araunah, as a king, follow, agreed to allow David to purchase a
Except thou take away the blind and the give unto the king. And Araunah said unto specific place upon the threshing floor:
lame, thou shalt not come in hither: think- the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. “Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the
ing, David cannot come in hither. “And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; place of this threshingfloor, that I may build
“Nevertheless David took the strong but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt
hold of Zion: the same is the city of David” neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the grant it me for the full price: that the plague
(II Sam. 5:4-7). LORD my God of that which doth cost me may be stayed from the people.
In this, the first stage of his conquest, nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor “And Ornan said unto David, Take it to
David took possession of the mountain and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. thee, and let my lord the king do that which
called Zion. His mighty warriors earned “And David built there an altar unto the is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen
the praise of their king. After some time LORD, and offered burnt offerings and also for burnt offerings, and the threshing
elapsed, David’s pride got the better of peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated instruments for wood, and the wheat for the
him, and he ordered a census to take the for the land, and the plague was stayed from meat offering; I give it all.
measure of the strength of his realm, “from Israel” (II Sam. 24:23-25). “And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but
Dan even to Beersheba.” David’s pride Not only was the plague stayed, but in I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will
angered the Lord, and He brought a plague the process, David had secured the loca- not take that which is thine for the LORD,
upon the whole of the Land, killing seventy tion of the Temple. As king, he had every nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
thousand men. The prophet Gad interceded, right to simply appropriate the site. Instead, “So David gave to Ornan for the place six
with instructions from the Lord. he purchased it at a fair price, forever to hundred shekels of gold by weight.
He told David to go up to the threshing be recorded in Scripture … a real estate “And David built there an altar unto the
floor of a certain Jebusite named Araunah. abstract that has survived in Holy Writ for LORD, and offered burnt offerings and
As it happened, this place was at the top some three thousand years. Through this peace offerings, and called upon the LORD;
of the mountain … the spot that would action, the City of David became forever and he answered him from heaven by fire
later become the site of Solomon’s Temple. linked with Salem, now Jerusalem. upon the altar of burnt offering.
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“And the LORD commanded the angel; greatly understate the actuality. This city maketh desolate.”
and he put up his sword again into the is the crossroads of the world. It is perhaps In the well-known narrative, the Macca-
sheath thereof. metaphysically proper to call it the cross- bees overthrew his rule and rededicated the
“At that time when David saw that the roads of the universe. As we shall see, this Temple, instituting the eight-day miracle
LORD had answered him in the thresh- is its true destiny. of the Menorah. This rededication has
ingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he
sacrificed there.
Pretenders and Usurpers since been annually commemorated by the
Jews, observed on the 24th day of the ninth
“For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Jerusalem – the world’s spiritual moun- month, Kislev. The Hebrew word for dedi-
Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar taintop – has long been a natural target for cation is Hanukkah. Many years before, in
of the burnt offering, were at that season in the enemies of God. In the centuries fol- 520 B.C., Haggai prophesied that this day
the high place at Gibeon. lowing the building of Solomon’s Temple, would be observed by the Jews as a day of
“But David could not go before it to Jerusalem became a wonder of the world, great blessing:
inquire of God: for he was afraid because and a pilgrimage center. In the two centu- “Consider now from this day and up-
of the sword of the angel of the LORD” ries before its destruction by Babylonian ward, from the four and twentieth day of
(I Chronicles 21:22-30). forces in 586 B.C., Jerusalem acquired a the ninth month, even from the day that the
Chronicles, the spiritual record of Da- cosmopolitan reputation, with many pub- foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid,
vid’s transaction, provides us with a slightly lic buildings, a fully developed wall and consider it.
different view of the same event. Here, market centers. “Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet
we see that the entire transaction involved After the fall of the northern kingdom and the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegran-
two different payments. The first, paid in Samaria, Assyrian pressure forced Jerusa- ate, and the olive tree, hath not brought
silver, purchased the entire area. In today’s lem to fortify its defensive position. During forth: from this day will I bless you” (Hag.
American money, it would be valued at the reign of King Hezekiah, the fortified 2:18, 19).
perhaps eight thousand dollars. wall of Jerusalem was completed. But after Jesus, Himself, observed Hanukkah,
The second, paid in gold, would equal the evil reign of his son, Manasseh, Jeru- and once used the occasion to declare that
about one-and-a-half million dollars! salem fell into idolatrous decline. Judah’s He was in fact, the Messiah. He came to
Furthermore, this site is referred to, not as last king, Zedekiah, witnessed the fall of Jerusalem in the winter season. In the fol-
a “threshing floor,” but as a “place.” This Jerusalem’s walls, Temple, palaces, and lowing passage, he was asked, point blank,
word is a translation of the Hebrew magom private homes. whether He was the Christ (Anointed One,
[oudn], or “home.” It would correspond to From then until now, a succession of or Messiah):
the location of the Holy of Holies, when powers, dictators, procurators, warriors “And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the
the time came for the Tabernacle to be and clerics have sought to control Jeru- dedication, and it was winter.
erected there. salem. When Nehemiah, cupbearer to the “And Jesus walked in the temple in
This precious spot, paid for in gold, Persian monarch Artaxerxes, completed Solomon’s porch.
completes the real estate record of the the city walls in about 444 B.C., he called “Then came the Jews round about him,
Holy Mountain. Some believe that owner- all Israel together to hear the reading of and said unto him, How long dost thou
ship depends upon mere desire. Its current the Law by Ezra, and to keep the Feast of make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ,
residents contend that Mohammed rose to Tabernacles. tell us plainly.
heaven from there, making it theirs. There Thus, the city arose from the dark days “Jesus answered them, I told you, and
is no real documentation for this. And of Manasseh’s apostasy and the desolation ye believed not: the works that I do in my
even if there were, the original title deed, of the Babylonian captivity. But it quickly Father’s name, they bear witness of me”
preceding Mohammed, and duly recorded fell into what has been called the lowest (John 10:22-25).
in Scripture, would certify Davidic owner- point in its religious history. After the death Then, He answered them conclusively:
ship, to be awarded to the One who comes of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C., the “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).
to claim the throne. Seleucid dynasty began to rule the Middle Hearing this, the Jews sought to stone
In this way, the Bible makes certain East. One of his generals, Seleucus, began Him to death for making Himself God.
that there is no doubt, Jerusalem is not to rule in Syria. His dynasty produced the This was one Hanukkah blessing that they
only a spiritual place, it is a physical place infamous reign of Antiochus IV, Epiphanes, clearly misunderstood, but it was a bless-
— bought and paid for. supreme type of the antichrist, who ruled ing, nevertheless. Jerusalem had once again
Earlier, we observed that Moriah, the place from 175 to 164 B.C. witnessed a spiritual battle upon the Temple
where Abraham took Isaac for sacrifice, was This man plundered the Temple treasure, Mount. From Abraham, through David and
the same geographic location as Salem, and promised that he would destroy Jewish Solomon, the Babylonians, the Seleucids
where he had taken the bread and wine with worship and culture forever. The Jewish and the family of Herod, Jerusalem suffered
Melchizedek. The following verse makes it priests, he scattered or killed, ending the one insult after another.
plainly obvious that this blessed site is iden- daily sacrificial services. He substituted In 520 B.C., the prophet Haggai had
tical with David’s purchase and the location a heroic statue of himself in the Temple’s acknowledged the lineage of the Messiah.
of Solomon’s Temple: Holy of Holies, declaring himself to be Through him, the Lord chose the 24th of
“Then Solomon began to build the house greater than the Lord. Many have pointed Kislev to make the announcement:
of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, to Daniel 11:31 as the prophecy of this “And again the word of the LORD came
where the LORD appeared unto David his heinous act: unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day
father, in the place that David had prepared “And arms shall stand on his part, and of the month, saying,
in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite” they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Ju-
(II Chron. 3:1). and shall take away the daily sacrifice, dah, saying, I will shake the heavens and
To say that Jerusalem is special is to and they shall place the abomination that the earth;
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“And I will overthrow the throne of parlance, “Zion” [ihm] means “something people and upon thy holy city, to finish the
kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength notable,” “a sign or landmark,” “a distinct transgression, and to make an end of sins,
of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will signpost or marker.” Certainly, Jerusalem and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and
overthrow the chariots, and those that ride encompasses all of these meanings, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and
in them; and the horses and their riders more. to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to
shall come down, every one by the sword It is the place of spiritual birth. The anoint the most Holy” (Dan. 9:24).
of his brother. following psalm is precisely aimed at Without going into detail about the proph-
“In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will clarifying this fact. The “gates of Zion” ecy itself, we would call attention to the
I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the is an expression that defines the spiritual focus of the prophecy. First, it is directed
son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will pilgrimage around the Holy City. To be toward “thy people.” These would be the
make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, written in the “Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. twelve tribes of Israel, and the House of
saith the LORD of hosts” (Hag. 2:20-23). 21:27) is to have experienced the new birth. David, in particular. Gabriel’s words are spe-
In the Lord’s legal lineage, given in the This psalm presents Jerusalem as the center cifically aimed at Israel, not the Gentiles.
third chapter of Luke, both Shealtiel and of the new life in Christ: Second, its location is “thy holy city.”
Zerubbabel are mentioned. The latter is “His foundation is in the holy moun- This is Jerusalem, not Rome or New
called a “signet,” the mark and identifica- tains. York City. Time is thus centered upon the
tion of royalty, specifically that of the House “The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more spiritual capital of the world. It is especially
of David. than all the dwellings of Jacob. important to keep this fact in mind, given
The curse that Antiochus Epiphanes “Glorious things are spoken of thee, O the present drive to separate the city from
sought to place upon the royal house be- city of God. Selah. Israel, making it a Gentile prize.
came a blessing, to be celebrated again “I will make mention of Rahab and Earlier, we mentioned that the Gentile
and again over the ages. Jerusalem and the Babylon to them that know me: behold world is now engaged in power politics,
Festival of Dedication are now inseparable. Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man aimed at taking Jerusalem away from the
In fact, there is a recent historical example was born there. Jews. But many have attempted to wrest
that proves it. “And of Zion it shall be said, This and Jerusalem away from the Jews at the spiri-
On November 5, 1914, Britain went to that man was born in her: and the highest tual level, including those Christians who
war against the Turks. By May of 1916, himself shall establish her. believe that the church has inherited the
British, French, Russian and Arab allies had “The LORD shall count, when he writeth promises made to Israel.
arrived at a plan for the partition of Palestine up the people, that this man was born there. Postmillennialists, who believe that the
— today’s Israel. British troops were com- Selah. current age is the millennium, teach that
manded by General Allenby. At the time, “As well the singers as the players on Christians will gradually take possession of
his victory over the Turks was considered instruments shall be there: all my springs the world for Christ. Thus, the church, not
miraculous. A rumor had reached Jerusalem are in thee” (Psalm 87:1-7). Israel, becomes the Kingdom authority. To
that a great army headed by “Allenby” was Jerusalem’s gates are named. Beginning them, David’s throne is figurative.
coming. To the Arab-speaking ear, his name in the north, then proceeding westward Preterists teach that the events of Revela-
sounded like “Allah-bey,” or “Prophet of on a counter-clockwise path downward tion were fulfilled in the first century, as the
God.” Deeming God to be against them, through the Tyropeon Valley, one descends Romans invaded Jerusalem in A.D. 70. In
they ran away. Allenby’s bloodless victory to the dumping ground of the city. It is a effect, God waged war on Israel, and it has
over Jerusalem took place on December 9, metaphoric trip from heaven to hell. But forever ceased to exist as an entity with any
1917 … the Jewish calendar day was the then one proceeds back up the eastern wall claim to prophetic fulfillment.
Gentile Supremacy
24th of Kislev. to the Golden Gate and entrance to the
Haggai’s ancient prophecy had received a Temple, and redemption! The very names
major fulfillment. Jerusalem was secured. of the gates are prophetic. (The whole story In fact, as plain observation tells us, the
appears in the June 2006 Prophecy in the
Zion, God’s Signpost
Gentile powers still consider Jerusalem as
News magazine). their number one goal. That is the very point
Jerusalem is also known as Zion, the place The journey of salvation is written upon of the recent Annapolis conference. The
of Melchizedek’s priesthood, and Abraham’s the face of Jerusalem. It is a prophecy of “wise men” of the West believe that peace
ascent to sacrifice Isaac. Josephus called redemption. will come with the proper division of the
it “the upper city,” the City of David. Its
heights are praised with sublime poetry:
Gabriel’s Proclamation Holy City, so that each contending political
group will receive its share of power and
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be And on that subject, Jerusalem is placed prestige.
praised in the city of our God, in the moun- at the dead center of prophecy by a procla- In Luke’s account of the Olivet Discourse,
tain of his holiness. mation made by no less a personage than the Roman siege of A.D. 70 is mentioned in
“Beautiful for situation, the joy of the the Archangel Gabriel. The axis of all timed the long-term context:
whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides prophecy in the Bible is the seventy-week “And when ye shall see Jerusalem com-
of the north, the city of the great King” prophecy of Daniel. This prophetic period passed with armies, then know that the
(Psalm 48:1,2). begins with a precise historical marker, desolation thereof is nigh.
Zion is a title that carries a very special namely the rebuilding of the ruined Temple “Then let them which are in Judaea flee
meaning. It comes from a word root, lost in in the years following the Babylonian to the mountains; and let them which are in
time, that could mean “sunny and dry.” But Captivity. the midst of it depart out; and let not them
over the centuries, it acquired a very spe- Gabriel’s words address Jerusalem in a that are in the countries enter thereinto”
cial meaning as the title of God’s favorite very special way: (Luke 21:20,21).
place. Biblically, and into today’s Hebrew “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy It is historically true that in the early
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days of the siege, many Jews heeded these David built his city there, and purchased the have peace.
warning words — spoken some forty years ground for the Holy Temple. But Abraham Obviously, the Apostle Paul was given
earlier — and fled northeastward into Syria looked beyond even that early fulfillment. an expansive vision of this fact. He showed
and other countries. Many did not, and were His faith enabled him to see the glory of a how the cross on earth points to peace in
slain by the Roman invaders. The result of Jerusalem that has not yet appeared: the heavens. In his epistle to the Colossians,
the siege was the tragic defeat of Jerusalem “By faith Abraham, when he was called he saw the effect of the cross as penetrating
and all Israel. By A.D. 135, Jews had been to go out into a place which he should after all the way into heaven: “And, having made
forced to flee to the four corners of the earth, receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he peace through the blood of his cross, by
just as Jesus predicted: went out, not knowing whither he went. him to reconcile all things unto himself; by
“And they shall fall by the edge of the “By faith he sojourned in the land of him, I say, whether they be things in earth,
sword, and shall be led away captive into promise, as in a strange country, dwelling or things in heaven” (Col. 1:20).
all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the During the age of the Kingdom, the city
down of the Gentiles, until the times of the heirs with him of the same promise: and its Temple will be rebuilt on a grand
Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). “For he looked for a city which hath and massive scale, and will last a thou-
The “times of the Gentiles” has not yet foundations, whose builder and maker is sand years. But even this will be only a
been fulfilled. In fact, today’s world conflict God” (Hebrews 11:8-10). dim foreshadowing of the final, heavenly
is being driven by the atheistic juggernaut of Jerusalem means “foundation of peace,” Jerusalem, called, “… the holy city, new
Gentile world power. Many Bible prophe- indicating that it is the structure upon which Jerusalem coming down from God out of
cies tell us that soon, their power will fall, rests the hope of the world. Abraham envi- heaven” (Rev. 21:2).
and Israel will rise to inherit Jerusalem, and sioned it in this way; it became the focus Jerusalem is our eternal home — the
the Kingdom. Christ, the Judge, will step of his life’s journey. The “foundations” for place that the Lord has prepared for us.
forward as the agent of their demise. which Abraham looked depended upon the “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall
The Apocalypse — the Day of the Lord work of the One to come. Spiritually, then, prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).
— is still in the future. Jesus described it Jerusalem is more than a city. Satan wants to steal the great city, and
as a time of unparalleled ferocity. There is It is actually the physical picture of even now his plans are being manifested
no historical record of them having plagued Christ’s accomplished action at the cross. there. In the not-too-distant future, a man
the earth. To deny a future Tribulation, one “For other foundation can no man lay will stand up on the ancient mountain and
must spiritualize specific prophecies out of than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” declare that he is God. As we watch all these
existence. (I Cor. 3:11). Through the cross of Christ, things unfold, we know the real truth.
Zechariah’s so-called “Little Apoca- centered in Jerusalem, the world will finally Keep your eyes on Jerusalem! ◆
lypse” speaks of that future day. Like the
We are Podcasting on
other prophets, he ties it specifically to
Jerusalem:
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of
trembling unto all the people round about,
when they shall be in the siege both against
Judah and against Jerusalem.
“And in that day will I make Jerusalem a
the iTunes Store
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though all the people of the earth be gathered
together against it” (Zech. 12:2,3). download a free iTunes player for
At this writing, in December of 2007, your computer. Then go to www.
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all the way back to the covenant that God programs on your hard drive and/
made with Abraham. As we have seen, two
key events in his life were accomplished at or a Video iPod.
the site of the ancient city, the meeting with
Melchizedek and the sacrifice of Isaac. Both You will never have to miss
established spiritual archetypes that would Prophecy in the News.
later become realities. They foreshadow the
finished work of Christ. It’s available - 24/7.
During his lifetime, the city was only a
dream. It would be a millennium before
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A Step Back in Time:
Light on Prophecy
“Is it possible I am in the wrong place?
Is this the Bible Conference on the Return
of Our Lord?”
A woman who had just climbed to the
fourth gallery of the Academy of Music in
Philadelphia asked this question. Evidently
she had just arrived from a distance, as
she deposited her bags on the floor by her
seat, patting a boy for lugging them up the
precipitous stairways for her.
She had taken a glance at the crowded
galleries and floor below, and then at the
stage. The latter did have rather a theatri-
cal appearance. The speakers and Confer-
ence leaders were grouped in the center,
surrounded by a white-clad choir of three
or four hundred women singers, with a
sprinkling of men singers.
“Yes, Madam, this is the Bible Confer- The Academy of Music in Philidelphia (1918) — site of the “Bible Conference on
ence,” said a gentleman on one side of her, the Return of Our Lord” featuring Wm. B. Riley, J. Wilbur Chapman, and others.
while another, on the other side, remarked, counsel, and unanimously decided to issue “love his appearing” or who are earnestly
“The Lord has a whole lot of people who a “call” for such a Conference. seeking light on this subject to meet in the
love His appearing.” [Below is the “call” for a Bible Academy of Music, Philadelphia, on May
With arms akimbo she stood gazing Conference on the Return of Our Lord] 28th, 29th and 30th, 1918, with eminently
at the crowd and exclaimed, “Well, I do “In the shadow of the tragedy of world- safe and sane pastors and Bible teachers
declare!” wide war Christians everywhere have been of different denominations, to consider
The visiting woman had not expected burdened in spirit and bewildered in mind prayerfully the teachings of Scripture as to
a “Korean” revival crowd. Indeed, she by the complex conditions of the hour. But the Lord’s return.
was fortunate to get in at all that day. The with an eagerness springing from a sense of “We believe that great personal blessing
seating capacity of the Academy of Music personal need and a newly awakened desire and a widely extended testimony may result
was 3,300, and on the first evening and the to know the purposes of God as revealed in from fellowship and study at a conference
second and third afternoon and evening His Word, many are turning with intense in which eager hearts turn to the unerring
the Academy overflowed. On the third interest, and many indeed with restful as- Word of God, to learn in unhurried, prayer-
evening the overflow filled two floors of surance, to the prophetic utterances of the ful study what that Word plainly teaches
a church, the Chambers-Wylie Memorial, Word of God for light. about the personal return of the Lord Jesus,
and in turn, the overflow overflowed into “Among all the questionings in the hearts and the practical bearing of this truth upon
the Witherspoon Hall. of God’s people, none seem to press so ur- our duty as Christians today.
The attendance and enthusiasm at the gently for a dear answer as those concerning “In view of the worldwide desire for clear
Bible Conference on the Return of our Lord, the personal return of the Lord Jesus. Many light on this theme, we rejoice in the state-
held in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Wednesday Christians have never until now sought to ment of truths concerning our Lord’s return
and Thursday, May 28, 29 and 30, 1918, know what the Scriptures really teach about and a call to the churches recently issued
passed far beyond the expectations of the “the blessed hope,” and others have been by a notable group of British brethren, and
management of the Conference. diverted from such study by the confusion the unusual response to that call on the part
A Philadelphia businessman was so im- of voices on this theme, even though it oc- of the churches; and in numerous signs of
pressed by the great Advent meetings held cupies such a pivotal place of importance interest from the home churches, the mission
in London in the autumn of 1917 that he was in the Bible. field, the army camps, and from trained and
led to confer informally with a few earnest “Moved, therefore, by the hope that a untrained students of the Bible everywhere.
fellow Christians, and, with their prayerful Bible Conference on the return of our Lord It is to unite in securing and in giving light
approval, call together a larger group of and related events, such as the regathering on this theme and to present an unhesitat-
ministers and laymen of Philadelphia to of Israel and the fulfilment of prophecy ing scriptural testimony that all interested
consider holding a widely representative concerning the end of the age, may be used are earnestly invited to this conference, the
Conference on the Return of the Lord. Ac- by the Holy Spirit for the enlightenment details of which will be announced later”
cordingly, on January 19, 1918, thirty-five of many believers and for the salvation [signed by thirty-five men, including C. I. Sco-
ministers and laymen met for prayer and of the lost, the undersigned invite all who field, Wm. B. Riley, R. A. Torrey, and others].
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and that God will bless our nation and our problems of the hour.
Greeting by the Chairman allies. We trust that the especial blessing And Resolves: If our Lord tarry, that a
Charles L. Huston, Chairman of the of God will be upon the sessions of this great world Bible Conference be held at
Conference Committee, Vice-President conference, because of the light that shall Philadelphia May 27th to June 1st, 1919.
Program of the Conference
and General Manager of the Lukens Steel be thrown upon present conditions from
Co. at Coatesville, Pa., and Chairman of the Scriptures. We are seeking to find out
the General Assembly’s Committee on what the Scriptures have for us; what saith It might be well also to give an outline
Evangelism of the Presbyterian Church, V. the Lord; not to fit a private or pet theory, of the program of the conference. You will
S. A., presiding, Tuesday morning session but to learn what God hath spoken. notice that on Tuesday the general topic
of the Conference, introduced Rev. Orson “In Deut. 29:29, we read: ‘The secret will be, “Teachings Fundamental to the
R. Palmer, Pastor Berachah Church, Phila- things belong unto the Lord our God but Return of Our Lord,” in order to establish
delphia, Home Director, Africa Inland Mis- those things which are revealed belong to the basis of the whole conference. As stated
sion for North America, who conducted the us and to our children for ever, that we may before, the keynote of the first day’s confer-
devotional period, assisted by Rev. Harry do all the words of this law’; so the things ence is “Humiliation”; on the second day,
D. Tillis, Rev. W. W. Rugh, Rev. Wm. B. that are revealed belong to us; It. behooves tomorrow, the general topic will be, “The
Riley, and Rev, P. W. Philpott. us to seek the illumination of the Holy Return of Our Lord as Related to Present
Mr. Huston, in opening the conference, Spirit upon the revelation: of God through Conditions,” and all the teachings will
said: “Our beloved friends and brothers and the Spirit in His blessed Word, that we may bear upon that part of the whole subject.
sisters in Christ: I take it that it is not out know what He has given us; and we are here The keynote of tomorrow is “Exaltation
of place for those who have issued the call for this purpose. The call that was issued by of Christ.” On Thursday, the closing day,
for this conference, to give such a greeting thirty-five Christian men inviting you to this the general topic assigned is “The Return
to you who have so splendidly responded. Bible Conference on the Return of Our of Our Lord in the Program of Prophecy,”
To you who have come in response to the Lord, is before us, and it seems proper that and the keynote of that day is “Praise.” The
call, at the very outset we want to say that it should be read at this time. doctrine of the return of our Lord will be
the attitude of the conference committee, of [Next, They Issued a “Call” for taught from the Word of prophecy, coupled
the speakers, and, we trust and believe, of A World Conference] with the question, “What Manner of Per-
all those who are here, is that of absolute This Bible Conference on the Return of sons Ought We to Be?” What application
patriotism, absolute loyalty to the ‘powers Our Lord, held at Philadelphia this May has the doctrine to our conduct and to our
that be.’ Our Lord has commanded us in 28th, 29th and 30th, 1918, adopts the fol- daily activities?
His Word to ‘render to Caesar the things lowing statement of belief: We are to have the pleasure of hearing
that are Caesar’s and to God the things First: We believe that the Bible is the from Rev. Harris H. Gregg, formerly pas-
that are God’s.’ inerrant, one and final Word of God; and, tor of the First Presbyterian Church of St.
“Paul, in the 13th chapter of his Epistle therefore, is our only authority. Louis, where Dr. James H. Brookes, that
to the Romans, tells us that ‘the powers Second: We believe in the Deity of our valiant servant of God and teacher of God’s
that be are ordained of God. Whosoever Lord Jesus Christ; that He is very God; and Word, formerly ministered. Mr. Gregg is
therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the in His substitutionary death, as an atone- now the pastor of the Elim Chapel, Win-
ordinance of God.’ Again, the apostle ex- ment for sin; in His bodily resurrection and nipeg, Canada; and he will address us on
horts believers to be subject to the powers ascension and the certainty of His second the subject, “Hath God spoken?” in order to
‘not only for wrath, but also for conscience appearance “without sin unto salvation.” start off with the foundation of God’s own
sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also,’ Third: We believe that our Lord’s Word for the entire basis of all our teachings
recognizing the civil authorities and render- prophetic Word is at this moment finding and all our conclusions.
ing obedience unto them because they are remarkable fulfilment; and that it does [Charles Huston, Chairman of the Confer-
ordained of God. indicate the nearness of the close of this ence Committee, then left the platform and
“It seems particularly fitting that at this age, and of the coming of our Lord Jesus Rev. Harris Gregg approached the pulpit and
time the program notices of the different Christ delivered the first message of the conference,
days of the conference should be given. The Fourth: We believe that the completed entitled …]
Hath God Spoken?
keynote for the first day is ‘Humiliation’; church will be translated to be forever with
the second day, ‘Exaltation of Christ’; and the Lord.
the third, and closing day, ‘Praise.’ This Fifth: We believe that there will be a Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Scriptures
program is one that recognizes the need gathering of Israel to her land in unbelief, are our theme this morning, in reply to the
of absolute dependence upon God and of and she will be afterward converted by the question of the topic “Hath God Spoken?”
humiliation before Him. appearance of Christ on her behalf. The subject, of course, is the inspiration of
“We are also to bear in mind the procla- Sixth: We believe that all human schemes the Word of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ
mation that has just been issued by President of reconstruction must be subsidiary to the fills the eye of God; He fills the lips of the
[Woodrow] Wilson, calling upon the people coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, because Holy Ghost; He fills the mouth of the Word
of the United States to spend, not only one all nations will be subject to His rule. of God; He fills the heart of His church. Our
day, but the entire week, in humiliation and Seventh: We believe that under the reign Lord is the only thing that the church is in
prayer before Almighty God, confessing our of Christ there will be a further great effu- God’s sight, He is its only righteousness,
sins and placing ourselves in the right at- sion of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh. its only holiness, its only redemption, its
titude before Him, in order that His blessing Eighth: We believe that the truths em- only foundation, its only way to God. He
may be upon us in this time of stress and bodied in this statement are of the utmost is all the truth of God. He is our dwelling
strain and conflict; praying that our leaders importance in determining Christian char- place, our food, and our blessed hope.
may be guided, that we all may be guided, acter and action in reference to the pressing Christ is all.
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The attention is called, in the first place, the Lord our righteousness in Jeremiah; the thing — the first man and the Last Man. We
to the fact that ... Man of sorrows in Lamentations; the Mes- read that “In the beginning God created the
heaven and the earth,” and the last thing
Our Lord Jesus Christ Is siah who comes and is cut off in Daniel,
getting nothing, and coming the second he created was man; that man became
The Theme of the Scriptures time as the Son of man in the clouds of a chaos, and turned his dominion into a
He is the Lord and Seed of the woman in heaven and getting everything then. He is chaos through sin. But before God created
Genesis, the Lord and Seed of Abraham, our risen Savior and Son of God in Hosea. the heaven and the earth, He purposed that
Isaac, Jacob and Judah. When the Holy He fills each one of the minor prophets. He a man should be over his work, and not an
Spirit is telling us of the first man, He has is the King of the Jews, rejected but risen, angel; but He purposed that His Son should
our Lord in mind as the Last Man. When in Matthew; the Servant in Mark; the Lord be that Man. So when this first man went
He is telling us of the substitute, He has and Seed of the woman in Luke; the Son of to pieces through sin, and death marked
Christ in mind as our Substitute. When He God in John; our ascended Lord and Christ his entire being — spirit, soul, and body
is telling us of Noah, who, on the basis of in Acts; our Righteousness in Romans; the — God did not have to change an iota of
that sacrifice which pointed to Calvary, Firstfruits from the dead in Corinthians; the His purpose. For His purpose and counsels
takes possession of the renewed earth, He Authority and Theme of Paul’s apostleship all centered in His Son, who should be the
has in mind our Lord Jesus Christ, who, in Galatians. He is the Head of the church Last Man.
on the basis of His sacrifice for sin, some and Head over all things to the church in He did not send His Son into this world
day is going to take possession of the new Ephesians; our Lord Jesus Christ in Philip- immediately upon this first man’s sinning.
Earth. When He is telling us of Abraham, pians; the fullness of the Godhead in Colos- He waited a long time, until the fullness
the stranger coming from a far country and sians; our great High Priest who is passed of time, in order to allow this first man to
living a life of faith and having nothing into the heavens in Hebrews; and in the show what he became when he became a
but a grave there, He has in mind a greater Book of Revelation He is the Throne-sitter, sinner; and all human history, from the sin
Stranger, coming from a farther country, now upon a throne of grace, later a throne of of Adam in the Garden of Eden unto the
and living a life of faith in this Word in that judgment, and then the throne of His glory. cross of Jesus Christ, is but the story of
same land, and getting nothing but a cross. “In the volume of the book it is written of what that man became when he became a
When He is telling us of the miraculous me,” He says, in the 40th Psalm and in the sinner. That man, through sin, brought death
birth of Isaac, his being laid on the altar, 10th chapter of Hebrews. How familiar upon himself, and upon his whole race. He
and on the third day rising, as a figure of our Lord was with the Scripture! When murdered the whole human race; he became
speech; He is thinking of the virgin birth of His ministry is recorded in the Gospels, like Satan — a murderer and a liar — upon
our Lord Jesus, and the story of His Calvary He speaks of creation and of marriage, and his becoming a sinner. That man started this
and His resurrection on the third day. When refers to Satan in the beginning as we have war — not the Kaiser. That man started all
He is telling us of Israel, a prince of peace recorded in the third chapter of Genesis. He your sin and all your suffering, and dug all
with God and man, He is thinking of our speaks of Abel in the 4th chapter of Genesis, of your graves. When he had fully shown
Lord. When He is telling us of Jesus, that He speaks of Noah, He speaks of Abraham, himself to be nothing but dead in trespasses
great Sufferer of the Old Testament, who He speaks of Moses, He speaks of David and sins, from which God could get noth-
through suffering entered into His glory and Elijah, and Elisha, and of John, and ing for Himself, nor for man, God sent
again, He is thinking of “the sufferings of of Daniel the prophet. How constantly He His Son, born of a virgin, and growing up
Christ, and the glories that should follow.” used the Scriptures, and always as being through thirty years of obscurity. And when
Our Lord is the Lamb of God in Exodus; the words of God! He showed Himself and the first man met
the High Priest of Leviticus; the Star out Our Lord is not only the Theme of the Him, through his Jewish and Gentile seed,
of Jacob in Numbers; the Prophet like unto Scriptures. In the second place, your atten- the first man put Him to death. He could
Moses in Deuteronomy; the Captain of the tion is called to the fact that ... not stand the holiness of the Son of God,
Our Lord Jesus Christ Is the
host of the Lord in Joshua; the Messenger for he was a sinner. He could not stand His
of Jehovah in Judges; our Kinsman in Ruth; humiliation, for Satan promised to make
the Lord and Seed of David in Samuel; the Example of Its Perfect Standard him as God. He could not stand His unself-
King of kings and Lord of lords in Kings In other words, he lived the Word of ishness, for he is the embodiment of self.
and Chronicles; the Lord of heaven and God, and His life was as true as that Word So he crucified Him; but, on the third day,
earth in Ezra and Nehemiah; our Mordecai of God. That Word of God molded in Him God raised Him from the dead; and, raised
sitting on the throne in Esther. In Job, He and produced the only perfect, sinless life from the dead, He becomes the beginning
is our risen Redeemer. In the Psalms, He is that there is any record of in the Word of of the new creation of God, and the Last
just about everything. He is the happy Man God. He lived it. Were it possible for Him Man in reference to that man. The first
of the first Psalm; the Son of God of the to have lived a lie, it were possible for that man was made a living soul; the Last Man,
second; the Son of man of the eighth, under not to be the Word of God. It is impossible a quickening spirit; and He breathed His
whose feet some day all of creation shall be for it to be anything but the absolute and own eternal, risen, saving life in the upper
placed; the risen Man of the 16th Psalm; eternal Word of God. room the day of His resurrection upon those
the persecuted Man of the 22nd; the Shep- In the third place, your attention is called who had received Him. Now He is seated
herd of the 23rd; the King of glory of the to the fact that ... at God’s right hand, continuing His work
Our Lord Jesus Christ Is the
24th; our Savior in the 51st; the King of the of new creation, forming His church, every
72nd; our great High Priest after the order member of which is a new creature in Christ
of Melchizedek, of the 110th; the One who Viewpoint of the Word of God Jesus. After He completes His church, He
leads everything that hath breath in praising Let us get our bearings. This book is will return and establish the kingdom of His
God in the 150th Psalm. He is the suffering largely the history of two men. In God’s father David; that will be a part of the new
and then the glorified One in Isaiah; He is sight, only two men have ever done any- creation. After that, there will be the new
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heaven and the new earth, and the former that first man, you will live for evermore. know Him as the Lamb of God. You know
heaven and earth shall be remembered no That man got himself into a fix when he Him as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. You
more for ever; and Satan, sin, and death can sinned; he got himself into a box, and that know Him as the Last Man, of which the
never stain with the distant touch a portion was his casket, and we were all born in his first man Adam was a type. He made all
of the new creation in Christ Jesus. Out of casket. He has built universities around his Creation turn its face toward Himself and
the side of the Adam, God took Eve, and head in Babylonia, in Egypt, in Greece, in tell the story of His coming, His person,
from Eve a race has been born. Out of the Germany, in England, and in New England, and His work.
wounded side of God, a new creation — a and throughout Canada, but he cannot think The Lord Jesus Christ was born of a
race — is formed, that is nearer and dearer of himself out of being dead in trespasses virgin by the Holy Ghost, representing life
to God than all the principalities and powers and sins. He has marvelous hands, and he from the dead. God, in Creation, in history,
that worship around that burning throne at has wrought inventions beyond human de- and in redemption, has always shown Him-
this moment. scription. Arts have been created and lost, self to be life from the dead — the resurrec-
This Book is the viewpoint of this Last so numerous have been all the works of tion of life. He put Adam to sleep, and Eve,
Man, (pointing upward), and every other his hand, but he has never worked himself and all the human race; and He never looks
book that has ever been written is the book out of that casket. He has built cities, and into the face of a human being, but He is
and viewpoint of this man (pointing down- civilizations, and eras around those feet, but reminded that, when He created the human
ward). All other books are the books of he has never walked out of that casket. No race, He showed Himself to be the God of
the dead. This Book alone is the Book of one ever comes out of that casket, but by resurrection. When he gave Isaac to Sarah,
the Living One. Satan played this trick on the words of the Son of God. “The hour is who never had a son, He represented life
mother. He intruded his lie (placing man’s coming, and now is” He says, “when the from the dead; and He never looks into the
book between eye and Bible) between dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, face of a Jew without remembering that, as
God’s Word and our mother, and got her to and they that hear shall live,” and when He God of the covenant of Abraham and Jacob,
look at God’s Word, which said, “In the day takes us out of that casket, he never shoves He showed Himself to be the God of resur-
that thou eatest, thou shalt surely die.” He us back. rection. When He sent His only Son into the
persuaded her to look at this book through The blood washes sin away. Sin cannot world, He must needs again show Himself
his lie, and she gave this up (God’s Word), wash blood away. How did God plan this to be the God of resurrection and was vir-
and became like Satan and gave birth to her new Creation of His? By having His Son gin-born. Later, on the third day, He was
firstborn, a murderer and a liar. This is the become the Son of man, to fall in this old raised from the dead, and He has provided
method of God. Through this Book (hold- sin-and-death-stricken Creation as a grain a like redemption for all who receive Him
ing Bible between eye and man’s book), of wheat falls into the ground and dies; for their Savior and their Lord. Mary spoke
look at every other book that has ever been and out of the death of Jesus Christ, out of of God as her Savior, knowing herself in her
written and you will give this book (man’s His tomb, He takes you and He takes me, nature to be a sinful woman, and produced
book) up. The Pharisees (placing man’s He takes His church; He takes all the titles a sinless Christ; and the same Holy Spirit is
book between eye and Bible), through that he possesses as a man, He takes His able to take forty fallible men, sinful men,
their schoolbooks, looked. at Christ in His high priesthood; He takes His kingdom; and produce a sinless Word of God. And
Word, and crucified Him. The Sadducees, He takes His right as a Man to sit on God’s the divine and the human in Christ is but
through Greek learning and Babylonian throne, before which angels stoop and veil the archetype of the divine and human, and,
culture, looked at Christ and Moses and their faces and worship. Out of that tomb though human, sinless and errorless — the
the Prophets, and joined in crucifying Him. He has taken His church; out of it He has verbally inspired words of a living God.
Those who received Him simply as Christ taken, already in title, the kingdom of His The highest reach of man’s intellect in all
and the Word of God, looked at all else and father David; out of it He has taken the new the centuries of things has been this, that
received Him and proclaimed Him to be heaven and the new earth. And so we have God must be, and God therefore is.
the Son of God. When the church in Rome, this Book as the viewpoint of the Lord Jesus The human intellect cannot reach the
listening to Babylonian culture, locked this Christ. But, more than that, bottom of that revelation by a billion cen-
The Lord Jesus Christ Is the
Book up and only looked at it through what turies of life, traveling at one hundred and
it had formed through Babylonian culture, eighty-six thousand miles a second. Our
they came to the point where they would not Archetype of this Book Lord Jesus Christ, being God, often speaks
allow this Book to be even read. But all that Creation is His unwritten Word. The of Himself in a threefold manner, for God is
God gave to Luther was just to bring this Bible is His written Word, and He Himself One in Three and Three in One. He says, “I
Book out, this way (bringing the Bible out is the living Word. The unwritten Word of am the way, the truth, and the life.” He also
from under man’s book and placing, it as God in Creation runs into the written Word speaks of Himself, in Revelation, as the One
the glass through which to see every other for its fulfilment, for the interpretation of “that was, and is, and is to come,” and this
book), and look at the church of Rome and its parables and types and teachings, as the is the only Book capable of treating all sub-
of Reformation again. Old Testament runs into the New Testament jects, that speaks of that threefold manner
All unbelief is but one method from the for its fulfilment and interpretation of the in which Christ Himself is the Archetype
Garden of Eden till Satan shall be put in promises, types and parables; and both of the past, and the present, and the future.
the pit. It is just this. It does not matter center in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, That is the only Book that will tell you of
what form of Hinduism, or Pantheism or He points to Creation as familiarly as He man’s past, his origin; that will explain man
science, if you permit anything to intrude pointed to the tabernacle, as he tells His today to himself, and tell man’s future. That
itself between the Word of that living and own story. Pointing to the sun. He says, “I is the only Book that will tell you of the past
enthroned Last Man, you will give Him am the Light of the world.” You know Him of sin, the present fear and power of sin,
up and be lost. But if, through Him and as the Rock of ages. You know Him as the and the future of sin. It is alone the Book
His Book, you look down into the tomb of Hyssop. You know Him as the Seer. You that will tell you of the past of salvation,
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