ALWAYS BE READY!
Today-just as the Apostle Peter predicted-many scoffers and unbelievers, who deny the accuracy and the authority of the Bible, has come.
“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:1-4).
They claim the Bible was written by mere men and thus, they look for contradictions and errors - convincing themselves the Bible has no credibility and has no authority over their lives.
History proves many others have had opposite views of the Bible - men who knew the Bible was divinely inspired. Whatever one's view point, believer or skeptic, the Bible has been proven to be the most influential book ever written.
Abe Lincoln, the most quoted President stated: “The Bible is the best gift God has given to man. All of the good of the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book!”
The Bible profoundly influenced the course of all Western civilization. Our social values and legal system is based on Biblical laws and teachings.
George Washington, the founding father said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” President Andrew Jackson stated: “That book is the rock on which our Republic stands!”
Anyone who makes an honest in-depth study, with an open mind, will find absolute evidence from archeology, history and fulfilled prophecy, that the Bible is truly the inspired Word of God.
In spite of the evidence through-out history, and even up to today, many theologians, religious leaders, critics, un-believers, and scoffers continue to discredit and profane the Bible. Some religious leaders claim we should not expect the Bible to reveal accurate scientific or historical facts. Some teach and believe the stories of Noah, Jonah are only myth or allegory! They deny the accuracy of the Bible, yet teach people to embrace a book that cannot be trusted in their view.
In the past, Popes, and Catholic leaders tried to suppress the truth and different parts of the Bible. In the 4th century, the book of Revelation was banned-forbidden to be read by the Catholic Church! Why? Because it revealed the coming millennium rule of Christ on the earth. During that time period the Roman Empire was considered to be the Kingdom of God. The Catholic Church wanted to suppress the truth of God's coming rule on the earth. Pagan Roman Emperors made attempts to destroy the scriptures by burning or banning the Bible.
God warns through the Apostle Paul of those who deliberately suppress or hold back the truth! “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Rom 1:18-20).
God says, “.....Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). Years ago, in Spokesman's Club, several of the Club members were asked to respond to this scripture. No one, myself included, was able to give a convincing answer. Ask yourself, “If I were asked today-could I give a convincing answer to the critics if they asked for a reason, or for a defense of my beliefs for the hope that is in me?”
The Bible claims to be divine, the very Word of God. “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 Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21).
In the book of Matthew Christ said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matt 24:14). Many of us have witnessed the fulfilling of this prophecy under the leadership of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong as he was able to reach around the world with the message of Christ and still today, God's truth is going out to all the world! Christ said, “...... unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).
God's Word carries power and a study of the scripture can give us the ammunition needed to refute the critics. It points to the Creator of all that is! In Genesis 1:1, the Bible says, “In the beginning God...” It does not say evolution or science, or the Big Bang! It says “God created the heaven and the earth.” Through-out Genesis chapters 1 and 2, the scriptures reveal all of God's creation, including man and the Sabbath day. His re-creation also includes the laws of the universe - the laws of physics, chemistry and gravity. Because God's laws are absolute and designed, all things function in harmony. The creation is self evident and it demands a creator. When we behold all that we see and experience, we know that the creation is proof of God!
But to the skeptic, the creation is not enough. Many today claim the Bible is nothing more than myths and allegories. Some scoff at the story of Noah, claiming there is no way it could be true. But, did Christ believe it was true? The scriptures say that He did!
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Matt 24:36-39). Christ spoke of Noah as a fact of history!
Some claim the story of Jonah also could not be true, that no one could live for three days and night in the belly of a big fish. When reading the words of Christ, on this one point they may be correct. Jonah was commissioned by God to go to Ninevah and warn them of God's coming wrath because of their sins. Jonah tried to run away and boarded a ship bound for Tarshish. God brought a storm against them. The seaman feared for their lives and cast lots to determine who was to blame for their peril. “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights” (Jonah 1:1-2,7,15-17).
So, did Christ believe the story of Jonah was true? Once again the scriptures say that He did! The scriptures also indicate that possibly, Jonah was a type of Christ death, burial and resurrection!! “Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from Thee. But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here” (Matt 12:38-41).
Christ said as Jonah was three days and nights in the fish's belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, Christ was dead! So possibly, Jonah prayed just before he died and was resurrected when the big fish belched him up on the beach. The scoffers do not claim that the “queen of the south” is a myth, because they know it is a proven fact of history. “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here” (Matt 12:42). Christ mentions both Jonah and the queen as historical facts!
In Luke 10:18, Christ said, “I beheld Satan as lightening fall from heaven.” Here Christ speaks plainly of His existence prior to human birth. Christ believed the story of Jonah and Noah was true because He was there. He witnessed both events. For the skeptics to claim Noah and Jonah to be a myth, defies the words of Christ and God the Father. “Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things. And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him” (John 8:28-29).
To those who say the Bible is full of apparent contradictions; a close scrutiny of the scriptures reveal other wise. For example, we read where the Israelites began to commit whoredom with the daughter of Moab. Because of this they suffered a severe plague that killed 24,000 people (Num. 25:9). Then we see the Apostle Paul speak of this same event and there appears to be an error. “Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand” (1 Cor 10:8). Paul said that 23,000 was killed in one day. The plague obviously entered a second day, where another 1,000 people perished!
The death of Judas Iscariot appears to be in error also. “Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself”(Matt 27:3-5). Matthew's account says he hanged himself. The same event in the book of Acts appears to describe a different circumstance in the death of Judas: “Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out” (Acts 1:16-18). This same event was written by two different men at different times. The Apostle Peter says that they spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. “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 Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Both accounts are true. Judas did hang himself and after several days as his body decayed, the rope broke, pitching his body head long and his bowels gushed out.
God claims in His Word that He can predict the future and bring it to pass. The prophet Isaiah wrote of God's challenge to the heathen to do the same. “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure”(Isa 46:9-10). Only God can accurately predict the future. He can do it, He has done it and He will bring to pass prophecies yet in the future.
Fulfilled prophecy distinguishes the Bible from any other book. Many prophecies have come true and can be confirmed by history. There are many prophecies yet to be fulfilled. The Old Testament scriptures accurately foretold in detail the Life, Death and Resurrection of the Savior of the world. All of the prophecies pertaining to His life were fulfilled and on time! Compare Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23. Jesus was born of a virgin and be called Immanuel. Also compare: Micah 5:2 with Matthew 2:38 - born in Bethlehem. Matthew 1:1 with Luke 3:1-a descendant of King David. Hosea 11:1 with Matthew 2:13-15 - He was to sojourn in Egypt. Jeremiah 31:15 with Matthew 2:16-18 - His birth was to cause a massacre of little children. Isaiah 9:1-2 with Matthew 19-23 - He would live in Galilee. Zech 9:9 with Matthew 21:1-5 - He would enter Jerusalem on a donkey. Isaiah 53:9-12 with Matthew 27:57 - He would die with transgressors and be buried in the tomb of a rich man. Jonah 1:17 with Matthew 12:40 - He would die and be resurrected after three days and three nights.
These prophecies all came to pass and were recorded in the Old Testament hundred of years before Christ came to this earth. The fulfillment of these prophecies should demonstrate to any rational mind that Jesus was the Messiah, the very Son of God.
History proves the Bible to be true, the inspired Word of God. But even in the light of all of the evidence, the skeptics still refute the authority of the Bible. So the reality is, even when we give a convincing answer for the hope that is in us, the skeptics will remain so!
Jesus said in John 6:44, “No man can come to Me except the Father which has sent Me draw him.” The vast majority of people today can not understand because of spiritual blindness. The skeptics do not know that the prophet Isaiah wrote of a time soon coming when the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord. “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Isa 11:9).
In the future their minds will be open to the truth and then they will realize that another prophecy of God's Word which they deny today will have come to pass!!
James D. Carlisle