PROPHECY
Stones from the Western Wall of Herod’s Temple thrown down by Roman soldiers in AD 70.
“And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
(Matthew 24:1-2)
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ... For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you."
Philippians 1:21, 23-24
"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
Colossians 3:4
Unless otherwise stated the articles are by David W. Norris
"It is sufficient for us to know, that God's mode of procedure has always been at variance with that which man in his wisdom vainly proposes; and that when a new era has arrived, it has been inaugurated strictly in accord with His own Word but never in accord with popular expectations. The views so universally prevalent on this subject, so opposite to the simple language of the Bible and the child-like faith of the early Church, are, on this ground alone, open to suspicion. It is enough for us to receive predictions, and, actuated by the past literal fulfilment, by faith in God, to believe them as recorded without the addition of another and differing sense, and of apologies for the ancient weakness and credulity."
George N. H. Peters in THE THEOCRATIC KINGDOM, (Vol. 2, p.80)
"It lies in the nature of the case that Christian eschatology, the more the course of time advances, must become less and less an unimportant appendix, and more and more a locus primarius of Christian doctrine."
J. P. Lange COMMENTARY ON LUKE, p.326
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ARTICLES ON PROPHECY
by Dr J. C. Ryle, first bishop of Liverpool (from 1816-1900)
THE SECOND ADVENT
Of all the doctrines of the Gospel, the one about which Christians have become most unlike the first Christians, in their sense of its true value, is the doctrine of Christ’s second advent. I am obliged to say this of all denominations of Protestants. I know’ not of any exception. In our view of man’s corruption, of justification by faith, of our need of the sanctifying work of the Spirit, the sufficiency of Scripture--upon all these points I believe we should find the English believers were much of one mind with believers at Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, or Rome, in former times. But in our view of the second advent of Christ, I fear we should find there was a mighty difference between us and them if our experience could be compared. I am afraid we should find that we fall woefully short of them in our estimate of its importance: that in our system of doctrine it is a star of the fifteenth magnitude, while in theirs it was one of the first. In one word, we should discover, that compared with them in this matter, ac slumber and sleep.
THY KINGDOM COME
These words are part of the Lord’s Prayer. Did you ever consider what they mean? Did you ever consider what they mean? The subject is one about which many mistakes prevail. It is one about which is most important to your own comfort to have clear views. Give me your attention, while I try to explain to you the kingdom of God
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More articles will appear on this very important and relevant theme
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"Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:20)
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We shall see Him as He is ―
Let this hope in us undying,
Keep us pure as He is pure,
All the wiles of sin denying.
Then shall we be satisfied,
Ended all the soul’s endeavour;
We shall see Him as He is,
Ans shall reign with Him forever.
FOR FURTHER READING
Below are books, perhaps not so well known some of them, I have found helpful. Most will only be available secondhand. Try to avoid modern re-written versions.
STUDIES IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL Robert Dick Wilson (1856-1930)
The best defence of the historicity and integrity of Daniel's prophecies of which I am aware. He was professor of semitic languages and Old Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary from 1900 to 1930, a time when there were several very reliable theologians teaching there. I do not necessary accept everything Mr Wilson says, but his writings reflect the belief that the whole Bible is the Word of God and they are therefore trustworthy.
THE APPROACHING ADVENT OF CHRIST Alexander Reese (1881-1969)
A examination of the teaching of J. N. Darby and his followers, the result of over twenty years of study. Mr Reese sets forth in a concise and scholarly way the plain teaching of the Bible on many perplexing matters, including 'the great tribulation'. This book was an invaluable guide when I was struggling with this subject some years ago. Highly recommended.
THE VISIONS AND PROPHECIES OF ZECHARIAH David Baron (1855-1926)
David Baron was a Jewish Christian and writes with a unique insight on Israel. Martin Luther called the prophecy of Zechariah the 'quintessence' of Old Testament prophecy because of his condensation of much that other Old Testmaent prophets had written about the Messiah. Here is an excellent description of the conversion to Christ of the Jewish nation at the end of the age. Most helpful.
THE THEOCRATIC KINGDOM (in 3 volumes) George N. H. Peters (1825-1909)
A most exhaustive treatment of the whole subject of prophecy, very highly recommended. A Lutheran pastor, his views were not widely accepted by his fellow ministers and he suffered much because of it. In 1952, Dr Wilbur Smith wrote in the Preface to a reprint of the work, "No writer of a major work in the field of biblical interpretation in modern times could have lived and died in greater oblivion, and experienced less reconition for a great piece of work, than the author of these three great volumes devoted to biblical prophecy ... Yet, this clergyman, never becoming nationally famous, never serving large churches, passing away in such comparative obscurity ... wrote the most important single work on biblical predictive prophecy to appear in this counry at any time during the nineteenth century."
THE THOUSAND YEARS Nathaniel West (1826-1906)
Wilbur Smith describes the author, Nathaniel West, as a "scholar of unquestioned ability and deep insight into the Word of God," and this book as "the most learned work on the subject of the Millennium ever to appear in the English language."
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