Vol. 88 No. 1,037 April 2018 TESTIMONY For the study and defence of the holy Scripture 125 Cultivating personal holiness

Also in this issue: Learning the right lessons 133 When did the Last Supper take place? 136 Morning alongside the Sea of Galilee 137 Current events in the Middle East 140

Contents

Testimony, April 2018 Contents 119 TESTIMONY

Publishing Editor: JEREMY THOMAS. 22 Kingswood Close, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B30 3NX. Tel. 0121 444 6810; email: [email protected] Contents Section Editors: DAVID BURGES. 7 Whitehead Drive, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9PW. Tel. 01789 842692; Publishing Editor’s column The cherubim of glory email: [email protected] 121 Science; Archaeology Miriam of Masada 9. Whirling wheels and fire Barbara Booker David Green 143 EDWARD CARR. 46 New Street, 123 Donisthorpe, DE12 7PG. The highway of holiness You know not the day Tel. 01530 271522; 1. Personal holiness nor the hour email: [email protected] Shaun Maher 146 Exhortation A. and M. Smith 125 “In the days when the Pertinent pronouns (5) SHAUN MAHER. 5 Birch Court, Geoff Henstock 148 Doune, FK16 6JD. judges ruled” Tel. 01786 842996; 4. “There was no king Your Letters email: [email protected] in Israel” Judgement to come 149 Watchman Peter Forbes 130 Russia is preparing for ERIC MARSHALL. The Pines, The hoopoe bird war—is Trump? Ling Common Road, Castle Handling the Word honestly Paul Cresswell 150 Rising, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, Wilfred Alleyne PE31 6AE. Tel. 01553 631279; 133 Just Lot (2) email: [email protected] Was the Last Supper held Philip Weatherall 153 Exposition on the Passover night? Give attendance to reading . . . JEREMY THOMAS (see above) Geoff Henstock 136 in May, June and July Principles, preaching and ­problems Glorious day Geoff Henstock 157 GEOFF HENSTOCK. 13 ­Alpha Bob Blundell 137 York scenes Crescent, ­Panorama 5041, 4. Former York Minster S. Australia. Tel. 8277-0730; email: News from the nations [email protected] Shaun Maher 140 Library Australia Editor; Prophecy; “Lift up your heads” (Review) Neil Galilee VIII Reviews John Nicholls 141 Testimony books

Articles for publication Articles to be considered for publication are welcome and should be Testimony website: forwarded to the Publishing Editor (in Australia, the local editor) in the http://testimonymagazine.com first instance.

Publication of articles in the Testimony does not presume editorial endorsement except on matters of fundamental doctrine, as defined in the Birmingham Amended Statement of Faith. VII “Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, ‘Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb. You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning’” (Ex. 12:21,22, NASB). “[Solomon] spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows on the wall” (1 Kgs. 4:33, NASB). “Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Ps. 51:7, NASB).

Cover picture: Hyssop Publishing Editor’s column N THIS MONTH’S editorial there are a number unnecessary enquiries will increase her work- of items of news to share with readers, and load, and will not result in you receiving your Iseveral invitations to help with the production magazine any quicker! of the magazine. As in previous years, it will be possible to purchase extra copies of the Special Issue in * * * * * both printed and electronic formats. Details will be included with the magazine, and advertised Next issue of the magazine to recording brethren and elsewhere within the This is the last standard forty-page issue of the Brotherhood. magazine until July. As is customary in the Tes- timony year, May and June will be given over to New committee members a Special Issue of the magazine, approximately We are delighted that the following four UK twice the length of a standard issue, and devoted brethren have agreed to serve on the Promoting to a single theme. The theme of this year’s Spe- Committee of the magazine: cial Issue is “Difficult conversations.” This will • John Thorpe (Liverpool City ecclesia) consist of a wide cross-section of articles by a • Paul Tovell (Burton on Trent) variety of authors, and will examine some of • Jordan Walton (Walsall) the key conversations recorded for our learning • Jamie Whittaker (Morpeth) in the pages of Scripture—conversations with All four brethren have contributed to the maga- God, conversations with the Lord Jesus Christ, zine in the past, and we look forward to their fur- and conversations amongst men and women. A ther help under the good hand of God. Expanding number of other contributions will examine some the committee in this way should, over time, help of the various types of conversations we encoun- to bring a number of new projects to fruition, and ter in our discipleship, and there will be practical to resurrect past features of the magazine which articles considering some of the principles to be have proved popular with readers. kept in mind as we try to apply godly wisdom in potentially difficult conversations. Testimony books Regular subscribers will receive the May/June We have been very pleased with the positive Special Issue as part of their annual subscription; response of the Brotherhood to Brother David no action is required. We expect the Special Is- Burges’s book Wonders of Creation, published last sue to be published by mid-June. Please bear year. The book remains available from the usual this in mind before contacting the Subscriptions sources—see the back cover of this magazine and Secretary if your magazine seems to be late, as our website. Testimony, April 2018 Contents 121 Work is in hand with the production of our readable on a wider range of e-readers. It makes next book, an anthology of nearly forty articles good sense for the Promoting Committee of the by the late Sister Ray Walker which appeared magazine to explore ways in which this could be in the Bible Student between 1970 and 1996 but arranged. which are currently out of print. Book production For this to be possible, it would be necessary makes significant demands on the resources of for us to appoint an additional Committee mem- the magazine, but with God’s blessing, and failing ber with the necessary skills to convert files to unforeseen obstacles, it is hoped that this book suitable formats and guide the project through. will be published before the end of 2018. The magazine is currently put together from files in Word and InDesign formats, but there are New series “Miriam of Masada” doubtless better ways of approaching the task of The first instalment of Sister Barbara Booker’s compiling an electronic magazine from scratch. series appeared in the March issue of the maga- If you are able to offer advice, and particularly if zine. The publication of fiction is something of you are interested in making a regular commit- a new departure for the Testimony. This series ment to progressing this project in conjunction is sensitively written, and offers some thought- with the Testimony, please contact the Production provoking suggestions regarding what life may Editor, Sister Mary Benson, at emb.testimony@ have been like for anyone caught up in the events gmail.com. There are undoubtedly readers with around Rome’s final suppression of the Jewish the skills we are looking for, and we hope that nation and the Mosaic system—as prophesied by they will feel able to get in touch to help further the Lord Jesus—in the late first century. the work of the magazine. Support for the work of the Production Editor is * * * * * also now required. Details will be made available in a future issue of the magazine, God willing. Contributions The new series mentioned above provides an Finances and financial help opportunity to remind readers that there is an The Testimony is published through a trust, and open invitation for them to contribute material the 2017 financial statement of the Trust is due for consideration. We currently have several series to be finalised over the next few months. As in in supply, so demand at the moment is for one- previous years, the Trustees intend to publish an off articles, particularly for the Exposition and annual report in the magazine before the end of Principles, Preaching and Problems sections of this year. the magazine—the latter has a very wide brief, We are blessed in that the Trust’s finances and can be used for matters which may be topi- remain adequate to ensure the continued produc- cal or of concern within the Brotherhood to be tion of the magazine for the foreseeable future, addressed in the light of Scripture teaching. We if the Lord will. Readers may recall, however, appreciate that some very capable writers may that the monthly magazine is produced at a loss. be reluctant to offer material for publication, but This reflects the Trust’s status as a UK-registered readers are encouraged to give this invitation charity, and the need for the Trust to be able to thought. Articles should be in (or convertible to) demonstrate that it continues to meet its chari- Word format, and can be sent either to the Editor table aims. of the relevant section of the magazine, or to the This is not an appeal for donations as such, Publishing Editor. Material is typically of any but nearly 200 subscriptions to the magazine are length up to about 3,500 words. sent out on behalf of the Christadelphian Bible Mission to English-speaking brothers and sisters Electronic version of the magazine and contacts who are unable to pay for the maga- Since the beginning of 2012, the Testimony has zine themselves. With our autumn subscription been available electronically. So far this has renewal this year we will once again be inviting consisted only of pdf format, which has been a those who are willing and able to help to donate relatively simple task with our current resources. to this cause. Readers who would like to help an We are aware that this has not been suitable overseas reader in this way before then should for some electronic devices, however, and that contact the Subscriptions Secretary. Confidenti- some readers would like the magazine to be ality is assured when required.—Jeremy Thomas

Testimony, April 2018 122 Contents Miriam of Masada Barbara Booker

At Jerusalem festivals, when there were visitors from many countries. There were always workmen and 3. The city of Jerusalem tradesmen, women and children, slaves, servants and high-ranking citizens with their attendants. ERUSALEM sits like an island, encircled with There were porters carrying heavy bundles, Jhills and nestled in valleys. There is Mount women balancing water jars on their heads, Moriah to the north where our Temple sat, and donkeys and camels loaded with supplies. And along the eastern edge of the city there are steep always there were the peddlers and the beggars, cliffs that fall off into the Kedron Valley, which the poor, the blind and the lame. rises on its other bank to the Mount of Olives The noise was often deafening: the din of with its garden area. The city itself is separated buyers and sellers haggling over the prices and from the north to the south by the Tyropean quality of goods. The markets were like the vil- Valley, leaving Mount Moriah on the eastern hill lage well; they were a meeting place, a place for and the main city on the western hill. Across the news of the family, of the hometown, of the na- southern tip runs the Valley of Hinnom, where tion and even of the world. They were also the our refuse was dumped. intersection of many lifestyles: the rich and the The city had two major housing and market poor, the slave and the free, men, women, and sections: the Lower City and the Upper City. The children, the young and the old, Pharisees, tax Lower City was the older area. Its businesses collectors, rabbis and their students. and houses were quite humble compared to the But always, it seemed, always there was Rome. magnificent homes and palaces of the nobles It wasn’t the noise of the market that bothered and the rich who lived in the Upper City. Some the soldiers. It was the quiet whispers behind used to say that even the air in the Upper City the noise: the hushed tones, the mutterings, the was clearer and fresher, and the views were, of cautious glances, the back turned quickly, the course, so much better. hand which hid a secret word. And it was the Jerusalem was a city of walls, towers, gates, quick, quiet action of a short dagger that left a bridges and busy streets. Some of these streets lifeless body on the ground. Nobody had seen or were very wide, but others were more like path- heard anything—nothing to report, just shrugs ways, narrow and crooked. Life bustled along and silence. in a complex maze of alleys and courtyards in Yes, Mistress, you add another thought: the the city’s older sections. There were a number of odours of such a place. Somehow the rich, pleas- palaces and gardens and, oh, the markets! For the ant aroma of perfumes, ointments and fresh adventuresome children of the city there was the breads was diminished by the earthy tones of extra fascination of the underground passages unwashed humans, and of sheep and cattle being and tunnels. These places were a labyrinth, a new driven to stalls for Temple sacrifices. The very world, another city beneath the city. The tunnels air was a blend of city and country, wealth and were dark, cool, and damp at times. This made poverty, wants and needs. them, for us, a frightening but exciting challenge. The markets themselves were filled daily with These ‘streets’ beneath the streets were also an visual and edible delights. How I remember the excellent way to travel quickly from one area to fruits, the vegetables, the fish fresh from Galilee, another. the cheeses, the wines, the breads, the nuts, the Jerusalem could be compared to a giant bee- olives, the honey, and the clusters of grapes in a hive, always buzzing with activity. This was all variety of colours! Who could forget the pleasant the more evident on feast days or at times of scents of the spices, the oils, and the ointments? Testimony, April 2018 Contents 123 There were also tables of trinkets, jewellery, pre- name but also his body. However, his own special cious stones, ivory, and leather goods. And there refuge was his desert masterpiece of Masada, the was a rainbow of colours in the many vivid, soft old, remodelled Hasmonean fort, of which I shall silks, the wools and the weavings from mysteri- tell you more at another time. ous, far-off lands. Because of his efforts, the city of Jerusalem As a child I was drawn to the blacksmiths’ became an international showpiece. He kept a shops and the sights and sounds of smiths and generation employed and brought much wealth anvils. The air was also filled in some areas to Jerusalem. The city walls were restored and with the fresh scent of cedar and other aromatic strengthened; towers were added and there were woods from the carpenters. The various crafts- many other improvements, even to the white men had guilds and regular places on streets stones covering the very streets. There were for- and at markets for their wares. We knew which tresses, palaces, a theatre, and an amphitheatre vendor would be in which section consistently. for gladiator spectacles. That last attraction was All in all, the markets were wonderfully exciting placed outside the city. places, especially for the children. Some of these projects sparked bitter con- In contrast, there were the quiet places: the troversy, because the athletes competed in the gardens with their fountains, usually tucked into Greek manner, naked, and so Herod’s ideas were the quieter parts in the Upper City. Ours was a not entirely welcome in my country. In fact, his city that seldom knew drought like the surround- enchantment with such culture incensed the ing countryside. From the hill country south of most devout in Jerusalem. In addition, exhibits Jerusalem there were aqueducts which brought of slaves, condemned criminals fighting to the us fresh, cool water for the many fountains, pools death against each other or against lions, tigers and the vast cisterns below the city. and other animals, made such events distasteful to many of my people. 4. The great Temple But Herod’s grandest accomplishment was the rebuilding of the Temple and its environs. OU smile, Mistress? What’s that? Ah yes; My grandparents told of the small, dilapidated YJerusalem had no seaside and no harbour old Temple and the need to rebuild it. But the like Caesarea. True. But I have saved the best, the Jewish people were afraid that Herod would absolute finest and most glorious detail for last. destroy the old before a new would appear, if No city, no country can boast a temple like the one ever. Much to Herod’s credit he did not let those Herod built—perhaps I should say rebuilt—for fears become a reality. With his architects and our God. This Temple was the jewel and heart of engineers he planned ingeniously, masterfully, Jerusalem and of my nation. In fact visitors, not so that all the plans, all the needs were fulfilled just Jews, came from all over our world to see before one stone or timber of the old building ‘Herod’s’ Temple and Jerusalem. was removed. The new stones—and huge they You have undoubtedly heard reports about were—were carefully cut, prepared and moved King Herod, how he was a politician, a warrior, from quarries north of the city. The daily Temple a scoundrel, a survivor, and a dangerous man to sacrifices were not cancelled even once during have as an enemy—or as family. Yes, Herod was the construction. Experienced master craftsmen indeed many things, but he positively excelled at were employed to train thousands from priestly planning and building various projects, all over families for the actual work within the Temple, our nation. It has been said that he lived and so that the sanctity of that holy building would breathed the art of construction. He loved the not be profaned. Greek and Roman way of life, with all its culture Herod was respectful and shrewd; he knew and style. His projects, some say, showed remark- ‘his’ people and he knew what trouble they could able scope, ambition and creativity. You yourself, cause him. He also spared no expense for the my Lady, spoke of the marvellous deep-water Temple, for its materials, furnishings and priestly harbour he had built for Caesarea. It has been garments. With all his projects he provided em- said that with its creation the king conquered ployment for the many thousands of local artisans nature itself! and labourers for many years. However, as the And then there are the various fortresses, projects were completed, unemployment came such as Alexandrium, Hyrcania, Machaerus and again, and idle men are problems. But, that too, Herodium; and this last one bears not only his is part of a further story. Testimony, April 2018 124 Contents The Temple work was completed in less than the floors were of marble. Herod truly spared two years, my grandparents said, but the rest of no expense. But despite all his efforts to placate the Temple courts and improvements took much the people, he was never truly accepted nor even longer. It was necessary to build retaining walls liked. He never even saw the full glory of what and to extend the platform on which the Temple he had accomplished. Why, you ask? Well, he sat. On the southern part of this platform Herod never once walked within ‘his’ Temple, for, you built a royal stoa. This was a magnificent struc- see, my Lady, Herod was not a true Jew; he was ture, a gathering place for tourists, pilgrims and an Edomite. Besides which, only God’s chosen traders. It was a place of business, of news and family of Levites were allowed to serve within of beauty. It also had a special meeting area for the Temple. the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court. The stoa’s The irony that Herod, for all his pretence of hall of columns had four rows of forty columns being a Jew, never saw the inside of ‘Herod’s each, and it was truthfully said that it took three Temple’ was not lost on my people either. It was men with their arms outstretched to encircle one his unspoken admission that he was not truly column. one of us. Back to the Temple. All the exterior of the Tem- This, my Lady, was Jerusalem: my birthplace, ple was covered with gold. It gleamed so brightly my city, my Temple. Those were my streets, my in the sun that we had to avert our eyes for fear markets, my tunnels. This was my life. I am sorry of damaging them. From a distance it has been to have talked so long, and I see that it is time said that it looked like a snow-peaked mountain. for me to assist with the evening meal. If you so Other areas of the Temple precincts were made choose, we can talk again another day, for the of marble and gleaming white limestone. Even story is far from finished. Contents (To be continued)

Exhortation The highway of holiness 1. Personal holiness1 Arnold and Mabel Smith

It is imperative that the disciple of Christ is serious about minds it conjures up the traditional picture of a ‘saint’ with a halo round cultivating personal holiness. This attribute must influence his head: to others it implies smugness every aspect of a disciple’s life. This article is the first of and self-satisfaction. As far as the two published under the general heading “The highway of Bible is concerned the Hebrew and h o l i n e s s .” Greek words thus translated, qodesh and hagiasmos, have the meaning of N ITS MOST radical and absolute sense, per- separation or setting apart, and do not, as in Eng- sonal holiness is a prerogative and attribute lish usage, directly convey the idea of perfection Iof God alone, for it will be remembered that in a moral sense, or purity of heart. even Christ himself, the essence of purity and The commandment of God to the nation of holiness undefiled, declined on one occasion to Israel was: “I am the LORD your God . . . therefore accept the qualification “good” (Mt. 19:17); it can . . . ye shall be holy; for I am holy” (Lev. 11:44). therefore be only in a somewhat academic sense Here the pattern of holiness is clearly defined, that mere men can speak of personal holiness and the command to imitate it is unmistakable. in the generally accepted understanding of the No one familiar with the history of the Israelites word. At the outset, however, it may be suggested that much confusion of thought arises from a 1. First published in Essays, Christadelphian Mutual misapprehension of the word ‘holiness.’ To many Improvement Societies’ Union, Session 1958–59. Testimony, April 2018 Contents 125 can claim for them, as a nation, the virtues of were commended by God; for example, his faith moral perfection, obedience and purity of heart, and obedience. One which is perhaps not so well yet God declared of them through Moses, “thou known is recorded in Genesis 18:19: “For I know art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the him, that he will command his children and his LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special household after him, and they shall keep the way people unto Himself, above all people that are of the LORD, to do justice and judgment.” Moses, upon the face of the earth” (Deut. 7:6). Even too, in interpreting and teaching God’s laws to though in His foreknowledge God knew that Israel as a nation, taught the need for family and they would be disobedient and stiff-necked on personal holiness: countless occasions, He would not permanently “thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all withdraw His favour from them as a nation, thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with though He visited the wicked among them with all thy might. And these words, which I com- terrible punishments. mand thee this day, shall be in thine heart: In the broad sense, then, ‘separation’ is the and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy equivalent of ‘holiness.’ Any nation might, in children, and shalt talk of them when thou its relations with other nations, be described as sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest separate, but in a much more restricted, yet para- by the way, and when thou liest down, and doxically more comprehensive sense, the term is when thou risest up” (Deut. 6:5-7). applied to the nation of Israel: “ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people Old Testament experiences for God’s own possession,” says the Apostle Peter It has been characteristic of the religious Jew (1 Pet. 2:9, RV). throughout all his generations that, as his reli- gious life has been, so to speak, canalised by the More than separateness demands of the Law of Moses, so his personal life When we meditate on personal holiness, what is more rigidly formal and lacking in individual is the picture which comes into our mind? Do expression than that of the Gentile. At the same we visualise the holy men of God who spake time, the realisation of his special relationship to as they were moved by the Holy Spirit? Are we God has become the operating principle of his inclined to think of a passive, or even negative family life in his pursuit of personal holiness. person—one who keeps away from temptation His central thought is still, “I have set the LORD and sin by isolating himself; a recluse, a quiet always before me” (Ps. 16:8). The first waking studious person who does not understand our thoughts are of God, and, after ceremonial wash- daily life, self-centred, introvert? Do our thoughts ing, God is praised and thanked for the renewal turn to the men who claimed holiness at the time of life in a new day. As soon as children can talk of Jesus—the severest asceticism, so that their they join in family worship, and it is the duty of every deed and word had to conform to the Rab- parents to answer all their questions. Both parents binical law? Is the standard of holiness better set share the responsibility of training the children by the Pharisee who thanked God that he was in holiness; though the father is ultimately re- not as other men, especially a nearby publican, sponsible, the mother doubtless has the greater or the young man, so earnest and so near to the influence in the early formative years. The Apostle Kingdom of God that Jesus, looking upon him, Paul confirms this in his reference to the influence could not but love him? of Eunice and Lois in the training of Timothy. While holiness implies separation, it is not No doubt the early life of Jesus was in the something to be experienced in a passive sense, same atmosphere of discipline. From rising in but practised as an active, creative quality. This the morning, the father is required to teach his separation is not removal to a spiritual enclave in children (whether at home or out of doors) rever- a material world, but dedication to the practical ence for God’s law, and the history of the nation; purpose of assisting the Master in the salvation and the day finally closes with evening prayer of mankind. It will therefore be readily realised and praise. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote: that it is not acquired suddenly or by chance: to “We interest ourselves more about the educa- attain to it careful training is needed. This was tion of our children than about anything else, provided for in the Old Testament. God approved and hold the observance of the laws, and the of Abraham and chose him to be the father of rules of piety they inculcate, as the weightiest the nation of Israel. Many traits in his character business of our whole lives.” Testimony, April 2018 126 Contents Thus in the family life of the Jew the feeling of of it’ is the Christian maxim. The most important separateness from the other nations of the world and at the same time the most difficult first step is fostered by example, education, training and in the attainment of holiness is the decision as to ceremonial, and it is largely by virtue of these where the line between the world and the spirit principles, under the providence of God, that, must be drawn. This is not a decision for which a despite every kind of attempt to absorb or elimi- hard and fast rule can be enunciated, though the nate them, the nation still stands, a monument Scriptures make it clear that there are certain evils to the impregnability of the divine declarations. which must be excluded, as there are also certain Not only is Israel an elect race, but the Old virtues which are essential to personal holiness. Testament is full of instances of individuals sepa- Fortunately God’s Word is comprehensive in its rated, or elected, by God for specific purposes or description of the propensities to be avoided and on account of their intrinsic qualities. Prior to the the virtues to be sought by the Christian in his advent of the Lord Jesus these individuals were daily walk: drawn principally from the nation of Israel, but “There be six things which the LORD hateth: the mission of the followers of Jesus was a uni- yea, seven which are an abomination unto versal one, extending to every race and kindred Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and under the sun; as James is recorded in the Acts as hands that shed innocent blood; an heart that saying: “God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be take out of them a people for His name” (15:14). swift in running to mischief; a false witness Such separated ones are called by Paul, in his that uttereth lies, and he that soweth discord letters to the Romans and other predominantly among brethren” (Prov. 6:16-19, RV). Gentile churches, “saints,” that is, set-apart ones. In the world generally these, apart from the Since the selection of these individuals is the shedding of blood, would probably be looked divine prerogative, it must be obvious that such upon as, at most, venial sins, perhaps to be dep- separation is not purposeless, but indeed vitally recated, but, being largely non-actionable in a important. It is a development in the process of court of law, not to cause any great concern. To the reconciliation of man with God, which is the Christian, who would regard them as, to say testified by personal holiness, separateness from the very least, prejudicial to personal holiness, the world, with all that should ensue from this the catalogue of grosser sins against which Paul new relationship with God. warns his readers—idolatry, theft, lascivious- Holiness in the individual sense is accom- ness, and drunkenness—would seem enormities plished by heeding the call of the Scriptures to quite outside the bounds of their performance. believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and by baptism Yet among those to whom he wrote were some to become united with him. By virtue of this who had not always been free from reproach in union the believer is holy, separated morally this connection, and it was necessary to remind and spiritually from the world, and set apart for them that persistence in such practices would divine purposes. This separation, however, is debar them from the Kingdom of God. In writing valueless, and soon ceases to exist, unless it affects to the Galatians Paul amplifies this list of evils, the habits, conduct, and indeed the whole life, and describes them as works of the flesh. They public and private, of the saint. The pattern set are habits and conduct which are manifest in the before him for his imitation is the life of the Lord lives of those who practise them, and are visible Jesus, and the extent to which he is successful in to the world around. reaching toward that standard, is the measure of The attainment of personal holiness, however, the personal holiness to which he attains. is not achieved by a negative or neutral attitude— by the avoidance of sin alone. In a discourse to the Good habits and good conduct scribes and Pharisees on one occasion our Lord At the same time it is equally clear, as has been pointed out that it was not sufficient to exclude previously suggested, that the separateness of the from one’s character all unworthy qualities: un- Christian from the world is not a physical and less these were replaced by good desires and material one. The plea of Jesus to his Father was, activities the vacancy would speedily be refilled “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of by the old evils, intensified and supplemented by the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them others, until the ultimate state of the individual from the evil” (Jno. 17:15). There is here no sup- was worse than if no attempt at improvement port for monastic seclusion: ‘in the world but not had been made. Testimony, April 2018 Contents 127 Developing the right qualities peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, What then are the qualities of personal holiness? meekness, temperance . . . If we live in the Spirit, It would seem that it can only exist in the atmos- let us also walk in the Spirit” (5:22-25). In these phere of pure altruism, for only as selfish desires words Paul clearly indicates that the fruit of the are replaced by regard for the welfare of others Spirit must be manifested in visible and practical can holiness be attained. This is not to say that ways in our lives. altruism is holiness, for it is possible for altruism As the pre-eminent example he undoubtedly to have no obvious inspiration of religion behind had Jesus in mind, and it is equally natural that it. What does the prophet Micah say? “What doth we should look to him as the perfect expression the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to of holiness in all its aspects. His love was many- love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” sided: to his Father it was demonstrated in perfect (Mic. 6:8). It is not impossible to be just and merci- obedience, without question and without hesita- ful from purely moral and ethical motives, and tion: “nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt” to combine with them at the same time other less (Mt. 26:39). Throughout his life he had shown it desirable qualities; but if the inspiration is humil- to mankind in his constant care for the sick and ity in the sight of God the purity of the mercy bereaved, for the sorrowful and repentant, for the and justice will be unimpeachable. lost and hopeless; and when he hung upon the True humility, then, is one of the essentials of cross, was it not the expression of that love than personal holiness, and one of the most difficult which there could be no greater, love not only for of attainment. Even the disciples, in the closest his friends, but even for the ungodly, those who everyday contact with their Master, who had hated and despitefully used him? It has been said commanded them, “learn of me; for I am meek that love like Christ’s is so far beyond our reach and lowly in heart” (Mt. 11:29), found it hard to that it is hopeless to try to imitate it. Perhaps the rid their minds of the thought of reward and end may seem more attainable if the approach is precedence. Beside his own personal example, by stages: “Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am Jesus was fond of referring to children as models of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1, RV). But it must be beyond for imitation, because they are forgetful of self, question that the aim of the Christian must be entering freely into the interest of others, trustful, the highest, “the prize of the high calling of God without consciousness of colour, rank, wealth, in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). pride or ambition. We learn from the Apostle James that “Pure Joy and love religion and undefiled before God and the Father There is much that relieves the increasing burden is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their of life in these last and most oppressive days of affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the Gentile era, and no one would decry the value the world” (Jas. 1:27). At first sight the connec- of humour and laughter. But the recorded joy of tion between these two qualities appears vague Jesus was of a different nature and sprang from and tenuous, and indeed we may be reading deeper sources. That same obedience he showed into them a connection that does not exist. It to his Father he welcomed with joy from his fol- has not been unknown, however, for poor—and lowers. He rejoiced over the sinner that repented, sick—visiting to be little more than the fulfil- and taught that separation from the world, and ment of a self-imposed social obligation, with ostracism by their fellow-men, were actually a view to accumulating merit. But the visiting causes for rejoicing, and would ultimately bring referred to by James implies a true benevolence great reward. and sympathy, without ostentation or desire for The Christian virtues are cumulative in the human approbation. We cannot therefore be holy building up of personal holiness. Love is the if we are lacking in sympathy, a quality which is mainspring of obedience, and joy is its primary not solely concerned with physical welfare, but result, while the end product is peace. Paradoxi- extends also to the spiritual needs of those by cally, this peace can be at its maximum in the whom we are surrounded. time of war, for it is not the converse of war, but In his letter to the Galatians the Apostle Paul an inward state of blessing, not dependent on makes another very concise statement of the external circumstances. Jesus possessed it at its qualities which constitute personal holiness, fullest because he was perfect love and perfect and which should accordingly distinguish the obedience. It is compounded by the knowledge true Christian: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, of God’s purpose with mankind, understanding Testimony, April 2018 128 Contents of the method by which it is to be attained, belief activities of the Christian life and all develop- in the means provided for becoming associated ments in personal holiness depend on knowledge with it, trust in the power and willingness of God to be found only in the words of God, which are to forgive sins, and confidence in the ultimate able to make us wise unto salvation, through faith fulfilment of all His promises. Jesus, the Alpha which is in Christ Jesus. and Omega of God’s purpose, could and does The qualities of personal holiness do not pass on this peace to those who believe in him, stand out from one another in sharp relief, but and we in our turn must endeavour to transmit so blend that it is difficult, if not impossible, to this peace by teaching others, by precept and say where one ends and another begins. The example, the principles on which it is based. The Apostle Paul does not specifically include in the influence of a mind at peace in a world of fear fruit of the Spirit self-sacrifice and obedience, but and trembling is incalculable. they are undoubtedly comprised in the quality of love out of which they flow. The temptations Discipline to which Christ was principally exposed were In what must be a short essay, enough has self-satisfaction and self-glorification. These can- perhaps been said on individual aspects of per- not exist where self-sacrifice is pre-eminent. So sonal holiness. Let us briefly consider some of it is that the Christian has no ‘rights,’ no ‘pride’: the disciplines necessary for its cultivation. At his possessions (not evil in themselves) are his the head of these we would undoubtedly place only ‘in trust.’ Nothing must be permitted to prayer. The Gospel narratives, by their very stand between himself and Christ. He must be simplicity and lack of affectation, emphasise prepared to give and to serve—and to receive. the paramount place of prayer in the life of the He cannot serve two masters, but must render Master. One might almost say that every moment obedience to the commands of Christ as a soldier when Jesus was not engaged in eating, sleeping, obeys his superior, though not mechanically, but preaching or performing works of healing, he in understanding, faith and trust. was praying to his Father, and thus renewing We are exhorted by the writer of the Epistle the spiritual strength upon which his constant to the Hebrews not to forsake the assembling of service to others constituted so great a drain. ourselves together. In any gathering of people Indeed, his prayers had a quality and response with the same thoughts, beliefs, hopes and aspi- which seem to have refreshed and invigorated rations, especially when these are spiritual and him even more than sleep. based on the rock of Scripture, there is a spiritual In the classic example we know as ‘the Lord’s emanation to which each individual, consciously Prayer’ it is wonderful how much has been or unconsciously, contributes and from which compressed into how few words—recognition each equally may draw. When the purpose of of the universal nature and power of God; rever- the assembly is the worship of the Father and the ence for His name and attributes; desire for the remembrance of the Son, this process is intensi- fulfilment of all His promises; request for the fied and purified, and its influence is increased provision of our daily sustenance; forgiveness in power and scope, and reflected in greater for our transgressions and stimulation of our holiness. Not that collective worship can take will to forgive; deliverance from temptation and the place of or render unnecessary individual evil; and, finally, attribution to God of all power worship, which should be part of every day of and glory in heaven and earth. In the stress our lives, but it can and does supply something and hurry of modern life it may occasionally which is not otherwise easily attainable, a sense seem difficult to find suitable times and places of fellowship and unity with each other as well for prayer, but personal holiness is impossible as with our Saviour and our God. without it. Scientific developments in recent years have A pattern to follow increased the opportunities and temptations to So we might proceed with the discussion of the spend time more or less unprofitably. Time must qualities required to make the saint present- be found, however, for reading, and careful choice able and acceptable to God as a living and holy exercised over the matter to be read. How much sacrifice, but are they not all summed up by the more fortunate are we than the disciples in this Lord Jesus himself, when, in reply to the crafty respect, for they had only the Jewish Scriptures. request of the lawyer as to which was the great The Bible is our ‘must,’ because training for all commandment in the law, he replied, “Thou shalt Testimony, April 2018 Contents 129 love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with Christian living and good works—in personal all thy soul, and with all thy mind . . . And . . . holiness. The perfect result of obeying them is a Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Mt. metamorphosis, a transformation or transfigura- 22:37-39)? In these commands are envisaged all tion into a semblance of the Master who is the the possibilities of the mind, the conscience, the author and finisher of our faith, and who should will and emotions which have their outlet in also be the pattern of our lives. Contents Exposition “In the days when the judges ruled” 4. “There was no king in Israel” Peter Forbes

UR INTRODUCTION to the Book of Judges sons” developed a dynasty of priests until the divided the book into three well-defined practice was halted by captivity. Osections, as the following table shows: • Chapters 19–21 record the sordid details concerning the Levite’s concubine and the Section Subject matter nation’s subsequent reaction to those events. 1:1–3:7 Setting the scene As such, this account adds moral depravity to the spiritual depravity of the previous two 3:8–16:31 The judges chapters. chs. 17–21 “There was no king in Israel” Lack of leadership The third section, chapters 17–21, is defined by the The recurring phrase “there was no king in Israel” recurring phrase, “there was no king in Israel,” is an element of the record which makes it clear which opens and closes the section (17:6; 21:25) that there was no recognised authority ruling and occurs twice more within the section (18:1; the land. Another feature of the section, which 19:1). Reviewing these final chapters, there is a we may miss if we do not think about the focus structure defined by the recurring phrase: of the Book of Judges, is that there is no mention • Chapter 17 sets the scene for idol worship by of a judge either. Nor is there any mention of an recounting the exploits of Micah: the mak- oppressing power. We do not know what time ing of a graven image and the association he period these last five chapters cover, but they are forges with the Levite from Bethlehem-Judah. the only chapters in the book where we do not • Chapter 18 develops this theme of idol wor- read of an oppressing nation. ship by recounting the way in which the tribe But there is a more worrying feature in this of Dan, unhappy with their inheritance, take section. It is true of the whole of the book, but control of another area in the north of the very particularly it is highlighted in these last land. In the process of seeking a new home five chapters. It is the absence of God’s rulership they take Micah’s Levite to themselves. He is only too pleased to be a priest for a whole tribe rather than for just one man. The Danites 1. We cannot tell from the record which “captivity” is being spoken of. It may be the time when King Hoshea then set up the graven image, and it is wor- and the northern kingdom of Israel were taken to As- shipped “until the day of the captivity of the syria. Nevertheless, this detail indicates that the Book land” (v. 30).1 Further, this idol worship was of Judges was written some time after the period of not a ‘flash in the pan.’ “Manasseh . . . and his the judges. Testimony, April 2018 130 Contents of the people. They have become spiritually and God was offering them. The Book of Judges, by morally depraved because they have not allowed using Moses’ phrase, is highlighting that the na- God’s laws to rule their lives. tion were violating the instructions that he had given them. “Right in his own eyes” These last five chapters are bound by an addi- A time inversion tional phrase to the one we have already noted. The Book of Judges does not claim to be a It is the phrase, “every man did that which was chronological account of a period of time. Nor, right in his own eyes” (17:6; 21:25). This is the indeed, are we expected to see the judges ruling phrase which describes what the people were one immediately after another.5 Paul’s inspired like because there wasn’t a king—or a judge, comment—“And after that [God] gave unto them or God—ruling them and delivering them. The judges about the space of four hundred and fifty events described between these two occurrences years, until Samuel the prophet” (Acts 13:20)—is of this phrase show us one thing: men and women one detail which makes establishing a chronology who are not educated by the Word of God cannot for the time of the judges extremely difficult.6,7 direct their steps aright. As a later prophet, in The last five chapters of Judges actually record a similarly godless environment, said: “I know events early on in the days of the judges. The inter- that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in nal evidence proves this with a couple of details. man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23). First, Judges 18:30 speaks of the man whose Jeremiah’s realisation caused him to say, “O LORD, family became priests to the tribe of Dan. He correct me, but with judgment; not in Thine anger, is called “Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the lest Thou bring me to nothing” (v. 24). son of Manasseh.” We search the genealogies Jeremiah understood something which was in Scripture in vain to find such a family line. not understood by the nation during the times of Moses, however, did have a son called Gershom the judges: he appreciated that it was necessary (1 Chron. 23:15). This is the same Gershom of that God should ‘prove’ him. This was the reason Exodus 2:22, who was born to Moses in Egypt. A why God left the nations in the land in the days number of English translations have “Moses” in of the judges.2 The absence of any mention of an place of “Manasseh” in Judges 18:30—for instance, oppressing nation in the last five chapters of the RV, RSV, NIV, Wycliffe—although many others book reinforces the point that the nation was not retain “Manasseh”—for example, NKJV. There is responding well to God’s attempts to teach them what they were really like. The phrase under consideration is not unique 2. This was developed in part 2 of this series, “To prove to the Book of Judges. The first time we meet it is you” (Feb. 2018, p. 45). when Moses is instructing Israel about their entry 3. Deuteronomy 12 describes the establishment of a in to the land of Canaan.3 Moses commands the system of worship in the land, and a central location nation: “Ye shall not do . . . every man whatso- for worship, without specifying that location. Clearly, however, this was to be the place where the sacrifices ever is right in his own eyes” (Deut. 12:8)—the detailed in Leviticus were to be offered. reason being that “ye are not as yet come to the 4. This “rest” is the “rest” spoken of in Hebrews 4:8. It rest 4 and to the inheritance, which the LORD is the time of the establishment of the Kingdom, the your God giveth you” (v. 9). The land of Canaan time when sin and its consequences will finally be was the physical inheritance, but Israel did not abolished. Ultimately it is the “rest” of which Jesus fully achieve that inheritance even in the days speaks in Matthew 11:28. of Joshua or of the judges. Nor was it a time of 5. The record does indicate that certain judges followed on one after another (Judg. 3:31; 10:3; 12:8,11,13). These “rest.” The days of Joshua and the judges were a judges should be seen as exceptions, however. Such time of conflict and battles. chronological order is not a feature of the other judges. The use of the phrase in Judges is therefore 6. For a consideration of the chronology of the time of designed to show that the nation had disregarded the judges see: Tony Benson, “The times of the judges,” Moses’ injunction. It tells us that they behaved Testimony Special Issue The Judges of Israel, vol. 75, no. as if they actually were in the inheritance that 895, Jul. 2005, p. 220. 7. Another view of the 450-year period, suggested to me God had promised—that is, it showed a degree in private conversations with both Brother Bernard of complacency. It is as if, despite the oppression Burt and Brother Ron Kidd, is that this is the total of the inhabitants of the land, they felt that they of the time periods mentioned in the Book of Judges had done all they needed to do to secure what plus the period of Eli’s judgeship. Testimony, April 2018 Contents 131 evidence that the text should read “Moses.” Put- portray a nation compromised in its behaviour. ting it simply, the names ‘Moses’ and ‘Manasseh’ Judges 3:6 shows the nation engaging in mixed are very similar in Hebrew: marriages with the Canaanites. Despite being unwilling to give their daughters to the tribe of ה ֶׁשֹמ Moses is • Benjamin, asking the question, “How shall we ה ּׁ ֶשַנְמ Manasseh is • in the name do for wives for them . . . seeing we have sworn נ The only difference is the letter ‘Manasseh.’ In the Hebrew text of Judges 18:30 . . . that we will not give them of our daughters is raised above the line, indicating to wives?” (21:7), they were quite happy to give נ the letter that it may have been added deliberately by “their daughters to [the Canaanites’] sons.” Fur- copyists at a later date. The suggestion is that the ther, verses 20-22 show Israel violating the Law copyists wanted to preserve Moses’ dignity, and of Moses10 in order to provide wives for some of so changed his name in the text to ‘Manasseh,’ the remaining Benjamites. albeit acknowledging that they had altered the The Book of Ruth belongs, chronologically, to above the line. If this the same time as the last five chapters of Judges.11 נ sacred text by raising the suggestion is correct, then the Jonathan of Judges The positioning of the events of Judges 17–21 18:30 was the son of a man born in Egypt, in at the end of the book, despite their occurring which case he could have not been alive late in chronologically earlier in the time of the judges, the time of the judges, even though he is named is purposeful. It serves to link the two books near the end of the Book of Judges.8 together. In so doing, it presents a faithful man— A second, more compelling, detail which ties Boaz—living in godless and depraved times, in the event of the Levite’s concubine to the early an area which figures significantly in the last five period of the judges is the mention of Phinehas, chapters of Judges. Despite there being “no king who is described as “Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, in Israel,” there was at least one man, Boaz, who the son of Aaron” (20:28). It was at the end of the was living a life consistent with the Lord being wilderness journey that this Phinehas “rose up his King. He did not do “that which was right in from among the congregation, and took a javelin his own eyes”; rather, he sought to do those things in his hand” (Num. 25:7) and killed the Midianite which were consistent with the Law of Moses. woman and the Israelite man, who were engaged In our degenerate age, are we influenced by in sin consequent to the counsel of Balaam (31:16). the lax morals of those around us or by our King Here at the end of the wilderness journey we and His Word? have to conclude that Phinehas was both old enough to understand the sin that was being (To be continued) committed and strong enough to handle a spear. Phinehas was still alive in Judges 20:28 after the 8. For a more detailed treatment of this question, see period of Joshua’s conquest of the land, a period http://biblehub.com/commentaries/judges/18-30.htm of about forty-five years.9 Thus the events of 9. Joshua was 110 years old when he died (Judg. 2:8), and chapters 19–21 must have taken place early in the was older than twenty at the beginning of the wilder- days of the judges. We will return to this aspect ness journey since he would have died in the wilder- ness with the rebels had he not instead encouraged of chronology when we consider integrating the Israel to enter the land after he had spied it out (Num. Book of Ruth into the time of the judges. 14:29-38). He must therefore have been at least sixty at the beginning of his work of conquering Canaan. But why? 10. Exodus 21:16 forbids Israel from stealing men and Why is the third section of Judges, chapters 17–21, selling them. dislocated chronologically in the book? 11. The relationship between the Book of Ruth and the time of the judges will be examined in a later article The way in which the book is constructed is in this series. For aspects of this relationship, see: part of God’s inspired presentation of the book to Bernard Burt, “It came to pass in the days when the us. At one level the beginning and end of the book judges ruled,” Testimony Special Issue The Judges of serve as what we might call ‘bookends.’ They both Israel, vol. 75, no. 895, Jul. 2005, p. 272.

“There are many of our brethren who are very young, but they will get over it. We do not get over the misfortune of being old, and unless we are on guard we may allow the characteristic errors of obstinate old age to take possession of us.” Islip Collyer, “As we grow older,” Christadelphian, vol. 81, no. 964, Oct. 1944, p. 110.

Testimony, April 2018 132 Contents Exposition The hoopoe bird Handling the Word honestly Wilfred Alleyne

“. . . they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination . . . we can go miles over the top. In the above examples we actually run the the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the risk of bringing Scripture into disre- bat” (Lev. 11:13,19, RV). pute by handling it—or mishandling it—in this way. Any intelligent stran- EVERAL YEARS AGO, I heard a most ger would surely have boggled in amazement curious ‘exposition’ of the reason why at this misuse of a very simple passage, and Scertain animals and birds were declared wondered just what he had got himself into by to be unclean by the Law of Moses. Two points coming to that meeting. arrested my attention: the reasons why, first, the Spiritual lessons abound in Scripture. But hoopoe bird (AV, lapwing), and, secondly, the when we have to forcibly extract them from a camel were so deemed. given text, do we do well? Yes, all Scripture is In the case of the hoopoe, the reason given given by the inspiration of God and is profitable. was that it was a cocky little bird, much given Paul says so. But profitable for what? What could to puffing out its chest, strutting around making the above examples possibly be intended to teach? a noise like ‘hoo-poo, hoo-poo.’ It therefore was Assuming that neither the camel nor the hoo- a proud-looking bird, and for that reason was poe is a carrier of some malevolent disease, what deemed unclean. That was bizarre enough, but when we came to the reason why the camel was deemed to be un- clean, things got worse. The camel is an extremely bad-tempered animal, so the speaker said. In an anecdote he mentioned an instance when, during a journey across the Great Australian Desert, the camels were stopped in the heat of the day, and one officer decided to sit under the camel in the shade its body provided. Not surprisingly, the camel bit him! I have to admit that I would prob- ably have bitten him too, in the circumstances! Because of this bad-tempered nature, the camel was also deemed unclean. The camel may be bad-tempered, but a bull beats it out of sight when it comes to bad temper. They have to put a brass ring in the bull’s nose and attach it to a large wooden bar in order to lead it from place to place, so dangerous is it to handle. Yet the Law demanded the sacrifice of bulls—so bad temper can’t be the reason for the camel’s rejection.

Care in drawing spiritual lessons The reason I mention this is that in our excessive Hoopoe (Upupa epops). zeal for deriving ‘spiritual lessons’ from Scripture Arturo Nikolai/Wikimedia Commons Testimony, April 2018 Contents 133 should we learn from the fact that God deemed it vaporises and really gives out its scent. In Rev- them unclean? I can only think of one: we are to elation 8, the saints were under grave persecution learn that, even though we may not be able to see and therefore exposed to great heat,1 hence the the point of the prohibition, since God has said so, allusion to incense. Perhaps “beaten small” also then that’s the way it is. We obey Him implicitly, refers to the same thing. Psalm 141 also refers to even though we can’t follow His thinking. Job said persecution: it so well: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in “Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth, Him” (Job 13:15). Can there be a spiritual lesson as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon higher than that one? the earth. But mine eyes are unto Thee, O GOD the Lord: in Thee is my trust; leave not Types and shadows my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares ‘Types and shadows’ create many examples which they have laid for me, and the gins of of this sort of exposition. We sometimes go to the workers of iniquity” (vv. 7-9). extraordinary lengths to find significance in the Perhaps this view is correct, perhaps not. But insignificant. what is very clear is that in many other places As a simple example, the incense offered we are exhorted to “pray always” and not to was to be “beaten small” (Lev. 16:12). Therefore, faint. We have the very clear example of the Lord so the exposition goes, since it was beaten into Jesus and the Apostle Paul, both of whom prayed many small bits, that symbolises the fact that we often, and we have other records of prayer. Why should pray many times. Also, because it says in resort to dubious tinkering with matters which Revelation, “And the smoke of the incense, which may or may not be relevant to make this simple came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up point? before God out of the angel’s hand” (8:4), we au- As a more general comment, it doesn’t seem to tomatically assume that incense represents prayer, have been taken on board by many of our exposi- completely failing to notice that the incense came tors that the Law contained a ‘shadow’ of good up with the prayers of the saints. The incense things to come. A shadow is an outline, not a de- therefore does not represent prayer. In this case tailed drawing. Therefore, when we look minutely it accompanies prayers. at the details of the offerings and so on, and say The point is then made that it says in Psalm that ‘this represents . . .’ and ‘that represents . . .’, 141:2, “Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as are we not confusing the difference between an incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the outline drawing and a detailed painting? evening sacrifice”; therefore, incense represents Similarly, when we read the Letter to the prayers. If we set this verse out in parallel, we see Hebrews, with its scything declarations of the that there are difficulties with this interpretation: inferiority of the Law of Moses compared with “Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as the Law of Christ, why do we feel the need to look incense; so minutely at the ordinances in there? and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Attention to the context Prayer is, as you can see, the equivalent of “the It is difficult to think of a more important element lifting up of my hands.” And Paul mentions this than the context when we come to study a passage practice: “I will therefore that men pray every of Scripture. Failure to do so leads to grotesque where, lifting up holy hands . . .” (1 Tim. 2:8). So interpretations. We won’t go into examples of this incense is the equivalent of the evening sacrifice. now, but we are all acquainted with some of them, If we insist that incense = prayer, then we also if only from our contact with, say, the Jehovah’s have to say that the evening sacrifice = lifting up Witnesses’ expositions. The context must decide of my hands = prayer. So the difficulty now arises: what spiritual lessons we draw. It is not enough, when we read about the evening sacrifices in the for instance, to say that these words sound as if Law, are we to understand that they represent they are applicable to a given situation. They prayer too? That creates huge difficulties. may be, or they may not be. How do we decide? Answer: the context must dictate. A simpler approach Here is a classic misapplication of some won- There may be a simpler way of interpreting the derful words of the Apostle Paul. It is taken from symbol of incense. Incense must be burnt in order to perform its function. It is only under heat that 1. See also Matthew 13:6,21. Testimony, April 2018 134 Contents Norman Vincent Peale’s very worthwhile little in detail, and ask the question, ‘What is this pas- booklet Thought Conditioners. He quotes a pas- sage really saying?’ When we have answered that sage and then gives a helpful comment. Let me question, then we speak. In other words, extract say now that the comment is a valid and helpful the lesson from the text. Don’t stick your lesson one—but bears no relation to the text he uses. Are onto the text. This is hard work, and requires your expositions like this? some sweat and some diligent application, which “‘Wherefore take unto you the whole armour the person may be unwilling, unable or too idle of God, that ye may be able to withstand in to undertake. Had Dr Peale done this, he would the evil day, and having done all, to stand’ either have drawn the correct lesson from the (Eph. 6:13). This is one of the greatest of all passage or been forced to find another passage techniques of mental health. It teaches that that really does teach the lesson he wanted when we have done all that we can do about to make. a given matter, we are not to get worried or The ‘spiritual lesson’ expositor often does one in a panic or be filled with anxiety, but take of two things, both of which reverse the correct a calm philosophical attitude concerning it. process. First, he may start off with an idea that “When you have done all that you can do, he has thought up, and, very dangerously, go off don’t try to do any more, just ‘stand.’ Relax, to find supporting passages. Secondly, he may stop, be quiet, don’t fuss about it; you have study the passages, but then leave the process done everything possible; leave results to unfinished, flying ‘by the seat of his pants’ when G o d .” he actually stands up to speak. Both of these As I said before, this advice is correct, and if you result in drawing ‘spiritual lessons’ off the top can do it, is splendid for your mental health. But of his head. They may be correct. Or they may it is not correctly drawn from Ephesians 6:13. not. So why run the risk of being wildly wrong That is not what Paul had in mind when he when the cure is so simple? said “to stand.” He clearly means ‘to stand in the Great Day.’2 What should we do? Let’s conclude with some positive advice to speak- Rightly dividing the word of truth ers, writers and readers. Many who draw ‘spiritual lessons’ do so without First, realise that it is your duty to examine that regard to what the writer of Scripture was saying, passage carefully, and with all the attention you and then justify doing so by insisting that ‘it was/ can muster. If you think the writer is making a is a positive lesson,’ or ‘it is a constructive piece certain lesson, test it by raising every objection of advice,’ or something similar. I have no quarrel you possibly can. Ask, ‘If somebody is going to with the quality of advice, as I said above. What I object to what I think, what would he say?’ then do believe is that drawing a lesson without regard find answers. Only when this test is successfully to the context is not “rightly dividing the word passed can you safely use the lesson in your life of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). It is not being faithful to or your talk. what is actually said. The divinely inspired writer Secondly, let Scripture speak to you. Don’t tell said exactly what he wanted to say, and we, as it what it should be saying! Listen, hear, and ac- conscientious expositors, have a bounden duty to cept. Ask questions. Remember, you are the pupil. God first, to our hearers or readers second, and God is the One doing the teaching. So, pay atten- to the writer third, to convey the message that tion: the rewards are well worth the trouble you the writer actually intended. take. If you wrote an important letter to me, and I took it and made the words mean something totally unrelated to what you meant, you would 2. Paul’s succeeding words in verse 14, “Stand therefore, be justifiably annoyed, wouldn’t you? Should we having your loins girt about with truth . . .” imply that treat the writers of Scripture in that way? the standing is in contrast to falling, and is relevant I believe that speakers and writers should first daily—or at least as often as spiritual warfare is re- study the passages they are going to talk about quired and engaged in.—E.D.M.

Testimony 2018 Special Issue Please note the information contained in this month’s editorial.

Testimony, April 2018 Contents 135 Principles, preaching and problems Was the Last Supper held on the Passover night? Geoff Henstock

A recent article offered an explanation of the timing of 13:1 places these events “before the feast of the passover.” In four further some of the events immediately preceding our Lord’s separate references, John makes it crucifixion.1 This article offers an alternative suggestion abundantly clear that the events he as to the day on which this event took place. records as happening that night and the following morning were prior to T THE SETTING of the sun a new Jewish the Passover ceremony. day begins. The day that is just beginning Ain John 13 is the final day of our Lord’s Four details: preparing for Passover mortal life. Note carefully how verse 1 com- Later in John 13, when Judas had left the upper mences: “Now before the feast of the passover . . .” room, we read that there may still have been What does this suggest about this night and the things that needed to be purchased for celebrat- meal that the Lord and his disciples shared in the ing the Passover: “some of them thought, because upper room? This was before the Passover, which Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, means that the meal in the upper room was not Buy those things that we have need of against the Passover feast. the feast” (v. 29). On the surface, John’s comment about the tim- Later still we read that, when the Jews deliv- ing appears to be at odds with what the synoptic ered Jesus to Pilate, they were reluctant to go Gospels say about that night in the upper room: in and witness the interrogation for ritualistic “Now the first day of the feast of unleavened reasons: “Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest to eat the passover? . . . the disciples did as they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready passover” (18:28). Had they entered the hall, the the passover” (Mt. 26:17,19); Jewish leaders would have regarded themselves “And his disciples went forth, and came into as defiled, and therefore unable to celebrate the the city, and found as he had said unto them: Passover. Clearly, the Passover had not yet been and they made ready the passover” (Mk. 14:16); celebrated. “Then came the day of unleavened bread, After Pilate’s interrogation of our Lord we are when the passover must be killed . . . And ye again reminded of the imminence of Passover: shall say unto the goodman of the house, The “And it was the preparation of the passover, Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest- and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the chamber, where I shall eat the passover with Jews, Behold your King!” (19:14). The sixth hour is my disciples? . . . And they went, and found about noon, so this is midday on the day of “the as he had said unto them: and they made ready preparation of the passover,” which means again the passover . . . And he said unto them, With that the Passover had not yet been celebrated. desire I have desired to eat this passover with The word “preparation” is used again when you before I suffer” (Lk. 22:7,11,13,15). the Jews sought to expedite the death of Jesus and From the synoptic Gospels it seems crystal clear the two men who were crucified with him: “The that Jesus kept the Passover feast with his dis- Jews therefore, because it was the preparation,­ ciples in the upper room. But when we come to John we have clear evidence this could not have 1. Adah Jones, “When did the Last Supper take place?” been the case. We have already noted that John Testimony, vol. 87, no. 1,031, Oct. 2017, p. 385. Testimony, April 2018 136 Contents that the bodies should not remain upon the cross where this was and would lead the rulers to that on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an place to round them up. high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might What this means is that the Lord did not keep be broken, and that they might be taken away” the Passover meal with his disciples in the upper (v. 31). room. This is consistent with the fact that he was Five times John presents the events of this cli- the true Paschal Lamb, and that his death on the mactic day as taking place prior to the celebration cross coincided with the slaying of the lambs that of the Passover. How do we reconcile this with Jewish families had selected so they could keep what we read in Matthew, Mark and Luke about the Passover that year. the disciples preparing to eat the Passover with their Lord in the upper room? “This Passover” When they were despatched to make ready Yet we read in Luke 22:15 that our Lord told his the upper room, the disciples did not understand disciples: “I have desired to eat this passover what was ahead for the Lord. Even though he had with you before I suffer.” When he spoke of “this tried to warn them about what was ahead, they Passover,” however, our Lord did not mean that did not understand that he would be arrested and year’s celebration of the feast of Passover. In that tried during the coming night and crucified just upper room that night there was no slain lamb, a few hours later. They must have made some cooked and waiting to be consumed with all the preparations for the Passover, in accordance with ritual associated with the feast. The Lord himself the testimony of the synoptic Gospels. It is obvi- was the Passover lamb at what Jesus called “this ous, however, that not everything necessary had Passover,” which he wished to keep with his dis- been done, because some of them assumed that ciples. The bread he shared with them that night Judas left the upper room after supper to buy was his body; the cup represented his blood. John further supplies necessary for the feast. does not discuss these elements in his account of the events in the upper room in chapter 13 Expectation and reality because he has already eloquently set forth this It is impossible to be dogmatic, but there may be information in chapter 6. a simple explanation for this apparent incongru- The Lord enjoyed a Passover-type meal with his ity. Having left Bethany, the disciples assumed disciples in the upper room, a meal that included that the upper room to which they were being the rituals of the bread and the wine that we directed was to be their base for the next few commemorate in our memorial meetings. This days as they kept the feast, rather than only the new ritual was celebrated on the night prior to venue for one special meal. Indeed, it is possible the Jewish Passover. This new ritual was thus that it was to the sanctuary of this upper room described as “this Passover” in Luke 22—a new that they fled after the Lord’s arrest, although Passover institution altogether, not the Passover they may also have been scared that Judas knew feast of the Mosaic system. Contents

Exhortation Glorious day Bob Blundell A personal reflection by the author following a recent cedar planks of its hull creaked in- visit to the Holy Land. termittently, piercing the silence of the early morning. A tattered sail NEW DAY had begun. The darkness hanging from the mast popped and swung to of night had all but faded away, and a either side of the wooden post as occasional A cool breeze from the west pushed gentle gusts of wind breathed life into the hand-sewn swells across the sea, slapping against the hull cloth. of the small fishing boat. It rocked back and The man awoke, hearing the snap of the sail, forth, straining against its anchor, and the aged and sat up from where he lay curled on the bottom Testimony, April 2018 Contents 137 of the boat. His shoulder had been wedged against Back to the moment the oak beam of the hull while he slept, and he As the aromatic smells of the sea invaded his massaged his neck with the strong, wrinkled senses, the other men in the boat began to stir hand of a man who had spent most of his life on and awaken. He looked over at them and smiled. the sea. A gull flying overhead swooped down “Wake up, brothers,” he said. “I have laboured near the water, crying out as he accelerated into through the night while you slept like small the sky, and when the man looked up he noticed children. It’s time to sail back to port.” for the first time that it was dawn and that the The one lying next to him, named Andrew, sun had crested the horizon. He rubbed his tired, rolled over on his back and smiled up at him. sagging eyes and leaned against the rail, peering “Perhaps you will prepare my breakfast first into the silvery mist that hovered just above the before we sail back,” and he laughed along with surface of the sea. the others. The six men began to talk in lively banter, Reflecting on the past enjoying the crisp morning air and the intense He and his brothers, who lay strewn on the bond that they shared, and the man smiled and bottom of the boat sleeping, had fished most of joined along. But his mind wandered, remember- the night. The fishing had not been good, not a ing the amazing responsibility that he had been single fish, and after tending the nets for hours given. His thoughts returned to the moment they had collapsed, weary from their work, al- when the Teacher had told him that he would lowing blessed sleep to overtake them. The man be leaving and that he, a simple, ordinary man, stood up and began to move cautiously to the must take his place when he was gone. He had bow, careful not to waken any of the other men. scarcely felt worthy of following such a cause, He found the small goatskin bag containing much less leading it, and he initially refused. But several dates, and he ate one of them and took a once his eyes were opened to who the Teacher long drink from a gourd containing fresh water. truly was, he knew what he must do. He prayed The coolness of the water felt good against his that he would be granted the wisdom and cour- parched throat, and he chewed the date slowly, age to accomplish the daunting task he had been savouring its sweetness, as he watched the sun given. begin its journey above the sea. The sight of the morning sun shimmering on Unexpected events the water brought back fond memories of his As the brothers conversed, the man gazed toward father taking him fishing as a boy, teaching him the rocky grey shore a hundred cubits away, and, to work the nets as his father before him had as the mist began to lift, he saw a tall figure near been taught. But deep within him there was a the edge of the water. He was dressed in a white sadness that clung to him like a dark veil. He robe and he was walking along the shoreline. had forsaken the man whom he adored and Behind him there was a small fire burning, and who had transformed his very life—the same plumes of grey smoke swirled upward into the man who would transform the lives of so many thick air. The stranger waved at him and he others. waved back. Three years before, he had been called to “Have you caught anything during the night?” follow him, and he had left the life that he had the stranger asked. known, and obeyed, not fully understanding “No,” he replied. the power that compelled him, but willing to “Fish on the right side of the boat,” yelled the learn as an apt pupil seeking knowledge from stranger. his teacher. But, despite what he had been The brothers looked quizzically at the stranger taught and the miracles he had witnessed, he on the shore and then back at the man. “Do as had betrayed him. He knew that it was fear that he says,” he barked. And as two of the brothers had caused him to turn his back on his Teacher, began to lift the nets from the bottom of the craft, but fear of what? Hadn’t this man taught him another pulled the anchor from its mooring. In that suffering in this life was inevitable? He seconds, a breath of wind filled the small sail felt warm tears on his cheeks, wishing that he and the boat began slowly to track to the east. could change it all, but knowing that he would They had scarcely moved forty cubits when the have to live with the terrible injustice he had nets suddenly became taut, weighted heavily by committed. something below the surface. Testimony, April 2018 138 Contents The northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, close to the traditional site where Jesus met his disciples after his resurrection, as recounted in John 21. Picture: © holylandphotos.org Andrew leaned over the edge of the craft, He placed his palms on Peter’s face, then leaned staring into the azure water. “It’s the nets!” he over and kissed his forehead. Then he blessed exclaimed. “They’re full of fish! Come, everyone. Peter with the gift of forgiveness, and with the Help me pull them in.” power of the Holy Spirit that would give him the As the men excitedly moved to the right side strength and courage to accomplish the enormous of the boat to lift the nets, one of the brothers task ahead of him. stood upright near the bow, gazing curiously at the man standing on the shore. Then suddenly * * * * * a smile crossed his face. “It’s the Lord!” he ex- claimed excitedly. As I stood on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee near Tiberias, I gazed across the glistening Time with the Master blue water reflecting on what had happened here The brothers dropped the heavy nets, and their so long ago. A slate-coloured fog hovered above eyes were suddenly opened, and they too could the surface, partially obscuring the mountains on see that it was Jesus beckoning them to come the opposite shore, and I felt the warmth of tears ashore. The man felt a sudden exhilaration when run down my cheeks. I closed my eyes, imagining he too recognised the Messiah, and in his exuber- for a moment the scent of the charcoal fire and the ance he leaped into the sea fully clothed. He trod smell of freshly cooked fish in the morning air. water until he was able to walk to the shore, and And I could hear the joy in the disciples’ voices when he reached his Saviour he knelt down at when they laughed as they shared this final mo- his feet, feeling an immense joy wash over him ment with the one who had chosen them to help like a huge wave. “My Lord, my Lord,” he cried, change the world. “you have returned!” This beach, this incredible place, exuded an Jesus gently placed his palms on the top of air of holiness and purity, and I felt unworthy his disciple’s head. “Come, Simon Peter,” he said. to be standing on the same shore where our “You must dry off and join me at the fire. I have Lord and his disciples had once walked over prepared fish for all of you.” 2,000 years ago. I looked at the small oblong That morning Jesus and the brothers sat stone in my hand. It was like any ordinary around a smouldering charcoal fire, eating and stone, grey in colour, except this one came from talking of days past and the many miracles of the rocky shore where I stood now. I turned it which they had all been part. Though they knew over in my palm, examining it carefully, feel- that there would be hardships and suffering in ing its hard edges, then closing it in my fist the years to come, their hearts felt pure and full tightly, sensing its significance and knowing of joy and peace. When the meal was finished, that I would never lose it or the memory of this Jesus took Peter a few cubits away from the others. moment. Testimony, April 2018 Contents 139 News from the Nations

Compiled by Shaun Maher “Race to exploit Mediterranean gas raises “Outrage over new Israeli law allowing Palestinians in regional hackles” Jerusalem to be stripped of residency” The race to exploit the extensive In a further provocation to Arab and Muslim nations around energy reserves discovered un- the world, the Knesset has enacted a law which allows Israeli der the eastern Mediterranean authorities to strip Arab residents of their residency rights. is causing already-heightened Any individual deemed to be a threat to the Israeli state can tensions in the region to rise. have his papers seized and be expelled from Jerusalem. A Such potential wealth and energy number of pro-Palestinian groups and governments claim resources have the potential to that the legislation is a contravention of international law. Full transform any nation’s finances. story at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle- With the stakes so high, relations east/israel-jerusalem-palestinians-residency-stripping-law- between nations claiming rights latest-a8246336.html to the gas fields are becoming more aggressive, although as yet “The 11 cities most likely to run out of drinking water—like this remains a war of words only. Cape Town” Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus, Lebanon Half the world’s population either has no access to water, or and Israel embarked on a round experiences water scarcity for at least one month every year. As of diplomatic salvos during March, the world’s population increases and ‘mega-cities’ proliferate, this but there still remains much to be will become an increasing problem. The United Nations estimates resolved. Full article at https:// that by 2030 water demand will outstrip supply by forty per cent. www.ft.com/content/b8fe8d9c- Recent experiences in Cape Town are just the first symptoms of 23bb-11e8-ae48-60d3531b7d11 this major global issue. Full article at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ (subscription required). world-42982959

“TRUMP PEACE PLAN Young Palestinians COULD RECOGNIZE at Gaza’s Land Day PALESTINIAN STATE” demonstrations, The Trump administration is ap- 30 March 2018, parently developing an Arab-Israeli protesting against peace plan that they are describing Israeli and American as “the deal of the century.” In a policy by burning proposal that has been widely trailed pictures of Benjamin through official leaks and press re- Netanyahu and the leases, the administration believes it American flag. © CrowdSpark/Alamy Stock has something significantly different Photo from anything that has been offered before. At the heart of the plan, al- “Iran provokes Israel with network of Syrian bases” legedly, is a proposal to make East Satellite images have confirmed a network of at least ten Iranian Jerusalem the capital of the new bases in Syria housing tens of thousands of Iranian troops and Palestinian state and to place the Old providing logistical support for Hezbollah. Israel views this as a City under international protection— provocation, and has made clear its intention to attack these facili- whatever that means. Full article at ties in an effort to limit the build-up. War between the two nations https://www.timesofisrael.com/ is looking increasingly likely—it is a case of ‘when,’ not ‘if.’ Full trump-peace-plan-would-recog article at https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iran-provokes-isra nize-palestinian-state-report/ el-with-network-of-syrian-bases-92zb8d3w0 Testimony, April 2018 140 Contents Review “Lift up your heads” John Nicholls

Milestones 2017—a Babylon. Out of the Persian, and then the Greek, Review of World Events successors to Babylon came the Roman Empire, of 2017 in the Light of which, like Babylon, took control of God’s people Bible Prophecy. Israel and scattered them from their land. Pagan Don Pearce. Rome became ‘Christian’ Rome, which in turn be- Published by the came Papal Rome. Daniel’s visions are considered, author, 76 High Street, along with the question why, in the days of the Hillmorton, RUGBY, sixth seal (our time), the new symbol of the false CV21 4EE, United prophet is introduced. There follows a discussion Kingdom. of the work of the papal system (interpreted as Telephone: + 44 (0)1788 the false prophet) today, especially in Europe and 54 2408. the European Union. When the sixtieth birthday Email: [email protected] of the EU was celebrated in Rome in March 2017 Online: www.milestonesuk.org (without the UK!), the involvement of the papacy Prices: one copy £4.20; two to four copies in EU affairs was highlighted. £3.80 each; five or more £3.00 each. Prices The Russian dragon under President Putin is include UK postage. constantly aggressive and assertive on the world Overseas: email requirements. Payments can stage. Scripture says that the dragon ‘deceives be made by PayPal. Australia: available from the nations’ (Rev. 20:1-3). Russia is involved in the Christadelphian Scripture Study Service the Middle East, the Balkans, in the Baltic region and agents. Email: [email protected] and in other areas, including a good deal of ‘cyber warfare.’ At present Russia is coexisting Online: http://www.csss.org.au/ milestones-2017.html with Israel throughout the turmoil in the Mid- dle East (Putin gets on well with Israel’s prime Price: $8.80 incl. GST. Postage extra. Discounts minister), but we know that “an evil thought” for multiple copies. (Ezek. 38:10) will propel Russia to invade God’s HEN WILL THE LORD return? It may nation. Russia has taken over from the USA as seem to us mere mortals that our Lord kingmaker in the area, having bases in Syria and W“delayeth his coming,” but Habakkuk Libya, as well as links with Egypt, Turkey and assures us that “the vision is yet for an appointed Saudi Arabia. Interestingly, Vladimir Putin sees time . . . though it tarry, wait for it; because it will his duty as a ‘Christian’ to protect persecuted surely come, it will not tarry” (2:3; quoted Heb. ‘Christian’ minorities in Syria. In Russia he has 10:36,37). It is therefore good to read Brother Don overseen the building of many churches, and has Pearce’s assessment of the signs of the times in maintained close links with Patriarch Kirill, head 2017, and to be reassured that God’s purpose is of the Russian Orthodox Church. on course, with the angels evidently very busy The third section of Milestones 2017 concerns behind the scenes. the European beast, its development, and its fu- ture without Britain. There is a helpful exposition Europe of the three phases of the European beast: the After a brief review of Milestones thirty-five years beast of the sea, the beast of the earth, and the ago, the author begins his look at events in 2017 by image of the beast. Germany is the most power- expounding Revelation’s symbols of the dragon, ful country in Europe, but her Chancellor, Mrs the beast and the false prophet, going back to Merkel, even after four months since Germany’s Nimrod and the establishment of Babel in the elections, has barely been able to form a stable post-Flood period. Nimrod’s kingdom was in coalition government. Britain was always against opposition to God’s people, and in time it led to a European army, looking to NATO for Europe’s Testimony, April 2018 Contents 141 defence against Russia, but with Britain leav- gas to export, while becoming self-sufficient in ing the EU in March 2019 the way is clear for energy. The author discusses President Trump’s Germany, France, the Netherlands and other EU decision to move the American embassy to countries to develop the army which Scripture Jerusalem to acknowledge that Jerusalem has indicates “shall make war with the Lamb” (Rev. been, and is today, Israel’s capital city. Much is 17:14). The goal of the European project is to also said of Saudi Arabia’s new Crown Prince create a ‘United States of Europe,’ and Brother Mohammad Bin Salman and the changes that Don shows how political leaders have lied to are sweeping through his hitherto conservative their people about the true aims of the European country. entity. Political, economic, social and monetary The closing chapters of the book concern “the integration are all intended to lead to a European merchants of Tarshish” and her “young lions.” superstate. Interesting expositions of Isaiah 23 are offered, where verse 7 speaks of Tyre’s own feet ‘carrying The Middle East her afar off to dwell,’ interpreted as a possible in- 2017 saw several prophecies about Israel, Sheba dication that Britain is the latter-day successor to and Dedan reaching their fulfilment. Isaiah 2:6- ancient Tyre. An interesting exposition is offered 9 is shown to be a commentary on the nation about the seventy-year period in verses 15-18, of Israel today, trusting in her own strength, when end-time Tyre has been forgotten. Brexit her intelligence service Mossad (described as offers Britain opportunities to look outwards to “soothsayers like the Philistines”), her trade, her trade with all nations of the world. Brother Don wealth and the Israel Defence Forces. Brother Don looks at trends and news about other post-Brexit comments on the prophecy in 10:20: “Israel . . . opportunities that lie ahead for Britain and the shall no more again stay upon him that smote Commonwealth nations. Finally, the drawing of them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy the nations to Armageddon in the prophecy of One of Israel, in truth.” He applies this to the Revelation 16:12-16 is considered, principally the current friendship between Israel and Russia. He anger of the nations over Jerusalem, which has also shares his thoughts on Ezekiel 38:11,12 and been indicated in recent United Nations votes. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4. The remarkable friendships Jerusalem is, as Zechariah tells us, a magnet to growing between Saudi Arabia (Sheba), the Gulf pull all nations into Israel to fight against God’s States (Dedan) and Israel have come about due nation and God’s people. to their having a common enemy (ISIS, Iran and Brother Don has once again alerted us to the her proxies Hamas and Hezbollah). Israel not significance of the times in which we live, and only has weapons against rockets and missiles, we can only watch, praying earnestly “for the but has intelligence and cyber-security systems. peace of Jerusalem,” for “Peace . . . within [her] Israel’s Mediterranean gas fields, Tamar and walls, and prosperity within [her] palaces,” for Leviathan, mean that she will continue to have “they shall prosper that love [her]” (Ps. 122:6,7). Jesus authenticates the letter from Jerusalem When Jesus instructs John to write to ecclesias in Asia (Revelation 2 and 3), there are clear al- lusions to, and quotations from, the Old Testament. By the time the letters given to John were to be circulated through Asia, however, the Jerusalem council had adjudicated on the lifestyle issues relating to harmony in matters between Jew and Gentile. The content of the council’s letter can be read in Acts 15:23-29. That letter was relevant to the ecclesias to which Jesus wrote, as recorded in Revelation. So it is not surprising that, when Jesus speaks of unacceptable behaviour in those ecclesias, he quotes parts of the letter that they had received from the apostles in Jerusalem. Thus Jesus reminds the ecclesias in question (Pergamos and Thyatira) of the communication that they had received at the hand of “Barnabas Acts Wording Revelation and Paul” (Acts 15:25), which was confirmed 15:28 “no greater burden” 2:24 by “Judas and Silas” (v. 27) by word of mouth. Jesus’ use of elements of the Jerusalem letter 15:29 “meats offered to idols” 2:14,20 authenticates that the ecclesias had received 15:29 “fornication” 2:14,20 the letter and elevated it to the status of Scrip- ture.—Peter Forbes Testimony, April 2018 142 Contents Exposition The cherubim of glory 9. Whirling wheels and fire David Green

N PART 9 of this series we will consider first west, without having to twist round or turn aside, the appearance of the awesome whirling wheels whilst being always able to move straight ahead Ithat accompanied the living creatures and their as did the cherubim (vv. 9,12,17). underlying symbology, and then the fiery charac- Since, from a natural point of view, wheels ter of Ezekiel’s visions of the cherubim. facilitate movement, as do wings, they symbolise the ease and rapidity by which the cherubim Awesome wheels within wheels move from place to place by God’s Spirit to Each living creature seen by Ezekiel had its own perform their duties when and where they are wheel beside it (Ezek. 1:15; 10:9).1 Since the living needed. The ready ability of the wheels to move creatures were in a foursquare formation, the in the direction of the cardinal points of the wheels must have been similarly arranged. We compass would indicate that God’s Spirit power read that “their appearance was like the gleaming is being manifested worldwide through His om- of beryl . . . as it were a wheel within a wheel . . . nipresence. It has been suggested that the circular they went in any of their four directions [north, shape of the wheels represents the eternity of an south, east or west] without turning as they went. endless life bestowed on the redeemed saints who And their rims were tall and awesome . . . full of constitute the cherubim (Heb. 7:16). eyes all around” (1:16-18, ESV). The wheels were The diagrams below show a bird’s-eye view of an integral part of “the chariot of the cherubim” the two possible arrangements of the cherubim (1 Chron. 28:18) since both the cherubim and their with their wheels. The small squares represent wheels were energised by God’s Spirit, and both the four faces of the cherubs, and the large crosses the cherubim and the rims of their wheels were represent the great circular rims of the wheels full of eyes (Ezek. 1:18). within wheels set at right angles.2 The wheels being awesome in height (v. 18) impresses on us the awesome greatness of God’s 1. Bible quotations are from the NKJV except where power at work in each cherub. The description of otherwise stated.

“a wheel in the middle of a wheel” (v. 16) probably 2. The suggestion for the diagrams in this series is means that they had two rims set at right angles, derived from a diagram in Brother John Allfree’s enabling the wheels to roll north, south, east or Ezekiel—an Exposition of Chapters 1–39, CSSS, 1999.

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Two possible arrangements of the cherubim with their wheels. Testimony, April 2018 Contents 143 The wheels, but not the cherubim, are specified ­mountains ablaze, so may You pursue them with as being “on the earth” (Ezek. 1:15). This suggests Your tempest and terrify them with Your hur- the possibility that the cherubim may have been ricane!” (vv. 13-15, ESV). This sort of language hovering with their feet above the ground. 10:2 reminds us of a phenomenon occasionally seen supports this view, since the man clothed in linen in forest fires, a ‘fire tornado,’ which is a whirl- is instructed, “Go in among the whirling wheels wind of flame spiralling several meters high, underneath the cherubim” to take burning coals which may be formed when a strong, dry wind “from between the cherubim” (ESV). In that case fans wildfires.5 the wheels, though “tall and awesome” (1:18, In this passage the Hebrew word galgal is as- ESV), would be to a large extent, if not completely, sociated with the outpouring of God’s wrath, so below the cherubim, and so would not obscure the use of the word in Ezekiel could indicate the Ezekiel’s view. idea of punishment. Whirlwinds are spoken of in other judgement passages, set out below, albeit Wheels the colour of beryl using different Hebrew words: The colour of the wheels is denoted by the He- “For behold, the LORD will come with fire and brew word tarshish, which is understood to be with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render a golden-yellow precious stone. This word is His anger with fury, and His rebuke with translated “beryl” in the AV, ESV and NKJV but flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword “chrysolite” in the RSV (v. 16; 10:9). The same the LORD will judge all flesh; and the slain of word describes the colour of the glorious man the LORD shall be many” (Isa. 66:15,16); seen in vision by Daniel (Dan. 10:6). The Hebrew “Behold, disaster shall go forth from nation to word translated “colour” here by the NKJV lit- nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised erally means ‘eye’ and is translated “gleam” or up from the farthest parts of the earth” (Jer. “sparkling” in the RSV. 25:32); The position of the beryl stone on the high “Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goes forth priest’s breastplate (Ex. 28:20) probably corre- with fury, a continuing whirlwind; it will fall sponds to the tribe of Dan. Since Dan means violently on the head of the wicked” (30:23). ‘judging’ or ‘he who judges’ (cf. Gen. 49:16), the A fiery tornado is an apt figure for the devastat- colour of beryl may represent judgement. This fits ing judgements that God will bring upon the the meaning of the Hebrew name tarshish, which world of the ungodly prior to the establishment is ‘she will shatter’3 or ‘breaking’ and ‘subjection’ of His Kingdom. (of enemies), from the root rashash, ‘to break’.4 If a Wheels (galgal) are connected with fire in golden-yellow colour is correct, this would match Daniel’s vision of “the Ancient of Days” (Dan the sparkling bronze colour of the feet used for 7:9-11). This vision represents the divine court treading down the wicked. The meaning ‘she will of judgement (v. 10), with thrones put in place shatter’ fits one aspect of the work of the bride of (v. 9) around the chariot-like throne on which Christ (see Rev. 2:26,27). The colour of beryl also the Ancient of Days sits. “His throne was a fiery links with “the colour of amber” (Ezek. 1:4,27; flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream 8:2), which other translations render “gleaming issued and came forth from before Him” (vv. 9,10). metal” (ESV) or “gleaming bronze” (RSV). The Ancient of Days is God manifested in Jesus Christ sitting in judgement on the nations and Whirling wheels executing righteous judgements, the righteous The Hebrew word galgal is used by Ezekiel three nature of these judgement being symbolised by times (10:2,6,13) in place of the normal word for his garment as white as snow and his hair like wheel, ophan. Galgal is rendered by some transla- pure wool (v. 9). Those nations that will not serve tions, such as the ESV, “whirling wheels.” Does this mean whirling in the sense of rolling to produce forward or backward motion, or is it a 3. J. B. Jackson, Dictionary of Scripture Names. whirling that is independent of the movement 4. Alfred Jones, The Proper Names of the Old Testament. of the cherubim? 5. In James 3:6 the Greek word trochos should be trans- lated ‘wheel’ (see RV), but James is using a different The same word is translated “whirling dust” figure from that of a destroying wheel of fire. He is in Psalm 83: “O my God, make them like whirl- speaking of the effect of an uncontrolled tongue on ing dust [galgal], like chaff before the wind. As the round of human activity, likening it to an over- fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the heated axle setting on fire a wooden wagon-wheel. Testimony, April 2018 144 Contents him will be destroyed: “For the nation and king- The fire was bright and lightning went forth out dom which will not serve you shall perish, and of the fire (Ezek. 1:13, ESV). Coals of fire and light- those nations shall be utterly ruined” (Isa. 60:12). ning suggest the pouring out of judgements on Specific mention is made in Daniel 7 of the body the wicked, resulting in their destruction: “Upon of the fourth beast being “destroyed and given the wicked He will rain coals; fire and brimstone to the burning flame” (v. 11). and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup” (Ps. 11:6; cf. 144:6; Isa. 66:15,16; Zech. 9:14; Other features of the wheels Mal. 4:1; 2 Pet. 3:7; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 16:18). That Other features of the wheels match those of the aspect of the cherubim’s work is completed when cherubim, because the Spirit of God is in both the the sea of nations has become like glass that had wheels and the cherubim, causing them to move been mingled with fire (15:2). as a single unit: “When the living creatures went, In the immediate context, the scattering of the wheels went beside them; and when the liv- the coals of fire taken from among the cherubim ing creatures were lifted up from the earth, the (Ezek. 10:2,7) represented judgement on Jerusalem wheels were lifted up. Wherever the spirit wanted through the agency of the Babylonians. Since the to go, they went, because there the spirit went . . . cherubim were at this time standing on the south for the spirit of the living creatures was in the side of the temple (v. 3, NKJV mg.), these coals wheels” (Ezek. 1:19,20). of fire were not from the altar of burnt offering The cherubim and their wheels are integral mentioned in 8:16, unlike those taken by a seraph parts of the chariot of the cherubim, symbolising from the altar and used to purge Isaiah’s unclean the power of God at work in the world carrying lips (Isa. 6:5-7). out duties of protection for those seeking the way Fire is used to purge and purify metals, to the tree of life, and punishment of the ungodly burning away unwanted dross and other con- who would otherwise threaten access to that way. taminants. The Apostle Peter likens the effects of The wheels had many eyes, pointing to God’s trials in the lives of believers to this fiery purging omniscience at work through the angels and the process: “you have been grieved by various trials, saints; they made “a great thunderous sound” that the genuineness of your faith, being much (NKJV) or “a noise of a great rushing”’ (AV), as more precious than gold that perishes, though it did the wings of the cherubim (3:13), represent- is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, ing both the multitudinous aspect of the symbol and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. and the greatness of the power being manifested. 1:6,7). Likewise, the fire of the day of judgement will test each believer to search out those with Fire, torches and lightning desirable characters represented by gold, silver Matching the vision of the Ancient of Days with and precious stones (1 Cor. 3:12-15). His throne of fiery flame and its wheels of burn- A parallel situation is the burning up of the ing fire, Ezekiel saw the cherubim emerge from chaff from the threshing floor to leave the clean “a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; harvested grain for storage: “His winnowing and brightness was all around it and radiating fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out of its midst like the colour of amber, out of out his threshing floor, and gather his wheat the midst of the fire” (1:4). The fiery nature of into the barn; but he will burn up the chaff with this theophany not only draws our attention to unquenchable fire” (Mt. 3:12). This aspect of fire the awesome majesty of God and the greatness purging and purifying is the other side of the coin of the power at His disposal, but also reminds of the destruction of the ungodly, for the earth us of the fiery nature of His judgements on the needs to be purged of the wicked in order that the wicked, for “our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. new heavens and new earth in which righteous- 12:29). Fire is an excellent symbol of destruction, ness dwells might be established (2 Pet. 3:7,13): because it often burns so completely that it leaves “But who can endure the day of his coming? And no trace apart from ashes to be blown away in who can stand when he appears? For he is like the wind: “But the sons of rebellion shall all be as a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. He will thorns thrust away . . . and they shall be utterly sit as a refiner and purifier of silver” (Mal. 3:2,3). burned with fire in their place” (2 Sam. 23:6,7). Expressed in symbol, all that is antagonistic to the The living creatures had the appearance of righteousness of God will be cast into the lake of burning coals of fire, and the appearance of torch- fire: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, es moved to and fro among the living creatures. murderers, sexually immoral, ­sorcerers, idolaters, Testimony, April 2018 Contents 145 and all liars shall have their part in the lake power and ability to carry out the will of God which burns with fire and brimstone, which is quickly, directly and exactly in every respect, the second death” (Rev. 21:8). without having to turn away from the straight course required. These abilities of the cherubim The rapid movement of the cherubim of glory, taken together with those discussed The cherubim darted to and fro “like a flash previously, “are summed up in the three words: of lightning” (Ezek. 1:14), suggesting an overall omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence.”6 brightness as well as speedy movement, a dif- Our study of Ezekiel’s visions will be con- ferent Hebrew word for “flash of lightning” cluded in part 10 by considering the glory of God being used here from that used for “lightning” enthroned above the cherubim. in verse 13. The cherubim moved directly ahead, as did the (To be continued) wheels, without needing to turn about in order to change direction (vv. 12,17-21), and sometimes they were lifted up from the earth (v. 20). These 6. W. H. Boulton, The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (The attributes signify that the cherubim have the Christadelphian, 1962), p. 26. Contents Watchman You know not the day nor the hour Shaun Maher S WE LIVE through what is undoubtedly revelation, as in the case of Simeon (Lk. 2:26), or a period of significant change in global general expectation, as in the case of the questions Apolitics, we need to be careful to remain put to John the Baptist (Jno. 1:21). But, arguably, as objective as possible in trying to make sense none of them knew precisely what to expect in of what we see. Indeed, often the most prudent terms of the person and teaching of Jesus. Without approach is not to try to make sense of it, but exception, all who came into contact with Jesus rather to watch and pray. We can, of course, be and his teaching had to rethink their under- very confident about the endpoint and some of standing of Scripture and what God required the key markers along the way; the first advent of them. of the Lord, the return of the Jews to the Land, Consider the examples from the various strata the second coming of Jesus and the establishment of Jewish society, from scholars and leaders to of God’s Kingdom on earth might be examples of the most lowly members of the Jewish nation— such. But to look at every twist and turn along Nicodemus (3:1-16), the rich young ruler (Lk. the way and try to fit them into a fixed formula or 18:18-23), Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:1-6), the disciples framework is surely not the wisest way to spend on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:19-27), and the our time and energy. woman caught in adultery (Jno. 8:1-11), to cite Even some of the major milestones in God’s just a few. Each one was stopped in his tracks purpose were recognised only with the benefit by his encounter with the Lord. Undoubtedly of hindsight or further revelation. For example, we have been blessed with additional advantages before it was explained to them and demonstrated compared with these examples, but do we really before their eyes, how many Jews truly under- think that it will be so different for us when we stood the central element of the gospel: that Jesus meet our Lord? needed to die and rise again? Many believed that Messiah was coming, and some perhaps even European politics shifting expected him approximately around the time With these caveats in mind, we turn our atten- he appeared, whether through personal divine tion once more to events in the world and seek to Testimony, April 2018 146 Contents consider them through the eye of faith and with number of obstacles, and is clearly a very deter- the words of Scripture in mind. mined inidvidual. The vote to abolish the limit During March, national elections took place on presidential terms was preceded by an an- in the European Union’s third-most-powerful nouncement by him to increase China’s military nation and its spiritual home, Italy. The results spending significantly.5 Undoubtedly, China will followed a similar pattern to recent elections in increasingly be flexing its muscles on the world other EU nations, with a lurch on one hand to stage in the years ahead. anti-establishment parties, and on the other to Next to catch the eye was a leader with well- nationalism and the far right. The anti-establish- established authoritarian credentials, the Turkish ment, anti-EU Five Star Party was the biggest win- president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In early March ner, taking more than thirty per cent of the vote, stories began to emerge in the mainstream media, making it the biggest party in both governing attributed to sources close to Mr Erdoğan, that he houses by some margin, but still without enough was developing an alliance to unite an ‘Army of votes to form a government in its own right. The Islam’ to destroy Israel and liberate Jerusalem.6 other big winner was Lega Nord, the national- At the same time, stories appeared of a meeting, ist anti-immigration party. Some commentators held in the White House and chaired by the are suggesting a possible new coalition between US government, which brought together lead- the two, which, if it came to be, would rock the ers from the Gulf States and Israel to tackle the EU establishment to its core.1 This eventuality is ongoing humanitarian problems in Gaza. These far from certain, however, and lengthy negotia- nations, further emboldened after the sacking of tions are now under way to create the alliances American Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (who required to form a government. If no agreement was supportive of America’s treaty with Iran), is reached, then another general election will be appear to be another axis of power forming in the called. region.7 With Iran and Russia firmly embedded Consideration of recent election results across in Syria, and Turkey’s sabre rattling, there are Europe and the wider world suggests an emerg- now three opposing axes of power converging ing pattern of a shift towards the extremities on the Middle East. of the political spectrum, in particular towards Finally in March we saw the Russian leader nationalism and the right. On the surface this ap- Vladimir Putin, not one to miss an opportunity pears to be driven by discontent with the liberal for the limelight, putting on an impressive show politics of the last forty years, but behind the of military might. Perhaps partly to distract peo- scenes the picture is more complex—whether in ple from the ailing Russian economy, and partly France, where we saw a strong showing from the to intimidate his Western counterparts, the Rus- nationalist movement led by Marine Le Pen; in sian leader spoke at length about Russia’s new Germany, where the anti-immigration Alternative “invincible” generation of hypersonic missiles. für Deutschland is now the official opposition; 2 He paused repeatedly during his speech to show or in Austria, where a young, relative newcomer computer-generated images of Russian weapons shocked the EU establishment by taking the elec- raining down on targets, which included Florida tion result and forming a coalition with far-right 3 parties. Those of us in the United Kingdom need 1. https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2018/ look no further than Brexit as evidence of this mar/05/italian-elections-2018-full-results-renzi-ber polarisation. The shape and direction of the EU lusconi appear to be shifting significantly before our eyes. 2. https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2018/03/angela-merkel- has-created-germanys-far-right/ 3. http://www.dw.com/en/make-austria-great-again-the- Re-emergence of totalitarianism rapid-rise-of-sebastian-kurz/a-40313720 In tandem with this disruption, we are witness- 4. https://www.politico.eu/article/xi-jinping-china-presi ing a resurgence of authoritarian dictators in a dent-for-life/ number of powerful nations around the globe, 5. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/05/china- particularly in the East, the Middle East and the urged-get-behind-scrapping-term-limits-president-xi- Far East. In March, three nations on a strong jinping/ 6. trajectory towards totalitarianism caught the eye. https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2018/march/ erdogans-vision-army-of-islam-to-destroy-israel The first was China, where Chinese Premier Xi 7. https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2018- Jinping is now premier for life, or for as long as 03-14/gulf-arabs-relish-tillerson-firing-iran-weighs- he chooses to be.4 Mr Xi rose to power despite a nuclear-deal Testimony, April 2018 Contents 147 and Europe.8 In addition, Britain witnessed the Working for Christ brazen attempt to assassinate a Russian former As ever, when we observe such things our re- double agent. The attack has widely been attrib- sponse should be to humbly watch and pray. We uted to the Russian intelligence services, and has can be confident that there is no need to worry resulted in a further cooling of relations between about what the world is coming to; God remains Britain and her allies and Russia.9 in control and is working out His sovereign will. The end result will be a world filled with peace Kings of the earth? and joy, to the glory of God. It is interesting that, after a period of human his- Let us therefore continue with the work before tory in which most advanced nations seemed to be us, keeping our garments unspotted from the shifting towards a Western model of democracy, world, caring for one another, and preaching we now appear to be witnessing a significant shift the gospel to those who will listen, with joy in towards dictatorship in some of the world’s most our hearts. As Paul encouraged our Philippian powerful nations. Aggressive, authoritarian rulers brothers and sisters: such as Erdoğan, Putin and Xi are simply modern “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, versions of the kings who ruled over nations in but in humility count others more significant bygone times. In a truly democratic system, no than yourselves. Let each of you look not only political leader is ever around for more than a to his own interests, but also to the interests decade or so; but there is nothing to stop these of others. Have this mind among yourselves, men—none of whom is particularly aged—from which is yours in Christ Jesus . . .” (Phil. 2:3- ruling for another twenty or thirty years, all 5, ESV). things being equal. This building up and service is at the heart of the In the past we may have felt the need to explain work that we have been given to do, and indeed Bible passages which talk about “the kings of the the very example set by our Lord and Master dur- earth,” such as Psalm 2 and Isaiah 24:21, in more ing his time on earth. We pray for his guidance modern terms. Yet, as we witness the shift that and blessing as we set our hand to these things. is now taking place, surely such men, who have ‘enthroned’ themselves and acquired great power and wealth, are the modern-day equivalent of 8. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/01/vladimir- the kings of old. How do we imagine that these putin-promises-halve-russias-poverty-six-years/ men might respond to the commandment from 9. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2018/03/ Jerusalem to cast their ‘crowns’ at the Lord’s feet? putin-s-new-cold-war Contents Pertinent pronouns (5) Geoff Henstock

“. . . the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest to be understood as the elders overseeing those in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks congregations. Harry Whittaker4 acknowledges [ESV, lampstands]. The seven stars are the angels of that that may be so, but prefers to regard them as the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which immortal angels charged with the care of par- thou sawest are the seven churches” (Rev. 1:20). ticular ecclesias. The language of Revelation 1 does not help to determine which of these views EADERS OF Revelation are told that, in the is more likely to be correct, but the use of pro- vision revealed in chapter 1, the seven gold- nouns in the letters to the ecclesias points readers Ren lampstands are seven ecclesias to which towards the correct interpretation. the letters of chapters 2 and 3 are addressed, while the seven stars are the angels of those ecclesias. 1. John Thomas, Eureka, vol. 1, pp. 161–6. But what are readers to understand by the phrase 2. W. L. Bedwell, The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia, “the angels of the seven [ecclesias]”? p. 16. John Thomas,1 W. L. Bedwell2 and A. D. Nor- 3. A. D. Norris, Apocalypse for Everyman, p. 52. ris3 all make a case for the angels of the ecclesias 4. Harry Whittaker, Revelation: a Biblical Approach, p. 16. Testimony, April 2018 148 Contents Each letter in Revelation 2 and 3 commences It is obvious that this angel is not a divine being, with the words, “Unto the angel of the [ecclesia] as, in verses 4 and 6, it is identified as having of . . .” The letters then address “the angel” using failed to act appropriately. The angel addressed pronouns that associate the recipient with the is clearly part of the congregation. From what members of that congregation. The pronouns are we learn of ecclesial governance in other New the key to solving this conundrum. Testament passages, it is reasonable to conclude To illustrate this we could use the example of that the angel is the body of elders of the meeting. the letter to the Ephesian ecclesia, which repeat- The fact that all of these pronouns are singular edly addresses the angel by the use of first-person- has led some commentators to suggest that the let- singular pronouns: ters are addressed to an individual bishop in the “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy sense in which that word is used in mainstream patience, and how thou canst not bear them churches today. There is no need, however, to which are evil: and thou hast tried them assume that each ecclesia had only one leader.5 which say they are apostles, and are not, and Like any other corporate entity, it would be quite hast found them liars: and hast borne, and normal for a group of elders (perhaps equating hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast fairly closely to our modern concept of arranging laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless brothers) to be addressed in the singular. In fact, I have somewhat against thee, because thou to address these letters, which are intended for hast left thy first love. Remember therefore the edification of the members of the relevant from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and ecclesia, to an individual would be inconsistent do the first works; or else I will come unto with what we encounter elsewhere in the New thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick Testament. out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the 5. There were “bishops [overseers]” (plural) in the ec- Nicolaitanes, which I also hate” (2:2-6). clesia at Philippi (Phil. 1:1).—J.D.T. Contents Your Letters Judgement to come God, and have been called upon to submit to it), dead and living—obedient and disobedient—will Brother Stephen Camplin’s article “Judgement to be summoned before his judgement seat ‘to be come” (Feb. 2018, p. 54) is a timely reminder about judged according to their works,’ and ‘receive in matters concerning the judgement seat of Christ. body according to what they have done, whether Sadly this subject has evoked, and continues to it be good or bad’” (BASF, Clause 24). evoke, much unnecessary contention within the Writing at about the same time, Sister Eusebia Christadelphian community. Over one hundred Lasius, daughter of Brother John Thomas, in the years ago, Brother Robert Roberts felt it neces- document What We Know About the Judgment, sug- sary to write the short booklet True Principles and gests that she had incomplete knowledge of this Uncertain Details; or, The danger of going too far in subject. If the daughter of Brother Thomas, who our demands on fellow-believers. In it he set out the doubtless discussed the topic with her father, was dangers of imposing one’s personal views on our prepared to admit this, it is perhaps sad that this brothers and sisters. He refers specifically to the issue has caused, and continues to cause, distress judgement seat, admitting that no-one can be and even division within our community. Thank- certain of the precise location where this will take fully, most of the preaching literature and books place, and that this should not be made a mat- produced within Christadelphia recognise that ter of fellowship. On the issue of judgement, the it is impossible to dogmatise on this important Brotherhood’s principal statement of faith clearly subject, treating it in accordance with the advice states: “That at the appearing of Christ prior to of Brother Robert Roberts. It is hoped that this the establishment of the Kingdom, the responsible will continue until the day of Jesus’ return. (namely, those who know the revealed will of Paul Maplethorpe, Camborne Testimony, April 2018 Contents 149 Prophecy Russia is preparing for war— is Trump? Paul Cresswell

This consideration of current events in and around Israel significantly increased the threat to in the light of Bible prophecy builds on an earlier article Israel, and the IDF are very much by the same author. In that article he suggested a prophetic aware of it. Politically, Israel’s government role for ISIS, and that Psalm 83 predicts a victory by is claiming friendship with Russia Israel over an attacking coalition of Arab powers, prior to whilst recognising that ex-President Russia’s invasion from the far north. Obama of America permitted Russia to make considerable gains in the HE TITLE OF this article is taken from region. The geopolitical reality has changed and Newsweek dated 14 December 2017. It is an is not likely to be reversed. Timportant reminder that all things do not President Trump seems much more favour- “continue as they were” (cf. 2 Pet. 3:4), but that able to Israel, although with his ‘America first’ the world as we know it is drawing swiftly to a policy it remains to be seen how far he will go close and we need to be prepared for our Lord’s in terms of practical support such as ‘boots on appearing. It is also a reminder that it is not the ground,’ as the modern saying is. For one only Bible prophecy that focuses on the Middle thing, America’s development of its own oil and East—including the drying up of “the great river gas reserves has reduced its dependence on Arab Euphrates” (Rev. 16:12)—but that the political oil. In fact, America is now capable of producing world is also focused on this area as the place more oil than Saudi Arabia. where they, like us, anticipate that World War Meanwhile, since Israel and its neighbours are III may well start in the near future. seen as the probable flashpoint for world war, My earlier article “Islamic State in Syria and the political reality is that nations are, in spite of Bible prophecy”1 reviewed the tense situation themselves, being drawn to the region as if by a surrounding Israel during the threat to world powerful magnet. Just as in the days of Daniel, peace at that time from ISIS, Iran and the Arab when it took the combined efforts of an angel and states, with particular reference to Psalm 83. I “Michael, one of the chief princes” (Dan. 10:13) wrote that, although ISIS was a threat to Israel to change the mind and the consequent actions and the region, it was not ISIS, nor the so-called of “the prince of the kingdom of Persia,” so it is Palestinians, but Russia who would overthrow taking longer than we had hoped to ‘dry up the the State of Israel and bring about the return of great river Euphrates’ to prepare the region for our Lord for Israel’s rescue (Dan. 12:1). Since that the advent of the ‘kings from a sun’s rising’ (Rev. time there have been significant developments 16:12). Our trouble is that, because life is so short, in the region. we are always in a hurry. Our God is timeless. The regional instability and the grouping of nations Middle East regional developments required by Bible prophecy cannot be achieved in What we had not seen then was Russia in Syria a hurry if they are to preserve the appearance of with permanent naval, military and air-force natural developments. Only Bible watchmen can bases. The Brotherhood had assumed that Russia really see what is happening and how develop- would invade Israel in a long advance from ‘the ments are exactly as God has purposed. uttermost parts of the north.’ Whilst that view Putin’s claim to have defeated ISIS is a vain remains valid, what we had not foreseen was boast. The idea of a Muslim caliphate will not that Russia would first establish advanced bases close to Israel’s northern border. This action has 1. Testimony, vol. 85, no. 1,009, Oct. 2015, p. 391. Testimony, April 2018 150 Contents go away, nor will terrorism and Muslim killing ‘Palestinians,’ we should remember that, strictly Muslim. These things will surely continue until speaking, Arabs in the Holy Land began to call our Lord Jesus Christ intervenes with divine themselves Palestinians only in 1964, to bolster power to bring it all to an end. Until then, names their claim to ownership of Israel’s land. During of organisations like ISIS may change, but the the time of the British mandate over Palestine, same restless spirit will not go away. It is part Arabs who had migrated into the land from of the prophetic description of the last days (see Egypt and Syria called themselves Syrian Arabs, Lk. 21:25,26). whilst the Jews were known as Palestinian Jews. In fact, as Golda Meir, prime minister of Israel, Israel’s internal divisions once reminded us, until 1948 when the State of Turning to Israel, there are three develop- Israel was founded she had a Palestinian passport. ments that stand out. The first is Israel’s own Israel’s mood is changing because she real- disunity through political infighting. As I said ises that peace talks will never succeed. In fact, to a representative of the State of Israel who had according to one claim, during the eight years delivered a talk to the Brotherhood in Adelaide, of Obama’s presidency of the USA the amount “Christ said, ‘A house divided against itself can- of time spent on peace negotiations with Presi- not stand.’” His response was close to despair dent Mahmoud Abbas and his representatives at the internal strife in his country. It is quite amounted to only six hours, due to Palestinian amazing that, despite this, the country is mak- intransigence. ing enormous strides in development that are In history, peace negotiations between enemies the envy of the world—particularly of the Arab have seldom resulted in lasting peace. Much more world, which in many ways remains so back- often, ‘peace’ has been achieved only by one side ward, and of Russia, who will “come to take a achieving victory over the other. Although Presi- spoil” (Ezek. 38:13). There is no doubt, however, dent Trump may try again later this year, Abbas that such wide political divisions are weakening has so far refused to join any peace negotiations Israel’s stand against its enemies. brokered by America, using as his excuse Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Trump Israel and the king of the south is beginning to realise that peace is unlikely to The second point is that Egypt, Saudi Arabia and be achieved through his mediation. Arab hatred some Gulf states are beginning to see Israel as a of Israel is too strong to be overcome in that way. model of what might be for them, if they would Jerusalem will remain “a burdensome stone for only learn from and co-operate with Israel, rather all people” (Zech. 12:3). than continuing their struggle against her. Their antagonism has not held Israel back, but has sig- Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 nificantly held back any worthwhile development It is interesting to read on Jewish websites of in the living standards of their own people—de- increasing interest in these two chapters. Some spite their oil wealth. As Winston Churchill once Israelis are discussing the possibility of early commented concerning Islam: “How dreadful are fulfilment of Psalm 83, because another war the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in votaries . . . the influence of the religion paralyses Gaza seems inevitable. And now we learn that the social development of those who follow it. No Hamas fighters are beginning to establish them- stronger retrograde force exists in the world.”2 selves alongside Hezbollah on Israel’s Lebanese From the perspective of Bible prophecy, we see border. this change of attitude towards Israel helping to As readers will know, Psalm 83 speaks of Arab consolidate the allies of “the king of the south” nations who are contiguous with Israel making a in the last days—“the king of the north” being vain attempt to cut off Israel from being a nation Russia allied with Iran and others. The line-up and to take over Israel’s land. The extraordinary of nations as described in Daniel 11:40-45 and self-confidence of some Arab leaders even leads Ezekiel 38 is becoming a reality, and we are them to think that they can take over the whole privileged to live to see it. world, never mind Israel. The way tensions are

Israel and the Palestinians 2. Winston Churchill, The River War: An historical account Thirdly, the mood in Israel is changing in relation of the reconquest of the Soudan, 1899 edition, vol. II, pp. to peace talks with the Palestinians. Though I say 248–50. Testimony, April 2018 Contents 151 building, the events described in Psalm 83 could are concluded, and Israel’s—and our—Messiah possibly occur this year—although, of course, is finally enthroned in Jerusalem. no one actually knows when it will be fulfilled. For example, the BESA Centre’s Perspectives Iran dated 19 February included an article with the It might seem surprising, given Iran’s determina- headline, “How the IDF is preparing for multi- tion to annihilate Israel, that Iran is not mentioned front war.” The article cites a speech by IDF Chief in Psalm 83 as it is in Ezekiel 38. The list of nations of General Staff Gadi Eizenkot, in which he involved is quite different in each passage, so we identified five fronts that pose threats to Israel’s know that these are separate invasions of Israel security. These, he said, are Lebanon, Syria, the which bring about Christ’s advent. West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Sinai Penin- Recently a kind of ‘Arab Spring’ has per- sula, where ISIS remains active. This list fits Psalm haps begun in Iran. There have certainly been 83 exactly if we see the West Bank as including widespread and well-supported demonstrations Jordan, which must invade from that direction. against the tyrannical regime of the ayatollahs, With divine help Israel will be victorious, which has impoverished the people. As expected, dwelling confidently, but no doubt considerably these demonstrations were crushed when help weakened militarily. Note that Egypt, Saudi from the West was not forthcoming. Arabia and Iran are not listed as being involved Like Egypt in ancient times, the West is a in this conflict, but that Assur (Assyria) “also broken reed. Should Psalm 83 meet with an is joined with them: they have holpen the chil- early fulfilment, as seems likely, then due to its dren of Lot” (v. 8). In prophecy it is the power internal divisions it is probable that Iran would that occupies the area named at the time of the not be able to participate. However, resolution end that is referred to, not necessarily the literal of Iran’s internal turmoil, probably with Rus- descendants of the ancient occupants. Assur’s sia’s assistance, would enable it to take part in involvement is described as ‘helping,’ not neces- Armageddon. Once again, although we can be sarily fighting. Since Russia now militarily oc- absolutely sure of the accuracy of Bible prophecy, cupies parts of ancient Assyria, it may be that, we can only conjecture in advance the detailed at the fulfilment of Psalm 83, it is Russia that is steps that lead to Armageddon where such detail being referred to because she is the supplier of has not been revealed to us. arms and intelligence to the invaders. Certainly Russia is now established in the ancient seat of Britain, America and Russia the king of the north. Briefly, Britain’s coming exit from the European Because of the IDF’s victory described in Psalm Union will place her in a position to fulfil what 83, Ezekiel 28:24 says that “there shall be no more many believe to be her biblically allotted role at a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor the time of the end. Two or three times in recent any grieving thorn of all that are round about months, British military leaders have stated that them.” Every family in Israel knows the grief of Britain cannot match Russia’s military might. That loss caused by Arab wars and terrorism. Ezekiel is obviously true, and could be the reason that 28 continues: “they shall dwell with confidence, Britain will say in response to Russia’s invasion when I have executed judgments upon all those of Israel and Egypt, “Art thou come to take a that despise them round about them; and they spoil?” (Ezek. 38:13)—hardly an obstacle to Rus- shall know that I am the LORD their God” (v. 26). sia’s devastating attack on Israel. The words “dwell with confidence” introduce Trump’s political platform is ‘America first.’ the mood of Israel when Gog “[thinks] an evil This has always been the attitude of America’s thought” and, allied with the bitterly anti-Semitic people, so we do not anticipate that the US will powers of Europe, Libya, Cush (Sudan, which has take a lead at Armageddon, although “all na- just asked for Russian military assistance) and tions” will have to become involved (Zech. 14:2). Persia (Iran), invades Israel (38:1-20). Meanwhile, Trump’s presidency is under attack, One can easily see this as a follow-on from so whether he will last much longer as America’s Psalm 83, given the defeat by Israel of Arab armies president remains to be seen. Democracy in the that Russia and Europe have actively supported. West is beginning to break down as oppositions Ezekiel 38 also repeats the words, “and they refuse to accept the vote of the majority. shall know that I am the LORD.” This statement, Putin’s position in Russia appears to be se- therefore, can apply fully only when both wars cure; but life is full of surprises, so, although Testimony, April 2018 152 Contents he is thought by many to be Gog, we will have ­spiritually in these Laodicean times. “Men’s to wait and see. One thing is certain: Putin has hearts [are] failing them for fear, and for looking built up Russian forces, especially the navy and after those things which are coming on the earth: air force, to world-class standards, ready for the for the powers of heaven [the political ‘heaven’ grand move by Gog to build up his ‘iron and of the kingdom of men] [are being] shaken” (Lk. clay’ empire. Not only so, but he is setting up 21:26). One principal reason for this is that, with new bases opposite US military positions in Syria. modern destructive weapons, the weak—North Whether the nations like it or not, the world’s Korea, for example—can say, “I am strong” armies are being gathered to the Middle East (Joel 3:10). ready for the final showdown. As the Newsweek We must be urgently preparing for the great- headline said, “Putin is preparing for World War est events of all history: Armageddon and our III—is Trump?” Lord’s apocalypse. What was Jesus Christ’s last exhortation to his ecclesia? “Take ye heed, watch Exhortation and pray: for ye know not when the time is . . . From this brief survey of where we are now, we And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch” can be certain that we are living in the time of (Mk. 13:33,37). “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed the end. We live in the most exciting time in his- is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, tory to those who are familiar with the prophe- lest he walk naked, and they see his shame” cies that our Father has given us to awaken us (Rev. 16:15). Contents

Exposition Just Lot (2) Philip Weatherall

Prior to Abram’s rescue of Lot by the defeat of instruct his people in righteousness Chedorlaomer and his allies, Sodom had been under and to govern them on wise princi- ples. Given the severity of the turmoil tribute and probably quite poor. The stimulus for the that had overtaken Sodom and the subsequent moral decline of Sodom is considered in dramatic and convincing victory ac- this second part of the article. complished by Abram, the faithful remnant in Sodom would have been Y DESIGN OF SCRIPTURE, Melchizedek, not only immensely grateful for their rescue, but king of Salem, priest of the most high also receptive to the preaching of Lot with regard BGod, appears out of nowhere and blesses to the promises given to Abram. Abram. Abram then pays tithes of all the spoil At first glance such a suggestion seems fanci- to Melchizedek. The significance of this meeting ful, but Abram had already made his mark with and of the typology linked with Melchizedek is outside the scope of this study, but it is to be noted that the king of Sodom was present 1. The spoil would have been quite considerable. Genesis 14:5-7 informs us: “And in the fourteenth year came during the meeting of Abram with the king of Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and Salem. The whole episode must have made a big smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the impression on the new king, who would have Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, known that the single reason for the defeat of the and the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran, four kings was Lot having been taken captive. which is by the wilderness. And they returned, and It was entirely appropriate, therefore, for all the came to En-mishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all 1 the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, remaining spoil to be offered to Abram; and, that dwelt in Hazezon-tamar.” To this can be added when this was declined, for the king of Sodom the spoil from the five cities of the kikkar. It is little to give Lot a position in the government of the wonder that the prosperity of Sodom grew massively city. By doing this he would have a man able to following Abram’s rescue mission. Testimony, April 2018 Contents 153 some, namely Aner, Eshcol and Mamre, who Do we detect a remarkable resemblance with are described as “confederate” (Heb. baal berith, today? Throughout the world, in major cities, ‘owner or possessor of a covenant’) with Abram annual ‘pride parades’ take place. This fulfils the (Gen. 14:13). It must also be remembered that at description given in Ezekiel 16: “pride” (v. 49) and this time it is unlikely that Sodom had yet sunk “they were haughty” (v. 50). to the depths of immorality that was eventually to In Western civilisation, until relatively re- engulf the four cities of the plain. It is worth point- cently, homosexual behaviour was illegal. The ing out that the world in which we live has em- 1960s saw the decriminalisation of homosexual braced principles of ‘equality’ which favour those acts in England and Wales. Civil partnerships whose lifestyle is completely out of harmony and ‘same-sex marriage’ have been introduced with God’s laws, just as Sodom and the cities of in this century, and with the law on its side this the plain descended into an unacceptable moral deviant behaviour is now widespread and open, condition. once again confirming the truth of such passages as Isaiah 3:9. Opposition to such a way of life is An ecclesia at Sodom? not tolerated, so much so that those who believe This sub-heading may well test our imagination, Scripture have to choose their words very care- but consider the evidence. A reasonable case for fully or risk being reported to the authorities as the presence in Sodom of hearts receptive to the bigots or for discrimination. The way society has truth has been made above. This would explain rapidly embraced as normal what God considers the willingness of Lot to sit in the gate of Sodom. to be abominable can only be a sign that God, who His counterpart in the first century would be an is not mocked, will certainly bring judgements overseer. Jesus had something to say of Sodom to on this world. The catastrophe that is to overtake his generation; this city, in spite of the dreadfully the world will occur only when the world is ripe wicked state it succumbed to, compared favour- for judgement. There are a number of reasons ably with Capernaum (Mt. 11:23,24). The indica- why this will happen, but widespread accept- tion is that the men of Sodom, although having ance of homosexual behaviour is certainly one already been judged in the overthrow of their of them. city, will nevertheless be raised for judgement, The judgement on Sodom and the other three which therefore implies that they are responsible. cities of the plain was brought forward ap- Only the preaching of Melchizedek, Abram and proximately 400 years, for these were the only Lot could have acquainted them with the gospel, cities in the land to be overthrown before the from which high calling they dramatically fell. days of Joshua.2 Within less than twenty years, In 12:38-42 Nineveh and the queen of Sheba are conditions in this area where the truth of God compared with the generation contemporary with was once known had deteriorated to the extent our Lord, and it is clear from Scripture that, in that it was to be wiped off the face of the map. the Old Testament events he refers to, the gospel Incidentally, Scripture speaks of Sodom, not as was preached. being submerged, but as a place of desolation (see Deut. 29:23; Jer. 49:18; 50:40; Zeph. 2:9). What caused the decline of Sodom? Materialism, complacency and self-sufficiency The visit of the angels seem to be causes that led to the collapse of the Two of the three angels entertained by Abra- ecclesia in Sodom. Ezekiel 16:49,50 reads: “Behold, ham and Sarah (their names having now been this was the iniquity of . . . Sodom, pride, fulness changed) made their way toward Sodom, and as of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her Abraham accompanied them the dire situation and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen in Sodom was brought to his attention: “And the hand of the poor and needy. And they were the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and haughty, and committed abomination before Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very Me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.” grievous; I will go down now, and see whether To this sad state of affairs we can add the words of Isaiah 3:9: “The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare 2. Simeon and Levi wrought havoc in Shechem, and their their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto cruelty was not overlooked in Jacob’s ‘blessings’ on their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto these two tribes. But this was not God’s judgement t h e m s e l v e s .” on the people of Shechem. Testimony, April 2018 154 Contents Similarities of language used of the judgement on Sodom and of events in Egypt at the time of Moses Sodom: Genesis 18:21 Israel in Egypt “I will go down now” “I am come down” (Ex. 3:8) “and see” “And God looked” (2:25) “I have surely seen” (3:7) “according to the cry of it” “their cry” (2:23) “which is come unto Me” “came up unto God” (2:23) “I will know” “And God . . . had respect unto [Heb. knew] them” (2:25) they have done altogether according to the cry Angels in Sodom of it, which is come unto Me; and if not, I will On arriving in the city, the angels were met by Lot, know” (Gen. 18:20,21). It is probable that “the cry who was sitting in the gate of the city, and who, of Sodom and Gomorrah” was Lot’s cry for help as it was evening, offered them hospitality. This as he “vexed his righteous soul from day to day” they initially refused; but, knowing it was unsafe (2 Pet. 2:8). There are other examples where great to remain in the streets of Sodom at night, Lot distress is experienced by the faithful when the pressed upon them, and so they relented and went lives of others are full of wickedness and have into his house (Gen. 19:1-4). Just like Abraham, no respect for divine teaching: he “entertained angels unawares” (Heb. 13:2). • “Go through the midst of the city, through The food that he gave them included unleavened the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon bread, possibly prefiguring the Passover deliver- the foreheads of the men that sigh and that ance (see table above).4 cry for all the abominations that be done in Many are puzzled as to why Lot sat in the gate the midst thereof” (Ezek. 9:4) of Sodom, and see in this a further decline in Lot’s • Amos lamented that there were those in Zion spiritual values; but, as explained previously, it who were not grieved for the sinful state of seems perfectly reasonable that the position of the nation (Amos 6:1-6) ‘first minister’ of Sodom was afforded to Lot after • Nehemiah, in the presence of the king, could his rescue from Chedorlaomer. Lot could then not hide his sadness on hearing distressing govern by instructing the citizens of the plain in news from Jerusalem (Neh. 2:1-3) righteousness. From this promising beginning, • The psalmist declares: “Rivers of waters run Sodom and the rest of the cities of the plain fell down mine eyes, because they keep not Thy dramatically. Other examples exist in Scripture law . . . I beheld the transgressors, and was of those who sat in high places—Joseph, (Gen. grieved; because they kept not Thy word” (Ps. 41:40), Daniel (Dan. 2:48,49) and Mordecai (Est. 119:136,158). This should be our attitude towards wickedness and the total disregard for God’s ways that we 3. The ten could consist of Lot and his wife, his two see in the world. unmarried daughters, his sons-in-law who had mar- Recognising that judgement of Sodom was ried his daughters (at least two) and his sons (at least about to happen, Abraham addressed the angel two)—see Genesis 19:12. 4. It is also possible to pinpoint the deliverance from of the Lord, querying whether the righteous Sodom as occurring at this time of the year. The should be destroyed with the wicked. Starting reasoning presumes that Isaac was weaned when five with fifty and finishing with only ten righteous years old, marking the beginning of the 400 years of persons, Abraham ended his conversation with affliction prophesied in Genesis 15:13. If the great feast the knowledge that God would not destroy the marking the day when Isaac was weaned (21:8) was the city if there were ten righteous in it. It is possible anniversary of his birth, then six years earlier marked the visit of the angels to Abraham and, the next day, that, because Lot’s family would be known to to Lot. Abraham was told when he was circumcised Abraham, he considered that ten righteous might that Sarah would have a son “at this set time in the be found. Abraham, however, was somewhat out next year” (17:21). What God promised “He was able of touch with recent developments.3 also to perform” (21:2; Rom. 4:21). Testimony, April 2018 Contents 155 2:19-21; 10:3)—and nowhere do we find criticism was better and safer to dwell away from Zoar. He of these men. Yet there are direct parallels; each perhaps felt that he needed to flee any persecu- is rewarded following events which can have tion directed against him if the Zoarites blamed resulted only from the intervention of God, him for the destruction of the cities of the kikkar. either by revelation or through circumstances His final abode was in a mountain cave, and this controlled by Him. situation may well be referred to in Hebrews A mob gathered at Lot’s house demanding that 11:38, placing Lot amongst the “so great a cloud the ‘men’ be brought out, that they might abuse of witnesses” (12:1) who “obtained a good report them sexually. Lot would not hear of this and through faith” (11:39). Sadly, it was here that his tried to appease them by offering his daughters, daughters deliberately made their father drunk probably calling their bluff—and he was right! in order to obtain children by him. Lot was una- He knew full well that they would refuse them, ware of his own actions and of how his daughters as their deviant behaviour saw gratification only had manipulated him. From these relationships in abominable practices. The mob is described as sprang the nations of Moab and Ammon, two coming from all quarters of the city and compris- peoples that feature prominently in the account ing both old and young (Gen. 19:4), showing that of Israel’s history and in prophecy. Perhaps we homosexual behaviour was widespread. Distress- have such unsavoury details recorded in order ingly, we are witnessing the rapid growth of to show the origin of these nations. similar practices in our world today. Lot, by now an old man, demonstrated immense courage in One further warning venturing to confront this rabble, as his life was In trying to piece together the scriptures concern- in danger. Were it not for the intervention of the ing Lot as above, there has been an element of angels, Lot would have suffered a terrible fate (v. conjecture. But this is no more so than the equally 9). The angels, having by their actions illustrated speculative reasons more commonly advanced their divine origins, now explained that, as God for what is perceived to be Lot’s spiritual decline. was about to destroy the city, Lot and his family The methodology employed has been to try to must quickly escape. harmonise positively Lot’s character, as plainly Four people emerged from Sodom, being led stated in Scripture, with the circumstances of out by the angels with a warning not to look back. his sojourn. This is a more scriptural approach. But only three survived. Having saved them from We need to be conscious of the proverb, “He that death, God wants His people to go forward, and justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth not to contemplate returning to that from which the just, even they both are abomination to the they have escaped. There is much positive exhor- LORD” (Prov. 17:15). tation in Scripture to ‘press forward,’ and equally This dire warning must be heeded so that we many admonitions not to turn back.5 Indeed, this are not guilty of inadvertently condemning the incident is used as a warning to Jesus’ contem- just. The most notable example of this is when poraries concerning the coming judgements of the Jews “denied the Holy One and the Just, and AD 70 (Lk. 17:28-32). In view of Jesus’ comments, desired a murderer to be granted unto [them]; it appears that Lot’s wife did not merely glance and killed the Prince of life” (Acts 3:14,15). When back towards Sodom but effectively turned to go God has not condemned the actions of characters back. At this point the fire and brimstone had not in His Word, we do not have a licence to rush come—Genesis 19:23,24 records that it was not in with our own judgements and speak evil of until Lot reached safety in Zoar that judgement our brethren, especially when the ideas are ill occurred. Clearly Lot’s wife did not believe the thought through. words of the angels. (Concluded) “In dens and caves of the earth” The final section of Genesis 19 completes the story with regard to Lot, who considered that it 5. Prov. 4:25-27; Lk. 9:62; Phil. 3:13,14.

“For if God . . . delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked . . . the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished . . .” (2 Pet. 2:4-9).

Testimony, April 2018 156 Contents Give attendance to reading . . . in May, June and July Geoff Henstock

UR READINGS FROM May to July take us • The People’s Choice and The Warrior Tamed by through the history of Israel from Joshua Brother Roy Standeven, two volumes which Oto the time of David. In the second por- the author asks us to regard as one unit and tion, we look at the Song of Solomon, followed which together cover the whole of both books by Isaiah and Jeremiah. In the third portion, we • Samuel the Seer by Brother Michael Ashton conclude our reading of the New Testament and • Samuel, Saul and David by Brother Harry Whit- go back to Matthew and then Romans. taker • Jacob and Samuel by Brother John P. Taylor, Joshua published by the Dawn fellowship In addition to a verse-by-verse commentary in • The Man David by Brother Harry Tennant, a the Christadelphian Expositor series by Brother book much loved by many readers H. P. Mansfield there are several volumes which • The Ways of Providence by Brother Robert may be recommended: Roberts (chapters 14–17) • I Will be With You by Brother Roy Standeven • The Visible Hand of God by Brother Robert • Joshua by Brother Maurice Beale Roberts (chapters 23 and 24). • The Ways of Providence by Brother Robert Several of the personalities we encounter in these Roberts (chapter 12) books—Eli, Hannah, Samuel, Saul, David, Nabal • The Visible Hand of God by Brother Robert and Joab—are the subject of character studies in Roberts (chapter 21). a book published by The Christadelphian in 2017, The books by Brethren Standeven and Beale have Of Hearts and Minds by Brother Dennis Gillett. helpful maps, and comment on the relevance of Samuel and Saul and their times are also the the text for our life in Christ today. subject of the last three chapters of The Hand of the Lord by Brother Islip Collyer. Finally, David’s Judges and Ruth involvement with Achish, king of Gath, is the The tumultuous history of this time is the subject subject of a chapter in Fiction Favours the Facts of several interesting books, including: by Brother Mark Morgan, a book of fictionalised • The Judges of Israel, a special issue of the Tes- accounts of Bible stories. timony published in July 2005 • The Book of Judges by Brother John Martin, Song of Solomon recently reprinted by the CSSS, focusing With its graphic, sensuous content, this book particularly on Deborah, Barak and Gideon intrigues and even intimidates many readers; in • Samson Revisited by Brother Michael Storey an earlier generation some even cautioned against • Judges and Ruth by Brother Harry Whittaker it being read in public! Quite a few volumes are • Under Whose Wings by Brother Roy Standeven, available to assist readers in their appreciation which is an exposition of Ruth of the rich imagery in Song of Solomon. Among • Ruth: a Love Story by Sister Barbara Booker those which may be recommended are: • The Ways of Providence by Brother Robert • Song of Solomon Study Guide by Brother Stanley Roberts (chapter 13) Owen • The Visible Hand of God by Brother Robert • Romance for Eternity by Brother H. P. Mansfield Roberts (chapter 22). • The Song of Solomon by Brother R. W. Ask • The Song of Songs, a Meditative Commentary by 1 and 2 Samuel Sister C. Helen Attwell. These books have attracted the interest of several In addition to these works, readers might wish authors, and there are many works from which to consider the chapter entitled “The Song of readers may choose, including: Solomon: a more reasonable approach” in For the Testimony, April 2018 Contents 157 Study and Defence of the Holy Scripture, vol. 1, by of this series have been published: vol. 1, Early Brother Edward Whittaker. Days,1 and vol. 2, As Good as it Gets.

Isaiah Colossians Isaiah is long and rich in imagery, and many It would be hard to go past Brother T. J. Barling’s readers will appreciate help in coming to grips scholarly analysis of this epistle entitled Letter with the prophet’s message. For many years the to the Colossians. A more recent exposition of the standard Christadelphian work on Isaiah was epistle is The Epistle to the Colossians by Brother Ministry of the Prophets: Isaiah by Brethren Robert Mark Allfree.2 Brother Harry Whittaker considers Roberts and C. C. Walker. (Brother Roberts wrote Colossians in his 7 Short Epistles. the section up to the end of Isaiah 5 and Brother Walker was responsible for the remainder of the 1 and 2 Thessalonians book.) Running to over 700 pages and written in a At least three authors have written books that dated, prolix style, it is a pity that it has fallen from cover the text of both these epistles: favour. Brother Walker was a polymath who was • Waiting for His Son by Brother George Booker widely read, which accounts for the discursive • Walk Worthy of God by Brother David Emerson nature of the book. While this frustrates many • The Epistles to the Thessalonians by Brother readers, especially in the modern world of short Arthur Hall. attention spans, there is much in the work that will engage and fascinate the reader who takes 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon the effort to tackle the book. Commonly called the Pastoral Epistles, these Other works on Isaiah which are worth con- books have much to say which is relevant to sulting include: ecclesial life in the twenty-first century. Brother • Isaiah by Brother Harry Whittaker Alfred Nicholls’ book Letters to Timothy and Titus • The Second Exodus by Brother Geoff and Sister is highly recommended and deserves to be more Ray Walker, the subtitle of which is Isaiah’s and widely read in our community. Other works Zechariah’s prophecies of the return from exile which may be consulted with profit include: • Mighty to Save: the message of Isaiah by Brother • Godliness with Contentment, a verse-by-verse Ray Willetts, a much-underrated volume, study of 1 Timothy by Brethren Troy Haltom which systematically summarises the text of and George Booker Isaiah and draws out the key lessons • The First Epistle of Paul to Timothy by Brother • The Wonder of Isaiah, a special issue of the Barry Williams Testimony published in May–June 2014. • 2 Timothy by Brother Andrew Hill • Titus by Brother Warwick Rosser Jeremiah • The Epistle of Paul to Philemon by Brother Peter Expositional works you might wish to consult Tretola. when going through Jeremiah include: Philemon also is covered in Brother Harry Whit- • Ministry of the Prophets: Jeremiah by Brother taker’s 7 Short Epistles. C. C. Walker • Of Whom the World was not Worthy by Brother Hebrews Harry Whittaker. Arguably, the standard Christadelphian book on In addition to these exegetical works, three Hebrews is The Letter to the Hebrews by Brother books present a fictionalised account of the life John Carter. Two other very worthwhile books of Jeremiah. One of these, The Life of Jeremiah by are Hebrews: A Thematic Study by Brother W. F. Sister Eunice N. Ormiston, is targeted at young Barling and The Epistle to the Hebrews by Brother people aged ten to fifteen, but would be enjoyed W. H. Boulton (recently reprinted by Printland). by older readers as well. Brother Mark Morgan is In addition to these, readers may find Brother working on a multivolume ghost autobiography John Martin’s study notes on Hebrews helpful. of Jeremiah under the general title Terror on Every Side! The Life of Jeremiah. The first two volumes James Brother Neville Smart’s The Epistle of James and 1. Reviewed in Testimony, vol. 87, no. 1,024, Feb. 2017, p. 55. Brother Michael Lewis’s James Study Guide are 2. Reviewed in Testimony, vol. 87, no. 1,032, Nov. 2017, p. both recommended works. James is also covered 423. in a volume in the Christadelphian Expositor series Testimony, April 2018 158 Contents by Brother H. P. Mansfield entitled James to Jude “As a course of study we should advise the and in Brother Whittaker’s 7 Short Epistles. lectures by bro. Roberts be read for their comprehensive treatment of the subject. 1 and 2 Peter Then The Apocalypse and History, and lastly The following are worth consulting when read- the detailed exposition of Eureka. As a brief ing these letters: reminder of the meaning of the symbols the • The Epistles of Peter by Brother Harry Whittaker Notes on the Apocalypse, based on Eureka, by • The First Epistle of Peter by Brother James Luke bro. C. C. Walker, should always be at the • The Second Epistle of Peter by Brother Carl Parry student’s side.” 3 • A World Destroyed by Fire by Brother John Allfree, a detailed study of 2 Peter 3 Matthew • “Feed my Sheep”: The Epistles of Peter, a special In the first article in this series the point was made issue of the Testimony published in May–June that there are no Christadelphian books which 2017 and which includes a select bibliography comment in a systematic and comprehensive way of resources relevant to the letters. on the text of Matthew. A list of Christadelphian Readers interested in 2 Peter 3 might also wish works was provided, however, which cover at to look at the chapter entitled “The elements least parts of Matthew. Feedback from readers shall melt” in For the Study and Defence of the Holy of that article drew attention to two other works Scripture, vol. 2, by Brother Edward Whittaker. which were inadvertently omitted from that list: Peter’s epistles are also covered in a volume • Miracles, Wonders and Signs by Brother Michael in the Christadelphian Expositor series, by Brother Ashton H. P. Mansfield, entitled James to Jude. • Jesus—Healer and Teacher by Brother Fred Barling. 1, 2 and 3 John As with the works listed earlier, these books There are two works which may be of interest: comment on passages in all the Gospel records, • The Epistles of John by Brother Neville Smart not just Matthew. Another book which may as- • First Epistle of John by Brother Melva Purkis. sist readers of the Gospel records is The Temple: John’s epistles are also covered in a volume in the Its Ministry and Services as They Were in the Days Christadelphian Expositor series by Brother H. P. of Christ by Alfred Edersheim. Mansfield, entitled James to Jude, and in Brother The star which guided the magi to the infant Harry Whittaker’s 7 Short Epistles. A chapter en- Jesus is mentioned only in Matthew, and the Ol- titled “Reflections on 3 John” inGlimpses of Glory ivet Prophecy occupies one chapter in Matthew. by Brother Dudley Fifield is worth considering. There is a chapter entitled “The Guiding Star” and four chapters on the Olivet Prophecy in For Jude the Study and Defence of the Holy Scripture, vol. 2, by This short letter is the subject of a verse-by-verse Brother Edward Whittaker. The Olivet Prophecy commentary by Brother John Ullman. It is also is also considered in chapters 12 and 15 of The Sign covered in a volume in the Christadelphian Exposi- of His Coming by Brethren Sid Levett and Geoff tor series by Brother H. P. Mansfield, entitledJames Henstock. The Roman overthrow of the Jewish to Jude, and in Brother Harry Whittaker’s 7 Short state in AD 70, which is, in part, the theme of the Epistles. There are two chapters (entitled “Michael Olivet Prophecy, is addressed in The Last Days of and the Body of Moses” and “Jude and the Book Judah’s Commonwealth and its Latter-Day Restoration of Enoch”) in For the Study and Defence of the Holy by Brother John Thomas and in chapters 24–26 of Scripture, vol. 1, by Brother Edward Whittaker that The Ways of Providence by Brother Robert Roberts. offer some interesting insights on Jude. Romans Revelation There are no recommendations to be added to The Apocalypse has attracted the interest of many the books listed in the December 2017 article. Christadelphian writers. We will defer until later May God bless you in your efforts to under- in the year consideration of most of the works stand and apply His Word each day from May on Revelation; for the present we reproduce the to July. recommendation of Brother John Carter in 1941 to those interested in developing a better under- 3. “The Apocalypse and History,” Christadelphian, vol. standing of Revelation: 78, no. 929, Nov. 1941, p. 513. Testimony, April 2018 Contents 159 SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS for 2018 Subscriptions Secretary: SOUTH AFRICA Mrs Sarah Marshall, 2 Longridge Road, Please apply for rates and method of Woodthorpe, Nottingham, NG5 4LX. payment to the Subscriptions Secretary Tel. +44 (0)115 859 9297 (see left). email: [email protected] Remittances payable to THE TESTIMONY (CHRISTADELPHIAN) Subscriptions are obtainable from our website, http://testimonymagazine.com, through the USA agents listed below, or from the Subscriptions Surface mail US$52 (student rate $26; airmail Secretary, to whom all correspondence $95); e-magazine $24 (student rate $12). relating to the issue of the magazine (including Mrs Celia Coleman, 22450 Schoenborn change of address) should be addressed. Street, West Hills, CA 91304-3318. Tel. 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(6) 354 0396; Fax (6) 354 0395 OTHER PUBLICATIONS email: [email protected] For a list of previous years’ Special Issues Remittances payable to available, please apply to the Subscriptions TESTIMONY MAGAZINE Secretary, to whom all orders should be sent. Published on behalf of The Testimony Committee (Christadelphian) by Jeremy Thomas, 22 Kingswood Close, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B30 3NX, UK • Printed by Reflex Litho Ltd., Thetford, Norfolk. Registered Charity No. 225908. Testimony, April 2018 160 Contents York scenes 4. Former York Minster Library

ESTLING in the shadow of York Minster (cathedral) is a building that was once Nthe Minster Library. Today it is a gift shop for visitors to the Minster. A plaque on the wall describes the work of Miles Coverdale, the Bible translator who produced the first complete printed Bible in English. Little is known of Coverdale’s early life, so there is some conjecture about his association with York, but it seems probable that he was a Yorkshireman.

Following education at Cambridge University, he became involved in the English Reformation at a time when the Church in England was corrupt, held many non-biblical doctrines, persecuted dis- He used Latin and German sources as well as senters, and tried to maintain power by discour- Tyndale’s work to produce the first complete aging the translation of the Bible into English. In printed English Bible in 1535, drawing heavily 1528 he preached in Essex against the doctrine on Tyndale’s New Testament and Pentateuch of transubstantiation, the worship of images, and translations. the practice of confession to a priest. Shortly after, he fled to Antwerp in Flanders, as it had The mood in England was changing, and in become too dangerous to speak out in this way 1537 royal approval was given to a new English in England. Bible known as ‘Matthew’s Bible.’ Although this was largely the work of Tyndale and Coverdale, Miles Coverdale probably met William Tyndale it was still too dangerous to name them as the in 1529 in Hamburg. Having produced the first translators. Coverdale went on to assist with other printed English New Testament in Germany translations, including the Great Bible (1539) and in 1526, Tyndale was now working on the Old the Geneva Bible (1560). With politics turbulent Testament. Tyndale was unable to complete this in England, Coverdale sometimes had to work work, however, and was executed as a heretic. on continental Europe for his safety. His style Coverdale took up the mantle to finish the task. is probably at its best in the Psalms, where he combined accuracy with rhythm and smooth- ness: “Thy worde is a lanterne unto my fete & a light unto my pathes” (Ps. 119:105).

Today’s York Minster Library is the largest ca- thedral library in the UK and is located in Dean’s Park, a short walk from its earlier location. With- in its large theology and Church history section is a facsimile of Cover- dale’s 1535 Bible.—Neil Galilee

Contents Contents VIII TESTIMONY BOOKS The Exodus: a commentary on Exodus 1–15. Mark Vincent. For the believer, these chapters of the Bible are more than merely a great historical narrative. As an account of God’s revelation of Himself in human history, they present a record of one of the most miraculous acts of deliverance there has ever been. They form the basis of a parable of the epic work of salvation that God has achieved in saving from the power of sin and death. This 238-page book deals with key themes and lessons of the Exodus narrative, as well as its more difficult and puzzling features. £1.00.

One man’s pilgrimage: under God’s good hand. 88 pages. £2.00. Testimony Handbook of Bible Principles. 197 pages. £2.00. Family Trees of the Tribes of Israel. 117 pages. £5.50. Moses: Earth’s Meekest Man. 172 pages. £2.50. Paul’s Epic Journey to Rome. 153 pages. £6.00. The Pen of a Ready Writer. 272 pages. £2.50. Daniel’s Last Prophecy. 141 pages. £7.50. Man and Woman. 122 pages. £0.50. ‘Spirit’ in the New Testament. 185 pages. £1.00. “In the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” 196 pages. £8.50. Wonders of Creation: the works of the Divine Designer. 202 pages. £10.00. For the Study and Defence of the Holy Scripture: Volume 1. 236 pages. £5.00. Volume 2. 207 pages. £8.50. Volumes 1 & 2 together. £10.00

All titles postage extra. Available from Peter and Norma Forbes, 16 Mountfields Drive, Loughborough, LE11 3JE; tel. 01509 232214; email [email protected]; or from http://testimonymagazine.com/shop/

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