Vol. 82 No. 978 December 2012 TESTIMONY For the study and defence of the Holy Scripture

454 New series Ships and shipping

Also in this issue: – Bible workshop—the sea and earth beasts 449 – New discoveries in creation 463 – True fellowship (review) 476 – Mary’s humility 457

Contents

“He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” TESTIMONY Editors:

DAVID BURGES. 7 Whitehead Drive, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9PW. Tel. 01789 842692; Contents email: [email protected] Science; Archaeology Publishing Editor’s column World watchman 5 Birch Court, 445 SHAUN MAHER. Shaun Maher Doune, FK16 6JD. David—the man after God’s 466 Tel. 01786 842996; own heart Principles of prophecy email: [email protected] 38. Joab intervenes again The king of the north and Watchman 39. David’s folly the king of the south John Mitchell Andrew White ERIC MARSHALL. The Pines, 446 468 Ling Common Road, Castle Bible workshop Clippings—religion and Rising, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, Revelation 13 society 473 PE31 6AE. Tel. 01553 631279; E. Marshall & J. Thomas email: [email protected] 449 Your Letters Exposition; Principles, preach- The faithful of old—studied The Johannine comma 475 ing, problems (pro tem.) by the young “Come out of her, My Progress report people” 475 JOHN NICHOLLS. 17 ­Upper Trin- S. Whitehouse & S. Hole The false prophet ity Road, ­Halstead, Essex, CO9 452 475 1EE. Tel. 01787 473089; email: Ships and shipping in Bible “Perfectly joined together . . .” [email protected] times (Review) Reviews 1. Noah’s Ark John Nicholls 476 Rudolf Rijkeboer 454 JEREMY THOMAS. 22 Kingswood Reflections Close, Kings Norton, Birmingham, Humble yourselves Riot B30 3NX. Tel. 0121 444 6810; John Mitchell 457 Margaret Bilton 480 email: [email protected] Assistant Editor; Exhortation Arm of the Lord God’s delight Geoff Henstock 459 Liz Robinson 481 GEOFF HENSTOCK. 13 ­Alpha Help with the daily Index of titles 2012 482 Crescent, ­Panorama 5041, readings S. Australia. Tel. 8277-0730; email: 462 Lebanon scenes [email protected] Science update 4. Sidon Australia Editor; Prophecy Recent news from the world (2) The Sea Castle of science Jeremy Thomas XXII Publishing Editor: David Burges 463 ERIC MARSHALL (see above) 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 www.testimony-magazine.org first instance.

Cover design: Rachel Otter 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. XXI Publishing Editor’s column HIS IS THE final issue for 2012. Another the Lord was predicted, “the day of the LORD’S year comes to its close. It is a God-given vengeance, and the year of recompences for the Tcycle, which He has promised will continue: controversy of Zion” (Isa. 34:8). It came upon “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and har- Idumea. But the world is still involved in the vest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, controversy of Zion. Israel becomes increasingly and day and night shall not cease” (Gen. 8:22). isolated and the Middle East continues in turmoil, However, though the years continue to come but God’s promise remains sure: “though I make round, that is not true of individuals; we have a a full end of all nations whither I have scattered limited time span which, however long it proves thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee” (Jer. in practice, will end unless our Lord returns to 30:11). Their existence through the ages despite change our nature. Indeed, many of us will have persecution, as predicted by the prophets, gives attended the laying to rest this year of beloved us assurance that our God is in control. Their brethren and sisters, reminding us of both the regathering and growth as a nation in the Land inexorable march of time and, thankfully, the of Israel has provoked opposition and armed hope of life to be brought at Jesus’ coming. aggression. Rarely a week goes by without Israel The transience of life is often implied in the being in the news; it is not difficult to see that Latin phrase sometimes found on clocks, tempus the final scenario, when “. . . the day of the LORD fugit, translated literally into English as ‘time flees’ cometh, and . . . I will gather all nations against or, more usually, ‘time flies.’ One writer rightly Jerusalem to battle . . .” (Zech. 14:1,2), could come says, “It is a proverbial expression of concern that about very soon and dramatically quickly. Their one’s limited time is being consumed by nothing rescue in extremity will bring the coming of the in particular or by something which may have Lord, for which we need to be ready. little intrinsic substance, importance, or urgency.” We also see a world in crisis. Financial trou- This ought not to be so for the disciple of Christ. bles, corruption and scandal in high places, war, Our calling is one of purpose and destiny. Our civil unrest and damage from natural disasters Lord has called us to activity: “seek ye first the are evident. These pressures will undoubtedly kingdom of God, and His righteousness . . .” The move the nations into place for “that great day of Apostle Paul encouraged appropriate use of our God Almighty.” In a number of countries there time: “Walk in wisdom toward them that are is a growing tendency to limit the freedom of without, redeeming the time” (Col. 4:5). He also dissent from the philosophies of the rulers. It is counselled, “And that, knowing the time, that not difficult to see the development of Babylon now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now the Great from such pressures and tendencies. In is our salvation nearer than when we believed. such a context the call to “Come out of her, My The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us people” would have urgent relevance. Hearts therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us filled with the Word of God and determination put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, to remain faithful will be essential. We need to as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, prepare now. not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife The passage of time also means that those and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, who grow old must pass on the duties that they and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the have undertaken to the next generation. This is lusts thereof” (Rom. 13:11-14). true for the publishing of the Testimony. From The end of a year is a good time to take stock the beginning of next year the role of Publish- of our spiritual position. Are we allowing our ing Editor will be taken up by Brother Jeremy limited time to be consumed with nothing in Thomas. This editor is confident that the duty particular, or by things which have no intrinsic will be discharged faithfully and effectively, value? This is the time to refocus our intentions and we pray that under his ministry the Testi- and practice for the coming year as we look ear- mony will continue to flourish, to bring spiritual nestly for the day of the Lord. benefit to readers and honour to our Father in Our contemporary world is sadly ignorant of heaven. the day of the Lord. In Isaiah’s time the day of Eric Marshall The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 445 Exhortation David—the man after God’s own heart John Mitchell 38. Joab intervenes again1

HEBA, SON of Bichri, who blew a trumpet to kiss him. Amasa, caught completely off guard and caused the defection from David of the regarding the dagger in Joab’s left hand, was wide Sremnants of Abishai’s army, was himself open to the thrust that killed him on the spot. bent on kingship. He had therefore to be dealt It was as shocking an assassination as could be with quickly, so David summoned Amasa, his imagined, and it brought to a halt Amasa’s troops newly-appointed commander-in-chief, and said when they saw their leader lying in the middle of to him, “Summon the men of Judah to come to the road. Callously, Joab and Abishai then moved me within three days, and be here yourself.” on with their men, leaving behind one of Joab’s For some reason, however, Amasa, in travel- servants to handle the situation. He stood beside ling north from Jerusalem, exceeded both the the body and announced, “Whoever favours Joab, boundaries and the time David had intended. and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” Various reasons have been suggested for Amasa’s Still Amasa’s men held back until the servant delay, including that he was not really up to his dragged the body away from the highway into a command, and that he did not really want it. Be field and threw a garment over it. Only then did that as it may, the unwanted delay left David in they join Joab in the pursuit of Sheba. a quandary. Someone had to lead his own tried Concerning this unsavoury incident, some and trusted forces, and he could not very well commentators, taking into account a later state- reappoint Joab. He had to compromise, which he ment, twice emphasised by Joab, that it was never did by making a stop-gap appointment as leader his intention “to swallow up or destroy,” have felt of Joab’s brother, Abishai, thus keeping the post that Joab’s sole purpose in killing Amasa was in the family, so to speak. to get rid of a disloyal commander. But when To Abishai, David said “Now Sheba son of this incident is considered in the light of Joab’s Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom did. well-recorded ruthlessness and ambition, and the Take your master’s men and pursue him, or he treacherous way in which he executed Amasa, will find fortified cities and escape from us.” So just one motive for it seems hard to sustain. Joab Joab’s men, accompanied by the Kerethites and already had a record of killing people when they Pelethites and the other mighty warriors, left Je- got in the way of his policy or his designs. rusalem under Abishai’s command, and marched The servant’s speech and his action in clear- north in pursuit of Sheba. When they reached the ing the highway had the desired effect, and great rock in Gibeon on the Benjamite border, the combined forces followed Joab’s leadership Amasa came down to meet them at the head of northwards in pursuit of their quarry. The precise the troops he had collected. route Sheba had taken is not stated, although the Acting as if he was leader, Joab himself came extent of it is shown by the report that he “passed forward to meet them. He was wearing his mili- through all the tribes of Israel” and finished up tary tunic, and strapped over it at his waist was in the stronghold city of Abel Beth Maacah, a a belt with a dagger in its sheath. As he stepped city in the grassy plain at the northern end of forward, it fell out, and he bent down as if simply Lake Huron. wanting to retrieve it with his left hand, and then went forward, saying to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then, as the custom was, Joab took 1. Based on 2 Samuel 20 and 24 and 1 Chronicles 21,22. Amasa by the beard with his right hand as though Quotations are from the NIV of these chapters. The Testimony, December 2012 446 Contents On their arrival, Joab’s troops immediately Now the fact that the woman had been able to prepared to take the city in the time-honoured barter Sheba’s head in this way for the safety of fashion. They built a siege ramp up to the city, the city speaks volumes concerning not only the and it stood against the outer fortifications. They natural desire of the citizens to be spared, but also, had reckoned, however, without the influence of and much more significantly, the low morale of a wise woman in the place, who appeared while the forces Sheba had garrisoned with him. Unless the men were battering the wall to bring it down, Sheba had acquiesced in his own demise, which and called to them, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to is highly unlikely, his men must have agreed come here so that I can speak to him.” to the decapitation of their commander in their He went forward, and, when he had confirmed desire also to be spared. his identity, she said, “Listen to what your servant So, with Sheba’s head in his hand, Joab kept has to say.” “I’m listening,” said Joab patiently. his promise to the woman. He blew the trumpet The woman explained that the place had a long to signal the end, not just of the siege, but also of tradition for wisdom in settling difficult issues. the campaign. He dispersed all the forces in and “We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel,” she outside the city and allowed them to make for added. Joab assured her it was not the case that home, while he returned to Jerusalem to report he ever intended to swallow up or destroy. A man to the king. named Sheba had lifted up his hand against King His victorious return led to a fresh start in the David. “Hand over this one man and I’ll with- choice of the men of influence surrounding David. draw from the city,” said Joab. “His head will be Joab was placed over Israel’s entire army; Benaiah thrown to you from the wall,” said the woman. son of Jehoiada was placed over the king’s body- She disappeared into the city and went to all guards; Adoniram was in charge of forced labour; the people with her advice, and they cut off the Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Sheva head of Sheba, son of Bichri, and threw it out was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; to Joab. and Ira the Jairite was David’s priest.

39. David’s folly Contents FTER the defeat of Sheba son of Bichri, David had little to do. Once again living in his palace Aentered upon his sunset years. He was now in Jerusalem, he had reorganised the state and aged around sixty. His wars were over and his left the running of its affairs largely in the hands army under Joab, numerous, battle-hardened, full of responsible officers and men of experience; he of “mighty men,” was more than sufficient to deter was not even the arbiter any more in difficult legal bordering nations from attack. Any difficulties cases. Other nations gained satisfaction from the from now on could arise only from some act of size of their armies, so was this the reason why folly on David’s part, or from insurrection of some he also indulged the idea? kind. Yet, sad to say, the king’s final decade was He said to Joab and the army commanders clouded with an example of both. with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from The folly appears to have arisen from an Dan to Beersheba and enrol the fighting men, so atmosphere of pride, not limited to David but that I may know how many there are.” Even Joab, rampant in the nation itself regarding what its not noted for his rectitude, baulked at this. He fighting men had achieved, for the record tells replied to the king, “May the LORD your God us “the anger of the LORD burned against Israel,” multiply the troops a hundred times over, and and an adversary (literally a ‘satan’) incited David may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why against them to take a census of Israel and Judah. does my lord the king want to do such a thing?” But what David proposed to do ran counter to Still David was adamant that they should do it, so the recognition in Israel from its foundation that Joab and his captains had no alternative but to go only Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who could and carry out the order. It took them nine months save by many or by few, gave them their victo- and twenty days to cover the land from north ries. So what was the point of David’s ordering a to south, and even then they did not include the census of Israel’s fighting men, and why was he tribes of Levi and Benjamin, which Joab refused attracted to it? His own history had shown that to number because the king’s command repelled he was most vulnerable to temptation when he him. The figures Joab reported to the king when The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 447 he and his party returned to Jerusalem were that saying, “Was it not I who ordered the fighting in Israel there were eight hundred thousand able- men to be counted? I am the one who has sinned bodied men who could handle a sword, and in and done wrong. These are but sheep. What Judah five hundred thousand. have they done? O LORD my God, let Your hand The response of the Almighty after the closure fall upon me and my family, but do not let this of the census was not long in coming. The very plague remain on Your people.” At this, the angel next morning, even before David rose from his of the Lord ordered Gad to tell David to go up bed, the word of the Lord came to the prophet and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing Gad, David’s seer: “Go and tell David, ‘This is floor of Araunah, a farmer descended from the what the LORD says: I am giving you three op- Canaanites who farmed on Jebus, the former tions. Choose one of them for me to carry out fortress area on Mount Moriah. against you.’” So Gad went to David and said to To him David, accompanied by the angel, went him, “Shall there come upon you three years of in obedience to the word that God had spoken to famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing Gad and found Araunah the Jebusite threshing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or wheat aided by his four sons. When they saw the three days of plague in your land? Now then, angel, the four sons hid themselves, but Araunah think it over and decide how I should answer left the threshing floor and bowed down before the One Who sent me.” David with his face to the ground. David said to Of the three available punishments, David him, “Let me have the site of your threshing-floor chose the one he thought most amenable to the so that I can build an altar to the LORD, that the mercy of God, and he said to Gad, “I am in deep plague on the people may be stopped. Sell it to distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, me at the full price.” for His mercy is great; but do not let me fall into Araunah said to David, “Take it! Let my the hands of men.” lord the king do whatever pleases him. Look, So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from Dan I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the to Beersheba lasting three days, during which threshing-sledges for the wood, and the wheat seventy thousand men died. It was the greatest for the grain offering. I will give all this.” And, punitive plague in the history of the nation. As its he said, “May the LORD your God accept you!” ravages became known, David and the elders of But King David replied, “No, I insist on paying the city of Jerusalem, clothed in sackcloth as a sign the full price. I will not take for the LORD what of penitence and mourning, watched and waited is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs for the plague’s arrival among them. When it did me nothing.” So David paid six hundred shekels arrive, David saw an angel of the Lord poised of gold for the site, and fifty shekels of silver for between heaven and earth with a drawn sword the oxen and the wood. in his hand extended over the city. But even as There David built an altar to the Lord and of- the destruction began, the Lord saw it and was fered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He grieved because of the calamity and said to the called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offer- Withdraw your hand.” ing. Then, to mark the conclusion of the whole How significant it was that the angel then matter that had occasioned the plague, the Lord stood over the very spot on Mount Moriah where spoke to the angel and he put the sword back into Abraham, in faith and obedience, had similarly its sheath. Thereafter—albeit with some trepida- been restrained from sacrificing his son as he tion, because the tabernacle of the Lord which enacted the greatest type in the Old Testament Moses made and the altar of burnt offering were of Yahweh’s own sacrifice of His only begotten at that time on the high place at Gibeon—David Son to end the plague of sin, not just in Jerusalem, said, “The house of the LORD God is to be here, but throughout the whole world! and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel.” When David saw the angel, he and the elders fell on their faces, and David prayed to God (To be continued)

“And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah- jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen” (Gen. 22:13,14). The Testimony, December 2012 448 Contents Bible Workshop: Revelation 13

HE START of Revelation 13 reminds us The Old Testament prophets refer to the domi- that John is still ‘on earth’ at this stage of nating powers of the kingdom of men as beasts. the vision: “And I stood upon the sand of Examples are: Egypt, a dragon (Ezek. 29:3); Bab- T 1 the sea” (v. 1). Chapter 12 has revealed the rise ylon, a lion (Jer. 4:7); other nations contemporary of the power of Rome, depicted as a dragon be- with Jeremiah, a leopard and a wolf (5:6). Perhaps cause it was a persecutor of God’s people, both the most obvious examples are in Daniel 7 and Jews and Christians. Chapter 13 then introduces 8, where the successive powers that arose over us to two powers that arise contemporarily with the kingdom of men to affect God’s people are the dragon and appear to replace it. The broad depicted. The beast of the sea that John sees has outline of the chapter is: features from each of the four beasts of Daniel 7. 13:1-10: The rise of the beast from the sea and Some of these features are listed in Table 1 below. its development as a persecutor of the However, this does not exhaust the similarities, saints. which are for further consideration in Task 1 on 13:11-18: The rise of the beast out of the earth page 451. and its relationship with the sea beast. We take it that the reference to the sea in Rev- We have earlier noted that the first four seals (ch. elation 13:1 is to the Mediterranean Sea, and that 6) and the first four trumpets (ch. 8) seem to af- this beast therefore represents a power centred on fect the areas to the four points of the compass. the Mediterranean. As this beast is not depicted We suggest that the western area is described as a dragon, we conclude that, initially at least, as “the sea” and the eastern area as “the earth.” it is not a persecutor of true believers. However, If our conclusion about the dragon of chapter 12 such a development certainly takes place later, being the pagan Roman power, which persecuted for “there was given unto him a mouth speaking God’s people, is correct, then we might expect that great things and blasphemies” (v. 5) and “it was these two beasts represent the development of given unto him to make war with the saints, and the world after pagan Rome. As a fact of history to overcome them” (v. 7). Rome did develop into a Western Empire and an We know from history that the powers repre- Eastern Empire with similar religious systems of sented in Daniel by beasts usually took over by apostate Christianity, which for much of their his- tory were antagonistic to true believers. But we 1. Taking account of textual issues, some translations need to look further into the descriptions given apply this clause to the dragon of 12:17—see, for ex- in this chapter, either to confirm or to deny this ample, the RV’s “and he stood upon the sand of the deduction. sea.” Table 1 Revelation 13 Daniel 7 Seven heads (v. 1) Seven is the total number of heads on the four beasts Ten horns (v. 1) “a fourth beast . . . it had ten horns” (v. 7) Like a leopard (v. 2) “another, like a leopard” (v. 6) Feet of a bear (v. 2) “a second, like to a bear” (v. 5) Mouth of a lion (v. 2) “The first was like a lion” (v. 4) “a mouth speaking great things . . . against “[a] little horn . . . a mouth speaking great things . . . made God . . . make war with the saints” (vv. 5-7) war with the saints . . . against the most High” (vv. 8,21,25)

The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 449 force and incorporated the conquered power into the earth, in contrast with the sea beast which their respective dominions. But in Revelation 13 rose out of the sea, then these powers must have the sea beast does not overcome the dragon and different locations. There is also a connection be- replace it. The record states that “the dragon gave tween the two-horned earth beast (v. 11) and the him his power, and his seat, and great authority” two-horned ram of Daniel 8:3, the latter identified (v. 2). Consequently we might expect to find a situ- as the kings of Media and Persia, which tends to ation in the history of the pagan Roman Empire add weight to the suggestion that the earth beast when it gave its “seat” (literally ‘throne’—the idea was located in the eastern land mass that was in is of rulership) to another power. Daniel’s time occupied and controlled by Persia. In the late third century the Western Empire The Eastern Roman Empire, centred on Con- was effectively created by Diocletian when he ap- stantinople, is the other great power contem- pointed an additional emperor in Rome while he porary with the Western Roman Empire. It too himself moved to Nicomedia in the east. From his adopted Christianity, and under its later emperor, time onward the Roman Empire had both Eastern Phocas, the bishop of Rome in the west was ac- and Western rulers, the former centred eventu- corded headship of the Church (around A.D. 607). ally on Constantinople and the latter on Rome. However the church in the east was subject to the From A.D. 313, during the reign of Constantine successive emperors, who persecuted any whose (the first emperor to convert to Christianity), beliefs differed from the Orthodox church. We Christianity began to be tolerated officially in the take it that “the image of the beast” (vv. 14,15)—a empire. In A.D. 380 it was adopted as the state replica, as it were, of the religious system of religion, albeit in an apostate form. In the west the western sea beast—describes the religious this allowed for the development of the papacy, system and beliefs of the Eastern Church. The which “[spoke] great things” (v. 5) and “[made] Greek word translated “image” is eikōn, which war with the saints” (v. 7). has acquired particular resonance in the Eastern The record comments in verse 3 on another fea- Church. ture of this beast: “And I saw one of his heads as The record in verses 16 and 17, “And he causeth it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and was healed: and all the world wondered after bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in the beast.” Since the head of an animal controls their foreheads: and that no man might buy or its activities we take it that the heads of the sea sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of beast represent various phases of government of the beast, or the number of his name,” provides this power. By the late fourth century Western another connection with the Eastern Empire. Rome was under pressure from northern tribes, Based as it was around Constantinople, it was in regarded by the Romans as barbarians, and an ideal situation to facilitate and control trade within another century the Western Empire had between the east and the west. As one source come to an end. However, its conquerors con- puts it, “One of the economic foundations of the verted to Christianity, creating conditions which, empire was trade. The state strictly controlled over time, allowed for the emergence of the Holy both the internal and the international trade, Roman Empire, dominated by the papacy. It is and retained the monopoly of issuing coinage.”3 in this sense that one “head” of the western sea beast received its death blow and was then healed “Here is the patience and the faith of the in the development of a later ‘Christian’ power saints” which aspired to many of the characteristics of The prospect for believers who were to live under the earlier empire.2 the rule of either the sea beast or the earth beast was daunting indeed. Evidently both systems The beast of the earth were going to be hostile to those who dissented The beast of the earth, described in verses 11-18, is from the contemporary religious orthodoxy, even seen rising out of the earth. It is clear from verse though such people represented little threat in 12—“And he exercises all the authority of the first practice to the powers concerned. Faithfulness is beast in his presence, and causes the earth and always difficult when one’s contemporaries are those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed” (NKJV)—that 2. See “Principles of Prophecy—The scarlet beast: beast the earth beast is contemporary with the sea beast. of the sea or beast of the earth?” Sept. 2012, p. 342. Since the earth beast is said to come up out of 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_economy The Testimony, December 2012 450 Contents engrossed in falsehood and supportive of the persecutors would come to their end, and those religious and secular powers of the day. What whose names were written in the book of life were the believers to do? The answer is given in would inherit the Kingdom. We too, in our day, verses 9 and 10: “If any man have an ear, let him need to exercise patience and faith, to continue to hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into study the Word of life, to meditate upon it and to captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be show forth in our living the characteristics that killed with the sword. Here is the patience and Jesus has exemplified in his life, confident that the faith of the saints.” God’s purpose would the day of redemption draws near. inexorably come to pass, the opposition and the Eric Marshall & Jeremy Thomas

Outline here than in any other New Testament book. Why should this be so? What is it that Revela- 13:1-4 John witnesses the rise of the sea beast tion instructs us to worship and not to wor- 13:5-10 The sea beast blasphemes God and ship? Is it possible that we can find ourselves persecutes the saints worshipping the wrong things? How do we 13:11-12 John witnesses the rise of the earth beast identify them? 13:13-18 The earth beast deceives men into worshipping the sea beast and its image Tasks Discussion points 1 Extend the information in Table 1 by compar- ing the record of the beasts in chapter 13 1 The beast of the sea (vv. 1,2) incorporates with that of the beasts in Daniel 7 and 8. features of all four beasts of Daniel 7 at 2 List as many Old Testament examples as you once, rather than these beasts appearing can of Gentile powers being described as in sequence as in Daniel. How is this to be specific beasts. Identify what characteristics of understood? In what sense might characteris- each beast make them appropriate symbols of tics of all four Old Testament powers now be the powers in question. combined in one power? 3 John’s description of one of the heads of the 2 In verse 11 two distinct features of the earth sea beast, “as it were wounded to death” (v. beast first come to John’s attention, one 3), is identical in the Greek to his opening concerning its physical appearance and one description of the Lamb representing the Lord concerning the things it says. Why do we Jesus Christ, “as it had been slain” (5:6). Con- need both descriptions to understand this sider why the same phrase should be applied beast properly? to two such contrasting characters in Revela- 3 Those with understanding are to “count the tion, and why were are being invited to put number of the beast” (v. 18). This number, them side by side in such an unexpected way. 666, has given rise to numerous interpreta- 4 Revelation 13 makes another contrast, be- tions, many of them fanciful. What scriptural tween those who “dwell upon the earth” (vv. connections can you find with 666, and the 8,12,14) and those who “dwell in heaven” (v. idea of numbering in the context of wisdom 6). Trace these descriptions through Revela- (or lack of it)? tion to see where else they occur and what 4 What other people or groups in Scripture they tell us about the two groups in question. receive a mark of any kind, for good or ill? 5 In verses 11-18 the word ‘beast’ occurs a 5 The mark of the beast is bestowed “in [the] number of times. Identify in each case which right hand, or in [the] foreheads” (v. 16) of beast is being referred to, the sea beast or the all those concerned. How does Scripture use earth beast. these symbols elsewhere, and what might this be telling us about those who are thus marked here in Revelation 13? Information 6 The theme of worship is an important one in The fact that the earth beast “[deceives] them Revelation; words about worship occur more that dwell on the earth by the means of those

The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 451 miracles which he had power to do in the both systems are destroyed together at the com- sight of the beast” (v.14) establishes that he ing of the Lord (19:20). later becomes the false prophet “that wrought miracles before [the sea beast], with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the Take-home point beast” (19:20). Scripturally defined, a prophet is Like the dragon (12:9) and the harlot Babylon a spokesman, one who delivers a message on (18:23), the beast of the earth is a deceiver behalf of another. In chapter 13 we see the earth (13:14). His role is deliberately to persuade “them beast acting in just such a capacity, desiring that that dwell on the earth” that things are other men should worship not himself but “the first than they truly are, and he goes to great lengths beast” (v. 12) and its image (v. 15). The earth in his efforts to do so. From Genesis 3 onwards, beast exists to promote the blasphemies­ of the God’s people have been at risk of being deceived sea beast. by the ungodly thinking and religious ideologies Although the western and eastern parts of of the age in which they have lived. To ­enable the ‘Christian’ world developed religious systems them to avoid this peril, God has revealed Him- which were to some extent distinct, respectively self in His Word, so that we might discern His Catholic and Orthodox, the actions of the eastern mind in all things and apply our understanding earth beast in Revelation 13 suggest that the of His ways in our lives. This is part of the reason religion of the west always retained primacy, a why the book of Revelation was given, “to shew point not lost on the popes of Rome to this day. unto [Christ’s] servants things which must shortly Humanly speaking, the fall of Constantinople, come to pass” (1:1)—not only that we might be the seat of Eastern Orthodoxy, in 1453 came encouraged when we perceive God’s hand at about in part because the Catholic west delayed work among the nations, but also that we might sending help until the Orthodox east agreed to equip ourselves to see things from His point of submit to the pope’s authority. It is significant that view, and so respond accordingly. Contents

Exposition The faithful of old— studied by the young Progress report Stephen Whitehouse and Stephen Hole

HE OLD TESTAMENT phase of this readers will have captured some of the excite- monthly series reached its conclusion last ment and wonder of the scriptural record of Tmonth. Before the series moves on into the these godly lives. New Testament, God willing, this seems to be a good point at which to take stock of progress so Objectives far. Other than in annual Special Issue, a young As we reflect on the series so far, it is worthwhile brother or sister has provided an article on a faith- considering its purpose. In late 2008, when the ful Bible character every month since March 2009, series was being conceived, the following five as we have worked our way from Genesis to the objectives were identified: end of the Old Testament mostly in chronological • to encourage younger members of the Christa- order. The lives of a great number of wonderful delphian Brotherhood in the reading and characters have been capably expounded, and study of God’s Word The Testimony, December 2012 452 Contents • to help form and bring together a community ­qualities did they develop in order to over- of young Bible students come? And, therefore, how can we overcome? • to encourage and excite the older generation These people’s lives are recorded as our exam- of readers, binding together young and old ples; therefore, how can their example affect • to encourage young people to become more a young person’s personal and ecclesial life involved in the work of the Truth by providing and contribution? What lessons are there in a focus for taking on greater responsibility terms of conduct, attitude, endurance and so • to find exhortation in the characters and on? What lessons are there from where these experiences of the faithful (particularly their characters went wrong at times? trials) from the perspective of the younger Readers will agree with us, we are sure, that the generation. series has therefore remained close to the spirit Those originally behind the series sense with in which it was intended. We are thankful to delight that it has not only met its objectives, but the writers for keeping these objectives in mind far exceeded them. We believe that the enthusiasm as they focused on their task. Any comments, and excitement of the writers has been open for feedback and further suggestions from readers all to see, and the hours of dedicated study have would be welcomed by the Publishing Editor. not only been a joy to witness but have brought The Testimony has found this significant set forth much fruit (we trust) both to the glory of of articles helpful in seeking out a generation of God and to the benefit of the readers—not to new writers currently at the younger end of the mention the benefits to the writers. Encourag- demographic scale, and it is our hope that these ing feedback has been received from within the writers will in due course aspire to contributing Brotherhood around the world, for which we are further material for the benefit of all—especially grateful, and, as the series progresses to the lives in the case of those who are able to contribute of the New Testament faithful, we hope and pray regularly. It is a great encouragement to be able that it will further unite our young people in a to publish fresh material as seen through new common objective and focus. pairs of eyes, as the next generation begins to take responsibility within the ecclesia of God, Scope edifying the body of Christ. It is hoped, too, that During the concept stage, a ‘scope’ document was this work will encourage our younger members produced. The following are excerpts from it: to read and subscribe to the magazine, and this • Key objective: to understand better how we is something we invite all readers to encourage can overcome trials, and to discover what key in the young people they know and come into characteristics and spiritual qualities we must contact with. develop. Lessons to be particularly applicable to young people. Looking backwards—and forwards • Great promises are made “to him that over- Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed that key Old cometh” (Rev. 2:7; 21:7), so let us use these Testament characters, including Jonathan, Elisha, studies as a springboard to understanding Esther and Mordecai, have not been included in how we can overcome and inherit the prom- the series so far. There has been good reason for ises that have been made. this in each case, and it may yet be possible to • Remember, these faithful men and women have these studies written and published at a of old will inherit the Kingdom; so by un- future time. But with our Old Testament studies derstanding and following their example, we completed we would like to say a big ‘thank you’ may too. Succinctly summarise the example of to all the authors, many of whom have written the particular character being studied, find- under difficult or trying circumstances, and we ing one or two poignant take-home points to trust that the New Testament series will be as help the discipleship of a young person and successful. to motivate them to serve better. Readers will have been impressed by the high • Consider the lives of the faithful of old and quality illustrations that have accompanied the pinpoint their key spiritual qualities that we, series, adding further life and character to the as young people, do well to emulate. Look at articles, and we express our grateful thanks to the character’s life as a whole and at the key Brother Mark Pennington for his own hours of trials and problems they faced in life. How toil in this regard, which has necessitated reading did they overcome them? What outstanding all of the articles in advance, month on month. The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 453 It remains for us to pray for our Father’s bless- Readers both young and old are reminded that ing to be with the New Testament series. Our the Testimony is available in electronic format, and desire is that writers and readers gain mutual that there is a substantial discount on the full benefit from this profitable exercise, and that we price of an annual subscription for those aged will all be motivated and encouraged to follow twenty-five and under; please see the subscrip- the examples of these godly characters “until tion details on page 484 for information about he come.” 2013 prices. Contents

History Ships and shipping in Bible times Rudolf Rijkeboer 1. Noah’s Ark

This new series of articles will investigate what Scripture exceed these sizes. And all of these says about ships and shipping in Bible times. The details were iron or steel ships; the Ark was of the text of the Bible will be complemented by details of built of wood. Older translations call it “gopher wood” (v. 14), transliterating technical and scientific aspects of shipping, in which the the Hebrew word gopher, although it is author has a special interest. unknown what that indicates exactly. The word may refer, not to a kind of N ACCORDANCE with the aims of this series, tree at all, but to a type of construction material, in this first article we will not consider the the way we speak of plywood or hardwood. But Iprobability or improbability of the biblical ac- no doubt God selected the material because it was count of the Flood, nor any related aspects such especially suited for such a gigantic construction. as whether it was worldwide in extent or more We should not underestimate this, for never since local. Neither are we going to discuss whether the has man built wooden vessels of more than a few name ‘Ararat’ really does indicate the mountain thousand tons GRT. so called in Turkey. Rather, let us begin with Understanding the 120 years of Genesis 6:3 as what Genesis tells us about the dimensions and the remaining time until the Flood (later verses construction of the Ark. in Genesis confirming that this cannot mean Genesis 6:15 states that the Ark was 300 cubits that henceforth this would be the maximum age long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high. of human beings), this will have been roughly The length of a cubit varied over time and from the building time of the Ark too. At first sight country to country, but approximated to about that may seem unreasonably long (although the half a metre. This means that we are talking construction of medieval cathedrals sometimes of something measuring 150 × 25 × 15 metres. took centuries too), but we should not over- This is huge! A large rectangular box of these look the constructional challenge of building proportions would give us a vessel of 20,000 tons a wooden vessel of some 150m in length and GRT (gross register tonnage) and a displacement capable of withstanding reasonably heavy sea (gross weight) of 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes.1 Until the Second World War, cargo ships of 10,000 1. Gross register tonnage is the total internal volume tons GRT were among the largest in the world of a ship measured in ‘register tons,’ where a register (though passenger liners were already bigger in ton equals one hundred cubit feet (2.83m3). GRT and some cases); not until after the War did oil tankers tonnes are completely different measures. The Testimony, December 2012 454 Contents have made high demands on the Ark’s stability; it could not have been placed head- on to the waves. In modern illustrations the Ark is usually depicted as a sort of oversized bathtub with a sort of garden shed on top; the replica Ark in Figure 2, although having accurate proportions, is an example of this view. Genesis provides us only a very sum- mary description, but in real- ity the Ark must have looked more like Figure 3 overleaf. A rectangular box with such di- mensions results in a very sta- ble vessel, and also in a very high usable volume, necessary Fig. 1. 1543 print by Hans Holbein the Younger, showing the since the ‘cargo’ consisted of medieval idea of the Ark as a large, rectangular, floating animal livestock needing a relatively shed. high volume per unit. A 1961 conditions. A one-third scale model of the Ark American study,2 taking a cubit as 0.45m, calcu- (Fig. 2) that travelled the Netherlands in 2007-8 lated the Ark’s carrying capacity as 125,000 live had been mounted on a solid steel pontoon; a animals with the average size of a sheep, based self-supporting construction would have required on American rules for the transportation of live much more of its structural aspects. A full-size animals by train. and fully seaworthy vessel would have increased According to another calculation, space was such problems by another order of magnitude. In needed for only about 35,000 animals. Technical passing, therefore, we have here a reflection of expertise in animal transportation has increased the technologically very highly developed society over the last fifty years, however, and today Aus- that must have existed before the Flood. Perhaps tralia exports millions of live sheep annually to ‘gopher wood’ construction material was part of the Middle East by means of specialised ships (a that same technology. kind of floating, multi-storey animal shed). Some years ago there was uproar when one of these Shape and suitability Of course, the Ark did not have to sail; it needed 2. J. Whitcomb and H. Morris, The Genesis Flood: The only to float. But this very requirement would biblical record and its scientific implications.

Fig. 2. 1:3 scale model of the Ark, photographed by the author in the Netherlands in 2007–8. The design is clearly derived from the modern ‘bathtub and garden shed’ view of the Ark. The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 455 a

Fig. 3. A representation of the Ark as it may have looked after its ‘landing’ on Ararat. Based on a number of considerations, something like this might reasonably be regarded as the most likely shape of the Ark. Artwork by the author. caught fire, and subsequent reports indicated Ark. They simply failed. During the Cold War the that this was a ship of 15,000 tons GRT with a area around Mount Ararat, in the east of NATO- capacity of 120,000 animals. True, environmental- member Turkey and close to the Soviet border, ists are complaining about such numbers, but it was heavily guarded military territory—and, does demonstrate that a vessel of 20,000 tons GRT moreover, territory where (as now) Armenian could easily transport some tens of thousands of and Kurdish groups were active. So the Turks, animals, even in more animal-friendly conditions. not exactly Bible enthusiasts at the best of times, For the present, however, our principal concern is were never particularly enthusiastic about such the overall stability of the Ark. The total weight external interest in the area, which did not make of, say, 50,000 animals would be only in the region searches for the Ark any easier. of 5,000 tonnes out of a total weight of 25-30,000 An ambitious plan to melt higher-altitude ice tonnes for the Ark. They would not excessively with large hot-air blowers (presumably because affect its stability, therefore. earlier searches were undertaken at altitudes Stability was not the only challenge for the considered too low) was, so far as I have been Ark, however. There is also the serious issue of able to establish, never carried out. Even alleged an adequate supply of food and drinking water. ‘strong indications’ of the existence of the Ark, Guidelines laid down by Australian authorities based on aerial observations, have never led to for animal transport by sea require a weight any conclusive results. Either what was claimed of food seven or eight times the animal’s own to have been seen from above could not be found weight, and a weight of drinking water four to six at ground level later, or what showed up in an times, calculated for a voyage of roughly a year’s aerial photograph turned out not to be a ship at duration. This would add another 60,000 tonnes all. More recently, a search seems to have recom- of weight, and for that reason some authors have menced at a previously discarded spot, but small suggested that the animals may have remained pieces of ancient wood, washed down by streams in a state of hibernation during the trip. from the mountain, turned out to be thousands of years too young, and in fact originated from Searching for the Ark a little chapel that once had existed in the area. The depiction of the Ark in Figure 3 is based From a biblical point of view, however, perhaps partly on the report of a man who claimed to have none of this failure to locate remains of the Ark seen it once in his youth, when he was on Mount is coincidence. Even apart from the question of Ararat with his father. A subsequent search re- what one might reasonably expect to find from sulted in no finding of the Ark, however, as was a wooden ship of so long ago, our faith does not the case in about half-a-dozen other expeditions. require to be based on such ‘proofs.’ For “blessed But while each of these searches in one way or are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” another ‘failed,’ in that they never found the Ark, (Jno. 20:29). neither did they prove that there never was an (To be continued)

“. . . once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water” (1 Pet. 3:20). The Testimony, December 2012 456 Contents Exhortation Humble yourselves John Mitchell

IMON PETER, in his first epistle to the of “one mediator” in heaven “between God brethren and sisters scattered abroad in his and man, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). Sday, urged them to humble themselves un- Lastly, Mary is presented as having been bodily der the mighty hand of God, that He might exalt assumed into heaven at death, and dogmatised them in due time (5:6). If you, then, were asked as such by the Roman Catholic Church as late to nominate someone from among the worthies as 1958. of old (apart from the Lord Jesus himself) who most exemplified humility and submission under Perspective God’s mighty hand, whom would you choose? Nevertheless, although we say ‘away with Mari- Might it be Abraham, the friend of God, who at olatry’ in all its blasphemous forms far removed God’s behest raised his knife to slay his son? Or from the Truth, we should especially remember Moses, who was described as the meekest man and cherish the example of Mary as a normal in all the earth? Or Job, who in the midst of his young woman in her total submission to God’s calamities, said, “the LORD gave, and the LORD will. hath taken away; blessed be the name of the To get things into perspective, we go back to LORD (1:21)”? the Garden of Eden when our first parents, instead For my part I would choose none of these of being submissive to God, were persuaded by great men, but rather a member of the opposite the serpent that it was a thing to be grasped at sex, namely Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is to eat the forbidden fruit to make them equal prominent in the minds of Christians the world with God: “ye shall be as gods, knowing good over at this time of the year. However, when the and evil” (Gen. 3:5). So, at the instigation of Eve, festive season is over their thinking about Mary with the compliance of Adam, they partook of the will be sharply divided between members of forbidden fruit. Instead of being exalted, however, the two traditions: the Protestant, where Mary is they fell to the dust from which they had come, sidelined, and the Roman, where she is magni- being sentenced to death for their disobedience. fied, reflecting the deep theological differences Yet even on that dark evening when sin entered between the two. the world there was a chink of light. Eve under- The older, which is the Roman, in developing stood from what God had said to the serpent that, for at least seventeen centuries since Christmas although her seed’s heel would be bruised by it, was adopted as a feast, has practically deified out of her seed, and not that of Adam, someone Mary, to such an extent as to make her unrecog- would come to give the death blow to sin. nisable as the normal member of her sex that she That one came to be called ‘the Messiah,’ the undoubtedly was. For example, Mary has been Anointed One, and for centuries godly women variously presented as: hoped that they might have the honour of giving • immaculately conceived—that is, without the him birth. Notable among them was Hannah, taint of ‘original sin’ mother of Samuel, who, at his birth, offered a • a perpetual virgin—hence the twisting and dedicatory prayer that most nearly approached turning of theologians to make the Lord’s that of Mary herself. But, of course, all their half-brothers and half-sisters the product of progeny were still sons of the flesh. It needed a previous marriage by Joseph someone, as the Apostle John says, “born, not of • an object of worship with the title ‘mother blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of God,’ thus enlarging on the concept of the of man, but of God” (Jno. 1:13). And so it was that, Trinity and making it a Quarternity—that is, “when the fulness of the time was come, God Father, Son and Holy Spirit plus One! sent forth His Son, made of a woman” (Gal. 4:4). • a mediatrix between suppliant sinners and the That woman was Mary, a virgin living in Galilee Lord Jesus, whereas the Scriptures tell only (whose ancestry, though of the house and lineage The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 457 of David, had lain buried for centuries among • What would her father say, given that she was common humanity), chosen by God to be the still legally under his care? mother of His only begotten Son. • What would Joseph say? • What would the women at the well say? An unexpected visitor To her everlasting credit, Mary put all such con- Of her parents we know practically nothing, siderations aside and humbly accepted the will of except that her father, according to the custom God, saying, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; of the time, had already provided a dowry for be it unto me according to thy word” (v. 38). the betrothal of Mary to the village carpenter and builder, named Joseph. Such betrothals were Humility for all disciples usually accompanied by a feast, and from that mo- By her great submission, Mary had brought about ment the virgin was treated as though she were a reversal of Eve’s deception in the Garden of actually married. Thereafter the union could not Eden, and had opened the way for the greatest be dissolved except by regulated divorce, and any submission of all to be accomplished in the life breach of faithfulness was regarded as adultery. and death of her son in obedience to his Father’s After her betrothal to Joseph, Mary, in the will. It is that submission, completed in his life natural way of any bride-to-be, would have been of sacrifice, that we meet to remember week by thinking of her wedding attire and the prospect week at the breaking of bread. of a new life in the home of her own, with a Jesus’ submission, however, was not an end in husband, and, in the mercy of God, children also; itself. Simon Peter was comprehensive in exhort- when suddenly an angel appeared to her, saying, ing the ecclesias of his day to be humble before “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is God. As an elder who had both witnessed the with thee: blessed art thou among women” (Lk. sufferings of the Christ and partaken of the glory 1:28). Naturally, Mary was taken aback, and she revealed at the transfiguration, he urged elders wondered what it all meant, until Gabriel told her to be willing examples to the flock God had not to be afraid, for she had found favour with entrusted to them. Evidently, during the thirty God: “behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, years since he and the Apostle Paul, and their and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name disciples, had converted to the faith many thou- JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the sands of both Jews and Gentiles, a widespread Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give spiritual deterioration had occurred in ecclesias unto him the throne of his father David: and he throughout Asia, reaching as far north as Bithynia shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and and Pontus on the shores of the Black Sea. It was of his kingdom there shall be no end” (vv. 31-33). these errant converts that Peter comprehensively Still Mary could not take it in because, like the exhorted to change their ways: “all of you,” he women in Israel before her, she had thought that told the brethren and sisters, young and old, Messiah would come by natural means. “How “be subject one to another, and be clothed with shall this be,” she asked, “seeing I know not a humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth man?” (v. 34). Then, at last, the full truth was re- grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore vealed. Gabriel said to her, “The Holy [Spirit] shall under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt come upon thee, and the power of the Highest you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:5,6). shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy This is the legacy of humility that Simon thing which shall be born of thee shall be called Peter also left for us to follow, which only gains the Son of God” (v. 35). in impression when we realise that, within two We who have believed it, quoted it and ex- years of writing it, Peter himself sealed his own pounded it so many times can easily overlook submission, as his Lord had said he would, by the import of it all for Mary at that time. being also crucified. Let us too be faithful unto • What of her betrothal now? death, so that we, with Mary and Peter, might • What of the wedding for which her parents “receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” were already making arrangements? (v. 4).

Mary’s conversation with Gabriel and her words of praise following her meeting with Elisabeth are recorded in great detail. Not much else of Mary’s thoughts or words are recorded. However, what she said at the wedding feast at Cana, which are her last re- corded words, are good advice: “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (Jno. 2:5). The Testimony, December 2012 458 Contents Exposition Arm of the Lord Geoff Henstock

S THE ADOPTED son of Pharaoh’s daugh- of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely ter, Moses was well educated in the wisdom visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from Aof Egypt. Scripture indicates that he was hence” (Gen. 50:25). an outstanding scholar (Acts 7:22), and we may In his address to the Jewish leaders, Stephen be certain that his education was not limited to offered some very interesting comments about the wisdom of this world. His nurse as a child Moses and his motives. He made it clear that was his own mother, a faithful sister who would Moses’ visit to his people was far from a pass- have taught Moses about God’s promise to deliver ing whim: Israel from Egypt at the appointed time. Her “when he was full forty years old, it came into early tutoring had a profound impact on Moses; his heart to visit his brethren the children of even though he grew to manhood surrounded Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, by luxury, pleasure and power he turned his he defended him, and avenged him that was back on all the very best that Egypt had to offer. oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: for he By comparing the records of Exodus 2, Acts 7 supposed his brethren would have under- and Hebrews 11 we may discern that, at the age stood how that God by his hand would deliver of forty, Moses decided that the time had come them: but they understood not” (Acts 7:23-25). for the deliverance of Israel. God had promised to Verse 23 says that when Moses was forty he deliver the nation, and it would seem that Moses decided to “visit” his countrymen. It was a very had decided that it was he through whom Israel’s conscious decision. The Greek word Stephen deliverance would be wrought. used for this visit (episkeptomai) is the word the Septuagint uses in Genesis 50:25. Why did Mo- Moses visits the Israelites ses decide to “visit” his fellow Israelites at this Moses left his palace home and travelled to time? It appears from verse 25 that Moses had Goshen where the Israelites were based: “it came concluded that it was his mission to deliver Israel to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, from Egyptian oppression. that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting Moses’ hand an Hebrew, one of his brethren” (Ex. 2:11). When Moses arrived, he saw their oppression first He looked on their burdens, was conscious of hand: an Egyptian was beating an Israelite. This their suffering and was determined to do some- enraged Moses and he took action, as Stephen thing about it. The record of Exodus 2 might read says in verse 24. Note the language here: Stephen as if this was just a casual visit to the Israelites, says that Moses was seeking to avenge the man but that was not the case. We know that Moses who was oppressed. On a human level this might “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daugh- seem quite reasonable, but it is a divine principle ter” (Heb. 11:24). This incident in Exodus 2 was that “Vengeance is Mine . . . saith the Lord” (Rom. no fleeting, chance encounter; on the contrary, it 12:19). It is not the prerogative of man to assume was a deliberate realignment of his life. Moses the role of an avenger. But Moses put this prin- had determined to “suffer affliction with the ciple behind him and decided to act as Israel’s people of God” rather than continue to “enjoy the deliverer, believing, in the words of Acts 7:25, that pleasures of sin” (Heb. 11:25), and the writer to the God would use his hand to deliver His people. Hebrews went on to link this decision to Moses’ The language used in the Exodus record is awareness of the reward God had promised His significant and pregnant with meaning. Moses people (v. 26). witnessed an Egyptian beating an Israelite and Joseph promised his family that God would he decided to act. But he did something before he visit his people in Egypt, and in doing so used intervened: he looked about him before he took the significant word ‘visit’: “Joseph took an oath action: “He looked this way and that way, and The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 459 when he saw that there was no man, he slew the was a man struggling in the water, you would Egyptian, and hid him in the sand” (2:12). lean over the edge of the boat as far as possible Seeing that there was indeed no man to de- and stretch out your hand to its maximum extent liver the oppressed Israelite, Moses intervened in an attempt to grab hold of the man before he and with his very own hand delivered the man drowned. You certainly would not ball your hand from his oppressor. The Hebrew word translated up into a fist! If you need to grasp someone who “slew” in the AV indicates that he struck the is in danger of drifting away you stretch out your Egyptian assailant; quite probably he used a fingers, thus extending your hand; you certainly clenched fist to apply maximum force. He must would not shorten your hand. have struck him hard, and presumably repeatedly, Moses struck the Egyptian and killed him. because the Egyptian was killed and Moses was In contrast, God’s arm is stretched out with the obliged to dispose of the body. objective of saving men from death. Our God Stephen made the point that Moses presumed is ready to hear and respond to those who call his fellow Israelites would recognise that deliv- upon Him to deliver them. Sadly, few are will- erance was to be achieved through the hand of ing to make the call. What is it that stops them? Moses. But Moses was wrong. Moses did have a It is the power of sin: “but your iniquities have role to play in Israel’s deliverance, but it would be separated between you and your God, and your another forty years before he was ready to play sins have hid His face from you, that He will his divinely ordained role in Israel’s deliverance. not hear” (v. 2). In that intervening forty-year period Moses came to understand that, while he had a key role to Separation from God play in Israel’s deliverance, it was God’s hand Our sins alienate us from God. Unrepentant and not the hand of Moses which would deliver sinners cannot take hold of the salvation offered His people. through the hand of God, unshortened though it is. All the saints were once like the men and God’s hand women described in verse 2, but they have Before striking this blow against the oppressor of responded to the stretched-out hand and been Israel, verse 12 says Moses looked and “saw that delivered. The world around them is full of men there was no man.” That phrase recurs in Isaiah and women who remain separated from God, 59 and it does so in a way which demonstrates and the utter hopelessness of their situation is why Moses’ thinking at the age of forty was described eloquently in Isaiah 59. flawed. The error Moses made when he was forty Verses 3 to 8 catalogue the evil practices that is one to which we also are susceptible. We can separate men and women from God. Violence, convince ourselves that deliverance is something deceit, injustice, conspiracy, corruption—it is all we achieve through our own efforts when in fact there, in graphic language. These are exactly the it is the work of Almighty God through the Lord conditions Israel endured in Egypt. Arguably Jesus Christ. an even sadder fact is that, as well as describing Isaiah 59 opens with a wonderfully comforting conditions in the Egypt of Moses’ day, this list word picture of our heavenly Father’s compassion also is a summary of the news in any newspaper towards perishing men and women: “Behold, the today, not to mention the things which are the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; stock-in-trade of the entertainment industry in neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (v. 1). Western society. “The LORD’S hand is not shortened, that While many people are only too comfortable to it cannot save.” What a beautiful image! We live in the world described in these verses, there need to appreciate the word-picture this phrase are other more thoughtful people who yearn for presents. A hand is shortened when the fingers a better society. Like the Israelites in the time of are withdrawn against the palm, thus making a Moses, they recognise the need for something fist. If a man wished to strike someone, as Moses better, for a remedy to these evils; but left to their struck the Egyptian, he would shorten his hand own devices the solution eludes them: to maxim­ise the force he could bring to bear. “Therefore is judgment far from us, neither But our Lord’s hand is not shortened. On the doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but contrary, God’s hand is extended, as a hand needs behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk to be if the objective is to reach out and save in darkness. We grope for the wall like the someone. If you were in a boat, and nearby there blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we The Testimony, December 2012 460 Contents stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in Israel from Egypt, God could not just ignore desolate places as dead men. We roar all like their plight. Likewise, on a global scale, having bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for purposed to fill the earth “with the knowledge judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the it is far off from us (vv. 9-11). sea” (Hab. 2:14), God would not just stand by There are people who see the need for enlighten- and allow this situation to continue for mankind ment, but all the world offers them is darkness, in general. Thus we read in Isaiah 59:16: “And as verses 9 and 10 declare. In verse 11 they know He saw that there was no man, and wondered that they need salvation but they cannot access that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm it. Salvation is “far off” for unenlightened men brought salvation unto him; and His righteous- and women. ness, it sustained him.” Verse 1 says that “the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,” yet verse 11 says More than a deliverer that salvation is “far off.” Is there a contradiction God “saw that there was no man.” Moses, too, between these verses? Not at all. Verse 11 does not had seen that there was no man, and he decided say that salvation is unattainable; merely that it is to take action. He used his own arm in a vain far off. That is the reality for unenlightened man attempt to deliver Israel. But in this case it is not left to his own devices. Man cannot save himself: just a man to effect deliverance that is needed. An the only true Saviour is God. Isaiah made this intercessor is also needed. Why is an intercessor point in 43:11 when he quoted God: “I, even I, needed? Because by their sins men are alienated am the LORD; and beside Me there is no saviour.” from God and need intercession to overcome the The problem, as 59:2 says, is that iniquity alienation. How could man remedy this defi- alienates men from God. Sin is the reason why ciency? Left to himself, he never could. salvation is “far off,” as the prophet says: What was required was intervention by God. “For our transgressions are multiplied before In verse 11, salvation was described as far off; Thee, and our sins testify against us: for our now God’s arm brings salvation near to man. The transgressions are with us; and as for our arm of man is unable to save, whereas the arm iniquities, we know them; in transgressing of God is mighty to save. A key difference is the and lying against the LORD, and departing issue of righteousness. The arm of man has noth- away from our God, speaking oppression ing to do with righteousness, but righteousness and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the is the hallmark of the work of God’s arm. Our heart words of falsehood. And judgment is Lord Jesus Christ is the arm of the Lord through turned away backward, and justice standeth whom salvation has been brought near, and his afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and saving ministry is described in verse 17: “For equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an he that departeth from evil maketh himself a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was Him that there was no judgment” (vv. 12-15). clad with zeal as a cloke.” In the twenty-first century we need to make a Here is our Lord Jesus Christ, mighty to save conscious effort to acknowledge the reality of the because he was made strong by his Father. Here problem described in these verses, because we live is the man who embodied the righteousness of in a world where words such as ‘sin’ and ‘iniquity’ God, the man whose atoning work was in itself have all but disappeared. Indeed, many of the a manifestation of God’s righteousness. And note acts that the Bible describes as sin are lauded as the word “vengeance” in verse 17. Stephen made virtues in this so-called enlightened age. Let us the point that Moses had sought to avenge his not allow our judgement to be corrupted by the fellow Israelite. In doing so Moses ignored the reasoning of a world that knows not God. Sin is principle that “Vengeance is Mine . . . saith the real, all too real, even if modern society wishes Lord.” And so we read that Almighty God ex- to fool itself otherwise. ercises vengeance through the work of His Son, We ought not to be surprised to read in verse the arm of the Lord. 15 that a righteous God looks upon the corruption and is displeased. In the days of Moses He had Jesus as the arm of the Lord likewise seen the suffering of His people Israel The arm of the Lord was manifested after the and was saddened. Having promised to deliver ministry of John the Baptist. As prophesied in the The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 461 early verses of Isaiah 40, John came proclaiming stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he that “All flesh is grass.” Left to his own devices, was wounded for our transgressions, he was man is a perishing creature without hope. But in bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of His grace, God has not left man without hope; our peace was upon him; and with his stripes God’s arm has been extended that we might be we are healed” (vv. 4,5). saved: “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with “With his stripes we are healed.” Healed of strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him: be- what? Healed of the blighting effect of sin and hold, his reward is with him, and his work before death! As verses 10 and 11 say: him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; He hath shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry put him to grief: when Thou shalt make his them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, that are with young” (vv. 10,11). Here is the loving he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, the arm of God. the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall He shepherds his flock and provides for all their see of the travail of his soul, and shall be sat- needs, most particularly in terms of deliverance isfied: by his knowledge shall My righteous from sin and death. servant justify many; for he shall bear their In Isaiah 53 we are reminded of the great work iniquities.” of deliverance effected through our Lord Jesus Our sins had alienated us from God, but that Christ, who was the arm of the Lord. The prophet alienation has been resolved through the aton- asks a plaintive question in verse 1: “Who hath ing work of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we have believed our report? and to whom is the arm of an intercessor. Moses could not deliver Israel the LORD revealed?” The arm of the Lord has through the power of his own hand; neither can been revealed to us. We have grasped the salva- we deliver ourselves through our own efforts. tion extended to us through God’s hand, which Moses was not meant to deliver Israel through is not shortened. Most of Israel turned their back the power of his own hand; nor can we deliver on the outstretched arm of God when the Lord ourselves. Jesus Christ appeared amongst them, just as God “saw that there was no man” and He have the majority of men and women since that intervened. God’s arm, not the arm of Moses and day. As verse 3 says, they despised and rejected not the arm of any other man, made deliverance him. In spite of this, our Lord suffered that we possible. Today God’s hand still is not shortened might be saved: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, that it cannot save. His hand remains extended and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him to those who would but respond. Contents

Help with the daily readings In recent years, many brethren and sisters with reading of the Scriptures. Now into its thirteenth access to the Internet have come to appreciate the year, the site was created by Christadelphians benefits of using the world-wide web to help with and continues to be maintained by brethren the daily reading of God’s Word. Much is rightly and sisters. made of the dangers to disciples of uncontrolled The chapters selected for each day follow access to the Internet, with its capacity to swallow the Bible Companion, familiar to all readers, and up countless valuable hours in unfruitful activi- are made available in text format in numerous ties, not to mention the availability of material English translations of the Bible. Links are also wholly at odds with the characteristics we should available to audio files, allowing the chapters be seeking to develop as children of God (see, for for the day to be heard, rather than merely read instance, Philippians 4:8). It is therefore refresh- on-screen—an invaluable resource. Each day’s ing to be able to recommend a more wholesome readings are enhanced further by additional and spiritually edifying purpose to which the comments, charts and tables, now totalling over Internet has been put. 24,000, supplied by more than fifty Christadel- The object of the website http://www.daily phian contributors. readings.org.uk/ is to encourage personal daily Extra features of the site include: The Testimony, December 2012 462 Contents • the option to have each day’s com- ments emailed to you directly • email contact with any of the contributors • a search function—a useful aid to biblical research and the prepara- tion of Bible talks • the opportunity to add your own thoughts for the benefit of others. The site is well worth investigating. For further information, either visit the site and click on the ‘Contact Us’ link, or email either bible_truth@ thebiblesite.co.uk or peterf@thebi- blesite.co.uk Contents

Science Science update Recent news from the world of science David Burges

the DNA of our species. This ­human body. No wonder that US Junk DNA? hereditary instruction system President Clinton’s speech, an- T WAS a momentous event is three billion letters long and nouncing the discovery, included when, in the first year of the written in the four-letter code the words, “Today, we are learn- Inew millennium, the first draft of the chemical bases, carrying ing the language in which God of the complete human genome the amazingly complex informa- created life. We are gaining ever was published, consisting of all tion located in each cell of the more awe for the complexity, the beauty, and the wonder of God’s most divine and sacred gift.”1 One of the greatest surprises revealed by the decoding of the human genome was the relatively small number of genes that were found. Genes are the sections of DNA carrying the code for manufacturing proteins. Compared with other organisms that had already been decoded, such as fruit flies or yeast, it was expected that humans would have at least 100,000 genes. Yet in the event only around 20,000 genes were identified, forming just two per cent of the The human genome written in book form. The 3.4 billion units whole genome. Even before the of DNA code are transcribed into more than 100 volumes, each 1,000 pages long, in small type. 1. Quoted in Francis Collins, The Picture: Ben Casey/Wikimedia Commons Language of God, 2007. The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 463 genes are present but inac- frame was not hidden from You, tive in our livers and teeth and when I was made in secret . . . every­where else. Through some Your eyes saw my substance, mechanism that regulates its being yet unformed. And in Your genes, each cell ‘knows’ which book they all were written” (Ps. ones must be switched on. 139:15,16, NKJV). It is now appreciated that a

huge number of these regulatory 6 switches are located in other The artistic spiders parts of the DNA, often far re- HE orb-weaver spiders are moved from the genes they are Tthe most common group of controlling. There are genes that builders of spiral wheel-shaped tell our cells to make proteins, webs frequently found in gar- The DNA double helix. genes that affect other genes, dens, fields and forests. Their Picture: Zephyris at the English Language genes that are influenced by our common name is taken from Wikipedia environment, sections of DNA human genome project began, that switch genes on or off, and 2. Ibid., p. 117. it was already known that the much more. 3. Encyclopedia of DNA Elements. genes constituted such a small The results of this huge 4. www.nature.com/nature/journal/ fraction, and many scientists research effort have thus dis- v489/n7414/full/489045a.html, 6 questioned the wisdom of ex- patched the widely held view Sept. 2012. 5. Amusingly, Richard Dawkins, high pending effort in deciphering the that the human genome is priest of Darwinian evolution, is 5 remaining non-coding sections, mostly ‘junk DNA.’ In fact the summarised as arguing in 2009, often referred to as ‘junk DNA.’ more that is learned about the “DNA . . . it’s full of junk . . . which One wrote, “It makes no sense genome, the more amazingly is just as Darwinism predicted . . . geneticists would be wading complex the story becomes. . . . how embarrassing for those through a sea of drivel to emerge And yet all this complexity is creationists who say it shouldn’t be!” And in 2012, “DNA . . . it’s dry shod on a few tiny islands of attributed to chance variations 2 not full of junk . . . which is just as information.” and endless time rather than to Darwinism predicted . . . nothing Now, after nine years of the supreme intelligence of the for the creationists to take advan- coordinated research by many divine Designer. Truly the more tage of here, move along!” Quoted research teams in different coun- that is discovered of the funda- in “Dawkins on junk DNA,” www. tries, the ENCODE 3 project has mental complexity of all living christian-apologetics.org . What- published their major findings in things, the more the extent of ever the known facts, Darwinism cannot be wrong! various journals, including Na- His involvement comes to light. 6. Ella Davies, “Decorative spider ture, which commented, “Among The words of the psalmist seem webs attract dinner,” BBC Nature, the many important results there to anticipate this deep underlying 20 Sept. 2012, at www.bbc.co.uk/ is one that stands out above pattern seen in our DNA: “My nature/19639387. them all: more than 80% of the Type of wasp spider and orb web with stabilimentum. human genome’s components Picture: Böhringer Friedrich/Wikimedia Commons have now been assigned at least one biochemical function.”4 In other words, most of our genome is now known to be not junk at all but absolutely vital for the functioning of our cells. Scientists know that, while most cells in our body contain our entire genetic code, not all of the protein-coding genes are active. For instance, genes that make bone tissue are present in all our cells but are switched on only in bone cells; heart-muscle

464 Contents the typical round shape of this weave their webs in a fixed order and constantly beating in time, web. Clearly the sticky spider’s using a predetermined sequence even when we are asleep. If they web is essentially a stealth trap of steps. The chances of two stopped, the lungs would soon designed to capture unsuspect- such highly unlikely events coin- become flooded. ing insect prey; yet, curiously, ciding are vanishingly small, but New research 8 using ad- many species of orb-weaver only then could natural selection vanced imaging techniques has decorate their webs with a promi- provide a selective advantage for revealed an unexpected brush- nent zigzag pattern known as a the lucky mutant. like layer, consisting of protective stabilimentum. This is formed Scripture attributes all of the molecules that separate the from a special white silk, known myriad complexities of the liv- sticky mucus from the cilia and to reflect ultraviolet light strongly. ing world to the foresight and the underlying cells to ensure Previous explanations have wisdom of Almighty God. In any the normal flow of the mucus. identified the patterns as bird- one of these endless wonders, This brush layer protects the scarers, mating signs, sun- we see, not the random workings underlying cells from the mucus shades or camouflage. Now of chance, but the guiding hand and acts as a ‘second barrier’ in new research carried out in of the all-wise Creator. case viruses or bacteria should South Korea has suggested that penetrate the mucus. It had pre- the UV-light-reflecting patterns viously been thought that a wa- trick flying insects into landing A sticky solution tery substance helped separate on them. Using wasp spiders,7 ANY of the features of our the mucus from the cell lining. which are common throughout Mbodies, which are “fear- The scientists involved in the Europe, North Africa and parts of fully and wonderfully made” research believe that collapse of Asia, the researchers compared (Ps. 139:14), operate completely the brush layer may be involved the numbers of insects trapped automatically, almost without our in conditions such as asthma on webs with and without the being aware of them. We do not and cystic fibrosis, leading to decorative patterns. They found have to engage in conscious immobile mucus, infection and that webs with decorations thought to encourage our hearts inflammation, and this discovery caught twice as many large prey and lungs to extract oxygen from may lead to improved treatments insects as unadorned webs. the atmosphere and transfer it for these conditions. Those species of flies, wasps, via the bloodstream to our cells. It is remarkable that such butterflies and beetles caught Likewise our immune system complex mechanisms, requir- in the decorated webs are all continually searches for and de- ing no conscious involvement known to have greater visual stroys harmful organisms invad- by ourselves, are attributed to sensitivity to UV light and are ing our bodies, without requiring chance development by natural similarly attracted to flowers that our conscious intervention. selection. We are entitled to ask reflect UV light. It thus appears Since we live in environments how creatures like us were able that the stabilimentum, which that are far from clean and which to survive before such features may have other uses, includ- are potentially harmful to our of the immune system evolved. ing strengthening the web, is bodies, the Creator has provided In fact, the sheer complex- primarily a device to attract UV- us with numerous such defence ity of the immune system, with sensitive prey insects. mechanisms for our protection, its multiple layers of defence It is fascinating to speculate and one of these is the layer against hostile organisms, is on an evolutionary origin for of mucus which lines our lungs ample testimony to the careful such an extraordinary feature. and airways. This mucus traps forethought of God the Creator: Clearly spiders have no foresight inhaled pollutants and is stead- “Then God saw everything that and would be dependent on a ily removed, emerging as a He had made, and indeed it was series of chance mutations to runny nose or wet cough to be very good” (Gen. 1:31, NKJV). their spinnerets to produce the expelled or swallowed. Mucus special UV-reflective silk. But has a complex make-up and this would be of no advantage forms a vital defence against 7. Named for the striped patterns on the abdomens of many. without some other type of in- harmful or irritating substances. 8. “Brush offers clues to fighting structional mutation to utilise this It is pushed through the airways lung disease,” BBC News, Health silk in the special zigzag web by tiny hairs called cilia emerg- Section, 23 Aug. 2012, reporting pattern—it is known that spiders ing from the cells lining them, work published in Science. The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 465 World watchman Shaun Maher As we approach the close of another year, God is drawing the eyes of the nations once more to the land of Israel and Obama and Israel to His witnesses, the Jews. ROM a human perspective, Fthe USA has been the protec- was a video biography featur- tor of Israel since the decline of The Sandy effect ing a heartfelt appeal from Mr the British Empire following the T WOULD TAKE a lot to bump Romney to the nation.2 Much two World Wars. What does the United States election soul-searching is being done by another four years of President Icampaign out of the national Republicans to understand why, Obama mean for this special and international spotlight. But with such a competent candi- relationship? hurricane Sandy was that big, date, they were unable to defeat First, Mr Obama is perceived striking a direct hit on the most an incumbent dogged by a poor by many to be a weak leader densely populated region of the economic record, controversial with an even weaker foreign country, the northeast, home social policies and a cool stance policy. Secondly, relations be- to more than fifty-five million towards Israel. tween Obama and Israeli Prime people. The storm effectively What effect did these two Minister Benjamin Netanyahu created a news blackout on the storms have on the results of the have been less than cordial for Romney campaign, and allowed election? Were they the reason some time. Mr Netanyahu made Mr Obama to be portrayed as why Mr Obama was re-elected? no secret of his support for Mitt particularly ‘presidential’ during We do not know the answer to Romney throughout the election the final few days of campaign- that, but we do know that they campaign, and worked with bil- ing.1 had some effect and that “the lionaire Sheldon Adelson in an The Republican party con- Most High rules in the kingdom effort to get the overtly pro-Israel vention in August was similarly of men, and gives it to whomever Romney elected to the White disrupted by hurricane Isaac. He chooses” (Dan 4:25).3 There House—not exactly a foundation This was supposed to have been are abundant examples in both for a good working relationship the opportunity to introduce Mitt scriptural and secular history from now on. Romney to the nation. Republi- of how weather patterns and Despite this cooling in US- can Senator Marco Rubio, who other ‘natural’ events are used Israeli relations, America re- gave the best speech of the by God to influence the affairs mains strongly supportive of convention, was displaced from of mankind and bring about His Israel (as does Britain), blocking prime-time TV by the storm, as desired purpose. attempts to condemn Israel’s military response to the recent President Obama tours Hurricane Sandy storm damage. Picture: United States Government Work surge in Hamas rocket attacks, and reinforcing Israel’s right to defend itself. From our under- standing of the scenario de- scribed in Ezekiel 38, however, it appears that when it comes to the final crisis Israel’s allies will not oppose the invasion of

1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ 2012/11/01/hurricane-sandy-voting_ n_2060704.html 2. http://www.newsmax.com/News front/why-romney-lost-obama/2012 /11/07/id/463241#ixzz2BpVWf3sp 3. Bible quotations from the NKJV. The Testimony, December 2012 466 Contents the Land militarily, but merely lodge their verbal opposition (v. 13). This may be because of a desire not to become embroiled in military conflict, or simply an inability to mount a military response because of the speed of the invasion or due to eco- nomic challenges in their own nations. Mr Obama has shown in the past that he will not support Israel over territorial claims. If his economic circumstances at home deteriorate, regardless of his desire to support or not, his ability to do so will be impeded anyway. In summary, four more President Obama talking to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin years of Obama is likely to mean Netanyahu on 19 November about a ceasefire agreement with increasing isolation for Israel.4 Hamas. Picture: United States Government Work the king of the south identified instability in these northern Tensions rising themselves?5 neighbours of Israel. T the time of writing, violence Ain the Land is escalating More elections rapidly. Hamas militants having Watch and pray increased their rocket bombard- looming ND so, as we draw to the ment of southern Israel, Is- ITH the US election now Aclose of 2012, we pause to rael responded by assassinating Wdecided, attention turns take stock of a year in which the Ahmed al-Jabari, the leader of towards Israel, where a general Arab world has remained in its Hamas’s military wing in Gaza, election is scheduled to take apparent turmoil, nations have in an operation called ‘Operation place in two months’ time. Some slipped deeper into economic Pillar of Cloud’—an allusion to have suggested that this is one crisis, Israel has become more the cloud beneath which God reason behind Prime Minister isolated, and yet more knowl- protected the people of Israel Netanyahu’s strong response in edge of the great Creator and during their wilderness journey. the Gaza Strip, giving him the Sustainer of our universe has In a further retaliation, Hamas opportunity to show that he is a ebbed away. It is fitting that, at have fired rockets at Tel Aviv and man of action who will protect the end of such a year, the eyes Jerusalem, killing at least three Israel’s border and citizens.6 of the world and its leaders are Israelis. Israel in return has tar- Israel placed 75,000 military once more on the Land of Israel geted further key areas in Gaza, reservists on standby and moved and God’s witnesses, the Jews, destroying the administrative tanks and bulldozers into place for in them all these things will headquarters and homes of the along the Gaza border, amid Hamas leadership, and killing increasing speculation that a 4. For a Jewish perspective on the dozens of Palestinians. full ground offensive might be US election, see: http://www.bbc. The USA and the UK, as mounted in an attempt to remove co.uk/news/world-middle-east- we would have expected, have the Hamas administration. This 20238161 strongly supported Israel diplo- could be accomplished, it is 5. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ world/middle_east/israels-netan matically, and blocked attempts thought, only through a full-scale yahu-comes-in-for-criticism-in- to condemn the Israeli military invasion and military occupation. wake-of-us-election/2012/11/08/ response at the UN. Simul- Reservists and standing troops 3c540bcc-29d5-11e2-bab2-eda299 taneously, Russia is blocking were also moved into positions 503684_story.html 6. http://news.investors.com/ibd-edi resolutions condemning Syria. on the Syrian and Lebanese bor- torials/111612-633817-an-ever-weak Have the king of the north and ders due to increasing ­political ening-america-has-invited-war.htm The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 467 come to a terrible, yet ultimately God of Israel will fill the earth: ­sleeping. And what I say to glorious, conclusion. “Take heed, watch and pray; you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mk. Patiently and prayerfully, we for you do not know when the 13:33-37). wait in faith to see the next stage time is. It is like a man going We may not know the hour or in the process, confident that our to a far country, who left his the day, but signs abound that heavenly Father is in control and house and gave authority to the Master is on his way. Let us bringing His plan to fruition. We his servants, and to each therefore heed his call to watch look eagerly towards the day his work, and commanded and pray, and put our hands when all conflicts will cease, the doorkeeper to watch. afresh to the work we have and joy, peace, happiness and Watch therefore . . . lest, been given. Even so, come, the knowledge of the glory of the coming suddenly, he find you Lord Jesus. Contents

Prophecy Principles of prophecy The king of the north and the king of the south Andrew White

F A CHRISTADELPHIAN were asked the this eleventh hour before the return of the Lord, question, ‘Who is the king of the north?’ the to reignite enthusiastic study and discussion of Imost likely answer would be ‘Russia.’ If the this topic. In outlining some of the biblical princi- same question were asked regarding the king of ples that underlie a ‘traditional’ Christadelphian the south, it is probable that there would be less understanding of this prophecy, it is hoped that certainty—although the USA and/or the UK are this article may contribute in this endeavour. likely to get a mention, perhaps along with the Gulf states and Saudi Arabia. The question is The ‘traditional’ understanding of prophecy an important one, as Daniel identifies these two This is a label which Christadelphians are ac- kings as the principal antagonists at “the time customed to using when referring to certain of the end” (Dan. 11:40). If we get their identity interpretations of prophecy set out in the writ- wrong, we may be completely off track and end ings of some of our nineteenth-century brethren. up looking for events that either never happen or Where conviction prevails, however, ‘tradition’ is are at best incidental to the main event. irrelevant and perhaps makes for a misleading or Even when there is certainty over who these even damaging label. A better word to use may be powers are, the biblical basis for their identifica- ‘established,’ since at least this conveys that some tion may not be well understood. At the time of rationale lies behind the view being expressed. writing, civil war rages in Syria and threatens to ‘Tradition’ rather gives the impression that the spill over into the wider region. Tensions between view is held by an inveterate and determined Turkey and Russia are escalating, as Turkey con- old school, who will never shift their ground siders its response to the unrest on its borders. simply because it is written in Elpis Israel or a Increasing political movement in the area of the similar work. The spirit of our earlier brethren ancient Seleucid kingdom perhaps ought to be was completely contrary to this, as they looked a more prominent topic of discussion amongst solely to the Bible for their conviction and hope. Christadelphians than seems to the present writer We do well to follow their example in our search to be the case. for a similarly clear understanding of prophecy Whether or not any lack of discussion about with which we can defend ourselves, without these signs of the times indicates a greater malaise hiding behind a sacred ‘tradition.’ than simply a failure to grasp the significance Christ foresaw that, in the lead-up to Armaged- of this particular region in Bible prophecy (see don, believers would face numerous difficulties Psalm 74:9), it is nevertheless still possible, even at and temptations to test their resolve and threaten The Testimony, December 2012 468 Contents to expose them to shame at his appearing if they Territorial basis for identifying the key did not remain alert. His antidote to this danger players was for his disciples to focus on watching. The In taking over both Babylon and Assyria, the thief-like advent of Revelation 16:15, “Behold, I Persian rulers became known as the kings of come as a thief,” is an unmistakable reference these respective territories.: back to Christ’s teaching in his Olivet Prophecy, “. . . in the first year of Cyrusthe king of Babylon where emphasis is repeatedly placed on watch- the same king Cyrus made a decree to build ing the signs of the times and on our ensuring this house of God” (Ezra 5:13); that we are ready: “. . . the LORD had made [Judah] joyful, and “Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto they now shoot forth, ye see and know of them, to strengthen their hands in the work your own selves that summer is now nigh at of the house of God, the God of Israel” (6:22). hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things Recent discoveries of contract tablets have shown come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of that at Babylon Cyrus bore the title ‘king of Ba- God is nigh at hand . . . Watch ye therefore, bylon’ from the time of his conquest of the city. and pray always, that ye may be accounted The same title was passed on to his successors worthy to escape all these things that shall Cambyses, Darius and so on. Hence we find Ar- come to pass, and to stand before the Son of taxerxes Longimanus called “king of Babylon” man” (Lk. 21:29-31,36). in Nehemiah (13:6). This was a well-established As we approach Armageddon, the importance custom and important to bear in mind when of the subject becomes ever more pressing, and interpreting Bible prophecy, since reference to an- time to repent of any distractions in our life is cient powers may well be referring to the present fast running out. It is hugely important that we occupant of the territory in question. understand the basis for our interpretations, not For example, when Micah refers to the peace only because this will deepen our convictions to be established under Messiah following the and enhance our ability to explain them when defeat of Israel’s latter-day invader, the Spirit preaching, but because we will also be able to through the prophet uses the description “the place current signs of the times in their wider Assyrian”: “And this man shall be the peace, when biblical context. One of the dangers that Christ the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when spoke of was of our deceitful hearts being so he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise intoxicated by the things of the world that we against him seven shepherds, and eight principal might be in danger of saying to ourselves, “My men” (5:5). Russia becomes the latter-day Assyr- lord delayeth his coming” (12:45). Enhancing ian, for, in becoming a guard for many nations, our own understanding may also help us to it will comprehend within its confederacy the re-engage with writings of the Truth that have territory of ancient Assyria. This is an instructive become neglected, particularly Brother Thomas’ principle to apply when endeavouring to identify writings, which deal copiously with this topic.1 the nations in these ancient prophecies. Why is Russia identified as the king of the At times, understanding prophecy does re- north? In Elpis Israel Brother Thomas explains quire some delving back into history to establish his rationale as follows: the original kings to whom the prophet referred. “There had been no kings of the north and south upon the Eastern Roman territory Daniel 11 for many centuries previous to this period Daniel 11 outlines the intriguing events that [of the sixth vial of Revelation 16, the 1820s ensued after the death of Alexander the Great: onwards]. The war between Russia and the “a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule Porte, however, in 1828, advanced the frontiers with great dominion . . . his kingdom shall be of the Russian empire to Asia Minor, Ararat, broken, and shall be divided . . .” (vv. 3,4). History and thence to the Caspian; by which a con- shows that the Greek dominion was subdivided siderable portion of the territory of the old between Alexander’s four generals, and that two Assyro-Macedonian kingdom is included in of these, Seleucus and Ptolemy, respectively took the dominions of the Autocrat. He is, therefore, in relation to Judea, the king of the north . . .”2 Thus territorial expansion was the basis for his in- 1. Particularly Elpis Israel and An Exposition of Daniel. terpretation. This rests on solid biblical grounds. 2. 14th edition, pp. 416-7; 15th edition, pp. 448-9. The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 469 C aspian Seleucid Empire Sea (king of the north) SYR IA Mediterranean Sea

Jerusalem

EGYPT

Ptolemaic Empire P e (king of the south) r s i a n R G e u d l f

S e a

The territories of the northern and southern divisions of the later Greek Empire—the king of the north and the king of the south. the territories to the north and the south of Israel. “. . . the king . . . shall exalt himself, and mag- These kings and their successors met in a series nify himself above every god . . .” (Dan 11:36); of battles known as the six Syrian wars. “. . . that day shall not come, except there come Daniel then speaks in verse 36 of the rise of a falling away first, and that man of sin be another king, “the king [who] shall do according revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth to his will.” The parallel passage in Daniel 8 refers and exalteth himself above all that is called to “a king of fierce countenance, and understand- God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God ing dark sentences” (v. 23)—both passages, I sug- sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself gest, dealing with the Greek or eastern half of the that he is God” (2 Thess. 2:3,4)—usually un- Roman Empire. The latter verse itself draws on derstood as a reference to the Roman papacy. Deuteronomy 28:49,50: The power of Rome would continue in the east “The LORD shall bring a nation against thee for about 1,600 years until the coming of the from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as Ottoman Turks, who then assumed the Roman the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou mantle. Their rulers saw themselves as successors shalt not understand; a nation of fierce coun- to Rome; following the capture of Constantinople tenance, which shall not regard the person of in 1453, the Turkish sultan moved the Ottoman the old, nor shew favour to the young.” capital there from Adrianople, and had himself Taking this section of Deuteronomy 28 as a refer- titled ‘Kaisar-i-Rum,’ ‘Roman Caesar,’ retaining ence to events leading up to A.D. 70, a case is made in his conquered territory many of the features for the “king” of Daniel 11:36 to be the Roman of the Roman/Byzantine Empire that he had power. This link is supported by the connection inherited. Again Brother Thomas explains this between the following two passages: in An Exposition of Daniel: The Testimony, December 2012 470 Contents “. . . where the Seleucidian dynasty once ruled, but what we can say is that civil war in the ter- the Little Horn’s dynasties afterwards ruled ritory of the ancient Seleucid Empire involving [Rome followed by Ottoman]; and where the both Russia and Turkey may well lead, not just to Little Horn’s present dynasty now rules [in regional conflict, but to Russian military interven- Turkish territory], a Russian dynasty from tion and its increasing dominance in the region. the north will probably be enthroned; so that While we watch with baited breath for the next when this form of things obtains, the northern move, we recognise that there will, no doubt, horn [the king of the north] and the Little be many twists and turns until we see the king Horn [the Turkish power in Constantinople] of the north in his final phase as the dominant will be blended into one power, still Constan- power to the north of Israel and in full possession tinopolitan, but with a Russian instead of an of the old Seleucid Empire, and about to sweep Ottoman for its chief.”3 down into Egypt. At this point Russia will be fully enthroned as the dragon power of the east History repeats itself (Rev. 16:13), in possession of Constantinople and Daniel 11:40 brings us to “the time of the end.” ready to “overflow and pass over” (Dan. 11:40) The eventual weakening of the Ottoman Empire into the “many countries” (v. 41) of the Middle (the ‘sick man of Europe’) during the nineteenth East and become established in Egypt (v. 43), century set the scene for the re-emergence of the and, like Antiochus Epiphanes of old, ascend rival powers of the king of the north and the king to Jerusalem for what we know as the battle of of the south. Identifying the powers involved Armageddon (Rev. 16:16). may be more complex than 150 years ago, when Brother Thomas wrote, since major powers today The king of the south exert their influence through strategic alliances, When we look for the identity of the latter-day financial investments, technology and the sup- king of the south, however, we find that the first ply of military hardware, rather than simply by clause of Daniel 11:40 has already received a military intervention. And political commentators remarkable and exact fulfilment in the events of today write of hegemony rather than empire— 1917. To set the scene we need to go back a little witness these comments from June 2010 regarding further in history, to the time of Queen Victoria developments in the Middle East subsequent to and her favourite prime minister. In 1875 Ben- US withdrawal from Iraq: jamin Disraeli, with the help of the Rothschilds, “Yet Russia’s return to Syria, whether it be the bought the majority of the Suez Canal shares sale of MiG-29s or building a naval dock on the from the bankrupt Khedive of Egypt, to Queen Syrian coast, is not the action of a superpower Victoria’s delight. “It is just settled: you have it, challenging US hegemony as it was in 1945–89 Madam . . . Four millions sterling! And almost but rather an assertive regional power taking immediately. There was only one firm that could advantage of the emerging power vacuum in do that—Rothschilds.”5 Disraeli acted independ- the region. Instead of a new bipolar cold war, ently of the British Parliament in this matter, and regional powers such as Russia and Turkey debate raged over whether or not Disraeli had are increasing their influence at the United acted within the constitution. Either way, this States’ expense. intriguing political manoeuvre embroiled Britain “. . . the recent actions of Russia and Turkey in the politics of Egypt from 1882 until 1922, and in the Middle East do show a new assertive- the British military presence in Egypt lasted until ness from regional powers to pursue their 1956 and the days of the Suez crisis. own path in defiance of US will, whether According to the territorial basis of pro- through arms deals, trade agreements or phetic exposition, therefore, Britain as ruler of diplomatic coups. A new cold war is unlikely, Egypt—and therefore over the ancient Ptolemaic but the age of unchallenged US hegemony in the Middle East could be ending.”4 The civil war in Syria raises the stakes yet further 3. 1920 edition, p. 81. and leads us to ask whether Russian dominance 4. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/31/ to the north might be strengthened by propping us-hegemony-middle-east-ending 5. Benjamin Disraeli to Queen Victoria after receiving up the Assad régime or its successor. We are so the money to buy the controlling interest in the Suez close to the developing scene that it is difficult for Canal, quoted at http://clioseye.sfasu.edu/Archives/ us to gain a true perspective on current events; Student%20Reviews%20Archives/Disraliechr.htm The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 471 ­kingdom—had become “the king of the south.” “The possession, or ascendancy of Britain in It is not coincidence that, during this short but Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba, will naturally lead remarkable period of history, it was the British to the colonization of Palestine by the Jews.”8 power under General Edmund Allenby that Disraeli’s manoeuvres were therefore providential subsequently liberated Jerusalem and the Holy and full of significance. In the events of 1917 “the Land from the Ottoman Turk in 1917; still more king of the south” (Britain) “push[ed] at him” remarkable was it that the same year saw the is- (the Ottoman Turk) and became the liberator and suing of the famous Balfour Declaration, which protector of the Jewish homeland for a short but became enshrined in law within the text of Brit- significant period. ain’s mandate over Palestine of 1922.6 There is no certainty that Britain will again A passage in Isaiah can be understood as say- exert its influence in Egypt (and Daniel 11 does ing that Egypt, Sudan and Seba would be given not require this). Indeed, the text states that, when to the power that assisted in the redemption of the king of the north invades, it is to take Egypt Israel in the latter days: “For I am the LORD thy itself (Dan. 11:43), not to attack the king of the God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave south. The language therefore suggests that, at Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for the time of king of the north’s invasion, Egypt thee” (43:3). Brother C. C. Walker refers to this will have gained its independence. passage with regard to the regathering of Israel In reviewing this topic, it is striking that our in a comment published in 1907 (ten years before earlier brethren could see with such clarity, the Balfour Declaration): which reminds us how reliable the sure word of “Yet there are many signs that this [the resto- prophecy is. We can have supreme confidence ration of Israel] is about to be accomplished, in the Word of our God, and rejoice that we too and the lands of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba can see through the complexities of the current are manifestly associated with the divine events if we are guided by the divine light which purpose of the latter days. It is notorious that can still shine into our otherwise dark hearts and these countries are now occupied by Britain help transform us into a people prepared for the . . . In fact, Britain may now truly be said to coming of the Lord. occupy at once the positions of the latter day Tyre and Egypt or ‘the king of the south’ of 6. Text available online at 7 http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/ Daniel 11:40.” Palestine_Mandate Still more remarkable was the foresight of Brother 7. The Ministry of the Prophets: Isaiah, p. 559. Thomas, writing in 1849: 8. Elpis Israel, 14th edition, p. 445; 15th edition, p. 479. Contents The purpose of prophecy The prophets of the Bible did not necessarily foretell the future when they spoke. It has been truly said that their mission was to forthtell rather than to foretell. Nevertheless, the gospel is the good news of the Kingdom, a Kingdom yet to be established; and of necessity therefore prophets, and apostles for that matter, spoke often of the future. It is possible, though, to think of prophecy in a narrower sense, to distinguish God’s revelation of His purpose in the earth from His revelation of what is to happen on the way to the fulfilment of that purpose. The latter is what we will consider in this chapter: prophecies which have largely been fulfilled already. What then is the purpose of such prophecy? We propose to offer five lines of approach, overlapping to some extent, but each worth identifying and considering separately. Fulfilled prophecy: • establishes the existence of God • establishes that the Bible is God’s Word • enables us to believe that prophecies about God’s Kingdom will be fulfilled • demonstrates that God is at work in the world • shows us where we are in God’s plan. Tony Benson, The Pen of a Ready Writer (Testimony, 2010), p. 80.

The Testimony, December 2012 472 Contents Clippings— religion and society DAWKINS HAUNTED BY CHRISTIANITY Large-scale conversion to Roman Catholicism This was the claim made in an An indication of the problems faced by the Church of England interview with the Archbishop of at present is the rate at which its members—and its clergy—are Canterbury, in the London Evening converting to Catholicism. Dissatisfaction within the Anglican Standard newspaper, to mark his communion over its views on homosexuality and the ordination forthcoming retirement at the end of of women bishops has prompted many to look for their spiritual the year. Dr Williams has, arguably, needs to be met elsewhere. The vicar of one parish church near spent much of his period in office try- London recently transferred his allegiance to a Catholic church ing to find common ground between nearby, taking sixty-nine members of his one-hundred-strong seemingly irreconcilable groups—not congregation with him. (There is a reminder here of the wholesale only within the Church of England, conversions of ‘Christian’ congregations to the Truth in years gone but with politicians and academics by.) The vicar in question was perfectly candid over his reasons too, including the outspokenly atheist for the move: “In the Church of England, you don’t know what the biologist Professor Richard Dawkins. Church believes from one synod to the next . . . I think there is In a somewhat optimistic assessment great comfort in the Catholic Church: you know what you believe of what he sees as the continued im- and what the Church teaches.” Such moves have been made much portance of Christian belief in the UK, easier since Rome’s establishment in 2009 of the personal ordinari- the Archbishop said, “We are haunted ate, a structure which grants full communion to former members by Christianity in this country . . . of the Church of England while permitting them to retain some Even with Dawkins, the sense that he aspects of their Anglican heritage. The ordinariate, now extant can’t leave it alone is fascinating.” The in the majority of Anglican dioceses in England and Wales, has mention of Dawkins may have been an been described by some Anglican clergymen as “predatory”—a allusion to the February 2012 debate characteristic of the Catholic system Scripture leads us to expect. between him and the Archbishop, held in Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre, when “Faith can harm” Dawkins generated surprise in the au- Under this title, a recent newspaper article reported what some dience when he confessed to being less members of the medical profession perceive to be increasing ten- than one-hundred-per-cent certain sion over the treatment of the terminally ill children of parents that there is no God. Philosopher Sir with a strong religious faith. Doctors at London’s famous Great Anthony Kenny, chairing the debate, Ormond Street hospital are concerned that children for whom there challenged Dawkins, “Why don’t you is no hope medically speaking are being subjected to “torture” call yourself an agnostic?” Dawkins’ by parents unwilling to accept medical advice and who prefer reply was that he did; but this claim to trust in divine intervention. Perhaps inevitably the debate has seems to be at odds with Dawkins’ highlighted the differences between the scientific and the religious 1994 description of himself as “a fairly approaches to life, and in examples cited, each side has tended militant atheist.” Dawkins was again only to become more entrenched as the debate has progressed. in the news a few months later when, Doctors now advocate a review of the legal system with the in- writing in the Observer newspaper, tention of reducing the weight which courts need to give to the he advocated the British Government’s religious views of parents in these cases. An alternative view was plan to put a Bible in every English expressed by an Oxford University legal expert who detected school—but only because “it is not a other motives at work: “They seem to think that because we are moral book and young people need to becoming an increasingly secular society there is some sort of learn that important fact because they democratically ordained mandate to impose secular values on are very frequently told the opposite.” everyone.” The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 473 COALITION “WARNED” “Britain’s vilified Christians” OVER STANCE ON Under this headline, London’s Daily Telegraph newspaper RELIGIOUS EDUCATION reported an outspoken statement by former Archbishop of The retiring Archbishop of Canter- Canterbury Lord (George) Carey. His statement formed part of bury, Dr Rowan Williams, warned a submission to the European Court of Human Rights before in his Easter Day sermon that now a judgement due later this year on a landmark case involving was the “worst possible moment” to religious freedom, and was interpreted as an outspoken attack downgrade the importance of RE in on the alleged impartiality of Britain’s legal system. He described the school curriculum. The message, practising Christians as now being treated routinely in the way aimed at the present government, that practising homosexuals once were, “persecuted,” “vilified” drew attention to the way in which and “driven underground.” Lord Carey drew attention to the the moral and spiritual development stream of legal rulings by British courts which have failed to of children was being ignored thanks uphold or even protect Christian values. These have involved to the emphasis being given to other genuine cases of conscience, such as a registrar of marriages subjects. In the sermon, which also who does not wish to conduct civil partnership ceremonies. reaffirmed the necessity of a belief in (There has been at least one such refusal in the Brother- the literal resurrection of Christ, and hood in recent years.) Members of the judiciary are guilty, he the importance of the existence of the says, of too strict a reading of equality laws, and the result State of Israel, Dr Williams said that has been “a drive to remove Judeo-Christian values from the continuing to afford RE its due place public square.” In the days ahead it would not be surprising in the education of children would for the Brotherhood to be shown less tolerance in areas of life help them to avoid the “hostility where we have so far been left to act in accordance with our to faith” seen increasingly in older consciences. generations. The text of the sermon is available online at http://www. The UK still “a Christian country”—PM archbishopofcanterbury.org/ In a speech given at Oxford in December 2011, Britain’s Prime articles.php/2440/archbishops- Minister David Cameron four times described the United Kingdom easter-sermon-2012-god-raised- as “a Christian country.” The speech is available on the Number jesus-to-life#Text 10 website: http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/king-james-bible/ This was a relatively rare foray into such territory for as high- Teaching the Lord’s Prayer profile a politician as Mr Cameron, one of whose predecessors is The Archbishop’s sermon came just famously on record as saying that he did not “do God”—a state- a few weeks after he expressed ment of which the audience was reminded. The speech marked concern over the fall in the number the conclusion of the 400th anniversary year of the King James of schoolchildren who can recite the Bible and was peppered with words and phrases lifted from the Lord’s Prayer. The statistics were KJV. Standing in front of a gathering of distinguished theologians, taken from a BBC survey of more the Prime Minister said, left him feeling as if he had “entered the than a thousand children aged from lions’ den.” He described the KJV as “one of this country’s greatest six to twelve and a similar number achievements . . . a book that is not just important in understand- of adults who were in the same age ing our past, but which will continue to have a profound impact bracket forty years ago. The results in shaping our collective future.” Mr Cameron gave three reasons suggested that children today are why “the King James Bible is as relevant today as at any point in twice as likely as those in 1972 its 400-year history”: first, the obvious influence of its language in to say that religion is important to the English-speaking world; secondly, its impact on British politics; them. However, they are also half and thirdly, because “we are a Christian country. And we should as likely to know the words of the not be afraid to say so . . . the Bible has helped to give Britain a Lord’s Prayer (and therefore, Dr Wil- set of moral values which make Britain what it is today.” Quoting liams observes, to be able to choose the KJV of 1 Corinthians 13:12 as his example, the Prime Minister whether to use it). “The Lord’s Prayer stated that, for him, the power of the Bible could be lost in more isn’t a very big or complicated thing modern versions—the New International Version and the Good . . . this is something that’s really, News Bible were the translations he cited. Those who revere the really important to lots and lots Bible as God’s Word may have difficulty in reconciling Mr Cam- of people and can change their eron’s speech with some of his government’s policies. lives.” The Testimony, December 2012 474 Contents Your Letters

“shame and everlasting contempt” (Dan. 12:2) The Johannine Comma takes no account of the tempestuous and danger- A short piece under this title appeared on page ous days in which these men lived. Bible believ- 355 of the September 2012 issue of the Testimony, ers in Europe were striving to wrest themselves referring to the spurious AV text of 1 John 5:6,7. free from the yoke of Rome, and many had not In response, a reader has drawn attention to the yet grasped the fundamental difference between following extract from J. Paterson Smyth’s How whole Truth and only partial knowledge. The We Got Our Bible: sixteenth-century French Protestant scholar Se- “Erasmus . . . not finding the words in any bastian Castellio pleaded for time and tolerance, Greek manuscript, omitted them from the first observing: “It is not given to all to see the same two editions of his Greek Testament, which thing at the same time.” His words were described was chiefly the authority that our translators by that cold-hearted butcher John Calvin as “the used. But as they had long stood in the Latin abominable dung of an obscene dog.” Vulgate, an outcry was at once raised that he It took Brother John Thomas twelve years to was tampering with the Bible. He insisted arrive at what he considered a satisfactory un- that no Greek manuscript contained the pas- derstanding of the Truth. If, as in earlier times, sage; ‘and,’ said he at last, when they pressed he had been arrested and executed after, say, him, ‘if you can show me even a single one six years, must we conclude that he too would in which they occur, I will insert them in have been consigned to perdition because of the the future.’ Unfortunately they did find one, inexactitude of his beliefs? the manuscript of Montfort, which is now in There are brethren who have Protestant friends the library of Trinity College, Dublin, but is with whom they discuss Scripture. One or two evidently no older than about the fifteenth will speak in Protestant assemblies. But they will century. The words had got into it probably not break the bread of the covenant with them from some corrupt Latin manuscript; and on because of their Trinitarian and other mistaken this slight authority Erasmus admitted them beliefs. into his text.” To conclude: my conviction is that we must The full text of this book is available online strenuously uphold “the faith which was once at http://archive.org/stream/cu319240323402 delivered unto the saints” (Jude v. 3). As an ex- 46/cu31924032340246_djvu.txt Roman Catholic, who was taught as a child that the Jews were cursed and that God was finished with them, I appreciate and rejoice in “the hope “Come out of her my people” of Israel” (Acts 28:20). But we have no authority It seems to me that the letter by Brother Stephen to state that others who do not share our beliefs Camplin (Oct. 2012, p. 392) goes too far. It is in their fullness will be saved, nor that they will regrettably true that there are some who do not not. Such judgement belongs to the God of all really appreciate the difference between the Truth grace and to Him alone. Perhaps 1 Corinthians as embraced by our community and the varying 5:13 might be brought to bear on this: “But them beliefs held in the Protestant world. I think that that are without God judgeth.” there are varying reasons for this, ranging from Tom McCarthy insufficient study of Scripture to a neglect of Newport the writings of our nineteenth-century brethren and their deep joy in what they believed, and an emotional reaction to those of other churches The false prophet who are very nice, kind people (which can never I have read with interest Brother Andrew White’s be a criterion). article “Unmasking the false prophet” (Aug. Brother Stephen’s statement that, if the early 2012, p. 309) and the letter on this subject from Protestant martyrs are raised, they will face Sisters Ray Walker and Mary Benson (Sept., p. The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 475 350). I remain convinced that Brother Andrew’s host described in Ezekiel 38 and 39, but identification is correct for the following reasons. surely it will be false Christian nations (Gog • Sisters Walker and Benson write, “. . . it is and Magog) who spearhead this attack, bent also true in the book of Revelation that many on taking a spoil and driven by anti-Semitic symbols have a worldly resonance . . . at the motives (38:8-13). time of their fulfilment,” the example cited • The Bible’s instructions for testing false proph- being the woman riding the beast (Rev. 17:1- ets who utter false predictions or false teach- 7); but surely this is true of the papal system’s ing are primarily concerned with those who relationship with, and influence on, Europe arise from within Israel (Deut. 13:1-5; 18:20-22) rather than of Islam’s prophet. or from within the ecclesia (Acts 20:28-31). • We should not forget the essential part played • Balaam, a prophet from outside Israel, was by nations whose principal religion was indeed false in his ways, but it is noteworthy Islam in God’s judgements on the Eastern that he arranged the beguiling of Israel by Roman Empire, culminating in the fall of immorality (Num. 25)—as would his New Constantinople in 1453 (Rev. 9). For the Bible Testament counterpart (Rev. 2:14)—and not believer the easing of the iron grip of Rome by false predictions. Indeed, his prophecies over religious belief around this time would of Israel’s future are true, since he was not have been significant. permitted to speak otherwise (Num. 23:5,18- • It remains to be seen how predominantly 20,25,26; 24:10-14). Islamic nations such as Persia, Ethiopia and Peter Ormiston Libya are welded into the northern ­invading Northampton Contents

Review “Perfectly joined together . . .” John Nicholls

The Nature of Ecclesial T IS SOME TIME since the reviewer has read Fellowship. any book of substance on the subject of ecclesial Richard B. Mellowes, Ifellowship. Brother Richard Mellowes gave talks 2012. on the theme ‘The nature of ecclesial fellowship’ at a recent Bible school, and has now made his ma- 183 pages, paperback. terial available in written form, and on a slightly Published by Meli expanded basis. The resulting book is thought- Publications, fully written, with much helpful scriptural expo- Caerphilly. sition, although it could perhaps have been more ISBN 095509913-7. rigorously proofread. The reviewer read it with UK price: £6:50 much interest, as the doctrine of fellowship is a including P&P, payable fundamental one, and fraught with many issues by cheque to “Richard Mellowes,” debit card, of a practical nature. As time goes on, and still credit card or PayPal (email address required our Lord has not returned, our understanding of to pay by this method). Overseas orders: fellowship becomes more and more important as additional postage charged at cost. the Truth becomes undermined and threatened in many quarters. For younger brothers and Available from Richard Mellowes, 88 Heol sisters, newly and joyfully baptised, the issue Trecastell, Caerphilly, CF83 1AF, UK. of smaller Christadelphian fellowships may be email: [email protected] puzzling and hard to reconcile with apostolic The Testimony, December 2012 476 Contents teaching; this book will help them to understand fine exhortations. ‘Walking with God’ and ‘walk- fellowship better. ing in light,’ for example, are expressions found The book begins by defining fellowship, using throughout the Bible. The author comments on as its key statement 1 Corinthians 1:9: “God is the fellowship that the patriarchs enjoyed with faithful, by Whom ye were called unto the fel- the angels: “faithful men literally and spiritually lowship [Gk. koinōnia] of His Son Jesus Christ our walking in step and in harmony with the ways Lord.” Brother Mellowes expounds the preceding of God; true fellowship indeed” (p. 28). verses in 1 Corinthians in a very satisfying way In a concluding exposition of the Hebrew word to provide the background to the appeal of verse chaber, the use of the word in connection with the 10: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of curtains of the tabernacle is brought out. Five our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same curtains were to be “coupled together” (chabar) thing, and that there be no divisions among you; so that the tabernacle was “one” (Ex. 26:3-11). The but that ye be perfectly joined together in the tabernacle represented Israel with God dwelling same mind and the same judgment.” Using these in their midst, and by extension it represents passages, and others from Romans, Philippians the people of God, both Israel and the ecclesia, and the First Epistle of John, the author builds up walking in harmony with God’s revealed way of a solid scriptural definition of ecclesial fellowship: salvation. The coupling together of its component the sharing of a common understanding of saving parts shows that Israel were to be bound in fellow- Truth as revealed in the Scriptures and regulating ship, of one mind as they approached God in the our lives according to those principles. He writes appointed way by sacrifice and prayer, through (p. 15): “but note carefully, fellowship is first with the priests whom God had appointed. As Amos, God, through Jesus Christ, and only then with through the Spirit, asks rhetorically: “Can two other believers who share the same faith, and have walk together, except they be agreed?” (3:3). “A the same relationship with the Father.” man or woman can only walk with God if they are in harmony and agreement, and the same Old Testament foundations principles of unity apply to being ‘fitly framed We may think that fellowship is primarily a together’ in the ecclesia” (p. 33). New Testament doctrine, but the author shows Brother Mellowes next considers those doc- that the foundations of fellowship lie in the Old trines that are most surely believed amongst those Testament. In a delightful series of expositions, who are the saints of God and heirs of the age to each providing much exhortation, he looks at the come. He thoroughly endorses the Birmingham words ‘fellowship,’ ‘fellow,’ ‘neighbour’ and ‘com- Amended Statement of Faith, comprising the panion.’ The phrase “the man that is My fellow” Foundation Clause, Truth to be received, Doc- (Zech. 13:7) applies, of course, to our Lord Jesus trines to be rejected and the Commandments of Christ, and the Hebrew word for ‘fellow’ here is Christ. He sets forth those scriptures which show amiyth, used frequently in the Old Testament and that the truths to be received are interdepend- often translated ‘neighbour.’ Jesus was the perfect ent; they cannot be tampered with or changed ‘neighbour’ to God, being at one with Him (Jno. without affecting the whole: “If one is changed 17:20-23) in purpose and outlook. Under the Law or removed, others will fall like dominoes” (p. of Moses, neighbours were in fellowship with one 37). Denial of individual truths undermines the another and with God; as brethren, they were oneness of mind which is the basis of our fel- required not only to deal justly with one another, lowship, and leads to wrong practice and living. but also not to condone sin in their brother. The author argues that we have a “closed sys- A further Hebrew word considered by the tem of Truth,” an interesting and very descriptive author is chaber or chabar (‘companion’), used in term. He substantiates these ideas with a series Daniel 2:13-18. It is applied also to the relationship of Propositions and Appendices, each supported between a man and his wife: “yet is she thy com- with scriptural proof. The reviewer concurs with panion [chabereth, the feminine form of the word], his conclusions. The proof provided is extensive, and the wife of thy covenant” (Mal. 2:14). Thus the and it is a joy to be led by the author through many author says: “When a man of God marries a godly well-loved passages and see again how they fit wife, they are then in fellowship together, sharing together to form an unmistakable message. His their life in the Truth in the most intimate way” conclusion is almost an understatement: “It is (p. 23). Brother Mellowes provides other biblical therefore necessary to believe the whole system examples of companionship, drawing out some of Truth that is set out in the inspired Word of The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 477 God. We cannot pick and choose what to believe and the lessons her case has for the subject of and what not to believe . . . we should rejoice with fellowship. He also examines how the ecclesia thankfulness in the statement of the Lord Jesus is viewed as a ’house’ and the saints as ‘lively Christ; ‘the Truth shall make you free’” (p. 45). stones.’ Chapter 7 looks at the circumstances in The use of the term ‘the Truth’ to describe which a leprous (fungally infected) house could the Christadelphian understanding of biblical be saved and cleansed, and the application to the doctrines is discouraged in some parts of the ecclesial house. He writes (pp. 96,97): Brotherhood, it being alleged that we are seen “It is worth emphasising how thorough this to be arrogant to use this term. Yet is a frequent work had to be if it was to be successful in get- scriptural expression. The most common Greek ting rid of the leprosy. All affected stones and word for truth in the New Testament is aletheia, plaster had to be removed and replaced. If the which occurs ninety-nine times. Brother Mel- task was not done thoroughly then there was lowes explores this word, and in particular offers every likelihood that the leprosy would return a useful exposition of the term in John 8:32, where . . . The application to the ecclesial house is Jesus says to the scribes and Pharisees, “ye shall not difficult to see. If there are problems with know the truth, and the truth shall make you heresy or wrong practice in an ecclesia, they free.” Again, with the thoroughness that is the are in effect rebellion against the Word and hallmark of his book, the author looks at other authority of God, in the same way that Miriam New Testament instances of this word, and ends and Aaron rebelled in Numbers 12 . . . Some with a brief look at some Old Testament passages action may be taken, but may be inadequate, where the word ‘truth’ occurs. and therefore ineffectual. ALL affected stones (individual saints) must be removed if they Interdependent doctrines cannot be convinced of their error and brought The author returns to his earlier thesis that the to the point that they change their ways. Lep- closed system of truth in which we believe means rous plaster must be COMPLETELY removed, that the doctrines are interdependent. After else the leprosy will return, just as mildew or looking at passages in 2 Timothy he comes to dry rot would do in the natural world. It is no this conclusion: “To challenge any one teaching use plastering over an affected area with new of Scripture effectively challenges the doctrine plaster. The result will be cosmetic only; the that ALL Scripture is divinely inspired.” He goes problem will not be removed. So in ecclesial on to say, “In the twenty-first century we have life, if problems are identified, they must be indeed arrived at a point where the notion that dealt with and not ‘swept under the carpet’ or all Scripture is divinely inspired is accepted by otherwise covered up and ignored. They will very few, even among those who claim to be not go away, and ultimately, if not addressed, ‘Christian.’” He then considers several links will cause the whole house to decay!” between interrelated doctrines which are easily The remainder of this section develops the New seen to stand or fall together. These include the Testament teaching on dealing with ‘leprosy’ in devil-atonement-Trinity; baptism-atonement; the ecclesial house. Brother Mellowes considers resurrection; and others. Matthew 18:7-9,17; Romans 16:17,18; 2 Thessaloni- Interestingly, Brother Mellowes suggests, with ans 3; 1 Timothy 6; 2 Timothy 2; Titus 1:10,11; 3; good Scriptural reason, that our most generally 2 John vv. 7-11; 1 Corinthians 5 and other passages, accepted method of interpreting the Apocalypse all carefully cited and evaluated. To complete this is a doctrine that is part and parcel of the closed theme of the leprous house, Brother Mellowes system of Truth. His evidence comes from the looks at the way our Lord Jesus Christ dealt with divine interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s image the leprous state of the nation in his day, and in Daniel 2, where the continuous-historic model then, largely through the Apocalypse, how Jesus is used. There is much food for thought here be- our High Priest views his ecclesia today. There is cause of the way in which a number of brethren much exhortation to be gained from his thorough have proposed that Revelation has a ‘futurist’ and faithful expositions. interpretation despite its many links with Daniel. The longest chapter in the book is entitled Chapters 6–8 have as a common theme the “Inter-ecclesial relationships.” His general advice inspection and cleansing of the leprous house, as is that ecclesias should face up to their problems recorded in Leviticus 14. Brother Mellowes looks and not delay to take scriptural, prayerful and lov- at scriptures about leprosy, particularly Miriam’s, ing actions to solve them. Much useful ­comment The Testimony, December 2012 478 Contents is made on the matter of withdrawal of fellowship, to question one’s own position to be sure which must always be restorative in its ultimate that the issue does indeed relate to scriptural aim. He dwells on the remnant in Sardis who principles and not to personal differences.” were commanded to stay and strengthen the Other passages expounded include the Second things that remain, but never to leave and form and Third Epistles of John, and the dispute be- a separate ‘fellowship.’ Jude verse 12 seems to tween the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. Topics indicate that, at least for a time, those seriously addressed include ‘Guilt by association,’ ‘Deal- in error still broke bread with the faithful. ing with brethren withdrawn from by another This is not an easy situation to tolerate, and ecclesia’ (where the author draws on Brother some may eventually feel compelled to relocate to Roberts’ Ecclesial Guide), and the very difficult an ecclesia perceived to be more faithful, the time problem of ‘Dealing with an unsound ecclesia,’ taken to decide on such a move being influenced where he takes counsel from Deuteronomy 13 by how readily a brother or sister can stand the and other scriptures. strain of having to contend, reason and persuade The closing two chapters of this book strike a those in error in their ecclesia. The ecclesia should more positive note, applying the principles of fel- be a place of refuge from the world, a sanctuary in lowship to the life of an individual and looking at the spiritual wilderness through which we walk, fellowship as demonstrated by the apostles in the not a place of continual contention. New Testament. The author explores the use of the Greek word homothumadon, translated ‘one accord,’ Positive aspects of fellowship and brings out some fine thoughts. The same is Brother Mellowes allocates much space to the done with the word nous, meaning ‘mind.’ From need to pray for those who are astray, and he gives the quotation of Isaiah 40:13 in 1 Corinthians 2:16, many examples of those who—like Daniel and it is apparent that “the Spirit of the LORD” is the Nehemiah—prayed for Israel, the ecclesia of their same as “the mind of the Lord.” From the Word day. He considers also the attitude of the Lord of God we can develop the mind of Christ, which Jesus to the ecclesias amongst whom he walked is the mind of God, and move nearer to unity of in the seven letters of Revelation 2 and 3. No one purpose and true fellowship. There are also some in these seven ecclesias was asked to commence comments on God-manifestation and fellowship, or join another fellowship. The exhortation of the as seen in 1 John 1. Most of the occurrences of seven-branched lampstand in these chapters is the Greek word koinōnia are reviewed to establish of one light-bearing community, one fellowship. how they show the outworking of fellowship in Those who are considering a move to another the first-century ecclesias. ecclesia may find the advice given on pages 140 This is a fitting finale to this excellent book. It is and 141 helpful. Here is a part of that advice: recommended to the Brotherhood as a thorough, “The principle that fellowship depends on faithful and scriptural exposition of fellowship being of one mind on important matters of which will provide much encouragement to scriptural teaching must be upheld. The issues those who are endeavouring to remain faithful at stake must relate to doctrinal matters that to the wonderful Truth we have espoused and impinge on salvation or matters of practice who at the same time desire to show true love that contradict the commands of Christ or and compassion to their beloved brethren and that impinge on doctrine. It is always wise sisters.

The first ecclesia Its basics were “the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship.” The first of these sums up the fundamental truths to be believed about redemption in Christ and his coming kingdom. But is it just coincidence that emphasis on doctrine comes after baptism (v.41,42)? Doctrine and fellowship became in turn the basis for the spiritual life binding the brethren more closely together. The order of these most significant terms is important. Experience has proved over and over again that fellowship not based on a general agree- ment regarding essential truth concerning Christ is a fragile thing . . . Luke’s phrasing here strongly suggests the idea of a fellowship centring on the sacramental remembrance of a Lord who has gone away from his church: “the Breaking of Bread and the prayers.” Harry Whittaker, Studies in the Acts of the Apostles (Biblia), p. 41.

The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 479 Reflections Riot

ERE THE RIOTS that affected Britain a similar lesson too. Adam showed solidarity with last year a foretaste of things to come? Eve when she made the wrong choice in Eden; Lot W“I’d flog them. Better still, I’d give them a vexed his righteous soul in Sodom and had to be ball and chain—that would slow them up.” “Com- dragged out; David had not displeased Adonijah munity service.” “Put them in the army—that at any time in saying, “Why hast thou done so?”; would teach them discipline.” People expressed Judas Iscariot had spent three years with the Lord different opinions as to what should be done Jesus and still felt himself unable to repent of his with the rioters. Amongst those arrested were betrayal of the Lord; Diotrephes, preferring to a classroom assistant, a graphic designer and seek pre-eminence among the brethren, did not university students—hardly a picture of the receive what Paul had to say. On such occasions, unemployed, disadvantaged, under-stimulated men “profess that they know God; but in works in society causing the problem. Perhaps we need they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedi- to include manipulation of the press in our as- ent, and unto every good work reprobate” (Tit. sessment of the troubles. 1:16). What better lesson to learn from the history I remember there were riots in Handsworth of those so closely connected with the things in Birmingham a number of years ago, and we concerning the Kingdom of God and the name phoned from Lancashire to enquire after the of the Jesus Christ than that the time is short and welfare of the brethren and sisters in the area. We the Master at the door? Have we enough oil in our were told that all was well, and also that Auntie lamps to see us through to the marriage feast? (Sister) Doris’s house had been left undamaged A time is coming—whether we, the saints, by the mob because she was a recognised ‘helper see it or not—when there will be unprecedented of the community.’ This left a big impression on trouble for the world: “for then shall be great us, and we thanked God for His protection of her tribulation, such as was not since the beginning house and household, and of the other nearby of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” brethren and sisters. I feel so well blessed and (Mt. 24:21). Whether this is only for Israel, or in- sheltered within the Brotherhood, but I suspect cludes the believers too, I know not. But the need that we will not be unaffected by the world’s prob- to strengthen ourselves and keep our defences in lems in the run-up to the return of the Lord Jesus. good order is the same either way: “The night is In the 2011 riots, all police leave was cancelled, far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast and more police were brought in from other parts off the works of darkness, and let us put on the of the country to thicken the ‘thin blue line’ of armour of light” (Rom. 13:12); “. . . by the word authority. The courts worked through the night, of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of dealing with those arrested, but the prisons were righteousness on the right hand and on the left full. Representatives of the media attending those . . .” (2 Cor. 6:7); “Put on the whole armour of God, court sessions sent out a message of a chaotic that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of night yet with few likely to be punished. What the devil” (Eph. 6:11); “But let us, who are of the a message to broadcast to the miscreants and day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith their supporters! Even Parliament was recalled and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salva- from its summer recess for the situation to be tion” (1 Thess. 5:8). debated. Yet in all the fear and uncertainty I was Our God is still ruling in the kingdom of still moved by the spirit of ‘good people’ who men, and in control of the solution to the world’s spoke out about this assault on liberty and who problems. As the world has removed Him from were then found on the streets, cleaning up the their conscience, His authority has no power over mess and showing solidarity with the police and them at the present time. But I know that when those affected. the Lord Jesus returns all will be solved by him ‘Showing solidarity.’ According to George with righteous judgement. Bernard Shaw, we learn from history that we learn Maranatha, Amen. nothing from history—and perhaps Scripture has Margaret Bilton The Testimony, December 2012 480 Contents God’s delight As high as the heavens are over the earth, As far from the darkness as glorious light, So far the Creator of all things from us, And yet, we frail creatures can give Him delight.

God’s Word shows us what is expected of us, To walk with humility, each in His sight; We’re told, it’s His pleasure to do us all good, If after the spirit we seek to do right.

For those who deal truly are pleasing to Him; With favour He’ll bless those who follow His ways; For did not the Maker of heaven and earth Create man and woman to show forth His praise?

The good will of Yahweh, that dwelt in the bush, Accept us, and save us by His mighty hand; Do good unto Zion, and grant that, by grace, We’ll each find a place in His glorious Land.

“Such as are upright in their ways are his delight” (Prov. 11:20).

Liz Robinson

Books available from the Testimony As well as the books listed on the back cover, the following publications are available from the Testimony (all books postage extra): • People Jesus Knew. John Mitchell. £5.50. • The Patriarchal Family. John Mitchell. £4.50. • Simon Peter. John Mitchell. £5.50. • The Pilgrimage of Jesus—Part 2. John Mitchell. £7.50. • Paul: The Apostle by Grace. John Mitchell. £5.50. • One Man’s Pilgrimage—Under God’s Good Hand. John Mitchell. 88 pages. £4.50. Brother John Mitchell’s books are available from Brother Peter and Sister Norma Forbes (for contact details please see back cover.) • Humanism—The Subtle Delusion. Various. 130 pages. £3.80. • Romans in the Light of John’s Gospel. Geoff & Ray Walker. 224 pages. £3.80. • The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Geoff & Ray Walker. 242 pages. £2.00. The above three books are published by the Bible Student Press and are available from Sister (Mrs) Mary Benson, 26 Tiercel Avenue, Norwich, NR7 8JN, UK. Tel. 01603 412978; email [email protected] Overseas orders: Please send no money, but await invoice and payment instructions. Payment may be made in local currency to our overseas agents.

The Testimony, December 2012 Contents 481 The Testimony—Index of Titles Vol. 82 Nos. 968-978 2012

1 and 2 Timothy: sound doctrine. R. Morgan. 237. Ezekiel: the watchman of Israel. M. Davies. 291. 2 Peter and Jude: witnessing to an ungodly world. J. Owen. Ezra: agent for change. T. Miles. 418. 239. Hezekiah: the prayerful reformer. M. Padgett. 44. 2012 Special Issue. 136. Isaiah: the willing prophet. A. Weatherall. 123. Jeremiah: the suffering servant. J. Robson. 252. “Annus mirabilis.” J.D.T. & E.D.M. 11. Josiah: the purger. S. James. 81. Are our Gospels trustworthy? Bishop Charles Gore. 165. Nehemiah: faithful decision-making. J. Trelfer. 371. Arm of the Lord. G.H. 459. Progress report. S. Whitehouse & S. Hole. 452. False prophet (C). R. Walker & M. Benson; B. Burt; P. Becoming like the God we worship. M. Benson. 230. Ormiston. 350,429,475. “Be still, and know that I am God.” T. Maher. 85. Family ties stronger than welfare state. 288. Bible study software: theWord. B. Armour. 111. Final issue. T. Benson. 347. Bible Workshop: Revelation. E.D.M. & J.D.T. 3,48,89,127,256, Financial uncertainty. 424. 296,333,379,409,449. First ecclesia. H. A. Whittaker. 479. Books and Special Issue dispatches. 136. “Flood came, and took them all away.” S.M. 130. Books available from the Testimony. 321,382,481. Gibbon and Revelation. G.H. 22. Christ’s demeanour: living his own teaching. M. Lawrence. Godliness and education. M. & M. Whittaker. 186. 176. Godliness and Internet activity. S. Bilton. 199. Clippings. J.D.T.: Godliness and money, wealth, affluence and possessions. Europe. 348. S. Dean. 210. Religion and society. 473. Godliness and personal morality. N. White. 203. “Come out of her, My people” (C). S. Camplin; T. ­McCarthy. Godliness in family life. R. & S. Bramhill. 217. 392,475. Godliness in friendships and relationships. M. Baines. 229. Conversion of Theophilus. A. White. 32. Godliness in leisure and entertainment. S.M. 180. Cornish tin mines to thrive again? J.N. 282. Godliness in the workplace. N. Yuile. 224. Current philosophies and attitudes. C. Brook. 182. Godly living in an ungodly world—introduction. E.D.M. & J.D.T. 157. Danger of hypocrisy—appearing godly only externally. God of this world. S. Green. 178. P. Tovell. 219. God’s care and concern for the godly. J. Burke. 205. David—the man after God’s own heart. J. Mitchell. 2,38,78, God’s delight (P). E. Robinson. 481. 118,246,286,326,366,406,446. God’s purpose in Creation. R. Carr. 158. David’s sickness. H. A. Whittaker. 328. Goodbye—take care! J. O’Grady. 314. David’s sons (C). J.N. 295. Good hand of God (R). J.N. 441. Day Star. E.D.M. 401. “Great mystery.” C. C. Walker. 168. Doctrine of the Kingdom of heaven. T. Hughes. 171. Dominion over creation. D. Weatherall. 367. Harlot. E.D.M. 19. Hearkening to God. S. Blake. 249. Ecclesiastes: life without God. T. Morgan. 234. Helper for the Subscriptions Secretary. 34. Editorial. J.D.T.: Help with the daily readings. 462. Jubilee. 245. How Does Instinct Evolve? The question evolution cannot Matter of the heart. 325. answer. E.D.M. 114. Not in front of the Canaanites. 117. How the godly young perceive the world to be. B. ­Collard. Persevering with God’s Word. 405. 192. Time with God’s Word. 37. Humble yourselves. J. Mitchell. 457. Enigma of the healing of the man sick of the palsy. D. Noakes. 320. Ignorance of Christianity. 154. Eunuchs for the Kingdom of heaven—challenges for single Instinct deals a deadly blow to evolution (R). J.N. 54. believers. J.D.T. 174. Is Putin a latter-day Scythian? J.N. 151. European “monster.” J.D.T. 84. Jerusalem—a burdensome stone. G.H. 267. Faith and forgiveness. S. Thomas. 368. “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (R). R. Carr. 277. Faithful of old—studied by the young: Jewish suffering (C). E.D.M. 105. Daniel: a man greatly beloved. N. Evans. 329. Johannine Comma. D. Daniell. 355. Elijah: a man like us. R. Bettam. 4. Johannine Comma (C). 475.

The Testimony, December 2012 482 Contents John’s First Epistle. M. Allfree. 8,60,102,140,259,315,352,375. Mothballs. 362. Riot. 480. “King of the south shall push at him.” S.M. 57. Rowing together. 322. Voting. 115. Law and grace. H. Tennant. 317. Repentance. D. Brown. 112. Lebanon scenes. J.D.T. XVI, XVIII, XX, XXII. Revelation: to him that overcometh . . . J. Davies. 241. Lessons from faithful Gentiles for young people (R). “Revolution . . . that will burn Europe.” J.D.T. 53. J.N. 312. Levitical tax. R. Morgan. 313. Safe approach. Martin Luther. 139. Life from the dead. M. Benson. 440. “Save thyself and us.” P. Wasson. 289. Lord hath anointed me. W. F. Barling. 397. Scenes of Syria. J.D.T. II, IV, VI, VIII, XII, XIV. Science update: recent news from the world of science. Middle East tensions. S.M. 422. D.J.B. 25,263,463. Milestones 2011 (R). J.N. 98. Scripture: God’s view of things. J.N. 162. Mindset, vision and purpose. S. Guntrip. 196. Servant and sacrifice. N. Bernard. 169. More on the European beast. J.D.T. 101. Ships and shipping in Bible times. R. Rijkeboer. 454. “Mystery of godliness.” E.D.M. 166. Song of Zacharias. D.J.B. 318. Speaking to one another in music. J.D.T. 340. New books. 34. Special Issue article correction. 282. Not tolerating evil. J. S. Roberts. 226. Stones cry out: trends and discoveries in Bible archaeol- ogy. D.J.B. 94,425. Our goodly Christadelphian heritage (R). J.N. 398. Streams in the desert. S. Maher. 383. Summary and summaries (R). G.H. 149. Pamphlets for preaching (R). J.N. 361. Superstition and demons. R. Morgan. 66,87,146. “Perfectly joined together . . .” (R). J.N. 476. Swimming against the stream. J. Marshall. 222. Persecution and self-sacrifice. P. Forbes. 207. Perspective. D. Gillett. 236. Testimony Book Exchange. 36,75,323,363,403,443. Peter’s conversion. J. Mullen. 120. “These shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate.” Practical considerations of living in an ungodly world. J.D.T. 15. G.H. 188. Thief or lightning? N. Yuile. 92. Prayer from a cave. G.H. 413. Thief or lightning? (C). R. King. 266. Preparing for Pentecost. K. Camplin. 71. “Ticking time bomb” on marriage. J.D.T. 195 Pricing of books from the Testimony. E.D.M. 7. Training the mind in godly ways. B. Burt. 201. Principles of prophecy: Adorning of the harlot. M. Jenner. 137. Under the calabash tree. T. Maher. 134. King of the north and the king of the south. A. White. Understanding the Atonement (C). C. Davenport, M. Trowell 468. & Reg Carr. 428. Old Testament in Revelation. J. Davies. 386. Understanding the Seventy Weeks Prophecy. G. Palmer. Prophetic times periods. A. White. 431. 389,435. Purpose of prophecy. M. Jenner. 51. Urgency. H. A. Whittaker. 240. Scarlet beast: beast of the sea or beast of the earth? M. Jenner. 342. Vessels unto honour. D. Green. 41. Study of prophecy. M. Jenner. 269. “Times and the seasons” and “a thief in the night.” What’s in a name? D. H. Green. 152. M. Jenner. 99. “Wherefore slew he him?” H. A. Whittaker. 378. Unmasking the false prophet. A. White. 309. “Why are the people of one age more favoured than those Prisoners of the Lord. T. Maher. 63. of another, in hearing the gospel and being saved?” Promoting godliness in the ecclesial family. E. Carr. 214. J. Thomas. 242. Psalm 1: delight in the law of the Lord. S. Tomkins. 233. Why did Jesus perform miracles? P. Forbes. 300,338,395. Publishing Editor’s column. E.D.M. 1,77,285,365,445. World watchman. S.M. 302,345,466. Purpose of prophecy. T. Benson. 472. Words and ideas. G. Booker. 28. Putting God first. I. Collyer. 228. Zionism. R. Walker. 69,108,143,272,305,356. Race (P). C. Simons. 243. Reading, meditation and prayer. D.J.B. 212. Reflections. M. Bilton: Directions. 35. Dogs, smells and noses. 442. Notes: Fairy tales. 155. (C) = Correspondence (R) = Review (P) = Poem. Jewish Bible. 402. Definite and indefinite articles have been dropped Liberty. 283. to facilitate alphabetisation. 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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 Eric Marshall, The Pines, Ling Common Road, Castle Rising, King’s Lynn, PE31 6AE, UK • Printed by Reflex Litho Ltd., Thetford, Norfolk. Registered Charity No. 225908. The Testimony, December 2012 484 Contents a Lebanon scenes 4. Sidon (2): The Sea Castle Picture: Jeremy Thomas

An alliance between Israel and Sidon perhaps allowing his physical needs to be taken care of even more disastrous than Solomon’s (mentioned (27:3), the final incident in the exceptionally long last month) was the infamous marriage contracted story of the city in Scripture. by King Ahab. This was a crowning disgrace to Ahab’s reign, when, “as if it had been a light thing Phoenicians from Sidon colonised Tyre, leading to for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Isaiah’s description of the latter city as “daughter Nebat . . . he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Zidon” (23:12). Like Tyre and a number of other of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians” (1 Kgs. 16:31). cities which prospered during Phoenician times, At this time Sidon had jurisdiction over the Sidon was situated on a coastal promontory nearby town of Zarephath (17:9), and that faced an offshore island. Here it was here—in the very heart of was located a temple to the god Jezebel’s home territory—that Melqart. Centuries later this Elijah was fed by a Gentile spot was chosen for the build- widow. ing of a Crusader castle, connected to the mainland The Lord Jesus was no by a short causeway—this is stranger to the area around the castle in our photograph. Sidon (Mt. 15:21), where Its remains today are fairly he healed the Canaanite scant, but it is still a pictur- woman’s daughter. Many others esque spot. from Tyre travelled to Galilee (Mk. 3:7-10) to be cured by him. Tyre and Sidon was famed for the production Sidon, although Gentile areas, were reliant on of high quality glass (praised by Homer) and Judea in New Testament times: “their country the expensive purple dye manufactured from depended on [King Herod Agrippa’s] country for the murex mollusc (inset). Up to 10,000 of these food” (Acts 12:20, ESV). Citizens of Sidon were creatures were required to produce a single among the sycophants who claimed that Herod’s gramme of dye. ‘Murex Hill,’ a man-made hill one oration in the theatre at Caesarea was divine, an hundred metres high and fifty metres long, made ascription of praise arrogantly accepted by Herod up of millions upon millions of ancient murex but one for which he paid with his life a few days shells, can be seen in the old town of Sidon.— later. Paul landed at Sidon on his journey to Rome, Jeremy Thomas

Contents XXII TESTIMONY BOOKS

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