© 1945. REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING ASSN. HARRY ANDERSON. ARTIST THE GUEST DIVINE "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him." Revelation 3:20. BIBLE READINGS FOR THE HOME © 1949. REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING ASSN. VERNON NYE. ARTIST STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me." John 5:39. BIBLE READINGS FOR THE HOME A Study of 200 Vital Scripture Topics in Question-and-Answer Form Contributed by a Large Number of Bible Scholars Completely Revised and Newly Illustrated Sixteen Full Pages in Color SOUTHERN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION Nashville, Tennessee 1949 COPYRIGHTED MCMXIV, MCMXXXV, MCMXLII, AND MCMXLIX BY REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHTED IN LONDON, ENGLAND ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ))) >>3 ))) >>) )))•)>) PRINTED IN U.S.A. »»»4))4))»)»)4))4))4))4)) Table of Contents PAGE THE BIBLE, ITS ORIGIN, HISTORY, AND PLACE IN THE WORLD 13 THE VALUE OF BIBLE STUDY 19 PART I—The Bible; How to Study and Understand It THE SACRED SCRIPTURES — 25 How TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE 28 POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD 33 THE LIFE-GIVING WORD 36 CHRIST IN ALL THE BIBLE 39 PART II—Sin; Its Origin, Results, and Remedy CREATION AND THE CREATOR 45 THE ORIGIN OF EVIL • 49 THE FALL AND REDEMPTION OF MAN 51 CREATION AND REDEMPTION 55 THE CHARACTER AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD 60 THE LOVE OF GOD 62 THE DEITY OF CHRIST 65 PROPHECIES RELATING TO CHRIST 68 CHRIST THE WAY OF LIFE 72 SALVATION ONLY THROUGH CHRIST 75 PART Ill—The Way to Christ VICTORIOUS FAITH 79 HOPE IN GOD 82 REPENTANCE 85 CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS 88 CONVERSION, OR THE NEW BIRTH 93 CHRISTIAN BAPTISM 97 RECONCILED TO GOD 101 ACCEPTANCE WITH GOD 103 JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH 106 RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LIFE 111 CONSECRATION 113 5 6 BIBLE READINGS BIBLE ELECTION 116 BIBLE SANCTIFICATION 119 IMPORTANCE OF SOUND DOCTRINE 123 PRESENT TRUTH 127 THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH 132 PART IV—Life, Parables, and Miracles of Christ BIRTH, CHILDHOOD, AND EARLY LIFE OF CHRIST 139 A SINLESS LIFE 143 OUR PATTERN 145 OUR HELPER AND FRIEND 147 CHRIST'S MINISTRY 149' CHRIST THE GREAT TEACHER 152 PARABLES OF CHRIST 155 MIRACLES OF CHRIST 159 SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST 165 THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST 170 PART V—The Holy Spirit THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS WORK 175 FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT 178 GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT 181 THE GIFT OF PROPHECY 183 THE OUTPOURING OF THE SPIRIT 189 PART VI—The Sure Word of Prophecy PROPHECY, WHY GIVEN 195 NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM 199 , THE KINGDOMS OF GRACE AND GLORY 204 FOUR GREAT MONARCHIES 209 THE KINGDOM AND WORK OF ANTICHRIST 214 THE PROPHETIC SYMBOLS OF DANIEL 8 221 THE HOUR OF GOD'S JUDGMENT 228 THE ATONEMENT IN TYPE AND ANTITYPE 235 THE JUDGMENT 241 THE JUDGMENT-HOUR MESSAGE 245 THE FALL OF MODERN BABYLON 249 THE CLOSING GOSPEL MESSAGE 255 SATAN'S WARFARE AGAINST THE CHURCH 260 A GREAT PERSECUTING POWER 265 MAKING AN IMAGE TO THE BEAST 269 THE SEVEN CHURCHES 277 CONTENTS 7 THE SEVEN SEALS 281 THE SEVEN TRUMPETS 287 THE EASTERN QUESTION 294 THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES 299 THE MYSTERY OF GOD FINISHED 304 PART VII—Coming Events and Signs of the Times OUR LORD'S GREAT PROPHECY 307 INCREASE OF KNOWLEDGE 315 CONFLICT BETWEEN CAPITAL AND LABOR 319 THE ATOMIC AGE-WHAT NEXT? 321 THE WORLD'S CONVERSION 327 CHRIST'S SECOND COMING 332 MANNER OF CHRIST'S COMING 338 OBJECT OF CHRIST'S COMING 340 THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST 343 THE GATHERING OF ISRAEL 346 THE MILLENNIUM 349 THE DAY OF THE LORD 354 ELI JAH THE PROPHET 356 PART VIII—The Law of God THE LAW OF GOD 361 THE PERPETUITY OF THE LAW 367 WHY WAS THE LAW GIVEN AT SINAI? 371 PENALTY FOR TRANSGRESSION 375 THE LAW OF GOD IN THE PATRIARCHAL AGE 378 THE LAW OF GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 381 THE MORAL AND CEREMONIAL LAWS 385 THE Two COVENANTS 390 WHAT WAS ABOLISHED BY CHRIST? 397 THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL 401 PART IX—The Sabbath INSTITUTION OF THE SABBATH 407 GOD'S MEMORIAL 411 REASONS FOR SABBATHKEEPING 414 MANNER OF OBSERVING THE SABBATH 419 CHRIST AND THE SABBATH 423 THE SABBATH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 428 THE CHANGE OF THE SABBATH 431 THE SEAL OF GOD AND THE MARK OF APOSTASY 441 8 BIBLE READINGS THE LORD'S DAY 445 WALKING As HE WALKED 447 THE SABBATH IN HISTORY 450 SABBATH REFORM 457 PART X—Christian Liberty THE AUTHOR OF LIBERTY 465 THE POWERS THAT BE 469 INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY 474 UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE 476 SABBATH LEGISLATION 481 WHO PERSECUTE AND WHY 484 PART XI—Life Only in Christ ORIGIN, HISTORY, AND DESTINY OF SATAN 491 WHAT IS MAN? 496 LIFE ONLY IN CHRIST 502 THE INTERMEDIATE STATE 503 THE Two RESURRECTIONS 506 FATE OF THE TRANSGRESSOR 510 THE MINISTRATION OF GOOD ANGELS 514 THE DARK MINISTRIES OF EVIL ANGELS 520 SPIRITUALISM 523 PART XII—Christian Growth and Experience GROWTH IN GRACE 531 THE CHRISTIAN ARMOR 533 WALKING IN THE LIGHT 536 SAVING FAITH 539 TRIALS AND THEIR OBJECT 542 OVERCOMING 545 THE MINISTRY OF SORROW 547 COMFORT IN AFFLICTION 549 TRUSTING IN JESUS ___________ 554 PATIENT ENDURANCE 556 CONTENTMENT 558 CHEERFULNESS 561 CHRISTIAN COURTESY 564 CONFESSING FAULTS AND FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER 565 THE DUTY OF ENCOURAGEMENT 569 UNITY OF BELIEVERS _______________________________________ _ 571 MEEKNESS AND HUMILITY 574 CONTENTS 9 SOBRIETY AND DIGNITY 577 TRUE WISDOM 579 DILIGENCE IN LABOR 583 PERFECTION OF CHARACTER 585 SOWING AND REAPING 587 PART XIII—Prayer and Public Worship IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER 591 MEDITATION AND PRAYER 595 WATCHING UNTO PRAYER 597 ANSWERS TO PRAYER 599 PUBLIC WORSHIP 602 REVERENCE FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD 605 CHRISTIAN COMMUNION 609 PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING 611 THE VALUE OF SONG 613 PART XIV—Christian Service THE GIFT OF GIVING 617 THE SHEPHERD AND HIS WORK 619 PREACHING THE GOSPEL 623 MISSIONARY WORK 626 THE POOR, AND OUR DUTY TOWARD THEM 629 CHRISTIAN HELP WORK 631 VISITING THE SICK 634 HEALING THE SICK 635 PRISON WORK 639 ORDER AND ORGANIZATION 641 SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY 644 FREEWILL OFFERINGS 647 WHO IS THE GREATEST? 650 PART XV—Admonitions and Warnings SINFUL PRIDE 655 SELFISHNESS 656 COVETOUSNESS 657 DANGER OF DEBT 662 RESPECT OF PERSONS 665 BACKSLIDING 668 UNBELIEF AND DOUBT 671 JUDGING AND CRITICIZING 674 GOSSIPING AND BACKBITING 677 10 BIBLE READINGS HYPOCRISY AND DISSIMULATION 681 THE JUST RECOMPENSE 683 PART XVI—The Home THE MARRIAGE INSTITUTION 687 A HAPPY HOME, AND How TO MAKE IT 691 RELIGION IN THE HOME 695 HONOR DUE TO PARENTS 699 CHILD TRAINING 702 PROMISES FOR THE CHILDREN 705 TEACHING THE CHILDREN 707 THE MOTHER 711 EVILS OF CITY LIFE 713 PURITY OF HEART 716 PART XVII—Health and Temperance GOOD HEALTH 721 CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE 723 EVILS OF INTEMPERANCE 727 SACRED ADMONITIONS 732 TRUE TEMPERANCE REFORM 733 PART XVIII—The KingdoM Restored THE KINGDOM OF GLORY 737 THE SAINTS' INHERITANCE 738 PROMISES TO THE OVERCOMER 740 THE SUBJECTS OF THE KINGDOM 742 ETERNAL LIFE 746 THE HOME OF THE SAVED 749 THE NEW JERUSALEM 753 THE CONFLICT ENDED 757 THE GAME OF LIFE 761 INDEX 762 List of Illustrations The Guest Divine (In color) Frontispiece Studying the Word of God 2 God's Unchanging Word 14 The Holy Book 24 Jesus at the Home of Martha and Mary 32 Our Blessed Redeemer 44 Man's First Home (In color) Facing page 49 Christ Bruises the Serpent's Head 56 The Crucifixion (In color) Facing page 65 Abraham Called of God 78 Return of the Prodigal Son 86 Nicodemus Learns a Vital Lesson 92 Baptism of Christ 96 The Friend of Sinners (In color) Facing page 113 Searching the Scriptures 122 Samuel Reproves Saul 134 The Visit of the Shepherds 138 Christ Teaching the Multitude 156 Jesus Stills the Tempest (In color) Facing page 161 On the Way to Calvary 164 The Holy Spirit Bestowed at Pentecost 174 Paul, a Prophet of the New Testament 184 Prophecy Lifts the Curtain 194 Daniel, the Prophetic Interpreter 198 The Four Beasts of Daniel 7 208 The Vision of Daniel 8 220 2300 Days ( Diagram) 232 The Last Judgment (In color) Facing page 241 Heaven's Last Appeal 246 Time Running Out 256 A Refuge in the Wilderness 262 The Declaration of Independence 268 Mohammedan Horsemen 286 The Falling Stars of November 13, 1833 306 Symbols of Our Modern Times 314 Capital and Labor in Conflict 318 A Startled World (In color) Facing page 321 - Christ Answering His Disciples' Questions 334 The Millennium (Diagram) 350 The Second Coming of Christ (In color) Facing page 353 11 12 BIBLE READINGS God Writes His Law ____________________________________________________________________ 360 Judgment Is Sure 376 The Moral Law Stands Forever 384 The Ceremonial Law Ended at the Cross 384 Sabbath Morning 406 Gathering the Manna 418 Healing the Blind Man on the Sabbath 424 Christ and the Law 434 Christ and the Tribute Money 464 Constantine Issues the First Sunday Law 480 The Pride of Lucifer 490 Open Grave at Hanover, Germany (In color) Facing page 513 The Guardian Angel 516 Christ or Diana? 530 The Precious Word (In color) Facing page 545 Christ the Consoler 552 A Happy Family 560 Be Not Dismayed 568 Diligence Is the Enemy of Poverty 582 In the House of Prayer and Praise 590 Never Man Prayed as He Prayed (In color) Facing page 593 The Lord's Supper 608 The Good Samaritan 616 The Good Shepherd 620 Called to Service (In color) Facing page 625 The Great Physician 636 The Widow's Two Mites 648 The Chase of Fortune 654 "Come Unto Me" 666 The Divine Counselor (In color) Facing page 673 Mark Your Words 678 Marriage Is Honorable 686 The Home Circle 692 Jesus and His Mother 698 Christ Blessing Little Children (In color) Facing page 705 The First Teacher 710 In the Out-of-Doors 720 Death on the Highway 726 Paradise Lost to Paradise Restored (In color) Facing page 737 "A Little Child Shall Lead Them" 748 Peace Forevermore (In color) Facing page 753 Home at Last 756 The Game of Life 760 The Bible, Its Origin, History, and Place in the World -0)-M >>) >>)-->>) THE Bible contains proof in itself of its divine origin.