1992 – Volume 3
Bones and Bodies
Ezekiel 39:11-16 is an account (apparently symbolic) of the burying of the bodies of the remnants of Gog's invasion of Israel. This article's purpose is to suggest a possible interpretation of the symbolisms of bodies, graves, passengers, Hamon-gog, Gog, and the seven months. Concerning the symbolic use of bodies and their parts, we suggest that Ezekiel 37:1-14 will aid in understanding Ezekiel 39. In [...]
Principles of God’s Law
The laws of God are not arbitrary. Neither are they each to handle one situation of life, but rather to encompass the underlying principles behind a multitude of ethical situations. To illustrate this concept, we will examine the underlying code of God's legal structure, the “Ten Commandments:' found in Exodus 20. Each of these laws, which God etched on “tables of stone,” outlines a [...]
Wasted Years
An ancient story with a modern application “And the ill-favoured and lean-fleshed king did eat up the seven well-favored and fat king ... and the thin ears swallowed up the seven rank and full ears." - Gen. 41:4-7 Away back there, when the world was young, a mighty Pharaoh of Egypt had a dream, so much out of the ordinary that his wise men [...]
When the Sun Stood Still
It was shortly after the entry into the Promised Land that Joshua's army, battling to secure possession of their new home, marched all night from Gilgal to Gibeon, an uphill journey of sixteen miles, involving a climb of several thousand feet into the mountains, to intercept and do battle with the Canaanites and Amorites. Upon their arrival, at probably about five in the morning, [...]
Signs of Christ’s Presence
It happens that some brothers and sisters wonder whether the Lord has really returned. More than one hundred years have elapsed since the Lord came again and the Church is not yet completely glorified. Some children of God wonder even whether the six thousand years, symbolizing the night of sin, have passed and whether we are at the dawn of the seventh day of [...]
Seventy Times Seven
It is commonly accepted that Matthew 18:21-22 is Peter's question about a reasonable limit of mercy. “How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?” Jesus' answer is essentially interpreted that forgiveness should be granted as often as it is sought with any manifestation whatsoever of sincerity. R3801. The lesson is that we are not to limit our [...]
Holiest- Hebrews 10:19-20
An answer to two questions In Verse 19, Is the term "Holiest" reference to the Holy or Most Holy? (Translators seem to differ) The answer seems consistent whether answered by an examination of CTR's writings or by an examination of the Apostle's usage of the Greek word forms. In this verse "Holiest" (meaning Most Holy) appears to be the best translation even though translators [...]
Passover – The Time Features
To understand Moses' statements regarding the time of the Passover, we must keep in mind the custom of time reckoning then in use: (A) The day began at sunset. (B) The day was divided into two parts, night and day; Gen. 1:5: “God called the light day, and the darkness he called night.” (C) Thus, the term “day” has two uses in connection with [...]
From a Reader
One point in your comment [“From a Reader,” May, 1991] on Lev. 9:5, you understood “they” to mean the elders. I must question this, in Lev. 9:1 we find Moses calling Aaron and his sons and the elders. I understand “they” to mean Aaron and his sons, the elders if they were not priests or Levites could not handle any of the items of [...]
The Sundial of Ahaz
“Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone dow in the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.”-Isa. 38:8 This is another of those Old Testament incidents which seem to set at defiance the known laws of Nature and hence receive more than the usual meed of [...]
From a Reader
First, please allow me to thank you for sending me "Beauties of the Truth." I enjoy every issue, and look forward to its arrival. I would like to comment on the May 1992 issue, which arrived a few days ago. In particular, I would like to make an observation on the article "Seventy Times Seven.” The third paragraph begins with the words, "The only [...]
Table of Nations (Continued)
In the previous issue, we traced the descendents of Japheth, Ham, and Shem. We complete our article with the following supplementary information, and charts. HOW JOSEPHUS COMPARES The differences in the identification of nations between Josephus, The Antiquities of the Jews I, vi, and this summary (last issue) can be seen in the attached table and may be commented on as follows: The association [...]
The Transfiguration
In Luke 9:27 Jesus said something remarkable: “But I tell you of a truth there be some standing here which shall not taste of death till they see the kingdom of God” Although the account doesn't state it directly, it appears this was fulfilled about a week later when Peter, James, and John saw a remarkable vision. That vision was described by Matthew, Mark, [...]
The Books of Life
The NIV version of the Bible has many passages that are worded differently from the K.J., and usually they are easier to understand. But since the translators did not understand the Plan of God as we see it, it is not surprising that some of these changes bring out a thought that is not in harmony with that Plan. We call attention to Rev. [...]
A Little Horn
The twelfth chapter of Daniel presents three significant time periods. These are the 1260,1290 and 1335 days. They appear to all have the same starting point but different terminal points. The 1260 days are referred to in a number of forms in Scripture including 1 Kings 17:1; Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 11:2 -3; 12:6, 14; 13:5. The foundation of interpretation for the "days" of [...]
Burnt?
Some question has arisen concerning Leviticus 9:24. What offering is it which was here consumed? Was it (1) the daily evening offering, or (2) the remains of the sacrifices earlier in Lev. 9, or (3) one of the animals of verse 2? The answer may be hidden in the three Hebrew words translated “burnt.” A full study of these words in their various uses [...]
Common Days
One of the chief dangers of life is trusting occasions. We think that conspicuous events, striking experiences, exalted moments have most to do with our character and capacity. We are wrong. Common days, monotonous hours, wearisome paths, plain old tools, and everyday clothes tell the real story. Good habits are not made on birthdays, nor Christian character at the new year. The vision may [...]
The Table of Nations
After the Flood, exploration of the land must have been priority. Within two or three generations, Nimrod's rebellion exhibited continental awareness, "Come, let us build a city ... lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth" (Gen 11:4. Cf. Gen 9:1 for God's command). When peoples began fighting over the land, it appears portions of the earth were allotted to [...]
The Exodus – Part II
A continuation of “An Introduction to the Exodus. A Picture of the Plan of the Ages,” appearing in the previous issue. THE PASSOVER The passover lamb is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 5:7). The Passover has been the subject of many good studies and summaries (e.g., Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 6, Study XI, “The Passover of the New Creation”), [...]