2009 – Volume 20
Principles of Biblical Quotations
"Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21). From time to time we note what appear to be inaccuracies when New Testament writers quote from the Old Testament. Sometimes words are left out, added, or changed. Many times what we have learned in the Harvest Message applies to the second advent, is applied to the first [...]
Two Trees
"Who in his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24). In studying the teachings of the Old Testament, we learn from them, sometimes by way of contrast, and sometimes by way of comparison. A striking illustration of this fact is found in Genesis 2:9, "And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every [...]
Joshua’s Request
"Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon" (Joshua 10:12). Abstract. Much has been written through the centuries about these scriptures found in Joshua 10:12-14. Some of the explanations of Joshua's request defy the very laws of the universe established by God. God uses His universal laws to accomplish things but does not go against these laws. With [...]
Psalm 46, A Song Upon Alamoth
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea" (Psalm 46:1). The situation was dire. The Armies of mighty Sennacherib, king of Assyria stood outside the very gates of Jerusalem. Recognizing the high cost of a direct assault on [...]
Memorial Observances
"For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7). Eight "Questions" about the observance of Memorial were treated in earlier articles, February 1996 and August 2008. Here follows a Ninth Question in this series. Question Nine - How do the Temple Festivals relate to the Passover-Memorial service? The cycle of Temple festivals provided much of the same joyful anticipation for the [...]
Double Numbers
"Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men?" (Luke 13:4) EIGHTEEN IN SCRIPTURE One way to emphasize a point is by repetition. In Scripture, there are some conspicuous cases of the repetition of numbers that seem to indicate there is a spiritual point in them. One example occurs in Luke [...]
Rooted in Deep Waters
"In the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert" (Isaiah 35:6). In the biblical narrative, the word yuval (Strong 2988) which appears three times in the Bible seems to have lost its original nuance and it is recognized as meaning a stream of some kind.1 In modern Hebrew, it refers to a perennial stream, and so it has generally been understood [...]
Samuel the Levite
"Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-Zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite" (1 Samuel 1:1). This scripture requires some explanation because it might seem to indicate that Samuel was not a Levite, since he is called an Ephrathite. The following explanation is [...]
Memorial Dates
"For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7). What has been the historical record of Bible Student reckoning of the Memorial and what are some future dates? BIBLE STUDENTS RECKONING 1880-1920 The Christian Memorial is celebrated after sunset on Nisan 14. The Gregorian (European-American) calendar day corresponds to the Jewish Nisan 13 (which ends at sunset). The Gregorian dates for [...]
Tyre and Sidon, Unrestrained Capitalism
"Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot" (Isaiah 23:15). Isaiah speaks of a period not quite two centuries future to his own day when the harlot song of Tyre would follow a period of seventy years when it would be forgotten. While in their own tongue [...]
Tyre and Sidon, Unrestrained Capitalism (Continued from previous issue)
PROTESTANT WORK ETHIC But today, why is there such a difference between Western Christendom looking to Rome and Eastern Christendom looking to Constantinople? There are a multitude of reasons to be sure. But what opened the door to commerce in Western Christendom was the challenge for Papacy that came with the unbridled neopaganism of the Renaissance and then the counterbalancing nearly fatal crisis of [...]
Between the Shoulders
"Jehovah ... shall dwell between [Benjamin's] shoulders" (Deuteronomy 33:12). In the blessings given by Moses to the twelve tribes of Israel, a direction is given to Benjamin that is not immediately clear. In Deuteronomy 33:12, Moses tells us where Jehovah will dwell. "And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him [...]
Lunar and Solar Calendar
"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years" (Genesis 1:14). As is well known, 12 lunar months aggregate to somewhat shy of a solar year, 354 days as compared to 365 days. How did the Jews adjust the [...]
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
"And after he had spent some time there [Antioch], he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples" (Acts 18:23). The account of Paul's third missionary journey begins with this text, somewhat inauspiciously in mid-chapter. Galatia and Phrygia would be major parts of Turkey as one travelled westward from Antioch. The account continues to the [...]
A Passover Experience
"Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword ... he proceeded further to take Peter also. Then were the days of unleavened bread" (Acts 12:1-3). Herod (Agrippa I, grandson of the Herod who sought the life of the baby Jesus) had espoused the religion prevalent in his kingdom, [...]