#CBTB505

Author: J. Llewellyn Thomas

A study outline of the four invasions of Israel by the Assyrians, followed by the three groups of aliens resettled in the land of Samaria.

The Scriptural record of the invasions is examined together with the testimony of the monuments containing inscriptions of the deportations of Israel by the Assyrian kings. These cuneiform inscriptions may be seen in the British Museum, and they only confirm the Scriptures and in no way contradict them.

Special attention is given to Hosea's and Isaiah's prophecies telling of the captivity of Israel. The author has this to say on pages 12 and 13:

HOSEA'S PROPHECIES

(a) The First was uttered on the birth of his first born son Jezreel:
"And the Lord said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel" (Hos. 1: 4).
(b) The Second uttered on the birth of his only daughter Lo-Ruhamah:
"And God said unto him, Call her name Lo-Ruhamah; for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away" (Hos. 1: 6).
The First speaks of the Fall of the Kingdom.
The Second speaks of the Deportation of the Nation.

No fixable dates are given for these events. It is evident that the two events were not to be synchronous; the nation is not to be carried utterly away at the time of the fall of the kingdom.

ISAIAH'S PROPHECY

This was spoken when Pekah king of Israel with Rezin king of Syria
contemplated attacking Ahaz king of Judah.
"Within three score and five years shall Ephraim be broken that it be not a people" (Isa. vii: 8).
Here, fortunately, we are able to fix approximate dates, for these words were uttered just before 741 B.C. And we are told that within sixty-five years Israel would be broken so that it would be no longer "a People", obviously a People in Palestine.

It says nothing about the cessation of the Kingdom in the land, but only the cessation of the Nation there.

Hosea's Lo-Ruhamah prophecy and Isaiah's Three Score and Five Years prophecy describe the same event; they are synchronous and refer to a complete transportation of the entire nation from Palestine.

Sixty-five years from 741 would be about 676 B.C., a crucial date in the history of Israel and one to be borne in mind.

Mr. Thomas gives much detailed and Scriptural information to prove his theory of the four deportations, even going so far as to give an outline of the substance of the contrarian view to the deportations by the principal dissenters of that contraire view, showing where they missed the mark in their analysis.

An excellent study for the individual or within a study group.

Reprint of 1929 edition.

Stapleback
48 pages

#CBTB508

Author: Adam Rutherford

The author believes that Iceland is strongly represented by the descendants of the Tribe of Benjamin and presents what he believes to be the Scriptural parallels between the two. His basic scripture passage for his theory is:

"They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea. Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea. From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous." (Isaiah 24: 14-16. English Bible)

Mr. Rutherford stipulates that three particulars are given concerning this place from which songs and thanksgiving are to be heard in the midst of a troubled world:

1. The place is insular, for the sons of praise are stated to rise"from the sea", "from the isles of the sea". The Old Testament of course was written in Hebrew, but the Hebrew word for"sea" and for "west" is the same, namely "yom". As there are no islands of any consequence that are not in the sea, the proper translation is , "isles of the west". The only important islands in the west are the British Isles and Iceland, but the following considerations show that one of these islands in particular is referred to in the first place, and ultimately incite the inhabitants of the other isles to sing also.
2. These insular people are described in prophecy as living amidst fires. In our world the only fires of nature that we know of are volcanoes, and Iceland is the only one of these islands that have active volcanoes. Not only so, but in proportion to its size, Iceland contains more volcanoes than any other country in the world. In modern times, the tremendous outpourings of white-hot lava in Iceland are unexampled anywhere else in the world. As comparatively recently as 1783 the great Laki Craters threw out a lava stream about 45 miles in length and 15 miles in breadth. Stefan Stefansson in his book on "Iceland" says that this is "by far the greatest on record" and "unparalleled on the earth in historic times." So far as is known this is the biggest fire the world has ever seen since man was upon the earth. The whole country of Iceland was formed by fire; it owes its existence entirely to volcanic action, and the many geysers and hot springs to be found all over the island are connected with the volcanic fires below. Iceland is known to Europeans as "The Land of Fire". Truly the Icelandic nation has lived amidst fires!
3. The prophecy locates this insular country as being in "the uttermost part of the earth" or as the ancients said, the "ultima thule". The expression was at one time applied in a general way to the far north, but later became localised to Iceland. Sir Richard Burton has written a work of two large volumes entitled Ultima Thule: this work is a description of Iceland, which this author calls "The Canaan of the North". Iceland is certainly at "the uttermost part of the earth," for beyond it there is nothing but the ice-bound Polar Sea. The north coast of Iceland touches the Arctic Circle.

#CBTB509

Author: Ansley F. Rash

The 12 books of the Minor Prophets contain an outline of the Divine Plan for our nation and reveal the end from the beginning.

FROM THE INTRODUCTION

The Old Testament writings generally referred to as the Minor Prophets are apt to be neglected by students of Scripture. This is a pity, because each one of the twelve books has a stirring message for our day and generation, and amply repays careful and prayerful study. Incidentally, it might be well to point out that the minor prophets are so called because their books are shorter than those of the Major Prophets and not because they are of lesser importance.

The significance of prophecy needs re-emphasis in these days of confusion and chaos. It contains an outline of the Divine plan and purpose for our nation and the world in general; it reveals the end from the beginning, increases faith, and gives much-needed courage and confidence for the future. Prophecy fulfilled in history clearly indicates that God in heaven and not blind chance over-rules the destiny of mankind.

In studying the prophetic writings of the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New, certain vital points should be borne in mind.

1. There is almost always a first and then a final fulfillment of each prophecy. It is essential, therefore, to know something of the historical background of the message given.
2. In the vast majority of cases, the prophet first sketches the outline of events and then fills in the details. Hence, in order to understand the prophecy, it is necessary to fit the latter into the pattern provided by the former.
3. Many prophecies are capable of a literal and also a spiritual interpretation, and so when studying it is necessary to discover this by a careful consideration of the context. If there is any doubt it is always wiser to accept the literal rendering.
4. In considering the future, it is well to remember all those prophecies that have already been fulfilled, because the past is often the explanation of the present and the key to the future.

#CBTB511

Author: Duncan McDougall

The author disagrees with those waiting for "The Rapture" to happen and by combining the historical record of its beginning and growth with a proper understanding of the Scriptures shows where they are mistaken.

Reverend McDougall, of Scotland, gives the Jesuit  origin of the false "rapture" doctrine. He covers a great deal of ground within a small number of pages as he enlightens the reader with documented support explaining the origin and purpose behind the invention of the "secret rapture" theory. He shows how the general acceptance of this false theory has had a negative effect on Christianity, and consequently, society in general.

The author adds to the value of his narrative by giving a synopsis of important past events such as The Oxford Movement, The Brethern Movement, The Tractarian Movement, and the principal characters of each, and how those movements accepted and embraced the rapture theory.

The primary focus of this work, however, is on the individual who invented the rapture theory, his reason for doing so and those who have continued to promote this error for more than two hundred years. The Rapture of the Saints is a very strong and convincing presentation for the other side of the rapture story.

The original manuscript has been revised slightly and annotated by Reverend Curtis Clair Ewing and Eric C. Peters and presented here for the readers enlightenment.

#CBTB401

Author: G. R. Hawtin

Is there coming a time of universal restoration and reconciliation in which all things will be restored? The author believes there will come such a time and shows just how he believes this will be done in the future. The author takes issue with those who teach and preach about a place called "hell" where those who reject Christ will spend eternity in abject misery and torment, forever suffering the terrible agony of a fire that will not, and cannot, be quenched.

The author takes issue with those who teach and preach about a place called "hell" where those who reject Christ will spend eternity in abject misery and torment, forever suffering the terrible agony of a fire that will not, and cannot, be quenched.

Pastor Hawtin believes that the Scriptures really teach that there is coming a time of universal restoration and reconciliation in which all things will be restored, whether they be things in heaven, things in earth or things under the earth?

He points out how certain words have been misunderstood where "a few inconsistencies in translation crept in". He explains:

Many Christians fail to realize that no translation of the holy scripture is inspired. Only the original writings by the apostles and the prophets were inspired. Since, then, the original writing was done in Hebrew for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament, all translating into the multitudes of other languages has had to be done by learned scholars of Greek and Hebrew, and these for the most part have done a masterful work."

#CBTB512

Author: William Pascoe Goard

An outline of the plan and teaching of the Book of Revelation, often called one of the most difficult to understand books in the Bible.

Believing in the unity of Revelation as recorded in the Bible, the author regards the Apocalypse as the proper continuation of the Gospel narratives concerning our Lord, and offers a suggestive title to the same, namely, "The Fifth Gospel." That there is some claim to such a title for this book is clear from the unfinished character of the four Gospels.

The prophecies of the Old Testament and the Gospels themselves recognize Jesus Christ as Prophet, Priest and King. Whatever we may consider the Gospels of the prophetic and priestly ministry of Christ, they do not tell us anything of His exalted ministry as King. Mr. Goard recognizes that the Apocalypse reveals the kingly ministry of Jesus, and while other writers have suggested the same, it has been his unique work in carrying out in a general and most suggestive outline this central idea in his interpretation of this book.

The author, wisely, doesn't try to give an explanation to every detail because of insufficient evidence to substantiate a reliable interpretation in some cases. However, the uniqueness of his point of view, and honesty in that which he does explain, has produced a work that is regarded as a most valuable contribution to Biblical exposition in a field, if not neglected in the past, then sensationalized by faulty interpretations.