K IN G 'S BUSINESS PROPHECY SECT ION Edited by Dr. Charier L. Feinberg, Director, Talbot Theological Sominary
by Dr. Gerald B. Stanton O n e o f t h e things which makes the Bible distinct from any other book is the fact that it contains prophecy. The Bible speaks to us of things to come and does it with a certainty and with an assurance that divine revelation alone can bring. In Isaiah 46 at verse 11, we read this testimony from the Lord Himself: “Yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” This passage tells us that God has a plan, and as we search through the rest of the Bible, we find out that what God has planned, He has been pleased to re veal. Is it not also obvious that that which He has revealed, He also means to be understood? We read from John 16, at verse 13: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, lie will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he w ill show you things to come.” This passage speaks of the blessed Holy Spirit who is the Author of divine truth, telling us so clearly not only will He testify of Christ and
guide us into the truth of God, but He will also show us things to come. From this we may safely conclude that God would have us to understand prophecy. There is a very basic unity among fundamentalists on the theme of prophecy. We are agreed on the fact of the resurrection. We are agreed on the Bema seat judgment for the Chris tian and upon the Great White Throne for the unsaved. We have a basic agreement on the subjects of heaven and hell, and also upon the fact of the second coming of Jesus Christ from heaven. However, there is one prophetic theme which is troubling Christians across this land and that is the relationship of the rapture to the Great Tribulation. W ill the church of Jesus Christ, will the truly bom-again ones, enter into that time of sorrow and trouble? Over this particular issue churches have split their ranks, seminaries have been divided, and at least one Bible Con ference has closed its doors. Mission boards too are troubled over this theme, and Christians everywhere are
sounding their perplexity over it. We do not have time here to con sider the reasons for the present in terest in the subject of the rapture of the saints, save to mention just one, that there is today a great deal of world unrest. We read in the book of Revelation that there is a time com ing when a fourth part of men shall be destroyed off the face of the earth. We read about the mountains being cast into the sea. Nowadays, with transcontinental m i s s i l e s carrying nuclear warheads, this is no longer strange language. We see that these things could come upon us very quickly. And so it is, Christians today are concerned. They are wondering if the T r i b u l a t i o n period lies dead ahead. With a new intensity they are asking, W ill the church go into that time of trouble? As we face the question of the pre tribulation return of Christ, we do not make it a test of orthodoxy. Those who disagree with us are fundamental men. Nor is it of necessity a point over which we break fellowship. Pos- (continued on next page)
AUGUST, 1960
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