Systematic Bible Study
By Editor
SYSTEMATIC Bible study can not be made strong and of the highest value without persistent, systematic Bible reading. We need to read the Bible day by day until we become familiar with its pages. And the more familiar we become with its teaching, the deeper the interest and the profounder the joy and the satisfaction in this continued reading and study. And it is only through thus familiarizing ourselves with the sacred Word that we may find its gems of promise, that we may know its gospel of salvation, that we may understand its depth and its breadth of doctrine, and its warnings against the intrigues and deceptions of the great adversary. There is no doctrine in the Bible that is more clearly taught than the second coming of Christ; but we need to know all the teaching of the Bible upon this point in order to understand what His coming means, and the events and the issues that center in that great day. There are many people who believe that Christ may come any day, or that His coming may not be for thousands of years hence. If we are systematically and continually reading the Bible, we will find such texts upon that subject as the following: "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." 2 Thess. 2:1-3. In this text the apostle warns against being shaken in mind, either by spirit, or by word, or even by a letter from the great apostle himself, in regard to the day of Christ being at hand. Then he tells us that that day will not come until after the falling away and the revealing of the man of sin, the "son of perdition." This scripture wakens inquiry as to what the falling away means, and who is the "son of perdition" that is to be revealed. Other scriptures testify as to the meaning of these things, and they need to be studied. It is of the highest importance that there should be continued, persistent, and systematic Bible study day by day, for it is only in this way that we familiarize ourselves with the texts that give us the true, balanced teaching of the great Book. As suggested last week, if we will read three chapters a day during the week, and five chapters on the Sabbath, we will finish the entire Bible within the year. You can make up your own plan of study if you prefer; but for the beginning of the year, it has been suggested that you read a chapter a day in Genesis during the week and two on the Sabbath, read one of the psalms each day, and read a chapter in Matthew each week day and two on the Sabbath. If you have been following this plan, at the end of this week you will have read thirty-two chapters in Genesis, twenty-four of the psalms, and thirty-two chapters in Matthew. If you are behind in the schedule, read a few chapters extra each day until you catch up. Once the habit of persistency in this work is formed, you will find it one of your chiefest pleasures. We know of no better help in understanding the first part of the Bible than that great book "Patriarchs and Prophets," and for the study of the Gospels "The Desire of Ages" is one of the greatest masterpieces of helpfulness; and we would suggest again as a help in the study of the Bible record of creation, "The Fundamentals of Geology," by Price.