p. 14 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 2. (1/13/1904)

Earlier text: MAKING THE MOST OF LEISURE

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) To what place did Jesus come? What was His custom regarding the Sabbath? Verse 16. Note 1. (2) What book was given to Him? Verse 17. Note 2. (3) What did He read out of the book? Verses 18, 19. Note 3. (4) After reading what did Jesus do with the book? Then what position did He take? How did the people regard Him? Verse 20. Note 4. (5) With what striking words did Jesus begin His discourse? Verse 21. (6) How were His remarks at first received? How did they express surprise at His strange exposition of the Scriptures? Verse 22. Note 5. (7) What proverb did He say they would apply to Him? Verse 23. Note 6. (8) What general statement did He make with regard to prophets? Verse 24. Note 7. (9) What did Jesus say of the miracles of Elijah? Verses 25, 26. (10) What did He say of the time of Elisha? Verse 27. (11) How were the people affected by these allusions to the prophets? Verse 28. (12) What then did they do to Jesus? What was their purpose? Verse 29. Note 8. (13) How did Jesus escape? Verse 30. Note 9.

1. From a child of about three years old to the age of thirty, Jesus had lived in Nazareth. He was a man of good reputation (Luke 2:52), attending well to the duties devolving upon a Jewish young man, both in secular labor and in church duties. Therefore He had taken a leading part in the services of the synagogue. The fact of His standing up to read caused no surprise. He had been away for some time, and no doubt the people were glad to see Him again; for of course He was an entertaining reader, and an instructive speaker.

2. As the books of Scripture were so many separate rolls, Jesus had evidently asked for the book of Isaiah. At any rate, He manifested a familiar acquaintance with the Scriptures.

3. It will be noticed that Jesus stopped reading right in the midst of a sentence. The reason is, He was only calling attention to that part of the prophecy which had then been fulfilled. The "day of vengeance" had not yet come. The remainder of the prophecy of Isa. 61:1-3 will be fulfilled at the second advent of Christ.

4. "Sat down."—It was customary for the leader to stand when reading the Scriptures, but to sit when teaching. So His sitting down was a signal that He was about to talk to the people.

5. Close attention was given to the words which Jesus spake. No doubt the text was an unusual one; it was evidently one which they did not understand (the sequel proved that), and they were curious to hear what He would say about it. The fact of His stopping so abruptly would naturally add to this curiosity. They "wondered."—There was reason for this; for notwithstanding the wisdom with which they had heard Him speak in times past, He had just received an additional baptism of the Spirit, and had gained a signal victory over the adversary of souls, all of which had added much to His wonderful power and wisdom.

6. The "proverb," or "parable."—That part of the proverb, "Physician, heal thyself," would imply that Jesus was just such an one as themselves, needing whatever He would prescribe for them. Capernaum was on a great thoroughfare, and was a noted center of trade. No doubt many great stories went abroad of wonderful things heard and done in that city. Hence the proverb arose as a kind of byword challenge. So Jesus had turned the water into wine at Cana just before coming to Nazareth, which miracle must have been published by His friends and new-found disciples. He knew the people would be applying the proverb to Him, if indeed they were not already doing so in their minds.

7. "No prophet is acceptable in his own country."—This saying had been verified by all the prophets of the past; and it was especially true of the prophet's own generation. But, as a rule, they were honored by people of succeeding generations. But Jesus never accepted challenges to do mighty works merely to show His own power. He would not do this even to gratify the king (Luke 23:8-11). Of Nazareth it is said that "He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Matt. 13:58.

8. In the rejection of Christ, the people of Nazareth showed their disregard of the Spirit of prophecy. They would not accept any fulfilment of prophecy that did not harmonize with their own preconceived ideas of what the prophecy meant. The idea of the Messiah being one born of humble parents, and living as a laboring man in their midst until thirty years old, and then beginning His work in such a humble manner, could not be entertained for a moment. And people of to-day are making just as fatal mistakes regarding His second advent as did the Jews concerning the first advent. And Jesus Himself said it would be so. See Matt. 24:3-5, 24-31.

9. Jesus was always guarded by the angelic host, even as His servants are to-day. His enemies could not put Him to death until His work was done, and the time should come for His offering.

LESSON IV.—THE VISION OF DANIEL 8.

(Study for Sabbath, January 23.)

QUESTIONS.

1. When did Daniel have this second vision? Dan. 8:1. Note 1.

2. To what place was Daniel taken in this vision? Verse 2. Note 2.

3. Repeat verse 3. What was symbolized by this ram? Verse 20. What by the two horns, and by the higher one coming up last? Note 3.

4. Repeat verse 4. In what direction was the Medo-Persian empire to extend its conquests? To what position did the ram attain?

5. Repeat verse 5. Of what was this goat a symbol? Verse 21, first clause. What was symbolized by the great horn between his eyes? Verse 21, last clause. Who was the first king of Grecia?—Alexander the Great.

6. Repeat verse 6. What was the attitude of this goat toward the ram? What did he do to the two horns of the ram?

7. Repeat verse 8. To what position did the goat attain as compared to that of the ram? What happened to the great horn between the eyes of the goat? When was this great horn broken? Note 4. What came up after this notable horn was broken? What was symbolized by the breaking of the great horn and four others coming up in its place? Verse 22. Note 5.

8. Repeat verse 9. What did the prophet behold as coming forth from one of the four horns of the goat? To what position did this little horn power attain? Repeat the comparative greatness of the powers represented by the ram, the goat, and the little horn. In what directions were the conquests of the little horn power?

9. What characteristic is given of this little horn power by which it may be identified? Verse 25.

10. What power, in the person of its rulers, stood up against "the Prince of princes," Jesus Christ?—Rome. Acts 4:27.

11. What subject is introduced in this vision, in addition to the ram, the goat, and little horn? Verse 14. In response to what conversation was this symbol of the 2,300 days called forth? Verse 13.

12. As Daniel sought for the meaning of this vision, who appeared to him? Verse 15.

13. What commission did the angel Gabriel then receive? Verse 16. Who then gave to Daniel the interpretation of the ram, the he goat, and the little horn?

14. What does Daniel say of his understanding of the vision? Verse 27. What part of the vision had not been fully explained to him? What is the vision of the 2,300 days called? See margin of verse 14. What assurance did Gabriel give Daniel concerning "the vision of the evening and the morning"? Verse 26.

15. Had Gabriel then fully completed his commission to make Daniel understand the vision? Why did he not do so in chapter 8? See verse 27, first clause. What would Daniel therefore confidently expect?—Another visit from Gabriel.

NOTES.

1. This vision having been given to Daniel in the third year of the reign of Belshazzar, that being the year when Babylon was overthrown, it must have been about B. C. 538.

2. Prophets in heavenly vision are often taken to places where the scenes opened up to them are to occur, so that they are living amid the very events predicted by them, even tho those events may be thousands of years in the future.

3. The two horns on the ram symbolize the union of the two nations, the Medes and Persians. The higher coming up last signifies the fact that in a few years the Persian became the leading element in the kingdom.

4. It is a fact noted in history that Alexander died in a drunken debauch, at the age of thirty-two years, and at a time when his kingdom was in the very height of its glory and greatness. Thus the kingdom represented by this horn was broken "when he was strong."

5. While Alexander lived he made no provision as to who would succeed him in his kingdom. About twenty years after his death it was divided among his four strongest generals. The student should note carefully the following division of Alexander's kingdom, as it will have an important bearing upon the events studied in a future lesson in this series. Lysimachus had that portion lying to the north of Palestine, including Thrace, Bithynia, and some smaller provinces of Asia Minor. Ptolemy took that portion to the south, including Egypt, Libya, Arabia, and Palestine. Seleucus took the east,—Syria and all the country to the river Indus. Cassander had Macedon and Greece, lying to the west. Carefully note these divisions, as given in "Great Empires of the Bible."

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LESSON 4.—JANUARY 24.—JESUS REJECTED AT NAZARETH.

Lesson Scripture, Luke 4:16-30, A. R. V.

(16) "AND He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and He entered, as His custom was, into the synagog on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. (17) And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And He opened the book, and found the place where it was written, (18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He hath sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (19) to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. (20) And He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagog were fastened on Him. (21) And He began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears. (22) And all bare Him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of His mouth: and they said, Is not this Joseph's son? (23) And He said unto them, Doubtless ye will say unto Me this parable, Physician, heal Thyself: whatsoever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in Thine own country. (24) And He said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is acceptable in his own country. (25) But of a truth I say unto you, There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land; (26) and unto none of them was Elijah sent, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. (27) And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian. (28) And they were all filled with wrath in the synagog, as they heard these things; (29) and they rose up, and cast Him forth out of the city, and led Him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might throw Him down headlong. (30) But He passing through the midst of them went His way."

Golden Text.—"He came unto His own, and His own received Him not." John 1:11.

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Peace in the Midst of Strife

By Editor

Peace in the Midst of Strife.—As we close our forms war seems to be but a question of days between Russia and Japan. The Sunrise Kingdom of little brown men has made her demands of the great Bear of the Eastern Hemisphere, and the world believes that Russia will not take one backward step unless to secure a better base to advance; and if she does not Japan has gone too far to recede. Will the strife involve England and France, or America? It is difficult to predict. Of this we are sure there will be no general warfare till God's work is done. His angels are holding the winds of strife till God's servants are sealed (Rev. 7:1-3), and then comes Armageddon (Jer. 25:15-35; Rev. 16:13, 14). Men and nations and statesmen and rulers may plot and plan and purpose, but the Most High yet rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom He will, "The wrath of man shall praise Thee; the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain." Therefore we can leave to Him the issue, and hope for peace for the propagation of His Gospel.

There is one field of strife more important than this, and that is the heart of man. There wage wild and fierce tumults, contending passions, rebellion against light and truth and God. It is a war waged for eternal results, and there is no neutral ground, no release from the warfare till the soul yields wholly to the devil or stands triumphant, God-conquered, a willing, free servant of his King.

For this warfare there is peace at any time in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Let Him into the restless heart and life, tossed with the strife of tumultuous passions and damnable doubt. He speaks, "Peace, peace, to him that is far off and to him that is near," saith Jehovah, and I will heal him. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

"Weary soul, without gladness or comfort or rest, Passing down the rough pathway of time; Make the Saviour your friend ere the shadows grow dark; O accept of this peace so sublime. "Peace, peace, wonderful peace, Coming down from the Father above; Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray, In fathomless billows of love."

The Name of God Is Blasphemed

By Editor

The Name of God Is Blasphemed.—We referred some time ago to the antics of an actor preacher in Eureka, Cal., in preaching on billiards, cards, etc., and illustrating them in the pulpit. A later effort on his part was a birthday party to which both young women and men were invited. Among the amusements he set before the young of his flock was a mock initiation into a secret society. He and the young men entered a room, and the young women—belonging, by the way, to a 'Bachelor Girls' Club'—were admitted three at a time on their knees, with their heads touching the floor, and repeating after this pseudo minister a bit of doggerel so vulgar in suggestion as related to the indecent posture of the ladies that we would not besmirch our columns by printing it. It went on for awhile till some girl had the courage to rebel; the church organist and some of the choir among these girls resigned, and the minister is in trouble. He ought to be. Yet we do not wonder at him; there are sinners and failures in all professions; but we are amazed that a Christian church could tolerate a man who would do such things so long! A holy office does not make a holy man. A minister or priest is not delivered to do deeds that any Christian man or gentleman would not do. Pertness, smartness, freakishness may be fitting in a child or clown; but it should have no place in the ministry of the Lord Jesus.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

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Capital and Labor Special

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An Awful Horror

By Editor

An Awful Horror.—Since our last an awful calamity has occurred in the great city by the inland sea, Chicago, which has chilled and appalled every thinking, serious soul in the country. On Wednesday afternoon, December 30, the Iroquois Theater caught fire when it was filled to overflowing at a matinee performance. Most of those in attendance were women and children, many of them society people. At the first report it was supposed that not more than ten to twenty had perished, but as the matter was investigated in detail, the awful list of the dead grew, till at present writing it reports 582, with hundreds sick and injured. Many of these had their life trampled out. At one balcony stairway the people were found ten and twelve deep, where in the darkness they stumbled and fell and fought for fresh air, and died. Among the dead were thirty school teachers, and two ministers. There were not hearses enough in the city of Chicago to bear the dead to the cemetery. Over 200 hearses, many of them white, were in use on the same day. There seems to have been few adequate facilities for escape, and Chicago is endeavoring to fix the responsibility of the horror and the crime. The friends of a noted servant of God at one time besought him not to "adventure himself into the theater." Acts 19:31. The occasion was not a play, but a great uproar caused by the preaching of the truth of God, and entering in before the people in their excited condition would have been to endanger the life of God's messenger; but those who entered the Iroquois Theater on that fated Wednesday afternoon, for no other purpose than the pleasure of seeing acted the old falsehood of Bluebeard, placed in peril both body and soul to a greater extent than did Paul at Ephesus. Awful as is this calamity, it is not so bad as the daily influences of the playhouses of the country, which fill the minds of the young with wrong fancies and their hearts with false ideals, making the realities of time and eternity and the simple lasting beauties of life tame and insipid. If the awful calamity of the 30th ult. would turn forever the millions from the theater to life's realities, costly as the lesson is, the results would warrant the investment. But "the madding crowd" will go on; the theaters will be made safer physically, but will increase in their opportunity and potency to destroy souls.

Worldward

By Editor

Worldward.—Dr. E. R. Dille, pastor of the First M. E. Church of this city, has voiced the sentiment that the people of his denomination have a determined set worldward. A San Francisco press despatch says that, in a paper read before the Methodist Ministers' Conference, on the 2d ult., he favored changing the amusement clause of the church's constitution so that the mandatory rule regarding dancing and theater-going should be merely advisory. He urged that the general disregard of the present rule made it ridiculous, and that it would be better to alter it. This is virtually saying, We must hold on to the membership, no matter what they do. If they will not adhere to the church discipline, we must alter the discipline to comply with their conduct. Some people argue that this is what God did; that because Israel broke the law, He abrogated it. But that is not God's way; His law is perfect, and can not be made to yield to the unstable, varying character of man. Every confession of sin is an acknowledgment of the unyielding nature of the law of God. No child of faith ever asks the Lord to take His law out of the way (and 'sin is the transgression of the law'); he invariably asks that the sin may be forgiven. Therefore, by the exercise of faith we concede the immutability of the law. Paul puts it in these words: 'Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law.'

Above or Below the Law.

By Editor

The President in his last message in discussing capital and labor says:—

"No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man's permission when we require him to obey it. Obedience to the law is demanded as a right; not asked as a favor."

What does he mean by saying that "no man is below it [the law]." We understand what is meant by "no man is above the law;" that is, he is not exempt from its claims; every one is in duty bound to obey it. But he who disobeys is "below the law;" he is "under the law," under its condemnation. And this is pre-eminently true of God's law. "No man is above it;" it demands obedience of all. But every man who lives in sin is below the law, under the law, and there abides as long as he abides in sin. His only release is by grace in Christ Jesus.

The Voice Calling to Men

There are voices calling on every side, in every way, changing, delusive voices, uncertain voices, and always in the ways that pander to some selfish lust of the natural man. Heed them not; they call but to death. There is one Voice which is calling, which has been calling to the sons of men through all the ages. That Voice is ever the same. More faithful than the covenant of day and night that Voice calls you away from sin and death to paths of righteousness and truth, to paths of true manhood and womanhood, to paths of everlasting freedom and happiness. Do you hear the Voice? If not, why? Do you hear and heed not? Why? It calls to you for your good alone; O why will ye not hear?

It Will Still Be the Same

By Editor

It Will Still Be the Same.—A short time ago we passed a café with a beautiful enticing front, but with a notorious reputation. Its malodor was such that in these liberal days it was forced by the authorities to close. Now the same proprietor and operator builds in the same place a theater and advertises it as a good, moral, unobjectionable family theater. Now what right has any one to expect that the theater will be better than the café? Yet, like other playhouses of its class, it will probably be patronized by respectable people who will let their children attend its moving-picture shows and afternoon matinees. But the same spirit will be there that was in the café.

Every Plant Which My Heavenly Father Hath Not Planted

By Jesus

Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up.—Jesus.