THERE
SHALL BE SIGNS
by Rowland Brelsford
page
2
Dr.
Scofield comments that this prophecy was addressed, not solely
to Ahaz, but to the whole house of David and says, "The
objection that such a far off event as the birth of Christ
could be no sign to Ahaz is, therefore, puerile. It was a
continuing prophecy addressed to the Davidic family, and accounts
at once for the instant assent of Mary.” (in Luke 1:38).
These are just two of the many comments on this matter, and
I think the 'scholarship' of these writers can safely be considered
to be at least as profound as that of our cleric. Continuing
with his discourse, the speaker elaborated on his opening
remarks regarding those who look for signs of the fulfillment
of prophecy, saying that in Old Testament times the Israelites
thought that God was all powerful and could do anything He
liked. They also thought that He intervened on their behalf,
winning their battles for them, and showing special care for
them in many ways.
Then, after dismissing as of no consequence the theological
reasoning regarding the limits placed on God's actions by
His own moral laws, he made this amazing statement: "God
can't do anything He likes; we know better than that! We don't
think that way today."
Just who are the "we" for whom he presumes to speak,
I do not know, but I do know that millions of good Christians
do think that way today.
But, this was not all; he went on to declare even more emphatically,
his concept of God as an impotent deity, by saying, "There
is no evidence that God intervenes, or ever has intervened,
in the affairs of men."
This statement was so astounding that I could scarcely believe
I had heard correctly, but it was repeated a little later,
in a slightly different but more emphatic form.
Now, having divested God of any power of independent action,
and having left his audience with the impression that Our
Lord was born in the ordinary process of generation, and having
denied that God has even intervened in the affairs of men,
he exhibits the most amazing inconsistency by declaring, "God
did intervene once; when a little babe was born, and made
a woman cry."
Just what significance the 'crying' had, in the birth of Christ,
it is difficult to see, but whatever views he really holds
regarding Christ’s divinity, he certainly left no doubt
that, in his opinion, there is no foundation for any expectation
of Our Lord's return.
Then, with a total disregard of all the riles of logic, he
concluded by announcing, in his most ponderous tones, "I
believe … and the Church believes in the ultimate victory
of Christ!"
Just what did he mean? Any thoughtful person must have been
left wondering, “by whose power will Christ become victorious"
since God the Father has no power of independent action; and
consequently, even if Christ were divine, He also can have
no power, because He and His Father are One.
Or, if He be not Divine, then He has merely given his name
and impetus to a system of thought which is nothing more than
a system of ethics, because, without the divinity of Christ,
it can make no claim to spiritual content or power.
Regarding the matter of "signs", we of the British
Israel Association make no apology for our recognition of
such signs. We would much rather arouse the criticism of our
learned friends, than that of Our Lord Himself who addressing
the Pharisees and Sadducees, said, “When it is evening,
ye say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red. And in
the morning, it will be foul weather today for the sky is
red and lowring. . . 0 ye Hypocrites, ye can discern the face
of the sky; . . . but can ye not discern the signs of the
times?"
And I think our Modernist theologians are, themselves, one
of the signs that we are in the period of the great apostasy
to which Paul refers in his 2nd Epistle to Timothy. In Chapter
3: 3,5 & 7 he tells Timothy that "in the last days
perilous times shall come” . . . and he then goes on
to describe men who will be 'high minded' (an obsolete word
meaning 'puffed up’) "having a form of godliness,
but denying the power the thereof; ever learning, and never
coming to a knowledge of the truth."
In conclusion, let me urge all my readers to decide such questions
as I have brought to your attention today, on the basis of
your own prayerful study of the Scriptures. Those whose teachings
undermine the Word of God will be held responsible for such
teachings but you and I will not be able to justify ourselves
if we are too lazy to find out the truth for ourselves!
We have brains of our own! Let us use them to the Glory of
God.
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