Two more items from the pen of Brother H. A. Whittaker
The reviewer wrote in The Testimony for March 1985 that “Brother Harry Whittaker must be easily one of the most prolific Christadelphian writers of today”. In the light of these additional publications from his pen that view hardly needs underlining. For here, hardly any time at all, it seems, after Studies in the Gospels (reviewed in The Testimony, November 1984), Samue4 Saul and David ( reviewed March 1985), Reformation (reviewed January 1986) and Hezekiah the Great (reviewed in The Christadelphian, July 1986), are further books from the same author.
Passover
Passover is a 37-page booklet containing the substance of a series of addresses at an American Bible School. The aim of the study is to establish the symbology (and therefore the true meaning) of the feast, and also to expound the Biblical occurrences of it. But a feature of the author’s treatment of the topic is the way in which even the chapters on the historical analysis of the origins of the feast make continual reference to the role and personal experiences of the Lord Jesus. Included in the booklet are several Scripture-based poems on the Passover by Philip Jones, and the author’s exhaustive and knowledgeable approach includes considerations of the Passovers of Jesus and Hezekiah, as well as of Joshua, Josiah, Ezra and Peter. While the reviewer remains unconvinced of the Friday-Sunday Easter theory put forward once again in a chapter on “Three days and three nights”, readers will decide for themselves. There is, however, much to be said for the view put forward in the final chapter that the Second Coming of Christ will take place around Passover time.
Genesis 1-2-3-4
Genesis 1-2-3-4 is a delightful introduction to what has been rightly described as “the seed-bed of the Word of God”. In the author’s own words, “He is convinced that there are few parts of Holy Scripture more profound, more compressed, more important. . . than these. Always there seems to be more to be learned from fresh study of these chapters”. The book is a beautifully produced 152-page commentary on the first 106 verses of Scripture. But to describe it as a verseby-verse study would be to diminish its thematic quality, for in addition to the running commentary on the Biblical text there are whole sections, comparative tables and enumerative lists on topics of importance, all of them treated in a succinct and thought-provoking manner. “Adam and Christ”, “Cain and Abel”, “The Law of Moses in Eden” are examples of this, being interspersed among the detailed comments on Genesis 1-4. The author makes it clear almost from the outset that he believes the earth to be very much older than six thousand years ( a view which has a perfectly respectable Christadelphian pedigree); but thankfully he avoids being sucked into the largely un-Biblical Creation versus Evolution debate, and allows the Bible to speak for itself on the matter. In his own words: “This present author protests that he has not the vivid imagination (nor the gullibility) to take modern evolution theory seriously. On the other hand, he has tremendous confidence in the commentary on Genesis 1-4 which has been provided, more copiously than is usually believed, by the Lord Jesus Christ and the writers of the New Testament”.
Copies of both these publications and full details of current costs and postage charges are obtainable from the publishers: Biblia, 130 Hednesford Rd., Cannock, Staffordshire.
Israel: “ruler with God”
A 63-page pamphlet by Brother Paul Billington of Canada, published in 1985, is currently being distributed in this country by Sister A. J. Barnes of Cardiff. “Suitable for all readers”, the booklet seems likely to be helpful both in preaching the Truth and also in strengthening the faith of brethren and sisters through a clearer appreciation of the Hope of Israel.
The author sets out to describe the Bible’s ancient gospel, and to show how the early Christian hope was identical to Israel’s under the Old Covenant. The booklet has eight chapters, as follows: 1. The Ancient Gospel Message; 2. A Holy Nation; 3. The Redemption of Israel; 4. A Hope Down the Centuries; 5. A People Gathered out of the Nations; 6. The Raising of Israel’s Shepherds; 7. The Controversy of Zion; 8. “All Things New”. A synopsis of the book, circulated by Sister Barnes, provides the following useful outline of what Brother Billington has to say:
“Israel was called out of Egypt to be a holy nation—a separated people. They were given the Law which, had it been obeyed and kept, would have moulded Israel into a model society; the light of the world.
“Failure was due to sin-stricken human nature; Israel needed help and redemption. Jesus Christ came in the flesh’ and condemned sin in the flesh by the offering of himself. This meant that sins could be taken away. An eternal inheritance in the Land promised to Abraham and his Seed was now possible.
“All down the centuries of the Christian era believers have looked for the fulfilment of the promises made to Abraham—men like Justin Martyr, William Tyndale, Joseph Mede and Sir Isaac Newton all expected a latter-day restoration of Israel. The past century has witnessed the beginning of those expectations being remarkably fulfilled with the founding of the State of Israel and the return of Jews to Palestine. The Bible teaches that Jews would return in unbelief of the gospel; that they would be partially regathered in the latter days and inhabit their ancient Land prior to an overwhelming invasion from the north. Prophecy fulfilling today in harmony with the hope of Israel is interestingly considered. Once the nation is regathered they are to receive instruction by God’s saints who will be raised from the dead.
“Israel’s turning away from ungodliness will contribute to the development of the controversy of Zion—Israel will be seen by the world as the army ofAntichrist!— and the great clash between human power and the Divine hand of judgement will follow.
“Israel’s victory, brought about by Christ and the saints will introduce a new world order. Israel will be Ruler with God. Society will be instructed in righteousness and transformed so that the glory of God will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.”
The booklet is attractively produced, well-illustrated, and full of useful historical and topical materials. If, at £1 per copy, plus postage, it may seem a little expensive for widespread distribution, it is nonetheless worth considering as a preaching aid in certain contexts—it is certainly a very good read.
The Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, 1854-5
The fourth double-volume reprint of Brother Thomas’s major periodical has now been produced by The Institute Trust ( see The Testimony, March, September and December 1985 for details of the three earlier volumes, covering the years 1856-61). Uniform in size and binding with previous volumes, the reprint is a ‘must’ for purchasers who wish to keep their set complete. Only 1,100 copies have been printed, and stocks are likely to be exhausted before very long. Contained in this particular volume is some of the very best of Brother Thomas’s mature writing, including an excellent series on “The Heaven and the Signs thereof”, a “Summary of the Christianity revealed in the Bible” ( subsequently reprinted as a pamphlet—now sadly out of print), and the justly famous “Mystery of the Covenant of the Holy Land explained”.
The volume is also packed full of interesting and informative shorter pieces on Biblical and religious matters and makes worthwhile reading in spite of some inevitable loss of topicality after 130 years. The volume, like previous ones, is being sold at cost to finance the remaining part of the reprint project (the remaining volumes, for 1851-3, still need to be done).
Review of “The Early Earth” by John Whitcomb (1972)