The Seal of God, No other Way, and God Is Faithful were
Legally deposited under the
South Australian State Act.
At the Mortlock Library
February 20 1996.
and
National Library Canberra
ISBN 0 90 8208 05 7

 

The Memorial edition of the Seal of God is
Printed and distributed in Australia by
Evangelistic Literature Enterprise.
P.O. Box 10. Strathpine Qld. 4500
Phone: (07) 205 7100

 

By permission of the Copyright Holder
E.R.FINCK.
2 Howard Street.
Windsor Gardens.
South Australia. 5087

 

      This edition of the Seal of God 2000 is free. It may be copied and given away to others, without charge, other than the cost of copy production. When copied, none of the contents may be changed without my written permission. E. R. FINCK.

      Mr. Payne, in his first edition, wrote.

      My purpose in this little book is to set forth in clear, simple language evidence, which cannot be denied that:--

      1. God is the mighty Creator of all things.

      2. The Bible as originally given is God's revelation to man.

      3. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the only Saviour of the world.

      It must be obvious to every honest person that a dense cloud of spiritual darkness hangs over the world today sometimes even in the church to which we look for guidance and it is because, as the Word of God says, 'Where there is no vision the people perish.'

      The average person today is in complete darkness and ignorance of their purpose for being here, where they are going, or what lies beyond the veil and for the most part they do not care. Life has become a gamble.

      My purpose therefore, in this little work, is to bring forth abundant evidence of the Hand of God in the things around us and then show that the Author of Creation is also the Author of the Bible.

      The marvellous things God has permitted to be revealed in recent years have placed the Bible like a beacon high above the crumbling ruins of the theories of its critics and anyone, who scoffs at the Bible today, is simply showing their ignorance of revealed facts and, if you the reader still remain in darkness and ignorance after prayerfully perusing the evidence' presented here, then great indeed is the darkness which has overwhelmed you but it will obviously be because of your own willingness to accept the facts you have seen.

      The Word of God declares the world 'loves darkness rather than light' John 3:19 but nevertheless, there are those who would welcome some real tangible evidence of the reality of God and His Plan for His World and to all such I trust this little book will find its way, proving to be a storehouse of treasure and the means of opening many blind eyes and giving new zeal for the Word of God.'

F. C. PAYNE      
January 1945       

      This edition follows the revised Memorial edition, which was published in 1996, and, although it has been rearranged, it still contains all the material, which God put into Mr. Payne's heart to write so many years ago.

      I compile it now, with the same purpose in mind as he had in that first little book, with praise to God for His wonderful love, and, with the prayer that the intricate designs and patterns found in all God's Creation, will reveal to the reader, they are His Seal upon His Handiwork, believe God and His Word, and find Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

      Mr. and Mrs Payne loved the Word of God, and, their Bible study groups, and the books and pamphlets they wrote, brought many, including my wife and I, to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. He had a vigorous and inquiring mind, and, his greatest interest, other than the Scriptures, was in Creation. He established a seven-acre garden at Athelstone, in the foothills of Adelaide, which, some years after his death, became one of the South Australian Reserves. Two particular plants he cultivated bear his name and many of the observations about flowers and birds in the Seal of God, are his own.

      He placed the book in my hands some time before his death in 1972, at which time I re-wrote it, adding more material to the original. It has reached out to thousands, all over the world, since that first little book, giving added confidence to those who love the Lord, encouraging those, young in the faith, and been the means of bringing many unbelievers to find salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord.

E. R. FINCK             
November 2000      

      This present revision seeks to emphasise the Hand of God upon all His Creation in the same way that Mr. Payne was first led to write it and clearly we are 'Without Excuse' if we ignore the Hand of God on all His Work because the Scriptures make it clear that the visible things we see in the world, nature which teems around us, the flowers which bloom, the sea and all within it, the birds which fly, the animals who roam its surface, the very earth on which we live and the evidence of our own existence, reveal to the heart which searches for meaning, the God who created all these things. Romans has this:

      'That which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are CLEARLY seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.' Romans 1:19-20.

      They are so clearly His Workmanship and, just as clearly, not our own that we are indeed 'without excuse' if we deny it. They are all made for purpose and have, within them all, the 'Seal' of He who made them.

      One does not need to be an atomic scientist these days to know, even if we cannot understand it, that electrons have specific patterns, impossible to alter without rendering them unstable, because we believe these facts which have been discovered by some and verified by others.

      It is not necessary to be a botanist to understand that various species are identified as belonging to a specific genera determined by their structure and pattern because, these are published facts. One does not have to be a specialist to understand that all these patterns show a Hand, and a Knowledge, beyond the ability of man to understand yet, despite this fact, scientists use these little understood 'norms', with their variations and patterns and paths as a foundation for their studies because they know they are reliable.

      All knowledge is not the prerogative of all men but knowledge has been gathered and stored so that ordinary people, such as we, can draw upon that knowledge with freedom and use it for further reference and study in areas which interest us. Therefore, in this book, we are going to examine some of those designs which draw our attention to the Master Designer and, perhaps, even look beneath the surface of some and see further proof of His Hand in places we had not thought to find Him before.

      They are like the watermarks we see in our banknotes which verify they are genuine, but they go further than that for they are there to encourage us to seek even more diligently for the God we have already believed in and give us opportunity to disclose His Hand to those who have not seen Him. I firmly believe that design in flowers, orchids, vegetation, human and animal life, atomic structure, and the galaxies, show the 'Seal' of a Hand and a Mind which is beyond our capacity to know or understand and one which created all these things long before our eyes had ever seen them or our own minds began to understand they were even there. This follows in atomic structure, all life, and the Written Word of God itself and I believe these patterns in Creation reveal to all that the great Architect of them all is God Himself and further, that the patterns revealed in numeric design in Scripture declare to the 'doubter' His Hand is there also.

      The verses we read before from Romans 1:19-20 are followed by a warning and speaks to those who, despite having seen clearly seen these things, still deny them and worship instead the created thing instead of He who created them, and it tells of the end of this foolishness also for they join all those, 'Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever.' Romans 1:25, and God will 'give them up.' They are 'without excuse.'

      And now, as we examine the evidence of His Hand in these things, it is my prayer that all who see it will turn to Him and find Him as their God and Father and, finding Him, will trust His Word, see His Plan of Redemption, and come to know His Son as their sin bearer, Saviour, and Lord. It turns our attention to the question WHAT IS LIFE? and the following words from Genesis are surely sufficient. 'And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.' Genesis 2:7.

      That beautiful, simple, moving, deeply mysterious and wonderful text has satisfied millions who have found God but there are many other millions who simply must have facts about 'life' before they will admit there is Someone who gave that life.

      One would think that when we begin to think about the marvellous way our body is made and understand how so efficiently it can do the most difficult things without any obvious thought and how it can take control of new discoveries and use them to its advantage even though they are not fully understood it surely is evidence, if we stop and consider it, that we were created by an intelligence so great and so far beyond our ability to understand it that it could only be made possible by a Supreme Being who alone holds the key of life itself in His Hands and who is the only One able to create such an efficient, living, thinking. creature.

      Not one of the body functions we are about to examine could have developed from a more primitive stage. All must have been functioning as they are now to exist at all.

      The investigation of the structure and the complexity of this body can only bring one logical conclusion, that is, the great Giver of Life, our God, is a Master Craftsman beyond compare, beyond ordinary understanding, and One to be searched for with our whole heart . . . 'But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.' Hebrews 11:6.

      For a moment let us examine the Cell for it is the essential element in the 'make-up' of all life and the cell we are about to look at is the body cell or the SOMATIC CELL. This cell is invisible to the naked eye and yet this minute speck has proved to be, biologically, a living, working, compartmented, organised, and extremely complex chemical factory and this has all been revealed to us today under the tremendous magnification of the electron microscope.

      Chemically it has in its composition carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, chlorine, potassium. iron, fluorine, and iodine and within the cell are organisms called enzymes, one of the most complicated, mysterious, and marvellous things known to man which, in conjunction with the numerous, exceedingly involved and do it quickly, efficiently, and continuously and there are many compartments in this living factory involving millions of active sub-cells, all working to a pre-determined code and then, within the nucleus of the cell, are the chromosomes.

      The cell of every living thing has its fixed number of chromosomes and they form a combination lock which locks up the species and compels them to obey the command of God we read in Genesis 1 six times that all life was to 'bring forth after its kind' or identical with itself.

      However, and this is important, vitally important, within the chromosomes are the infinitely minute and wonderful genes, several millions of them, which, like the notes on a piano, provide for an almost endless variety WITHIN the species and, may I repeat, within the species.

      One of the most marvellous facts about the cell is that it cannot grow, or develop, gradually. Only a living cell can produce a cell because, to live. it must be a complete working unit.

      How then does the cell multiply?

      This is one of the most wonderful and mysterious things ever witnessed.

      In a process called, mitosis, the cell divides and, amid intense activity, both visible and invisible, the cell becomes two living factories and each again do the same to become 4 . . . 8 . . . 16 . . . 32 . . . 64, and so on! However each body demands different forms of cells and, amid wonders multiplied, the implanted plan in the cell knows exactly what combinations of chemicals from its storehouse to call upon and which departments to call into service to provide, and produce, the particular cells required for the part of the body being built, whether it be man or plant!

      The spirals of the chromosomes must contain an enormous amount of information and, it is clear, that wonderful and ingenious mechanisms must be enshrined there. Remember, we are dealing with a microscopic world whose working units vary from ultra-microscopic to barely discernible, misty movements, and on into invisible powers, beyond the reach of even the most powerful electron microscopes, wherein are hidden the marvellous mysteries of life.

      When I ponder these wonderful things myself as I write these words, there comes to my mind the insistence with which some evolutionists expound that the beginnings of life were simple and then moved towards the complex as time unfolded. Yet. Here we have, in the apparently simple cell, this highly complex system completely beyond our comprehension.

      A fact, sufficiently demonstrable, one would think, to turn all away from unprofitable speculation about evolution and cause our hearts and minds to rather seek for the infinitely wise and loving Creator who designed such wonders.

      And this DESIGN is to be found IN all GOD'S CREATIVE WORK therefore let us further examine the evidence of a Creator because this evidence is all around us and to be seen in abundance by all who will but stop and think.

      In chemistry no two substances can unite without observing definite mathematical laws.

      In music all whole tones are multiples of eleven.

      Who can fail to be struck with awe at the accurate timetable of the Universe, the stupendous speeds of the planets, all travelling on their appointed course like a huge railway system, yet none colliding and so accurate is their timetable that their relative positions can be set down for any future date.

      Does the earth revolve by mere chance?

      The surface speed is approximately 1,100 miles an hour. If it dropped to, say, 110, we would be roasted in a 240 hour day, and any life which survived would be frozen in a similarly long night.

      The earth is tilted at 23 degrees and if it were not we would have no seasons.

      Science tells us:--

      If the crust of the earth was but a few feet thicker there would be no oxygen and hence no life could exist.

      If the sun was closer we would roast or if it was further away we would freeze.

      If the moon was any nearer the tides would sweep all but the mountains.

      If the air had been much thinner many disasters would overwhelm us. Yet the fact is we find thousands of laws combining to make life on earth possible.

      On the earth itself we have millions of exacting combinations of conditions and phenomena which make absolutely impossible the idea of life by adaptation. The real truth is that God has poured out, so abundantly, all around us the evidence of Creation, showing His Wisdom and power, that we are apt to take everything for granted, not even stopping to think, or ask, the why or wherefore.

      The next time you are at the beach pick up a spiral shell and examine it and you will find it is a right-hand spiral. Now search the beach, all the beaches if you wish, and any and every spiral variety and you will have a rare treasure if you can find one built the opposite way. There are, it is true, a few which build the opposite way but this only confirms the inherent law.

      Come with me now, right away from the sea, into the bushland and here we notice some tiny plants climbing with a definite spiral around a twig. Further on a large creeper with thousands of spirals and when you examine them you will find that every spiral is the same as you found in the shell at the beach.

      What is the explanation?

      We all know that when an electrician designs and builds an electric motor he must determine its direction of rotation by using certain laws. Likewise, God who, as the Author of all Laws as well as Creation, designed these lives we are now examining, placed within them inherent laws which are only upset by some abnormal condition.

      The evolution theory, which is in direct contradiction to the plain teaching of Genesis, means that all design, (which is marvellous beyond description and with which nature is filled), is mere chance and, no matter by what term one describes the evolutionary theory, (such as 'natural selection' for instance), the fact remains that any such theory denies any controlling intelligence.

      In testing the theory that . . . 'The sensitivity of the cortex to straight line is an immutable consequence of evolution' . . . the New Scientist. December 6. 1973 reported that the 'darkness test' led to the conclusion that such a statement could not be upheld and that . . . "Brain cells do not see what they like so much as they like what they see'. And in an examination on 'Living and Fossil Brachiopods' the following statement is very expressive. 'Evolution is commonly described with the vertebrates chiefly in mind, as though it were an irresistibly 'upward' or 'progressive process.

      The Brachiopoda, as a phylum, whose greatest abundance and diversity lie far back in the past, force us to reconsider this 'image' of the evolutionary process. Why, after successive phases of diversification and periods of great abundance through the Palaeozoic era did they suffer such a severe crisis?

      Why did they fail to recover?

      In what sense, (except by a circular definition), can their few living survivors be termed more successful, or 'better adapted' than the far more abundant and varied faunas of earlier periods?

      What progress, if any, is discernible within the pattern of their evolution?

      Before proceeding with the evidence for Creation, let me bring before you again that very serious statement from the Bible.

      A literal reading of Romans 1:19-20 'That which may be known of God is manifest, (Greek phaneroo, apparent, and the evidence of the invisible Creator is clearly seen, (distinctly apprehended), being manifested by the things that are made, (Greek poiema, workmanship), revealing His eternal Power, so that man is without excuse.'

      We, His highest Creation, are indeed without excuse if we do not discern the visible evidence of the invisible Creator. Let us consider now some of that evidence beginning with the human body itself a masterpiece of scientific design. It covers many branches so science and we need to look no further than the human structure to find all of the evidence of a Master Designer and Creator. Man is the highest expression of creative genius on this earth.

      The most intelligent animal alive cannot reason why two and three equal five but man, is able to make calculations, and explore regions, far beyond our sun and solar system and into areas that stagger the imagination when closely looked at, being endowed with the spark of his Divine Creator because 'The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.' Genesis 2:7.

      He has reached out into space in distances that can only be expressed in light years and, on the other hand, with the ultra-microscope he has explored things so infinitely small that the average mind can scarcely begin to even grasp its minuteness.

      For example it is said that the genes responsible for the whole human race on earth would not fill a thimble yet, these genes not only contain the life of every individual, but all their characteristics. This gigantic field is accessible to and has been intelligently investigated by the mind of man who, despite the fact he has this knowledge, stands absolutely helpless as regards improving, in any way, the physical structure of his offspring.

      At this point I would like to ask the evolutionist two interesting questions.

1. Why is it that, although the Jews have circumcised their male children without break for approximately 4,000 years, it has not had the slightest effect on their offspring?
2. How do they account for the hymen in the female of the human family which is never found in the ape or any other animal?

      Let me now draw your attention, very briefly, to a few of the wonders of the human structure. When next you have the opportunity to visit a Museum, make a point of observing carefully a skeleton, or rather, the framework of a human body. Note how wonderfully every part is designed and proportioned for the function it so faithfully fulfils, especially note how all the joints are interlocked to combine strength with flexibility, and that, although the spinal column is designed to allow us to walk in an upright posture, it also allows us to carry huge weights.

      A strong man can carry hundreds of 200 pound bags of wheat in a day but the strongest of apes has great difficulty in carrying even his own body upright except for short intervals.

      Man is built to move with the aid of his legs only, whereas the ape is built to move on all fours. This is consistent as far back as both can be traced, and there are other customs only mankind follows, and have followed, from the earliest of times. For example man has always buried his dead with ceremony whilst no one has ever known an ape, ancient or modern, to bury even its own mate.

      Let us return now to the human body and consider the wonderful blood system.

      The body has millions of cells, nerve, muscle, gland, skin, and bone cells, and each of these cells require a continuous supply of food, water, and oxygen, all of which are distributed through the blood stream and pumped to every part of the body by the heart, that marvellous untiring organ whose arteries have elastic walls which convert the pulsations into a steady continuous stream, and from here a huge network of arteries and veins carries the blood to every part of the body and, something to be noted carefully, also collects chemically processed food from the intestines system and distributes each vitamin correctly and, in addition, oxygen is drawn in through the lungs and distributed just where it is needed.

      This latter function of the blood is made possible by a chemical which it contains, which has the remarkable power to first absorb oxygen when coming in contact with it, ( for which purpose the lungs are designed), and then, just as readily, releasing it when passing through any part of the body which is lacking in this vital element.

      Equally remarkable is the fact that the blood contains another chemical, (fibrogen), which has the power to clot the blood when fully exposed to the air such as in the event of an open cut and if it were not for this provision a person could bleed to death from the smallest puncture just as a bucket of water will empty through a pinhole.

      Just one more point of design in this wonderful fluid which has such life-sustaining power.

      The red and white corpuscles.

      The red being the workers and life sustainers. The white being the soldiers, because their duty is to fight every enemy of the red corpuscles and, for a simple illustration of how this operates, let us suppose for a moment you pierce your finger. Immediately the white corpuscles attack and rid the blood stream of any poison. Blood poisoning is simply the result of the poison winning the battle against the white corpuscles. Mankind has indeed discovered many ways to help the system but even penicillin cannot take the place of these white corpuscles, at the best it can only restrain the infection until the white corpuscles annihilate the intruders.

      Thus far we have only touched on what might be called the every day, and first aids of the blood, but there are many other factors also, especially when profuse bleeding occurs, for a whole series of automatic aids come into operation in order to stem the bleeding and maintain the flow of blood through the heart. For instance, in excessive bleeding, the liver pours out some constituent which clots the blood almost immediately with various safety valves and danger signals being brought into action automatically in order to effect this life saving function. In extreme and critical bleeding the blood, in response to the danger signal, actually stopping supply to various parts of the body non-essential to life, in order to maintain the life saving flow through the organs essential to life.

      Another stupendous witness to our Creator is the marvellous and highly sensitive nerve centre of the human body, which is, in many respects, similar to a huge telephone exchange with thousands of insulated nerve fibres. The brain and the spine represent the exchange from whence these nerve fibres are conveyed. First in bundles, or cables, just as is done in a telephone system and later these branch off into lines connected to every part of the body.

      Did you know that even to move one finger your mind has to send a message to the brain, which sends a further message to the appropriate connection which conveys the desired movement to the correct nerves and sinews which immediately respond. Your finger has absolutely nothing to do with it. It has no power to move of itself.

      The same applies for each movement of every member of your body but the central control is called upon to flash more and more signals as the movements concern the more delicate organs until we get combinations of systems involving thousands of these fibres, so complicated that medical science stands aghast at how it all works, even though much research has been done along this line.

      But of all the organs of the body few can compare with the eye.

      So marvellous is it in its construction and connections with the brain that little is really known how various colours and objects are expressed to the brain but some idea of the intricate workings can be gathered from the following.

      In the eyeballs are layers of nerve cells and fibres which, among other things, pick up and convey to the brain what the eye receives and so complicated is this work of transformation that medical science estimates there are about six million nerve cells and one hundred and twenty million fibres!

      Little do we realise what is going on in this vast system!

      Look at a flower garden.

      Forget, for a moment, all the various trees, shrubs, flowers, shapes, sizes, and colours and just take the one colour of the foliage, green.

      Do you realise that practically every plant will have a different shade of green, in fact, a number of shades on each plant? Now, before this can mean anything to us, an enormous amount of information is flashing through this huge system to the brain and, when we add all the other colours, together with everything else that we see in the garden we have an exchange of information in operation which would make the largest telephone system in the world look like a child's toy in comparison and this barely touches on one function of this wonderful organ, justice to which cannot be done in this short article. And the evolutionist will try and tell us this is one of the end results of evolution!

      How different, yet none the less marvellous, is the ear and the drum in connection with the brain.

      Two wonderful organs bringing to us two completely different worlds for, what the eye does with light waves, the ear does with sound waves and remember, in themselves they are like the finger, totally helpless to convey anything to us.

      Actually the ear cannot hear but is merely a delicate instrument, like a miniature harp, whose strings respond to sound waves and conveyed to the brain through the system much the same as the eye does but there are many remarkable things in connection with the ear that are difficult to express in simple terms.

      In the brain we have, without a doubt, the most mysterious organ of the body, perhaps the most delicate and the least understood. What we do know is, that it is the main and central control point itself, with control boards and operators represented by nerve cells of which there are said to be 10,000 millions!

      The nerve fibres can pass messages through them up to fifty per second and a machine of comparable capabilities would need an enormous building to house it and all the power of a Niagara Falls to run it. No one is able to cope with this huge system.

      We have built computers to play chess and do a multitude of tasks but the most advanced can only make the moves it was programmed to make, it cannot think out a single move. The ingenuity lies not in the machine but in the brain which designed it. It has an advantage in the place for which it was designed but only for that purpose chiefly because it has the power to release, in a few moments, what man's brain has stored over a long time, but it is limited. No one has the faintest idea of how a human brain handles the work for which it is responsible or how or when it makes a decision and it also the human brain which fixes the gap between man and the highest animal.

      A part of the human body which I have always considered wonderful is the hand and especially the thumb. Remember. Your hand is of itself quite helpless, yet so designed that, when it is in co-operation with the nerve system and its team of helpers, its powers of craftsmanship are almost unlimited. The human hand complete, is without doubt a marvellous instrument yet, without the thumb it is practically useless.

      The human foot and leg contain an unique set of mechanism in order to maintain an upright position and give that wonderful balance and spring which enables a man to walk upright without jarring the body. Authorities are agreed that all this marks a tremendous gap between man and the ape. There is absolutely no evidence that any ape had such features, or that any human foot in the past was formed so that it could grasp.

      Bio-Chemistry today, like other sciences, has reached a very high standard of efficiency and one might well suggest there must be little in this field beyond its scope. There are 350 or so chemical substances in the human body. The majority so complicated that no bio-chemist can form a formula, and those of known formula could not be produced by any chemical factory at the rate the human body manufactures them.

      In addition there are highly complicated chemicals called hormones. It is these hormones which are responsible for the variation in the characteristics between male and female such as, tone of voice. It can also stimulate other reactions like the flow of milk in the female breast and many other things.

      Perhaps even more remarkable are the complicated substances called enzymes which play a very important part in the functioning of the body.

      There are several hundred in number, each working on one particular chemical substance but they often work in teams doing anything from turning milk into curds to the contracting of a muscle.

      These enzymes are responsible for all the essential functions of life and so many of these things in connection with these chemical substances that Medical Science is just baffled.

      I will not attempt to touch even the fringe of the marvellous array of chemical and other actions which combine to deal with the passage of food through the body, marvels such as the glands, and numerous other wonderful workings of the human body.

      Surely the most stubborn of people must realise that behind all this is, not only a Master Mind and Creator, but a Creator of wisdom and power far exceeding human imagination, and the honest person will acknowledge with the Psalmist David 'Surely man is fearfully and wonderfully made.' Psalm 139:14.

      When we turn to a different department of Nature and examine the wings of various insects under a lens it will be found that they are constructed on many different plans just as men do with aeroplanes. Every one shows definite scientific features according to the requirements of each. Yet all the wings on any given species will correspond exactly, down to the last minute detail!

      Behind each insect wing, just as with a nail or a clothes peg, is a designer and one can see, with the naked eye and even comparing as many as one would wish, that the markings on various butterfly wings are accurate in every detail. It's just as though they came out of a printing machine every marking, down to the smallest dot in exactly the same position on every wing and, every colour true to species. There should be enough evidence in one butterfly to convince anyone there is a Creator!

      We hear much today, in this age of knowledge, about computers built for the mass production of uniform designs but, God the Creator had introduced methods of mass production of millions of different, intricate, yet perfectly uniform designs, far more marvellous than anything produced by man, long before man himself was created. I venture to say, with confidence, that no living person, even with the aid of the most sophisticated equipment could correctly assemble just one butterfly, even if given all the parts intact.

      We have spoken of the remarkable accuracy of the markings visible to the naked eye but now let us examine these wings under the lens. No one could fail to be amazed because the whole of the colouring and pattern is made up of thousands of tiny scale feathers! Feathers of various shapes, sizes, and colours, each feather being perfect in design and complete with quill with which it is set in the exact position on the delicate fabric of the wing!

      The way in which the pattern is worked out in the various colours is nothing short of staggering because even one little patch or dot may involve from dozens to hundreds of feathers of one particular colour, yet there are just enough to make that spot exactly the correct size and shape and remember, in exactly the correct position to correspond with every other wing of that species.

      And this is not the end of the miracle because the underside of the wing is a completely separate layout and usually of a different design and colour and, even more miraculous, the whole of this beautiful creature, composed of many thousands of feathers and other parts, is developed from a few drops of milky substance, hanging in a cocoon.

      Think of it! This means that the whole of this pattern, consisting of thousands of feathers of various colours were accurately developed, in the correct spot, while concealed in a tight parcel!

      This only deals with one feature of this gem of a creature and, beautiful as the Monarch is, it would be no exaggeration to say it is a plain Jane compared with numerous other varieties which are exquisite beyond description. I should like to ask the evolutionist how these thousands of definite designs were, not only placed in the wings, but by what unseen power they continue to be 'worked in', exactly true to pattern and colour in every species?

      One must examine this wonder of wonders under the microscope to even begin to grasp the marvel of it all, when one sees the size of these feathers. You may have noticed some time, when holding a moth or a butterfly by the wings, how there is left on your fingers what appears to be soft, velvety powder? Now!

      Actually every speck of that powder is a perfect feather and it is this, coupled with the perfection of these tiny components, which make the completed creature such a living miracle!

      Let me draw your attention to some scientific principles, proved by engineering science to be unsurpassed, even in modern practice and yet found in almost any insect wing, also in the wings and feathers of all birds. They are the taper, the strut and stay, and the concave, and corrugation and I have insect wings with the main structure beginning with a perfect triangle of stays, braced by lattice struts, exactly as is done in modern construction engineering.

      Some of these insects, for example, the dragon-fly, are provided with special facilities which enable them to remain stationary in flight, move forwards, backwards, or sideways, instantly. Our aircraft engineers have a long way to go yet to achieve such feats!

      Take now the honeycomb of the common bee.

      How does it come about that a thousand different hives of bees in various parts of the world, (who have no communication with one another), all work to the same accurate scale, in exactly the same way as all engineers work to a standard measure?

      The bees work so accurately that, if you were to compare a section of comb from each of these thousands of hives, there would not be the slightest variation. The most skilful draughtsman could not even produce this on paper without special instruments.

      How then does the bee accomplish this?

      And who fixes the design and sets the scale?

      Furthermore. Each cell is finished in a cube at the bottom and mathematicians have found that the angles of this cube are as perfect, as they could possibly be, to give the maximum space with the use of the minimum material.

      Who then was the Master Mind behind all this?

      So much for the work of the bees but what of the bee itself?

      Again one must see its various members under the lens to appreciate the marvels of its body.

      The brush extractor. The pollen sacs. The wonderful way the wing is constructed. The double hooks on the legs. Its marvellous eyes.

      The sting is designed like a hypodermic needle and is so sharp that one has to look carefully to see the actual point and, under the microscope a needle looks like a bullet in comparison.

      It has three barbs set neatly in the side and through the centre is minute core through which the poison is injected. This little instrument is a miracle of constructive genius and only one of the wonders of the bee's complicated body.

      Perhaps the most remarkable thing I discovered was when I was mounting some bee stings. We know that when the bee injects its sting the barbs cause it to hold fast and part from the bee but did you know that, immediately, there comes into operation a pumping action which actually pumps all the poison from the large container down through the needle like sting into the flesh after it is completely severed from the bee?

      Now, if this is not design, neither is the needle of the physician. Further, we all know that, the barbs on a spear, or fish hook, are designed by man to make their extraction difficult.

      Surely no one will deny that the barbs on the bee's sting are for the same purpose and, seeing this costs the bee his life in exchange for one injection, it is hardly reasonable to suppose this is either 'spontaneous adaptation' or the bee's own design!

      This is especially significant when one examines his relative, the wasp.

      The bee contributes much to life and gives his own life to protect his hive and the wasp, a far less productive creature, has a more deadly instrument than the bee and he can administer dose after dose of poison without harm to himself.

      There is food for thought!

      Other instances of definite design are seen in the wing construction of the bee. The wings are beautifully concaved on a most elaborate structure and are designed to withstand the terrific strain of their fast flight and, perhaps even more wonderful, are the double wings. A pair of wings large enough to support the bee, when fully loaded with nectar and pollen, would prevent it from entering some flowers so the Creator provided a double wing on each side, which opens when the bee is in flight and folds neatly, as one wing, when the bee is working.

      The wasp, however much we may deplore his ability to sting us, is in many ways also a remarkable insect and the larger species of them have the respect of most other insects and animals alike, and no wonder, because they have the most formidable and dangerous of stings!

      They hunt by instinct, detecting grubs and spiders with ease even though they are completely hidden from sight but what I wish to draw your attention to is a matter concerning their young which hatch from eggs sealed in a compartment of their mud nests.

      These young wasps, which hatch out as grubs, may not do so for several months, yet they must be provided with live food, on which they feed until fully developed, when they bore a hole through the hard mud wall and emerge.

      Now. To provide this live food, the wasp catches spiders and grubs and, with its sting, injects an anaesthetic into them which paralyses and preserves them, sealed in the compartment, until eaten by the young wasps.

      Who worked all this out?

      A further marvellous piece of scientific engineering can be seen in the wing construction of all birds. Every bone, joint, sinew, and feather is specifically designed and proportioned so as to offer to the air the minimum of resistance in the forward stroke and the absolute maximum in the power stroke. Observe also how the tail is designed and used in exactly the same way as man has done with the aeroplane. Furthermore, it would be hard to find a finer example of, strength for weight, and many other features found in the large wing feather of a bird. It is doubtful whether science today could devise a more efficient material, or in anyway improve the design for strength and efficiency.

      How does it come about that birds the world over have feathers of the same chemical compound and agree in every detail of design and construction?

      Are we to suppose that the various reptiles, (which according to the evolutionist were their ancestors), held an international conference and agreed to develop on lines uniform in every detail, and so perfect that science today can offer no improvement?

      Surely, to all but the wilfully blind, as God's Word says, 'The visible things of Creation reveal the invisible Creator and so man will stand before God without excuse.' Romans 1:19-22.

      And what a marvellous variety of designs are found in the nests of various birds yet, every bird in any given family will follow the same design, exactly, generation after generation.

      The little wagtail still builds his little open cup nest of spiders webs. The swallow, his of mud, each species to its own particular design and always under cover. The weavers, their woven hanging baskets, each species again to its own design and the starling and the sparrow, brought here from their native cold climate, show no inclination to adjust their instincts to the changed climate even after over a hundred years, because they still build their massive bundle of a nest, often in the hottest of places and, true to instinct, cover it completely in and then line it with all the warmest feathers they can find, just as their parents did in the cold country from which they came!

      Then, of course, there are many other inherent laws, or instincts as we call them, to which every bird in every species remains true.

      For example. Mode of flight. Colour and shape of eggs. General habits. Call notes. Design and colouring. All these are 'laws', unchanging and unfailing. In other words. each part of this marvellous living 'machine' fulfils its appointed duty as they did when they were first created by the Creator.

      Have you ever stopped to consider what intricate laws have to be observed in the colour scheme of a bird, especially those of many colours?

      Have you ever realised that, to produce a particular colour scheme, there may have to be four to five different colours on one feather, each colour must be in exactly the correct position on that particular feather and, that feather must grow in exactly the right position on the bird? Now. Multiply this by thousands and you will have some idea of the marvellous miracle which composes the clothing of one bird.

      Now. With this thought in mind, take a look if you can, through a book where hundreds of these birds are illustrated in full colour and note carefully.

      Every species is of a different design.

      Just realise, as you look at those marvellous designs and colour schemes, that every feather is placed in its appointed position and that is not all, for every individual feather itself is a marvel of workmanship and the most delicate and beautiful fabric produced by the most sophisticated of machines, sinks into insignificance when compared with the feather of a bird under a powerful lens because, apart from its beauty and perfection of workmanship, it consists of a double interlocked and most intricate mesh on either side of the feather.

      High speed films and video today have enabled us to observe more about birds, especially when they are in flight, and we are able to watch them more closely than ever before and just to observe a seagull in flight is a tremendous experience.

      Have you ever wondered how, by the movement of the wings up and down, the bird is driven forward?

      The secret lies in the design of the flight feathers.

      If you watch carefully you will notice that one side of the central rib is much wider than the other and under the pressure of the down stroke the feathers twist at an angle and act as a propeller, driving the bird forward.

      I suppose many of us have wondered how a bird can sleep clinging to a tree twig in a storm but it has been discovered that, attached to the bird's toes, is a long tendon which runs up the leg to the thigh and, as the bird lowers its body onto the perch, the tendon automatically tightens the toes around the twig and literally locks the bird to its perch.

      Birds have a wonderful respiratory system also, far superior to animals and their lungs absorb oxygen while exhaling as well as when inhaling.

      It has the richest blood of any creature and its bones are specially designed for extreme strength and lightness making the bird, with all its other numerous features, a perfect flying machine.

      Their migratory achievements are almost unbelievable!

      The Arctic Tern makes an annual round-trip of 22,000 miles and many of the birds, after these flights, return to rest in the same trees they departed from. The Golden Plover travels 3,000 miles over the ocean without a stop, losing only a few ounces of body fat, a million times more efficiently than the best aircraft.

      The tiny Blackpoll Warbler nests in Canada and then wings its way to Brazil, 4,000 miles away.

      'And the fool says in his heart. There is no God.' Psalm 14:1.

      Surely all, who will but stop and think over these marvellous things around us, must acknowledge a Supreme Master Mind. A Creator and, having realised this is so, be encouraged to seek and find Him for they will. it is a promise.

      Hebrews 11:6. 'He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.'

      Consider the flowers!

      Thousands of varieties of flowers are divided into their respective genus by some characteristic which they maintain as a definite law.

      The Callistemon and the Melaleuca are both bottle-brush plants but the stamens in the Callistemon are always individual whilst the stamens in the Melaleuca are always in bundles. Millions of flowers could be examined but the law is unfailing.

      Have you ever, as you breathed in the exquisite perfume of some of the flowers, been mystified by the fact that every flower perfume, regardless of time, place, soil, or any other condition, always produces its very own particular perfume? And one could write volumes showing how the Hand of God is revealed in flowers alone but no description could do justice to the beauty and workmanship revealed in the leaves and flowers under the microscope and so permanent is this beauty that, even when pressed and dried, many flowers, especially the wild-flowers, retain all this exquisite beauty.

      In some cases one could almost imagine they were gazing into a crystal palace or a cave set with jewels, yet when anything, even the most delicate and beautiful work done by human hands is put under the lens, it appears so clumsy in comparison as to be almost unbelievable.

      Are you going to say then that, these millions of exquisite designs, far exceeding in beauty and workmanship anything produced by man, are the result of mere hance?

      Marvellous beyond description are the means provided in the various flowers for the reproduction of their kind and, just to touch the fringe of this, it must be remembered that the pollen grains must be placed on the stigma in order to fertilise the ovary.

      How is this to be achieved?

      There are of course three main agents. The wind. The birds. The insects, and the ingenious designs and methods whereby these three agents can do this work can only be described as incredible! Pages could not do it justice!

      Nectar is provided to attract the insects and the birds and colour to guile them and, where colour is lacking, strong perfume is provided while in the case of wind pollinated plants, such as wheat and pine trees which have no need of colour or perfume another ingenious way is provided to effect pollination. The pollen is powdery and is carried by the wind to the sticky stigma and, in some cases, even has wings.

      In the insect pollinated flowers, it is sticky as well as having other means of adherence such as, tiny hooks which cling to the insect or bird until it comes in contact with the sticky stigma which, in turn, is especially designed and placed for the reception of the pollen. Many flowers have special devices for shooting the pollen onto the insect by releasing a trigger. Some flowers fertilise themselves having a trigger arrangement which is released by an insect or bird, causing the pollen to be shot onto the stigma.

      Among the Australian terrestrial orchids are many with the most ingenious and intriguing mechanisms. Many have movable or extremely sensitive parts which combine with other parts of the plant to hold, or temporarily trap an insect until pollination is achieved. Some release a platform or tongue, which springs upward and traps the insect in a compartment where it is held prisoner until the process of pollination is accomplished after which it releases its prisoner and resets itself for the next visitor.

      Often flowers only permit flying insects to visit them, means being provided to prevent crawling insects approach the flower while others, such as the Epacris, (a heath flower), cater especially for long tongued birds such as the Honeyeaters who, by the way, are provided with an actual brush at the end of their tongue, exactly like a tiny paint brush. Here again, is clearly revealed, foresight in design, because many flowers are thus reserved for the nectar birds, and are inaccessible to bees. These birds, of course, are a vital factor in the balance of nature, their diet being approximately half nectar and half insects.

      Now what is the purpose of all these devices?

      It is for the formation of seed for the propagation of the species, the miracle of life which man has not been able to fathom because even though he has been able to discover the 'elements of life', the DNA structure, he has not been able to discover the secret of life itself. He knows the process. But he also knows, even though he is reluctant to admit it, that the prospect of bringing life from these inert elements, from the so-called 'building blocks of life,' is remote because, not only is it beyond his understanding but he simply does not know how or why, the action of the genes and chromosomes is able to establish each species with, their forms and life-long characteristics when the microscopic world inside the ovary is fertilised.

      Scripture states it positively. God set in motion these laws which have continued unfailingly. Genesis 1:11. After his kind. For any person to suggest all this, (supernatural design which at every point reveals wisdom and purpose), is mere chance is, to put it mildly, childish and amounts to deliberately shutting one's eyes to the visible things of Creation which, in turn reveal the invisible Creator, and bring upon themselves the condemnation we read earlier in Romans 1:19-22 and, 'they are without excuse.'

      A point of particular interest, to those who want to see the Hand of God in Creation, is the fact that there is a numeric order running through all creation which, we shall see later, definitely, and beyond all dispute, proves that Creation and the Bible, (in its original form), is the Work of one and the same Author.

      In flowers, particularly the wildflowers untouched by man, we find on examination they have a definite numeric order.

      The basic number of the Daffodil is 3. The Boronia 4. The Buttercup and Eriostemon 5. This means if there are 4 sepals there will be 4 Petals and either 4 . . . 8 . . . 12 or 16 Stamens and the stigma will be divided according to the basic number for each plant. In other words, this means that if a flower has a basic number all its parts will correspond to that number or a multiple of the same.

      Boronia is a particular favourite of mine and, again and again, when out among the wildflowers and stop to examine and admire the flower of this genus I marvel afresh at the wonder of Creation for as sure as a child is born with ten fingers so also will this little flower in the bush comply with the numeric formula of its kind and it is the same in a field of wheat. There may be millions of grains of wheat but every head has an even number of grain and many other similar examples could be given, each faithful to its formula.

      Surely no one thinks this is mere co-incidence?

      In examining the leafy stem of a plant we find the leaves are arranged in uniform order also and if we draw a line around the stem from one leaf stalk to the next, this line will wind around the stem as it rises and, on any particular plant, there will be the same number of leaves for each turn around the stem.

      There are different ranks.

      Grasses are two ranked. That is, the second leaf starts exactly opposite the first, and above them the next two leaves do the same so that the leaves are in two vertical rows, one row on one side of the stem and one row on the other.

      Most water plants are three ranked. The second leaf being one third around the stem, the third leaf another two thirds away and the fourth leaf level with the first.

      Apple trees are five ranked. The spiral winds twice around the stem before it reaches a leaf directly over the first and this continues in various other species.

      The law is fixed and can be expressed numerically.

      The two ranked as 1/2 and the next as 1/3.

      The next order is found by adding the two top numbers of these fractions and placing them over the sum of the two bottom numbers, that is:-- 1+1 = 2, and 2+3 = 5 from which we get 2/5 and of course, using the same method with 1/3 and 2/5 we have 3/8, and so on.

      In seeds the field of study is almost endless and those who study it will find indisputable evidence of design, the Work of a Master Designer. Our Creator.

      How otherwise would you explain the fact that the seed, of the many trees and shrubs, is provided with an incredible scientific means of protecting it in the event of fire and a means of distributing the seed, after such a fire, for the propagation of the species? So intricate are some of these designs that no honest person can fail to, at least, acknowledge they were designed by some intelligence.

      Imagine, what would happen if all the seed of various plants just dropped on the ground beneath each plant when ripe. It would mean, in most cases, mass germination with the plants choking each other out. Who then, knowing all this, designed and arranged to the last detail, both in design and development, all the numerous and scientific means of scattering, far and wide, the seed of various plants, trees, and shrubs?

      Space will only permit a brief introduction to the subject which is fascinating. Take first the pea family and shrubs.

      How did it come about that these and other seed pods develop an internal spiral strain, which amounts to a loaded spring and, at the right moment, bursts the pod and catapults the seed away from it and I have known this seed to be thrown up to fifty feet from the plant and in all directions?

      How is it that the seed of many plants is provided with an array of tiny hooks which catch on to passing animals and are thus conveyed to distant places? Clover is an example.

      Many seeds ripen in attractive coloured berries which are eaten by the birds but, how why is it that, although these birds are provided with digestive acids so strong that they can digest grit and shell, they allow the seed of these various plants to pass through them undamaged to be dropped wherever the bird may chance to fly. The Eucalyptus mistletoe is a striking example of this fact actually germinating on the bough of the tree and attaching itself there.

      My attention to these methods of seed distribution was particularly drawn to this line of thought one day when I noticed a Scotch Thistle seed come floating down like a parachute and I soon realised, particularly after I had examined it under the lens, that here, in this simple everyday event was the undeniable evidence of a Master Designer.

      How was the Scotch Thistle, and many other plants, provided with such an ingenious means of carrying their seed over these great distances? It is a masterpiece of design and efficiency. Even the main 'whiskers' are hollow tubes in order to reduce weight to a minimum and are also tapered to give strength and, as if this were not enough to marvel at, they are covered with minute hairs so as to attain the utmost efficiency in flight. Indeed all the members of the thistle family I could call to mind that day had a somewhat similar means of broadcasting their seed and I am sure all gardeners are aware of this efficiency as they struggle with the thorns and thistles in their own gardens!

      It brought to mind the passage in Genesis 3:18, when God cursed the ground and said, 'Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to thee.'

      God, knowing the cunning of the man He had created, and that he had the ability to fight against the curse, provided the thorns and thistles with such efficient devices for their distribution that man has not been able to eradicate them to this day.

      How wonderful and real is all this when seen in the light of God's Word and think how vague and empty, in comparison, is the baseless theory of evolution.

      I suppose few people realise the significance of this and its purpose which must be to show man he is not the complete master of all things he assumes he is however, one would naturally think, with the vast increase of knowledge in all branches of science today, man would have conquered this curse and he has not. From the noxious weed to the invisible virus, the fight is still on, perhaps as never before, despite the endless array of chemical preparations manufactured to fight this curse in all its forms.

      Here is something which should cause anyone to stop and think. Visualise a seed so small as to be difficult to see with the naked eye. Now, within that speck, and most likely occupying only a very small part of it, is something called a germ of life and, within that microscopic germ is the inherent law of the Creator.

      A law which instructs the seed to germinate and grow and produce one of the largest trees in our Botanical Gardens, with all its features true to species and, this is not all for, within that law is also the power, through the tree, to reproduce its 'kind' perpetually.

      All this, transmitted through a speck much smaller than a needle's point, to produce the magnificent Melaleuca styphelioides. This is just one example of the possibilities concealed in that marvellous thing called 'Life' of which God alone is the Author and Sustainer.

      All mans efforts to produce one tiny speck of life have failed, never lose sight of that fact when you are inclined to exalt man. Man, of himself, can do nothing.

      One can think of all the wonderful machines that are made but, how far could man get if he had to create his own materials?

      One can be lost in admiration for all his clever inventions but remember, man is only harnessing powers and laws already provided and sustained by his Creator. Indeed! The very knowledge by which he achieves these things was endowed upon him by his Creator together with all the other attributes which place him so far above the animal kingdom.

      Design in plant seed is endless, another being the way some have the ability to bury themselves in the ground they fall upon, some are provided with bristles on a stem, all facing away from the seed, and, even an evolutionist would acknowledge the purpose of this is so that the seed may work itself into the ground when acted upon by the wind and the rain. This is most ingenious and the principle is being used today in the manufacture of various articles of clothing where a pulling tendency is needed in one direction.

      Some seeds are actually spring loaded and when they drop to the ground a screw action, buries them.

      Many seeds are provided with a substance, and an inherent law, causes them to form two thick and sappy leaves upon which the young plant can live, without water, if need be, until it can drive its roots well into the ground.

      In dry areas, the seed will germinate, produce two to four tiny leaves to draw oxygen and then proceed to form a root system ten to twenty times greater than might seem to be required.

      The purpose of this is quite obvious of course but who implanted the law?

      The action the seed of the Hakea takes is one of the millions no man can explain away! The capsule itself should be seen to fully appreciate that which follows for it is hard and unyielding and one can damage the seed inside if it is forced open.

      It is impossible to deny the following.

1. The purpose of the seed is to propagate the species.
2. The capsule must split open to release the seed.
3. The wings, attached to the seed, are for the purpose of carrying the seed away on the wind.
4. The purpose of this is to distribute the seed widely.

      This confronts us with two alternatives.

      If we accept the Genesis record that God created within all things and decreed that they should bring forth 'after their kind' then all the above is in perfect harmony with Genesis 1.

      On the other hand, if one holds to the evolutionary hypothesis, they are confronted with some unavoidable facts for which they have no answer.

      They are numerous and are as follows.

1. The tree must have had a desire to propagate its species.
2. It must have known that its seed was for this purpose and would grow.
3. It must have reasoned out that if it just dropped the seed the new plants would compete with each other and choke each other out.
4. It must have known what few people know, that the seeds would fall with the same speed as its heavy capsule.
5. Therefore it would have to be careful to use great wisdom to ensure the seed as scattered.
6. It would have to know the wind could be used as an agent.
7. It would have to know some things very important, that the wind was able to exert pressure on a flat surface, which the wing has, and know the principles of gliding when air pressure is present.
8. It must know about the pull of gravity. And, after all this, been able to by combining all these laws conclude that, if the wing was set at an angle of 45 degrees to the pull of gravity, and with a slight tilt, the seed would spin while falling.
9. Then also have calculated that the spinning action would extend the falling time, so that the wind could carry it even further away.
10. It must have had great wisdom in designing the capsule to have it split open in exactly the correct place to release the two seeds.

      The genus, Hakea, as with many others holds the seed in the capsule which is kept green with sap until one of several things occur.

      The capsule will not open until, either the sap ceases to flow after a fire or, when a bough breaks and the extreme hard casing, when green, protects it from birds.

      Only when it is needed to propagate the species it will open.

      It is also designed so that the seed will only fall when the wind is blowing.

      Let the evolutionist explain.

1. How did the tree know the seed must be kept perfectly dry?
2. How did it develop such an effective means of doing so by encasing the seed in a recess impregnated with damp proof wax in the sap saturated capsule?
3. Who gave the tree the formula for this wax and the knowledge to carry all the foregoing into effect?
4. Above all. How did it put life into each and every individual seed so that it would bring forth faithfully. 'After its kind' or, (miyn Hebrew) species or genus?

      This is but one of millions of example of the 'visible' things of Creation revealing the 'invisible' God, and it demands the acknowledgment of an all wise Creator!

      Remember. No man has yet been able to give any other intelligent explanation for these things in fact it is a recognised law that things left to themselves tend to disorder and confusion. One can see on every hand this is so.

      Do leaves falling from a tree form themselves into a uniform design?

      No! And it is just as obvious that where there is a design there is of necessity a designer.

      Suppose you were out in a forest and you found a clothes peg?

      No one would ever convince you it was formed of its own accord. Now ask yourself why your mind tells you this? It is because reason says someone must have made it to be that particular shape, no matter where you found it.

      We know corrugated iron is made the way it is because research has shown this method the most efficient way to strengthen the material but have you ever wondered why insects, large and small, employ exactly the same principle for a similar purpose?

      How did they come to this conclusion?

      The vanes in a wind machine or an electric fan are concaved because research has demonstrated that this is the most practical and efficient means of strengthening them to resist the air pressure to which they are subjected. Yet how can one explain the fact that the wing of a bee is concaved in exactly the same way in order to prevent it buckling under the terrific strain to which it is subjected in flight.

      Again. Man has found through long and bitter experience that disaster will surely follow if the principle and design of taper is not strictly adhered to in a thousand and one things, from a television tower to a fishing rod and, this principle of taper is but one of a number of designs of maximum efficiency found in the wings of most insects and in the flight feathers of all birds.

      It is evident throughout both the animal and vegetable kingdoms, a standard of design, perfected and employed in every branch of creation. A perfection man has not yet been able to reach despite years of practical research at prohibitive cost.

      I feel I cannot stress too much the importance of this fact.

      Words cannot convey the significance of this evidence of Creation. It must be seen to be appreciated and a half an hour with the microscope can do more to bring home the facts of creation and design than hours of reading can do.

      The element of size is a factor worth considering also.

      Today we see devices so small they make us wonder at the expertise of those who invent them but it is at great cost and takes an incredible number of highly competent staff, who have been trained for many years, to work together in harmony before even these wonders can begin to be used to advantage. Yet. In creation, both in the great and the small, in the universe we see through the telescope, and the minute we observe through the microscope, one can see a perfection which far excels the craftsmanship of any human hand.

      And one of the most amazing things I have ever studied is the microscopic life in fresh water, such as a fish pond.

      Of course they are far to small to be seen with the naked eye but it the perfection which is found in these almost unbelievably minute forms of life which amaze one!

      Not only are they perfectly formed and wonderfully made, but each one is as busy as an ant, doing the work for which they are there, the purification of the water.

      It is here we see the animal and the vegetable kingdoms almost merge for there are animals which grow leaves and buds and these buds, in some species, even break off and become their offspring, and there are others in which only females are known and some plants which swim about and catch and eat animals!

      There are those which have no organs such as ears, eyes, legs, or mouths, indeed no organs inside or out, (not even a hole in their body), yet they catch and swallow, or absorb, other animals. Stranger still the animal to be consumed can pass into the interior at any point, yet at no place is there an entrance.

      I refer here to the Amoeba, the one celled animal, said to be one of the lowest forms of life yet I have watched this thing intelligently escape from what appeared to be a very difficult situation. What would you think of an animal which, after being cut into six separate parts, was able to not only develop the missing organs but also able to produce six complete bodies to carry on as though nothing had happened?

      Another blow for evolution for when were these wonderful powers forfeited by a higher creation and, if it be thought they did, why?

      One could fill a book recording the wonderful things going on in a pool of water and I have spent many an evening looking at just a teaspoonful. It is a study full of absorbing interest and the minuteness of the this world of microscopic life is beyond the power of the mind to conceive.

      With a moderately powerful lens the body of water which can be examined could be described thus.

      Take a piece of white paper and just barely pierce it with a sharp needle to make the smallest hole which will admit light. That will be many times smaller than the dot of an i on this page.

      Imagine how much water could be placed in the hole and that will be our aquarium. It is almost incredible isn't it?

      However, If we magnify it to about 5 cm in diameter, and with the special light, not only the animals but the very organs of their interior can be watched, even the food passing in and going right through the stomach and the means provided for the various animals to perform their special work is nothing short of staggering!

      'And the fool has said, in his heart, there is no God.' Psalm 14:1.

      Let me briefly describe one family known as the Rotifer. Firstly, they are provided with one or two, what appears to be, revolving wheels revolving like a windmill, (they are actually a circular series of flexible fins), These fins can be set in motion, or collapsed, at will. They can be swung in any direction and they serve two purposes being used for gathering food and for propulsion.

      When set in motion they draw everything before them into a vortex and, that which is required for food passes directly into their interior drawn there by another action which also can be set in motion at will, however. by some further unseen means, all particles not required, although speeding into this vortex towards the entrance, can be diverted and swirled away, at the last moment, to one side.

      At the same time, to prevent the whole body being drawn forward by these propellers until ready, an anchor in the form of a spike is set in the end of the long tail and, to move forward, all that is required is to release the anchor. It presents an almost perfect picture of a plane taking off!

      The food itself can be seen passing in and being dealt with by a mechanical device which looks like a miniature stone crusher working about 200 rpm and, what I would like you to understand is the marvellous fact that here is just one example of numerous creatures, far too small to be seen with the naked eye, and said to be among the lowest form of life who are provided with the most ingenious devices mind could imagine. Actually a living hydro-plane with its propellers serving a double purpose.

      How came these things to be?

      There is only one honest conclusion. It is undeniable evidence of an all-wise Creator.

      There are many other evidences of design in unusual places one being in the area of the so-called killer-plants and while, no one would suggest that a plant has the brains and intelligence to think and plan, the fact is that each of these plants is equipped with an intelligently designed means of trapping insects which it consumes.

      Most of us are able to appreciate the visible working of the things of nature but that which is hidden beneath, the really marvellous and essential things, are hidden from all but a privileged few.

      The Protein Molecule, an absolute essential to all life is of such a 'fantastically complicated structure' that a group of scientists at Cambridge spent ten years in unravelling its intricacies. We seldom give a thought to the intricate machinery used between the forest tree and the newspaper which comes from it and, in the same way, we seem almost unaware of the wonderful machinery and process, working twenty four hours a day beneath the surface of a pond, in a flower, or a bird, which are constantly before out gaze.

      The Virus, which we hear about constantly, is among the smallest of living things, (if it could be called living), because it cannot reproduce itself unaided and therefore it is not living in the true sense. It is apparently lifeless and can be subjected to treatment which would kill any germ, it can be crystallised indefinitely yet, place it in a living cell and, in twenty four minutes it can reproduce itself two hundred times. I see this as one of the items of the 'curse' of Genesis 3.

      Camouflage in nature is another wonderful example of design for a purpose.

      I have frogs in my garden which can change from almost white to black taking on the colour of the material on which they are squatting. There are crabs which, for protection, fix an anemone to their backs, which most other sea animals shun and. all through nature we see this evidence of camouflage for protection.

      There are eels and rays which can generate a powerful electrical charge and disperse it and archer fish, which live in streams are equipped with special vision and have an ingenious device in their 'make-up' to shoot a jet of water up a meter and bring down a fly or insect from an overhanging branch.

      The Sonar, or radar system, in numerous forms of bats has long been know but only in recent years has the extent of this ability been realised in the dolphin. It surpasses, in certain respects, a device used by man and is being studied to reveal its secrets and the dolphin, apart from the intelligence we all admire, has a skin lubricant which is most efficient.

      The spinneret of the spider, through which it can eject and spin a thread of several hundred strands, is a marvel of engineering design and efficiency.

      It is not generally known that wasps were the first to make paper pulp from wood, indeed the first paper from wood pulp was actually made from the nests of wasps who have as we examined earlier the formula to make, and the means to inject, an anaesthetic to preserve live food for its young.

      The development of the achromatic camera was only made possible by prolonged study of the human eye which revealed secrets hitherto thought impossible of solving, especially the matter of chromatic aberration.

      How many people realise that every one of the hundreds of bones in a human body, or in an animal, are designed for a purpose which is best appreciated by a visit to a museum.

      However, even here we can only view the external to our loss for within the hollow bones is a hive of activity. It is here the blood cell factory is continually turning out millions of new blood cells, and storing calcium to build and repair bones if they are damaged.

      All authorities agree they are designed for a purpose and are a masterpiece of engineering because it is clearly revealed in the hollow column, the ball and socket, the principle of taper, the web, the hinged joints, and the tendency to the oblong, which doubles or triples its strength.

      It all points to one thing.

      The Work of a Master Designer.

      The human brain still remains an unsolved mystery.

      Sir Charles Sherrington of London writes, 'Despite the advances in medical science we have not yet accumulated more than fragmentary insight into what goes on in the brain which is of unimaginable complexity.'

      Professor Wilder Penfield, McGill University, 'Today, even though we are awed and frightened by the intellectual achievements of man's mind, the mechanisms that make it possible are still unknown.'

      Today, with the aid of satellites, complex telescopes on the earth and in space, together with space probes and incredible technology, we have seen much of our galaxy, walked on the surface of the moon, photographed and even examined the surface of Mars and each day it seems we have almost endless opportunity to learn more and more each day about the immensity and wonder of the universe of which we are a part but, the danger is that, when one considers how apparently insignificant our tiny planet, the earth is, one is apt to question the meaning of it all, lose faith and wonder how God could possibly be interested in this tiny speck of matter.

      However being one of many, like yourself, who cannot rest without some satisfactory answer to this question, I sought to learn as much I as could about this immense system which every day opens up new and fascinating avenues for man to explore.

      The enormous size of some of our neighbouring planets alone is enough to stagger the imagination.

      The Sun, 1,300,000 times larger than our earth.

      Arcturus, a super giant, 25,000 times greater than the Sun.

      And at distances away from us which have to be calculated in light years to comprehend them at all and it is almost beyond us to understand the speeds at which the light from them travel.

      But what I wish to draw your attention to is this.

1. The marvellous fact, acknowledged by all astronomers, that these vast and numerous galaxies are not just randomly occupying space, but each are distinct and separated by huge distances and all, like our own Milky Way, are working in astounding harmony to an accurate timetable.
2. As far as can be ascertained our earth appears to be unique in that it is not either a flaming furnace or a frozen and barren waste.

      It is widely acknowledged that this multitude of mathematical combinations point to a planned planet which has, besides this, thousands of contributing factors built into it to maintain life, as we know it for, without them in and around the earth, life upon it would be impossible, but, God is a perfect mathematician.

      Around the earth is a filter, called the ozone, the piercing of which some years ago caused consternation among us all. Science has no scientific explanation how it came to be there but they do know that this alone protects all life on earth from the harmful rays from space.

      One of the great unsolved mysteries of the earth and the universe is the mystery of gravitation. All the stars, planets, and satellites are accurately balanced between two laws, gravity and inertia, and just how these two mighty but unseen forces can act across vast distances remains a complete mystery.

      Both the Bible and Science tell us that the earth was once covered by water before Creation, Genesis 1:9 and it is estimated that, if the land were levelled over the whole earth, the water would cover it to a depth of one and a half miles or almost 3 Kilometres. But it is only the fact that this tremendous amount of water is here that makes life possible, not only because of the teeming life within it, but because it generates rain, influences our climate, and our weather and contains the vital elements of our atmosphere also.

      Each year earth makes a journey of almost 600 million miles around the Sun.

      Saturn, the planet with the spectacular rings which the space probe examined and moved through some years ago has nine moons, one travelling in the opposite direction to the others.

      Uranus has five moons all revolving backwards.

      Neptune two moons, which circle it in opposite directions.

      Strangest of all. Jupiter which has twelve moons, because Numbers 8, 9, 11, and 12 travel backwards, and all the others forward.

      Science has no positive answers to why this is so.

      It is generally agreed among astronomers that the only planet in our solar system which has the remotest possibility of life, (that is true animal or vegetable life), is Mars and that is most unlikely because of the lack of oxygen and both extreme heat and extreme cold.

      The earth is 93,000,000 miles from the sun and Mars even further at 142,000,000 miles and when Mars was closest to the earth, continuous observation led the Director of the McDonald Observatory, Dr. Gerard P. Kuiper to report, "Human life on Mars is entirely our of the question, because of extreme cold and lack of oxygen."

      The fact, cannot be over emphasised, that all the vital elements of life in accurate portions combine to make life on earth, not only possible, but prolific. The enormous quantity of water and the oxygen, both absolutely essential for life, appear to be unique to earth and, apart from design for a purpose, there is no reason for:--

1. Earth being just the correct distance from the sun.
2. The ozone filter which surrounds and protects it.
3. The twenty four hour day to prevent us either freezing or roasting.
4. The 23 degree inclination of the axis to give us four seasons.
5. The moon being just the correct distance away and how that controls the tides.
6. The mysterious power and process of photo-synthesis, still not understood, but absolutely essential to life.

      These are a few facts for which science has no explanation.

      And . . . Did the Atom just happen?

      Just as the most powerful of telescopes probing into the infinities of space reveal wonders beyond description, so too does the electron microscope open up a world of teeming millions of living things, minute beyond human conception, and reveal worlds beyond our imagination.

      The term, 'miniature solar system,' well describes the Atom and, as we journey into this intricate and finely balanced 'power house' we find the seal of God is surely revealed to us again.

      More and more is being discovered about atoms, almost daily of course but, for us, the atom is an immense system of cohesive forces of tremendous, energy, pent-up as though waiting to be released, and so powerful is this energy that it is estimated that the atoms in just one kilogram of matter contain enough power to run all the generating plants in the USA for a month or more.

      All matter is made up of atoms, approximately one three hundred million of an inch in diameter, yet within this minute space is a whirling 'solar system'.

      The central nucleus is about 10,000 times smaller still!

      The electrons revolve about the nucleus and the nucleus and the electrons hold together because of the electrical attraction between them.

      Electrons emerge from matter under special conditions and have a definite mass of their own.

      They also have a negative electric charge, a magnetic moment, and an intrinsic rotary motion, (spin), and all electrons are the same, no matter where they come from.

      No one has ever subdivided an electron or obtained an electric charge smaller than on one electron and this electronic charge is therefore used as the basic unit of charge in atomic physics.

      The nucleus consists of two types of 'fundamental particles'. the positive charged proton and the electrically neutral neutron and these two are nearly equal in mass, (about 1,800 times that of an electron), and they also have magnetic moment and 'spin'.

      The proton charge is equal to the electron charge but opposite in sign.

      The potential in this system is almost beyond comprehension and this is but an introduction to the mighty atom!

      It is an interesting fact that, in the seventeenth century, it was almost universally accepted by all scientists that all Creation was the work of a Supreme Being and their greatest joy was in searching out the marvels of Creation and, with the coming of the telescope and microscope, this view was strengthened and firmly held by that great scientist, Sir Isaac Newton. It waned somewhat in the eighteenth century but by the nineteenth it became more established than ever.

      The Royal Society of London stood firm on this foundation and great men of science revelled in seeking out design in Creation until the middle of the nineteenth Century when a set-back occurred largely through religious fanatics.

      This opened the way for men like Darwin, Haeckel, Huxley, and others who delighted in the opposite view and their publications, which replaced Creation with 'blind chance', was almost universally accepted and has been undoubtedly one of the greatest barriers to the acceptance of the Christian Faith.

      It is undeniably true that the increase in knowledge over the past century has surpassed mans wildest dreams but how many realise that this, in itself, is a fulfilment of prophecy?

      Daniel 12:4 has this reference to the times we live in.

      'Many shall run too and fro and knowledge shall be increased.'

      Two outstanding things of our day. How sad for wisdom has, in turn decreased.

      However, even this is a fulfilment of prophecy. One which speaks of the 'last days', as one can read in the Word of God.

      2 Timothy 3:1-5 has this. 'This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.'

      Let us now approach the Bible itself and examine some facts which today, perhaps as never before, stand out as a mighty challenge to the world. The Bible was compiled by some forty writers over a long time and touched on subjects about which they had little knowledge at all. It should be full of errors and hopelessly out of date with the world of today yet, the reverse is true, and it is true because it was written under inspiration from God.

      Here is a remarkable challenge and it is found in the book of Job.

      Job, although approved of God, still had many lessons to learn and after his misfortunes and the dubious advice from his friends had left him almost desolate God asked them some stupendous questions which, not only disclosed how little they knew of His mighty purpose and power, but also revealed the wonder of His wisdom and power and the secrets hidden in His Creative acts.

      A knowledge far beyond the possibility of any man alive to know at that time.

      One of the first is the question, "Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?" Job 38:22.

      No man living then could have known anything about the "treasures of the snow" and, in fact, until the microscope was in use these treasures were concealed from all.

      What are these treasures?

      They must be seen to be fully appreciated and with the advent of high speed, film and video cameras we can all see them today in glorious colour and marvel at the design and exquisite beauty of each crystal because no two are alike.

      Everyone of them is built on a perfect hexagon and exhibit a marvel of design beyond description but if you can imagine a table covered with the most exquisitely crocheted cloth, each part a beautiful yet different design, you may have some inkling of the "hidden treasures of the snow."

      This is not all of course, but only the Creator Himself could have known, at that time, what delights of design lay within this fragile flake which fell from the sky only to merge into the earth.

      Another intriguing question was, "Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee. Here we are?" Job 38:35. If we had no other evidence of the inspiration of the Bible, it is clearly revealed here for who, but God alone knew, then, that electro-magnetic waves, as in lightning, could be so controlled as to be sent to speak words in another place far away? And the scientific fact stated here reveals that not only could the "lightnings" be sent but that they could speak. This is exactly the principle used in communications today.

      A voice, if it were audible, would take approximately fifteen hours to travel from Europe to Australia, but the "lightnings" reproduce it in about one fifteenth of a second.

      No wonder Job acknowledged these things were too wonderful for him!

      There are several intriguing questions in the 38th chapter of Job. One presenting a gigantic challenge to the unbeliever. It is in Job 38:32 and reads, "Canst thou guide Arcturus in his flight?" Now all the early astronomers claimed this star was stationary and, before the world had sophisticated instruments, it must have seemed strange to them at this time for God to ask Job could he guide it if it were not moving. No doubt this Scripture had been held up to ridicule by many, before the advent of superior telescopes and tracking devices, who had claimed it was a fixed star.

      But God makes no mistakes and time repeatedly reveals the error of the world's wisdom and those who ridicule are continually put in the position where they are finally forced to acknowledge their error, although they seldom confess the Word of God was correct.

      To deny that the earth was flat was a heresy in the fifteenth century, and that view was held by many for years, and together with that, many did not believe it revolved. Yet both these scientific facts are revealed in the Bible. It is there for all to see but recently a man ridiculed the Word of God, writing to say, "The Bible implies implicitly that the earth is flat."

      He had never read the words spoken to Job where the Lord God said. "It is turned as clay to the potter's seal." Job 38:14.

      Most people know how a potter turns the clay as this is a very ancient craft. What better illustration could God have given Job to alert him to the fact the earth was round and turning on its axis towards the sun, thus commanding the days as they unfolded, and to emphasise this, we read in Isaiah 40:18-22, written more than 2,700 years ago, these words, where verse 18 reads. To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? and ends with verse 22 which has, it is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.

      And, preceding Isaiah, David as he sings his song of praises to God for the heavens above him, declares, that, every day God speaks in a language every one can understand, a language which reaches to the uttermost parts of the earth, a language which takes God's message, 'from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it and there is nothing hid from the heart thereof.' Psalm 19.

      And, if this were not enough to answer those who bring this accusation against the Word of God, Job has one more thing to say, Job 26:7, it reads, "He stretched out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing."

      What marvellous scientific facts are revealed in these statements, and surely, it must be clear to the most critical, that only God, could have caused those words to be recorded, because only He knew anything of this mystery.

      Even when it was proved that the earth was indeed hanging in space, men could hardly believe it. No wonder when we consider the tremendous weight of some six thousand trillions tons it consists of and that its surface is revolving at the rate of 1,100 miles per hour. If that were not enough, the whole of it moving out through space around the sun at eighteen and a half miles a second to make a circuit in one year of almost 600 million miles.

      Yet to our Mighty God, our Creator, it was a small thing. He had Job record it, all those years ago, for our present wonder and enlightenment!

      And, of course, it is well known now that, not only are the fingers of every person sealed with an individual print no other person on earth possesses, but that there are other even more sophisticated means of identification which sets each person apart from his fellow.

      However, there is no way Job could have known this fact until God revealed that, "He sealeth up the hand of every man." Job 37:7. It is obviously something God inspired Job to record for a purpose, but neither Job, nor any other man, understood the marvel of it until comparatively recent times.

      Another remarkable prediction fulfilled is that regarding Asher, "dipping his foot in oil," Deuteronomy 33:24. Asher, a tribe in Israel, was allotted a piece of land in Palestine and today a great pipeline, carrying tons of oil, runs right through the foot of Asher terminating in the toe of Haifa.

      The mention here of iron and brass is significant and, while no comment is needed from me, let God speak.

      "I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done." Isaiah 46:9-10.

      Surely now these latter examples of supreme wisdom, taken from the Word of God itself, should command our serious attention unless we are determined to remain blind for it is obvious they could not be the words of some ordinary man.

      However, those who seek to discredit the Bible, still persist in disclosing, what they consider to be, an error, and one, which was put forward some years ago and found credence among mathematicians, was the value of (pi).

      The passage of Scripture in which this occurs is found in 1 Kings 7:23 and 2 Chronicles 4:2, and, at first glance it does appear that the Word of God uses an approximation of 3 for the value of (pi), indeed, several commentators and some who compile Bible Dictionaries have also interpreted the passage in this way.

      This comes because of a surface reading of 1 Kings 7:23 without reading verse 26, or verse 5 in 2 Chronicles 4:2, both which continues with the description of the basin.

      Briefly, the basin measured 10 cubits from the edge of one brim to the other, and when filled, it held 2999 baths and the circumference of it was thirty cubits. 1 Kings 7:22-26, 2 Chronicles 4:1-5.

      If the whole passage is read carefully one can see that the brim was curved away like the brim of a cup with flowers of lilies, therefore the water could only fill the basin to where it curved away, so that the circumference of the water was less than the circumference of the basin.

      It might be easier to understand if I told you I designed a pond which was 220 cm from the outside edge of one rim to the outside edge of the opposite rim, and when filled with water, the circumference of the water was 660 cm.

      This, because I had made it with a curved edge, like an ornamental bowl, and the water could only fill it to the point where the edge began to roll away. The diameter of the water at this point, is 210 cm, whereas, the diameter of the pond itself, from the outside edge of one rim to the outside edge of the rim on the other side is 220 cm.

      Those who saw what they believed to be a flaw in the Word of God might not have been so eager to exploit it, had they read the full description of the basin and its contents.

      God's Word is sure.

      Why not then make an honest approach to the Bible and settle the question of Divine Authorship once and for all?

      If you had a solicitors letter advising you that you had inherited a fortune would you not investigate it? And even though you heard conflicting reports about it would it stop you from finding out the truth?

      Certainly not! You would look into every avenue you could to verify it.

      Why not then, investigate the Word of God, a far more reliable source than that of any solicitor, about an inheritance which has been purchased for you at great cost, and, only awaits your acceptance for you to receive it? An inheritance which comes to you from God Himself, the Creator of all things.

      "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance, incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5.

      Remember. Not only has this inheritance been purchased for you at tremendous cost, but the Bible in which the record has been kept for you to see cost the lives of thousands of faithful men and women who were prepared to be tortured, even to die, to preserve the Word of God and the word of their testimony, and God, will not hold you guiltless if you ignore the record which has been made available to you at such a stupendous price!

      I fully realise that the marvellous truths have been hidden to many because some have used the position and authority entrusted to them for themselves, while others are just, "blind leaders of the blind ", unwitting agents for Satan in his work of blinding us to the glorious realities of the Plan of God.

      God only wants honest hearts and, where He sees such, He will in some way make the truth known.

      Be sure you do not spurn it when you are given it!

      "Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you." Luke 11:9.

      And when called, answer.

      "He that openeth no man shutteth, and He that shutteth no man openeth." Revelation 3:7.

      God is a loving God and would that, "None should perish." 2 Peter 3:9.

      For many there are difficulties however, so let us now examine some of the records in the Bible which have been the subject of criticism and often, ridicule.

      First let me say that those who are inclined this way have become easy victims of Satan, whose work is to blind men to the Truth. They run riot with all kinds of imaginative statements about the World, the Scriptures, and God, none of which are supported in the Bible.

      Have you ever seen sheep being driven along a road?

      I have often had to smile when one of them imagines something in his path and jumps, and the one behind him jumps in response, and the next, each one jumping higher and higher. It is a perfect picture of human "sheep" seeing imaginary obstacles in the Bible.

      For instance there is endless argument and ridicule over the age of the earth with geologists claiming geology proves it to be much older than the Bible indicates, but where does the Bible set any date for the Creation?

      The Word is, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Genesis 1:1. The word "beginning" is the Hebrew word, reshryth, first in rank, or order. I fail to see any date indicated here.

      Certainly a comparison between Isaiah 45:18 and Genesis 1:1-2 indicate it is possible that, at some indeterminate time, the earth was subjected to terrific judgement or destruction which caused great desolation but Genesis records, briefly, all we need to know about Creation. That, in six days, God ordered all the elements, created the herbs, trees, fishes, birds, animals, man and then rested on the seventh day. Of course there are many hidden possibilities which lie behind the stark outline of events, as the Scriptures have recorded them, the details of which emerge later as we saw in Job.

      God is not in the least concerned with giving us a detailed account of Creation. It is not 'WHEN' or 'HOW' we need to be concerned about but, 'WHY', and this 'WHY' is revealed throughout His Word to those who, as Hebrews 11:6 has it, "Believe that He is, for He is a rewarder of them who seek Him diligently."

      God, through inspired men, only gave us a brief account of Creation in Genesis, but had them record, in more detail, the things which concern man's fall and His Plan of Redemption.

      Nevertheless, in doing so, He left us in no doubt that He, through His Son, is the Mighty Creator of all things. John 1:1-4.

      Of course, imagination runs riot sometimes because of the lack of detail in Genesis and many fall into error trying to 'fill-in' what they think are the 'gaps.'

      Some have imagined that the sin committed in the Garden of Eden was the union of Adam and Eve but had they read Genesis 1:28 carefully, one imaginary obstacle would have disappeared immediately for we read, "And God blessed them and said, be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth."

      However, the nature of 'sin' is revealed in Genesis 3:11-17, where we see that their disobedience, or wilful rebellion, just as we are caught up in it today, led to them taking that which God asked them not to. Of course they blamed each other as we tend to do ourselves now when wrong and surely if it were not for the Promise of Genesis 3:15, fulfilled in Christ our Saviour, our lot would be hopeless indeed.

      Some, having stumbled at the Word where it records that "Cain married a wife," say with great confidence, "Where did Cain get his wife?" Well! There is not the slightest mystery connected with this.

      Just consider for a moment that command given to Adam and Eve, a perfect couple, in a perfect environment.

      What would be the obvious result? What were they created for? To replenish the earth with many sons and daughters.

      As they lived for hundreds of years, having health we have no conception of, there would have been many women from whom Cain could chose a wife. His sisters certainly but as this was the only course for all Creation there is nothing strange about that.

      But does the Bible indicate this? Yes very clearly!

      If you read through the fourth chapter, you will see that, without a doubt, many people were on the earth when Cain was married and that Cain built a city. If you bear in mind that which I wrote before that this is not a detailed account of every event then many difficulties will be overcome as this course is followed throughout the Bible.

      You will note with the account in question no mention is made of the birth of daughters until the fourth verse of the fifth chapter, where it speaks of Adam living 930 years and having "many sons and daughters."

      It has been estimated by those who have researched this question, (both laymen and Bible students), that the population of the earth, about the time the Bible records Cain went out to the land of Nod, was perhaps a million, or more.

      The Scriptures do not waste time about this being possible from a beginning of two but state simply, "Eve was the mother of all living," and although the record in Genesis 1 only records the creation of Adam, 1 Corinthians 15:45 confirms it by the words.

      "Adam was the first man."

      And how often has Noah's Ark been held up to ridicule?

      As often, I suppose, as the idea of the earth revolving in Space or hanging upon nothing.

      However, God has been very careful to have men record some things which should make the critics think and Noah's Ark, despite their scepticism, is one of them.

      For a beginning, God gave Noah the measurements, namely 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. It is well known in ship building that one of the greatest technical problems is determining the correct proportionate dimensions because the slightest increase in length upsets all the others.

      Engineers today acknowledge these measurements to be perfect.

      In fact a number of well known ship builders have published papers, some of which I have, to the effect that, if they were required to build a vessel for a similar purpose, nothing better than the dimensions given in Genesis 6, could be designed.

      The size of the vessel compares with a fairly large liner and the proportions are perfect for the purpose for which it was intended having three decks finished in a cubit on top. Few would deny the ample evidence we have today, the world over, of a universal deluge and upheaval as the account itself clearly declares.

      There are one or two spiritual values seen here by many Christians also, not obvious at first but inherent in the account as we look back to the event. Just as the Ark brought salvation to the eight who were saved, so we too find salvation in the Ark of God, Christ our Saviour who, in His death on the Cross, effected our Atonement. The Scripture reads that the Ark was "pitched both within and without" and the word, 'pitch', comes from the Hebrew word kaphor also used as 'atonement.'

      But what a noise there has been made about the account of Jonah and the whale in the book of Jonah! The strange thing is that there is nothing incredible about it.

      Our Lord put His Seal to the truth of it when He used the incident to show it was another of those wonderful 'types' relating to Himself, in this case, foreshadowing His three days and nights in his battle with Satan. Luke 18:31-33 and Matthew 12:39-41.

      Remember, as with the Lord Jesus Christ, Jonah offered his life of his own free will to save others.

      And, not that it matters, but who said it was a whale?

      The actual words in Jonah 1:17 are, "Now the LORD had prepared a 'great fish' to swallow up Jonah" and, although that in itself should be enough to satisfy all critics the word Christ used was 'ketos' meaning 'sea monster.'

      The translators cannot be blamed and may well have been right in assuming it was a whale because there is nothing to prevent a large whale from swallowing a man, and Frank Bullen (F. R. G. S.), who has had experience in whaling, has recorded whales up to seventy feet long, and on one occasion a fifteen foot shark was found in a sperm whale.

      I do no t suppose Jonah was as big as that shark and another fact about sperm whales is that they often vomit up the contents of their stomach when near death, which corresponds exactly with the account in Jonah.

      However there ARE records of men having been swallowed by whales, the incident following being one of them.

      In February of 1891 whilst the sailing ship, "The Star of the East'" was off Falkland Islands, a large cachalot, or sperm whale, was sighted and the whale boats were launched. They succeeded in harpooning the whale but, in securing it, one of the whale boats was smashed and seaman James Bartley disappeared before the whale was killed, and when they dismembered the whale the following day Bartley was found alive in the stomach!

      He was mentally disturbed for two weeks but finally recovered except for the bleaching of the exposed parts of his body which had been acted upon by the whale's gastric juices and later, James Bartley, told what had happened and said that, after the initial confusion and the sensation of forward movement, and the sense of great darkness, he felt his hands in contact with a slippery substance which seemed to shrink from his touch and. when he realised what had happened, he was horrified. He could breathe easily enough but the heat and darkness combined coupled with the realisation of his fate caused him to lose consciousness which he did not regain until he 'came to' in the captain's cabin.

      The authority for this account is Sir Francis Fox in the book, "Sixty three years of Engineering", published by James Murray, London, 1924.

      We know that if a man can breathe he can be unconscious or in a coma for weeks and, as Jonah's whale was specifically 'prepared' for him, his position was probably quite comfortable compared with James Bartley's.

      A person must be hard pressed indeed to use this Bible record as an excuse for doubting God's Word.

      In 1945 Mr. Payne wrote. How many have questioned the truth and the reliability of the ages given in the Bible for this man and many others?

      It is only natural perhaps for we, in this age, have no conception of the physique of the men of those times nor of the perfect conditions in which they lived. However, let us examine this one whose age at his death is given as 969 years. The name itself is intriguing and was given to him by his father, prophetically I believe, after his encounter with God on his sixtieth birthday.

      Enoch "walked with God" AFTER he had begotten Methuselah, 360 years because, as the book of Hebrews verifies, he "pleased God" and he named his son Methuselah which has several ways it can be translated, 'man of the javelin', 'man of the dart' or as, 'when he is dead it shall be sent'.

      Confirmation of this may be found in Dake's Complete annotated Reference Bible in the Authorised King James Text, the 1979 Edition which was the 11th printing. It had been first printed in 1963. He, on page 5, emphasises the fact that it was "after" Enoch begat Methuselah that Enoch "walked with God" in the following words.

      "Why not before Methuselah was born? Could it be that something happened at this time that would have turned him to God? It is clear that at this time he did receive a revelation from God, for he named his son Methuselah, which mean, "when he is dead it, (the deluge), shall come". He also foretold the Second Coming of Christ to destroy the ungodly." Jude 14.

      Mr. Payne summarised the events in this way. We shall see how God, through Enoch, was actually foretelling a great event almost a thousand years ahead, when he named this child although we are not given the slightest hint of this in Scripture.

      It is one of those hidden truths, awaiting the seeker.

      Let us apply the microscope.

      "Methuselah lived 187 years and begat Lamech." Genesis 5:25.

      "Lamech lived 182 years and begat Noah." Genesis 5:28.

      Total 369 years.

      So, Methuselah was 369 years old when Noah was born.

      And, as he lived 969 years, he must have died when Noah was 600.

      Remembering the phrase, "When he is dead it shall be sent."

      Did anything remarkable take place in the 600th year of Noah's life, the year we have shown Methuselah died?

      Let us look at Genesis 7:11-12.

      "In the six hundreth year of Noah's life, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened."

      So here is uncovered a wonderful truth.

      By piecing together various recorded facts we see how God foretold the coming flood, inspiring Enoch to so name his child as he did. We also see the 'longsuffering' of God in extending the life of Methuselah, for his death was decreed to be the striking of the hour when the judgement of God was to fall.

      It must be obvious to the reader how accurate all these ages have been recorded because, if any had been just one year out, this test would reveal an error.

      What a battleground the five books of Moses have been for its numerous critics! For hundreds of years they have contested almost every statement by challenging it with the words that Moses could not possibly have written it because writing was not known until many years after his death.

      I shall not waste valuable space with these scholars both secular and ecclesiastical. Suffice to say that the archaeologists spade has dug a grave for many of their theories they have put forward, for tablets have been discovered, dating back to at least a thousand years before Moses was born, which record items of every day events, transactions, and historical facts, which I shall explore further in the section on Archaeology.

      For the present however, this one stone from the sling of God's Word is quite sufficient to silence those who are often called the "higher critics." Scriptures such as that in 1 Corinthians 1:19 seems to fit their case. "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."

      However nothing has provoked more scorn than the phrase "the sun stood still." Here in the book of Joshua is recorded one of the most incredible physical miracles of the Bible.

      Let me first explain that words used "stand still" are the translators words for the Hebrew, damam, meaning to 'be silent' or 'inactive', and it is another instance of the Bible revealing something science was unaware of until the advent of the sophisticated devices we see proliferating about us at an ever increasing pace day by day, and that 'something' is, that light is both, active and vocal.

      Anyhow, to get to the point, if you read the story you will see that God was aiding Joshua to bring about the defeat of the enemies of Israel and, after Joshua had prayed he said, "Sun, stand thou still . . . and thou moon . . . so the sun stood still . . . and hasted not to go down, about a whole day." Joshua 10:13.

      There is a remarkable feature here just as there was in the account of Methuselah, and, a number of points are mentioned which do not seem to be of any importance. However, close investigation reveals the wisdom of God who saw to it that these simple facts were recorded because He knew that, in them, lay the reason for investigation.

      Man had not shown that he had the wisdom necessary to reveal the position of the sun and the moon in relation to specific objects and it is in these facts there lies the key.

      Many scientists have sifted the account and verified it, some have found possible explanations and assumed the "great stones cast down from heaven", may have been meteorites so the event has not been without interest to scientists, some of whom have set out their ideas on how the occasion may have eventuated.

      One cannot help but be impressed by the fact that, they seem to realise, if not consciously then subconsciously, it required the Hand of a Supreme Being to implement the miracle, and of course, this is the Supreme Being we know as God.

      Among the many theories of how it might have happened, and one with which I am in accord is, that if the terrestrial axis were tilted a certain number of degrees and at an angle so that it still lay in the plane of the elliptic, then Joshua's location would lie in an area where there was a prolonged day. This occurs in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, where the sun hangs in the sky and does not set giving a 'long day' and a corresponding 'long night ' in the opposite Hemisphere, having the effect of an arrested sun.

      It is interesting that the Mexican Annals of Cuauhtitlan record a long night in the ages past and Bernardino de Sahagun in his History of Nueva Espana writes of the 'tradition' of a motionless sun and moon.

      The incident has been referred to also by Velikovsky, Patten, Hatch, Steinhauer, and Totten.

      The Word of God stands sure. "The sun hasted not to go down about a whole day." Joshua 10:13.

      The word, 'about', is interesting in its own right because it suggests something 'less' than a 'whole day'. It implies something yet to come and again, God reveals how He knows "all things" from the beginning, even the outcome of these investigations. That they would stand as a witness to the inspiration of His precious Word and, to further interest us, the Scripture records the conclusion of the matter in 2 Kings 20:1-11.

      Hezekiah had asked for a sign that the Lord would heal him and, given the choice as to whether the shadow on the sundial should go, either backward or forward, chose that the Lord would return it backward and, '"He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by the way which it had gone down."

      What more need we say then, except to add, the interesting fact that, from Iceland, through Finland, Greece, Japan, Polynesia, and the Pacific Islands to the Americas, this same incident is recorded also, and is essentially the same in content.

      A book written by a Professor Totten called, Joshua's Long Day, contains an article which he had published earlier, in 1890, called, 'When the earth turned over.' It examines this more closely and explains clearly how such an event could occur.

      He also gives evidence of a long night on the opposite side of the world, and he records, that, this was quoted by the Greek historian Herodotus, and, is also to be found in the Chinese records in the time of Yeo, a contemporary of Joshua.

      Immanuel Velikosky gives information about this event in other parts of the world in his book, 'Worlds in Collision', pages 56-57.

      It is also examined in a Christian publication called, The Long Day of Joshua,, written by a group of authors, Patten, Hatch, and Steinhauer published by the Pacific Meridian Publishing Company of Seattle in 1973.

      We have covered many of the outstanding events in the Word of God, over which some have stumbled, causing others to do the same, yet I think, with the help of gleanings from other writers, I have shown, that by honest investigation, these difficulties can be changed into real bulwarks of faith.

      It might be appropriate here to remind my readers that many of the world's greatest scientists acknowledge the Bible records of Creation as the only feasible explanation of that momentous event. Indeed, those who deny this is so are not scientists in the meaning of the word because they cannot prove otherwise. The Bible has a 'word' for what they uphold.

      It is "Science, so-called." 1 Timothy 6:20.

      Before leaving this section let me draw your attention to one more significant record in Genesis.

      Science expresses the Universe in five terms.

      Space . . . Time . . . Matter . . . Motion . . . Power.

      The first two verses of Genesis expresses these terms also.

      The five divisions of Comparative Anatomy are also enumerated correctly.

      Man . . . Beasts . . . Birds . . . Reptiles . . . Fish.

      Science reveals that the proportion of brain weights to spinal cord is:

      Who taught the patriarchs Comparative Anatomy?

      Surely, if you have been an unbeliever, you must begin to realise that your conception of the Bible has been very vague in the light of these wonderful truths?

      And if you are asking, 'Why haven't we been shown these things before?', it may well be you have not sought for truth and facts enough yourself? Perhaps you have been self-satisfied, especially if you are a practicing Christian?

      Self-satisfaction is a dangerous position as is shown clearly in Revelation 3:15-17.

      If you are not, "born from above", of the Spirit of God, John 3:3, then you are in spiritual darkness and the deep and marvellous things I have yet to reveal cannot be seen in their full beauty and significance.

      However, whether you remain so rests with you entirely. God offers YOU an open challenge in Revelation 3:20.

      My own personal testimony is that I accepted this challenge and God came in like a flood and overwhelmed me with glorious new life, even as He has millions of others.

      There is a need for a note of warning when considering Bible translations because clarity at the expense of losing spiritual values and understanding is a high price to pay for it and carries with it a very real danger. You may lose your way.

      Of course when considering a text one may very well be aided by the use of a modern translation, but it should be done by comparing one translation, (a reliable one from which reference can be made to the original Hebrew and Greek), against another. No one should, without thought, accept new translations merely because they are easier to read, or because it takes less mental effort to read them. The only reliable method of knowing the true meaning of a word, or a phrase, is to seek out that meaning from the original text, that is, from the Hebrew or the Greek and, although I am aware this is not within the reach of us all, one can always obtain a copy of an analytical concordance, such Strong's or Young's from the Public Library, and refer to the original text from the word found in the Authorised Version.

      In recent years there have been some paraphrases, and translations, which are not always reliable. In some, Christ is referred to as 'a' Son of God instead of as The Son of God and, in others, the significance of the blood atonement is omitted or less obvious, and a few Old Testament prophecies, concerning our Lord, have been hidden by some very foolish interpretations. We should also understand that the Greek and Hebrew text was recorded by Divine Inspiration, but that does not necessarily mean that every language into which the Scriptures have been translated, carries the same guarantee of 'God-breathed' guidance.

      Many Hebrew and Greek words have a very broad meaning, and this allows for misleading translations which cause confusion, or can cause confusion, particularly if no explanation of why some translations differ from others is not given. It is at this point direct access to the original language is invaluable.

      As stated above, the original Scriptures were all recorded by inspiration, (in Hebrew and Greek), and every word so recorded was by inspiration from God, 'God-breathed', but there is a need to heed the injunction of 2 Timothy 2:15. 'To rightly divide the Word'. Do not forget. God has not hidden anything and has inspired men to record all sayings, and all deeds, such as the evil thing Cain did killing Abel, or Joseph's brothers selling him to the Midianites.

      Judas betraying our Lord. Men saying, 'there is no God.' Or, man has no pre-eminence above a beast,' and many others. It exposes deceivers like Ananias and Sapphira and are recorded that we may see for ourselves how God impartially reveals the 'good' and 'evil' in this world so that we can discern the weakness of our human nature and turn to the One He sent, our Lord Jesus Christ. To find victory in Him. 'Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ'. 1 Corinthians 15:57.

      He even records the faulty reasoning and logic of man, and it is from these examples in His Word we can compare the difference between that, 'Which descendeth from above,' James 3:17, and man's wisdom.

      A perfect example of this is found in the book of Ecclesiastes wherein Solomon by, inspiration, records all his thoughts, deep and light, all his mis-deeds, all his desires, and his wisdom, (much of it commendable), only to come to the conclusion that all of his worldly knowledge in the end only amounted to 'vanity,' whilst true wisdom and knowledge was to, 'Fear God and keep His commandments.' Ecclesiastes 12:13.

      Truly, 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.' Proverbs 9. 10. Our Lord said, 'In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men,' . . . 'If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch' and, 'out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.' Matthew 15:9.14.19.

      Praise God for His love in sending His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to this earth as our Saviour and Guide, for if it were not for Him we would have many difficulties in understanding the Scriptures because any mis-translation are immediately swooped upon by the ever increasing number of sects which are sweeping over the world at an ever increasing pace persuading the honest, but sometimes less knowledgeable seeker, for the truth into errors that often have fatal results.

      They all quote the Bible as their authority, taking passages out of their context to suit their particular belief, and when seen in the light of Bible prophecy we understand their very existence is another emphatic proof that the Bible alone is true.

      Paul warned in 1 Timothy 4:1. 'Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.'

      Peter declared, 2 Peter 3:3. 'Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.'

      John wrote, 1 John 2:18. 'Little children it is the last time: and as ye have heard that anti-christ shall come, even now there are many anti-christs,' and 2 John 4:1. 'Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world.'

      And our Lord said, Matthew 24:4-5. 'Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ; and shall deceive many.'

      Satan's business is to keep man from entering into God's Plan, and if we look into the various methods he has adopted through the ages to divert man from Christ, the Only Way, we see he has learned by experience the power of the Bible and, after having failed to destroy it and wipe it from the earth, he takes it into his own hands, knowing its power, and uses it as a means to draw men into error.

      His motto is, 'any way.' as long as he can divert us from the 'Only Way,' John 14:6.

      But Jesus said. 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.'

      Satan takes a man or a woman and gives them a so-called new revelation. Then. with the Bible in one hand, and the new revelation in the other, away they go and many, like sheep follow them.

      When he has quite a number of these sects going all holding up the Bible, he turns to the world and says. 'Look at them! All right, yet all different. How can any of them be right?'

      God has warned us over and over again about this.

      They are using the Bible, plus something, or less something. 'Take care you are not deceived.'

      Among the closing words of the Bible is a solemn warning to anyone adding to, or taking from His Word.

      'For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy. God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.' Revelation. 22:18-19.

      This warning of the sanctity of God's Word was first given in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6.

      And this is the acid test.

      If an angel from heaven came to you and presented what he assured you was a command, or revelation from God, and it did not agree with His written Word, ignore it. Galatians 1:7-8.

      'There be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.'

      Briefly, most of these sects can be quickly assessed by applying the following tests.

      Do they acknowledge the Deity of Christ?

      Do they teach 'He came in the flesh?'

      Do they teach salvation through Christ alone?

      But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Romans 5:6-11.

      Do they acknowledge the Spirit of God as the only interpreter of the Word? 'He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.' John 14:26.

      'No prophecy is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.' 2 Peter 1:20-21.

      Do they teach that Satan is a spiritual being, and the real enemy of man?

      Any sect which denies any of these fundamentals is dangerous!

      Shun it! Lest Satan entangle you in his web.

      He has actually persuaded some people to believe that he does not exist. They have obviously become the victims of his deception.

      I might mention here that I have had personal contact with the propagators of most of these sects, and when first encountered they hold forth the Bible. But! When the truths of that Blessed Holy Word are turned to, as the only court of appeal, they shrink from any deep discussion.

      Beware! If you are seeking truth, do not look to man. Make your appeal to God, and He will guide you into the channels of life, and when born of His Spirit you will look back, and those things, which once were stumbling blocks to you, will become an aid to your faith, because you will see them as the fulfilment of prophecy and realise the mighty power of Satan to deceive.

      God has made it very clear that the Bible is His final revelation to man until the return of Christ and it can now be demonstrated that every book of the Bible bears, as it were, the signature of God as it does through all Creation.

      All Scripture is saturated and linked by numeric designs far beyond the ability of any man to devise.

      I ask, would God give anyone a further revelation after warning us as He did in Galatians 1:7-8?

      I ask the many adherents of the various sects, who claim to have some further revelation to the Bible.

      Do these revelations bear God's numeric signature?

      If not you can be sure they are the product of the mind of man.

      'There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.' Proverbs 16:25.

      In contrast to this confusion we have the certainty of the Word of God and no amount of captious ingenuity can destroy the fact that the main features of Christ's earthly manifestations were clearly recorded centuries before He came. There are more than three hundred references to Christ in the Old Testament, and a space of some four hundred years between the Old and the New Testaments.

      It is estimated that there are 35 specific prophecies of the betrayal, trial, death, burial and resurrection of Christ, all fulfilled in 72 hours!

      The chances of co-incidence is 1 in 33,554,432.

      There were 109 predictions literally fulfilled during Christ's first advent.

      The chances being 1 in billions by the law of averages.

      In view of the above it is thrilling to recall the interview Jesus has with the two disciples on the resurrection day when He expounded the Old Testament concerning Himself . . . and they said afterwards, Luke 24:32 'Did not our heart burn within us, by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?'

      Let us now consider some remarkable prophecies concerning Christ. The fulfilment of which, in themselves, prove Him to be the Son of God, the promised Messiah, and the Saviour of the world. It is marvellous how God, after pronouncing the curse on man because of the disobedience of Adam, almost in the next breath announces the plan of redemption. Genesis 3 15. 'Her seed; it shall bruise thy head.' In doing so Satan was permitted to bruise His heel. That brief space, when Christ stepped down from heaven to pay the price of redemption.

      The 'seed of the woman' is God's seal upon the virgin birth foretold.

      later Isaiah, under direct inspiration writes. 'Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son.' Isaiah 7:14.

      And later he reveals a marvellous promise. 'For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and His Name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.' Isaiah 9:6.

      Man would not, indeed could not, have any part in this gift for the child to be born was to be, a son given, a fact fully revealed in John 3:16. 'God so loved, that He gave His only begotten Son.'

      Remember the child born of the Virgin was the seed of the woman, and this life was the Son of the incarnate' clothed upon, Hebrews 10-5. 'A body thou hast prepared me'.

      Surely no one's mind is so cramped as to stumble at this virgin birth in the face of the stupendous manifestations of the power of God already shown. It is quite obvious that God's gift, to be sinless, could not be otherwise.

      Next we see that this gift was to come of the family of Abraham, of the tribe of Judah, of the house of David, and He was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea. Micah 5:2, 'But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of these shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting.'

      Now! we can see that in Matthew 2:4-6.

      He was to be 'despised and rejected of Men Isaiah 53:3-5. How true this prophecy is, even today.

      Passing over all the incidents foretold concerning His Life, we read the clear prophecies concerning His death. We all know it is a matter of history how all those prophecies relating to the birth of Christ were literally fulfilled but would you suggest that He persuaded a familiar friend to betray Him in order to fulfil Psalm 41:9 exactly, 'A friend . . . whom I trusted'. How would you explain the fact that the chief priests agreed that thirty pieces of silver should be the price of His betrayal as foretold in Zechariah 11:12? And after Judas had hanged himself, who arranged to buy a 'potters field' with the betrayal money thrown down by Judas exactly as prophesied in Zechariah 11:13?

      Then you must explain how Jesus arranged to be crucified, when the Jewish method was stoning. Was it in order that His hands, and feet, might be pierced to fulfil Psalm 22:16? Was it a co-incidence that He cried. 'My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken me?' repeating the opening words of Psalm 22:1.

      How too, did Jesus, after His death, persuade a Roman soldier to pierce His side in order to fulfil Zechariah 12:10 . . . 'They shall look upon me whom they have pierced'?

      How, also, did He arrange for them to part His garments exactly as foretold in Psalm 22:18? Remember these were Roman soldiers, fulfilling prophecy of which they would not have the slightest knowledge.

      Why did they offer Him vinegar to drink, was it to fulfil Psalm 69:21?

      How did Jesus, when He was dead, persuade the soldiers not to break His legs, as they did to the thieves on either side, and which was the usual custom? Did someone frighten these burly soldiers by quoting Psalm 34:20. 'He keepeth all His bones: not one of them is broken.'? Do you realise that not all the Roman soldiers, nor the devil himself, could have broken a bone of Him, even if they so desired, because God had declared not one should be broken?

      How also did it come about that He was with the wicked in His death and yet placed in a rich man's tomb, as prophesied in Isaiah 53:9. But no power on earth, or in hell, could keep Him there for God declared in Psalm 16:10, 'Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.'

      Furthermore. How did He arrange to be crucified on the 14th day of the first month exactly fulfilling the Passover type? And this is doubly amazing in face of the fact that those who planned His death had determined that He should not be put to death on the Passover day Matthew 26:5.

      How did the seal on the tomb come to be broken, in spite of the special watch set to guard it? This could mean death to the sentries under Roman Law! The fact was, there was a great earthquake and those sentries became as dead men at the appearance of the angel of the Lord. Matthew 28:3.

      Nothing could stay Him for He had declared that He would rise again. Matthew 20:19. And so, in fulfilment of prophecy He arose from the tomb.

      The Saviour of all who will come to God through Him, who alone is the open door to life eternal.

      And in the eerie darkness, wherein that mixed crowd stood and witnessed these things, suddenly the earth quaked and many realised He was what He claimed to be and they 'feared greatly, saying Truly this was the Son of God.' Matthew 27:54.

      Do you need God to darken the sun and rock the very earth, as you read these things, to make you realise that this indeed is the very Son of God and your Saviour? If you, my reader, are still unsaved, ask God in humble sincerity to open your eyes so that you will see Him who died that you may live and take your place in God's marvellous plan of redemption.

      In one respect the Jew is like the Bible, for both have been subjected through the past centuries to the most diabolical onslaughts, but despite the state of frenzy which Satan has stirred up against them, they remain today because God has declared that neither shall pass away.

      The survival of the Jews is in itself a miracle, for no other have, or could, survive such determined and persistent attempts at their extermination. They have been hounded almost everywhere they have set foot.

      Just here let me state without fear of contradiction that any nation upholding God's Word and propagating it, and any nation giving refuge to the Jew will be blessed, for God has said, Genesis 12:3. 'I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee.'

      Fifteen hundred years before Christ, Moses warned Israel that if they continued to obey the Lord, blessing would follow them, but if they put God in the background, disaster would overtake them. The nature of this punishment is detailed in Deuteronomy 28. So accurately have these things befallen the Jew that this chapter has actually proved to be a summary of Jewish history. I can deal only very briefly with this subject here but so much has been recorded regarding the fulfilment of the earlier years of their dispersal and punishment, that it will suffice to say here that swift punishment indeed followed their disobedience, exactly as God foretold.

      So we shall pass over those fifteen hundred years to the coming of the Christ, their Promised Messiah, and Deliverer. So hard and stiff-necked had they become that they no longer understood the Scriptures that so clearly foretold Him and finally they crucified Him.

      Now I want to draw your careful attention to a few incidents before His death. Pilate of course failed to persuade the Jews to release Jesus and he took water and washed his hands before them saying, Matthew 27:24-25 'I am innocent of the blood of this just person. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us and on our children.'

      Little did they realise they were amplifying the curse they had already chosen to retain. Whenever you hear of the persecution of the Jews remember those word. Shortly before this the disciples had been drawing Christ's attention to the marvellous building of the temple of which the Jews were so proud, and Jesus said, Matthew 24:2. 'See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you.

      There shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down.' and Luke 21:20. 'And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.' Verse 23, 'Woe unto them that are with child,'. Verse 24. 'They shall fall by the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations.

      Now glance back to the Old Testament prophecy in Deuteronomy 28 concerning this siege of Jerusalem, and remember, this was written ages before they even built the city with its huge walls and gates.

      Speaking of the enemy that would come against them, verse 52. 'And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates until the high and fenced walls come down, verse 53. . . . 'And thou shalt eat of the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and daughters in the siege . . . wherein thine enemies shall distress thee.'

      What does history tell us?

      Only a few heeded the warning of God, and like Noah found safety.

      Then again, even though Christ had re-affirmed the Old Testament warning, they forgot until the hour struck, about forty years after His Resurrection. Titus with his armies surrounded the city, resulting in the most terrible siege in history. The Jews were literally starved, and no doubt driven mad, for they killed and ate their own children as prophesied. Many fell by the sword and history tells us that over a million Jews perished amid one of the most awful scenes in that history, and not content with this, the attackers pulled down the walls and destroyed the temple as Christ had foretold.

      Let me here warn my reader that this is but a minor tragedy compared with that which God's word warns us awaits this Christ rejecting world. ut this is not all concerning the Jew, for those who escaped death were finally scattered among the nations, as the prophecy goes on to declare. Deuteronomy 28:64-67.

      'And the Lord shall scatter thee among all peoples from one end of the earth even to the other, and among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest; but the Lord shall give thee a trembling heart; and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind; thy life shall hang in doubt before thee, and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life,' and soon.

      Then, in verse we read, And thou shalt become a proverb and a by-word among all nations.

      Now if this doesn't give us a terrible and accurate setting forth of what Israel has suffered through the centuries, then language has lost its meaning.

      Who but He who knows the end from the beginning could have set forth such detailed and accurate prophecies over three thousand years ago. Of course I have only touched the fringe of the subject here for the prophecies concerning Palestine and the Jew, including the dreadful years of 1939-1946, would fill a book.

      How accurately Christ detailed the coming fate of the Jews and their city. How vivid this must have been to Him when He looked down over the city from the Mount, and wept saying, Luke 13:34. 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem which killeth the prophets. How often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold your house is left unto you desolate.'

      And again when the women were weeping as He passed on His way to the Cross, He turned to them and said, Luke 23:28. 'Weep not for me but weep for yourselves, and for your children.'

      This warning is just as appropriate today.

      Let me appeal to every reader.

      If you are not born again, John 3:3, search the Scriptures.

      Do not ignore God and the eternal realities any longer.

      I would like briefly to draw attention to some astounding fulfilments of prophecies in our day regarding Israel.

      I have given details of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and Christ's reaffirmation of the Old Testament's prophecies of Israel being scattered among all nations of the world. Deuteronomy 28:64-67.

      Other prophecies give vivid descriptions of how Palestine while under Gentile domination would become an appalling wind swept desert. Only pictures can reveal the accuracy of these prophecies.

      Yet God, because of His vows to their father Abraham, promised that after Israel had served their term of punishment He would again bring them back into their own land from every nation, and that again the rain would return, and that the desert, hills, and mountains would once more, 'Blossom as the rose'. Isaiah 35.

      In Ezekiel 36 we read of how the desert, after almost 2,000 years, would become a literal paradise, V. 35. 'And they shall say. 'This land that was desolate is become like the Garden of Eden and the waste and desolate and ruined cities, fenced and inhabited.'

      The first step in the deliverance of Israel began in 1918 when General Allenby led his British forces into the city of Jerusalem without a shot being fired and events from here on culminated in the establishment of the Balfour declaration which opened the way for the fulfilment of the many prophecies foretelling the return of Israel to their own land; such as Ezekiel 36: verses 6-11.

      'Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord GOD. 'Behold I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen: therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame. But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come. For behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown; And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it, and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded: And I will multiply upon you man and beast: and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. V. 35. And they shall say this land that was desolate is become like the Garden of Eden.'

      Some idea of the marvellous fulfilment of these prophecies can be gathered from Israel's national development from that time and in particular since 1948. The productivity of the land, the purpose of the people, and the growth of the nation has been phenomenal. No! Much more than that! Miraculous!

      'Thus saith the Lord, I am for thee, I have lifted up my hand.' Ezekiel 36:7.

      On May 14th, 1948, at exactly 4.20 p.m. in the Tel Avi Museum, Mr. David Ben Gurion read the historic Declaration of Independence, and announced.

      'I declare this meeting adjourned. The State of Israel is established.' And on May 15th the Blue 'Star of David' was unfurled as the national flag of Israel for the first time.

      I an indebted to Mr. Joseph H. Hunting for allowing me to use material from his book 'The Set Time is Come, in the context which follows. ' 'Towards the end of 1949 the United Nations decided that the old City of Jerusalem should be placed under U.N. jurisdiction with the territory of the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan.

      For 18 years, from 1949 until June 5th, 1967, the Holy City, Mount Moriah and the Wailing Wall, the most sacred and holy places to Jews throughout the world, were denied them. Thus, Ezekiel's prophecy came to pass: 'The enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession. Ezekiel 36:2. Then, in 1967, the whole forces of the Enemy seemed to mount as a flood, and on June 1st Israel stood alone against the most massive array of enemies that any nation has ever been called upon to face, and the world waited to see the awful spectacle of Israel being thrown to the lions.

      The battle joined on June 5th, and though short, it was as violent as it was decisive. In Northern Galilee, that morning dawned as thousands of mornings had done during the past 19 years. For 19 years Syrian shells had rained down upon the Jewish settlements from the Syrian Heights, and for the next two and a half days they continued their barrage, then, on June 8th Israel decided to silence those guns.

      The battle for the Golan Heights lasted 27 hours and on June 11th, 1967, the noise of war ceased once again In the Holy Land a new epoch had begun for Jerusalem.'

      This city had been under the control and overlordship of Gentile nations for almost 2,500 years. Gentile domination of Jerusalem had begun with the destruction of the Holy City by Nebuchadnezzar in the year 588 B.C.E. The Babylonians were followed by the Mede and Persians by Greece, Syria and Rome, then the Moors, Arabs, Saracens, Crusaders, Turks, British and finally the Jordanians. And now on June 7th, 1967, the Gentile control of Jerusalem ended dramatically with the blast of the Shofar at the Wailing Wall, and a new epoch began not only for Jerusalem, but for the Jewish people.

      Surely the words Isaiah penned so many years ago burn in the heart today with a new urgency. 'All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth. See ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains. And when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye' Isaiah 18:3.

      It was our Lord who said, 'Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.' Luke 21:24.

      And it was our same Lord who also said, 'Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they shoot forth ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.' Luke 21:29-33. Yet in spite of their blessings, and despite the fulfilment of these prophecies Israel has not repented of the rejection of their Messiah (Christ), whose Second Coming draws near.

      As I revise the Seal of God for this new edition, I am here persuaded by Mr. Payne's words, to include the most important prophecy of all time, and, its fulfilment in Christ our Lord. It was foretold in the Garden.

      Satan had beguiled Eve and, she had taken of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam had shared it with her, and now, they both stood before God, ashamed and uncertain of everything, as the world they knew threatened to fall away about them.

      God said to the serpent and the woman. I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed, and her seed, it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

      The Seed who, one day, would be our Redeemer.

      The covenant that this seed would be a blessing to all nations was made to Abraham and God made a covenant with him, as we read in 1 Chronicles 16:15-17. 'Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations; Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac; And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant.' Confirmed in Psalm 105:9-10.

      And it is interesting to read the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:17. 'Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.'

      Through Abraham's seed would all nations be blessed. Genesis 12:1-3.

      Galatians 3:16-17. 'Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.'

      The prophecy through Jacob specified when and where Shiloh would come, 'The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

      Was Jacob a false prophet?

      No! Jacob was not a false prophet, and, when we read of the fulfilment 1800 years later, we realise just how sure the Word of God is, despite the centuries in between.

      One must suppose many believed he was a false prophet, because Shiloh did not come, as he had prophesied, when they, and their kings, were taken captive to Syria, and, the years which followed, without a king, must have dulled their expectations. We know now, that Jesus was born several years before the death of Herod, and, at that time, Joseph and Mary returned from Egypt, with Jesus, to dwell at Nazareth, Matthew 2:15, Hosea 11:1. It was soon after, the right to administer civil law was taken away from Judah, Rome taking advantage, given by the death of Herod, and the departure of Archelaus, to re-assert their control.

      The sceptre finally departing from Judah, never to return.

      The last phrase in the verse, unto Him shall the gathering of the people be, finally confirmed, by Jesus, when He said, And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32.

      What a wonderful prophecy!

      But that is not all.

      Isaiah is more specific. He names the land, Judah, which Ahaz had 'abhorred' as the place. A virgin as the mother. And further, prophesied that although two kings would be there in his childhood, that both would be gone before the child reached maturity.

      A promise fulfilled at the birth of Christ at a time when there were two kings, both soon gone before the child was of age, in the very land where Ahaz had failed to lead God's people as a king should.

      'Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. The land that thou abhorest shall be forsaken of both her kings.' Isaiah 7:14-16.

      The timing is perfect.

      There had been no kings in the land for almost 600 years and suddenly there was a king Herod, and, at his death, for a brief time, Archelaus.

      The 'two kings.' Herod and Archelaus. Matthew 2:1, 22.

      The 'land thou abhorest.' Judea. Isaiah 7:16.

      The 'child.' The Lord Jesus. Isaiah 7:14-16.

      And, The two kings gone.

      'Before the child was of age.' Isaiah 7:16 Matthew 2:21 No wonder Jesus said. 'Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?' Luke 12:56.

      The first King in 600 years. Certainly no one could consider them as coming from the line of David, but, they were there as Isaiah had foretold. They had forgotten the prophecy.

      I am aware of the scholars who deride the virgin birth and declare the word almah in the Hebrew Scriptures only means, young woman, but, as scholars, surely they know, that Matthew's quote, is from the Septuagint.

      This translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, had been used already for almost two hundred years and it was freely available for another two hundred years after the resurrection of Christ. It translates the Hebrew word almah, young woman, as parthenos, the Greek word for virgin.

      Do not they know this, or, are they not really scholars at all?

      It is clear.

      The child of Isaiah 7:14-16, is Jesus, the foretold seed of the woman, the Shiloh of Jacob, the promised Seed of Abraham, the virgin's babe, the Son of God.

      But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2.

      The Messiah. The King they had rejected.

      The one who had said. 'Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me' John 5:39. The sceptre finally departing from Judah until He comes again to draw all nations unto Himself.

      I want now to refer to some very interesting archaeological discoveries.

      Excavating near Ur of the Chaldees, Sir Leonard Wooley of the British Museum, found evidence of a high state of civilisation from the earliest of times.

      A tablet with the names of two Sumerian rulers, period 5,000 years ago, and massive brick buildings with the builders mark stamped on the bricks period 2,000 to 3,000 years ago. He unearthed a large cemetery, finding many golden head-dresses and necklaces and a golden helmet of Mes-kalam-dug of about 3,500 B.C. and, Professor Langdon, Oxford University, working at Kish, about 250 kilometres from Ur, found tablets of ancient writing.

      The Pennsylvania University expedition found large numbers of inscriptions, including a series relating to the Creation and the Flood, and excavations at Warka reveal remarkable evidence of the advanced state of civilisation while, in many places, the strata of civilisation has been traced back to the very twilight of history reaching down to virgin soil before any habitation existed.

      Eight separate expeditions working for the chief purpose of bringing to light the earliest traces of man has laid bare the culture and writings of men who lived over 5,000 years ago. The results have revolutionised thought concerning early civilisation, and it has revealed much that before was blank, and many things which were once thought to be legendary.

      In their own words their finds have exceeded their highest hopes.

      One of the most surprising things, and contrary to general belief, and world-wide accepted theories, is that whenever man appears he is already full grown.

      In other words, aboriginal man is a product of today, not of the dim ages as was supposed.

      All the evidence points to the Mesopotamian plains being the very cradle of man, yet notwithstanding this it has found impossible to push man back beyond a few thousand years.

      Writing of the steep pyramid, Sir Flinders Petrie states, 'The accuracy and great capability and training of those who built it, and the precision of the whole mass is such that the conclusion must be that at 2,000 B.C. Egypt was at its heyday'. Dr. Hall, of the British Museum, speaking of the great Pyramid, points out that it still remains the mightiest building in stone the world has seen, covering 5 hectares, 150 metres high, a tremendous volume of masonry.

      However it is not merely the massiveness that is so striking, but many skills have been revealed, in some respects greater than those found in Europe 2,000 years later. Four thousand years ago men were highly developed in certain arts and technical trades.

      Bronze castings in ornamental designs reveal on analysis that they contain 82% copper, 1.33% nickel,. 88% iron,. 23% antimony,. 95% not determined, and 14.61% oxygen.

      A silver vase of 4,500 years ago, has the coat of arms of 'Lagash', (four eagles with open wings), showing remarkable skill, and their lapidary work can scarcely be surpassed today, even with aid of modern equipment.

      The unavoidable fact that archaeological research has revealed is, that no matter where, or how deep they dig into the past, the art of writing is there, and records are found to illuminate their discoveries. Even in Egypt documents have been found which they place at 3,000 B.C.

      Another point of interest has shown some of the very earliest methods of writing were still used in Egypt when it was at the height of its culture showing that the earliest methods were far from crude. In fact, some aspects of this very method are in use again today. As early as 2,750 B.C. envelopes were used for letters and were sealed with the sender's private seal.

      The museums of the world today have about one quarter of a million written tablets. Even a previous critic, Friedrich Delitzch, acknowledged, 'Everything now points to a well organised system of communication by letter and postal arrangements. Private letters show much the same tone of interests as any ordinary letter today'.

      Letters of the King of Eilch contain words and matter much the same as those of the last king of Babylon who lived 2,300 years later than he. Schools existed with lessons in reading, writing, grammar, and mathematics, and all business transactions were recorded on tables.

      In 2,000 B.C. rolls made from the papyrus plant were used and written upon with pen and ink. Some of these rolls are 45 metres long, and about 25 cm wide. This is going back almost 4,000 years and is almost incredible, but we are dealing with revealed facts, not theories.

      It makes one wonder how some modern critics must feel when they have made this subject of writing their chief battleground, contesting, almost every statement with the challenge that there was ample evidence to prove that Moses could not have written the Pentateuch, for writing was not known for many years after his death.'

      And documents have been found which contain every aspect of life and transactions. Records of clans and nations, sale of land and buildings, loans, commercial transactions, farm produce records, cattle and genealogical lists. Invoice systems were much the same as in use today and letters dated about 1,400 B.C. from Palestine officials to the Egyptian Government are among many written in cuneiform. Tablets have been found at Calneh, Genesis 10:10, relating to Creation and the flood and this leads us into another area.

      The exciting discoveries of Sir Leonard Wooley in Mesopotamia, and the evidence of extreme flooding were eagerly, but prematurely, embraced by some researchers as proof positive of the Noahic Flood and, when further similar flooded areas were discovered, many Bible students discarded the idea of a world-wide flood and, although acknowledging a flood, declared it to be purely local.

      In doing this they believed of course that they had wedded Bible facts with scientific discovery. But, had they? Did they not rather ignore the Sacred Record and the evidence presented by the one who penned it?

      Walter Beasley, F.R.G.S. in a concise summary of the viewpoint wrote in part. Ancient Times, Volume 1, Number 3, page 5. 'If the flood had been limited to a restricted area only, why should Noah have gone to all the trouble to build an ark of three stories? Why should animals, domestic or otherwise, be sent into the ark of tremendous proportions in pairs of seven and two, if the flood were local? Noah and his family would need to have migrated only to Palestine, or Egypt, or India, or some other adjoining land. This would have only involved a few weeks' travel overland without the laborious effort of building a huge ship.'

      Writing of Noah and his three sons, 'And of these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.' Genesis 10:32. He wrote, Ancient Times, Volume 1 Number 2, page 10. 'Is the evidence tendered by the writer of Genesis factual or fanciful? These names have been located, not only at the sites of long destroyed cities, but also in those nearby areas where early nations had their origin. Clay documents used by the earliest peoples of these plains and their adjoining countries, have now been read, translated, and published for all to read. We find the names given to lands where these nations had their origin, and in just those places where the Scripture writer would lead us to expect us to find them in their beginnings. Genesis 10:22-23.'

      His research led him to investigate further the Noahic Flood and his findings, the tabulation of archaeological 'digs' pertinent to the time of the Flood, and his record of geological discovery, must lead all, who seek the truth, to the place where they clearly see that the Bible account of the Flood is factual, accurate, and Divinely inspired.

      Sir Ambrose Fleming, M.A. D.Sc. F.R.S. wrote concerning the Flood. 'There have always been widespread traditions of a Universal Flood. Most geologists did not agree to admitting that it was certified by geological facts. But of late years remarkable evidence has been accumulated, geologists of high repute such as Sir H.H.Howarth, Sir Joseph Prestwich, and others, who have approached the subject with open mind, were compelled to admit finally that the Noahic Deluge of the Bible was an historic fact.'

      Archaeology is continually pointing to the Hand of God on His world, and the records found only but verify the way of life, with all its frailty, and all its strength, to be the same as it is so fearlessly revealed in Scripture.

      It is very significant that all those tablets referring to the creation and fall of man, bear the recorder's name except one, the one of Genesis 1:1-2. The facts of that marvellous statement God alone knew. We have ample proof now on account of its numeric structure that it was a direct revelation from God. It must be borne in mind that for the most part the men heading these expeditions were not out to prove the records of Scripture, but to reveal facts. However, even some of the diehards have had to acknowledge their faith in the Written Word.

      Take the word of just one, who represents one of the greatest universities. 'I was a higher Critic, and disbelieved in the Bible but I have deciphered thousands of tablets, and the more I learn the more I believe the Bible to be absolutely true.'

      It is quite evident that higher critical theories, and other modern diversions of truth, would never have seen the light of day had they not been conceived in an age unenlightened by archaeological discoveries.

      Like its twin brother evolution, it cannot stand the light of revealed truth, for both were invented in the armchair. But the archaeologists who have gone out to uncover facts know nothing of uncivilised cave men.

      The foregoing extracts are very brief, nevertheless they should serve to open the eyes of many along this line, and there is a wealth of information available for those who wish to investigate this interesting subject further.

      I have a series of actual photographs of portions of buildings and many details of their structure and contents, some showing the remarkable cut stonework and perfect arches, piers, some are ornamental, but every detail showing skilful workmanship. The stones are beautifully cut and bonded exactly as is done to-day, in some cases being about 40cm. x 40cm. x 80cm. and perfectly fitted, and with huge beautifully panelled double doors. But the most significant thing is that at every turn the statements of the Bible are marvellously verified.

      One archaeologist gives a list of about forty statements of Scripture he has verified. For example, in Deuteronomy 3 we read that the men of Bashan were giants and mentions the king's bed as being over 9ft. (about 3 metres) long. Now if these men needed beds of the same measurements they would need doors like that also, and, what has the spade revealed?

      I have actual photographs by Dr. Porter of doors of those measurements, interior as well as exterior, over a metre wide. Some of these doors are cut from one solid stone. These photographs are taken in the uncovered ruins of Bashan. Others show the ruins of Jericho. The facts revealed there confirm the truth of Scripture over and over again.

      I will conclude this subject with a statement from a man who has been on the job and carefully sifted the evidence. 'l have used the material possible in the careful survey of the evidence, and can find nothing contrary to Scripture records.' W. J. Beasley, F.R.G.S.

      Clay tablets excavated in Iraq reveal that Euclid's classic triangle problems were studied seventeen centuries before Euclid was born. This discovery may completely upset the history of the development of science. These tablets, with the basic geometrical problems presented 4,000 years ago, are so clear that not a line of the drawings is faded in the baked clay and the cuneiform text is perfect. The tablets contain algebraic concepts even later than Euclid and a knowledge of mathematics never believed possible for the time.

      I can only deal very briefly with what I consider in some respects to be one of the most remarkable prophecies in the Bible, known as 'Nebuchadnezzar's Image'.

      No man has ever been able to accurately foretell the future, even a few years ahead. Yet here we have set forth in a most striking manner the actual set up of the nations from King Nebuchadnezzar 607 B.C., until the actual coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ to this earth in mighty power and glory as King of kings.

      Nebuchadnezzar was the first world monarch and in Daniel 2 we read that in the second year of his reign he had a dream which greatly troubled him, and to make matters worse the dream had clean gone from his memory, v. 5. So, greatly troubled, he called in all his wise men, the magicians, astrologers and sorcerers, and demanded of them, under penalty of death, that they tell him the dream, and its meaning and when they said. 'Let the king tell the dream and we will show the interpretation thereof,' the king still persisted with his demands, to which they replied, 'There is no man living that can tell the king's matter,' and with this the king was furious, and ordered they be destroyed.

      Behind all this, of course, was God dealing with the king, as the following chapters show.

      Now Daniel, hearing of this hasty command, requested of the king that he would give him, (Daniel), time and he would show the king's matter.

      Daniel's request was granted, whereupon he prayed to God and was given the whole meaning in a night vision, v. 19 and after giving thanks and praise unto God he returned to Nebuchadnezzar and said in the presence of the king, v. 28. 'There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets and maketh known to the king what shall be in the latter days.

      Thy dream and visions of thy head are these, v.29, Thy thoughts came into thy mind, what should come to pass hereafter, and He that revealeth secrets maketh known unto thee what shall come to pass. Thou, O king, sawest and behold a great image, whose brightness was excellent stood before thee, and the form thereof was terrible. This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and arms of silver, his belly and thighs of brass, his legs of iron, and his feet of part iron and part clay. Thou beheld until a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet and break it to pieces. And the stone, (Christ's kingdom), that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. v. 36. This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. 'Thou, O king, art a king of kings.'

      'Thou art this head of gold and after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and then another third kingdom of brass, and the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, for as iron it shall break in pieces and bruise. And as thou sawest the feet and toes, part iron and part potter's clay, the kingdom shall be divided; and as the toes were part iron and part clay, so the kingdoms shall be partly strong and partly brittle. And as thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. Thus, the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter; and the dream is certain and the interpretation thereof sure.'

      Now surely every sane man and woman must acknowledge that if all the details of this prophecy can be verified in history, then God alone could have inspired it. The prophecy clearly tells us there were going to be four world empires only, and the very nature of these empires is revealed by the metals of the image?

      What does history reveal?

      Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold, the perfect autocracy, which kingdom survived for 70 years, during which time God revealed His mighty hand on several occasions, the last time being, 'The writing on the wall'. Daniel 5:24-30. And that night during that drunken banquet Darius conquered Babylon and established the great Medo-Persian Empire in 538 B.C.

      How significant that this empire should be represented by the silver of the breast and arms, two distinct nationalities under one head, and for over 200 years this mighty empire held sway. How could it ever be conquered? It had the power to keep down all peoples, yet God had decreed a third, and so in 330 B.C. the Grecian Empire, under Alexander the Great, took over world sway, represented by the belly of the image.

      But yet another was to be and so in 63 B.C. the great Roman Empire with its Eastern and Western divisions took over the sovereignty of the world, and what a marvellous description was given in the prophecy represented by the two legs of iron, for as iron it was to crush and bruise. What a perfect description of the terrific iron empire of Home, which was the strongest and by far the crueller of the four, ruthlessly crushing all who opposed it.

      I add here that this is not the only prophecy foretelling these four world empires for, in Daniel 7, we have the same thing, with further details; the empires being described as bears, and so marvellously do these four beasts portray the very nature of these empires that early critics tried to lead people to believe that the record was given after the events.

      Let me just quote a few details concerning the last, v. 23.

      The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom; v. 7. A fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly, with great iron teeth, it devoured and break in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet, and all who know anything of the history of this empire must acknowledge that God alone could have inspired that description.

      What happened to this mighty empire?

      The prophecy shows down in the feet the element of clay mixing with the iron and causing disintegration, and this is exactly what happened, sin and corruption ate into the very heart of the empire, and it was split up and divided and remains so until this very day.

      Many war lords have since set out to establish a fifth world empire, but God said four hence, no matter how many attempts are made, all will crash, for after the fourth, the kingdoms shall be divided, some strong and some weak.

      Let me draw your attention to one more remarkable feature of the prophecy in chapter 2. v. 43.

      We are told that the nations shall, 'mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they will not cleave one to another, even as iron will not mix with clay.'

      What further proof of Divine inspiration need anyone than this?

      However in verse 44 we have this. 'And in the days of these, (divided), kingdoms shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.'

      The stone smites the image on the feet, the final stages of the divided kingdoms.

      Now after seeing the staggering accuracy of the fulfilment of every detail of this prophecy down to the present day, can anyone be foolish enough to doubt its completion in the last and final act.

      The return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to establish His Kingdom.

      Let me emphasise again, every detail of this marvellous prophecy has been literally fulfilled over a period of some 2,500 years, and is now history, down to the very day in which we live. an any one make himself believe that the last and final act will not be fulfilled?

      The return of Christ, in mighty power and glory to set up His Kingdom.

      And there are numerous other prophecies being fulfilled before our very eyes, signs of the near return of Christ.

      These are worthy of our careful consideration.

1. Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased. Daniel 12:4.
2. Jerusalem to be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. Luke 21:24.
3. Distress of nations, with perplexity. Luke 21:25.
4. Men shall be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Unthankful, disobedient to parents, falling away from the faith, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-8.
5. They would fly as a cloud. Isaiah 60:8.
6. Their chariots would jostle together in the highways, run like lightning, appear as flaming torches. Nahum 2:4.
7. Many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many, and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Matthew 24:11.
8. Men would be planning peace and safety. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3.
9. Many would have heaped together treasure. James 5:3.
10. People would be giving heed to seducing spirits, as in spiritism. 1 Timothy 4:1.
11. A lukewarmness amongst professing Christians. 1 Timothy 4:1. 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

      Who can deny that everyone of these conditions is here today?

      Referring to His Coming again our Lord said.

      'As it was in the days of Noe so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was in the last days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought. they sold; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.' Luke 17:26-30.

      The people had crowded out and ignored God, and Jesus warned there would be the same conditions when He returned again, and in the same way that men had scoffed at the warning of the coming flood, so they will not heed the warnings of the approach of His return, and God's judgement of the world.

      The whole stage is set for the final act.

      I can only warn you.

      Come into the Ark of Christ before God shuts the door.

      Then there will be a mighty manifestation of Divine Power such as the world has never seen, for He will shake the heavens also and men will tremble at the might and majesty of Him whom they have rejected as their Saviour, and must now face as judge.

      I wish now to draw your attention, your serious attention, to certain indisputable marks found both in the Bible and in Creation which stamp them as being the Divine Workmanship of our God as surely as the watermark on currencies, or official documents, stamp them as being genuine.

      Some of these watermarks, or seals, we have examined before, in our investigation of the numeric patterns which are in flowers and corn, and these can be verified by anyone, to some degree, even without a lens.

      The Seal of Seven stands out in both the Bible and Creation, but before we examine the Seal In His Word let us turn to one or two other branches of Creation which show the pattern clearly because God's dealings with mankind, and all life, are marked by specific design in which Seven is prominent.

      This is even discernible in the light which comes from our Sun. This pure, clear light is made up of seven distinct colours, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

      Can this be accident?

      Did you know that the development of the human embryo is calculated in periods of seven's?

      At the 28th week it is generally assumed a child is capable of living if born, and the date of normal birth is so calculated, at 40 seven day weeks, that the doctor gives this approximate date as the 'expected' date of birth. Children born prior to this time are generally known as 'premature', and born beyond this time as 'overdue'.

      The wonderful family of birds is another part of nature in which we can find the definite Seal of the Creator, unchanging and unalterable by man.

      Let me say first that the incubation period of many birds is very difficult to check, hence a difference of opinion exists regarding some birds, and the term 'about' is used extensively.

      There are, quite possibly, other numeric design among them besides seven, somewhat similar to that seen in the flowers, however, as I am only dealing with facts, I will not venture on speculation and the fact is that as soon as we begin to list the birds that have been definitely checked this remarkable Seal of Seven stands out again.

      Take first some of the domestic birds which anyone can check for oneself. It is well known that when eggs are set under the domestic hen, or even if they are placed in an incubator, one looks for chicks on the 21st. day. Check up on your canary, 14 days.

      Hundreds of finches of all varieties, and numerous other families of small birds like robins, thrushes, and the cockatoo have been checked out at 14 days also, and there are many bird families with incubation periods in multiples of seven.

      Investigation brings clear evidence that these periods are by definite appointment, namely, that in a given family, the periods extend exactly by seven.

      Now, although I have only touched the fringe of this subject, it should be sufficient, when considered together with numerous facts from the Bible, that the Creator has set His Seal upon all His Handiwork, and this Seal has a far greater significance than any of us have ever comprehended. 'For we are His Workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works.' Ephesians 2:10.

      There is a rich store of blessing here for those who, by the grace of God, are willing to be shown.

      I remind you also that it is the purpose of Satan to blind us to these facts, so let us pray that God will help us to be honest with ourselves, for I sincerely believe that God has set these and other immovable signs before us, especially so that those of us who may be somewhat weak in faith, may have some tangible evidence of His Plan and Purpose through Jesus Christ.

      Remember I said that God's dealings with man was in sevens and if you study dispensation in the Bible you will find there are seven distinct periods of God's dealings with man on the earth.

      We are now in the closing days of the sixth, called Grace, and as the others have been definitely closed by the intervention of God, so also will this one. When the stone strikes the image, Daniel 2:35, then will begin the seventh, which will continue for a thousand years. Revelation 20.

      However, the fact is that God's dealings with man are in seven distinct periods.

      When God instituted the seven-day week He was foreshadowing this seven-fold period. Hebrews 4:3-11. Can you not see how God has woven this number seven into the life of man?

      Let me again draw your serious attention to the Bible.

      We have already examined some of its marvellous prophecies, proving its inspiration by God, and it should be apparent that it is vital to everyone who has access to its message, whether by ear or eye, for by the Word of God we shall be judged.

      Not by what you think, or what this professor or that cleric says, but by God's Word.

      Let me say right here. The Bible from Genesis to Revelation points man to one thing. Redemption through Christ.

      Your Eternal State depends upon your acceptance, or rejection, of Christ as your Saviour.

      The world is full of religions and sects, cults and creeds.

      The devil has catered well for the tastes of all, but what we need is not a religion, but life, and this Life is found in Christ alone, the Son of God and the only Saviour of mankind. You accept Him, or you reject Him. 'Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.' Acts 4:12.

      Now, as God has set His seal upon all His works of creation, is it not reasonable, sensible, and logical, to conclude the Bible, written by those inspired by God Himself, would bear His Seal also?

      Therefore, when we come to the Topic, Numerics, it is vitally important to remember, that, God has decreed, we either stand or fall by the message the Bible brings to us!

      It too has a seal, but I repeat. It is a SEAL! Not a proof!

      Truth and fact remain ever steadfast, and while, one after another, the delusions imposed upon men come crashing down before the revealed facts of Archaeology, and other discoveries, these numerics, together with the marvellous fulfilment of prophecy, all serve to make the truth, as revealed in the Bible, stand out unshaken amid the ruins of exploded theories put forth by the enemies of the truth.

      The Bible clearly states that God created all the animals, the birds, the fishes of the sea, the herbs of the field, the trees, and endowed them with the power of reproduction, to 'bring forth after their own kind', Genesis 1, and there is not the slightest doubt that all the laws we see operating in the animal and vegetable kingdom today were invested in each member at that time.

      The Scriptures state that God created man after His likeness, and gave him complete dominion over all other creation, but this likeness has no reference to the physical because God is a Spirit. 'God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.' John 4:24.

      It refers to that inherent, or God-breathed essence, which gives man all those marvellous spiritual, inventive, progressive powers, which in reality make him a miniature god over all other Creation. For although man and animals were both formed from the earth, Genesis 1 and 2, not a single member of the animal kingdom ever has, or ever will, possess these rights.

      The Psalmist writes, Psalm 8. 'Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, thou hast put all things under his feet.'

      God formed man from the dust of the earth and only a fool will deny that the human body was designed and built by a Master Mind, a Mind far greater than that of any man. Actually the human body is a combination of automatic machines, all working separately and yet co-operating to function as one machine.

      Man has made some wonderful automatic machines of course, but he still remains in complete control of them but this human machine. with its millions of working cells, and intricate parts has baffled medical science and human understanding for thousands of years.

      Why then did God make man above the animals? The answer is clear.

      God desired to fill the earth with a race of beings with whom He could commune and who had the power to appreciate Him as their Creator. Men and women who, of their OWN choice would give their love and obedience to Him, knowing, that their whole life and happiness stemmed from Him.

      No other of God's Creation, could ever, willingly, respond to the Creator like this.

      This now brings us to that question at which so many stumble.

      Why did not God make man, and his whole environment, in such a way that he would have no alternative but to fulfil the above purpose, and therefore live in perfect peace and happiness free from sickness and death?

      The answer is so simple that one marvels that ignorance on this vital matter is so universal. It is easy to see that if a man and a woman are going to live together in happiness and harmony, there must be mutual love between them.

      That is the key to the whole question, but love must be in response, that is, it must spring from a free will.

      God had no option but to give man a free will.

      Sir Ambrose Fleming once said, 'The Bible record of man's fall and Redemption is the only feasible means whereby God's purposes for man could be achieved.'

      You might say then that God's Plan has failed?

      No! A thousand times no! Only delayed.

      God could, quite easily, have made man to render perfect obedience but what would He have had?

      Simply machines!

      Do not pass over this point until you have grasped it.

      No free will. No love.

      The inauguration of God's Plan to fill this earth with human beings who will give love and obedience to Him is more sure than that the sun will rise tomorrow morning, and not all the wisdom of men, nor all of the demons from hell, can prevent the fulfilment of that glorious Plan.

      This plan has been in the course of fulfilment down through the ages, and all who have submitted to the will of God have a part allotted in that plan, and every passing day, that number is increasing.

      Indeed, the evidence of fulfilled prophecy shows that God's required number is almost complete, and when it is there will be heard the voice of the archangel.

      The thunders of Almighty God will not only shake this earth, but the heavens also. Hebrews 12:26.

      There will be a terrible and mighty manifestation of power, and brilliant glory, as the King of kings, and Lord of lords, together with the holy angels, burst forth on this Christ rejecting world. Mark 8:38.

      The Scriptures say.

      'And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.' Revelation 6:15-16.

      Which company will you be in that day?

      You have a perfectly free will to choose your own destiny, but your choice must be made now!

      The sad thing is that in general, just as John records our Lord's words in John 3:19, men prefer darkness to light and because of that only a small proportion of those born into the world choose the way of life.

      This fact does not alter God's plan, it simply proves the truth of His Word.

      Have you not found it a very strange thing that men all over the world, for the first time in its history, realise that some sort of new order is absolutely necessary if men are to live in any kind of security?

      Men know what they want.

      To live in peace, safety, and happiness, but how to achieve this is perplexing the world more today than ever before.

      Let me state plainly.

      According to God's Word, all man's efforts to do this are doomed to utter failure.

      The change has to begin in man's heart, and there is only One who can do this, hence the plan of God.

      God has been changing men's hearts down through the centuries. He can change yours today 'if you are willing', for it is only those who have been willing to submit to God through the ages who will ever have a part in that plan, or new order.

      This plan, which God will put into operation immediately the number is complete, will be far more marvellous than anything men have hoped to achieve, for peace will extend even to the animal kingdom.

      'The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion eat straw like the bullock, says Isaiah 65:25, 'Dust shall be the serpent's meat.' Sin, sickness, sorrow, and death will be abolished and the condition of Eden restored.

      Now can you see how the plan, (which could have been developed through Adam, but because of disobedience was diverted), will in due time be inaugurated, and the exact purpose for which God created man will be fulfilled, for those who are with Him at that time will be those who have chosen to do so through love and obedience.

      Those who make up the Bride of Christ will reign with Him, over this restored earth for the one thousand years of the millennium, and then be with Him forever.

      'Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.' Revelation 19:7-9.

      And Revelation 20:6.

      'Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ Jesus and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

      Time is of no account with God.

      Millions come into the world and, under the power of Satan, rush blindly on, grasping at every bit of excitement held before them. Not knowing where they are going and, in most cases, so under the powers of darkness, they do not want to know.

      How sad that such a marvellous creature as man could sink into such a state of blindness and ignorance.

      Sadder still. That mankind remains so even in the face of the marvellous things God has allowed to be revealed today before their very eyes.

      The Bible emphasises the fact that 'the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.' 1 Corinthians 2:14, and until a person is born-again, (born from above), John 3:3-7, he has not the Spirit of God to guide him in the study of the deep things of God's Word for the natural mind cannot understand spiritual things. Romans 8:1-14.

      However, even when a person is born of the Spirit, God's Word has given us certain 'guide-lines' to which we must be very careful to take heed, otherwise confusion, and wrong interpretation will surely result.

      Paul wrote to Timothy, 2 Timothy 2:15, 'Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth', and Peter, in 2 Peter 1:20 urged us not to put a private interpretation of our own on the Scriptures because, verse 21, 'The prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.' The Greek word, ideos, here translated 'private' means one's own, private, independent, or separate opinion.

      In plain words, Scripture must be interpreted in strict harmony with Scripture and the failure to observe these injunctions is almost entirely responsible for the hopeless confusion of sects all claiming to be based on the Bible.

      It must be remembered that the Bible is a record of God's dealing with man from Adam to the time of the end, and this period can be divided into six dispensations, with one more to follow after the Coming of Christ, Revelation 20, and during each of these periods God has given man certain instructions, or laws, by which He has judged, and closed, each of these periods.

      It should be noted also that God has made specific promise throughout the ages.

      These periods are:--

Adam to the Fall.
Expulsion to the Flood and Noah.
Noah to the man of faith Abraham.
Abraham to Moses and the Law.
The Law to Christ.
From the Resurrection of Christ to His Coming again.

      Now, and this is most important!

      Under each of these periods, God made a new covenant with new conditions. and each one was closed by God because of Sin and Disobedience.

      If we bear in mind that a covenant is a testament, or a will, and we remember that as soon as a new will is made it automatically cancels the old one we should be able to understand how each new covenant God made, cancelled the previous one.

      Paul makes it very clear in Hebrews 9:16-17 and the only things carried forward into the new dispensation are the promises.

      'And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.' Galatians 3:17-18.

      Just for a simple example.

      Under the covenant of the Law, (Moses to Christ), the Ten commandments were given, nine of which are moral and are duly incorporated in the covenant, but the Sabbath, the seventh day, the Day God rested, although to be rigidly observed under the Law, as being a type of our rest in Christ, is not emphasised by our Lord Himself, when questioned by the lawyer, the important thing being to 'love God with all our heart and soul and being' and keep a day aside to involve ourselves in such which we do, as followers of Christ Jesus, on the Day of His Resurrection.

      The Sabbath, that is the seventh day, has not been abolished. It has been replaced by the First Day of the week which we, (who are 'no longer under law' as those who do keep the seventh day), should keep as Holy and with as much reverence as to its meaning as they do who are still entangled in the Law.

      Paul wrote. 'Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.' Colossians 2:16-17.

      The Jews, like some today, were clinging to 'shadows' instead of entering into the substance. Hebrews 3:19 says, 'They could not enter in be cause of unbelief' and, in Hebrews 4:3, we read. 'We which have believed do enter into rest', and verses 10-11 tell us that 'He that hath entered in that rest hath ceased from his own works.'

      They were all rigid instructions under the Law, but only 'shadows', (types), of those things fulfilled in the present dispensation.

      Our Lord said the first and greatest commandment was.

      'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,' and that, 'upon these two commandments 'hang all the law and the prophets.' Matthew 22:37-40.

      And of course, if we obey these two laws ALL the other 'laws' are written upon out heart as Jeremiah wrote they should be.

      'After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.' Jeremiah 31:33.

      One might say then. How am I to know what applies to me?

      Well that is quite simple if we remember that the ministry of Jesus covered an over-lapping period.

      He came to conclude, or seal up, the Law.

      'For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.' John 1:17.

      He came to usher in a new Covenant.

      'Likewise also (He took) the cup after supper, saying. This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.' Luke 22:20.

      And just here let me impress this significant fact upon you.

      Each of the covenants were sealed by blood.

      A reading of Hebrews 9 would be helpful to an understanding of this. 'How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God, and for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament.' Hebrews 9:14-15.

      Let us consider another aspect of rightly dividing the Word of God.

      There is much misunderstanding regarding what is meant by 2 Timothy 3:16.

      'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.'

      First we must remember that the Greek and Hebrew texts, from which our Bibles are translated, are themselves copies.

      The phrase means that the Word, as originally given was recorded by inspiration, that is, it pleased God to inspire holy men to record, not only His own, Spirit breathed Word, revelation, prophecy, instruction, and guidance but, to also record the words of good men, wicked men, angels, demons, and even the words of Satan himself.

      Nothing is hidden. He has revealed ALL.

      And they are ALL for our instruction.

      However I would like to enlarge upon this point because much wrong teaching has come about by the failure to heed the injunction to 'rightly divide the Word' in this particular sense and, many times, a doctrine has been built up, based solely on the words of man.

      The most outstanding example of the recorded words of man, which show how even the wisest of men might reason, are found in the Book of Ecclesiastes, and it seems incredible that any person could be so woefully blind as not to see that God has caused to be revealed, and recorded, all the thoughts of King Solomon, and it clearly reveals how he set himself to find satisfaction in the things of the world, without God.

      Solomon as the king of Israel could have everything his heart desired simply for the asking, and have it he did to the full.

      Wealth, slaves, and craftsmen, to carry out all his building ambitions! Menservants, maidservants, to serve him. Musical instruments, and musicians to play them. Lust to the full, wives, feasting, wine, women, folly.

      He exhausted every avenue, but all ended in disappointment.

      It proved to be vanity . . . vanity . . . vanity.

      He drew a few wise conclusions, but for the most part, 'all he did under the sun,' as is written, led to disillusion.

      Indeed. So far from God did he get with his natural reasoning that he made many very foolish statements, some completely hopeless, one of which we can read for ourselves in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10. 'The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be, and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.'

      Solomon concluded that he had reached the peak of knowledge.

      He had not seen what Jeremiah was to write of later, of the mercies of the LORD. 'They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.' Lamentations 3:23.

      He had not considered what Isaiah had found. 'Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.' Isaiah 65:17.

      Nor what Daniel was to have revealed to him.

      'But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.' Daniel 12:4.

      Solomon would get a rude awakening were he to return today!

      His worst blunder was shown when he got so far away from God that he reasoned.

      'As man is no better than the beast and all go to the same place, wise and fool alike, there is nothing better for a man to do than to enjoy the works of his own hand!' Ecclesiastes 3:19-22.

      'Even though a man lived a thousand years, twice over.' Says Solomon in chapter six, 'all is vanity.' That is how the mind of Solomon, the preacher, the son of David, the King of Israel, saw his life ending after all the LORD had given him.

      It is more than interesting to note that the term, 'Thus saith the LORD', occurs two thousand times in the Old Testament but is not found once in Ecclesiastes!

      Why?

      Because its theme is, 'Thus saith Solomon.'

      He uses the personal pronoun 'I' forty times in the first two chapters and it was not until he began to see all the work of God that he discovered the truth.

      'Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it. Ecclesiastes 8:17.

      Why then did God record this?

      I believe there is a great lesson to be learned from it.

      Solomon was credited with being the wisest of men. He had unbounded wealth and could have anything his heart desired and yet we see that after taking full advantage of this, all it brought him was misery and a feeling of absolute hopelessness until he came to know what the conclusion of the matter was. "To fear God and keep His commandments.' Ecclesiastes 12:13.

      My chief reason in bringing before you this example of Solomon is to show the need to 'rightly divide the Word' because incredible though it may seem certain sects actually build their doctrine on the worldly words of Solomon!

      How true are the words of 1 Corinthians 2:14.

      'The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.'

      Many of these sects deny the Deity of Christ, and His pre-existence and most of them deny the 'new birth', and it is at that point they shut themselves off from the only means of understanding God's Word.

      Our Lord said in John 16:13.

      'Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.'

      They are only reasoning with their natural mind and therefore cannot discern between the natural and the spiritual contained in this Word.

      Some of them even deny the existence of Satan, the adversary, and his cohorts!

      Let us all take a warning from these experiences of Solomon.

      Do not be led away by the word of man, seek the guidance of God and His Holy Spirit as you daily search His Word.

      There is another point also on which I feel some comment would not only be helpful, but even necessary, as its neglect has led to a lot of very wrong teaching, even by so-called orthodox pastors.

      It may surprise some to learn there are several resurrections and several judgements shown in the New Testament and here again it is needful to rightly divide the word.

      For example.

      Sin was judged and paid for when Christ died on the cross.

      There is a judgement for believers only, (of rewards), at the coming of Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11-14, where, after declaring our foundation is Christ, Paul exhorts us to build well for, 'If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.'

      There is the Great White Throne judgement at the end of the thousand year reign of Christ on earth. Revelation 20:11-12.

      Also, everyone familiar with the New Testament knows that during this dispensation of Grace, salvation is by faith in the finished work of Christ alone.

      There are almost one hundred references in the Acts, and the Epistles, to the Christian's safety in Christ.

      One such is Ephesians 2:8-9. 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.'

      Eternal inheritance cannot be purchased by some sacrifice, brave deed, good work, or money, and it is a tragic delusion to think so.

      Certainly Matthew 25:40 reads as follows. 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me,' but although these words are often taken to mean this, it is obvious that the deeds mentioned here are works of faith, as the word 'inasmuch' signifies, and so it must be, for salvation by good deeds would be in direct contradiction to the whole teaching of the Bible. We are, as we read a moment ago, 'Saved by grace", it is a 'gift' of God.

      Hebrews 11 is a wonderful record of the works of faith, and as you read it I pray the Holy Spirit will guide you.

      The 'God-Breathed' Scriptures are, of themselves, enough to enable us to understand the Plan of God and the Salvation to be found in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, and, neither knowledge nor device of any kind, can explain it better than the plain words of Scripture He has inspired His People to record and proclaim since time began.

      However many readers, puzzled by an interpretation handed down to them, or by a situation they cannot satisfactory explain, have, added words to, or, taken words away, from the written Word in an attempt to clarify what they see as an answer to the problem they have encountered.

      This, of course, is not only forbidden by God Himself, but distorts the true meaning of His revelation to us and is never more evident than when the question of, 'How could Jesus be buried on Friday evening, spend three days and three nights in the tomb, and rise on Sunday morning,' come up and is coupled with the further question usually associated with it, 'What is the Sign of Jonah?'

      And while the answers to both questions are simple in themselves, only Scripture can give the reasons for the answers.

      The first question arises, it seems, because the answer to 'What is the Sign of Jonah?' is thought to be the fact that Jonah sent three days and three nights in the whale.

      But. Is this the Sign?

      In actual fact the only way we are going to discover what 'The Sign of Jonah' was, is to listen to what our Lord said the 'men of Nineveh' heard from Jonah.

      'He began to say. This is an evil generation: they seek a sign, and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall the Son of man be to this generation. The men of Nineveh shall rise up in judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and behold, a greater than Jonas is here.' Luke 11:29.30.32. Matthew 12:39.41. Matthew 16:4. Mark 8:12. Jonah 3.

      It was certainly not that they repented because he had been in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights!

      The Bible gives no hint that any of the people of Nineveh were ever aware that Jonah had been swallowed by a whale, and brought safely to shore again.

      Perhaps, if they had known of it, more importance might have been given to that instead of to the real message Jonah did bring them from God, and they may have been caught up in wonder at the miraculous rather than in the more sober message Jonah was commanded to deliver.

      The three days and three nights in the whale was a matter between Jonah and God only.

      Jonah's message to Nineveh was that sin brought death, and repentance brought forgiveness. They believed the words he brought them from God, and God forgave them. Jonah 3.

      At first it may not seem obvious how the actions of the Ninevites could be a sign but Scripture shows that God was against their sin, as He is against all sin, and when Jonah's message told them of their peril, they repented, turned to God, and were forgiven.

      Our Lord was saying that the response the men of Nineveh made to the message is the sign, and whoever makes the same response will find the same forgiveness, but although he was preaching the same message they could not understand it: Matthew 4:17. Mark 1:14.15. Luke 4:18-21.

      John the Baptist, as he prepared the Way, had declared it also: Matthew 3:1-8. Mark 1:4. Luke 3:3 . No wonder Jesus said, 'The men of Nineveh shall rise up in judgment against this generation and condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas, and behold, a greater than Jonas is here.' Matthew. 12:41. Why then do we ask the question. 'How could Jesus be buried on Friday and rise on Sunday?'

      It is because of the verse, 'For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.' A verse found only in Matthew, which is generally taken to mean that our Lord would be three days and three nights in the tomb after his burial. Matthew 12:40. But. Is this what the verse says?

      To understand we must go back to Jonah's time and read for ourselves what Jonah's experience really was; and the first important thing we discover is that Jonah was prepared to be sacrificed to save others. Jonah 1:12.

      He knew also what it meant to be rejected, and what it was like to be forsaken of God 'in the midst, (heart), of the seas. Jonah 2:3.

      We know he was alive as 'the waves and billows' from God passed over him 'compassing him to the depths of his soul,' and that he prayed 'even as his soul fainted within him.' Jonah 2:7. He 'paid that which he had vowed', and God delivered him. Jonah 2:9.

      Our Lord ever spoke clearly when he spoke of the grave, the tomb, the sepulchre, or of death, and he never said he would be three days and three nights in the tomb, that is simply how his words have been interpreted.

      The two key words are, 'heart', (kardia in the Greek), and 'earth' (ge in the Greek). Kardia being the heart, thought, mind, or feelings; and 'ge', although here translated 'earth', is also translated many times as land, ground, or country.

      Today if one said they were going to spend a few days in the heart of the desert, or the country, or the city, we would know they were going to spend a few days entering into the centre of that particular place they had chosen to visit.

      Here our Lord is saying, that just as Jonah had suffered in those three days and three nights, he too would enter into 'all those things' written of him now, in the living part of the earth, (heart), or as Isaiah has it, 'in the land of the living.' Isaiah 53:8.

      Perhaps, of all the prophets, it is only in Isaiah that we have a more graphic word picture of the future sufferings of 'The Christ.' Isaiah 53.

      Our Lord clearly foretold 'all these things.' Matthew 20:18-19. 16:21. Mark 8:31. 10:33-34. Luke 18:31-34. Luke 9:22. Luke 9:44-45. 'Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them. Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written of him by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spit on and they shall scourge him, and put him to death, and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things; and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.'

      Of course they did not understand! They not only loved him, but they knew him to be 'The Christ', and could not bring themselves to believe that the One promised through the centuries would have to suffer in this way!

      They only began to understand when the women told them what the two men 'in shining garments' said at the empty tomb, 'He is not here, but is risen! Remember how he spoke unto you in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words.' Luke 24:4-8.

      It finally became real to them when the Lord Jesus himself met the two on the way to Emmaus and said. 'O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them, in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.' Luke 24:25-27.

      And as the two in turn were telling the eleven, Jesus came, and stood amongst them and said, 'These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them. Thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.

      And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.' Luke 24:44-48.

      It is clear that our Lord is saying here, that amongst them, 'In the land of the living,' Isaiah 53:8. 'In the heart of the earth,' He had fulfilled all things written of him, even to the death of the cross, and had risen the third day.

      No wonder Peter could declare at Pentecost with the Psalmist, 'Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.' Acts 2:27. Psalm 16:9.

      The three days and three nights cover the whole time Jesus 'endured such contradiction of sinners against himself,' Hebrews 12:3; beginning at the covenant to betray him, Mark 14:1.2-10-11, and ending with his resurrection; the first day of the week. John 20:1.19. Luke 24:1. 13.21.

      The events leading to the 'covenant to betray him' are found in Mark 14:12. 10.11, Matthew 26:2.3. Luke 22:1 6, John 11:47-53. 'After two days was the Feast of the Passover, and of Unleavened Bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. But they said, not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people, and Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them and when they heard it they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.'

      The actual betrayal is described in detail in. Matthew 26:47-50, Mark 14:44-45, Luke 22:47-48, John 18:2-5.

      Judas committed this final act soon after our Lord had shared the Passover with his disciples and this led to Jesus being delivered to the chief priests and the Gentiles, mocked, spitefully entreated, scourged, and put to death, as all the gospel writers record, buried as 'the even drew on,' on the 'preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath,' to rise on the third day, the 'first day of the week.' John 20:1.19, Luke 24:1.13, and Christian writers have attested, that this day, is the resurrection day as far back as Ignatius. 30-107 A. D. And not only believers have testified! The chief priests and Pharisees, unknowingly, did the same on the 'day after the preparation.'

      They came to Pilate asking that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say he is risen from the dead'. Matthew 27:62-66, and their timing is such that it reveals that they must have believed the 'third day' was about to be fulfilled, at least within the limit of the night to come as he had only been buried on the evening of the previous day.

      They must have believed the 'three days' began about two days before they came to Pilate.

      So the 'Sign' is to be found in the response the 'men of Nineveh' made to the preaching of the need for 'repentance and remission of sins,' and the 'three days and nights in the heart of the earth'; to be seen in all the 'sufferings of Christ' from the covenant to betray him to his resurrection.

      The Sign of Jonah is a twofold sign. And while the promise of forgiveness following repentance was clearly seen by those who first asked the question as our Lord walked amongst them, the second, of his suffering was recognised only after his resurrection and only, it seems, by his disciples when Jesus opened the Old Testament Scriptures to their understanding.

      Both are a sign to us now.

      Conviction as to its prophetic importance urges me to quote here part of that passage in Isaiah 53 from which Philip was to preach Christ to the eunuch in Acts 8:30-37. 'He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our Sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken smitten of God, and afflicted.'

      'But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of Our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.'

      'All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.'

      'He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.'

      'And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death: because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; because he hath poured out his soul unto death.'

      What a picture of the 'sufferings', the death, and the resurrection of our Lord. The 'God-breathed' scriptures are indeed infallible.

      They need nothing 'added' to them, and certainly nothing can be 'taken away'.

      Indeed we are in danger, as Peter warned, of 'wresting the scriptures to our own destruction,' if we do. 2 Peter 3:16.

      As I wrote above, God Himself also warns us not to 'add to', or 'diminish from,' His words. Deuteronomy 4:2. and Proverbs 30:6.

      Unfortunately, despite its good intent tradition has done much to do this to Scripture, and nowhere is it more evident than at the time of the Nativity, and here at Passover, a time we celebrate as Easter when confusion reigns as earnest followers of Christ try to reconcile the three days and three nights in the tomb and with the Resurrection on the first day of the week, (Sunday), as the Scripture records.

      Two different ways have been suggested.

      The first is to allow 'parts' of days and nights to be know as 'complete' days and nights and the second, to take the Passover day back to Wednesday and thus obtain three days and three nights in the tomb.

      We can surely discard the first suggestion at once.

      The 'Sign' is as 'Jonas was', and if the time is shortened here, the time must be shortened there also, which would do the text of Jonah great harm.

      No. When our Lord used the phrase 'three days and three nights in the heart of the earth', he meant exactly that. Sunday. The first day of the week!

      Resurrection day!

      For those who believe our Lord spent three days and three nights in the tomb, the difficult task of reconciling the day of the Crucifixion with the Resurrection Day begins right here.

      The usual way out of the problem is to take the Passover Day back to Wednesday, and make the day after an 'high day,' because of the fact that the day after Passover Day is the Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

      This day is then called a sabbath to reconcile it with the Gospel record which declares that the day of the crucifixion was 'the day of preparation that is, the day before the Sabbath.'

      However. Immediately this is done several other problems arise, because, although the Day of Unleavened Bread is a day of 'holy convocation' on which no 'servile work' should be done, necessary tasks are permitted.

      The weekly Sabbath demands complete cessation from all work, 'according to the commandment,' and the only other day to demand this complete rest is the Day of Atonement.

      Preparations are required for the Passover and for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, but these occupy several days. 'The Sabbath' requires only one day and that is, the 'day of preparation', and we must go back to the time of the Exodus to discover how this day came to be known as such. It was at that time when God provided 'manna' in the wilderness. Exodus 16:5.22-27.

      He told the people that a double portion must be collected on the sixth day as they were not to gather on the seventh, 'The Sabbath.' So in preparation for the weekly Sabbath they did as commanded, and, in time, the day before the Sabbath became known as 'the day of preparation' as Mark explains in Mark 15:42.

      It was on this day the people prepared meals and completed any other tasks which could not wait until after the Sabbath.

      If the time of the crucifixion is taken back to Wednesday, an 'impossible' Sabbath is added to the 'middle' of the week for the 'preparation day' can only refer to the weekly Sabbath.

      No! The Scriptures have it right!

      The 'day of preparation' was the Passover Day because that Passover Day was on a Friday.

      This weekly Sabbath was 'an high day' indeed. Not only was it 'The weekly Sabbath,' it was also the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a day of 'holy convocation.'

      The most disturbing fact brought about by putting the Crucifixion and the Burial back to Wednesday is that if three days and three nights are insisted upon, 'in the tomb', a resurrection on the first day is impossible. Our Lord would have to rise on the even before the first day, the Sabbath day!

      The Gospel accounts explicitly declare that our Lord was crucified and buried, on the preparation day as the even approached, with time enough before the Sabbath, for the women to 'go and prepare the spices and ointments' before they rested on the Sabbath, as the Law required.

      And that Jesus did rise on the first day of the week is verified both by Scripture, and Christian writers alike. Lk. 24:1.13. Jn. 20:1.19. Ignatius 30-107 A. D. Irenaeus 178 A. D.

      The Scripture's are infallible

      Isaiah foretold both the coming, Isaiah 7, and the suffering of Christ by inspiration, Isaiah 53, and John reminds us of this in John 12:37-38, where he writes. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him. That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Our Lord's suffering began when His own familiar friend, in whom He trusted, which did eat of His own bread, lifted up his heel against Him. Psalm 41:9.

      It had been a soul stirring evening. The anointing of Jesus by Mary, and what it signified.

      His wonderful words of promise!

      The presence of Lazarus!

      Yet, despite all this, it came into the heart of Judas to betray him.

      We are not told when, but sometime that night, at least before dawn, he found opportunity to make his unholy covenant with the chief priests without being discovered, 'and they were glad.'

      After the evening meal on Thursday, now Friday in Jewish time, Judas left with the words of Jesus, 'What you would do, do quickly,' ringing in his ears and later, after our Lord had shared the Memorial Supper with his disciples, he committed his final act of betrayal in the Garden, beyond the brook Cedron.

      Our Lord was delivered into the hands of the chief priests and the Gentiles, mocked, spitefully entreated, spat on, scourged, put to death, taken down from the cross, and placed in the tomb on the 'preparation day', as the 'Sabbath drew on', that is, on the Friday, just before sunset.

      The Sabbath began after the women had gone home to prepare the spices and ointments and, 'to rest the Sabbath Day according to the commandment.'

      On our Saturday night at sunset their Sabbath ended and the first day of the week began. Of course, we know our Lord was already risen when the women came 'very early in the morning', but as we are not told the hour we can only say it appears that Jesus arose at a time which coincides with the hour when Judas covenanted to betray him to the chief priests three days earlier.

      All those 'things' which occurred during those 72 hours are described in detail in the passage, from Mark 14:10-16:9.

      For those who wish to examine this further, I have made a list of several important facts which must be considered.

1. The three days and nights are three full days, that is, 72 hours.
2. The phrase, in the heart, kardia, of the earth, is used here in the same way as we use it today, meaning, in the midst of, in fact, the fellowship I attend in Adelaide has, on our weekly paper, the words, The CHURCH with a heart, in the heart of the city.
3. The Preparation Day was established in Exodus 16:22-26, as the sixth day of the week, and when Jesus took the Passover with His disciples, it fell on the same day as the Preparation Day, a Friday, the day before the weekly Sabbath. The Greek word used here, paraskeue, is still used today for Friday on the Greek calendar.
4. Joseph and Nicodemus took the body of Jesus, and placed it in the sepulchre, after the ninth hour, and, before the Preparation Day ended.
5. The women, Luke 23:55-56, after they had seen His body laid in the tomb, return home and prepare spices and ointments, before they rested on the Sabbath Day, according to the Scriptures.
6. That Sabbath was an High Day, because, not only was it the Sabbath, it was also the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
7. Early, the day after the weekly Sabbath, Mark 16:1-4, they brought the spices and ointment to anoint the body of our Lord, and found the stone rolled away.
8. There were many things He was to suffer in those three days. Not just His death on the cross. Many things, as He Himself foretold, Matthew 16:21, Mark 10:33-34, Luke 9:22. They are also, explicitly enumerated, in Isaiah, chapters 52, 53, and, confirmed by His own mouth. Luke 24:26.

      I close with a list of prophecies fulfilled in Christ in the last 72 hours.

1. Betrayed by a friend. Psalm 41:9. Matthew 26:23. John 13:18.
2. Kings and Rulers against God's anointed. Psalm 2:2. Acts 4:5-6.
3. A King who came meek, sitting upon an ass. Matthew 21:5. Zechariah 9:9.
4. The covenant price. Zechariah 11.12. Matthew 26:15.
5. The sheep will scatter when the shepherd is struck. Zec. 13.7. Mt. 26:31,56.
6. Of those thou gave me none is lost except the son of perdition. Ps. 10:9-11. John 17:12.
7. They bought the potter's field. Matthew 27:3-7. Zechariah 11:13
8. They mocked and smote Him. Matthew 26:67. Matthew 27:30. Isaiah 50:6.
9. He answered not a word. Isaiah 53:7-8. Matthew 27:12. John 19:9. Luke 23:9. And Pilate gave sentence. Luke 23:24.
10. He was reckoned among the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12. Luke 22:37.
11. Smitten and made his grave with the wicked and the rich. Isaiah 53:6-9.
12. As Moses lifted up the serpent, so too the Son of man be lifted up. John 3:14. Numbers 21:8-9.
13. And they that passed by reviled him. Psalm 22:7. Matthew 27:39.
14. They shall look on him whom they pierced. Zechariah 12:10. John 19:37.
15. They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall. And sitting down they watched him there. Psalm 69:21. Matthew 27:34-36.
16. Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. Luke 23:34. Isaiah 53:10-12.
17. A bone of him shall not be broken. Psalm 34:20. John 19:36.
18. A rich man, Joseph came and they laid Jesus in his sepulchre. Matthew 27:57. Isaiah 53:9.
19. And he took bread, and the cup and gave thanks. Exodus 12:1-12. Isaiah 53:5. Luke 22:19-22.
20. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Genesis 3:15. Romans 16:20 Luke 24:1-46. John 20:1-19. Acts 2:22-31. 3:18-21. Matthew 26. Mark 10:32-33.
21. For as Jonas was, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:40. John 2:3.
22. Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Psalm 16:10. Isaiah 53:12. Acts 2:27,31
23. Now if one reads carefully, Luke 18:31-34, it is abundantly clear, in verse 34, that this fulfilled the O.T. prophecies, but, all these things remained a mystery to the disciples until after our Lord had risen.
24. And of course, the elders and chief priests sought to hide the fact that He had risen also. Matthew 28:5-17.

      But, for all believers the ultimate is this. He is risen!

      We are baptised into a living Christ, which brings us to two interesting questions Paul asked in 11 Corinthians 15:16 'If the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised,' and, 1 Corinthians 15:29 What shall they do which are baptised for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptised for the dead?

      The phrase, BAPTISED FOR THE DEAD, has been thought by some expositors to mean, newly baptised believers, now take the place of others who had died and were now with the Lord.

      A nice thought, but, I think not. All new believers, stand prepared to present the same good news which brought them to Christ, to others.

      They stand, in the Gospel, with all those who have gone before them.

      Some believe the Scripture directs their attention to members of their family who did not have the opportunity to hear the message our Saviour brought, and they should be baptised for them.

      I do not agree with this view at all.

      The Word of God makes it perfectly clear that, 'No one can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him. ' Psalms 49:7.

      As far as Paul is concerned, a belief in the resurrection or not, is the question.

      It is a problem with which Paul had to deal with all his life, and, while he had sometimes been able to use the difference to his advantage, Acts 23:6, it was more often than not, a distinct barrier to belief. Acts 17:32.

      In Paul's second letter to Corinth, he wrote that, although his first letter had made them sorry, he was glad it had been a godly sorrow which had been to their benefit, and, as we read his first letter we realise again what a difficult time they had been through.

      To be sure, there was much to praise God for, as they struggled to build the Church, because, among them, there were many differences which Paul tried to help them with.

      He had much to praise them for, but, was not hesitant when what they did need admonition, and, perhaps in this portion of his letter is the one problem he was anxious to correct.

      They could understand the good news that God in His love had sent His Son to save them from their sins and redeem them to Himself, and, they rejoiced in the salvation He had purchased for them, but they, still stumbled at the resurrection.

      Paul began his letter praising God for their faith in Christ and what His sacrificial death on the cross had brought them, and commended them for their zeal in reaching out to others. At the same time, he reminded them of the culmination of that faith, the resurrection of Christ. 'So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.' 1 Corinthians 1:7.

      He had been able to guide them through the many differences that beset them, but, at this point, 1 Corinthians 15, he is obviously troubled by something which has been reported to him, and, it is concerning the resurrection of Christ.

      He writes, ' I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.' verses 3-4.

      Remember, Paul is writing to the believers in Corinth who have been baptised into Christ, and he wrote very plainly to them, demanding an answer to his question. How say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

      It is not difficult to understand the meaning of his words thus far, but, he did not leave them ignorant of the result of their disbelief.

      He continues. Into whom were you baptised? and, at their answer, into Christ, reveals the result of that confession.

      If Christ be dead and you are baptised into Christ, you are dead with Him.

      Why be baptised for the dead if the dead rise not?' 1 Corinthians 15:14-19.

      It is clear what had happened. The Corinthians, in their zeal to have the Church grow, had failed to preach the resurrection, and, Paul did not hide his disappointment at their neglect.

      However we know from his second letter to them, that his severity here, brought them to a closer walk with Christ and each other.

      His words in 2 Corinthians 7:8-12. 'Though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season'.

      Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of, but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

      There is no thought of taking the place of any faithful saint who has gone to be with their Lord.

      Certainly no suggestion they be baptised for another.

      They are to believe in, and preach the Gospel which has been delivered to them, in truth, with love. 1 Corinthians 1:30.

      In closing. I want to make it very clear that in bringing before you this amazing accumulation of evidence, and facts, which no man can gainsay, you have been brought face to face with God, and should you stand before Him unsaved, you will be 'without excuse.'

      Do not look upon these things simply as some thing of passing interest, for they vitally concern you.

      'Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.' Joshua 24:15.

      Your own personal decision, not one made by another, will determine your eternal destiny, and, whether you believe that statement or not, will not alter that fact.

      God is calling out those who are willing to fit into His plan.

      Let me emphasise again, many today are preaching that men should co-operate, and work together to bring about the kingdom of God, and they labour in vain. The Psalmist truly recorded these words for us, Psalm 127:1. 'Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.'

      Man can do nothing to help God in this matter.

      Men today, including some religious men, have completely lost the vision of Christ's plan of salvation, hence their efforts to patch up this Christ rejecting world.

      However His kingdom is not of this world-order as He clearly stated, John 18:36. 'My kingdom is not of this world.'

      It is a new creation into which all, who are willing, are 'born from above' by the Spirit of God, when they accept and render true allegiance to Christ as their only Saviour. 'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.' John 3:5.

      When Christ our Lord cried, 'It is finished', John 19:30, it was finished.

      The whole plan of God was sealed in the blood of Him on whom we depend not only for the future life but for every breath we take in this life.

      Let me go further and make it very clear that, if your sins are not covered by that blood, then you will carry them to that destination, which you have chosen, by rejecting it.

      Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and there is absolutely no other way to the Father than through Him.

      Let me touch on two popular questions before we close.

      First. If there is a God why doesn't He stop 'this and that?'

      Briefly. When God, through Jesus Christ takes over this world, He will prevent 'this and that', but at present Satan is in control, he is the god of this world, 2 Corinthians 4:4, and all but a few prefer to have it that way.

      James 4-4 reads. 'Friendship of the world is enmity with God,' and in James 4:1 we read that, 'wars and fighting.' Come from our own desire to have that which is not ours.

      Paul's message is, 'Be not deceived, God is not mocked.

      Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap.' Galatians 6:7.

      Unfortunately many innocent suffer in that reaping.

      Sin is paid for with compound interest.

      Man is a free agent and until Christ is invited to take control, God does not interfere in man's affairs.

      He has provided the remedy, the option is with us.

      Nevertheless, God does show His hand in mercy in times of emergency, to remind men that He is there but, there is a limit to His being made a convenience of.

      Second. I live a reasonably good life.

      Well if ever you have to appear in court for breaking the law of the land and you tell the judge that, he will point you straight to that law because it is your responsibility to be aware of it. Now if, in this age of enlightenment, this is agreed as man's highest form of justice, why think God unjust for judging you by exactly the same method.

      He is the great Law-Giver.

      He has set forth, in clear terms, the Way of Life.

      It is recorded in His Word and, by this Word, we stand or fall before Him, John 12:48. 'He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.'

      Now, having established the authenticity of both the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ, let us consider a few of their authoritative statements which vitally concern every person, and it may interest many to know that all authentic versions of the Bible teach exactly the same about salvation, briefly thus.

      No amount of good works, or self-righteousness, can merit salvation, it is a free gift of God through Christ alone.

      'Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.' Acts 4:12.

      "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.' Ephesians 2:8-9.

      'In John 14:6 Jesus clearly states. 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.'

      'He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.' 1 John 5:12.

      John 10:9. 'I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.'

      John 11:25. 'I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.'

      Acts 10:40-43. 'Him God raised up the third day, and shewed Him openly, and He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to Him give all the prophets witness, that through His Name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.'

      Romans 3:23. 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.'

      John 3:3. 'Except a man be born again, (from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God.'

      Galatians 6:7-8. 'Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.'

      And here is God's challenge to you.

      I can only point you to that Word.

      'I know thy works, that thou art neither hot nor cold: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eye salve that thou mayest see.'

      'As many as I love I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent.'

      'Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.' Revelation 3:15-22.

      Of course many will not heed His warning and they are pictured in Matthew 7:22-23. 'Many will say to Me in that day Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in Thy Name? And in Thy Name have cast out devils? And in Thy Name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them: depart from me ye that work iniquity.'

      My reader. As you again carefully, and prayerfully, peruse these pages, may God reveal to you the eternal and proven realities of His blessed Word and lead you to see Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord, to yield your life to Him, and in that fast approaching Day, stand and sing with the millions of the redeemed from every kindred, tribe, and race.'

* * * * * * * * * *

* * * * * * * * * *

      Before I proceed let me, if I can, lift that cloud which today hangs over the eyes of so many and which shuts out the marvellous light, power, and wisdom revealed in all Creation. I refer to the theory called evolution, and by evolution I mean, the transmutation of species. This theory is based on the assumption that all life as we know it, developed over a very long period from minute animalcules.

      Let me say right here, that if you are under the delusion that science has proved the transmutation of species, the fact is that neither science, individuals, nor any Society, has one atom of proof. Anyone who is prepared to investigate this for themselves can quickly prove that the whole ridiculous theory is built upon supposition.

      The Bible declares. 'This is the condemnation. that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.' John 3:19. And again. 'Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.' 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11.

      Never were truer words written for almost without exception, mankind, through the ages and yet today, prefers to hear that which pleases him rather than that which teaches him.

      Now. Concerning the transmutation of species. The evidence is completely fanciful, and whilst specimens which would serve as links, (were they only found in fossil form), are to be had in abundance, we do not have to go to fossils to find them.

      Both in the vegetable and the animal kingdom, we have living members of every conceivable shape and composition. The fish with lungs live today, and if you want a fish with two legs, the axolotl is quite common. I recently had some in my ponds Newts and the like are plentiful, all with a tail and four legs, and for larger ones there is the alligator and the crocodile.

      Of course if you are not satisfied with these you can go to almost any natural pond and follow the whole process in the life of the frog. If you want evolution here is real evolution.

      First an egg, then a fish with a long tail, next two front legs, then two back legs, then off comes the tail, and out hops the frog on the ground. Here, by the inherent law of the Creator we see, in a few weeks what the evolutionist claims requires millions of years. The truth is that no link of an intermediate stage has ever been found. Apart from the numerous array of designs of life existing today, it is quite evident there are many extinct designs, and from time to time, to this day, previously unknown species are washed up on the seafronts around the world. So if a million new fossil designs were discovered it would prove nothing in the way of connecting links. But it does prove that He who made the microscopic life and the giant whales was well able to make everything between, including the strong delusions.

      How unfortunate for the evolutionist that the platypus has survived. Had only fragments of this creature been found in fossil form it could well have been used to boost the evolution theory more than anything else has done. But, alas, he lives as a living contradiction of all their theories.

      It is not very well known, but it is very interesting to learn, that when this creature was discovered scientists in England refused to believe such a make-up possible, and even when a preserved specimen was sent over they still believed it to be a clever hoax. However they finally had to submit. but, as it just will not fit in the chain they have had to put it on one side, for he appears akin to skunk, rooster, beaver, mole, adder, monkey, fox, and duck. What a wonderful paradox God has preserved in this living witness to His Hand in Creation.

      Perhaps the strongest apparent argument in favour of evolution is seen in geology. You may have seen for yourself an arrangement of fossils or charts to illustrate the evolution process. Millions are thus deceived but the fact is that this arrangement is simply the work of craftsmen, and is, to say the least, deceitful. Every geologist knows that nowhere in the whole world have ever been found fossils or bones in the order thus shown and described in their text books. On the contrary, they are (in all parts of the world) to be found hopelessly mixed up.

      This fact cannot be over emphasised for it is in itself the death knell of the evolutionist theory. It bears marvellous witness to the upheaval and deluge of Genesis 7:11, and possibly, even a previous upheaval. What is more, a general degeneracy can be traced down to our day both in the vegetable and the animal kingdom which is undoubtedly the result of the curse, (Genesis 3:17-18), to which the pests and diseases of today bear eloquent witness.

      I would like to ask. If branches of the plants evolved into fish, fish into reptiles, reptiles into birds, birds into mammals, mammals into man how, when, and why did all this transformation suddenly stop and every trace of the supposed intermediate links completely disappear from the earth, for the present forms are to be found in abundance both in bones and fossils? All must acknowledge that today, all things in the vegetable and animal kingdoms, when left to themselves, bring forth AFTER THEIR KIND, exactly as was ordained by the Creator. Genesis 1.

      The fact that man is not found among the true fossils again confirms the truth of Genesis, which clearly shows man to be a distinct and later creation than both the animal and vegetable world. And there is something special about this crowning creation of God. Man became a 'living soul'. Genesis 2:7.

      Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, bearing witness to the wonderful act of Creation, refers to Genesis 1:27 in Matthew 19:4-5 when He says to us, 'Have ye not read that He which made them at the beginning, made them male and female?'

      First, let me say that the ignorance on the part of the public, and the deception on the part of a section of so-called scientists, against the background of truth and facts is appalling in the extreme.

      Let us just briefly consider the basic facts of the most prominent of ape-men in the various museums.

      The NEBRASKA man. Hesperopithecus Haroldcookii.

      He lived a million years ago it was said and a tremendous lot was written about him, his family, and in fact the whole race to which he belonged in North America. Pictures were published of both he and his mate, and one palaeontologist Dr. Fairfield Osborn in an address before the American Philosophical Society at Philadelphia April 27, 1927, placed him at the very bottom of the tree depicting the ancestry of man And when the missing parts were made up with plaster of paris, and long hair, well, who could doubt evolution?

      And with that the man in the street is left.

      But upon what actually was this ape-man built? It was built upon one tooth, just one single tooth, which years later was proved beyond all question to be the tooth of an extinct pig. Found by! Yes! Harold Cook!

      The JAVA ape-man, Pithecanthropus Erectus.

      It means upright ape-man. He is one of the most famous of all, and what is the true story behind him, this upright ape-man?

      In Central Java, over a period of a year, and over a wide area, were found the piece of a top of a skull, a fragment of thigh bone, and three molar teeth. Remember, all scattered among many other bones, great controversy followed among scientists; however, again hair and plaster of paris filled in the gaps; and in due course Pithecanthropus Erectus was set up, his age, by the way, was 750,000 years.

      Many years later, (1926), headlines again appeared.

      Jungle speaks again!

      'A man deeply marked with the brand of the ape has emerged at last from the silence of 250,000 years, and at last Pithecanthropus has a brother.'

      Please read that line again; and it goes on, 'Perfect skull of prehistoric man', and a brother for Pithecanthropus.'

      It turned out to be the knee bone of an extinct elephant!

      The HEIDELBERG man, Homo Heidelbergensis.

      Here we have deception of another kind. The actual find was a complete jawbone with teeth, somewhat larger than usual in the chin section, but definitely human. Most scientists rejected it, as of no value. Today exactly similar jaws can be seen in living men anywhere.

      However, the man was built, named, and his age set at about 250,000 years. Thus we have here the case of a man presumed to be an interglacial man built on a human jawbone.

      The NEANDERTHAL man.

      Here again we have a case of unbelievable deception.

      From the skull of what is now known to be human, was built one of the most famous of all the ape-men. First found in 1856 his replica is said to appear today no less than 300 times in museums around the world.

      The unusual characteristic of this skull is that the forehead runs back in a line with the bridge of the nose. Keep your eyes open and they appear anywhere today.

      These are the chief examples of the evolutionist ape-men that are set up as the ancestors of the human race.

      The above examples are condensed from "Did man just happen?" by W. A. Criswell.

      The PILTDOWN skull.

      Dug from a gravel pit at Piltdown, Sussex, England. 1911-1912.

      With its obvious human cranium and ape-like lower jaw, and estimated to be 500,000 years old, it was hailed as the greatest find to date and set the scientific world agog, deceiving the majority of them for 40 years, until it was proved to be a stupendous hoax in 1953. "Man and the vertebrates", Volume 2, page 225, by A. S. Romer.

      A staggering fact is that the 500,000 years old bones are now estimated to be around 50 years old. Surely this should serve as a caution to those so ready to accept any new supposed evidence of evolution.

      And Piltdown does not stand alone!

      The KEILOR skull.

      Found near Melbourne, Australia, was first claimed to be 150,000 years old and now dated by the latest method its age is reduced to 8,500 years.

      There is much confusion in setting a date for these 'ages.'

      At one time the Glacial age was 155,000 assumed at 850,000 years, then at 200 000 and later authorities suggested 30,000, 10000 and down to 7,000 years. One suggestion is that the 'glacial maxima' shows four successive extended periods, other estimates are of two periods. But there is little accord, and as glaciation is the 'time-table' for the Pleistocene period, confusion reigns supreme! Read, for further information, 'Man and the vertebrates.' Page 203, by A. S. Romer.

      Douglas Dewar. Is Evolution proved? page 253, wrote, 'I am constrained to say that the fossil evidence has been so manipulated by evolutionists that the writings of the great majority of them do not give unbiased facts.'

      But there have been many wild guesses regarding age.

      Fossils of a fish with a kind of arms, regarded as a missing link, was claimed to be 50,000,000 years old and recently several living specimens have been found.

      The fact cannot be over emphasised, that fossil finds of both plant and animal, do not appear in the evolutionists' text books, in the true order of strata in which they are found, for the simple reason the theory would be completely upset! They are thus arranged according to theory, instead of the age of strata.

      Haeckel one of the supporters, if not one of the propagators, of the recapitulation theory admitted in 1909 at the Munchener Allgemeine Zeitung, 'I begin at once with the contrite confession that a small number of my embryo diagrams are really forgeries in Dr. Brass's sense. I should feel utterly condemned and annihilated by the admission were it not that hundreds of the best observers and biologists lie under the same charge. The great majority of all morphological, anatomical, histological, and embryological diagrams are not true to nature, but are more or less doctored, schematised, and reconstructed.'

      What an admission!

      Until recently much has been made by the evolutionist, of these supposed useless organs, or organs In process evolution in both animal and man.

      Today however, with the great advance in the study of anatomy, no person of principle, having a knowledge of the facts would put forward this theory. It seems that our list of useless structures decreases, as our store of knowledge increases.

      The appendix is a good example.

      Why does not the evolutionist advertise the fact that this organ is found in man, and the apes, and not in monkeys, yet in rabbits and possums.

      Try and reconcile this!

      Extracts from quotations of world authorities since about 1860 to the present time.

      Prof. Einstein in The World as I See It wrote. 'The scientist's religious feeling takes the form of a rapturous amazement, at the perfect harmony of natural law, which reveals intelligence of such superiority, that compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection.'

      Prof. James Gray in his presidential address to Section D (Zoology) of the British Assoc. 1933, asks, 'Why should we accept the spontaneous origin of life? If considered as an observable phenomenon, in any other sphere of human thought, it would be discarded as a figment of a deranged brain.

      Is there any evidence of a dynamic (extremely complicated) machine coming into existence (spontaneously). The belief in the spontaneous origin of life is a negation of the very principles of Science.'

      Loren C. Eisley, Anthropologist, Scientific American, flatly states. 'Ants have changed very little if at all. They are one of small immortals.'

      In Harper's Magazine, Nov. 1955, in an article entitled, 'Was Darwin right about the human brain?' wherein he discusses this question with Dr. Alfred Russell Wallace, these facts emerge. 'Man's brain from his creation has the same potential as now. Man's brain capacity has not increased. Men of the Mesopotamian valley of 5000 years ago were as intelligent as our generation, although they did not have the accumulation of knowledge to draw upon.'

      He further writes: 'Man and his rise now appear short in time. Explosively short! Whatever the forces involved in the production of the human brain, a long, slow competition of human groups would not result in such similar mental potentialities among all people everywhere. Something or some other factor has escaped our scientific attention.'

      We add. Yes! Something has escaped attention. It is t he fact that God created man.

      Maurice Maeterlinck, Naturalist. The Life of the Ant.

      'Ants are the most abundant in fossil of any animal, eleven thousand specimens have been examined and, in spite of millions of years, contrary to expectation, and a most disconcerting fact to the evolutionist. The most ancient are as we find them today, and thus were, as the Bible states, 'created.'

      Since the atomic age has been ushered in we have come to understand that matter is not eternal. It is pent-up energy. It had a beginning and may be destroyed. In his book, 'Why we believe in creation and not evolution', page 273, Meldau quotes Sir Ambrose Fleming as saying, 'Between space, absolutely empty space, and space filled with even the most rarefied matter, there is a gulf which no theory of Evolution has been able to pass or explain.'

      Meldau goes on to say, 'Nothing cannot produce matter. (Atoms) Genesis 1:1 and Hebrews 11:3 give the only answer.

      Between matter and motion there is a similar gulf. There is no greater attested fact of science, than the fact that it takes power to put inert matter into motion. No evolutionary theory we have ever heard of attempts to explain the origin of both matter and motion unless it concedes a prime cause. God.

      Life cannot come into being except from previous life.

      Irwin Schroedinger, Nobel Laureate in Physics, was quoted in an article, 'The greatest mystery of all the secret of life,' by Waldemar Kaempffert, as saying, 'Where are we when presented with the mystery of life? We find ourselves facing a granite wall which we have not even chipped, we know virtually nothing of growth, nothing of life.'

      Dr. Austin H.Clark, Biologist, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, said, 'There are no such things as missing links.

      Missing links are misinterpretation.' Noack, page 22.

      In Did Man Just Happen? Criswell, page 60, quotes Prof. Vircow who once wrote, 'The ape-man has no existence and the missing links are a phantom.'

      Darwin himself wrote. 'The absence of transitional forms between the species, presses hardly on my theory.'

      Again. 'Geology assuredly does not reveal any such finely graded organic chain; this is the most obvious and gravest objection urged against my theory.' Origin of Species. Vol. 2, Chapt. 9, 6th edition.

      Douglas Dewar, British naturalist, once ardent evolutionist, says: 'Palaeontology (study of fossils) cannot be regarded other than a hostile witness against evolution, the earliest known fossils of each class and order are not half developed, but have all the essential characteristics of their class or order.'

      In the book Is Evolution Proved? Dewar quoted Sir J. William Dawson, F.R.S. (Geologist), McGill University. Montreal, who once said. 'The Evolutionist doctrine is itself one of the strangest phenomena of humanity. That, in our day, a system destitute of even a shadow of proof, should be accepted as a philosophy, and this, in spite of our vast and weighty stores of knowledge, is surpassing strange.'

      Dr. Herbert Nilsson, Prof. of Botany, University of Lund Sweden, after a life study of genetics and fossil record, says, 'As we look at the main groups of fossil flora, we find that at definite intervals they are, all at once and quite suddenly, there! In full bloom in all their manifold forms, any change is entirely lacking.'

      He concludes. 'All my investigations have led to incredible contradictions, on account of which the theory of evolution ought to be entirely abandoned. It is a serious obstruction to biological research.' And again. 'My attempts to demonstrate evolution by experiments carried out for over 40 years, have completely failed. The final results of my investigations and studies, always leads to incredible contradictions.' Selections from Synthetische Artildung 1954.

      Dr. Austin H. Clark, F.R.G.S., noted biologist of Smithsonian Institute, says. 'While man's body structure is most like that of man-like apes, all the early remains of pre-historic man are distinctly those of man. No animals are known even from the earliest rocks, which cannot at once be assigned to their proper phylum or major group. If we accept the facts, the major groups from the very first bore the same relation to each other as they do at present.' Meldau, page 316.

      Darwin, My Life and Letters Vol. 1, page 210, admits, "Not one change of species into another is on record. We cannot prove that a single species has changed.'

      Dr. Paul Francis Kerr, noted mineralogist, says. 'l cannot believe that the facts of science are mere accidents. What I have studied about the earth, has increased my belief in a Supreme Power, God must be. 'Only an infallible mind could have adjusted our world and its life, in its amazing intricacies.' Meldau. Pg 50.

      Scientific American, July, 1954: 'Our earth turns on its axis once in 24 hours. Once a year we spin around the sun in an orbit of almost 600 million miles. The amazing accuracy with which the universe revolves as a perfect and flawless machine, can be seen in the perfection of our journey around the sun. It takes the earth 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 48 seconds; it has not varied one second in 1,000 years.'

      Rear Admiral D.V. Gallery, U.S.N. Saturday Evening Post, wrote. 'The stars in their orbits and velocities through the heavens faithfully obey a great code of law. Earth's scientists can quote and explain this code in great detail, until you ask. Whence came these laws?'

      When we look at the marvels of this universe we can only but agree with the writer who said. 'It were as easy to believe that Milton's Paradise were set up in all its stately march of balanced syllables by an ape, or that the letters composing it had been blown together by a whirlwind, as to believe that the visible universe about us, built upon mathematical laws, knitted together by a million correspondences, and crowded thick with marks of Purpose, is the work of mindless force.' Dr. Fitchett.

      Fred Kohler, well known ardent evolutionist, writes in Evolution and Human Destiny. Page 14. 'Life represents matter organised into systems of great complexity. How such orderly aggregates could develop In the first place, and continue in such complexity, is not easily explainable.'

      Prof. L. Victor Cleveland, commenting on the inability of Science to produce life in the test tube, in his anti-evolution compendium, says, 'So far as all the scientists can prove, there is no such thing as spontaneous generation, life must come from antecedent life.' And. 'Not a bacterium, nor algae, nor salpa worm, nor anything else ever evolved higher. Check the facts and see.'

      The Living Sea. 'Most of the 12,000 kinds of fossil insects identified are similar to living species.' Even Huxley, the hard boiled evolutionist admits. 'The only difference between the fossil and the animal of today is that one is older than the other.'

      Charles T. Brues. 'Insects in Amber.' Scientific American. 'Some 70 million years ago insects preserved in amber, are comparable with the picture they present today.'

      H. Gracey, Evolution and the Honey Bee, says. 'In this little insect, we have a trap to catch and baffle the ablest men that ever tried to support the evolutionary theory. In the Honey Bee we have a highly endowed little creature with instincts that seem to rival reasoning powers more closely than the instincts of any other creature and yet, there is no door left open for the entrance, or the transmission of these wonderful peculiarities.'

      The parents of the bee, the Queen and a Drone. have none of these instincts to transmit. The Honey Bee itself, which has no off-spring can transmit nothing.

      Darwin's theory is closed both ends. This is the hand of God.

      'The evolution theory demands a world teeming with intermediate forms of life.' Darwin. Which all must acknowledge would mean teeming hopeless monstrosities with half developed limbs, wings, bones, feathers, fins, need I add more? Yet all, even the most stubborn evolutionist will admit that the record of bones and fossil reveals not a single example.'

      Darwin said, 'I imagine that probably all organic beings which ever lived on the earth, descended from some primitive form which was first called into life by the Creator.' After its Kind. Nelson. Page 15.

      Many evolutionists now believe and teach this. It is also being taught in many universities. But, while it is a big concession it must be rejected as it is directly opposed to the Genesis record, which is emphatic that all life was Created, in fixed species, to bring forth after their own kind. Genesis 1.

      Byron C. Nelson. Th.M. After its Kind, 1961. Genesis 1:24 reads. 'God said, let the earth bring forth the living creatures after their kind.' After its kind, repeated six times in Genesis 1 is a statement of a biological principle that no human observation has ever known to fail.'

      Thomas Huxley, famous evolutionist, Critiques and Addresses. Page 182, admits. 'If we confine ourselves to positively ascertained facts, in the animal and vegetable kingdom, there has been little apparent change from their first appearance to the present time.'

      Prof. James Park, Textbook of Geology, page 265. 'The obvious lesson from the study of fossils is the elementary truth that life even in the earliest times, differed in no way from life today. Further, we observe that the lower types of life that appear in the oldest rocks have persisted through all geological times up to the present day.'

      Prof. Caullery, of the Chair of Evolution, University of Paris. Science 1938. 'The general fact, that palaeontology shows us few transitional forms, and still fewer primitive forms, is very disturbing.'

      The 'few forms', of course, are fragments which even they disagree on.

      Prof. Coulter, School Science Series. Page 16. 'Darwin's explanation of organic evolution is now an inadequate explanation.'

      Prof. Scott. The Theory of Evolution. Page 26. 'I have never been satisfied that Darwin's explanation is the rightful one.'

      Some fifty years ago the following authorities said.

      Dr. Scott. Nature. 'A new generation has grown up that knows not Darwin.'

      John Burroughs. Atlantic Monthly. 'Darwin has been shorn of his selection theories, as completely as Samson was shorn of his locks.'

      Prof. Bateson. Nature, 'Darwin speaks no more with philosophical authority.'

      Prof. Holmes. Science. 'The present theory of evolution is bankrupt.' The same could be said today.

      Byron C. Nelson in After its Kind, Pages 103-106. refers to Mendel's law of heredity, or Principles of Genetics, now almost universally accepted, which has completely changed the old ideas of scientists in regard to heredity and evolution generally. He quotes the following. Bateson. Biologist, 'Darwin would never have written 'Origin of Species' had he known Mendel's Law, which also has gone far to destroy the faith of biologists in evolution itself.'

      This was stressed by Prof. Caullery of the Chair of Evolution of Paris at Harvard University. Alfred A. Wallace, and Prof. Scott of Princeton University.

      E. W. McBride, Prof. of Zoology, Imperial College of Sciences, England, says in effect. 'It has led evolutionists into a blind alley.'

      Acquired Characters is a basic principle of the evolution theory, today it is universally rejected by scientists.

      Prof. Lock. Variation, Heredity, and Evolution. Page 115, says of evolutionists, 'It is generally agreed among them that acquired characters are not inherited.'

      Prof. Kellogg. Evolution the Way of Man. Page 97, writes, 'Unfortunately it does not seem to happen.'

      Prof. Conklin. Heredity and Environment. Page 240, says, 'The inheritance of acquired characters is inconceivable.'

      Some years ago a great stir was made over remains found in South Africa, claimed to be ape men, together with tools. Like most such finds, the reports were most misleading. It is now agreed that the tools had no connection with the bones which were found in a cave, while the tools were from a river bed, and it is generally agreed that all the bones were those of apes.

      Prof. Edward Conklin. Reader's Digest. 'The probability of life beginning from accident, is comparable to the unabridged dictionary resulting from an explosion in a printing factory.'

      Mr. Etheridge. Palaeontologist. British Museum. Once said, 'There is not one iota of proof in this great Museum for the transmutation of species.' Quoted in Did Man Just Happen? Page 18.

      LeComte du Nouy. Human Destiny, admitted, 'Each group, order, or family seems to be born suddenly, when we discover them, they are already differentiated.' Of birds, he says. 'They have all the unsatisfactory characteristics of absolute creation.'

      May we ask why he finds this unsatisfactory?

      Sir Arthur Keith said, 'Evolution is unproven and unprovable. We believe it because the only alternative is special Creation.' And Prof. D. M. Watson. London University, said, in effect, that this holds for evolutionists generally. Quoted, page 46, Did Man Just Happen?

      Again Criswell quotes Prof. Branco, who says, 'Man appeared suddenly in the Quaternary period. Palaeontology tells us nothing on the subject. It knows no ancestors of man.' Page 60.

      Eric Wassman. Modern Biology and the Theory of Evolution, writes. 'The whole hypothetical pedigree of man is not supported by a single fossil genus of a single fossil species.'

      Prof. William L. Strauss. Jr. Quarterly Review of Biology. 'Missing links are as conspicuous by their absence as they were one hundred years ago.'

      Prof. Rendle Short said 'The further back we look for early man the more like us he appears to be.' Quoted, page 61, Did Man Just Happen?

      W.A. Criswell writes also, page 73, 'Dr. Rudolph Virchow, of Berlin University, once pleaded with his fellow scientists not to teach the theory of evolution as fact. 'Because it is insupportable and not capable of demonstration.'

      At the Munich Congress, Virchow said in part. 'If generatio aequivoca, spontaneous generation, were capable of proof it would indeed be beautiful! But the proofs of it are still wanting. Those familiar with the failure to find support for the theory,' he adds, 'will feel it doubly serious to demand that this discredited theory should be in any way accepted as the basis of all our views of life.' Quoted from The Old Riddle and the Newest Answer. By John Gerard. Page 24.

      J.R. Hand. Why I Accept the Genesis Record. Page 27. Prof. T.H. Morgan, Californian Institute, of Technology says. 'Within the period of human history we do not find a single instance of the transmutation of one species into another one.'

      Charles Darwin asks, 'Why, if species descended from other species by fine graduations, do we not find everywhere innumerable transitionary forms?'

      What would Darwin say today when research has defined over 3,000,000 species with not a single connecting link?

      Prof. E.A. Hooton. Harvard University, said. 'The alleged restorations of ancient types of men, have little, if any, scientific value.' Quoted, page 38 in, Why I Accept the Genesis Record. by J. R. Hand.

      The same author, page 46, 'Sir Arthur Keith, Royal College of Surgeons, former president of the Royal Anthropological Institute, has said. 'Embryology provides no support whatsoever for the evolution hypothesis.'

      Dr. McNair Wilson. Editor Oxford Medical Publications, said, 'Increase of knowledge about biology has tended to emphasise the extreme rigidity of type, and, more and more, to discount the idea of transmutation from one type to another, the essential basis of Darwinism. The classic aphorism, (when a mule breeds), ought to serve as a warning against the easy acceptance of a theory which is as full of ogres, mermaids, and centaurs as any fairy tale.' Page 49.

      Charles Darwin himself, in his later life, says, 'As by this, (his), theory innumerable transitional forms must have existed, why do we not find them embedded in countless numbers in the crust of the earth? Why is not all nature in confusion, instead of being as we see them, well defined species?'

      Prof. H.H. Newman. Chicago University, said. 'Reluctant as he may be to admit it honesty compels the evolutionist to admit that there is no absolute proof of organic evolution', page 56 of Why I Accept the Genesis Record, J. R. Hand. And in the same booklet, page 66, he quotes two authorities, Prof. Pfaff, University of Erlangen and Prof. William J. Tinkle, La Verne College. The first says, 'The most ancient man known to us is not essentially different from the man now living,' and the second, 'Cro-Magnon man averaged six feet in height and had a cranial capacity 150 cc above that of modern man and, living at the same time were Neanderthal men with a cranial (brain) capacity equal to that of modern man.'

      How could one be descended from the other?

      Dr. Thomas Dwight. Thoughts of a Catholic Anatomist. Page 20 says, 'The tyranny in the matter of evolution, (in scientific circles), is overwhelming, to a degree of which the outsider has no idea.'

      Many scientists have voiced the same thing.

      Sir Edward Poulton. F.R.S. Essays on Evolution, page 193. 'Although no one strove so nobly against such odds in its defence, Huxley was at no time a convinced believer in the theory which he protected.'

      Almost three hundred years ago Sir Isaac Newton in Principia 2nd edition, recorded, 'This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.'

      Charles Darwin. Origin of Species. 6th edition. Page 286, admits. 'If my theory be true vast periods must have swarmed with living creatures before the Cambrian period. 'Darwin's day saw no evidence of these 'vast swarms' of intermediate links, and he later admits, 'The difficulty of assigning any good reason for the absence of vast piles of strata, rich in fossils beneath the Cambrian system is very great, the case at present must remain inexplicable and may be truly used as a valid argument against the views here entertained.'

      In Evolution of Plants, page 37, referring to the sudden unexplainable appearance of flowering plants, together with pollinating insects, wasps and bees. He calls it an 'abominable mystery.'

      F.W. Noack. The Theory of Evolution in the Light of Scripture and Nature, quotes G.K. Hebbert, page 31. 'The evidence of the fossils very definitely favours creation, and not the evolution theory.'

      Dr. D.H. Scott. M.A. LL.D. Evolution of Plants, page 42. 'The apparently sudden appearance of well developed flowering plants is still perhaps the greatest difficulty in the record. They seem to burst forth in full panoply and without ancestors.'

      Prof. Lejeune said, his chromosomal research had shown that 'Genetic differences between man and the apes were so great that the human species could not have evolved from some primeval chimpanzee or gorilla.' The Advertiser. Adelaide. Feb. 18. 1978.

      Prof. W.B. Scott. An Introduction to Geology. Page 288. 3rd edition. Volume 2, says, of the sudden appearance of the flora. 'With extreme suddenness the invasion swept the earth. There can be no question as to the facts of the completeness of the revolution of the flora.'

      Prof. E. Perrier. Earth before History. Page 75. 'Again and again it has been proved that new flora and fauna have suddenly appeared in some geological stratum.'

      Sir William Bateson. Science. 'When students of other sciences ask us what is currently believed about the origin of species, we have no clear answer to give.'

      Prof. R. Virchow writes in The New Materialism. Page 83. 'There has been a beginning of life, since geology points to epochs in the formation of the earth when life was impossible.'

      F.W. Noack. The Theory of Evolution in the Light of Scripture and Nature. Page 30, quotes Prof. Fleischman of Erlangen, Zoologist, as saying, 'The Darwinian theory of descent has not a single fact to confirm it in the realm of nature, it is purely the product of the imagination.'

      Sir Charles Bell. University College. London, has said. 'Everything declares the species to have its origin in a distinct creation.'

      The Bible warns us that the visible things of creation reveal the invisible Creator and that therefore we are without excuse if we ignore the evidence of His Hand. Romans 1:19-20.

      We feel sad about those who have not discerned the Hand of God in His Creation, but what of those who have not seen Him revealed in His Word?

      Does the Bible in fact bear any seal whereby we can identify it?

      Can the Bible be brought into the scope of Divine Workmanship?

      Can it be shown that the Author of the seals in sevens, some of which we have examined, is also the Author of the Bible?

      Look first on the surface of the Scriptures.

      It has long been known, and appreciated, by those who have studied the Word, how the number seven has been used to convey a certain and specific conclusion. It usually denotes God's fullness of purpose, or completion of a specific period.

      The leper was told to wash seven times in the Jordan. If he had stopped at six he would not have been healed.

      The children of Israel were commanded to march around Jericho seven times on the seventh day, (no doubt with the inhabitants laughing at them), but at the seventh time the trumpet sounded, the earth shook, and they laughed no more.

      There is NOTHING magical in the number itself. It is only the 'mark' of God's Hand in the particular incident. His Signature, and we find it throughout the Scriptures, this seal of seven.

      The Bible itself is in seven distinct divisions. Just look at the last book, Revelation, which is God's Book of climaxes, judgements, and consummations.

      This is what we find.

Seven Churches.
Seven Spirits of God.
Seven candle sticks.
Seven stars.
Seven seals.
Seven angels.
Seven trumpets.
Seven thunders.
Forty two months, six sevens.
Three and a half days with two witnesses.
Seven thousand men killed by earthquake.
Seven heads.
Seven crowns.
Seven plagues.
Seven mountains.
Seven kings.
A Beast with seven heads.

      This is just an example of sevens on the surface, all in Revelation.

      Here also in Revelation is a somewhat hidden example of sevens, that is, one could pass over them many times and perhaps not notice seven connected with them.

Revelation 5:12. Seven attributes of Christ.
Revelation 7:12. Sevenfold greeting to God by angels.
Revelation 5:14. Four beasts and four and twenty elders worship God.

      The term 'blessed' is used exactly seven times, so also is the 'Book of Life'.

      There are, in fact, over fifty occurrences of seven in Revelation alone.

      Now. In respect to the watermark or seal beneath the surface.

      An absolutely staggering discovery, concerning the Hebrew and Greek texts, was made by several independent students of God's Word, a discovery that God has permitted to be disclosed as a challenge to this unbelieving age and one which, in itself, settles for Time and Eternity.

      A fact the believer already knows.

      A fact which underlines the Divine authority of the Bible.

      A challenge, before which all the liberal and modernistic theories of men crumble like a sand castle does before the incoming tide of the sea.

      A sweeping statement but nevertheless true.

      It was discovered that hidden, as it were beneath the surface of these texts, was a Seal, a Sign, God's definite seal on His Word.

      Other patterns are present also, but the seal of seven is the most prominent in these intricate patterns, and more easily discerned than those, many other, designs.

      It stamps the Bible as the indisputable Word of God.

      Ivan Panin, who devoted much of his life to investigating and publishing these things, publicly invited the finest brains, by means of a challenge through the press, to prove that his facts were not facts, and gave three examples of these numerics.

      No one was able to refute those facts.

      He also challenged a Bible critic to produce a similar pattern of sevens as that found in the genealogy of Christ back to Abraham wherein the proper names investigated were named thousands of years before-hand and could not be manipulated in any way to aid the theory.

      Of course patterns of various kind have been found in other writings, but these are spasmodic in their occurrence, and generally require re-arrangement of the original statement, or phrase before a pattern can be discerned, and of course they are not consistent throughout the text which contains them.

      On the contrary the pattern and design running through the Hebrew and Greek texts are consistent, and uniform, throughout all the various books in both the Old and the New Testament, and when it is realised that the Bible is the collection of writings by some forty writers, men from all walks of life, over a long period of time, and in two different languages, the whole fitting together as harmonious whole, any honest seeker after truth must concede that a far greater Mind than man's is here', for who but a Supreme Being, knowing the end from the beginning, could weave such a design into the writing of men when the name of places, and persons, of genealogies and events were settled long before the men writing them were even born.

      The genealogy of our Lord which we will examine shortly, is a case in point.

      All through the ages of course there have been those who have been aware of the use of number in Scripture and whilst we will examine that aspect later.

      Just now I would like to spend some time examining these numeric designs found beneath the surface of the original texts of the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures.

      Over and over again, vital statements are sealed by a numeric design exactly fitted within the statement itself.

      Coincidence can be ruled right out, and the only logical conclusion, attested to by men of Science, and seekers after the truth, is that here indeed is the very Seal of God.

      Sir Ambrose Fleming. D.Sc. F.R.S. that great scientist. The inventor of the thermionic valve which made wireless possible, once, as President of the Victoria Institute of Science, opened its session with a paper entitled, 'Number in Nature and the Bible,' indicating a common origin in a Supreme Intelligence. His object was to show that this 'common pattern' pervades the Bible, just as it does Creation, yet is found in no other literature in this consistent and interwoven way.

* * * * * * * * * *

      At this point Mr. Payne introduced Iva Panin whose studies in the significance of Numerics structure in Scripture reveal an intricate design there which could only have put there by a supernatural hand, the Hand of God.

      The study can be fascinating, and, I simply ask the reader to take note of the phenomena, contemplate and enjoy the wonder of it, and, encouraged by this marvellous seal, immerse yourself in the Word of God with added enthusiasm.

* * * * * * * * * *

      Then Mr. Payne wrote. I might add that Panania's work has been investigated by the Nobble Research Foundation of Los Angeles, U.S.A. and regarding his statement that the Bible could not possibly have been written except by inspiration of God Himself and their verdict is as follows. 'So far as our investigation has proceeded, we find the evidence overwhelmingly in favour of such a statement.'

      Remember you are not reading fiction, but deep hidden truths, revealed, not to supplant our faith, but to strengthen it.

      Our spiritual strength and our spiritual growth, comes from understanding the finished Work of God in Christ, revealed to us in His Word.

      This Seal of God is only of true value when we see it as God's signature upon the Scriptures and we LOOK TO THEM ALONE for our guidance led by the Holy Spirit of God.

      Neither Mr. Payne nor I hold Numerics in ANY regard as a STUDY in itself and, certainly NOT as anything to 'lean on' or trust for our Christian walk because they are only fallible numbers.

      Mr.Payne saw the design Ivan. Panin and others had discovered in Scripture, as a 'Seal' of God's Hand there, to encourage us to return to the Word of God with even more enthusiasm, an enthusiasm we had both found also, when the beauty and design in flowers had first drawn us beyond their beauty to see the great Architect of the Universe.

      King David expressed much the same when he wrote. 'The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.' Psalm 19:1-4.

      It is the same plea Paul gives to the Christians in Rome. 'For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.' Romans 1:20.

      The New Testament begins with the genealogy of Christ back to Abraham. Matthew 1:1-17.

      It is interesting to note that the genealogy itself is divided into three sets of 14.

Abraham to David.
David to Babylon.
Babylon to Christ.

      It has two natural sections. Matthew 1 to the captivity and from Matthew 1:12-17 to the Birth of Christ.

      Both sections have numeric phenomena but I am dealing with the first section here and the examination is of the Greek text of this section in which the New Testament is written.

      The numerics are taken from Panin's work.

      The vocabulary to the first section of this genealogy has 49 words, and 49 is made up of 7-7's, and it has two separate numeric features, it is a multiple of 7, and the sum of its factors is 14, 2-7's. Of these 49 words, 28 or 4-7's, begin with a vowel, and the remaining 21, 3-7's with a consonant.

      Thus the whole of the words of the vocabulary are divided into words beginning, and ending, with a vowel, or a consonant, not at random but by seven's exactly.

      Here then we have four features of seven.

      These words have 266 letters, again a multiple of 7, 38-7's, and that is not all. The sum of the figures is 14, 2-7's, and the sum of the factors, 2+19+7 is again a multiple of 7, namely, 28, or 4-7's, so we have three more features of 7.

      Now remember we said the 49 words of the vocabulary, are divided between vowel words and consonant words, by sevens. This is remarkable in itself but, the 266 letters follow exactly the same plan, that is, 140 of them, 20-7's, are vowels, and 126, or 18-7's are consonants!

      There is only one chance in a million that these things could have happened accidentally, and if that were all one could say would be perhaps, 'Well a strange thing may happen once in a while, even though the chances are one in a million.' But it so happens that of those 49 words, seven occur in more than one form.

Forty two. 6-7's in one form only.
Fourteen. 2-7's occur once.
Thirty five. 5-7's more than once.

      Of the forty two nouns, thirty five. 5-7's are proper names and the other seven are not, and the number of times these proper names occur is exactly 63. 9-7's.

      The male names occur, in all, 56 times 8-7's and the three female names have letters in them totalling 14. 2-7's.

      Only one city is mentioned. Babylon, and it contains seven Greek letters. This not only presents a further set of divisions of seven, but diminishes the chances of coincidence to about six hundred billions to one, according to the law of chance.

      This scheme alone shows that some mathematical artist was behind the wording of this genealogy, and if you give the matter careful thought you will realise that every word, even every letter, would have to be watched for this plan, or sign of seven, to appear with such marvellous persistence, to say nothing of the fact that the proper names were fixed before the genealogy were even begun and could not be altered.

      And this is only one aspect. Many other features of seven are hidden in this genealogy which fit together with those shown.

      Having now introduced the subject let me ask you, has your mind suggested to you that this might possibly be coincidence?

      That was my first reaction.

      However when I read more about the law of chance or averages, I at once realised the foolishness of such a suggestion and so, for the benefit of my readers, let me just give a simple illustration of the law of chance.

      Suppose you have ten cents marked 1 to 10.

      Place in a bag and shake them.

      What now is your chance of drawing number 1?

      The answer is quite obvious. 1 chance in 10.

      In other words, over a number of repeated draws, with the drawn cent replaced each time, you would ON AVERAGE succeed once in every 10 draws.

      What then is your chance of drawing 1 and 2 in that order at successive draws, with the number 1 cent replaced before the next draw?

      Actually it is only 1 in 100.

      That is to say, from those ten cents you can achieve a 100 different combinations at two draws.

      That is:-- 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, to 1-10, then 2-3, 2-4, and so on.

      This gives 45 combinations.

      When this is exhausted you can have these in reverse order. 10-9, 10-8, 10-7, and so on right back to 2-1.

      This gives a further 45 combinations.

      Also because cents have been replaced you can have 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, to 10-10, giving a further ten combinations.

      Making in all a 100 different combinations.

      Thus you will see, because there could be 100 different draws, the chance of achieving the combination 1-2, is 1 in 100.

      But what would the chance be for 1 . . . 2 . . . 3, in that order?

      It is now reduced to 1 in 1000.

      Now this is a law, and carries on in that ratio indefinitely.

      But if it were not for the fact that it is a law, I, for one, could never believe that to draw those ten cents in sequence from 1 to 10 your chance is reduced to the unbelievable figure of one chance in ten thousand millions! 1 in 10,000,000,000.

      Thus, at a glance, we can realise the impossibility of these designs in the Scripture being mere chance, for they are up against this same law.

      This brings us a little deeper by including numeric values.

      It must be understood that in the Greek and Hebrew, every letter has a numeric value, so it follows that every word and sentence must also have a numeric value, being simply the sum total of each letter value.

      Now I have chosen a vital portion, being the account of the birth of Jesus. Bear in mind, Jesus is the foundation of the whole Christian faith, and so I shall take, all through, examples which have a direct connection with Him beginning with the account of His birth in Matthew 1:18-25.

      Here we have a perfect, double, interlocked design covering every word and letter, which must remain constant, whilst the following designs are woven into it, and not a single letter can be altered.

      There are six Greek words which are found nowhere else in Matthew.

      The word 'Emmanuel' is used here but nowhere else in the N.T.

      Now we have another remarkable occurrence.

      The angel speaks to Joseph, and although his words form another pattern of their own, they fit exactly into the whole!

      This by no means exhausts the passage but enough has been shown here to show us that the design in it is not there by chance.

      Surely, anyone after thought, must acknowledge that only Divine Wisdom could inspire the words of such a passage so that they would show such an interlocking system of sevens when completed.

      This record of the birth of Christ, in 161 Greek words, occupies about one-third of one page in the Bible and the challenge from Panin, directed to those of his day, was for them to produce a similar passage of 161 words in three years. According to the law of chances, chance in this passage which we have briefly examined stands at one in 200 or so quintillion, a number consisting of 21 Figures.

      Panin stated. 'There is not a single paragraph in this Gospel that is not constructed in the same way as those already shown. It would have taken Matthew over one thousand years to have constructed the Gospel on these lines, even assuming it to have been possible for him to do so, which of course, it was not, because of the many circumstances over which he had no control.'

      But is it possible that Matthew had some supernatural power?

      Well, he certainly was directed by a supernatural power as is plainly stated in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. 'All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.'

      But! If we credit Matthew with this power, we must also credit Mark, Luke, John, James, Peter, Jude and Paul with the same power, for the records of each reveal the same supernatural phenomena.

      Every paragraph, every sentence, can be shown definitely to be constructed in the same marvellous way, each demonstrating a work estimated to take a thousand years.

      Humanly speaking this is simply impossible.

      There is but one explanation, and we have read it plainly in 2 Timothy 3:16 and repeated for us in 2 Peter 1:20-21.

      'No prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.'

      Whether the closing verses of Mark, Mark 16:9-20, are genuine or not, has been much disputed by Biblical scholars over the past century, some regarding them as an interpolation, and others asserting from the evidence available that the disputed verses are abundantly entitled to their place in the Gospel.

      It is interesting therefore to discover that the passage in question is literally saturated with features of seven, and it reveals another point of interest also, that is, it proves a means whereby any disputed portion of the Scriptures can be tested. In fact many such portions of the Scriptures have disclosed such a Seal, definitely settling them as authentic portions of the whole.

      On the other hand, no works of man, or the Apocrypha, have been found to bear a consistent design in such a way that the phenomena we have examined here does.

      A full examination of this passage and also of Mark 1:1-8, a portion dealing with the ministry of John the Baptist, may be found in the Appendix.

      Before leaving this section I would like to take one portion from the Old Testament.

      Those vital opening words of Genesis 1:1.

      'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.'

      The very foundation of God's Word.

      If God were going to Seal any words, surely He would seal these, and seal them He has.

      As we see how these seven Hebrew words were so marvellously chosen and arranged by God that the number seven is literally woven into them in every conceivable way, we are still only seeing but a glimpse of what is hidden within these words. It has been found that there are over thirty different numeric features in the verses, and calculated that the chance of co-incidence accounting for the above 15 is one in thirty three trillion or more.

      Some of the world's foremost mathematicians, after studying it, have concluded that not even the cleverest man that ever lived could have devised such a Sublime mathematical problem and hide it in such a simple statement, which declares the first stupendous miracle of God.

      Hidden, within itself, is not only found the Seal of seven, but also a mathematical key to unlock every aspect of its fundamental truths, some of which were not known to man until the advent of Christ. 'By Whom also He made the worlds.' Hebrews 1:2.

      We will examine this further later.

      Panin wrote. 'No mortal in a hundred years could possibly have carried out the design found in a single book of the Bible, if he devoted the entire hundred years to the task.'

      It must be remembered that with each additional sentence the difficulty greatly increases and, owing to the limitations of human intellect, soon becomes hopeless. Each word is important, for instance, the word 'baptise' forms an elaborate pattern which connects practically the whole of the New Testament and, if this word were removed even once, it would completely upset this design of some 20 features of seven's.

      Again, there are twenty six writers named in the Bible, and whilst these twenty six names are distributed from Genesis to Revelation, they not only form one perfect pattern such as the total numeric value, 7,931 . . . . . 1,133-7 s, but are so distributed that they form an amazing set of designs.

      There are many other ways in which these numeric patterns appear also. Each of the New Testament books has a number of words not found in any other New Testament book, each includes its own design, and yet they each only form a part of the complete pattern.

      It can be demonstrated that, for all the New Testament writers to have compiled their books, unaided by a Supreme Intelligence, each one would have needed to know what the others had written, in other words, each of the books would have to have been written last, a literal impossibility.

      No doubt God has reserved this thing as an answer to those who would challenge His Word.

      'The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.' 1 Corinthians 3:19.

      Those who have done so are faced with but two alternatives. Either they must acknowledge the truth that God alone was the Author, or else credit those writers, whom they branded as just simpletons, with wisdom far exceeding that of any man today.

      However despite the wonder of this phenomenon it is only a Seal of God's Hand there in His Word, just as in all Creation, and having discerned that it does have His Divine watermark we should now go back to the Scriptures themselves with renewed zeal to discover the many other treasures which await us there because He had a Plan for all who believe which He wanted each of us to discover for ourselves as Hebrews 11:6 tells us plainly.

      'But without faith it is impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.'

      As expositors have studied the Word of God it has been observed that some numbers in the Bible have a specific significance as though they are there to direct our attention to something or someone, in particular.

      As a general rule these numbers are evident right through the Bible and have been followed with keen interest by students of Scripture for many years, not for any Supernatural quality that might be thought to be contained in the number itself, but because they were found to be like signposts pointing to God's Hand in His world drawing our attention to an event or a Person or occasion and sometimes to His intervention into the affairs of men.

      However just as in the Tabernacle, everything had a symbolic meaning, the gold, and the silver, and the brass, all referring to the Person of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ His Son, and students of the Scriptures have discerned that some numbers seem to have symbolic meaning directing our attention to the Word or to some event, in a similar way.

      They are as follows:--

      Do not confuse 5 and 6. For although man, '6' is under Satan, yet he is literally covered by grace '5' and there are a few larger numbers such as 40 probation, 37 the living Word of God, and others.

      These numbers have a significance of their own but because of the discovery of numeric patterns we see that beneath the surface are deeper patterns with which they harmonise.

      I emphasise again that the Scriptures were written in Hebrew in the Old Testament, and Greek in the New Testament, and that in both these languages every letter also stands for a number. Most of us are familiar with the Roman system of numbers and letters of course, where V stands for five, X for ten, and L for fifty, but as not all of us are aware of the number values of the Hebrew and Greek alphabets I have listed them in the appendix. And now. Let us examine briefly those deeper things that lie beneath the surface of some of the numbers we have just listed.

      The number Eight points to 'resurrection', or a 'new beginning.'

      One instance of this is found quite early in the Scripture. Genesis 7:13. 'In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japhetic, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark, 'and they went forth from the ark, and of them was the whole earth overspread.' Genesis 9:18-19.

      Eight people were saved, and there is a new beginning, a new covenant between God and man. Genesis 9:9-17. Here too, the ark can be seen as a type of Christ.

      And there are other significant occurrences also.

      Bethlehem of Judaea, the birthplace of Christ, is listed exactly eight times in the New Testament.

      We can see this even in some material things, and, the tones of music well illustrate the matter, for there are only seven whole tones in sound, the eighth is the 'oct' but actually the new beginning.

      This is so with the days of the week, and particularly noticeable when we consider the Jewish method of calculating the week, that is, from the first day to the seventh, or the Sabbath.

      Obviously the day after the seventh is the eighth, and this is the day on which the Christian meets in fellowship, the first day of the week, or the Lord's Day. The Resurrection Day. The Resurrection of Christ, our Passover, can be seen as part of God's Plan when we look into this Feast established thousands of years before His birth.

      Christ died on the fourteenth day of the month and rose on the sixteenth, 2-8's.

      There were forty days to His ascension, 5-8's.

      This day, (the first day of the week, or the eighth day by Jewish reckoning), is mentioned eight times in the New Testament.

      Jesus said, John 11:25 . . . 'I am the Resurrection and the Life', and as eight signifies resurrection would not God, if He were expressing truth in this number, weave this number into the name of Him who is the Resurrection and the Life?

      Let us see, and remember, whatever the letters of any word add up to, that is its value and no one can make it anything different.

      Mr. Payne wrote.

      It is here we begin to uncover the thrilling truths which God had hidden in numerics.

      And, while I affirm that, I again ask the reader, to enjoy the venture into Numerics, but, do not let your interest in them draw you away from the more profitable search of the Scriptures.

      I continue with Mr. Payne's words.

      In the account of the birth of Christ in Matthew 1:21, the angel of the Lord said,. . . . 'And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS.

      It is wonderful to discover the letter values of Jesus in the Greek. It is 888, the most significant number that could be put on paper.

      Firstly because 3 signifies Divine Perfection, and also, because its factors, (37x8x3), are the three most sublime numbers connected with Jesus and we will examine this further in the section, the Word of God--37.

      As we all know Jesus was called the 'Christ' and the gematria of Christ is 1,480, or 185-8's

      He was also the Saviour which has a value of 1,408 . . . (2x8x88), 176-8's.

      And again He is the 'Lord', 800, 100--8's.

      And further He is the 'Messiah', 656, 82--8's.

      Jesus usually called Himself the 'Son of man', The word occurs 88 times and it has the value of 2,960, 370-8's.

      He also said I am the 'Truth' which has 64, 8-8s. Here then is our first numeric value design, in itself a marvellous witness to the fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is indeed, the Resurrection and the Life.

      There is an even deeper significance contained in some of these names but if this we have briefly examined is not the Hand of God would someone please explain this amazing phenomena?

      Before we leave this section one more evidence of design is worthy of our attention.

      In Revelation 14:15 the Resurrection is spoken of as 'The Harvest', the gematria of which is 704, 8-88's.

      The gematria of 'Saviour', (The Lord of the Harvest), is 1,408, 176-8's.

      This is exactly double that of the harvest He reaps, and this phenomena is amplified by the fact that the words for Bridegroom and Bride, (which refer to the same two), bear the same mark in respect to the number of times they occur, that is, Bridegroom sixteen times, and Bride eight times.

      More than interesting also is to note that 'Reap' in the same verse has a value of 444, showing that the harvest is reaped from the whole world, (4).

      Two more intriguing things occur to me here.

      The first that David, a type of Christ, was the eighth son of Jesse, and the second, that the last book in the Bible is called the Revelation of Jesus Christ, and the vocabulary contains exactly 888 words!

      I should explain here what 'vocabulary words' means.

      It does not mean the actual number of words used in a sentence, or a phrase, or an article used to tell the story. It means the single different times words are used. If a word is used twice it does not count again as a 'vocabulary word.'

      For instance, the sentence I now type has 22 words but some are used two or three times so they are not vocabulary words. The vocabulary words number 13. The words in the sentence are.

      'The man came to the door. He was a tall man. He was a thick set man. He was an old man.' They number 22 words.

      They are:-- 'the' twice. 'man' four times. 'came' once. 'to' once. 'door' once. 'he' three times. 'was' three times. 'a' twice. 'tall' once. 'thick' once. 'set' once. 'an' once 'old' once.

      The words used several times are the 'vocabulary words' and number 13.

      How significant that this number is used to signify finality, for it is finality itself. It is the last, or final, single number and has that strange feature of finality within it. No matter by what number it is multiplied. the addition of the figures in the answer will always add up to nine, thus, 7x9=63, 6 and 3 are 9.

      It cannot be dispelled, or overthrown. It is in itself FINALITY.

      Now, just as the number 888 is the most significant number found in association with 8, Resurrection, so we find, (in this examination of 9, Finality), that the most significant number which could be used to signify absolute finality is 999.

      Our first example can be found in the four opening words of the Bible, 'In the beginning God.'

      At these four words, the atheist, the modernist, and the critic, have hurled every weapon they could find, yet they will stand, though all the world crumble about them. Few have realised that God has so controlled every Hebrew word in that statement that its numeric value is exactly 999.

      What a challenge!

      Yet this is not all, for although the first statement in the verse. 'In the beginning,' has been acknowledged by some, others have hesitated at the next three words in this sentence, 'created the heaven.'

      However so that no doubt need remain, God has sealed this phrase also, and although superficially there seems to be no resemblance, any Hebrew scholar will confirm the fact that its gematria is exactly 999.

      Surely then no one would wish to dispute that this speck, 'the earth', is His Creation also, for these words are likewise sealed as we saw in the section, 'The Birth of Christ.'

      This only touches the fringe of God's seals on these words, but for the present I would ask every reader to grasp the significance of these words and of the seals that God has woven into them. They are both a revelation and a warning.

      There is to be something else that is final.

      God's wrath is to be poured out at the end of this age and in Hebrews 3:11, where God says, 'So I sware in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest', we find that this term, 'My Wrath', Greek, te orge mou, has this same value 999. And the word 'amen', usually translated 'verily', so often used by Christ when driving home a vital truth such as 'verily, verily, I say unto you', has the value of 99.

      Surely these hidden patterns speak even louder than words.

      In the Scriptures we can see for ourselves how all the prophecies concerning the death of Christ were exactly fulfilled, and this work of Redemption was completed at the ninth hour. Pilate marvelled that He was already dead, (not the only thing Pilate marvelled at), but as for the ninth hour, it was God's Time.

      At this same hour the earth did quake and, 'the veil of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom', Matthew 27:51, signifying the end of the Law. And our Lord's words at this ninth hour were, 'It is finished.' John 19:30.

      Redemption is by blood alone.

      It is God's Seal from Genesis to Revelation.

      I would remind my readers. Have no delusions about this.

      It is absolutely final with God; blood occurs 99 times in the New Testament also.

      We see the same finality pointers at judgement also. The term, bottomless pit, occurs exactly nine times and so also does 'rest'. We have our choice.

      Let us now look at this strange number . . . 13.

      This number which carries such a stigma in the world, and which has come to mean a number of ill omen for the superstitious.

      This controversial number is significant in Scripture also and often connects with the thought of rebellion, sin, or some kindred idea.

      We can see it first in a 'surface' appearance when we read in Genesis 14:4. 'Twelve years they served, and in the thirteenth they rebelled.' and secondly, in Genesis 17:25 when, at the age of thirteen Ishmael, (of whom it was prophesied that 'he would be a wild man', Genesis 16:12.), was circumcised. How truly was the prophecy borne out, and indeed is seen in his offspring the Arabs today.

      Solomon was seven years building the Temple, but thirteen building his own house. The truth expressed by these two numbers was also seen in his own life and that of the nation he ruled.

      Of the twenty kings of Judah, (including Athaliah), seven were righteous rulers, and thirteen turned away from God.

      Dr. Bullinger has shown that the names of the kings of the ten tribes of Israel who forsook God are all marked with thirteen. And other scholars have discerned that the names of the Lord's people are multiples of eight, while the names of those who rebelled against Him are in multiples of thirteen.

      These facts are almost incredible for they reveal that, not only did God know the course of each before they were born, but caused them to be so named, so that the numeric value of each would be a multiple of thirteen.

      The word klepto, 'steal,' occurs exactly 13 times. And another striking example is the word zume, 'leaven,' which represents sin. It occurs 13 times and its gematria is 455, or 35-13's. And the words 'backsliding' and 'hypocrite' each occur 13 times in the Old Testament.

      How wonderfully significant it is that the Spirit of God should use this particular number, in these inner designs, to represent Sin, and Rebellion.

      In Genesis 10:26-30 there is a remarkable instance of 13.

      Joktan was the ancestor of a sinful and rebellious race of people. He was the thirteenth in the order of the children of Shem, and he had thirteen sons. The gematria of his name is 169, 13x13, and the gematria of that of his thirteen sons is 2,756, 212-13's. This really amounts to a numerical prophecy of a rebellious race.

      All through the Scriptures we see these pointers of sin, the most significant being those where the author of sin, Satan, is branded by God with this, his own trademark.

      Look at some of his titles.

      And the most significant of them all, that phrase used by the Holy Spirit in Revelation 12:9 . . . 'The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan.'

      This phrase bears the amazing gematria of 2,197 or 13x13x13.

      Who could see these astounding facts and not acknowledge the Hand of God behind them?

      Let me conclude this study of thirteen with one of the most striking proofs that the Spirit of God designed these numerics.

      Most people the time where God commanded Moses to, make a brazen serpent and hang it on a pole that all who would come and look upon it would live. But why, of all things, did God choose a serpent, the very symbol of sin?

      How many Christians have puzzled over this?

      Investigation reveals the significant truth.

      God was making a picture, or type, of a stupendous event that was to take place hundreds of years later.

      Come right on now to this appointed time and hear Christ Jesus Himself say, 'As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.' John 3:14.

      But do you still inquire, why a serpent? Open your Bible at 2 Corinthians 5:21, and you will see, 'For He, (God), hath made Him to be sin for us (He) who knew no sin, that we might be made righteousness of God in Him.'

      So. When Jesus hung upon the cross He was made the extreme representation of sin. This of course is why God withdrew His Presence. Mark 15:34.

      Now, keeping this in mind, let us come to another scene. Pilate and the trial of Jesus. Who can read the account and fail to see God convicting Pilate, who tried his hardest to persuade the Jews to release Jesus? Even his wife came and warned him and yet he finally yielded to Satan and washed his hands before them.

      However water cannot wash away sin.

      Pilate's conscience still carried conviction, and God move Pilate to write an inscription and place it upon the cross. John 19:19. 'Jesus of Nazareth.'

      The significance of the whole thing almost takes one's breath away when we discover that the gematria of this title, which was placed upon the very cross when Jesus was made sin for us, is exactly 2,197 or 13x13x13.

      The whole thing is so astounding that it needs no comment.

      It seems that God, knowing the hardness of men's hearts in these closing days has reserved these marvellous numerics so that the fundamental truths of the written Word may be set forth in this supernatural way, as a final warning before the closing of the day of Grace, and the Coming of the Lord.

      We now come to the most sublime number of all, 37, but as this number verifies fundamental truths concerning the. Godhead, a brief exploration of what the Bible teaches about God is essential for the help of those who have no knowledge of this vital subject.

      Firstly remember, God is Spirit. John 4:24.

      The New Testament clearly teaches that the Godhead consists of the LORD God, the Almighty, His only begotten Son, (John 3:16. Colossians 1:15), and the Spirit of God.

      Now, in due time, the Son of God, The Word, (Greek LOGOS), John 1:1, came to this word, was clothed in human flesh, and suffered and died in the flesh. His blood shed as the price of our Redemption, 1 Peter 1:18-19. 'Redeemed with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. His soul delivered from hell, Acts 2:31, and His resurrection the surety of our own, Romans 6:4-5 and 1 Peter 1:3-4, which is 'An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.'

      Anyone who denies the Deity of Christ has never even begun to realise the sacrifice of the Saviour, and can have no understanding of John 3:16-17.

      As briefly recorded before the number 3 signifies Divine Perfection, or Godhead, and 7 His Seal, and the combination of the two is, that most sublime of numbers 37.

      It signifies THE WORD OF GOD sealing vital truths of the written Word, and revealing Him who is the LIVING WORD.

      You will have noticed how God, when expressing key truths, carries the number to the third place, such as 888, 666, and 999.

      This number 37 itself has a deep significance in that it unifies the product when multiplied by three, or a multiple of three. Thus 37x3 is 111, 37x6 is 222, 37x9 is 333.

      This is the only number which so unifies the product, a perfect pointer to Christ, the Son of God who alone can unify men of every nation and tongue, and thus bring peace on earth, and goodwill among men.

      In John 1:1 we read, 'In the beginning was the Word.'

      And here we have the KEY to this sublime combination of the three and the seven, and in this word LOGOS we have the numbers expressed in their highest form 373 as follows, L=30, O=70, G=3, O=70, S=200.

      A further verification of this clue to the Godhead number of Christ is found in Colossians 1:15.

      He is expressed as the 'Image of God'.

      Now the Greek here for IMAGE and GOD, has the numerical value of 1,369 or 37x37.

      We read in John 1:1-3. 'And the Word was God, the same was in the beginning with God, All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.' And in Colossians 2:9. 'For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.', and Colossians 1:16, following the verse above, 'For by Him were all things created.'

      Let someone explain how this fact was numerically sealed in Genesis 1 some thousands of years before 'the WORD was made flesh' John 1:14, by marvellously weaving His Godhead number 37 into the very words of the Hebrew text, 'In the beginning God'.

      We saw the hidden significance of that text whose. Gematria was 999, but now hidden within the number itself we find the first verification of the truth of John 1:3. 'All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made,' because 999 is 3x9x37, or 27x37.

      The whole thing is significant whichever factors you look at.

      If you add the three nines you get 27 again, and 27 is the cube of three, or three taken to its highest place. And so the WORD 37, is revealed, in the highest place, 27, 3x3x3, as stated in John.

      Now take 777, the gematria of the three nouns of Genesis 1:1, 'God', 'Heaven', and 'Earth'. What does this further reveal?

      Why. The WORD in the midst of the creative acts, again verifying John 1:3, for 777 is 37x3x7.

      Remember I said there were exactly seven Hebrew words in the whole verse Genesis 1:1 and the astounding fact is revealed that God has sealed it with over 30 combinations of 7's and 37's. And that is not all, for if we add the gematria of those seven words, they total exactly 2,701, which is 73x37, the significant result being that they can be turned upside down, as it were, and still present the same truth.

      Note also that the gematria of LOGOS, 373, has exactly the same and however we twist them the figures 37 confront us. It seems the Holy Spirit is impressing in these numerics the fact that 'THE WORD' is the very centre of the whole plan of God. Colossians 1:16. 'All things were made BY HIM, and FOR HIM.' Now for the benefit of those who will not acknowledge the fact that Jesus Christ is the very Word, (LOGOS), and so the actual Creator as clearly stated in Colossians 1:15-16, let us see further what the Spirit has hidden in His Name.

      In Matthew 1:21, the passage we examined in the section The Birth of Christ, we noted how the angel declared His name was to be Jesus, and in the section Resurrection, we have seen how the gematria of that name Jesus, 888, seals Him as the Resurrection and the Life, but He was more than this as the Scriptures very plainly, and definitely teach.

      Now see how God has marvellously placed these vital truths within the very numbers of His name. Not only are the facts here in figures, but only a miracle on the part of God could put them there.

      Remember, 888 is 24x37.

      Take first the 24. In the opening words of the New Testament we see that Jesus was called the Son of David, as prophecy had declared He would be and incredible though it may seem, 24 is one Hebrew value of David, (spelt two ways).

      'The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.' John 1:14. He became the man Christ Jesus in the world, this is also contained in the 24 as 6 and 4, six representing man, and four the world.

      And the stupendous truth is that man could have no part in this incarnation for He was still the very WORD of GOD, clothed in human flesh, as shown in the name Jesus which still retains His Godhead number 37.

      Further, what of the second Name given to our Lord, that of Christ, meaning Anointed?

      We saw, in that chapter Resurrection, how the gematria of Christ was 1,480 and that it contained The Resurrection number 8, but as we examine it further we see that it also has 37 revealing Him as The WORD, and the number 5 representing Grace, the free gift of God, 1,480, is 8x37x5.

      Now combine these two precious names.

      First Jesus Christ. The gematria is 2,368 or 37x8x8 and these figures have further wonder for us. 37 the Word. 8 The Resurrection, and 8 The Life.

      Second, His own special Title the Son of Man whose gematria is 2,960 or 37x2x5x8, and shows Him as The Word 37, the Witness 2, of the Grace of God 5, by the Resurrection 8.

      Marvellous beyond words is this revelation, as it were, of the Holy Spirit.

      In Colossians 2:9 we read these stupendous words, 'For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.'

      This word, 'Theotes', Godhead does not occur in any other place in the Bible. The reason for the Holy Spirit using it is obvious. for its gematria is 592 or 37x2x8. The WORD was God 37, 'the faithful Witness' 2, and 'the first begotten from the dead' 8. Revelation 1:5, 'from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten from the dead.'

      What I am especially emphasising is the fact that the retention of this 37 with the number 8 amounts to a miracle as I shall show later when we examine some figures which have both these factors. And I want the person who wants facts, (and facts which amount to a miracle), to carefully grasp what I am showing. The fact that these numbers are there in the titles of our Lord.

      On the surface this may not strike the reader as anything wonderful, but if we had no other evidence that Jesus was the Son of God, and that these names were God-breathed, as are all the Scriptures, we have it here.

      The Word of God says, Luke 16:31. 'If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.' How true this is. Is it true of you?

      If you want evidence. If you must have proof, that Christ was the Son of God, that He is the Resurrection and the Life, here is proof.

      In John 11:25 Jesus declares, 'I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.'

      If Jesus then is the Resurrection, here is His guarantee that you also will be raised to life eternal if you simply believe and accept Him as your Saviour, who died in your stead.

      Let me now show how what we have seen concealed in the titles of our Lord constitute a miracle. Remember no one can alter the numeric value of a name, or word, that is, every letter in the Greek has its fixed value. Let me further elaborate by listing the values in the name of Jesus in Greek, they are I-10, E-8, S-200, 0-70, U-400, S-200, Total 888 or 37x8x3.

      I think I have given ample evidence that 8 is the Resurrection number, and that 37 is the Godhead number of Jesus, but here is where the miraculous begins.

      Only ONE number in 296 can have both factors of 8 and 37. In other words the first number that will divide equally by 8 and 37 is 296, and before you would find another number that would equally divide you would have to carry on for another 296 numbers, and so on.

      So, that to find a name of which the numeric value would be such as to divide by 8 and 37 equally, you would have only one chance in 296. But to find one person, with two names that would divide thus, would be very, very rare indeed. Actually the chances are 1 in 87,616, according to the Law of chance, or averages.

      Now then. Here is a Person not only with seven names or titles all bearing the factor of 8, (1 in 2,970,152), but also with at least four titles, (not including the twin title of Jesus Christ), which have the two factors of 8 and 37, (1 in 7,656,563,456)!

      Further the chances of one Person bearing four titles with factors of 8 and 37, and also of having three titles bearing factors of 8 is, 1 in 1,498,400,489,472!

      Someone will say I do not understand all these numbers!

      Well, you do not need to understand, just look at the immensity of it all and grasp that It is a MIRACLE!

      Let me give you a brief illustration.

      If the earth's population were about two billion one would need to have about 750 earths each with that number of people on it, to have a reasonable chance of finding even ONE SINGLE PERSON whose names would reveal what I have demonstrated are present in the names and titles of our Lord, assuming of course that each had a similar number of titles!

      This is but ONE of the numerous designs found in the Bible and any one can check these figures, and if one has a little knowledge of Greek, the title values, but God does not leave it just there either, for like many of the designs in seven's, there are again patterns within the pattern.

      Now let me give you those figures between 1 and 3,000 which have those factors of 8 and 37. There are only TEN of them.

      Five of these are actually the numeric value of His titles and the numbers which apply to Him are worthy of note. Again the casual reading of this may not reveal anything unusual, yet here is seen the finger of God, not only in design, but verifying vital truths.

      This last number 5,920 being the exact total of the phrase in Matthew 25:B, 'Behold THE BRIDEGROOM cometh go Ye out to meet HIM.

      Surely any one must acknowledge that not only is this the 'finger of God' but that this reveals indeed the very SON OF GOD, and of Him the Word declares, Acts 4:12, 'There is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.', and neither is there any other Name under heaven that could reveal such staggering evidence of Divine origin.

      Can you begin to see the Mind of God behind all this?

      Do you see that 'CHRIST' is the addition of God and man, and thus becomes our Passover? 1 Corinthians 5:7, 'For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.'

      Can you see the vital truth expressed here?

      God alone could not be our Passover, for blood had to be shed.

      Mere man could not provide the efficacious sacrifice.

      But Godhead, 592, clothed upon by flesh and blood, 888, could, and did, provide the perfect sacrifice, 1480.

      And then note that the title the 'SON OF MAN' is the exact total of the three previous titles.

      Why did Christ continually use this title?

      I believe that in that title, as the numerics show, is revealed GOD, MAN, and REDEMPTION complete.

      Then what a marvellous climax, 5920, the sum total of it all.

      Redemption is complete, we are invited to be ready, the bride is called out, the Bridegroom, (Christ), comes for His Church, Bride), and we go out to meet Him.

      We began this exposition with the words from Luke wherein he records, 'neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead'.

      Well if the Word of God has not convinced you that Jesus Christ our Lord is both the Resurrection and the Life, neither will these amazing facts, but if they do not cause you to search the Scriptures, (as those of Berea did), then I despair of your choice. Acts 17:11-12, says of them. 'They searched the Scriptures daily whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed.'

      Two or three more instances of these designs will close this section and this interesting verification of how the Word was the active agent in Creation through the Holy Spirit as stated in Hebrews 1:1.2.10 is the first. I quote, in part. 'God . . . hath spoken by His Son . . . by whom He made the worlds . . . laid the foundation of the earth . . . and the heavens the work of His hands.' The Genesis reference is Genesis 1:2. 'And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters,' and its total value is 1,369, or 37x37.

      Thus in a most striking manner is the Deity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ verified by this concealed design.

      And in a different way a marvellous truth is presented in Exodus 12 where God institutes a very significant type of Christ in the Passover Lamb. The Hebrew word is pesach and its number is 148, or 37x4.

      The figures of 148 equal 13 Sin. 37 the Word foreshadowed in the lamb. 4, the world which in itself is remarkable, but it is only the shadow of what is beneath the surface.

      The command in Exodus 12 is that the lamb had to be taken on the tenth day. Why the tenth?

      Let us see. The word Passover equals 148. We have seen the picture of the Lamb of God in this but it was only the earthly picture. God had a definite purpose in stating the tenth day, 10 represents perfect order.

      Now. If we take 148 and multiply it by 10 the amazing result is the perfect Passover 1480, Christ as we have seen in the table just listed.

      It is also significant that the figures of 1,480 still total 13, and we see again within the very fabric of that word Passover the Lamb of God as sin offering for a lost world.

      And for those who enjoy having their thoughts stimulated there is a choice little pattern found in John 21:11. 'Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.'

      Why one hundred and fifty three?

      In this number 153 (17x9), we see a picture of the completed Church, Christ's Elect. Seventeen stands for the perfection of spiritual order (the church). Nine for finality.

      Compare the fact that every fish was brought safely to shore with the promise Christ made that none should be lost. John 17:12.

      Here is a remarkable example of how God had planned all things, even the exact number of fish that were encircled in the net, a picture of the Gospel Net.

      The Greek word for fishes is ichthues, value 1,224, 153-8's and shows the completed Church, 153, in the Resurrection, 8.

      To amplify the picture, the net, Greek to diktuon, has a value exactly identical, 1224 or 153-8's.

      Now note what took place when the fishes were safely drawn in. Jesus said to His disciples, John 21:12. 'Come and dine.'

      Picturing what is to follow, the marriage Supper of the Lamb.

      Who would dare to suggest that all this was coincidence?

      Remember if one fish had been lost from the net the whole picture would have been spoiled. It had to be 153!

      Another wonderful thing in connection with the picture also is as follows.

      Seventeen is the Church number and if we put down all the numbers from 1-17 and add them up we get 153 as our total, and 153 vocabulary words are used in telling the story.

      How marvellous is the Finger of God behind the Written Word, and what treasures are hidden for all who will search, for the examples which I have given here only touch the fringe of Bible numerics.

      Some of the designs, especially in the seven's, are so far removed from co-incidence that the chances of non-design calculated by the law of chance, are from millions to one, to hundreds of 127 billions to one!

      Finally, it must be remembered that all gematria values are of the original Hebrew, or Greek, words which of course excludes any possibility of a word being altered, in translation, to fit any feature.

      Surely this confirms in a most marvellous way, the fact that all Scripture is Inspired, God-Breathed.

      No human mind that ever lived could devise, and effect, such a means of sealing, or stamping with seals, as it were, the whole Written Word. Only the wilfully blind can fail to recognise that the whole Bible is the Work of a Supreme Master Mind.

      The closing verses of Mark. Mark 16:9-20.

      This passage is literally saturated with at least 75 of such features.