There Shall Be Signs

Dr. Scofield comments that this prophecy was addressed, not solely to Ahaz, but to the whole house of David and says, “The objection that such a far off event as the birth of Christ could be no sign to Ahaz is, therefore, puerile. It was a continuing prophecy addressed to the Davidic family, and accounts at once for the instant assent of Mary.” (in Luke 1:38).

These are just two of the many comments on this matter, and I think the ‘scholarship’ of these writers can safely be considered to be at least as profound as that of our cleric. Continuing with his discourse, the speaker elaborated on his opening remarks regarding those who look for signs of the fulfillment of prophecy, saying that in Old Testament times the Israelites thought that God was all powerful and could do anything He liked. They also thought that He intervened on their behalf, winning their battles for them, and showing special care for them in many ways.

Then, after dismissing as of no consequence the theological reasoning regarding the limits placed on God’s actions by His own moral laws, he made this amazing statement: “God can’t do anything He likes; we know better than that! We don’t think that way today.”

Just who are the “we” for whom he presumes to speak, I do not know, but I do know that millions of good Christians do think that way today.

But, this was not all; he went on to declare even more emphatically, his concept of God as an impotent deity, by saying, “There is no evidence that God intervenes, or ever has intervened, in the affairs of men.”

This statement was so astounding that I could scarcely believe I had heard correctly, but it was repeated a little later, in a slightly different but more emphatic form.

Now, having divested God of any power of independent action, and having left his audience with the impression that Our Lord was born in the ordinary process of generation, and having denied that God has even intervened in the affairs of men, he exhibits the most amazing inconsistency by declaring, “God did intervene once; when a little babe was born, and made a woman cry.”

Just what significance the ‘crying’ had, in the birth of Christ, it is difficult to see, but whatever views he really holds regarding Christ’s divinity, he certainly left no doubt that, in his opinion, there is no foundation for any expectation of Our Lord’s return.

Then, with a total disregard of all the riles of logic, he concluded by announcing, in his most ponderous tones, “I believe … and the Church believes in the ultimate victory of Christ!”

Just what did he mean? Any thoughtful person must have been left wondering, “by whose power will Christ become victorious” since God the Father has no power of independent action; and consequently, even if Christ were divine, He also can have no power, because He and His Father are One.

Or, if He be not Divine, then He has merely given his name and impetus to a system of thought which is nothing more than a system of ethics, because, without the divinity of Christ, it can make no claim to spiritual content or power.

Regarding the matter of “signs”, we of the British Israel Association make no apology for our recognition of such signs. We would much rather arouse the criticism of our learned friends, than that of Our Lord Himself who addressing the Pharisees and Sadducees, said, “When it is evening, ye say it will be fair weather, for the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather today for the sky is red and lowring. . . 0 ye Hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; . . . but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”

And I think our Modernist theologians are, themselves, one of the signs that we are in the period of the great apostasy to which Paul refers in his 2nd Epistle to Timothy. In Chapter 3: 3,5 & 7 he tells Timothy that “in the last days perilous times shall come” . . . and he then goes on to describe men who will be ‘high minded’ (an obsolete word meaning ‘puffed up’) “having a form of godliness, but denying the power the thereof; ever learning, and never coming to a knowledge of the truth.”

In conclusion, let me urge all my readers to decide such questions as I have brought to your attention today, on the basis of your own prayerful study of the Scriptures. Those whose teachings undermine the Word of God will be held responsible for such teachings but you and I will not be able to justify ourselves if we are too lazy to find out the truth for ourselves!

We have brains of our own! Let us use them to the Glory of God.