Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 54

8. To whom do the things which have been revealed belong?

"The secret things belong unto the Lord our G.o.d: but those things which are revealed belong _unto us and to our children forever_." Deut. 29:29.

9. What testimony did the apostle Peter bear concerning his experience on the mount of transfiguration?

"_For we have not followed cunningly devised fables_, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, _but were eye-witnesses of His majesty_." 2 Peter 1:16.

10. When did he say he saw the majesty of Christ, and heard the voice from heaven?

"And this voice which came from heaven we heard, _when we were with Him in the holy mount_." Verse 18.

11. How does he emphasize the reliability of prophecy?

"And we have the word of prophecy _made more sure_." Verse 19, R. V. "Now _more confirmed_." Boothroyd's translation.

NOTE.-Every fulfilment of prophecy is a confirmation of the truthfulness and reliability of prophecy.

12. What admonition is therefore given?

"Whereunto ye do well that ye _take heed_, as unto a lamp s.h.i.+ning in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts."

Verse 19, last part, R. V.

13. What has ever been the theme of G.o.d's prophets?

"Receiving the end of your faith, even _the salvation of your souls_. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you." 1 Peter 1:9, 10.

14. Whose spirit inspired their utterances?

"Searching what, or what manner of time _the Spirit of Christ which was in them_ did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." Verse 11.

15. In what prophecy did Christ recognize Daniel as a prophet?

"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by _Daniel the prophet_, stand in the holy place, (_whoso readeth, let him understand_)." Matt. 24:15.

16. To what time were the prophecies of Daniel, as a whole, to be sealed?

"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." Dan. 12:4.

17. What a.s.surance was given by the angel that these prophecies would be understood in the last days?

"And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; _but the wise shall understand_." Verses 9, 10.

18. What is the last book of the Bible called?

"_The Revelation of Jesus Christ_, which G.o.d gave unto Him." Rev. 1:1.

19. What is said of those who read, hear, and keep the things contained in this book?

"_Blessed_ is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein." Verse 3.

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Daniel Interpreting The Dream. "There is a G.o.d in heaven that revealeth secrets." Dan. 2:28.

1. What statement did Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, make to his wise men whom he had a.s.sembled?

"And the king said unto them, _I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream_." Dan. 2:3.

2. After being threatened with death if they did not make known the dream and the interpretation, what did the wise men say to the king?

"The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, _There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's matter_: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and _there is none other that can show it before the king, except the G.o.ds, whose dwelling is not with flesh_." Verses 10, 11.

3. After the wise men had thus confessed their inability to do what the king required, who offered to interpret the dream?

"Then _Daniel_ went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation." Verse 16.

4. After Daniel and his fellows had sought G.o.d earnestly, how were the dream and its interpretation revealed to Daniel?

"Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel _in a night-vision_. Then Daniel blessed the G.o.d of heaven." Verse 19.

5. When brought before the king, what did Daniel say?

"Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, show unto the king; but _there is a G.o.d in heaven that revealeth secrets_, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these." Verses 27, 28.

6. What did Daniel say the king had seen in his dream?

"Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; ... Thou, O king, sawest, and behold _a great image_. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible." Verses 28-31.

7. Of what were the different parts of the image composed?

"This image's head was of fine _gold_, his breast and his arms of _silver_, his belly and his thighs of _bra.s.s_, his legs of _iron_, his feet _part of iron and part of clay_." Verses 32, 33.

8. By what means was the image broken to pieces?

"Thou sawest till that _a stone_ was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces." Verse 34.

9. What became of the various parts of the image?

"Then was the iron, the clay, the bra.s.s, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and _became like the chaff of the summer thres.h.i.+ng-floors; and the wind carried them away_, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." Verse 35.