Supplement 13 — For Lessons 25 & 26

Supplement Thirteen

For Lessons Twenty-five and Twenty-six

I have no apology to make for teaching the truth of the Bible concerning the gifts of the Holy Spirit and other doctrines that are being tabooed by many of our modern churches. Anyone knows that this stand is not being taken to become popular with these churches. Neither do I hesitate to take such a stand, for many years ago when a boy I consecrated my life to God to study and to teach literally every thing that was in the Bible regardless of whether it was in harmony with my church or any other church. I consider it the only honest and intelligent course to take. If men want to do otherwise that is their responsibility for they will have to face God in judgment.

I trust that every one of you who studies these lessons will continue to take a rational view of what is plainly written in Scripture. After all, is it not the truth that you want on every subject? Do you not want what God Himself teaches? If so, then there is not the slightest chance of your going wrong by studying these lessons and reading the many Scriptures which prove every doctrine that is in the Bible.

The Right Basis of Understanding Truth

All of us will have to acknowledge that the Bible is in human language; that there must be some basis of truth that all could agree upon if they would; that God is intelligent enough to use the human language to make Himself clear on every doctrine that He teaches; that there cannot possibly be so many different correct interpretations of the same human statements in Scripture; and that there must be a supernatural power trying to confuse men and make them believe that the Bible means anything that any person wants to make it mean. These facts are too plainly evident to ignore. Why not let us all take a logical view of things and ask ourselves the questions that any intelligent man would naturally ask.

Is not the Bible the inspired revelation of God? Is it not in plain human language so that all can understand it alike or is it so hard to understand that we have to argue continually about which is the right meaning? Why should preachers differ concerning what the Bible teaches if it is simple enough for all to understand alike? What purpose do they serve in following such a program? Would it not be best to believe alike the same things that are so plainly written? Why permit the devil to divide and separate God’s people?

These and many other questions we have fully answered in Lessons One to Three. We have showed how it is the work of demon powers to confuse men in the understanding of the Bible. We have proven that the Bible is God’s Word; that it is the simplest Book to understand; that there is no excuse for misunderstanding it if we will take it literally as we do other books; and that it is the true basis of understanding truth. When we get this far in truth the rest of it naturally is simple.

The Abundant Supply House

So far it has been shown in the lessons that there is no known need or want in the human race, but what the Bible abundantly promises to supply to all men upon certain conditions. If you are tempted to waver on this point and question any detail of this fact, you should review Lessons One to Three, Ten, Twelve, Fourteen, Sixteen, Twenty, and Twenty-two, and refresh your memory with the abundant promises of God and His plan for you to get these benefits.

No Failure is Possible

No failure is possible if we want to get all that we need from God, provided that we will but follow the simple instructions laid down in the Word of God. It will be easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away than for one promise of God to fail if we will but faithfully and literally obey to the letter the conditions made clear in connection with the promises. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” Luke 21:33, and the psalmist said, “For ever O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven” Psalms 119:89. It is literally impossible for God to fail one man. No man has ever had that experience yet and no man ever will have it. On the other hand, all who know God or have heard of others who knew God will testify that God has not failed in one thing that He has promised.

Where the Failure Really Is

If there is any failure of any person in getting what he wants from God, the trouble is not far away. It can easily be found if he makes an honest self-examination. In fact, it is so plainly evident that truly no search should be necessary. The failure is in the person himself. If he does not think so then that fact in itself is enough proof that the failure lies within him. Those who love God will give Him the benefit of the doubt and will check up on themselves in order to learn where the trouble really is. It will be found that all who fail to get what God has promised are doubting Him. If there is no other reason for failure this one is sufficient. How can one detect that he is doubting? The answer is easy. The very fact that he recognizes a failure, that he is questioning why he has not been answered, and that he is wondering about the thing at all, is proof that he is doubting. One who believes God will stop all this once and forever. He will never question the why or how of any answer or the lack of any answer. If he truly believes God it will be a settled fact with him and there will be no question about it, no wonder about it, no reasoning about it, no discussion of the fact with men or devils, and no relaxing on his part until the answer comes. He will die in the faith that he has the answer. It would be best to do this than to live in unbelief and constant worry and questioning about the answer. But the fact is if he will not waver it will come out all right. But unbelief will tie the hands of God and keep one from getting what he wants.

God is No Respecter of Persons

God has plainly stated the grounds upon which He will and will not answer prayer and He has to be faithful to His Word. He will not deviate one inch from the conditions that He has told men they must meet. He will not change His Word for any one person. If He did do so He would be a respecter of persons like others. He is absolutely and eternally true to Himself, His Word, and His whole creation and He will not violate His own law. If men want answers to prayer, then let them do as God requires and they will get the right answers.

The Word of God is Plain

We have repeatedly made clear the fact that God’s will and Word are clear and we have stated the promises and conditions of answered prayer many times. There is no excuse for not knowing what to do, and there can be no excuse for not doing what one knows he should do. These steps must be followed before prayer is answered, so this should be settled once and forever. If there is any rebellion in your heart against certain truths of the Bible; if there has been any fight on your part to accept the whole truth just as it reads; or if there still is a questioning on your part that what you are being taught may not be true, then you must stop this at once. There is no doubt that many of the truths of these lessons are new to you and that the average church does not teach this way, but does this prove that the Bible is wrong? You can see for yourself that what we say is in plain English in your own Bible. You do not have to wonder about truth any longer if you want the truth. It is there in your own Bible and it is not a question of whether it is accepted by everybody or not, or that it is popular or not. It is a question of whether the statements are in the Bible in plain human language or not. If they are, then you are responsible to God for accepting or rejecting them.

Don’t Sell God Short by Unbelief

You may even have to leave your church in order to believe the whole truth. We hope not, but if that is necessary for you to accept truth and get the benefits then it will richly pay you to do so. Any church or any preacher who will not accept the whole truth of the Bible is not worthy of your continued respect and support.

We are not advocating that Christians leave the churches. But we are advocating that all the churches repent and come back to the Bible. And if it comes to a showdown, individuals in churches should not continue in fellowship with those who reject the Bible, and it would be best for them to leave such churches and go to those in the community that do follow the Bible. It is perfectly right to teach that people take this stand, for we must all obey God’s Word rather than man. It is well to bear in mind that when churches get to the place where they become worldly and ungodly and rebellious against the gospel they are no longer Christian churches. They are mere societies of sin and rebellion against God and any person who supports them will be judged by God.

Your Final Court of Appeals is the Bible

Go to it and see if it says what we say it does. We give you the references to read and you can see whether it says these things or not. Don’t take the attitude that these things are just our interpretation of the Bible and that another interpretation may be the best. This is just a mere excuse on your part, for you can still see for yourself if the Bible says what we say it does. It is not a question of our interpretation or that of someone else. It is a question of what the Bible says and you had better wake up to this fact before it is too late. Yes, my friend, we are faithful in telling you what the Bible says but it is up to you to accept it and get the benefits promised. Don’t blame God for your failure to get what you want. Blame yourself and correct what is wrong and what you want will be yours.

We want you to reaffirm your faith in God and His Word and consecrate yourself anew to Him to the full and complete obedience to truth as you get to know it. Repeat constantly the affirmations we have given you and increase in the faith that will dare to believe God for what you want. In our next two lessons we will deal fully with the subject of faith, so until then we join with you in prayer that you might be able to comprehend with all saints the fullness of God and experience those things that are freely promised to you of God.

Ten Questions For Supplement Thirteen. Do You Know:

• That sinners can commit the unpardonable sin? This is clear from the fact that the Jews of Mt. 12:22-37 were sinners and Christ warned them of committing that sin. In Heb. 10:26-29 we have the fact that a person who has been sanctified by the blood of Christ can go back into sin and commit this sin. Blaspheming the Spirit and attributing to the devil the works of the Spirit, or speaking a word against the Spirit knowingly and willfully, is the unpardonable sin, and this any person can do whether he is a sinner or not.

• That one man in the Bible fasted longer than did Christ? Moses fasted at least three times forty days each Deuteronomy 9:9, 11. In fact, it seems from Deut. 9:11-18 that Moses fasted eighty days without eating between the two forty-day fasts.

• That one man captured a whole army of multiplied thousands single-handed? Elisha did this when he captured the whole army of Syria and led them captive to Samaria 2 Kings 6:18-23.

• That Cain was not the first one to build a city on Earth? He was the first to build a city on Earth since Adam Genesis 4:17, but there were cities built on Earth by the pre-Adamites, as proven in Lesson Seven, Point VI.

• That resurrected men and angels can go back and forth from Earth to Heaven in one day? Jesus after the resurrection went to Heaven and back in one day. This statement is proven by the fact that He forbad Mary to touch Him for He had not yet ascended to God but was going to God, and on the same day He returned to the Earth and appeared to the disciples John 20:17-23. If resurrected men can go to Heaven and back in a day, angels can do likewise. Other men have also gone to Heaven but how long it took them is not stated (See Supplement One, Question 9.)

• That people who go to Heaven will eat food forever? In Lk. 22:14-18, 29-30; Rev. 2:7, 17; 19:1-10; 22:1-2 it is clear that saints will eat forever.

• That Egypt will never become great again? The Bible is very clear that Egypt will never be a great power again as it used to be in the early days of Israel. The prophet Ezekiel said that Egypt would be “a base kingdom. It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations” Ezekiel 29:14-15. Egypt will be defeated by the future Antichrist from Syria Daniel 11:40-45.

• That the Arabs will give Israel protection from the Antichrist during the last 3½ years of this age? Dan. 11:41 states that Arabia or ancient Edom and Moab will escape Antichrist. In Isa. 16:1-5; Ezek. 20:33-35; Mt. 24:15-21; Rev. 12:5-17 we read of Israel fleeing for protection into the wilderness of Edom and Moab, and since they escape the Antichrist and flee into this country for protection, then it is clear that the Arabs protect them during this time.

• That the Bible names the very city in Edom and Moab that Israel will flee to for protection during the Tribulation? It is Sela or Petra, the ancient capital of Edom Isaiah 16:1-5Isaiah 26:20-21Isaiah 63:1-8.

• That God has a basis of dealing with the heathen who have never heard of the Gospel? He will deal with them on the basis of the light they have received, and on the basis of obeying their own conscience Romans 2:12-16.