23-04-191

Losing, Forgetting, & Finding!!

North Seattle Bible Students Convention

March 26,2011

Bro. John Blackwell

23-04-192

Lost Book is Found…A lesson in Jewish & Church History

King Josiah – 659-628 BC - 31 Year Reign 5th Last King

Matt.1:10-Genealogy of Jesus “Last good thing to happen to Israel before 70 Year Desolation”

- Why was finding a lost book important?- It was the Book of the Law

- communication had been from memory - much, if not most, of Word of God lost- a proper condition of heart shown- immediate action taken

23-04-193

Who was Josiah? 2 Kings 22 & 2 Chron. 34

Josiah was 8 years old when began reign of 31 years

In eighth year of reign,

he began to seek after the

God of David his father In twelfth year, he began

to purge Judah , Jerusalem of idolatry

23-04-194

What kind of king was Josiah?

One of few righteous kings of Israel

Greatest reform king of Israel

Prophecy-Josiah’s Reform300 Years Before-I Kings 13:1-3

“Deuteronomic Reform”

Celebrated the Passover as never before

23-04-195

Josiah as Reformer

Spent 6 years purging the land of idolatry Personally attended

to enforce destruction

of idol worship Began to repair the

house of the Lord with

money gathered from the

people.

(Tax Money for Renovations)

23-04-196

The Lost Book is Found!

Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law given by Moses

Shaphan the

scribe carried the

book to the king It was read to

the king

23-04-197

King Josiah’s Reaction and Action

He rent his clothes

He sought direction from the LORD The LORD’s reply Josiah’s condition of heart pleased God

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Josiah’s Action

The Law was read to the elders

Josiah made a covenant with the Lord

Kept the Passover like no other had been kept from the days of Samuel!

23-04-199

Lessons to be Learned

Story of Josiah parallel to Gospel Age Israel given law of God in time of Moses Early church given Word of God through Christ

and the Apostles Israel turned quickly to idolatry, corruption,

ignoring law of God Signs of deterioration came quickly to early

church Reaction to finding something lost, Action taken

23-04-1910

Gospel Church Deteriorates

God’s Word was lost from sight– Grasping for power led to hierarchy of

organization

– Formulation of creeds

– Strong heathen influence

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Organization of Church

Organization simple in Apostles’ day with elders and deacons servants of church

Elders, or bishops, began to rule church Distinction formed between clergy and laity Bishops alone had authority to read and interpret scripture One bishop acquired power over other Bishops of large churches in big cities more important than

those from smaller. Rome became chief city, thus bishop of Rome called pope or

“father” from Latin word. This called Episcopal form of church government

23-04-1912

Formulation of Creeds

Creeds – credo – “I believe” 325 A.D. Nicean Council – first written creed 381 A.D. Council of Constantinople –

doctrine of Trinity declared creed Other councils/other creeds End of study of these doctrines

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Unscriptural practices became deeply rooted

Exorcism Prayers for dead Belief in purgatory Lord’s supper became sacrifice of mass; priests as

administrators Sharp division between clergy and laity Veneration of martyrs, saints and their relics Worship of Mary Superstition and belief in magical powers Images and altars in churches Gorgeous vestments for clergy; splendid rituals Pilgrimages to holy places Monasticism Persecution of heathen and heretics

23-04-1914

Prelude to Reformation

Famine in the land for word of God

Evidences of true church in wilderness– Peter Waldo (1200’s)

Did not believe in mass, prayers for dead, purgatory Prayers offered in house or stable as effective as in

church His followers, called Waldenses, practiced lay preaching

and grew in number

23-04-1915

Prelude to Reformation

Wycliffe (1320 – 1384)

– Criticized clergy’s wealth, corruption & political power– Believed church should return to poverty and

simplicity of apostles’ times– Pope was antichrist– Bible should be rule of faith only– Translated Bible into English– Disciples named “Lollards”

23-04-1916

Prelude to Reformation

Huss (1369 - 1414)

– Became familiar with Wycliffe’s teachings and taught them boldly

– Believed that Christ was head of church– Distinguished between being in the church and of the

church– Condemned practice of indulgences– Burned at stake– Followers called Hussites

23-04-1917

Reformation

Luther (1483 – 1546)

– Luther spoke up against Tetzel’s conduct regarding indulgences

– In 1517 nailed 95 theses on door of Castle Church in Wittenberg

– Within 4 weeks, news of this had spread all over Europe

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Reformation

Some of Luther’s teachings included– Rejection of Papacy– Distinction between clergy and laity was discarded; no place for

bishops or priests– Justification by faith alone– Denial of the mass– Denial that bread and wine were changed into literal body of Christ– There is only one visible church – Roman had departed from the New

Testament Church– Believed that everyone has right and duty to read and study Word of

God for himself– Believed in education of church, that each should be thoroughly

grounded in doctrine– Translated Bible into German

23-04-1919

Reformation

Zwingli (1484 – 1531)– Reformed church in German-speaking

Switzerland– Lord’s supper bread and wine were symbols

only of body and blood of Christ– Images were removed from church buildings– Mass abolished– Altars, relics, processions were discarded

23-04-1920

Reformation

Calvin (1509 – 1564) in France– Believed election and predestination most important

doctrine– Simplified church organization into four scriptural

offices – pastors, teachers, elders, deacons– Departed as far as possible from form of Roman church– Denied state any power over the church– Believed everyone has right and duty to read and study

the word of God for himself– Believed in education of members of church– Sermon the main form of church service– Translated Bible into French.

23-04-1921

Reformation

Tyndale

– Acquainted with Luther’s teachings– Lived in England– Translated Bible into English in 1526– Suffered martyr’s death in 1536

23-04-1922

The Lost Book is Found!

Scriptures were translated into various languages of the people

– 1516, Erasmus published Greek New Testament– 1522 Luther translated NT into German; 1532 entire Bible

into German– 1526 Tyndale translated Bible into English– Calvin translated into French– 1611 King James version of Bible published– 1710, Francke published Bibles in inexpensive form for

people– 1804 onwards Bible Societies were formed

23-04-1923

The 19th Century

William Miller (1782-1849)-- study of time prophecies drew attention to second advent of our Lord

Charles Russell (1852-1916)– “Blessed is that servant…”– “I will come in to him and will sup with him..”– “He shall make him ruler over all his goods”– Storehouse of His Word opened up through

Assembled, compiled, organized truths logically Studies in the Scriptures-6 Volumes-Tabernacle Many aids & tools to Bible study

23-04-1924

SummaryLessons to be Learned

Story of Josiah parallel to Gospel Age Israel given law of God in time of Moses Early church given Word of God through Christ

and the Apostles Israel turned quickly to idolatry, corruption,

ignoring law of God Signs of deterioration came quickly to early

church Reaction to finding something lost, Action taken Learn from this

23-04-1925

Lost Book & ….. Understanding is Found!

Let us read it, study it and feast upon it!

Psalms 119:105

“Thy Word is a Lamp

unto my Feet

and

a Light unto my Path”