VOLUME XXI OCTOBER, 1961 NUMBER 7

EXECUTIVE BOARD: I l a r i y l.zr~cvr tk I'~.c-i~lrsst I iet-z!<l :<11il,cr \. vc,. 1 ' 1 , sitlrt~t \:,::c: tiee!t~-trz Svcict,,r) ll:~r>- I'.:stc.t .r .!..:. Sck-rc:.i:> I ):I\ e ( I ~ I ~ ? ~ < I I I , : ... ... ... . ' r r~:t$i~r#,r l~lv.-:3rtl La:~rv::k . . . -\\qt. ' I ' I x ~ ~ I ~ u ~ v I ilurt:i:r D:.l-ra;. .. ... 1.1Itrzx-i 5 1 s

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Dzvid E11gcl-ma Icdltur. il~-Chirl Kcs. Alvin Mulder .Associate Editor I.am Luhbcrs - llat1.igr11g Erlit<lr Sancy Heernstra - Fir~n!~ce llarlajicr

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Re\ RcjEctt H;:ilach - Truth \s. Error . ~ ~ ~ l l r , l Llll>bcr. Cr1trquc Kcv IIcvrnln H,>cksrnta Biblc Outlines R r \ I:1ih3rd Veidmzr~

Frum thc Pastor's Study Jamrs Jonker -Current Comments

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EDITORIAL p.

Ale~nbers of the Protcsta~~t Refonnetl Ch~~rcheh hClvc. co~~~rniltc.d t l~e~~~selvi-s to th~. support of a forcc called cduc;\tion. This is :I fact. 'Tl1t.y have fountled several grade scllools ant1 i l r c : in the proems of I)c-gi~~~)ing a high scl~ool. For all of these they alone arc rc~sponsiblc. 13esitlcs, \vhether they ap- prove or not. all of t l ~ e c o n s t i l ~ ~ e ~ ~ c y of tht- Protestant Rrfom1c.d Churches sticnd to b~ nlorr ;tntl Inorc3 all(.ctctl hv an evcv i~lcreas- ing n ~ ~ r n l ~ e r of high school, collvgc, and university graduates kvithin their e c ~ l ~ s i a s - tical 111idst. Tllcrcforr, rcniarks on lllr sull-

-set are pcrtir~ent for cL\-rryone. A tnan can sc:~rcely mike i~ greater or

tllorr dai~gerous t~listirlie tha~i to supl)ose. that cdua~tion is 111erc.ly something to c1;tlly with. Parents, having little for111al schooling tllemselvcs, devoting their lives to nlaking a livinc: with their hands, ~laively suppose that rcl~~c.:iling lhrir c11ildrc:n consisls of sup- plying thcm with a fe\\, basic tools nrl~ich t l ~ c children \vill use to in~pro\.c so~ne\vhat. the basically simil;~r p : ~ t t e r ~ ~ of lifc-. Etlr~ca- tion is reg;~rded as ;I tool ul the crassest 1105- sil)le scnsr. l'l~crtx is litlle or no appreciation of the facst th:~t inllercnt \villlin t11r forcc: of learning exists :I hardy sced of independencr. Fclr nliuny pupils, this seed ren~:lir~s a sc!cJ, ignorcd in its obscurity. Sl~ch pupils fulfill the state rcq~iirenic.nts, batisfy tlleir parc11t.i' fo~cdest \\ishes, nntl engtlge in 1nanl1~11 I;~l,c~r aided 11); he i r ability to read, spell, ; ~ n d ni~ll- tiply. But for otl~c-rs Illis cloes not sull'icc. \:cry gacl~rall?. at first, and then \\<it11 aston- ishing rapidity, they tlc:velop into t r ~ ~ e stu- dchnts. :\nd t1ie11 they b<:@ to :~sl; clncstions.

+'\\'hy slio~~ld \ve I I S ~ Ic:~ming just to do a ttle better whnt our p;trents tlid? In fact,

are wc niorally allo\vctl to use learning at all? Is not ed~~cntion rc;~lly NI end in itself?"

For wlnc, this answer becomes thc acloptetl one: "Lc;lrnir~g for leanling's sake. The spberc of higher lear~~ing is a ~ ~ t o n o m o ~ ~ s . It alone may ans\vcr t l ~ r questions it r;~isc>. And let IIO outsicle antllority attrn1l)t to reg1l;lte what ed~~cation teacl~es."

[f fen- within our circles care \,cry ~nach \vliat th(.ir cl;ilclren (lo, \\rhrther thcry tlo f;~nn\\-ork or philosol~hy, everyone is con- ccmctl \\pith \\'hat his child I~elieces. It is prob;ibl\. diffic~~lt for pnrmts to im;~ginl that the five ).car old toddler they pack off to scl~ool may some day reject their faith .mtl even deny their God. And d l I ) L T ~ I I S ~ some- svlierc. in tlie process begun on a crisp autu~nn ~norni~zg, c-duc;ttion set itscblf 111) as God's ri\.nl, tliscontcnt to remain "merely" God's tool. One nu st understand that thc culuc;~tion process referred to is not cate- chisnl-learning nor t n d e school-learning but the typc c~mbodietl ill Protestant Iiefon~~ed gradc- schools and Christirun Rcfonned l1ig11 schools and colleges, that is, exposure of the child or youth to liter;~turc, science, history, and philosophy. Therc is that \\-itl~in liter- ature, avitllin history, within pl~ilosophy \vhich wl~ispcrs to its clevotce, "What Ilnsi- ncss do you I~nvc Lo use mc just to rellffir~n some beliefs your parents taught you? Am I not too grand to bc emp10)-4 ;IS a nirre tool:' -4s for t l i i q faith of yollrs, :ue you sllre . . .?" This :rspt.ct of the educational redit)- is familiar to ever?. student \\.ho has ever touched upon the deeper strata of learning. It is tlor~l~t. I t is the tloubt cn- gendered by tbc rc>no\\necl historian, \\rill Durant, :IS 11c concludes M account of the frightful religious persecutions carrietl out by Catholics and Protestants: "A supreme and r~nchnllengeal~le faith is a tleadly ene- my to the human mind." It is the doubt

BEACON LIGHTS

fostrrecl by the I~nuntingly "nol)lc" lajt chapter of Bertrantl Rl~ssell's 7'11~ PrObl~Hls oj P/~iloso])h~~; Be done with Gotl, "tliln- inis11 the dognlatic assurance," I ~ u t strive OII

for kn-o\vleclge. It is the cioubt, al~l~cnlingly I;ut tr;~gic;~llj- l~ersonific~cl i r ~ J;w~cs Joycc!'s Stephen Dedal~~s, hero of A Portroil of the drtis-t os u l'otrng Jlrtn, ;LS he spurns all billdings of f'tith ;~nd turns to "life ;inti cspericuce."

That a shldcnt at solne time or other in I u ? lift* pl~~ngcs into the clismal nloriiss of doubt is inr\it;il~le. S o r is this r~ecessnrily bad. One who kno\vs by esperiencc thc ;r\\.f~~l turb111enc.e of being "\\,ithout Cot1 i l l

the world" is one \\;ho clings with kcen relish to thc peace of being "of the house!- holtl of Gocl." Ancl such ;I orlc: is al,lc~ to assist thc follo\vit~g generatio~a as they ciloosc their first principles. But wLc-II d o ~ ~ b t is glorified iis the pri~~eipul go;~l (IF education, \\,hen the teacher to \\,horn onc! look for sucror responds that the n~iscry of d o ~ ~ b t is really hi~ppincss, t l ~ e r ~ ech~cntion has become ;I -gotesrluc: fiend. For the child of Cw1 has not bec.11 pronlisetl, nor doc3 he Itmk fonvarcl to, a life 11f tlorllit. Rather, all Scriph~re ir~sists that faith ant1 trust a ~ r d cvnfitlen~e are the possessions of ;I

rel)on~ Clrristii~n arid, in fi~et, of I~im itlonc.. \\'here the sphere of edl~cation ~ ~ ~ ~ c l c n i l i i ~ c s that m ~ s t and rw&lcncc, one has to (lo with pri~lciples and theories of c!clur;~tion \vliich arc erroneous and tlangerous. Their effects are that higher learning scrLTes 3s a mallet \\,it11 \vhicl~ the Godless ~ I I I I I I ~ ~ C \ I t11t. Reformed faith, and all of Cliristi;rnity, from the outside and that ;UI insitlious can- cer g11:iws at the Ileformctl confrssio~~ Iro~n within. Little needs to be said about higher lei~rr~ing in the hands of the ove~t mockc~~s of Cl~~istianity. They have uot cl~;~ngccl consitlerably since Christ's d i~y \rho scorn the Deity of Jesus. J I I~c ' s stitrk ronclemn;~- tion rings out agi~inst the111 today ;is il clitl cc8nh~ries ago, "Ragir~g !r-a\'es of the sea, f0;lmin.g out their own shame; \vantleri~lg stars, to \vhonl is rescrvetl thr bl;tcllrc*ss of c1nrLncss for e\.er." .ind one easily tlt.tects the mallet.

Cancers \\.illlin ;zC anr~tl~c.r m:~ttc!r. 1111.-

perceptible in beginning, tlley spre;~tl 1111til they devastate the entire body. To tlic 01,- jcction that this co111d never I~npprn in schools tlominatcd by Refom~cd people,

there. is only this reply, "It has, it is, and it easily might." A senlinary \vhich groclu- ;~tes a young man n h o denies tl~c. rci~l . i d i u q iind :accuses Paul of ignorance in thinkin, that thc-re \\.as t i historical i \ d a ~ ~ ~ is a scl~ool r:~vi~jied by cancer's 1;ist stages. \Vhen a 1:rofcssor of sociology pounds everlastingly 11po1l tlie huth that tllousantls of little groups tllrol~gh the \vorlti tl~ink thcmsclves to I>e the possessors of Tmth and then smirkingly insinuates that tllca Rrfor~necl conf(?ssio~l of fuith (doctrines ;~nd morals) has no better formd;~tior~ than thous,mds of olhrrs, :I cancer nithin higher learning re- veals itself. \\'hell a teacher of histor). traces the great n~overnents of economics, political thought, and philosophy but re- hlscs to n~cntion, much less trace, thc mo\-cnlcnt of history, n;unlcly, the ;~dvanc- ing of thr purpose of Jehov;il~. ;I cancer \vitl~in eclucation makes itself kno\vn. .inti \vhen educators .tnd intelligent students cornl~ine to pro~nnlgate that this \r,orltl of \vretchcd men, complex prol)lems, ant1 fantastic tensions is redcwnablc through the agrlicy of 'ut, a cancer \vithin iearllin~ itlentifies itself. And all ultimate analysis, th(t o p e of ;inalysi\ all education cries fo?? mu\t eonch~de that the cancer is this: mcr. I I U \ V \ \ ,rcnch~I ~ d ~ c i ~ t i o n free froni this bintlings of Scriph~re. 'Tl~r giddy nostrils of Lno\\*ledge refuse to inhalc the childlike faith of Goth \Borcl. Sociolocist~ dare not insist t11;it thottgh there be as many claims to Tmth as there are fl:ikes in ;I sno~vtlrift, only onc. is vi~lid iu~d th;~t, tlle Rcfonne~l interpretation of the Bible. (This is not by any me:ms to deny l~ossc~ssion of saving trnth to non-13eformed people, nor even to deny that non-Refonnecl men eshibit greater insight into some rn~tlls than their Refonnccl 1,rotllers. But it is tnaintained that thc correct ev;~luation of all of life is the Re- for~ned one, as fo~~ndr.cl upnI1 ;in ~msllakc- :111ly st;~ble interpretation of the Scriptures.) fIistori,~ns openly \h)- from any interpreta- tion of tile events in history which 1nig11t setw to bc- too simple, too e a q , too Bit,- lic;\l. Education claims independence, takc>s Gotl crrtn graiio .s111is (\\.it11 a grain of b a l t ). ant1 disseminates the tlisease of doubt.

The pli~ce of ducation within the R e 4 forrned community mnst rc~mdn secure. TI, f c ~ ~ w r and zeal of students ought only to he e n c o u r i ~ g d Any reaction to the existent

BEACON LIGHTS

pitfalls of le;urlling tvliich advises a retreat illto the si~f(.ty of ignorance slancls cou-

as an altcmpt to ticc physic;~lly lc world we r11~1st Her spirihrdly. This type

of reaction inclncles stich despicnl>le mi\-

neuvers as forcin~ \\,rU-rncant irltc-rpreta- tions upon culhlral iss~~es or events \vhich do r,ot \\'arrant Ll~e interpretations, twisti11g the facts, ke it in history or phiiosopl~~, so as to 111:llic tllcrn niorr re;tdily con- de~~lnablc ( or defenclablc ). :uld forl)icldin;. student to reatl books which I,lutalltly con- tencl i~gainst the fnith. Tl~is last item dr- senres a remark or t\\,o. Altlrouglr basccl upon the d~tl)ious logic thal "as long as you tloil't kno\v t l~a t there's a Lion on your street, he n.on't bite you," this is revered by some as ;I truc indication of Christiiur education. For rs;tmple, in thc earlier nine- teen hnndreds, illheistic pllilosophcr Ber- trnnd Russell pllblisl~ed a book. Alarrioge ut~cl dforuls, advocating much more laxity in the realm of scsi~al reliitionsl~ips. Inlme- cliately, great hands of Christians sprang up rverywbere in tllc United States, tle~nnnclirlg t l~a t the book not Ile rcad. Now the 11ook is by no stretch of tile irnagi11:ution porno-

-aphic. Its filth consists in its oprn rrvoln- ion against Gocl-orclained morality. And if

the great bancls of Christians had spclit their cner,gT in systc:n~atic instn~ction of the yor~th, pointing out the falsity ant1 wickedness of tllc book's teachings, instead of nxrely, and vai~~ly, trying to "lian tile book," Russell's philosophy might not have \lild as inucll prilcticd cffect upon Chris- tiiun young people ;IS it h;is 11nd ant1 is Iiaving.

There 'ur also general eifccts which eclucation has IIPOII its subjects \vhicl~ art: to be dcsirccl. Sh~tlcnls brcomc more ;lwarc ol their own ignorance, they listtrn attenti- vely to tlic thoughts of others, they avoid snap juclgu~ents, and thev I I ~ I U enrefully over their o\vrl opinions. Few people arc as obno~ious as the big-mouthetl, close- ~nindccl ignora~nns. 13111 w11t:nevc:r and wher- rver thcse benofits I~ecomcs tho prclt~cle ;o the song-and-dance \vliicl~ sque:llis out its l~rondnrincled d i s t ~ ~ ~ t e for the Iustoric Rr- fortried tn~th, sl~rills its scmn for tlie fnid~

n o f a chill, ant1 pipes out advice against iking any 'iherc I stand, God help rne"

type of confession, at L11i1t time :mtl in that place, the i~nrrnony of Cluiqtiallity ill educn-

tion hns drteriorated into a relati011 of Christianity (IIIJ education, ;I rr1;ttion \vliich perils both. In short, s11c11 education and such cdncators increasingly vitiate the Hc- forn~ed confession of the Sovereigrlty of CcrI. As thr cl:~mor I~onoring the indr- jwxdcncc of Iruriling ixreascs, joyotr: sounds evtollillg God decrease.

It I I I : I ~ be that teachers so characterized l~iw-e no particular quarrel with the Hc- fonnr:i faith. But the point at issue is that the lofty c;~lling to edncate de~nands thi~t the teacher direct h e sh~dents ir~to the green fields of truth. To rehse to guide at all !''1?!2 \va~lt obj~ctivit)." or "I'll present

facts, let thr shldents interprcl for tl:e:~~selvcs" ctc. ) or to sidetrack the stu- dents into the I~ro\r,n \\taste land of doul~t is to breach faith and leanling, to des~y the unity of Tmtll, and to \v~iggle fro111 under the burden God ltad Inid upon I-iis people's shoulders, "Elcnr, 0 Israel; The Lorcl our Goci is one Lord: And thou shalt lovc tlie Lord th)- God with ;111 thine heart, ancl \vith ,211 thy so111, and \\-itll all thy might." And then, ".And these words \vluch I corn~n;md thec this day, shall be in thine Ileart: liud thou shalt teach tl~enl diligently unto dqV. children, and shalt talk of then1 when tlrou sittest ul tlline house, and mhen tliou \wralkcst by the \vay, and n~hcn thou liest do\r.n, and when thou risrst up" (Derit. 6) .

ducati ion is no plaything. Engaghg in leanling \\pith an ;~ttitr~de of "let's pretelltl there is no criterion by \vhich to juclgc" results in n~inds so broad tltat their posses-, sors drift aimlessly, at the mercy of cvery nind of doctrine and gust of opiuion. Tliesa are the condescending ones, the ones so aptly characterized by C. S. Lewis in hi7 Tlrc? Pilgrim's Regress in the person of l l r . 1lroac.l (". . . . Imt as I grow older I am iucliuetl to set less and lcss store by merc orthodosy. So often the ortllodos \icnr meam &c Life- lcss view, the barren forn~ula . . . it is those things which draw us together that I now value most - our colnmon dections . . . our conmlon stn~ggle to\\7ards the ligl~t"). These broad ones regard aU " n q a - tiVis1n" v.itb the horror men once reserved for the B~tbonic 1'1ag11e. In their co~npany one begins to slliime himself for tiihlking tlrat there are false prophets 'ulcl vile propltecies allout. That we are living it1 the hs t days is a concc+ption foreign to tl~ecn.

BEACON LIGHTS

.bcl n ~ i t l ~ great vigor these broad ones have rnotlrrnized vital tlefhlitio~is: "All those forct-fully concletnnitrg f;~lsc dmtl-in<* are heresy-l~~ttiters." "..\I1 men viilinnt for truth ;ire intolerat~t." ".ill men of solitl con\;ictio~-s arc bigots." .is the cleliciorrs sl\?or of tlie cry "\\?hat is Tn~th?" tickles tlie p;~l;~te, therc. is a corresponding distaste! for Cl~rist's i~nc~ualifiecl cl;rim, "1 atii thc Tn~th."

One Irrsittitc~s to lay tlrese ol~srrvi~liot~s hefore ;In ;tlmost c~aclusively Prote5t:int Re- fomted renclinq nutlience. A s al\\.ays, thcrc:. are t\vo c~xtrernrs to IIC fortt~cl, one ol whiclr \ve;tl;en\ tlre Reformed t n ~ t h for the saL~t of leanling, the other of \vhich rejects Itaril- in2 for the sake of the pltrity of Lhc Rt\-

fortned faith. r b d of these t\sro abcrrntions, the Protcstilnt Reformed Cl~urches, at prcs- c~rt, are niore in tl;~ngc.r of fallir~g it1111 U I ~ : latter. Somr m:ty qiuickly suppose th;~t tho tenor of this article provides a hiisis f~ l r disregi~rding extra-Scriptuld I~~nrning n~rtl. esl>eciitlly for tlissu;~&ng young pec~plc h > n ~ striving after post-cnllege or post-ur~i\~crsity ecirtcation. Suclt ;I suppositio~l is in tlirr-ci opposition to thc pltrposc of t11i.s article. Ver?. genrri~lly, the principles \vlrich forcc I n to c~duci~te the youth strc! s t~~nn~rc l 1111 in tllese famous ant1 \vcll-\\porn st;~ten)ents: "tle \vho does not learn from histor). is doomed to rc-peat it" iuncl "Tl~cb per^ is mightier than the s\vord." A Cliristiiui steeped in learning is the I I I ~ I I ~iiost rl~tirl&etl to perceive Cod's \vorkings in tllc past and tlic inan rquippetl to direct God's people in the present and for the fuhlre.

Even though they niay be ~nis~rnclcrstootl and misapplietl, the ol~servations of tlr~. st;itc of edt~c;~tion \\<thin ;md \vitIiout the Re- for~necl colimnluni!y must \)r mil&. Licllown 11)

Protestant Refonlred parents ~antl to;~cllc~rs. The Pr~tcskant Refortired CII I I~CIIL~ ;Ire in- volvecl. From the v e q I)cgitrni~ig, tl~irt is, from grade schools on, there I I I I I S ~ l)e ;I colt- scious, universal insistence that t l ~ e divor~v of Clrristinnity and ccluci~tiotr ncvcr occrlr. It \\-ill not if there is an awareness of t l ~ e allurement of the divorce, an a\vnrencss of the \veighh principle :rt st;lkcX, ;rnd ;In a\\-iueness of the castet~t to \\-lrich tlie tlivor~re hiis a!reatly tiken place around 11s. TIIC separation of faith i~nd lei~rnit~g is ~tltl.,~cLivc l>ec:iuse it seems to res~ilt ~ I I I a Iriglr regard for learning. Its proponents point I)ac!i into

history ;tt the glaring csamples of theolo- gians rcatilrding the ;rdv;~ncc of tnowledg::. for c ~ a ~ ~ ~ p l e , Calvin's solen~~i a-arning th2f.l tile Cop(.nuc;in theory \\*as anti-Scriphtra: ;bnd voul that sue11 injustice slr;ill r1evc.r again IIC riskcql. Ininstices tl~crc 11;1ve I~ecn and, 1 s~~l,posc~, \\'ill he. Of coursr, they are to he con~l,irttrul. 1311t to tlivoruc f:~itll. the R5- fo~rled, Christian faith, from Icaniing (\vlictlirr hy written decree or by i~qor i r :~ the Ciiith of Scripture m;tkes little clifrercrrce) is to maintain that grcat areas of kt~o\\~ltdge e&-t, into \~~hich Scriphrre may not poke its ~losc nntl otrc.r wl~ich the Bil~le l~as no say. And tl~en. inevitably. t\rro ;irc;rs of trrttl~ itrist., one of learning ;~nd one of Script~trc. \ \ ' l i i .~~ tl~ey elash, rither t h c . ~ ~ is I I ~ ;tttetnpt to 11;lnnonize or, as Illore often happens, Scriphire is distorted to fit r~riln's edrrcation,~! fnnli:sics. "No\c. nice it \voultl hc if wc niigl~t only believe that the Kingdom .>f Cod were going to cotne in the way of man's itnproving himself by c.ulhtre, sytu- phot~ies, art, Boy Scouts. and lJence Corps." \rislits tile tlivorcer. And Iwforr very long one begins to hear \vitIlin tlra Iiefornictul co~llmunit). strange noises al~oul hotv art cdn rcclven~ nlcn and tdrtcation c;in save dl(? \rrorld und goocl 1,ookh e,rn improve t I ~ t Ilunian race and on and on and on. One tiligllt \\?is11 d ~ n t every Rel'ormed ed~icator felt ;IS did Lord Byron whcn Ile \mote, "Sorrou: k knmclerlge: they tcllo knocc. tlic

111ost rllrrst nlotrnr the deepest o'er tltc futal tnrtli. Thcr Tree of I<r~o[clcdge O riot that of Life.''

Let there be education within the Prot- rstilnt Rcfommed Churches. Without feicr, hri~rg the \\isdom of the ages before the yotrth. At every cnicial juncture, let the \,irord of Cod intcrprct and j~~dgc.. -it tlic sanw time, familiar with the fate of Uaii11 \vl~o attc~npted to "assist" God Ily steadying thc ark, we ought never to ";lid" Got1 by revising thc facts of His science or of His histor?. to makc than say \\,h;~t \\.c think i s best.

:\1ly or Eneniy? I\'hen ~ducatioo sets its o\\m goal and comes to its o\rw conclusions, IGlerny. And one of the greatest. \\'heti it functions as .an inctnutiient to hrinp tlic chiltl of C t d to nratr~rity ant1 gountls its conclrrsions sclrrarely on the \\.ortl of G ~ I ' ~ .illy. And, en~phatically, one of thc .patest.

Fotir BEACON LIGHTS

CRITIQUE

. . . Parental Responsibility and A High Calling

A. LUBBERS

"0 God, Ice Irnae henrcl teritl our fatl~crs hc~ce told

\\%at tconclers Tl~ote ditlst ir~ tile grecrt tlcrys 0/ old;

The nafiorrs IL'C~C c~.crsherl I I I I ~ csl~ellecl by Tlly lrarlrl,

Ca-f met tlrat T/I!/ 11col1lc itright drcell in tlidr larrd."

These stirring \\pards one can hear CC~ICI-

ing t l ~ r o ~ ~ g l ~ halls and from the class rooru; in n school \\,lrore chiltlrcrn ol C(ld itre beill:: taught. It is t~nclor~l,teclly tht. tlcvotio~lal time of tlic day \vlren thoughts of cl~ildren of Got1 are particuli~rly directed to\\?;ird their God. Tlris is inr integral part of Lhlr d,iy because it sc:ts llre tcrior of thc day. Thc,sc are coveni~nt chi1drc.n \\rho have 1,rc11 cl1osc:n rorn aU eternity to bc sons ant1 tlai~ghtcrs

d\f tlw li \ring God. Tlirse ~uc cl~ilclrcn who nave the salne sinful niiture \\.it11 which .d the sitints of all ages have I~ad to corl- tend. It is they who must rceceive ;I p~irtic- ular and distinctive ec111c;itio11.

lJarents of these covenant childrcn vo\\,cd before the church of God that. thcy shall see tliesc chi1drc.n brougllt u p in the fe;u ant1 n ~ ~ r t ~ ~ r c of tllc: Lortl. Thc:y shall sce that these childrcn are rtl~~cated to thc best of their ability. 'These children ilre not 1,eally theirs; they are children of God. They have I,ecn givc.11 tliesc children and it is their responsibility :is 111rnl11ers of Ulc! cl~urclr to Ilave thrse chilclrctn i~~stnictrd in tlrc fair of the Lord.

Because these children belong to the Lortl thoy must be giver1 thc best &;it there is. They must acquire cer1;dn skills and niust I)e eclncatcd so tliiit they c;in take their places son~eda!- as mc.nlbcrs in ft~ll-conl- nuni ion in the cli~~rch, I,ecausc they in p i n - ciple art. si~cli nic~nl~ers already. Tlley nrust tlicrcfore be c(luciitct1 in ~I~lcr areas crf

"uathematics, 1angu;tge. arts, scicrlccns, N I C ~

xiill sciencrs so that they may be well- informed :md ready to take their pli~ces in dlis world and 1-ct not of her.

c.duc;~tc*tl there 11i11st Ile cduc;itors \vho arc6 tl~orot~ghly eqnipperl. T h ~ y nnlst I)e prc- ~ ~ . u e t l to teach the si11,jects b:~t they must nlqo have itdopted certain basic philosophic ccin~rilil~nents \r,hich arc cvncurrent with tllc.

\\'ortl of Cod. T11c task of tcaching these clliltlre~~ of

God is given to teachers by p;lrents \vIro 1i;ive dcdic:itcd thcmsclvcs to the instructio~~ of the coven:mt sc*ed according to h e deur:intls of the covenant. Such ;I ti~sk dr~nzinds educated teachers b ~ ~ t illso clcdi- cited tc-ncl~ers \vho Ilavc only one view in mint1 -the total ed~~eatiou of the child of Cwl so that he niay in God's O\\TI way br- colnc thc. Xian of God tot;~Ily equipped for his station ant1 position in life.

The teaching profrssion i \ often s l ~ t ~ n ~ ~ e r l by aspiring and capable yotlng Inen :inti \r.onlcn bwausc it d o a not seem to he glan~oror~s nor out\vardly appealing. Let rnc assurct you, l~o\vevvr, that there is no profes- sion or calling which is so ren.iirding as the traching profession, ~articularly the d u c a - tion of covenarlt grade school children. Of conrscs tc.acliinl: can often be discouraging hcca~lse one. i1111st deiil \r.ith many types of cliildrm horn ;L vwric.ty of homes. Not :dl are equippet1 with the sanle mental c:~pacity nor is each onc. as intellectually capalde ;ulc! therefore thc tcacl~er of these chiltlren rnirst be patient, firrn. l)ut thoroughly familiar with the difficnlties which children cbn- conntt.r ;IS they attempt to master the skills and facts whicl~ ;Iccomp.lny each area of st11d~.

Fund;unrntal to the proper instruction of covenant ~011th is ;I bilsic understanding 11y the teacher of Refomied tnitli and the al~il- it). to apply this in e v e n area of stndy. This i~nplies a set of goals and objectives \vIiich artic~~late the direction and meaning of coven:unt ed~~cation.

Parcnts are c'ded to make certain t11;ct children are so editcatcxl.

BEACON LIGHTS Fice

FROM THE PASTOR'S STUDY

REV. R. VELDMAN

"-And tllou shalt tlzaclt them diligel~il!~ rlnfo thy cltilcltcn." Deut. 6:7a

How very often Scripture comes to us ul one form or another with this ssanlc in- junction!

Besides, you promised it. [lid you not? The quc\tion \\'as asked =ch t h e you

presented a cluld for baptism: "\\.'hetl~er yo11 pro~llise and intend to sec tllese cl~il- &en. \*.-hen co~ne to thc years of ciisc~z- tion, instructed and brought up in [lie aforesaid doctrinc, or help or cause tlien~ to he instructed therein, to the ut~nost of your po\ver?" In the doctrine :I$ such! In tile sphere of that doctrine!

You ansivercd before God and [[is church: "yes." How easily ant1 un~l~ink- in& often tltat answer is given. Nothinc to it! Like falling off a log! Yes, Lord, \I-e'll instruct our cl~ildren ,md bling i l ~ c ~ n up in the aforesaid doctrine m d Irclp and cause h e ~ n to be instn~ctcd tlierrin tcl tli(. utmost of our power. that is, wit11 ;ill our 11light: with a11 the physicid iuicl spirih~al and materi;d rc5ources at 011r C O D I I I J ~ I I I C ~ .

\frell may we ask as coveniu~t piirents: IIoir. are \ye doing? _ k c we fi~lfilling our mandate?Has that "aforcsaid doctrinc" ils rightful place in our hc?arts imd scr~ll!;? Do \ve love it, cherish it, Live it? Are wvc: teacllinp it to our children - to tlic rllinost of onr powver? Ew,eryvllere? Al\vnys? In el,crytllinrt? IVhen wive rctirc for t l ~ r night, dare w\-e tell the Lord: Lorcl, 1 did all I possibly codd; 1 co11ld do no more?

Oar cllilclren mnst be instnictc.il, edu- cuted, trained. 111 that way tl~ey are prepared. in the wvorld nncl in the clii~rcll, for things to come. Cod worlcs in t l ~ e line of generations, so that onc. go~lcration is b ~ ~ i l t upon the other, encli geni~ration is preptred by the one that goes I~rfon:.

What is more, our children rreecl Chris- tian instruction. The o111y red education i s that wldch has d ~ e Worcl of God for its basis and contcnt. After all, it's the

"~nan of God," tlie covenant man. the born itgain man, &at must '?>e perfect, thro~~ghly f ~ ~ r ~ ~ i s l l c d unto all good works." I1 Timothy 3: 17.

Even this, hen-ever. is not cnough. Our cl~ildrctn must have Cluistian ducati ion of a very definite kind -Refonnecl instnlc- tion. This can scarcely bc overstressecl, espccially in the light of so 111nch h a t is only non~inally Christiitn. Our covenant seed cxnnot thrive on a mik and xvater diet, on tlie diluted arid contaminated Christianity that is so rampant in the norlcl loday. They must be instrttcte<l, brought up in the "nforcsnid doctrine," thxt is, "tile doctrine which is containet+

the Old and Scw Testament, and in th, ;~rticles of the Cluistian fz~itl~, and \\41ich is t n n ~ h t here in this Christian Cllurch."

= = * a

"Ancl thou . . . . unto thy childre~L'" To a11 practical inte~nta aod purposes

"rhildrc~n" here refers to ;ill our children, all in tlistinction from the rlect only. All nus st be t.tught the words of the Lord.

\\'e nnd~rstand, of course, that in la3t instance only the t n ~ e \eed of the covenant iq the ol~jcrt of the instruclion given. The positivc purpose of all covcnant training is thxt the I1oIy seed, the chosen of God, shall IIC tallght the words of their heavenly I;athctr. Besides, they only can and do rc- ccivc that instruction spirihlab. cherish it and \mlk in the of Jc.hovnh.

Even so, all our cldclren must receive ~hc. samr godly training. All are o ~ u chil- clren; belong to the saiile historic;^ develop- ment of Cod's covenant in i11c \\-orld; ;Ire lmrn in the sphere of the cliurch; bear the s:unc sign and seal of the covenant. Besides, what tnlly GocLfearinp parent can or III~L?

give instr~~ction other than that, L'r\rhicl. hains the chilci in the way he sholdd go? '['hen too, the true seed can be reached

BEACON LIGHTS

only by instrltcting all. Spiritual Israel is trained only in connection with tho whole. We cart ancl clo not distirtjirlisl~ the clect

prnrn the reprobates. Nor is tllilt o11r b~lsi- ness.

Xoticc, further. that "cllildrc~l" here reft:rs to our covenitnl seed until it is mith~re, (IU in distinctio~~ from the yo;ollnyer chiltlrni only. !t inclutles young 1)eoplt.. Our parents should remernber that. Don't I)e too cltlick to think that your children ;Ire I I ~ longel. children, that they are f l~ l lg row~~ and hmce no longer in treed OF pitrental tliscipline ;ultl guidance. Our yotung people, too, sho~llcl rc.~nen>l~cr that. \'l'c in~irgine r~nly too oftcn thirt \\41en \\.e've gra.nd~t:~ted from school, even gritmrnnr scllool, \vc.'re n o longer chil- dren! w c . no longcr havc to listen to our parents like \vc clitl before; wc're I~ ig boy. ant1 girls no\\,. Bvlieve me, yollng people-, i r ~ the \Vorcl of Cocl you :IIT clrildrrrt a long tiine, until yo~l'rc really grown up, and tl1:11's not \vhi:n yo^^ arc. si\-ti,cn or sevtw- teen. Believe me, too, \\.hen I say in all earncstncsss. thitt your ago of i~dolcscencc is a pcc~tlii~r ancl dimgerous one. It is the period \\herein \vcs I1egi11 to think for oltr-

p e l v e s and form our ow11 opinions. This is ratural and good, of cotlrse. It is i~lso the

period of life \vhcrein \ve t.;~sily inlaginc that we kno\v more ant1 1)cttt.r than ottr parents iund tcachrrs. hut in rcitlity are still \vocfully ignorant of \vliat life really is. Tile wc~rcl "childrer~" in the Ilible may refer to all of early Iifc fro111 infancy to nianhootl. It does in thc passagc- we itre now di~\- cussing.

Notice, finally, t l ~ e cn1l)lrasi~ here on the n.orcl "cl~ilclrcn." "l'hou shalt teaclr thcm diligently unto thy clriltlren. That's thc Gotl-ordained time for training. Sr:ript~~t.c: rnakes mr~ch of this. So tlocs motlerl~ educii- tion and psycl~ology. JIorcover, d ~ e youngc!r thc I~cttcr.

The iclca is plain. A dog must be trainod $3-hilc still a p ~ ~ p . 1 ' 1 ~ 1 cannot teaell all old dog new tricks. A fwv, perhaps, but it's not easy. Yo11 cilnnot I>entl an olcl oitl; tre,). Sin~ilarly, you cannot teach the man, except \vitl~ n1~1clr clitficulty. Things clo 1101 imprc,\s him as they do a child. I-Iis opinions,

Anotio~is too, arc 1101 easily clti1ngegetl. EIi5

lint1 is made up; his convictions deeply ~ootcd. I-re's lilic a form w11erc:irl thc co11- cretc has becn poured long years ago. It's

set. You must teach the child. It is so oL- serving. so alert imd receptive. Its mmmory is so fresh, and retcntive. It is so in~pres- sionable and all it sees arltl hears loonts 1113 so large in its mind. The child is likc a forn~ \vhrrcin tht- col~crete is yet he pourcd; that'\ M 11111ch cnsier than pounding out the old.

"rind thou sllalt tritch tltern . . . ." The reference is to verse 1 of the cli;rpt~.r.

"Sow tlrc-se :arc. the co1nn1antlments, thc stdtutes, and the judjitnents, \\-hicl~ the 1-ord your Cod commi~ndetl to teach you, t11:tt ye trlight do the111 in the land d i t h e r ye go to possess it: that thou ~nightcst fear the Lord thy God, to kecp all his statutes and his commandmrnts, \vl~ich 1 co~nmmcl hce , thou, and thy son, ant1 diy son's son; all the clays of tlty lifo." The \vholc \Vortl and la\\. of God, therefore. must be the content and I>i~sis of thc instr~~ction of our cl~ililrcn. -1 hit later \loses says, "And thou

shalt love thc 1,ord thy God \\,it11 all thine heart, and with :dl thy sonl, and with all thy n~ight. Ant1 these words shall I)c it1

tlrine heart." \ire and our children must scn7c- the Lord in true and perfect lovc.. That i; the cssence of all podh~ess.

T h o u shalt tcilch tlrem to thy chiltlren" 111eans. therefore, that we must teach our children the love of God as sc~ch. It is that love itself which we 111ust huild into the covenant child, in as far as the knowl- edge and practice of that love is a n~i~t ter of godly tr:~ining. To put it in the simplest possiblc lnrtguagr: \17e must teach our chil- dren to love God.

Thcre is Inorc, ho\ve\rer. That love of God and His precepts must be the ))asis, tlte principlt. of ;dl education Xot only must we teach our chilclen to be lovers of Cod. \\re iilso teach thrm history ancl geography, arithmetic and scienc~, 11111sic and ~riunnlitr, fat~ning and painting, 1)rick- laying and printing, and any other trade or profession. All. ho\\rcver, must he per- n~eatecl with the Lno\\.ledgc and love of Cod, and hilve thr: latter for its purpose, that the 111ill1 of God 111i1y be pcrfect, thoro~~gldy fumisllcd ~lnto all good ~vorks.

" h t l thou shalt teilch tllcm cliligeritly unto thy children."

BEACON LIGHTS

That means YOU, fathers ancl mothers in Israel. In last i~nalysis, \vc kilo\\-, only God can tcach His o\wn \\%rcl to His cliiltlrni, our cliildrcn too. Hcre, too, nrc! lalmr ill \xi11 if Gotl docs not build the ho~~se . Ije i11oi.e cantrols tlie mi~ld und Itcart. In lIis cov- cn:irlt, Ilo\vcvtr, tlict Lord \w,orks ~nccliiitel!., and tlie divinely ortlaincd instrumrwts or in- struction ;Ire not the te;~cllers, first of all, nor t l ~ e niinisters in c1111rcll c;~tecIrism, bxt you parents.

So, all this does not mean, that yon mcst (lo c\,crytlling yoursc?lf, i~lonc, without Irca!l>

of those \vho wvcre c:uefully tr;linr*cl for this ;trt of teaching. Israel, long centi~ries ngo, coilld do that. Life ;it that tinlc \\,as nlorc simplc ant1 parents had morc time. 'Totla!, we cr)uld not hegin to provitlc for o ~ i r cliii- dren ;ill they need in the \yay of rcli~iol~s and secular cdrlcation. Parc!nb ;ire I I I L I C ~ I

too I~usy for tl~at, ilnd life ~inicli too conl- plrs :ind wier~tific tint1 spcci;tlizt~tl.

Thc n~e;mirlg is, howvevcr, and cinp!~u- tically so, tlliit the responsibility ant\ t.3~1: of traininr: thc co\.en;int sot~ci rcbsts on tlic. sho~~lclers of o w Christian f;ithers ancl mothers. 'The injunction conrcs to us ;ila~lr. nnd we promisc: to c q it out ench tirne :I

cllild is ~)rescntecl for l~aptis~n. \\'hat a call in^! .And what n rc>po~~sibil-

it);! These children arc Gotl's clriltl.rn, en- tmstmf to us. They arc thc imiige 1)rnrcl.s of their mighty llnker. They 11:lve it so111 as \\r(:II as a hody. The)- are t11e elcvt af God, the church of tomorrow. And we arc. their God appointed teachers. IC'c ourselves had better know our suhject!

D 0 0 0

"i\rrd thou shalt teach thern tliliger~tly to thy children!

In o:lr homes, first of ,d. hlucli corlltl i)c. said about this, hut ollr allotted space is more tllan fill& by this tiiue.

In church, too, and catechisni, ant1 Sun- day school.

.ind don't forget the Christian school. That certainly nietl~ls that \re fimnot ant1

\\ill not send our children to the schools of this \vorld. Thcrr all the instn~ction arrtl life and cliscipline bear the stiunp of this \\-orld. There "thcsc \\.or&, which 1 com- mand tllec tllis clay'' llave no plncc a ~ i d thc fear of God is mocked. There stones ;are offered for broad rid s c q c ~ ~ t s for fish. 'There can be no blessing or peace of so111

in that \wVay. For tlir ranicbt Cllristi.111 tllerc. can he

only one \vay: Chribtian, godly, Ilefonne d etl~lcation tliro~lgllout the 1ivc.s of our chi1 drcn, scliools wherein our co\~en:int sew1 can bc instrnctecl in all tl~ings according to tlie itr~iiclulteratec1 \\'ortl of Cocl.

'There is our ~nantlate! Xo one can mis- tnkc its n~c;~ning.

l~lo\\, arc \ve doing?

Lord, lisfert 1)lccrse to nt y escit yes; 1 lrrrrc so nlcrn!l hills to pay, 7'liut tcllet~ o i ~ c conles for Kittgdo~n causes, 1 h r r t ~ to trtrrl the 111an orccr!~.

\17e tlrank ?'he12 for tile scltool lckce got, 1Vl1er~ cl~illren rncl!~ be tarrglrt 'I'll!/ ferrr; 1;rrt don't expect me to ~~~~~~~~~t it: "l'rcill 1hat-e to rcait nnotl~cr year.

1'1.e got to II(J!I for rtly irerc; ctir, record player and T.\'.

l'vr got to haw goo(/ food lo eat, Aiid lots of Irrxrrric.~, dorit yori sec.

l'ce pnt to hace my recreation. I f rhcre's some Icjt, ~LV'II see then. (The jiu~tic cost mt- eleceiz dollars.) \i7cll, this year perl~cr~~s 1 curl pice ten.

JIy son cotit gice: he is a strident. IIc's got his ftrttrre to tltink abmrt. Ilcsidc~s, tl~ese kid.9 need spe~~ding rnonaj, For inalts and btrrgcrs, and gas, no doubt.

Others, Lord, can do T11y tcill: 1.r.t the rcidow pice her rtlitc. (I Iteard that she guce fifty dollars.) 1 can't nfiorcl that muclt to~tight.

Gi~artl rrs, Lord, ancl kecp from ru 'rllose u11o ~ O I I M collect oorir money; T l ~ e rcn!y t/iey coinc cicr!lin' to us, Sor~~crlirnes I alniost think it$ funmj.

bkss Tlr!y h'i~~gtlorti, Lord, forecer, And gioc 11s (ill tee uant, nrul t l~en Cite 11s grace to seek it second; And hlessr orrr .school, 0 Lord. Aii~en.

SOLE ~ I ~ A S S

Eight BEACON LIGHTS

e Education at Our Seminary

REV. H. C. HOEKSEMA

Among the various edr~~it ional institu- tions fount1 among us as Protestant Re- for~necl pcoplc, our Thrologic:tl School occr~pic*~, frr1111 <-very point of vie-w, a unique position.

This is true, in the first I>l;~ce, from the point of tivw of its physic;tl ft~cilitics. The Tl~cological Scllool of the Protesttint He- fom~ccl Churchcs boasts no inrposing plant consisti~~g of s~:\v&r;rl a~or len~ rl;tss rooms, u~ separate library facility, confrre11c.c: roolns. study rooms, and I~erli;~ps a chapel of its o\vri. The fact of tllc 111:111er is thi~t our seminar?. II;IS to tilib day nevcr l~ad ;I plitcc

-hat it eoultl e;~ll its o\vn. I:or Inany years. ,xior to the split of '53, its rnc,eLi~~y place \\'as 'the large ctttecllis~n roo111 in t l ~ e biise- nient of First Chnrch. Scnttcred ~ l ~ r o ~ ~ a h that large room yo11 wc~~~lcl find a( best a hanclfi~l of students. Thc professor had his place at a dor~;itetl lihrary tk~lile on the platfoml. T l ~ e lil,r;uy was kept ill a few glass-fronted hook-cases along half of thc west wall of the rooln. Those were our fi~cilities. After the split onr scrnir~;~ry, witll its hooks and nlin~rogri~phcd class notes, \\.as hastily ~novecl to temporary quarters in the 11ast.lnerlt of tllc erstwhile I ~ o ~ ~ r i l l l'rot- rstant Refonned Cli~uch. Fro111 tlience it was moved to one of the estra rooms in our Adam Strcct Scliool - n room tli;~t \vas sometimes shared hy articles c111ite for(-ign to (IIC scene of :I seminary, sucll as sewing maellines ancl ironing I>o;irds wl~ich f o ~ ~ r l d n place of storage in our room, i ~ n d ;I room in wlrich we sometimes were entertained 11y the various sounds chi~racterislie of the primary nades. Lmt ycar we moved out

+)f Adarns arrd hack to the First Chr~rch asenlent, where a very suitt~blc rooln was

specially prepared for us by First Church. \ire ;dso : ~ t last h:~ve sonic furnisliings whch

we crm call ollr own. But I ;un certaiq that even low otlr scminuuy is ~~ni r~ue ly dif- ferent in its facilities not only among our cdue;~tional institutions, I>ut certainly arnong ;dl sc~i~initrics.

Our school i s ~~nirlue, in the seconcl pli~ce. from the point of \imv of its personnel. Ancl that reniincls mc too that onr Thrr>logical School 11;rs the distinction of being the oldest ed~rc;ition;rl i ~ u t i t u t i o ~ ~ in our Prot- tbstant Rcforr~~cd circlc. In our c;trly yeilrs \ve Iracl the late Rrvercnd H. Danhof as one of t l ~ r fiicult; ~nemhers. But 11e soon turncd renegi~de to our Protestar~t Refornled cause. Since that tinle \ve havc had until a c011ple yrars ago two f:lculty n~c.~nbcrs, the Rr\:cre~~ds H. Hocksrma and G. 1'1. Op- hog, in continuo~~s service. Full-time f;~c- c~lty 1ncm11ers thvy \\$ere, althol~gh 110th of them \\,care for man!. years also f ~ ~ l l - t i ~ ~ ~ c pastors. Hence, for n long time thc Lord hi~s given us n~cn , leadcrs, \\rho from the beginning stood near to thc. heart of our Protestant Heforn~ed movement. Recently otlr I>elovrd Rev. Ophoff has been com- pelled to lay clo\vn his active t1utic.s because of illness. And this necessitated the first :~cl&tion to our faculty in many years: tlie undrrsigncd is now in the final year of his first appointment as theological professor. To conlplete the picture of our faculty pcr- sonnel, \\.r I I I I I S ~ add hiit at various times port-tirne instn~ctors havc been appointed. -At present Rrsv. G. L7os gives instruction in Dt1tc.11, the only pre-seminary s~thject still taugl~t at our school.

Also from the vieupoint of shtdent pcr- sonncl, ho\ve\:cr, our school has been uniqur: in its smallniss. Sever has the student- body I~een large. Three or four students h w e oftcn constituted not only one class. but the entire student hody. And as yoti

BEACON LIGHTS

undoubtedly know-, at prrscnt \\.e Imvc but one sh~tlent, Scminitrian Dav' 1Cu1grlsma. This m;~y sceni preposterous ;it &st glir~ice -to have two professors, one instructor, and all for one student. Hut. in the hst place, \ve have always learned from history that the Lord's cause is not tlepe~~dent ou~ nuur~hers. Secondly, \vhilc a student-l~ody of one is in a \\.;I? a clisi~dvilntagc \vllcn it comes to discussion in c1;tss. \rre m;iy re- menrber tI~;it the cumc~~lturi re~nains lht. sanle, \vhethc.r for onc student or for hvc!nb: and the a~lal l st~udent-body hi~s the distinct adv:mtnge of recc*iving instn~ctiou~ wlricl~ is so intensive and \vl~icl~ demands such thorough preparation that it ;unoc~nts vir- tually to privatt* h~toring.

Unique ouur scliool is, in tlrc third place, fro111 t11e point of view of its cr~n-ic~~lunl ant1 its goitl. Our sernini~ry is the only in- stit~~tion for higher cclucation in our chnrcl~- es. And it is ;I higl~ly specinlizetl one*. I t is a thmlogicul school, devoted solely to instn~ction in tl~colocic;rl britnchc~s ; I I I ~ I tt1 the training ;and preparation of n~inistc~rs of the \Vord. In our school we offer tl~oroapl~ insln~ction in ;I con~plete cnrr icolu~~~ of theological s~~bjects. r\ll thc virrious br i~nd~es of dogmatic tl~eolocy, pmctical theology, historical theolog: csegesis, and Iristor).- these :ill have ;I place in the course nS st~~tiy. .-\rltl I can iissurc? you that thosc \\.Iro graduate from our sen~inary go o ~ ~ t tl~orougl~ly trained and \vell-ecl~~il>ptd. I f you1 arc curious in this regard, yo11 can 01)tain the ne\\'ly-pu~l,lisl~ed catalog of or~r Theological School by writing to the ~~ncler- signed or to Rev. 11. Schipper, thcb secretary of our School Con~n~itter.

.ibove all, our school is distinctive iilnong all senrinaries, in the fourth plitcc, in tlrat- it is clcvoted to the ~naintcnar~ce iuld tlevrl- op~nent of tlle pure truth of tht. Word of God and of our Refomied f;dth. Tl~is is, in 1;1st analysis, the all-important thing. \Vl~at profit \voultl it Im if our scl~ool traincd, I~~:u-nt.il and wctll-educated ~rrinisters, probably e v c ~ ~ funlished tl~enr \r.itl~ a tlegrce in theology, if it 11o;~strd a facl~lty with Inany dt*grecs, if i t had a large library ant1 a ~nagnificc~it p11ysic;tl phnt, :md if it \\.as not c.o~~u~~lelcl!~ devoted to the cause of the truth and did not t r ; k o w future ~rlinisters lo prencl~ that tmth? So, I do not deprecate ec1ue;c- tion and adequate cducationai f:rcilities; on

also in th;rt rcsprct sho111d l~avc t11e best thict ciin l,e furnished i~nd that \\c niust slrivc for its improvcn~e~~t ill this rcgnrd n LI1 \vrll. But all these, \xitho~~t the truth, are ol' no avail. And with I ~ u n ~ l ~ l c t l ~ i d s g i v i ~ ~ g \vc nlny i~c!ino\vl~dge our Cod \Vho hiis privileged us to have and to holtl the truth ;IS a 1'rotc.stant Refonncd Scmi~rory.

Fi11;111y, let me emphiisize that our s e w inary occupies a wholly c~niqur and in- tlispr~~sahlc position in the life of our Prot- estant Refomictl Churches. This Irolds t n ~ e not only for our churches inslih~tionally, l)nt for ;ill our lifc as ;I distinctively Prot- estant Refornlcd people. This is an obvious fuct on tlue very surface. Without our st-minary \rre \vould have no ~ninistry trained a ~ ~ d equipped to l~rocl;ri~i~ the truth. \17itll- out s11c1i it rninistr?. \ve \vould have no pure preaching of the \lrortl. And without the purc prei~rhing of the \\'ortl, we ci~n have no Protestant Reformed Cliu~rchcs, no Prot- (stant Rcfoni~ed people, 1111 Protest;~nt Re- fom~cd \vorltl-and-life \icw, no Protestant Itefor~ned \vay of lifc, no Protrstirnt Re- forur~c.tl instruction of covenant generations. \\ltllout the seminar).- as the rn:~in-spring o C ' I Imth our institutioual ant1 organic life ;I.

cl~urclies, \re shnply c ;mot exist. SuCh is the cnucii~l i~nl,ort;~ucc* of our Tl~eologic:t1 School.

.4nd do we also have a ut iqt~e future?

I heartily l~elirve that \ve (lo, and that the I,ord will provide for 11s in tlis respect.

Bnt this is indeed a ouestion to be I'aced by us all, and especiillly I,y our youlng Inen.

Consider the ntwl, not only fro111 the vie\vpoiult of the presrnt sluorti~ge of n~iil- isters, b ~ ~ t alho from the vie\vpoint of the fact that in God's pn>vidence die old, original gcnecrtioru of Protcsta~~t Hefonned u~~inisters \\rill before many years pass from the present scene. Then i~udecd the situa- ittion is criticill. \\'e ought to be ~nuclr in prayer that the Lord will 1,less onr scl~ool also Ijy providing us with me11 who may bc trained for the minishy. Alld our young Inen ought scriously and prayctrfully to con- sider whether the Lord hi~s supplicd tl~cnl \vith srucli talents as wt~r~lcl intlicatc tha 4

they belong in the holy ministry. as \veil as to co~lsitler \&ether tlre Lorcl is calling them

BEACON LIGHTS

to that niinistn Ily I~roducinc within them study, ;md illat too, probitbly in a sni;ilI ;tn ;lbitling dcsirc+ to servc I-Iim in th;~t field. and struggling congregation of imperft:ct

iio, m:~tcri;~lly I (.an not hold out to you saints. But tlic holy ~ninistry is the I~ighcst . I~rigl~t prospect. Toll ~ ; I I I carll n much and most 11oh1t. ci~lling of then1 all.

larger sitlnry .~nd 11m.e ;I l n ~ ~ c h easier life in Comider this. many otlicr fieltls. Toll face the prospect .And l)e lnuch in prayer for our Tlic~olor- of :I liteti~nc of 11;lrtl work ant1 tliligcilt ical Scl~ool.

Out of The Earth E. hl. BLAIKLOCK - EC~&II;IIIS - 92 pp. - $1.00.

This book is evidrrlcc of tlitr v;~luc ancl *irtcte of Christian scientific i~lvcstigotion.

,+eh:~rology, which is the stcicly of pitst 111nn:cn lifc as r~:vc:~lccl by ;~~.Lif;tcts a~:d writings of ancient pcaoplt:, is t l ~ e cc1nLcn1 of this book-espcci;~lly as it relates to the New Tcstanie~~t of the 13ible. This I~oc~k gives "nah~ralistic" c*vi&ncc~ for the histor- ical ;tccllr;lcy of tl~t: 13il)lr. Arcllaeology and the Birth of Christ, Archac!ology ;mcl the Sayings of Cluist, Arcllacwlogy and the Death and Resurrection of Christ, Arc11at.- ology and the A11oc;~lypse :Ire csa~nplcs of the many fine topics tlisc~~sscd in tl~is I)ook.

Professor Blaiklclock, MA., LIFIT.D., is :I

professor of Classics at thc Univcrsity of AuLl;uncl, New Zealand. IIe is a schol;~r of high coompcLtem~cc \\rho is a frc0cl11c:nt con- tributor to respected, scholarly periodic;ils.

It was indeed a pure joy to read this I~ook and :I purer joy to appraise it for reconl- ~rrendatiort to otbrrs. T l ~ e revicwcr votctl unanimously to recon~~llcnd this 11ool< to :111 \vho take an intercst in their o\vn s~iritc1;11 and intcllectc~al gro\vth. For it is writtell

-or :~ll to read and understand. The I)ook :orcbs high i l l rc*ad:~l)iliiy; its stylt: liolcls thc

attention of high scl~ool students ;is well as the sophisticated in tellcctual.

This is :L rcviscd and enlarged editiou. Every chaptc*r II;IS I~cer~ revised ;ultl es- pilr~ded. Xcw chapters Ilavc been acldecl. If you h;id the opportunity to read it beforc:, reat1 this c.tlition .ilso for it is even morc v;~iual)le :ind f;~sci~~atinz. r.11.

Nea r to God : i~ln.atin~~ KL-TI-ER - I:ertlni;rns - 108 pp. - $2.00.

l<ren- Christi;ln ho111e needs ;I variety of gc~od literature. Rcadcrs in thi. Chris t i :~~~ h o m ~ shotlld not only enjoy good fiction and l~iography 11ut shor~ld aLio fintl tirne to n1trlit;ltc \\.it11 the Christian ;ruthor.

In this fitntlnmentally Hefonncd book tllc author re\-els and rejoices in the Christian doctrines in mtulitationnl prose. The author ha\ a ~novinji style and displ:lys an intense kno\\.lcclge of the Scriptures. The Ilmk is \\-rittcn for tl~ose ~vlio \\.is11 to bc co~~lfortcd by mcms of the inspired Scriptures. It ap- pe;~ls not only to the e~notional aspect of nxin 1)11t ii \vritltxn for those \rho \vish to eng;trc tlrenlscl\es in an intellcct~~al in- vrsti_c;ttion conccming man's spiritual rela- tion to God. It is not vfrittcn for the ju- venilt, even tho~tgh there is a personal ad- dress and an appeal to the every day ex- periences of the child of Gocl. a.1.

BEACON LIGHTS

HELPS FOR BIBLE STUDY ON THE

Book of KEVELAT1Ohk by REV. H. HOEKSEMA

LESSON XLX1711 (Rcoekrtion 11:14-19) The Seoe~lth Trrrmpet

1. Crss. 1-1, 19a. a. "The sccorrtl wot: is pnst": Tlre last three trunlpets are thrctc \~(Ks. ( 1) The first of these \\.as the p l o p ~ ~ e of the locr~sts out of the abyss: 9:l- 11. ( 2 ) The sccond upas the judgmt!nt of the triple nionsters; 9:13-71. ( 3 ) Nom, after the interlude of ch. S and tlie general, i d e ~ ~ l picture of the testimony, rcproiicli iurd glori- fication of the Church ( 11: 1-13), there fol- lo\vs a general description of the j~tdgmenl of the seventh tn111ipc:t. I,. "Rrlrold, t l i r - tliirtl woe comet11 rluickly." ( 1 ) As to the time of this "third \voc," it is e\-itlent tlii~t it belongs to the pcriod of "the saltlo liour." vs. 13. This is evident fro111 dic enrtl~cluakc, vs. 13 cf. vs. 19. ( 2 ) It corries quickly: the events of the vcq: last days will follow one ;mother in quick session. c. "And tltc scverrtl~ nnpcl so~lnded." ( 1 ) \\'hat \vc have in this passage is a general description of Llie seventh truriipet a~rd its rffcct i l l Ircnvtw imd on et~rth. ( 2 ) The deteiletl dc- scription of it is found in chiipters 15, 16. This seventh trunipet will reveal itst4f its scvr.11 vials. ( 3 ) That this is corrcct is etident from: ( a ) A comparison of ch. 10:7: "the mystery of God should bc- finished" in tile days of the seventh trurrlpot. \\lit11 15: 1 : in tlie se\?erl vials is filled up the mr:~th of God. (I>) A coniparison of 11 : 19: "the temple of God" openccl, with 15:5, (i: tlie sc\.en itngcls with the vials corrle rn~t of the own tcniple.

\'s. 1 3 . a. "-4ntl there \rrerc great voices in Ireavcn." ( 1 ) \Vhose voices tlrey arr is not mentioned. Judgi~rg by \vliat they say they may be either angels or glorified saints or both. ( 2 ) They are great voices: ilic.re is a great ~riultit~ide hcre. 1). "And thcy said, The Icingclom (not kingdoms, thc 11.1~. is correct hcre) of the wvorlcl is bcecon~e t l ~ e kuigdom of our Lord ant1 of Ilis Christ." ( 1 ) The praise lierc offered presupposes that the judgment of the seventh tru~~ipe[ is finished. All is ended. (2) Thv world is conceived as one b g d o n i over which God

n~lcs. It is no\\. the domiriion of our Lord. (3) And of His Christ. It is God's anointed thttt is to liavr dominion, and that no\r Iias it. God reigns tliro~rgh Christ. ( 4 ) And that forever and ever. Sotice, that Christ shill1 reign etcrn:~lly.

3. \'ss. 16-18: a. "l\~rd the f o ~ ~ r and t\vcnty elders," etc. (1) Representing the \\#hole clrurcb ( 2 ) Tlicy sit on thrones, i.e., tlicy reign \\,it11 Christ. ( 3 ) Brfore the fi~ce of God, i.e., as senFants of Cod. Sce cli. 4:4. 1,. "Fell upon their f;~~*s, and worshipped God." i.e., in their attitutlc ancl speech they Iiu~~ibly nckno\r~letlgecl thc power anrl glory ant1 sovereignty of God. c. "Saying, \ire give thanks," etc. Coneerrling this thanksgiving of the ch~rrch, notice (vss. 17, 18): ( 1 ) Thirt they ;~tltiress God as the Lord d- mighty: all the emphasis is on Cod's sover - eign po\vc.r, bec;~wc tlris has been fr~ll> rcvralrd nowr. And ;IS t l ~ e One "\Vho art ant1 \Vho \vast." Also here the revised ver- sion is correct: the \vords "who art to co~iie" dl) nut belong hcre; the ratson is cvident: H e is now come. ( 2 ) That the reason for this thanksgiving is: ( a ) "Tliou l m t taken to thee thy great power," i.e., thc power wl~icli is al\\,oys God's, now is fully re- ve;~led: die \vorld is beco~ne the kingdom of Cod and of His Clirist, according to IIis pllrposc. (3) That a further esplanatioli of this reason is given in vs. 18: ( a ) "And the nations \\.ere angry" (Ps. I]), that is they raged against God and IIis anointed, and His "\vitnesses," see vss. 7-10. (b) 'And thy nrrath cnrne, i-e., God's wratli \\.as now fully revcaled and poured out in the j~tdg- rnent of thc scventli trumpet. (c) " h d tlre ti~iie of the dead to bc judged." IIcre follows ;I dcscriptio~~ of the final juclgnient. F.viderltly. nlilh the blowing of thc seventh trumpet ;ill is finislied. hlr l by this judg- inent thr eternal rc\\,;rd is given to all t l l n pcoplc of Cod his servants the prophet: :ill the saints (in Christ), thern that fear God's narnc, small and great (literally and

Trcclcc BEACON LIGHTS

h'gt~ratively ). clntl ~ l ~ c wickc.cl itre tlestroycd. Thcy arc Ilc.rc t1cscril)etl ;IS those. that

&destroy tllc earth." Tlrc wicket1 ;ilw;~ys rork tlestruc~ion of tlie c.nrtl1 and of all

earlhly life in e v e n reli~tionsllip. Ant1 it is but just rc.tril,ution, tli(*rrforc~. \\*hrr~ they itre destroyed, i.~:., from tlic earth ;~ntl from all Gotl's \\.orld, in everlasti:~g drsolatior~.

4. 1's. 19: ;I. " .h t l there was opened the temple of Gotl t11:1t is ill h(!avcn." (I) The teniplc is thc ir111er s a l ~ c l ~ ~ i ~ r y (Ll~e i~rk is seen), where God cl\\,ells. (2) 7'11e ;irk of tlic co\?cnant is a symbol of (;I) Cod's throne.

( b ) His cverliis~ing covcnant mercy. (3 ) That the tcsmple is opened signifies ( a ) 'Tllat Gotl is ; ~ b o ~ ~ t to issuct forth to ~nake of ~111 the \vorld Ilis d \ v c l l i ~ ~ ~ ~ l : ~ c e . ( b ) That fro111 :hat open he;~ve:l the final jutlgn~ent will come upon tlie eiirth. See ch. 15:llf. 11. "r\ntl therc \vtare liglltnings, and voices, and thnnderings, ;und e;~rthqnnLe, and grc;lt li;~il." ( 1 ) All signs of judgments on the c:~rtl~. See 8:s. ( 2 ) T l ~ c (letailed re;~liz;~- tion of \\~lrich is tlescribcul i r ~ tile j l~clg~ne~~ts of the st:\?ell vials. ch. 16.

LESSON SSVIll (Rec;eltr!iot~ 12:1-6) The \Voman aid IZer Child. nncl t11e Vrogot~

1. Relation of this chapter to the rest of the I~ook: :I. 111 c1i;~ptrrs 1.'- 14 thew follows a scrim of visioi~s that must Ile rrg:lrdctl as an interlutlc. ill t l ~ c sche~~ie (>I Ihr seals, trumpets, vials. 11. Clr;~pters 12, 13 arc. closc%ly connectetl \\,it11 caclr other, as they present a tleti~iletl dcscripiion of tlie bet1.t first mcntior~c.tl i r ~ ch. 11:;. ( 1 ) 111 chapter 12tthis bci15t is clcscribed from t l ~ c vie\\?- mint of his essentially satanic bnckgrou~id A rcl c1i:iracter. (1) 111 cl~apter 13 from the ie\vpoillt of his liistoriw~l al)pr;trancc as .in

antiellribtian nrorlcl-powel.. 2. i'ss. 1, 2. ;I. "And there :~ppearecl it

great \voncler (s ip, I{.\'.) in htavc!n." (1) 131. ;I si~ql somcthi~~g is c~l)si~matccl; wc arc \vur~~cd ag;iir~st :I literal interprrt;ition of tile vision here. (2) This sign is "grcat," i.c. in r~lagnitr~tle and in significance. (3) And it is in hesvcn, the. plocc of ~ l o r y , der~oting t l ~ c c5sscwti;tlly l~vi~vc~~rly c11:ir:ictrr of t l ~ c thing s ik~fied. 1). "h \vomali, clotl~cd aitli the sun," etc. ( 1 ) ?'he general figure of the sign is that of a \\,oman. (2) l ' l ~ e I~mvcnly lu~nini~ries s c t ~ c to adonl her ant1 to bring out her glory: slre is clotllcd wit11 the sun, the moon is lrer footstool, ;~rltl shc is cro\%ned with t\velve stars (cf. twel\re tl.il~es, aposlles). (3) Ancl she is \vith chiltl n~rd about to be cI~llivc:rc(l.

Sote. \\'I10 or \\*h;it is represented by this wonlan? The key to the luls\ver is, no tloubt sl~ppliecl by vss. 5, 6. It is thc Churcl~ of 1111 agcs: I~~.forct she is clclivcretl

&f her child (the Clu-ist) she represcbnts t l ~ c 'hurch of tlie oltl clispe~lsation; after sha

lras been cleli\~ercd she represents the Church oE tlie New 'l'cst;unrnt. In Lhe old

dispcnbntion the Ch~~rc l i li\.rd ;rnd lal)orcc! in tlic Iiopc of the groniise of Gen. 3:15. The Church is c1rscril)etl from the \tie\\.- point oi hvr essentii~l heavcanly chac1ctc-r ilnd glory, :IS a mighty queen.

3. \-s\. 3, 4. The sikm of t l ~ e dragon. a. ".And tlicre appeared motller s i p in hca\,cn." l'llat also this sip1 is in hei~vcn certain!!- h;~s no reference to the c1lar;lctcr of thc thing represcntrd, but niust be rs- plaintd rnercly from t l ~ e position the dr:~gorl occupies m-ith relation to tire \\-ornan. b. ''A~al bc.holcl, ;L great rrd tlragon, h;~\lit~g sc \m lie:~ds," etc. (I) 'fhv gcncr;~l figure ( IS the wc-o~id s i p is t l~a t of ;I dr:~gon, ;I

mythical figure. a monster, \\.hose general figure is th:~t of :I serpr~lt. Accorcling to vs. 9 tliib dragon represents thc tlevil or satan, "t11;it old serpent." (2) Ilis color is red, the color of \\.rath and anger, blood- shed, ml~rclcr. 'I'hib denotes hirn as " t l~r m~~rderer froni the lxgi~i~ling" ;is \r.ell as the h : ~ t e f ~ ~ l men)? of this \\;oman and Ircr child. (3) Hc is dexcribed as ha\ing seven be;~ds. ten honis. and on his heads seven cro\rns, or royal di;rdems. This description is 5imilar to that of t l ~ e beast in cll. 13:l. The c.\pl.~nation of thebe heath .md horns a n hetter bc gi\.en in connection with our interpreti~tion of that chapter. It is s~~lficicnt no\\? to ci~ll irttention to the fact tj~iit this \imilarity of tlescription represents t l ~ c tlcvil ;is "the w\\?cr behind thc throne" of the I,e;~st ;md as operating tlrrough the anti- chrisbc~n wrld-power. (4) "And his tail drc\\- tlic tliird part of thc stars of 11eave11, ant1 clid cast them to the earth." The angels rue sometimes czilled st:irs (Job 38:i). The

BEACON LIGHTS Thirteen

reference here is probably to thc fall of tht. angels by tlie instigation of snt;un. (5) "And he stood before the, \vonlitn wllich ~ 1 %

ready to IE clelivercd, for to devour her child 21s soon as it was Imm." Tl~esc words ex-press the ;~ttitudr of t l ~ c tlritgon c~\.cl. agitinst the \voni;ln: one of \rntcl~ful tvniti~~g, till licr child shall be born. And his intcn- tion is to destroy the mall-cllild at his I>irtl~.

Sote. 7'his refers, e\.idently Lo thr roll- s t ; l~~t iitternpt on thr part of chr \vnrftl- po\ver in the old c!ispensittior~ to destroy the seetl of the \\,om;ln.

4. Vss. 5, 6. 'I'he Cllild ancl tht~ \ \ rotn;~~~. a. 'rlncl she brought fort11 a miun cl~ilcl, \~111)

w;~s to rule all n i ~ t i o ~ ~ s with a rod of iron." Frnm the description of this marl chiltl it is evident (1) That he is tile .\lcssi;lh. "IHc shill1 n ~ l e ;dl nations with n rod of iron" is taken from Ps. 2:9. That IIe \\.ill jutlgc. nnc!

LESSON SSlS (Recelution 22:7-22) 1. Vss 7-9. it. "And there \%*as w;w in

heaven," etc. (1) Jlust remenil~er Ih;rt heaven \v;ls ori,&ally thc al)od[. ot t l ~ e angels, also of the tlevil arid his angels be- fore their fall. (?) They were. not, imnrcl- diately after their fall, ci~st out of tlicir abode in the sense that they l~ntl no 1ncn.e accws to heaven. See Job 1; Luke 10:18; John 12.31. Their casting out d ic l not take pl;~ce till the es;lltation of Cl)~isl. I). "Jlichael ancl his angels fo~~gl i t a~ainsl tlic drag or^:" etc. (1) of hlicl~ael \Ire rca~cl in Dim. 10:13; 15:lO; Jude vs. 9. rUI thc..ic passages teach that he is archa~~gel, a prince among tlio angels ( i f not the cltief of ill1 111c angels): that he contends with Satan, whosc special opponent he ;lppcars to br; i u ~ d that he contends for the cause of the prople of God, defentling tl~ern. This seems to Ile his specid hmction. (2) His angels nlizy refer to a special group of over \~~hich lie is prince, or, if lie 11c thc cllief 01 all the elect angels, it refors to ;dl. (3) The dragon and his angels ,ue the clevil and the c\il spirits or demons that Iiilve fallcil with hhn. (4) These s-piritui~l itrmicbs ere presented in the tesT as waging w.u, as fighting in heaven. There is ~iot l~ing in tlie test that suggests an allegorici~l mealling of this I~attle. Hence, li.~\-e to think l~erc of a red warfare, although wc must rcniern- her that it i s a battle of spirits and, thcre-

tlestroy the ;~nticl*Jistian \vorlcl-power, for tl~is is h c meaning of the esj~rctssion "tv rr~lt: \\+it11 ;I rod of iron." b. ".4nd her chila' was caught up unto God, and to his throne. (1)'l'lir grneritl nieaning of this expression -

is tl~nt tllc ptlrposc of the dragon to de\-oar thc child is frrlstri~ted: the cl~iltl escapes his \vratIi. (?) Spccific3lly it means that this Clrild is cralted ant1 clotl~crl with power: rc;tlizc-tl in the ascc.rlsio~~ and csaltation at thr right hand of God in I~e;*vcn. c. ".htl thc nomar. fled into the wiltlerness," etc. (I) 'The child Ilaving esci~petl hi~n, the wratl~ ol the dri~gon is nosv tlirectecl against tltc \\,oman, sc vs. 13. Ile~rce, she 1 1 ~ ~ s into tlie \xilderness (the \\.orltl, no longer in Canaan). \vIlerr Got1 has prepared it place for her, mlcl cares for her througho~~t this dispensa- tion, 1260 d;lys. See for this period on ell. 112 , 3.

fore, fought on a spiritual pl;ne and by spir i t~~;~l means and rnetlrocls. c. \'ss. 8, 9: "And prevailed not," etc. 'That is, the clevil and his angels prevailed not. (1) This expression sllggests that the devil and 11'-

allgels took the offensive; they attackec _ hlic1ii1c.l nnd his iingc-Is; or rather they sor~ght to attain a cwrtain object in hewerr, but they failcxl because Jlicharl and his allgel5 opposed ant1 preve~ltctl then). (2) \\'hat is more, they \\.ere cast out of hraven. so th:~t their plnce wa, found in heaven no more. Yotice th,~t the dntgon is here called: (;I) 'l'hc old serpent: thi5 with reference to hi\ first tcrnpt.~tion ill pomdise where Ile appeared in the form of a serpent; (b) The Devil (diabolos) meaning "~nrrdslingc.r" or slim(1erc.r. He slanclers Cotl and IIis people ;u~d cause; ;tnd (c) Satan, that is adversary, opponent. He is anti-Cod. Cod's adversary, ;111d therc.forc the nrcli-ene~ny of IIis people. ((I) IIc is sitid here to "deceive the \vIvhole \vorltl." ILis p a t deceptior~ is based on the lie that in tlie way of tlisol>edience nmn ~ha11 be like God, i~ntl that they shall attain to I~ighrst hles\cdnc\s iincl glory in the way of opposition and rebellion against God. 'I'liat is the Lie that ~notivatcs "the wholc "wiclied \~~orld." .ind iu h i \ thcy are cIea rt.ivc.d. (3) Hc is c a t into the earth. I\'

thouqh he is utterly and finally clefe;ltetl in Iletlvcn, he is cast into the earth. This 1\41

Fourtcnt BEACON LIGHTS

now I)econlc thc sole spl~erc. of his opela- tions.

CI, 1. \Is,. 10, 11. it. "And I Irearc1 u loud oicc saying in Irc:;~\.cn," rtc. (1) 'The text

does not stall: n~hose tlris lol~d voice is. T11:rt the voice is loud slrggesls hat tlrerc. were many speaking. And that tl~ey sl)e;tk of "our brethren" suggests that they were thc glorified saints in heaven. ( 2 ) They an- nounce tililt now is conre (;.[:. rrvc:alcd ;mil est:rblislrcd in hisa\fcn): "salvation" herc to be taken in its comprehensivct sense: re- cle~nption ;rutl glorilic;~tio~l; "strength," i.e. tlrc power of C:od is now ri:veirled; "the kingdom of urlr (:otl," i.e., the kingtlon~ in which Coci rulcs Ily gl.ircch over Ilis people is now cstahlisl~ecl; ;inti "tbc powcr of his Christ." Christ is h(.re cnlletl (;ocl's Christ, His anointctl Servant. He h i~s no\\. ;dl tllc po\Irer, kn~thority, ;~nrl that \vitlrout disp~~te. (3) The reason is th;tt "the itccuscSr of our brethren" etc. is cast down. T l~a t the d e ~ i l is her(. c;illcd the accuser of the brethren sr~gzests the ol)jective Ite sol~gl~t in his \\-ar in heaven: lo ovc3rcomc the saints. (4) 13nt the saints overcame l ~ i n ~ "bv the I~lood of the I.;unl), trncl by tlre word of he i r testi- c.

mony, arid they lo\~ed not their life even 11nto death. 'fhc I<. V. is more correct he~e : "lxr:~use of the I~lood of the kunb," ctc. l'hc atonc*ment of Christ is the deepeht ciluse and wound of their victory. But ;IS

tile f n ~ i t of this ittonemcnt also tlrcir faith- ful testimony [of Christ) ant1 their s;r~~ctificrl \\.;~lk n t l ~ e \vorld (e\.en unto death) is tire reason for their victory over the devil.

3. Vs. 12. "l'hereforc, rejoice, yc hc;~vcns," etc. (1) 'She loud voice calls upon all the heavenly crc-ation, and upon all the ill- l~abitants of 11e;rvcn to rejoice (the angels and the saints), 1,ecause of this great victor)- and beca~tse dlc tlevil is cast out. (?) On the other h;ind: "\Voe to the in1lal)iters of tlie earth," etc. (;I) The inhabitants of the cilrtl~ arc ~ n r ~ ~ t i o n c d in genertrl, 1)ecause it \till bring Itroe to all that the devil is cast to the e;1rt11; I ~ u t especially the belie\,ers art: meant. (b) The reason is that the delril'?; sphere trf operation is limited 110th ;IS to space and tinre. Hc is limited to thr c ;~r t l~ , iuld he ltas blit a sllort tirne. 'She fintrl victory is near for the people* of Cod. 'This he has Ic.arneil from his defeat in heavt.11. H e ~ r e , Ire I~as great wrrath!

f2RSSOhT ?I'M.Y (Reoelrrtion 12:13-17) The \\70tncirz in the 1Vild.ernes.s

'Ant1 \vhen the dr;~gon sax\, that he \\,as cast illto thc carth, hv pcrsccutecl the wo~nan," etc. (1) Herc tlie rlarrati\.e of the vision is resn~ncd as 1c:ft oll' ill \IS. 6. (3) T l ~ e de\.il realizes his defeat with respect to his m;rirr plin,ost.: the dc.structio~~ of the .\l:tn-chilcl. - - He no\\? directs his attelltion to the \vcrnl:~n l'hr \T-oman is (;I) Is ~ ~ o t tlrc Chl~rclr of tile 0. 1'. Kor the Jews of the N. 'r. @) B I I ~ the Church of thct ne\v dispens;~tion, after the birth and exaltation of tlre X~liu~~-clrild. (3) The dri~gon IIO\V persecutes that Chi~rcl~. His purpose is, evidently, to dcstroy that Church as such. In this attempt he sti3 rive:rls his hatred of the Christ. No\\, Ire cannot reach the Christ directly, Ilc will urt~gc aga i~~s t I.linl indirectly by pcrscS- cuting the Church O I I charth. m. "i\~ltl to thc wolrlan were',givcn hvo wings ool :I greut e ; ~ d r , that slrc n~iglit fly," ctc. ( I ) T l ~ e wilden~css is herc, cvid(:ntly, n pl;lcc of Bf~tge from the assaults of the dragon. I t

dispensation the Cl~urch \\.;a one n a l i o ~ ~ (Ismel) ant1 livetl in one co~~ntry, the Iiultl of Canaan. This mi~dc it possible for thc tiragon to attirck the Cliurci~ directly by ;rtt;tcking the nation of Israel througl~ the \vcrrltl-l>o\\.crs. In the ne\v dispensation thc. CIIII~CII no longer hits her Canaan; hence, she is in the "\r~iltlerness" of the \vorlcl thre)uch which she travels to tlie heavenly country. At tht. sirme time this position of the Church among ;~ll ni~tions is also hcr place of safcty: the nations can no l o ~ ~ g r r haniss thc Ch11rc11 by mi~king war upon ,I single nation. ( 2 ) Thr t\vo \vings of ir

great eagle: (;I) T l ~ e 6gurc. is proba1)ly den\-ctl from Ex. 19:4. The \ r ing here ;lrc: s>mlmls of ;I C;od-gi\.e~~ power the Church rc.ceires to escape into "the \vildemess," i.e. to rstablish herself alllong all nations. The fitct thi~t they are "t.ngle's \\-iings" and drat of a grcat eagle, denotes the poxver of these nrei:ns. 0)) If \ve may hink of ;ulything tlefirlite here, tllcsc \sings may be said to

, also evident that hy diis \ilclerness is rc*prescnt thc 1)01ver of the Spirit imcl the meant the present place of the Chtrrch \\'ord. (3) In the \vildenlc.ss the wom;ln is anlong all nations in the world. In thv old "not~rished for n time, and times and a

BEACON LIGHTS Fifteen

half a time from the facc of the s~.rpent.': (a) 'Timc, times, half a time" is 3% times, i.e., !.ears, not &ys; it is the sillne asr tl~r: 1260 days of \*s. 6 and refcars to the \\fl~olc present tlispc.ns;~tio~l. (1)) 1)uring this I ~ I I I ~

the C1111rc.h is nollrisl~rd (spiritr~ally) by G I I ~ through Christ ant1 11y the Spirit itnd \Vortl (c) That shc* i\ nourished "from the face of the serpent" indicatc.~ t11at she i.s \ate fro111 thc attacks of the devil, out of liis reach.

2. \7>s. 15. 16. .ittack on Ihr Clr~ircll I I ~ the dmgon. 3. ":b~tl the serpent c;~st cr~rt of his mouth \\rater as a flootl z~ltcr Ihc \\.oman," etc. (1) 'l'he picture is tli;tt t l~e serpent It~kcs I I ~ his position i ~ t the ctlzc. of the \\rildcnrrss. 111 hcr spirih~al iso1;ltion t l ~ e devil cannot re;~cIi the Churcl~. ( I ) tinct ntnv he attempts to force her out of her isolation by sending ;I verital)le flood of \v;~ter out of his 111out11 aftrr lier, in order "tli;~t lie might cause her to t~ carried nwa)4 of the Ilar~c!. \\'hat this mecans is not diffic~~lt to con- jech~re (a) Out of t l ~ c ~ n o i ~ t h of thr t\~agoii procceds the lic. in a11 its fornrs: Fillse doctrines and corn~ptions of the Besli. (b) If by these tlie devil can carry way t l~a Church out of her spiritual isolation, she \rill he s~rallo\ved up of the \vorltl and be destroyed. c. "And the earth hclpcd t l ~ c \roniiin. :u~d thc earth openccl her moutll," etc. (1) Tlie presentation here still bc1011gs to the s!mbolisni of the \viltlen~rss and thc

flootl of \\r,~ter sent after the woman. The c:~rth opcns itself and sw;~llows up thc strei~m of \vi~tcr, 50 that i t tivver reachc- die \volnall. c2) The mealling is eviden dl(- C1111rcli is built on the "pctron," t h e - Rock; the gates of hell cannot o\.en\-lieln lier. Slany may IE seduccrl by the flood c;f co~n~pt ion sent after the Churcll in the \\.orld Ily the dc.\il: hut tlic Lrue pmplc ol Cocl \rill stand.

3. Vs. 17. I'enecution of thc rcrnr~xnt r l f lier sercl. a. ''And tht. t1r;lgon was wroth with the \vo~i~an," etc. ( 1) For the secon~l ti~nc. the tlevil ib defeated and his efforts are frushutcd. (a) First the Sl;~n-cl~ild escnperl Iris fur).: (b) No\\, the Church proves to be l~eyond liis reilc11. (c) IIence, lie is angry ~ r i t l ~ the woman. b. ".htl went to makc \var wit11 the reinni~lit of Ilcr sc~ci. whiclt keep the co~nmnntlrncnts of Cod a11d have the. tt-sti~nony of Jesus Clirist." ( 1 ) Dis- tinction is hcrc made I,ct\r,ce~~ the Chruch ;IS a wl~olc and the incli\,iclual believers. (.2) These are c;lllcd the re~nnant of her secd in distinction fronl ( a ) l'he Slim-child. ( h ) The sz~ints of tlie old dispensation. (3) They are in the world, and thcy arc recognized ( a ) By their \\rdk: they keep t l ~ c . co~nn~;uiC mcnts of Cod. (b) -And by thrsir ~mrdessio~, thcy Ii;l\re thr tcsti~nor~y of Jesus Cllrist. How the dmgon now makes war with them \ve are told in the nest cl~opter.

CURRENT COMMENTS

Eh~dtiaae and the ARTS JIM JONKER

Etluccrtior~ is e c e r ~ h i n g . 'l'llc ~~ecrt:I~ ~cc~s or~ce a hitter nlrrlnnrl; c~~rrlijlorcer is nothing brrt cabbage [rcitll a college ecir~c(ition. l1.+1x ' ~ V A I X

The title of thh article s l ~ o ~ ~ l d inilnedia- tely bring into 111ind tluce questions. \\.'hz~t is education? \\'hat are the arts? I-lo\v are the hvo relat~d? The first quc.stio~l we will not answer, for it ~~ntloul~tc~tlly i:. 1)'irt:: clefined and discl~bsetl elsewhere in this is- sue. To the second question \ve offer 3

simple answer. \\*e will consider only the more coinmon and easily untlerstmd arts,

camcly, p'linting, sculptr~re, music, and literilh~re. The ans\\,er to h e third question \\.ill co~nprise the body of this article. but \rrc can sl~nmmarize it briefly in two statc- ments. Education, itlenlly, plays hvo roles in its rclatiol> to the nrts. l'irsl, it clevclops a sense of .~ppreci;~tion; secontlly, it produces the ;irti\t.

Appreciation is a m i s ~ ~ n c l e r s t d term, cluc largely to common usage of the root word \\-hen \\-c he;~r solnconc say. "1 apprecia it," nVe ass~lrne he lneilrls that he like somefliinp or is grateful for it. Applied tr

Sirieeri BEACON LIGHT!

thc arts, ho\\rcvr*r, its rneaning is clecper. It p r o d ~ ~ r c the artist. Not all can be artists, rr.;~lly means to undcrst;~nrl something, to for not all have the necessary God- giver^

P j d g e it corrc:ctIy. to be f ~ ~ l l y scnsiblc of it. !alvnts. Yet, with very rare exception, thc hcreforr-, solllt.oIle \\rho apprcriates a poem talented artist can do little unless 11c lc.;mls

is orlc: \vllo unders~ands it more or less f~tlly. ho\v to express hinlself. His talents c:trlnot A course in ~llusic appreciation is not dz- br buried itncl then earn more talents. The). signed to make Lllc stuclrnt like nus sic, but can bct cir\,eloped only through k~lowleclge to mikc lliln ~~nderstand it, to scr its struc- and practice. Educatioil \\-ill give him this blrc, its cohereuce, its beauty.

So111c ~~ndcrstauding is basic to enjoy- ment. IVlrilr. a pc,rson n.ho knows rrlatively nothing ahout u s y ~ ~ ~ p l l o r ~ y may enioy listen- ing Lo it. his enjoyment \\.ill I I O L he as great as that of o ~ ~ e mho understan<ls it ana1- qtic;~Uy ancl s)~rtht.tically. The salrie thing applics to Llie other fomis of art. Somc? sinlple poetry is t~lmost 11nivc:rsally liked, but one who understands pocbtry cml get rn~lcll more enjoyment from tllr Inore ~0111- pic\, because, analq-zing, jutlging, and evdu- ating it, he can see that its 1,rauty is greater.

'rllis apprecialion of art seltlo~n, prrllaps never, colncs naturally. It 111ust be clevel- oped slowlq- i~ntl gradllally. This cnn be clone only hy edl~cation. The process often seelns \venrisome and tiling; often it is hard work. But the rcsi~lts pay for the toil. In

aspect th1: roll: of c*clucation can h r early sern. By critically analyzing work:; of art. hy c:splilining heir slrc~lgths and weaknesses, I I ~ s e e i ~ ~ g their struct~tre, hy tloting the skillf~.~l I ~ a i d of the craltsman. the teachrr niay not nialic l~ i s stlltlrllts li!;i. these n,orks, I ~ u t lie inw-itahly i~lcrrases tl~eir appreciation. The task is not onc-siclcd. however. The stuclcnt \vho is or nlakes Iriln- self interested, the studrnt \vllo sh~tlic:s :mil strives. is the studcnt \vho will ~lndcrstantl thc rl~ost and litter find tllr grmtcst cr~joy- 111cn1.

B I I ~ tclucatio~r should do more than dcvclop appreciation. It sl~onlcl brgin to

k~~o\vledge ant1 tlle opportunity for espres- .ion.

One pheno~l~rnon of ,hnerican educ;ttion, h e to a greater degree in our schools. is the emphasis of the liternry arts. hIost of us, eve11 tlrosc \vllo have gone t h r o ~ ~ g h col- leso. have. a IIIUCII greater knowledge: of literature than of sculphlre, painting, or a l~~sic . \lost of 11s nndo~~bteclly know nrst Lo nodling of d w ~ e three.

The- rt:ason is not hard to unclerstnnd. Perhaps onc picture can say as rrluch as a thousanti \vords, Iwt most of us could man- iplllate thi. thousand n,ords better than n paint hrush. Secondly. \vords arc usual!y easier to understand dlan other symbols; mc derive more meaning from a story. c-ssay, or p o r l ~ ~ tilan from a concerto or a stable. Thirdly, 11c.cause this is the case, \vords are a ~ ~ r o r e po\\rcrfi~l \t7enpon in the arserr;ll of the dcfcnsct of T n ~ t h and more eEectivt. in the prenching and spread of the Gospel.

\\Te r n ~ ~ s t not forget, hoivever, t11at the othrr arts rcveal other Cod-aivc~n talents and arc to be used in I.Iis fear. Beyond any doubt, we are lay in not giving them a Iarqer place. in cur t~ducationd systems and ic our perso~lal lives.

To restate the parahle of the talents is hardlj- necessnry. But to esanline our lives in the light of its t n ~ t h is always imperative. The one \\.ho "Ilt~mbly" claims that he has no talent may actl~ally be too Itandp with the shovel.

Slrs. C. ti. \\;e.<trn, news editor of Ucrrro~~. Lig11t.v for the past t\vo ye;lrs, has resignecl. The Board and ht. St& of B(:(ICOII Ligltts thank her for 11c.r co~l~l)rchvnsi\:e and capablr coverage of the Protestant Refor~ned Churches in their grass-roots lifo.

Sirs. CI1i11-lrs Krc-gcl has accepted the position v;~cated by \Irs. t\'cstrn. All br~lletius and items o l information shoi~ld no\\- he sent to:

I SIRS. CH-4RLES KREGEI, 1250 PIulitdelp1li.1. S. E.

P Cranil R.tpitls 6. \lich.

I11 orcler that Brclcor~ Lig11t.s nidy continue its monthly sunrey of I-', I{. , 11c\v5, it is neces~nr,~ [hat cvcry church F.\lTHFI!LLY sub~nit information

BEACON LIGHTS Secjolteen

D F V . G. V A N B A R E N H ''i 18 D J 4 , I OtVA

FALL MASS MEETING

Date - Tuesday, November 7

Place - Hope Church

Speaker - Rev. A. Mulder

SPECIAL INTEREST -

Convention pictures by Don Doezema