Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 19
April 25, 1968
NUMBER 50, PAGE 2b

The Bible — The Book Of Tomorrow

H. L. Bruce

A lot of time has been spent in trying to prove that the Bible is an outdated book. The cry is that we need modern philosophy for a modern world. As a result, educators, philosophers and some college professors have dedicated considerable time in effort to prove that the Bible is outdated and behind time.

On the other hand, conservative students of the Bible have labored to prove and impress upon the world the idea that the Bible is up to date. We have explored fields of science, astronomy, anthropology and many other fields, observing that the Bible writers exceeded their time in anticipation and scientific foreknowledge.

Actually the Bible is not only up to date and keeps abreast with the modern world in supplying spiritual needs, but the Bible is a BOOK OF THE FUTURE. To be more specific, the Bible furnishes us with information of many FUTURE EVENTS. Let's note some of them.

THE BIBLE REVEALS THE ULTIMATE DESTINY OF MORTAL MAN. "The days of our years are three score years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." (Ps. 90:10) James said that life is a "...vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (Jas. 4:14)

THE BIBLE TELLS US OF THE FINAL EXPECTATION FOR THE MATERIAL AND PHYSICAL WORLD. In Matt. 13:40, our Lord wake of "the end of this world." There will be a "last day." (Jno. 6:44-45) "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." (II Pet. 3:10) These and other verses of the New Testament tell of the future of the world.

THE BIBLE ALSO REVEALS THE FUTURE OF THE RIGHTEOUS. To sustain this proposition, please observe I Jno. 3:2: "...but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (I Thess. 4:16-17)

THE BIBLE BEING A BOOK OF THE FUTURE IS FURTHER INDICATED IN THE EXHORTATION TO PREPARE FOR FUTURE EVENTS. We are admonished to obey in view of the resurrection, judgment and eternity. (Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:8-9; Acts 17:30-31; II Peter 1:10-11)

We don't know how long this world will stand. It may stand a year, a hundred years or a hundred million years. But regardless of how long it stands — THE BIBLE WILL NOT BE OUTDATED. It will continue to furnish man and fill spiritual needs and inform him of the future. Yes, the Bible is a "Book of Tomorrow."

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