The Great Prophecies Volume 3: The Church, the Churches, and the Mysteries
Sixth Edition
562 pgs.
This is a book of distinct and conspicuous mark on the exhaustless theme of Scripture prophecy. It is evident that the conscientious labor and thought of years are embodied in the volume. While the author shows that he has studied with care the literature of his subject, he has at the same time wrought out an independent scheme of interpretation marked by great comprehensiveness and self-consistency.
George Hawkins Pember was born in 1837. He was educated at Cambridge University where he took his M.A. in Classics at age twenty-six. Upon his conversion to Christ, Pember determined to devote his scholastic talents to a close and comprehensive study of the Scriptures for the benefit of God's people. His penchant for meticulous scholarship, extensive knowledge of ancient cultures, and keen spiritual insight combined to produce works of a quality and depth with few parallels in Christian expository literature.
G. H. Pember died in 1910, leaving a rich legacy of reclaimed spiritual truth, upon which subsequent reformers such as J. N. Darby, Watchman Nee, G. H. Lang, and T. Austin-Sparks would build.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
THE CHURCH AND ITS MEMBERS
- The Church and the Churches
- Predestination
- Predestination and Works
- Redemption by the Blood. A Kingdom and Priests
- The First Resurrection (John 5:24-29)
- The Prize, which is the First Resurrection (Phil. 3:10-14)
- The Kingdom and Everlasting Life
- The Conflict and the Crown (1 Cor. 9:24; 10:11)
- The Rest that Remaineth for the Household of God (Heb. 3--4)
- Summary and Conclusion
BAPTISM
- The One Source of Absolute Truth
- The Two Ordinances
- The Meaning of the Word Baptism
- The Baptism of John
- The Commission of the Lord (Matt. 28:18-20)
- Circumcision and Baptism
- Baptism in the "Acts"
- Baptism in the Epistles
- Baptism and the Kingdom
- Paganism and Infant Baptism
- Infant Baptism Unknown for more than Two Centuries
- Another Kind of Gospel
- Sacerdotal Ceremonies
- The West and the East
- Concluding Remarks
THE LORD'S SUPPER
- The Bread of Life (John 6:25-64)
- The Lord's Supper
- The Lord's Supper in the Epistles (1 Cor. 10:16-22; 11:17-34)
- Patristic Corruption
- Medieval Corruption
- Summary and Conclusion
THE GIFTS OF MINISTRY
- The Gifts of Ministry and their Purpose (Eph. 4:11-16)
- The Four Greater Gifts (Eph. 4:11)
- Apostles
- Prophets
- Evangelists
- Pastors and Teachers
- Deacons
DIVERS GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT: THEIR CONNECTION WITH THE BODY: AND RULES FOR THEIR USE
- The Spiritual or Inspired (1 Cor. 12; 13; 14)
- The Spiritual Gifts and the Body (1 Cor. 12)
- Love (1 Cor. 13)
- The Exercise of the Gifts in the Assembly (1 Cor. 14)
- Precepts Regulating the Position and Behaviour of Women (1 Cor. 14:34-37; 11:3-16; 1 Tim. 2:11-15)
"BECAUSE OF THE ANGELS" or THE JUDICIAL COURTS OF HEAVEN
- The Judgment, the Council, and the Fiery Valley (Matt. 5:21,22)
- The Judicial Courts of Angels
- The Court of God
- The Final Sentence. Conclusion
THE MYSTERIES AND CATHOLICISM
- The Great Religious Feature of Antiquity
- The Probable Meaning of Initiation
- The Lesser and the Greater Mysteries
- Preparation for the Lesser Mysteries
- The Orphic Hymns. Sex in Deity. The Gregorian Music
- Ancient and Modern Use of Incense. Dr. Rock's Defense of the Practice Examined
- The Incense and Pure Offering of the Gentiles (Mal. 1:11)
- The Spiritual Meaning of Incense
- Doctrine of the Lesser Mysteries
- The Mystery-Plays
- Initiation into the Lesser Mysteries
- The Morality of the Mysteries. Catholic "Economy"
- The Greater Mysteries. The Number of the Beast
- The Appearance of Deities or Saints. Hiouen-Thsang and the Shwadow of Buddha
- "The Real Presence"
- The Hierophant, or Peter, was the First Pope. The Pontifex Maximus
- Initiation into the Higher Myserties
- The Hierophant, or Priest, as God
- A Third Order or Initiates corresponding to Bishops. Apostolical Successin. The Tonsure
- The Working of the Leaven
- The Transfer of Pagan Terms to Nominal Christianity
- Apostolic Tradition
- Jewish Tradition
- Basil on Tradition and Indispensable Pagan Practices
- The Origin of the Word "Mass"
- Summary and Inference
- Historical Developments
- Dr. Mivart's Apology for Polytheism
- A Parallel and a Warning
APPENDIX A: The Brethren of the Lord
Index