Dispensational studies

158 Pages·1977·1.985 MB·English

by  Riggs, Ralph M.

Dispensational
Studies
by
Ralph M. Riggs
Address all communications to
BEREAN SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE
(CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL OF THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOO)
1445 BOONVILLE AVENUE • SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI
© Copyright 1977 by
GOSPEL PUBLISHING HOUSE
Springfield, Missouri
PRINTED
IN U.S.A.

UNIT ONE
Lessons 1 to 6

Lesson 1
INTRODUCTION
The Bible, which is the Word of God, with its clear
authoritative declaration concerning all the mysteries
and problems of life, is the only hope of men and
nations. It contains the only authentic story of the
creation of the world and the beginning of human
history. It alone purports even to reveal the future. It
carries the story of God’s great love for the world and
His marvelous plan of redemption. It presents the true
philosophy of life.
It is not the will of God that there should be war or
greed or injustice or ignorance or even sin of any kind
among the sons of men. It is the rejection of the only
Way of Life and the following of the false philosophies
of men that have brought the world into the state of
chaos that it is in today, and that will hurl it down the
chasm of self-destruction, upon the brink of which it
already hovers. “The wise men are ashamed; they are
dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the Word
of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?” (Jeremiah
8:9).
The Bible shows the Way to individual salvation and
the solution of all personal problems. It presents the
Person of Christ as Saviour, as Life, as Light, as Love,
as Strength, as Wisdom, as Soul Food, and as personal
Friend and Guide. Without the Bible, one is lost,
spiritually and mentally, and doomed to wander in
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10 Dispensational Studies
darkness and sink in eternal despair. We must study
the Bible, for it alone is our salvation.
And the Bible is before us, an open Book. The law of
our land has given us the liberty to read, believe, and
teach its blessed truths. The printing press, mass
production, the American standard of living, and
compulsory education have made it possible for
everyone to possess and be able to read his own copy of
the Scriptures. A quasi-Christian society has given us
one day out of seven to devote to its study and propa­
gation, and provides chaplains for servicemen, pris­
oners, etc. Churches, literature, radio and television
broadcasts are available on every hand as media of
gospel dissemination. What excuse has America for
not reading and knowing its Bible?
As we approach the Sacred Page, we are met by the
Holy Spirit, who is sent by a loving Heavenly Father as
the divine Guide and Interpreter of the Word of God.
“He shall teach you all things ... he will guide you into
all truth. He shall receive of mine, and shall show it
unto you” (John 14:26; 16:13, 14). For our part He
instructs us to “Study to show thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
We then ask, What does it mean rightly to divide the
Word of truth? To divide means to lay out in parts.
Rightly to divide means to lay out correctly, to arrange
into parts in a correct manner. We are instructed to
divide the teachings of the Scripture and warned not
to make any error in such division. It is the purpose of
this volume to assist the student in this correct division
of scriptural truth.
“By faith we understand that the worlds were