Article

(An introduction)

By Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)

This wonderful book is scheduled for reading on August 24th – 28th in the excellent Robert Murray M‘Cheyne’s Bible Reading Calendar.

In 1965, while a first year student in the Theological Hall of the Free Presbyterian Church, I was told by Dr S B Cooke, one of the lecturers, that the prophecy of Jeremiah was ‘the book for today’.

In 1966, during the three month’s imprisonment (July – October) that I shared with Dr Ian Paisley and Rev John Wylie, both of whom have gone to glory, I was led to carefully read the book of Jeremiah. During that time, I gained a little understanding of the work, witness and wretched circumstances the prophet was put through during his 40+ years of serving the Lord and the clear similarity between his times and those coming upon us in Ulster.

Over the subsequent years, I have ever returned to the book and gained a deeper insight into the workings of apostasy and the wonderful mercy and long-suffering of the Lord and also His terrible judgment upon those who reject His mercy, abuse His patience, mock His Word and defy His power and authority.

Christians should study the writings of the ‘weeping prophet’ for it will enable them to understand just what is happening on a universal scale and most definitely here in Ulster. Furthermore, it will enable us to know what the Lord would have us to do in the midst of this rebellion.

I say this chiefly to ministers. Upholding and declaring God’s Word in a time of apostasy is not easy at all. It was for this reason young Jeremiah recoiled from the charge God gave him.

“Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child,” Jeremiah 1:4-6.

The Lord’s response to Jeremiah’s shrinking back from the task laid upon him, indicates that Jeremiah’s response was very natural and understandable!

“But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant,” Jeremiah 1:7-10.

(1). He had grounds for fearing the reaction of those to whom he was sent with God’s Word. The Lord’s reply indicates that there was much to fear ‘from their faces’,  for his preaching would not be welcomed by the general population. (more…)

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,” Genesis 3:19.

We continue or study of what the Bible teaches the God-ordained method of disposing of the human body upon death, Is it burial or is it cremation?

I have already stressed in the first part of this article that it can be stated that the Bible sets forth burial as the God-ordained means of disposing of the dead.

Here now is the rest of our study.

II. THE FACT OF THE LONG PRACTICE OF BELIEVERS BURYING THEIR DEATH IS EMPHASISED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.

1. In the prophecies of the last days. Here is one of the most notable prophecies of the graves being opened.

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever,” Daniel 12:1-3.

There is a reference to the two resurrections, which I will explain a little further on in this article. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (more…)