Illustrating Texts on Second Advent
Another device for impressing the truth on the minds of the people is to place leading Scripture texts on the second coming of Christ. the Sabbath, and the state of the dead in large letters on pieces of muslin. These are brought into the view of the audience as the speaker comes to the text in his lecture, and the entire congregation is asked to read with the evangelist. Here is an example of how this method may be handled: On the second coming of Christ, the evangelist has the four texts, Hebrews 9:28, John 14:1-3, Acts 1 :9-11, Revelation 1:7, on separate pieces of cloth. The key words in these texts, those that deal with the fact and manner of Christ's coming, are underlined. After introducing the matter of Christ's coming, raise the question:
"Does the Bible really say in so many words that Christ will come the second time? Yes, it does, in Hebrews 9:28. [The cloth with this text is lowered before the audience.] We have this text on a banner, so that everybody can see for himself exactly what the Bible says about the second coming of Christ. Tonight I want everybody here to help me preach by reading this text with me." [After the audience has read the text with you, continue.] "You will notice that there are three words underlined on this banner—the second time. We want to go through the text again, and this time I will read everything in the text by myself except these three underlined words, and when I come to that point, let us hear every voice in this tent ring out on those three words."
The effect of hearing five hundred or one thousand voices utter the words, "the second dine," is thrilling, and impresses the thought that Christ is indeed coming the second time.
On the text John 14:1-3, the expression, "I will come again," is underlined. In Acts 1:9-11, the expression, "in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven," is underscored, and the expression, "every eye," in Revelation 1:7. These can be used most effectively to rivet key truths in the minds of the people.
Miscellaneous Devices to Impress Minds
This kind of teaching enables people to see the truth. A deeper impression is made on the mind by the placing of the texts before the eye than by merely sounding them in the ear. The Spirit of prophecy endorses this as the most effective method of teaching the truth:
"I am very grateful to God for what I have heard and seen of the results of Elder _______________ 's meetings in _______. I am glad that he exalts the Word, allowing the Bible to speak for itself. This is the most effectual way. This is the way the truth was preached in the early days by our ministers. I am pleased with the manner in which our brother has used his ingenuity and tact in providing suitable illustrations for the subjects presented—representations that have a convincing power. Such methods will be used more and more in this closing work."—Ellen G. White Ms. 105, 1906.
This same plan of placing the leading texts on muslin mottoes, underlining the key words, can be followed on the Sabbath question and the state of the dead. As variety is the spice of life, we would hardly wish to use this method much oftener than for these three subjects in one series of meetings.
Seal of God.—A real notary's seal can be used in preaching on the seal of God. An obsolete stamping seal can often be obtained for nothing at a courthouse. The preacher holds up the seal before the audience, and asks, "What is this?" People will say, "It is a seal." "Yes, it is a seal. Let us see what there is about it that makes a seal." [Insert a paper in the notary's seal, take an impression, and read it to the audience, calling attention to its three features—name, distinguishing title, and territory.]
This suggests that to find the true seal of God we 'must find that which shows, or reveals, these three features in reference to the true God as Creator. Then the speaker can point out that the fourth commandment, or Sabbath precept, is the only commandment of the ten that contains these three features that constitute a seal. In the fourth we have the nom-. —"Lord thy God," His distinguishing title—Maker or Creator, and His territory—"heaven and earth," the universe.
2300 days.--the 2300 days prophecy can be made plain by using the blackboard to figure. out the various mathematical computations in the prophecy, lowering cloth banners which °dye each point as it is established. For example: The first banner reads, "457 B.C.—the beginning." The second, "Seven weeks and 62 weeks unto the Messiah ;" the third, "27 A.D.—the Messiah appears," etc.
The Sabbath.—Seven blocks 2 X 2", or 4 x 4", painted white and numbered 1 to 7, and five rings to go around the seventh block, can be used as an object lesson to show the spiritual differences between the Sabbath and the other days of the week. One of the most common objections we meet is, "All days are just the same, and it doesn't make any difference which day you keep, just so you keep a day." Arrange the blocks in order on a table, telling the people that these represent the days of the week, and then proceed with the following discussion:
"Has God made any distinction between these days, or are they all just alike in a spiritual sense? I find that the Lord labored on these first six days in making the world, and that He rested on the seventh day. He has told man to work on these six days, but to rest on the seventh. These first six are working days, The seventh, or last, day of the week is the rest day of the Lord. God has marked off the seventh from all the other days by placing a ring of rest around it. [At this point, slip one ring on the block marked 7.]
"The Scriptures declare that God hallowed the seventh day, and made it holy. The first six days are common days, but the Lord marked off the seventh day from all these others by placing a ring of holiness around it. [Place the second ring on the seventh block.]
"Genesis 2:3 says that 'God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.' The first six are common days, but the Lord marked off the seventh from all the rest, by placing around it a ring of blessing [Place ring number three on black 7.], and a ring of sanctification. [Place the fourth ring on the seventh block.]
"These first six days are given to man for his work, his business, and his affairs, but the seventh day is the Lord's day. God has, as it were, put His hand on the seventh day, and said, 'This is My holy day. Render this day to Me in worship and service. The Lord has marked the seventh day off from all the rest with a ring of divine ownership. [Place ring number five on block 7.]
"The Lord, then, has made five clear distinctions between the seventh day and all the other days. The first six are common working days given to man, while the seventh is the Lord's blessed, holy, sanctified, rest day. The Lord expects us to make a clear distinction between the way we treat this seventh day and the way we treat the other six. As He has placed His five rings around it, we should keep it in such a way that it is marked off in our lives as different from all other days."
This same object lesson may be used by placing the numbers I to 7 on the blackboard, and then placing circles around the number 7 as you give the explanation; but the blocks and rings are really more effective.
Such are but typical of a large variety of effective illustrative devices.
