Prophetic Lights covers the foundational prophecies from the book of Daniel, as well as the promises to Israel, to show how the gospel plan is unfolding in the prophetic events. The author, E.J. Waggoner, lived in the late 1800's, and ministered in America and England. Of his conversion the author wrote:
"Many years ago, the writer sat in a tent one dismal, rainy afternoon, where a servant of the Lord was presenting the Gospel of His grace; not a word of the text or texts used, nor of what was said by the speaker, has remained with me, and I have never been conscious of having heard a word; but, in the midst of the discourse an experience came to me that was the turning point in my life. Suddenly a light shone about me, and the tent seemed illumined, as though the sun were shining; I saw Christ crucified for me, and to me was revealed for the first time in my life the fact that God loved me, and that Christ gave Himself for me personally. It was all for me. If I could describe my feelings, they would not be understood by those who have not had a similar experience, and to such no explanation is necessary."
"I believed that the Bible is the word of God, penned by holy men who wrote as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and I knew that this light that came to me was a revelation direct from heaven; therefore I knew that in the Bible I should find the message of God's love for individual sinners, and I resolved that the rest of my life should be devoted to finding it there, and making it plain to others. The light that shone upon me that day from the cross of Christ, has been my guide in all my Bible study; wherever I have turned in the Sacred Book, I have found Christ set forth as the power of God, to the salvation of individuals, and I have never found anything else."
This version of Prophetic Lights includes the original illustrations. Download it here.
Song in the Night
The songs in this collection are a combination of folk, or folk-style melodies, and Biblical poetry. This type of union has been practiced at least since the days of the Protestant Reformation, and possibly much earlier. It is illustrative of the gospel, in which God takes common humanity, with its personality, feelings, and modes of expression, sanctifies it, and fills it with a new life, inspiring it with afresh, and more meaningful message to give to the world, and to the on-looking universe.
"Song in the Night" continues and extends this tradition by combining other folk melodies, such as those from the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and Quebec, with suitable religious poems. The results have been very satisfying, and have yielded what many think to be the best songs in the entire collection.
Asides from these original contributions, much of the material has been drawn from previous collections, especially those of the early American period (late 1700 's to mid 1800 's), such as the Sacred Harp and Christian Harmony. It was during this period that the church, during the great Second Advent Awakening, reached it's purest and most powerful state, in striving to prepare for Christ's imminent return. Since it remains for the church or our day to take up where they left off, and carry the work to completion, this seemed like a good starting point from which to draw the larger part of the inspiration of this current work. As well, songs have been drawn from earlier revivals, including the Reformation of the 16th and 17th centuries, and the Wesleyan revival during the 1700 's in England.
In choosing the Biblical poetry that is used for the lyrics of the songs, the highest standard has been our aim. These words can stand on their own as great poetry. They have an uncommon depth, and cover the full range of experiences that face everyone who names the name of Christ, and takes up his cross after Him. It is not surprising that you will often find the names of Isaac Watts, the Wesleys, Wilson MacDonald, and others, who possessed the gift of poetical expression in no common manner, and who matched this with true Christian piety and devotion. Their work endures because the Spirit of the Everlasting One is in it, and thereby they "being dead, yet speak" to us today.
These songs, with their earnest feeling and intelligent expression of faith, will assist in bringing the Word of God into your daily life, where it belongs.
From Thornbush to Apple Tree is a book about the basic gospel message written for children. Each page has an illustration by a child, with a lesson underneath.
When the Jewish leader Nicodemus wanted to know about the kingdom that Jesus was establishing, and how it would look, Jesus said, "except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) Therefore, the new birth is an essential element in the proper understanding of prophecy. Only those in whom Christ's spiritual life is reproduced can really understand, appreciate, and work toward the building of Christ's kingdom. This book introduces the topic in a way that children can understand it. Download it here.
