I know of no expounder of Holy Scripture on this side of the Atlantic in
the same class as Mr. Gaebelein. His work on the Old Testament prophets
especially is unique. To understand and expound them not for scholars
but for the people, calls for a combination of gifts bestowed upon very
few.
Such a teacher must believe in the inerrancy of the autographs of
Scripture. He must interpret it literally except where it clearly
indicates to the contrary. He must apprehend the dispensational scope of
its teaching. He must know and rely upon the Holy Spirit as the revealer
of the truth whose record He has inspired. He must have a working
knowledge of the Hebrew text and be able to pass intelligently on
questions of Biblical Criticism. He must be familiar with the writings
of others who have preceded him. He must be a platform man in constant
communication with the people whom he would instruct. He must be no
dreamer, but wide-awake to current events and capable of looking upon
and dealing with them in a practical way. He must use simple terms and
express himself in plain speech.
Mr. Gaebelein meets all these demands, for which we who reap the
benefits give God the praise.
Circumstances have prevented my reading all the chapters of this present
volume on Ezekiel, and hence I do not undertake to endorse every detail
of interpretation it contains, but a general acquaintance with the
author's point of view as expressed in his volumes on Daniel, Joel,
Zechariah, Matthew and Revelation leads me to commend it strongly.
Pastors, evangelists, Bible teachers and Christians generally who would
be counted among the wise who understand, need such helps as this as an
antidote to the false teaching flooding the church today, and to enable
them to stand up against the wiles of Satan on every hand. Familiarity
with the revelation of God in the Old Testament is simply indispensable
to the Christian witness in this twentieth century, and to the soldiers
of Christ in this crucial hour of spiritual combat.