[Transcriber's Notes: Bold text is surrounded by =equal signs= and
italic text is surrounded by _underscores_.
This first part of this text has sections of text to be copied in
cursive. These sections are wrapped in brackets and preceded by the
word "cursive".
These sections also have small illustrations to aid in easy reading
these illustrations are signified by [*] in the text.]
[Illustration:
Lovingly
Presented to
________________________________
by
________________________________
With kindest wishes
for a life of usefulness.]
[Illustration: THE GOOD SHEPHERD]
Best Stories from the Best Book
AN ILLUSTRATED
Bible Companion for the Home
BY
JAMES EDSON WHITE
With an Introductory Department of
Easy Lessons for Children
BY ELLA KING SANDERS
Over 875 Thousand Sold
SOUTHERN PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION
Fort Worth, Texas Nashville, Tennessee Atlanta, Georgia
Printed in the United States of America.
COPYRIGHT 1900, BY J. E. WHITE
PREFACE
THIS little book is divided into two parts. The First Department is
the children's very own. It is for them to study under the guidance of
teacher, mother, brother, or sister. It has been prepared with great
care by one who has had many years' experience as a teacher of children.
The Second Department is for the entertainment of children both young
and old. Its lessons are taken from God's Word. While the children are
learning to read from the "Easy Lesson" department, let the parents and
older brothers and sisters read to them the Bible stories which follow,
showing and explaining to them the beautiful pictures which accompany
them. Lessons taught in this manner will never be forgotten.
TO TEACHERS AND PARENTS.
God speaks to us through His Word, by His Spirit, and through nature.
By interesting children in nature, which is all about them, it is hoped
they will find pleasure in studying God's open book, and thus be led to
love and study His written Word.
BLACKBOARD TEACHING.--The crayon and the blackboard are very essential
in the work with children. Let the first lessons be given in script
from the blackboard. The simple sentences may be drawn from the child
by questioning. Then tell the child that you will write what he has
said. Then ask, "Now can you read it?" The lesson should be about some
thing which the child can see, and in which he is interested.
For a review lesson, if the idiom, "I see," has been learned, many
sentences may be made by drawing the objects, as "I see a *" (here
draw a leaf or some other object). Use the idioms, "I have," "This
is," etc., in the same way. The earlier lessons in this book should be
largely supplemented from the blackboard in this way, or by variation
of the different sentences.
From the first let the children write on the board, where there can be
free movement of the arm. Original work should be aimed at from the
start. The child soon learns to write the idiom, "I see;" then he is
prepared to do original work on the board or on paper. The blackboard
work on page 33 is suggestive of what may be done in original work.
SENTENCE READING.--The words of a sentence should not be read
separately. At first the sentences are short, and the words are soon
easily known at sight. Until the thought is known, the sentence should
not be read aloud. Hence silent reading should always precede oral
reading with children. "_Read as you talk_," is a good rule.
WRITING.--The script capitals and small letters on page 6 are for
reference. The letters are not to be written separately, but to be used
in words. For practice in writing, use the simple sentences found in
the lessons. If written _many times_, the words will be memorized, and
can be used in original work.
DRAWING.--Allow free hand drawing. Use outline drawings of objects, as
on pages 13 and 49. Lay sticks, then draw them. Provide children with
sticks of different lengths. The kindergarten colored sticks are best.
They are inexpensive, and can be used in many ways.
Encourage picture illustrations of simple stories. Also the
illustration of Bible lessons. Many or all of them may be crude, but
thoughts are expressed, and the lesson more deeply impressed.
REVIEWS.--Observe the suggestion about silent reading first. If the
thought is not easily gotten, the words are not familiar--not well
learned. The child should use the words many times. As reiteration is
the only way in which words are learned through the ear, so it is the
only way they are learned through the eye. The use of the blackboard is
an invaluable help in making impressions through the eye.
[Illustration]
A B C D E F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S
T U V W X Y Z
a b c d e f g h i j k l m
n o p q r s t u v w x y z
[cursive: A B C D E F G H I J
K L M N O P Q R S
T U V W X Y Z]
[cursive: a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s
t u v w x y z]
EASY LESSONS.
LESSON ONE.
I see a bird.
[Cursive: I see a bird.]
[Illustration]
I see an apple.
[Cursive: I see an apple.]
[Illustration]
I see a tree.
[Cursive: I see a tree.]
[Illustration]
Is it an apple tree?
[Cursive: Is it an apple tree?]
LESSON TWO
The [*] The [*]
birds. apples.
The [*] God made [*]
apple tree. the birds.
God made [*] the trees.
LESSON THREE.
See the [*] See the [*]
bee. butterfly.
The butterfly has The bee has
[*] [*]
wings.
wings. God made them all.
LESSON FOUR.
God made the birds.
God made the apples.
God made the apple tree.
God loves the birds.
I love the birds.
[Cursive: God made the birds and trees.]
LESSON FIVE.
I have [*]
[Cursive: I have a box.]
I have [*]
[Cursive: I have a tree.]
John made the box.
God made the tree.
LESSON SIX.
I have a [*]
[cursive: I have a rose.]
This is a [*]
[cursive: This is a leaf.]
God made the rose and the leaf.
rose leaf box tree
LESSON SEVEN.
See the little [*]
[cursive: See the little bees.]
The bees love the rose.
[cursive: The bees love the rose.]
The bees are on the rose.
[cursive: The bees are on
the rose.]
[*]
bees little on are
LESSON EIGHT.
[Illustration]
See the beautiful rose.
It is red.
I love the beautiful rose.
God made it beautiful.
[Illustration]
This leaf is red.
[cursive: This leaf is red.]
[Illustration]
This leaf is green.
[cursive: This leaf is green.]
LESSON NINE.
This is a butterfly.
[cursive: This is a butterfly,]
He has two wings.
[cursive: He has two wings.]
The bird has two wings.
[cursive: The bird has two wings.]
The bird can fly.
[cursive: The bird can fly.]
The butterfly can fly.
[cursive: The butterfly can fly.]
I love to see the butterfly.
[cursive: I love to see the butterfly.]
The butterfly loves the rose.
[cursive: The butterfly loves the rose.]
He has can butterfly
fly wings
LESSON TEN.
[cursive: The butterfly has two wings.
God made the butterfly.
I love the butterfly.
The butterfly loves the rose.
The bees love the rose.
The bees are on the rose.
The bee has wings.
The bird has wings.
The butterfly has beautiful
wings.
The red rose is beautiful.
The grape vine has green
leaves.]
[Illustration: =Drawing Lesson.=]
LESSON ELEVEN.
[Illustration]
See this vine.
[cursive: See this vine.]
It is a grape vine.
[cursive: It is a grape vine.]
I see the grapes.
[cursive: I see the grapes.]
The grapes grow on the vine.
[cursive: The grapes grow on the vine.]
Jesus said,
I am the true Vine.
LESSON TWELVE.
[cursive: kitties] Do you
[cursive: them] kind
[cursive: They] care
[Illustration]
Do you know me?
[cursive: Do you know me?]
I love the kitties.
[cursive: I love the kitties.]
I take care of them.
[cursive: I take care of them.]
I am kind to them.
[cursive: I am kind to them.]
LESSON THIRTEEN.
I see the bird.
I love the beautiful birds.
God loves the beautiful birds.
Jesus loves the birds.
The rose is beautiful.
I see three apples.
The apples are on the tree.
I see two birds.
I see the box. John made it.
God made the birds and the trees.
God made the grape vine.
Jesus is the true vine.
The roses and birds are beautiful.
LESSON FOURTEEN.
=Holy Bible.=
The Bible is God's holy Book.
Who wrote the Bible?
Holy men wrote the Bible.
God told them what to write.
I
love
God's
holy
Book.
[Illustration]
Do
you
love
the
Bible?
Can you read the Bible?
Holy Book. [Cursive: God's holy Book.]
wrote write [Cursive: wrote write]
[Cursive: Can you read? Do you see?]
[Cursive: What do you see?]
LESSON FIFTEEN.
[Illustration]
Happy little kitties!
[Cursive: Happy little kitties!]
Who takes care of them?
[Cursive: Who takes care of them?]
What do they see?
[Cursive: What do they see?]
Look at their eyes.
[Cursive: Look at their eyes.]
Are they like yours?
[Cursive: Are they like yours?]
LESSON SIXTEEN.
=The Bees.=
[Illustration]
Mary, see the little bees.
See the bee on the flower.
What is he doing?
He is getting honey.
He is a busy little bee.
Watch him fly to
his home.
Do you know where his
home is? I can hear the
bee buzz.
LESSON SEVENTEEN.
=Bible Verses.=
The Lord is good to all.
Praise ye the Lord.
Praise ye Him, sun and moon.
Praise Him, all ye stars of light.
Let them praise the name of the Lord.
O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.
Sing praise upon the unto our God.
I will praise the Lord with my whole heart.
[Illustration]
LESSON EIGHTEEN.
This is a family of [Illustration]
They are little black ants.
The ants work.
They live in the ground.
Watch the ants make a house.
The house is made in the ground.
They make rooms in the house.
Watch the ant carry food.
The Bible says, "Watch the ant
and be wise."
LESSON NINETEEN.
See this [*]
[Illustration]
How do
you do,
pretty butterfly?
I see your beautiful
wings.
You love the rose.
Can you get your dinner
in the rose?
I love to watch you.
Do you remember when
you were a [*]?
You are pretty now.
[cursive: Pretty butterfly.
Beautiful wings.]
LESSON TWENTY.
geese [Illustration] legs
walk boat
swim back
body dinner
Watch the geese walk.
They can swim better than they can walk.
Their body is the shape of a boat.
Their legs are set far back on the body.
Do you know why?
[cursive: Watch the geese get their dinner in the water.]
LESSON TWENTY-ONE.
Here is a
spider.
[Illustration]
This spider
made a web.
[Illustration]
The web is his home.
Do you see his
home?
[Illustration]
Do you see the spider?
The spider loves to work.
Watch a spider make a web.
Do all spiders make webs?
to work webs
home his
LESSON TWENTY-TWO.
=Number Story.=
[Illustration]
LESSON TWENTY-THREE.
[Illustration]
Here is a beautiful vine.
It came from a tiny black seed.
It is a morning glory vine.
Do you see the pretty buds?
Can you find a morning glory flower in the evening?
Who gives the morning glory life?
[cursive: Morning glory.
a tiny black seed.
evening.]
LESSON TWENTY-FOUR.
=The Flood.=
One time God let it rain for many days.
The water was very deep. It covered all the earth. All the trees were
covered with water.
All the mountains were covered.
In one place the people were safe.
Yes, in the ark.
[Illustration]
God had told Noah to make the ark.
Noah loved God. He believed what God told him.
The people did not love God. They did not believe what God told Noah.
They did not believe that God would send a flood.
But the flood came.
Noah and his family were safe in the ark.
LESSON TWENTY-FIVE.
=The Bean's Story. I.=
[Illustration]
Here I am in my warm bed.
John made the box.
He put the dirt into the box.
Mary put me in my bed.
Then she covered me with dirt.
The sun made the bed warm.
The children wanted me to wake up.
They gave me some water.
They said, "This will wake her up."
I love the warm sun and the water.
The children knew this.
children knew wanted water
covered warm wake gave
LESSON TWENTY-SIX.
=The Bean's Story. II.=
[Illustration]
Good morning, children.
You see I am awake now.
I am getting out of my white coat.
I put my feet out first.
You call my feet roots.
My roots help me to stand.
Did you know that I have mouths in my roots?
I cannot run about to get my food.
I get food out of the ground.
good morning awake mouths
white coat help stand roots feet
LESSON TWENTY-SEVEN.
=The Bean's Story. III.=
[Illustration]
I am glad the children like to watch me.
This morning they can see my tiny leaves.
Shall I tell the children about the mouths in my leaves? I get food out
of the air.
My leaves have work to do.
In this, they are like your hands.
I shall have many hands by and by.
shall hands leaves about air
like glad by and by
LESSON TWENTY-EIGHT.
=The Bean's Story. IV.=
[Illustration]
Do you see my long stem?
I can stand up now.
I shall reach up toward the sun.
Can you draw my pretty leaves?
See the bud at the end of my stem.
Watch for the leaves that are in that bud.
It will open soon.
Can you make it open?
stem reach toward that
up end bud open
LESSON TWENTY-NINE.
=The Bean's Story. V.=
What do you think of me now?
I have grown big and tall.
Here are two little bean pods.
You see the tiny beans in the pod.
Here are some white flowers.
They will soon fall off.
Watch for more bean pods.
By and by the tiny beans will grow big.
What will they look like?
My work will soon be done.
[Illustration]
Think what I have done for you.
You may thank Him who gave me life.
LESSON THIRTY.
[Illustration: Cursive: We planted a bean.
It looked like [*]
One day it looked [*] like this. By and by it had leaves.
Then it looked [*] like this. Mary.]
LESSON THIRTY-ONE.
=The Lily.=
[Illustration]
Look at this pure white lily.
Jesus wants us to think how the lilies grow.
He said, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow."
Who made the beautiful white dress for this lily?
If God cares for the lily, will He not care for us?
He wants us to obey Him as the lily does.
Then He will clothe us as He does the lily.
He will make our lives pure and beautiful.
LESSON THIRTY-TWO.
[Illustration]
Here are grapes, an apple, and bananas.
Which do you like best?
Can you tell where bananas grow?
Do not be afraid to eat plenty of good, ripe fruit.
All who obey God shall eat fruit from the tree of life in the earth
made new.
LESSON THIRTY-THREE.
=A Friend of Ours.=
Yes, the sheep is a friend.
Your warm dress was made from her coat. She gives it away in the
spring. In the fall you are glad to put it on.
The sheep are timid.
[Illustration]
They need some one to care for them.
The man who cares for the sheep is the shepherd.
The little sheep are lambs.
Jesus calls us His lambs.
So you can say, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."
A good shepherd would give his life for his sheep.
Jesus gave His life for us.
King David was a shepherd. One time a lion was going to kill one of his
lambs. David killed the lion.
Some day the lion and the lamb shall live together. Yes, and a little
child shall lead them.
[Illustration]
LESSON THIRTY-FOUR.
[Illustration]
See how that girl carries the milk.
Look at the girl who is milking.
I never saw any one milk from that side of the cow.
I do not think those girls live in this country.
This must be a milking scene in some country far across the water.
They have some strange ways of doing things in those countries.
LESSON THIRTY-FIVE.
[Illustration]
I need not tell you our name.
The children say we look like faces.
Did you ever see any of us look cross?
We are always smiling and happy.
Give us the right kind of food and our size will please you.
[cursive: Think of our smiling faces when things do not please you.]
LESSON THIRTY-SIX.
=The Lion.=
Here is the lion.
Is he not fine looking?
Other beasts are afraid of him.
[Illustration]
He is called the king of beasts.
A lamb is not safe with him now.
By and by GOD will make all things new. Then the lion will eat straw
like the ox.
The Bible says that the wolf and the lamb, the lion and the calf, shall
lie down together.
Then other beasts will not be afraid of the lion.
Then you can pet the lion as you do your cat now.
Do you want to live in that home?
Only the pure in heart shall live in the earth when it is made new.
[Illustration: Here are some cousins of the lion.]
LESSON THIRTY-SEVEN.
[Illustration]
These little bunnies are having a fine time.
They know good food when they find it.
Do you know what kind of food bunnies like best?
Look at their eyes. Are they like kitty's eyes?
LESSON THIRTY-EIGHT.
[Illustration]
I think this must be the home of our bunnies.
Does it look like the country homes you have seen?
Look at the road and the trees.
Are the trees alike?
Do you think it would have been nice if God had made all trees alike?
LESSON THIRTY-NINE.
=Wheat and Tares.=
Do you know what is made from wheat? If you do not, ask some one to
tell you.
When Jesus was on earth, He talked about wheat. At the same time He
talked about some bad plants, called tares.
[Illustration: WHEAT.]
He said that a man sowed some good seed in a field. Then some one came
and sowed tares in the same field. The good seed was wheat.
So the wheat and tares were growing in the same field.
The servant wanted to root up the tares. The man said, "No; let them
grow together until the harvest."
Why did Jesus tell this story? See what He says about it:--
"The field is the world. The good seed are the children of the kingdom.
But the tares are the children of the wicked one. The harvest is the
end of the world. The reapers are the angels."
The harvest is very near.
That is when Jesus comes in the clouds of heaven.
[Illustration: TARES.]
The reapers will take the children of the kingdom home to heaven.
The children of the wicked one will be destroyed.
Are we wheat or tares?
LESSON FORTY.
[Illustration]
Here is a shepherd with his flock.
I think he must be a kind shepherd.
See how tenderly he carries the little lamb.
Jesus is our Shepherd. Isaiah says of Him, "He shall gather the lambs
with His arms."
So He will tenderly care for all His lambs now.
Soon He will come to take them to the home He is preparing.
LESSON FORTY-ONE.
[Illustration]
Will they reach the shore?
I wonder what they think?
Once Jesus was with His disciples on the lake.
There came a great storm. Jesus was asleep.
The disciples worked like these men are working.
At last they called to Jesus.
When He awoke He spoke to the wind, and there was a calm.
LESSON FORTY-TWO.
=Washing Dishes.=
[Illustration]
"Good morning, Mary! How can you sing while washing dishes? I always
feel cross, for I do not like to wash dishes."
"Well," said Mary, "I must tell you my secret. I used to feel cross,
too. Now I think about the lesson I am to learn while washing dishes.
Jesus said that we should make the inside of the cup clean as well as
the outside."
"Oh, yes, mama tells me to wash the dishes clean, but I get so tired
of them."
"But, Nellie, you do not see the lesson we are to learn. You know we
try to look very pretty when people see us. We want them to think that
we are pure and clean. When I am washing dishes, I think how Jesus
makes my heart pure and clean. He says, Though your sins be red, I will
make them white as snow."
Nellie went home happy. Do you think she can sing now while washing
dishes?
[Illustration: Drawing Lesson.]
LESSON FORTY-THREE.
=Creation. I.=
"In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth."
The earth did not look as it does now. Every thing was very beautiful.
Green grass covered all the valleys, hills, and mountains.
There were lovely lakes and rivers.
The air and water were clear and pure.
There were no swamps nor deserts, and there were no weeds. The most
beautiful flowers were seen in every place.
We cannot think how lovely every thing was at that time. The earth was
full of the love of God.
"And God saw every thing that He had made, and it was very good."
LESSON FORTY-FOUR.
=Creation. II.=
God did not make the earth as man makes things.
"He spake, and it was done." He was six days in making the heaven and
the earth.
"And God said, Let there be light, and there was light."
This was on the first day.
The second day He made the air.
At this time water covered all the earth.
The third day He made the dry land appear. He called the dry land earth.
Then the rivers, lakes and seas were made.
He spake, and all the earth was covered with green grass.
Then came the herbs and trees.
The herbs were bearing seed.
The trees were bearing fruit.
The seed and fruit were to be food for man.
LESSON FORTY-FIVE.
=Creation. III.=
On the fourth day He said, "Let there be lights in the heaven."
The sun, moon, and stars were to give light upon the earth.
He made the sun to rule the day.
He made the moon to rule the night.
Now there was light; there was air, there was water.
But there were no birds in the air.
There were no fishes in the water.
On the fifth day He made all the birds and fishes.
Now there were animals in the air.
There were animals in the water.
But there were no animals on the land.
On the sixth day God made all the land animals.
The same day He said, "Let us make man in our image."
He gave them the seed of the herbs and the fruit of the trees for food.
"And God saw every thing that He had made, and it was very good."
Thus the heavens and the earth were made.
LESSON FORTY-SIX.
=Creation. IV.=
On the seventh day God rested from all His work.
He blessed it and made it holy.
He calls the Sabbath His holy day.
On the seventh day He looked at the things He had made and called them
very good.
On the Sabbath we should stop our work and our play. God wants us to be
happy on that day.
It makes us happy to look at the lovely things He has made for us.
He wants us to remember Him and thank Him for His love.
He told us to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
LESSON FORTY-SEVEN.
=Creation. V.=
God loved Adam and Eve. He wanted them to be very happy. So He gave
them every thing that was good for them.
He planted a garden in Eden. That was their home. We have never seen
such a lovely home as that was. But if we live in the earth made new,
we shall see the Garden of Eden. In that garden was "every tree that
was good for food," and pretty to look at. All the fruit was perfect.
Then there was the river to water the garden. By the river was the tree
of life.
The Lord put Adam into the garden to care for it. So there was a happy
family in a lovely home.
[Illustration: "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all
the host of them." Genesis 2:1.]
[Illustration: Covering Cherubim on the Ark in the Earthly Sanctuary.]
Lucifer, Son of the Morning.
SATAN was once a beautiful, powerful angel in Heaven. His name then was
Lucifer, which means, "Son of the Morning," or, "Shining One, Son of
the Dawn." His position in Heaven, his beauty, power, and final end,
are well described in Ezekiel 28:12-19.
Lucifer, or Satan, is, next to God and Christ, the wisest being in the
universe, for God said, "Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom."
Verse 12.
He was a very beautiful being, for the text says he was "perfect in
beauty." Verse 12.
He has been in the Eden home of Adam and Eve. "Thou hast been in the
garden of God." Verse 13.
He was a great musician, and doubtless led the music and singing of
the hosts of angels in their morning and evening songs of praise to
God. Verse 13 says, "The workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes
was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created."
The above text shows that he was "created" by the power of God. All the
angels were created full grown, and not born as children. Hence this
text is describing some heavenly being.
"Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so."
Verse 14. Lucifer's position was by the throne of God, with his wings
outstretched above it.
The ark built by Moses was a type of heavenly things. On the top of
this ark were two cherubim with their wings covering the ark where
the glory of God rested. See Exodus 25:20. This represents Lucifer's
position as covering cherub, close to the throne of God in heaven.
Lucifer was "the anointed cherub." Anciently the prophets of the
Lord anointed the kings to show that they were appointed of God to
govern and command. Lucifer was, next to the Son of God, the anointed
commander of the hosts of heavenly angels.
[Illustration: Lucifer after the Fall.
"Prince of the power of the air."]
All his wisdom, beauty, power, and position were given him by God who
had created him. The Creator fitted him for the work He wished him to
do, and the place He desired him to occupy. Lucifer owed everything
which he possessed to his Lord.
But, like some people who have riches and power, he become proud of his
glory. He forgot that it was all the gift of God. The text says, "Thine
heart was lifted up because of thy beauty." Eze. 28:17.
The Son of God was above him, and equal with His Father. Lucifer was
second to Christ; but, considering his beauty and power, he decided
that he ought to be equal with God.
The prophet Isaiah says of him, "Thou hast said in thine heart, I will
exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will be like the Most High."
Chapter 14:13, 14.
But Jehovah could not permit this. The very thought of it by Lucifer
was sin, for it was pride and the exaltation of self. Only the Son of
God could be equal with the Father.
Then rebellion came into the heart of Lucifer. He went among the angels
and told his story. They loved him as their leader, and many took sides
with him.
The loyalty of all the angels was tested. Nearly one-half their number
took sides with Lucifer. Then there was open rebellion in Heaven.
Lucifer had a vast army at his command, and he felt strong enough to
defy God.
But rebellion could not be allowed in Heaven. The rebel host must be
disposed of in some way. God could destroy them at once, for if He
could create them He could also destroy them.
But Lucifer had charged God with being partial and severe, and claimed
that the laws of Jehovah were not needed in Heaven. So God allowed the
rebellion to develop and do its work, that all the universe might see
the awful results of sin, and the final fate of sinners. This will be
an object lesson through all eternity.
Note.--The twenty-eighth chapter of Ezekiel tells of the
overthrow of the prince of Tyrus, or the city of Tyre, which
was a very strong, wealthy, proud, and wicked city on the
Mediterranean Sea, near Palestine.
But by reading verses 12-15, it will be seen that this
chapter has a double application, and that these verses
refer more especially to some being standing at one time in
a high position in heaven. It shows him to have been very
wise, beautiful, and powerful, and near the presence of the
Almighty God.
Such a description can apply only to Lucifer, now known as
the devil, and Satan, described in the accompanying lesson.
The Bible is full of object lessons; and kingdoms, men, and
events are often taken to teach important lessons. Christ
did much of His teaching by parables. He took things as He
found them in the world to illustrate and make forcible
great Gospel truths.
In this chapter the power and beauty, the pride and
wickedness, and the final overthrow of Tyre were taken to
represent the high position of Lucifer in heaven, his sin of
pride and rebellion, and his final fall.
[Illustration: "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven."]
[Illustration: Satan Marshaling His Host.]
Satan, Prince of Darkness.
LUCIFER and his angels had become God's enemies, or rebels against His
government. They could not be allowed to remain in Heaven.
The Son was appointed by the Father to take command of the true angels,
and drive out the rebel host. Lucifer took command of the angels who
had rebelled with him, and was determined to hold his place in Heaven.
Then "there was war in heaven: Michael [Christ] and His angels fought
against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels." Revelation
12:7.
When Lucifer sinned and fell, his character and work were so changed
that the beautiful name he had in Heaven was also changed. In
Revelation 12:9, he is called "the dragon," "that old serpent," "the
devil," and "Satan."
Of course Satan could not win in such a warfare. "He was cast out into
the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Revelation 12:9.
In Isaiah 14:12, we read, "How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer,
Son of the Morning! how art thou cut down to the ground."
Christ refers to this when He said to His disciples, "I beheld Satan as
lightning fall from Heaven." Luke 10:18.
When Satan knew that he had lost Heaven forever, his heart was filled
with anger and hatred for all that was good. His history since then
shows that from that time his motto was, "Evil, be thou my good."
Revenge filled his heart in which the love of God once abode, and all
his wonderful powers were turned against God and His work. Every artful
device of evil angels has been used since then to lead men to follow
them in sin and rebellion against God.
It is well for man to know the strength of the foe he has to meet.
Satan and his angels have on earth the same wisdom which they had
in Heaven before their fall. To this is added six thousand years of
experience in their awful work.
In Heaven Satan's influence was so great that he was able to deceive
and lead into rebellion nearly half the angels. His power to deceive
man is very great.
[Illustration: "How art thou fallen, O Lucifer, Son of the Morning."]
With such power and influence at his command, we can never overcome
the devil in our own strength. When we let go our hold upon God we go
onto the enemy's ground, and are "taken captive by him at his will." 2
Timothy 2:26.
But Christ has twice conquered this foe,--once in the great battle in
heaven when Satan was cast out, and again as a man on earth when He met
all his temptations and came off victorious.
Hence Satan is to Christ a conquered foe. If we trust our Lord fully
He will give us strength in every hour of need, and thus we may become
"more than conquerors through Him that loved us." Romans 8:37.
Paul calls Satan "The prince of the power of the air." Ephesians 2:2.
He it is who causes the terrible cyclones, the tidal waves, and other
awful disasters. Only the restraining hand of God prevents him from
bringing destruction to the world more awful than it has yet known.
In Hebrews 2:14, we learn that the devil has "the power of death." This
is so because sin brought death, and Satan is the author of sin. He
claims all who die as his. Only the power of God can bring them from
"the land of the enemy" at the resurrection.
But some glad day sin and death and Satan will be destroyed. Paul
declared that Christ, by His death, opened the way by which He "might
_destroy_ him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Hebrews
2:14.
The Lord says through the prophet Ezekiel, "I will bring forth a fire
from the midst of thee, it shall _devour_ thee, and I will bring thee
to _ashes_.... Thou shalt be a terror, and _never shalt thou be any
more_." Ezekiel 28:18, 19.
Then, with the stain of sin entirely removed, God will have a clean
universe, as free from sin as it was before rebellion entered heaven.
[Illustration: The Dominion of All Created Things Was Given to Man.]
[Illustration]
The First Dominion.
IN six days the Creator formed the earth and fitted it up as the home
of mankind. When finished it was very beautiful with trees, flowers,
and fruits.
Before man was created, God also made the birds, fishes, and all the
dumb animals and creeping things. The world was then ready for its
master,--man.
"And God said, Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.... So
God created man in His own image." Genesis 1:26, 27.
Man was the last and most perfect work of the great creation week. He
was in the "image of God." He looked like his Creator.
Some, at least, of the wisdom of God was given to him. He could talk,
and think, and reason. As we study God's Word, and learn about Him, He
helps us and teaches us. Thus we grow more like Him, and He gives us
more of His wisdom.
After creating man, God made for him a beautiful garden which was to be
the home of Adam and Eve. This was a sample of what their children were
to make of the rest of the world.
This home was called the "Garden of Eden." It was very beautiful,
for "out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is
pleasant to the sight, and good for food." Genesis 2:9.
"God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is
upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit
of a tree yielding seed." This shows what is the best kind of food for
man to eat. "And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the
air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is
life, I have given every green herb for meat." Genesis 1:29, 30. This
was a perfect diet. The Lord did not intend that His creatures should
be killed and eaten for food.
A beautiful "river went out of Eden to water the garden." The tree of
life was also there. This tree had wonderful power. It would preserve
life, and so long as one should eat of it he would never die.
[Illustration: "Heavenly visitors taught them about God."]
"And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden
to dress it and to keep it." Genesis 2: 15. Man was not to live in
idleness, but must care for the beautiful home which God had prepared
for him.
After all was completed the Lord gave to man the earth and all that was
in it. David said, "The earth hath He given to the children of men."
Psalms 115:16.
Man was also to be ruler of all that was on the earth. For the Lord
said, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and _subdue_
it; and _have dominion_ over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl
of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."
Genesis 1:28.
Even the beasts loved man and delighted to obey him. There was no fear
in that wonderful home. All was love, and happiness, and peace.
Christ and the beautiful angels from Heaven often visited the happy
pair in Eden.
These heavenly visitors taught them about God and His love, and gave
them such instruction as would help them to take proper care of their
earthly home.
Before Satan could reach them with his temptations, angels were sent
from Heaven to warn them of his fall, and of his desire to bring ruin
upon then, as he had already done upon the angels who sinned with him.
In this the loving, tender care of God for His creatures was manifested.
[Illustration: Satan Entering Eden.]
God is love. He did not wish sin to enter the world; yet He made man
free so that he could choose wrong doing if he preferred it to God's
way, after knowing of the dreadful results of sin.
[Illustration]
The Dominion Lost.
THE love and obedience of every intelligent being must be tested. Tests
make character. If we obey God's laws and walk in His ways, we become
in character like God and sinless angels.
We must have a good character before we are fit to enjoy the beautiful
home Christ is preparing for those who are faithful. God will give us a
good character, and help us to obey, if we ask Him.
If we refuse to let God help us do right, we are out of harmony, or
at war with Him and Heaven. We then come into harmony, or union, with
Satan and his angels, and when sin is destroyed we must perish with it.
Sin makes people unhappy, and God hates it because He loves everybody.
Happiness can be found only in obedience, or doing right.
Before sin reached Eden, Adam and Eve knew nothing of evil. So their
only test was in regard to one special tree planted in the garden. It
was called the "tree of knowledge of good and evil."
God said of the fruit of this tree, "Ye shall not eat of it, neither
shall ye touch it, lest ye die." Genesis 3:3. If they kept away from
this tree they would never know evil. At that tree was the only place
where Satan could meet them to tempt them.
One day the curiosity of Eve led her to come near the forbidden tree.
By so doing she placed herself where Satan could tempt her, and he
was there to meet her as he always meets us when we go in the way of
temptation.
Satan did not come in his own form, but in the shape of a beautiful
Serpent. Eve would have known him in his real person, for angels had
told the first pair about the rebellion of Satan and his angels. Satan
never comes to us as he really is. He comes as a deceiver, just as he
came to Eve in the garden.
The serpent told Eve that the forbidden fruit was good, and began to
eat some of it. Probably he told her that it gave him power to talk.
Eve looked at it and thought about it. The more she looked at it the
more she wanted some of it.
But she told the serpent that the Lord had forbidden them to eat of it,
for if they did they should "surely die."
[Illustration: Angels sent to tell the first pair about the rebellion
of Satan and his angels.]
But the serpent said, "Ye shall not surely die." "See, I am eating of
it and it does me no harm. In fact, I feel better all the time I am
eating of this fruit."
"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall
be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:5.
The devil's statement was partly true and partly a lie. And in all his
work he will mix enough truth with his lies to deceive those who do not
know him and his ways well enough to see the difference.
It is true that the fruit of that tree would make those wise who ate of
it. It would make them wise in the knowledge of evil, and the Lord did
not want them to know anything of evil. Such knowledge brings death.
But Satan lied when he said, "Ye shall not surely die," and he knew it.
He has been telling this lie ever since. The Lord has said, "The soul
that sinneth it shall die."
Eve believed the devil instead of God. She ate of the fruit and gave to
Adam, and he ate of it.
The first result of their sin was shame. They saw that they were naked.
Then they made themselves aprons of fig leaves, and hid themselves so
that none should see them. Sin always brings shame.
But they could not hide from God. He called them and asked what they
had been doing.
[Illustration: Hiding from God.]
Then they began to make excuses and to blame others, just as we often
do when it is found out that we have done wrong; but they could not
deceive their Creator. He told them they should have a life of toil
and trouble, and would finally die. Then they were driven from their
beautiful garden home.
After that the earth was to be the battle ground between good and
evil, between Satan and the Gospel. The Garden of Eden contained so
many of the beautiful things of God that it was too sacred to become
such a battle ground. Sin must not mar it. So man was driven from it to
build for himself, as best he could, a new home which he must keep in
order by hard work.
The earth was cursed with weeds and thistles; but this was not a real
evil to fallen man; for while sin is in the world even hard work is a
blessing because it helps to keep people out of mischief. It has been
truly said that Satan always finds work for idle hands to do.
By disobeying God and obeying Satan man became the servant of sin
and Satan. Paul says, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves
servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey?" Romans 6:16.
[Illustration: Driven from Eden.]
By obeying Satan man lost his dominion of the earth, and it passed
into the hands of Satan. Thus he became "the god of this world."
[Illustration: "To them, bowed low with grief for sin, the shining
ones made known the way to heaven."]
[Illustration]
The Promised Redeemer.
WHEN one person is owned by another person, and has to work for him, he
is called a slave, or a bond-servant, because he is in bondage, and not
free to do what would be best for himself.
So it is with one who lets himself be controlled by the evil instead
of by the good. The word devil is like the word evil, and means the
same. To do evil is to do as the devil wishes us to do. Put _d_ before
_evil_, and you will see where evil comes from.
A slave can not get free from a cruel master. He has no money to buy
his own freedom, and no power to get away. If he tries to escape, he
is followed and caught, and brought back again to work for his hateful
owner.
Adam and Eve really sold themselves to Satan--the evil, the devil--by
doing as he wanted them to do. They traded their happiness for the
knowledge of wrong which he promised them, and which he gave them.
Thus he became their owner, or master, instead of God who had made
them, and to whom they really belonged.
Now they could not get free, and as the wages, or end of sin, is death,
they must serve Satan all their lives and then die, without any hope of
another life beyond this one.
God and Christ and the angels all pitied man in this sad condition,
and Christ offered to leave Heaven and come to this earth and give His
life for man's life.
Only in this way could He buy back, or redeem man (meaning everybody),
so that all who want to be free from the service of Satan and sin can
escape death, which is "the wages of sin."
Sometimes a rich man buys a slave from his cruel master, so that the
poor man can be free and happy. So Jesus did for us.
We get free from Satan by thanking God for this plan to save us, and
asking Him, for Christ's sake, to forgive our sins and help us to live
a good life, away from our old master, the evil.
This is what the word Redemption means. It is buying back something
that has been sold into bondage. Jesus bought us back after we had sold
ourselves to Satan.
"Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price," "the precious
blood [the life] of Christ." 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; 1 Peter 1:18, 19.
This "good news," or Gospel of Salvation, was told to Adam and Eve as
well as to the shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem hundreds of years
afterward, so that all could have a chance to obey God by being made
free from the power of Satan.
[Illustration: "They traded their happiness for the knowledge of
wrong."]
[Illustration]
The First Brothers.
CAIN and Abel were the first brothers who ever lived on the earth.
Cain, the elder brother, was a farmer. Abel was a shepherd, and cared
for his father's sheep.
The Bible does not tell us about them when they were boys, but when
they were grown it says they both brought offerings to the Lord. Abel
brought a lamb as his offering, but Cain brought the fruits of the
ground.
The Lord had told them to bring a lamb for an offering, because it
would cause them to think of Christ, for He was "the Lamb of God" who
was to die for the sins of the world.
Before Jesus came to die, men showed their faith in Him by bringing
a lamb for their sins. God accepted the offerings of all who were
sorry for their sins, and forgave them. This was the Gospel in the Old
Testament. Christ was the "Lamb slain from the beginning of the world,"
because, before the world began the plan was laid that He should die
for man if he sinned.
Abel had faith in God. His heart was filled with love because a way had
been made by which sinners could return to God, receive pardon, and
finally be taken to a new Eden home.
Abel brought a lamb from his flock, and offered it to God for his
sins. Looking at the lamb of his sacrifice he saw Christ, the dying
Lamb, on the mountain of Calvary. His faith was "counted to him for
righteousness," meaning that God called him good. His sins were
forgiven. God was pleased with the offering brought by Abel, and so He
sent down fire from heaven and burned up the sacrifice; but not so with
Cain's fruit.
Then the heart of Cain was like the heart of Satan,--filled with hatred
and rebellion against God. He could see the beautiful Garden of Eden
which had been the home of his parents, but he could not enter it. An
angel with a flaming sword guarded the gateway.
In his heart he charged God with cruelty in shutting them out of the
garden, and dooming mankind to a life of labor and sorrow. He did not
accept with gratitude the wonderful sacrifice made by the Son of God to
redeem the world.
[Illustration: The Offerings of Cain and Abel.]
He preferred to talk of what he called the cruelty of the Creator in
punishing the race. Instead of offering in sacrifice a lamb, which only
could represent the sacrifice of Christ, he brought the fruits of the
ground. He thought as sometimes people do now, that what we have to
offer is good enough, even if it is not just what the Lord calls for.
[Illustration: "The next act was to kill his brother."]
In Cain's offering there was nothing to point to the offering of
Christ. There was no blood showing that death follows sin, and that
Christ was to bear it for us. It was in every way contrary to God's
plan, and so it showed no faith. There was therefore no Gospel in it,
and no salvation. The Lord did not accept Cain's offering, and there
was no answering fire.
As Cain saw the difference, he charged God with partiality, and then
began to hate his brother, as all wicked people hate the good. The next
act was to kill his brother, which was the result of his hatred.
Then the Lord spoke to Cain and asked him, "Where is thy brother Abel?"
Cain tried to cover up his sin by lying about it, as some people try to
get out of trouble now. He said, "I know not; Am I my brother's keeper?"
But the Lord knew all about it, for Cain could not hide his sin from
the Lord any more than we can hide ours. The Lord sent him forth as a
wanderer in the earth, and a hateful look marked his face as long as he
lived. Faces show character.
[Illustration: Outside the Ark.]
[Illustration]
Destroyed by a Flood.
BEFORE the flood men lived to be nearly a thousand years old. They were
much larger and stronger than they are now. Living so long they became
very wise and very rich.
For many years there were those who believed in God and obeyed Him. But
in time most of the people forgot Him and became very wicked.
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and
that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually.... And the earth was filled with violence." Genesis 6:5,
11.
So the Lord said He would bring a flood of waters on the earth to drown
all the wicked people.
But Noah and his family were faithful to God. So He told Noah to build
a great boat, called the ark. It was so large that it would hold all
his family, and some of all kinds of animals and birds. It also had
room to hold food for them for many days.
The world was warned in regard to the flood, for Noah was one hundred
and twenty years building the ark. Part of this time he preached,
telling the people of the coming flood, and part of the time he worked
on the ark.
[Illustration: Entering the Ark.]
But the people were too busy and too wicked to heed the preaching of
Noah. They only laughed at him for wasting his time and money building
such a great boat so far from water deep enough to float it.
When the ark was finished, the Lord caused the animals from the
forest, and the birds of the air, to come to it. They came two and
two, and went to their places in perfect order. The angels of the Lord
were leading them, although none could see them. It must have been a
wonderful sight.
When all were in the ark, the Lord shut the heavy door. Then the rain
came down and the thunder rolled. The crust of the earth was broken up,
and the water under the surface was thrown up in great water-spouts.
The water rose higher and higher. It rained forty days and forty
nights. Men and animals climbed to the tops of the highest mountains.
But finally these were all covered. Then all the human beings, the
birds, and the animals on the whole earth were drowned.
But all that were in the ark rode safely on the waters. The power of
God protected the ark through all this terrible time.
Then the Lord caused a wind to blow, which dried up the water. After
floating one hundred and fifty days, the ark rested upon the top of
Mount Ararat.
After this Noah waited forty days, and then he opened the window in the
top of the ark and sent out a raven and a dove. But they found no place
to rest, and so returned to the ark.
Seven days after, he sent out another dove, and in the evening it
returned with an olive leaf in its mouth. After another seven days, he
again sent out a dove, but it did not return.
Finally the water was fully dried up, and God told Noah that he and
all the birds and animals could leave the ark. They must have been very
glad to be on the land once more, for they had been in the ark a year
and seventeen days.
Noah was very thankful to God for saving their lives. "And Noah builded
an altar unto the Lord, and took of every clean beast, and of every
clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar." Genesis 8:20.
[Illustration: Noah's Sacrifice.]
The Lord was pleased with this offering, for it showed that Noah was
still true to God, and had faith in Jesus Christ, the great Sacrifice
for the sins of the world.
Then the Lord said that He would not again destroy the earth with a
flood. And as a covenant, or pledge in regard to this promise, He set
the beautiful rainbow in the clouds.
As all the wicked were destroyed from the earth, the Lord made a new
start with the family of faithful Noah, to raise up a people that would
obey Him and be finally redeemed, or brought back to the first dominion.
Jesus said, "As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of
the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they
were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the
day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came
and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
Matthew 24:37-39.
[Illustration]
The Tower of Babel.