By Weldon E. Warnock
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son . . .” (Heb. 1:1-2). This is one of the great passages of the Bible. It is used often in gospel sermons.
As one observes this Scripture closely, he will notice that several false doctrines are repudiated and invalidated.
Atheism Repudiated
We notice, first of all, that the passage affirms the existence of God and repudiates atheism, which is the belief that there is no Supreme Being. Atheists believe that all things are the product of matter, working by chance. The Bible maintains that there is a God who is an intelligent, Eternal, Supreme Being and He is the cause for life and matter.
The first Scripture in the Bible states, “In the Beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). The authors of the Bible make very little effort to offer evidence for God’s existence. They state it as a fact. Really, the existence of God is so obvious that no evidence is needed to be offered. Only a fool will say there is no God (Psa. 14:1). David wrote, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” (Psa. 10:1). Along the same line, Paul wrote, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead . . .” (Rom. 1:20).
Deism Repudiated
Deism is the theory that God created the earth and then separated Himself completely from it. This theory denies any divine intervention in the universe. In other words, the theory does not allow any miracles or any revelation from God to man.
Our text, however, affirms that God has revealed Himself to man at sundry times and in divers manners. This He did by dreams, visions, symbols, audible voices, prophets, Urim and Thummim, and, of course, today through His Son. Without any divine revelation to guide man through life; he would be as a ship without a rudder. Man would have no idea of his origin, his purpose in life or his destiny. Life would be full of gloom and despair.
Modernism Repudiated
One of the fruits of modernism is the rejection of the inspiration of the Bible or parts of the Bible. Some modernists claim that the Bible is inspired, except a few accounts, such as Balaam’s donkey speaking or the fish swallowing Jonah. Modernism is hard to pinpoint as it shows itself in so many forms. However, many modernists, if not most modernists, claim the Bible is a product of human wisdom; it is to be considered on a par with any other book.
The text under consideration states that God spoke by or through the prophets and His Son, Jesus. The Bible thus asserts divine guidance in its message.
Peter wrote, “Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Pet. 1:20-21). “Private interpretation” in this passage simply means that the prophets did not use their private judgment or understanding in writing the Scriptures. Rather, they wrote under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Concerning the New Testament, Paul wrote, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh in you also that believe” (1 Thess. 2:13; cf. 1 Cor. 2:13).
The Bible, therefore, emphatically -claims to be inspired and offers too much evidence of its inspiration to consider seriously the assumptions of unbelievers. Many other Scriptures could be offered to supplement Hebrews 1:1-2, but the preceding ones will suffice for now.
Premillennialism Repudiated
Hebrews 1:2 states, “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son . . . .” Premillennialists declare that we are not living in the last days, but that Jesus is going to return for a thousand-year reign on earth and that period of time will constitute the last days. It seems that they need to take another little peek at the passage in Hebrews.
Isaiah wrote that the church was to be established in the last days. “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains . . .” (Isa. 2:2). The church (Lord’s house, 1 Tim. 3:15) has been established for almost 2000 years (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:47). Therefore, we have been in the last days of almost two millenniums.
Peter stated the pouring out of the Spirit upon the apostles on Pentecost took place in the last days. “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh. . .” (Acts 2:16-17). Hence, we are in the last days.
Jesus taught that the judgment is going to be on the last day (John 12:48). This is the last day of the last days. The judgment is to be at Christ’s return. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory . . . . then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory” (Matt. 25:31). “When” and “then” are adverbs of time and they tell us exactly the time of judgment. When He comes, Then shall He sit upon the throne. The throne is the judgment throne according to the verses following Matthew 25:31.
Premillennialism, therefore, falls along with the other theories because it has no scriptural basis to substantiate itself.
Judaism Repudiated
Judaism claims that the Son of God or the Messiah never made His appearance on this earth. The Jews believe that Jesus lived, but that He was only a philosopher, a teacher, a reformer.
The text teaches that God speaks through His Son. His Son was Jesus, which overwhelming evidence shows. There are scores of prophecies in the Old Testament that have their specific fulfillment in Jesus and show conclusively that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, and not only did fulfilled prophecies verify His claim, but also His perfect life, His miracles and His resurrection prove His claim beyond a shadow of a doubt to honest people.
The only hope the Jew has is his acceptance of Christ through the gospel (John 8:24; Rom. 1:16). Jesus made His sacrifice and atonement once and for all (Heb. 10:10, 12). There remaineth no sacrifice for sins (Heb. 10:26).
God is speaking through His Son, and He says, “Hear ye him” (Matt. 17:5). “If any man have an ear, let him hear” (Rev. 13:9).
Guardian of Truth XXVII: 2, pp. 33, 56
January 20, 1983