Lockyer was a prolific author of orthodox Christianity. He died some time ago, but his books can be found in most church libraries that don’t mind stocking older stuff.

Nate continues:
“I would add, of course, that for you to judge the validity of Scripture from one man’s misrepresentation is completely unfair.”

Absolutely concur. I just mentioned one tiny step in my long journey. I would add that most of the books I read are by Christian authors.

Thank you for your comment. I was sincerely saddened when I read about your Lockyer experience. Though I have not read his book, he obviously stretched the idea of prophetic fulfillment too far, seeing it where the Bible itself does not make such claims. I’m sorry his book left such a bad taste in your mouth.

I would add, of course, that for you to judge the validity of Scripture from one man’s misrepresentation is completely unfair. There are many prophetic passages that were fulfilled completely and literally in Jesus Christ, and we will look at some of them in upcoming posts.

You mentioned that you spent much time prayerfully investigating the truth claims of the Christian faith. To whom you were praying, we’re not fully sure. In any case, please know that we will be praying for you, to the God of the Bible, that He would open your eyes to see the truth.

Blessings,
Nathan Busenitz

I think that finally killed my Christian faith was the book “All the Messianic Prophecies of Scripture” by Herbert Lockyer. I understand that the Epistle to the Hebrews makes much of Old Testament episodes drawing analogies, models and types to the person and work of Jesus Christ. But Lockyer drove these analogies to absurd levels.

For example – Exodus 27:16 describes the court of the Tabernacle which has 4 pillars. According to Lockyer, his predicts the 4 separate Gospels of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are 3 spaces between the 4 pillars, representing not only the Trinity of Father, Son and Spirit, but also – check this – Jesus’ Threefold Title of Lord Jesus Christ, and that Jesus was the Way, the Truth and the Life. Lockyer’s book is filled to the brim with sort of nonsense – over 500 pages of invented contrivances. Then it hit me. Lockyer was taking passages from the Old Testament and turning it into Messianic Prophecy. Isn’t it also possible that the Gospel writers did the same thing? Because I see no stylistic difference between cutting out of context OT passages to paste into a Messiah, ala Lockyer, or cutting out of context OT passages to paste into a Messiah, ala Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

When that realization hit me, that was about the end of my Christian belief. After much reading, investigation, and yes, prayer, I don’t think any of Torrey’s 9 other reasons hold much more water than this one.

I think the more interesting discussion is the context in which we interpret scripture and how we apply it to our lives. One can hold to an inerrent scripture but deny inerrancy de facto in the way it is interpreted and practiced.

I have a few other quibbles with some of the reasons stated, mostly on philosophical grounds, not enough time to go into here.

Come this fall, it will be 490 years since the Luther’s 95 thesis.

I am praying about composing 95 short propositions on the grace and glory of God for the I-15 Idaho/Utah corridor to consider.

Ultimately, however, the power of the Word itself is what will prevail

You are absolutely right … The Spirit working through Word is ultimately what must convince the unbeliever. I’ll be posting some clarifications tomorrow that I think will make that clear.

Thanks for your comment,
NB