Part One

Chapter 1—The Holy Scriptures

The Bible, the name by which the word of God is commonly known, constitutes God’s revelation to the hearts of men. Through it divine illumination comes to minds darkened by sin. In its pages man is permitted to behold the wondrous glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus our Lord. As he ponders the sacred messages of the word of God he will find that:BSPC 4.6

“In every page, whether history, or precept, or prophecy, the Old Testament Scriptures are irradiated with the glory of the Son of God. So far as it was of divine institution, the entire system of Judaism was a compacted prophecy of the gospel. To Christ ‘give all the prophets witness.’ From the promise given to Adam, down through the patriarchal line and the legal economy, heaven’s glorious light made plain the footsteps of the Redeemer. Seers beheld the Star of Bethlehem, the Shiloh to come, as future things swept before them in mysterious procession. In every sacrifice, Christ’s death was shown. In every cloud of incense His righteousness ascended. By every jubilee trumpet His name was sounded. In the awful mystery of the holy of holies His glory dwelt.”—The Desire of Ages, 211, 212.BSPC 4.7