TEST 13

LESSONS 49-52
(1969)

AMBASSADOR COLLEGE
BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE


About Our Cover ...

Our Test Thirteen cover is a composite of the cover pictures of your thirteenth group of four lessons. Each Correspondence Course test is designed to TEACH, as well as help you evaluate your progress. You will enjoy this convenient means of putting to practical use the knowledge you have learned from the Bible.

an open letter from THE STAFF

WHY is it that almost no one really understands the meaning and purpose of the book of Acts? Why, after Chapter 8, do we lose sight of the twelve apostles and read only of the ministry and work of the Apostle Paul?

Why Such Confusion?

Did God have a purpose in bringing Paul as a prisoner to Rome? Was Paul merely an obscure religious prisoner at the mercy of the tyrant Nero? Or did he speak before and influence the Roman leaders while still a prisoner?

And WHEN was Paul in Rome?

There were ONLY certain specific years during which Paul could have preached in Rome -- and survive. A child can understand the reasons why. Yet there is no single event in the book of Acts about which there is more disagreement among theologians!

Luke plainly describes the conditions of Paul's imprisonment. He shows that Paul was NOT HINDERED in his teaching of the Gospel in Rome!

Let's notice it!

The Apostle Paul "dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, WITH ALL CONFIDENCE, NO MAN FORBIDDING HIM" (Acts 28:30-31).

This is the key!

Theologians have simply ignored THIS MAJOR BIBLICAL CLUE in dating Paul's Roman imprisonment!

The Apostle Paul's Commission

Paul had been chosen by Jesus Christ to accomplish three specific jobs (Acts 9:15). First he was to teach the Gentiles -- which he did in Cyprus, Asia Minor and Greece.

Next he was to APPEAR BEFORE KINGS. It was for this very reason that HE HAD TO BE BROUGHT TO ROME.

While Paul was yet in Jerusalem, Christ repeated this commission: "And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou has testified of me in Jerusalem, so MUST THOU BEAR WITNESS ALSO AT ROME" (Acts 23:11).

Christ had ordained that Paul (not Peter) would preach the Gospel in Rome. Even during the voyage to Rome He sent His angel to reassure him, "Fear not, Paul; THOU MUST BE BROUGHT BEFORE CAESAR: ..." (Acts 27:24).

Paul fulfilled the second part of Christ's commission during his two-year imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28:30-31).

The Praetorian Guard

Paul's witness EVEN extended to the Praetorian guard.

Notice it!

"I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the GOSPEL (notice, just as Luke wrote in Acts, the gospel was being preached), so that it has become known THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PRAETORIAN GUARD and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ (Phil. 1:12-13, R.S.V.).

The REASON for Paul's imprisonment -- and for the gospel as well -- was known by the Praetorian guard.

The Praetorian guard was first established by Augustus Caesar as a detachment of troop; to be his private bodyguard. They "were kept up by successive emperors and, being under special organization and enjoying several privileges, they became in time so powerful that they were able to raise and depose Emperors at their will" (Encyclopedia Americana, 1944 ed., Vol. 22, p. 502).

But even more important, this special guard was ruled by the Praetorian Prefect who "held not only the supreme military and judicial authority, but even legislative power and the control of the finances and the provinces" ("The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire", Edward Gibbon, Vol. i, p. 108).

"And it seems to have been almost impossible to exercise an important influence in political affairs, except in concert with the Praetorian Prefect, ..." ("Student's Roman Empire", J. B. Bury, M.A., p. 281).

Upon his arrival in Rome, Paul was delivered to the Praetorian Prefect (Acts 28:16). The King James Version translates this phrase "Captain of the guard," but Thayer's Greek Lexicon more correctly translates it "the Praetorian Prefect."

Even in Caesar's Household

The Bible indicates that Paul HAD CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE on the Praetorian Prefect, the Praetorian guards and even the VERY HOUSEHOLD OF CAESAR!

Paul ends his letter to the Philippians: "All the saints salute you, CHIEFLY THEY THAT ARE OF CAESAR'S HOUSEHOLD" (Phil. 4:22).

It was Paul's influence on these Roman leaders which also helped his fellow Christians preach the Gospel more boldly. Notice, as Paul continues the story in Philippians 1:14: "and most of the brethren have been made confident in the LORD BECAUSE OF MY IMPRISONMENT AND ARE MUCH MORE BOLD TO SPEAK THE WORD OF GOD WITHOUT FEAR" (RSV).

God's truth was being spread as a direct result of Paul's influence on the Roman leaders while he was in prison.

But when could all these events have occurred?

It was during the time of two rival factions -- Poppaea (Nero's mistress) on one hand -- and Afranius Burrus (the Praetorian Prefect) on the other.

Now, let's take a close look at these two rival factions and how they influenced Paul's Roman imprisonment.

Nero's "Golden Age"

The Praetorian Prefect, Afranius Burrus, was largely responsible for making the teen-age Nero the emperor of Rome. For the first few years of Nero's reign, Burrus and the philosopher Seneca maintained the stability in the Roman government.

Then a drastic change occurred.

"The year 62 A.D. was a turning point in Nero's reign. Hitherto he had been under the constraint of Burrus and Seneca, who, while they indulged judiciously his licentious and frivolous tastes, had prevented him from exerting his imperial power to the detriment of the state. Thus the first five years of Nero's reign became proverbial for good government -- the QUINQUENNIUM NERONIO. The death of Burrus early in 62 A.D. was the beginning of a change for the worse. The influence of Seneca, deprived of his friend's support, immediately began to wane.

"But the estrangement of his former pupil (Nero) was chiefly due to the enmity of Poppaea, who was jealous of the old courtier's influence over her lover. It was mainly due to Burrus and to Seneca that she had not yet succeeded in displacing Octavia, and marrying the Emperor" (Bury, p. 281).

Burrus' opposition to Poppaea's marriage to Nero wasn't the only reason for this strife. In addition Burrus, like many of the Roman leaders, was against the Jews becoming influential in the Empire.

Josephus explains how Burrus wrote an epistle "to disannul that equity of the Jewish privileges of citizens which they hitherto enjoyed" ("Antiquities of the Jews", XX, viii, 9)

Burrus was against the Jews and a hindrance to their cause. Burrus, for political reasons, would have taken Paul's side against his Jewish accusers.

A Change for the Worse

Poppaea Sabina became Nero's wife in 62 A.D., after the death of Burrus -- literally over his dead body! According to Josephus she was a Jewess, or at least a proselyte, and MOST CERTAINLY would not have tolerated Paul's Christian teachings.

Josephus says that she influenced Nero to decide IN FAVOR OF THE JEWS against his own Roman officials, Festus and Agrippa, in a dispute over a wall in Jerusalem (Ant. XX, viii, II).

She was also influential in saving the Jews from the persecution which Nero inflicted upon the Christians in 64 A.D.

Nero "was suspected (of starting the fire which burnt a large part of Rome in 64 A.D.) and in order to divert suspicion from himself he sought a scapegoat. He might have turned to the Jews, who were always unpopular with the mob, but his wife Poppaea was interested in Judaism and her interest may have saved them" ("From the Gracchi to Nero", H. H. Scullard, p. 320).

Poppaea was able to save the highly unpopular Jews from Nero's destructions. Instead his wrath fell upon the Christians -- the "sect" Paul belonged to -- whom the Jews regarded as their arch enemy.

The Third Part of Paul's Commission

Paul's witness in Rome was only the second part of his commission. Remember that the THIRD AND LAST PART of Paul's commission was to bear the name of Jesus to the "children of Israel" (Acts 9:15) -- the Lost Ten Tribes.

This is not a prophecy concerning the Jews, whom Paul had previously reached in the Greek world. This is a prophecy of Paul's mission to the British Isles! (For more information about this astounding commission write for the free article "Where Did the Twelve Apostles Go?")

Paul had to be released from prison to accomplish this third part of his commission. But he WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RELEASED from prison after Poppaea had become Nero's wife. She would have regarded Paul as a traitor to the Jewish religion.

Paul COULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN ROME IN 62 A.D. AND LIVED!!

After the death of Burrus (early 62 A.D.) Poppaea had her friend, Tigellinus, appointed Praetorian Prefect. Tigellinus -- like Poppaea -- was not spotless in character. "The tyranny which marked Nero's later years dates from the appearance of Tigellinus on the scene" (62 A.D.) (Bury, p. 281).

With a man of Tigellinus' character in control of the Praetorian guard, Paul most certainly WOULD NOT have been able to influence "the whole Praetorian guard" or preach in Rome "WITH ALL CONFIDENCE NO MAN FORBIDDING HIM!!"

Combining the facts of history and the Bible, Paul had to be released from prison before the death of Burrus (early 62 A.D.).

Claudius Expels the Jews

Now to find the date of Paul's ARRIVAL in Rome we must go back to his stay in Corinth (Acts 18:1-2). From this point onward, the Book of Acts, gives us a continuous account of the Apostle Paul's activities. Once we discover when Paul arrived in Corinth we can work forward in time to find when he arrived in Rome.

The Apostle Paul arrived in Corinth shortly after the Roman Emperor Claudius had expelled the Jews from Rome.

"After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; and found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, LATELY COME FROM ITALY, with his wife Priscilla; (BECAUSE THAT CLAUDIUS HAD COMMANDED ALL JEWS TO DEPART FROM ROME:) ..." (Acts 18:1-2).

According to Orosius, in "Seven Books of History Against the Pagans", Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome the year before a great famine ("Histories", Book VII, 6). Historians agree that this famine occurred in 51 A.D. So Aquila and Priscilla would have arrived in 50 A.D.

Paul arrived in Corinth shortly after Aquila and Priscilla. His arrival would have been late in the year 50 A.D. because he did not leave Philippi until after Pentecost (Acts 16:12-15).

The Arrival of Gallio

After Paul had spent eighteen months in Corinth preaching the Gospel, a new Roman Proconsul, Gallio, was sent to Achaia (Acts 18:11-12). Roman proconsuls arrived in their provinces in April, and held the office for one year.

Since Gallio arrived after Paul had been in Corinth for eighteen months, his arrival would have been in April of A.D. 52. This date is further substantiated by a fragmented letter from the Emperor Claudius to the city of Delphi (across the gulf from Corinth). The letter was written in 52 A.D. and it mentions Gallio as the proconsul of Achaia. (See "Archaeology and the New Testament", Merril F. Unger, p. 245).

The Apostle Paul was brought to trial before Gallio by the Jews (Acts 18:12-17). Gallio dismissed these charges as ridiculous and freed Paul.

After the trial, which occurred shortly after Gallio's arrival (April 52 A.D.), Paul stayed in Corinth a good while (Acts 18:18). He then left Corinth for Jerusalem for a feast (verse 21).

Since Paul had stayed in Corinth a good while after the trial, the feast he intended to keep in Jerusalem had to be the Feast of Tabernacles in the fall of 52 A.D. After the feast he went down to Antioch where he spent some time (Acts 18:22-23).

After wintering at Antioch, Paul made a three-year journey through Galatia, Phrygia, Ephesus, and Greece (Acts 18:23; 19:1; 20:3, 17-31). He began this journey as soon as weather permitted early in 53 A.D.

At the end of this three-year journey Paul returned to Jerusalem to keep the day of Pentecost (Acts 20:16). This brings us to Pentecost in the year A.D. 56.

The Road to Rome

It was during this visit to Jerusalem that Paul was arrested by Roman soldiers and put into prison (Acts 21:33). Paul was transferred to Caesarea where he remained in prison for two years.

After that two-year period a new Proconsul, Porcius Festus, arrived in Judea (Acts 24:27). It was in 58 A.D., under Festus, that Paul appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:10). Once Paul had appealed to Caesar there was nothing Festus could do but send him to Rome (Acts 25:11-12, 25-27; 26:31-32).

The Apostle Paul began his voyage to Rome after the day of Atonement in A.D. 58 (Acts 27:9). During the voyage to Rome the ship which carried Paul was destroyed in a storm (Acts 27:20, 41). After the shipwreck Paul and his companions spent the winter on the island of Melita, (Malta) (Acts 28:11).

Paul left the island and arrived in Rome EARLY IN THE SPRING OF A.D. 59, and was delivered to the Praetorian Prefect (Acts 28:16).

Now we can see, from the Bible itself, when Paul arrived in Rome. He arrived in the spring of A.D. 59, and spent two whole years there (Acts 28:30-31). Therefore he was released in the spring of 61 A.D. -- while Burrus was still Praetorian Prefect!

Paul, the Ambassador in Bonds

As we saw before, the Apostle Paul had extensive influence on the Roman leaders of his day. He could only have maintained that influence while Burrus was the Praetorian Prefect!

Jesus Christ -- the LIVING HEAD of HIS CHURCH -- sent the Apostle Paul to Rome to preach the Gospel. He was sent as an Ambassador of the Kingdom of God to the Roman Empire!

In the last verses of his epistle to the Ephesians, Paul admonishes them to pray that he might be able to boldly preach the Gospel.

Notice it!

"And (pray) for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, FOR WHICH I AM AN AMBASSADOR IN BONDS: ..." (Eph. 6:19-20).

Paul, not Peter, was God's Ambassador to preach the Gospel as a witness to the leaders of the Roman Empire of that day!

CHRONOLOGICAL CHART

50 A.D.
Roman Emperor Claudius expels the Jews from Rome, Paul goes to Europe -- second 19-year cycle begins on the Day of Pentecost, Aquilla and Priscilla arrive in Corinth from Rome, Paul arrives in Corinth late in the fall.

52 A.D.
After an eighteen-month stay in Corinth, Paul is brought before Gallio, the deputy of Achaia from April 52 to April 53, Paul returns to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

53 A.D.
Spring, Paul begins a three-year journey through Galatia, Phrygia, Ephesus, Macedonia, and back to Jerusalem.

54 A.D.
Nero becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire.

56 A.D.
Pentecost, Paul returns to Jerusalem and is arrested, he spends two years in prison at Caesarea 56 to 58.

58 A.D.
Festus replaces Felix as the Procurator of Judea, Paul appeals to Caesar and begins his voyage to Rome after the Day of Atonement.

59 A.D.
Spring, Paul arrives in Rome, spends two years, and is released in 61.

62 A.D.
Afranius Burrus murdered by Poppaea Sabina. Poppaea becomes Nero's wife.

64 A.D.
"Nero's" fire at Rome, beginning of the persecutions of the Christians.

TEST NUMBER THIRTEEN

THIS THIRTEENTH examination is given to help you BETTER UNDERSTAND your Bible and EVALUATE your own progress.

You should by all means take this test after finishing the enclosed lesson. It is a SIMPLE EXAMINATION covering your studies in this thirteenth group of four lessons. It's a quick review to help you REMEMBER and put to PRACTICAL USE the vital Truth of God you have learned. It also lets us know of your CONTINUED interest in the study of your Bible.

Notice that there are 81 questions in this test. Also notice that FOUR CHOICES are given under EACH question. These are labeled A, B, C, D. ONLY ONE of these four choices is the CORRECT answer! The other three are FALSE, UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE.

YOU ARE TO SELECT THE ONE RIGHT ANSWER FROM AMONG THESE FOUR CHOICES. You do this by CIRCLING the letter of the answer you feel to be correct. The correct answers to the first two questions are already circled for you as examples. Repeat this procedure for each question. (Generally speaking, the incorrect answers are FALSE ideas which are taught and believed about the subject.)

Notice that the questions are divided into four parts -- corresponding to this present group of four lessons. We advise you not to cover more than one lesson at a sitting. Take sufficient time to understand each question. Try to answer as many questions as you can without referring to the lessons. If you find any difficult questions, then REFER TO THE LESSONS. We expect you to do so -- it isn't cheating!

Once you have finished going over the questions and are satisfied with your answers, FILL OUT your ANSWER CARD by placing an "X" in the box which corresponds to the selection you have chosen (circled) to be the correct answer FOR EACH QUESTION. (Notice that the first two questions are already marked correctly for you on your answer card as examples.) That's all there is to it! It's very simple and fast.

You are to SEND ONLY THE ANSWER CARD in to us when filled out. Handle your answer card carefully at all times. A SMOOTH CARD is easier to grade. Your grade will NOT be recorded in any of our files -- only YOU will have that record once we return your answer card. The only purpose for our correcting and grading your answer card is to HELP YOU better understand your Bible and evaluate your own progress.

We will CONTINUE to send you further lessons as long as you sincerely desire to understand more of the Bible. So be sure to TAKE THIS TEST and send us your completed answer card.

Lesson 49
"I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH ..."

1. The Church Jesus built
A. separated into many sects and denominations.
B. does not exist today.
C. exists today and is doing His Work.
D. lasted for several centuries but then died.

2. Which ONE of these four statements is TRUE?
A. Jesus Christ said that His Church would gradually grow into a vast multitude.
B. The True Church has always been composed of a comparatively small number of people.
C. Shortly after the time of Christ, most of the people in the Middle East had come into the True Church.
D. There has always been a large number of people faithful to God.

3. Which ONE of these four statements is TRUE?
A. Historians find a great yawning gap between the history given in the book of Acts and the beginning of continuous, authentic ecclesiastical history.
B. History thoroughly documents the development of Christ's New Testament followers into the Roman Catholic Church.
C. We can tell from the writings of the earliest "church fathers" that their church was identical to the true New Testament Church.
D. The doctrines of the "church fathers" rested solely on the Bible.

4. The True Gospel during the first 19 years of the Church
A. was absolutely limited to Judea.
B. reached only a few towns in Judea.
C. was preached only in Jerusalem.
D. was heard by the majority of people in Judea.

5. Was God's Church persecuted in those early years?
A. No. Christ saved the Church from all oppression.
B. Only by Herod the king.
C. Yes, many that lived in a righteous manner were persecuted.
D. No. Religious leaders were not hostile to the Church of God.

6. The deacon Philip began to carry the Gospel beyond Judea by preaching to
A. Syrians.
B. Samaritans.
C. Romans.
D. Russians.

7. Why -- of all the Gentiles -- did Christ begin to call some of the Samaritans?
A. They were just naturally righteous people.
B. Since they had adopted much from the Jew's religion, they were most likely to acknowledge the Truth.
C. There wasn't anybody else around.
D. The apostles were especially fond of the Samaritans.

8. Did the apostle Peter lead a "Judaizing party" within the Church?
A. Yes, Peter was biased towards the Jews.
B. No, Peter led a "Romanizing party" within the Church.
C. Yes, Peter felt his group should lead the Church.
D. Absolutely not. He did not lead any special group or party within the Church.

9. Paul's mission was to go to the
A. Gentile Greeks only.
B. Gentiles, and kings and the children of Israel.
C. Parthians and Indians.
D. Roman Emperor, governors and judges.

10. Which ONE of these four statements about the New Testament is TRUE?
A. It was preserved through the Hebrew language.
B. God chose the Samaritan people to preserve the New Testament.
C. The Greek language was used to preserve it.
D. The English of the KING JAMES VERSION was the original language of the New Testament.

11. Peter
A. was sent to the Greek-speaking world by Jesus Christ.
B. was in supreme authority over the other apostles.
C. made visits to many different areas as a supervisor and coordinator sent by Jesus Christ.
D. spent most of his time in Rome.

12. The MAIN commission given to the Twelve Apostles was
A. to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
B. to go to the vast Gentile nations.
C. to preach to the Samaritans.
D. to spread the Gospel among the Jews.

13. After the death of the apostle Peter the supervision of the Work of the Church went to
A. John.
B. Bartholomew.
C. Simon Magus.
D. the Pontifex Maximus.

14. Which ONE of these four statements about the Gospel in the early Church period is FALSE?
A. The true Gospel was carried into India.
B. People in Cilicia and Armenia heard the Truth.
C. The area of Scythia was never reached by the apostles.
D. The apostle Paul went to the Greeks and others.

15. In his letter, the apostle James addressed the
A. Ethiopians.
B. all the Gentiles of Asia Minor.
C. Jews only.
D. the Twelve Tribes which were scattered abroad.

16. God's Church in Jerusalem fled to Pella about 69 A.D.
A. although no armies had (recently) encompassed Jerusalem.
B. after a supernatural voice at the Feast of Pentecost told them to.
C. after Nero burnt the city of Jerusalem.
D. when the group got so big they had to go somewhere else.

17. Where, in the Greek world, was the first era of the Church of God centered?
A. Ephesus.
B. Corinth.
C. Pergamos.
D. Rome.

18. The Ephesian era of the Church
A. was not disappointed when Jesus Christ did not return immediately.
B. ended with the death of Paul.
C. continued alert and alive after the death of all the first generation of Christians.
D. lost its first love.

19. Who presided over the Work of the Church after the death of John?
A. Simon Magus.
B. Philip.
C. Polycarp.
D. Emperor Trajan.

20. Which ONE of these four statements is FALSE?
A. A Gentile named Marcus attained leadership in the Jerusalem (Pella) Church and disfellowshipped faithful members.
B. There were false ministers who led people away from the truth in both the Ephesus and Smyrna eras.
C. There were wolves in sheep's clothing who "entered" the Church for no other purpose than to deceive others.
D. No one managed to lead any of the Smyrna Christians astray.

21. The Synagogue of Satan
A. claimed to worship Satan.
B. was composed of Jews and followed the Jewish religion.
C. was originally primarily composed of Samaritans and claimed to worship Jesus Christ.
D. has not continued to our day.

22. Ebionites
A. is what the true Christians of the Smyrna era called themselves.
B. the name that professing Christians applied to the Church of God.
C. were ALL true Christians.
D. were such "poor people" that they were unable to carry on any Church Work during the Smyrna era

Lesson 50
WHAT BECAME OF THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT?

23. Which ONE of these four statements is FALSE?
A. Christians are to be subject to the power of governments.
B. No power or office exists but such as is permitted by God.
C. Those who resist the powers that be, when there is no conflict with God's Law, are also resisting God.
D. Christians are to resist secular authorities at all times.

24. Jesus Christ warned that persecution would come upon the Church immediately following
A. famines, pestilences and earthquakes.
B. the beginning of the Millennium.
C. the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
D. His death and resurrection, but never again in history.

25. Which ONE of these four statements about Constantine is FALSE?
A. Emperor Constantine was not a true Christian.
B. He helped establish the power of the Church of Rome.
C. He was a true Christian.
D. He worshipped the sun god.

26. The Church in the Smyrna Era
A. was extinguished to the last member by the persecutions.
B. was not finally ruined and forced to flee from the Roman Empire.
C. was called upon to endure a great 10-year persecution.
D. did not know what to do when legislation made its existence impossible within the dominion of Rome.

27. What did Jesus promise individuals in the "Smyrna" Church for being faithful until death?
A. A crown of life.
B. The beatific vision.
C. Wings and a harp.
D. Their own personal cloud and halo.

28. The woman who fled into the wilderness (Rev. 12) to be protected by God was
A. the great whore of Rev. 17.
B. a woman who lived for a long time before the Flood.
C. a type of a Protestant Church
D. a symbol of the True Church.

29. Was the local Church of Pergamos persecuted?
A. Yes, those who held fast to the faith were persecuted.
B. No, Christ saved that Church from all persecution.
C. The Christians of Pergamos recanted as a group to avoid persecution.
D. Yes, because they revolted and tried to overthrow the Roman government.

30. Pergamos was the seat of
A. the Pergamos Era of the Church.
B. God the Father.
C. Satan's government, both religious and political, for the Province of Asia.
D. the king of Armenia.

31. During the Pergamos Era of the Church of God, the scattered remnants of True Christians were mainly in
A. Scythia.
B. Egypt.
C. Armenia.
D. India.

32. Who was Constantine of Mananali?
A. Emperor of Rome.
B. A minister of God and a martyr for Christianity.
C. A pagan philosopher from Mananali.
D. An unrighteous monk from Mananali.

33. Which ONE of these four statements about Balaam is TRUE?
A. He was a king of Moab.
B. Balaam was a faithful prophet of God.
C. He was an apostle though not one of the twelve.
D. Balaam was a great pagan prophet who wanted the rewards offered him if he would curse Israel.

34. What was Balaam's counsel to Balak?
A. To leave the camp of Israel alone.
B. To encourage sacrifices, idolatry and fornication.
C. Not to tempt the Israelites into sinning.
D. To sell the Israelites strong drink.

35. Which ONE of these four statements is FALSE?
A. The Church in the Pergamos Era allowed fellowship with some who held the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes.
B. Nicolaitanes believed in indulging themselves.
C. Nicolaitanes and "Balaamites" sprang from the same source.
D. Nicolaitanes were true Christians of the Pergamos Church.

36. Which ONE of these four statements is FALSE?
A. Ephesus Era Christians were known as Nazarenes.
B. Smyrna Era Christians were known as Ebionites.
C. Pergamos Era Christians were acknowledged by all to be followers of Christ.
D. Pergamos Era Christians were known as Paulicians.

37. The Paulicians were
A. members of the Church of God founded by Jesus Christ.
B. a sect which split from the Smyrna Church.
C. followers of the apostle Paul to the exclusion of all other apostles.
D. Manichaeans.

38. To be an apostle of Christ one has to be
A. a man of human nobility.
B. a fisherman, publican or tax collector.
C. a close relative of Jesus.
D. a man "qualified" through the Holy Spirit for the office.

39. The "doctrine of Balaam" is
A. to go as far in the way of evil as the individual dares.
B. asking God's advice in everything.
C. offering incense and burning candles.
D. non-violence.

40. The Paulicians perished as an effective Church because
A. they sent out too many of their number as missionaries.
B. they allowed the unconverted to remain in fellowship with them.
C. even the truly converted members took up the sword of war.
D. Byzantine Emperors transported them to Europe.

Lesson 51
THE LIGHT IN THE DARK AGES

41. Which ONE of these four is NOT included among the doctrines of demons mentioned by Paul?
A. Abstaining from meats that were intended to be eaten.
B. Religious celibacy.
C. Keeping the Sabbath.
D. Abstaining from eggs, cheese, etc.

42. Why are persons who hold such doctrines of demons found where God's Church is found?
A. Because they like God's people.
B. Studying the Bible makes people crackpots.
C. These ascetic doctrines are found EVERYWHERE.
D. Where there is enough religious freedom for God's Church to exist, all kinds of heresies are able to exist also.

43. Which ONE of these four statements is FALSE?
A. The city of Thyatira is first mentioned in Scripture in connection with a woman from there who sold cloth.
B. Jesus Christ had already prepared the minds of many people in western Europe before He began the Thyatira Era of His Work.
C. There is no demonstrable connection between the late Pergamos Era and the Thyatira Era of the Church.
D. Both ancient Thyatira and the beginning of the Thyatira Era were associated with cloth merchants and the textile industry.

44. When did burning to death first become the regular penalty for believing what the established church considered heresy?
A. In pagan Roman times.
B. When Polycarp was burned.
C. About 1000 A.D.
D. When John Huss was burned.

45. Peter of Bruys, and later Henry, held what office in the Church of God?
A. Apostle.
B. Missionary.
C. Deacon.
D. Oracle.

46. Which ONE of these four was NOT one of the doctrines of Peter of Bruys?
A. Baptism of persons after real repentance.
B. Opposition to worship of idols or images.
C. Keeping the true Sabbath.
D. Prayers for the dead to get them out of purgatory.

47. The Church in the Thyatira Era
A. did not suffer from any persecution.
B. was prophesied to consist of two successive Works.
C. was not greatly hindered by the martyrdoms of both Peter and Henry.
D. began about 1500 A.D.

48. Before he was converted, Peter Waldo was a
A. Dominican friar.
B. medieval knight.
C. successful businessman.
D. man who had dedicated his life and property to religion.

49. Who were the Poor Men of Lyons?
A. A group of unwashed beggers.
B. Co-workers and Christians associated with Waldo.
C. Some businessmen who had gone bankrupt.
D. Monks who had taken a vow of poverty.

50. A turning point for the Church of God came when
A. the Pope supported Waldo in his efforts to preach the Gospel.
B. it seceded from the Catholic Church.
C. it adopted more popular doctrines.
D. Waldo crossed the Alps to teach the "Waldenses" in Italy.

51. The Work grew so rapidly in Italy that
A. a new denomination was founded.
B. the Church raised and armed its own soldiers.
C. a hospital and mental institution was founded.
D. a college was established to train the additional ministers needed.

52. Few of God's ministers in the Middle Ages married because they
A. did not want to expose wives and children to their hard and dangerous journeys.
B. believed that a representative of God should be celibate.
C. didn't like women.
D. were following the example of the Church of Rome.

53. Why did the ministers of God in the Middle Ages memorize large segments of Scripture?
A. Because of a scarcity of Bibles and the danger in carrying them.
B. They liked to show off.
C. Like many of the Roman priests of their day, they couldn't read.
D. A Bible was too heavy to carry in those days.

54. Which ONE of these four things did the True Church during the Middle Ages NOT do?
A. Observe the Passover.
B. Celebrate Christ's birthday.
C. Believe the literal meaning of Scripture.
D. Tithe.

55. Which ONE of these four things did Thyatira Christians do IN THE SEVENTH MONTH?
A. Attend the fall Feast of Tabernacles.
B. Make pilgrimages to various shrines.
C. Prepare for Halloween.
D. Assemble in God's house every Sunday.

56. How did Christians in the Thyatira Era afford to attend this annual festival?
A. Only the rich could go.
B. They used a part of their "first tithe" for the purpose.
C. They saved a special "second tithe" as God commands, and those who had excess shared with those who had less.
D. The Church paid the expense for those the ministers wanted to have attend.

57. The Albigensian Crusade was
A. a tent revival.
B. a massive attack and butchery of Christians and non-Christians alike begun by Pope Innocent III in southern France.
C. the only instance of unscrupulous policies designed to crush all opposition to papal rule.
D. not responsible for the subsequent decline of civilization in southern France.

58. Who was the "Jezebel" who seduced the Church of God in the Thyatira Era?
A. Ahab's wife.
B. A local woman member of the Church.
C. A great whorish church.
D. An ordained female minister who had turned against the Church.

59. The Waldensian emblem or coat of arms
A. illustrates the position of the Thyatira Era among the seven Churches.
B. shows the Church in the Thyatira Era did not understand the vision of the seven stars and seven candlesticks found in Revelation 1.
C. shows God's people knew who Jezebel was.
D. does not have any meaning.

60. As a result of "Jezebel's" seductions
A. the Waldenses became more firmly united.
B. the light of the Truth in the Middle Ages shone brighter.
C. many unconverted Waldenses in Italy rebelled against Waldo.
D. Waldo was martyred.

61. Most of the later Waldenses in the early days of the Protestant Reformation
A. remained steadfast against Jezebel and her doctrines.
B. worshipped on Sunday.
C. rejected the Mass and all other Catholic institutions.
D. were truly repentant and converted members of God's Church.

Lesson 52
THE BOOK AND THE CHURCH THEY COULDN'T DESTROY

62. One of the major tasks of God's Church in the Thyatira Era was
A. to go from door to door and convert people.
B. to be an example to others by keeping Sunday.
C. burn incense, count beads and visit shrines.
D. to translate, copy and make known the Scriptures.

63. Ecclesiastical authorities in the Middle Ages
A. subsidized the translators and copyists of the Holy Scriptures.
B. did not concern themselves with the Bible at all.
C. did all they could to keep Scripture manuscripts out of circulation.
D. organized energetic programs to teach the masses how to read.

64. Lollards
A. originally meant those who MUMBLED as they memorized Scripture.
B. were unheard of before John Wycliffe.
C. is a name that never was used by Catholic authorities to include all so-called "heretics."
D. were not Waldenses.

65. By 1400 the name Lollard was especially connected with
A. Spain.
B. Italy.
C. Norway.
D. England.

66. Why is Wycliffe important in the history of the Church?
A. He held the office of apostle in God's Church.
B. He prophesied great events to happen.
C. He began a translation of the Bible into English.
D. He pastored many churches.

67. Which ONE of these four statements is FALSE?
A. The Lollards became extinct within a few years after the death of Wycliffe.
B. Lollards spread to new parts of England because they were persecuted by the established church and the government.
C. Lollards said that the Papacy was the beast of Revelation 13 and antichrist.
D. There were still Lollards down to the time of the Protestant Reformation.

68. The Lollard "movement" helped prepare England for the
A. Seven Years' War.
B. Protestant Reformation.
C. discovery of America.
D. defeat of the Spanish Armada.

69. What help did Christ provide for His Church just when it was weakest?
A. Complete religious freedom in northwestern Europe.
B. Martin Luther.
C. The New World to flee to.
D. The printing press.

70. What was the importance of the invention of printing?
A. The persecutors immediately gave up trying to keep the Bible out of the hands of the people.
B. Daily newspapers began to be printed.
C. Bibles could now be produced more rapidly and cheaply, and the Gospel spread much more widely.
D. It was not really important until radio too was invented.

71. Which ONE of these four statements is FALSE?
A. One of the first volumes to be printed was the "Gutenberg" Bible.
B. The Roman Church welcomed the increase of Bibles.
C. The established religion did its utmost to take and burn as many printed Bibles as possible.
D. The price of Bibles went down.

72. What caused the Church of God in the late Middle Ages to become spiritually weak and powerless?
A. A lack of total obedience to God.
B. Not eating enough protein foods.
C. Not getting enough exercise.
D. Poor climate.

73. What did Daniel prophesy concerning the True Church in the Middle Ages?
A. It would be rich and increased with goods.
B. Most of Europe would belong to the Church.
C. Jesus Christ would give His Church no help.
D. Some of its members would suffer by sword, flame and imprisonment.

74. "Many shall cleave to them with flatteries" means that
A. most of the world will flatter God's people by telling them how good they are.
B. the Church will grow big.
C. many who profess to be members of the Church have never really repented and received God's Spirit.
D. God's Church was to be very attractive to the world.

75. Why did some of the faithful have to be martyred?
A. To encourage the rest.
B. Because even they needed to be made perfect.
C. Because Christ was martyred, and no servant is greater than his master.
D. Just because they lived in a bloodthirsty age.

76. Which ONE of these four statements is FALSE?
A. Sabbath keeping survived to the late Middle Ages in many countries.
B. The Russian Empire was the only part of Europe in which no Sabbath keepers were found in the late Thyatira Era.
C. People kept Saturday in Bohemia.
D. Sabbath keepers were found in Finland.

77. Which ONE of these four statements is FALSE?
A. Where Protestantism triumphed, persecution of God's Church ceased.
B. The Waldenses were completely worn out by the constant pressure exerted by "the little horn."
C. Waldenses in Austria had become spiritually dead in the 15th century.
D. Even after Lutheranism was dominant, a remnant in Norway continued the practice of keeping the Sabbath and attending public worship on Sunday.

78. According to Daniel 7, how long would the saints be persecuted?
A. 2520 years.
B. 1000 years.
C. 3 1/2 years or 1260 days.
D. "A time and times and the dividing of time" -- 1260 years.

79. The 1260 years of the flight of the Church of God ended about
A. 1814
B. 1492
C. 1585.
D. 1917.

80. Andreas E"ssi was a
A. papal legate.
B. Christian leader of the late Thyatira Era Church.
C. wine merchant.
D. character from a Hungarian fairy tale.

81. The fable that there was a "presbyter John" in Asia Minor, in addition to the apostle John,
A. is a deliberate hoax.
B. provides the only logical explanation for the difference in writing style which exists between the Gospel of John and the book of Revelation.
C. discredits all that was written in the book of Revelation.
D. proves that the "higher critics" are right after all.

Now That You've Finished ...

Fill out your answer card as instructed on page 3. After doing this, check over your completed answer card with the answers you circled in the test to be ABSOLUTELY SURE you placed the X's in the proper squares. Also check to see that your name and address has been PRINTED CORRECTLY on the mailing label! If you have moved or changed your name, please print the changes on the label.

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BE SURE TO KEEP THIS THIRTEENTH TEST. Notice that it has three holes punched in its margin. This is so you can FILE IT IN YOUR NOTEBOOK after the four lessons it covers.
REVIEW these questions occasionally. Why? Because reviewing will impress the true answers more firmly upon your mind. And reviewing the false answers given for each question will help you to realize more clearly some of the FALSE ideas which you may have taken for granted. You will thereby grasp and retain the TRUTH much better when it is presented to you in future lessons.

RELATED STUDY HELPS

Be sure to request your copy of the free booklets and reprinted articles listed below, if you do not already have them. They will help you to further understand the subjects covered in Lessons 49, 50, 51 and 52.

GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY -- Should You Submit to It?
Where Did the Twelve Apostles Go?
The Apostles' Creed
What is "the Synagogue of Satan"?
The Bible Versus the Dead Sea Scrolls
What is the Biblical Name for the True Church?
Personal From the Editor
Crusade For Sanity

ANSWERS:

1-C 10-C 19-C 28-D 37-A 46-D 55-A 64-A 73-D
2-B 11-C 20-D 29-A 38-D 47-B 56-C 65-D 74-C
3-A 12-A 21-C 30-C 39-A 48-C 57-B 66-C 75-B
4-D 13-A 22-B 31-C 40-B 49-B 58-C 67-A 76-B
5-C 14-C 23-D 32-B 41-C 50-D 59-A 68-B 77-A
6-B 15-D 24-A 33-D 42-D 51-D 60-C 69-D 78-D
7-B 16-B 25-C 34-B 43-C 52-A 61-B 70-C 79-C
8-D 17-A 26-C 35-D 44-C 53-A 62-D 71-B 80-B
9-B 18-D 27-A 36-C 45-A 54-B 63-C 72-A 81-A