Category Archives: Using the Bible

The Lord reveals His Secrets, Amos 3:7

Posted on by
Reply

“6 Does the trumpet alarm sound in a city,
Without the people being afraid?
Does evil happen to a city,
And Yahweh hasn’t done it?
7 Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing,
Unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.”
Amos 3:6-7 WEB

Of course, Liberalism believes in a “god” who does NOT intervene in His creation, so they would say there is nothing to reveal! However, Scripture consistently points to a God who constantly intervenes in our lives, makes sure we have food and clothes, may assist us or hinder or stop us in our endeavors. In fact James says,

“For you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that.””
Jas 4:15 WEB

So here is an all seeing God who guides events according to His purposes, and it is certainly consistent with the Bible message overall.

It is perhaps appropriate to admit that probably
MOST do NOT believe Amos 3:7!

This is a picture of an over-ruling God who constantly acts in history. And for God to let us know what He is doing? Many Christians even act blind, as if they have no idea what God does. But Amos 3:6-7 is a prophecy of what God will do, and says He does nothing unless He reveals it to His prophets. Further, Jesus says Scripture cannot be broken, Jn 10:35. Many other passages says essentially the same.

So how should we take these assertions.

God reveals through examples the ways He interactss
with men throughout history.

We read, or we should be reading, the accounts given the prophets of the ways God responds to certain types of actions. It is revealed to us how He acts in certain conditions. We know,

… “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Jas 4:6 WEB

And we know,

“The horse is prepared for the day of battle;
But victory is with Yahweh.”
Prov 21:31 WEB

So it is with many things.

But there are exceptional things which WILL
happen in history.

Things in which God will act in special ways, or allow stunning things to happen. Of these it says,

“Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing,
Unless he reveals his secret to his servants the prophets.”
Amos 3:7 WEB

Most of what we see in life and history is common, repeatable things, which happen in one form or another, time after time, and are revealed by God’s prophets. They may not be common to us, but they are common things in Bible history,

And of the astounding things which will lead up to the end of this present universe … these also are revealed by God’s prophets.

Are there still any things known only to God?

Yes. They belong to God. But the things revealed are sufficient so that we can be prepared, Deut 29:29. But we do need those revelations.

Instead of acting blind, we should,

“Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, …”
2Cor 5:11 WEB

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

The Lord Reveals His Secrets, but NOT to Everyone

Posted on by
Reply

There are mysteries in Christianity, things which have to be revealed, things which you cannot just figure out.

Why do you speak in parables? Jesus’ disciples
asked, Mtt 13:10.

The truth is, just as the occult teaches, that not everyone deserves to know all of the secrets of eternal life!

“He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.””
Mtt 13:11 WEB

If you have any ears you should listen to these things, Mtt 13:9. The occult handles such things through not telling most people the core beliefs of their religion. In the gospel these things are handled in a different way. We are supposed to tell everyone what they need to know. Tell them, whether they will listen or not, Ezek 2:5. Even so, they truth is that people filter themselves out from life.

“Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
1Cor 2:14 WEB

We declare openly the very mysteries of life.

The One, Jesus the Christ, who created all life.

“3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”
Jn 1:3-4 WEB

The very wisdom of the ages we declare.

“6 We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown [teleios in Greek]; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory, ”
1Cor 2:6-7 WEB emphasis added

If you have some understanding of eternal things,

God will give you even more.

“For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance,”
Mtt 13:12a WEB

You might compare this to our muscles. If you use your muscles they will grow and increase in strength. On the other hand,

“but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.”
Mtt 13:12b WEB

It is a use it or lose it sort of things. Similarly, if you never use your muscles, they can atrophy to the point you cannot use them at all.

If we decide we really don’t like this, don’t really
want to do this, we CUT OURSELVES off,
from further understanding.

“14 … ‘By hearing you will hear,
And will in no way understand;
Seeing you will see,
And will in no way perceive:
15 For this people’s heart has grown callous,
Their ears are dull of hearing,
They have closed their eyes;
Or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their heart,
And should turn again;
And I would heal them.’”
Mtt 13:14-15 WEB

If this is our case, our understanding
stops right there!

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Occult Secrets

Posted on by
Reply

Occult means hidden, and religiously is generally about secret or semisecret religions. Sometimes they had a public presence, but the details were secret. In New Testament times these were called “mystery” religions. Secrets were at the very center of their existence.

The Core Religious Secrets

Sometimes mathematical or scientific or political secrets were involved, but at the center of their teachings were religious secrets. Secrets revealed from “the gods,” but which were too high and holy for the average man. These were things needed for salvation, but only specially selected “better people” were good enough to learn these things.

When they encountered Christianity, they would say that Jesus was good, but that there were other higher truths which were necessary for salvation. These tended to be religions of the well-to-do, the rich and the famous.

Methods of Indoctrination

The teaching was mainly by powerful religious dramas in which the initiate participated. The initiate knew only his own lines, but until the initiation he did not know where the drama was leading, or rather, where it was leading him.

The secrets of whatever religion was involved, were revealed in stages or levels. In the beginning levels the dramas were intended to be emotionally impressive, but generally did not teach any serious secrets. The initiate was then covertly observed to see how he reacted, and whether he was capable of keep a secret! (Some people just cannot keep their mouths shut, and tell everything they know. If the initiate was like that, then he never advanced to higher levels of initiation.)

If the initiate proved receptive, and could keep secrets, then he was advanced to higher and higher levels of initiation. When he was fully instructed, then in Greek he was called a “perfect,” teleios.

The Political Realities of Such Groups

Such groups were ready made for political intrigue and duplicity, and almost always became involved in politics. With the different levels of indoctrination, the lower level men really never knew what the order was truly about. If they stayed, they were trusting that they were involved in some good higher calling, OR that regardless of the objectives of the order, that they would be on the inside of some lucrative enterprise that would bring them high level friends and advancement.

Such groups have often been the covert movers and shakers in whatever society they were involved. Some of these groups were what we now call “gnostics,” which roughly means, “those who know,” or at least think they know!

The Spiritual Realities

Especially the books of Ephesians and Colossians were intended to refute the claims of such groups. Paul says that their claims to higher knowledge are false. He says of the Christ he teaches,

“whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect [the Greek word here is teleios] in Christ Jesus;”
Col 1:29 WEB emphasis added

In other words, true salvation in Jesus Christ is for ALL. It is not just for men, or white men, or certain “better” men, but for ALL MEN, and it is all publicly revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Watching Changes Behavior: False Christs

Posted on by
Reply

Jesus said there will be many false christs

“For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.”
Mtt 24:5 WEB

Some religious people act, almost as if there is no such thing as a “false christ” or an “antichrist,” when Jesus says plainly that “many will come … saying, ‘I am the Christ.’” In fact, anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ is an antichrist, 1Jn 2:22. Would not any false christ be an “antichrist,” no matter how you define the term, and Jesus does say that there will be many.

Some of these are locals of hidden origin, who soon fade away. Others have longer runs, but none to date have reached the scope of the “beast” described in Revelation 13, who “overcomes” the church, and has authority all who live on this earth, Rev 13:7. Rome NEVER “overcame” the church! Instead the church conquered the mighty Roman empire as prophesied in Dan 2:44, and many other passages, and as happened in history.

False christs are not just “end of the age” things

Many have claimed the “true” son of David. See “Lab Work ” in Prophecy Principles.

My first volume, Prophecy Principles, points that most of European royalty has been for centuries discreetly claiming to be descendants of Jesus Christ through Mary Magdalene! Some of them have also made claims as if they were the “current” “living Christ,” and examples are given in Prophecy Principles. This sure casts a new light on the phrase, “the divine right of kings.” This is not just about a few occult weirdos, even as Jesus also makes clear.

Christ’s Kingdom is NOT of this world!

This is a key point if you are to keep your bearings among the many outrageous claims which are often made.

“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here.””
Jn 18:36 WEB.

Rather, it is of the world to come, the new heavens and new earth: heaven. But the false christs are seeking a kingdom in this world. Further, never loose sight of the fact that,

Jesus will never actually be on earth again!

We will meet Him in the air.

“16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, … The dead in Christ will rise first, 17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord FOREVER.”
1Thes 4:16-17 WEB emphasis added

You may or may not like these verses, but they not vague. Don’t believe it if they say the Christ is here or there, Mtt 24:23.

“If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner chambers,’ don’t believe it.”
Mtt 24:26 WEB

“What I tell you, I tell all: Watch.” Mk 13:37 KJV

Watching changes behavior. You look at events differently. It changes how you act. To not be watching is the caught unawares …

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Watching Changes Behavior: False Prophets

Posted on by
Reply

There WILL BE many false prophets

“But there also arose false prophets among the people, as among you also there will be false teachers, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.”
2Pe 2:1 WEB

Jesus gave us warnings also.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.”
Mtt 7:15 WEB

Some of the false prophets to come will be
incredibly convincing.

Some of the past false prophets and christs of the Christian Age are discussed in detail in Prophecy Principles in the section on “Lab Work.”

Clearly one will come very close to the very end of our age, “whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,” 2Thes 2:9 WEB. Also one is called “the false prophet,” Rev 16:13. He is evidently the same one of whom it says “He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.” Rev 13:11 WEB. Of this special false prophet it says,

“He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people.”
Rev 13:13 WEB

Some of these will be so convincing they will almost be able to convince those who are chosen of God.

“For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.”
Mtt 24:24 WEB

Yes, some will be dramatically convincing, but it doesn’t seem to speak of such things as a “just at the end” thing, but rather as an age long thing. So this is about things any of us might run into at any point in the Christian Age.

There have been and ARE many false prophets

You see them all along in history, making claims as spokesmen for the Most High God Himself, but teaching things contrary to that which God has already said. At times they have absolutely ruined the church of our Lord in various locales and countries. Sometimes claiming inspiration they have raised arms and money but have been swiftly suppressed. At other times they have been able to command the financing to become world class conquerers, suppressing all opposition wherever they have gone, wiping out the church of our Lord in some places, and leaving the church to lead a hobbled existence for centuries in other places. These are not minor things in history, nor have they been small influences where they have touched the church of Lord.

How do you steel yourself for overwhelming
tests of faith?

How do you make sure you are not among the deceived? How do you cope with attempts to drag you into evil schemes? Running away from overwhelming odds is acceptable.

“But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next …”
Mtt 10:23 WEB

But even going to town requires gas and money. To flee to another country requires some forethought and preparation, or … you will trapped where you are.

“What I tell you, I tell all: Watch.” Mk 13:37 KJV

KJV is the King James Version, 1611

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Watching Changes Behavior: Testing

Posted on by
Reply

It is definitely true that if we know we are being tested, we tend to do better. Sometimes we are lax or not even thinking about whether we are doing wrong or not. This is especially when we do not think of our encounters in life as tests, or even, heaven forbid, seductions to doing what is wrong.

The First Test, the Temptation in the Garden,

was a disaster for our race. This in the context of being in immediate fellowship with God. The first offender, the woman, knew what correct behavior was, and repeated that to the serpent, and still listened to the misleading explanations of the serpent. When they are first faced with their sin, the woman already knows and says straightforwardly, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Paul tells us,

“… Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”
1Tim 2:14 KJV

But the man, though seeing the deception, did not actually do any better, all of which had disastrous consequences for the entire world. Often it is that we, like them, do not truly realize the consequences of our actions.

Temptation, seduction, comes when the potential offense
is something we might enjoy.

Clearly God tests us. Also clearly from James, God does not tempt us, to try to seduce us into evil.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.”
Jas 1:13 WEB

So where is the key?

“But each one is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.”
Jas 1:14 WEB

So it is, as the old joke says, “I can resist anything … anything at all … except temptation!” The truth is that we as humans, often do not do well under temptation/testing. How can we turn this bad record around?

Watching would be part of the key to doing better.

“Take heed,” “be careful,” “watch,” are all parts of the same ideas. Even if you think you are doing better than in the past, it may not help.

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.”
1Cor 10:12 WEB

Yes it is true, the temptations which we face are not unique, but are common to all men, and God does protect His own, 1Cor 10:13. Still,

Jesus said to make it a one-two defense.

“Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mtt 26:41 WEB

This implies that we may need help beyond our individual capacities, if we are to overcome. We need both awareness of our situations, and to pray to the Father for assistance lest we be overcome! Jesus says to ask for protection. “Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Mtt 6:13 WEB

Watching changes our behavior, our reactions, and
can help protect us from what we cannot avoid.

KJV is the King James Version, 1611

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Prophecy is Always Moral: The Second Coming

Posted on by
Reply

Prophecy is never a neutral entity, devoid of any relationship to life. It was shown in the previous posts that this is true even of everyday things in life. Also it is also true of the outstanding powers and events of our age. Know and believe these prophesies, and it will change your conduct! In fact knowing these things is necessary for changing our conduct for the good.

Jesus is coming again, to judge the world

“For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
2Cor 5:10 WEB

He will come in flaming fire, 2Thes 1:7; and,

“… there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known.”
Mtt 10:26 WEB

“10 But the day of the Lord will come

“as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore since all these things are thus to be destroyed, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy living and godliness,”
2Pe 3:10-11 WEB

The prophecies themselves beg their own importance to our future … and if believed will radically alter our conduct. Really that is true of all prophecy. Isaiah 13 describes it this way.

“10 For the stars of the sky and the constellations of it shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in its going forth, and the moon shall not cause its light to shine. 11 I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity: and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.”
Isa 13:10-11 WEB

And what is the penalty?

“9 who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all those who have believed …”
2Thes 1:9-10 WEB

Remember! You and I will be there … somewhere!

We may be on the ground looking up as the saints arise to meet Jesus. Or we may be among the saints rising to meet Jesus in the air, and

“… who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.”
2Thes 4:17 WEB

But on the ground or in the air, we will be there, for it says,

“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.”
Rev 1:5 WEB

Prophecy is never just a theoretical exercise.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Prophecy is Always Moral: Our Jobs

Posted on by
Reply

Prophecy is never a neutral entity, devoid of any relationship to life.

You might say, It is just a prophecy.

“ 23 And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
Col 3:23-24 WEB

Paul tells us to do certain things. These are commands. In fact, these commands even apply to Slaves. In the verse just before these, it says,

“Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.”
Col 3:22 WEB

But the word translated a “Servants” here (and also in the KJV) is really the Greek word dulos, or slave. So these commands even apply if you are a slave. Also it includes a good reason for the command.

Prophecy is NEVER pointless sayings
about the future.

Paul says that the reason you should do good work, even if you are a slave, and act in good conscience not just as men-pleasers, is because you “will receive the reward of the inheritance.” Even if you are a slave, the present reality is that “you serve Christ.” These verses promise a heavenly reward for good service in your “secular” job.

And it goes beyond what we might do that is right.

“But he who does wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is no partiality.”
Col 3:25 WEB

It is talking about what we “will” receive. It is like the prophecy in Romans 2.

“9 oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who works evil, on the Jew first, and also on the Greek. Rom. 2:10   But glory and honor and peace to every man who works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.”
Rom 2:9-11 WEB

Naturally this has to be talking about the future, and it is. For this is surely not a present reality in this present evil age, is it? No, clearly in context this is speaking of the final “day of wrath,” Rom 2:5.

And it applies to Masters also

“Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”
Col 4:1 WEB

Notice that in context it implies that even a slave can be mistreated, something many down through history would not acknowledge. Still it is all in the context of coming judgement and rewards or punishments, and clearly indicates that any master who mistreats his slave, servant or employee will be in for judgment for his actions in the end! Many other passages speak of the same. Compare for instance James 5:1-6.

All of this is of future reality which SHOULD
alter conduct in the present

Prophecy has never been a neutral entity,

Test it. See if what I have told you is so.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Prophecy is Always Moral: Evangelism

Posted on by
Reply

Prophecy is never a neutral entity, devoid of any relationship to life.

We must acknowledge that Jesus is our Lord,
and declare His word to men.

“9 that if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Rom 10:9-10 WEB

Sometimes we reduce this command to a formal acknowledgment of Jesus at our baptism, but that is not how it is stated here. It is true that we must be prepared to acknowledge Jesus as Lord from the time of our entering the body of Christ, the assembly, the church, Eph 1:22-23.

That word “confess” in Rom 10:9 is the Greek word homologe?. It has the sense of acknowledging, admitting, agreeing, or yes, even the King James Version sense of confessing that Jesus is our Lord.

This is also really a very personal prophecy of what “will be” for “you” and for me, given certain conditions. If we “will” acknowledge Jesus before men, and believe in our hearts that He is that special One of God who was raised from the dead, THEN “you will be saved.” That is a statement of future condition, depending and what we will do or not do.

This is all about FUTURE RESULTS OF WHAT WE DO NOW. We believe this, or not. We think it is so and try to do it, and do it or do not.

Acknowledging Jesus is also in other passages.

“32 Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
Mtt 10:32-33 WEB

Yes it is that same Greek word homologe?. IF you will, then He will, it predicts, it promises, it prophesies.

“I am with you to the end of the age.”

“19 Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Mtt 28:19-20 WEB.

A statement of Christ’s being with us, even in the future, even to the end of the age. If we believe it, then we may have the courage to do as He has commanded.

If we are ashamed of Jesus?

“For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.””
Mk 8:38 WEB

Is this not ALSO prophecy of what will be.

How can anyone say all prophecy has been fulfilled. How can anyone say that a prophecy of what will be, does not matter!

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901

Prophecy is Always Moral: Salvation

Posted on by
Reply

Prophecy is never a neutral entity, devoid of any relationship to life. This is true of the initial declaration to Mary of the child she would be bear.

“”She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.””
Mtt 1:21 WEB

That means among other things that if you are a Jew, and you wish to be delivered from your sins … you have to come to Jesus. The prophecy has a moral point, an ethical point.

Or take a prophecy about staying with Jesus

In a long sermon in Matthew 10 Jesus says,

“You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.”
Mtt 10:22 WEB

There is a double promise here, two statements of fact. The first promise is that at some point “you,” the Christian, will be hated by ALL men. However it is not by “all,” yet! Despite that, it is a prophecy of what “will be.” The second part has a wider application. You have to endure “to the end,” to be among those that “will be saved.” It is a prophecy, a message of what “will be,” that demands action.

You and I may “keep” this prophecy in order to “be saved,” or we do not believe it, despise the prediction … then we are depending on it to not be true, to not be real.

Prophecy and ethics are inseparable

Jesus says in Mark 8,

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.”
Mk 8:35 WEB

All of this is a statement of what will be, a statement of the future, a prophecy in every sense. It says, plainly that if we are concentrating on saving our live we “will lose it.”

The Pharisees failed in part because they
did not believe prophecy.

The Pharisees believed that it was blasphemy for any man to say he was the son of God, Jn 10:36 and a host of other Scriptures.

But they heard from John the Baptist that he was the voice crying in the wilderness, to prepare “the way of Yahweh” of Isa 40:3, but did not believe it when it said of Judah, “say to the cities of Judah, Behold your God!” Isa 40:9 WEB, that God Himself would be in Judah!

They had read but not believed, when it said of the Christ, the son of David, in Isaiah 9,

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; … and his name shall be called … Mighty God, Everlasting Father, …”
Isa 9:6 WEB.

They believed the prophecies of the Messiah only to a point … and so they failed in salvation. Prophecy and ethics or morality … cannot be separated. We as men often believe, only to a point!

They merely doubted much prophecy, and so failed in salvation.

Test it. See if what I have told you is so.

WEB is the World English Bible, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901