A few months ago on Ebay, I was fortunate enough to snatch up an old harcover reprint of I.M. Haldeman’s 1904 book entitled “How To Study The Bible, The Second Coming, and Other Expositions.”  It was originally published as “Friday Night Papers,” but when he issued a second edition, Haldeman changed the title and added over 200 extra pages of material.  The book is a classic of Dispensational theology.

   I.M. Haldeman (1845-1933) was the longtime pastor of First Baptist Church in New York City.  Although mostly forgotten today, he wrote a lengthy response to Philip Mauro’s “Gospel of The Kingdom,” a bitter diatribe against Dispensationalism.  During the course of a busy ministry, Haldeman also produced countless expositions, some of which are included in ”How To Study The Bible.”   

   What makes this title so interesting, is Haldeman’s ecclesiology, which he must have developed and refined over a long period of years.  Since I myself hold to certain aspects of Haldeman’s teaching on the nature, intent, and commencement of the Christian church, a review of certain elements of his system are in order.

   Contrary to most Dispensational interpreters, who believe that the church began at Pentecost, Haldeman understood the bride of Christ as having two beginnings.  The church age commenced secretly in John 20: 22-23 and publicly in Acts 2. 

   “On the day that Christ arose from the dead, He breathed on His disciples, and by that act quickened them into vital union with Himself as the Risen One, thus uniting them to one another in Himself, and forming the living, mystic, and spiritual body, the Church; this hour was the birth hour of the Church.

” ‘He breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.’ John 20: 22, 23.

“On the day of Pentecost the Spirit was made manifest in the earth, as the witness of the Risen Christ; and then, and there, the Lord baptized His disciples, in the Spirit, into the Body in which, and through which, He was henceforth to manifest Himself on the earth.  On that day the Spirit deposited in this spiritual body all the gifts and powers required for service in the name of an ascended Lord” (pg. 354).

  Haldeman’s concept of Pentecost was not that it marked the beginning of the church itself.  The church officially began in John 20: 22-23, when the Holy Spirit came as the “Comforter.”  The Holy Spirit did not come as the ”Comforter” in Acts 2, but as the ”Enduer.”   Thus, on the evening of the resurrection the birth of the church took place in secret.  On the Day of Pentecost, the church was endued with the gifts of the Spirit, and given power to fulfill its commission.

   Such a doctrine as Haldeman’s would appear to solve some of the problems related to cessation of the charismata.  While spiritual enduement applies to all believers today, the special gifts must have been in force only so long as they served as testimony to the Jews (see 1 Cor. 1: 22).  When the Jews failed to repent, in response to Peter’s admonition in Acts 3: 19-21, their city was destroyed and the second coming postponed. 

    With the close of the Jewish Dispensation ended the charismata, or the general period of enduement with miraculous gifts.  It did not, however, end the Holy Spirit’s role as Comforter.  Because the Church really began prior to the miraculous outpouring of power from on high, the cessation of charismatic gifts in A.D. 70 was no indication that the Body of Christ was “complete” in any sense.  The Holy Spirit still comes as Comforter today, sealing the hearts of all whosoever believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God, to the saving of their souls.

   Although there is no record that Haldeman held the particular conclusions inferred by myself, he did lay the foundation of what I believe is a better understanding of Christian ecclesiology.  If Haldeman’s system were followed, certain difficulties relating to the Dispensational transition between the Jewish and Christian economies would be cleared up.

    Because Haldeman conceived that the parenthetical church age (which he calls the “Holy Ghost Dispensation“) had two beginnings, he concluded that it must have two endings.  It will end secretly with a pre-tribulational rapture, and publicly, with the return of Christ from the Mount of Olives with all His saints (see Zech. 14: 5).  These facts can be gleaned through a careful reading of Haldeman’s book.  Although it is no longer in print, I’ve heard that it is currently available on the “SwordSearcher” Bible software. 

  The First Baptist Church in New York City presently has one of Haldeman’s prophecy charts hanging in its hallway.  The digital scan above is somewhat difficult to read.  However, it is clear that Dr. Haldeman was an ardent student of prophecy, and one of the great pioneers of 20th century Dispensational studies.   Although his works have been eclipsed in recent years, they contain hidden riches that will surprise and delight those who seek them out.