Samuel Untermeyer had a lifelong interest in Zionism. He and the leaders of the Jewish Theological Seminary wanted to inject their beliefs into Christianity in America. But had they attempted to introduce their ideas into the dominant protestant culture of 1900, they would have been ignored.
Subtlety was required, deception. They needed a front man, a protestant theologian of distinction through whom they could inject their beliefs gradually. Of course there was no one that met this description. He would have to be created. Through some shadowy network, perhaps through contacts of the Secret Six in Boston, Samuel Untermeyer found such a man in Kansas.
In 1901, through Untermeyer’s influence, Scofield was admitted into a sophisticated men’s club in New York. The Lotus Club promoted social intercourse among friends of literature and fine arts. Joseph Canfield believes that the selection of Scofield for membership “strengthens the suspicion that someone was directing his career at this time.” 1
Untermeyer introduced Scofield to numerous Zionist and socialist leaders, including Samuel Gompers, Fiorello LaGuardia, Abraham Straus, Bernard Baruch and Jacob Schiff. 2 Scofield had a shady past, a criminal record, had just gotten out of jail and had never been to seminary. But this was no problem. With their control of the press, some public relations work and their international network he was quickly transformed into one of America’s leading theologians.
Untermeyer did more than introduce Scofield to his wealthy and influential Zionist circle in New York. Soon the Kansas con man was off on a lavish tour of Europe including an important visit to Oxford University where plans were made for the publication of his new reference Bible. Untermeyer’s network extended from Kansas to Europe and seemingly could open doors anywhere.
A wolf in sheep’s clothing was the oldest trick in the book. Jacob under the direction of Rebecca put on goat skin so he felt hairy like his brother Esau. Then he lied to Isaac, carried out his fraud and got the blessing. Gen 27:15 It is a trick Esau never forgot and has used time and again against his brother’s descendants. They never seem to learn. Scofield was merely sheepskin.
Paul warned that after he departed grievous wolves would enter in among the church. Acts 20:29. Samuel Untermeyer was a grievous wolf. A notorious criminal lawyer, he helped drag America into World War I which which resulted in a million unnecessary deaths. This opened the door for the Bolshevik Revolution which by the time of his death in 1940 had resulted in the murder of over 20 million individuals. The church in Russia was virtually extinguished.
He declared war on Germany and established the blockade which forced World War II. And America’s entry into World War I created the nation state of Palestine which many believe will trigger World War III.
His successful Scofield Bible deception perverted Christianity with the hybrid Christian Zionism and left a church where the true, historicist interpretation of Bible prophecy, is virtually unknown. Historicism had been the standard interpretation of prophecy since the reformation.
Finally, when one brave man, the popular Henry Ford, stood up to expose the Bolshevik wolf’s den in New York, Untermeyer and his partner waged continual war against him until the threat of murder caused him, at his wife’s desperate plea, to cease.
He that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. John 10:12
Jesus taught that it was the duty of a true shepherd when he sees a wolf in the church to defend the sheep and not flee. Those that are grazing unaware need to know about the man behind Scofield, a grievous wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Footnote
*1 The Incredible Scofield, Joseph M. Canfield, Ross House Books, 1988, page 174.
*2 The Greatest Hoax, Charlie Samples, Cyrus Scofield – Who Was He? from the web site www.sweetliberty.org