DK TALBOT’
A. The appearances of God in the Old Testament times were, I believe, preincamate manifestations of our Lord Jesus Christ and so I conclude that this was true o f the Lord’s presence in the Garden of Eden. Sometimes these theophanies, or Christophanies as they are called b y theologians, describe the appear ance of God in the form of an angel. Sometimes H e is called “ the angel of the Lord.” Apparently angels m ay become visible in human foim . Thus we read that when God talked to Abraham, “ three men stood by him ” (Gen. 18 :2 ). This is sugges tive o f the trinity, yet this appear ance of God to Abraham was w ith out doubt in angelic form . This is something we cannot explain. But we do know that not until our Lord “ was made flesh” in Beth lehem ’s manger did He have His human body. In Hebrews 10:15 the H o ly Spirit quoted the prophetic word of the Son to the Father when He said, “ . . . Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.” The “ angel of the Lord,” called also “ the angel of the covenant,” is always distinct from created angels. These titles refer to the preincamate appearances of Christ. Some of these instances are: the angel o f the Lord as He appeared in the Garden of Eden; the “ captain of the host of the Lord” as He appeared to Joshua (Josh. 5 :1 4 ); the one “ like the Son of God” who walked w ith the three Hebrew children in the fiery fur nace (Dan. 3 :2 5 ); and the angel of the Lord before whom Joshua the high priest stood, Satan also “ stand ing at his right hand to resist him” (Zech. 3 :1 ). These and many other Old Testament passages refer to the appearances o f Christ before His incarnation.
Italics in the Scriptures Q. W h y are some of the words in our English Bible put into italics? A. A ll words in italics in our Bible have been added b y the translators to make the meaning clear. Some times it is difficult to express the meaning o f the Hebrew and Greek in the English language. Some He brew words, for example, are so freighted with meaning that the translators found it necessary to sup p ly words in order to bring out the richness o f the original text. There fore, all words in italics are not found in the Hebrew and Greek. Often they clarify the meaning. However, we can be thankful that the translators were honest enough to indicate the words they supplied. The Abomination of Desolation Q. W hat did Christ mean b y “ the abomination o f desolation, spoken of b y Daniel the prophet?” (Matt. 24: 15.) A. Both Daniel and our Lord re- ferred to the image of the beast which he w ill set up “ in the holy place” during the “ seventieth week o f Daniel.” It w ill be an idol, an image o f himself; and he will re quire all the world to worship him or be martyred. An idol, to a devout Hebrew, is an abomination and cer tainly it is to God. W hen Israel realizes by this act that antichrist is a false Messiah, the believing part of the nation w ill reject him. He w ill then persecute Israel and the tribulation w ill begin.
Anger Q. Please explain Ephesians 4:26: “ Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon you r wrath.” A. There is such a thing as right eous indignation and this is what the inspired writer had in mind. W hen we see an injustice done or a sin committed against God and man, it would be a sin not to be angry. The Lord Jesus was right eously indignant when the m oney changers made His Father’s house “ a den o f thieves.” But when w e are angry because of personal wrongs, we sin and dis honor God. These we should accept as opportunities o f showing to the world that Christ is real and that He enables us to live joyously and victoriously over personal injustice. However, we must guard against all malice and hatred and display o f temper which is anger. These are not becoming in a Christian. What Is A Castaway? Q. In 1 Corinthians 9:27 Paul im plies that he might become a “ cast away.” Does that mean he could lose his salvation? A. No. It has to do with his service and the rewards the Lord has laid up for those who serve H im faith fully. The word castaway in the Greek means “ disapproved.” The figure is taken from the Olympian games, an illustration that Paul used m any times. The prize went to the victor but the one “ disap proved” suffered loss and humilia tion. God in the Garden of Eden Q. D id God take a body when He walked in the Garden o f Eden or was He in human form?
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Readers are invited to submit questions to both Dr. Narramore and Dr. Talbot. Address questions to them c/o The King's Business, 558 So. Hope Street, Los Angeles 17, Calif.
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