G i u i e s t i o n
B o x ! Doubtless he will say to himself, “Why should this land (now Israel) possess these riches? Besides, it is a continual reminder of the God they worship.” The prophetic Scriptures give a vivid picture of the last days when the northern confederacy will invade the land of Palestine. But it will not succeed in wiping out the land or the people guaranteed by covenant promises. HAS MAN SEEN GOD? Q. What form did God take when He walked in the Garden of Eden? How. can we reconcile this with the state ment of John 1:18: “No man hath seen God at any time . . .” ? A. We are not told in what appear ance Christ revealed Himself to Adam and Eve but we may assume that it was in one of the ways in which He was seen in later Old Testament times. We read in Genesis 18 that He appeared as a man and as there were three men present, the Trinity was foreshadowed. To Joshua He appeared as “ captain of the Lord’s host” with a drawn sword in His hand; in other words, as a soldier. He was seen in fiery furnace with the Hebrew chil dren with the appearance of one “ like unto the Son of God.” He appeared as the “ angel of the Lord” before whom Joshua the high priest stood (Zech. 3:1). He is called, “ the angel of the Lord’, “ the angel of the cove nant,” etc. However, though He may have assumed the form of an angel temporarily, we must keep in mind that He was not an angel, for angels are created beings, and were in fact created by the Son of God Himself. We read in Hebrews the words of the Father: “ And let all the angels of God worship Him (the Son) . . . and also “ Thy throne, 0 God, (Father to the Son) is forever and ever.” We must also keep in mind that Christ did not take upon Him flesh and blood until His incarnation, and that all of these Theophanies were but shadows of what He was to do as the Lamb of God. He took upon Himself
the form of man that He might die for our sins. The second part of your question is answered with the remainder of John 1:18 . . . “ but the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared Him.” It was always the Son—the Lord Jesus Christ—who appeared to men, for He is, the “ Lord God” , the “Jehovah” of the Old Testament. And we need never wonder what God the Father was or is like . . . He is exactly like Christ. Jesus said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father ” (John 14:9). The Father has not been seen in His Person, but Christ has been seen, and that “ sufficeth us.” UNACCEPTABLE TO GOD Q. Please explain the words of Jesus “ I never knew you” in Matthew 7:23. W ere not some of those whom He addressed form erly sincere— but back slidden — Christians? A. No, I do not think so. Christ’s words were the outcome of conditions referred to in the verses preceding and show the futility and tragedy of profession without possession. One of the tests of personal knowledge of Christ is that one will wish to do the will of God. These people were des cribed in v. 23 as those that “ work iniquity.” Service done in Christ’s name, but not motivated by love of Him or by the Holy Spirit, is not acceptable to God. Christ knew the condition of the hearts of all men for He “needed not that any should testi fy of man . . . he knew what was in man” (John 2:25). Again, from His words, “ I . . . know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:14) we learn that He is well acquainted with all who belong to Him. And He has promised, “ Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37) and “ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28).
SIGNS OF CHRIST'S RETURN Q. Someone has informed me that there are five great signs of the return of the Lard. Where and what are they? Dare we hope that the coming of Christ is near? A. I think the reference is to Mat thew 24:4-8: “ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in .my name, saying, I am Christ: and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and king dom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Of course, the five signs enumer ated here are (1) religious declension; (2) world wars; (3) famines; (4) pestilences; (5) earthquakes. Since these things are but “begin ning of sorrows” , that is, the start of the tribulation period, then how much nearer is the rapture of the church. We see these things occurring in our day to a degree never known before. We do not know the time but we can read the signs and “ lift up our heads for our redemption draw- eth nigh.” Even so, come, Lord Jesus! RUSSIA'S PLAN Q. What is meant by the “evil thought” mentioned in Ezekiel 38:10? I believe I have heard more interpre tations of that verse than any in the Bible. A. I do not wonder it puzzles you if you have not studied it in con nection with the whole context of Ezekiel, and along with it Daniel and Revelation. Here Jehovah declares that Gog, the prince of Russia, will “ think an evil thought” and from the study of the Scriptures I have men tioned, it is quite clear that this wicked intention will be the absolute extirpation of the Jewish nation.
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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