QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS with Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland, President, the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Inc. and Dr. Charles L. Feinberg, Dean, Talbot Theological Seminary
tation of the Scriptures. This means that we take everything in its pri mary, ordinary significance, unless the facts of nature or of logic require otherwise. We know that inanimate objects, unless they be personified, do not have emotions. Therefore, no field on earth could be joyful, nor could trees in the woods rejoice. This is figurative language indicating that when God the Son comes to glorify creation throughout the earth, things will be so magnificent that it will seem as though these things actually came alive. Let us clearly understand the true principles of interpretation. Q. Pawtucket, R.l. — “I like your spirit, but by listening a few weeks ago you stepped on my ‘corns’ when you made a remark about bands being played in churches. I belong to the sect called Salvation Army. We have some of the best songs of the church and souls are being saved by listening to the Army’s band.”
Q . San Mateo, Calif. — “Do you think there will be another great world war before the Rapture of the Church? Is there any Scripture th a t suggests this ?’’ A. In Matthew 24:6-7 we are told, “Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” No one knows with any certainty whether or not the Rapture will be proceeded by another, world war. We believe that the return of the Lord for the Church could occur at any time. Right after this, however, as this and other Scriptures tell us, there will be unprecedented warfare. As we think of the world conditions, we can’t see how civilization could withstand a world conflagration with such tools of devastation. Thank the Lord that we can say with the Psalm ist, “Our times are in God’s hands.” Q. Roseberg, Ore. — “In Psalm 96:11- 13 ire read, ‘Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood re joice before the Lord: for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peo ple with his truth.’ What is the mean ing of these descriptive phrases?” A. They are just exactly that as we carefully consider the matter of Bibli cal interpretation. We believe in the time-honored historic, literal interpre 21
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker