Q. San Jose, Calif. “Why did God allow false prophets to predict to the Jew s that the coming Messiah would b e as a royal King, releasing them from the dreadful Roman op pressors? Perhaps it was for this mis understanding that they rejected Christ who ultimately died on the cross.” A. The question of why God allowed false prophets is in the same cate gory as in His mysterious permis sion of sin in the world altogether. Isn’t it strange that God gave man a choice to eat of all the trees in the garden except for one. Yet, that was the one he wanted more seemingly than anything else. Adam chose dis obedience to obedience. The Lord wants men to choose Him not out of compulsion and necessity. Scripture tells us, “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” When a true prophet came on the scene he was very unpopular for he showed the people their sins and shortcomings. False prophets would not warn of judgment or punishment. They would tell things to promote their own self image. God allowed these men to come on the scene. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and other prophets predicted to the Jews that the coming Messiah would be a King. He would set up a king dom of peace and glory, releasing the people from the dreadful Roman oppressor if they would repent from their sins. Christ didn’t deny that He had come to restore the kingdom to Israel. He said, “It is not for you to know the times.” God has something else for this time. The disciples were to receive power from the Holy Spir it that they might be witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth. Their error was that they did not realize the Old Testament was full of pro phecies concerning the sacrifice of the Messiah. Before He could bring in the kingdom by His glorious pres ence He would establish first His Church. This would be during the Page 24
time of Israel’s rejection. The people foolishly listened to false prophets rather than to the Lord’s faithful messengers. This is the same thing we find in the world today. Men do not want a crucified Christ. There is still the offense of the cross. There is no other way of salvation. Q. “A neighbor o f mine goes to a church where they believe that our Lord abolished death so w e could have everlasting life. They claim that w e do not have to die physically. Is there any Scripture that will clarify this?” A. There is a cult which claims that there is no reality to matter. Hence, the adherents say we do not have to die because we do not exist in a ma terial form. Such is simply our imag ination. The Bible teaches that there will be a generation living when Christ returns for the Church who will not die (I Thess. 4:13-18). This pertains to believers in that hour. Otherwise, all men must die physi cally. The Scripture is very express in its statement that “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment.” MISSIONARY CONFERENCE May 3 - 7 Meetings will be held each morning and evening with over 100 participating missionaries. Principle speakers are Michael C. Griffiths o f Overseas Mission ary Fellowship andWarrenWeb ster o f Conservative Baptist Foreign Missions Society.
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs