What is the difference between “Hades” in Luke 16:23 and “Gehenna” in Revelation 20:11-15? Hades is the abode of the Christless dead, where they await the great white throne judgment. It is not purgatory; nor is it a place of second chance. It is a waiting place. “ Gehenna” is the lake of fire, the “ second death,” the final doom of the lost. Will the heathen be lost? Will there not be, at least, a probation for them after death, since they have died in ig norance and superstition? There is nothing in the Word of God to justify even the slightest inference that there will be probation after death for anyone; on the contrary, there is very positive teaching to the effect that what one does with the Lord Jesus Christ in this life determines forever his eter nal state. All must stand before Him; for He is the Judge of all the earth, and the Father has committed all judgment unto Him (John 5:22, 25, 27-29). The best answer to your question about the heathen is found in Romans 1:18-32. Read this terrible indictment of sinful man, “ without Christ.” It is one of the darkest pictures in the Bible. God is saying here that, because the nations which we .call heathen, refuse to have God in their knowledge, and because they deliberately and persistenly turned their backs upon His truth, He gave them up. That is why our responsibility is so great, why we are impelled by the grace of God to take the message of sal vation to the heathen world. Let no man dare question the justice or the wis dom of God in this matter. He is ever the God of love who died for sinners, and what our finite minds cannot grasp concerning His ways with men, we do well to leave with Him who “ doeth all things well,” and whose wisdom, justice and mercy are infinite! What does the Bible teach about the fallen angels? Two New Testament passages speak plainly: “ God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment” (2 Pet. 2:4). “ The angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6). It has been conjectured that perhaps the fallen angels sinned when Satan ex alted himself as God, and wanted to be worshiped as God. He evidently had a following in these now fallen angels. We do not know, because the Bible does not tell us. Therefore, we dare not go beyond the revealed truth of God’s Word. Mat thew 25:41 would lead us to associate these fallen angels with Satan: “ Then shall he say, also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Continued on Page 18)
Dr. L. T. Talbot
The Church began on the day of Pen tecost (Acts 2), and is now in the proc ess of being formed. One day, perhaps sooner than men realize, the last member will be added to the body of Christ, which is His Church. This is called by Paul in Romans 11:25 “ the fulness of the Gentiles,” which expression may be freely translated, “ the full number of the Gentiles.” When the Church is com plete, then God will call it home to Heaven; and not until then will the seventieth week of Daniel begin to run its course. Please explain Jesus’ words, “I never knew you” (Matt. 7:23). Is it possible that some of those addressed were for merly sincere Christians who were at this time in a backslidden condition? These words of our Lord’s were the outcome of the conditions referred to in the two preceding verses (vs. 21, 22), and show the futility of profession of Christ without faith in Him. We cannot believe that those for whom these words were meant could ever have been sincere Christians. One of the tests of belonging to Christ is one’s endeavor to do the will of the Father, and accord ing to Christ’s words, “ ye that work iniquity” (v. 23), those to whom He was speaking were not performing the Fath er’s will. Their service was no doubt glamorous—prophecy, miracles, “many wonderful works” all done in Christ’s name (v. 22) ; but it was not motivated by the Spirit of God, neither did it emanate as the expression of saving faith in Christ. The Lord knew the condition of their hearts and minds for He “ needed not that any should testify 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 knows all who belong to Him. Christ has promised, “ Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). The person who establishes the right relationship between himself and the Lord may be confident that it will be recognized by Him, and that it will be an everlasting bond.
I have accepted, Christ as my personal Saviour; but I often sin, particularly in losing my temper. Am I truly born again? The assurance with which you speak of having accepted Christ as your Saviour is a good testimony. Since you are confident of having performed that act, you may be sure of having been born again: the latter is an immediate result of the former. The Holy Spirit graci ously enters the heart of the redeemed one the moment that person says “ yes” to Christ. “ After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” are the words of Paul to the Ephesians (1:13; cf. 2 Cor. 1:21, 22). The entrance of the Holy Spirit into the Christian’s heart is instantaneous, and not progressive. His presence there is a divine provision for the believer, but the scope of His influence is limited to the permission and submission of the one in whose heart He dwells. In this truth may lie the secret of your occasional anger. Have you submitted your “tem per” to the rulership of the One who is willing to keep you at all times the poised Christian you would like to be? Every Christian can join you in that regrettable admission, “ I often sin.” Vic torious living is gloriously possible as we yield completely to Him, our divine Com forter, Companion, and Guide. (Read John 14:16, 17; 16:13; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19). Some say that the Church will be translated at the end of the first three and one-half years of the seventieth week of Daniel, which is just before the tribulation period. Others say that the Church will not be translated until after the tribulation, but will go through it. Please explain. The Church will be raptured before the seventieth week of Daniel begins. Second Thessalonians 2:7, 8 is one of the clearest passages that proves this fact. The Antichrist will not be revealed until the Holy Spirit’s restraining influence in the Church is taken “ out of the way.” And, of course, the Antichrist is to be the ruling personage of the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy.
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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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