filled,” would seem to indicate that martyrdom for the Lord is not at this time complete, and that these particu lar souls are representative of the first part of the tribulation—greater suffering to be endured in the days to follow. God's Elect Q. What is meant by the term, “ God’s e le c t’? Please give me some Scrip ture references in which it is used. A. The term “ elect” appears in a number of places in the Word, and is used interchangeably with the word “ chosen.” A close observation reveals that in the use of the phrase, God re fers either to Christ, angels, or be lievers. The following representative references with their connections are a few to be found in the Scriptures: Isaiah 42:1 — Christ, God’s “ ser vant,” His “ elect,” the One in whom His soul delights. I Peter 2:6—Christ, “ a chief comer stone elect.” Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22 — prophecy pertaining to Satan’s future attempt to deceive even the “ elect”— those who maintain fellowship with the Lord, and who have a knowledge of His Word. Mark 13:26, 27— the Lord’s return in glory, and His gathering of the believers “ elect” unto Himself. Luke 18:7—God’s avenging of the sufferings and deaths of the tribula tion believers— “ elect.” Romans 8:33— the saint’s (elect’s) position in Christ—safe from accusa tion by any of Satan’s emissaries. I Peter 1:2 reveals that election is the result of God’s foreknowledge, not the exercising of any selective power on His part. Our loving Lord is “ not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repent ance” (II Peter 3:9). To this end, His “ only begotten Son” left His home in glory, and came “ to seek and to save that which was lost” (cf. John 3:16, 17; Luke 19:10). Membership in the elect body of saints is available to all who will enter by the one Way — Christ (cf. John 14:6).
seeing the souls of the saints who were slain for the Word of God, as being under the altar. The following texts seem to indicate that they who die, remain in the grave: Daniel 12:2; John 5:28, 29; 11:11-14; Mat thew 27:52, 53. Do they not? A. One of the most blessed and prom inent truths of God’s Word is the fact that as soon as the believer dies, his soul and- spirit go into the presence of the Lord—it matters not at what time of the earth’s history he may live. We remember that when our Lord was on the cross, He said to the believing malefactor, “ Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). When the bodies were taken down from the crosses late on that crucifixion day, no doubt, the body of the one to whom Christ had spoken those words was buried; but his spirit had gone to be with the Lord. Other Scriptures pertaining to this truth are: II Corinthians 5:6, 8; Philippians 1:23, 24. (The texts cited at the end of the inquirer’s question all have to do with the truth of resurrection, but not all pertain to the same phase of it.) Upon reading the first Scripture mentioned in the question (Rev. 6:9), one will recognize this vision of John’s as one pertaining to the days of the earthly tribulation period. The persons whom the apostle sees under the altar are those who have been martyred for their faith in Christ and their witness of Him during the tribu lation. The text does not indicate that their bodies have yet been resur rected. The souls are under the altar of burnt offering, crying unto the Lord to avenge their blood (v. 10), which is a proof of their conscious existence, and their ability to com mune with each other and with the Lord. We further note (v. 11) that to each one of these saints is given a white robe— a mark of God’s approval of them and their testimony. The fact that they are told to “ rest . . . until their . . . brethren, that should be killed as they were, would be ful
Why Prodigal Son Left Q. What tempted the prodigal son to leave home? A. This parable (Luke 15:11-24) pre sents a striking picture of the influ ence of the “ lust of the flesh” in the heart of a man (cf. Gal. 5:17). Numerous parallels to this case are to be found among Christians today. As the willful son in this parable al lowed Satan’s tempting voice to lure him from the fellowship of his home, so the Lord’s redeemed ones are often enticed away from the life with Christ by the temptings of the old nature. We read in Galatians 5:16, 17 that the Holy Spirit has come into the heart of the believer at the time of his new birth (cf. I Cor. 3:16), and he is a new creation in Christ Jesus; nevertheless, the old, sinful, Adamic nature has not been entirely eradi cated. It still exists, and often asserts itself. The Christian may allow his heart to grow cold toward the Lord; when this is the case, he neglects his prayer time and Bible reading, be comes careless about church attend ance, and gives himself over to the life without Christ. Later, he may realize how empty and barren is the life which is out of fellowship with the One whom he once loved and served. His heart’s cry then becomes like David’s: “ Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right Spirit with me. . . . Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation” (Psa. 51:10, 12). The truth of 1 John 1:9 then becomes operative in his life, he confesses his sins to the Lord, is forgiven, and restored to a life of fellowship with Christ. We note that during this time, the erring one, like the young prodigal, has never ceased to be a^ son—he has been a son separated from t h e warmth, protection, blessing, provi sion, and companionship which are his for the claiming in the household of his heavenly Father. Souls of Saints Q. In Revelation 6:9 John records
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