to glory with Him those who had been held captive in that portion of hades, so that now, “absent from the body” is to be “present with the Lord.” The abode of the wicked dead is still occupied until the millennium is over and the Great White Throne judgment takes place, and they are consigned forever to the lake of fire or hell itself (Revelation 20). Q. Spokane, Wash. — “What is the true meaning of David’s state ment found in Psalm 51:5 'In sin did my mother conceive me.’?” A. This is a marvelous peniten tial Psalm, even as is the 32nd. When Nathan the prophet came to David after he had sinned with Bathsheba, David realized how his entire life, as is true with each of us, has been marred by iniquity and disobedience to the Lord. He is not referring to any specific transgression of his mother but reminding himself that all men are sinners (“we go astray as soon as we be born, speaking lies.”). He received his sin nature all the way from Adam actually, which is true with us as well. Q. Everett, Wash. — “Can people who don’t believe in eternal se curity, and who don’t believe Christ made the complete and final atonement, actually be saved?" A. These are not necessarily the same group of people at all. First of all, we are saved only by ac ceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour. We must trust Him completely for salva tion rather than any works or merit of ourselves. Salvation is not dependent upon whether we believe in eternal security. It is the atonement of Jesus Christ on Calvary's cross which makes the difference. Assurance and joy may
therefore came about in the pre- Adamic creation. Dr. John C. Whitcomb and Dr. Henry Morse have co-authored an excellent vol ume on this subject entitled, “The Genesis Flood.” We would highly recommend this scholarly work. Q. Phoenix, Arix. — “/ would ap preciate hearing your answer to the question as to whether Christ went to hell during the time be tween the crucifixion and the res urrection. I have always believed that He did. In a discussion among Christians, however, we find many divided opinions some quoting Luke 28:US as proof that Christ went immediately to paradise. Sco field also seems to believe this way from 16:23 in the latter part of Scofield’s notes on hades. We would like to hear your understanding on this subject.” A. The verse mentioned has to do with our Saviour’s words to the believing thief on the cross, “To day shalt thou be with me in Para dise.” Hell ’is used in our King James Version for two Greek words in the New Testament, hades and gehenna. It is used also for tartarus in one of Peter’s epis tles. Hades means the abode of the dead. The Hebrew word sheol used throughout the Old Testament, corresponds to it. Gehenna always has to do with future punishment. It is the place of eternal torment prepared for the devil and his angels. It is where all those who refuse to accept the Lord Jesus Christ will be finally consigned. Hades was divided into two parts: the abode of the unrighteous dead and the abode of the righteous dead (in Luke 16 called Paradise or Abraham’s bosom). The be lieving thief went to the abode of the righteous dead which, by the way, is now empty. When our Lord ascended into heaven, He led 20
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