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earth, and is giving instruction to the Jewish remnant in regard to life and conduct in that day. Among other things, He exhorts them to faithful, patient continuance in His Word, which will give rest to their souls, even in an hour such as that. It is a lesson many of God’s people need to learn in this dispensation of the grace of God as well. WHO WAS THE FIRST MAN? Q. A school teacher tells me that Adam was not the first man. How can I answer him? A. Skeptics frequently raise ques tions that only show their ignorance of the Word of God, and would-be skeptics foolishly repeat what they hear, not“ searching the Scriptures to see if these things are true. In First Corinthians 15:45 we read that the first man Adam was made a living soul. Let us keep in mind that, in the book of Genesis, God is not giving us an account of the history of all hu manity, but rather the divine record concerning the ancestors of the seed of the woman, even the Lord Jesus Christ, who was bom of the Virgin Mary. Some, untaught in the Scriptures, claim that Cain found his wife in the land of Nod, but the Bible makes no such statement. When Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, cer tainly he took his wife with him. What the Bible does say is that, having gone to the land of Nod, “ Cain knew his wife” (Gen. 4:16, 17). Every student of the Bible knows that this word is used here in the same sense as that of Matthew 1:24, 25: “Joseph . . . knew her not [meaning Mary] until she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.” Much unbelief today is due to mis understanding in regard to what the Bible teaches. What the Bible says is one thing; what people often say it teaches is another thing.
EXECUTION OF WITCHES Q. What is the explanation of Exo dus 22:18, “ Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” ? A. We shall have no difficulty in un derstanding this command, repeated and enlarged upon in Leviticus 19: 31; 20:6, 27; Deuteronomy 18:9-14, if we have clearly in mind the char acter of witches in the days of Moses and Joshua. They were the greatest enemies of God’s truth, even as the witch doctors of Africa are today. Their hands were steeped in blood; they were the exponents of immoral ity. Therefore, God commanded that they should be cut off, in the inter est of His people. The heathen nations, among which Israel dwelt, had turned their backs upon God. Sometimes God has to cut off the wicked who refuse to obey Him, in order to protect His people. Missionaries today tell us of these Satan-possessed witch doctors of pagan lands. They are unspeakably cruel, vile, and horrible in their evil practices. Nor do we have to go to heathen lands, so-called, to find de monism or spiritualism in its most subtle form. The Christian should avoid all contact with spiritualists, fortunetellers, and necromancers, ex cept as he may be used of God to lead such as these out of spiritualism into the light of God’s truth. Either they are fakes — and who wants to be the dupe of a deceiver? Or they are demon-possessed — and what child of God would dare play into the hands of satan, with his eyes open to his deed? LESSON OF PATIENCE Q. In Luke 21:19, I read, “In your patience possess ye your souls." Just what does this mean? A. The context shows here that our Lord is speaking of the tribulation that is to precede His return to the SEPTEMBER, 1969
POLYGAMY AND CONCUBINAGE IN ISRAEL Q. Why were concubinage and polyg amy permitted in Israel, especially in view of the seventh command ment? A. The fact that the law forbade adultery is evidence that polygamy and concubinage were contrary to God’s will. Trouble and tragedy fol low its practice as the Old Testa ment accounts prove. It is clear from the account of the creation of woman in Genesis 2, and Jesus’ own refer ence to it in Matthew 19:3-12, that God’s original plan for the home was one husband and one wife. Israel adopted the sins of the heathen na tions around her. We must remember that they did not have the full light of God’s revelation as we do today, and those men whose lives seem to us so sinful were the only instruments through which God could reveal His truth at all. Acts 17:30, R.V., throws much light upon this question: “The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent.” WOMEN RELIGIOUS LEADERS Q. I heard on the radio a statement to the effect that many false cults werg headed by women. This shocked me. Can you give me the names of some ? A. It is shocking to every one. Here are the names of a few: Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, Christian Science; Mrs. Ellen G. White, Seventh-Day Adven tism; Mrs. Helena P. Blavatsky, Theosophy; the Fox Sisters, Spirit ism; the two wives of Charles Fill more were his “ right hand” helpers in Unity; and so was Mrs. Ballard to her husband, G. W. Ballard, and son Donald, in the propagation of the I AM cult. 17
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