DK TALBOT Lion and Lamb Q. W ill it be literally true that “ the lion and the lamb shall lie down together” in Christ’s kingdom on earth or is that figurative? A . W e believe it will be literally true. There will be peace in the animal kingdom as well as among men. “ They shall not hurt nor de stroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowl edge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Isa. 11:9). These words from God, as well as many other passages, tell us what to ex pect when Jesus reigns in right eousness. There were no thorns in Eden and in that coming day, “ Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree” (Isa. 55:13). “ The desert shall rejoice, and blos som as the rose” (Isa. 35 :1 ). The nations of the earth “ shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: na tion shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isa. 2 :4 ). “ The crea tion itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (R.V., Rom. 8:21). Gog and Magog Q. What is meant by the words “ Gog and Magog” in Revelation 20 : 8 ? A. Ezekiel 38:2 a n sw e r s y o u r question: “ Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.” These words refer to the northern European powers headed up by Russia. “ Gog” is the prince, “Magog” is his land. The refer ences to Meshech and Tubal (an cient names o f th e c i t ie s n ow known as Moscow and Tobolsk)
phim are spoken Of in connection with the uncleanness in God’s peo ple (Isa. 6:1-8). Is Satan a Real Being? Q. Do you believe in a personal devil? What does the Bible teach about him? A. This question comes to my desk very frequently. One of the mas terly strokes of Satan is to persuade men that he does not exist. I cer tainly believe the Bible teaches that he does and that he is indeed a real being. The passages which give us most light on his origin are Isaiah 14:12-17 and Ezekiel 28:12- 19. Evidently Satan was once a powerful archangel called “ Lucifer, son of the morning,” “ the anointed c h e r u b th a t covereth.” Christ called him “ the prince of this world” (John 14:30; 16:11) and Paul called him “ the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4 :4 ). The Lord Jesus did not deny his right to offer Him “ thé kingdoms of the world” in His temptation (Matt. 4 :8 ). Many Bible students think that the fall of Satan may have been accompanied by the chaos into which the world was thrown, out of which, at an indefinite time later, God renovated the earth and creat ed all life. In these things we dare not be dogmatic, for beyond what God has seen fit to reveal in His Word we may not go. In Luke 10:18 we read the words of the Lord Jesus: “ I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heav en” which is a remarkable proof of the deity of Christ and His pre existence, for the fall of Satan oc curred long before the creation of man. Satan personally tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, speaking through a serpent. Satan is not in hell today but will be some day and there tormented forever.
are clear evidence of Russia’s place in the last invasion of the Holy Land. Sanctification Q. What is sanctification if it is not holiness or sinless perfection? A . “ Sanctification” and “ saint” are kindred words and imply separa tion from a godless world. W e are set apart for God; that is sanctifi cation. However, sanctification is twofold. One aspect has to do with our standing before God which is brought about by the blood of Christ; it is eternal and complete. “W e are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:10). Sanctification as to our state and daily walk is another thing. This is brought about through the oper ation of the Word of God as we read it and allow it to judge our walk and our ways. Christ said in His prayer for His disciples: “ Sanc tify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). And Paul wrote of the same thing in Ephesians 5:25, 26: “ Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” As we read the Scriptures, meditate upon them, love them and seek to live by them, we are being separated from the things that would defile us. The Holy Spirit works in our hearts and lives through the Word. Seraphim and Cherubim Q. What is the difference between cherubim and seraphim? A . They are different ranks and orders of angels. The cherubim are mentioned in the Word of God as having to do with the holiness of God as outraged by sin. The sera
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